Legend of the Faey

Book 1 - The Dimension Queen

Prologue

Friday. Friday at last. After an endlessly long week and an extremely and persistently annoying Betty, the very thought of two carefree days instantly lifted my mood. I was looking forward to the coming weekend, as I could not wait to step through the portal into my dimension and let myself be swept away by all that awaited me. Our solar system consists of many dimensions and subdimensions, with Earth being one of the subdimensions. Earth was also destined to be our home for the upcoming four years while we attended school on Earth. We travel between dimensions through portals, and only Aetherians, Dimensioners, and Half-dimensioners know about the existence of other dimensions and portals. The only ones that are completely oblivious and know nothing of our existence are the inhabitants of Earth, or Earthlings. If an Earthling were married to a Dimensioner or Half-dimensioner from a subdimension other than Earth, they would of course be told the truth. Occasionally, though, some Earthlings, who are more sensitive to changes in energy around them, would sense our presence or sense portals being opened close by. They of course do not understand what the energy changes around them mean; they just feel them. We are always incredibly amused by the various theories about aliens and conspiracy theories, which in very rare cases are almost close to the truth.
The Solar Council considered revealing the truth to Earthlings and lifting the barrier to show them the real solar system, but each time the discussion has been brought up, the very unanimous decision to keep the secret has been made. The main reason for keeping Earthlings in the dark is the nature of Earth’s inhabitants. If the truth about the other dimensions were to be revealed to the Earthlings, the Council is convinced that riots and conflicts would break out, which likely would mean the end of life on earth. The probability of Earthlings going to war for supremacy and control is just too high, especially since they have managed to develop primitive weapons. Some of them are called nuclear weapons. That would only mean the end for them, while they would have absolutely no effect on us. If they only knew how lucky they are to be in this subdimension. The entire solar system has always been mesmerised by Earth and has admired its natural resources, not to mention that it is also breathtakingly beautiful. That was one of the reasons why the dimension I created was similar to Earth in many ways.

And who am I? My name, my real name, is Aurora Anastasia Sternberger Gea, and my parents sit on the throne of our solar system, with the sun being its centre. Considering that my parents are the rulers of the solar system, I had a rather peaceful childhood. I spent most of it on Aetheria with my best friend, Cassie, short for Cassiopeia Estelle Lunaris. Since Earthlings are not aware of the dimensions in the solar system, they do not know the real size or shape of it. The real shape is an intertwined web of dimensions in addition to stars, all the planets, asteroids, comets, and other elements known to Earthlings. It is a beautiful creation, expanding in all directions with countless interesting places and inhabitants as well as many dark and dangerous places. Dimensions could be described as what Earthlings call larger planets, with some subdimensions being smaller planets or even stars.
Our parents decided to send us to school on Earth instead of our Star Academy on Aetheria. They wanted us to experience life on Earth and get familiar with their habits. Due to Earth being one of our core subdimensions, which also needed to be protected the most, it was crucial for us get to know it. Earth is one of key elements that holds our solar system in balance due to its unique position. Its axis is perfectly aligned with dimension crossings. If Earth were to be destroyed or its position slightly moved, it could cause an imbalance in gravity, and our solar system could implode. Our parents were also convinced that spending time on Earth would help prepare us for our future roles. I always suspected that it was Mother Faey who suggested this to our parents. It was completely illogical to me and Cassie, why one of our core subdimensions didn’t know other dimensions even existed. Our parents always said that this was the way it was and that the time would come when we would understand why. And so it was that I, a heir to the throne, and Cassie, my right-hand and Aetheria’s future representative in the subdimensions, landed in boarding school in a wonderful city on the southeast coast of Ireland. We were almost eighteen when we started school and will stay here until we come of age. I will celebrate my twenty-first birthday on the last day of school on Earth. On Aetheria, we become of age at twenty-one.
The boarding school is, of course, no ordinary boarding school, as all students are either Half-dimensioners or Dimensioners. Dimensioners attending our school are the children of diplomats from different dimensions in our solar system who are stationed on Earth, while Half-dimensioners attending this school are children of Dimensioners and Earthlings. There are no Aetherians in our school, so our true identities are safe. Aetherians all attended the Star Academy on Aetheria, and no one would even think to go to any other school. The main difference between Dimensioners and Half-dimensioners is that Half-dimensioners cannot travel to Aetheria without the highest diplomatic invitation. They can visit some other dimensions and subdimensions and travel through portals though. Access to Aetheria is limited even to other Dimensioners, and they would also need an invitation. What also makes us different to Earthlings is that each one of us has special powers that we will develop and fine-tune over the next four years. Certain powers only develop when we turn twenty-one, and many families experience a great surprise, or a great disappointment.
In my four years on Earth, I have developed quite a few special powers myself. It is fair to say that my quiet life was completely turned upside down after I came to Earth and not only by my newly acquired skills. I have experienced the most terrifying things and passions that I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams.



