Quenric blinks, freezing mid-fidget. “Ah, yes.” He taps a finger to his chin. “She’s experiencing episodic temporal dissonance—short term disassociations where her conscious awareness disconnects entirely. Awake, but…absent. When this occurs, her bond link drops, preventing external magic tethering.”
He gestures vaguely toward Zarreth, now flipping through the pages. “Yet despite this disruption, you perceive, through your bond, that she’s safe. We must be dealing with an autonomous, localized shielding phenomenon rather than a full severance.”
He squints at the necklace again, then pushes away from the table. “Now, I’m not suggesting these two things are related,” he says, slipping back into a distracted mutter. “I know there’s a book somewhere here, assuming no one’s moved it. I hope…” His voice trails off when he disappears between stacks of books.
If awkward brilliance were a person…well, it’d be a demon. My stomach growls while I grab one of the books Quenric suggested, reminding me I skipped breakfast. Zarreth notices and sits up straighter. “Should we go to the market? Get you something to eat?”
I really should eat, but I want to get to the bottom of this. He sees me hesitate while I flip through the pages. “I can grab you something real quick so you can keep researching. I won’t be long.” He vanishes, smoke curling in his place.
Leaning back in my chair, I rest my shin on the table and prop the book on it.The Five Realms.“This should be interesting.”
The first page is an index listing each realm and the associated God and Elder. Curiosity has me searching for the Mortal Realm section, but something catches my eye while I flip through the pages.The Union of Light and Dark.
Right away the names Erebus and Theia pop up. Zarreth already told me Erebus is the God of Darkness, but I had to search the index to find out that Theia is the Goddess of Light. This should be interesting—a love story with a morally grey character is right up my alley.
The Gods, though warned by the Primordials, bound themselves in love. Unable to endure separation, Erebus and Theia wrought a passage between their realms, a portal none had seen before. The Primordials, angered yet curious, did not intervene but watched the tale unfold.
For many centuries, the Realm of Darkened Depths and the Realm of Eternal Light dwelt in peace. From their union were born many children: daughters fierce and radiant, the Valkyries; and sons of shadow and dominion, the Deviants. In all their years, only once did twins draw breath—Nova, bearer of light, and Noxian, shrouded in shadow. Most powerful were they of all their kin.
Yet tragedy fell. The Gods perished, but the strength of their love endured, keeping the portal open and sustaining their children. The Valkyries procreated with other races, and new lines were sown. The Deviants, scorning such behavior, slew the crossbreeds and halflings born of their sisters, and thus, the first war ignited between Light and Dark.
Nova and Noxian, now elders of their realms, could not bring an end to the strife. So the Primordials sealed the portal, separating Light from Dark. The children of Erebus and Theia perished—all but the twins. Their lives were spared, their deaths slowed by the Primordials, who decreed they would linger until their successors arise in the latter age.
Wait, didn’t the prophecy say a being with dark and light would be born in the 21st century, who would either destroy or save the realms? I thought the prophecy was tied to the Realm Eater…to me. But could it also be tied to the elders?
I slam the book shut. There’s no fucking way I am supposed to be an elder. Besides, wouldn’t it make sense that the next successors would also be twins? Actually, I don’t know if any of this makes sense.
“Maybe Quenric can shed some light on this,” I say to myself.
A tickle skims the back of my neck, and I jolt upright.What the—.
“I’d be happy to shed some light for you.” His voice nearly sends me flying.
“Oh my God, Quenric,” I exclaim, bringing my hand to my chest before I have a freaking heart attack. “Where did you come from?”
“Oh, I’ve been here the entire time. I didn’t want to be rude and intrude on your reading, so I went invisible,” he says, like that makes it any less rude. He takes a seat next to me and uses his index finger to push up his glasses. I wonder why he wears them. Don’t all demons have perfect vision?
Instead of risking him going down another brainiac hole, I decide to set my curiosity on the glasses aside and ask, “I’m sure you’ve heard the prophecy related to the Realm Eater. Is it possible it’s connected to the elders that are supposed to be born in the 21st century?”
He studies me for a moment, like he’s debating how much to tell me. Instead of answering my question, he sings a song—a song I wish to never hear again.
“When light fades and shadows play, the Realm Eater comes to take you away. Step softly, dear wanderers, for I’m watching you all, and I’ll feast on the brave ones who answer my call.”
My skin crawls at the second line. Ronin told me those were the exact same words I said after my mating mark faded, after Zarreth nearly died. I think he’s finally stopped singing, but unfortunately, he’s only taking a breath.
“From the depths of darkness, a pure light will rise, chasing away shadows and painting the skies. With whispers of courage, it banishes fright, transforming chaos into beauty and light. As light meets darkness, forces entwine, guiding the realms through fates aligned.”
I go perfectly still. There’s another verse? Why did no one tell me? Nova and Noxian are made of light and dark, just like my magic, just like this song says. But the two can’t be related, or if it is, it must not have anything to do with me because there are two elders, and I’m only one person.
I wait for Quenric to tell me the importance of the song, but he only looks at me. Finally I ask, “So are the two related? Do you think it’s possible I’m the…the…” I can’t finish my sentence. I don’t really want to know the answer, do I?
“I am no seer, only time will tell. But, I do sense something in you, something old and powerful. Do you have a twin?”
My ribs refuse to expand all the way. I shake my head. “No. I had a brother but…he’s dead.” The words feel raw. I press my hand to my chest, trying to steady the ache. “He was two years older than me.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” His eyes go distant for a moment. “It’s not easy losing loved ones.”
I can’t imagine the amount of family or friends he’s lost, being as old as he is.
