Chapter 89: Path to the fea realm

Chapter 89: Path to the fea realm "Bring the divided book," Queen Elena commanded, her voice cutting through the tense silence that had fallen over the room. Her eyes remained fixed on Commander Maria, who nodded once before departing swiftly. Lyra watched the Thornvale queen carefully, noting the subtle shift in her demeanor. There was something in Elena’s expression—a tightness around her eyes, a tension in her jaw—that suggested she knew more than she had previously revealed. ’She recognized the name of this realm immediately,’ Lyra thought. ’What else does she know that she hasn’t shared?’ Commander Maria returned moments later, carrying the ancient tome wrapped in protective cloth. She placed it reverently on the table before Elena, who unwrapped it with careful hands. "The Fea realm," Elena began, her fingers tracing the weathered edges of the torn book, "is mentioned in our oldest texts. Not as a physical place that can be found on any map, but as a space between spaces." She opened the book to a particular page, where faded illustrations depicted a strange landscape of impossible architecture—buildings that seemed to defy gravity, structures that merged with their natural surroundings in ways that shouldn’t be possible. "According to this text, the Fea realm exists in parallel to our own, accessible only through specific nexus points where the barriers between worlds grow thin," Elena continued, her voice taking on a scholarly tone. "Few have ever entered it willingly—and fewer still have returned." Elysia leaned forward, studying the illustrations with growing concern. "And the warriors of this realm? What does your book say of them?" Elena turned another page, revealing detailed sketches of tall, elegant warriors with markings similar to ritual scarification across their bodies. "They are formidable beyond measure," she said grimly. "Trained from birth in combat techniques our warriors would find alien. Their strength doesn’t lie in numbers but in their individual power." Her finger traced the image of a warrior with a symbol etched into her forehead. "And then there are those the text refers to as ’the marked ones’—the top seven. Elite warriors, each bearing a number that designates their rank and the element they control." "Kiran is part of this top seven," Elysia said softly, her voice tight with anger. "She must be." Elena nodded. "Yes. The text speaks of them as extensions of their leader’s will—fanatics who have surrendered themselves completely to the First Eternal’s purpose." "And what is that purpose?" Lyra asked, her voice calm despite the growing dread in her chest. Elena hesitated, turning several more pages until she found what she was looking for. The illustration showed a figure surrounded by swirling darkness, arms outstretched as if embracing the chaos around her. "According to this text, Kaida—the First Eternal—believes she is restoring balance to the world," Elena explained, her expression grave. "She sees the elemental abilities of our kingdoms as a corruption of the natural order. Her goal is to seal the nexus points that allow elemental energy to flow between realms, consolidating all power in herself and her chosen few." A shocked silence fell over the room as the implications became clear. "She would strip us of our elements?" Nari finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Worse," Elena replied. "She would ensure no new elemental users are ever born, creating a world where only she and her followers possess such power." "That’s madness," Mika spat, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "How does she expect to accomplish such a thing?" "Through the Veilwalker," Elysia answered, the pieces finally falling into place. "That’s why she needs Eren—his ability to walk between the veils of reality makes him essential to her plan." "But why take Viva?" Lyra questioned, her tactical mind already searching for the logic. "She’s an illusion user, not a Veilwalker." Mika’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing in sudden realization. "The TUNA ritual," she stated flatly. "Viva knows how it works. She’s witnessed it before when the Veilwalker performed it in Thornvale." "She would be the perfect guide," Maria agreed, her expression darkening. "Someone who could explain the intricacies without requiring the Veilwalker to cooperate willingly." "So they could force him to complete the ritual under their control," Elysia concluded, her voice hollow with dread. "And how are we to get into the Fea realm?" Lyra asked, turning back to the ancient book. "If it exists between worlds, there must be a way to access it." Elena continued turning pages, scanning the text with increasing frustration. "The book speaks of entry points, but in vague terms. It—wait." She paused, her finger hovering over a particular passage. "Here." The others gathered closer as Elena illuminated a section of text beside an illustration of what appeared to be a kingdom built into the side of a mountain. The structure was massive, with sweeping architecture that blended seamlessly with the natural formation, but strangely, no name was given to identify it. "’Deep beneath the silver throne lies the path between worlds,’" Elena read aloud, her brow furrowed in concentration. "’Where water meets stone and light never reaches, there the veil grows thin enough to pierce.’" "The silver throne?" Seril questioned, glancing around at the others. "Is that a reference to a specific location?" No one answered immediately, each lost in thought as they tried to decipher the cryptic clue. "There are many thrones across the kingdoms," Maria said finally. "Without more information, this could refer to dozens of locations." Lyra hadn’t spoken, her attention caught by something in the illustration that the others seemed to have overlooked. She studied the image carefully, noting the particular way the light fell across the mountain kingdom, the specific angle of the architecture. Without a word, she reached for the book, pulling it closer. Then, surprising everyone present, she lifted the tome toward the window where the morning sunlight streamed into the room. "Princess Lyra, what are you doing?" Elysia asked, watching her daughter with confusion. Lyra didn’t respond, tilting the book slightly so that the sunlight hit the page at precisely the right angle. