The Original Realm

The sanctum trembled with the weight of Aldric's announcement. His words cut through the dense air like a blade: "They're compromised. The Hand of Fate is already here." For a moment, no one moved. Even the flickering light from the glowing carvings seemed to hold its breath.

Sylveria turned sharply to Aldric, her voice low and commanding. "What do you mean? How do you know this?"

Aldric's tufted ears twitched, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room. "Strands. Their bodies are tangled in thin threads of advent. It's faint, but it's there. This kind of connection… it has to be her essence."

"Her?" one of the elders murmured, stepping closer.

"Calista," Aldric confirmed. "The Hand of Fate." His tone carried a grim weight, as if the reading the description provided by his essence could bring ruin. He began to explain further, but the air shifted—a flicker of movement too fast to track. A sharp force struck him, sending his small form crashing into the far wall. The impact reverberated through the chamber, dislodging dust and debris.

A figure emerged from the shadows with unsettling grace. She was tall and slender, her presence commanding despite her delicate frame. Her alabaster skin seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, and her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back like a river of ink. Vivid green eyes glimmered with a predatory intensity. She wore a robe of intertwining vines and leaves, the fabric appearing alive as it shifted with her movements.

"Nature," she spoke, her voice like a whisper carried on the wind, "claims what is hers."

"Calista," Sylveria hissed, her blade drawn in an instant.

Calista inclined her head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Queen Sylveria," she said, as though tasting the name. "And Aldric, the so-called sage of sages. How quaint that you should both be here. I expected more, though," her gaze swept the room, "for such a sacred site."

Aldric groaned, picking himself up with a wince. "Of course, you had to show up early. Can't let anything stay peaceful, can you?"

Ignoring the jab, Calista's fingers twitched, and thin, nearly invisible strings shimmered into view, stretching from her hands to the deep forest around them. "This is hardly a fight, ten of you against me and a few enthralled guardians," she said with mock concern. "Allow me to even the odds."

A distant rumble echoed through the chamber, a tremor that quickly swelled into a full-blown quake. The vibrations pulsed through the ancient stone walls, sending dust and fragments of moss tumbling from the ceiling. The noise escalated into a deafening crescendo—a symphony of growls, howls, screeches, and roars that seemed to shake the very heart of the forest. Sylveria's eyes widened as the unmistakable sound of countless creatures approached.

Aldric's beard bristled as he turned toward the source of the noise. "No," he muttered. "She's controlling them. Hundreds, no… thousands of beasts." His gaze snapped back to Calista, who smiled serenely.

"The forest bends to its true guardian," she said, spreading her arms. "Did you think you could hoard its relic without nature reclaiming it?"

One of the elders cursed under their breath. "We have to protect the city! If those creatures reach the kingdom—"

"Then leave," Aldric interrupted, his voice sharper than usual. "Sylveria and I will deal with her. You and the others stop those beasts."

Elder Thalrien stepped forward, his expression grim. "I'll stay to handle the controlled guards. The rest of you go."

Sylveria nodded. "Go now. Every moment wasted is a risk to the kingdom."

The elders hesitated for only a heartbeat before turning to leave. Sylveria and Aldric remained, facing Calista, who observed them with calm amusement.

As the last of the elders disappeared, Sylveria spoke, her voice measured. "This many animals under your control… this wasn't spur-of-the-moment. You planned this."

Calista's smile widened. "Sharp as ever. Yes, I've been searching for this relic for days, though I had no luck. Then, while wandering the forest, I stumbled upon something unexpected." Her gaze shifted to Aldric, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "A blond human, practicing advent. At first, I thought it was merely someone in disguise. But then…" She let the sentence hang, savoring the moment.

Aldric's fur puffed up. "What did he do?" he asked warily.

"He muttered to himself," Calista replied. "Something about becoming strong enough to kill Solen and free a girl. He also mentioned a… fluff ball." She laughed softly. "How poetic. From there, it was simple enough to follow him and prepare. And since you were hidden in that satchel of containment, your essence couldn't alert you to my presence."

Aldric's tail lashed angrily. "That fool. Talking to himself in the middle of the forest?" He grumbled something inaudible before shaking his head. "Doesn't matter. I'll deal with him later."

Calista's gaze swept the chamber again. "And the blond human? Along with the girl who has a bow? They're either hiding, helping your elders, or in the relic room. Any of those outcomes are… inconsequential."

Sylveria stepped forward, her blade glinting in the faint light. "Calista, you've defiled this place long enough. Your obsession with nature doesn't justify this madness."

Calista's strings danced in the air, catching the light like a web spun by a malicious spider. "Nature cannot be defiled by me," she said with a serene smile. "It simply adapts… and consumes."

Sylveria closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them, five identical clones materialized around her, each one mirroring her determined expression. Aldric let out a weary sigh as he adjusted his stance.

"I'd really rather leave and find a good tavern right about now," he muttered. "But since it's my pupil who caused this mess, I suppose I'll clean it up. As his mentor, it's my responsibility." He gave Calista a hard look. "And when this is over, I'm teaching that fool a lesson about keeping his mouth shut."

Together, Sylveria and Aldric stepped forward, ready to face the Hand of Fate.