A Life Beyond by Mark Church (ebook reader web TXT) 📕

'So how do we find our father then Lucas?, We've come this far without actually knowing why we are all here so I just want to meet him'.

Lucas sat back in his chair clasped his hands together and sighed as he knew he must help the children reach their father but he didn't want to give them too much information about him and where he was as he felt it would affect them and their development, him knowing just how important they were to the safety of Vaymia.

He knew they needed to find their own way to prove him right that these children were the next of the ‘Three’ that would become the ultimate protectors of the land alongside their father, he had to tread carefully as too much information wouldn't allow them to fulfil their destiny,

'As I said Daniel I can only offer you all shelter for just this night only, you see I have had to cast a spell over this house to cover your presence here but it will only be active until sunrise then you must all leave otherwise bad things will descend here'

'But I need to know more Lucas, what are you hiding from us?, I want to know more about our father' pleaded Daniel but it fell on deaf ears as Lucas bluntly replied,

'I can offer you no more information Daniel, it is now up to you three to decide which path you must take'

'What do you mean ‘path’?' Lillie replied looking extremely puzzled by what they were being told now,

'The paths I speak of are the paths for your individual futures, there will come a time when a choice will have to be made by all three of you, you must all come to the same result though'.

Lucas’s tone became one that sounded like a warning to the children which made them all shoot back into the seat they were on as he carried on,

'But for now my young friend's you must rest, and by sunrise I will help you on your next part of your quest, I will provide you with things that will help you find what you are looking for but that is all, only you alone can find the right path'

'I have so many questions still though Lucas..' Daniel almost begging for answers now as he could see Lucas was getting slightly uneasy 'that’s enough questions now Master Daniel!!' Lucas almost bellowed as he let his calm guard slip slightly,

'I'm sorry for my outburst children but from here on in I cannot interfere with your quest otherwise it may lead to an outcome that would endanger us all', Lucas hung his head slightly knowing that he shouldn't of reacted that way,

'You will get all the answers you need when you find your father, I promise you, but I cannot help you other than show you the direction you must travel in, I'm sorry, Please when you get to where you need to be do not mention what you have seen here' Lucas pleaded with the children one last time,

'Why not?, Now I'm totally lost…' Harvey threw his arms up in the air and sighed,

'Because master Hugh if anything ever happens to any of you three then the information you have now would be dangerous for this place and for Vaymia itself'

'HARVEY!!!...It's Harvey….for the love of all things right can't you just get my name right just once' Harvey had had enough of being called by every name but his own and went to storm out, but the doors were bolted shut.

'What's going on here then?, I want to get some air, why are the doors locked!!' Harvey turned round to face Lucas who was striding towards Harvey who was now looking rather scared as Lucas towered over him, inhaled sharply, then gently pulled him away from the door as he explained why they were locked,

'Well, if you must know, the reason why they are all locked is for your safety and protection…',

'Protection from what?' Harvey replied looking confused as Lucas drew breath to speak again,

'If I may continue...protection from the Graxx army, an army so evil that they would stop at nothing to destroy this once peaceful land, they wouldn't think twice about killing their own people if it meant they would rule this land',

'But what does that mean for us Lucas?, I'm still confused..' Daniel questioned Lucas once again to find out why they were locked in here,

'Well...as I said earlier I had to cast a spell on this room, a spell that has to protect you, one that surrounds you all which hides you from the vision of the people connected to the land…'

'Kind of like us being invisible you mean….' Lillie felt she understood what was going on now and felt happy enough to continue speaking over Lucas,

'Just like what happened with all three of us after we left Lydia's house in the woods you mean...'

Now Lucas looked confused as he turned to Lillie, tilted his head slightly to the side and felt he needed to ask the questions now,

'What do you mean Lillie?, What happened in the woods!!'.

So Lillie went on to explain about how they had hidden up a tree in the forest as something chased her, and about how Daniel seemed to be able to make them ‘invisible’ just by some sort of chant and how it wasn't the first time he had used it,

'Hmm, interesting….' Lucas stood there stroking his beard as he thought for a minute or so before replying,

'So it seems that you DO have the ‘gift’ Daniel…., and it seems strange that you were able to use it in the other world, it must be stronger than first thought',

'What gift Lucas?, I'm totally confused' Daniel stared blankly at Lucas, trying to make sense of it all,

