Light Of Both Worlds (Chapter 1)

Dreams are illustrations...from the book your soul is writing about you1

Marsha Norman2

Chapter 1: Exquu Forest3

“Haige!” shouted a boy with flaming red hair as he ran, bounding over anaconda like roots with impressive litheness and speed. Making his way through the dense forest in the middle of the night with ease. He continued shouting desperately through gasps of uneven breaths. 4

“Haige! Come out at once!” now in an angered tone. He had stopped a few feet away from a gargantuan oak tree in the middle of a clearing. The oak has a door near its roots and windows every few feet upwards. 5

A dark figure swooped down from the top of the oak at an unnatural speed and landed right in front of the boy. It was a tall man in his spring of youth, his black hair slicked back from his pale face with a few locks falling into his emerald green eyes. 6

Dressed in a black wool frock coat, black trousers and shoes complete with a pocket watch. He is the epitome of vintage elegance. The boy on the other hand wore a large fox pelt over his shirt and beige pants. The difference of their clothing is so grotesquely distinct that they look somewhat comical. 7

Haige was obviously not human. No human could have jumped off at that height and land perfectly on his feet. The boy too, he was not human. 8

“Kreyan, what is the matter?” asked Haige in mock concern with a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. 9

“You! You heard me! You deliberately made me run all the way here shouting like a mad mortal.” Replied the boy scathingly, his golden eyes glowering with anger. 10

Haige smiled mischievously revealing a pair of gleaming white fangs. “Yes, yes.” He said dismissively. 11

“What is it that you want to tell me?” he asked. 12

“Fly me back to my den, quick”. 13

Kreyan transformed into his wolf form. The wolf pelt merged with his skin, his clothing vanished into thin air. He was too big for a fox but too small for a wolf nonetheless with the markings of a fox. 14

“This is rare…” Mused Haige. 15

He unfurled his large black wings that miraculously sprouted from his back through his coat without damaging it. Haige took Kreyan into his arms with ease as if he weighed nothing. With a single flap of his powerful wings, Haige the vampire was ten feet in the air. Headed to Kreyan’s den, the werewolf in his arms.16

17

Kreyan’s den18

Kreyan leapt out of Haige’s arms. He reverted to his human form as he walked towards a weeping willow. His den is under the tree. All of the werewolves live in underground dens.19

“Here, something’s glowing in its trunk. It feels…different,” whispered Kreyan as if the blue light coming from a crack in the trunk of the melancholic looking tree might be startled by his voice. 20

Haige frowned. “Has the time come?” talking more to himself than to Kreyan. 21

Kreyan ignored him. “Do you know what it is?” Kreyan ran his fingers across the crack in the tree trunk. 22

“Yes.” Haige said as he walked over to Kreyan’s side and extends his hand towards the crack, “There is an Anael in this tree.” 23

Kreyan looked at Haige curiously, “What is an Anael?” 24

Haige touches the tree trunk and his hand surprisingly went through it. Kreyan gasped, speechless. 25

Haige withdrew his hand, his fingers curled tenderly around a round paintbrush. 26

The brush glowed blue. Its handle bore beautiful ornate carvings. Haige stared at the brush gravely. Kreyan heard a voice. “I am courage” It was coming from the brush. 27

“Courage” whispered Kreyan. 28

Haige looked distracted, “Yes, I suppose you should be able to tell its name.” 29

“H-huh? What’s that supposed to mean?” 30

“Come, let’s talk to your mother. She’ll be able to explain things better than I do.” 31

Kreyan stared at Haige’s back as he went down the stairs that led to Kreyan’s den under the weeping willow holding the brush carefully. Kreyan followed suit but felt a sense of foreboding by Haige’s peculiar demeanour. “It’s not like Haige to be so disconcerted.” Thought Kreyan.32

* * * * *33

Kreyan’s den consists of a round living room with three doors around it. The main door leads to the stairs to the ground, one of the doors leads to the kitchen, the last one leads to a hall way which forks into three bedrooms. There is a round dining table in the middle of the living room with four chairs around it. There is a fireplace on the wall opposite to the main door. Bottles containing colourful liquids hung from the roots that protrude through the ceiling. Some of the liquid glows while others cast shadows or reflects the firelight. 34

Kreyan’s mother was sitting in her rocking chair by the fire, singing a song in wolf tongue to herself. Her golden eyes glowed in an eerie manner in the firelight. She has been spending her free time simply singing to herself since she’s expecting a new litter at the end of this spring. Kreyan’s mother is wise but somewhat whimsical. 35

“Mother, I-“ Kreyan stammered. He did not know what to say.36

Kreyan’s mother stopped singing and turned to look at the brush in Haige’s hand. She said nothing. 37

