The Veil Of Faith And Destiny

fin had told me earlier even came close to what I was witnessing in that moment. The sun shone from three different directions in the sky in shades of golden, s

o take me for our long walks together. I still remember how we’d danced, pirouetted from the naked trees in a shower of colour, bringing a warmth to the biting chill that was beginning to settle in my life as I grew up. As a cold breeze made me turn my head I saw the branches flourish with blossoms of every colour imaginable. The earth below my feet was covered in golden dust. It felt like I was walking on solid gold! For a second, I thought I was transported to one of the pages of those magical tales that my grandmother used to tell me every night before bed. The stories that gave me the strength to live through the dark nights and wake

ng age. “Azura, the world is your oyster”, I longingly remem

erful magical things just waiting to be

d go on to paint a picture of realms filled wit

stories! A mere distraction which my grandmother would spin into words to transport me from the banality of my

riffin ask Ivy, looking extremely worried abo

o believe that fey were supposed to be omniscient!”

d looked at her impatiently waiti

forest and pass through the El Tirado mountains.” she continued. “We can fl

was rather visible on his face as his brow

Charons to let us pas

are guarding the river in Mosse! I thought Mosse did not have an

re able to get in here easily. But entering a realm is one thi

reasingly concerne

asked, trying to make

once believed to be members of the

realms and forge harmony. They are particularly tough to

elp you without having an ulterior motive. And even when they do decid

y be glad to extend their help to us in a fight against The Silver Lad

simple, Azura”,

creatures. But what they possess in strength, th

”, said Ivy. “And if we get there”, she muttered under

rd sun sets, otherwise we would never be able to c

nd by the night the foulest creatures lurk in its depths in the hope to be able t

oad daylight - it was truly a sight to behold. As we walked in further, I occasionally saw insects that weren’t quite what I have seen in my entire life. Somewhere rather large with a dozen legs, huge antennas and big black bulging eyes. As we got deeper, the trees were getting denser. As we a

dy to attack. I looked behind and tried to study her face in the dim light. Her paper thin ski

ing down my pace to

lied Ivy d

d to live along with

said. “I chose

a surprised and con

at night, the Queensguard of Lady F

se any harm to any resident of that realm. But when they attacked me and tried to kill me, they broke their promise to Lady Fa

ng even more confused than when Iv

their guilt being the primal source of tourture. But as bloothwraths are soulless creatures with n

e. They are just as good as dead. Only that they are not actually d

er hand and squ

nted to stay in the realm with the other bloodwra

loodwrath, either. I felt torn between two places knowing somehow that I could not belong in either of them. That

moment, I felt miserable for her. I knew what it felt like to be stuc

ed her into a hug. She looked amused a

rse voice. I was struggling to fight back tears m

tell me that we make our own selves and mold our own destinies. And yo

I thought I could see it in Ivy’s eyes that she had longed for years for someone to validate her existence. S

r thing?” I said, with a tin

ntly, encourag

outcasts? He seems to be the most pe

s for sure.”

it had something to do with the death of his sister

iling to put my tho

ore us, his majestic wings spread out like

ered and he spoke with

and leave, right this

I both bellowed

t, Griffin! Have you lost your mi

utter another word or even pro

. The wind around us suddenly turned icy cold. I froze in my spot daring not to move even my eyelids. Our

to say that one word before all

k and a tail that ended in a snake's head. Each creature was at least six feet tall. Chimera’s breath sparked fire but their presence was indicated by mist and cold winds. This juxtapos

t himself in the harms’ way without even giving it a second thought. He was willing to take down the fire breathing beast himself just to protect an old nemesis and a stranger whom he had known for a couple

even realize it, I jolted to a sudden halt. It was so sudde

k you are doing?”

ok and ran back towards us to unders

a help us or solve anything!” I said with res

e the third sun sets, remember!” I continued whe

hrough the Chimeras. There

imeras are capable of doing?” Iv

then I dare say that I would be better off without havi

e to find another w

eras! We are clearly out

w,” I

. Hence, we’ll reaso

hs hung open, surely thinking that I had gone absolute

id not know what made me feel so confident in my skin that I felt

Chimeras which seemed to have filled the air. My ears hurt but I did not stop or eve

yself. I cannot let them sacrifice themselves

red on my way here, left my body. My legs seemed to have turned into jelly a

t my better judgement I knelt and bowed before the herd. The act was to show submission perchance but the Chimera did not seem convinced. The leader of the herd walked straight towar

. He let out a loud grunt looking towards his herd and they a

g the Chimeras were long gone and they just fou

pened?” I

kneeling down to my side loo

I replied r

Chimeras go?”