Chapter 1
About our families

Our parents decided that we would use different names while on Earth for two reasons. One reason was our safety, and the other one was to give us the chance to experience life outside Aetheria without the burden of our titles and lineage. So we became Aurora Starling and Cassie Monder from Antares subdimension. My mother, an otherwise fearless ruler of the solar system, lost her gift of speech and all colour at the very thought of our near-abduction. A few years ago, some rebels from Onyx Dimension managed to sneak through our defensive shield and penetrate our city. Onyx is a rebel dimension ruled by the very cruel and ruthless General Asantares and populated by brutal outcasts and escaped convicts. One day, Cassie and I sneaked out of the castle and were on our way to visit the horses in our stables when we were suddenly surrounded by Onyx rebels. I will never forget the mortal fear and the incredible stench emanating from them. We both knew very well that we should not leave the castle parameters on our own, but the stupidity of two thirteen-year-old teenage girls is not to be underestimated, especially that of two teenagers who were very talented at ending up in situations many interdimensional explorers would envy.
The reason why we sneaked out was because we wanted to see my new horse, a gorgeous black stallion that, despite my mother’s protests, my father had given me for my thirteenth birthday. Inherited from my father, riding has always been one of my greatest passions. To our immense luck, on that very day, an unexpected visit from the Solar Gard took place. When we were just about to end up in the hands of the rebels, a young general, who was very interested in our horses, saw the attack by pure coincidence and managed to rescue us from the hands of our captors. We escaped unhurt, while the young general will always be reminded of our rescue by the scar on his left thigh, a scar that was inflicted by a knife, the shape of which I will never forget.
My mother is the only living descendant of the Phoebus dynasty, which is also one of the oldest ones, next to the Helios dynasty. Helios is the dynasty that created the sun, and Phoebus created the first portals and dimensions, including Aetheria, which soon became our central dimension. The Phoebus and Helios dynasties originally descended from the two separate Faey dynasties, which were also original dynasties. The Faey dynasties merged after the Helios and Phoebus bloodlines were created, and Mother Faey was the first descendant of those two merged Faey dynasties. It was the merging of the two lines that made Mother Faey so powerful, invincible as well as eternal. No one really knows how old Mother Faey is, and no one would even dare to ask her. The Helios dynasty tragically disappeared after the last surviving descendant was killed with his wife and infant son in an attack in one of the subdimensions some ten years before I was born. General Asantares himself was responsible for the attack, and the circumstances surrounding the attack have not been fully clarified to this day. The other bloodline, Phoebus, has survived to this day through my mother and me.
Many Dimensioners have Faey bloodline in them, some stronger, some weaker. My mother’s bloodline was so strong that until I was born, she was the only one who could channel the energy of the sun and open portals without the help of Faey. I was lucky enough to inherit the power of opening the portals from my mother. And to everyone’s great surprise, I do not only open portals without Faey’s help; I can also create whole new dimensions. And that was the very likely reason for my near-abduction. How the rebels even found out about my powers remained a big mystery until today, since only my parents, Cassie’s parents, and Mother Faey knew about my ability. Although this was a well-kept secret, shortly before my thirteenth birthday, rumours about my powers began to surface, which my parents of course vehemently denied. These rumours must have somehow reached Asantares, who desperately needed new sources of energy and resources. The Onyx dimension, where he and his outcasts are residing, was almost drained of all its natural resources. Only the creator of a dimension can expand and change a dimension and with that create additional resources. And creating dimensions has not been possible for millennia, until I was born, which greatly surprised and frightened my parents.
I will never forget the moment my parents realised what I could do. I was only four, which added to the surprise, as such special abilities are usually developed only after the age of twenty-one. It all happened when I wanted to draw a horse, and I am really, really bad at drawing to this day. The lack of drawing talent annoyed me beyond comprehension, and every horse I drew looked like a square fat pony with legs too long and a head that was way too big. My mother sat patiently with me in my playroom and was encouraging me, while each picture looked more abstract and less like a horse. After couple of hours, when I refused to eat dinner or drink, the last picture made me so angry that I sat in the middle of the room with tears of anguish in my eyes, staring at the picture and trying to form the shape of my pony, Pancho, in my mind so I could draw it on the paper. How I managed to feel such anger at my own failure baffles me even now.
