Chapter 2

Cressida had never been inside the palace of the Guardian of Oceans, but what she saw, just the long, curvy hallway, was enough to take her breath away. The walls were made from pure white sandstone mixed with crushed shells. The floors were laid with marble tiles. The marble pillars that were there for support were shaped to look like coral.

The sinking sun was shining its light into the stained glass windows, which were also depicting scenes from the ocean floor.

And the chamber of the seven realms was not that different; it was a large round room. A small marble pillar stood in the middle, reaching about Cressida´s waist. On the pillar lay the Orb, which didn´t look like much. Just a crystal ball, but that ball hold the power to change someone´s faith. A lot of people, mostly noble families, were standing on one side of the room. At the other side of the room were six stained glass windows, each one depicting another realm.

Cressida dared to look at the other families that were standing in the room. Each family had at least three to four people, which made her small party look a bit pitiful. Her mother was not allowed out of the mansion, not even to say goodbye to her only daughter. Devina and her mother had another appointment, according to the Lady of the Tides that was. So the only people who were with her were the Lord of the Tides and Porter. Who hadn´t left her side for one moment. She also had the feeling that she was a bit underdressed for the occasion.

Devina had given her one of her dresses, as their father had told her to do. But the Lady of the Tides was hovering inside the room the whole time. Making displeasing noises when Devina offered one of the more expensive or elaborate dresses. Besides that, it didn´t matter what the Lord of the Tides had said; Cressida was not going to risk her mother´s safety. So she picked a dress that seemed simple and boring enough. It was embroidered with a shiny thread, but it wasn´t beaded. But right now she felt a bit out of place

Porter had probably seen her discomfort and wrapped a hand around her waist.

"You look amazing, Cressida. And father was right, I wasn't thinking about you when I jumped towards your defence. But with that said I am really going to miss my sparring partner."

A chuckle escaped her throat. She wasn't allowed into Devina's lessons, and the mentor of Porter saw her lazing around.

So he dragged her into the library, where Porter had his lessons. To keep an eye on her, that was his excuse. The real reason was to make sure that she had some sort of education. This also included weapon training; the sword that the mentor had given her was resting on her hip.

The Lord of the Tides stepped forward until he was next to the pillar with the Orb. He turned towards the crowd; he was leading the ceremony this year. Normally, it would have been the Guardian of Oceans. But she was being detained.

"Welcome to the ceremony called the Path of the Orb, every year when the youngest member of a Noble family comes of age, he or she will offer their services to serve a Guardian of Seven Realms. The place where they will serve is determined by the Orb of Faith."

Cressida stepped a bit closer towards Porter.

"Alright, let us begin. When I call your name, you have a small moment to say your final goodbye to your family. Then walk towards the Orb, place your left hand on it. The Orb will shine a specific color for each realm."

Cressida nodded slowly.

Porter's mentor had explained this to her as well. Red was for the Realm of Fire, light blue for the Realm of Ice, light purple for the Realm of Light, green for the Realm of Earth, Grey for the Realm of Sky, and then there was black for the Realm of Shadows. The last one made her shiver. The Realm of Shadows was also called the Realm of Nightmares. It was one of the two realms that were at war with another species. The other one was the Realm of Fire, but they hadn't it as bad as the Realm of Shadows. It had three Guardians in the last three years, and that was because the Guardians were killed by Nightmares.

Cressida prayed with all her being that she wouldn't be sent there.

"Jules Pearlwater."

Jules Pearlwater's mother started to weep softly while she wrapped her son in a tight embrace. His father laid a hand on his shoulder, and his older brother. Who was the Pearlwater heir, held out a bag. Cold as ever.

Jules stepped out of his mother's reach and grabbed the bag. With his head held high, he walked towards the Orb and laid his hand on the Orb, which immediately started to glow bright green.

"Jules Pearlwater, your faith is in the Realm of Earth. Go forth and make the Realm of the Oceans proud."

Jules didn't make eye contact with the Lord of the Tides, he directly walked towards the stained glass window that represents the Realm of Earth. He didn't even touch the glass as he walked through it, and that was it. He was gone, he was inside another realm. His mother was still weeping, while his father did his best to comfort his wife.

"Cressida Seacoal."

