~Synopsis

“My name is Tara. I grew up in a small town with simple dreams. I just wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life. But my world was turned upside down the day I found myself in a strange new realm, filled with magic and mystery. I soon discovered that I had a great responsibility to protect the people of this realm, but I also faced great danger from the forces of evil that lurked around every corner. My only hope was that I could find a way to fulfill my destiny and bring peace to this enchanted land, but the path ahead was filled with peril and uncertainty. Could I save this enchanted really and find a happy ending, or would my story end in a tragedy...

Tara, a small town girl from the 21st century with not so big dreams, so it might've seemed, only trying to make a decent living and lead a peaceful life. Her life was turned upside down in an instant as she stepped into oblivion, and like a fantasy, she found herself in another world, a world of mysteries and magic, caught in between the battle of good and evil, of those with corrupted hearts. She thought she was bound to a fate she had to succumb to, not knowing her life has always being intertwined with this fate, to come to realize she bears a huge responsibility to her people - a people she just came to know of and the duty of fulfilling it in the midst of danger and evil that lurks every nook and cranny of an enchanted realm . Her only dream now, was that this story, like a fairy-tale (not that it ever could be) would survive a dreadful fate...

*This is a story about mysteries, magic, spirit beasts, mystical creatures, friendship, survival, hatred, love, betrayal twisted fates, ...

CHAPTER ONE

Levingsine estate

Squealing...

"quit fooling around and get the job done" was all I heard after a spanner slipped my grip and went crashing down the floor. I had heard those words before in that same irritating and ear- twitching voice of hers, the lady in question- a middle aged woman of no interest to me since I didn't even find the courtesy of knowing her name as she keeps reminding me- "It's ma'am to you girl!". I probably have heard it a few times but I don't seem to ever recall it. I'd had it up to my neck with her insults. "If I were you, I'd watch my trap!" I snarled at her for the first time, as I reached for my tool.

"do you know how difficult it is, fixing this dead sink of yours that you stuck up with God knows what! And get it blocked". I finally burst out in my genuine frankness and in the heat of my anger. I was never one to put up with this treatment and wouldn't start now. I have been silent long enough.

She glared at me with disgust and disbelief that lingered in her eyes.

"how dare you! She said, as she snarled at me trying to conceal her outburst and keep her composure which wasn't going very well

"what guts you have, to talk back at me, you measly street brat!"

"I will put an end to this" she uttered sternly as she reached for her cell phone to make a call to who I believe was security.

"That won't be necessary" I snarled back at her in rage, and stormed out through the exit, swinging shot the door behind me.

Over the years, I had earned my reputation as plumber girl. Tara the plumber girl. I knew my work well and wouldn't put up with arrogant people who lacked simple mannerism and respect for others, think they owned the world, I signed.

It was already dark when I arrived at my lonely residence, Gaujong, a sub-urb known widely to be home to ruffians and poor people, but at least, they were people who didn't have to pretend to be what they weren't. I was sometimes glad working in the city took me away for a while even If it was just doing odd jobs. It was June, when living here was most inconvenient because of the rains which took a toll on the streets, not that anyone dared to lay an official complaint, since Gaujong has long been abandoned by the state, just like I was - Abandoned. It was a long time ago and I was only a baby. I never knew her, but each time I think about it, it hurts though I keep covering myself in the blanket of pretense - I don't care. Yet, there are times when I admit to myself - maybe I do care, so what, move on girl!

Pondering on my thoughts that night seemed heavier than usual and the night was suspiciously stygian with an unusual ire in it. The weather was suddenly getting hotter. It was as if the core of the earth was opening up and radiating its heat or worse, ready to swallow me whole. Very strange indeed. I turned around the dark street and noticed there was no one but me walking the path. I suddenly had a feeling something was wrong. Naturally, I doubled my pace, but the weather just kept changing, it got warm, cooled down and got warm again. Was there ever a serious global effect broadcast that I wasn't aware of...not that I cared much about watching the news, but at the very least if it had such an effect, the report would have circulated and I would have known about it.