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, gradually, previously invisible lines began to appear across the page—a hidden illustration revealed only when exposed to direct light. "Look," Lyra said softly, setting the book back on the table where the sunlight still illuminated the hidden markings. The others leaned forward, eyes widening as they saw what had been concealed. The light revealed additional details in the illustration—specifically, a series of runes etched around the base of what now clearly resembled the Moonlight Palace itself. "It’s here," Lyra whispered, her voice filled with wonder and dread in equal measure. "The entry to the Fea realm is beneath the Moonlight Palace." As she traced the runes with her finger, following their intricate pattern, she felt something sharp slice across her fingertip. Lyra pulled back with a small gasp, a thin line of red welling up on her skin. "Are you all right?" Elysia moved toward her daughter, but Lyra’s attention remained fixed on the book. The drop of blood that had fallen onto the page didn’t stain the ancient parchment as expected. Instead, it seemed to be absorbed into the material, disappearing completely as the runes began to glow with a faint silver light. A low rumbling sound filled the room, emanating not from the book but from the floor beneath their feet. The stone flagstones near the eastern wall began to shift, grinding against one another as they rearranged themselves, revealing a narrow staircase that descended into darkness. "Blood magic," Elena breathed, her eyes wide with realization. "The oldest form of key." "My blood," Lyra said quietly, staring at her cut finger with newfound understanding. "Why did it respond to me?" The others exchanged confused glances. Seril’s brow furrowed as she studied Lyra with newfound interest. Nari took an instinctive step back from the glowing runes, her hand reaching for a weapon that wasn’t there. "That’s a question for another time," Maria cut in sharply, drawing everyone’s attention back to the immediate situation. "Right now, all that matters is that it opened. We have our way into the Fea realm." Mika nodded in agreement, though her eyes lingered on Lyra with undisguised suspicion. "Focus on what’s important. Eren and Viva need us." "So it was here all this time," Elysia interrupted, staring at the hidden passage with disbelief. "The way to save the Veilwalker." The assembled group stood in stunned silence, gazing down into the darkness that had been concealed beneath their feet all along. Maria was the first to recover, drawing her sword with practiced efficiency. "I’ll go first," she stated, no room for argument in her tone. "No," Elena countered, closing the ancient book carefully. "We need to prepare properly before venturing into the Fea realm. The text warns of guardians and traps set to deter unwelcome visitors." "But Eren—the Veilwalker—is there now," Elysia protested, her maternal concern evident in her voice. "And Viva as well. We cannot delay." "And we won’t," Elena assured her, placing a comforting hand on Elysia’s arm. "But rushing in unprepared would only result in our own capture—or worse. We need to gather our strongest warriors, prepare appropriate weapons and protections." Mika stepped forward, her expression resolute. "I’m going, with or without preparation. Viva is there." "And you’ll do her no good by getting yourself killed," Maria responded sharply. "For once in your life, Mika, follow orders without question." The two Thornvale warriors locked eyes in a silent battle of wills, neither willing to back down. "Commander Maria is right," Elena intervened, her voice firm but kind. "We will mount a rescue, but we will do it properly. One day to prepare—no more." Mika’s jaw clenched visibly, but she nodded once in reluctant agreement. "One day," she repeated, her voice hard with suppressed emotion. "Not a moment longer." Lyra knelt beside the opening, peering into the darkness below. The air that wafted up from the passage was cool and damp, carrying the scent of age and secrets long buried. She glanced at her finger, where the cut had already stopped bleeding, but a thin silver line remained where the wound should have been. ’Hold on, Eren,’ she thought, determination settling like steel in her spine. ’We’re coming for you.’ The hidden staircase seemed to descend endlessly into shadow, a silent promise that the path to saving Eren would be neither short nor easy. But as Lyra rose to her feet, joining the others in planning their rescue mission, one thing was certain—they would face whatever awaited them in the Fea realm together, united in purpose if divided by kingdom. The time for secrets and half-truths had passed. Now was the time for action.