Chapter 6. The Path to Mount Elban

Our heroes — Veseya, Aria, Blagomir, and Vidomir — came to by the magical source. And they thought about what to do next. They had no key to the worlds — it had stayed with Vestislav in the world of Grozdan. They would have to make their way to the gates between worlds on Mount Elban.

"Why didn't Vestislav and Veleslav use the elixir of invisibility?" Veseya asked Aria.

"My grandfather Vestislav and Veleslav traveled to the world of Antiano to scout. For scouting, they didn't want to spend the elixir, so grandfather left it at home. They used their own invisibility incantation. The Chernyaks saw them anyway — not right away, but they saw them," Aria said.

"Let's all go home, and rest a little," Veseya said.

Everyone headed for the bears' dwelling.

Our heroes stepped into the bears' house, where the bear Yuman was already waiting for them, along with his two companions. All three were clad in shining magical armor. Yuman introduced his comrades: Belus, a human, and Taranis, an elf. Both were skilled warrior-mages.

In return, Veseya introduced Aria, her sons, and herself.

Yuman embraced his wife Veseya and their children, and quickly began to speak:

"Black darkness has swallowed the world of Kerdiven. The world of Antiano, treacherous and merciless, has set foot upon the lands of the world of Kerdiven. Our wards could not hold back its onslaught. The elder wizards, along with the Keepers and fairies, guided by duty, stayed behind to fight, giving us a chance at escape. People have left the world, some by ship, some through the gates between worlds. We three, who remained, waited for you. I couldn't find you at home, the connection wasn't working. The fairy Ain told us your fate and flew off to the battle. We were about to head to the source to find you, and then you appeared."

Veseya briefly told Yuman and his comrades what had happened to them, and what needed to be done.

"I have the fairy Ain's pollen. With the pollen, we can reach the gates between worlds faster," Vidomir said.

"There's no need to fly to the gates between worlds — and it's a dangerous business. I can carry you to the gates between worlds," the elf Taranis said, as though speaking in verse.

Taranis possessed the magical skill of traveling within a world, from one place to another. And, after a pause, he continued speaking:

"Flying to the gates between worlds is far and dangerous, and the fairy Ain's pollen may still come in useful. Right now the Chernyaks are roaming our world, and their magic is powerful. If we run into a great number of them along the way, we won't overcome such a force. I will create a temporary transit portal to the gates between worlds, and we'll cross to Mount Elban quickly and safely."

"So be it, staying in the world of Kerdiven is dangerous. The sooner we leave here, the better," Yuman said.

Everyone hurried outside. Once everyone had left the house, the elf Taranis stretched out his hands and spoke an incantation. A portal opened, in the shape of a circle, on the other side of which the gates between worlds on Mount Elban could be seen.

Yuman was the first to pass through the transit portal. Finding himself there, he looked around and shouted:

"Seems all quiet, you can come through!"

Everyone hurried through the portal transit. Last to go were the warrior-mages, Taranis and Belus. Belus noticed evil Chernyaks quickly approaching them. The Chernyaks released black magical energy balls. Belus said loudly:

"Close the passage right now!"

And, shoving Taranis forcefully into the portal, Belus took the blow upon himself. He fought off the attacks furiously, keeping the Chernyaks from breaking through to the portal, but his armor could not withstand the power of the enemy's spells. The black magical balls, striking Belus, spread across his armor and body like a black mantle. The black mantle covered Belus entirely. He turned to stone. Taranis turned and saw all of this from the other side, and slammed the portal shut.

"The Chernyaks turned Belus to stone. He sacrificed himself to save us," Taranis said with regret.

Yuman, looking at Taranis, said:

"Belus, Belus, old friend, your sacrifice is not in vain! The heavens sing your praises!"

"We are warrior-mages, our duty is to fight to the end, and so it will always be! We must hurry, Yuman," Taranis said.

"We need to quickly open the gates to the world of Grozdan, the Chernyaks will be here soon," Yuman said.

Blagomir and Vidomir quickly approached the gates between worlds and opened the passage to the world of Grozdan.

Yuman said to Taranis in a whisper:

"You go first, take a look around there, and I'll stay here and destroy the gates, so the Chernyaks can't cross into the world of Grozdan behind you."

Taranis objected and wanted to stay himself, but Yuman cut him off and said in a whisper:

"Right now, your skill of traveling within worlds will be more useful for completing the mission than my magical skills. Farewell, my friend."

"Farewell, my friend," Taranis said in a whisper, and hurried toward the gates.

"That's it, hurry and cross through!" Yuman shouted.

Taranis went first, then Aria, Blagomir, and Vidomir. Last of all went Veseya. She turned back, and there were tears on her face. She understood that Yuman would not be coming with them. They looked into each other's eyes, for a single moment, and it seemed that time had stopped.

"Go, go, we need to hurry," Yuman said.

Veseya crossed through the portal.

Yuman shed a tear, watching her go.

At once, countless portals of the Chernyaks began appearing on Mount Elban. These transit portals looked dark, in the shape of circles filled with dark gray mist. Out of them, as though out of a bottomless pit, poured dark Chernyaks.

"What pesky vermin," Yuman muttered to himself.

Countless Chernyaks, emerging from their portals, hurled dark magical balls at Yuman.

"The magical armor won't be able to deflect the Chernyaks' attacks for long. I need to act quickly," Yuman thought to himself.

He quickly muttered an incantation, and in his paws shone an energy sphere, resembling ball lightning. Swinging his mighty paws, Yuman hurled it toward the gates between worlds, and at that very instant began turning to stone. The sphere reached its target instantly, exploded, and destroyed the gates. Yuman stood, petrified. The Chernyaks glared at him and at the destroyed gates between worlds with fury. The evil Chernyaks approached the gates, examined them, and began to rebuild them.