by Jen Robyn
Despite his detached attitude towards most others, Chaos knew the feeling well, as it had never left him, even after his own beloved wife’s death many years ago. If half the things Dominick said about this Julianna were true, then perhaps he’d made a good choice indeed, except...
In reality, they were literally light years apart!
Inescapable truth was never easily accepted by youth.
Running his hands through his pure white hair, his powers sometimes exuding a soft glowing aura about him when agitated, Chaos felt half tempted to pull out some strands in frustration. Clapping his hands together in silent decision, he spoke.
“Dominick,” he began quietly, “I’ve always seen to it that you had everything you’ve ever wanted. Obviously too much. Even when I helped hone those dreamphasing skills of yours, knowing what you’ve used them for since you were a hotheaded teenager. Now before you say a word, I’ll admit to your credit that your reputation with women in the dream realm is somewhat better than your brother’s, although I still happen to disapprove of it, as you well know.”
Dominick nodded, and the subject was dropped for once.
“However,” Chaos continued sternly, his eyes deadly serious, “this latest stunt tops any of your former teenage escapades. Proposing marriage to a woman in the dream-state, not to mention one who’s from another world! Have you lost your mind, boy? Do you honestly believe an engagement of this type holds any chance of withstanding the test of time?”
“Ours will,” Dominick stated, his gaze never wavering. “We’ve had a minor disagreement or two, but we still love each other, and now wish to share our lives together.”
Chaos was silent for a moment, just before a grin formed, throwing back his head with hearty laughter.
“Oh, Dominick, for all your years, you’re still little more than that selfsame reckless boy of your youth.” As Dominick stiffened in silent irritation, Chaos grew serious once more. “You’ve known the girl all of a few weeks or a bit more, and yet you profess to be in love with her. Dominick, even if love can happen that quickly, any marriage will only last so long without a solid foundation, and you may never even be able to get past the engagement itself. You haven’t dealt with any world-shattering problems yet, and that’s fine, but should this occur eventually, will your love sustain you through the hard times, including this long distance separation you’re dealing with now?”
“Yes,” Dominick replied firmly, fairly hissing the word. “Have I just been telling you all to have it cast back in my face? Grandfather, I love Julianna more than any woman I’ve ever known. We belong together, and it’s only through a quirk of Fate that we’re kept apart.”
“Exactly!” said Chaos, slamming his fist on a table. “You aren’t together in reality. Wake up from the dream-state, Dominick, and listen to me! You say you love each other now, but what happens when the months and years roll by, and you’re still separated? And also, what if one of you comes to need more than what you have in the dream-state, and seeks it with someone else in reality? While it might not be considered adultery, I guarantee it would still have the same bitter taste.”
“That won’t happen. I’d never cheat on Julianna, and I know she feels the same way.”
“You know,” hissed Chaos. “You barely know the girl! Besides that, you’ve told me she wishes to have children of her own. Bear in mind, my dear naive grandson, that for all the endless attempts you might make in the dream-state, you will never be able to father any children of hers there.”
“She knows that, and she accepts it,” Dominick replied quietly.
“Does she?” he sneered. “Yes, I suppose for now, she might be temporarily dissuaded from the notion. And for all that, she’s no doubt as young and innocent—and foolish—as you are. But mark my words, Dominick, sooner or later, most women come to a point in their lives when the maternal instinct strikes them. When that time comes, this Julianna is bound to change her mind about how tolerant she can be to this aspect of your engagement. What will you do if she not only has an affair with another, but has a child by someone else as well? Will you condemn her for it later, or will you still love her as you claim?”
Dominick’s jaw tightened angrily. “I told you, Grandfather, we’ve discussed this. And she knows I won’t hold her to this engagement if such problems should become more than she can bear.”
Chaos laughed again. “You should listen to yourself. You make it sound like the girl will suffer because of your relationship, and you’re already planning out what to do when it ends. Why bother to announce an engagement at all? It sounds like she’s been a willing enough partner to warm your nights so far without a ring on her finger.”
His eyes flew open as Dominick abruptly turned, striding from the room. Chaos hadn’t expected that response. But despite being many years older, he didn’t need to rely on physical stamina to overtake the younger man. With a swift incantation, Chaos vanished to reappear just before him, gripping his shoulders tightly.
“Let go,” hissed Dominick.
“Not until you’ve calmed down, boy. You look madder than a guardian devil who’s had his horns removed.”
Dominick shrugged his hands away, his eyes blazing. “What did you expect, Grandfather? That I’d either cast Julianna aside, or ask her to be my permanent mistress?” At Chaos’s silence, a grim smile stole across his face. “Oh, yes, that’s exactly what you thought, isn’t it?” he snarled. “Well, you can forget that idea entirely!”
“Dominick, listen to reason.”
“Your reasoning is nothing but a route to unhappiness, and I won’t subscribe to it.” He gave a short forced laugh. “You know what really bothers me? I actually came here to ask you to help us find a way to reach one another in reality, and I foolishly assumed you would. I suppose I should have known better, since you’re so much like Riff!”
