The Severed Dimension

by StarPrism

Prologue - Escape!

It was high noon when my stomach began to growl. We were in a large entrance hall of a shrine within these castle ruins. I looked over at my comrades and best friends - Lorane and Regal. Lorane had pretty much been like my sister ever since the first raids. Our kingdom of Durandel was at war with the nation of Xinon; and one of Xinon's first raids took away our parents. Our hometown was almost destroyed but the town militia drove them away; but the casualties were terrible. My older brother, Alistier, came back from the front lines to take care of Lorane and I. Some years later, we found Regal and he's been at our side for four years.

We had just fought eight Marble Golems that were guarding the ruins of an ancient castle; that was once said to have been suspended in the air for hundreds of years, before falling to the planet suddenly long ago.Now their corpses added to the rubble along with the pillars that had fallen during the intense combat. I looked to my right at Lorane, who was looking through some of the debris for anything usable; perhaps tools or mana fragments. Lorane was a short, 17 year old girl who had beautiful green eyes accompanied with delicate facial features. Her pernicious pink hair was usually short but she had been growing it out lately, and loved to have red highlights in her hair. She had a short, slender figure and a mark of a single star on her forehead. The mark was called a 'Mage's Mark' given to young mages who passed apprenticeship. She usually was outgoing and very fun to be around but when she got serious, she was almost as scary as she was with combat magic. Yes, Magic exists. There is a force called Mana that is everywhere, such like gravity or even air. Life is only possible because of Mana, and lifeforms all have a little bit of this inside their being. Some lifeforms are born with more than others, and can even develop a skill to bend Mana into energy and form that energy into just about anything, including spells.

Regal who was on my left, was cleaning off his short sword as well as trying to piece together his shield that was shattered by a mighty blow of a golem's arm. Regal was a slender and tall young man. We didn't know his age, as when we found him he had no memory of who he was. We guessed he was probably 20; he had an odd shade of indigo-colored eyes, and his pupils always seemed larger than others. He had long deep sea blue hair and usually wore a headband to hold it back, but it typically comes off in combat. He was built solidly, for a tall guy at least, but he always seemed pretty weak. We nicknamed him 'Regal' because of his 'regal' personality, and he kind of adopted this as his name. He also had skill in using magic, but it also paled in comparison to Lorane's skill. He's usually kind to ladies, as anyone 'regal' should be.

As for me, well, my name is Edel. I was standing idly by, waiting for Lorane and Regal to finish up what they were doing before moving deeper into the shrine. I have - er well had - short, spiky brown hair, and turquoise eyes. People tell me I have a fiery determined look in my eyes all the time; but I usually don't look at myself when I talk. I am not short! I am normal height! I tend to take a cynical approach when meeting others, as it had saved our lives more than once. I was skilled in my swordsmanship and strength, and it won me my current position; captain of our little private squad for the King. Ah yes, why are we here in these ruins? Well, we have been hunting for months now for these mystical orbs called the Stones of the Elements, or Elemental Stones... something like that. We found four already, and this was supposedly where a fifth one was.
As for why the king wanted these stones, I would never know after this day...

"Let's go." Lorane said, as her and Regal walked to my side.

As we began the long walk down the only visible corridor that led deeper into the shrine I looked back. The pillars are going to be an obstacle getting out. I thought as we kept going. I noticed the torches along the walls were all lit.

"Someone has been here. Keep your guard up." I said.

We soon came into the shrine's sanctum, and saw the mysterious Stone on a pearl pedestal. Lorane performed her release spell as always when we obtained a Stone to remove it, and we were soon ambushed; not to our surprise, by some old rivals. The fight was a little more intense than last time, but we eventually routed them but not before one of them threw a bomb at us. The resulting explosion caused the ruins to shake apart, and we had to escape. Our rivals left through some other exit and collapsed it. I held the crippled Regal on my back and began to run after Lorane out the corridor.

We need to get out of here! We’re so close!

I was running through the long corridor we were in earlier, and found myself completely out of breath. The battle against my long-time rival took its hefty toll on the rest of my energy. With Regal on my back, Lorane ahead of us, the castle was collapsing with us still inside. With our mission almost complete we just need to escape and get back to Durandel and report to King Joseph what has transpired.

“Edel! Just a little further! How’s Regal?” Lorane asked, also out of breath.

I took a glance to my left, hanging off my shoulder, Regal still barely conscious wheezed, “I’ll be fine… The only thing more broken than my leg is my pride.” He forced a laugh before looking up towards Lorane and managed to yell “I’m fine! But we need to focus on getting out of here!”

“You had to get your leg broken huh Regal?” I joked, trying to make light of our situation. “You know when I said to ‘wait!’ and ‘use a fire seed!’ I meant use a fire seed to defrost your leg, not to throw it on the ground!”

“Edel, if you just did what I asked and prepared the damn anti-magic barrier the captain gave us, we wouldn’t have had to worry about being frozen in the first place! Not to mention that half-breed’s hellish fire.” Regal retorted. I remembered the strange seed I was given weeks ago that was supposed to stop all magic in a large radius once it has been thrown.

