by Ai Meléndez
“Didn’t you say there is a link between the lycans and Aeros?” asked Shim.
Cel-Lok nodded. “Yes, but the gate between the worlds is only open during the full moon. There are some nonhumans who will have their own ways. For those who don’t,” she paused, pointing to Shim’s staff, “You will need to help them.”
“What? How?” Shim asked.
“Using the staff,” said Cel-Lok. “You’re not the Guardian of the Afterlife just because. This has been part of your destiny even before your birth.”
Shim gripped the staff, nodding her understanding.
Cel-Lok continued, “Kuu, I’m sorry. Shim will be able to use the war to our advantage.”
“So… where do I fit into all this?” asked Mahnii, once again feeling left out and useless.
“You have more than you know,” said Cel-Lok. “You have an ability to bring people together and a sway with words. Use it – it will make it easier to convince the nonhumans to return to Aeros than to die here fighting against the humans. Their bloodshed will only serve to further strengthen Christopher. We must avoid giving him any more power.”
She paused, her breathing raspy.
“Celeste, once we have bonded, we will send a letter to both Ru-Kai and Kami-Shi for them to reach all they can in their kingdoms. Ru-Kai’s ability to use his clones will help, but then Mahnii and Kah – you must see if there are any humans left who are still friends to nonhumans. If they will help, you will continue traveling and spreading the word. Much blood has already been shed from the dragon attacks in Ru-Kai’s land and the conflicts already happening across human and nonhuman borders. But if we can reach what nonhumans remain, we can end the war here, leaving the humans in peace and cutting off Christopher’s growing supply of power. Shim, you must go with them, using the staff to send the nonhumans back to Aeros.”
Celeste stepped forward, leaving her hammer against a wall, and gripped Cel-Lok’s hands. “I’m ready,” she said.
Cel-Lok nodded with a small smile. She closed her eyes and leaned forward until her forehead touched Celeste’s.
Celeste then closed her eyes also, waiting for Cel-Lok.
Cel-Lok began chanting words Mahnii didn’t understand and a bright blue light spread from the point of contact between their heads. It expanded until it completely engulfed both women. Mahnii, Kah, Shim, and Kuu all shielded their eyes from the brilliance.
The light pulsed, and there was a sharp zap and gust of wind before the light completely vanished. Cel-Lok’s bed was empty and Celeste stared at her hands, blinking slowly.
“Did it work?” asked Mahnii.
“Well, we are now one,” said Celeste.
“Alright, let’s go, we have no time to lose,” said Shim.
It took Mahnii longer than normal to even process what Celeste had just said, though he absolutely believed it from that one sentence. Instead of speaking in barely understandable language, she sounded… proper. She was definitely not the exact same Celeste they had spent so much time with.
“Wait,” said Celeste.
She moved across the room to a beautiful wooden desk, covered in dust. She grabbed a scroll of parchment and a quill, dipped the latter in ink and scrawled a message. She repeated this with a second scroll and then muttered something in the same language Cel-Lok had chanted before. In a flash of light, both scrolls vanished, leaving only a few sparkling glimmers behind.
“Okay,” she said, moving once more across the room and swinging her hammer over her shoulder.
They quickly descended the tower. Chew was waiting patiently and wagged his tail when they approached.
“So, are we supposed to go back to the lycan territory again or immediately go to other territories?” asked Mahnii.
“Lycans first. They have the strongest link to Aeros, and if we can get Sik away from Christopher, he may listen and choose to go to Aeros instead of risking lives in war,” said Kuu.
Everyone nodded as they got into the cart and began their journey once again back to Kuu’s home.
While they traveled, Celeste was quieter than ever before. Shim also was quiet and seemed extremely focused. She was using the staff to see into the supernatural side of the world and communicate with the deceased. Mahnii found it both terrifying and also rather awe inspiring. Especially considering how much she had learned since they met Ru-Kai.
Apparently, Shim had learned even more about her ability by communicating with the spirits, once she had mastered being between worlds at once.
Finally, the lycan territory came into view, though it already looked different than when they’d first arrived. It felt like so long ago, to Mahnii, even though it had only been about a week before.
Instead of lycans being present all over, laughing and cheering, smoke was rising and debris littered the ground.
‘Already…’ thought Mahnii. At last, they were entering the castle and Kuu immediately raced toward the throne room.
The others caught up to find Kuu had already begun talking to Sik and Rosa. The cloaked figure they now knew had been Christopher wasn’t present.
“The safety and survival of our people matters more than anything else,” Sik was saying. “I will do whatever is necessary to that end.”
“Well, then abandon this war,” Kuu said. “Imagine how we could flourish without the influence of any others or feeling as though we must keep to ourselves and hide.”
Sik was nodding in agreement. “Okay, we will go. I have gathered our clan inside the walls of the castle already from the humans’ attacks. We will gather beneath the moon at the sacred pillar tonight.”
“Sik, it’s best this remains among only lycans,” said Rosa.
