At the end of the bridge, the xellic turned around and clicked at Warren, holding out a long hand.
Warren raised his eyebrows and shrugged.
Pointing to the stone on its head, the xellic repeated the message and then pointed to Warren's hand.
Warren looked at the king’s stone in his fist, then let the xellic have it.
The xellic released the stone into the green light. A ring of white light formed around the stone and grew in intensity until Warren couldn't look directly upon it.
With a sudden burst, light shot forth, filling every dark space. Through stone and earth, it flowed in all directions. Light filled the darkness.
Warren could see the entire realm being cleansed. How, he didn’t know.
In a wave of light, he soared over oceans and forests and mountain ranges he’d never seen before. The beasts of the Ajoiner Realm became as they once were. Light and life flourished. No evil darkness could withstand it, and all that was under the Darkness Lord's power was returned to the Ajoiner Realm.
Suddenly, Warren stopped. He faced a glowing white throne. He moved toward it and its sheen grew brighter.
Warren blinked, and the image vanished. Now he stood on a glowing white platform in the xellic throne room, with four elegantly crafted archways spread evenly around the beacon. A rippling image of a realm shone from within each arch.
One portal pictured a vibrant garden where blue pixies drifted through the air. Another appeared to be the interior of a beautiful white hall. The third showed a red world full of thunder and fire, while the last was a hollow, black space. Without a sound, the xellic gave a slight nod to Warren. It stepped into the white pillar of light and descended back into its kingdom.
“We did it,” Cassidy breathed.
Warren stared at the white platform, unable to form words.
“We did it!” Cassidy shouted with a grin stretching from ear to ear.
Vallerie leaned against Cassidy’s chest, smiling. Lillian had tears in her eyes but smiled and nodded to Warren. After all this time, they saved the Ajoiner Realm. Fortitude was safe now. Isabel would finally be safe.
“We finally did it!” Cassidy cheered.
“Not quite,” Emron disagreed.
Everyone stopped.
“The Darkness is still out there. It won’t take long for Senkaar to realize the blow we’ve dealt him, and he will send his armies again. Until we eradicate the Darkness from every realm, it can return,” Emron said.
Warren had promised Isabel he’d make the monsters go away, and he intended to make sure they never returned.
“Emron’s right,” Warren said. “We’ll need to move quickly or everything we’ve accomplished will be erased. Vallerie, are you able to keep going?”
“Always,” Vallerie nodded.
Warren made eye contact with each member of his team.
Everyone nodded.
Their quest was far from over. Warren glanced back at the portals and stepped toward a new journey.
The End
Defenders of Radiance will return in book II: The Ethereal Realm
Acknowledgements
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all those who have helped me in this six-year journey. From loving family members, dear friends, and superstar writers, I’ve come to know I am so blessed to have so much support in starting this journey.
The first group that I want to acknowledge is my family. My mother, who has ever been my cheerleader. The three bothers, the one that inspired me to start writing, the other spent hours helping me create the fantasy universe, and the one who even though he isn’t much of a reader has always treated this undertaking with respect. The sweetest little sister who helped me get established on social media. And my father, who has always been so honest and encouraging. Without their intimate assistance, I would have given up a long time ago.
I’d like to thank my incredible editor Kameo Monson who was one of the first to beta read my manuscript and even after seeing it full of flaws still wanted to be my professional editor a year later. She truly has a gift for seeing the beauty in the madness.
I’d also like to thank Maria Spada for putting up with all my pickiness with the cover design. I adore her work and can’t wait to see the next cover she produces.
While I cannot name every person who’s read the many drafts of The Ajoiner Realm, I would still like to express my appreciation for all who have helped answer questions and provide support for me from the writing community.
Lastly, I must thank all of you. I’ve always dreamed of publishing, now it’s a reality. I hope that you enjoyed the start of this series and it provided you with what you needed, whether to be purely for entertainment, or if like me you needed to know that our Darkness can be beaten.
Index
Realms
Ajoiner- The completion of various traits from all other realms. Though all were once welcomed, now only the native Ajoiners dwell in their godless lands.
Chaos- Home to the mad Tyuials. Scenes from every realm’s chaotic history play here. The land itself cannot be trusted.
Darkness- Senkaar’s cursed world. Black sands and freezing winds dominate the realm.
Locations
Fortitude- Capital of North Maridon. Once it was the envy of all kingdoms, now it is the only kingdom left.
Methril- Skilled tradesmen once sailed the seas from her ports exchanging goods with distant nations.
Brackenwood- Supplies the other four kingdoms with craftsmen, artisans and hunters.
