IMMORTAL QUEST
Chapter 3: The Awakening Begins
The following day dawned with a thick mist hanging over Ridgewood, casting an eerie calm over the usually lively town. Scott woke to the sound of his phone buzzing on his nightstand. It was a text from Mia:
Mia: Meet us at the park before school. We need to talk.
Scott groaned, rubbing his face. He was still trying to process everything they'd learned yesterday—the medallion, the figure's cryptic warning, and the book about the Guardians. But one thing was clear: the answers wouldn't find themselves.
Throwing on a hoodie, Scott pocketed the medallion and headed out.
---
At the Park
By the time Scott arrived, the group was already there. Mia paced nervously, her curls bouncing as she gestured animatedly. Derek leaned against a tree, arms crossed, while Allison sat on the bench, scrolling through her phone. Theo and Malia were huddled over a notebook, their heads close together as they whispered.
"You're late," Mia said as Scott approached.
"Again," Allison added without looking up.
Scott ignored them, pulling out the medallion. "Did you find anything else in the book?"
Malia nodded, holding up a page filled with notes. "We think the medallion is one of six. Each one is tied to a Guardian, and together they control the balance between worlds. If the medallions are separated or destroyed, the barrier between worlds weakens."
"And that's bad?" Derek asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Think apocalypse-level bad," Theo replied, his voice calm but serious.
Scott turned the medallion over in his hand. "So, where are the other five?"
"That's the problem," Malia said. "The book didn't say. It just mentioned that the medallions are hidden and that only the chosen can find them."
"Chosen?" Mia repeated, her tone skeptical. "Chosen by who?"
Before anyone could answer, the ground beneath them trembled. A low, rumbling sound filled the air, and the trees around them seemed to sway unnaturally.
"What the—" Derek started, but his words were cut off as a blinding light erupted from the medallion in Scott's hand.
---
The Vision
The light enveloped them, and suddenly, they were no longer in the park.
They stood in a vast, empty expanse, the ground beneath them shimmering like glass. The sky above was a swirling mix of gold and black, and in the distance, six massive pillars rose into the air, each glowing with a different color.
"What is this place?" Allison whispered, her voice echoing.
Before anyone could answer, a figure appeared in front of them. It was the cloaked stranger from the park, but now their hood was pulled back, revealing a woman with striking silver hair and piercing blue eyes.
"You are in the Realm Between," she said, her voice carrying an otherworldly weight. "The place where the balance is maintained."
Scott stepped forward, clutching the medallion. "What do you want from us?"
The woman's gaze settled on him. "It is not what I want, but what the world requires. The medallion has chosen you, Scott Hayes. You and your companions are the Guardians reborn."
"Guardians?" Theo asked, his voice incredulous. "You've got the wrong people. We're just kids."
The woman shook her head. "You are more than you know. The medallions have awakened because the balance is under threat. Forces from the other side are moving, and if they succeed, both worlds will fall."
"Why us?" Mia demanded. "Why not someone who actually knows what they're doing?"
The woman's expression softened. "Because the medallions chose you. Each of you has a role to play, a strength that is vital to the fight ahead. Together, you will find the remaining medallions and stop the darkness from spreading."
---
Back in the Park
The light faded, and they found themselves back in the park, as if nothing had happened. But the weight of what they'd seen and heard was undeniable.
"Well, that was trippy," Derek said, breaking the silence.
Scott turned to the group, his jaw set. "We need to figure out what's happening. If the medallions are connected to us, then we need to find the others before…whatever's coming gets here."
"But how?" Mia asked. "We don't even know where to start."
Theo tapped his notebook thoughtfully. "Maybe we don't need to find the medallions. Maybe they'll find us."
Allison snorted. "Great. Let's just sit around and wait for magical artifacts to drop out of the sky."
Malia, who had been unusually quiet, spoke up. "What if the medallions are drawn to the people who are meant to protect them? Like Scott's was."
Scott nodded slowly. "That means we need to stay alert. If the medallions are out there, they'll come to us eventually."
"But what about the forces trying to stop us?" Derek asked. "The lady said something about darkness spreading. What does that mean?"
No one had an answer, but the unease in the group was palpable.
---
That Evening
Scott sat at his desk, staring at the medallion. The weight of responsibility was already pressing down on him, but he couldn't let it show. His friends were counting on him to lead, even if he had no idea how.
A knock at his window startled him, and he turned to see Mia climbing through.
"Mia?" he asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
She shrugged, settling onto his bed. "Couldn't sleep. Thought you might feel the same."
Scott sighed, leaning back in his chair. "This is…a lot."
"Tell me about it," Mia said. "Yesterday, I was worried about passing my math test. Now, I'm apparently a Guardian of some magical world-saving artifact."
Scott managed a small smile. "You'll be fine. You're the smartest person I know."
Mia rolled her eyes but smiled back. "And you'll figure this out, Scott. You always do."
For a moment, the weight on Scott's shoulders felt a little lighter.
---
This chapter sets the stage for their quest, delves deeper into the group's dynamic, and hints at the challenges ahead.