Daydreams

Warrior

Entry for the Fantasy contest "Stairway to Another World" [Winner]

Home... after three years... finally. General Kai Louet was going home to his wife and daughter. He had missed them terribly. He had been worried that his little girl might have grown up; forgotten him.

Annie had inherited sliver hair from her mother and dark blue eyes from her father. She was angelic, so was her mother. He pictured them, Maura, tall, lean and fair, tears of joy filling her eyes and little Annie on her hip reaching out to him with her tiny hands. He would embrace them and kiss them both, tell them how he had missed them. He would impress his little one with tales of his feats and watch her eyes widen with surprise and wonder. Louet smiled at the thought.

He was sitting on a huge bird behind the Mayor of The Ember Realm, riding towards the Gates, above the clouds. The man has been calling the bird, a Dragon but Louet had no heart to correct him. The Mayor, Ballar was expressing his gratitude for saving his realm from The Horde. He kept repeating how brave Louet's legion was and how kind it was of them to help them in time of need.

"It is only my duty, Mayor Ballar," said Louet "we simply comply with the Queen Goddess. She watches every realm."

"But sir, you nearly died!" Ballar turned around briefly. That may or may not have been true. The cut in his abdomen gave him a sharp reminder of its presence as if on cue. "The stitches have to heal properly, if you had agreed to wait a few days-"

"It is quite alright Mayor. And your hospitality is deeply appreciated."

"Ah, it's nothing," the man said, "after all, it is our duty to provide for our warriors."

They were nearing the Gates. The sight, Louet knew, would never cease to amaze him, even if he had the privilege to see it every day. He wished Annie could see this. All Gates were built on floating islands and were made of stone. Huge stone arches served as portals. They were ancient and seemingly falling apart. But Louet knew better. These Gates will function till the end of time and travellers will pass from one realm to another with their aid. Each realm has its own web of Gates and they looked different in each realm. These were the prettiest and the most breathtaking ones he had ever seen, and he had been to many realms under the orders of the Queen Goddess.

The bird slowed upon reaching one of the biggest Gates. It remained midair, a little above the island, flapping its gigantic wings to remain stable.

"The rest of your army went through this Gate, sir," Ballar said, turning to Louet, "careful... the stitches might break."

Louet thanked him and jumped. He landed on his feet and checked his wound. It was intact. With a smile and a light salute, Ballar pulled on the reins of the giant bird. It gave a cry and nearly went through another portal, but Ballar managed to steer it around. Louet watched them go and turned to the portal.

If not for the injury, he would be home by now, with the rest of his legion.
Ballar has insisted him to stay as his wounds were near-fatal.

As he approached the Gate, Louet the heavenly voice of the Queen reached him through the portal.

"Kai, my son."

Louet knelt before the Gate. To be called son by the Queen was a rare privildege that only the Elites could enjoy. The Elites were Louet and three others, the Generals of the Queen's Guard.

"The Horde is destroyed, your Highness."

"Good. Well done, Kai."

"May I have your permission to return home?"

"Kai," the Queen's voice turned sorrowful, "you are needed somewhere else, my son."

Louet looked up in dismal.

"The Shadow Clan is rebelling. It has forged alliances with the Daemons of the North. If they are not stopped now, they will plague all realms, my son. Duras and Vernize are already fallen. Of the Elites, only you and your shield-brother, Maignes remain. You must join them."

Louet's heart sank. His comrades are dead. And if he is to join the battlefield against the Shadow Clan and the Daemons, in his present condition, he doubted if he would survive. He had promised his daughter that he would return as soon as possible. He had never been away for so long and every time he left, Annie would hide and cry. She would not come to bid him farewell. But the last time he saw her, she had put her little arms around his neck, making him promise to come home soon.

"Your highness, my child-"

"Kai, your daughter will be proud of you. So will your wife. You will be the bravest man they will ever come to know. Obey your vow and protect them.

"Kai, you know from the day you took the oath as the successor of General Lance as an Elite, you agreed to take the burden of the peace between all realms onto your shoulders. Prove that you are true to your word. The Victors of Khala along with your legion is yours to command. Save us, my son."

Louet put his hand over his wound and stood up. He drew the sword and felt a stitch or two break. None of that mattered now. All what mattered is that he kept his vow. He needed to make certain that his wife and his little girl were safe.

He looked up the portal, "I will fight, my Queen."

The portal opened into a world of smoke and darkness and General Kai Louet, charged into the battleground.

The Gate closed behind him.