The Legend of the Gatekeepers: The Higher Calling

Prologue

The world of magic has always been filled with question and mysteries. The idea that creatures possessing powers greater than our own existing in our world has clouded our minds with a shroud of fear. Stories of dragons destroying empires and wizards crafting earth-shattering spells have been told since the beginning of time. To all stories, there lie some hidden truths.

These truths are all relative depending on what plane you physically reside in and your attunement to the apposing plane. The plane where we as humans reside in has been decided to be called Earth; its laws and physics are generally understood. The idea of magic and creatures such as dragons, however, are buried far in the minds of most humans. Man has always conquered the creatures of Earth, for it is the planet’s supreme race. Or so they believe.

The plane known simply as the Other World is right in front of our eyes but hidden by a barrier protecting our reality and its own. This barrier allows both planes to exist in peace at the same time on the same planet. Since the birth of the planet, the barrier has been there protecting the two realities from tearing their selves apart. Yet this barrier has been breaking down due to the expansion of life and an unknown energy in the Other World, and at its progressive rate, the barrier will collapse and the planet will be destroyed.

To maintain the balance of the barrier, select humans are chosen at birth and implanted with special abilities that allow them to travel to the Other World. These humans are known as the Gatekeepers. Once trained to attune their own spirit, body, and mind as one, the gatekeeper will then be able to open a gateway and cross over to the Other World. Once there, it is uncertain exactly what they must do; but whatever it takes, it is their responsibility to maintain the barrier and keep the balance.

As of this moment the barrier is dangerously thin. This is causing gates, brief rips in the barrier, to open up and allow creatures from the Other World to cross over and wreck havoc upon Earth. The last chosen gatekeeper has been corrupted by the Other World’s energy, and the cosmos has chosen another gatekeeper to stop the destruction of the barrier in order to return balance to the two worlds. Time is beginning to run out, and the next gatekeeper must answer the calling.

The sun rises on the booming kingdom of Ralzare; a young, thriving town of happy life all going about its daily affairs with haste. The men and women all contributing to the expanding kingdom in anyway they can. The young strong men trained to expand their military strength to conquer new lands. The older, wiser men build new houses and farms, and the women tend to children, bake breads, and cook meals for the hardworking men.

All this was guided and controlled under the command of Alzare, who was the previous king and founder of Ralzare. He named this new land after himself and his wife, Queen Rosaree, who bore his child at the birth of the kingdom. Later that year, the king was blessed; his firstborn child was a boy. The small kingdom celebrated the birth of Prince Rholdin.

Rholdin was a strange child, always exploring the castle and breaking antique vases and playing with the pieces. His mother would smile and laugh at the childish behavior, but his father wasn’t as kind. He would curse at him and attempt to punish him for his misdeeds, but his mother would always protect him. His father, enraged by this inability to discipline his own son, would cause him to push and beat his wife in a drunken rage. One drunken night, a shadowy hand poisoned the king’s drink. He died that night.

Rholdin was still a young child at the time and was unaware of what was going on, so he continued with his playful, happy life. However, the kingdom was in need of a new king; and normally, the king had to be of noble blood, but Rholdin was much too young to assume the throne anytime soon. So the general of the military, Kalveer, took the role of king until Rholdin comes of age.

Kalveer became a great husband and even greater king. The people loved him, and he loved the people. The only thing he loved more than the people was Rholdin. He taught Rholdin everything he knew about how to run a kingdom and how to look after its people. Kalveer loved Rholdin like his own son.

As time passed and Rholdin grew, he began to make few friends due to his inability to wander into town, but one became part of the family after years of friendship. Jaxx was Rholdin’s best friend for many years and after Jaxx’s family left him and Ralzare. Rholdin and his family took him in as their own, and Rholdin now had the brother he always wanted.

As the brothers reached their teenage years, their paths began to separate. Jaxx trained with swords and how to be a knight for the military, hoping one day to become its general, and Rholdin would sneak out undetected to a hidden monk village he had discovered one day when he went exploring outside the kingdom as a child. The monks welcomed the curious child and had him perform various chores; in exchange, he was allowed to observe the monks practice their secret fighting techniques.

