JASON
We drove for about 30 minutes before seeing any sign of life anywhere. The whole ride was silent and awkward as they were both stealing glances of me with an inexplicably look of wonder on their faces. I felt like I was in the spotlight which was not a good thing at all. At a point it got too unbearable and I spoke up
"say what you want to say and stop looking at me like that" I say and they both sit straight. Nic was the first to speak as always
"how can you do that and you say you never knew magic before" he asks and the car goes silent with me looking for the best way to place what I was about to say
"I didn't know it was magic until today. My grandpa just tells me that our emotions affect our environment and the blessed like us are the ones responsible for it. We then have to learn to correct our mistakes using faith and courage. I just applied the same teachings into correcting my wrongs like he taught" I reply and he nods
"so your grandpa also has powers" Isaac asks and I shake my head
"I'm not sure but I know he was the only one who understood what I went through my whole life" I reply and he speaks
"I think we should find a way to reach him, maybe he would have answers to what exactly you are" he asks and I go silent trying to stop the tears brimming on my face and I guess they notice because they gave me time to pull myself together.
"That won't be possible" I reply and I think they get the memo because their faces fall
"I'm so sorry, the way you speak of him you guys were really close. If it is any consolation he would always be with you" Nic says and I nod in response. We fall back into the awkward silence but this time they both leave me to my thoughts and focus on theirs. We finally arrive at the city we saw before and it was dark already. The city was also in total darkness which was weird. Is there no solar, generator or something to even power up one house.
"No this is wrong" Isaac speaks and I face him
"what is wrong" I ask and Nic replies
"the blackout" he looks round and realizes not only the city is dark but all their equipments and machines using power also.
"why do you say that, blackouts happen" I ask intrigued by this world and Nic laughs
"not here in Taslania" he replies and I roll my eyes
"what a proud ass" I think as we entered the city.
The streets were empty except a few people who were on the street. We slow down close to a blonde woman who looked in her late forties.
"Evening mam" Nic greets and she returns the gesture "please what exactly is happening in the city and why the blackout?" he asks and she looks him over rudely before replying
"We also don't know but it was like all the power in the city was drained. The most surprising thing about thr whole thing was how all the crystals in the city were all shinning when the blackout happened" she says and you would know she is a city gossip. I have dealt with a lot of them. She is telling us all this to see if we can give her the latest giat from our end.
Isaac and Nic both look at each other cpearpy aware of something I'm not.
"The Techions are already working on it but I hear they say it will take a day. Come to think of it how so they believe someone drained it. How unbelievable right, not even an army of waters can drain that much power." She says joking and was about to keep going on when Nic starts the vehicle and thanks her before driving off. I chuckle at him as he let's a breath out before speaking.
"What do you guys know" I ask when we were away from the woman and they both scoff awkwardly trying to wave me off
"how ridiculous, tell me how we would know what happened in a city we just entered" Isaac says stuttering and laughing a little too akward for me to believe it. The laughter was fake and I glare at him to let him know it wasn't going how he planned.
"Don't play dumb I saw your faces when she said something about crystals lighting up, remember our agreement" I say in a stern voice and Isaac finally gives in
"fine, remember your little tantrum in the grasslands" he asks and I nod
"well this is the outcome" he says pointing round and Nic glare him down and I scoff mockingly
"you can't be serious right? How sure are you it is not something else. There will be another reasonable and true explanation" I ask and Nic replies hastily
"There isnt and we are sure because the same thing happened to us when you had the accident" he says and that grabs my attention
"you know about the accident" I ask and they both nod before Isaac replies
"we started trailing you after the accident happened. Our crystals lit up and when we found out it was for you we decided to follow you" he says and it explains them knowing I was in the woods at the exact time I went in there.
"so if I did this I can fix it then" I say and they both shook their head
"no one must know of your powers before the king or we would be in big trouble" Isaac replies and I slump into my seat. So much for a power that I cannot use at all. We keep driving deeper into the city taking turns at different points. I tried to understand where we were going but I had given up a long time ago.
I was now on my headphones with NF pumping into my brains. We finally drive out of the city and drive into another one a few miles away and thank God this one had power. It had not only power but marvel beyond words.
The city was beautiful with tall skyscrapers built like glass towers and that wasn't all. The road was tarred and the railings were made with real silver. I keep admiring the city and didn't notice they were both watching me. Something in the sky catches my attention
"is that what I think it is" I ask and they both nod "man a freaking flying hover board how is that even possible" I ask and Isaac replies
"how that is possible" he says and points up in the sky where I see cars flying at enormous speed. It just all looks like something out of harry potter or futuristic series
"how can that car fly" I ask and I see Isaac face light up like it does whenever he talks about science
"well you know all our powers come from our crystals right" he says and I nod
"I'm not sure how it all works but I think so" I reply and he continues
"well all our machines are powered by the crystals too. They are an infinite source of energy meaning' he says and I cut in
"constant supply of power and energy for the machines " I answer and he nods. I did basic sciences for a few years, I'm not an idiot.
