The Angel of Elydria (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 1)

by A. R. Meyering

  Penny gasped as she realized something. “Hector, if this is true―you said your world was destroyed, right?” She waited to confirm the fact and he nodded. “If all the people on Nelvirna are gone…then according to this theory, there would be no one there to ‘recycle’ the magic and send it to Elydria, would there?”

  “Precisely. I, too, came to the very same conclusion. This explains the shortage of magic in Elydria―the worlds have been thrown off balance. Soon, there won’t be any magic at all here in Elydria because it’s all staying built up on Nelvirna. Magic is the same as mass and energy―it cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed,” Hector proclaimed, his eyes ablaze.

  “Well, this is great then! We can just tell everyone in Elydria why the magic has stopped appearing!” Penny clapped her hands together, but Hector shook his head.

  “It’s not that easy, unfortunately. No one would take this theory seriously, I’m afraid. You see, the existence of these other two worlds―our homes―they’re still only legend. It would be like submitting a theory about UFOs or ghosts. No one has ever been able to travel between worlds like I can. The information gathered in those books is mere speculation and includes accounts given to the people by Nestor. Yes, the Angel,” he repeated when Penny’s face dropped in disbelief.

  “Now, I…I must admit I know a bit more about this than I originally let on. This Angel that the priestesses serve is very much a reality. He is, in fact, a living, breathing entity. The truth is, back on Nelvirna, we had an Angel, too.” He let Penny digest this for a moment.

  “The Angel from Nelvirna was almost identical to this Nestor. He was likewise worshipped by our people as the divine creator of our world. I even saw him once as he addressed the people of my country. I was very young, but I remember it with great clarity.”

  Penny stopped him again. “What was his name?”

  “Seival. He was a good and kind ruler to us―always, without fail or exception. I think it would be fair to say that he loved us…but then one day he simply disappeared. Notice a pattern yet?” Hector grimaced. “I was only around eight years old when it happened, but it still affected each and every one of us. We lived in hope that he would return to us again. Seventeen years later, we were still waiting. But he never came. Nelvirna was reduced to ashes before my eyes and I only narrowly escaped…I still don’t know what happened to Seival,” Hector finished, his face still and his voice monotone. They shared a troubled look.

  HECTOR AND PENNY arrived back at the inn just as twilight was setting in. Neither of them was shocked to find Simon standing close to the innkeeper’s daughter as she worked the front desk. He leaned on the desk, his eyes glued on her. The red-haired beauty was trying her best to concentrate on her job, but kept getting sidetracked by the compliments Simon whispered. Hector yanked him away and Simon yowled in protest as they led him up the stairs. He gave up and blew the girl a tender kiss. She giggled and put her hands over her face.

  “Well, that was uncalled for!” Simon squawked, straightening out his clothing once they were back in their room.

  “Oh, stop your whining. You’ll see her again at dinner,” Penny scolded Simon. He seemed to be satisfied with the prospect of dinner and skittered over to the mirror to trim his goatee.

  Something unfamiliar on the dresser caught Penny’s eye and she picked it up, recognizing it as the same type of poster she had seen on the advertising board near the Business District theater. It showed a handsome man dipping a gorgeous woman with flowing, angelic locks of sleek blonde hair and porcelain skin down into a passionate kiss. Penny read it over, and Hector crept up behind her to read the title. He snickered.

  “What is that? The Cursed Kiss of Anthony Adonis?” he dictated with a short, derisive laugh. Simon realized what they were doing and pushed past Hector, snatching the poster out of Penny’s hands and hugging it to his chest.

  “Don’t you people have any respect for my things? You can’t just go snooping around like that, it’s rude!” he snapped, glancing down at the poster as he ignored their mocking looks.

  “You stole that off the front of the theater, didn’t you? It’s only an ad for a silly play, you know that, right?” Penny teased.

