Herald

Midori woke the next day feeling incredibly well rested, comfortable, and warm. And with something strangely fluffy brushing her face. As her eyes slowly fluttered open she realized that the fluffy thing in question was in fact a lock from Rune’s wild mane of hair.

Her face flushed at the warmth of Rune’s body pressed against her own, it was nice, comfortable, it felt safe. She felt his breath against her neck and it caused goosebumps to explode across her skin. And as her face flushed even deeper she pushed him away.

“What are you doing!?” She asked, noticing that he was topless she quickly made sure she was still clothed, breathing a sigh of relief finding that she was.

“Ugh, I should ask you the same thing.” Rune replied, sitting up and rubbing his neck to ease an ache that had developed.

“What are you talking about.”

“You passed out and made Gilya tell you a bedtime story.”

“Yes, that I remember," she said with mild embarrassment. "But why are you in my bed?”

“When I came to check on you after the party you were tossing and turning in your sleep. I just touched your shoulder and you assaulted me!”

“What!?” Midori was not sure if her face could blush more than it was now.

“You wrapped your arms around my neck and pulled me into your bed, hugging me to you and cooing about Mister Gordo.”

“Oh…” She chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck, “that’s the name of the stuffed animal I sometimes sleep with at night. I guess I didn’t realize how much I’d come to depend on him these past few weeks.”

“You sleep with the stuffed carcass of a slain animal?” Rune stared at her with confusion, but it was the odd shine of admiration in his eyes that made Midori chuckle.

“Something like that.”

“Your people must be fierce warriors.”

She looked up at him.

“You believe me?”

“Gilya confirmed it while you were recovering from the shadow theft. She explained to me that Beyonders are people from other worlds, that it is a rarity but has been known to happen. Our history tells of one who has come here before, before Gilya's time.”

“So it’s happened before…” She rubbed her chin and chewed on her bottom lip while pondering what that might mean. Was it just some random coincidence? Was there some reason they had been brought here, or were they just random pieces in some twisted cosmic game?

“Midori?” Rune said, waving his hand in front of her eyes. “Your eyes kind of glazed over for a second.”

“Sorry, got a bit lost in thought. I need to start looking for my friends."

"I will help with that," Rune said with certainty.

"You will? Why?" She could not help the suspicion in her voice.

Standing up Rune chuckled, "because it is the right thing to do."

As he stood up Midori was now able to get a far better look at him, and the countless scars and tattoos covering his body; two scars in particular along the bottom of his pecks reminded Midori of the time she’d seen her aunt after a mastectomy. Without the bandages that wrapped his chest she could now fully see the markings across his broad chest, and in the centre of his chest flaring up with each beat of his heart was a strange almost flower-like symbol that burned with the same light as that of embers in a fire pit.

The symbol was similar to the one that had somehow appeared on her, though hers pulsed with a softer blue light. He had called it a curse but she had still not learned even what that meant. Reaching up she gently touched the marking on her chest.

“About this.”

Rune looked down at his own and touched at it gently before sighing and picking up the bandages that were now strewn along the ground. He took time bandaging himself up before jerking his thumb toward the door.

“You should probably ask Gilya about that, she’s the one who’ll give you the proper spiel.” Throwing on the coat of dried grass and bark he’d been wearing when they first met he moved toward the door. “I’ve got to go do my morning patrols, but I’ll meet you at the old woman’s place when I’m done.”

He vanished without another word leaving her quiet and dumbfounded. She rose and readied herself for the day, splashing some cool water on her face from a small clay vase near the cooking area.

The villagers waved to her as she walked toward the communal hall that Gilya spent her time in. It was a strange feeling being more welcomed here than the land of her home, but she pushed that thought aside before entering the larger subterranean earth-home.

Gilya was there—almost like she had been waiting—with that same kind smile on her face that flooded Midori with a warm feeling through her chest. She was speaking to someone in the native language of their village, a language she still did not understand but had begun grasping the faintest bit of; mainly through context. The man she was speaking to nodded before leaving, and she was sure she caught a bit of disgust in his eyes; a look she had become keenly aware of growing up.

“Did you sleep well?” The older woman asked, her words as kind as her smile.

“I did, yes,” she looked down slightly embarrassed while seating herself on one of the benches near Gilya. “I wanted to thank you for taking care of me last night. I did not realize the bubble juice was alcoholic.”

Gilya laughed, a light and gentle laugh that was devoid of judgment.

“Yes I suppose I should have informed you of that before you began to indulge. But I am glad you are well. And Rune? Is he off doing his patrols?”

Nodding slowly she reached up to gently touch at her chest.

“I wanted to ask you,” pulling the shirt open slightly she revealed the marking on her chest and noticed the way Gilya’s eyes widened. She reached out a wrinkled and callused hand, dragging the tip of her finger against the symbol.

“Fascinating, to think I would live to see two Heralds exist at the same time.”

“Heralds? What exactly is that?”

“You had a dream recently, didn’t you dearest?”

“I…did yeah,” she was curious how the old woman knew that as she had yet to tell anyone about the strange dream. “How did you know?”

“Heralds are often chosen in dreams, it is the easiest way for mortals to touch the spirit realm.”

Her eyes widened and then partially glazed over at the thought of how much information she wanted to ask, while knowing how boring it would be to sit through a lecture. She instead stayed silent, gesturing for Gilya to continue.

“Being a Herald means being chosen by the Four Great Spirits of this world. Throughout history the Spirits have chosen individuals to wield their strength and carry out their wills in the mortal world, for they are forbidden from direct interaction with our world.”

Midori’s brow furrowed slightly as she processed the idea of being chosen by some kind of entity, religion had always made her uncomfortable so she hoped she was not about to have to become a priestess or something.

“So being a Herald, what exactly does all that mean? And carry out their will how?”

“Well it is why some consider it a curse and others a blessing. Heralds carry a sliver of power from their patron, but are then tasked with some type of mission, or quest if you prefer. They must work toward accomplishing that goal or the power within will eventually consume them.”

“Consume!?” Midori shouted, her voice mixed with shock and terror.

“Worry not, Midori. Both myself and Rune will do all we can to help you achieve this task.”

She felt the knot of anxiety in her chest loosen and the breathing came easier, but then a sudden question came to her mind.

“What about Rune?”

“What do you mean?”

“Has he accomplished his task?

Gilya did not need to say anything, the look of pain she wore told Midori more than words could say.

“Rune’s task is…not one that can be accomplished by himself, and for so long he refused help,” her eyes met Midori’s and she gave her a small smile. “But I think your arrival will help him change that.”

As if one cue Rune nearly crashed through the door breathing heavily, a look of worry chiseled into his face. He carried with him some kind of strip of cloth which she recognized—mainly from her extensive time playing strategy games—as a banner. Tossing it to the ground she could see on it a coat of arms, a diving bird of prey with three sharp talons angled outward, and though it meant nothing to her it was clear by the anger in Rune’s eyes that it was not something good.

“Luvall has begun their invasion.”