This time, I tripled my pace, determined, in an effort to flee the scene to the comfort of my home, only to stumble on a large stone and hurt my ankle. Laying on the ground, body stretched, I wailed in pain and reluctantly, I lifted my head up to notice a beam of light just across where I was. Probably a headlight. I felt relieved to know I wasn't the only one there. I walked towards it and as I got closer, the light started drifting away. "No, wait! Stop!" I yelled hoping to get a response but it never came, just kept drifting away.

Curiously, I followed it until I reached a dead end. "there is no way I'm going in there, and how can a car reach there in the first place". I was now puzzled and fear crept its way on my bemusement and gripped me. So much for being curious Tara. Before I could turn to leave, a huge whirlwind almost the size of a tornado was building up and approaching my direction and I was forced to run straight into the beam of light...

“Where is this place?” I muttered under the chill of my surroundings as I leaped to my feet, barely standing upright and forgetting the hurt on my ankle. I looked around to see if I could recognize something, anything. It definitely wasn’t Gaujong, but what scared me the most was that it was like nothing I’ve ever seen in my life.

Earlier…

The strong whirlwind was fast approaching me, shaking the surrounding trees with a fast tempo in display of its overwhelming effect. I clasped m hand to a nearby tree branch while I tried to make a decision, which had to be a quick one – jump into nihility or wait to be consumed by this devouring whirl beast.

There wasn’t much of a choice as the impact of the shaky waves it emanated was closing in on me. I leaped further towards the direction of the beam of light and without a second thought, dived into it…

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

I could barely feel my body as I was continuously twirled into a deep abyss of obscurity. I felt an unknown force spinning me, like some kind of portal, dark and gloomy. After a while, I landed on the ground, though it felt more like I was spat out of the mouth of a cracken monster. It was a miracle my body was all in one piece.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was a cold night but the moon illuminated like the midday sun, so clear and bright. It was as if the moon seated just a few feet above my head.

It was the most incredible site I have ever seen. I found myself in what looked like a crystal forest, an unending crystal forest with an array of crystal bars of different lengths and sizes which looking closely were like tree trunks plastered with heavy layers of thick frost and ice. I fell to the ground after my legs suddenly got wobbly. I could then feel the pain on ankle, that I hurt from the stumble and not just that, my limbs started to hurt all over, probably the impact from the fall.

I was moaning in pain on my belly, feeling the freeze from the frostbite that was gathering little by little on my face until suddenly…. I felt a presence. Still laying on the ground, I tilted my head a little and I glared first at the boots in front of me, which looked like one of some kind of advanced eskimo (in comparison to Modern day), but much better in the actual sense, even noble. I flickered my eyes and followed the trail to outfit, one fitted for a prince and finally, to a face, angelic and so beautiful, his facial features were so perfectly chiseled as though they were carved by angels. He had a long silver hair that swept across his neck, and down to his back. It seemed to be braided into a French plate. Though I watch from his feet, I could tell he was quite tall and mesmerizingly handsome. A stunner.

He lowered a little so that I could see him clearly. Glaring into my eyes, he extended his hand to me. His gaze met mine, exposing his unique and striking hazel – grey eyes and I could see the urgency in them.

“Take my hand, quick!” he said. This isn’t the time to ask questions or think things through, something I wasn’t able to do lately. I quickly took his hand and before I knew it, I was mounting a steed and riding along the crystal forest with this dashing mystery man.

“ what’s going on? What are we running from!?” I yelled to the top of my voice, galloping, hoping my words wouldn’t get carried away by the wind.

“ Stryders. Paused. Looters from the hinterlands!” he replied

“Str…Hinter… what now!”

“They probably anticipated your arrival and awaited you” he said before I could even think of what questions to ask next.

I looked behind me and saw some strange looking men carrying even stranger weapons. Though I couldn’t make out what they looked like, they were dressed in animal furs. It was like they were stepping out of a horror movie of barbaric hunters.

They were closing in on us fast, and I started to panic.