  Simon snorted. “Of course I did, and I know―but just take a look at her!” Simon flashed the poster in Penny’s face and pointed to the doll-like beauty on the front. “She’s ravishing. Absolutely astonishing! I’ve got to behold this unearthly loveliness with my own two eyes. I’ll die if I don’t,” he sputtered, patches of color glowing on his cheeks. Penny shook her head with a scoff.

  Hector rubbed his chin for a moment. “I wonder if I might see that again,” he requested.

  Simon grinned at him, the light of victory creeping into his eyes. “Well, all right. But only for a second. It’s mine, after all.”

  Hector raised his eyebrows and made an interested noise as he studied the poster. “This young lady does have rather captivating characteristics, I must admit. I wonder―”

  Penny snorted in irritation, marched up to them and ripped the poster away. Both Simon and Hector tried to pull it back, their expressions wistful.

  “This is no time to be gawking over some bimbo. We need to plan our next move. Or did her captivating characteristics wipe that from your memories?” Penny snarled, tossing the poster aside.

  Hector blushed and pushed his glasses back up his nose. “Ahem. You’re absolutely right, Penelope,” he agreed.

  “Well, what’s there to talk about? It seems to me that Plan-Man over here is fresh out of ideas.” Simon jerked his head in Hector’s direction. Penny sighed and looked over at Hector, hoping Simon wasn’t right.

  “I am indeed at a loss of what to do,” he admitted, and Penny exhaled.

  “There has to be something.” She was sure this couldn’t be the end of their adventure, but Hector remained nonplussed.

  Simon answered for him, looking as if he thought himself rather profound. “The only thing we can do is to keep going. We’ve just got to keep on living―and hope for a miracle.”

  The first few days at the inn were hard for Penny. The frustration of being stranded and not able to do anything about it threatened to drive her out of her mind, but somewhere in the blur that followed, that notion lost its edge. Though her encounter with Clyde and his father in the Archillion had shaken her, she reasoned that a way forward wasn’t going to come and find her, so she’d have to go looking for it.

  She found it difficult to wander far from the inn at first, but within a few days her eagerness to find answers pushed her out the door. She fetched Humphrey from his stable in the Business District and transferred him to the inn’s private stable, where she learned the proper way to care for an anteloo from Matilda, the innkeeper’s daughter.

  Penny wandered to the open-air market, which was just as alive and vivid as she had remembered. In two hours, she spent every last Yuebell purloined from Hector’s private stash on useless trinkets and exotic foods, like a savory grilled mystery-meat that stung her tongue, vibrant green crunchy puffs stuffed with melted cheeses, and an assortment of refreshing, icy beverages that tasted something like soda floats.

  In a toyshop by the inn, Penny stumbled across a number of phenomenal little magical toys. Her chosen purchase was a miniscule butterfly that acted on the will of the person holding its reactor stone. Penny was pleased to find when she held the stone, the butterfly made a charming whistling sound and brightly flashed every imaginable color. Out of spending money, Penny sat on a bench by a decorative pond and amused herself with the little toy. It moved and looked realistic, reacting to her slightest whim. The fat fish swimming in the pond started jumping, trying to nip at the butterfly, and after one of them came close to achieving its goal, Penny decided she’d better focus on more important things.

  Hector decided it would bring too much unwanted attention if they wore the same things every day, even if the magic sewn into the garments kept them pristinely washed, and bought new clothes fo
r each of them. In addition to everyday wear, Penny persuaded him to get her a blue miniature top hat adorned with a feather and a sweet yellow bow. To her surprise, he also presented her with a tiny star-shaped barrette that changed color to match her outfit. Though a modest gesture, the gift warmed Penny’s heart and she treasured it.

  With indulgences like these, plus the food and lodging expenses, their funds were growing more meager by the day. Hector, who Penny discovered had something of a sweet tooth, was disappointed when he realized how much he’d spent on sampling Elydrian confections. He had to perform his summoning spell once more, and felt guilty for an entire day afterward.