Haige pulled two chairs from the dining table and set them in front of Alanna. He sat in one of them “Alanna, the time has come to tell him.”38

“Tell me wh-“. Haige motioned Kreyan to sit. He raised the brush in front of the three of them and let it go. The brush did not fall. It simply hung in mid air bathing them with its blue light. 39

Kreyan stared at it, transfixed by its mystifying beauty. 40

Haige glanced at Kreyan with a pained expression, half smiling. “Alanna, please…”41

Alanna looked at her son and smiled. “Yes, of course.” 42

Kreyan pulled his gaze from the brush reluctantly and looked into his mother’s eyes.43

“This blue brush here. Courage, is one of the 11 Anaels that exist. Anaels are brushes used by Alida The Diviner to paint dreams. She was the former ruler of Emphat. She paints dreams for both mortals and non-mortals to help them. Dreams can bring joy to the dreamer but dreams can also warn or punish the dreamer. Anaels are powerful brushes that can bring unfathomable destruction if it were to fall in the wrong hands. This is where you come in, Kreyan.” Alanna looked at Haige and nodded.44

“Me? What has this got to do with me?” asked Kreyan nervously. 45

Haige took the air borne brush carefully and faced Kreyan. “Kreyan, I want you to close you eyes.” Haige looked like he has been dreading this moment his whole life.46

Kreyan was about to ask “why?” but thought better at the look in Haige’s giving him. When he closed his eyes, he heard the voice again, “courage…courage…”47

“I’m going to fuse the brush with your body-“48

“Wha-!” Haige instantly put his left hand on Kreyan’s mouth.49

“Listen to me! Calm down. It won’t hurt too much but it will if you won’t calm down because I’ll hit you.” Haige sounded very frustrated. 50

“Who’d be calm if a vampire’s about to stick his hand in your chest!” thought Kreyan but he calmed down all the same. Focussing in relaxing himself and taking deep breaths. He had no idea what all of this is about.51

“Good, just like that. I’m doing it now.”52

The voice in Kreyan’s head was getting louder. Suddenly, he felt an enormous power convulsing in his chest. He struggled and screamed but Haige held him down. He felt like every cell in his body is burning but at the same moment he felt himself gradually gaining an omnipotent strength. Nausea took over him but the pain receded slowly. 53

Kreyan struggled again but this time, WHAM! Haige was thrown backwards across the living room. Throwing a vampire across the room is no mean feat, vampires are known for their strength even in the Otherworld.54

“Haige! Are you okay? Kreyan, help him up” Alanna’s face creased with worry.55

“I’m fine, Alanna.” Haige got up and brush the dirt from his coat. He walked over to one of the bottles hung on the roots and started fixing his hair. Scrutinizing his reflection on the bottle.56

“That’s quite a throw, Kreyan.” Haige smiled, flashing his fangs. He sat back in his chair crossing his knees and stared at Kreyan. 57

“Oh no…he’s really pissed at me for messing up his hair.” Kreyan swallowed and sat down. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” He looked at his feet, “Serves you right,” thought Kreyan silently.58

“Alanna, you can resume now.” His eyes glinting as he stared at Kreyan. He is very annoyed.59

“Yes…but are you sure you don’t need a minute Kreyan?” Still worrying.60

“ No, mother. I’m fine. But I still don’t understand!” He smiled lovingly at his mother.61

“…Okay then. Before she died, Alida used all of her remaining powers to send her Anaels to her trusted Guardians. These Guardians are to keep the Anaels safe until the Light comes. Kreyan, your name means Light. Alida has divined your birth and your destiny in a book called “Light Of Both Worlds.” As the Light, you are to maintain the balance of the mortal world and our world, the Otherworld.” Alanna waited for Kreyan’s response.62

“Me? Maintain the balance? How am I supposed to do that? Anyway, the worlds are still balanced, aren’t they?” Kreyan started to get a little edgy.63

“Yes, the worlds are still balanced now but it wouldn’t be for long. To maintain the balance, the first thing you must do is to find the book “Light Of Both Worlds”. The book will guide you through your journey to unite the 11 Anaels.”64

“What’s upsetting the balance? And how do I find the book?”65

“I don’t know what or who is upsetting the balance. Things will get clearer as you go on your journey. The book on the other hand is within the Firelaze Clouds. One of the phoenixes is the Guardian of an Anael and the book. Haige will take you there tomorrow.” 66

“Tomorrow! But mother who’s going to take care of you? I can’t leave you alone! This is ridiculous! I’m not doing this!” Kreyan stood up as he said this. He was very agitated. 67