I was so stubborn and determined that I felt like I would explode. I can vividly remember suddenly becoming overwhelmed by an incredible feeling of energy. I could feel the warmth coming into my body from the ground and the air. I was not at all intimidated or frightened by the feeling. In fact, it calmed me down and erased all my frustration and anger. After this surge of energy filled me I was able to concentrate on the form of Pancho. I saw exactly how he looked, his eyes when he stared at me. The sound of his hoofs and his smell were perfectly clear in my mind, like he was there with me. I could feel the warm air swirling around me. Suddenly there was a slight pop, and Pancho manifested in perfect miniature version in front of me, galloped across the room, knocked over all the toys and books on the shelves and disappeared in an explosion of little colourful stars.
I was immensely amused by all this, and I will never forget my mother. She stood pale beside me, completely speechless. When the miniature Pancho exploded, she picked me up, kissed me, told me she loved me and that everything was all right and took me to my father. I wasn’t the least bit scared, but despite being only four years old, I felt a change deep inside me that connected me to a higher power, which of course I didn’t understand at the time. To be honest, I still don’t fully understand the power inside me, I only know that it is still steadily growing. In that moment, despite being only a four-year-old child, the feeling deep inside made me feel very strong, and I was very pleased with myself. Then I remember that Mother Faey came soon afterwards. While she held me in her arms, I easily created Pancho once more. That was the day she gave me a necklace on a thin gold chain with a pendant as a gift. The moment Mother Faey put it around my neck, we connected. Connecting with her was a most wonderful feeling, one that cannot be described.
A word about my father. My father is a descendant of the Canopus dynasty from Tramelan Dimension, which is the central dimension of our Solar Guard. The very few and most powerful members of the Canopus Dynasty, my father being one of them, can channel their own energy and manifest it in fiery swords and wings. His grandfather could also channel the energy of the sun and open the portals with the help of Faey. I am most likely able to open portals without the help of Faey because this ability was in my blood from both my mother’s side and my father’s side. This power did not manifest in my father, but it is not unusual that strong powers often skip a generation. After all the surprises with my unexpected powers, mother keeps waiting for me to grow the fiery wings as well, which I keep telling her is not going to happen.
I am not sure how, but I just know that this is not going to happen. Only one other dynasty besides my father’s, the Helios dynasty, has been able to manifest fire wings and swords. My father is, like me, a great horse lover and an excellent rider. When I was younger, we used to sneak out to the barn very early in the morning, taking long rides where we would gallop across fields and jump over obstacles on the way. Nothing was too high or too crazy for us. Our favourite was jumping over fallen trees and galloping through shallow parts of rivers around the caste. Every time we came back soaked, my mother nearly had a stroke because she knew that we were heedlessly racing through the fields and rivers. But I’ll never forget the fun we had and Dad’s careless laughter. When I was very young, Dad used to call me ‘my little fish’, and to this day, I love pictures of fishes because they always remind me of Dad.
Cassie’s family unites two dynasties – Lunaris, from her mother’s side and Astralis from her father’s. Both her father and mother have a strong Faey bloodline. Cassie and her mother have very powerful illusion-creating abilities. Her mother always creates the illusions of most beautiful fireworks for our birthdays in the most glorious colours and shapes. Cassie’s father has powers that are quite rare. He has a very strong power to heal with his energy. He healed our bruises and scratches countless times before our mothers saw them, saving us a lot of trouble and lessons about how little children should not climb high rocks and trees. When my mother was really angry with me when I was a young teenager, she always said to me, ‘My dear, the only thing that comforts me in this moment is that one day you will have children of your own, who will be as fearless, curious, and stubborn as you. Then you will understand how I feel.’ Of course, I found that extremely amusing at the time, and I always thought that I could only hope that my kids would be like me.