  Simon and Matilda had become something of an item within their first week at the inn. In the same space of time, the magician became insufferable to be around, taking every opportunity imaginable to mention Matilda and his new romance with the certainty of a much longer relationship. Penny discovered with annoyance that Simon seemed incapable of answering a question or speaking as an individual; his singular pronouns changed overnight to plural. Despite their determination to portray themselves as the ideal couple, Penny watched the attraction between the two of them fade in mere days. Penny suspected Simon’s proclamations of happiness were aimed at convincing himself, rather than her or Hector.

  Hector launched himself into a full investigation of how they would get across the ocean to Hulver. It wasn’t long before he located a bookstore down the road from the inn and covertly read all he could in the dark corners of the shop, until the owners noticed and asked if he was planning on buying anything. He found other bookstores and shared fascinating new tidbits about Elydria with Penny every day. His discoveries about the Ages of Elydrian history continued to awe her; the laws and customs of the six different races, nations, and countries across the world, and, of course, cutting edge discoveries in magic and steam technology.

  Penny learned that Elydria was split into four major continents: Ciellios, the Borbarro Islands, Aulbaine and Crescia. Iverton was located on Ciellios, and ruled by humans in the northern region. Far to the west end of Ciellios was a mountainous area inhabited mostly by dragons, which Hector explained weren’t the brutish, fire-snorting beasts from fairytales, but rather a civilized, albeit hot-headed, race with their own unique culture and history. Central Ciellios was where the Nation of Elves could be found, and far to the south was a country of plains and grasslands called Nern.

  To the north of Ciellios were three islands dubbed the Trinity Islands, and it was here that Lord Nestor had lived before his disappearance. Even farther north from these islands was the continent of Aulbaine, origin of the faery race and the nation of Luarpok. The continent Crescia was quite isolated from Ciellios and Aulbaine due to a vast ocean, and it was there the Nations of Goblins and Therios sprawled. Penny also learned the fomorians were a race of brutal sea demons that made their homes in the oceans. They could not survive on land, or in warm or fresh water, but made sea travel and trans-continental trade and relations a challenge. This made the southern Borbarro Islands unique, since it was a tropical and lush there. Due to the temperature, it was the only place on the planet where sea-travel was possible.

  Yet another concern arose when Hector inquired about transport to Hulver one night at the dinner table, and the innkeeper’s family grew stiff and anxious. The goblin and prideful therios races did not coexist harmoniously alongside human or elfin beings. The innkeeper told them in a hushed whisper about the rumors he had heard over the past months at the neighboring pub, explaining that the goblin owners were rumored to be linked with the appearance of wraiths in the Nation, and that there was talk the goblin monarch was responsible. Hector dismissed this later as a load of poppycock, but it didn’t make Penny feel any better about Hulver being their final destination.

  As the days grew colder and grayer, Penny’s bravery increased and she began to explore the other districts of Iverton in hopes of finding something that would give her any information that could lead her home or across the sea. She rode Humphrey through the streets, stopping anywhere that looked promising or interesting. The first few attempts at mingling with the people in pubs or marketplaces took great effort and left her with worn-out nerves. However, after engaging in small-talk with a dragon while standing in line to buy a book for Hector, talking to strangers wasn’t as frightening to her anymore.

  About two weeks into their stay, Penny attempted to visit Armonie at the Grand Cathedral. To her disappointment, she was not allowed past the opulent reception hall of the Grand Cathedral, nor was she permitted to send Armonie a message. She exited the colossal building and set out to explore more of the Royal District, visiting both the Royal Academy and Museum. The Crafter’s Guild was a subject of great curiosity for Penny, and one day she trudged through a light rain to see it. Upon entering, she became fascinated to see a group of crafters at work. Their display was open to the public and Penny watched as a young woman with eyes a shocking shade of blue transformed a hunk of raw magic into a ring that would make the wearer’s voice as loud as if they were speaking into a microphone.

