Chapter 115: The Story of Two Realms (Part 2)
"The first in line got a specific title due to living between the two realms. Ever since, the person inheriting his Will is known as the Dark Traveller. That is who your father is as well. Why that name? Perhaps due to the characteristics of the Distortion Realm which is thought to be gloomy, dark and harsh. Since the first in line travelled between the two realms, he received such a title. That is my speculation, but seems probable to me". Frosty narrated.
"The first Dark Traveller wasn't able to completely repel or defeat the Distortion Realm, although the legends say he wasn't that far off. He certainly weakened them a lot, but paid a huge price for it as well. Then his Will got passed, but that wasn't so simple either. Only one Dark Traveller can exist in this world, since only one Will exists. That wouldn't be an issue, if not for the requirements. You could say that your father was really lucky, but also cursed at the same time", he continued.
"Why would you say that?", I asked. "All Dark Travellers lived long and empty lives. Even if they had families at some point, they'd simply outlive them. No matter the race, no matter the circumstances. Though your father is a Human, he's no longer a Human at the same time… He slowed down his own progress on purpose, but in time, even he will get stronger. For that is the purpose of the Dark Traveller, to fight against the Distortion Realm", he explained.
"Your father carries one of the heaviest burdens this world had on offer, and one day, he will sacrifice himself. Just like every other Dark Traveller did. Then, the Will searches for another suitable candidate. Like that, until the Distortion Realm is defeated… Thousands of years passed already, yet they still exist. Hence it's a curse, and a responsibility", he added.
I didn't realise my father was such an important figure. Being an Emperor of the North meant really nothing in comparison. He really had more important matters on his mind. "I know this will sound a bit odd, especially coming from me, but… You guys returned here, does that mean he plans to actually leave again?", I asked. "Are you scared of him leaving once more? No, I don't think he'll leave that soon. He knows the past experiences of all the predecessors, he knows what they went through. I believe he'll use his time as much as he can. He'll spend as much of it with you guys", Frosty replied.
Though that made me happy, I wasn't sure whether happiness was in place. "Does that mean he cannot die?", I asked. Frosty shook his head, "No, he isn't indestructible. Your father can be killed, albeit it's really difficult to kill him. No one in their right mind would kill a Dark Traveller. The time between two candidates can be as long as a thousand years. The longer no candidate appears, the more powerful Distortion Realm grows. Yes, there are beings stronger than your father, there are a good few of them. But, most of them mean nothing to the Distortion Realm", he replied.
"Why's that?", I asked, confused. Since there were people stronger than my father, they should be able to fight against the Distortion Realm. "Because the Distortion Realm commands a specific Element. You probably never heard of it, but it is called the Void Element. Hatmandor has some affinity to it, because of the previous Dark Traveller. Though in reality, only your father has the ability to command it. Of course he, and the Distortion Realm", he said.
"I also mentioned that most beings don't pose a problem to the Distortion Realm, but there are a few. The Void Element belongs to Distortion Realm, but there is another Element, really rare. That Element is called Light or sometimes Spirit Element. One of the Strongest beings this realm has on offer, is an actual Light Element being. That is how the Distortion Realm's strength was kept at bay. They are still coping, but even the most powerful being doesn't live forever... At least in theory", he added.
"Void Element, Light Element… Just how many of those things are there? Besides, shouldn't light be everywhere?", I asked. "Ha, you'd think that but no. The lights we have, all of them use Fire Element. Even the sun provides the Fire Element for us. The Light Element is a bit different, though your father doesn't seem to like these people. Well, I don't like them either, but who cares about that. I'm not sure how many Elements are there. I know it has to be at least seven", he replied.
"There's no way to make Formations that utilise them? Can't we learn to make more of that Light Elements? Use it against the Distortion Realm?", I asked. "Again, no. The Light Element requires a special type of condition. I told you, it's rare. As for the Void, well to some extent, there are races that could potentially manipulate a small quantity of it. Take Hatmandor for instance, they have such ability. You aren't the only one who thought of that. This idea isn't new, and people are trying to find a way of making Light Element Formations. Though the search goes for many years, who knows if they ever find it", Frosty explained.
Since other people were already trying that, I guessed it wasn't easy at all. "Then I have a different question. Why hasn't that war reached us?", I asked. Frosty smiled, then looked into the distance. "The war has reached everywhere. The previous Dark Traveller wasn't an idiot though. You know about Hydra, right? Where do you think that being comes from?", Frosty asked instead.
I knew the answer, once he put it like that. "That's right, the Distortion Realm. Hydra never died, neither does it have the ability of communicating with the Distortion Realm. The barrier surrounding the North, it's not as simple as you'd think. Believe me, I wouldn't be able to break it easily. Maybe not at all", he said.
"That would explain why Hydra is allowed to exist. Sealed beneath the North, so that we can be safe", I said. "Yes, in a way. Hydra being imprisoned is of course a good thing for this whole continent. Though the location plays its part as well. The Perival Continent is located out of the way. I wouldn't call it small, but it is isolated in its own way. That alone played a huge role in your safety. At the same time, Primal Limits stage is treated as a legend here. In other places, there are loads of these sorts of people", he replied.
"Before you ask. Once you break past the Primal Limits, you'd be considered to have entered the Peripheral Limits. By the way, only weak races call the stages like you guys do. In the eyes of ancient races, the Outer and Inner Limits are considered to be one stage. These two are lumped into the Fundamental Limits stage. As for anything beyond that? Who knows? Maybe a name doesn't even exist, perhaps no being lives long enough to go past the third stage", Frosty added.
Which meant, I would be considered the lowest of the Fundamental Limits stage out there in the world. That made me think about my own achievements a bit less proudly. "When I learned about it, my reaction was pretty much the same. I trained for most of my life, and yet, I'm considered to have reached only the lowest stage. Don't let that dissuade you my dear. You are still very young, there's a lot in front of you. Who knows what the future holds, right?", my mother tried to cheer me up.
"I know mom, it's just that… To think my father is some sort of legendary Dark Traveller. That the world we live in is at war, and that people living here are considered weak in the eyes of those growing up elsewhere. Yea, it's a lot to take in, but I'm happy you shared this with me", I replied. There was no point to ask any other questions, most of them were already answered one way or another.
'I still think we should strive to better ourselves. The whole North can improve, it already did over these years. Why stop there, why not innovate and continue to develop. Who knows, maybe a few generations down the line, we could be considered strong, not some weak and forgotten place', I thought. This wasn't something one person could achieve, maybe except my father. The North wasn't about my father alone though. My uncles and aunts, they all had important jobs and directions in their lives. After all, without the struggle, there's no progress. If no one ever tried, nothing would be ever achieved.
That conversation opened my eyes a bit more, but it wouldn't change who I was and who my family was to me. "Look at him, mom. He fell asleep. Hey Frosty, you made Dante fall asleep with your talk, hehe… Though thank you for sharing all of that", I said. "Don't worry, kid. You are his daughter, I'm sure you'll achieve a lot in your life. Besides, now you have your brother to worry about too. Your family is more important than some stages and power, that is what your father would say for sure", Frosty replied.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
DarkRay
DarkRay I'll just add it here. The release rate suffered for a very good reason. Sometimes I come back home at 9pm. Yea, I have loads of things to do besides work. You can be sure that I'll write nothing at such hour, after such a day... I'm still planning to finish this year, but we will see at this stage. Thanks
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