“We’ll follow you,” I stated. “It’s just… where exactly are we going?”
General Ibrahim gave a friendly laugh. “Where else, Charlie? To Forevermore.”
My heart stalled in my chest. It took me a second to process what he’d said. By the time my heart started beating again, the Emperor’s Guard was already heading down the tunnel. Oberi’s hooves clicked on the ground as she started forward.
“Hang on,” Ava said. “You mean you’re taking us to akeyto Forevermore?”
I rushed behind Oberi. The Elves were quite tall and walked briskly. Marcus huffed as he tried to keep up.
“A key?” General Ibrahim sounded confused. “No, not at all. Welcome, my friends, to Forevermore.”
The second he said it, I felt the air shift. We stepped out of the tunnel and into a huge cavern. My Air magic reached high to the ceiling— at least a hundred yards up. The cavern was so wide that I couldn’t reach across the great expanse with my magic. By my estimates, this cavern certainly was large enough to house an entire city. My friends gasped in unison.
“By the gods,” Kallie muttered under her breath.
“Holy shit,” Marcus said at the same time.
Ava grabbed my sleeve so quickly, she nearly toppled off Oberi. “We found it! We found Forevermore!”
All this time, we thought we were searching for akeyto Forevermore. I never expected to find the whole damn city here in the caves.
Something was very strange about Forevermore. My magic told me we hadn’t left the caves, but I felt the warmth of the sun on my skin. The sounds of the city echoed off the walls of the cavern. There had to be thousands of people down here. Friendly chatter came from nearby, and the sound of flutes and stringed instruments surrounded us. The scent of freshly baked bread filled my nose. The whole place felt comforting... as if I’d stepped through the doors to a home I’d never had.
“How have you hidden yourselves this long?” Ava gasped. “Ancestors, did we step through a portal?”
“There wasn’t a portal,” Kallie said. “I would’ve felt it. This is more like…”
“An illusion,” I finished for her. “We’re still in the caves. I can feel it.”
But I felt other sensations, too. A gentle breeze passed by, and birds chirped from a nearby tree branch. I inhaled the scent of blooming cherry trees. It was like we were undergroundandoutside, all at the same time.
General Ibrahim was already farther ahead. He hadn’t heard us. “This way,” he said kindly.
I kept my hand on Oberi’s side, and she guided me forward. I heard the trickling of water and laughter up ahead. We slowed near the water, and a child laughed gleefully from below me. A splash sounded, and warm water splashed onto my face. I felt water wash over my shoes as we stood next to a pool. All I wanted to do was sink into the warm, welcoming water.
The child snickered. “Their ears look funny.”
“Simon, please,” General Ibrahim reprimanded gently. “These are our guests.”
The children splashed a few more times, then jumped out of the pool and began chasing each other around. Their laughter faded down the street.
“This is the Golden Pool of the Goddess,” General Ibrahim explained. “Our Goddesses themselves, Idril and Caralyn, have bathed in these waters. These pools are blessed with healing energy. A few minutes in the pool, and you should all be good as new.”
“Are you serious?” Kallie squealed. “This pool isepic!”
“The bathhouse has changing rooms and robes,” General Ibrahim continued. “You may change there. Edwyrd will be by soon to escort you to the Emperor’s Palace.”
“We’re meeting the Elvenemperor?” Ava gasped, like it was a great honor. I was still so starstruck by the illusion that I hadn’t found my mouth to speak.
“Yes, of course,” General Ibrahim replied. “He’ll be delighted to finally meet you. Enjoy the pool.”
The Emperor’s Guard left then. The four of us, along with Oberi and Rishi, stood there for a moment. I didn’t think any of us could quite wrap our heads around this place.
Ava was the first to speak. “I can’t believe this isForevermore.”
“I can’t believe I’m an Elf!” I cried. I had to be, because it was the only way I could’ve opened that door. It was a lot to take in. I’d only learned I was an Elementai a few months ago. Now I discovered I was part of asecondsupernatural race. It was both exciting and terrifying. I didn’t know what to make of it.
“I have no words,” Ava admitted. Then she gasped. “Charlie! We should’ve guessed you had Elf blood all along. The Elves are masters of energy manipulation. They can take magic from other races. You must’ve taken that shifter’s magic during your fight with him at the club!That’swhy it was a fair fight, and you were just as strong as he was!”
