Jarlen couldn’t determine if he was awake or dreaming. Darkness surrounded his body, and he felt nothing. No warmth or chills, no breezes, and no sensations of rising or falling touched him. He fluttered his eyelids, but everything looked the same whether they were opened or closed. A moment of panic overtook his mind. What if he’d accidentally killed himself? He’d followed the incantations precisely, and he clearly had moved from his original location. He reached outward, feeling for anything around his body–a page from the book, a leaf, even a simple pebble would have given him hope, but his fingers encountered nothing but emptiness.

“Hello,” he called out. “Can anybody hear me?”

His voice sounded muted, as if he were shouting through five layers of cloth. Maybe he shouldn’t have tried this spell on his own, but he didn’t want to put any other lives at risk. He had to succeed. Placing his hands on his knees, he closed his eyes and took deep breaths. If he were dead, why would he need to breathe? Then again, if he’d left his body behind, he wouldn’t need a single puff of air to fill his lungs. He sealed his mouth shut, forced himself to stop breathing, and waited.

He knew something had changed when a flush of warmth brushed against his cheek and a spot of light prompted his eyes to open. Around him, fountains of lava burst upward from between hexagonal islands of hardened rock. A bright red tinge dominated the sky, fading to dull gray where dim mountains shot up from the horizon. He’d successfully sent his spirit to the netherworld without having died.

When he attempted to move from his current spot, however, his feet met no resistance from the ground and left him stationary. His legs pivoted back and forth, but his body didn’t budge. When he stretched his hand downward, his fingers ignored the hardened lava yet stopped at his shoe. Was there nothing in the netherworld that he could interact with? He reached out toward the edge of his island and waited for a fountain of lava to spew from the ground. The liquid rock sailed through his hand, bringing with it an intense blast of heat. Jarlen yanked his hand back and flexed his fingers in front of his face. The lava hadn’t left a mark, making him wonder if he imagined the burning sensation. He reached out once more, repeating in his mind that the lava couldn’t affect him, but it again bubbled up through his hand and brought severe pain. Once he learned how to move, he still had to avoid anything that would harm his body.

As frustration set in, Jarlen flailed his limbs in a swimming motion and rolled his body both sideways and head over heels, but everything he tried left him in the same spot on the island. It wouldn’t help that he’d breached the gap between worlds if he wasn’t able to move around. He might as well have remained in his own world.

If he could only figure out how to get to the next island, he’d be happy. It didn’t matter how fast he moved, as long as he didn’t remain trapped where he was. He focused his gaze on the center of the adjacent island, willing himself closer. His eyes burned as he forced his eyelids to remain open until the ground shifted below him. He did it! Excited, he kept concentrating and eventually drifted from one island to the next. He could finally begin his quest to permanently seal his world off from evil spirits.

As time went by, Jarlen’s mobility improved. He coordinated his crossings between islands to occur just after a burst of lava, allowing him to escape any contact with the scalding liquid. Unfortunately, he didn’t know where to go, so he started by examining the closest islands and circling outward. He wasn’t even sure he’d be able to recognize a portal from this side until he landed on an island somewhat different from the others.

The air around his body shimmered, casting off rays of blue, green, and purple in addition to the ever present red tinge. This had to be a portal, but he didn’t know if it led back to his world or someplace else. It didn’t matter. He’d close it anyway. Any other world connected to the netherworld had to be at risk, as well. Gathering his thoughts, he closed his eyes, spread his arms, and began the incantation. He repeated the mystical phrases several times before checking his results. The shimmering had disappeared, leaving the island no different from its neighbors. Jarlen smiled. His months of research and practice had paid off. He’d discovered a way to seal the rifts between worlds.

He circled through the islands until he noticed a small group of creatures coming towards him. Three of them rode reptilian beasts so large that the distance from their heads to their tails spanned two islands. The mounts trotted forward with an awkward gait from four legs of different lengths. Behind them strode a half dozen frog shaped demons with glowing red eyes and glistening bodies.

Jarlen thought he could outrun the newcomers but didn’t feel like losing his place on the islands. He’d read stories about how the netherworld landscape was always changing and worried that he might not return to the same spot. The creatures couldn’t touch him, so he had no reason to fear them. He folded his arms across his chest and waited for them to arrive.

A triangular head with spikes at each corner topped the gaunt body of the lead rider, while icy crystals covered the other two riders. The mounted demons took up positions on the surrounding islands, interspersed with the frog shaped demons, which leered at Jarlen as they licked their lips with long tongues.

“Leave me to my business,” said Jarlen, wondering if they could even hear him. “I have no quarrels with you.”

