Phantaria.

The Realm of the Thayne.

Felicity stepped softly onto the soft, wind caressed grasses as she gazed out into the hilly plain. One or two trees spotted the landscape, but the bright and serene landscape was far more gorgeous than Raiaera’s rolling plains. Felicity was stunned, gazing up at the glowing lights of the sky, which felt quite different from the sun. This place felt like a dream, yet she knew it was one hundred percent real with the raw scents, tastes, and feelings surrounding her. Flowers far more diverse than any in Corone were in a rainbow of display as their sweet scents soothed her. The wind was gentle, causing her hair to slightly raise against the currents. She was so distracted by the new world she entered, she forgot who was next to her.

“Come.”

Felicity turned to see Gwenael, the Thayne of Time, walking forth with hasty steps. His speed walk was near a run as his ethereal eyes sparked in some sort of panic. Felicity darted after him, still unused to this strange being’s nature. This Thayne offered her the opportunity of a lifetime, to come with him to his section of Phantaria and further train her skills under him. This was the first time Felicity had a mentor since Ashla Icebreaker, and she was rather unnerved by the way this youthful being seemed constantly distracted yet calm and put together. Now, the cheeky Thayne was dead serious as he rushed through the plains. In the distance, Felicity could see a massive object sticking out from the ground, on a hill, surrounded by clouds and rainbow stardust. Gweneal eyed the object sharply as he raced without stop. Felicity started to pant as she attempted to keep up with his smooth speeds. “Gwen-Gweneal!”

“Gwenael.” He spoke without turning to face her, speaking as if he had rested for ages, “It is not Neal, like an eel. It is nael, like a-ell.”

“Sorry!” Felicity panted, feeling baffled by his inability to tire out, “But where are you-“

“My clock tower,” Gwenael spoke, his words echoing in his Thayneship’s divine energy, “Something is about to happen in the rest of Phantaria, I just saw it. And it is not for us.”

A sense of sudden foreboding flooded her as she looked up to see it. A bridge powered by multiple, purple clocks bridged the gap between a gapping gorge and a bizarre structure which reached to the sky. It was sort of like a clock tower, as Gwenael said, but it looked so much more like a fortress. This tower was huge, its sturdy base stronger than any tree and more powerful than stone. The ethereal, solid material glowed with a yellow energy as the multiple clocks, especially the massive one at the top, all moved at different speeds. The gothic architecture was powerful and demanding, with the structure and artistic design far greater than the ruins of Raiaera’s castles and cities. The base of the clocktower had a multi storied, double door far larger than the towering walls of a city. The looming tower was surrounded by walls, shadows and colors, sundials, and smaller clock towers. The courtyard was pathed with pure white stone, surrounded by grasses and elegant trees.

Felicity felt like an ant compared to it, especially as they drew closer. She eyed Gwenael again as he stared straight ahead, carrying a grim face of sad betrayal. “They said it has nothing to do with me,” he spoke with timid quietness, “They said to stay out of it…”

Felicity felt a pang of sympathy for this new acquaintance. She knew what he felt like right now…