I said, soundi

d looked at me, straight into my eyes and then..then they all

vy spat with a

of them and a look of utter disbe

ied, folding my arms over my lap. Griffin le

get going

looked at me and I felt comforted and happy. I smiled back at him. We walked for another hour or so before my legs gave in. I collapsed

eet ached. I was used to working round the clock even while I was home because I was compelled to practically fend for myself and my parents. But this was different. Venturing into the u

e get some water

ciful!” she cursed

een stuck in this state for so long that now I barely remember

r drink anything” I said resting

hing?” I asked as a puzzled

mostly the troubled or

honest I don’t know either how the Dark Fey lives” she continued. I looked bewildered. Smelling flowe

some troubled spirits. Griffin knelt against me and picked out a berry from the ones he had lain down. He brought it close to his nose and smelt it. I was observing him very inte

wrong?” he a

g guilty almost immediatel

e humans are not used to it, to say the least” I said, still laughing.

its in under ten minutes. Then washed them down with a gallon of water that Ivy had returned with. I felt shreds of

t our eyes for half

stop here for lon

ooked mutinously at him. He seemed resolute and therefore aga

and gold. As I turned back I could see that the sun had turned green leaves into its golden yellow making them look nothing less than pieces of gold and ivory. The mountains rose high and mighty before us looking like unparalleled guardians of the realm. The orange hue from the sun bounced off on the peaks of the

magnificence and beauty of the mountains. They were mesmerised not only

hidden somewhere in these mo

successful in locating it for at le

th and gold. King Silvius was appalled at the rejection but he loved his son dearly nevertheless. He left the treasure here in Mosse for his son or heirs to take

d why people take fables so seriously”

and trolls were just stories too. Before stepping here no part of

other half an hour or so” said

ehind, with a million stars. Moreover, the cool air, the soothing beams, kissing each and every object of us and each and every object present around us. On nights like these one usually feels an inexplicable sense of thrill, joy and a sense of ca

d, looked like strands of silver silk lapping against each other, under the moonlight. I peeked into the river with amazement and i

tures live inside this lake

people from different realms moving along their own respective strands of time” he said. I didn’t know wha

once the silence bec

eplied Ivy looking concerned a

her eyes and kept muttering intelligible words under her breath. Griffin looked equa

rose till they looked as tall as a building. Ivy was still in a state of trance, ignorant

did not move, not even one inch. It felt like someone had fixed her to her spot with some sort of glue or spell, I wasn’t really sure. Hor

s the river of time! I knew that when the waves t

..” I asked imploringly with

realms!I took a deep breath and waited. I waited and waited but nothing seemed to have happened. Then I heard Ivy calling out my name. I peered through half open eyes fearing for the worst to have happened. I saw that the waves had frozen above us and Ivy was smiling at me reassuringly. Griffin looked uncertain but took his position by my side nevertheless. Then the waves parted and

aron spoke in a low voice but its voic

ngly at Griffin, unsure of

d your silence!” the Char

Lady Faith” I

Charon asked. A mocking smile c

e Lady Faith!” I replied a little

ron disinterestedly

ted back.This seemed to have caught the creat

” he enquired in

urgently said coming f

rdiness will be absolved by Lady Faith, you are mistaken human. Losing your s

save myself” I blu

arg-Due. She has risen from

t was key to our quest. He rather looked at me with imploring eyes. And th

was here now and that is all what mattered. And I was telling him about the malafide motives of the Sil

a sharp

aith and Destiny. It got

aron spit out with a clear loo

in fact been transported here through the Veil of Faith and Destiny which meant that it was indeed possible! We just

th to travel across her realms.” The C

e Charon froze with a look of shock on his face. He star

l” the Ch

ho too, seemed to be looking

aron said in an even tone. He looked at the three of us and a sly grin swept across his face. I frowned. I remembered Griffin

swer your question?” Griffin

id with a m

is human and if she answers correctly, all of you shall be granted the passage. If

to have been paralyzed by shock. I looked at Griffin and Ivy with uncertainty gleaming in my eyes. Ivy slightly squeezed my ar

hen!” beamed

d be careful. You can only answer once and it shall de

eeze your bones. Whenever and wherever he walks he brings with him the news of loss and great misfortune. Tell me human, who do you say the creature, the bearer of nothing but sadness shall I be speaking of?” the C

it wisely if you don’t wish to

ortune what could it be?” I

ink!” I said, sq

reatures bring misfortune!” Ivy e

n the human realm?” Griffi

he Charon’s face. I sat down on the ground, burying my face in my hand. I skimmed through my memories trying to find a creature that gra

e. Luring you in your sleep. And if he goes undetected till the time the first ray of sun shines he will bring you gre

of!” I said as I walk

lked of?” he asked, his hollow eyes glowing a

is face disappeared, he fell to his knees. I glanced b

creature could answer for centuri

up into the sky, a swirl of blue and green light charged out from it. He then turned towards the river pointing his ca

you into the Dark Fey realm” he sai