I went through the next few pages, reading the same things about Guardian Elsora that Noah just told me about, only a detailed version. I was still getting used to the moving pictures which were drawn to illustrate some specific moments of his life.
It was mentioned that goblins and spirits of the kingdom believed that his soul was immortal, a blessing granted to him by very ancient spirits. Elsora's essence still lingered to watch over his kingdom.
Noah settled on the table facing me as I soaked in the huge encyclopedia of his home.
"Didn't Elsora have a companion?" I asked Noah when I finished with the chapters about him. There was no mention of his companion, and from what Noah told me almost all goblins eventually found theirs.
"Not much is known about his companion. There are theories, but nothing can be said for certain," Noah answered. "Some say he never found his companion. It's rare, but plausible.
"But the another one, which is most prevalent is that he did find his companion, but it was a spirit. Anomalies happen, and after experiencing it myself I'm not very doubtful. Many believe his companion rejected him on account of him being a goblin. Rejection from his soulmate is what that drove him to unite goblins and spirits.
"Again, it's just a theory. What we know is he never had a companion by his side, so nothing is mentioned of it in the official texts."
I nodded, before turning the page. The next chapters contained about the monarchs of Elsora. First king was, Darwyn, a goblin blessed by Guardian Elsora himself to rule. As the years passed more surrounding smaller kingdoms joined in and centuries later the land was finally named after Elsora himself. As I read on, I noted the kings or queens were always goblins: Klayden, Laimus, Riana, and so on. However, spirits had their own council, whose decisions held as much weight as those of a ruler. The council's agreement was required on any law that in any way impacted the spirits.
All the monarchs of kingdom were born into the Ruler Class. Earlier Noah had mentioned that goblins naturally fell into different classes according to their powers. Classes were mostly hereditary but it wasn't a hard rule. It wasn't uncommon for goblins to have offspring that had different powers and classes.
Apparently, rulers sat on top. They were rare. Again, it was mostly the rulers that birthed other rulers. So it was a common practice for the throne to be passed down generation after generation, until some other ruler, by the stroke of luck born into this class despite their heritage, challenged the crown and usurped it.
I turned pages that recounted Elsora's kings and queens, and few names later I noticed family names being added along with description. Maybe, it was the time when goblins discovered the concept of dynasties, like humans.
See, we weren't that different. Like humans, goblins too weren't immune to bloodshed, power-hunger, and the quest for immortality.
Just beneath the rulers came slayers. They were characterized by their super strength and fearsome energy. There had been some slayers who even took down rulers single-handedly. Like rulers, being a slayer was a rarity too, but not as much as the former. A king or queen had at least one slayer as their second-in-commands. So far there had been at most four slayers appointed together by King Raiden of Garian bloodline. They were the protectors of kingdom and its kings and queens. They also acted something close to commander-in-chief of the battalions.
I paused and looked at Noah, who had his green eyes already trained on me. He was waiting for me to have it all click together.
"You told me you're a slayer," I said, "and now you mentioned Elijah is your future king... You're his second-in-command. That's what Elijah meant about you shouldering your duties. You're the second most powerful man of Elsora." I might just pass out.
"Not yet," Noah stated, "we haven't inherited." He pinched several pages of book and flipped them over. It mentioned the first Rowan that took over Elsora: Orion Rowan, who defeated Remus of Alora bloodline, kingdom's then monarch.
I turned more pages and realized that Rowans had been holding Elsora for more than three centuries. And their second-in-commands always had a Sylvan after their name.
The last names written were Leon Rowan with companion Freya, followed by second-in-command, Livia Sylvan and her companion Magnus.
"They are your parents," I whispered, running my fingers over their moving portraits. Noah had his mother's green eyes and her dark blond curls but the strong facial features of his father. Soon, he'd be drawn here too.
"My mother is the second-in-command. Silas and I were expected to take after her."
"Silas? Shouldn't he be like his brother?"
"Silas is a slayer like me. Even though him and Elijah are twins, it's only Elijah who is a ruler. It's not strange. Usually rulers and slayers pass on their genes to one child. It keeps the balance or there would be too many of them."
"I don't want to imagine the inferiority complex the other child develops," I thought out aloud.
Noah shrugged. "Fortunately I don't have a sibling to attest to that, but I don't think it's that common. Our powers and classes play a part in molding our nature and thinking. Look at Silas, he's very happy to be a slayer. And Elijah... well being a ruler he plays the part of a douchebag king very well."
I shook my head. Guess who's still salty about being glared down by their king?
"What's Gordon?" I asked curiously.
"He's a mender," answered Noah.
"Like Elsora," I added.
Elsora was a mender too. Menders were known for their kindness and warm-nature. After what Elsora did, it was believed they were the tether that bound all other prime goblins and kept the harmony. Besides rulers and slayers there wasn't much hierarchy to follow, so I guess they played the important role. Just like their nature, mender's powers too were benevolent. Elsora was a healer.
"Can he do something different from you guys?" I questioned.
"Gordon is what we jokingly like to call our happy pill. He can inhibit your extreme emotions and lull you into calmness. He can't control anyone, but relax them. I'd say his ability perfectly match with Elijah's temperament, who can be very overbearing sometimes."
I smiled at another jibe at Elijah. Sulky brat. "You can be overbearing too," I teased.
"Good thing I have you and your kisses to calm me," came his retort, widening my smile.
I closed the book lying before me. I had read enough. The bearded face of Elsora on the cover stared back at me. I sighed, my temples throbbing with so much to process.
I was the soulmate of second-in-command of one of the most powerful kingdoms of Magic Realm. How crazy was that?!
Here, I was building a life in my mind with Noah, staying in the familiarity and comfort of my own world, away from the unknown dangers of Magic Realm. Noah had said many goblins lived here, so I impulsively expected the same fate for him. Us being here, forever.
I hadn't been stalling going back to the Realm. I just didn't want to go. Period. Gabriel's googly eyes or tantrums back at home didn't make me change my mind. Fear of unknown and my bad experience held me back.
But now... now it seemed I wasn't just going to be a one-time visitor over there. I was the companion of one of the leaders of their world. It shattered all of my plans.
"Noah, where do I fit in all of this?" I asked him. "Elijah said soon you will be going back to realm. You have an important place there, but you're stuck with me as your companion, a human. What do they say about me, about us? Do I even belong there?"
His eyes softened seeing me anxious. He leaned down and cupped my face. "You belong with me and that's enough."
"No one's going to say anything new that we haven't already heard," a new voice echoed, making me jump in my seat.
I looked in the direction of entrance and found Silas, Elijah and Gordon walking to us. When my pacing thoughts immediately simmered down I knew who was responsible for it. Gordon.
"I didn't ask for a company," Noah bristled from beside me as they stopped before us.
"You can't expect me to leave you alone with Giselle in our library," supplied Silas, "made that mistake with Elijah and Gordon, and the smell of sex didn't leave for a week. Looking at you two I'd say we made it in time or I'd have to get that table sanitized again."
Noah rolled his eyes. Elijah glared at his brother. Gordon, like me, blushed.
"What do you mean no one's going to say anything new?" I asked Elijah, bringing us back to the topic.
Elijah's hand reached out to hold Gordon's. "You two aren't the only unconventional pair here."
*******
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You can read two chapters ahead on inkitt. Link is in bio.