On the Other Side

Realise

I sit across from her in the snow

"So" I say, waiting for her to continue

"When I first created this world. I placed bloodsuckers known as vampires, beasts known as werewolves and magicians known as witches. Everyone was united, this land was held together by the cooperation of the people but also the woman that I made the visionary who had the power to see into everyone's hearts. She was the most powerful creature in the land, she had the power to read minds, change minds and could kill anyone with just one look.

Overtime, distress began to grow between the people because of the power she held. They wanted to behold that power. A group of people decided to oppose her and planned to kill her.

One night they snuck into her dwelling. She knew they were coming before they even planned the attack. She could see into their hearts, she caught each of them. She called a gathering of every citizen in the forest the next day. She made them all confess. Out of anger she banished every wrong doer and their families to the borders of forbidden forest, to die basically"

"She was like a Queen"

"Yes you could say that"

"What was her name"

She blinked away the tears and looked at her hands

"Iola, her name was Iola"

It seemed they knew each other

"What happened after"

"The people turned against her and she let them kill her slowly. Iola was just so saddened by the despair and it clouded her heart. After she died the unity broke between the kingdom  and everyone disbanded into three kingdoms. The Moon kingdom belonged to werewolves, the Blood kingdom to the vampires and the Dust kingdom to the witches.

"So, these three kingdoms make the forbidden forest" she nods in response.

"What about the banished people?"

"Oh, she removed their powers and they became humans. The hate passed through your generations, that is why, your kind detest anyone entering the forbidden forest."

"So who's the visionary now"

"No one, I have been afraid to place anyone in that role for a long time. I fear the same thing will happen again" she sighs

When a silence settles, I ask the question that's been clawing at me

"Why are there no gates stopping anyone from entering the forbidden forest, if it's so evil"

"Well before the visionary died. Iola removed any barrier between the banished and the forbidden forest, she chose to give them a second chance." She looked at me "You want to know something"

I nodded

"Only one other person aside from you has passed a trial set by me"

My heart suddenly lights up

"I have a brother, I only came here looking for him. Would you know of him? Did he pass?"

"No, but remember, not every trial occurs with me"

"Goddess, why did you let me see my fight with that beast, why did tell me this story"

"Because dear, I want you to become the new visionary."

"You're joking, I don't want to end up like her"

"There is a problem arising, I can feel it but I need you to help me fix it"

"I can't Goddess. I need to find my brother. I can't waste my time."

"With these powers, you can easily find him."

I cross my arms.

"How?"

"Let me just show you"