My studies ended when my world fell, but they’ll pick again in Lucinia.
After the grand spectacle of the conservatory, Koko showed us the dining hall, which was just a really fancy lunchroom; a big-ass room with hundreds of linen-covered tables and floor to ceiling windows that had a view of the eastern botanical garden. Next was the infirmary, other sections of dorms, various lounging areas, and then the special workshops built outside. They were just simple buildings of brick built around Lucinia’s perimeter. There was nothing fancy about them, mostly just spaces where nosey or hazardous crafting or potion making can be done without risk. Or low risk. Each of the dozen or so buildings had to be rebuilt multiple times due to certain… complications. Koko was vague.
My eyes were drawn to her swishing tail as she led the way down a stone walkway flanked with colorful flower beds on either side. With so much real estate, Lucinia made use of every inch. Patios and gazebos were built thoughtfully throughout the landscape where other students rested or chatted idly amongst themselves. Special paved expanses of land were intended for elemental mages to attempt more powerful arts like unleashing storms, ripping fissures in the earth, creating golems, or unleashing fire, much like Aleih’s display the night of the attack. Someone had the hindsight to realize it wouldn't be very wise to toy with fire indoors. I saw what happened firsthand.
Oddly enough, when we visited the very same hallway of the night of the attack, repairs were almost done. A woman wearing a leather apron ordered around several humans and beastkin with the same compelling command as Sigemond. She was broad in the beams and rafters, if you catch my meaning, and packed a build that would make some bodybuilders envious. Though, her build only served half of the equation. The red skin and single horn protruding from her forehead certainly added to her martial demeanor.
I was relieved when Koko decided not to distract horn-lady from her efforts so to greet us. Only so much I can handle in a day, and this morning took a great chunk out of me.
Neepa and I had a difficult time trying to handle ourselves this morning, both of us keeping our heads down to avoid eye contact. Koko didn’t bother addressing the nocturnal meeting while she helped prepare breakfast, which actually made it much worse.
Laramie and Iason joined us for our meal, and were invited to accompany us, but Laramie said she still needed to gather her things. Iason, much to Eva’s approval, offered to outfit the backyard with targets and equipment for my training. As it stands, Laramie will teach me how to fight, Iason will teach me swordplay, and Eva will teach me how to use ranged weapons. Neepa will study alongside me as well as aiding Koko in guiding me.
The awkward atmosphere set by Neepa and I lasted all but ten minutes after the tour was started. Neepa’s voracious curiosity was being sated by all the wonders within Lucinia, Koko providing interesting and thorough commentary like a museum curator.
I looked back on the walkway to make sure Artemis was behaving. She was actively chasing a butterfly, or whatever the hell this world had. Her clawed mitts swiped at the air as the insect outmaneuvered her at every step.
The mess of last night ended with Neepa wordlessly excusing herself to her room, and me telling Koko that I was going to stay up a bit later. I ended up having two more glasses of liquor, and then crashed on the couch.
Sleep didn’t come right away, so my mind wandered a bit before going back to the topic of the wolf-beatkin’s name. I kept cycling through clichés like Luna or Liru because of the whole werewolf tie. With my mind on fictional lore, I switched gears and thought about other areas, then recalled when Mom would tell me stories of Greek mythology. Artemis was the goddess of animals, wilderness, hunting, and of course, the moon. The name fit her like a glove. Good thing I had a name ready because we ended up shouting at her several times today.
When we left, Artemis followed closely behind. When I pointed at the house to tell her to stay, she just stared at my finger, then licked it. Since it would’ve been wrong to restrain her, here she is.
With Artemis being considered a cohort of mine, she was allowed into the academy. So long as she didn’t kill anyone. And remained decent.
I asked Laramie about the dress, and she said it was the only thing they were able to get on her without having it torn to shreds. Barely. But they didn’t dare attempt underwear.
Artemis got low and raised her butt in the air, primed to bounce at the lazily fluttering bug, her dress hiking up her tail and her bare ass being dangerously close to mooning the world.
Definitely need to get her fitted with more accommodating clothes, something tear resistant.
One thing I liked about Artemis’ presence was her ability to scare off any bitter looks directed towards Neepa.
The unfortunate reality was that mages typically held more power and authority than civilians or soldiers; naturally, a vast majority developed a superiority complex. Though, they weren’t so haughty when Neepa was accompanied by a feral wolf-beastkin and a man who possessed legendary power. Go figure.
“And here we are,” Koko announced.