Chapter 2
The school

Cassie and I stood excitedly in front of the portal that would take us to our new school on Earth. Portals are used for travelling between dimensions, and all our portals are powered by the energy of the sun. The portals are mostly created and operated by the Faey, and without them it is almost impossible to open them. The only other way to open them would be with extremely strong, dark energy, which would require channelling a lot of the energy from Dimensioners. Such channelling is always fatal for the energy source, as it literally sucks the life out of the body. Our bodies produce the energy that powers our special abilities, and it can be harvested against our will. If the energy is channelled with force from someone, it is always brutal and painful. It drains us and turns us into human non-rechargeable batteries. We can of course voluntarily share our energy to a certain extent to amplify the powers of someone else. That is not painful at all. It can be draining, but we recharge very quickly after voluntary energy sharing. Plenty of water and some food always does the trick.
As we waited to enter the portal, I grasped the pendant on the chain around my neck that was a gift from Mother Faey. The pendant is round, framed by a ring. The ring represents the shape and boundaries of our solar system and the portals. Inside the thin ring is half of the sun, with seven rays on one end and half of the moon on the other. The crescents of the moon are connected to half of the sun and together they form a whole – half moon, half sun, with three prolonged sun rays representing half of a star. In the exact middle of the pendant sits a Faey Dimension stone, which looks similar to a round diamond, with countless facets that reflect colours that cannot even be described. The stone always has a faint glow that makes it breathtakingly beautiful. The pendant has a special significance, as it represents the unity of our solar system and its main elements – sun with fire, moon, stars, portals and dimensions. I have not taken it off since I received it as a gift and it has always given me strength and centred me when I felt the need. It has also given me comfort in hard moments.
I also feel Mother Faey’s presence through the pendant when she is reaching out to me. It is our communication tool. When Mother Faey wants to speak to me or connect with my thoughts, the pendant gently vibrates and becomes warm. Of course, I can always decide whether I want to answer the call and connect with her thoughts or not. My privacy is always respected though. Our communication through my pendant is sort of one way, as only Mother Faey can contact me directly. I can always send her a message, but we can only connect on her request.
I was holding my pendant in one hand and Cassie’s hand in the other, looking forward for the start of the school year. I felt as excited as Cassie. We both liked to venture into the unknown, and this was our biggest adventure so far. Deep inside me, I knew that our stay on Earth would be life-changing and that we were facing great adventures. As it turned out, I was not mistaken, and my expectations were surpassed.
Two Faey called Sar and Nor would stay with us the entire time for additional safety. They would remain invisible to the teachers and rest of the students. They would not be with us twenty-four–seven and would decide on their own when they needed to accompany us. We both really liked Sar and Nor and we immediately connected. Faey are amazing and wonderful beings who can see parts of the past, present, and future of all living creatures. They are the purest form of energy and the most powerful beings, who are almost untouchable and incredibly powerful. They look very similar to humans, but they always have a golden shimmering aura around them and wings that they can either hide or display as they please. They can influence the weather, feelings, create shields, heal, create powerful illusions, and stop mighty armies with a wave of their hand or with the pure will of their thoughts. In fact, no one exactly knows what Faey are capable of, as they serve no one and very rarely interfere in dimension and subdimension conflicts. They are highly respected for their power and abilities and can be visible or invisible.