*********Harper
The moment my boots touched the realm's soil, I knew this wasn't anything like the human world. The air wasn't just cold—it shimmered, like it was alive, crawling over my skin in pulses of gold and silver light. A vast sky hung above us, not blue or black, but a strange swirling mix of bronze and violet, shifting as though stirred by invisible hands. Floating islands hung lazily in the distance, each one anchored by chains of light that descended into nothingness.
I turned to the GAMEKEEPER. "This… is the realm of timekeepers?"
"Yes," he replied, his voice low and reverent. His crimson eyes scanned the vast expanse before us. "This is the place where time is measured, guarded, and—if necessary—rewritten."
He stepped forward, extending one hand in front of him. "Now, let's call the Superior."
But before he could complete whatever summoning ritual he had in mind, the ground beneath us trembled. My breath caught as golden glyphs flared in a massive circle around us, rising into the air like bars of a cage. A deep, vibrating hum followed, and then—before I could even process it—chains of radiant energy lashed out from the glyphs and coiled around both of us.
"What the—?!" I yelped, struggling against the bindings.
"Gatekeepers," the GAMEKEEPER muttered, his voice almost a growl.
From the shadows at the far edge of the platform, six armored figures emerged, their silver-and-black armor etched with the same glowing runes that now trapped us. Their faces were hidden behind ornate helmets, but I could feel their gaze, sharp and unyielding. Without a word, they moved in unison, dragging the two of us forward.
"Hey!" I shouted, trying to wrench my arm free, but the chains only tightened. "We're not here to fight! He's trying to summon the—"
"They know," the GAMEKEEPER cut in sharply. His tone was calm, but there was tension in his jaw.
We were hauled down a series of marble steps, into the yawning maw of a fortress carved directly into a floating island. The air here was cooler, heavier, the kind of chill that settled in your bones and stayed there. The dungeon they threw us into was lit only by dim, floating crystals, casting pale blue light over the stone walls.
I stumbled against the cold floor, catching myself on my hands. "Can't you just… I don't know… do that thing where you snap your fingers and blow all this apart?"
He looked at me, eyes narrowing slightly. "I can't."
I blinked at him. "What do you mean you can't? You're—"
"My supreme powers are useless in the realm of timekeepers," he interrupted. "If I use my demon powers here, it will be considered an act of treachery. This is their domain, and the laws are absolute."
I let out a frustrated groan, pressing my hands against my face. "Great. Just great. I should be with my mom right now, not sitting in some time-obsessed dungeon."
"Don't worry," he said quietly, leaning against the wall like he wasn't bound at all. "Even if we spend a thousand years here, it will only be a single minute in all other realms."
My head snapped up. "Wait—so time moves faster here?"
He gave a small nod. "Yes."
I slumped back against the wall, crossing my arms. "Well, that's… something, I guess."
We stayed there for what felt like hours, though here that could have been mere seconds or centuries for all I knew. Eventually, the sound of heavy boots echoed down the hall. The same six gatekeepers reappeared, unlocking the chains and dragging us out of the cell. This time, they didn't shove us. They walked us into a grand chamber where the air felt heavier—thicker with an invisible authority that pressed against my skin.
At the far end of the hall, seated on a raised dais of black and gold stone, was the Superior. His robes shimmered like molten silver, his long white hair cascading over his shoulders like a river of light. His eyes were piercing amber, ancient and unblinking.
The GAMEKEEPER stepped forward. "I came for answers."
The Superior's gaze fell on him, and for a moment, something flickered in his expression—recognition, and something else. But before he could speak, I noticed the GAMEKEEPER's eyes lock onto his. Something unspoken passed between them, and whatever the Superior had been about to say… vanished.
"I need to find my elder brother, Lord Zareth," the GAMEKEEPER said evenly. "And Harper here has questions she needs answered."
The Superior's eyes shifted to me briefly, then back to him. "Very well." He gestured toward a pedestal beside his throne, where a crystal orb the size of a human head rested, glowing faintly. "Place your hand on the crystal and think of the last time you saw your brother."
The GAMEKEEPER moved forward without hesitation, resting his palm against the smooth surface. The orb flared to life, swirling with colors that bled into one another until an image began to take shape—an ethereal realm bathed in gold light. In the center of the vision lay a man, tall and regal even in his deep slumber, his armor adorned with sigils I didn't recognize.
The GAMEKEEPER's lips parted, his voice almost a whisper. "He's in the realm of gods and goddesses…"
I frowned. "What does that even—" I stopped myself and turned to the Superior. "Can I do the same thing? See where my answers are?"
The Superior's expression softened, but only slightly. "It is not so simple for you, child. You have no clear image of what you seek. Your path is clouded. I can only tell you this: the answers you desire await you in the realm of Wish Granters."
My shoulders sagged. "That's it?"
"That is all I can give you without destroying the threads of your fate," he replied.
The GAMEKEEPER straightened, stepping back from the pedestal. "Then we are done here."
But the Superior raised a hand. "Wait. There is something you both must hear."
We paused.
"What you and your brothers have been searching for," he said, his voice suddenly heavier, "is closer to you than you imagine."
The GAMEKEEPER's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
The Superior didn't answer him. Instead, his gaze turned to me. "And you, Harper—you must cleanse your mind. Bathe in the spiritual river. Only then will the truths hidden from you be revealed."
I stared at him, bewildered. "Cleanse my mind? What is that supposed to—"
He simply gestured toward the exit. "Go."
There was no arguing with that tone. The GAMEKEEPER and I exchanged a brief glance before turning to leave.
As we stepped out of the grand hall, I muttered, "That was disappointing. Does he see visions or what? "
"No, but he probably knows what will happen in the future. He won't tell you exactly what it is".
"Oh. How do I get to the realm of wish granters then? I also need to ask some questions about these visions that I see"
"You can wish for answers to your questions.
I'll help you," the GAMEKEEPER said calmly. "But first, you need to clear your mind of worries. Finish whatever you've started before you seek the answers you want. Take care of the issue on ground and rid your mind off negativity. Then, we'll go to get the spiritual bathe you need. I will wait for you".
I stopped, turning to face him. "Wait—are you going to the realm of gods and goddesses to find your brother?"
His expression darkened, though his tone remained casual. "No. I can't go without you."
"Why not?"
"Because," he said, his crimson eyes glinting in a way that made my skin prickle, "my powers can only be suppressed when you are with me. Without you, I would… go berserk."
I stared at him, trying to process that. "That doesn't even make—"
Before I could finish, he stepped away, the shadows curling around his form like loyal pets. And then, just like that, he was gone—without another word.
I stood there in the quiet, the Superior's cryptic advice still ringing in my ears, the GAMEKEEPER's revelation gnawing at my thoughts.
And for the first time since stepping into this realm, I wished more than anything to be back at my mother's side.