Nyveen
Shattering! Something’s breaking, harder than glass, softer than metal. I felt a rush of air hit me as if I hadn’t breathed in so long! I coughed and lifted my upper body off the ground. Scanning my surroundings I found a man in a green, feathered cloak with a blonde, green-eyed, and widely grinning girl next to him.
“Are you ok?” A green cloaked figure inquired.
Awake for a second but yeah, sure I’m ok.
“And you are-?” I planted my feet under me and slowly steadied myself to stand.
“You’re finally free,” he said solemnly.
And that’s awe inspiring, but that doesn’t answer my question.
“Are you talking to me?” I raised my eyebrow, and finished straightening my spine.
“Yes, Nyveen. You are awake.” He said it with much relief.
I noticed.
“You’ve been in there for a long time,” he began.
“The glass thing?” I slowly tilted my head to stretch my neck a bit. Stiffness refused to let go. How long is a long time?!
“Yes,” he answered. I supposed I appreciated the short answers for the moment. It didn’t involve too much thought.
“Where am I? Who are you?” I tilted my head to the other side.
“You don’t know?” he sounded almost hurt.
“Uh, no, sorry. I, uh, um . . .” My mind went blank. The girl standing next to him seemed to be in the same state as I. She copied my motions, and found the same soreness as I.
“Come with me. I’ll see to it that you and Nova are safe.” He promised, offering his hand to me. I accepted and followed. The cloaked man’s pace began to pick up. I followed suit.
“AFTER THEM!!! DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY!” Voices called in the background. I had awakened, and now ran for my short life through a dark forest.
“Who’s chasing us?!” I asked.
“They may catch us eventually, unless you two use your power. Does this area seem familiar?” he asked.
“Uh, no,” I replied. A blast of power clocked me out of myself.
I later opened my eyes to a green cloth hanging over me by four wooden, decoratively carved poles on the four corners of the bed. The blanket was a dark red of a light material. Pillows behind my head alternated between red and green.
Weird, hm.
I sat up and scanned around at the white stone room. I looked behind me to see a girl with curly, short blonde hair and peach colored skin in a green frill-draped, one-shoulder top and covered by the blankets from her waist down. I tip-toed across the room, slowly opened the door, and quietly closed it shut.
“So, you’re finally awake.” I jumped. “There’s no need to be alarmed. You haven’t been awake long enough to recognize me.” I broke eye contact despite that his hood kept his eyes hidden, and noted for the first time that I was not wearing shoes. I wore a black, knee length skirt, with the ends all shredded and a red top with the strap over my left shoulder. “That is, until today,” he finished.
“I’m sorry, you are-?” I couldn’t see his face, and he dressed in an elaborate green cloak of feathers, and amethyst crystal.
“I am your Oracle. Do you truly remember nothing?” he asked. We were getting somewhere.
“I . . . I don’t.” I sadly shook my head. I tried to see if I could remember. “You were there . . . when I woke up.” My brain began to knock on my skull.
“Do not strain yourself, you’ve been asleep for a long time.”
Why all the vague comments?
“How long have I been asleep?” I tilted my head to loosen my neck.
“About 100 days after you created your realm,” he said calmly. My jaw hit the floor. I took some time to collect it and set it back into place.
“One-one-one-100 days!” I exclaimed in surprise.
“You don’t remember that either?” he inquired.
“I-well, no,” I answered.
“In short, this is your world, only those with a ‘key’ may enter your world,” he began.
“Mine?” I scanned the green, red and blue dream like realm around us. ‘Really? My realm? Are we sure I’m awake?’
“Yours and another’s; it’s a shared world,” he continued and let that sink in. My body seemed to vibrate with a need for something. ′Could I ask him? No. I’m sure he’s already done so much for me.′ I felt a rush of ease and comfort run through me. I inhaled and exhaled, feeling much better.