Okay, not so long ago I had a backlash episode with that old witch from Levingsine estate and now this? What could be worse that being chased by a bunch of costume freaks playing Vikings, who seem to have forgotten their lines and now look like they’re in for a real kill.me! how much more can a girl take?

I looked away, facing forward, feeling my heart racing and pounding as fast as we rode.

“And you, who are you?” I asked. “ how did you find me?” I added, confused.

“we’ll have time for introduction later” he replied casually, but breathless in a tone that spelt out – this is not the time to ask such questions.

“So … where to?”

“Asthyreah”

“Right!” I replied to my amazement. That’s all I could say. I didn’t want to create a negative atmosphere between us and irritate him even further my asking him more questions, he could get mad and throw me off the horse. I mean, there are bad guys chasing after us relentlessly and from what he said, I was the reason. If I were caught I could get eaten alive!

I held onto him tighter, can’t risk falling off either!

Moments later…

They were really closing on us this time, I could now hear their barbaric yelling and ranting vehemently from behind me.

“We didn’t stop for once, how did they get to us so quickly” I wondered.

I took another look at them. It was then I saw they were riding a strange beast. It was large, dirty cream in colour with fierce, fury eyes, the colour of molten larva. They (the beast) had horns of different sizes that sprout from the sides of their cheekbones and just above their eyes.

“Oh my God, what is that creature!” my bewilderment escaped my lips.

“They’re called Frost devils, the fastest and most ferocious beast of this lands”

“We can’t outrun them! Hold on to the reins” was the last thing he said before jumping off the horse.

“ wait! Hey!.. I can’t ride too well…” I shouted in the brisk moment of my panic.

I barely watched from the horse as he drew a silver sword. I hadn’t realized he carried one from before…

.

okay Tara, stay focused. Whoever that guy is, he can take care of himself, he seems to know his way around here. I had to convince myself “survival first”

.

I focused on keeping the horse on track without getting it agitated, or even getting myself agitated, otherwise, I’ll be killed before those barbaric men get to me.

There was an avalanche approaching from a distance and I needed to find a safe abode to stay until it passes.

Minutes later… I could site a cavern in the mountains. Alas. Peeping behind, I made sure I wasn’t being followed, thank goodness! I only hoped he will be safe. Please be safe.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

In the cave …

It was really dark inside, I could barely trace my shadow, so I settled at the corner near the entrance while I waited for the avalanche to pass. It was freezing cold, the kind of cold that made stiff the muscles and bones with burning chills. The avalanche seemed to have been accompanied by a blizzard.

The recent turn off events had been truly overwhelming, I’d say it felt like a dream, a dream I now only wished to wake up from.

Sitting at the corner, arms crossed under my chest, I stared at the creature besides me. A beautiful steed it was, majestic, mighty and not to mention brave, considering it didn’t throw me off its back after realizing its master had unmounted was courageous of it. I would say the steed was a lot like its master if I knew him well, or if I even knew him at all. The whole situation was confusing and getting more complicated.

It looked nearly as disturbed as I was.

“hey buddy” “what are you thinking of right now, huh?”

“you miss him, don’t you?” I asked the troubled horse, even if I knew I wouldn’t get a reply, it was a way to keep me at bay with the thought - maybe I still have my sanity, because though I don’t think I look much of it, I was at the brike of losing it!

Even though I could make it out of the storm, I wandered if I could make it out of “Here” alive! And back to my regular life and comfort home in Gaujong.

The storm was almost over now. “where can I go from here?”

Almost immediately, something popped in my head. “Asthyreah!”, that was where he mentioned before we got separated, yes! That’s where I should go, maybe I can find the answers I seek there, wherever “there” is and knows, he could also be there.

Okay, my plan of action was in line, next, I will most probably need to find a map to Asthyreah, which will come after I survive this freezing cold and figure out a way to get out of these strange mountain lands. This one will be a tough puzzle to solve! And the part of it which scares me is that I don’t know where to start.

Calm down Tara! You’ll figure it out, all you have to do now is to wait for the area to settle a little, after that storm.

