Chapter 8. Battle with the Chernyaks

The source in the world of Grozdan — the material world.

Veseya and Taranis stood by the source. Aria's parents, Blagoslav and Velina, had gone to seek reinforcements.

"It's a bit frightening somehow, there are only two of us for now, and the odds are against us facing the Chernyaks," Veseya said with worry.

"Yes, and they could attack at any moment," Taranis replied grimly.

A flicker of doubt crossed Veseya's eyes, but she suppressed it at once. With determination in her voice, she said:

"I'll create a protective dome now."

Taranis nodded, agreeing with her decision.

Veseya, concentrating, spoke an incantation. In her hand appeared a magical energy sphere, about two ells across, shining brightly white. Then she spoke another incantation and threw the sphere upward. The shining sphere, hovering ten slant-fathoms above the ground, formed a spherical shield of pure energy, as though woven from starlight, surrounding them and giving a sense of safety.

"Now the Chernyaks won't be able to pass through the magical dome for a while. I set the protection against their energy signature. They won't catch us off guard now," Veseya breathed with relief.

"There's a chance the Chernyaks already know our intentions," Taranis suggested.

"If so, there will be a great many Chernyaks here soon," Veseya said, worried.

Meanwhile, in the Sreydim dimension.

Aria, Blagomir, and Vidomir were thinking about how to find the Chernyaks' source in the world of Antiano.

"Maybe the energy the Chernyaks steal from the worlds of our universe flows to the Chernyaks' source in the world of Antiano?" Blagomir suggested.

"We just need to somehow track those flows of energy," Vidomir said.

Aria, frowning, fell into thought.

"We need to use a particular kind of magic," Aria said decisively. "I can't figure out which incantation to use. We should ask grandfather and Veleslav. Let's go to them first, and I'll ask them about incantations."

"Just in case, I'll sprinkle the fairy Ain's pollen along with the elixir of invisibility too," Vidomir added, taking two vials out of his bag.

Aria and Blagomir nodded, agreeing with his decision.

Vidomir dripped the elixir of invisibility, drop by drop, onto Aria, his brother, and himself, then sprinkled the pollen in the same order. Then they joined hands and traveled to the world of Antiano, to the wizards Vestislav and Veleslav.

Meanwhile, in the world of Grozdan.

Taranis and Veseya stood by the source, looking around.

"It's grown too quiet somehow, and no birds to be heard — the Chernyaks will likely be here soon," Taranis's words rang out like a prophecy.

"I think we need to use the energy of the magical source. Our own magical strength won't be enough to reinforce the protective magical dome — the two of us fighting the Chernyaks alone would be useless," Veseya said with worry.

Taranis agreed with Veseya without hesitation. Concentrating, they spoke incantations in unison and pointed their right hands, palms up, and their left hands, palms toward the source. Two energy beams shot out from the source, streaming into Taranis's and Veseya's left palms. At the same moment, answering beams burst from their right palms, streaming upward, into the center of the dome.

A moment later, countless portals began spinning open in front of the dome, disgorging an uncountable number of Chernyaks. The vicious Chernyaks attacked the dome at once, unleashing a hail of their dark energy balls upon it. The Chernyaks' balls shook the dome, leaving black, blot-like marks on its surface, which gradually faded.

"We won't hold out for long," Taranis said grimly, straining to hold back the assault.

"Where is the reinforcement?" Veseya said, despair in her voice.

And in that same instant, as though in answer to her plea, a portal opened beside them.

Meanwhile, in the world of Antiano.

Aria, Blagomir, and Vidomir approached the two stones.

"The elder Supreme Keeper Aruna's elixir of invisibility grants us the gift of communicating without telepathy, but with grandfather and Veleslav, I think we need to speak in thought," Aria said with confidence.

She placed her hands on the stones and addressed her grandfather Vestislav and Veleslav in thought. Aria asked them what magic she should use to track where the energy from the worlds seized by the Chernyaks was flowing.

After thinking and conferring, the wizards advised Aria to use the magic of etheric pollen. Aria thanked them and said farewell.

Aria told Blagomir and Vidomir about the incantation, and they began discussing the plan.

Meanwhile, in the world of Grozdan, at the source.

