"Emrys! Wake up!"

"Emrys! Wake up!"

Liam heard the loud whispers, but he wasn't sure if he was supposed to open his eyes or not.

"Emrys! It's time! Wake up!" The whisper returned, and this time, it was louder, causing Liam to attempt to open his eyes almost immediately, but it felt as though he couldn't control his body.

Suddenly, the memories of the encounter of the previous night surged into his mind, and he grunted in pain, shaking his head as he saw flashing images of his body plummeting from the tall building until he crashed to the ground and blacked out silently.

He gasped! His eyes opened widely, and he blinked severally, panting at the tension that he felt all over him.

"Where am I?" His mind questioned as he saw the bright stars that looked like they could be reached with a single jump, and the color of the atmosphere was glittery like nothing he had ever seen before.

"Is this...heaven?" He struggled with the uncertainty that nestled in his mind as he looked around, but all he could see was a cascading river and the green land where he lay.

Fastening his hands on the grass, he pushed himself upward but was forced to cover his eyes as the brightness of the stars attacked his face, causing him to grunt and cover his eyes almost immediately.

"Emrys?" The serene female voice returned, and he gasped at once.

"Who is that? Show your face!" He looked around, but it was obvious that he was the only one in the green land, and the only sound he could account for was that of the flowing river and the sound of strange birds chirping from a distance away from him.

Liam felt a certain way that he wasn't used to, and he looked down at his body. He saw that he was in a black cloak, and his body was bigger and heavier than he could remember.

"What?" He gasped when he lifted his arms to see that the color of his skin was different, brownish and shiny with hairs surrounding his brawny arms.

"This is not my body." He gasped again, and looking at the river close to him, he crawled toward it and looked at his reflection on its surface.

"What?" His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw that the color of his hair was no longer brown but raven-black with curls that ran down his shoulders with a hood covering part of his head. The color of his eyes had also changed from brown to bright green just like the grass he was kneeling on.

"This isn't real, Liam! This is just a dream." He touched the mustache above his lips and felt that it was real. He had smooth skin with no hairs on his face the last time he remembered, but the man he was looking at had facial hairs and was a bit older than him.

"What is this?" He looked at the object hanging on his neck and touched it slowly. It was an ancient amulet, crafted with silver, and shaped like a flower. It had a round hole in its middle, indicating that something was missing from it.

"I must be dreaming! I just have to close my eyes and open it." He shut his eyes almost immediately while he struggled to maintain stable breathing.

"Thie is real, Emrys. You are not dreaming."

Liam fell to the ground as soon as he heard the voice again, and when he looked around, he still couldn't see anyone.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"Which of them should I answer first? My identity? Or what I want from you?"

"Why can't I see you? Are you in my head?" Liam panicked as he was sure that he could hear the female voice, but there was still no one around him.

"Another question. You still haven't  made up your mind, Emrys."

"Why do you keep calling me that? My name is Liam. Liam Robinson."

"Not anymore, Emrys. You are Emrys, son of the Divine." The voice responded almost immediately, and a green turtle appeared on the surface of the water.

Liam gasped at once and crawled backward, looking at the strange creature with a little apprehension.

"I can see that you are not comfortable with this. Let me try something else." The turtle disappeared, and a white rabbit appeared in front of him.

"Better?"

"Whoa! A talking rabbit?" Liam gasped and stood up at once before he took four steps backward without taking his eyes off the rabbit.

"I see that didn't work. Let's try something more... familiar." The serene voice said, and a beautiful lady appeared before him as soon as the rabbit vanished. She was dressed in a white royal gown with golden embroideries and a veil covering her white hair.

She dazzled with a brightness that made Liam blink severally as he watched her descend from above until her bare feet touched the ground with her arms widely spread.

"Who are you?" Liam asked with his eyes full of admiration for the ravishing lady.