  Running out of ideas and knowing it was a long shot, Penny ventured to the castle. It was a stunning sight. She peeked between the iron bars of the twelve-foot gates barring the castle grounds from the main streets and stood on her tiptoes to see the large gardens and orchards that it hid. Even from a mile away, the castle’s height was staggering. The turrets and steeples rose high, silhouetted deep gray and navy blue against the dense, clouded sky. Penny discovered she was not allowed to enter the castle grounds without an official form. Disappointed, she turned to start her journey back to the inn, and an advertisement caught her eye. She could not read it and struck up a casual conversation with the castle guard to inquire.

  “This is a notice for the King’s Annual Jubilee Ball, little sister,” the plump guard informed her. “It’s a celebration to congratulate our king for another successful year on the throne. All sorts of ambassadors and special guests come from all over the world―they have these sorts of balls in other Nations, too, but of course Iverton’s is the grandest. You’ll need an invitation, though.” Penny thanked him, her curiosity sated as she made her way back to the inn.

  Upon returning, Penny was surprised when Simon broke away from twirling a strand of Matilda’s flaming red hair to follow Penny.

  “Got a minute? I’d like a word,” he murmured halfway up the staircase. Penny frowned, but agreed. They took refuge at the end of the corridor, and Simon shot a shifty gaze around before speaking.

  “Erm, do you remember when we were traveling with Armonie and Madam Elise?” Simon mumbled, looking a bit nervous.

  Penny knew what he was getting at and the memory hit her like a sack of heavy stones. Searching for clues in Iverton had driven the event from her mind, and the ease with which she had forgotten it disturbed her.

  Simon watched her expression and seemed to know they were on the same page. “I’ve been thinking about that quite a bit, have you?”

  Penny shook her head. “It slipped my mind somehow. I’ve been meaning to tell Hector, but―”

  “I, well, I actually told Hector myself,” Simon admitted with a shrug.

  Penny couldn’t help but feel exposed, and a panicked buzzing started in her chest. “Oh,” she replied. “Well, what did he think?”

  Simon looked thoughtful. “Well, don’t discard this theory as soon as you hear it. It sounds a little crazy, but hear it out, okay? Hector and I talked about it, and we both thought―” he fumbled, trying to find the right words, “What I mean to say is―you know how Elydria and Hector’s world have types of crafters or enchanters or that sort of thing.” He gesticulated in a bizarre manner that must have made sense to him.

  Penny thought a moment before answering. “Yeah. Hector told me people from Nelvirna could perform magic by using their intentions to do enchantments and crafters of Elydria can shape physical magic to whichever form they’d like, right?”

  Simon appeared n
ot too concerned with the details. “Yes, yes. Well, it only makes sense that people on Earth should have a certain natural magical ability, too, am I right?”

  “Yeah, Hector mentioned something about that before…had to do with dreams, I think,” Penny said, but Simon was explaining his idea.

  “That thing you did―what if that was you…using magic? What if you saw my memories in a kind of dream?”

  Penny was stunned for a moment, hating to admit that what he was saying sounded plausible.

  “I think it could be a useful asset,” Simon continued. “You should try and take control over it if you can.”

  Penny looked at him in disbelief. “I think you’re getting carried away. That could’ve been a million different things. And even if I did have this ability, how do you suggest I use it?” she challenged.

  Simon went very still, his face devoid of emotion. Penny thought she had stumped him, but felt a low rumble of alarm when he held the expression for a moment too long. Without warning he lunged. Penny yelped as she felt Simon’s hands brush against her face. For a moment there was only bewildered panic, and then a familiar shock descended upon her. A flash of light exploded in her eyes and her vision was bombarded with unfamiliar sights, her heart filling with foreign feelings…

  “SIMON! Look what you’ve done!” a frustrated female voice rang out. There was playful defiance in the young boy’s heart as he watched his mother round the corner and bluster down the hall of a simple country home, her lips tight. He giggled and let out a shriek of wicked joy as he tried to escape from his mother’s grip. She caught him, and he received a furious telling off, her relentless shouts forcing him to turn serious.

  Satisfied that he had become still and respectful, Mother spoke again. “What have you learned, young man?”