Out of the opened portal, like a whirlwind, burst Blagoslav, followed by Keepers, fairies, and wizards. Seeing the protective dome weakening, Blagoslav and his comrades directed their magical strength to reinforcing it. The dome shone brighter, giving Aria, Blagomir, and Vidomir precious minutes to complete their mission.

Meanwhile, in the world of Antiano.

Aria, determination in her eyes, spoke with Blagomir and Vidomir:

"I'll use the magic of etheric pollen — a working made of three incantations. The flows of energy heading to the source in the world of Antiano should become visible. You'll need to travel along those flows to the source and pour Aruna's elixir onto it."

Blagomir and Vidomir agreed with Aria without hesitation.

Aria, raising her hands upward, began speaking the first incantation. In her hands shone a white sphere, the size of a large watermelon. Chernyaks appeared on the horizon and swiftly approached them. Aria, noticing them, hurriedly began speaking the second incantation, and the sphere grew brighter and brighter.

"She won't have time to speak the third incantation, fly to the source with the elixir alone!" Blagomir said to his brother Vidomir, and handed him the elixir.

The Chernyaks drew close to Aria and unleashed their magical spheres. Blagomir flew to Aria and put himself in the line of the blow. Aria, meanwhile, was speaking the third incantation. Thanks to his magical armor, Blagomir held out for a few seconds. The number of magical spheres striking him was very great. Then Blagomir turned to stone. Aria managed to finish speaking the third incantation — her sphere scattered in every direction as glittering golden pollen. A great many of the Chernyaks' black magical spheres were already striking Aria, and she, too, began turning to stone.

Meanwhile, in the world of Grozdan, beyond the dome, portals multiplied, disgorging hordes of Chernyaks. Their numbers grew with every second, and all of them unleashed a barrage of magical spheres upon the dome. The dome could not withstand it and collapsed, opening the way for the invaders. A new portal appeared beside the source, out of which came Velina with a detachment of wizards. They plunged into battle with the Chernyaks at once.

But there were too many enemies. The odds were against them, and the number of Keepers, fairies, and wizards grew smaller and smaller. The Chernyaks, using their dark magic, turned everyone to stone.

Meanwhile, in the world of Antiano, before Vidomir's eyes, his brother and Aria turned to stone. Tears fell from Vidomir's eyes. He looked around — Aria's incantation had revealed the flows of energy. They glowed with a bright white light, the etheric pollen moving toward the source of the world of Antiano, but gradually losing its brightness before his eyes. Vidomir understood that Aria's incantations were quickly losing their power, and there was no time to lose. Vidomir, like a whirlwind, shot upward and flew along the flow of energy, racing toward the source of the world of Antiano.

Meanwhile, in the world of Grozdan, the Chernyaks drew closer to the source. Veseya, with faith in her heart, sent up a plea to the Supreme Keepers. Every world hung by a thread from destruction. Her thoughts were full of pleas for help. But magical spheres from the Chernyaks were already flying at her armor. Veseya, Taranis, Velina, Blagoslav, and the last dozen wizards stood, defending Aria, Blagomir, and Vidomir at the magical source. From every side, a hail of deadly Chernyak spheres flew at them.

Velina and Blagoslav, looking into each other's eyes, felt a strange but unshakeable certainty.

"Everything will be all right," their voices rang out together, and, one after the other, they turned to stone.

Meanwhile, in the world of Antiano, Vidomir drew near to the source. The black stone that was the source of the world of Antiano appeared before his eyes, in pitch darkness. He frantically pulled out the vial with the elixir, opened it, and, stretching his hand toward the source, poured out its contents.

"Aruna, we have completed the mission," Vidomir said wearily, barely holding back tears, remembering the fallen.

Meanwhile, in the world of Grozdan, lightning flew down from the sky, paralyzing the Chernyaks. In the heavens appeared the Supreme Keeper Aslati with his army. Aslati's warrior Keepers plunged into battle.

The Chernyaks did not falter, but after a while something began to go wrong with them. Their magical abilities gradually faded, and, weakened, they were forced to retreat. Seeing this, Aslati opened a portal into the world of Antiano, and his army began driving the Chernyaks into that portal. One after another, all the Chernyaks left the world of Grozdan, returning to their world of Antiano.