35.

  Faelwen

  The world around me bled back into shape. First light, then the trees and the whisper of grass beneath my feet. A narrow path made of grass led to an overgrown ancient sanctuary. Soft morning light filtered through the tall trees, and the grass was dotted with tiny wildflowers.

  The rocky stairs overgrown with moss, led to a stone platform.

  Stone lanterns adorned the side of the path. At the top of the stairs on the platform, stood a monumental sculpture of a colossal hand holding a perfectly smooth sphere. In front of it stood five big boulders in half a circle.

  Behind the sculpture, three towering arches loomed forming a kind of sacred gateway, draped with vines.

  Artemis – my Artemis – held my hand as we approached. His fingers warm and grounding. The familiarity of his touch contrasting the strangeness of this place.

  My gaze drifted upward.

  The sky… gods, the sky was breathtaking. Pale clouds ghosted across a canvas where a red moon glowed beside a full white one, and a smaller nearly-black moon. The sung hung with them, unchallenged, yet the stars shimmered openly, bold as silver fire. Even the planets drifted lazily in the luminous wash of daylight, as if the heavens had peeled open a window into the universe.

  A gentle tug pulled me from my awe. Artemis guided me toward the stone steps. Then suddenly dragged me into the shelter of the lower bushes instead.

  “What are you—”

  “This is the moment I created the other Realms,” he murmured, placing his hand over my lips to silence me. His voice trembled. “We must not be seen. It would distort the timeline.”

  His human form pressed against my back. A strange sensation given I was used to him in his wolf form. But the cadence of his breathing, the pulse of his heart and the subtle growl woven into his whispers… that was the wolf I grew up with. The wolf who had always been there every step of the way.

  Before I could speak, movement on the path caught my eye. A figure in off-white robes strode toward the sanctuary. His footfalls barely grazing the grass.

  A golden wolf mask hid his face, gleaming faintly in the strange daylight. A woman ran after him, her white dress decorated with blue blossoms and her golden hair flowed behind her. A butterfly mask concealed her expression.

  “Artemis!” She called. “Wait! Does it have to be tonight?”

  He did not slow. His robes swayed around him as he climbed the weathered stone steps.

  “Tonight is the celestial alignment of the moons, the sun, and the planets,” he answered briskly. “There is no better moment. The magic peaks during the convergence, Veras.”

  Veras. The name stung with recognition. She is the goddess of the wood, beloved protector of the elves and all other magical creatures.

  “But the celebration… Mother will be furious,” she protested, stopping at the foot of the stairs looking up at Artemis.

  Artemis whirled around, robes flaring in a sweep of white and gold.

  “Your mother was the most enthusiastic about this idea. I doubt she will mind. Go back to the party, Veras, and let me do this before our creator changes his mind.”

  Her hands curled into fists at her sides, shoulders stiffening. Even beneath the mask, her hurt radiated. Behind me, my Artemis tensed.

  “You’re being reckless,” Veras’s voice cracked. “You cannot do this alone. You need us.”

  “She’s right, little brother.”

  Another figure approached. Broader, taller, yet unmistakably cut from the same celestial magic as Artemis. His clothing shimmered in hues of sea-blue and silver. An eagle mask hid his features, except for the icy blue eyes piercing through.

  “Unless you’re here to help, Nendir,” Artemis said sharply, “go back to the celebration.”

  Nendir. The god of the sea. He was a myth, a legend among our kin. Except for the sailors who revered him, believing that offerings left at his shrines granted safe passage across treacherous waters. And here he walked, alive and well. I never thought I would be seeing a myth walking, but then again Artemis being one of the ancient gods was just as shocking.

  He winced. “Can’t this wait? Herdus still feels uneasy about creating new realms. What if we wake Nothingness?”

  “He already agreed,” Artemis snapped. “And I refuse to wait for Herdus to make up his mind. You know how fickle Nothingness is. I want to do this now. I can do this by myself.”

  “Brother, please… I know father is fickle, but maybe Herdus is right. Maybe we should think this more through,” Nendir said, his voice calm. He reached for him gently, but Artemis stepped back, rejecting the touch.

  “Herdus is a lazy bastard who doesn’t want to put in the effort,” Artemis threw back.

  “You’re young, brother,” Nendir replied softly. “Creation demands patience. Perhaps speak with other celestials? There is wisdom in the universes beyond our own.”

  “I’ve learned enough. I’ve studied for thousands of years,” Artemis fired back.

  “Artemis…” Veras whispered, trembling. He ignored her.

  “Don’t you see? I was meant to do this. I cannot remain caged in this realm, wandering without purpose. I want meaning. I want to matter.”

  “You matter to me!” Veras cried, her voice breaking like a snapped bowstring.

  His gaze softened if only slightly seeing her distressed.

  “Then let me have this… before father withdraws his blessing.”

  It was quiet for a moment until Nendir relented with a sigh.

  “Very well, little brother. Let us fulfil your wish.”

  He clapped Artemis’s back in a brotherly way. Veras rushed up the stairs, cupping Artemis’s cheeks.

  “You stubborn wolf,” she murmured with a trembling laugh. “Once your mind is set, no one can sway you.”