As I waited, my eyes grew heavy and tiresome with worry and exhaustion. I will need them in good condition for the journey ahead, so I rested them for a bit, and shortly after, I fell asleep not minding the freezing cold.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Something felt warm on the bare skin of my exposed hands and face that the covers I had on couldn’t have done. Slowly, I opened my eyes, only to have them met by one I recognize, the same ridiculously good- looking man from earlier. I lifted my head to be sure. “it was him”, “it had to be”. He didn’t quite have any expression on his face, he was neither happy nor sad, anxious or worried. His fixed gaze now rested on my flushed checks, that reddened with anxiety and excitement to see him alive and well.

“how did you escape those barbaric men” I suddenly asked, astonished.

I recalled they looked like they were ready to devour any and everything that came their way – and this is no exaggeration. And as much I hoped and wanted him to be alive, I also knew it would be difficult, even impossible.

“not escape, annihilate!” he answered.

“annihilate?” I repeated after him, staring at him in awe

“you mean to say… you killed them!?” still holding his gaze, “all of them?” I should have been satisfied with his reply, I mean, he is alive as I hoped, I just couldn’t have imagined, expect that he …

He rose to his feet and made a stride towards his horse and as he gently stroked its side, he answered,

“Exactly”

“but why?” I think I wanted to ask how, but seeing his seemingly emotionless face, I almost felt sorry for them and a little for me too. He didn’t even try to deny it, what was he, some kind of terminator?

“why? did you want to keep one of them as a pet Tara?” he asked, surprisingly with a smirk on his face. That was probably meant to be a joke, glad to know he had a sarcastic side, but what hit me was the mention of my name. how could he possibly know that, I don’t remember introducing myself to him.

“you called me Tara” “how do you know my name?” I exclaimed!

“your identity is no secret of mine to keep anymore, nor is it one to tell”

“And just how do you know about me?” I demanded to know.

Shrugging a little, he answered, “I know what I must know”. Glancing through hooded eyes at my puzzled expression, he added in a cold tone, “don’t worry, you’ll understand soon enough all the answers you seek”. There! he did it again, shove me off before I could ask any more questions.

It would have been normal to think he said that out mere concern to comfort me, but man was clearly far from being ordinary.

“who are you!” I broke the silence between us that had started to encompass the cave.

He paused for a second before giving a reply

“I’m Stephon, deveaneir of Ozzfrith and your personal escort to Asthyreah”

“deveaneir?” “Ozz…fr-ith?” I asked inquisitively.

“As I said earlier, you will find the answers you desire to know, in due time. Patience!” he said in a calm yet conqueror’s voice that had a spark of intimidation to it. He took a hold of the saddle that lay across which I had taken down earlier and placed it back on the steed.

“we need to leave now” he ordered.

Without objecting, or uttering another word, I quietly followed him to mount the steed.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

We rode in the dusk through the mountains and crystal forest for hours without taking stops, yet, it didn’t seem to get any brighter or darker. Was I imagining things?

“does it ever dawn down here?” I was curious to know. “we’ve been on the road for hours but I don’t see any change at all or I’m I just I just imagining it all” I asked, not hearing his reply, I added, “don’t get me wrong, I know it’s a blessing the moon here always seem to be in full bloom, it just that …

“that you are right” he completely my statement which wasn’t what I expected.

“you are not imagining it. Afsgar’s lands has longer hours for days and even longer for nights because it rotates around the moon in 68 moonstead – weeks in your calendar” he added calmly.

“wow! Really?” “68 weeks… which means it takes at least 17 times more to rotate its satellite than the Earth’s moon?”

“precisely”

“This Afsgar, is that what you call this- all of these lands, like a country?” I asked

“No, it is similar to what you call universe in your world”

“Universe!” I repeated, exclaimed

“so, that makes Asthyreah like a country instead?”

“In a way, it does, but not quite.” “not to confuse things, Asthyreah is in the heart of Afsgar, her war lords are the Fortress for peace between worlds which makes her a paramount to Afsgar’s future.” “which means, Asthyreah is not just a like- a country”