The Unknown Realm #4 (Waverly Stump and The 7 Realms)

XLV

The welkins was obscured by black fog.

Waverly blinked and realized that it was actually dust.

Bits of sand and gravel rained down on her bare skin, although, she could not remember losing her coat when she fell roughly to the ground which still quaked from the explosion. She blinked furiously on repeat, eager to catch a glimpse of anything, but all was gray and a dull white. Groans and whimpers reached her ears, translating that every person in the square was in one way or another hurt, but close by. She pushed herself up with difficulty, pressing a hand to her abdomen as pain swam through it. It felt as if something had whacked her right in the stomach before she fell. The fingers of her left hand were bloodstained when she looked down at them, and after removing the right hand from her ears, she found that it was also covered in blood.

Wincing audibly, she rose and subsequently caught sight of some strange yet familiar thing up ahead.

A visible spectrum of green light.

It thrummed with a faint intensity, like a dying heartbeat, and amidst all the dusty fog, appeared odd yet beautiful because it was the only colorful sight.

Slowly, the gathering dust fell to the ground, and Waverly could see people again. Just like her, many were recovering from the incident; injured or in pain, but none seemed in need of urgent care.

"What in Leila's name?" A man gasped, gawking at the light ahead.

"By Juniper!" Another quivering voice gasped.

Indeed. Waverly wanted to pipe, but her throat felt dry. She was certain nobody could tell yet what the amazing spectrum truly was, but she could. It was a border. A powerful border. It only remained to confirm who put it up.

Cautiously, townsfolk – mostly children – began to inch toward the mesmerizing green light in a bid to touch it.

"Careful, Lapsley. It might be dangerous." A man warned his advancing son.

"Where did the Plague go?" A different soldier asked. "Where is Gaillard?"

"Here, Wharton! I am here." Gaillard identified with a hand raised. He was covered in dust for being closest to where the explosion had taken place, but fell farther away from the crowd after being blown back as well.

"It feels as solid as a wall, father." Lapsley reported excitedly, yet he prevented other children around him from going any closer.

"Are you sure?" Lapsley's father questioned.

"See for yourself then, Dodsley." Someone chided the former.

"Halt, Dodsley." Méandiel cautioned, advancing toward the spectrum. His umber colored armor appeared no different from the dust that stained it.

"I will make certain it is indeed safe."

The Snow Elf bravely placed a hand on the wall and glanced up at it. It was a contiguous spectrum as wide as the town's berth, and its infrequent thrum intensified as soon as the Elf's hand made contact. Everyone stepped back.

"A magical border." Méandiel announced. "It is unmistakably the same as one in my native land of the Lower South, placed there by My Lady Juniper herself thousands and thousands of years ago."

"Why is it now here, then?" The town apothecary, Lintott, asked.

"Because someone put it up is why." A woman squealed. "Her Ladyship might be amongst us this very moment and we would not know it."

"Woman, if Juniper were here, she would come first to the Lords of the Council." Henry pompously contributed. A few murmurings erupted around him then died out.