"you are very right but the interesting part is this also makes the crystal connected to the driver. This way whatever power a rider has can be used by the machine" he says and I nod in understanding
"If i get you well you mean all those with the flying vehicles and boards all have power of flight" I ask and he nods "wow" I say and almost immediately a car passes by us like a blur
"that one has super speed right" I ask and he nods
"seems you are a fast learner" Nic says and I laugh
"I try" I reply and we keep driving for about an hour still admiring the city and Isaac telling me all about it.
"When exactly are we getting to the palace because I'm not seeing any sign we are close at all" I ask and Nic shakes his head
"you complain a lot you know I said we are close" he snaps and I frown
"that's what you have been saying for almost an hour now. Are we lost?" I ask and he gives me the stink eye
"I know where I'm going and now I'm serious we are close so stop bickering and relax" he says and I glare him before relaxing on my chair
"if you say so" I reply and we keep driving through the city. Once we got close to the gates leading out the city I heard and feel it right before I could see it. The sound of waves crashing onto shore and rocks, the breezy feeling, the salty smell and taste in the air. There is sea close by.
We drive out the gates and lo and behold right in front of us was the shore of a sea, we drive right onto the rocky shores
"where are we going" I ask and Isaac replies
"the palace" he says and we keep driving till we reach a form of gate where a lot of guards stood guard. The day was already breaking slowly. We park in front of the gate and one of the guards who looked like their leader walks up to our van. He knocks on the driver side's window and Nic opens it.
"What business do you have here" the guard asks and Nic replies
"We need passage to the palace, we have a message to deliver to the king" he says and the guard laughs
"What might peasants like you have to say to the king, ride along kiddo and come with someone more respected" he says mockingly and the two guys who had join him burst into laughter.
"I demand passage so I advise you open the gateway because I won't ask again" Nic says and the guy grows furious and walks closer.
"Who the hell do you think you are to make demands, now leave" he says and Nic laughs.
"You really are one stubborn idiot Gerald" Nic say and removes the cap to reveal his face and immediately they see him their faces fall and they salute
"General Arduin we never knew it was you" they say visibly shaking out of fear and I never believed someone like Nic could induce such fear from hefty guards like this.
"Well that mistake just cost you your status and gave you a three week suspension from duty with correctional training. Now can we pass" he says and I'm sure if their faces get anymore white something bad will happen to them.
They quickly get over their shock and pain and scurry away to open the gate. I look beyond the gate and notice there is no bridge whatsoever to cross on and no building in sight.
They open the gate and I realize it wasn't a gate but another portal. "Oh no no no not this again" I thought as the portal finally forms and Nic drives straight in to it. This time was different though because the transport was almost immediate and not as nauseous as the first. Before I could blink we were at the other side of the gate which led to another road, we drove for a while but this time I was more concerned with the edifice before me to notice how long we drove.
The palace was not like in the fantasy movies we watch because it was so futuristic. The whole building was almost 200ft tall if not taller and equally wide but it was the structure that was mind blowing. It was made of pure glass with the tallest building in the middle and the others were twirling round that one large building itself. It was like all the other parts of the palace were floating which is highly possible in this universe. We drive into the gate which was open the moment they saw Nic.
They all salute as we enter the building, Nic parks and we all alight the vehicle finally after the long drive. I stretch my limbs and the cracks in my limb shows how long I was seated.
"Pack all the stuffs in there to my chambers in the main hall" Nic says to a guard close to us and he bows before doing as told. I pick my bag and toss it over my shoulders as Nic walks away and we follow him. I notice Isaac was uncannily quiet but I leave him to it.
We walk into the building and we were first greeted by the largest reception I have ever seen. It was as large as a royal ballroom but I'm sure it isn't. It had a fluffy red carpet on the ground and everything in there was golden even the large chandelier in the centre of the room.
We keep walking and enter a hallway which we took straight till we reached a set of stairs and took it to the next floor where we made a quick u-turn to another stairs that took us to another floor. We took a few turn and stairs before finally arriving at a floor with rooms.
"Isaac you have the room on the left" he says pointing to a room "you have the one opposite his" he says to me and I nod "now get some rest, food will be brought in shortly. Once you are well rested we will go see the king" he says and walks into the room he was standing in front of without sparing us a glance.
He had grown a little cold the moment we arrived at the palace and i dont know why. Isaac and I share a quick glance and walk into our rooms. The room was enormous and well decorated with a large four poster king size bed in the center. I pull off my shoes and toss my bag away before falling on the bed and I was immediately drawn into darkness.
The king can always wait but my sleep can't