He frowned, but finally after looking between each of them agreed.
Kuu nodded, bowing once again and turned. He moved past Celeste, Mahnii, Kah, and Shim and out of the throne room. The others followed. “Where is the sacred pillar?” asked Shim.
“At the heart of the castle. Sik will make sure our clan gets word. Are you ready, Shim?” he asked, meeting her eyes.
Shim nodded. They had a couple of hours before it would be time, but Kuu went ahead and led them to the middle of the castle where they would help what lycans remained to world-travel.
It was a massive courtyard with a towering stone pillar in the middle. There were various stones scattered around it and vines had grown along its length. It was actually quite stunning in the fading light.
Mahnii had a strange feeling in his gut. All of this had started with him getting smacked by Celeste’s giant dragon-tooth hammer. She seemed so much more composed now, though he knew that was partially because Cel-Lok had merged with her.
Now it was going to end with them parting ways in a completely unexpected way. He was grateful but also felt a bit off. Thanks to her, he had gone off on his own, broken the ridiculous family tradition of being a merchant, and experienced the world. Yet now he was fighting quite literally to save the world. His time feeling like he needed to look out for her was over and now it was time to help many.
He was feeling a bit angry too at his own kind – humans. How could they be so easily swayed and corrupted into chaos? It wasn’t like the nonhumans had all violently risen up and caused trouble. All it took was a couple of dragon attacks and some lies for them to turn so easily to hatred.
Things had plunged downward and it was then and there Mahnii decided no matter what happened, he was going to fight for the nonhumans. Sure, they’d be traveling convincing them to return to Aeros. But in his gut, he had a feeling they would end up in some conflicts along the way.
He wondered if all this might end up being the death of him.
While they waited, Shim rested, preserving her strength for the task of opening a portal to another world. Kah and Mahnii stayed with her, not needing the rest as she did, but silently present to offer support.
Celeste and Kuu had gone off to help the lycans prepare so when it was finally time, they rejoined them as lyca
ns began filling the space, gathering around and moving closer.
Mahnii looked at Shim, standing with her staff and preparing to wield it in this powerful way. He felt a bit mesmerized watching. She put the staff in front of her, touching it to the earth, and then lifting it skyward.
A dark pulse of energy radiated outward from the staff, and then hundreds of small pale balls of light burst out from it, moving quickly through the air. Each one stopped in front of one of the lycans present before expanding until they were ghostly figures of the people they once had been.
Then, each spirit wrapped around each lycan, and just like that, they were vanishing all over the space.
The courtyard went from being filled with bodies to nearly empty.
Finally, only Celeste and Kuu were left aside from Kah, Shim, and Mahnii.
Kuu waved. “Chew’s already waiting for me,” he said with a grin. “Till we meet again!” Then he was off.
Celeste grinned at Shim, Kah, and finally Mahnii. “Thank you to each one of you,” she said. “I’ll see you again,” she said, as she was engulfed in light from the spirit taking her. Then she was gone.
A pang ran through Mahnii’s chest. He hoped she was right. It was still strange hearing her speak so formally as opposed to the rough language he had grown used to from Celeste.
Finally, they were all alone: just himself, Kah, and Shim.
It felt so strange, but they had to stick to the plan. Shim lowered the staff, shaking. She hadn’t ever done magic to that level all in one go.
Mahnii jumped forward, even before Kah could, and caught her as she collapsed. “I guess we should rest before we move on.”
Shim smiled, nodding, and they made their way to the guest rooms they had stayed in before.
The next day, once Shim had regained her strength, they left. Mahnii hoped Cel-Lok had been right, and that sending the lycans back to Aeros would strike a blow to Christopher’s power.
As they began making their way through Ru-Kai’s land toward the rest of the nonhuman territories, Mahnii was shocked at how ravaged it had become.
The third day after leaving, they stopped when huge gusts of wind swirled around them along with the beating of massive wings. A long shadow hovered above and then down swooped Terryu, Ru-Kai’s dragon.
“I received the message,” said Ru-Kai, who was riding on the dragon’s back. “Where is my sister?”
“She went back to Aeros… with all of the lycans.”
Ru-Kai nodded, sighing deeply. “Take Terryu. Kami-Shi and I are going to visit the humans still allied with us and grant them what abilities we can with our magic to protect and defend the nonhumans. Christopher will not relent until everyone is either dead or submitting to his every whim. The nonhumans are harder to corrupt than the humans, so all we can do is try to keep him at bay until the nonhumans are safe.”
“That’s what Cel-Lok said,” said Mahnii.
“What of you?” Ru-Kai asked.
“We’ll go too, when the world is safe,” said Shim with a confident grin.
“Well then, we’ll meet again.” Ru-Kai stepped back a bit and demonstrated just why he and his siblings were called dragon-gods.
He closed his eyes, scales emerging across his skin. His fingers turned to talons, clothing disappearing as his body grew outward. His face elongated and enormous wings burst from his back. At last, he was transformed into a brilliant green dragon, though his eyes were the same stunning blue.
