Court of Ivy and Desire

Two Worlds Alike

Trey

This place was something I've never seen before. The structure of this castle seemed to have emerged from the dreams of poets and artists. Its stairs reached toward the heavens, adorned with intricate carvings that depict tales of legendary creatures. The castle's walls were crafted from enchanted stones that seem to change color with the shifting light, casting a kaleidoscope of hues upon the surrounding landscape. I should've known that there were more to these realms. It made me wonder what else could we discover while we're here. How did Maya have this book right under her nose and not noticed?

The ethereal beings known as the Sentinels, as Aurora told us, stood watch over Korynthia and its castle. These guardians are beings of pure light and energy, their forms ever-changing and luminous. Their wings shimmering with iridescence as they fly across meadows of eternal spring. Others resemble graceful phoenixes, their fiery plumage trailing behind them like a comet's tail as they soar through the endless skies. Phoenixes and fairies...If someone told me that they visited a place like this, I would've laughed in their face.

"Yet, the most enigmatic of all the guardians are the Whispering Trees, ancient sentinels that have stood since the dawn of time. Their branches sway gently in the breeze, murmuring secrets of the past and future to those who possess the gift to hear them. Each tree is a living archive of Korynthia's history, its roots intertwined with the very essence of the land itself, " Aurora explained, breaking me from my thoughts as we finished the tour.

"This place is so beautiful," Maya said in awe. It was indeed beautiful, but something different was hiding under all of this magic. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it. Aurora smiled and guided us back inside of the castle.

"You all can stay tonight and then tomorrow, we will talk more about rebuilding your kingdom."

We all sat in the grand dining room eating dinner. Its been a long time since I've comfortably ate a great dinner. For a moment, it seemed like there was a glimpse of normalcy. I guess that's the power of magic. It could create illusions. This realm was different from Ivy Court, bright where Ivy Court was now dark. I wondered what made it so special that a portal opens up once every hundred years. The thought made me frown and wonder if we had to wait another hundred years just to return.

"Is there something on your mind, Trey?" Aurora asked, her expression was unreadable.

"My apologies. I was just thinking on how we were going to get back to Ivy Court. We wouldn't have to wait another hundred years, right?"

Aurora chuckled, "You'll be long gone by that time if you do. I can open the portal back. I'm the only one that has the power to do so. The reason I made it this way was to keep our kingdom safe. Just like your kingdom, many years ago, we were ambushed." Aurora's voice carried a weight of sorrow as she began to recount the harrowing tale. We all listened in silence and my heart was heavy with empathy for them. It brought up flashbacks of that moment in the military where innocent people were in the crossfires of a war they had nothing to do with. I quickly shook those thoughts away, fighting the traumatic stress that was threatening to rise.

"No one expected it," Aurora began, her voice tinged with sadness. "But without warning, we were attacked by other species. Many of my guardians died to protect this kingdom. So many of my people, my friends... They gave their lives to protect Korynthia, to ensure that the darkness did not consume us entirely. They had families and that day, their lives changed forever. " Aurora paused, her gaze distant as she recalled the chaos and devastation that followed. "The portal to the Korynthia was once open and easily accessible and had become a gateway for our enemies to enter and use the opportunity to cause so much chaos." Tears glistened in Aurora's eyes as she spoke of the brave fairies who had fought valiantly to defend their kingdom.