Chapter 7. The Coming Battle

In the world of Grozdan.

The gates between worlds closed a few seconds after Veseya crossed through.

Here, in the world of Grozdan, calm reigned. Two small yellow suns shone, and birds sang. Our heroes stood among the many gates between worlds.

Blagomir turned to his mother:

"Why didn't father cross through the gates between worlds?"

Veseya was silent, tears falling from her eyes.

Blagomir and Vidomir tried to open the gates between worlds, but they wouldn't yield.

"Your father destroyed the gates in the world of Kerdiven, so the Chernyaks couldn't slip through here," Taranis said with regret.

Veseya, having calmed herself, said to Blagomir and Vidomir:

"We'll go back for your father once we've completed the mission entrusted to you by the elder Supreme Keeper Aruna. Once the mission is complete, our world — and every world — will be calm and safe."

"Can we travel within my world the same way as in yours?" Aria asked Taranis.

"Yes, of course. We mustn't delay! We need to clear out of here quickly. The Chernyaks have surely already begun rebuilding the gates in the world of Kerdiven. Their magic is powerful, and it won't take them long. We need to destroy the gates between worlds here, in the world of Grozdan, too," Taranis said.

"In our world, we already neutralized one Chernyak spy," Aria said. "Who knows, there's surely another one operating here, capable of rebuilding the gates between worlds. But even destroyed, they'll hold them up for a while. I suggest we withdraw a good distance from here."

Everyone moved back a good distance. Bowing her head, Aria focused. An incantation slipped from her lips, and in her hand shone a blinding sphere, resembling ball lightning. It shot into the air, leaving a violet trail behind it, and crashed down onto the gates between worlds with a thunderous roar. A flash of light, a thunderous blow, and the gates between worlds collapsed, turning into a heap of burning wreckage.

Taranis began explaining to Aria in detail:

"I need to attune myself to the place we're traveling to. I need to feel the energy of that place. I've never been there myself, and I don't know where to open the transit portal."

"I think I can serve as a beacon. I lived there for many years, and that place is steeped in my energy," Aria said.

She held out her hand to Taranis. He took her hand and began opening the portal. The portal opened, and on the other side, Aria's house could be seen.

"Did I get the destination right?" Taranis asked.

"Yes, that's right, that's my house visible on the other side of the portal," Aria answered.

Aria went through the portal first, then Blagomir and Vidomir, Veseya, and last of all, glancing around, went Taranis. Everyone found themselves in Vestislav's garden, with the house standing not far off. About a hundred paces away was the source, in the shape of a stone, and beside the source sat the wizards Vestislav and Veleslav, in a trance.

"Check my grandfather Vestislav — the key to the worlds should be with him. I'll go into the house and get the elixirs," Aria said, and walked briskly toward the house.

Veseya, Taranis, Blagomir, and Vidomir went to the source. Reaching the magical source, they began examining the wizards. The source was a rounded stone, modest in size. It was the same in width and height — about three arshins. Blagomir and Vidomir recognized the key to the worlds at once — it was tucked into Vestislav's belt. Vidomir carefully took it.

Some time later, Aria came back with the elixirs and with her parents.

"These are my parents — Blagoslav and Velina," Aria said.

Veseya gave her own name, then introduced the others.

Blagoslav and Velina wore cloak-mantles with runes inscribed on the inner side. The cloak-mantles, like the one Aria wore, served as magical armor.

Vidomir held out the key to the worlds to Aria. She took it and handed it to her mother Velina. Then she gave out the elixirs: to Blagomir, the elixir for destroying worlds; to Vidomir, the elixir of invisibility.

Aria turned to her parents:

"We need to hurry! The Chernyaks could be here soon. We need to call for reinforcements here, to guard our bodies while we're in the world of Antiano. Hordes of evil Chernyak entities will arrive here soon. A whole army of warrior-mages is needed."

Aria's parents, being teachers at the school for warrior-mages, understood at once that there was no time to lose.

Aria's mother, Velina, said:

"I'll travel to the neighboring worlds and ask for help there."

Aria's father, Blagoslav, said:

"I'll ask the fairies, Keepers, and wizards of our world to help."

After consulting together, our heroes decided: Aria, along with Blagomir and Vidomir, would set out for the Sreydim dimension, and from there to the world of Antiano. The others would remain here.

Aria, Blagomir, and Vidomir approached the magical source, sat down in a lotus position, and placed their hands on the source. Aria spoke the incantation, and the spirits, in the mental bodies of Aria, Blagomir, and Vidomir, found themselves in the Sreydim dimension of the world of Grozdan.