Realmshifter Chronicles: The Heroes of Veridora

Entering Valor

Alvin had a point about the goblins. They were definitely growing more daring. It took us about four hours of walking to reach Valor, the main city in the Valarion Dukedom. It might seem like a long trek for folks in this world, but from what I gathered, it wasn't all that far compared to their usual distances. The nearest farms were just an hour and a half away from where we were.

Can't say I'll forget that goblin village in a hurry. The way those creatures were torn up, the whole place a mess of slashed bodies and scorched ground. It was my first real taste of battle. I've been in a few fights before, some pretty bloody ones, but I've never taken a life. Not even in the messed-up world I came from. But there I was, part of a group that had to wipe out those goblins before they could have their feast on Ellie, Eve, and Alvin. In the heat of the moment, it seemed like the only choice, but now I can't help but think about it more.

I felt a nudge on my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts. Ellie had sidled up next to me while we walked. I had purposefully hung back a bit, lost in my own head.

"Got something on your mind, broody?" Ellie asked, a half-smile playing on her lips. I hadn't even noticed her coming over.

"Just thinking about how a goblin settlement that big could pop up so close to a city without anyone noticing," I said, trying not to let on what was really bugging me. But truth be told, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this whole situation.

Alvin glanced back at us, his face showing a mix of worry and something else he was trying to hide. I wasn't the only one with questions.

"Don't sweat it, Jordan," Ellie chimed in, her voice light. "Leave it to the big shots at the guild. It's probably not as serious as it seems. It's not like the Demon King is about to show up and wreck the place." She said that with a smirk, but the mention of a Demon King set off some alarms in my head. I'd read about all sorts of creatures in my world.

And I'm not talking about the flashy demon lords from anime. Back on Earth, my magical studies covered more than just the basics of magic. I got into some pretty deep stuff, like the Keys of Solomon. Those old texts lay out all kinds of magic, including how to summon and trap major demons. I knew there were seventy-two top-tier demon lords, each with their own domain and powers. It's no joke to summon one of those guys, taking months of preparation and crafting some elaborate container to hold their power.

"Demon King? What did you mean by that, Ellie?" I had to make sure I wasn't jumping to conclusions.

"Just an old prophecy I heard about back in the church I grew up in," Ellie explained. "They used to scare us kids with tales of the Demon King coming to wreck everything if we weren't good and prayed enough. Probably just a way to keep us in line."

Alvin chimed in with some more info, his tone serious. "The prophecy talks about a time when monsters get stronger and more dangerous, all feeding off the power of this so-called Demon King. We don't know when or how he'll show up, but those scrolls are ancient wisdom that's been around since almost the beginning of time. Some kings have tried to destroy them, but they're indestructible. If the church holding them gets wrecked or corrupted, they just show up somewhere else."

Eve, who hadn't said much until now, added her two cents. "Last time the scrolls moved was when the church in the capital burned down about twenty years ago. Some acolyte forgot to blow out a candle and the whole place went up in flames. Scrolls ended up in Valor after that."

I took in all this info, pretty amazed at both the story and the fact that Eve was actually talking to me. Maybe she was warming up a little.

Before I knew it, we were standing in front of Valor's massive gate. This thing was no joke, easily fifty feet high and made to withstand anything. Guard towers lined the top, and I later found out there were only two gates in the whole city. The place was even built around a stream that came up from underground, supposedly to keep the water safe from poisoning.

We joined the line and soon enough, we were face to face with a guard who looked more bored than alert. "What's your business here? Oh, hey there, Alvin. Thought you disappeared again," he said with a grin. He then noticed Ellie and Eve and his grin widened. "And the dynamic duo is back. Out causing trouble as usual?"

Ellie rolled her eyes. "Jonas, how many times do I have to say it? Just call me Ellie. It's not that hard."

Jonas looked at me, a curious glint in his eyes. "And who's this? Friend of yours, Alvin?"

"Yep, this is Jordan. He actually saved our skins out in the forest today. I vouch for him," Alvin said.

"Thanks for helping them out," Jonas said to me. "Trust me, those three are a magnet for trouble."

"It was no big deal," I replied. "Glad I was there at the right time."

After a bit of paperwork, Jonas let us through. I had a feeling things would have gone differently if I'd been on my own. As we stepped into the city, it hit me that this was my first time in a city in another world. Valor, the city of courage and bravery, stretched out before us. And I couldn't help but feel a connection with the folks I was walking with, the ones who showed me what real valor looked like.