Chapter 2 - The Beginning

Chapter 2 is done. It might be a bit messy near the bottom, and I want to release a chapter every other day. Believe it or not, this is actually a 3,220 word chapter. Which is slightly more than my needed average per day, so I could've waited until tomorrow to put this up!

Good news is Chapter 3 is finished, and we'll be going back to the Modern Timeline after Blaze or well... Jamie left the Lost Realm.

Chapter 2: The Beginning

                “Blaze Atrocious, you murdered my family. You’ve destroyed my homeland and turned it into ashes. Tonight, this is the eve of your death.” Claudio threatened, pointing his foam sword towards me. It’s hard pretending he’s threatening. He may be a few inches taller than me, but he’s skinnier and in grade 6, he doesn’t have the same strength and smarts as a grade sevener like me does.

                “Seriously? That’s the best line you got? We’re fighting with foam swords, not light sabers.” I responded, slightly agitated at this. To him, we’re probably fighting on top of a volcano acting out a final fight between good and evil, but in reality we’re on the edge of a school field hitting each other with foam swords during our lunch break. I don’t have a choice in this, he picks the game and I play it with him. It’s my bad luck he enjoys playing in a fantasy world.  

                “Jamie. You said if I buy the swords you’ll role play with me instead of playing tetherball every lunch. Now take your character seriously. You created him, now play like you imagined him.” Claudio’s voice trembles when he talks. He grips the foam sword tightly, making a permanent indent in it. He’s angry with me, and I roll my eyes in response. I only put up with him because his parents are friends with mine. His mom pays me every week to hang out with him at lunch time and keep the bullies away from him. I’m afraid by playing pretend outside with him, I won’t be able to keep the bullies away from neither of us. I look back towards the school, no one has taken notice of us yet fighting with foam swords. It’ll be a matter of time before a kid asks what we’re playing, and Claudio well say something stupid.

                “One battle. If I defeat you, your character is dead and we can do something else.” I said, positioning myself like I’m an Olympic fencer. I flick my wrist with the foam sword, motioning him to come and attack. Claudio smiles, excited I’m into this. He raises his sword above his head and charges towards me. Before he even makes it near me, I throw my foam sword and hit him in the chest. Fatal wound, I win.

                “There you’re dead, I win. With your death I declare the destruction of your kingdom.” I proclaim victoriously, already walking towards the school without picking up the foam sword on the ground.

                “No throwing. We’re sword fighting not throwing swords. C’mon play fair. This cost me twenty bucks.” Claudio picks up the fallen sword and tosses it back at me. I catch the foam blade with my hands and move back to where I was.

                “Fine, no throwing this time.” I agreed. I would rather spend my lunch period playing tetherball or video games, not this.


            “Blaze Atrocious, you may be powerful but you can’t defeat me.” He says loudly, and I cringed. I look behind my shoulders hoping no one heard.

Claudio repositions himself so there is enough space for both of us to charge and start swinging wildly. This is how I think he would like this sword fight to go, just a careless swinging fest with foam swords. I take my position several feet away from him and stand still with my sword down. He charges at me again, his sword above his head ready to strike downwards when he’s close enough. I throw the foam sword. Instead of hitting his chest, the foam sword is deflected by his swing, sending the toy flying into the bushes. He stops after realizing what happened, and runs towards the bushes to find his sword.

                “What the f man. I thought we said no throwing.” Claudio yells from the bushes. I ran from my spot to catch up to him, helping him look at the edge of the woods for the foam sword. I look over my shoulder and notice a few kids shooting at the soccer net looking at us.

                “Shut up, people are looking. Besides, I’m a bad guy remember? I’m not supposed to follow rules.” Watching him look for the foam sword is like looking at a helpless person trying to do something. He’ll look but he won’t actually move any of the branches or peek his head inside the woods and actually look around. I understand he didn’t want to get caught by the teachers for being inside the woods, but it is kinda pathetic to watch.

               “I can’t see it…” Claudio says. His blue eyes glances towards me like I just kicked his puppy. I roll my eyes and look back towards the school to confirm there are no teachers wandering around.

                “Fine, I’ll go in and look. Stay out here and let me know if someone is coming.” The wooded area is out of bounds for students. The teachers say it’s for our protection because they don’t know who is wandering around in the woods at any given time. In reality, it’s to stop kids from smoking and going into people’s yards. Still, it doesn’t stop most students from going into the woods. I enter the nearest trail to us, and begin my search walking along the trail, looking towards where I believe the sword fell.

            The woods behind the school isn’t big. It’s big enough someone can’t see through it, but small enough someone can run from one side to the other in less than a minute. There is one main trail that connects to a street where most of the houses that share the forest as their backyards are. The rest of the trails in the woods splinter off into random directions and often into other people’s yards. Students will often come in here to make out, drink, or smoke during lunch, week nights, and weekend. Walking slowly I keep an eye out for the foam sword, it didn’t take long before I find it just on the other side of the bushes where Claudio was looking before, useless kid.

