Lost Realms

9.Upside Down

Edward

I just gawked at what was before me.

Was I dreaming? 

This cannot be happening...

My entire world as I had known it just turned upside down... And something was off with my mum. She kept trying to look at Akinli but looked like she couldn't bear to...

Then Julie's uncle Akinli opened an enormous portal of sorts in the building!

'Hurry! We don't have much time!' Akinli said looking at all the four of us.

I glanced over at both Daniel and Julie. How is it possible that the girl with her hair in a braid, big glasses and brown eyes and I were stuck in the same situation and that too an out worldly one! Is this just a mere coincidence or destiny? They both walked up to their uncle. Julie tried her best not to wince by the looks of it and they said something to him. Then they both slowly walked to the portal.

I looked at Julie. Her brown hair was pulled up into a pony and she seemed to be on the verge of tears. I had a strange urge to comfort her and tell her everything was going to be alright. Even though I knew nothing was...

I turned to look at my mum. She looked defeated. She looks at me and I look away. The fact that I had lied to my whole life was something I needed time to deal with. I needed time to process all these crazy things before I could talk to her again.

 Akinli clears his throat. I look up at him and when our eyes met I could see that a hundred thoughts were going through his head and he seemed to be overwhelmed and...sad? Then as if pulled out of a trans he says 'I know it's hard for you...hard to understand everything but give your mum a chance to explain everything.' I noticed how he stressed on everything and turned to my mum. She looked to the floor not wanting to meet our eyes.

Akinli sighs and says 'Edward why don't you go ahead while I have a word with your mum?' I raise a brow and he lets out a chuckle and says with an amused expression 'Trust me, kid, she is anything but soft and can take care of herself. One of the best fighters of the Second League'

Suddenly my mums head whips up and she says 'Pardon? You mean one of the best in the Alpha League. Cause if I remember correctly you were defeated by me with a short sword in less than five minutes!' and Akinli says 'Ten minutes. It took you ten minutes and I lost only because I was using a Longsword!' 

I stare at my mum with my mouth hanging open. Was this really her? The same person who would bake cookies on weekends or sing me to sleep when I would have nightmares? All of a sudden didn't recognize her anymore and yet again it seemed so obvious now. Her incredible strength. They way she carried herself. Like a warrior.

I came to my senses and cleared my throat and they froze realizing my presence. 'Just talk fast while i try and get through that portal' I wince due to my hurting back but cross the portal before they could say anything.

I put one hand into the blue sparks. This is it. If I walked through this my life would change forever. Even if I didn't it wouldn't be the same. I needed answers and without even the question of a doubt, I knew it that the only place I would find them was across this portal.

I take a deep breath and step inside it. Ignoring my mum frantically calling my name.

                                                             ************************************

I was free-falling through the sky.

The first thought which comes to my head is 'Is Julie alive?'

And why was that my first thought?

No idea.

The next is me screaming my head off cause let me tell you something. Falling from the clouds may seem like a dream come true, but believe me, It. Is. Not.

Just when I thought all hope was lost a hand grabs mine and I turn to see my mum. She had a fearless gaze and the way she held herself was like she did this her whole life. I guess she did.

I was still unsure on how to not die right now.

I tried to look at her through the wind blowing him my face. Was she getting into a...Crouch?

I try to mimic her and suddenly look down to see the clouds opening to reveal land. Golden trees dotted the landscape and a white palace sat in the centre of many other houses.

I screamed again. 'Mum we're falling!' She tightens her grip and I suddenly see a shadow and something grips me and the next thing you know we were gliding to the ground.

Whatever caught hold of us drops us a few feet in the air and we both land in a crouch. I gasp. Trying to take in as much air as possible in my lungs. Never! Never again! What in the world was that! What caught us!?

I then turn to and my eyes might have popped out of their sockets...I see a majestic gryphon right before my eyes. A gryphon! A real life, humongous Gryphon! After getting over the initial shock I spot a man on top of it.

He gets down the creature rubbing it once and walks towards us. The man stops in his tracks. He looks like someone just punched him in the gut. Then starts running towards us and then I turn to notice that my mum was starting to run towards him too. Both of them having huge smiles.

The man then hugs my mum and...were they crying?

A million questions were going through my head when I heard "you're alive" he says.

My mum just continues crying. After a few moments, she pulls herself together and the man looks at me. "Who is this boy?" I was still back where my mum had left me. Standing there awkwardly feeling out of place.

My mum seemed to have just realized something and says "Kova this is my son Edward.' At that he whios his head towards me. 'Edward this is my brother Kova, your uncle"

His eyes widen and he looks at me and then my mom and then says "Is he A..."

"Yes," my mum says. He seemed to have noticed the tension in my mum's voice. His eyes go wide again and he asks "You haven't told him yet haven't you?" He asks her.

"Because up until twenty minutes ago I thought the man was dead. And I wanted nothing to do with the guardians anymore." She said.

Wait what? What does this have to do with me and Akinli?

Everything actually.

What are you?

The question is who are you?

Fine. Who are you!?
No reply.

His frown deepens 'and why did you want that? Do you know how long we thought you were dead? 18 years. For 18 years we all just assumed you were dead...'He says.

'Because he's part of the great prophecy Kova! I didn't want my child to be in danger!' she says putting her face in hands.

Kova looks at me again. Then he slowly walks to me and says "well then it's a good thing he's here now for he needs a lot of training to catch up to" while giving me a small apolagitic smile.

He then spots someone behind us 'Is that...'
My mom said 'yes. Yes it is.' I look back and see Akinli had just dropped to the ground in a crouch...