One of the reptilian mounts stretched its head across the gap between islands, ignoring any splatters of lava that touched its skin. It sniffed the air a few times, grunted, and lowered its neck, allowing the triangular headed demon to slide down to the ground. The rider carried a two-pronged pole arm, which it thrust into Jarlen’s midsection. The metal tip slipped into his body as if it had been swung through the air.

“I’m not really here,” said Jarlen with a smile. “You can’t harm me.”

“We’re not here to fight,” said the lead rider. His circular mouth didn’t move when the words came out. “We’re here to escort you back to the city.”

Jarlen glanced over the demon’s shoulder.

“What city?”

As soon as the lead rider pointed the pole arm backwards, the dim outline of buildings appeared. Jarlen rubbed his eyes. He was certain the city wasn’t there a moment ago.

“Will you come with us?” asked the rider.

“And if I don’t?”

“Then our master will come to you,” said the rider, “but he won’t be pleased.”

Jarlen stared at the city. A dark wall surrounded a collection of oddly shaped buildings, which rose from the ground at strange angles toward the sky. It seemed as if his work was going to be delayed no matter if he followed the demons or not.

“Will you show me this same spot when I’m done speaking with your master?” he asked.

The lead demon jammed the tip of the pole arm into the ground, leaving the weapon to guide Jarlen back.

“Fine,” he said. “I have much to complete before I return home, so let’s get this meeting done with. Lead the way.”

With the icy riders behind him, the frog demons to his sides, and the triangular headed demon in front, Jarlen floated from one island to the next toward the netherworld city. They’d covered half the distance when the reptilian demon in front reared, forcing the rest of the group to stop. The demon rider attempted to calm the beast, but soon the other two mounts joined the first one clawing at the ground and snorting heavily.

With all efforts focused on the mounts, none of the demons noticed a dark speck in the sky approaching rapidly.

“Something’s coming,” said Jarlen but nobody listened to him.

He stared at the dark speck as it plummeted downward. An obsidian-skinned humanoid with arms outstretched flew directly toward the lead rider, knocking him off his mount. The two crashed into the lava between islands but only the black demon rose from the ground. Sharp teeth filled his evil grin as he plunged his clawed fingers into the chest of the nearest frog demon. The other frog demons and the icy riders fled the scene.

“You didn’t think I’d notice if you returned here?” said the black demon.

It surprised Jarlen that he didn’t recognize the creature, which stood more than a head taller than him. The demon washed his hands in the lava, flicking off pieces of rock as they hardened. Short spikes dotted his spine from the base of his back up to his neck.

“Do I know you?” asked Jarlen.

“I’m the one who will take your life and torture your spirit for the rest of eternity. You will never again know peace.”

The demon clearly wanted revenge for something, but Jarlen wasn’t worried. His body lay safe in his own world.

“I’m done with these distractions,” said Jarlen. “If you have nothing else to say, then leave me to my work.”

The demon took a swipe at him, raking him across his abdomen. As Jarlen expected, the attack caused no damage. He spun around with his arms outstretched and grinned at his attacker.

“So you’re not as naïve as I expected,” said the black demon, “but that doesn’t mean you’re safe from me. One must protect one’s mind, as well.”

The demon’s confidence worried Jarlen. He willed himself to the next island, but once again his body wouldn’t move. A sharp pain ran from his head down to his feet.

“What have you done?” he called out.

“Let’s just say we’re matching wits,” said the demon, “and I’m winning.”

Jarlen bent forward and clutched at his skull as what felt like a thousand shards of glass pierced his brain, until he could take no more and screamed. Beside him, the black demon’s smirk spread even wider.

“Obidicut,” shouted a nearby voice. “Release him at once.”

Several islands away, a bloated gold lizard crawled toward them. Its belly dragged against the ground, while its tongue tasted the air every few steps.

“And what if I don’t?” asked Obidicut. “What if I tear his mind apart? You can’t punish me any more than what I’ve already gone through.”

“Maybe I don’t feel like punishing you,” said the gold lizard. “Maybe I feel like destroying you.”

Obidicut faced his opponent, freeing Jarlen in the process.

“You wouldn’t dare break our ancient pact,” he said. “The other princes would come after you–all of you.”

“Would they?” The gold lizard stepped onto the same island as Obidicut and reared up. “Or would they assume this was part of our previous encounter? Are you willing to risk your one remaining body? Go now and you might still win my favor one day. Do you want a place in my new realm or not?”

Obidicut grumbled as he glared at Jarlen. Eventually he leaped into the sky, soaring over several islands before disappearing into the distance.

“I was afraid he might go after you,” said the gold lizard. “I shouldn’t have sent my guards to fetch you. I should have come myself.”

“You seem familiar,” said Jarlen, “but I don’t recall meeting any golden lizards.”

