'Get away from him!' Violet yelled, barging past the hooded figures. Her fingers had barely touched Asher's pale skin before a thundering voice called out to us.
'Enough, don't you want your friend to live? If you break this ritual, the boy you knew will be gone forever.'
'Who's there?' I ask, holding on to Violet. 'I said, who's there?'
Brushing away my hand, Violet stormed forward. 'Show yourself, coward.'
'You call me a coward? me?! If not for me, then you'd all be dead by now.'
With forked lightning striking in a perfect circle around Asher, he was now being held within an inescapable prison by sizzling bars of light.
'Listen, your world is in danger.' The voice pleaded.
No longer fermenting with anger, whoever it was, they sounded rather desperate. With gentle footsteps, I could sense that they were approaching us. Striding out from the shadows amidst a forest of red stone stalagmites, I finally see them; a small creature with pointed ears, and it was staring straight at me.
'It-it's you,' I stutter. 'We thought that this was all your doing, examiner.'
The man shook his head dramatically, looking shocked to have had an accusation like that hurled at him in the first place. 'I only arrived in time to see dozens of horses parading around the village streets. I do love horses; they're such majestic creatures. The examiner looked confused for a moment. 'Where was I?'
I rolled my eyes, hoping that he wouldn't see. Then I pointed at the robed figures. 'Why were these people trying to attack Violet?'
The examiner didn't understand my meaning. 'They weren't attacking anyone. They were trying to save her from stampeding horses!' He shuffled forward like a penguin. 'They know nothing of causing harm, young man. They are protectors.'
'Really?'
'Yes! Now, if you'll hear me out. Another student has manipulated the bonds between realms, and they are damaging the fabric of reality. Soon it will be beyond repair. If we don't stop them soon, then-'
'Who'd be stupid enough to try that?'
The Examiner glared at me, looking furious. 'Haven't you been listening to a word that I've said? This wanton destruction is my only reason for being here. Oh, and please stop calling me Examiner! I won't have it. You may call me Professor.'
Violet coughed, covering up laughter.
The man was getting flustered. 'If you must know, my full name is Professor Magnus Melia.'
Strolling past us, the pint-sized Professor wandered over to check on Asher.
'What happened to him?'
Professor Melia sighed. 'My protectors found him lying in a field at the edge of the mountain trail, wounded and delirious. He was babbling about seeing a dragon. Your dragon, as a matter of fact.'
Of course, Avrae would have to be involved somehow. Why wouldn't he be?
Professor Melia held the outside of his palm against Asher's neck to check for a pulse. 'It is no matter; he'll live. Your friend does need rest, though.'
I was relieved; we'd have been devastated if we'd lost Asher. Though, I suddenly felt the urge to interrogate the man further. 'What are these Protectors? And where are they from?'
'I don't have time to explain!'
Violet looked as though she was about to pick the Professor up. 'Please.'
The man sighed, trying to get away from her. 'Fine, I'll make it quick. These people are a remnant species, taken from another realm. They came from Jasper Farhorne's world, and I merely borrowed them when I arrived here. All fifty realms are colliding as we speak, students. I must go now before it's too late!'
Before I could open my mouth to ask something else, the strange professor was gone. As were his so-called protectors, with only the blood smothered body of Asher left lying on the ground.
'Violet, do you know Jasper Farhorne?' I'd never heard of him.
'Yeah, he's one of the final year students. He's a weird boy, collects insects, and likes to subject them to experimental potions.'
I vaguely remembered him now. 'Didn't he always sit alone at lunch, talking to his bugs? Do you think he's the type to want to rule over all fifty realms?'
'That's him, and no, Jasper wouldn't know where to start with ruling over people. Only forty-six suspects left, care to have another guess?'
'Not really. Come on; you must have an incline as to who it might be?'
Violet flushed red. 'My only friends are you, and Asher remember? Ever since that damn incident.'
Violet was once the most popular student in the whole year until a debacle with acne healing potions left her with few friends. The accidental spillage of magical ingredients had resulted in several students being afflicted with bulging warts across their already pimpled faces.
Naturally, with children being children, the victims were ridiculed. Violet received the worst of it, though. I'd always have to remind her that if it'd been me in her shoes, the entire class would have ended up looking like giant toads.
'I guess we'll find out sooner or later.'
Violet was looking around. 'Did you see where our guards went?'
'Sneaky little devils, aren't they? They must have left before Professor Melia showed up.'
'Or they're working together.' Violet replied.
I shrugged, admiring the beauty of the chamber. Giant stalagmites were curving up to form extraordinary sculptures of red stone. And if we weren't desperate for a way out, I'd have relished the opportunity to stay here longer.
We wouldn't have been able to carry Asher and search for hidden passageways simultaneously, so we had no choice but to leave him behind, for now at least. We thought we'd cover more ground if we were to split up, so that's what we did. We had no torches to guide our hunt, only the glint reflecting off of huge stalactites above. The frozen spikes of water were dangling underneath hundred-foot arches of stone, just daring unwitting victims to step closer.
Scurrying rodents were flitting in and out of tiny cracks in the cave walls, and hanging from the highest heights were hundreds of sleeping bats, red-eyed and seemingly docile. The fact that they were asleep didn't do much for calming my nerves, though. I forced my eyes shut, counting down from ten.
Why did it have to be bats?
I noticed a small open shaft set back into the cavern wall, with a tiny bright beam of light shining over the ground like a spot lamp. I couldn't see where the tunnel led to from here, but I knew that this was our only chance. One of us would have to go first, though.
Violet smiled when I showed her. 'I'll stay with Asher then.'
'I knew you'd say that!' Violet had always been afraid of small spaces. It was a miracle that she hadn't passed out already, given how long we'd been stuck down here.
Squeezing through the tight gap, I began to wriggle like an earthworm as I started the climb. Fortunately, the silvery-blue light highlighted every jutting stone and protruding object that could help with my ascent.
The light was blinding, and I was confident that I'd ripped a gaping hole in my pants. I couldn't think about that now, though, one problem at a time. It was amazing what the mind could fixate on during times of stress.
The euphoric sounds of splashing water were encouraging me to claw away at the dirt and rock faster. I was nearly there.
Pushing my arms out first, I found myself floundering around for something else to grab. There wasn't anything, though; I'd finally reached the surface. Yanking myself out with great effort, I rolled into a stagnant pool of murky water. I barely noticed the fact that I was soaking wet again as I stood revelling at the incredible sight before me.
I was peering out at the open sky, basking in the light of the largest moon that I'd ever seen. Jarring me out of my bliss, the hammering of cannon fire shook the walls of the cave around me. I could also hear a calamitous roar and the crackling of a fire, and suddenly, it felt as though the entire cavern was going to collapse.
I stepped closer to the cliff edge, feeling the moisture of passing clouds as they kissed my skin, then I began to wobble the second I realised how high up I was. When I looked down, far beneath my feet, I could see my castle home; it was eerily dark and quiet, though.
I was finally acclimating to the silence when I heard another roar, and my gaze shot up to the sky. Avrae was trying his best to flay the outer shell of a mysterious airship. I couldn't stop staring at the hulk of a vessel, knowing that I'd seen something like it before. It was in a vision, roaming through the strange depths of the castle pool.