With a powerful flap of his wings he was airborne and flying off.
Terryu watched, then dipped her head toward Kah, Shim, and Mahnii.
“Well, at least we’re not traveling the entire world on foot,” said Mahnii.
Kah just stared at him, but Shim smiled. Kah was the first to climb on the dragon. However, before Shim could join him, Mahnii gripped her hand.
“I just want you to know…” he said, before he tangled his fingers through her hair and pressed his lips to hers.
At first, she was tense, but then melted into him, returning the kiss with fervor.
Mahnii pulled back slightly, stroking a thumb across her cheek. “Just in case, you know, something happens.” He grinned sheepishly.
Shim kissed him again, and then climbed on top of Terryu.
“Really, Shim?” Kah asked.
She just shrugged. “Like you can do anything about it,” she remarked.
He sighed, glaring at Mahnii as he also climbed aboard the dragon’s back. “Just remember the warning,” Kah muttered.
“Yes,” said Mahnii.
“Good,” said Kah flatly.
Mahnii had no doubt Kah could kill him quite easily, if he so chose, and he felt a mixture of relief that he didn’t choose to voice it and curiosity about how that mattered if Shim was the Guardian of the Afterlife.
Before any further discussion could happen, Terryu was taking off and the wind was rushing past.
The nearest territory belonged to dwarves, and once they landed, it was not difficult to convince them to return to Aeros.
Shim used the staff, the spirits emerging to aid the dwarves in world travel once more before disappearing.
Once again, Shim collapsed and they rested for her to recover before moving on.
One by one, they continued traveling to each nonhuman territory, until at last, only the giant lands remained.
After months of travel between the various territories, realms, and all the stops and rest between, they reached the giant lands.
Mahnii actually wished Celeste were still with them at that point.
“Yur kind aren’t welcome here,” said the giant guarding the borders.
“We’re friends of Celeste, and we’re looking for Nah and Noh,” said Mahnii.
“Mmm,” grunted the giant. “Wait here,” he said before sauntering off.
Hours later, he returned with a man and woman giant, who looked quite curious.
“Are you Celeste’s, er, parents?” asked Mahnii.
They nodded. The female giant seemed to wipe a tear from her eye. “Where Celeste?” she asked, her voice gentle despite her enormous size.
Mahnii explained all that had happened as briefly as he could, finally sharing that Celeste had merged with Cel-Lok and returned to Aeros.
The female giant, Nah, looked at the male, Noh, and finally at the companions once again. “So yer here to reunite us wit’ her?” she asked.
Shim smiled and nodded. “You’ll see each other again.”
“Come wit’ us,” Nah said.
With Terryu, Mahnii, Kah, and Shim followed as Nah and Noh led them into the heart of the giant land.
“We kept ourselves out o’ tha human trouble,” said Noh. “Bu’ we knew dis would come.”
Finally, they reached the giant villages which were clustered together between several towering mountains.
“Tha dragons ar’ long gone from tha war,” said Noh, pointing to caves high up the mountain sides.
Mahnii remembered Celeste sharing how she made her hammer. Dragons and giants had once lived here side by side.
“We’ll go ta tha Mothaland,” said Nah, “We would go fer Celeste, bu’ tha others only ta protect themselves. If ya ar’ here, it’s time.”
Noh banged against the ground and many other giants emerged, looking around, grunting, and murmuring to each other.
It was actually quite intimidating, Mahnii thought.
Finally, Noh explained all that Mahnii had shared to the rest of the giants and they grabbed what belongings they desired to bring.
Shim stretched her staff in front of her, summoning the spirits once again.
This time, it was for all of them.
The spirits wrapped around the giants, Kah, Shim, and also Mahnii.
Mahnii closed his eyes, everything in his body tingling.
When he opened his eyes, the entire world had changed.
About Mostly Imagination
We are a team including an artist and a writer: Ai Melende
z and K.L. Dimago. K.L. and Ai have known each other since high school and have been in tune when it comes to collaborations for some time. We came together and created what is Mostly Imagination: a project in which we write, illustrate and publish our stories for the world to see and read. We create novels with illustrations for fans of fantasy.
Our main goal is to create stories with beautiful artwork and present novels that captivate the human imagination. We also desire to show the world that two weird youngsters can accomplish big things by putting their minds together.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this first part of our debut series, Aeros: Verses of the Oceans, a concept that originally started during our time in high school and we finally decided to develop into something more expansive. We can’t wait to reveal what comes next!
You can read upcoming chapters free on our website at mostlyimagination.com so you don’t have to wait for each Verse to be released, so come join our community.
Thank You
Thanks so much for reading and giving Mostly Imagination a chance. If you enjoyed Aeros: Verses of the Oceans Verse I, would you take just a couple minutes and leave us a review? Seriously, we’d really appreciate it!
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Thanks so much again and don’t forget to watch out for Verse II.
