It is time for an adventure.

The carriages were ready the next morning and Grand Duke of Florent himbly accepts to take the reins of the kingdom promising he would send a bird if anything would happen.

Just as we were to depart, a man with crazed eyes dressed in worn out robes begins shouting in the middle of the the royal courtyard.

“Your Majesty, before you depart I would like to wish you a safe journey and not to worry, at your return I promise there would be willing candidates for you, for Eydollon!”

He leaves with a backward wink and disappears into the crowded street.

I have never seen the man before. The sacrifices were discreetly handled by my personal guards. This didn’t bode well for my return.

Inside the carriage, I could feel Kera watching me but I focus on the messenger faking ignorance.

“Tell me, messenger, what is your name and how long will this journey to the Evergreen be?”

“Mm-Matheus,” fixing his extra crisp collar.

He looks to Kera for support, she smiles and nods.

He takes a breath and begins again, “I am Matheus, an emissary from the Evergreen of Seers Island. We would have to pass the kingdom of Gayala and enter the kingdom of Uvelin that has a large port where an Evergreen ship is waiting for us. It make take a month.”

“I see, perhaps you should entertain us with what you know of Eydollon and the lands we shall pass.” glancing at who Kera perks up in interest.

Matheus nods eagerly; glad to have something to do to pass the time.

Ahead of us the streets of Eydollon’s main city fall into a lone road shrouded with tall trees. For miles, the woods go, and I could feel the creatures that hide behind the branches, watching us.

It shifts back and forth between woods and villages until the wall I built rises before us. It feels oppressive. I had not noticed that before. I let my soul drift, sending tendrils towards the wall feeling it’s deep roots below the earth. I feel the vibration between the particles and begin separating them farther apart inserting a part of my essence flowing through to keep its strength against magical attacks. The wall dissolves from the sky.

Kera and the Matheus react with surprise.

“It is still there,” I say smiling, “I only made it clear. It looked ominous.” I comment nearly to myself.

As we pass through the gates of the wall, it begins to appear again like a mirror illusion.

“Wow.” Kera murmurs, “That’s freaking awesome!”

Matheus and I look at her strangely.

“I meant that’s amazing?” she reiterates.

I smile, “It is. For Eydollon, it is home, it must be kept safe for my people. They may despise me but I would do anything for Eydollon.”

I feel Kera glance at me. Mattheus coughs calling for our attention.

“We have entered the Kingdom of Gayala. Queen Aya is a kind and fair Queen.  She and her sons will be joining us on the ship to Seers Island.”

“You say a queen rules these lands?” I ask.

“She has ruled after her husband’s death until her eldest son is ready to be King.”

“People must love her a lot,” Kera states eyeing the statues of a striking woman made out plants and covered in flowers.

Matheus laughs, “That isn’t the queen of Gayala! That is Akamara.”

“Akamara?” Kera asks.

 “Yes, Akamara, how do you not know this? She is the source of all existence, the beginning of all things true and honest.”

“I see.” She begins, “I never was the religious type, so I must have missed it.”

Matheus gives her a curious look over. “Do you know of Khaos?”

She takes her eyes off the street and sits back on her seat.

“No, but I’m guessing it’s the villain, every world has one.” She answers.

Matheus frowns, “Khaos is the God of trials, not a villain, you must be careful what you speak Kera!” he warns.

“Uh-huh, after Gayala which kingdom do we pass?” Kera asks brushing him off.

The messengers face darkens with worry but answers her.

“Well, as the Kingdom of Gayala believes in Akamara. Beside it is the one who believes in Khaos. The Kingdom of Uvelin where dark creatures run rampant.”

Yes, I know of the Skotos, those had been the creatures sent to attack my kingdom. They are creatures of the dark that lurk in the shadows.

If you were not careful, they could enter your body in moments of weakness or if welcomed in by a bargain that cannot or ever be fulfilled.

They can live inside you without your knowledge. They like to whisper in your mind and urge dark deeds.

“We will be safe, each carriage has its medallion,” I say comforting them and myself. I had enough darkness lurking inside me.

Matheus nods, “I had seen the Skotos medallion outside the carriage; it should avert them from going near us.”

The Skotos medallion was made of pure silver embedded with a snake tangled with a dandelion seed.

The silver was not what protected the bearer.

After the attempt on my kingdom, the Skotos that attacked my wall was inadvertently turned into their opposite essence.

Leukos, spirits of light that bear strands of iridescent light on their head like dandelion seeds. Harvested delicately, each strand is encased in silver and pressed with the symbol.

The creation of that wall was my greatest gift, but it took a considerable amount of my essence.

“Is the King of Uvelin going to the Evergreen?” I ask rubbing a ring, within strands of the Leukos are encased in crystal.

“King Ubel of Uvelin would be in the gathering too. He invited himself.”

(Catch Part VI of the Faceless Queen Tomorrow!)