The Esper World

Chapter Seven - The Sealed Gate

"It leads outside the dreamscape. Is this the one to the nasty human world?"

"I'm not sure what Ramuh planned with this."

"This secret comes as a complete shock to us. We thought it was completely sealed."

"We're usually informed about the entire dream scape."

"But the fact we didn't know means anything is possible."

"Sorry to cut you off here, but we could cut to the chase." Maduin floated about. "Fly."

"I command open!" Maduin's pendant shined parting the magical barrier to a dark cave mouth. Inside, Maduin and the officers marched towards another light source ahead.

"Help me!" Cried a female voice. Maduin bolted through the cave leading the officers. They entered the light appearing on a cliff in the clouds above the dream scape. Floating land masses circling the air separated them from another cliff hundreds of feet across the sky.

Towards the other side a woman clutched onto a tree on one of the masses. The plain had tilted perpendicular to the land below.

The first officer ran up. "Sir, I'll retrieve her."

"No." Maduin began. "You make sure you catch her if I fail." Maduin flew off the cliff edge for her. The tree branch gave away sending her down to the dream scape surface. Her hand reached out sliding across the smooth landscape before catching a root from another tree.

Maduin watched as the wind yanked him into an air loop. The air pressure pulled him towards the surface. It took some energy to use his tri-elemental barrier to snap himself free.

"This place impedes my Warp effect magics." Maduin tired using a spell.

Maduin pressed forward landing on the floating mass right before the dangling woman. She lost her strength beginning again for the surface.

"I call upon Ice! Work!" Maduin still had 200 feet before reaching her. An Ice snow patch appeared suddenly to catch her. She landed safely with her ears to pick up cracking noise from the impact. She looked around to a barren landscape.

Maduin approached the edge of his floating mass 150 feet from hers. In a wink the ice broke sending her downwards. Maduin jumped into the air rising instead of falling.

"This is going to hurt." He created an ice barrier right on his shoulders. The force of the magic eddy pressed Maduin against his own creation. He shattered several barriers in holding himself.

Surrounded by flapping white dress clothing, the woman passed the cliff of her land mass in a free fall towards the planet.

The last of the force ceased allowing Maduin to free fall himself. He almost clipped the edge of her land mass in his fall.

"My powers are back. Warp!" Maduin appeared right under her using his power to slow her down. His eyes widened in pain. "Oh, oh, here grab onto me."

Her screaming from her fall changed to screaming in his face. "Ahh, monster!"

"What are you doing here?" They skydived to the surface.

Spectators watched a blinking light descend towards mountains in the distance.

"Whatever reason you've come I'm sure we can help." Maduin noticed the woman passed out in his arms.

"Ugh!" Maduin cried out. "My body's giving up."

Maduin spotted a meadow forest in the mountains below.

"One more time. Warp!"

"Do we postpone the mission." A younger solider asked on their way out from the cave.

"Of course." The first officer ordered. "We'll begin a search for them over those mountains."

She awoke to the sound of magic on the wind. Surrounding her in the pristine meadow glowing trees of all shapes and sizes loomed overhead.

Next to her lied the creature who had saved her. "Oh, my. Am I really here?" She stood up cleaning the dirt off her damp white dress.

She imagined a glimpse of something behind a distant tree. She turned around to barely see an image trying to hide. It vanished leaving her in wonder.

She viewed upwards towards the forest canopy noticing ascending raindrops from the trees.

How could this world defy physics?

She studied the dry, bark-filled forest floor before feeling a tree. Many trees had various textures, mass, and sturdiness.

From within a thicket of trees the sound of laughter echoed.

What could that be?

She walked several feet around a large bush to discover nothing among the thicket. She turned slightly the other way gasping at it.

"Oh!" A wolf appeared near her from out of nowhere. Then another one came out from behind a tree while another one sat up on a branch. She began to run in the other direction confronting another wolf.

"Cut it out, Fen." A male voice came. The wolves disappeared into one wolf in the original thicket. Maduin approached rubbing his head. Fenrir appeared in front of Maduin permitting him to scratch behind the ears.

"I suppose I brought that one on myself." Maduin ducked down for Fenrir.

"Excuse me." The woman stood still. "Who are you and where am I?"

"Far away from home." Maduin replied having fun with Fenrir. "Ever heard of the War of Magi?"

"Then it's true this is the land of Espers." She stepped closer. "I know how much trouble we've caused you. I hate men when they have egocentric ideas."

Maduin and Fenrir looked to her.

"Except for Espers and the rare exception."