Abitros- There was no greater place to prove ones strength then surviving the journey through the Fire Mountains twin peaks and entering this proud city.
Valendril- Fierce scholarship competed here years ago, now the ocean bears its knowledge. It is said that those who meditate on the beach of Wisdom Bay may gain the answers they seek.
Flynn- A once popular town for weary travelers, now a monument to fear.
Illithium- A gift from Akokois to a wayward people many centuries ago kept secret by a harsh code of law.
Lith Kolem- A Xellic kingdom surrounding the beacon. We may never know it’s full glory, but its ruins speak of grandeur beyond imagining.
Creatures
Drevic- (dreh-vik)- Senkaars twisted legions. Pale skin, four arms, and blinded by a set of horns protruding from their eye sockets. One must wonder what they would be had Senkaar not corrupted them.
Kellnox (kehll-nox)- Shadowy post humans corrupted by the Darkness It took too long to realize they were once human. Even longer to accept they could never be saved.
Gray-skinned Dwgoon (dwah-goon)- Small bipedal mammal with four large ears. While technically intelligent these benign creatures are fairly daft.
Irquinix (ir-qin-ex)- Ghostly creature, vaguely feminine shape with a wedge-shaped head. Native to the Magnus Realm, some of these entities migrated into the Ajoiner soon after it was formed. Since have settled into abandoned ruins of the realm.
Adrax (ā-dracks)- Enormous foul tempered, and fouler smelling, beasts that inhabit the forests of the Ajoiner Realm. Though they live in colonies headed by one chieftain their vial and aggressive behavior is frequently the cause of their own destruction.
Face stealer- Featureless creature capable of absorbing the features of another. This creature dwells in the darkest places of the world. It claims the body of its victims masquerading as them until ready to begin killing. Scholars theorize that this creature is responsible for serial killings in the Ajoiner Realm.
Acid dweller- Massive reptile with six eyes and lives in an ancient labyrinth. Ages ago a Tyuial cult brought this mystical beast into the Ajoiner Realm to guard their temple. The Tyuials may be gone, but their guardian remains.
Pä-anton-(pa-aan-tahn)- Small creatures often resembling children that live in caves, and hungers for human organs. Proof that appearances can be deceiving.
Waasnut (wah-snoot)- Emorous creatures that appears to be half decomposed. Ancient and powerful things live ben
eathe the earth’s crust, the Waasnut its the greatest among them. Though nearly blind their impressive size and muscular bodies lay waste to those who challenge them.
Giant Spiders- Man hunting trapdoor spiders with retractable spikes on their underbelly. No one knows when or how these beasts came into existance. All anyone knows is to stay away from their den.
Tyuial-(tī-ū-aal)-Born of war thousands of years ago these red giants are devastating warriors. Rows of horns top their head, and it is rumored that they used these horns to skewer their victims in a bloody display of prowess.
Xellic, (zeh-lic)- The first race. Primarily dwells in the Magnus Realm with the exception of rare research outposts in mountainous regions of other realms. These entities are master mages and have a durable exoskeleton.
Gods
Akokios- Last God of the Ajoiner Realm. The details of his murder are unknown, but some believe he gave too freely of his power.
Senkaar- The self-proclaimed god of the Darkness Realm. He will stop at nothing to subject all to his will.
Atax-zauul- God of the Chaos Realm. Also known as the beserker god. The only god still able to traverse his realm.
Magic types
Rending- Render mages have the ability to harness specific elements and use them in combat. Though powerful, they struggle to gain the acceptance of others in the magic community.
Creation- Creator mages have a wide range of uses: building shelters, weapons, food, some can even create animate objects.
Mending- This form of magic reverts broken and lost things to their original form. Highly praised by all, and desperately needed during this time of war.
Necrosing- Magic used by the Kellnox.
Character Sketches
About the Author
Rebekah Carroll spent six years honing her craft before releasing her debut novel “The Ajoiner Realm” of the Defenders of Radiance series.
She considers herself to be merely a witness to the passions of her characters than the author of them. Every twist and turn of the plot blindsided her just as much as any reader, much to the amusement of her unendingly patient—and tragically perfect—husband, Joseph.
When she’s not losing exasperated arguments with her rambunctious creations, she enjoys spoiling her seven-year-old rescue German Shepherd, laughing with family, and loving her sweetheart.
She also hosts a writing blog where she updates fans on the latest news with her work, shares writing advice, and original, hand drawn artwork. www.rebekah-carroll.com. Or follow her on instagram @author_rebekah_carroll.
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