Forgotten Elements
Chapter 20

With how panic was flooding my body, and I was slamming into the rocky bottom of the river, I was struggling to connect with the water. Even if I could connect, it wouldn’t do much good with how the element was being controlled by someone else. The creature controlling these waters had complete control of its domain, and I had no hope of winning a tug-of-war contest against it.

My lungs were beginning to burn when I managed to form a bubble of air around my nose and mouth. The bubble, like my hold on the elements in this realm, was tenuous and would probably soon burst, but at least it bought me time as I was dragged down the river.

Using air magic down here had been a desperate long shot, but I figured since this seemed to be some sort of water creature, that they would only use water rather than the other elements. It was like how the whale had only been using fire magic.

I’d been right in my assessment that the air bubble wouldn’t last long, but at least it gave me time to attempt to control the currents. I knew I couldn’t do anything crazy, but I hoped that I could slow down the currents, even just a fraction. Anything was better than nothing in my mind.

My attempts did do something; the thrashing currents eased ever so slightly, but not enough for me to break free on my own. Luckily, I wasn’t alone here. At the back of my mind, I’d been hoping Parker hadn’t been dragged under like me.

Magic wrapped around my body, different from the one trying to drown me, and I was yanked out of the river. Water spluttered from my mouth as I flew toward the river bank. Strong arms caught me and held me tight against Parker’s chest as he ran away from the water that was more wild than it had been prior to us entering. Had it been like that earlier, I would’ve never dared attempt to go through it. The swirling currents that didn’t follow the usual flow of a river showcased how someone was controlling it, even though I had no idea where they were.

As Parker carried me away, I greedily sucked down air, feeling a new appreciation for it after being so close to drowning.

I hadn’t realized it while I was struggling against the currents, but the temperature of the water had dropped substantially once I was pulled under. Shivers wracked my body as I burrowed closer to Parker, trying to get warm. My magic was seriously depleted, which usually wasn’t a problem, especially if I was in nature as I was right now.

Parker came to a halt and placed me on shaky legs. He quickly removed my clothes and tossed them to the side. After a couple of hand gestures, clothes appeared in his hands, and he began tugging them on my body.

“It’s a little pathetic that the elemental was the one to nearly drown,” I said, my teeth chattering as my voice wavered.

“No, it’s not. I was able to make it to the other side because they targeted you.” Parker pulled me onto his lap as he sat, the tall grass of the meadow coming up to his shoulders.

I curled up to his chest, still shaking, but at least now I was no longer in those cold and wet clothes. As he rubbed my back, warm tingling energy flowed from his hands and raced through my body, both warming me up and helping rebuild my depleted magic.

“I’d never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad you’re here,” I whispered against his chest as my shivers eased.

Parker’s hand paused for a moment before continuing to rub my back. “It’s been hard not having you around this past month,” Parker finally said, confirming my theory on how time ran slower in the land of plenty.

Warmth built in my chest at his words. “I know what you mean, I’ve actually found myself missing you while I’ve been gone.” My words were barely a whisper, but he heard me.

Parker pressed a kiss to the top of my head as he pulled me tighter to his chest. Neither of us said anything for several minutes, just basking in this small moment of peace together. I never would’ve thought I’d replace so much comfort and contentment just being in someone’s arms like this. The cold had left my body entirely, and now my body was filled with warmth as I rested my head against Parker’s chest. I could easily see myself falling asleep, despite being in a realm on the brink of implosion.

“I know what these creatures are,” I finally said, breaking the moment of peace, knowing we couldn’t stay in this moment any longer.

“Their powers are elemental based,” Parker noted.

“They are.” I paused as I pursed my lips and pulled back so I could look at Parker’s face. “I think they are the Elemental Guardians of this realm.”

Parker’s eyebrows pulled together as his hand stilled on my back, letting me know he’d never heard the term.

“They aren’t too common, or at least, that’s how my instructors made it sound. Some realms have Guardians whose sole purpose is to keep the balance of the realm in check.”

“Does that mean if we kill them, we risk throwing off the balance of an already unstable realm?”

I shook my head as I adjusted in his lap. “No. They are tied to the realm, making it nearly impossible to kill them. When the realm is at full power, a whole team of elementals would barely be able to make a dent against them. The only reason we’ve made it past them so far is because they are weakening as the realm is drained. When the realm dies, they will too.”

Despite them trying to kill us, the thought of them dying because of someone else’s greed made me feel sorry for them.

Parker nodded, taking in the new information as he rubbed his jaw. “Why are they going after us and not the one draining the realm?”

Letting out a low sigh, I pulled my tangled and damp hair from its messy braid and redid it. I couldn’t wait to take a nice bath and be able to properly wash my hair. “I believe they can only remain in the area of land they are connected to and tasked with protecting. They probably also sensed my magic and felt the similarity to the one draining the realm.”

“That’s why the last one targeted you. They probably thought you were a part of the realm’s slow destruction.”

“Exactly.”

“Now the real question is whether or not they chose a realm with Guardians on purpose, or it was an accident.”

“There is more magic to be stolen from this realm with the energy from the Guardians,” I said as I considered both sides. “If they’re arrogant enough to think they can survive stealing magic from a realm, they’re probably arrogant enough to think they can handle the extra surge of power and the Guardian’s ire.”

“It would make sense that they chose the realm on purpose, especially if they’re in an area that doesn’t have a Guardian.”

“Maybe we should just leave now,” I suggested. Every time we learned something new, I liked our plan of staying in this realm less and less.

“We need to figure out what’s going on,” Parker reminded me.

“I hate it when you’re right,” I grumbled as I climbed off his lap, my body mourning the loss of contact.

Parker’s lips twitched, but he didn’t comment as he stood and looked across the meadow. “Do you know how far away we are?”

Pressing my lips together and closing my eyes, I connected to the elements, feeling for the ley line and following it as far as I could without my magic getting drained. “It’s hard to say, but it’s at least twenty miles.”

Parker nodded like he’d been considering that. “I think it’s time we risk using a portal.”