“I told you we need to save it for something more serious! Not use it on those creeps, who we always defeat at -”

“Stop arguing you two! There’s a wreckage of fallen pillars in the foyer remember? I am going to need some of those potions Edel!” Lorane interrupted.

I had just realized how close we were to the outside, quickly using my free hand I fished around in my pack until I pulled out a small circular glass bottle labeled Mana in crude handwriting, and popped off the cork holding the blue liquid inside. As we slowed down, I handed the bottle to Lorane who gulped it down like water.

“I still don’t understand how you can just gulp down that stuff so fast. I mean -” A tremor from the castle cut me off as I lost balance and dropped Regal head first onto the ground as well as my pack.

“Ughh… Break my neck why don’t ya?!”

“I’m sorry Regal!” I replied, making sure his leg was not in worse shape. After seeing it wasn’t, I preceded to scoop him up, back onto my shoulder as Lorane began to run ahead.

“Lorane be careful!” Regal called out.

I picked up my fallen pack carefully and began to follow. I wasn’t too worried about Lorane, from what we’ve been through together, I had complete confidence she was going to be okay. I continued to run forward with Regal on my back. As we reached the huge foyer filled with corpses of the Marble Golems, who we had to fight through just over an hour ago Lorane was focusing her magic into a ball of light; about the size of a large beach ball. I’ve always been amazed with her skill in magic. After shifting her weight forward, which made her look like she was leaning on an invisible wall dividing her from the ball of light, she threw her hands forward onto the ball. With a gasp followed by a grunt she pushed the ball forward.

Instantly the ball flew forward at high speed, destroying segments of the fallen pillars that littered the ground, and damaging a few of the golem corpses that were close by. There was now a straight path to the exit, but something wasn’t right.

“No… Do you feel that? Edel it’s the Gate!” said Regal, as fear gripped his voice.

“Not now! We need to get out before this place caves in on us!” I said, trembling slightly. What was coming, I knew, and Regal knew. I had to warn Lorane who was a good 30 paces away. “Lorane! We need to move! The gate is opening here!” I shouted.

“What? Are you serious?! We can’t deal with Him yet!” Lorane shouted back.

I ran towards her. Now I was worried. The only person who I was truly afraid of was about to make his appearance. You never know what his intentions are, however, last time we encountered Him an entire city was destroyed, in an attempt to find us and take the Stones we obtained. We were lucky to find Archsage Linken who shielded us, and warped us to safety as he took Him on alone. Of course we learned of his demise, and the city’s destruction later.

“Edel! Wait, maybe we should try to communicate..." Lorane said as I grabbed her hand and we started running for the exit.

“No! He tried to kill us last time, there is no talking to that… Monster.” The man known as Gladius, the one who destroyed a God to gain power, the one who slaughtered an entire village of innocents; the one who wore an enigmatic suit of armor that seemed completely unbreakable even by magic, was on his way, and he is indeed a monster that deserves to be feared. There is no stopping him. Then it happened. A blast of cyan light engulfed the area, as I heard the castle behind us finally caving in, and around us, the ceiling began to fall.

I stopped in my tracks, something keeping my legs from moving, I looked up and saw the millions of bricks, wood, and debris just hanging in midair. Looking around I saw Lorane was looking straight, blinking in confusion. The pathway behind us, locked in place, as if time around us, had stopped.

“This… is Limbo.” Regal stated.

I looked at where he was staring, and my heart sank. There before us, was a large figure, Gladius. Behind him where the bright, but not blinding cyan light was emanating from was a large hole that looked like it was distorting all reality inside of its gaping opening.

“Gladius what do you want?!” I cried through gritted teeth. I wondered if we were going to get out of here alive.

Gladius remained silent, using his three-pronged spear like a walking staff and began to slowly walk towards us. My heart was racing fast.

“Edel it’s over. If he has enough control over the Gate to initiate Limbo, there is no escape. Limbo is a time stopping spell, and the Gate is the only thing that can allow such a spell to be sustained.” Regal said with despair.

“What? If time is stopped, how can we still talk? And how are we still... aware?” I questioned.

“I… I don’t know,” Regal said.

“Maybe he wants to talk! If we’re going to get out of here alive, maybe we should do what he wants!” Lorane finally spoke. I looked at her, her face was pale, and she was sweating. I wanted to put my hand on her shoulder but I was surprised when my arm wouldn’t move, my hand still holding hers.

“Why can’t I move my limbs?”

“I have allowed you to communicate, but there will be no running this time.” A deep, almost metallic voice spoke. Gladius was somehow already in front of us, somehow from a slow walked he didn’t take long to traverse about 80 paces.

“Wh- What is it that you want?” I asked.

“I am here for the Cosmos Stone. You have no idea what it can do.”

Cosmos? The Stone we took was the elemental Stone of Cosmos? I looked towards Lorane who nodded her head, then towards Regal who was staring at the Gate.

“Will you let us go?” I inquired.

“…Yes. But you must tell me where the other four Stones are being held.”

The Stones that we have been collecting for months on orders of the Royal Magic Academy and King Joseph had a purpose, but they never told us what. And little did I know, that purpose would never be known to us after these events. I nodded.