“You called for my aid against Obidicut in your world, but I left my body behind.”

“You must be Mammon.” Jarlen circled the demon but still didn’t recognize him. “And Obidicut was the lyche.”

“He and a wizard’s spirit together,” said Mammon, “but they’ve since been separated.”

“Many good thanks for the protection,” said Jarlen, “but are you here to stop me from my task?”

“Far from it.” The gold lizard wrapped its tail around the frog demon that Obidicut had killed. “Do what you must, but beware of Obidicut. I doubt he’ll attack you again, but he’s been more unpredictable since his return to the netherworld.”

Jarlen loathed asking for assistance from the demon, but he couldn’t risk becoming trapped by Obidicut or any other adversary.

“How can I protect myself from him in the future?”

Mammon chuckled, sending waves of fat rolling along his belly.

“You can return home before he immobilizes you, unless you’d agree to an escort while you’re here.”

“Your guards were ineffective at best,” said Jarlen, “but even if you offered yourself, I’d prefer to work alone.”

Mammon raised the body of the frog demon into the air, gave a quick frown, and plunged it into the bubbling lava.

“I’m not surprised.” He turned back toward the city. “Good luck with your quest, but do not overstay your welcome.”

Jarlen watched him retreat. For a demon, he seemed quite hospitable. Mammon must have had a plan, but he’d kept his motives secret. Perhaps if an archfiend wanted him to continue this quest, he should give up immediately and return home. Without more information, Jarlen could only do what he thought best, what he’d studied the past few months. He’d seal the rifts, forever denying demons access to his world.

 

In all the time Jarlen had spent in the netherworld, he never grew tired or hungry. He knew he should probably rest, but he’d made so much progress closing portals between worlds that he wanted to keep going. Rifts existed in every realm he’d passed through, from the islands in the sea of lava to the snowy mountains to the plains covered by sandy dunes. Each gateway he closed filled him with more confidence. His actions would protect more than just his world.

The horizon had become difficult to see, obscured by an increasing haze, and soon Jarlen was floating through a dense fog, which obstructed any attempt to see past the end of his limbs. The barely visible ground appeared soft and squishy, but his feet never touched anything. He stretched downward with his fingers, but they didn’t quite reach the ground. It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t have been able to feel it anyway. Leaving his body behind had its drawbacks. Without his sense of touch, he couldn’t interact with the environment. He was an intruder in the netherworld.

Dull gray surrounded him, draining his will to continue the quest. Perhaps he’d closed enough portals to ensure everyone’s safety back home. He stopped moving and allowed himself to drift about aimlessly with his arms and legs outstretched. Any light that had been noticeable in the past was gone, but it didn’t matter. There was nothing to look at, nothing to worry about. The stress of completing his quest had dissipated long ago, and he felt as comfortable as he’d ever been. He had difficulty thinking of any reason to return home.

A faint moan disturbed his moment of silence.

“Who’s there?” he called out.

His voice sounded harsh and dissonant, jarring him awake. Although a thick cloud still enveloped him, hints of blue and green broke through from the distance. The colors, despite being muted, intrigued him. They shouldn’t have been there. Without them, there was a perfect lack of sensation, but now Jarlen could do nothing else but focus on the beautiful hues. The more he stared, the more vivid the colors became until he could just make out a landscape of rolling hills. He urged himself forward, soon distancing himself from the numbing fog.

The grass below his feet appeared so inviting that he wished he could feel each blade brushing against his skin. High above, the pale blue sky stretched from one end of the horizon to the other without a single cloud marring its beauty. Unfortunately, more moaning disrupted the idyllic scene. Jarlen wasn’t alone in this paradise.

He continued deeper into the hills until he encountered the first shade. The translucent spirit trudged up a steep slope with its eyes pointed at the ground. Unlike the ones from the Realm of Torture he’d passed through recently, this one didn’t gouge out pieces of its own flesh. Jarlen floated to its side.

“Were you moaning just a moment ago?” he asked.

The spirit surprised him by lifting its head and staring at him before continuing its trek through the terrain. A distant screech followed by more groaning meant that more shades roamed this area. As Jarlen proceeded down to the next valley, another dozen spirits joined the first one. Most of them appeared to be human, but a couple could have been Ferfolk. All the shades ignored him except for one that ambled closer and closer with its eyes focused straight ahead.

“You’re not one of them,” said the shade in an eerie voice, each word causing Jarlen to shiver.

“One of whom?” asked Jarlen.

“The broga masters.” The shade looked around. “Return home before it’s too late.”

Jarlen trembled at the words. Although very little could affect him in the netherworld, this creature’s warning seemed to go beyond physical danger to his body or mind.

“Too late for what?” he asked. “You don’t even know why I’m here.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Previous Chapter