The peaceful sounds of the Shurli Woods fill Karma with a sense of calmness as she and Angel, her long-tailed fox companion, walked through. Her ever so wavy red hair played with the wind as it blew by. Karma looked behind her to see that the Shurli palace was way behind them. Perfect, she thought, as she knelt down on the soft earth. Rummaging through her satchel, Karma took out her book, the very book that made Arula possible. She flipped through the pages until she landed on the page with the drawing of a long-tailed fox on it. Breathing out, then in, Karma looked at Angel. "You ready for this, girl?" Angel responded by letting her long blue hang from her mouth, it was so long that is nearly touched the ground. Karma scratched behind the fox's ear with a smile. "Yeah, me too."

Placing her hand on the picture, she recited the ancient words that were inscribed on the very first page of her book. The book glowed a wondrous bright light, so bright, that most of the nearby animals squealed and ran off. Angel stay remained by her master, hiding behind her back as the book continued to glow. As Karma finished inciting her words, the bright light slowly faded. Karma felt extremely lightheaded when she removed her hand from the book, a small side-effect for bringing creatures to life. Angel nudged her head under her master's arms for support, for Karma could hardly sit up. The sudden sound of growling made both Karma and Angel look up. Two long-tailed foxes stood in front of them, one was white with red markings, and the other one was white with purple markings. It worked.

The two long-tailed foxes curiously circled Karma and Angel, yipping and barking. When the two foxes lost interest in the two strangers in front of them, they both ran off into the woods, never to be seen again. "Well, girl," Karma said, tiredly. "It looks like everything will settle in nicely." Chuckling to herself, Karma sat there and waited for her lightheadedness to pass.

----

Back at Shurli castle, Omar, along with his daughter, Hope, and his wife Mika, were at the courtyard. Omar was teaching the small three-year old elf girl how to shoot a bow. Mika watched from underneath a small oak tree with Shari, a saber-tooth ferret, who apparently hates every human being, including Karma, laid in her lap, asleep. Mika's light purple eyes watched her husband teaching their girl how use a bow. "Are you sure that she's not too young to learn how to use a bow?" Mika called from across the courtyard. Omar rolled his eyes.

"She's perfectly fine, Mika." Omar reinsured her. "I was six when I learned how to use a bow."

"And I was eight," Mika commented. "I still say she's too young." Omar just brushed her off and continued to teach his daughter. The bow was small, made especially for little Hope. She held it in an awkward angle and Omar repositioned her. He took a stick, because a real arrow would be too dangerous for Hope to practice with, and he showed how to load the bow. When the small elf loaded her bow, she pulled back and let the stick fly in the air. The stick though, did not fly in the air, it flew for half a second before crashing two feet in front of her.

"Oh, darn!" The little elf said, stomping her small feet. Omar smiled though at his daughter's attempt of using a bow.

"It's okay, la mia piccolo stella,"*1 he said, getting down to her level. "No elf ever gets it right at his or hers first try. You just got to keep practicing you might just get as good as your mother."

"Might!" Called Mika and Omar gave her a wink. Hope's attention flickered elsewhere. She suddenly gasped and ran in the direction toward the courtyard doors. She ran toward Karma and Angel, who had just come back from the Shurli Woods. Hope hugged Karma, then all the elf's attention went to Angel. Rolling her eyes, Karma went up to join Omar and Mika.

"So," Omar said, swinging Hope's bow over his shoulder. "Did you do it?" Karma nodded.

"Yup, there are now two long-tailed foxes running around Shurli Woods." Karma said, watching Angel play with Hope. "You teaching her how to use a bow? She seems a bit young, don't you think?"

"Ha! That's what I told him, but you know him, he doesn't listen." Mika called, as she stood up from the ground and began to walk over. Shari now sat on her shoulder, hiding behind her raven hair. Her hair had grown nearly back to its full length during the past six months. Six months it has been since Termis' rule and six months of peace, or so everyone thinks. Mika hugged Karma and Karma hugged her back. "Did you have a nice walk?" The she-elf asked.

Karma laughed. "I did. It was very pleasant." There was small talk between the three friends, when all the sudden, a small servant boy came speed walking into the court.

"C-Creator," the boy said, exhausted. "The council wishes to speak with you. They say it's urgent." Karma thanked the servant boy and when he bowed and ran off. Karma couldn't help but let out a growl.

"That dumb council is going to be the death of me." Karma grumbled.

"Well, what do they want?" Mika asked, as she picked up her daughter, who came running their way.

"They kept bothering me to find a king or queen for Arula."

"And have you found one?" Omar asked.

"Of course, not!" Karma said, throwing her hands up in the air. Fuming, she and the others made they're toward the council room.

----

The council room was pretty much a big room with a large table with many chair in the center of it. A giant chandelier hung from the ceiling, lighting up the tan and golden room. At the table sat the council members, at the ages of mid-forties to mid-sixties. When Karma entered, the council stood up. "Creator." Said the head of the council, who sat at the very end of table. He wore a robe, like all the councils do, it was the color of red with golden rims. He also was about in his mid-fifties, with brown, greying hair and brown eyes. The man rarely showed any emotion on his rough face. Karma never knew a time that the man smiled.

"Head-Council Marcus." Karma acknowledged. When she, along with Omar sat down, so did the council. Mika decided not to come. "Now," Karma said, eyeing the council. "Why have you summoned me?" Karma took notice on how most of the council members rolled their eyes. Even Head-Council Marcus seem agitated.

"Like all the other times we have summoned you, Creator. Or have you forgotten for the hundredth time?" The Head-Council said, challengingly. Karma folded her hands together and placed them on the table. She shrugged.

"Do refresh my memory." She said, and the Head-Council's face turned red.

"You're here to talk about having to select a king or queen for Arula!!!" He boomed. Taking in a deep breath, he allowed himself to calm down slightly. "The citizens are getting anxious to when a new ruler will be crowned." He leaned back in his chair massaging his temples. Karma looked at Omar with an amused looked, but he gave her a critical look. Rolling her eyes, she spoke firmly.

"Council members," she spoke. "A ruler has yet to be chosen. It is much harder than you think for one to just chose a ruler. There is other work to be concern with than this." Head-Council Marcus gave Karma a dangerous look.

"You've had all the time in the world to what you wish with this world!" He said. "And all you got to do is chose a simple ruler to so!" This time, it was Karma's turn to give the Head-Council a dangerous look.

"And don't you think I actually tried?" The silence that followed told her otherwise. "The last time I chose a leader, he threw you into the dungeons, enslaved most of Arula, and nearly killed thousands of people!" A few mummers went around the table. The next person to speak was an elderly woman around her sixties, Karma had come to know her as Lillia.

"Then why don't you, yourself become queen?" She asked and few nods and shakes of the heads went among the council. 

"Because," Karma said, simply. "It is too much power given to one person. I am the creator of Arula, and being queen means I have to rule a whole world, including, helping create the world. No. It's just too much." Omar nodded in agreement, which to his surprise, so did most of the council.

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Head-Council Marcus asked. And before Karma could answer, the doors to the council room flew open and an injured sprite came stumbling in. He stood there swaying before he fell and fainted.

*1 "la mia piccola stella" ~ "My little star"

******

Thank for reading the preview of World of Worlds. This book, along with its sequels, will be published to Amazon Kindle (only) within the next month or so. The exact date isn't set in stone yet as the book(s) are going through some editing and changes.

To keep up-to-date with all things Arula and other future projects of mine, read my newsletter book titled "Amber's World of News" or follow me to get notified about posts on my wall, and follow my Twitter @AmberWall2000 as well to get more info.

That's it for now!
~Amber