"I see that you are comfortable with this. I am called by many names. Brina, the mediator of the forest. But you can call me Brina, and I am your guardian." The lady started to walk toward Liam who became worried at once.

"Stop right there! Where is this place?"

"The infinite forest. The magical land, hidden beneath the thickets of the ancient forest, far from the reach of Humans."

"Infinite forest."

"Yes, Emrys. This is the land that holds the balance between the spirit world and the Human world."

"Why do you keep calling me that? My name is Liam!" Liam corrected at once, but Brina chuckled almost immediately, while her bright eyes sparked with rays just like the stars.

"You are Emrys. The warlord of the Infinite Forest, and the son of the Divine."

"No, that's not true. I don't even know who my parents are, and the last thing I remember was..." Liam became speechless as soon as he remembered the incident that led to his death.

"Pamela?" He whispered.

"You must forget about your past and embrace your future, Emrys," Brina said with a smile on her face, but Liam looked at her with so much bemusement.

"What future are you talking about? I only wanted to be a Doctor."

"You must forget about that now. The warlord chose you as his successor, seeing how innocent and ambitious you are, and observing your plight, he knew you were the perfect choice to carry out this great task. You have been found worthy, Emrys. The immortal, and the Lord of the Universe." Brina bowed profoundly with her smile intact.

Liam remained speechless while he watched the strange lady bow to him, and when she lifted her face slowly, she continued.

"I have been watching you for a while, Emrys, and I am sure that you are the chosen one. Your destiny has been sealed, and the fate of the two worlds rests on your shoulders."

Dave gasped as soon as he heard the words from Brina.

"It was you! You were that strange old lady at the restaurant." Liam said, and Brina nodded with a smile.

"The infinite forest is in grave danger, Emrys, and you are the only one who can save it from the impending doom that lurks around. The dark Lord has risen, and he is raising an army of the forsaken to destroy the infinite Forest. You must stop him, or he will destroy the entire universe. The Human world is incapable of defeating him."

Brina paused for a few seconds before she continued.

"He has grown stronger and has awakened the dark powers of the evil forest. You must embrace your future and help defeat the Dark Lord, Emrys."

"Dark Lord?"

"Yes, Emrys. Lord Darius. He is the wicked sorcerer who escaped from his dungron and killed the Warlord Phaunos of the forest who chose you to succeed him before he died. You must  defeat Darius before he gets hold of the elementals." Brina said with a gloom on her face.

"This doesn't make sense to me. Why would anyone choose me to rescue the universe from a Dark Lord? I am just a college student, I don't even have any magical powers or abilities."

"Worry not, Emrys. The son of the Divine is with you. That ancient relic on your neck is the key to your new identity."

"This?" Liam looked at the Amulet around his neck with so much doubt.

"Yes, Emrys. That is the strongest weapon in the entire universe, capable of summoning the strongest and the greatest powers. With it, you shall stand unrivaled, and no one can stand in your way."

"This is a lot," Liam whispered to himself, and then he looked at the amulet for a few seconds before lifting his face to look at Brina.

"How do I make use of it?"

"You must find the infinite pearl, that is the only way to activate its potency."

"Where do I find this pearl?"

"You must hurry to the cave of the enchantress. She was the lover of Lord Phaunos and took the pearl as a souvenir to remember him for eternity. I must warn you, Emrys. She may seem alluring, but she is very dangerous and can cage your soul with her for eternity."

"What?"

"Yes, Emrys. Circe is her name. She is the daughter of Helios and lives in a cave on an Island where she remains with her servants, waiting for souls she can entrap. She cannot be trusted. You must make her believe that you are her lover, that is the only way she can trust you enough to give you the pearl."

Liam looked at Brina with so many questions running through his mind amidst the uncertainty he harbored, and to get a grip on himself, he took in a deep breath which he let out slowly.

"How do I get to this Island?"

Brina smiled gracefully, pleased that Liam had shown interest in the quest. Her eyes brightened up with its glow, and she took two steps closer to Liam who stood still with his eyes staring at her.