After half a year of sneaking out of the kingdom and watching the monks, one of the instructors asked Rholdin if he would like to begin training with them. The young and adventurous Rholdin was filled with joy and agreed to begin training with the monks. Rholdin snuck out every noon to go train with the monks. The instructor always called Rholdin a natural and someone who caught on extremely fast. He became one of the instructor’s best students.

When Rholdin told his brother about his new hobby, Jaxx would laugh at him and say, Wars are fought with armor and swords. Not with hands and feet. Rholdin would simply ignore his brother’s comments and continue on with his training.

Over six years has passed, and it is time for Rholdin to assume the throne.

Chapter 1

Just the Average Day

The roar of the crowd was unbelievable. It seemed like every man, woman, and child arrived at the town hall for the assumption of Prince Rholdin to the role of king. Rholdin was sitting on the throne next to his family, his mother and father on both sides, and his brother next to Rosaree.

I can’t be king, Rholdin thought to himself, his heart racing faster than his mind. How am I supposed to be able to run a kingdom? I just turned nineteen not two weeks ago. I know it’s my duty to take over this land . . . No. Not yet.

Kalveer went to address the crowd; and when he arrived at the edge of the balcony, the crowd erupted into a cheer. Kalveer, with a hefty smile, raised his hand; the crowd settled down into silence. My people, I have ruled over this great kingdom for many years. And we have all turned this once small village into a thriving home for all to grow and prosper in. I have led us into riches and glory that we had only dreamed of, and none of this would have been possible without you all. The crowd cheered and applauded the king’s acknowledgement of their hard work. The time, we all knew would come, has finally arrived. My time on the throne was, as we all knew, temporary. The time for the noble blooded prince or king, I should say,—Kalveer looked and smiled at Rholdin—is now. Kalveer removed his golden honey crown and began to walk toward Rholdin.

Rholdin’s heart began to race as his father turned around with the crown in his hand. The small distance between him and his father seemed to grow a mile in his eyes. With every step his father took, Rholdin’s heart began to race faster and faster. Then as his father was merely inches away, Rholdin thought his heart was going to rip itself out of his own chest just to rid itself of this anxiety. As Kalveer raised the crown over Rholdin’s head, all sound seemed to stop. Rholdin could feel the weight of the crown press against his long brown hair, and as this was happening, Rholdin could hear his father’s voice faintly addressing the crowd. I give to you! Rholdin could feel the full weight of the crown pressed against his head and his father’s hands remove from it. King Rholdin!

The crowd erupted into an explosive cheer. The town folks were all dancing and celebrating the newly crowned king. Music could be heard playing in the crowd, and flower petals were tossed into the air. Rholdin looked around him, his father smiling with pride, his mother’s hand on his shoulder, and his brother Jaxx giving him a sly wink. Rholdin could barely hear anything; everything seemed like white noise to him, but that was broken when Kalveer leaned toward him. Rholdin, my son, looks like you have a speech to give. He smiled and reached his hand out to help Rholdin up. Rholdin stood up and walked to the edge of the balcony, the crowd still cheering.

Rholdin began to lift his hand that felt like it was made of solid lead to silence the crowd. With his hand held up, the crowd fell to a defining standstill of absolute attentiveness. Rholdin let his hand float down and took a deep breath. I knew little of my first father. He paused. I knew he was the founder of this land and named it after himself and my mother. But all the stories I have heard of him have for the most part been kindhearted. The crowd was fixated upon Rholdin’s words. But one day, he fell ill and passed away while I was still very young, and the kingdom as well as my mother needed a king. So a law was passed that allowed the general of our military to assume a temporary crown until the next pure blood heir was of age to take over. That was sixteen years ago when a man I’m proud to call my father became king of Ralzare. Rholdin looked over to Kalveer and smiled. I am still young, but as your new king, I plan to do what is best for this kingdom and help guide us to glory.

