The Realm Hero Chronicles: Round 2

Prologue: A Year of Reflection

A year seems like a very long time.Something worthy to be noted. Years mark something absolutely special. Another year older. Another year of memories. Another year of sweat, war, blood, and toil. Another year of hoping that the next year will be brighter.

Tonight, however. Is a year of reflection. Tonight marks the one year anniversary of the founding of the Realm Heroes. One year ago today, we received our Realm Bracelets, discovered the other realms, solved one of the biggest mysteries of my life, and pledged our loyalties to our realms and each other.

How do I know all of this? Well, it's kind of a long story.

My name is Laval. My resume includes the Crown Prince of the Lion Tribe in Chima, as well as a co-founder and leader of the Realm Heroes. Oh, and did I mention that as a Realm Hero, I'm a guardian? It's true. It is a charge given to us by the Realm Emperor (whom I have not heard from since he left me the note and my mother's diary) and we Realm Heroes take this charge seriously. I mean, it's the realms. For all intents and purposes, we're basically charged with keeping the space-time continuum intact.

It seems weird to think that a year ago today, my goal in the realms was to get home to Chima. Now, the goal is changed yo protecting the realms and not just Chima. We as the Realm Heroes have come a long way from the spunky, rag-tag group of kids thrust into a situation we couldn't have imagined otherwise. Now, we're almost like a family. Built on morals and bonds of trust, loyalty, courage, peace, and honor. Oh, add a lot of blood, sweat, tears, heartache, loss, trouble, and war to that list as well.

i know that the other Realm Heroes are using today as a reflection period. I honestly say I can't blame them. This past year was a rocky year, as we suffered, triumphed, faltered, stood up for everything we've believed. I know that the drafted members are also thinking and the Extended Council members are also reflecting as well.  Reflecting on the trouble and hardship we endured to get to where we are.

Yet I suspect that not everything is as it seems. Although we have a peace treaty from RAC following the Realm War, I don't know if we've really cleared all of the aggression from RAC. I suspect that something else is lurking among the shadows. In dreams. In waking hours. Some type of menace is awake and seeking. I know that some of the other Realm Heroes have expressed this concern, particularly, members of the Extended Council. I hope they understand that they are free to vocalize what they think regarding this matter.

Whatever it is, I know we can beat it. After all, we brought down an empire on its own realm turf, brought peace to our realms, and convinced a Realm Emperor to change his mind. How bad could this "menace" be?