Chapter 23

The theory behind how the five realms were connected was simple yet complicated. All the realms were connected to each other but each one stood separate and independent of the others. In order to fully understand how it worked back while he was studying, Miran used to imagine the five realms as five rooms in one house.

At the bottom was the realm of the Forgotten, a place where only desolate dark plains could be found. The realm was the birthplace of low demons and evil. No Guardian had ever made it to that place and the thought of getting trapped there was the worst nightmare to every single one of them. Rumors had it that no energy could survive in that realm and there was no doorway out once you entered. Only demons could move out of the realm at will.

Above the Forgotten realm was the realm of Flames. A realm specifically made for torture. Characterized by its ever burning fires, the realm slowly devoured it's inhabitants. Only corrupted human souls that were beyond redemption could enter the realm from the human world. Souls needed no doorway as they were not grounded by any energy. They followed the pull of the realms to where they needed to be.

That realm also held defiant Angels that the Sire had punished. Not much was known of them though but with their corrupted angelic energy they made up the highest rank of demons. Miran had once heard them being referred to as the princes of Hell. No young Guardian had had the chance to see as they had been banished by the spirits to never return. Even the elders weren't sure what exactly they looked like after so many years but they never held their existence lightly.

The realm of mortals came after, a realm of the living as Miran liked to call it. The humans in the realm where interesting creatures and he took time to just study them whenever he got the chance. Their souls were connected to the spark of life that ran through their bodies while they were alive. Mortal children were more attuned to their souls than adults and it was believed that the smallest of them could see the demons that travelled through the realm. The realm held as much life in it as it had death and the cycle between the two was forever in motion.

Sitting at the back of the residence car, Miran thought about the realm he was going back to. The Isle was home to the Guardians and the souls that passed through it. It was a land frozen in time, the weather there remained unchanged unlike the seasons of the mortal realm. Each energy had concentrated itself in different places around the core of the Isle forming territories that had the perfect conditions for it's Guardians. A city had been built above the core to cater for the palace and the council's tower.

They didn't have cars back at home, it was more of they didn't need them. Doorways were much faster and less tasking than the metal vehicles. They only left the residence using the car to avoid raising suspicion among the staff there.

It took some time to master how to create doorways causing most novices to stick to walking. The mortal realm was the first place used to train novices on forming doorways. The energy in it was easily bent and less power was need for the exercise. It was in the human world that Guardians also learned how to be accurate. One had to have a clear picture of the exact place they were aiming for and even then any stray thought could lead you to the bottom of the ocean.

It was only after the novice proved their skill in traveling around the mortal realm that they were allowed back into the Isle to continue with lessons. The next series of tests helped the learners gain endurance. Creating doorways in the Isle dealt more with power than focus, something novices weren't told but had to figure out on their own.

"Sir, we have arrived at the airport."

Miran reached over to where Serena was sleeping and woke her up gently. He couldn't blame her for being tired, she had barely had any sleep thinking about Reyna's disappearance. They had searched the entire perimeter of the residence but hadn't found her. The security wards were still intact meaning she hadn't tampered with them and the guards at the gate had not seen her. How she had been able to get out was beyond them.

Miran had thought of what the Light spirit had told him. Could a demon have entered the residence? He had searched the area again for any left over energy signatures but the traces had gone cold after the long time. Miran had then asked Serena to look through Reyna's room and see if there were clues on where she could have gone.

She hadn't found anything worthwhile and had stayed all night checking the house cameras to see if she could find any sign of Reyna. It was only a few hours after dawn that Miran got her to sleep and that was after he had promised to go over the footage himself. Serena was hiding something from him but he didn't ask her directly, she was already scared as it was.

Maybe Reyna had told her something about her past because she kept looking around as if expecting something to jump out. The two women had gotten pretty close from what Miran had witnessed and the idea of Reyna sharing something to a person she considered a friend was not unbelievable.

"Serena, we need to get going."

"Miran, what time is it? My lady must be worried about us."

That was just how Serena was made, she cared more about others than she did herself. It wasn't weird in any way that Reyna had trusted her with her secrets. The drive from his mother's house came to mind and he realized why. Taking Reyna with him that night had been a decision Miran had made on whim. Besides he had already made arrangements for a car to be placed at the edge of small forest, there was no use of going alone when he could have company.

He had not expected to meet Carina and be robbed of all his senses but it was later that he actually understood that there hadn't been any other easier way. His mother beared the same traits as his grandmother, both were too proud for their own good. His sense of hearing had returned as she spoke and he had heard of Reyna's background.

A human with the spirit of Darkness in her was worrying enough but one who had been near both the spirit of Darkness and the Seventh spirit was simply unfathomable. On the way back he had felt a strong fire signature near him and as it faded he knew so did Carina.

She must have already reached the Isle's core by that time but the fact that her energy had been strong enough to remain in the human realm enough for her to say goodbye had warmed his heart.

" I will take you back to the house. The effect will have worn of when you wake up."

To Miran, Reyna remained a puzzle that kept on changing. Just when he thought he had figured it out a new piece appeared and knocked him off course. Was there really a way to know who the woman really was?

"Just make her trust you."

The words were soft and it was easy to assume that they were part of his imagination or even a hallucination caused by Reyna's powers. The words had remained in his thoughts for days and until he had finally decided to take the advice. Instead of just asking who Reyna was why not find out for himself?

"Miran, what are we going to do about Reyna? Should we request scouts to go look for her?"

Serena was worried about Reyna and also, by habit, how the Matriarch would react on hearing the news of that she went missing. Before they left the residence he had already planned out how he was going to shoulder all the blame and leave her out of it but he knew Serena. His help would only make it worse.

"I don't think that would be necessary."

" What do you..."

Miran moved to the side to reveal the sleeping Reyna behind him.

"I found her on the way here."

Serena open her mouth then closed it again as if lost for words. She stared at Reyna in disbelief before her eyes found his.

"How? When? Why didn't you wake me up?"

"She was in the trees by the roadside and I felt her energy signature as we drove by, so I caught her and here she is. There was no need to wake you up. You have been searching all night Serena, give yourself a break."

He was careful enough to keep his voice so low prevent it from reaching the butler's ears. Miran had also not told Serena that Reyna wasn't sleeping but actually unconscious. She would have chewed his ears off. He had used Reyna's trick against her. Sending just enough energy through her spine he was able to knock her out indefinitely. By the time she woke up they would be in the Isle.

Miran carried Reyna's sleeping form out of the car, under the Serena's keen watch. They stood in the same spot until the car was out of sight.

"The doorway will open in thirty seconds, come with me."

She walked up to the entrance of the large building and as she stepped through the doorway appeared. He went in after her, still holding Reyna close and they were off.