I stepped out onto the intricate network of stones, admiring the artisan levels craftsmanship that created such a latticework of colorful stones. The patterns and glyphs reminded me of Hindu mandalas. The circular base stood three feet above ground, the entire thing having a diameter of at least a hundred and fifty feet. Twelve stone pillars, each crafted with a similar pattern of colorful stones, surrounded the perimeter of the circular monument with equal spacing. At the opposite end of the short steps that led up to the base, there was an archway the same height as the pillars, seemingly out of place because it didn’t lead anywhere.
“So this is how I got here, huh?”
Koko came up to my side, her hands clasped in front of her. “Not quite. There’s a similar bridge near Sigemond's guild. The one you passed through, Sune’s bridge, is opened more times than not, seeing most of Scintillion’s traffic. The Arms of Earus has more people to spare to monitor who comes and goes, as well as handling any tariffs for foreign goods. The one before you is Zydre’s bridge. It’s primarily used for mages traveling to and from other academies on other worlds, and on the rare instances when aid is required.”
I observed the impressive structure as I walked around, the patterns far too intricate to get my gaze to settle in one spot. “So that arch opens to another world through magic?”
“It forms a bridge to another,” Koko clarified. “A stable portal requires two fixed and stable points.”
I furrowed my brow then looked at Neepa and Eva. “How’d you guys get to my world, then? We didn’t have something like this. I don’t think.”
For all I knew, Stonehenge could have been some magical device from otherworldly beings.
Neepa smiled. “Good observation, Al. The teams sent to gather artifacts were delivered to your world.”
“Delivered?”
“I believe the term you would use is teleported,” Koko said. She made a sweeping gesture of the grounds. “The pillars and the dais are constructed with an intricate network of spells, enchantments, and crystals so that we may send anyone to any coordinates marked by the Seers. Of course, if the world lacks a bridge such as this, then whoever is sent through won’t be returning.
"To ensure that travelers return, they are given a beacon—a crystal that ties the group to the bridge. Each beacon is given a special charge that lasts exactly three hours; once the charge expires, anything within the proximity of the beacon is returned to the prescribed point of origin.”
I thought back to the rift and the bisected werewolf from the forest. A shiver ran down my spine. “I won’t lose anything if I'm on the edge of a beacon's range, would I?”
“I know what you’re thinking,” Eva said, “and, no, beacons are different from temporary rifts. Rift shards can only work if both shards are on the same world. Beacons are designed to recognize the One’s semblance, and they form a sort of lifeline. Any children of the Null would be left behind if they
happen to be in range. So long as you’re within ten feet, you go back home. If not, you’re stuck.”
“That’s comforting, I guess.” As comforting as the potential hazard of getting stranded gets, at least.
“Keep the beacon safe, though,” Eva warned. She brushed her blonde locks over her ear and looked hard around the pillars. “Damaging the beacon is more dangerous than losing it.”
“Will it explode?”
Eva cocked her brow at me. “No, stupid. The spells on the crystal are complicated, which they need to be. Traveling great distances through space warrants that. But if the crystal gets damaged, come go time, it could send you to anywhere; deep space, bottom of the ocean, inside a mountain, anywhere.”
Thinking about it gave me another shiver. Can’t imagine dying in space.
I shook away the bad thoughts. “Cool. As interesting interdimensional travel is, there’s only so much I can take in.”
“Shall we retire for lunch?” Koko suggested.
“I could eat,” Eva agreed.
“I am a bit parched,” Neepa said.
“Lunch it is,” I affirmed.
We left the great stone dais and went back down the stone walk. Artemis took great interest in the flowers while we were discussing the bridge. She sniffed the flourished bud of a flower, and then took a great big chomp out of it. She took her time to chew and swallow, then ate another.
Well, the flowers don’t seem poisonous, and she’s not hurting anyone; figured best to leave her be.
At least she’s getting her greens.
“So what’s it like teleporting—I mean getting delivered?” I asked despite the morbid risks. “Does it hurt?”
“I’ve never been delivered,” Koko admitted.
Neepa tilted her head towards me with lips curled. “It doesn't hurt. But I did get an upset stomach the first time it happened to me.”
“She threw up,” Eva said with a snicker.
Neepa blushed and hid her face with the brim of her hat. I took her hand in mine as we walked. The blush came on stronger, but she smiled unabashedly.
“Eva, what’s it like, then?”
