Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: The Awakening in Aethelgard

As the warm glow of the room enveloped them, Rose turned to her grandfather, her expression serious. "We need to discuss what happened last night. Jed deserves to know everything." Jed, still processing the whirlwind of revelations, nodded slowly. "I want to understand. Why did my uncle come after me? What did I do to deserve that?" His grandfather, a man of imposing presence yet gentle demeanor, leaned forward, his hands clasped together. "Your uncle, Alaric, has always been consumed by power and jealousy. He believed that you were a threat to his ambitions, that your existence could undermine his claim to the Aethelred legacy. He's been searching for a way to eliminate you for years." Jed's heart sank at the thought of his uncle's malice. "But why now? Why not before?" "Because," Rose interjected, her voice steady, "you've awakened something within yourself. The power of our family runs deep, and it seems you've begun to tap into it. Alaric saw this as a chance to strike before you could fully realize your potential." She paused, then added, "But don't worry about Shai. The moment things went south, I dispatched some of my most trusted men to secure her. They're highly skilled and discreet; she should be safe." Jed felt a mix of fear and relief wash over him. The fear remained for his uncle's actions, but the relief at the news of Shai's safety was palpable. "Thank you, Rose. That's… that's a huge weight off my mind." His gr'ndfather nodded. "We will protect her, Jed. You have my word. But we need to act quickly. Alaric won't stop until he gets what he wants. We must ensure Shai is safe and that she understands the gravity of the situation. Rose's men will bring her here, and we will ensure her safety and inform her of everything." Jed took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his new reality settle on his shoulders, but lighter now, knowing Shai was likely safe. "Thank you. I just hope she's okay. I can't bear the thought of her being in danger because of me." "Then let's make sure she isn't," his grandfather replied firmly. "We'll gather our resources and plan our next steps. The Aethelred family has faced darkness before, and we will face it again—together." As they spoke, the flickering candlelight cast shadows on the walls, mirroring the uncertainty that lay ahead. But in that moment, surrounded by newfound family and the promise of protection, Jed felt a flicker of hope ignite within him. The adventure was just beginning, and he was determined to reclaim not only his life but also the safety of those he loved. Jed fumbled for his phone, a desperate need to hear Shai's voice overriding the shock of his newfound reality. He punched in her number, his thumb hovering over the call button, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. The screen remained stubbornly blank. "No signal," he muttered, a wave of panic washing over him. "I can't reach her." Rose watched him, her expression softening with understanding. "Jed," she began gently, "there's something else you need to know. We're not… on Earth." The statement hung in the air, heavy and surreal. Jed stared at her, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of her words. He looked around the room, at the familiar yet somehow alien details – the carved wooden furniture, the strange herbs hanging to dry, the flickering candlelight that seemed to cast longer, stranger shadows than he remembered. "Not… on Earth?" he echoed, his voice barely a whisper. The lack of cell signal suddenly made horrifying sense. His grandfather nodded solemnly. "We're in Aethelgard. A dimension… separate from your own. A place hidden from the world you knew." He explained, in measured tones, about the Aethelred family's history and their unique connection to Aethelgard, a place of immense power and hidden dangers. The lack of cell signal was just one small piece of this larger, fantastical truth. Jed stared blankly, the weight of this new information crushing him. His life, his reality, had been completely shattered. He was a member of an ancient, powerful family, living in a hidden dimension, and his wife was out there somewhere, unreachable. The fear for Shai intensified, now layered with the bewilderment of his new, impossible circumstances. He had been rescued, but the journey had only just begun, and it was a journey far stranger and more perilous than he could have ever imagined. Jed pushed open the heavy oak door of the house, stepping out into the crisp, cool air of Aethelgard. The scent of pine and damp earth filled his lungs, a stark contrast to the familiar smells of his previous life. He had expected a strange landscape, but nothing could have truly prepared him for the sight that greeted him. Before him stretched a vista of rolling hills, bathed in the soft, ethereal light of a sky that seemed both familiar and alien. The colors were richer, more vibrant, the air cleaner, sharper. But it was the tree that stole his breath away. It stood at the edge of the property, a colossal oak, easily twice the height and width of any tree he'd ever seen on Earth. Its trunk was thicker than a small car, its bark a deep, almost black brown, etched with strange, glowing runes that seemed to shift and shimmer in the light. Branches, thick as massive pythons, reached towards the sky, their leaves a vibrant, almost incandescent emerald green. The very air around it hummed with an almost palpable energy, a sense of ancient power and untamed magic. It wasn't just a tree; it was something… divine. Something beyond comprehension. He felt a pull towards it, an irresistible urge to approach this colossal being. He felt a strange tingling sensation in his fingertips, a subtle hum resonating within his bones that matched the energy radiating from the tree. It felt… familiar, as if a part of him recognized it on a deeper level, a primal connection to something older than time itself. He took a hesitant step forward, his heart pounding in his chest, a mixture of awe, fear, and a strange sense of belonging washing over him. He was in Aethelgard, and this ancient oak seemed to be at its very heart. Rose joined Jed outside, her eyes mirroring his awe as she gazed upon the immense oak. "That," she said, her voice hushed with reverence, "is the Tree of Life." Jed turned to her, his gaze still fixed on the colossal tree. "The Tree of Life?" he whispered, the words sounding both strange and familiar on his tongue. "Yes," Rose confirmed. "It existed long before our ancestors, before even the creation of Aethelgard as you know it. It's… ancient. Beyond measure." She paused, her voice dropping to an almost inaudible murmur. "It's said to be the heart of this world, a conduit connecting all realms, a home for all spirits, past, present, and future." Jed felt a shiver run down his spine. The immense power radiating from the tree suddenly felt less awe-inspiring and more deeply unsettling. The concept of a tree housing all the world's spirits was overwhelming, a living library of every soul that had ever existed. "All spirits?" he repeated, the question barely audible against the rustling of the leaves in the gentle breeze. Rose nodded, her eyes distant, lost in contemplation of the tree's majesty. "Every soul that has ever lived, every memory, every emotion… it's all interwoven into the very fabric of the Tree of Life. Our ancestors revered it, drawing strength and guidance from its ancient wisdom. And you, Jed… you are now connected to it in a way most people can never comprehend." Jed felt a profound sense of responsibility settle upon him. The weight of his newfound heritage pressed down, heavy with the implications of his connection to this ancient, powerful being. He was not just an heir to a legacy of power; he was connected to something far greater, something that transcended the boundaries of time and space, a connection to the very essence of existence itself. This was more than just an adventure; it was destiny.