“Well I need to be able to move-” before I could finish there was a flash of cyan light and my limbs were free. I thought about reaching for my sword but I knew I had no chance. So I reached into my pack after putting Regal down and pulled out the amethyst colored Stone and held it in front of me. Gladius was looking at Regal.

“What is wrong with him?” He asked, almost sounding concerned.

“His leg is broken.” I answered, as Regal looked up at Gladius, and bore a pleading expression. “What does that matter? Here is the Stone you-”

Gladius abruptly raised his right hand, held his thumb in and a bright white beam of light burst from his hand that sounded like a gunshot. The light made contact with Regal’s legs and suddenly the light vanished.

“Huh? You… You healed me?” Regal said, astonished and moving his leg.

Gladius took the Stone from me, and said “Now tell me where to find the other Stones.”

I was baffled as to why he healed Regal, but decided not to question him. If he healed Regal, perhaps he means us no harm and he is true to his word, I thought, before saying “They are in Durandel. I don’t know where though, the Royal Archmage takes the Stones from us and leaves with them. That’s all I know.”

“Durandel you say. Alright then.” Regal began to get on his feet as Gladius spoke “Since you have told me I will spare you. However…”

My heart dropped, and I flinched as Lorane put her hand on my shoulder. However what? Is he going to imprison us?

“I knew it! What are you going to do? Take us as prisoners so we don’t warn our friends?” Regal cried. Saying what I was thinking, he does that quite a bit.

“Something like that. Don’t worry, I will let you go after I find the Stones. If you have lied to me, you all will die.” Gladius said.

Before I could say anything, the Gate abruptly began to make a loud howling noise, and I felt a great pressure pull me towards the Gate. I glanced to my right, Lorane was also being pulled and I heard Regal screaming as we flew towards the Gate in midair. I closed my eyes, and felt a tingling sensation through my whole body followed by what I can only describe as my body being compressed and my insides boiling with pain... Then there was nothing.

“Edel…” a sweet voice called my name. I looked around to see Lorane, staring at me seductively. “Edel… Regal told me. How you feel about me. I just want you to know that I can’t stand you.” I continued to stare at her. Can’t stand me? But I love her. I know all good things need to come to an end, like this adventure we are on, but I have grown to care for her, to love her. Everything she does I admire…

“Edel?”

I just want her love. She has mine, or she CAN have mine. Is she trying to break my heart? I am stronger than that…

“Edel? Anybody?”

I know Regal once had feelings for her, I wonder if he told her what I really feel. But I can’t talk.

“Edel? Regal? Mr. Gladius?”

Suddenly I felt pain in my gut. I can’t open my eyes, but I feel something on my side.

“Lorane?” Regal’s voice called from my left.

“Regal? Where is Edel? I can’t see anything! What are we lying on?”

I couldn’t tell if I was lying on cement or rough stone, but I finally got control of my limbs. My hands felt swollen as I raised my arm and suddenly felt more stone on top of me, suspended. I must be inside of something… like a casket? I felt my eyes open wide, seeing nothing but darkness.

“Edel? Buddy where are you?” Regal shouted.

He only calls me buddy when he’s really worried… I finally caught my own voice and said “I’m right here. I think you guys are next to me.” After hearing a gasp I felt something hit me on the right side of my body. “Ow!”

“Oh Edel! That’s you?! Why are you so… hairy?” Lorane asked.

“Hold on, I think we’re inside of some kind of container. Regal, push up on this stone with me, maybe we can move it.” I said.

Regal shifted and I heard two thuds on the stone. Not sure what that was, but as I also raised my numb hands, I hear the same noise. What the? Choosing to ignore it I said “Okay on the count of three. One… Two… Three!” I pushed with all of my might, and as the heavy stone lifted, sunlight flooded the small chamber the three of us were in. Blindly we pushed the stone to the side, and we were exposed to the sun. After a few seconds I turned my head towards Lorane and opened my eyes.

“Woah!” I exclaimed.

To my right was a pink horse, wearing Lorane’s cape. It was a dark shade of pink, and the mane was bright pink with scarlet highlights, just how Lorane’s hair is. And a horn? It had a horn sticking out of its head, but no mage mark which Lorane had.

A unicorn? They are supposed to be extinct, but this one is wearing a cape… Lorane’s cape?! Then it hit me.

“L… Lorane?!” I said.

The pink unicorn turned its head to look at me. Its eyes were a beautiful shade of green. Lorane’s green eyes, which were now in shock. “What the? Edel where are you?!” the unicorn moved its mouth in unison with Lorane’s voice.

I quickly looked to my left. There was another horse, however this one was dark blue, and larger than the other. It was wearing a piece of steel on its torso and bottom half. It had a long flowing blue mane, like Regal’s hair, and it also had a horn but it appeared to be missing the tip.

“Regal?” I said.

The blue unicorn opened its eyes. It was a shade, you’d almost never see from other creatures. Regal’s deep blue, almost violet eyes stared at me, with a shocked expression that matched Lorane's.

“Edel?!”