Preview

I repeated this sentence like a litany, it was trying to wake up my mind to dominate me and leave this place filled with fear and repulsive mysteries. But I couldn't back down. I had to go. I had to see. I walked through the colorless portal that I saw through the veils of the rainbow that I will continue to call it, although it was not a rainbow at all, and entered another world again.

Everything was strangely sunny but also gloomy. Why was this smell, the same smell that had once enveloped me when I came into contact with a monster engulfed in the sea of mud of my first, only love, invading this place?

While everything here seemed so beautiful, I understood that it was an impure beauty, without light. Dozens of people were piling corpses into clouds and throwing them out of their realm, into various worlds, including the human world.

These people, they shed no tears. They seemed to feel nothing. The only difference between them and the corpses they were disposing of was their ability to still move.

These dead bodies would decompose over time, their bodies would rot and turn to dust, but those who remained had a greater punishment. It was their souls that rotted and lost life.

"But what is going on here? And where is he? Where is he to save all this world as he did for me? Why isn't he here anymore?"

I kept asking myself, as if I had any right to do so, as if I had any right to demand anything from him.

When I finally tried to run away and come back to Earth, they noticed me and, motionless for a moment, went after me. So, just like four years earlier, I ran straight ahead, thinking of nothing else but saving my life.

- Somebody help me! Help me...!

I can't tell if it was in my mind or if I was really shouting these words... with their damned eyes they tried by all means to get me...

"Why don't you come back for me?" I prayed again, painfully.

But he didn't.

Long minutes later, now numb with fatigue and despair, I thought my life was over, when birds appeared and came to my aid. Various varieties of all colors, blazing under the sun's rays. They formed a huge barrier of wings between my attackers and me. I couldn't see exactly what my flying rescuers were doing, but I could tell they were fighting the undead.

But they were not strong, the wall was collapsing little by little, the others wrapped themselves around me and tried to take me away from this place of massacre. But despite everything, I could not bring myself to abandon those who remained.

- We can't leave like this!

- We will all be massacred if we stay, they sacrifice themselves in order to complete our escape. shouted one of the creatures.

The tears flowed from my eyes. They were torn to shreds. I didn't even notice that a bird had spoken to me and in my language.

- No!!!

Then I was caught in huge shadows hovering over me. I looked up, surprised, and saw them. There they were, flying to the rescue of their companions, huge gleaming raptors, wearing armor of gold, silver and bronze.

They were magnificent, tearing the skies with their wings, they crushed their enemies with amazing ease.

And one in particular fascinated me, he had such grace, such beauty, he fought with such skill that one could have thought him a prince. Gold bindings adorned his forehead. In this field of blood and abomination, he proved to be hope. I could have admired him like that forever.

The battle ended, and all were relieved, but the joy was not complete because they themselves had lost too much, they noted the damage, bathed in a ruddy ocean, discussing among themselves in a language that was unknown to me. Then the prince turned to me. He also had magnificent eyes, incomparable eyes but this time of another color that I could have defined as the best blue that existed, of this celestial blue, and that intoxicates the senses. I was even more dazzled when his form took a human form, his majesty fascinated me, although less than hers. Much less. Then I saw in his posture, in his gestures the sadness he had had to destroy with his own hands the body of his own people. To be forced to do this must have been an abomination, a heavy burden, like his own. But it was his duty as a ruler.

- And you are?

I bowed.

- I am Dania Raeight, and I am a human.

Unlike this being, the flying prince made no sardonic comment. He merely smiled at me and then turned back into a bird of prey to fly away. A golden giant suddenly grabbed me and carried me on his back, flying deferentially behind his master. Soon a sanctuary was in sight.

A sanctuary resembling the flying crest inscribed on the iron gate, appeared atop a hill, standing majestically around mansions and wonders that gave it equal grace.

I was immediately asked to go to the throne room, without even being asked to rest.

A grandiose room such as if the architects of my world could have been inspired then man could not cease to build and exaggerate their creation by so much beauty. Two old men, dressed in long tunics of a light fabric and rich in embroidery, sat on each side of the majestic throne at the very end of this immense fairy room, but whose seats were installed on a step lower than that of their sovereign. Wisdom shone in their eyes, and it was reassuring for me to notice it.

- Wait, my child," said one of them, pointing to a comfortable and very restful chair, "for the Emperor is attending to his knights.

I nodded gracefully, smiling, a little bewildered that someone could offer me so much allegiance. But I didn't have to wait long, because the ruler opened the large double door, stepped forward and sat down on his seat. His eyes transcending me from top to bottom, I was as before bewitched.

- Come closer...