(For New readers only, please read chapter 1 after chapter 43 of this book)
Francis was bewildered at the incredible sight and gape his mouth in utter shock and disbelief.
"Who are you? You told me you can help me find answers about my late father?", Francis asked when his speech finally came back to him, and impatiently inquired for he was despe rate in his search for ways to solve his problems.
"Yes, I can actually help you", the hooded figure replied and continued, "You will get to know everything once you follow me back to the realm called Asteria and into the city of Wintera",
"Okay, then why do you hide your face?", asked Francis quite suspicious of the unknown figure,
"All right, I'll remove my cape but don't be afraid when you see my face", replied the figure and then removed its cape revealing a woman-like creature with a blue-coloured skin which glittered like crystal glass, her hair was well style and drawn upwards which was held together by a long silver hairpin. She also had a pretty face that reveals her blue lips while her eyes were green. Her purple cloak covered her slender body.
"whoa! What are you? You aren't human! Or are you just wearing a costume?", he exclaimed in utter shock when he saw her face,
"No, I aren't putting on any costume, this is my real self and you can now see why I had to keep myself hidden from you by wearing this purple cloak", she replied and then continued her speech, "I'm Zari, one of the elder council members from the land of Wintera, your father was one of us before he left to dwell in the human realm after sustaining serious injuries from the quest to find the ancient but powerful sword of Zoa that was lost hundred years ago. Your father was the only survivor of that mission and the only one that had the clues to its original location but he only gave us half and the other, he implanted it inside you when you were still a baby",
"So that's why I have been having terrible nightmare", he said shaking his head with frustration,
"Exactly, that's the reason why I am here to take you back to where you truly belong for I can sense you also possess his powers", she said and then waved her staff slightly transforming Francis into his true form,
"What have you done to my body? Can't you see I feel like a freak? What happened to my human body?", he asked looking all over his body with utter surprise after looking at his face on a medium sized mirror fixed on the wall close to his small wardrobe filled with fishing suits and equipments, for his skin had turned to blue that instance, and his face was had totally changed shape for his nose was a bit longer, his lips were blue while his eyes were green and had thick long hair which reached his back. Although Francis listen to her, he could not truly believe what she said until when himself had been transformed.
"You aren't a freak, I only used my powers to bring out your hidden form while your human form is locked inside you, but for now let's go back to Wintera where I'll explain everything to you need to know concerning your father and the journey to recover the sword of Zoa along with four chosen warriors from other selected tribes in the realm for you will be trained for this crucial mission to stop the dark lord named Vedon, leader of the Zekian tribes, and also to use the remaining clues inside you in order to create a map to its true location", she replied and continued again, "So now let's go", then she turned around and was about to wave her staff when Francis said, "Are we really leaving right now, but I have no clothes",
"Don't worry about that since it will be taken care of when we get there", she replied,
"Okay, but why can't I follow you in my human form", he quickly asked giving himself an awkward look,
"You can't enter the realm with your human body because the atmospheric pressure in the realm is much stronger than the frailty of the human body, only creatures born or possess the capability of withstand it can dwell there and besides you have to disguise yourself in order to be free from any evil attack", she answered. Then almost immediately, she waved her staff opening a round portal that touched the ground, emitting cool but tinkling wind.
Francis felt like falling down into a deep chasm when he entered the portal. he later saw himself lying on the cold ground and couldn't seem to recall what had happened moments ago. He got up and saw Zari standing a little distance away from him. Then he walked up to her and saw a long icy path stretching far between two snowy mountains into a distant gate where a queue stood waiting to enter into it.
He could see the bystanders clearly line-up at the gate and also noticed the enormous height of the gate held together by thick ice at both sides, surrounded by a white aura that almost touched the pale white sky.
After looking at the fascinating scene with his mouth gaped open, he rubbed his green eyes to check his sight for what he saw appeared closer to him than the actual far distance.
"How is this possible?", he asked himself,
"That's one of the powers those who belong to the Wols tribe possess which also your father and I both have since we too belong to the same tribe", Zari explained and began walk
walking along the path,
"We better hurry before they close the gate", she said as she continued walking and bringing Francis back to reality.
"By the way ma'am, why's there a white aura surrounding the perimeter of the gate", he asked as he tried to hasten his footstep to catch up with her surprising fast pace which he found amazing.
"Well, that's a force field to safeguard the people inside from evil attacks from evil creatures including those who Harbor evil intentions", she replied as they continued to walk.
"Okay, so those creatures waiting to pass through the gate are presently checked before entry, aren't they?", he inquired again when they drew closer to the two mountains covered by crystal trees.
"That's right, they have to do that to ensure the safety of the people inside because of the Zek tribes led by Vedon, that wreck havoc in the realm including his minions who possess the ability to shapeshift into any creature or form", she explained again to him,
Then they passed through the Mountain and finally reached the gate where some creatures were queued up to enter the city and they were from different tribes scattered throughout the realm.
At the front was a male Sajura who wore a green cloak that covered his inner garment and held two bags on his right shoulder with his left arm and held a a sheathed sword on his right arm,
Behind him was a small hairy Motclux who carried a small black bag which he held with his right hand and had a lot of brownish hairs that ran down his body. He wore a grey cloak that covered his inner clothes that seems to emit liquid substance to his head on which, he wore a red leather hat and also had black teeth that were sharp together with two pointed came outside his mouth while a strand of his hair caress his long nose.
As they got to the gate, Francis was bit frightened at the sight of some of the monstrous creatures among the queue especially at a one-eyed Gadrion that was ten feet tall, enabling him to see high above the other creatures and have two twisted horn.
"Hurry up, there's no time to wase", Zero shouted at him for he had fallen behind ever since they reached the impatient queue. After arriving at the guard post, Zari met a new guard that wore a blue-coloured uniform covering most part of his green skin and held a long spear. He was among the new recruits and was assigned to guard the West gate not long after partaking in a duel and he wasn't aware who zanu was,
"Why aren't you waiting for your turn at the back of the line?", he quickly asked the moment he saw her for he thought she wanted to enter the city for the first time,
"It seems you are new here", she asked evading his question,
"Yes I am, how do you know that?", he asked looking perplexed,
"And you must be Australia, right?", she asked again, this time Anutra nodded now more confused,
"Looks like you aren't aware who I am, I was present at the last Azu duel march held last winter among the Baku Council, and I saw you partook in that event between the Doxa and Vasha warriors, you came seventh in the end, and It seems that you were assigned to guard the West gate", she said smirking at him.
Immediately after she spoke, the commanser-in-charge of the gate, who knew her and had been watching them from the command post at the top of the gate, screamed aloud,
"Anutra! Let her pass through for she is one of the Baku Council members", and at once Anutra knelt down saying,
"Pardon me, your grace for my impudent attitude", and Francis who had fallen behind, finally arrived at that moment.
"Get up now for no harm shall befall you so don't fret", she said politely,
Then he got up from the ground and cried out loudly,"Open the gate! ", and it was opened revealing some passers-by, distant tall erected buildings and strange flying objects moving round them.
" Welcome back to Wintera, ma'am", he said with embarrassment due to his earlier attitude towards her,
"Thank you and do you mind accompanying me to the capital", she asked him,
"No, I don't mind but I need to take permission first", he replied,
"Your permission to leave is granted Anutra, return back when you get there and hurry now for the council members await your arrival; I will also inform them", said the commander,
"Thank you very much commander", she said more politely together with a customary greeting which surprised Francis.
Then Anutra quickly brought three lycan horses which they mounted on and rode to the capital with the horse kicking up snow dust.