  She slipped his mask upward just enough to kiss him.

  “Thank you for doing this,” he whispered.

  Behind me, my Artemis lowered his face against my shoulder, a broken sound catching in his throat. I’d never heard him cry in all the years I knew him. Not once. The great wolf, the ancient guardian, always so steady… undone by his own past. I touched his arm softly as the scene continued.

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  Veras, Artemis, and Nendir stood before the half-circle of boulders.

  “Do you remember the runic signs we created?” Artemis asked.

  They nodded.

  “Rune of Breath,” Veras said. “For life, renewal and awakening.”

  Artemis smiled nodding for her to continue.

  “Rune of Flame,” she continued. “For will, creation and courage. And the Rune of Tides for memory, reflection and transformation.”

  “The Rune of Healing,” Nendir added. “For unity, restoration and truth.”

  “And the Rune of Shadows,” Artemis finished. “For endings, death and descent.” His voice deepened.

  “Good. Then let us create the two new realms.”

  They raised their hands toward the boulders, calling upon their ancient magic. Light gathered at their fingertips – threads of white, gold and deep ocean-blue – before carving the runes directly into the stones. Sparks hissed as the familiar symbols of the Runestones of Creation etched themselves into the rocks.

  Two new realms, they had said. Yet I knew there were three beyond the Second Realm we stood upon.

  I turned to my Artemis, confusion written on my face. He only shook his head, a silent plea to keep watching.

  The next moment the sky broke. A brilliance of colours poured downward in cascading waterfalls. The air vibrated with power so old it felt like the heartbeat of creation itself. The pressure slammed down on us, pushing us toward the earth. My bones groaned. A sharp, splitting ache drilled into my skull.

  I squeezed my eyes shut as bright light engulfed the sanctuary, the magic swirling around the runestones.

  A shrill ringing tore through my ears. I pressed my palms to my head, but it only intensified. My Artemis pulled me close, wrapping himself around me, murmuring soft words of comfort I couldn’t hear through the roar of celestial power. His heartbeat was the only steady thing in the world right now.

  Slowly, agonizingly slow, the ringing faded. The blinding light dimmed to a low white glow. Only when the ringing stopped completely and the blinding light disappeared, my shoulders relaxed and I opened my eyes.

  “Look,” my Artemis whispered into my ear. I lifted my gaze and my mouth fell open.

  His younger self, Veras and Nendir stood before one of the great arches. Their robes whipped in the twirling winds of magic. Colours spiralled around them in chaotic beauty.

  And the archway before them had become a portal, shimmering and alive. Through it, I glimpsed a Realm I had never seen.

  “The First Realm,” my Artemis breathed.

  Then the archway on the right flickered, and another image formed. One I knew with bone-deep familiarity. Verdant pine forests, rolling plains and mountains with snow. The ocean glittering beneath a sky bright with clouds.

  The Mid Realm.

  “Let there be life within these realms,” Nendir declared. He swept his hand through the air, and a ribbon of white magic touched both portals.

  “And dragons!” Artemis added, excitement lighting his face.

  “Don’t let them be mindless beasts, little wolf,” Veras murmured, her fingers brushing his arm with gentle affection. “Give them intelligence, grace and wisdom.”

  Artemis’s smile softened for a heartbeat. Then he shaped his magic, weaving dragons into existence. Veras laughed with pure delight and began crafting her own creations.

  “Mother wanted elves,” she said dreamily.

  “And what did Herdus call those strange ones…?” Nendir mused.

  “Humans,” Artemis said, already forming their essence.

  “But let them evolve naturally,” Veras urged. “Mother was curious how they would develop themselves. Plant the seeds and let them grow.”

  Silence fell as they created. Each of them pouring heart and soul into forming the realms.

  Artemis paused for a moment looking surprised at the creatures Veras had created.

  “What are those?”

  Veras burst into laughter. “Mushrooms,” she declared proudly. “I’ll call them Mushlings. And look…” she pointed at other creatures she’d created. “Sparkling animals!”

  I giggled knowing very well what creatures she’d created. The ones who had attacked Ash after he ‘stole’ their mushrooms.

  “Sweetheart…” Artemis began, but she cut him off.

  “Aren’t they adorable? Let me keep them,” she pleaded, eyes wide behind her butterfly mask. He chuckled helplessly.

  “Of course.” He kissed the top of her head, and she beamed.

  “I think we’re almost done,” Nendir said.

  “But the Mid Realm lies too far for our magic to reach directly,” Artemis noted. “It needs to be sustained by our magic or it will die. Let me…”

  The orb atop his staff ignited in brilliant white. It was that moment I realized I witnessed the birth of the Weave.

  A river of raw power underneath the Mid Realm. He shaped the air, guiding the flow like water until it spilled downward in luminous waterfalls, forming the Weave beneath the Mid Realm. Nendir’s voice cut through the awe.

  “There must also be balance. Other celestials said that without it good and evil will topple. Chaos will consume the world.”

  “Yes,” Artemis agreed. “You’re right.”

  He gathered more magic. The sky dimmed. Clouds thickened with static. A faint stench of death curled into the air like rotting leaves beneath frost.

