Kaelauminian legends say that at the dawn time, the universe was a vast sea of nothingness. Floating in this dark abyss was a consciousness of immeasurable power. It was a part of the darkness just as the darkness was a part of it. Coexisting with this darkness was a light and it was from the mingling of these two that all life originated.

Myths such as these have formed the foundations for the more complex religions in our world. Little remains to verify the existence of many of the ancient cultures connected to these beliefs. Most have survived only through obscure folklore and the shattered remnants of pottery. Of all these glimmers of the past, none shines stronger or with more distinction than the tale of the collapse of Iyenos.

According to tradition, Iyenos was the civilization to which all creatures belonged before the great migrations took place. Some have compared it to the story of the Tower of Babel popularized by the Jewish faith. Iyenos, however, existed long before the ill-conceived tower was ever dreamt of. After it fell, two races once united as brothers were forever torn apart.

All that is remembered of this horrific event, stained with the blood of the innocent, is that it began with a treacherous act of betrayal by an emperor. Following this deceit, a war was raged between the humans and those possessing magical properties. These magical creatures, known as Mystics, though once important in the founding of this forgotten society and in the establishment of it's central religion, the worship of the elements, were now reviled and hunted down.

In response to this brutal assault, the arch mages gathered and, through the combining of their power, fashioned a separate world for their own kind. A doorway to this parallel dimension was opened just long enough for the exhausted mystics to cross over into their new home. Afterwards, the portal was closed and sealed, forever separating the two worlds�

Of course, these are only stories, ancient tales handed down from generation to generation by wandering nomads. Still, there are a few in our world wise enough to believe in these myths. After all, every myth has some scrap of truth lying at it�s base, no matter how incredible or encrusted the tale. Naturally you are free to believe whatever you wish. I am only here to warn you of the demon lurking in the dark. For you see, nothing lasts forever. Not peace. Not war. Not even magic barriers separating parallel worlds. And when that barrier finally dissolves, this world will be at the mercy of confusion and mass hysteria, the likes of which haven�t been seen for millennia. So it is best that I prepare you now for the event which will threaten to shatter every illusion upon which society is based. Religions will crumble, governments will be thrown into anarchy, and historians will cringe at such revelations.

I tell you now, whether you read this out of skepticism or simple curiosity, because it is best not to expose your throat to the lion. Prepare yourself in advance for that inevitable encounter with whatever armor you can muster. The winds of change, no more than a faint breeze at the moment, have begun to trickle throughout both worlds. They will gain in power, creating a tempest more destructive than any yet encountered. It will destroy both land and mind with the newly acquired knowledge.

The revelation of which I speak is that magic does exist. Even in this world it has survived through psychics and those with the telekinetic powers. But such gifts are weak when compared to the original strength. The passing years have nearly bred this once dominant trait out of the world. The last great sorcerer known to the human race, a man called Merlin, died centuries ago and all his power accompanied him to the grave. And in the footsteps of magic are the ancient creatures who inhabited this world long before man or mystic. Dragons, griffins, harpies, hydra, faeries, and even unicorn have been forced to suffer from man�s ignorance. Most left this world with the mystics long ago, but some had chosen to remain in the land of their birth. Dragons have been extinct since before medieval times when they were heavily hunted as demons. Only a few of these other worldly beings exist in the present day. Tales of Big Foot, the Abominable Snowman, the Lochnesse Monster, and other creatures of the deep are more than mere yarns to attract tourists. I will assure you though that the Bermuda Triangle will cease to exist once the two worlds are rejoined. You see, with the magic barrier weakening, small holes randomly appear on occasion and those unfortunate enough to pass through them, whether by ship or plane, are pulled into the other world.

But I'm rambling now and I fear I may have said too much. My mission was merely to warn you, not to lecture you on mythology and history. The others are unhappy as it is with my "interfering" with you humans. Who are these others you ask? Who am I? Well, my young friend, that is another story for another day�

Tori Amos - In the Springtime of His Voodoo

Walking briskly through the dim, empty corridors, Adria starred down at the ancient alabaster floors, white marble tiles laid by hands long forgotten. As always, not a soul was to be found in this part of the palace. It had always been this way in the halls of the seven shrines. For as long as Adria could remember, only Laurel and her companions had been permitted to tread under the scrutinizing gaze of the stone statues, one for each of the elements. Not once in the twenty-five years since the gods grew silent had any but those with the proper bloodlines dared to walk in this sacred space, the lair of the gods. Until now that is. For the last week, the hall of the elements had seen a flourish of activity that had dared to shatter the empty silence. A constant stream of bustling figures paraded back and forth carrying candles, incense, and ancient scrolls that threatened to crumble at the slightest touch. This hall, being the focus of power in the palace, was to be the site of a casting of an archaic spell�if it worked that is.