“Cease!” Chaos’s tone had its desired impact, as the room fairly shook, silencing Dominick instantly. “Now if you can manage to keep your tone civil, what nonsensical help are you referring to?”
“It’s not nonsense,” Dominick said slowly, fighting to keep his anger down. “You’re the most powerful multi-abilitied supernatural in Barokka. You’ve used those powers to make this island what it is today, a haven from those of outer Chavernos who’ve looked down upon us for our extraordinary abilities. Now if you can create an island paradise such as Barokka now knows, surely a means of teleportation is possible.”
“As strong as my powers are, there are limits, Dominick. And while teleportation might not be the most difficult thing here on Barokka, or even the outer regions of Chavernos, teleportation to another world—one at least twice as far as the sun—would be much more complicated.”
“Complicated... but possible?” Dominick interjected.
Chaos sighed heavily. “Many years back, there actually was a time when teleportation to Earth was possible,” he replied, holding his hand up before Dominick could respond. “But that was many years ago, before you or your father were even born. The knowledge of that teleportation ability was lost after the Mage War.”
“I’ve heard mention of the Mage War once but very little spoken of it.”
“With good reason. It was a sad time for Chavernos that most would care to forget. Many good people and gifted sorcerers died for their beliefs.”
“What happened?”
“Before I explain this properly, we’d best sit down.” Chaos gestured to the chairs nearest them. Once they were seated, he steepled his hands. “To this day, I believe the reason for the Mage War was a foolish one. Regardless, to understand both sides of the argument, you need to know that long before I was born, the races and creatures of Chavernos had initially migrated from a world outside of this solar system.”
Dominick nodded. “Yes, the schools do speak of this. They say our ancestors came here via crafts of purple light that were destroyed upon arrival.”
“With what they felt to be good reason. All we know has been
passed down from generation to generation, although it’s said that some of the elder dragons, and possibly elves, may remember more than we know. What we’ve been given is that our origin world was once a thriving world where both magic and technology existed in harmony. They say there were many wise leaders to guide it.
“However, there were others of power that regarded the peaceful world as weak, who were determined to take control to provide a stronger influence and shape the world as they saw fit. Several of the most powerful beings who desired this were dark sorcerers. In many ways, they saw humanity as especially weak, and sought either to control or destroy them, leaning strongly towards the latter. Wars were fought against them, but only keeping them at bay. The culmination was their use of technology that began to threaten habitability on the planet, but the dark sorcerers cared only for domination, ignorant to the needs of the world.
“Some of our prophetic Seers knew time was short, which is when our planet’s ancestors, from all the races of Chavernos, fled via the crafts of purple light. The heavens were kind in helping them find what is now our world. At the time they fled, there was little habitability left, yet the dark sorcerers were determined to claim it regardless. What became of the planet and those dark sorcerers is unknown to us, although it is possible the elder dragons and elves may know more.
“When our ancestors discovered Chavernos, they were determined to prevent technology from destroying their new world similarly, destroying the crafts of purple light and knowledge of how to create them. Many years passed, and this world was cultivated into what we now know.”
Listening patiently to this point, Dominick raised one hand. “All of this is certainly a fascinating history lesson, Grandfather, but how does this have anything to do with teleportation to Earth?”
“I’m getting to that,” Chaos assured him. “When our dreamphaser ancestors ventured out in our new solar system, it wasn’t long before they discovered Earth, including the human populace. Since this was many, many years ago, it was initially thought to be a world relatively devoid of magic without the kind of technology our world eventually progressed to. Many dreamphasers would astral travel to Earth, largely out of curiosity, never contacting the inhabitants physically but merely seeking information. There’s speculation that our language was initially modified to be closer to theirs, in the event our planets would one day communicate openly, which is why we can generally communicate with them easily in the dream realm.
“However, it didn’t take long for our Seers to discover that Earth was leaning towards technology, and that one day they would progress towards the route our world once had. The elders than deemed it best for us to leave Earth well enough alone, and even dreamphasing to Earth was discouraged for a long time. It’s further speculated that the mists that surround Chavernos may have been enhanced by our own ancient sorcerers to make certain our world was kept hidden.
“This doesn’t mean that dreamphasers wouldn’t travel to Earth occasionally in the dream realm. They just had no desire to find a means to actually travel to Earth. More years went by, and many people—including dreamphasers—forgot about Earth altogether. Likely because of this, it was almost in blissful ignorance that the Mage War ultimately happened.
“Many years later, a fairly large family of sorcerers, the Magus Clan, came into being. They were a peaceful people that worshipped learning magic, residing in a once-beautiful territory of green fields that seemed to go on forever. Next to their love of family, their foremost goal always was to discover and harness magic wherever possible to improve the quality of life for themselves, their families, and especially others. Some of the magical devices we have today were created by them, although little is mentioned of this.
“It will come as no surprise that some of the Magus Clan were supernaturals, including dreamphasers. Some of the more adventurous dreamphasers astral traveled out in the solar system, once again locating Earth. The same curiosity for knowledge was there, so they traveled there frequently to learn more of it. Unlike the ancestors; however, they saw no reason not to attempt to reach Earth in reality, as brave explorers would. It took years, but one of their greatest discoveries was a means of learned magic by which teleportation to another world was possible. Finally, they could physically travel to Earth. Unlike their other discoveries, the Magus Clan kept this knowledge strictly to themselves, using it to explore the other world and learn more about it for several years.