The crowd was as silent as death itself. Rholdin continued, And with that my first order of business is to step down as king until Kalveer’s time has passed! The words came out softly at first yet the silence of the crowd pierced Rholdin like a dagger. With that, he could feel all eyes of the kingdom were on him even the birds in the sky. Please, someone do something, say something, anything! I’m going to be late! Rholdin thought to himself, sweat starting to form on his forehead.

The silence was broken by one of the town elders clapping. Then another man began to clap then a woman then another man then another, and soon the crowd was in a full applause. Rholdin felt like the world was just lifted off his shoulders and, with a smile, waved to the crowd and turned around to Kalveer to see a shocked look on his face. Rholdin removed his crown and placed it upon his father’s head and, with a smirk on his face, stated, "Looks like you have a speech to give, father. Kalveer, still shocked at what was going on, smiled and gave Rholdin a hug and went to go address the crowd. With this moment of shock and awe, Rholdin realized he was running late for his training. He gave his mother a kiss on the cheek and a wave to his brother while discreetly telling him, I’m off."

Rholdin opened the door that lead away from balcony, closed it, and began to run down the staircase. As he ran down, he thought to himself, Can’t be late, can’t be late, can’t be late! As he approached the bottom, he could hear the balcony door open and heard Jaxx’s voice. Rholdin! Rholdin, wait up! Rholdin stood at the bottom of the staircase, replying to him in a loud whisper, Brother, hurry. I’m going to be late! Jaxx reached the bottom of the stairs and looked at Rholdin with a look of disbelief. Before he could speak, Rholdin interrupted him and said, Brother, before you go all crazy, I gave it some good thought. I’m way too young to be king of anything yet alone an entire empire. Jaxx simply shook his head and placed his arm around Rholdin’s shoulder. Walk with me, brother. Rholdin smiled and they began to walk outside. You have no idea what you just passed up on, Rholdin. Do you have any idea what it means to be king? Rholdin remarked, More so than you, brother. I know I’m not ready for the responsibility yet, and I believe that I made a rather mature decision. Jaxx laughed at the comment. Clearly, you don’t; otherwise, you would realize all the riches that come with it! Money, power. Jaxx made eye contact with Rholdin and, with a playful smile, stated, And all the maidens we could handle with a couple extra just in case we want some variety. Rholdin laughed to the point of tears. Us? I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t get any maiden from me being king. Are you kidding? I don’t need any help with the maidens. I’m worried about you, brother; you haven’t had a love in ages! You need to get out there more and stop going to that accursed monk village! Now outside, Rholdin removed his brother’s arm and commented to him, My love is training, and she will never betray me unlike others have. Rholdin waved to his brother farewell for the day and began to head to the outskirts of the town; as he left, he could hear Jaxx yell, Good luck making love to training! Rholdin rolled his eyes.

As Rholdin approached the gate that enclosed the town, he looked to see if a guard was on duty. Lucky for Rholdin, everyone was still at Town’s Hall, listening to his father’s speech. On the side of the wall next to the gate and on both sides, there were holes that allowed him to climb up and over the wall undetected. After Rholdin was on the other side, he began to walk to the forest east of the kingdom to head to the monk village. He walked casually until he was in the forest; after he had traveled a fair distance, he stopped in place, closed his eyes, and took a deep breathe through his nose and let the air fill his lungs and body with energy. Let’s take the fun route today, he thought to himself as he opened his eyes. He then began to sprint through the forest, jumping over logs and through branches, kicking off trees to make sharp turns all with immense acrobatic skill. He could feel the wind rushing through his golden brown hair and feel the small beams of sunlight that pierced through the forest leaves on his mild tanned skin. He soon found himself atop a hill that looked down on the monk village.

Rholdin gazed at the village, thrilled he made it in time and with some time even to spare. He could see the monks heading into their small wooden huts to get ready for training that took place at the center of the village, a perfectly rectangular training ground. Better head