The Immortal One

The immortal land has a border with tall, grey grass that splits the neighboring land filled with healthy plants and a bright blue sky. Like all else within the immortal lands, the grass does not age. Without intervention, nothing within changes.

Even daylight is affected by the immortal land, much of the area inside grey because of the weakened light.

Inside the immortal land rests a small village, now deserted due to the effects of the immortal one’s blessing. The blessing keeps the homes in great condition, but none dare live inside the land due to its effects.

The effects of the immortal are often debated; some believe time is slowed while others argue that those who enter the land have accelerated aging. The last time anyone dared to enter was centuries ago, any details of what lies within now questionable at best.

“Their blessing must be incredible to have a permanent effect on the world.” Freydis picks grass from inside the immortal land while standing at the border. As she pulls her hand back, the grass crumbles into dust.

“Could it be that it is aging faster?” Vilgur said.

“There is a chance, but it could also be slowed age returning to what it should be once exiting.” Sigrun said, “Eiric?”

“Well, we have to go inside eventually. I’m ready.”

With Eiric leading them, the group takes their first steps inside the immortal lands. The effects are clear, their bodies have stopped all processes of living. They no longer need to breathe, their blood does not move, they are stuck in the state upon which they entered.

“Ugh, I feel much weirder than I thought. Even taking a deep breath feels like nothing.” Freydis said.

Eiric touches the wall of nearby building, his touch has no effect now that he is inside the immortal lands as well. Looking inside, a dead body lies on the ground with a blade in their head.

“Could they be recent?” Eiric said.

“I doubt it.” Freydis scans the area once more, “I think the immortal one is even older than we believed. Look.” Freydis points to the tallest building in the area, a church to a god no longer revered, “It’s a church of Odin. No one in any of the realms have revered the old gods for over 500 years.”

“Have blessed been a problem ever since?” Vilgur said.

“From what I read there has been an influx in the past 50 years or so, but there were blessed before then.” Eiric said, “Let’s keep looking, we can’t risk spending more time in here than we need to.”

Continuing forward, Sigrun leads the group to a large temple. The outside has six dome buildings interconnected with a center building which the group enters.

Inside they are met by lanes of water that lead to the doors for a large meeting room.

“Unbelievable!” Freydis said as she opened the doors.

Inside the meeting room, six tables circle around a short path cut off with a body of water surrounding it. The six tables surround the path, plants foreign to the group surrounding the entire room.

“Amazing.” Sigrun walks to the center of the path, spinning around to look at each table, “Dad told us of stories but said it may have just been wishful thinking. This is a meeting hall of the realms. From a time they weren’t separated by dangerous magic. It’s real.”

“It’s real!” Freydis runs to the Mithold table as she recognizes the dandelions at the table, “I’ve read about this in books. But it was only ever a theory. But it made sense, the five realms weren’t always separated. Why are we separated now?”

“No conflict could have separated them as they are now. Could it have been a blessing?” Vilgur said.

“I can think of nothing else with such power. Even a five rune spell seems unreasonable. I’ll have to tell Alvis and Runa, maybe there is a way to unite the realms once more.”

“Hey, if there are five realms, why are there six tables?” Eiric asked.

The group looks at the northeastern most seat, one with few plants and only a single chair at its table.

“There are only five realms. Maybe a special representative? No.” Freydis thinks back to all the history she has ever studied of the realms, “It should be impossible. Maybe the realms we have today are different from back then, but there would be some record of that.”

“What if a realm was destroyed?” Vilgur said.

“That is possible. But again, there are no records of such a thing. Or of how the realms were separated for that matter. If it was a cataclysmic event then it is possible a realm may have disappeared because of it.”

“We should take record of this, it could help in the future. Oh, Eiric, do you have ink in your bag?” Freydis turns to Eiric who looks to the doors of the hall.

His sword drawn, Eiric was the only one to sense the figure approaching from outside. The others prepare, now alert as the sound of footsteps fills the room.

Eiric’s sword comes down, saving Freydis from the hand that reaches for her head.

“Everyone get together.” Eiric stands with his drawn, only he can keep up with the speed of the hooded figure standing within arms reach of him, “Are you the immortal one? We aren’t here to fight, we only want to ask you questions.”

“I have no qualms with the demons or you, blessed child, but humans of this world will seek to destroy you. That one.” The hooded woman points at Freydis, “Her death will cause a war that destroys Mithold.”

“You just tried to kill her.”

“I tried to take her. I will keep her here, saving you all from a pointless war in which you all die.”

“How do you know this?” Sigrun asked.

“I have seen it. So many times. Over and over again, her poor soul passes and all is sent to misery. Princess of Solgrad, save this realm by staying here. You will be immortal in this land, ruling them from afar.”

“We’ve sworn to protect her. Whatever you have seen, I’ll make sure it doesn’t harm her.” Eiric said.

“Foolish and arrogant. But, you remain sane. How strange.”

“That is why we are here. We want to ask you questions about this.”

“The answers will not satisfy you, they are never enough for anyone. Our blessings are for our sacrifice; it is best all blessed come here. Their bodies will remain as they are, they will not turn. But that is not enough. It never is.”

“There must be a way. You and I remain sane.”

“I, I am sane. Yes, I remember you, my child. Even if we are worlds apart, I remember you!” The hooded woman attacks Eiric, her speed great but Eiric is able to dodge and slash her hood.

The hood falls, revealing a young woman with long silver hair and blue eyes. To Eiric, she is a stranger. But, the necklace she wears is unmistakable. A small, heart shaped locket with the initials J and M carved into it hang from the necklace, near the edge is a self carved E.

Eiric stops, dropping his sword before speaking. “Livhild?”

The woman’s arms drop, her eyes scanning Eiric before she speaks a name filled with hope. “Eiric?”