Heading for the center of the hall, Adria tugged nervously at the strange clothes she wore. She grimaced with each step, her toes unbearably cramped in the odd structures she wore, manufactured in some place called New York.

What I wouldn�t give to wear my own boots, she thought, glancing at the foreign white canvass shoes on her feet. Her ears twitched as they caught the sound of scampering claws on the marble floor.

There you are! We were beginning to wonder if you�d even show up! Her narrow eyes searched the darkness until they settled on the two shadowy figures that halted in front of her.

�Well I would have been here sooner, but I couldn�t figure out how to put these things on.� She replied motioning to her apparel.

What strange clothes, one commented, sniffing her pants. Adria frowned at the young dragon, swatting away the clawed hand that was playing with the tails of her shirt.

�Don�t be rude.� She scolded. The dragon sighed and rejoined her companion who was motioning for them to follow. Adria resumed her pace - listening to the echoing footsteps of her party and the steady, rhythmic thudding of her heart in her ears. She let out a slow breath as the tingling sensation of magic filled the air. Laurel was already fast at work. The sorceress had stayed up most of the night checking the spell over and over, taking every precaution available to make sure her friend and elected guinea pig wouldn't be trapped forever in the void. Her dark and rambling thoughts were abruptly ended by a deliberate tug on her pant leg. She glanced down into the deep and penetrating eyes of Camael.

What�s wrong? You look positively spooked!

�I�m fine.� Responded Adria stoically. Seeing the skepticism in her friend�s steady gaze, Adria shrugged. �How would you feel? No one has done - or even attempted - what I�m about to for centuries!�

You�ll be fine! Encouraged a dragon from across the room. Our Dragonfly is the best when it comes to the old spells. Not even an army of black mages could match her skill! Adria smiled in spite of herself. Kezef always displayed his confidence in his cousin with pride.

Come on! Come on! Beckoned a small white form ahead of her. The spell is almost ready and the precious little time we have is wasting!

�Ariel, let her be.� reproached a quiet voice. There was a short fizzing sound as dozens of candles flared into life, casting a dazzling mixture of blue and white light about them. The intensity of the flames grew, chasing away the shadows from their perch, to reveal the secrets of the now illuminated room and the young woman kneeling on the marble floor in front of a large and ornately drawn symbol in white chalk. The girl looked hesitantly at Adria.

�How do the clothes fit?�

�The pants are a little snug,� Adria replied, her eyes gleaming, �the shirt is too big and these seams are making me itch.� The girl laughed as Adria began to contort her body in an attempt to reach an imaginary itch.

�You�ve got it on backward.� Laughed the girl as she got to her feet. She tugged the light cotton jacket off of Adria�s flailing arms. �This is how you wear it.� She stated, pulling it on for demonstration. Adria cocked her head to one side eyeing her friend as she handed her back the windbreaker.

�Laurel,� Adria queried her voice full of laughter, �what are you wearing?!�

Laurel stood before her in an ornate cassock of dark blue silk, with finely embroidered runes in a pale aqua colored thread bordering the collar and sleeves. A larger symbol stitched in silver dominated the center of the garment. Poised on her head was a tall, box-like hat of the same material. Like the robe, it had finely stitched aqua runes along it�s border and the large silver symbol at it�s center. Jutting from the top, in a comical fashion were a series of long peacock plumes.

�You look like a walking parade float!�

Laurel scowled at her friend.

�I�m trying to be as authentic as I can.� The sorceress explained, smiling sheepishly as she reviewed her own attire. �Believe it or not, I took the plainest garb I could find. You should have seen the other ones.�

�Well, enough about you!� chimed Adria. �How about me? Do I look human or what?� she asked, her eyes dancing with mischief. The young sorceress cocked her head to one side - thoroughly scrutinizing her friend.

�You need to change your ears.� Laurel added with the hint of a smile. Adria laughed as her figure altered slightly.

�I would love to see their reactions, though.� Snickered Adria, rubbing the sides of her head. �I�d give those humans a good scare!�

Laurel picked up the open book at her feet and, after blowing a layer of dust off, began to scan through the yellowed pages.

