Arc One: Awakening

Chapter 1: The Gateways - Part 1

A rush of water cascaded from the ridge, plunging into the Tolmark River in a flurry of foam and peppered droplets. Each ripple trapped the light of the setting suns and reflected liquid gold. Along the banks, diamond-petalled Efros flowers spread their honeyed leaves and Osimer blooms drank the ascending night into their inky blossom, a poisonous violet glow slithering between the blades of summer grass. The river billowed and snatched at the loose reeds and twigs, and dragged the fallen vegetation into the current. Unable to fight back, they were carried from the humble quiet of the Citadel and towards the bustle of the city of Mora.

"Come on," Alek called over his shoulder, hopping from stone to stone.

"If you say 'come on' one more time, I am going to push you in," Oscar warned, bringing up the rear of the trio. He teetered on a rickety rock and jumped to the next before gravity could make a fool of him. "Not everybody is as athletic as you."

"Maybe you should have studied with Thrulian Academy instead of Cyrogen then," Alek said.

"I'd rather dedicate myself to the arts than run about huffing and grunting like an ogre all day."

"And how is that working out for you now?"

Oscar pouted and inched around a crop of barbed leaves. "Please tell me it's not much further."

Ahead of him, Esther gazed up at the Marble Falls. Moss and grime scaled the fractures in the soggy stone, and dribbles of fading sunlight meandered through the overhanging boughs. "There!"

"What?" Alek said, craning his neck to follow her line of sight. "I just see rock."

"You should be used to that being in Thrulian," Oscar retorted. At the two unimpressed glances, he held his hands up. The uneven stone beneath him lurched. He wiggled his arms to stay upright, and his reflection mocked him with an identical uncontrolled flail. "Okay, I deserved that."

Esther sighed and returned to the waterfall. "Can you see the patch of shadow that is darker than the rest? That is where we need to be heading." She examined the streaming outflow and slippery rocks beneath her and assessed the way ahead.

The closer they got to the spilling surge, the more tumultuous the terrain became. Stepping stones grew smaller, and the river churned. One misstep, the tiniest slip, and they'd fall prey to the vicious current.

Hardened dirt provided them with some footholds, but Alek tested each meticulously before setting his entire weight on them. With a helpful hand, he supported his two friends in their gradual progress over the water, and before long night pressed in on nimble feet.

"Are we sure we should do this now?" Oscar said. "Wouldn't it make more sense during the day?"

"We're more likely to be seen during the day," Esther replied. "Besides, I don't want to skip my classes."

"Stars forbid little miss know-it-all missed a class."

"I'm the one who found out about this place, so it's my decision when we go."

Alek bouldered by to hush them and hurled himself across the last stretch of water, squeezing himself against the damp wall. A sparse track opened out to his right. In a slow, careful spin, he reached out to catch the others as first Esther, and then Oscar, made the brave jump.

Esther shuffled along the path and behind the waterfall. Darkness expanded into the rock and wisps of a frosty breeze fluttered against her hair. Narrow streams of water trickled from the gloom to join the river, bringing with them the smell of mould and earth.

"Can you see anything?" Alek asked. "Trolls? Monsters?"

"Ghosts?" Oscar added.

"If there is anything of the sort in there," Esther said, "it's being awfully quiet."