"I need to borrow some of your warp power to get out of here." Maduin held out his hand to Fenrir. Fenrir licked it creating a display of magic dust debris.

"Miss..."

She livened up before replying. "Madonna."

"I'm still weak from our welcome. You now know it's dangerous to enter our world without a guide or experience."

"I'm pretty much dead on the inside from my own world. I'll take my chances here anytime." Madonna sat on a stump.

"Nice seeing you again, Fenrir." Fenrir howled leaping away into the wilderness. "We could probably get out or we can sit here waiting to be rescued."

Madonna relaxed on the stump putting up her legs. "You still haven't told me your name."

"I'm Maduin, Commander of the Imperial Forces here. What do you do?"

"Stage fright."

He joined her on the stump where they talked for several minutes.

"They all took advantage of you."

"Cyron guards are the worst. Perform for me. Kiss me. Come with me. Aren't you married guy?"

"Humans for ya..." Maduin looked into her eyes.

"Even at the Oprah House the Empire still controls. Is there anything they won't do?" She turned away with watery eyes.

"What happened." He moved to comfort her.

She waved him off.

"Go ahead." Maduin listened. "Continue."

"They beat up my fiance claiming he was a stranger." She looked at her ring. "Then he was imprisoned a week later for trespassing trying to steal machine plans."

"Sounds like they're up to no good." Maduin said.

"Somewhat of an understatement." Madonna held her hand to her face remembering a slap from a soldier.

"As long as you avoid aiding the Empire the better." Maduin looked into the direction of the sealed gate in the clouds. "Hopefully, your world will thrive peacefully from someone who'll keep balance and ensure prosperity for you all."

"It's a long shot." Madonna said.

"Someone has to try." Maduin said.

"I hope we can find the right person." Madonna said.

The two talked for several more minutes about their experiences. They discussed issues of the same sort ranging from professional to personal matters.

"We should probably get going." Maduin floated off the stump. "My strength is returning well."

"You told me you don't visit our world at all." Madonna said.

"You know what happens if one us is caught by the wrong human." Maduin said.

"I'm sorry for all the suffering my people have caused you." Madonna looked into his eyes.

"Thank you that means a lot." He looked back without blinking.

"There's also something I'd like to ask later today." Madonna spoke up.

"Really?" Maduin said. "What's the surprise?"

"You'll see." Madonna said.

"We'd better get going." Maduin began. "The Esperfolk will have difficulty getting to know you."

"Things will be uneasy at first." She said.

"You're quite the unexpected visitor." Maduin stood on the stump. "But I promise to keep you safe."

She smiled watching him float several feet away before beginning off the stump herself. She began to climb down when a force pulled her the rest of the way.

"Wait, no!" Maduin witnessed Imperial Guards appearing.

Maduin watched a force net contain her.

"Sorry, sir." Maduin's first officer appeared. "A solider must have been working for the Grand Elders."

"You know the policy with trespassing." A guard captain pointed to the woman. Guards began to fly towards her.

"Wait!" Maduin flew forward. "She's only lost."

"The Grand Elder's orders." The captain said. "We've also gone on alert. Could be an invasion, sir."

Maduin watched them escort her away. When the guards arrived a safe distance out of Maduin's perception they vanished with a warp spell.

In a fancy chamber a three dimensional clock rotated atop a large book case. Madonna sat at a large circular transparent table. Pictures of outside hung on the wall where windows might be placed.

Moments ago she appeared with the guards at the end of a dim hall. She had been escorted down it tens of feet to a door leading to this room.

The guards took her straight to this room ignoring her questions about her detainment. The only response from the guards is 'they' will be there shortly.

She sat quietly with a portfolio in front of her. She had read it prior to their arrival. In another minute tension filled the air. Seven beings appeared around the far side of the table.

"Welcome to our world, Madonna." An older Esper remarked appearing at the very far end.

"The Imperial Guard reports you managed to overwork our commander." An eloquent Esper announced.

"No big deal." Someone said. "Now we know what problems to face when taking that route."

Two of them studied a diagram of the magically created image. Other images of various locations throughout the dream scape floated a foot above the table top.

"We want to hear from you why you came." The head Esper responded again. "You've read the portfolio in front of you already."

Madonna nodded. She turned a page in the portfolio.

"It contains pertinent information on you and your world." A council member said. "Was there anything you wanted to add."

She shook her head.

"Good for that. Sorry for the formality but we have to know that you're not a spy for some preemptive invasion." Another Esper turned to her.

