Rise of the Enchanted Realms

Kalus plummeted through the void, his screams swallowed by the endless expanse of shifting, prismatic light. The world above spiralled away, shrinking into a distant pinprick of sunlight until it vanished altogether. Darkness enveloped him, and his consciousness dissolved into nothingness.

He jolted.

He gasped, coughing as he regained his senses. Cool, damp soil pressed against his cheek, gritty and damp.

The distant roar of waves filled his ears, their rhythm steady and hypnotic. And slowly, he pushed himself up on trembling arms, blinking against the brightness of the sun now hanging low in the sky.

Before him stretched an endless ocean, its waters shimmering with hues of gold and silver under the fading light. The salty breeze stung his face as he took in the vast, alien expanse.

He touched his chest, confirming he was alive. But where was he?

And more importantly, how had he survived?

He groaned, crawling to the ocean, drinking greedily from its waves till he quenched his thirst and washed his face.

His ear begins to twitch, picking at the distance echoes of horses neighing.

He got up sluggishly and searched his surroundings, excitement surging within him.

Humans are residing somewhere here, I am not alone.

He thought.

However, he felt something throbbing on his wrist so he glanced down to look at it.

It is the mark on his wrist, It is gleaming again.

What could be the problem?

The last time the mark ever throbbed was when it first manifested on his wrists by the Eye of Samsara. After that, nothing happened out of the ordinary.

So, why is it throbbing erratically now?

Wait !!

The Eye of Samsara!

She couldn't possibly be somewhere around here! Could she?

Distant, noises of horses neighing alongside the barbaric, guttural mockery of men caught his attention again. Which piqued his interest to see what they were doing.

With that, he took a few steps away from the beach, narrowing his gaze at the forest hoping to see something.

And just when he was beginning to lose interest, he caught a glimpse of a woman.

Her glowing white robes billowed behind her as she sprinted past the gnarled trunk of an ancient tree. Her bare feet barely touched the ground, her movements fluid yet frantic.

The soft radiance of her attire illuminated the darkened grove, making her an easy target for those who pursued her.

Behind her came the thunder of hooves, a relentless cadence that shook the earth.

A dozen warriors clad in gleaming crimson armour surged through the undergrowth, their warhorses snorting and rearing as they pressed on. Their red banners snapped in the wind, matching the bloodlust gleaming in their eyes.

A sharp, shimmering pulse coursed through his head, flooding his senses with unbearable intensity. His vision wavered, dissolving into a haze before darkness claimed him in a sudden blackout.

He groaned, wincing as he staggered forward, his legs unsteady beneath him. Shaking his head to clear the haze, he lifted his gaze and fixed his eyes on the forest once more.

His vision sharpened unnaturally, as if guided by a mysterious energy, zooming in on its own accord. The world around him seemed to blur, focusing entirely on the figure ahead. For the first time, he could see who was running.

And then it dawned on him.

Eye of Samsara!

Without a second thought, he swung into action. Sprinting away from the beach charging straight into the heart of the forest.

It suddenly just began to make sense to him now, it feels like he's been here before.

But when was that?

Oh! He could remember now.

It was in his dream and that was how it unfolded.

"Damn it Kalus! You gotta be faster than this. Come on!"

He cursed and gritted to himself in desperation.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Cathiana gasped for breath, her chest heaving as she stumbled forward. She brushed a trembling hand across her slick auburn hair, pushing the damp strands from her face.

With a sharp glance over her shoulder, her wide, terrified eyes scanned the shadows, searching for any sign of pursuit.

Where did Austrus and Elena go?

Could they have possibly abandoned her?

What if she uses telepathy on the horses to slow their saddlers down?

It should work, right?

She thought but quickly discarded it.

No!