The Five Realms

STORY


Thom was inside his room looking at the images of his real parents and siblings

“Should I go and look if he’s okay?” Savyn asked worriedly as she set the plates on the dining table. The talk had finished hours ago.

“Let him be, Sav. He needs a little time for himself after all that.” Mel replied as he tasted the beef stew he was making. “hmmmmm…yummy.”

“But his reaction was so not normal, for someone who just learn the things he did.” Sav stopped what she was doing and turned to Mel, who had turned off the stove. “Are you sure he’ll be okay?”

“Trust me. Your brother’s fine” Mel reassured her, looking her in the eye.

Mel gave her another glance when he noticed that she was sniffing and her eyes were a little tearful.

“But your not.” He said.

Savyn wailed as tears fell faster, wetting her cheeks and finally dripping from her chin to the tiled floor. A pool of Savyn’s tears was forming on the tiles. Mel looked horrified and hurriedly grabbed a roll of paper towel from the kitchen counter, depositing it on Savyn’s hands without finesse.

“I don’t want him to hate me for keeping it all from him!” Savyn cried as she blotted her eyes with the towel.

“He isn’t gonna hate you, Sav. He loves you.” Mel softly patted Savyn’s back. “Don’t be such a baby. Thom’s acting more grown up than you are.”

Savyn sniffled and blew her nose. Her tears were finally receding. She cast Mel a dirty look.

“Amnotababy.” She garbled.

“Well, you sure are acting like one.” Mel answered her.

“Hmmmph…” She threw the paper towel into the waste can and began setting the cutlery on the table.


XX


Thom was inside his room looking at the images of his real parents and siblings. His uncle Cinnead had given him a small black bag that contained the holographic discs of his family and some stuff his real mother owned. He was surprised the mystics had technology more advanced than the humans. A life sized hologram of each family member was emitted from the small circular discs, showing every distinctive feature they possessed. Even the creases and loose threads of their court attire were visible. It was just amazing. He could make millions here on earth if he showed these to companies willing to replicate the technology. But he didn’t need money right now. According to his uncle, he was already obscenely rich due to his inheritance.

It was still hard to swallow that he was royalty. For years he had thought it was only him, Savyn and his adoptive parents, a middle class human family. It was a bit of a shock to find he wasn’t one of the Ericksons. He had always thought they were his natural family, and had been led to believe his dissimilar features were due to some throwback traits.

Thom took one last look at the faces of his real siblings. He knew from his history lessons that he had three sisters and 2 brothers, but he hadn’t really felt they were real until he saw the holograms. There was no question they came from the same parents. His sisters looked just like him, a carbon copy of their mother, Queen Idril. His brothers had their father’s face, but they possessed the same blue black hair and deep blue eyes like he did.

Thom sighed as he turned off the discs and gathered them, putting them back inside the small bag.. He had been sighing a lot today. He felt numb and wondered why. He should be feeling some sadness for the family he had lost and anger for his friends’ and sister’s deception, but he felt nothing. It was like he was looking at someone else’s life, not his own.

‘It must be the shock,’ he told himself as he laid down on the bed facing the ceiling, his hands pillowing his head. It overrode every emotion he had.

Thom didn’t really think the numbness he felt was bad. It was better this way than hating everyone and cutting himself up like some emo kid. He couldn’t help but give a rueful smile. His whole family was dead, he was being hunted by his dead mother’s psychopathic suitor’s cult as well as the demons and all he could worry about was himself going emo. hehe

What kept bothering him was how all these would affect his life. Nathan had informed him about the manhunt the Apollyon’s Temple had initiated. Too bad for Thom, he could no longer get out of the warehouse until the elders come to a decision. It was like he was under house arrest, and he had not even committed a felony.

Thom grimaced. His inheritance was a waste.

No more shopping. No more book fairs. This was so unfair!

Maybe he should ask for his very own pc with an internet connection. He had been using Sav’s laptop, but he needed something better for his would be hobby. On-line shopping.

He could even try playing MMORPGs. They were the rage now.

His thoughts drifted on the darker aspects of his problem. His uncle Cinnead had revealed the truth behind his families’ deaths plus the current realm situation. He had given Thom a rundown on what Thom’s duties were to the throne and the realm.

Thom had not known how to respond when Cinnead had finished his talk. His mind had told him to run and forget his responsibilities, but he didn’t. He had forced himself to sit and listen until the end.

Thom closed his eyes and tried to squelch the panic he felt when he thought of his obligations. He couldn’t stop contemplating that his life was one big mess and he did not know how to make it right. And the worst thing was, he had the fate of not just himself, but also the four realms in his hands.

For god’s sake, he was only 15 years old!

He hadn’t even had sex yet!

He was not fit to save the world!

Take deep breathes, Thommy, and don’t let the fear build up, He advised himself. He did this for a few minutes, until he felt the panic ebb.

There is no point thinking of it and getting scared, he decided. If the problems come, he will have to face it. He was comforted with the fact that he wouldn’t be dealing with it alone. He had his guardians.