Evmor: The Calling

Chapter 14

A short thank you to all of you who are reading my story. Now here's another chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 14

It was odd. As Erebus and I continued towards the center of Evmor on our horses, I felt no aversion towards the Atramento traveling with me. I was completely at ease and couldn't help but admit I felt a little bit more secure. Every time I tried to grasp at my sudden change of opinion, my thoughts suddenly went blank until I found interest in something else. It felt really weird.

Erebus followed behind me quietly, never questioning my judgment as I led us deeper and deeper into the forest. The snow was almost nonexistent here and we were both wearing only a thin shirt and pants as we traveled through the trees.

"The Serima of Evmor, as you call it, it seems like such an obvious place to hide something so important. Why hadn't people looked there before?" I asked, finally giving voice to the question I had had all along.

Peering at me closely to gauge my reaction, Erebus answered, "Evmorians have heard about the Heart. But no one has actually seen it, much less been to it."

"What do you mean?" I questioned, suddenly afraid we would never get to the Heart.

"We have come to realize there is a barrier around the Heart," he explained, "It makes it invisible and unapproachable, at least to most of us."

"If there is a barrier, then that means we can't get to it! I'm never going to find the ring," I muttered, the sudden wave of despair almost as painful as the Calling had been.

"No," Erebus interrupted with the determination I didn't feel, "The ring Called you to where it was. It wants to be found. That means you will have access to the Serima of Evmor." I hoped against all odds that that would be the case.

We suddenly emerged from the forest and were left facing a clearing easily the size of a football field. Large trees almost three times the size of normal ones in hight and weight lined the perimeter of the area. Slipping off Cinæd's back, I glanced around in confusion. I was sure I could feel the Calling from the clearing but there was nothing; just grass that seemed to carpet the entire space.

Just as I took a step towards the clearing, my vision seemed to blur. I blinked rapidly to clear my sight and I could suddenly see the faint outline of a huge dome-shaped barrier that rose up high above me. As I looked around, I could tell the trees surrounding the clearing, each serving as a protector of the Serima, formed the barrier. The forcefield would have been invisible if it hadn't been for the almost imperceptible bending of the sunlight as it bounced off the surface. It reached so high into the sky that I couldn't exactly identify where it ended. Lowering my eyes, my breath caught in my throat at the view before me. I could finally see the Serima for what it truly was.

I looked around in amazement, unable to take in all its beauty. It was a wide clearing carpeted with lush grass and all kinds of plants that flourished in this space, each flower more vibrant than the last. Strange and peculiar animals pranced about, unconcerned with our presence. A warm breeze tickled my cheek, carrying a sharp sweet scent that was unrecognizable. Small lights wove in and out of trees, one daring to come so close to the edge of the barrier that I would have been able to touch it.

When it hovered just inside the barrier, I realized with a jolt that it wasn't a ball of light. Inside the light was something that resembled a small girl. As my eyes widened in astonishment, it giggled, covering its mouth with a delicate hand. I started to laugh along with it, completely astounded at the wonders of this world. It soon zipped away to join its friends in the trees, her high pitched giggles ringing through the clearing.