"The Island of Aeaea is located at the end of the ancient forest, far beyond the cursed mountains where the trolls lived. Circe chooses to live alone with her maidens where no mortal dares to trespass on."

"Oh. That sounds far. How do I get there?  Do you have a car or maybe a horse?" Liam inquired anxiously, causing Brina to chuckle instantly.

"There are no cars here, Emrys. And the horses you speak of have all gone into hiding after the darkness that came upon the forest."

"Oh," Liam mumbled in a little disappointment, and then he sighed heavily.

"Worry not, Warlord. I know just the perfect means to get you there in no time." Brina said, igniting the sparkle of hope that was almost lost.

"You might want to step back a bit." She warned, but Liam stood still, his mind harboring thoughts of curiosity.

Brina lifted both hands with her smile intact, and with white sparks that appeared around her hands, she spoke inaudible words as though she was attempting a summon.

Instantly, the sound of heavy flapping wings was heard from a distance above, and a huge shadow covered the surface of the green land.

Liam looked up at once, and he could see a red dragon descending from the sky, making screeching sounds that roared throughout the forest.

Terrified by its magnitude and growl, some of the birds nestled in the oak trees fled for safety at once, abandoning their young ones and nests.

Liam was terrified as well, and he was forced to take several steps backward, landing on the green land with a heavy thud that sounded like an earthquake, rumbling the earth.

"Fear not, Emrys. Tiamat is not harmful, unless he needs to be." Brina assured, but Liam seemed very much terrified.

"How can you say that? Can't you see those sharp claws?" Liam voiced out amidst the terror that he felt.

Brina ignored him and walked closer to the dragon which bowed as soon as it saw her, and she touched its head with a smile.

"Tiamat was the dragon of the Warlord, and now that he is no more, the bond has been severed," Brina said calmly, turning to look at Liam who stood a distance away from them, unable to comprehend the sight before him.

The dragon took its eyes away from Brina and turned to look at Liam. A sudden flicker of familiarity flashed through its eyes as soon as it saw Liam, and it growled at once, causing Liam to take further steps backward.

"Why does it seem angry?"

"Tiamat recognizes its former Master, but it is still aware that he is no more since their bond has been broken. It feels upset that another has taken its Master's place." Brina explained and then she moved closer to the dragon and pacified it.

She rubbed its head for a while until it eventually remained calm and peaceful, looking at Liam with a smile on its face.

"It's okay, Emrys. You can come over now."

"Are you sure? That beast looks very scary." Liam said, and the dragon growled at him.

"Can it hear me?"

"Tiamat understands all the languages of both spirits and mortals," Brina confirmed, and Liam gasped.

"I am sorry, dragon. I didn't mean to call you a beast." Liam apologized at once, and the dragon remained calm after huffing at him with its fiery red eyes glowing fiercely.

"Is it safe to come now?" Liam asked, and Brina nodded in response with her hands on one of the enormous feet of the dragon.

Slowly, Liam walked toward the dragon, still uncertain of the entire situation.

"Go on, you can touch it," Brina assured with a smile, and Liam slowly moved his hand toward the dragon which bowed its head toward him, and covered its eyes at once.

Liam gasped as his right hand felt the rocky body of the creature, with spikes all over it to its tail that had a sharp end.

"Tiamat will take you to the Island of Aeaea and bring you back. You must not forget everything I have told you. Circe can never be trusted, and you cannot eat whatever she offers you. Once you swallow it, you shall be entrapped with her till the end of time. You remain mortal until you fully have control of the Amulet, and her charms will be effective on you."

Liam looked at Brina at once, expressing the jitters that lingered inside him.

"Do not worry, Emrys. You will be fine. Now, you must hurry so that you will be back before nightfall when the dark creatures will be lurking in the darkness. News about your rebirth has reached Darius, and he must be on the lookout for you."

