Redesignation #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

[Story scene post]

The light flickered in her Opal jewel. Likewise, the daylight dimmed. I looked up to see whose hand was on my shoulder. A Black jeweled individual stared down at me. 

"Hurry, let me work while there is still time."

I moved out of the way. It had been a long time since I had heard of the Black jewels, master healers. This one must have been drawn to Quisbaqol. 

There were murmurs all around me. I looked, worried about what else could happen, and saw people pointing to the sky. It was, indeed, getting dark during the day. 

"Do you need help? Can I do anything here?" I asked the Black. 

"No. Stop the Gold leader. The Silvers must not open the portal."

I scrambled from my spot. Everywhere I looked was horrific. So many dark jewels. No Reds preparing remembrance ceremonies. Decorations from the planned celebration of new life were tattered and trampled. 

Carefully, I snuck to the back side of the cavern. Reyrigo and I devised a secret second entrance as a precaution against a collapse. It wasn't very stable, so we hoped it would never be needed. The risk was worth it to me now. 

The Silvers were doing something by the circles. Jaildarn was ordering Browns around, but no one was near him. I crept behind him. 

"What if this isn't safe?" I whispered in his ear.

"Safe?" He laughed. "You know nothing about living, Belp. Which is fine, as your life will no longer matter soon."

"How can you say that? Was I not a friend to you? Did you not find kindness and care in this village?"

He grabbed my hand and pulled it to his jewel. "Master of travel and discovery. We exist to go where others have not. Those evil Opals brought no new life of my kind, nor of Silvers, to this world. They fear us and want to eliminate us. We will show them!"

I shake my head as I try to get my hand back. "The Opals make no such choices. The Birth Place gives what it gives."

"Redesignation! That was their claim as the abominations were brought to this world. The Opals want to reduce the population. Mixed jewels. It's disgusting! And no new Golds or Silvers? They mean to wipe us out. This place was hidden. Look at the walls, Belp! Those circles were carved by early Silvers and Golds. There are instructions. Markings used by our people. And your early Browns? They covered it up!"

I shove Jaildarn. "Liar. You know that the Golds were summoned the moment this cavern was found. You were the one sent here."

He knocks me to the ground. "And now I lead the Golds and Silvers. I found what we needed. We will survive. We will leave this place."

The cavern went dark for a moment. Then a silver light came from the arranged stone arch that the Silvers surrounded. The light swirled. A Gold looked to Jaildarn. With his nod of approval, the Gold stepped into the portal. 

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Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

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QUESTION -- Would you ever be willing to go to another world?

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My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

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