"Maduin and the others are fine." Another one chimed in. "We usually wipe the memories of visitors before sending them back. But..."

The head Esper leaned forward. "You've given indication that you want to stay."

"Yes, Grand Elder." Madonna said innocently.

He looked to the others who looked back at him. "Had you had any military background or a more pleasant life as a human we might not have granted you an asylum."

"I'm not sure what's here for you in this world though. We live here with our magic."

"It could be dangerous." The dressed Esper stood up looking at the clock.

"I came through the Sealed Gate hoping to get away. I had made his majesty mad by refusing." Madonna wept.

The Espers showed empathy.

"It was worst than death. Somehow he made it so I wasn't acknowledge by anyone other than my family."

"Don't they need you?"

Madonna thought again about Earth.

"They've all grown up and take care of their own lives."

"You're arrival delayed our expedition indefinitely." The dressed Esper turned to her. "Now that we know there's another entrance we have to be careful."

"Now we have to decide on the passage's future."

The Grand Elder stood up. "Maybe one day you'll return to your world."

The other elder's followed. A glow hummed about the room concentrated on Madonna's head. "Also, times might be different too."

Guards vanished Madonna allowing her to slip safely away from a crowd that had gathered outside. She departed watching the Grand Elders console the crowd outside the building.

The Guard's appeared with Madonna in Maduin's yard. Maduin noticed her passed out on a flat force field. Maduin led the guards to a bed. They waved their magic over her mind.

Madonna awoke again seeing Maduin. He handed her a pendant trying to discover the true differences between humans and Espers.

"No one knew that this entrance existed?" An excavator began stabilizing the drifting plains with others.

"I wonder if there's other entrances. Maybe many undiscovered." Another worker said delivering a magic vein of rope to the group.

"Look alive and magical. Continue everyone." Maduin cheered entering the stabilized sky. "Cleared for duty in under six hours."

"Welcome back, sir." The lead addressed Maduin. "We're making excellent progress."

"Good work." Maduin floated closer. "I'm here to cast a temporary seal on the gate ahead. Until the Grand Elder's arrive later to cast theirs."

"Yes, sir." The worker saluted. "We've already stabilized the entrance area."

"I'll be back in a few flashes." Maduin smiled. "Warp!"

The individual studied the cave that recently been restored. The individual traveled an unusual path to arrive at the entrance the library books mentioned.

The individual rushed to a corner to stay out of sight from someone entering. It surprised him that something alive can dwell inside this cave.

The man swept back his hood to get a better look. The creature looked majestic in posture and strength. The man controlled his breathing to avoid any detection.

The next moment the man gasped for air as the creature struck. "Don't think I can't see you..."

The aging man coughed.

"Yes, I can see through invisible." Maduin began to strike again. Come for your spy?

"That one hurt." The man dodged. "Are you an..."

"Esper." Maduin finished beginning a spell.

The old man flashed blue. Maduin glimmered blue. He reflected a dual spell off him for the tiresome man.

"Life 3." The old man stood up taking advantage of Maduin's exhaustion transmitting another spell.

Maduin stood silent.

"Listen." The intruder began. "I came exploring. There's no doorbell so I continued on in. I see you're a strong brute."

Maduin procured an echo screen from an invisible pouch.

"I'd like a tour but I don't desire your guidance." The old man turned away. "Take a nap for a while."

A moon appeared.

Maduin began..."S, T, O..." everything went dark.

"Sir. Sir!" Someone ran up to Maduin.

Maduin opened his eyes to an excavator ducking to see him.

"Quickly!" Maduin ordered. "Exit the cavern to sound the alarm we have an intruder. I'll finish the seal on the gate." Maduin and the person went in opposite directions. Up ahead the cave narrowed becoming dimmer from the lack of light sources.

Soon, Maduin looked around before standing in front of a large wooden door. He concentrated putting a magical force over the door as a faint noise echoed.

Maduin returned towards the cave entrance hearing the alarm as an excavator met him right outside the floating plains.

"Sir." An excavator handed something out. "We uncovered this when digging a hole for our magic moments ago."

Maduin took a tablet from the excavator.

"Excellent. We'll submit it through the restoration committee."

The excavator returned to work. Maduin led guards throughout the cave to ensure others haven't slipped in unnoticed.

"These are locations of other possible entrances to our world." A committee member said to Maduin.

"We're only on alert level 1." Another told.

"I recommend going to 3 because the old human could use magic." Maduin informed.

"That might disrupt activity in the dream scape We'll recommend level 2." The committee looked at one another and nodded.

