First Revelations

As they walked closer to the shopping district, the air grew heavier, thicker, and Kade could feel the weight of the elves' warning pressing on them. The elf with silver hair, who had been leading them the entire way, spoke quietly as they approached the heart of the city. "Brace yourselves," he said, his voice carrying a note of quiet authority. "This area has seen more intruders than others. It's not safe."

Zane's brow furrowed, and he shot Kade a quick glance, but neither of them said anything. They were used to the unease now—the quiet anticipation of danger, the heavy feeling in the air that something was always on the verge of happening.

As they entered the shopping district, the elves' words became painfully clear.

The once-bustling area had turned into a war zone. A local bakery, which Zane remembered as a favorite spot, was a smoldering ruin. Its windows were shattered, and the flames from the burning building cast a sickly crimson glow across the street. The heat from the fire was intense even from where they stood, and the smell of burning wood and sweet dough filled the air, mixing with the acrid scent of something far more sinister.

Kade looked away from the flames, swallowing the lump in his throat. This wasn't just chaos—it was destruction. Everything felt wrong.

"This... this is what you meant, isn't it?" Zane murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Evelyn looked around, her eyes wide with disbelief. "It's... it's like the world's falling apart," she said, her words laced with panic. "How did this happen? Why did it happen?"

Kade, trying to make sense of it all, turned to the elves. He had to know more. "You said the gods have abandoned Earth. What do you mean by that? "

The elf with silver hair glanced over at him, his face unreadable. "We do not know the full extent of it," he admitted, his voice even, "but what we do know is that their presence is gone. The balance that once existed between Earth and the other planets has been broken. Without the protection of guardians, chaos has spilled in."

One of the other elves, a tall figure with a deep, smooth voice, spoke up, his tone carrying a hint of bitterness. "You should not be surprised. After all, Earth was never known for respecting its gods. They were taken for granted, just like everything else you humans do."

KKade frowned, disgusted by the elf's words. However, the weight of the statement was undeniable. His eyes wandered back to the destruction around them, and the meaning of what had been said began to settle in. The elves were right—there had been no reverence for the protectors. But who could trust someone to do a job they had no understanding of? It was like a stranger coming to your door and telling you, "As long as I'm here, you're safe." But you have no idea who this person is, or what they're protecting you from. The whole situation felt absurd.

But now? Now it seemed like Earth's arrogance had finally caught up with it. The planet had always assumed it could handle itself. And now... now it was paying the price.

"We worship the World Tree," the same elf continued, his voice softening as he glanced toward his companions. "It has stood for eons, a living protector of all that thrives in the universe. Its roots stretch into every corner of existence, and from it, we elves were born. As agents of the World Tree, it is our duty to maintain balance and ward off the dangers that threaten it."

Zane's thoughts whirled. "So, Earth was... protected?"

The elf nodded gravely. "Yes, but not just by the gods of Earth. There were other guardians. This universe has always had 14 planets, not the eight that you are accustomed to. The previous guardians shielded Earth from the dangers the other six planets posed." He paused, letting that information sink in.

Kade shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around the enormity of what the elf was saying. "Six other planets? I thought.. No everyone thought there were only eight. The way we learned it, that's what made sense. That's what we were taught."

The elf gave a faint smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "What you were taught was a lie. The universe is much older and more complex than you know. You were shielded from the truth for your own protection. But now, with the gods gone... that shield is broken. And Earth is left exposed."

Zane and Kade exchanged uneasy glances. The world they had once known, the world they had taken for granted, was crumbling. Not only had the gods abandoned them, but they had also been living under a lie about the universe itself. They were suddenly caught in a world of truths they were never meant to understand, and that thought no matter how much they tried to push it away hung heavily over them.

But the conversation couldn't go any further. The elf who had spoken paused, his expression turning serious as he lifted his chin toward the distance. "We have reached the store," he said, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. 

Kade felt his chest tighten. This was the moment. His mother Elara had to be inside, trying to make sense of everything, just like they were. Zane dad... Mr. Fallon was probably there, too. They had to find them, make sure they were okay.

The elves remained silent as the group crossed the road, their presence providing a sense of protection, but Kade knew the real test was coming. As they neared the store, the cold air seemed to press in closer, a reminder that they were entering an unknown, a place where nothing was certain anymore.

Zane's grip on the bat tightened. His eyes flickered over to Kade, who gave him a reassuring nod. Whatever came next, they were in it together. But it was becoming harder to ignore the gnawing feeling in his gut that the danger they'd been running from wasn't just going to go away. It had just begun.

And the store... it was just the first step.