Chapter One

A World Lost

Confusion and despair hovered around a world called the Citadel of Destiny. Due to a certain chain of events, the inhabitants were rushing around the world, preparing to evacuate. That had been what they had been instructed: leave the world as quickly as possible before the situation became worse. It was the only option left now. It was either flee—or face an unknown fate.

And since many people feared the unknown, they chose to leave.

One person, however, remained.

He stood on a rampart of the castle that dominated the Citadel of Destiny, watching a slow stream of people departing toward the waterfalls near the edge of the world. Let them run, he decided. They’d never see reason, anyway. They were too wrapped up in their dogmatic beliefs to realize what was truly happening. They could run, but soon that escape would not be enough. Once he did a little more research—in the sanctuary of a quiet, empty world—his paths would be a little clearer. Things would be different in several years’ time. For he knew his plans would take a long time to carry out: it had, after all, taken him eight years to devise and accomplish his preliminary ideas. But those eight years had not been spent in vain. So far, everything was moving somewhat smoothly.

Except for the girl.

If she left, his plans would be ruined. She was the core of everything: the past, the present, and the future. It was a huge responsibility for an eight-year-old, he knew, but how was he to change that? Young Talia barely knew of her importance; she had very limited knowledge of his plans. All he had told her to do was to not lose the amulet. That was the object that was even more important than Talia herself. If it hadn’t been for the amulet—well, a lot of things wouldn’t have happened. The current situation would be much different if the amulet had never existed.

He walked along the railing of the rampart and stared out into the landscape. That landscape told a lie, he knew; the grassy hills did not stretch endlessly as was implied. It was an illusion created by the world boundaries that divided the Citadel of Destiny from every other world: there were no actual hills, just solid walls that were—for the most part—impassable. It disgusted him that he knew all these facts, since he had always condemned the research about other worlds, but in recent years it had been all the researchers talked about.

“Solan.”

He turned at the sound of his name, lifted from his musings. Behind him stood another man, older by twenty or so years. Solan’s face curled into an expression of intense dislike.

“Shouldn’t you be helping the poor little refugees find their way to other worlds?” he asked the older man mockingly.

If the second man was offended by Solan’s words, he did not show it. “That matter can wait. I need to talk to you.”

“And what do you have to say that will interest me?” Solan replied coolly.

The man regarded Solan for a moment and then said, “I’m afraid of what you’ve done, Solan.”

“Isn’t everyone?” Solan scoffed. “That’s why you’ve sent everyone to hide in other worlds like cowards. And they’re doing it, the poor fools. Must be nice to have everyone listening to you.”

“If the people stay, their lives could be endangered. I don’t know how far you’re taking this experiment of yours.”

“This is much more than an experiment.” Solan looked over the rampart again. “You must see that. Or have you been blinded by your beliefs?”

“I see it just as clearly as you do, and I know that you must stop before things get too out of hand.”

“Sorry, but stopping would ruin my plans,” Solan said, turning around and still using a mocking tone. “I know you’d hate to see another ‘experiment’ ruined. Remember what happened with the amulet?”

“Yes, I remember,” the other man replied simply. “And I know who is responsible for that.”

“And so do I. Don’t try to fool me with your knowledge. That particular incident had to happen. I would think that you’d know that, what with all your ideas about destiny.” Solan said the last word with utmost dislike. “Now, why don’t you go be a hero with your refugees? I know they’re just waiting to leave this horrible world.”

The other man turned as if he was about to leave. Still facing the doorway back into the castle, he said, “I have one last request for you, Solan: Don’t use Talia.”

“Talia is essential to my plan, as you well know.”

“She must leave here with her parents! She’s too young to be involved in all this. She’s only eight years old, and you can’t continue to manipulate her mind like you’ve been doing.”

“That is none of your business,” Solan replied coolly, “and you should know that every effort you’re making to dissuade me from what I’m doing is absolutely worthless.”

The other man said nothing for a moment. “Your plans will fail,” he said finally, his tone confident and calm.

“You don’t know that,” responded Solan shortly. “I’m not going to hold you up anymore. I have things to do.” He walked past the man, back in the direction of the castle.

“You are lost, Solan, just like the fate of this world,” the second man declared sadly as Solan retreated into the castle.

---

Solan stood in the middle of a child’s bedroom, watching a young girl pack her belongings into a small bag.

“Are you sure your parents aren’t anywhere around?” he asked her.

The girl shook her head. “I think they’re just getting things finished up before they leave. And I’m going with them.”

“Talia, you must remember what I’ve told you,” Solan said.

“I know. ‘You must stay here with the amulet no matter what happens.’”

The girl had an amazing memory, he had to admit. “You wouldn’t be following those instructions if you left here with your parents, now would you?”

“Guess not,” Talia replied indifferently. “They’ll notice I’m gone, though. They’re not stupid.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’ll get an—explanation—dealing with your absence. You’ve got no choice, really. Only here can you find your real” –here he almost said “destiny,” but he stopped himself just in time—“potential.”

“With the amulet?” Talia asked.

Solan nodded. “Exactly. Stay here, Talia. Stay with me, and you’ll be much better off than you would be in another world, all alone except for you parents.”

“Maybe my friends’ll come.”

“Oh, I doubt that. They’re not your real friends. I am your real friend, Talia. I’ve kept your secrets, haven’t I? I haven’t told anyone about your little adventure in the research room, have I?”

Talia looked doubtful. She stopped in the mid-motion of stuffing a notebook into her filled bag.

“Things will be better, Talia, if you stay here with me. I can promise you that. Come, stay with me. I won’t hurt you. I’ll only help you.”

“But what about—?” Talia began, but Solan cut her off.

“Think about it. I’ll be in my room when you make your decision. You know where that is, don’t you?”

Talia nodded, and Solan continued.

“I’ll be waiting, then, for your decision.” He turned to depart from the room, but then he heard Talia’s voice.

“Wait!”

Solan turned back to face her. “Yes?”

“I’ll stay here. I’ve decided.”

“You’re certain?”

Talia nodded. “I think so.”

“That’s excellent. Now, if you’ll finish packing your bag and follow me up to the eighth floor…”