Through the 12 Realms

Chapter 6: The Old Man's Throne

"You're...Timeless...?" Nattie asked curiously, whilst still shaken up. 

"Indeed, I have lived for years beyond your comprehension. However, you may call me Raf, that is what I go by."

"Raf...Hello...I am--" Before Nattie could finish her sentence Raf spoke up.

"I know who you are, Nattie. As well as you, Antoinette, I've awaited both of you for quite a while now. I also know that both of you possess some uncanny abilities, am I correct?" Raf asks in a gentle tone as opposed to his domineering and monotone attitude before.

Nattie and Antoinette both look at each other for a moment before turning back to Raf and nodding their heads in agreement. 

"Ah, I see, however, one of you seems to be missing? No?" Raf raised his eyebrow at both of them while waiting for an answer. 

"But...It's only been us two, we haven't met anyone else..." Antoinette spoke up, correcting Raf.

"Ah, of course, how could I forget. I've yet to send you to your third friend, my apologies." Raf tipped his head as a sign of apology to both Nattie and Antoinette.

"So, you're the one who's been sending us places?" Nattie curiously asked while slightly raising her voice."

"That is correct, I am the one who has been transporting you two around the realms." Raf smiled.

"So...then why are we here?" Antoinette asked in turn of Nattie.

"Well, I've got a bit of a task for your group, of course, you will meet your third member shortly." Raf leaned forward with his hands clasped together in front of his face. 

"I will also be teaching you all, mainly you two. You cannot carry out my task without being well prepared."

"Teaching us...Teaching us what exactly?" Antoinette curiously asked.

"Magic of course, what kind of silly question is that young lady?" Raf chuckled for a moment before returning to his relaxed position.

"You two will be taught how to expand your arsenal of magical abilities. After all, having more variety is always advantageous. However, before that..." Raf paused, then the atmosphere darkened. 

Raf's eyes became a pure white colour, matching his hair. Suddenly, Nattie and Antoinette felt weak, they felt as though they were about to collapse under the buckle of a star. They felt something leaving their body, something important, something that made up their very being. 

"What...What are you doing!?" Nattie yelled out quickly, gasping for more air.

However, she received no response, Raf still sat leisurely on his throne. Then Nattie and Antoinette both caught a glimpse of his eyes and felt a sudden tremor of fear come over them. 

"His...His eyes..." Antoinette muttered under her own breath.

Raf's eyes had turned from the previously pure white, into two different colours. The left eye had turned a beautiful, crystal clear violet colour, almost perfectly mimicking Antoinette when speaking to animals. His right eye transformed into Nattie's shimmering golden eyes when transforming items and materials. Then they became dimmer, and dimmer, and dimmer. Until they faded back to their natural red hue. As his eyes dimmed, the pressure residing over Nattie and Antoinette had lifted, and they were at ease again. However, incredibly scared, and cautious of Raf, as well as what he had done.

"W-What did you do!?" Antoinette yelled out at Raf.

"Oh, don't mind that. I was simply siphoning your abilities, you'll still retain them. However, I have attained your magical abilities, namely Nattie's ability to transform items and materials, and your ability to speak to any living creature. Though, I only have your abilities are 20% of their strength, so I have not taken your full power. However, I do thank you for allowing me to attain these gifts." Raf smiled a warm smile towards both of them.

"Now then...off you go to meet your third member. Good day." Raf's smile disappeared, then he clicked his fingers. 

Nattie and Antoinette were then instantly transported somewhere else within the castle, outside the building they were in, but inside the castle walls. 

"Where, Where are we?" Nattie asked Antoinette.

"It seems...he sent us to a garden in the castle walls," Antoinette replied while still observing her surroundings.  

The sun had peeked out from behind the clouds and filled the area with warm glowing sunlight, as the red, yellow, violet and blue flowers all revealed themselves in perfect harmony. The birds were flying past in their flocks, the tree leaves all rustled along with the breeze that filled in every nook and cranny. Then they spotted a door from across the garden, it was on the side opposite them. They also spotted a sign, a small wooden sign that hung off the wall of the stone brick wall next to the door.  On the sign, had small characters, unreadable at first. However, as Antoinette focused more on the characters, they shifted around until they spelt a word that Antoinette could read. However, rather than a word like kitchen or armoury, it spelt a name.

"Alora..."