DaydreamChronicles

In the short span of a month the war brought victory and defeat on many fronts. Despite the loss of a number of wizards, many of which were captured, we have been able to hold various defensive bastions in Argumand. One of which is Liriath. Although the great protective barrier that was erected still holds, cracks are visible in the magical dome and it’s only a matter of time until it fails. The few people that remain to defend it are all that stand between the armies of Alfarand and certain defeat. Garalith has mentioned that the capture of wizards is unprecedented and may hint at something far more devious. We still can’t pinpoint what that is though. News reached us that the coordination of the enemy battalions suggests they may be getting help from someone in Argumand. “To betray us in such a manner is disgraceful”, said Garalith. I was worried about the coming battle, “Do you think we’ll survive the next assault? It feels like a losing battle. The more wizards they kill or capture the lower our chances of stopping them”. “Do not lose hope, we have been in difficult situations in the past. We will pull through”, he said with an air of determination.

The battle I feared came faster than I thought. The Alfarand army was relentless. Their usage of their mechanical constructs had been increased from previous assaults. In the very first minutes of the battle, the barrier collapsed and the full force of the battalion rained down upon the defenders. To my surprise a magical bolt of energy exploded near me. There is a wizard on the enemy’s side. Garalith looked at me and yelled, “Stay on your guard!”. As I sidestepped an advancing spearman I prepared to unleash a wave of flames to surround me. The fire quickly repelled most of the soldiers and burned a number of them. Another fireball to the side, an exploding bolt of lightning and rising stone spires made short work of the group attacking me. Meanwhile, Garalith is dealing with an enemy group of his own, but they are mostly constructs trying to hold him down. I noticed, but before I could run to his aid an energy blast landed behind me and pushed me forward with great force. When I landed, I turned to see the betrayer. A wizard, completely cloaked in dark robes. I watched as his hands crackled with more energy, he was preparing another attack. This time I was prepared and redirected the energy back at him. His reflexes were swift enough to deflect the energy away. The cloaked figure said, “Clever, most just try to blindly attack. You merely redirected my attack and now stand there, stunned. Did you think other wizards wouldn’t side with Alfarand?”. “You betrayed us! Betrayed Argumand! Why?!”, I tried to remain calm, but I was worried about Garalith and the other defenders. “Betrayal? Boy, I am one of the few who still remember the days before the war. The old governments of Argumand feared the power of our guardian and killed it. Now look at what we’ve become”, the wizard said. For a second I was unsure whether to believe him or not. “How can I know you’re telling the truth?”, I asked. “You will see soon enough. Prepare yourself”, he replied as he took a new stance to launch a volley of destructive spells. My only response was to defend myself using all the knowledge and experience I gained in my time here. I also used a bit of what I learned in the fights I saw when I was growing up. With a few swift moves I was able to get close and shove the wizard back. He thought I would use magic to attack, but my strength had built up from the reconstruction of the village. He nearly fell back and seemed impressed. Before I could take another step, one of the constructs leaped from behind the crowd that had now gathered and restricted me. When I extended my awareness of my surroundings I noticed that the battle had already ended. Garalith had been captured, as had I.

In a short hour we were marched to the portals in the fields. I was dreading what could be on the other side. Perhaps now I would see the truth with my own eyes. Garalith was scared, I could feel him trying to reach out to me. Whatever was restraining him had blocked his magic. The same was happening to me. This construct that remained attached to me had cut me off from the flow of magic. Nothing else to do, but wait and see.

One year, two months. I’ve been training diligently for a war that feels both so close and so far away. Garalith assures me that the first battles are likely to happen soon. There is a place in Argumand called The Fields of Sorrow. It is there that the portals that link to Alfarand will appear. That place is the interdimensional intersection that allows travel between Alfarand and Argumand. Garalith explained many things in the time we’ve spent together. For example, the role of the guardians in Argumand. Each of them is awarded control over a particular segment of the magical whole. They watch over the balance of magic and train along with people to provide help wherever they are needed. At some point in the past said help may have included Alfarand, but something happened that triggered the first war. Garalith was not present at the start of the first war, but knows that it was devastating for both sides.