'The Non Seeing gift Daniel, It allows you to hide yourself, or anyone who is in contact with you at the time, so that you are kept out of danger. It cocoons you in a sort of protective bubble so you cannot be detected by anyone or anything. It must be strong in you considering where you used it and how powerful it was for you'. Lucas could sense that Daniel wasn't sure of how he used it but he knew just how powerful it would become as long as he learn to use it in the correct way,

'Trust me Lucas it really works!!, he has used it twice now and both times we weren't spotted, is he some sort of wizard or something?' Harvey had let his imagination run away a little as he got excited at what his friend might become,

Lucas smiled at Harvey as he could see him imagining all sorts of things about Daniel,

'I assure you Harvey….see I did get your name right!!, He will become whatever he needs to be but as long as he stays connected to the right path'

'Oh right that's easy then!!' Laughed Harvey as he smiled in Daniel's direction,

'I'm sure I can help him with that' he continued but Lucas’s words came with a warning too,

'Do not take this journey lightly….You must follow your own paths in this land and not let any harm come to one another, your actions will be judged which will affect the outcome of the final choice you have to make so please make sure your actions are true and correct, my hopes for you are high and we are living in a land of hope now'

'Well whatever happens we will do what we need to do and must do I promise Lucas' Daniel smiled as he stood up, looking at Lucas and held out his hand for him to shake, just as he did he remembered something else which seemed to have completely slipped his mind since the three of them ended up in Erwin,

'But I do have just one more question Lucas if I can ask it'

'Of course Daniel but then you must eat before you rest for the remainder of the night' Replied Lucas as he leant back against the door frame waiting for whatever Daniel was going to ask him,

'Well, when we all came through here I didn't actually come here on purpose, you see I was searching for my dog, Bucksy….'

'Dog???....what is that?' a puzzled Lucas replied stroking his beard as he racked his brain to try and think of what Daniel was asking him,

'It's my pet Lucas, He's what we call a dog where we come from, he's black in colour and has different coloured eyes, he walks around on all his legs too. I was chasing after him and then the next thing I remember was waking up in this place'

'Hmmmm, I'm not sure I've seen any such animal come through these parts Daniel, well….nothing that looks like the animal you've described any way' Laughed Lucas,

'But if I see anything like what you have described then I'll be sure to direct him you're way I promise, but for now I have prepared a feast fit for a King' Lucas disappeared for a few seconds before bringing in tray after tray of all sorts of food in, placed it on the table in front of them before taking a step back.

'Please eat children, you have a long journey ahead of you, you must keep your strength up'

None like the children had ever seen before but that didn't seem to stop Harvey who had already tucked into what looked like the biggest chicken leg ever seen,

'Oh wow guys!!...You have to try this food, it's amazing' Harvey said, spitting food out as he spoke to his friends who were standing there just watching him devour his food without pausing for breath.

'I think I'm going to be sick!!' Lillie had to turn away so as not to watch Harvey eating in the way he was,

'You're such a pig Harvey!!, How can you eat like that, it's disgusting!!' she continued but seemingly put off eating the food which had been prepared for them all,

'I'm sorry if my eating makes you feel sick Lillie but who cares anyway I'm starving!!' Harvey replied still shoving food into his mouth without asking what it was,

Daniel picked up a piece of two legged meat, took one sniff of it and took a small bite out of it,

'Mmm, not bad Lucas, what is it?' He asked inquisitively,

'It's a local animal, Daniel, called a Groggle, we only breed them for a means of food, they are a delicacy to these parts, do you like it?' Lucas smiled as he saw Daniel's face light up knowing he seemed to be enjoying it.

'Well it tastes amazing, come on Lillie try this!!' He beckoned his sister over but she was having none of it,

'No way, I've turned vegetarian now!!' she turned her nose up at the food she had been offered,

'Since when?' questioned Daniel,

'Since about one minute ago, watching that disgusting friend of yours eat his food like a pig!!' Lillie answered back angrily turning her nose away and up into the air at the sight of the food on the table

'I'll stick to this fruit, it looks far more appealing anyway'.

So Lucas stood up, walked towards the door and just before he opened it to walk through he turned to the children and spoke softly,

'Remember children, when first light arrives I'll be back to help you on your journey so get plenty of rest, but DO NOT leave this room otherwise the spell will be broken, all you need is in here, I won't be far away so please relax and get ready for tomorrow'

'Good night Lucas and thank you for this, I wish we could of found out more about my family but I think I'm beginning to understand this place now and I understand what I need to do, I hope we will meet again sometime in the future' Daniel thanked Lucas for all he had done for them,

'It has been my pleasure Master Daniel, I'm sure