Pronunciations
Phireem- (Fie reeem)
Psylch- (Silk)
Feagle (Fee ay gle)
Faire (Faire)
Tramice (Tram is (soft s))
Tamel (tam el (short a))
Jacobin (Jay co bin)
Prologue- Rumors of War
The two suns of Terrestria, Celeste and Supernal, began to make their descent into the horizon. They were approaching Equinox, promising some spectacular evenings during the days ahead; but for now the sunsets were normal. In the mountainous country of Tamel, the capital city of Elbin was starting to shut down. Merchants closed down their shops, soldiers returned to their barracks, families retired to their homes, and peasants scavenged for leftover scraps that would suffice for their next meal.
However, the castle was far from being inactive. Deep in its innermost chambers, General Harken stood in front of the table with a grave look on his weathered face, his h??ooves stamping on the ground every once in a while as he spoke.
?Tramice must fall!? He began to the ten or so officers around him. ?They are becoming too powerful! I?m sure you all know that they are trading with the Gorbians for better technology. Their economy is booming, their army is swelling, their warriors are powerful. Everything they try to do is successful! EVERYTHING! They may be friendly enough to us for the time being.? The mighty centaur grunted. ?Tell me, how long will that last?! When they grow strong enough, they will turn and destroy us!?
A man with eagle talons and wings laughed. ?So you?re suggesting we go to war with them now!?
Harken pounded the table with his fist. ?Exactly, Feagle! They are still weak, relatively. Our army is powerful. If we move quickly and strongly enough, they will not be able to withstand our forces!? His black hair swished back and forth as he looked from one officer to the other. ?And I know that you are capable to lead our army to a quick and successful victory!?
The others nodded and agreed with shouts. Harken raised his fist into the air. ?We will not be overpowered by the cursed Tramicites and their powers! We will triumph!?
?Long live Harken and the Tamelines!?
***
Chapter 1- Tramice
Two days later, rain had overtaken the entire countryside. The Forest of Loom soaked up the rain like a sponge, infusing the grass, trees, bushes, flowers, and everything with green with new energy. King?s Town, the capital of Tramice, was relatively inactive. Stone buildings had lanterns lit inside to keep families warm as old men told of legends and far-off wars.
Psylch sat on the ramparts of the great castle of Tramice, shielding herself from the pounding rain. Holding her hands up, she stopped the rain a few inches above her head, and then let it slide around her. She sighed. This is so boring! Nothing will ever happen while the rain is going down as hard as it is now!
Psylch turned her gaze across the quiet city. ?If only people were out and about, it wouldn?t be so boring! But of course, it?s raining too hard.? Looking up at the rain coming down in sheets, she thought, why don?t they let the Water Controllers take guard duty when the rain is here? They would probably enjoy it. The light coming from windows in the castle made Psylch jealous as they reflected in her green eyes. She sulked out loud, ?Aye, and they?re probably joking with each other and stuffing their faces, and here am I sitting out in the rain.?
?Having a pity party over there, Psylch?? a male voice shouted to her from a ways away. Psylch looked over to the voice?s owner, a man sitting under a ring of fire that he was constantly refueling to keep himself dry.
She scowled. ?And what if I am, Jacobin??
Jacobin shrugged. ?We?re in the same boat, I guess. Hey, would you like some fire? You?re probably cold.?
Psylch?s scowl disappeared as she replied, ?Really? That would be great!?
Psylch walked over to Jacobin slowly, still using her powers to keep dry. Within a couple of minutes she had reached Jacobin, who had a handful of fire ready for her. She pointed to the handful of fire and brought it closer to her.
?Thanks.?
Jacobin nodded. ?No problem.? He noticed the fire above him was swindling and refueled it. As Psylch headed back to her post, she brought both of her hands close to the hovering sphere of flame, and in doing so, let down her shield. In a few seconds her brown hair was soaked and the fire extinguished.
Jacobin?s reedy baritone rang out in laughter. ?For a Mind Controller, I would think that you?d know better than that, Psylch. I mean, I?m a Fire Controller and I knew about that.?
Quickly blocking the rain again, the scowl returned. He held up his hands in defense. ?Hey, it was a joke.? He formed another handful of fire. ?Here. You?ll need it for sure now.?
Psylch walked back and took the fire from Jacobin. He winked. ?Now, remember, just use one hand and-? before he could finish Psylch quickly gave him a small shove.
?Whoah!? The flames above him disappeared, he stumbled backwards, and his foot slipped. His waist struck the top of the wall, and he began to tumble over the side of the wall. Psylch gasped. ?Jacobin!? She reached out, trying to grab him as he fell. Her arms were just short, brushing his tunic, but unable to grasp it. As she lunged forward, Jacobin plummeted over the wall with a yell!
