Page 9 of The Glass Unicorn: Part 13

“Then, if you are ready, come with me.” Otsiano stood, heading for the door.

We followed him. Brynn, Thornhold, and Reggie stayed inside.

The day was partially cloudy, but warm.

“Is it perpetually summer here?” I asked. “In the Crystal Forest?”

Otsiano shook his head. “No, actually. We do have seasons, but they don’t run parallel to Abarria. Remember: this is a different dimension. Abarria was created as a game, but it became its own reality over time, and now it’s fully autonomous. The Crystal Forest, and everything in here, existed long before Abarria was ever birthed.”

Everything had a magical—almost fragile—feel to it. The flowers reminded me of glass, but when I accidentally stepped on one, it just sprang up again after I moved my foot instead of shattering. There was a surreal glow to the forest, as though superimposed over the woodland. I realized I was holding my breath after a moment and gulped with a wheeze.

“Are you all right?” Ray asked.

“Yes, I am. I just…I forgot to breathe.”

“I know what you mean. It’s like walking into a wondrous land where it’s so overwhelming you can barely take it in.” Ray reached out to take my hand. “We’re walking into something together, and this means it’s real. It’s all real. I’ve lost the love of my life. We’ve all lost our families and pets. We have to stick together, Erenye. We have to truly become a family.”

The tears in his voice told me just how deeply he was feeling his loss. I squeezed his hand. “I’ll be your sister, Ray. And Reggie, and Brynn, and Thornhold—you’re right. We truly are a family. We’ll stick together and make the best life we can. And you and I’ll share a pledge to Otsiano, and that will make it easier to keep if rough times come. I trust him.”

“I do too, or I wouldn’t offer to become his druid,” Ray said. “I’ve always wanted to talk to animals. Since we are stuck here, that would be a handy skill to have. Also, I’ll learn more about woodsmanship.”

“Then you have thought this through,” I said. “I was hoping you weren’t doing this just because of me.”

“No,” Ray said. “It’s for me, and also for our group.”

We stepped out from the trail into a beautiful clearing, surrounded by white-flowered trees and bushes with shiny green leaves. Butterflies flew thick through the glade, and birds were tending their nests. Otsiano was standing in the middle, behind a stone altar with two chalices on it, and a candle in the center. Roses ringed the ground, forming a circle around the altar. Near the altar stood Master Ashelainn.

Otsiano motioned for us to come forward. We approached the altar, stepping over the roses so as not to mess them. As we approached the altar, a gust of wind whistled by, lightly stirring the roses, then it died away.

As we stood there, Otsiano lifted his hand, and the candle lit. Even with the light breeze, it barely flickered. Otsiano motioned for us to hold out our hands, and we did.

“Pledge yourself to my service from now until the end of your days or until I release you.” He reached out and took my hand in his. The next moment, he used a crystal spike to slice a small cut on my palm, and as droplets of my blood dribbled out, he held out a sword. “Place your hand on this blade and pledge your life to my service. You will always act with honor, aim for the best, seek to understand the needs of others, and embrace the woodland as your home and temple, protecting it as necessary.”

I nodded. Nothing there I couldn’t agree to. I placed my hand on the smooth blade and left my bloody handprint. “I pledged to be your servant, to be a voice for the forest, and to stand by my word and honor.”

Otsiano repeated the sequence with Ray. When we had both pledged our oaths, Otsiano plunged the blade into the soil. “Bound you are, by earth and soil, by water and woodland, by your oaths and my gratitude. We are now tied, and you may call on me when you need to. I will come when I can—and help where I’m able.” After a brief pause, he added, “This means great need, not when you need to build a fire.”

I couldn’t help it—among the solemn feel of the glade, I snorted, and the snort turned into laughter. Ray joined me, and Otsiano as well.

After the tension was broken, he looked at us. “Welcome to my service, Ray and Erenye. I’m grateful to have you. And Master Ashelainn was our witness. He remembers all oaths given to the woodland, even if the pledge didn’t know he was there.”

And with that, Ray and I belonged to the forest lord, and for the first time in a while, I felt a sense of protection and belonging.

CHAPTER 80: HOMEWARD BOUND

We stood by the Waypoint, with Otsiano and Master Ashelainn nearby. Ray and I were wearing silver bear necklaces—these we could take off—that were symbols of Otsiano. I felt a peace that I hadn’t felt since we first arrived. Actually, the more I thought about it, I felt a peace that I hadn’t had for a long, long time.

“Safe travels, my friends. I’ll be in touch. There are so many dangers in this world, and it’s getting more dangerous. There are artifacts far more powerful than Zaran’s key, and they must be contained before the terrors of the world find them. These are the tasks you’ll be doing for me. Helping to protect Abarria.” Otsiano smiled, but there was a look in his eyes that told me it wouldn’t be long before we saw him again.

“Thank you again for all your help. We’ll see you when it’s time.” I stepped into the Waypoint, along with the others. We programmed the location, and there was a whirl of energy. The magic wove around us, and then a flash, and we were standing on a Waypoint near the place where we had first arrived in the game.

I looked around. The grass was covered with snow. Winter had come to the launch area and the Dark Woodland, and everything seemed quiet. The pods were empty, and in the past couple of months, vegetation had started to encroach around the buildings.

We stepped out. It was still early morning, and we’d reach Liesel’s house by afternoon if we kept up a steady pace. Part of me wanted to look around, to see if there was anything we could use, but we could come back. We were going to be here long enough.

“Let’s get moving,” I said. “I can’t wait to see Liesel…and Star.”

By late afternoon, we saw Liesel’s house up ahead—the new one. I shouted her name to let her know we were there. She cautiously opened the door to peek out, and the next moment Star raced past her, bounding through the snow towards me. I fell to my knees and opened my arms, and the Frazzle Cat slammed against me, making little noises and squirming as though she couldn’t get close enough.