(William)

William was perched in the crow’s nest on top of the foremast when things went cattywampus. He was unceremoniously flung into air.

Mrreeeeeeeowl!

His feline shift was not designed for flight. He transformed into a bird and screeched.

He flapped his wings as he tried to figure out what was happening.

Whaaat?

An island was rising in the middle of the ocean like a mythical beast. As it continued to rise, it kept getting bigger and bigger.

He gaped. That looks like a volcano…

He circled above the rising island. Their ship was being tossed about in a large lake, on the top of the dormant volcano.

William blinked and adjusted his eye shift. The ocean was spilling off an invisible dome high above the island as it continued to rise. Under the dome, the mountain slope was covered by a jungle filled with lush vegetation. Within minutes, the mountain rose to over a thousand feet above the ocean, before finally coming to a stop.

He surveyed the island. He saw rubber and gum trees, palmas, colorful ferns, and oversized flowers. The sandy beach that encircled the island was dotted with hundreds of Stone Giants. They stood still, facing the ocean like guardian statues. Four smaller atolls had appeared in the distance.

William narrowed his eyes as one of the smaller islands moved.

Is that the head of a serpent? He adjusted his eye shift.

Scraps, that’s no island! It looks just like an Atoll Turtle from the fairytales… And there are four of them…

He gawked for a while before heading back toward the ship to report what he had seen. He landed next to Jane, Ivan, Alecta, Vala, and the captain.

His brother placed a hand on his shoulder. “Are you alright? You look a little dazed and confused.”

“Aaaaah, if you had seen what I just saw, then you’d be just as boggled as I am. You won’t believe me… I just saw four atoll turtles... At first, I thought they were islands, but then one of them moved. And then I noticed that it had a sea serpent’s head, so I thought it was a massive snake. But no, the head was attached to a small mountain and the mountain had a lake inside of it.”

William paused. “You know… Now that I think about it, those turtles look like smaller versions of the big island that we’re on right now...” He looked around nervously.

Ivan glanced at Jane. “Slow down and tell us everything that you saw.”

William took a deep breath and recapped what he had seen.

Captain Barrow groaned. “Me poor ship be on top o' a mountain. I be walkin’ fish grubs. It be the gallows fer me when me ole beauty finds that I’ve marooned her namesake.” One of the crew handed the captain a handkerchief and he blew his nose.

“This has to be the place,” Jane exclaimed. “This island appeared out of nowhere.” She paused and looked around. “I don’t see the other ships.” She frowned. “Where are they?”

“I don’t know.” William shrugged. “My eyes were glued to the massive island rising from the ocean. I bet they’re fine, though. The last time I saw the other ships, they were a couple of leagues away from here.”

“Maybe we were singled out because the amulet is here, on the Aurora,” Ivan speculated.

“It’s possible. We need to explore the island.” Jane turned to Captain Barrow. “How close can you get us to the edge of the lake? I’m going to lead a scouting party.”

“In this ‘ere place, the water be deep ‘n crystal clear. We might be able t' get close, but we be knowin’ more once we get goin’.”

“Very well.” Jane nodded. “Let’s move.”

The captain saluted and started bellowing orders. Soon, the ship sped across the lake.

The squid-racer anchored about fifty feet away from the golden shore of the crater. Lifeboats were lowered onto the lake.

Ivan, Jane, Vala, Alecta, the royal guards, and a group of sailors climbed into the boats and headed toward the beach. William flew above them, keeping an eye from overhead.

After they reached the shore of the crater, they secured the boats. The edge of the jungle was about fifty yards away from the lake. After a search of the area, the scouts reported that there were no roads or game trails nearby.

“William scout the perimeter and report back,” Jane commanded. “Alecta, set up a defensive perimeter.”

(Ivan)

Ivan scanned the nearby rubber trees. They looked ancient with gnarly, serpentine-like roots. Exotic flowers that were taller than him dotted the clearing which led to the jungle.

He took a deep breath and discerned a variety of aromas. He detected a hint of citrus, which intermixed with cinnamon and vanilla. Something sweet and tangy that he could not place infused the air. The clearing was redolent with spicy aromas.

Ivan’s hand brushed against his sword and an image of an underground forge flashed through his mind. He perked up and placed a hand on the pommel of his blade. Har’esh Ser’on thrummed with magic. His blade shared more images, and a familiar sensation flowed through their bond.

It was the feeling of being home! It reminded him of his life on the farm. The smell of his aunt’s cooking, the comfort of his reading chair, and the voices of his family.

“Look,” one of the scouts shouted. “William is coming back.”

“He’s winging it like an arrow,” Vala yelled.

“Is he being chased?”

“Don’t know. Stay alert!”

“Protect the queen,” Alecta ordered. Jane was quickly surrounded by her royal guards.

William spread his wings wide, shifted in midair, and landed on his feet with a thud.

“Something is coming,” he cried out. “It’s moving fast… and the trees are bending out of its way.”

“Shield formation!” Alecta shouted and the shields were raised.

Ivan drew his blade and moved ahead to intercept whatever was coming their way.

The creaking and groaning of trees got louder and louder.

Crack!

Swish!