Brina turned to the dragon, and it bent down gradually until its belly touched the ground completely.

"You must go now, Emrys. I will be waiting for you here until you return." Brina gestured to Liam who slowly climbed to the back of the dragon, and held onto its huge spikes firmly.

"You are more courageous than you think you are, Emrys, and I have no doubt that you will return safely with the pearl," Brina said in confidence, and then she turned to look at Tiamat who stood up gradually.

"One last ride, Tiamat. Take care of him, and make sure you bring him back in one piece." She concluded, and the dragon blinked before flapping its wings and ascending toward the sky.

The grasses beneath the dragon succumbed to the pressure from the wind from its wings, and even the leaves on some of the oak trees rustled instantly.

Brina stared at them for a few seconds before she nodded in satisfaction and vanished with the bright light that appeared afterward.

Liam watched as everything became smaller until some of them vanished as they ascended into the sky. He held onto the dragon firmly, as it fluttered through the forest, and over the mountains.

Mixed with the sensations of excitement and nervousness, Liam could only think about everything that had happened within a short while.

The dragon continued to fly until it eventually arrived at the Island, and landed a little distance away from the cave.

It bent its body gradually, until its belly touched the ground just like the previous time, and Liam climbed down, landing on the ground with his leather boots.

"Thank you, Tiamat," Liam said with a smile, but the dragon gave him no response and flew away instantly.

"How am I supposed to go back?" Liam asked, looking at the creature until it was engulfed by the cloud.

Slowly, he turned around to face the cave, and he was amazed by how magnificent and huge it was. Some of the beautiful houses he had seen could not be compared to it.

Liam took in a deep breath which he let out slowly before sauntering his way through the clear path ahead of him.

With every step he took, he drew closer to the cave and could see the bronze statues of beautiful women lined up in front of it.

There was a bright green light coming from its huge entrance, and two maidens dressed in bright yellow apparel walked out of the cave with baskets in their hands.

They sighted Liam from afar, and they gasped in shock.

"Lord Phaunos?"

The maidens dropped the baskets in their hands and quickly ran inside while Liam stood still at a spot, staring at the entrance of the cave.

Shortly after, the maidens returned, but this time around, they were not alone. With them was the most beautiful woman Liam had ever seen in his life, and looking at her made his jaw drop.

"She is a goddess!" Liam thought to himself as he couldn't stop admiring the Enchantress.

She had sunny hair that dazzled just like gold, cascading from her head down to her shoulders, and continuing until a few inches to her waist. Her eyes shun brightly like the sun, and her nose pointed straight like an arrow.

She was dressed in a white robe that revealed part of her ravishing skin and with her feet bare just like the maidens. Her curvaceous body stood fitted in her apparel, and she had lovely beads on her waist that glittered like diamonds.

"My love!" She gasped as soon as she saw Liam, and getting down from the step in front of the entrance to the cave, she hurried toward him at once.

"I thought I had lost you!" Circe embraced Liam tightly and held onto him for a while. Liam remained still, not sure if he was to wrap his arks around her or remain the way he was.

Circe pulled out from the embrace eventually, and then she touched Liam all over his face, looking very curious.

"What happened? I saw you, you were dead. The dark Lord killed you after he broke free." Circe asked anxiously, but Liam was still speechless.

"Come. You will tell me everything inside. I am so glad to have you back. I have met no happiness since you left me." Crice dragged Liam's muscular arm with both hands and led him into the cave, engulfed with so much elation.

"Prepare a feast at once! Gather all the maidens!" She ordered the maidens who bowed at her almost immediately and left with their baskets.

Liam walked deeper and deeper into the cave with Circe leading him, and he could see that the walls of the cave had crystals in them, shining brightly, but not as bright as the green light that shunned brightly with a soft hum.

Instantly, Liam's attention was drawn toward it, and he couldn't stop staring as they got closer to it.