“When dealing with those of Earth, they were discreet, never mentioning our world to them, for they did believe that the exploration for knowledge should still be tempered with caution where appropriate. However, there were cases where some of the sorcerers spent just as much time on Earth, and even established homes there when they wished to reside there longer. Overall, their motives always stemmed from the noble quest for knowledge, and since they were suitably discreet, they saw no wrong in this. Something I happen to agree with.”
Dominick nodded. “Obviously, the ancestors concerned about Earth wouldn’t agree.”
“Exactly. That’s when the trouble began. Somehow it slipped out that the Magus Clan had not only discovered a means of teleportation to Earth, but that they’d traveled there for years, which brought immediate dissent from many of the powerful mages. Even though most were descendents of the founding ancestors, they felt it their responsibility to see to it that Chavernos remained protected from the outside influence of Earth. The last thing they wanted was to see a repetition of another heart wrenching evacuation. The mages went to speak with the Magus Clan to forbid them from continuing their explorations to Earth, adding that they needed to destroy the records of teleportation magic they’d created.
“The Magus Clan refused, protesting that those they met of Earth knew nothing of Chavernos, and they never had any intention of revealing our world to them. They saw even less need to destroy knowledge, which was kept solely on our world. The arguments persisted until finally violence broke out, and there were killings on both sides, becoming a full-fledged war. The Clan fortified their holds with magic in defense—joined by outside allies who agreed with their viewpoint—but even though they were among the most gifted sorcerers of our world, there were still more mages opposed.
“When I was a younger man, I myself was called in from Barokka to mediate between the leaders of both sides, hoping to find a peaceful resolution to stop the War. Unfortunately, the meeting was sabotaged, and the leader of the Magus Clan was killed.” His expression was regretful. “They were good people, and they didn’t deserve their Fate, but the mages wouldn’t be stopped. Those of the Clan who evaded the sword, fled to the forest, and in desperation they jumped within the Black Pool.” At Dominick’s horrified look, he nodded. “Yes. The legendary Pool of No Return.”
“A terrible time in our history,” Dominick agreed. “And certainly no good excuse for harming innocent people. They could have found another way.”
“I agree completely, but… that time is done. After the Magus Clan was wiped out, the mages set fire to the green fields of their homes, destroying everything there, including all documentation of the teleportation magic. After this desecration, the loyal allies of the Magus Clan rose up to avenge their deaths by annihilating a great many of the warring mages. Those mages that survived became pariahs, having been said to have unjustly preyed on our own people because of their delusional fear of the unknown future.
“If any good came out of the Mage War at all, the Magus Clan were exonerated as fallen heroes who fought to protect freedom among their people. Unfortunately, that’s of no consolation to the fact that their entire Clan was lost—including some of the most brilliant sorcerers of Chavernos—with only their allies to carry on their memory. In addition, of course, to the loss of their library of knowledge.”
“And there’s no one living that knows their secret of teleportation magic?”
“None that I know of,” he replied quietly. “So you see, I can’t say it’s still possible. Even if i
t were, the risks are far greater that you’d never even reach her world, and instead die instantly from the sudden exposure to airless space. Despite your special abilities, you’re still human enough to die out there, and I won’t be a party to such madness regarding one of my only two grandsons.”
Dominick’s expression darkened. “Then you won’t help us.”
“It’s not that I won’t by choice. The truth is, I can’t.” Chaos gave a forced laugh. “Dominick, no matter how powerful you think I am, my powers are limited to the regions of Barokka and Chavernos. I don’t have the ability to send you to Earth, nor to bring this Julianna here if you wished it. If I knew a way, which guaranteed your safety, maybe I’d see what I could do. But I’m afraid I don’t.”
There was a long silence before Dominick bit his lip with a nod. “Then I suppose there’s nothing more to be said, is there?” Another silence. “I’d best get home now. Julianna will be expecting me in a few hours, and I have to get in touch with some friends of mine so she can meet them tonight when I announce our engagement.”
Chaos reached out to clutch his arm sharply. “I don’t believe I’m hearing this. You’re still going to persist in this fool’s notion to remain engaged to that girl in reality, despite everything I’ve told you?”
“Of course I will,” he retorted. “Just because you may not have the necessary magic to bring us together, doesn’t mean I’m going to stop searching for another means. And let me assure you, I won’t rest until I do find one. If the Magus Clan could find a way, then so can I.” Seeing the chagrined look on his grandfather’s face, he continued solemnly, “As for tonight, I assume you won’t wish to be present, since you disapprove so strongly.”
Once more, an air of frustration creased Chaos’s features. “Dammit, boy, I’d move Chavernos itself if I could guarantee your happiness! Do you think I’m such a stern leader to Barokka that I don’t care about my grandchildren? Despite your rebellious attitude, and Riff’s as well, I love the both of you dearly as if you were my own sons.”