Leaning down to pick up the foam sword, a gust of wind blows through the air. The wind is powerful enough to lift up the foam sword and launch it down the forest path, away from my hand. Curiously, I looked around the area and didn’t notice any of the trees swaying due to the sudden appearance of wind. Once again I move towards the foam sword to pick it up, the same thing happened again and again, leading me deeper into the woods. The situation reminded me of those YouTube prank videos, where there would be twenty dollar bill on a  fishing line, and the prankster will pull it away from the person just as they’re about to pick up the money. This has the same set up.

After the fourth or fifth time of this happening, I stopped following the sword. It’s trying to lead me someplace, and I don’t know why. My body shivers whenever I’m about to pick up the sword. I say it’s from the gust of wind blowing it out of position, but really it’s fear that something weird is going on. Fuck it I thought, I turned around and headed back towards the school. I can explain this to Claudio later. A bright flash of pink bursts behind me, bark on the trees reflect the colour somehow. I turn around.

            A dark circular opening appeared floating above the ground. Pink electricity outlines the circular object that is big enough to jump into. Looking into the dark opening is like looking into the deep ocean, nothing but darkness staring back. I walk around the opening, it’s smaller then a centimeter width wise. I picked up the foam sword without issue and threw it into the opening, it doesn’t come out the other side.

                “Claudio, your sword. It went into this thing…” I said loudly, not caring who heard this time.

                “What do you mean thing?” He asked.

                “I don’t know. Come check it out.” I yelled.

            A tug, my body moves backwards towards the strange floating object. I turn around to see what’s grabbing my space dog t-shirt. A pale arm with black ink covered in letters pulls me towards the portal. I focus on the arm, letters begin changing as soon as I can understand them, one second it’s ‘A’ then next an unknown letter. I resist the pull by digging my feet into the ground. Another arm, same like the first grabs me through the portal, and I’m pulled into it without much struggle.

            As soon as I’m pushed in, the hands let go. I’m falling in complete blackness. Despite looking down, I do not see the end of the tunnel. Shot out through the portal, I bounce off of a dirt trail and roll into the bushes. I don’t tumble well. On my back I open my eyes. Tall trees, taller than I’ve ever seen at home reach for the violet sky. A purplish sky providing enough light for one to see, no clouds, sun or moon just the horizon. In a way it looked beautiful and I’m caught up looking at it.

            Once I’m on my feet, and brush the dirt off my clothes, I look around. I walk on a moderate size trail, in hopes of finding an end to the endless sea of trees. This place feels like a legitimate forest. Sounds of animals can be heard rustling in the bushes, howls of wolves can be heard in the distance, and birds flying tree to tree can be seen. It wasn’t humid or hot, but I did find it a bit chilly because of the wind. The wind carried through the trail as if it was being blown by someone, sometimes it makes the howls of the wolves seem closer than they really are, or whispers in a language I don’t understand can be carried over from who knows where. The fear of being found is one of the reasons why I don’t shout for help. It took thirty minutes, but I did come out of the moderate size trail and onto some sort of dirt road.  

            The road appears to be manmade and cuts through the forest. It’s wide enough for a car to drive through, but no tracks big enough appearing to be a tire wheels are shown on the dirt. The road is in poor condition, spots of mud can be seen on the road, bushes growing into the road, and branches can be found on the road. I decide to go right after a quick game of inne-minnie-minee-moe. After walking for another half an hour, I’ve come across an odd sign stuck on the side of the road. It points to different locations. If I continue to follow the current direction I’ll find “The Shadows Tavern,” If I turn right, “Moonless Lake.” And if I turn around I would go to a location that’s been blackened out by the sign. I think the Tavern is my best bet.

            It was another hour walk before I even saw the tavern. Lanterns hung up from the front porch give an inviting feel to it, the name The Shadows Tavern is listed above the porch. The tavern is two floors, made from logs stacked on top of each other like a log house. The doors on the tavern are 8 foot arched doors. After traveling in what feels like forever, I push one of the doors only to manage pushing it a few inches. While the doors looked like wooden doors, they were heavy like iron. I give it another push, but only manage to open it a few more inches, this time scrapping it against the wooden floor. I attempt again, but while pushing someone pulls the door open and I fall face first onto the floor. I look up, it seems my feeble attempt at opening the door caught some attention.

            The room is a mixed bag of things. The room looks normal, like any restaurant. Tables, chairs, and even booths alongside the walls. A fireplace is set in the middle of the room with a staircase near the back leading up to the upper levels. There is even a stage set up for a band or people to go on and perform. The place is lit up by candles on tables, walls, and even a chandelier from the ceiling lit by candles. Art is set up along the walls of the Tavern, but it wasn’t the size of the tavern or how grand it seems that stunned me, it’s the patrons. I didn’t know what to think. Animals? Humans? Both? Some humanoid figures had long ears like elves, others were completely human, and some had pale skin and black eyes. I was taken back, I didn’t get up until a human looking hand offered to help me up. I took it.

            The man who helped me out looked like a large size human with a large black beard. He wore overalls over his clothes stained with blood and beer. He let me up and guided me to the bar, he walks behind the bar. The room went about their own business.

                “Well, you must be new here. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a young new face. Where you come from?” He asked, he was already taking a glass out of his sink and filled it with lumpy milk. He pushes it towards me to drink, as I adjust myself on the stool. I look at the milk, sniff it, and scrunch my nose.