Among other subjects that Garalith explained, he mentioned that the population of Argumand was always pretty scarce. The few people that arrived there often did so from Earth. A few were chosen to lead their lives as wizards. Many others inherited their power, much like I did. There are no countries established. Most of the time magic is used to maintain a few farmlands around the continent. Although we’re currently stationed close to The Fields of Sorrow, Garalith and I have been able to visit a number of villages. Some of them are very much like the one we settled in, abandoned. There are not enough travelers to maintain steady commerce so many villages collapse in a short time. People here could be best described as nomads. Only three villages are large enough to remain constant and their biggest advantage is the amount of wizards that live in them.

Garalith and I have spent the past week patrolling the area of the fields. Not too long ago a low rumble was felt at night. A distortion has now appeared in a long swath of the fields. This is evidence of the portals beginning to form. Now it felt like war was literally at our doorstep. Our village, which we ended up calling Liriath, was now bustling and the conflict started scaring away some of the people. A small few said they would provide what support they could. For us wizards there was little risk. Our spells can be sent off from relative safety. Regardless, I promised to do my best to protect them. I had grown close to these people and learned much of the world to just abandon them to their luck against Alfarand.

When the portals finally formed armies began to pour through. Their savage assault tore through the fields. Many of the wizards created a protective barrier around Liriath. This forced the armies of Alfarand to take another route. Meanwhile we bombarded them with spells. I was surprised to see strange mechanical constructs that fought alongside the soldiers. Some of the machines resembled golems, humanlike shapes that held incredible strength. I thought of the movies I saw back on Earth. Then there were also other bipedal constructs that could lock themselves to the ground, their upper body had a spear cannon that could launch a spear with such force that even our sturdiest barriers had difficulty repelling them. I shuddered to think what it could do to a person. In the span of a few hours we were able to push back the invaders temporarily, before they mustered their strength and won the fields.

The days blurred together. So much so that two months passed. Two months of unwavering conflict. Many of the wizards were now exhausted. A few had been captured, something we did not anticipate. The armies of Alfarand avoided continuing their advance toward Liriath, but instead took to invading and destroying other small towns that lacked the protection of the more powerful wizards. Sometimes they invaded a town, only to find it had been abandoned for years. They don’t really know the conditions of living in Argumand, but then, we don’t know theirs in Alfarand. My curiosity was piqued. I needed to know, so I asked Garalith. “I know little of Alfarand. Before my time there was conflict. We never had any reason to venture forth. Some of the other guardians often wonder as you do. Of those, only a few suspect there is some sort of political power behind the invasion force, or else they would not be so successful”, he said. All he knows is the conflict he was born in. Perhaps we could find a way through and learn more, but for now we needed to focus on our defense of Liriath. It remained our best bet in keeping the invading forces occupied.

The crashing noise behind me startled everyone as I ran past them. At first they thought I was the one making all the ruckus, but afterwards they saw the real perpetrator. A huge dog-like creature. Its black fur with purple glowing lines was the least impressive feature on it. Its jaw was lined with sharp teeth, it sported six eyes and a pair of horns that curved slightly downward. This weird stuff keeps happening to me. I can’t believe that I’m in my senior year and now, of all times, this thing appears. A few minutes ago I got a good glimpse of the creature as it stared at me from a window. It somehow climbed to the fourth floor of the university science building. Afterwards it burst through, chasing me around the hallways. Of course, I am dreading that this thing wants to kill and consume me, though I haven’t seen it actually cause others any harm.

