Chapter 1: The Beginning

In the autumn of 2060 a small town hidden by a magic barrier thrived and was guarded by the Queen Sorrel and blood army . The people lived peacefully, with no trouble and few wars that were ever fought in this area. But in those days things were different, things had happened in the land before, when there were still monsters roaming around and people fighting for their lives but not as often as they used to be because of the barrier.

 

This town grew from a place where only one person had magic, then two. One girl and another boy both born identical twins born to the small kingdom. They grew up together, never knowing anything of the world beyond the walls of the castle. When she reached five years old, the Queen took her away, into a land far away.

 

The boys name was Asher and would become a great swordsman who would fight with magic as well. He became known as a protector of his fellow men, and he protected other worlds too. But as time went on, he came back to his hometown with nothing to show for his journey except an empty sword .

 

one day he went to scout past the barrier of his kingdom into the thick fog of the forest with two other men called Naminé and Elric. They went to see what lies beyond it but they didn't find what they hoped for. Instead, they found something worse than what they expected. Naminé and Elric fell to their knees in front of a body they recognized immediately from the battle scars on the woman's face.

 

They heard the loud howls of wolves behind them , and soon after a giant wolf was charging at them and ready to tear its prey apart. Before the beasts could reach them, though, there was an explosion and two powerful blasts that knocked both wolves away and pushed them back. Asher saw them fall over each other and he knew that whoever these new enemies were, they meant to kill the beast if it got near him or his friends. 

 

Afterward, the three of them looked at each other, wide-eyed, wondering what kind of enemy would stand against a giant wolf so easily and take down two wolves at the same time. The mystery didn’t last long, however, as they saw a figure emerge from the mist and walk towards the beast. She was clad in armor made out of the finest metals and held a sword in hand that was as tall as she was. She walked with such confidence that she seemed like she knew exactly what she was doing. Her hair flowed free in the wind and she had blue eyes so bright that even the darkness around them seemed to glow.

 

Asher wasn’t surprised at all. It had been so many years since anyone had come across the mysterious gate between dimensions that they had forgotten what it looked like. That being said they weren’t expecting a girl so tall to walk through it.

 

When the stranger came closer, Asher noticed a slight smile on her face. She stood there and watched the wolf struggle, growling menacingly as she drew closer. Asher’s companions followed her gaze and watched the monster, also growing frustrated at the animal’s stubborn resistance. But eventually he gave up.

The stranger approached slowly, looking down at the wolf. He stopped right beside Asher.

 

She swung her sword out using a highly explosive lightning spell that left scorch marks on the ground behind her. The monster wolf roared furiously, trying to shake off the attack. But instead she stepped forward to the side, keeping the beast focused on her while still making her presence known to it. She raised the sword above her head and brought it down in one swift motion.

 

The monster fell and vanished along with its rider. Asher turned back to the woman and watched as she put down her blade.

 

Before he could speak, she raised a hand. “You must be Asher the prince of hidden village protected by fae. I have been searching for you.” He was taken aback by what he had just seen. She knew his name? “And you are?”

 

“My name is Neith. And we have much to discuss.” She smiled. “I’ll explain everything to you.” She started walking again and the others followed without hesitation.

 

More Wolves come out of the forest growling snapping their large teeth at the four of them. They’re smaller and weaker than the ones they faced before. It appears like she has defeated the pack leader and now they must fight their way through the rest of the group.

 

But when they reach the end of the clearing, they find themselves facing a group of ten Wolves. These seem to be stronger and smarter than the last group and it takes everything Asher has not to lose himself and turn on them all.

 

Neith raises her hands and the group stops moving, waiting for her command. When she speaks Asher almost feels bad about what he did.

 

It seems cruel for them to die like this, especially when they haven’t done anything wrong. But he can’t let the threat continue unchecked either, and he knows what will happen if this goes any longer. Neith turns to face the wolves. “Attack!” she shouts and the beasts charge at them.

 

Asher doesn’t hesitate; running straight for Neith, he swings his sword down in front of her and uses the momentum to jump onto the Wolf he was closest to. The wolf falls to the ground under him with a loud thud, dead. A quick glance reveals that the rest are retreating, so he jumps down and follows Neith as she runs deeper into the forest. There are wolves everywhere they look. In every direction. They run until they finally reach the outskirts of the city and hide.

 

“Thank you.” Neith says, panting from exhaustion. “Now you know why we don’t leave this town, Asher. Those beasts…” she shakes her head sadly. “We need to get out of here. We can’t stay here forever and risk more creatures coming across our borders.”