Her heart stopped for a short moment, it was her turn.

Porter quickly grabbed her shoulders and turned her towards him, while a soft murmur of voices started to rise up.

"Cressida Seacoal, is my youngest daughter and part of my family. So she is allowed to take part in the ceremony. Cressida it is time."

But Porter didn't let go of her, not just yet. Probably he did this because he was, right now, the only one to say goodbye.

The Lord of the Tides was here, but he was leading the ceremony, and he was not in the position to do so.

"What are you thinking?"

Porter whispered in her ear. He knew her so well as to know that her mind was overflowing.

"I am praying for it not to be the Realm of Shadows. I am praying this with all my heart, but I fear that with my luck..."

"There is a very small chance that you will be sent there."

That was when he stepped back, giving her a bag.

She slowly nodded, as she took it out of his hands and turned around to walk towards the Orb. Softly repeating the colors and the Realms, hoping that it would overpower the loud beating of her heart. She briefly stopped in front of the Lord of the Tides.

"Please take care of my mother."

He nodded softly as he placed a hand on her shoulder. He didn't say anything as she stepped away.

She closed her eyes as she laid her hand on the Orb, the cold crystal was strangely comforting.

"By the Seven Realms, please tell me that this thing isn't sending her towards her death!"

"Porter, keep your composure."

Her heart sank as she heard them talk like that. She now knew which Realm was selected for her. The one Realm she prayed with all her heart not to be selected. Still, she opened her eyes to confirm that the Orb had turned black.

"Cressida Seacoal your faith is in the Realm of Shadows. Go forth, my child, and make the Realm of the Oceans proud."

There was no hint of emotion in the Lord of the Tides voice; still, she glanced towards him. His gaze was a bit glossy, but there were no tears in sight.

Shaking with fear, she slowly walked towards the glass-stained windows that represented the Realm of Shadows. She glanced one more time over her shoulder to look at Porter. Giving him a small nod, before she stepped through the portal.

*********

Cressida didn't know what to expect when she stepped through the portal, but the thick fog wasn't part of that at all. She was glad when it lifted, only to discover the room around her was in ruins.

Large boulders of dark grey stone that were once part of the roof lay scattered over the broken marble floor. The windows that once shielded the room from the elements were broken and gone. The only things that were intact inside this room were the small pillar and the stained-glass windows that represented the other Realms.

Probably protected with some kind of magic that she didn't understand.

Cressida knew that this Realm was in trouble, but this made it painfully clear how bad things were.

A deep roar interrupted her thoughts; she quickly looked up. But she was not ready to see the monstrosity that flew above her. It was nothing she had seen before, not in dreams or books. She even failed to think of something to describe it. The creature flew towards her, and she had barely time to throw the bag Porter had given her to the side. And draw her sword.

The monster's claw swiped at her, and she had barely had time to jump away.

She softly cursed the fact that she was currently in a dress, instead of a set of pants. She normally would wear when she was sparring with Porter. She ripped the skirt so that it would be easier for her to move, but she wasn't quick enough. The monster's claw once again descended on her and was ripped away, part of the bodice leaving her in nothing more than her corset. Briefly, she was glad that there was no one around. But this was also a blessing in disguise; now she wasn't restricted by the tight fabric. So this time she didn't wait for the monster to strick, this time she rushed towards the creature. She swung with her sword, and was kind of surprised that the creature didn't try to fly away. Or even tried to block, or tried to avoid her attack. And she was somewhat stunned when the creature dropped dead on the ground after she chopped its head off.

It was the first time that she killed something. She normally only used this sword to spar with Porter, and that also rarely happened when the Lady of the Tides was against her using a real sword on her son. She was even against the idea of her having the sword in the first place.

Porter needed to step between his mother and hers. After the Lord of the Tides had given her the weapon. But everyone inside the mansion and outside, for that matter, could hear how displeased the Lady of the Tides was.

The creaking of dust made it known to her that she wasn't alone. She quickly turned around, her sword raised, ready to attack the next monster if needed. But she was shocked when a black woolen cloak wrapped around her shoulders. A young man was standing next to her, his hands raised high. To make it known to her that he was unarmed and not in the business of hurting her.

"Where in the Seven Realms did you come from?"