Tierra: The Downfall [Book Two]

Chapter IV - Kaiden

Kaiden followed after the two girls and together they went to the small village. Nearly everyone there hid from them as they entered. All eyes were on them.

Kaiden noticed that the people were dressed more like medieval times, so of course it was strange to see three kids dressed in t-shirts and jeans. 

Serena had entered a building so, of course, Kaiden followed. Inside was a girl who was sitting behind a desk. Once they had entered, she looked up and squeaked, jumping below the desk. "M-M-M-May I-I-I help you...?"

Serena and Kaiden glanced at each other. "Yeah!" Kaiden heard Pacific speaking to the girl. "Why is everyone hiding from us?"

Kaiden didn't have time to stop Pacific from asking the question. The girl looked at them and slightly stood up. "Um...what? We...We aren't hiding from you... um..."

Kaiden pulled Pacific back a bit. "We aren't...from here-"

"I know! We saw you fall from the portal." The girl replied.

"So...where are we?" Kaiden asked.

"Tierra."

"Tierra?" Serena stepped forward, confused. "And the portal? Do you know anything about that?"

"No...only the wizards and mages know. And the princess." The girl whimpered.

"Princess? Not the king or queen?" Serena asked, still confused on the whole situation as far as Kaiden could tell. 

"They're dead." The girl stood up some more, relaxing.

"Dead?" Kaiden repeated.

The girl sat in her chair and sighed. "You clearly know nothing. I'll tell you what has happened during the last year.

"The princess discovered an evil creature ruled by an evil man. She went around, trying to defeat this creature, she even came to this village! I met her! Any ways, she fought in a war and ended it the same day. Her parents, the king and queen, were murdered by the evil man.

"After the war she started to strength the kingdom, making an army and improving lives. She's so good and amazing. The princess had a love, a wizard, who was murdered months ago by a new evil man. Then, just before the princess was about to be crowned queen, the evil man made her give Tierra to him.

"Now we suffer under King Soran's rule."

There was silence as the three thought about what they were told. An evil king? A princess? Tierra was in danger and the princess who stopped a war couldn't do anything about it? How strange. Changing the subject, Kaiden asked for a room for the night.

"How are we going to pay?" Serena asked him.

The girl looked at them. "I will. Don't worry. You aren't from here, your from the Other World. Your Others. That never happens." She handed Kaiden the key.

They said their thanks then head up the stairs to their room. It was a large room with only one bed and two desks. Pacific sat in a chair and she and Serena watched as Kaiden paced in the room. "Other World? Others? What does that mean?" He asked out loud.

"Maybe it's what they call our world. Or dimension? Kaiden, relax." Serena answered.

"But how do go back?" 

"The same way we came?" Pacific guessed.

Kaiden shook his head, "There must be other worlds too, it just can't be our's and Tierra." He paused in thought for awhile. "And who's this Soran guy? Does he fly? His name does it make it sound like it."

"He's the king here. Didn't you listen to the story? Clearly the princess who was suppose to rule needs help. Why not us?" Serena suggested.

Kaiden looked at her, confused. "Ser, we can't! We don't have anything to fight with. Do you see any weapons?"

Serena frowned and Kaiden stepped back a bit. She took a step closer to him, "Then we'll get some and get rid of this king dude! It's obvious."

Kaiden scowled. "He has magic. It won't be much of a fight."

Serena let out a frustrated grunt. "Why do you have to keep making everything so difficult! You were the one who wanted to leave that boring old town, and look! We're in a world of magic! But you want to go back home where things are safe. You boys make no sense! Gah!" She kicked a desk and let a scream of frustration.

Along with her scream, fire came shooting out, slightly burning  the wooden roof. Kaiden and Pacific stepped away in surprised and it showed on their faces. Serena looked at them, her angry scowl stayed on her face. "What?"

"You breathed fire!" Pacific exclaimed with a huge smile. "Does that mean we have magic too?"

There was silence in the room as everyone thought about this. Kaiden looked at his sister, "I don't know. We might, or we might not. Time will tell."

Kaiden looked back at Serena, who was staring at the burn mark on the roof. "I hope we don't have to pay for that." She said and they all broke out laughing.

Their laughter was interrupted by a knock at the door. They all went silent and looked at the door. Serena went over and opened it. In came a girl with golden hair. She wore a green button up shirt with matching shorts. To Kaiden, she kinda looked like a safari guide. She wore a huge grin that made Kaiden uneasy.

"Hello! My name is Rena and the king as sent me here to guide you to the castle so he may speak with you." She said, a little to cheerfully.

The three looked at each other then at Rena. "What?" Kaiden asked first. "How does he know we're here? We've only been here for an hour at most. How did you get here so quickly?"

"Pegasus." Rena answered. "And he saw the portal open and sent me here right away!"

Pacific jumped up and went up to the girl. "Do we get to ride pegasi?"

"No." Rena said with a smile.

Pacific's smile faded away and turned into disappointment. "Oh...so we're walking?"

"Yup!"

Kaiden looked at Serena then at Rena, "Can we talk privately for a minute?"

Rena nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Kaiden looked at Serena. "Don't say anything about your fire, nothing. We can't let her know that we might have magic, she might tell the king and I rather not see what he'll do."

Serena nodded. "Play it safe. Got it. But I wonder who she is. She doesn't look like a guide, or a servant. She's too tidy for that"

"We can worry about that later." Kaiden promised as the door opened again.

Rena smiled at them, but Kaiden could see it was fake. "Ready to go?" She asked, cheerfully.

Kaiden nodded and prepared himself for the dangers that awaited outside the village.