theworldofdreams.com

**Angel Magnus**


She dismounted her horse and lifted the heavy package from the saddle pack. The wooden crate was hefted under her arm before she trudged toward the doorway of the provisions shop. Hopefully she'd only have to do this for a little while longer. Each delivery brought with it more funds which in turn brought her a step closer to being able to shirk the bonds of peasantry in exchange for a noble title. As she patiently waited for the shopkeeper to finish up with a previous customer, her thoughts drifted back to the first day she'd arrived in this world:

The silhouette of a figure upon horseback crested the small rise on the mountain, both horse and rider paused on the peak of the mound. The horse shifted and nickered as if eager to be on their way but the rider remained stoic. Dark blue eyes, slightly squinted against the sun, scoured the township below the small crest, taking in minute details regarding dwellings, shops and landmarks. The well constructed fortifications of the vast castle along with the number of patrolling guards earned the city the slightest nod of respect from the woman. This was, indeed, a well organized place and sufficiently defended. She caught the unmistakable smell of fish, alerting her to the fact that the city had a dock and was, more thank likely, a thriving market place and probably one of many on a trade route. Such observations demanded more than a casual glance from atop a hill. She urged her steed down the slope of the incline, determined to see first hand if this would become home or just be another short stop in her journey.

During her short descent, the past few years flickered through her mind. Much had happened to explain her presence in this new land. Why would a woman, all alone, be traveling on horseback through a foreign land rife with vile creatures intent on extinguishing the light on mortal existence? Simple. She craved the adventure. She had once been a very successful woman within her homeland. She had been the sole ruler of the land she had built from blood, sweat....and more blood. Eden was a small realm nestled among many in her home world. She had carved out a name for the realm and herself through sheer determination and perseverance. She was a tenacious woman who stopped at nothing to achieve her goals be they for the good of her realm or herself. She had never thought of herself as an evil woman, simply a woman who didn't let morals stand in the way of her beliefs. She fought hard to achieve what she had in the past and no one was going to have the audacity to take it away. Death was not something that could keep such a woman down.

She had been a formidable warrior in her day eventually earning recognition from the creator who had given her the highest blessing possible. She had been granted a deity level power over the elements. Being able to open the gates to the elemental planes and then control the massive creatures that came out of them took a very powerful person. Immorality was just icing on the cake. Or was it?

One can only maintain one's control over volatile situations for a limited amount of time. Peace reigned in Eden for decades. Eden's coffers grew heavy with the profits of the meticulously groomed land. Eden maintained diplomatic relations with most of the neighboring realms thereby forming unspoken allegiances by friendship to protect them against the onslaught of the move vile denizens of the world. She became cocky and arrogant in her assumption that all was well and like a fat sow that is continually fed and allowed to laze, she was ignorant to the fact that her doom was on the horizon.

The world suddenly shifted. Evil seemed to have taken a foothold and far outweighed Good. Even with the addition of the Neutral realms, Evil still had the upper hand. Fighting broke out among lands. It was one bloody war after another. The never ending shifting of soldiers from one realm to another, the bickering, the never ending assassination attempts upon the rulers of the lands, her sister allying her realm and herself with the legions of the undead, the continual drain of opening of the elemental gates to unleash the elementals on the armies of the undead finally took it's toll on her. She no longer wanted it. Any of it.

The very land itself was ripped from it's foundation deep within the ocean. The entire realm was magically transported to a world adjacent to her own, fortifications were set in place to prevent visitation. She was isolated. Secluded. Exactly what she wanted. She spoke to the creator and begged him to take his blessing back. Pleaded with him to give her back her mortality and her sanity. Her wish was granted. Little did she know that the adjustment back to mortality would be a bumpy ride. She was stripped of her power and all that she knew had become. She was returned back to the ranks of mortality. It was both frightening and exhilarating at the same time. She had new lease on life, literally. No longer would forever be just another word to her. There was much she wished to do before her mortal form withered and eventually died.

Since her commitments to her land and to her allies had prevented her from wandering too far from her previous home, Angel had very little time to adventure. She knew very little about the surrounding "worlds". It was time to rectify that. With Angel gone that would leave her right hand man in charge, Luthian Bladesinger. Unfortunately, Luthian had wanderlust and a bit of insanity in his system. He often left for months at a time but he always returned to her service, loyal as the day he had left. Unfortunately, he wasn't around when she had decided to leave on her quest therefore the political Council was given control of her lands until her indefinite return. If she returned. And so Angel had set upon a journey of discovery. Not only to soak up the knowledge and culture of other worlds but to learn more about her new self.

That was weeks ago. She had already settled in the forests on the far outskirts of the town of Britain and had chosen a life path. She would be one with the natural elements of the land and find inner peace within herself. She chose the life of a Druid. There, perhaps, she'd find a familiarity of the life she had known before.

She was nudged out of her reverie by the sharp jab of a prodding finger to her ribs.
"That package fer me or are ya jus' carryin' a box around wit ya for company?"
The beady black eyes of the local provisioner were trained intently on her. She managed a slight smile and shifted the box to the counter top.
"Although I've grown fond of it's company, I'm willing to part with it for a price."

And so continues on the life of one of Britannia's newest citizens.

This is very strong writing, Chelsea. Or should I say Angel Magnus?

In any case, well done. I really enjoyed your story.



-M

Welcome, I know your time here will be well spent. This town house's many wonderful people. If there is anything I can help you with just let me know.

~Bronwyn~