The Realm Protectors

Chapter 36 - Carter

I've been in the Realm long enough now to have started thinking of Tijd as my home. When we came through the tunnel earlier today, I felt like I could truly breathe again for the first time since before the Realm Academy Showcase. It's a beautiful and magical place that none can compare to. There's nothing like Zandloper – Tijd's capital – anywhere in existence.

Tijd, being the country of time, has never felt comfortable in the present. Each city is a different time period – some are medieval, some are futuristic, and some are near the present, but not quite there. The capital is the most impressive. Zandloper is home to the infamous Glassway – a ring of glass bubbles the size of small cities around the gateway. Each bubble is a different time period – there's Ancient Greece, the American 1950's, the Renaissance, the Other World cities of the future, and so many more.

After we all settled in to our hotel rooms, I asked Lyra if she wanted to go out to the Glassway with me. She seemed a little down at first, but she perked up when I told her we'd grab milkshakes.

We took the Glasstrain – a little hover train that goes around the ring to each of the bubbles, as well as other main attractions in Zandloper. We stopped at the 50's bubble first, and I showed Lyra my favorite diner.

"It is beautiful!" She giggles, looking around at all the red and chrome booths. Ladies in long pink poodle skirts flit around delivering fries and milkshakes. I pull Lyra up to the bar counter as we sit down on the stools. A waitress with curly hair comes over.

"Hiya!" She grins. "What can I get goin for you?"

"Two chocolate milkshakes and two fries." I turn and notice Lyra looking around at all the people with a fearful look in her eyes. "Can we get that to-go, please?"

"Right away, sugar." The waitress grins and bounces into the kitchen. I put my hand over Lyra's on the counter. She turns to me, eyes wide.

"We'll get our food and go somewhere quieter." I tell her. She smiles softly, eyes sparkling.

"Thank you," She says, letting go of some tension in her shoulders.

"I know the perfect place to see the stars." I smirk.

Her grin fills me with joy.

It doesn't take much longer for the waitress to come back with a paper bag and two cups. I hand her the money and she grins, waving as we hop of the stools.

"Come back soon," She smiles. I hand Lyra her milkshake and we exit the diner. Outside, everything is much quieter. I see Lyra settle a little.

"Come on, it's this way." I tell her. We walk over to the Medieval bubble – situated right next to the 50's bubble. As we pass under the glass arch, the world becomes quieter and the light changes – no longer artificial. Torches line the street every few feet, leaving pockets of shadows but a perfect view of the sky. I lead Lyra up to an older guard tower along the edge of the bubble, which has a balcony that was mistakenly left outside the time bubble. The stone there is reinforced, and with no glass in the way, the sky is full of stars.

Lyra leans against the balcony railing and stares up into the sky, lips parted in awe. The sky is reflected in her eyes, millions of stars captured in her gaze. Her cheeks glow softly, her freckles somehow like stars dusting her skin. My heart pounds heavily in my chest.

Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her.

I open my mouth to tell her she's beautiful when I notice her eyes shining with tears.

"Lyra, what's wrong?" I ask, concerned. Her face crumples as she turns towards me.

"It is my fault," She sobs.