Alanna stared at the floor.68

“ Kreyan, your aunt can look after Alanna during your absence. It’s getting late, Alanna needs her rest. You must be tired too and I’m getting thirsty.” Haige helped Alanna up and lead her to her room. 69

Kreyan’s mind was in a muddle. “This is too sudden!” he thought angrily as he morphed into his wolf form and curled up on the hearth in front of the fire. 70

Haige returned to the living room and looked at Kreyan. “Kreyan, aren’t you going to see me out?” he asked with mocking sorrow. Kreyan pretended not to hear him. Haige laughed as he walked out dolefully. “He’s taking things very well...” Haige murmured, he step out of the den and flew into the night to the mortal world, surrendering himself to his instincts as his thirst for blood took over him. 71

* * * * *72

“Ouch!” A sharp pain in his tail awakened Kreyan. He reverted to his human form and turned over to see Haige standing over him, smiling. 73

“Vengeance is sweet isn’t it?” 74

“Whatever.” Kreyan got up and straightened his pelt. “Back to his childish self…”thought Kreyan. 75

“Kreyan…do you understand the magnitude of your responsibility? Both our world and the mortal world are in grave danger. You must reunite the Anaels. If you don’t, who knows what will happen if the balance is destroyed. War might break out.”76

“No way! You’re still talking over that Anaels bussines? I don’t believe you. Why me of all the creatures in our world anyway?” Kreyan’s eyes smouldered with anger.77

“Do you not feel the power of Courage coursing through you veins? You’re a dream painter too aren’t you? You should understand the potential of such power the most! Please, let me take you to the phoenixes. You can decide for yourself after you’ve seen the book. You heard your mother…she’d never lie to you. It is hard for her too. Her heart is screaming for you to not to go but she understands. Do it for your mother if you’re that unwilling, Kreyan.”78

Kreyan had never seen this Haige so frustrated before.79

“What If I went to see the book and I still decide not to search for the Anaels?” Kreyan asked warily.80

“It is your decision, Kreyan.” Haige sighed.81

“He never calls me Kreyan before” thought Kreyan.82

“...W-when will we go to the phoenixes?”83

“Now. We’ll go after you’ve packed up some things.”84

“Now?” thought Kreyan.85

“So…what should I pack?” Kreyan looked around him as if things would start packing itself. 86

Haige frowned, “Things that you’ll need to survive. I’ve brought Midnight and Twilight with me. See?” Haige opened his coat to show his twin short sword strapped to his waist on both side of his hips. 87

“Oh...okay.” Kreyan reached on top of the mantelpiece and brought down his Japanese long sword and strapped it to his waist. 88

Both Haige and Kreyan are skilful swordsmen. They practiced together daily, perfecting their own techniques. Kreyan started packing as Haige played with his shadow in front of the fireplace. 89

After packing up, Kreyan went into Alanna’s room. She was sound asleep. Kreyan did not want to wake her up. He kissed her goodbye left a note on the dresser. Kreyan still did not believe the story. Actually, he did not want to believe it. The voice in his head and the he overwhelming power he felt, was all too real for him. 90

Haige was waiting for Kreyan outside. He was braiding the Weeping Willow’s leaves. 91

“Is he for real? He was serious a second ago and now he’s…braiding tree leaves? Give me a break!” Thought Kreyan.92

“You sure you don’t want to talk to her before we go?” Haige asked as he braids the leaves.93

“Don’t need to. I’ll be back home after we’re finished with this phoenix business. Besides, she might cry” 94

“You mean, you might cry eh?” 95

“Tch…let’s go before I change my mind.” 96

“Okay, okay. The weather witch said Firelaze Clouds is south from here, above the Neocul plains. We should be there around midday if we hurry. Let’s just hope the clouds are still there when we arrive.”97

“Can’t we just fly there?” asked Kreyan glumly.98

“I don’t want to hold you nor your things all the way there.” 99

“I don’t want you touching me or my things either!” Kreyan replied angrily. 100

“See? The feeling’s mutual.” Haige laughed.101

As they made their way out of Exquu forest, everything burst into life. Werewolves cubs ran everywhere playing tag, hide seek or pouncing on butterflies. Their parents greeting each other while getting about their morning hustle bustle. The Vampires too, they read the morning paper sitting on tree branches, some of them are even playing tag with the cubs. Trees and flowers of various colour shined brightly in the sun as they too greet each other. In Exquu Forest, trees and flowers can talk too. Some of them can even move around.102

“I’m going to miss all this…” Haige mused aloud.103

“You don’t have to, we’ll be back soon.”104

Haige kept quite.105