Eva linked her fingers behind her head and pursed her lips in thought. “First, there’s a —”
A flash from behind us washed everything in a golden light, a deafening crack followed a millisecond later. We all whirled around towards the dais, a thick cloud of smoke suddenly in the center.
A series of bells sounded from the academy, then a horde of bodies rushed from the various doors, and droves of the winged-beastkin that were patrolling the sky nosedived towards the commotion. A robed guard rushed to our side.
“I’m to escort you away,” she said as more bodies rushed past us and cordoned off the dais.
I watched people running and barking orders. “What’s happening?”
Neepa gawked at the bridge, eyes of disbelief taking in the scene. “Someone came back?”
Eva blanched. “No one’s been delivered since we met you. It might not be one of ours.” She fixed a determined glare and went to charge towards the potential danger.
I went to stop Eva before a loud blast did it for me.
A gunshot. The loud, sharp crack unmistakable.
“Get back! I’ll blow you away, I swear to God!” a man’s voice roared in the center of the commotion.
No, it can’t be.
I left the girls and sprinted up the stone walk, shoulder checking and shoving people as I went. Another mage stood at the stairs to stop me, but I shoved him aside before the first syllable left his mouth, then began forcing my way through the wall of bodies.
“Let me through, damn it!” I barked as hands tried to pull me back.
It was hard to hear myself think with all the shouting and promises of threats. Finally, I managed to break through and caught a glimpse of what the hell was going on. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Standing thirty feet away with two women at his feet was another man like me. He wore a camouflage jacket over an olive-green tee, his pants featuring a similar camo theme, and all of it torn, stained, and fraying. On his left shoulder was a triangular patch that I couldn’t quite place, but the one on his right was distinct: the American flag. The army from my world. If his clothes weren’t a good indication, the assault rifle he held certainly was.
He looked like a military man. Built tall, lean, and mean-looking. But I could tell how terrified he was by how his chestnut eyes frantically raced over all the beastkin and mages that encircled him, all of them telling him to surrender. The man didn’t respond to their demands, just kept the business end of his rifle at the crowd.
I steeled myself and swallowed the knot in my throat. I put my hands high over my head and slowly began walking towards him. A few mages went to drag me away, but I slapped away hands and glared at faces.
“Do you assholes want to get shot?!” I raged at the ignorant masses.
“You!” the man barked and trained his gun at me.
I went pale and threw my hands higher. “Whoa, whoa, friendly, friendly!”
He watched, his frantic breathing slowing down, his eyes bearing less hostile intent. Finally, he lowered his gun.
“American?” he asked.
“Illinois.”
He let out a sharp breath then cracked a smile. He strode up slowly, his rifle hanging at his side with one hand. Before I had time to worry, her wrapped his free arm around my neck and drew me into a hug, his breath coming out in sobs and chuckles. I patted him on his back lazily, more than stunned by the turn of events.
“We didn’t die, right?” he asked in a pleading voice. “You’re not God trying to make this easier?”
I chuckled. “Had the same fucking thought when I came here. But what the fuck happened to you, man?”
He broke away and fixed me with an urgent look. “They’re still alive, they're still fighting. Help them, please.”
I turned my head towards a growling Artemis. Eva, Neepa, and Koko were watching from behind the snarling wolf-woman. I turned my head back. “Who?”
“The Lamia of Elesrora,” he answered desperately. “They’re still alive in the mountains.”
Afterword
Hello, author here. Just wanted to say thank you to whoever is reading this. That means you sat through my entire book, and I lack the ability to properly convey my gratitude for the time you set aside. All I can truly hope for is that you enjoyed the story. It was a challenge getting everything going because this is the first whole book I’ve done to this scale. Still, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Other authors on Amazon have inspired me to dedicate the time and effort to mold words into stories and share to those willing. Writers like Jan Stryvant, Cebelius, Daniel Schinhofen, and Prax Venter appealed to me because I like the elements they weave into their stories. Mainly the action and the naughty bits. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy reading trashy romance paperbacks and fantasy epics as much as the next guy/gal, but there’s something special about blending them. Why can’t someone be turned on, be invested in characters and worlds, and have a laugh or a cry down the line?
To those who enjoyed the book, do know I have big plans for the future, time being the main limiting factor. So, if you would be so kind, please do leave a review on Amazon. Reviews would help me grow, and opinions are welcomed. Love it or hate it, everyone has a voice.
Sincerely,
B. C. Handler
Heart of the Resonant: Book 1: Pulse (Resonant Series) Page 39