?No!? Psylch withdrew her arm, watching, and Jacobin suddenly stopped falling. She gasped. ?Wh-what?? she moved her arms like she were pulling a rope, and Jacobin floated back up. Jacobin looked up at Psylch. ?How are you doing that? I didn?t think you were able to manipulate humans!?
Once Jacobin was back on the wall safely, she trembled. ?I-?I didn?t know that either. At least you?re safe.?
Jacobin looked down over the wall and shuddered. ?Yeah? just don?t ever do that again!? he remade the ring of fire over his head, making it lower so he could dry himself off.
Psylch walked back to her post, without fire and with a lot to think about.
***
Phireem walked into a clearing in Loom Forest along with Faire, an old man with white hair but blue eyes that were still sparkling with energy. Faire walked briskly ahead of Phireem, saying, ?Ah, here we are!? He was wearing a waterproof covering, as was Phireem, so the pounding rain did little to affect either.
Phireem, a younger man with black hair and equally bright blue eyes, patted the plastic poncho-like covering as he followed Faire. ?Gorbian technology is certainly some of the most convenient things I have ever seen. Ah, I think I see what you wanted to show me.? Phireem pointed to a blue mist-like aura.
?Yes, exactly, Phireem. This is the portal, only visible to Fire Controllers such as you and me. It is very mysterious, but I have been able to gain much knowledge through what others have written about it.? He beckoned Phireem to come closer as they headed closer to the aura. ?This is Terrestria?s greatest secret. I am entrusting it with you, for I feel my days are running short.?
Phireem nodded, tears forming in his eyes and mingling with some of the rain streaming down his face as Faire continued. ?On the other side of this portal is another world, completely unlike Terrestria. From what I could gather, the people there are quite hostile to strangers. It also seems that they are like Lower-Order Tramicites, and none of the Higher-Order exists anymore. That being said, they also have Gorbian-like technology, perhaps even surpassing said tools. I would not recommend trying to enter that world unless some terrible tragedy befalls us.?
Phireem interrupted. ?Why is this such a big secret? Wouldn?t this be a good thing for all three countries and this other world? Another unique race to learn about and make ourselves better by sounds like only a good thing.?
Faire shook his head, spraying droplets of water. ?That is not true, Phireem. This world has billions of people, millions of warriors. They would think that Higher-Order people and the Tamelines something ?special?, so they would charge in, take us at will, cart all of us around and show us off to others to gain fame and popularity amongst their own people. They are cruel men, and would treat us as animals, slaves, and trinkets that they could kill whenever they think we are not profiting them enough.?
?So, it is a good thing there are no Fire Controllers on- what is that world called, Faire??
Faire shrugged. ?No one has been able to ask the inhabitants what they call their world, so we call it Oceania. As you were saying???
Phireem nodded. ?It is a good thing there are no Fire Controllers on Oceania, so that they cannot discover us. But is there a way to destroy the portal so we can prevent anything happening??
?No, there is not.? Faire stared into the portal. ?It is impossible to know how to use it without proper instruction anyway, so accidentally entering it is highly improbable.?
?Then why don?t we forget about the whole thing? Just call it some sort of myth and ignore the fact that there is another world that cannot reach us beyond it.?
?Because if Tramice ever falls, this is our only hope of escape. We cannot turn to either Tamel or Gorbia for protection if one decides it has seen enough of us. Although our army is strong, we have to be prepared for every possibility.?
Phireem stood in the soaked and softened earth, thinking. ?Okay? how do I open it??
Faire snapped his fingers, and flames blazed in both of his hands. ?I?m glad you asked. All you have to do is make your fire swirl like a whirlpool, or a tornado. It will not harm others here.? He twisted both of his hands, forming a small whirlwind of fire in front of both men. The rain slowed down his progress somewhat, but Faire continued diligently, adding fire and spinning it until the very air in the tornado seemed to crumble away, and in its place stood a window to Oceania. A verdant green field showed itself to Phireem.
?Wow! So that?s Oceania.?
?Yes, it is. Pick up that rock over there, young man, and drop it into this portal.?
Phireem held the fist-sized stone in his hands, and watched it fall through the portal into Oceania. Faire snapped his fingers, and all fire disappeared, as did the window to the field. No rock lay on the ground.
Faire smiled. ?As you can see, a rock from Tramice is now forever in that world.?
Phireem?s blue eyes stared at the matching mist that surrounded him. ?You must tell me more about this, my friend.?
Faire looked up. ?It appears the rain is ceasing. Come, and let us go back to King?s Town. I will tell you more about the portal.?
Both men exited the clearing, but the portal remained, shining mysteriously.
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