"I kept it for myself as a reminder of the wonderful times we spent together," Circe said to Liam, and he smiled with a nod.

"How do I get that, pearl?" Liam thought to himself as he looked at the green pearl kept on top of a huge rock surrounded by several other rocks almost of the same size.

He took a glance, and he could see the candles lit at several corners of the cave, fixed into tall metal stands.

By a corner of the cave was a pool, bubbling with hot smoke evaporating from it.

"Come, my love. Come sit with me." Circe gestured to a large seat that could stand in for a throne, gently dragging Liam until they sat on the large seat covered with thick animal skin.

"My happiness has returned," Circe confessed with a smile on her face, and without warning, she leaned forward to Liam and planted a kiss on his lips, leaving his eyes wide open, and his brows arched.

Circe noticed the awkwardness between them, and withdrew from his lips, staring at him with several thoughts running through her mind.

"What is it, Phaunos?  Are you not happy to see me?"

"Of course, I am happy to see you, my love." Liam retorted at once, and Circe forced a smile to take over the gloom on her face.

"If you are happy to see me, then why have you been so quiet? Tell me what happened, I want to know everything." Circe adjusted herself and focused all of her attention on Liam.

Thinking of how to get the pearl, Liam turned to look at it, blinking severally as the rays from its bright light met his eyes.

"You want it?"

Liam nodded in response, and Circe slowly sat up from the seat they shared and gestured her right hand toward the pearl which moved toward her as she motioned.

She got hold of the pearl as soon as it got close to her, and leaning backward, she turned to look at Liam with a chuckle.

"Here, let me help you with it." Circe grabbed the Amulet hanging on Liam's neck with her left hand, and then she inserted the pearl into the hole with her right hand.

Instantly, Liam felt a sudden power like an electrical charge surging into his body. It felt like an enigmatic force streaming into his blood vessels with so much speed.

His green eyes began to glow as his body aligned with the magical sensation that crept into his body. He lifted his hands and looked at his palms, and he could feel a whirling energy surrounding them.

Memories of the life of the real owner of the body he was occupying flashed through his mind, and he could see the times he spent together with the enchantress.

"My muse." He said as he turned to look at Circe who chuckled excitedly with her face brightening up with a smile.

"It is truly you." Circe voiced out, and then she grabbed Liam's head with both hands and pulled him closer to herself until their lips met.

She continued kissing him while Liam gently wrapped his arms around her, and they remained that way until the sound of music was heard from a short distance.

Slowly, Circe pulled out from his lips and chuckled with excitement.

"Music is here, my love." She said, and grabbing Liam's black cloak, she pulled him up gently and led him toward the direction the music was coming from.

There were beautiful maidens dressed in similar apparel, sitting on the floor at different corners. Some of them had flutes, tambourines, and drums which they played skilfully to produce lovely rhythms.

Liam marveled at how beautiful they were, but none of them could match the beauty of the Enchantress whose pulchritude was enough to cause a war between nations.

Seeing them approach, two of the maidens stood up from the floor and hurried toward them. They grabbed Liam gently from both sides and led him to a well-decorated seat specially set aside for him.

Circe joined Liam in the seat almost immediately, while the maidens stood beside them, nodding to the harmony of the energetic music.

Circe looked at the maidens, and with a single motion of her hands, they all got up slowly almost at the same time, and danced to the sound of the music, swirling their hips as the beads on the ankles joined in the dance.

Liam watched as the maidens danced joyously with Circe nodding in satisfaction, but the excitement on his face vanished the moment he saw the maidens carrying baskets and jars, walking toward them.

They dropped the items on the floor in front of Circe, and she quickly signaled to one of the maidens with long raven hair who poured some wine into a goblet and handed it over to her.

Circe drank some of the wine in the goblet with a smack of her lips just before she picked up an apple from one of the baskets, and ate from it.

"Have a bite, my love." She pushed the apple to Liam's mouth, waiting for him to eat from it.