  “Careful, little brother,” Nendir warned. “You’re taking power from the Abyss. And the Abyss is treacherous.”

  “Just… a little… bit…” Artemis strained. The air turned heavy. Suffocating. Colours dulled. Light drained from the red and white moons and only the black moon remained. The world darkened.

  “Artemis…” Veras whispered, horror weaving into her voice.

  “I… got… this,” he gritted out.

  Veras reached out first, her magic wrapping around his to stabilize him.

  “Artemis, stop! You’re taking too much.”

  Nendir paled and joined her. The air vibrated with their desperation. But it was already too late.

  My heart jolted. I didn’t fully understand what was happening. But the tension in the air told me, something was wrong. The Runestones of Creation shrunk and fell to the ground with a loud thud.

  A dark sphere formed between the first gods growing bigger and bigger.

  “ARTEMIS!” Nendir shouted.

  The orb exploded.

  Darkness surged outward in a violent wave. Artemis lunged toward Veras, shielding her as they were thrown aside. I clenched my jaw.

  “Brother.” I heard my Artemis whisper behind me.

  Nendir stood his ground, arms outstretched, pushing everything he had against the darkness. His magic flickered and faltered. With a silent, agonized scream, his body dissolved into particles of fading light.

  “No…” The word escaped me, shattered and soft.

  My Artemis’s hand clamped over my mouth to silence me, his own body shaking with grief he had carried for centuries.

  The blast rattled us but didn’t tear our souls away as it had done to the gods. We were too far away.

  Artemis’s younger self recovered first. He staggered upright looking around.

  “Nendir?” he called, voice breaking.

  Silence answered him. Through the third archway, a glimpse of the Underworld flickered. Torn open like a wound.

  “What have you done?” Veras whispered as she pushed herself upright. Her voice trembled with devastation.

  Artemis met her gaze, eyes wild with fear.

  “I… created a rift to the Abyss.”

  Shouts echoed in the distance. The others were rushing towards the sanctuary.

  “They’re coming,” Veras said, scrambling to Artemis’s side.

  “I must restore the balance,” he murmured, hollow.

  “I’ll help—”

  “No.” He gently pushed her hands away. “Sweetheart… I must do this alone. It’s too dangerous.”

  “Please, Artemis, don’t leave me,” she begged, reaching for him like someone trying to hold back the tide.

  He stepped beyond her reach and with a flick of his fingers the Runestones of Creation flew towards him, shrinking until they fell like pebbles into his palm.

  He walked over to the portal of the Mid Realm, pausing once – just once – to look back at her.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  And disappeared through the portal. Veras’s scream broke like glass. She collapsed to her knees, grief pouring out of her in a raw, soul-torn sound. My Artemis’s voice trembled. A tear ran down my cheek.

  “Enough of this,” he said.

  The world dissolved. And through time and space, our souls travelled. Stars spun around us in spirals and planets drifted past like distant lanterns. My stomach churned and I clung to Artemis. His arm tightened around me.

  “Almost there, little one,” he murmured, voice steadying me. The pressure faded at last.

  When I opened my eyes, the pine forest greeted us. We were back at the place where we first met.

  Artemis set me down gently, steadying me as my legs wobbled. I dried my tears and sniffed. Finally understanding his heart.

  “Time travel takes a toll,” he said softly. “We need to return before your body collapses.”

  But I had one question still burning in my mind.

  “I still don’t understand why you didn’t tell me.”

  He exhaled slowly, looking away as if ashamed.

  “Because I went to the Mid Realm to fix my mistake. To close the rift. And I failed. The dragons fought war after war under my command against the Underworld’s darkness. The elves, too. And when I thought the darkness had finally quieted… the Fiend rose.”

  His shoulders slumped.

  “So I stopped trying.”

  “Why?” I cupped his face, forcing him to meet my eyes.

  “Because I was ashamed,” he whispered. “I killed my own brother. I tore open a rift to the Abyss. I was a fool to think I could create Realms.”

  “You weren’t a fool.” I brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. “You were a boy with a dream.”

  His laugh was soft, fragile.

  “And now here you are comforting me. You’ve grown, Wen.”

  “I learned from the best,” I said with a small smile.

  He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly.

  “When I met Barnabas, and you, he pushed me to try again. To help him stop the war. He never knew how broken things truly were… but he gave me strength to find my courage and fight the darkness once more. And you…”

  His breath hitched.

  “I never wanted you caught in all this. After everything you’ve suffered. But fate had other plans. All I could do was try to keep you alive, because like it or not… I care for you, Wen.”

  “I know you do, buddy. And I understand now.”

  He let a quiet laugh.

  “I never thought I’d be grateful to hear you call me buddy again.”

  He released me and held out his hand.

  “Come. Let’s return to our bodies.”

  I took his hand without hesitation.

  “Why a wolf?” I asked as we walked. His smile turned wistful.

  “Because Veras came to the Mid Realm often, searching for me. And even though I didn’t want her to find me… part of me wanted her to know I was alive. She checked every wolf she saw. Knowing one of them was me.”

  A warmth spread through my chest.

  “That’s… actually very sweet,” I whispered.