"Thank you, Maduin." The chairperson said. "We'll let everyone know when the tablet is completely transcribed."

Maduin walked out of the building noticing thin white lines appearing over the stars and horizons. The net barrier prevented departure from the world and travel from region to region without permission.

Madonna stood in front of a sink of dirty dishes. She crunched her lip blowing a breeze to lift her bangs up. While looking at the rag, she knew the situation tempted her to try it herself.

"OK, in the spirit of magic." She pushed a button on the side of the counter. The dishes floated above the sink in a whirlwind of magic before floating onto dish sets and racks.

"I already know what that shower does." She looked down the hall. "Are there more buttons for the basement?"

She completed the necessary chores in under ten minutes before going outside to the backyard. She climbed a hill to see a burial mound before the top. [In Memory of Shaudan]

Maduin sat on a bench looking out into the ocean and the sun. The afternoon passing by normally. After a while someone approached him.

"Sir, sir." Maduin's officer said. "There's been a breach of the net. We've been ordered to check it out."

Maduin led a security team with Palidor over the shore of the ocean until they reached a nearby cape. On an island had a security breach of the first region.

"What are the possibilities sir?"

The group studied the problem.

"They destroyed a corner intersection giving them access to four regions total." Maduin said to the others on a small island. "One is here. The other leads to the ocean. The other to the moon mountains. Another to the next town."

Everyone scanned in multiple directions.

"What do we do now, sir."

Maduin discontinued scanning.

"We'll repair the net here." He pointed to it. "Then it's up to the council."

Maduin and his team studied the net for a few more minutes before returning to the capital. Through the broken net various temperatures intermixed.

Maduin and his team finally flew away heading to the capital. Guards from other regions began showing up on their side of the net.

"They've gone to level 3." Maduin noticed a dome net encompassing the capital. "Access to the capital with security forces escort."

"We can get in." Someone else observed.

"Right." Maduin opened the barrier.

He dismissed his team asking them to file reports before discussing matters with the council himself.

A few minutes into it the group of Espers concerned themselves with personal matters during their time. With most Espers adjusting to the new security measures the group returned to the original discussion.

"Why has someone come now?" Maduin stepped forward.

"We've had strange visitors before." A council member looked to Maduin.

"Remember, our visitor can use magic." Maduin inched backwards once.

"It looks like our visitor is as curious as well are." A member said. "Hopefully this person will come forward willingly to meet us."

"I sense a hidden motive." Maduin spoke in a clear voice.

"We'll keep the security nets in place until our visitor is found." A council member checked a screen on the nets status on the table. "We'll know the moment anything gets close."

"Is that all?" Maduin said.

"Lets not forget what you found." Someone said.

"The tablet reveals other gates to here from Earth on what we transcribed, Maduin." A council member held up the tablet. "Where they are remains a mystery."

"Though there could be other entrances through the nexus." Another member said. "We'll never be able to read the rest of it."

"We've lived here for a very long time." Maduin said. "It's understandable that there's some danger around. But that's what the Imperial forces are for."

"You've commanded it well, Maduin." A member pointed out.

"We'll take more measures to deal with security breaches." Another member said.

"I'll do my best to adjust to your decisions." Maduin said. "I promise to perform well."

"You're performance is exemplary." Someone said. "Why don't you and Madonna get more acquainted during your time off."

The council began to excuse itself.

"You may guide her off your premises now, Maduin." They began stepping away. "Her probation time is up."

Soon, magical furniture stood alone in an empty room.

"I knew the risk." Maduin returned home talking to Madonna over his son Shaudan's grave. The security net still obvious in the sky. It blocked out the multicolor of the sun revealing an ordinary day.

"Seeing someone resting in peace like this is a constant reminder." Madonna put her hand to her chin slightly closing her eyes.

"Yes, it is." Maduin said.

"That we are all mortal with certain responsibilities to accomplish in our life." Madonna said.

"I keep telling myself that it could have been worse, though it doesn't make this easier." Maduin held out his hand causing the tombstone to light up.

"I'm sorry." Madonna said.

"This is a death not even Phoenix can deal with. The attack was by another Esper."

She tilted her head to him.

"Many Espers live for a long time." Maduin reached for Madonna's hand. "We can remain dead for awhile, but when someone becomes Magicite there's no saving them.

"Magic can work wonders to a point." Madonna took his hand.

"We came here long ago to avoid sharing it with you." Maduin said. "I can't understand this act of selfishness on our part. Either way there's also dangers and delight in this world you're unfamiliar with."