�Ready when you are.� Adria sang making an obvious display of readiness while Laurel was still scouring the ancient text. The mage ignored her and continued to check her work. This was the first time Adria could ever remember having been prepared before her friend and she was bound and determined to make sure Laurel knew it. �I said I�m ready!� Adria hollered loudly. There was no way Laurel co uld not have heard her this time.

�Unless you want to end up floating aimlessly through the abyss for all eternity,� warned the sorceress in a disinterested manner, �I suggest you let me look over this spell one more time.�

�� � ��

�What was that?� Adria snapped at the two dragons rolling in hysterics along the wall. Although she didn�t know what was said, she was sure their fun was at her expense.

Kezef says you�re acting like a fledgling, purred Camael, curling against the girl�s leg. He looked up at her with worried eyes. Are you sure you have to do this?

�Positive.� Affirmed the girl. �It�s a long shot, but it�s all we�ve got right now.� She reached down and scratched him affectionately behind the ears. �Don�t worry. I�ll be back before you know it! But first we have to see if this even works.�

�Well, it�s about time we find out.� stated Laurel motioning to her friend.

�What do I do?� asked the girl as she fidgeted with her clothes.

�Just stand in the center of the ring.�

Adria did as she was told, entering the circle's center carefully so as not to step on and smudge the intertwining chalk lines composing the ceremonial ring. It was the same design as the large silver symbol on Laurel�s costume.

�It says in here that you may feel slightly disoriented or nauseous when you cross over.� Reported the mage with her nose in a leather bound spell book. �Other than that everything should be normal. You remember what to do?�

Adria nodded.

�When I get to the other side I find the girl, give her a vague explanation because no one in their right mind would go along with this, drag her back here kicking and screaming if I have to, and do it all in two days.� Adria took a deep breath and smiled. �Have I got everything?�

�Just remember to set up the ring exactly as it is here. If either one of the rings is tampered with I don�t know where you�ll end up. Now, the spell should land you within two tadens of the girl. That�s about one mile in human measure, I think. The rest is up to you.�

�Wonderful!� exclaimed Adria with mock enthusiasm. �Let�s get this done with then.�

Laurel nodded and took her post in front of the ring. She raised her outstretched arms above her head, tracing various runes in the air. The lines on the floor burst into a brilliant blue and silver light blinding them all momentarily. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as a wave of magic gathered around her.

"Good luck."

�You too.�

Laurel shut her eyes and began to recite the ancient spell. Adria heard the words spoken in the old Kaelauminian dialect and repeated them to herself in The Common. 'Soldiers of time relent your hold�grant safe passage to your children�open doorways once sealed�' Before the last chant had left her tongue, the room exploded with a blinding silver fire that shook the very ground. Laurel was thrown backward by the force of the blast, hitting her head on the marble floor, where she remained cradling her bleeding head in her hands as the world swam away and the darkness swallowed her whole.

You said you wanted
Safer ground
But you got caught up
In the river
I was there to save you boy
But you�d rather drown

You said you were
Unhappy
But that was alright
Better than not knowin�
What�s on
The other side

Tori Amos - On the Boundary

Adria dropped to the ground gasping for breath and stunned by the blinding light that enveloped her. The cry of panic to her right sounded too far away and distant to be real so she concentrated on the roast chimera trying to climb out of her stomach.

"Slightly disoriented or nautious my tail!" she exclaimed rolling over onto her side. A small figure jumped back at the sound of her voice. As the world came back into focus, Adria was amazed to find herself outdoors, and even more shocked to see a young boy starring at her, eyes bulging in fear. Only the insatiable curiosity of childhood held him there.

She pulled herself forward in the dirt, wiggling comically like a confused snake. To her satisfaction a slight grin of amusement tickled the edges of the boy's mouth. Positive that the boy wouldn't run the minute she moved, Adria sat up and began to brush the dust from her clothes.

"You alright lady?" came the quiet squeaking voice. Adria flashed him a mischievous smile and folded her legs in front of her Indian-style.

"Never better." She lied, forcing down the last of her rebelling dinner.

"You fell from the sky!" a look of amazement now replacing any traces of fear. "How'd you do that?"

"I had a little help from a friend of mine. And I simply must remember to thank her for the opportunity." She scowled. The boy giggled, covering his freckled face with his dirty hands.

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