                “From Vancouver, Canada. Don’t you have pop?” I asked, I wasn’t a big fan of milk.

                “Heh. All we have here is cows and ale. We don’t get Soda in these parts. I haven’t had a glass since before here.” He mentions looking around to ensure no one else need tending to. He sounds British.

                “Never thought I would run into another person like me. Been here for twenty years now, since I was twenty-four. Came from England, was in a middle of fighting some Nazis. Fell through a hole in a battlefield, ended up near here.” He casually says it like it’s the most boring thing to happen, trying to shove it off as no big deal. I felt uncomfortable and he continues to talk. He notices I haven’t taken a drink out of the milk.

                “You’ll get used to the milk here. It’s a bit strange but it’s good. I haven’t grown any weird limbs. So you know… it’s good for you” He seems excited talking to me. I wonder if it’s because we come from the same place… roughly.

                “Yeah where are we?” This and, how do I get home are the only two questions I care about asking right now.

                “People around here call it the Lost Realm. Left out of maps of reality. Rifts in space open up here from time and time and drop people like us here. Things and stuff. They say this used to be part of the ten realms the Norse gods believed in until it was destroyed.” He offers as an explanation, everything he said flew over my head.  

                “The Lost Realm? Sounds like a video game name.” I casually say. The barkeep seems lost on that reference.

                “Right. Whatever that is. Say, what year is it when you left? It should be 1960 something right?” He asked curiously, looking at my pop-culture referenced t-shirt from a popular cartoon called Space Dog. I can tell from him looking at my shirt he isn’t expecting the answer he wanted. If he is from World War II, chances are most of his loved ones has passed on, gone from the world.

            “2014.” I say. Like I predicted, he is devastated by the news. He went from leaning over the bar top to, slouching and turning his back from me, preparing himself a drink of some sort. I looked away for a second, looking at the strange people who reside in the tavern.

                “How do I get home?”

                “If I know, I wouldn’t be here. I tried asking around and traveling, but nothing. So I bought this bar from a goblin and well… I serve travellers. Sometimes it gets messy, but otherwise it’s pretty quiet.” He offers as an answer.

                “That doesn’t help me out much. What am I supposed to do?” I sigh, looking down at the bar. I begin to choke up, thinking that I won’t be able to go home. I would hang out with Claudio for weeks at a time if I can just go home.

                “Stay here. Take a few nights. I can get you some work around the tavern to help pay off board. Other than that learn about people, get to know the area. Maybe you’ll find something you want to do.” He suggests with a shrug.

                 “Work? Really? I’m lost in some freak show land, and you expect me to work?”

                “Well, how else are you paying for your room tonight? If you want to go venture off into the bushes and attempt to find a way out of the forest without a navigator, then by all means go ahead. But if you want some honest money, food, and board, you got to do honest work.” He pauses, looking at me about to burst into tears. I’m not sure if his harshness was brought on because I gave him bad news from where I was from.

                “Yeah take the night. Let me know what you’ve decided to do. Name’s Winston by the way. Yours?”

            “Blaze.” I answered. He offered me his hand and I shook it. Gave me a key to one of the rooms upstairs and told me to get some rest.

            I move towards the staircase. Walking up the staircase I take another look at the odd tavern. If I had to guess they’re elves and other fantasy creatures in this tavern. With a sigh, and a hope this is just a dream I continue to walk up the stairs. It’s when she turned down the hallway and walked down the stairs. She was small, looks to be the same age as me, and wore black leather armor fashioned for someone her size at about 4’0 and less than a 100 pounds. She has short black hair, with a green left eye and a blue right eye. Her skin is pale, but it also illuminates which in its own way is pretty instead of creepy. She is strange, but in a good way unlike the rest of the tavern.

            “Hey…” I said, stopping halfway up the stairs. She stops and looks at me, smiling.

            “Hello. How are you today?” She asks, unsure why I stopped her.

            “I’m well.  I’m... B…blaze.” I stutter at the end, unsure what name to give. She laughs innocently about the way I pronounced my name.

            “Cressidra. Lovely to meet you.” She says.  

            “Cressidra, c’mon. We have a job to do.” A male’s voice shouts across the tavern coming from the door. A slender figure leans against the door dressed in renaissance like clothing. He didn’t wear armor like Cressidra, but he did wear a black and gold stripped mask. He is tall and slender, and looked like trouble. Cressidra frowns.

            “Sorry, have to go. Valentine is waiting on me.” She says, walking past me.

            “Yeah… Do you come here often?” I ask.

            “I’m here once or twice a month or two.” She responds back, stopping at the bottom of the steps. I smiled back at her.

            “Great. I’ll be here.” I say. The man she calls Valentine isn’t too impressed and calls her name again. His voice was calm but had venom to it like you know you pissed someone off.

            “Cressidra…”

            Cressidra mouths sorry, and run towards the door. For some reason I smiled. I’m not sure if it was because I saw someone like me around my age or because she was beautiful. Whatever it was, I was happy with it.

I worked for Winston for the first several years of my life in the Lost Realm.