After entering another hallway, the creature somehow phased through the upper floor and fell right in front of me. This is it I guess. “You’ve caused me some trouble”, I heard its deep voice echoing through the hall. “I’m sorry!”, I exclaimed, hoping it would spare me from whatever came next. It continued, “I have not come here to harm you, but to take you where you are needed”. By now everyone in the hallway had run away. Meanwhile I stared at this enormous beast. I could not turn my gaze away, as if something called me to it. “It may be meaningless to you now, but my name is Garalith. Guardian of shadows and your eternal companion”, the beast said. Naturally and because I was very nervous, I introduced myself, “I’m…”. Before I could finish Garalith interceded, “Jake, yes. I know. I was your father’s companion many years prior. In all that time until now I watched and waited. The call has been made for you to return”. I was puzzled, “Wait, why me? Can’t dad go?”. Garalith quickly answered, “He passed down his legacy onto you already. This is the reason I am your guardian and not his anymore”. After a few more minutes I noticed a darkness was swallowing us up. Garalith explained that he was moving us somewhere else. When the darkness cleared we were in the middle of a forest. At that moment I noticed his tail held a crystal orb. “What is that for?”, I asked, curious. “It is my burden and a source of power”, Garalith answered without hesitation. “Ok, what do you expect of me then? I did not know of you or your existence. Where did you come from? And now that I think about it, who was my father?”, the questions rose naturally as if conversing with an old friend. The great beast sat down, as did I. A small rock nearby would have to suffice. When I did this a pair of mushrooms near the rock sprouted legs and ran away. “What in the world?!”, I continued to sit down, still startled. “Ha, that never gets old. As you can see, we are no longer in your world. This is Argumand. It is a realm of magic. Your father was born here and had a similar reaction to yours just now. Your Earth lies within the intersection of a multitude of realms and universes. The majority are inaccessible but a few possess a strong enough power to tear through the protective barriers that isolate them. Argumand is one such place. Along with myself, there are other guardians. The combination of our power allows us to travel back and forth between here and Earth. As for your father, he is a well respected wizard. Through our bond we were able to subdue the armies of Alfarand and save this world. Sadly, too much time has passed and Alfarand has readied its armies to fight us again”. I looked around. The sky was a pale pink, as if the sun was setting. It took me a bit of time to process what Garalith said. “I may be asking much of you, but you must fill in for your father. He is no longer capable of the feats we had previously achieved. It falls to you to learn and help defend this world”, Garalith continued. “What happens if the armies of Alfarand gain control of Argumand?”, I asked not only because of my curiosity, but also thinking I might have a chance to avoid doing any of this. The answer, of course, was not what I wanted to hear. “As I mentioned before, Argumand is an access point to Earth. If they raze this world and capture the guardians, they will have access to Earth. Surely you do not wish harm upon your world”. Without hesitation I answered, “No. Not only because dad still lives there, but I’ve made friends throughout the years. I can’t abandon them”. “Then you will learn. You must learn. Right now the power that courses through you is minimal. Little by little, you will understand how to channel it. I have no doubt in my mind that you will become as proficient as your father wielding magic. You may even surpass him, if you have the skill for it”, said Garalith.

Months went by. Training to learn magic and how to cast it took a lot of practice. Garalith is a patient teacher though. So far I could launch explosive bursts of energy, control flames, freeze water into various shapes and command bolts of lightning. It seems like dad I inherited some of dad’s talent in this. After a long training session, I sat down at one of the benches in front of the house. We settled in an abandoned village. As part of my training I had to work to rebuild this home to suit us. It was hard work at first, but as the days passed I became more dedicated to the rebuilding. This also allowed me to practice my magic. Levitation was very important for many of the tasks that needed to be completed. Having a clear goal in my mind would allow me to enchant objects that would, in turn, do my bidding. Not long after some of the houses were complete, a group of wanderers settled down. Two other guardians accompanied them. I think I saw Garalith smile more after that. The village gained new life. Meanwhile I learned as much as I could about Argumand. “So, let me get this straight, Argumand doesn’t have a sun. Is that why the sky is almost always that color?”, I asked Garalith. “Yes, we suspect that there is a star that warms the world, but it is mostly eclipsed by something”, he answered. This world was both incredible and mysterious. “Has no one gone looking where the light comes from?”, my curiosity was mirrored by Garalith. “Oh, some guardians who have the capability of flight have gone to the other side of the world. It’s the reason why we know our light is eclipsed, but by what remains a mystery. Perhaps one day, when our current predicament is no longer a concern we can go out and explore”, I could tell the thought of adventuring beyond this continent was enticing for Garalith. What little history I could glean from some old books found in a dilapidated Library, Argumand has had a constantly shifting human population. The guardians are said to have been here since the beginning of the world. Said beginning is quite fascinating to read about. Most seems shrouded in myth, but a lot revolves around the magic that courses so freely through the world.

It has almost been a year since I left Earth. Garalith tells me that time passes differently here, though he could not assure me how much was the difference. I’m sitting here, on the verge of fighting a war and I’m thinking about my senior year. I might end up failing all my classes at this rate. Well, at least I’ll know I’m fighting to save my world. That is, if Garalith and I are successful in Argumand’s defense. It looks like the war will begin in earnest soon. The portals in the Field of Grief are powering up. I’ve met other wizards with their own guardians. There are so few of us, but Garalith tells me that our magical powers are what give us the edge. Hopefully this can be resolved soon.