“Feel better? It’s Life Essence. You have to tell us when you’re craving it. If you get too weak, your Life Essence will diminish and you will die. So please, do not hesitate to ask,” he explained. ’Oh, don’t worry. I won’t ask. Being a burden is not in my personality description.′
“What your body needs is Life Essence. Plants, objects, fire; all of these things have Essence, which must be absorbed by you and the ‘other’ in order to live. Only those with capable powers may gather Essence for you two. Go meet your bodyguards. They are scattered throughout this domain.” I gave him a sharp nod.
“Thank you for your explanation,” I said gratefully. He continued down the hall and turned a corner. I went down the other direction of the hall, passed this huge Grand Hall, and out towards the Courtyard. Everything had a slight green tint, but the fountain and the flowers themselves were blue and crystal-like. It was a beauty beyond words. I stumbled upon a young man with short, spiky blonde hair, big, dark blue eyes, and tannish-pale skin in Arabian-royal, white clothes.
‘Perhaps I should move on.’ I backed up from around the corner I turned and tried to leave.
“Hey! Good to see you awake,” he said. I spun around, to face him.
“Are you one of my guards? I’m Nyveen,” I put my hands together.
“I am. Who else did you expect me to be?” he smile shortly, and I gave him a once over.
“The Oracle mentioned I wasn’t alone here and I thought I’d come say hello.”
“The Oracle filled you in? I guess I don’t have to explain anything then. I’m a little surprised you woke up so quickly, though,” he mentioned.
“A hundred days is a VERY long time, Blondie.” I lightly teased back. He his small short smiled returned.
“All the same, it’s good to know you’re awake and exploring around. For the sake of us, don’t ever leave this realm; it’s dangerous outside.” He requested calmly, but his tone was a warning in itself.
“No problem. I like it here, it’s so serene and safe.” I assuaged.
“You don’t have to worry about anything, think of me as extra security; I’ll protect you. You look a little shaky, here. I have some Essence for you.” I absorbed a feeling of ease.
“I guess it’s like food for you.” He surmised. Gold glitter rained from his hands.
“I’m not normal?” It was nice to be gifted more than one source of information.
“Well, I didn’t mean- . . . people outside of your realm are more likely to capture what isn’t perceived as normal. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He said.
“Aw, you’re so sweet.” To his surprise, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and squeezed a little. He patted my back, accepting the surprise hug-attack.
“I’m Rune.” He introduced himself.
“Nyveen, but you already knew that. And I’m repeating. I’ll just . . .uh, go. Bye!” He didn’t stop me when I made my way, quickly, back into the corridor. I closed the door and breathed. I cut through the Grand Hall to explore more of the castle. ′Maybe I’ll find a shortcut to the bedrooms or something.′ I looked up at the upstairs hall to see a dark figure with a single, visible red eye. It looked down at me and a small shiver ran up my spine. I looked away so as not to be a bother to it, or waste its time. I crossed the hall, going into this sectioned off place in the building. A girl with bright green eyes, her blonde hair in pigtails, and wearing a tan dress was wandering the halls of this place.
“Oh?” She faced me. “Aren’t you . . .?”
’There’s finally someone else around!′ More relief flooded me.
“Nyveen!? You’re awake!” She said in surprise.
“You must be one of my body guards.” I guessed, and the relief fled.
“I am, do I look the part?” she asked. She had long blonde hair in pig tails, bright green eyes in a beige robe over a pink slip, with a matching pink bow on her collar.
’Well, ah no.′
“You are brilliantly deceptive." I winked at her. She giggled.
“Hehe, no one else would guess I’m a bodyguard, but I am. You can count on me, ok?” she assured.
“You already know me, but who are you?” I asked.
“I’m Aysel. This is the Chapel. The Death Monument is just beyond those doors. You’re in need of some Essence.” The feeling of ease and peace ran through me once again. 'I’m going to be good for a while at this rate.'
I found everyone’s room: Aysel’s, Rune’s, a third one, and lastly the Oracle’s. I thought about going up to the door and knocking, but I decided against it. Instead, I went back to my room to check on the sleeping girl. It took me a while but I found my way back. I walked into the room and carefully closed the door behind myself. I felt a draining sensation hit me hard. I slowly tried to make my way to the bed, but I don’t remember if I made it or not.