 

He looks down at his sword. “Are you saying we should cut down these wolves and leave here?” Gawking over at Neith, whose face remains blank. 

 

“If we want to survive. Come on, it’s night now. We shouldn’t spend it inside of one of those towns.

 

"Why not go to town?" Asher asked "Because you are human and I am far from it." She growled. 

 

Asher frowned. "What do you mean by that?" "This place is cursed." Neith glared up at the moon. "These people are the result of a curse cast upon the kingdom hundreds of years ago. They've been killing and torturing humans and turning them into beasts for centuries. We don't need this madness."

 

"Do you think we should go to the town?" Asher asked. 

 

"No. You're going to die." Neith cuts him off coldly. "You'll get eaten by those animals. No. You are staying here with us."

 

Asher sighs. Neith is obviously not going to change her mind. If he wants to survive, he will have to work with her. But he's starting to doubt his decision to stay.

 

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They set up camp in a small cave nearby. They eat some bread and cheese by a campfire as Naminé and Elric watch Asher clean the blade of this large sword. 

 

Elric watches the brilliant flames nearly hypnotized by them. Suddenly his eye catches Neith's as she stands next to him watching the fire as well. He's glad that she isn't as harsh with him as she is with Asher. Maybe she really does care for him.

 

“How do I know that this is all real?” Asher asks after a while. “That you aren’t some witch, trying to trick me.”

 

“I am very real,” Neith assures him. “Please believe me Asher. You and your friends need our help. You have my word.”

 

Naminé turns and walks into the woods. After awhile he did not return as the howls of wolves could be heard louder and louder making Neith, Asher and Elric worry as the noise got nearer screams could be heard echoing throughout the trees.

 

Asher and Neith quickly grab their weapons and run out of the cave into the darkening forest where a great amount of wolves are attacking the village nearby. Neith pulled Asher along with her as they move quickly through the woods. There is no time to stop and look back.

 

Suddenly they hear the wolves roaring and see shadows of many shapes moving around in the woods behind them. They’re too afraid to turn back and risk a confrontation with more wolves and too angry to give into Neith’s orders to retreat. But there’s nothing for it; they have to fight.

 

A shadow grows larger before them. Before Asher could react, he sees a massive wolf lunging toward him with it's claws outstretched. Instincts kick in and he dodges the attack but before he can turn around and meet the wolf, something pushes him to the side, sending him flying. His vision blurs and for a moment all he can see is darkness. Then suddenly an axe appears in his view as it slices through the wolf, killing it instantly. Asher gasps for breath and sits up. He recognizes the figure standing in front of him: Elric.

 

“Thanks.” Asher says weakly as he climbs to his feet and wipes some blood off his lip. “Just glad I was there to lend a helping hand.” They continue forward through the forest, following Sorrel. They make their way through the forest until they reach a hill surrounded by trees. On top of the hill, Neith and Elric wait as Asher climbs on top.

 

A woman stood there in the clearing holding a glowing orb floating in the palm of her hands. As soon as he is settled she lowers the orb and it disappears. “We don’t have long; the moon will rise shortly and then we shall have to leave.” She turns to look at Neith who nods in understanding. 

 

“Good luck and don’t be surprised if things get a bit difficult.” She turns back to look at Asher. “Welcome to the party. Welcome to the cause.” With that she leaves as the first rays of sunshine begin to appear, casting light upon the forest below.

 

"What do you mean?" Asher asked. 

 

“We’re going to open a gate to another world.” Neith replies.

 

 “How?!” Asher exclaimed.

 

 “What happened to all the magic that’s been around since then?” “You will be going to the future!" She warned. "And the only way to get there is to create portals between worlds.”

 

Asher shakes his head, unable to comprehend the enormity of what she's telling him. “How am I supposed to create portals from the past to the present? Are there books or potions or spells you need me to use? Do I even know how to do this?”

 

“Yes, yes and no, but for now you will become someone else!"

 

 “What do you mean?” He questioned desperately.

 

 “You will become someone who has the power to control the future.”

 

 “The future? What do you mean? Am I a hero in the future?” Asher laughed bitterly. 

 

"I am sorry I lured you here because I knew you would eventually leave...you will finally meet your sister Asher." 

 

"What do you mean? How will I meet my sister?" 

 

"She will come to you." Neith explained. 

 

“I am sorry Asher, but Naminé is there already to assist you.” Elric explained. 

 

An enormous amount of energy pulled Asher towards it’s dense gravitational pull and he looked up. The sun was barely visible above him now. The sky was beginning to take its pinkish hue. As soon as it's fully risen, Asher felt himself fading away.

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