7. Intruder

A singular scream ripped through the night air.

CHOICES is the first book in the Chronicles of a Hero fantasy series. This is the story of Wendell P. Dipmier, who I’ve been writing about since 1990. I hope you’ll join me on this new adventure….as I tell the honest, complete story of this amazing 17 year old, exclusively on Life of Fiction.

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Chapter 7

There comes a moment in every life when the Universe presents you with an opportunity to rise to your potential. An open door that only requires the heart to walk through, seize it, and hang on. 

The choice is never simple. It is never easy.  

It’s not supposed to be.

The state of your heart always determines your potential.

The rest is just practice.

“What did you think of Sanctuary?” asked Delnar.

We stopped at the terrace and took the time to gaze over the last light in the valley. It looked…peaceful. High above us, Elämä moved through the expanse of space, blotting out the last rays of the sun…a silent call to the magic hidden throughout Erimuri. As the darkness of night fell over us, millions of embedded crystals along the stone wall came to life. Soft blue stars cast their light across the white city, while small lamps, filled with similar crystals, breathed life among the streets and paths I’d walked that day.

“Did you find food?” Delnar asked.

“Uh-huh,” I said, distracted by thoughts of the day.

“What happened to your arm?” He asked.

I looked down at the makeshift bandage to support the wound, but all I could think about was Kyliene.

“Wendell?”

“What?” I said. “Oh. Sorry. I-I fell…out of a tree. Nana said I cracked the bones in my arm.” My attention drifted from the day’s labors to the market. It still blew me away that people were willing to feed a complete stranger. They didn’t know me at all, and yet they were willing to care for me as if I was one of their own. “It…doesn’t hurt anymore,” I added lazily.

She liked me.

Kyliene didn’t know who I was. She didn’t know where I came from, or any of the dozens of things that were wrong with my life and personality. She liked me. That simple fact, which almost sounded unnatural to a nerd like me, made me smile. Even when I made a dork of myself, and…I looked down at the bandage. It was stupid, taking those risks, jumping out of a tree. I know it was stupid trying to impress a girl.

But she still liked me. 

“Today was wonderful,” I said, grinning wider. “Amazing, actually. I’ve never had a day like it. Everyone was so kind and giving. No one questioned my presence or remarked how visually different I was.” But one thought nagged at me. “My mom would have enjoyed meeting the friends I made today.”

The High Elder seemed to struggle, trying to keep his smile in check. “Especially Kyliene?”

I smirked. “Still, a month is a long time to be away.”

The High Elder looked at me, surprised. “You won’t be gone a month. It will be far less than that.”

My head snapped up. “What did you say?”

“You will not be gone as long as you suppose,” he clarified.

“You’re not making sense,” I said. “Not that you’ve made much sense since I got here, but…explain this to me.”