International Legends

Chapter 19 - Leo

Princess Naomi was elegant in every way - her mannerisms, confidence, and the way that she carried herself. Experience helping birth babies made Jodie's come out easily, and she also helped us to quickly set up camp. She told me in great detail the struggles of living in Emgralore, the challenges of being a wizard in a world that is run by Guardians, and the great hope that her planet returns to the natural world.

I was getting flashbacks to when mom would set up with camp in Ohio and how quietly (yet quickly) we would find ourselves with chili or something similar. We would be up in front of the fire, witness to Mom's beautiful string lights she placed on the tree, already warming up, while Dad would be preparing to take us both fishing.

After dinner, Axel and Ozara were in deep conversation. I was desperate to continue the conversation I had with Naomi about the Time Guardian. She had told me everything - how the creature was a fail-safe between wizards and guardians. A guardian to guard the well-being of time, held by a sorcerer and his lover. It sounded like a major solution to our problems.

I wanted to know where he was, who he was, and how we would face him. Doing such could be the answer to our problems. I couldn't find her though. I instantly got worried for her but the quiet of the woods and the emptiness of the tent made me clear that she had wandered off into the woods. I wanted so badly to chase after her, but I knew that I would not find her there.

I thought back to my family and felt the cold overtake me. What had happened to them? Had they frozen over just like one of Medusa's statues? Were they all alone right now? Would they ever come back, or were they awaiting death just like the rest of us up here?

The silence was defeating as I tried to sleep, tossing back and forth, willing for thoughts that would not come. It didn't help however that Ozara got up in the middle of the night having to pee constantly, causing Axel to fluff up her pillow and grow audibly frustrated. Then they started kissing and at some point, I stopped hearing anything.

I began to pray to God. Releasing my control, my longing for a Bible, and my incessant anxieties about Naomi.

"Dear Lord, I cannot do this anymore. I am frustrated beyond repair. Wizards, Guardians, Gods, and Magic," I say. "I just want to go home. I want to help everyone out with this. I want to solve this issue but I don't know how. I want to go back to my normal life God."

The trees are silent to this and I guess it's time to end my prayer. I think back to my time with Naomi and the conversation we had about the Time Guardian but the words all blur together. She knew less about it than we do, only that it seemed like a scary alien threat rather than that of reality. A legend she heard as a kid that seemed to be left over by an extraterrestrial, hardly relevant to her world. In addition, she didn't understand why we so badly wanted to talk to Theo. She wanted more than anything to avoid that conversation.

...

In the morning, I wake up to whatever coffee packets we can heat over the fire and struggle in vain to enjoy my coffee. It just doesn't taste the same.

The breeze makes it's way through the falling leaves and I go out into the field, hoping I can see the princess making her way across the field, but instead I hear an earthquake rumble out of the ground and see to my surprise a big worm in front of me. He has pinchers, spikes, and a menacing look that makes it appear as if he had come out of hell itself. I feel nauseous.

"Wow," says Amair. "I thought you were so besotted by grief. I can hardly believe you made your way out of the palace. Impressive."

"He's stronger than you think," says a voice, turning around to see the Princess Naomi coming out of a nearby forest, spear in hand and looking positively medieval. "He could only stay holed up in that castle for so long. You knew he would come out for revenge. To save the entirety of Emgralore."