The jungle parted and a blur shot through the opening. Ivan lifted his forearm across his face as a gust of wind slammed against him. He staggered. Some of the soldiers around him were knocked onto the ground.

As he lowered his arm, he saw a giant woman floating in the air. She hovered silently just ahead of them, suspended a few feet above the ground. She towered over them.

Wow, she’s at least four feet taller than I am, Ivan thought.

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He marveled at her hair. Strands of delicate purple and periwinkle flowers grew from her head and tumbled down her shoulders. Her amber eyes were a mixture of butterscotch, lemon, and honey. She was clad in armor made of wood and leaves. Her otherworldly appearance was mesmerizing.

Ivan’s heart skipped a beat when he saw a black semicircular amulet around her neck. It was about the same size and shape as the Amulet of Storms.

I wonder if that’s the Elemental Teardrop that Leaflet told us about… The other half of the amulet.

The woman’s eyes were fixed on the small box in Jane’s hands. It was the box that contained the Amulet of Storms. She blinked and appeared to notice the disarray that her arrival had caused. A few of the soldiers were still rising from the ground.

She smiled warmly. “Forgive my sudden arrival. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Her ethereal voice filled the clearing. She spoke without moving her mouth. “We get so few guests and I forget how fragile you are.”

She spread her arms wide and greeted them, “Welcome. My name is Liesa and this is my home. My husband, Torel, is working in the forge with his Stone Golems. He sends his greetings as well.”

Jane moved past her guards and inclined her head. “Greetings, Liesa. My name is Jane Sapphire. We’ve traveled a great distance to get here.” She looked around. “Where exactly are we?”

“The answer will only raise more questions. You have reached a placed that does not exist in a single world, yet it’s anchored in every world. My home has different names. It has been called the Partum Island on this world, Atlantis on another, the Ocean Oasis on the Aquatic Planet, and the Mirage Mountain on Dune. It has countless other names across the stars. This is a place that allows us to stay connected to that which is precious to us. Yet, it also keeps us apart.”

Jane opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. She hesitated before she finally asked, “Forgive my boldness, but who, or what, are you?”

Liesa’s melodic laughter filled the clearing. “You can think of us as gardeners. Torel and I craft and plant seeds in different places. We enjoy watching the fruits of our labor take root and thrive. This island, our home, protects the growing seeds from us, so we do not accidentally trample them. This is a necessary precaution after the calamity on Mars… I know how you were able to find this place, but not why you are here. As much as we enjoy visitors, you will not be able to remain here for long.”

Jane cleared her throat and took a step forward. “My home has been ravaged by volcanic eruptions, and the Nature Kingdom is on the verge of meeting the same fate. We were told that a powerful relic was responsible for the devastation, an amulet that had been stolen from its rightful owner. We used the amulet as a compass to find you. We’ve come here to return the relic. We’ve come here searching for help.”

Jane opened the small box in her hand which revealed the Amulet of Storms.

The white stone Levitated out of the box and emitted a bright light. A few sailors gasped and one of them spat three times over his left shoulder.

Liesa’s face brightened and the buds in her hair blossomed, releasing a delicate scent. She unlatched her necklace and her amulet floated up. Her black stone looked like a miniature void portal. In contrast, the white stone resembled a tiny sun. The Amulet of Storms glided toward the Elemental Teardrop.

Whoosh!

Snap!

The two stones bonded together. They intertwined, rotated, and pulsed as they spiraled into each other.

Ivan was awestruck as he watched the fusion of the two artifacts. He was hypnotized by their circular movement. He felt calm and serene. Everything around him stilled as though time had stopped. His body felt light. In a blink, he was transported to a different place.

He floated in space. In the distance, he saw a spiraling cloud of dust and gas. The vast cloud thickened as it spun faster and faster. It formed a giant spinning disk, which continued to compress. The rotating cloud started to glow, and huge jets of light erupted from its center. A blazing star emerged from the chaos.

Planets formed and circled around the sun. Moons formed and circled around the planets. It was a mesmerizing dance of harmony. A perfect balance.

He blinked again and he was back at the edge of the jungle. Everyone at the beach was still staring at the merging relics.

Liesa extended her hand and the fused relic floated into her palm.

(William)

William watched in awe as the amulets merged. He knew that the two artifacts had to be overflowing with magic, yet he could not see their magical signatures.

“Thank you for returning my father’s gift to me.” Liesa smiled. “Without the counterbalance of the Elemental Teardrop, the Amulet of Storms would have eventually destroyed this entire world.”

“Does this mean that the volcanic eruptions will stop now?” Jane asked eagerly.

“It will still take some time for the eruptions to cease. But do not despair. Torel and I can help. With the earth magic of our Stone Golems, we can calm and nourish the land. By the time you return home, you will see your kingdom flourishing once again.”

“Thank you!” Jane breathed a sigh of relief. She bowed in reverence and the rest of the party followed her lead.

Jane turned to Ivan and hugged him. William overheard her whispering. “Thank you for trusting me. Without your help, none of this would have been possible. I would have died in the labyrinth.”

“You were willing to follow your dreams and I was willing to follow you. Besides, you were very persuasive. You bribed me.” He placed his hand on the pommel of Sharp Reason and winked at her.

