Ether Realms: Saving Korvath

Something about the morning felt too still. Morning dew clung to the leaves, each drop sparkling in the light of the twin suns, making the green canopy shine. My friends and I sat on a small hill at the edge of the East Village, my favorite spot. It wasn't much—a rise overlooking the wild—but it felt like everything and offered one of the best views around. Being here always filled my chest with warmth. The suns' rays kissed my skin, and a soft breeze played with my hair. I took a deep breath, drawing in the rich scent of damp soil and sweet flowers. Each inhale deepened my connection to the lively jungle that surrounded me. "Man, this place is really something else," Kaya said, shaking his head in disbelief. Chima, perched on his shoulder, let out a sharp chitter. Her small, nimble fingers clung to his shirt, and her skinny tail—tipped in a deeper shade of blue than the rest of her fur—rested lightly on his arm. Her wide eyes darted around, ears flicking as she took in the view. "I know, right? Sorry I didn't show you guys sooner," I said, grinning. The morning birds cawed, and the insects chirped. I noticed a bug crawling along a leaf—a blue beetle. I held my finger near the leaf. The beetle inspected the unfamiliar object then crawled along it, still stopping every few steps to analyze the mysterious new structure. I raised my finger to my eyes, smiling and examining it closely. It turned to me as if ready to talk. "How many of you guys are there, huh? I see you everywhere," I whispered to the beetle. A soft humming interrupted our one-sided conversation. I checked my surroundings to find the culprit and noticed a shiny gray insect that glistened in the sunslight. It flew around me then hovered in front of my face, radiating warmth. "Hey there," I murmured, raising an eyebrow, "haven't seen one of you before." I gently placed the beetle back on its leaf, but before it could move, another gray insect landed beside it. Then another. And another. The hum grew louder. The air around us buzzed as more of these shiny gray bugs appeared, flitting through the trees and around us. Most kept flying, but the sheer number was unsettling. "Kofi... Uh, are you sure we didn't mess with some hive or something?" Kaya asked, tense. A cold shiver crawled up my spine. "I don't think these are insects," Tola said, standing up and shielding her head. The rest of us followed suit, then it hit us—a deafening sound that rattled the air, cutting through the jungle's peace like a blade. "It's coming from the village!" I shouted. Without thinking, I sprang to my feet and bolted toward the sound. My friends followed, their footsteps pounding behind me. Please don't let it be them. Please. As we grew closer to the village, the screaming became louder and louder. We soon reached the first buildings, where the heavy smell of smoke filled the air, mixed with the bitterness of fear and hysteria. Cries echoed in the distance, along with the sound of metal clashing. Villagers came into sight, running in fear as cybernetic soldiers destroyed everything around them. Wherever they went, rubble appeared. Terrified, I stared in disbelief at the chaos unfolding before me. "Metrolians," Kaya shrieked, his voice trembling. They were everywhere. Dozens of Metrolian soldiers were spread across the village. Their bodies looked similar to ours, but they were fused with metal, like shiny bones on the outside of their skin. Some wore head coverings, while others had wild, unusual hair in colors I couldn't even name. Their angry scowls chilled me. The smoke thickened as I sprinted into the chaos, desperate to find my brother Kenji. But before we could get far, something stepped into our path. A soldier rode in on a sleek, four-legged mech-cheetah. The stories Chief Elder Ma'fora used to tell us flashed through my mind—the mechanical animals from the last invasion, faster and deadlier than anything alive. He'd warned us what would happen if the Metrolians ever returned, but I never imagined I'd see it myself. The mount stalked toward me, its glowing red eyes locked on mine. It moved like a predator, deliberate and hungry—I was the prey. Its mouth opened wide, releasing a distorted roar that rattled my chest. Kenji wasn't here. It was up to me now. "Guys, get behind that tree. Now." Kaya bolted without a word, Chima clinging tightly to his shoulder. "Kofi, are you sure—" "Hurry!" I snapped, cutting Tola off. My feet felt like they were sinking into the ground. My pulse pounded in my ears, and I scratched my arm where an itch had started—a nervous reflex I hadn't even realized I had. Fight, body, fight! This is what we wanted, right? What we've been waiting for! So why won't you move? But my body refused to listen. My legs stayed rooted, frozen in place. The soldier let out a battle cry, and the mech-cheetah leapt, its metal claws glinting in the suns as it lunged. I barely managed to react. At the last moment, the ground beneath me flipped upward, shoving me to the side, out of reach. The soldier's blade missed me by inches. "That was close," I muttered, a shaky breath escaping my lips. I'd pulled off the ground-bending trick I'd been practicing for months, but there was no time to celebrate. The mech-cheetah skidded to a stop and whipped back around, snarling. The soldier's blade caught the light, a sharp reminder that I wasn't out of danger. I couldn't run; the mech-cheetah was too fast. And that trick? The creature was too smart for it to work twice. My chest tightened. I wasn't ready for this. I hadn't trained to fight, not really. Sure, I'd thought about battles before—imagined what I'd do, how I'd win—but standing here, facing an enemy trying to kill me, was nothing like the stories I told myself. "Die, kid!" the soldier shouted and charged. Panicking, I slapped my hands against the ground. I didn't need to do this for my ability, but it was something I got used to doing because I thought it would make my magic stronger. A circular pit opened beneath him, the ground sinking fast. For a moment, I thought I