"I'll try to be careful if I choose to stay." She held his hand tighter.

"Ready?" He continued. They turned around to head off.

Maduin had magically patterned his hair for Madonna. She wore a white dress. On the path the Espers gave them looks. Some Espers flashed green with also yellow at their presence. Others warped off in fear.

"The Esper folk are pretty upset, you being human and all..." Maduin said.

They approached the sealed gate.

"So...I'm an example of evil in this world, huh?" Madonna released her grip on his hand.

"No, I mean..."

"I'll return to my world tomorrow!"

"You'll need a guide."

"What's wrong, Maduin?"

"If you don't want to return to your world, you may stay here."

"But humans and Espers can never co-exist...!"

"How do we know for sure unless we try for ourselves? How do we know...unless we...observe for ourselves...?"

Maduin and Madonna turned the moment into something beyond magic.

"We've given her a name..." Maduin scratched under his own chin.

"What?" Madonna said.

Maduin continued..."It's Terra. Not bad, huh?"

Two years later.

"Humans! The nexus between our worlds has opened again! The wind... so

odd... just like two years ago..."

The clouds blocked out the sun giving the image of a boring day.

"But something's different now...Troops have come seeking our magical power."

"Blast it! They've made it as far as the Elder's house!"

"Aha!" The aging man appeared." We've finally found it! Those ancient writings told us of this

world, and described the awesome magical properties of these beasts!"

He spoke again.

"Grab them! Riches to any man who captures an Esper! GO!" Gestahl ordered.

"Reflect!" Carbunkle glowed again for the last time. Two guards pincered him using dispel to cancel his float and reflect status. The two guards used a combination of dispel and magitek armor abilities. A shard fell to the grass.

Unicorn cast remedy on sickened Espers. Though a platoon of magitek armor caught up to them. Bismark no exception in the nearby waters today.

Ifrit stayed behind getting captured from leading others away from the gate. Shiva became trapped against a hill cliff near the cave. Shoat and others fell unconscious during the sound of screams.

"We've no choice... We must do what we've been avoiding..." The Elder said.

"You mean... the Ultimate Magic barrier?"

"Here's the plan. We'll cause a tempest that'll sweep all the nasty creatures out of our realm. Then we'll seal the gate... I am the last of our kind able to cast this magical seal."

"But in your state, you might just..."

"Pass away... but at least we will finally be safe."

"Madonna..." Maduin said.

"I, for one, will not miss the other side..." She squinted her eyes.

The Elder continued. "Let's do it. We have no other choice."

"This is all because of that human girl!" An Esper said.

"Nonsense!" Maduin said.

"I'm sure she helped the others find us!" The Esper continued.

"Get a grip on yourself!"

"No! She's one of them! Soon she'll be wearing our hides!"

"Urghhh!"

"Where are you going!" The Elder inquired.

"Madonna's getting drawn into the next world...!" Maduin shouted.

"Impossible! It's too late! I've already begun casting the barrier. There's no turning back!"

"That fool..."

"Look what popped out!" A solider said.

"Shriek! Just when we were in reach of a veritable bonanza...!" Gestahl said.

"Maduin... I'm not their friend..." Madonna said.

"I understand that!" Maduin smiled.

"Thank you..."

"Can you make it back here?"

"Sure..."

"Terra!" Madonna followed Terra slipping away.

"Madonna!" Maduin called after her.

"A... human girl? Wh... Who is she?" Gestahl studied the woman.

"Please... take care... of my baby..."

"YOUR girl! Eh! Hmmm... then she's half human and half... How absolutely fascinating!"

Gestahl looked.

Mwa, ha, ha... She will help us realize our dream faster than we ever imagined!

"N... noooo!" Madonna cried.

"Quiet, my dear! We will own this world! Ha, ha, ha..."

The gate closed.

"Glad we found this gate so close to the capital. It was the only one unsealed for us."

Maduin attempted to rise. "You're that man I fought a couple years ago. Where did you go?"

"I studied your interesting world." Gestahl observed the gate before turning to Maduin. "Had to keep it a secret from my men though until we were ready."

"You'll never get back in!" Maduin respired. "Madonna!"

"Don't worry little Esper your Old Man earned our trust."

"Ramuh and the others are here?"

"They tricked us escaping from my empire! Now the rest of you will make excellent replacements." Gestahl began to glow.

Maduin collapsed. My wife. My son. And now me. Is Terra the last of my family line...?

End of Chapter Seven.