Cheers erupted in the clearing. William heard his name and stopped eavesdropping on his brother and Jane.

Liesa glided toward him. He had to crane his neck as she got closer. She leaned down and her face brightened.

“My child, you’ve been marked.”

He looked down at his clothes. “Really, where?” He lifted his arms and inspected them.

Liesa’s eyes lit up in amusement. “There is nothing wrong with your garments. I am speaking of a magical mark. I am talking about the mark of Narture, my eldest. He has imprinted different orders of magic upon you. He has created another amalgam.”

William gulped. “Narture, that must be the old man that saved me when I almost drowned in the Lonely River. Did he survive the lightning attack?”

“He still lives. It would take a lot more than an amplified Lightning Strike to kill my firstborn. After all, Narture is the guardian of the Nature Kingdom. He is still recovering and is being tended to by the Nixies. What he did to you was a masterful spell. He cast Imbuement Bestowal, which allowed him to imprint knowledge and magical abilities upon you. Now, you are an amalgam, just like he is.”

“That explains a lot.” William’s expression changed into a smile. “I’m glad that he’s alive! Ivan and I were worried that he had died.”

William noticed that Ivan and Jane had moved closer. The two of them were listening to his conversation with Liesa.

People these days have no shame snooping on others.

In the background, the sailors continued to make merry. The only ones that were not celebrating were the Demon Twins.

Those two are such grouchers.

He rocked back on his heels and stammered, “Hmm… umm, soooo, if you don’t mind me nosing, and if you do I get it, but who attacked your firstborn at the Lonely River?”

“My thirdborn, Sháte. She is a troublemaker. She is also the one that took the Amulet of Storms.”

William’s eyes widened. “What? No way! Why would she even try to kill her own brother? I mean, the worst thing that I’ve ever to mine was steal the longest potato stick from his plate while he wasn’t looking.”

William glanced sheepishly at Ivan.

Liesa looked sorrowful. “The conflict between them started millennia ago. It started with envy. The envy festered and led to resentment and hatred. The tension and discord escalated and culminated in the war between the dragons and the wyverns. The Fire and Ice war ravaged your world. Narture led an army to end the conflict. His alliance included the Nature Kingdom’s forces, the Nixie tribes, the Naga horde, and a legion of Stone Golems. The Dragons and Ice Wyverns were defeated and banished. Sháte’s lover, the monarch of the dragons, Kox’zag the Lord of Fire, was imprisoned in the Underworld with the rest of his swarm. Sháte disappeared into the Shadow Realm. She was then, and remains still, fixated on a singular goal. She endeavors to create a permanent portal to the Underworld, so she can reunite with Kox’zag.”

Liesa paused. “Torel and I are not blameless in this conflict. Narture was our firstborn, and we bestowed much power upon him. His siblings received only a fraction of what we gave him. Sháte’s resentment germinated from our failings as parents.”

William tried to wrap his mind around what Liesa had shared with him.

So much information. He shook his head.

His brows furrowed. She had said something that had caught his attention. “Hmm, you mentioned the Nixies. That name sounds vaguely familiar, but I can’t put a finger on where I’ve heard it before…”

Her laughter filled the clearing. “Those that meet the Nixies and survive the encounter tend to lose some of their memories. I can see that you’ve met them before. Your mind has been tempered by their magic.”

“What?” The color drained from William’s face. “How?”

“Their water magic and mushblooms can alter the mind with great precision. Would like me to restore your lost memories?”

“Absolutely!” William cried out without any hesitation. “I don’t like losing things that are mine.”

Liesa reached toward him and gently placed her hand on top of his head. He jolted as a geyser of memories from the Nixie’s underwater cavern flooded his mind. He remembered the slithering Nixies with their four arms and creepy red eyes. He marveled once again as he recalled their vast mushbloom city, awash with bright colors. He shivered from the memory of being taken to a blueberry-capped house, where the terrifying Hrukor lived.

His terror transformed into joy. He smiled. That’s right… I healed their little seedling, Seetk.

He looked at Liesa and his face split into a big grin. “Thank you. I remember everything now!”

“You are welcome.” She paused and peered briefly at the sky. “Your time here is coming to an end. You have done me a great favor and it is time for me to respond in kind.” She turned toward Jane.

“I know that your sister was taken away from you long ago with the Mind Control spell. I hope it gives you comfort to know that she will soon be reborn into another world without magic, called Terra.” Liesa waved her hand and a portal appeared. “Your sister waits for you on the other side of this portal. She is no longer enslaved, and eager to see you.”

Jane gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. She gaped at Liesa, at a loss for words.

“Go now.” Liesa gestured toward the portal. “Time waits for no one.”

Jane looked at Ivan and he nodded. She hugged him and leaped into the portal.

Liesa conjured another portal and looked at Ivan and William. “This gateway will lead you to your parents. They still traverse the Essence River.”

Ivan gulped. “How… how is that even possible?” he stammered.

“The end is just a new beginning. You and your brother are expected.”

Ivan and William thanked Liesa, glanced at each other, and vaulted into the shimmering portal.