Chapter 12

Thalorian ran with Limiria and Haverian through the chaos of battle. Even without their leader the Crown’s men were still strong. For every one orc there were five soldiers. Though the Crown’s men were retreating the orcs hadn’t one, mages were reviving people as zombies to fight again and a group of four or five worked on Byron’s revival. Thalorian didn’t have time to care about that, he’d gotten his revenge and that’s all that mattered.

“Thalorian! Get your head out of the clouds, you're still in the middle of a battlefield!” Limiria yelled at Thalorian.

Getting out of his thoughts Thalorian said, “Okay, okay, I know, I’m coming!” Thalorian hollered back. The three of them only ran for a few minutes, but felt like hours. Every footstep felt like a hundred, every breath felt like they were gasping for air, and every droplet of sweat felt like they hadn’t drunk water in days.

When they made it out it was like they had escaped a thousand year war…because they had. Soldiers followed them as they escaped, firing bolts of magic and arrows. Their feet alone could not carry them as fast as a horse could carry the soldiers.

“Braris!” said Thalorian, firing a bolt of fire back at the soldiers. One of the horses whinnied and a thump was heard behind them as they continued running. An arrow flew through the air and struck Thalorian in the arm. He pulled it out and threw it to the ground.

“Ankst!” screamed Thalorian, firing back a wall of force, and sending the riders flying. Thalorian’s eyes faltered but he kept himself from fainting.

“Thalorian! Are you okay?” asked Limiria. They made it farther and farther, so much so that they were finally away from the battle. Thalorian slumped up against the dune and closed his eyes.

Thalorian awoke in a cloudy domain where all could be seen. He felt weightless and free from the shackles of his body. He could see other people here, receiving some sort of letter. Some seemed angelic and peaceful, like a dream and others seemed cold and unwanted, like a nightmare. He walked through the domain, seemingly invisible.

“You know, normally they ask where they are,” said a voice behind him.

Thalorian turned around and reached for his sword, it wasn’t there. “Who are you!” questioned Thalorian. The man was short with very hairy ears and large feet. He was wearing a monk’s robes and held a wooden staff.

“You!” the man pointed at Thalorian, “are Thalorian Hibbaku, the boy destined to either tip the world's balance or set it back on track to where it should go. I know this, and you have known this, even if not directly,” the man stopped. “Oh, where are my manners, I am Jiyoda, your book. I was sealed in there as an eternal peacekeeper, no ever wielded nor destroyed me in The City Aterna, then it was burned down and became what you people call, the Fields of Ash. This unbalanced the world so the Aternum chose you to wield me and set us back on track. That is the only destiny you will ever have.”

“So you’re saying that you’re a book that is supposed to save the world, and, oh this sounds so weird, I have to ‘use’ you. Like hitting someone over the head with you?” asked Thalorian.

“No! You must embrace the power I give you so that you may recorrect the balance of the world. See? Now return you’ve overstayed your visit to the Great Above,” Jiyoda disappeared and so did everything else.

Thalorian awoke in the hollow of a tree, bandages all over him.

“Where are we?” Thalorian asked Limiria.

“We’re just outside Rellbrand, at an oasis, apparently they transformed several trees into tiny room’s with magic,” responded Limiria.

“Why can’t we go into Rellbrand?” asked Thalorian.

“Well, the Spike figured out who we really were and, well, he was outraged and he banned us from entering any civilization in The Eastern Isles,” replied Limiria.

“He crushed a boulder with his bare hands in anger! It was so cool!” said Haverian.

“That boulder could have been your skull,” said Limiria.

“How long has it been since I fainted?” Thalorian asked, confused at why so many things could have happened in the few minutes he was in the Great Above.

“Two weeks passed while you were asleep, like what happened with me but less severe,” answered Haverian.

Thalorian got up and strapped his sword and book back to his waist. It feels weird now that I know the book is a person, anyway, that was probably just a dream.

It wasn’t a dream. I am Jiyoda. That was real.

“How do you know what I’m thinking!” yelled Thalorian, startled. Limiria and Haverian looked at each other, obviously confused. “I’m talking to the book.” Okay now I just sound like a crazy person.

You have to go back to the capital. Don’t tell the Aternum but I believe the Crown’s reign is over.

“Limiria I know you’re up for this, but I don’t know about you Haverian,” said Thalorian.

“Up for what?’ asked Haverian.

“Killing the Crown. A second attempt.” finished Thalorian.