had him, but the soldier jumped clear and closed the distance in a heartbeat. My breath caught in my throat. He was too close, his blade raised to strike. Suddenly, a burst of fire shot from nowhere, slamming into the soldier and his mount with an ear-splitting crack. Their bodies were hurled backward, armor screeching against the ground, before they crumpled into a heap, motionless. I blinked, still disoriented from the blast, the air thick with smoke and the remnants of the explosion. "Kenji," I breathed, my legs buckling. "Kofi, you good?" Kenji called, jogging toward me, his voice steady despite the chaos. "You saved my life," I said, still catching my breath. Kenji smirked. "Don't sweat it, bro. You'll get me back someday." Before I could respond, more soldiers appeared, their mechanical bodies reflecting the sunslight as they marched toward us. Kenji's expression hardened. "Get back to your friends. I'll handle these guys." He reached behind his back in one fluid motion, as if plucking fire from thin air. It was his signature move—Kenji could conjure fire anywhere on his body, but he'd developed a habit of "grabbing" it from behind him. This wasn't for style; the flames he pulled in this way burned hotter, perfect for forging his fire weapons. Three four-armed soldiers lunged at him. One swung a massive fist, but Kenji sidestepped with ease, countering in a single motion as he drove a blazing dagger into his chest. The others charged only to meet the same fate. He danced through the battlefield, his movements sharp and precise, dispatching the hulking soldiers without taking a single hit. My jaw dropped as I watched. Kenji wasn't merely fighting—he was performing, every strike and dodge a flawless display of strength and skill. I looked up to Kenji not only because he was my older brother, but because he was the strongest fire mage in the village. Honestly, I thought he was the strongest fighter in the entire East Village. Everyone looked up to him like a leader, even though he didn't have an official title. I wanted to be like him someday—a fighter people could rely on and look up to. The soldiers rolled on the ground, clutching their wounds and groaning in pain. With a loud clang, Kenji kicked one aside. "That was amazing, Kenji!" Tola called. "I know! Did you see when he—" Kaya started, his voice full of excitement. I stood frozen, speechless. I'd seen Kenji fight before, but that had been training. He'd never gone all out like this. This was him giving it his all—and it was incredible. But as awe-inspiring as it was, it also stung. He had to save me. Again. Obviously, I was grateful he'd saved my life, but relying on him wasn't enough anymore. I couldn't keep being the one who needed saving. If I couldn't protect my friends when it mattered, what kind of leader could I ever hope to be? I clenched my fists. I had to get better. I would get better. "Guys, stay close and follow me," Kenji ordered, leading us deeper into the village. The sounds of battle grew quieter as we moved, and we saw no soldiers. Suddenly, the loud noise we had heard earlier blared again, echoing through the village. We finally reached the village center but saw no sign of soldiers. Had they left? Villagers were walking to and fro, focused on getting things back in order. The injured were receiving care. Water mages were putting out the fires. Some of the fighters were scouting around, looking for any Metrolian stragglers. There was a lot of hurried chatter. "Kenji! Did we win?" I asked, trying to get some confirmation. He grinned. His broad shoulders and strong arms were a testament to his hard training, and his confident smile was as infectious as ever. I hoped I looked like him when I grew up. "Of course we won. We're much stronger than them! That was easy. I know that must have been scary for you guys. The last time they invaded us like that, I was a little younger than you. The way you stuck up for your friends was brave, bro. I'm proud of you. Thank the Beasts I made it in time." "Do you think Dad would be proud too?" I asked. Kenji's eyes darkened, and he pulled me to the side, whispering so that only I could hear. "What did I tell you about mentioning him? You know what he did. Remember? So please try to forget about that traitor. I know it's hard, but trust me, okay? I'm proud of you. That's all that matters." A sharp pain hit me. Dad's now-fading face lingered in my mind. I took a deep breath, struggling against the flood of memories that threatened to pull me under. "Okay," I said, and we rejoined my friends. "Do you have any idea what that insane noise was, Kenji? My ears are still ringing," Kaya asked, cupping his hands over them like that would help. Chima did the same. "It's some kind of Metrolian teleportation light," he explained. "I don't really get how it works, but a huge beam came down from the sky, and like fifty troops showed up. I'm guessing that's how they left too." Tola frowned, looking confused. "So...magic?" Kenji shot her a look. "No way! What they do isn't magic. It's some messed-up metal tech they use for evil. Magic's supposed to be for good. We don't use it to hurt innocent people, like they do to us. Good always conquers evil—that's why we always win. Anyway, don't get them mixed up. Tech and magic are nothing alike." One of the fighters shouted, "We searched the entire village! There's no more of them!" The villagers cheered—we had officially won the battle. But as their cries echoed in my ears, my eyes remained fixed on the smoldering ruins of our once-beautiful village. Their voices rose in victory, but all I saw were the injured, the crumbled houses, the ashen remnants of the life we'd built. Was this what winning felt like? Was this truly a time for celebration? Our village was destroyed—pointlessly. What had we done to deserve this? Though I was proud we'd managed to fend them off, I couldn't help but wonder why it had to happen at all. Metrolia had to be stopped—for good. I had to get stronger, like Kenji, so I could prevent something like this from ever happening again.