The Empress & the Emperor

Pairs of hard and sharp eyes examined us. We stood before King Olaf and the mysterious woman I had seen earlier in mid-conversation with Marisa. She must be the queen of the undines. We had completed the trial and found the divine object, a grail. I held it in my hand delicately. Whatever magical property that had allowed it to spew endless fog was severed when we were teleported out of the trial. That was the second time I had undergone the process of teleportation, and I hoped it would be the last other than the one that sends me home. It wasn’t a pleasant experience—far too disorienting for my likes. Luna and Marisa had fared better, acting completely unfazed to its effects.

“Ye returned with the grail of the divine, approbation of the success commended unto you. The trial ye have undergone is yours alone. A journey adapted to your wills,” said King Olaf. “Bring forth the grail, and I shall examine it.”

An attendant approached me holding out a purple cushion for the grail. I placed it on the cushion and it was brought before the King. He spent a few minutes examining it, all the while the Queen stared at Marisa. Her gaze was piercing, tearing through any confidence Marisa had. Just as she was about to crack, the Queen shifted her hungry gaze to me, leering at my soul. However, my mind was ready and I met her eyes head on. She broke first. She looked away, turning her attention to the cup in her husband’s hands.

“Wherefrom the grail draweth sorcery remains out of sight. I return it unto you three, and thou, Ferdinand, art human wherefore the nonpareil: hold tight to thine chest the grail.”

The King motioned for the attendant, placing the grail on cushion and instructing her to return the grail to me.

For the first time, I heard the Queen speak clearly. Her voice was quiet and tranquil. “My royal lord, there are still matters of family and celebration to hear. Our High Priestess must fulfill her duty—”

King Olaf raised his hand, silencing her. “A high priestess that lacketh a hierophant is a matter I choose to challenge when our heroes will have returned. Do not displace the mirth, my Lady. Joy buildeth upon joy, success upon success. Thou knowest wherefore they must go at once. Wickedness shall soon rot the lands.”

With those words, the discussion ended and we were dismissed shortly after. Preparations were made for the next leg of our journey and we soon found ourselves wading through the marsh again. Though, this time in the morning while the spirits slept, allowing us to get back to the main river without interference.

“So, where do we go next?” I asked.

I didn’t have a good grasp of the geography, but we were somewhere east of King Eulerich’s great oak tree from what I understood. I remembered the view from the balcony but it was only from one side of the tree. Forests and mountains as far as the eye could see. How this was divided into different realms for the elements, I couldn’t say.

“Luna, what council do you say?” Marisa asked.

“We’re closest to Lord Arvid’s realm, my Ladyship. Ferdinand most resembles a sylph, so I believe there shouldn’t be any issue passing through the lands.”

“What’s a sylph?”

“A wind faerie, or wind elemental spirit,” replied Marisa. “Lord Arvid rules over the sylphs and all manner of wind is his domain.”

“So, earth and fire are the other two realms?”

“Of course. Even a newly born kobold might tell you that.”

“My Ladyship, such things are not easily apparent to those not from this world.”

“Hmph. Then it is the duty of Ferdinand to learn these things.”

“My Ladyship...” Luna said with a pained expression.

“Agh, fine, Luna,” Marisa said. She looked at me, “Do not mistake my truthfulness, I loath to help for it is far too tiresome. Yes, earth and fire are the other two realms. Us undines live in the realm of water, sylphs in wind, gnomes in earth, and salamanders in fire. Do you understand?”

“Um, yes. At least, I think so,” I responded. I still had a few questions but Marisa was becoming agitated. I didn’t want to push my luck.

“Good. Hurry and become strong, lest I must again say what I have already said.”

She then mumbled a few words to herself—exasperated with the situation—that I couldn’t hear. She turned away from me and walked towards Lord Arvid’s realm, commanding Luna and I to keep up.

And so we journeyed for several days, travelling along the river until we turned north and headed towards the mountains. When I had remembered I’d lost the walking stick Luna had given me, we were already several days out of the undines’ realm. This made each day a struggle, and the accumulated debt of fatigue showed no signs of being paid off anytime soon.

One day, while we were taking a break, I had an opportunity to talk to Luna alone since Marisa had gone off to a nearby body of water.

“King Olaf is Marisa’s father so there was no opposition to starting the trial, but what about Lord Arvid? What can you tell me about him?”

“No, actually, it was King Eulerich’s insistence that we first visit King Olaf. Her Ladyship was very much against the idea. She doesn’t get to leave the undinic realm often.” Her eyes wandered to where Marisa had gone. “She was supposed to return under different circumstances.”

An entire world was threatened by the barrier that held back some primordial evil. Maybe that evil belonged to this world, but I certainly did not. It really was thanks to Luna and Marisa that I had survived as long as I did.

Luna continued. “As for Lord Arvid: I’ve met him just once in all my nine lives; though, I’ve never stepped foot in his lands. He has a strong and intense character, and his realm is at the foot of the great mountain chain. No doubt he’s been informed of and expects our arrival.”

Marisa rejoined us, rejuvenated. Then we had some dinner as the day drew to a close. Marisa and Luna chatted about old times. It was too difficult to break into their conversation, so I made myself comfortable as I was left to my own devices. It was at times like these that I missed the conveniences of modern life. Many times I instinctively reached for my cellphone. It was a habit I was slowly breaking.

Burning wood filled the air as the fire at our camp in the forest died down. The world of dreams beckoned me and that night I dreamt once again of my home back on Earth. A giant bird loomed in the sky, casting a black shadow over the world. Atop the bird was a lone man clad in black. I sensed myself in him. He wept luminous green tears as he commanded the bird to uproot buildings and swallow homes, satiating his ugly greed.