Origin (Land of the Elementals Book 3), page 27
“It was around that time that we had another convergence, a time when gates to both the Upper and Lower Realms were opened. The Heavenly races, already confident in their victory, remained where they were, whispering into Titus’s ear and guiding him on his path of conquest. The Demons saw their opportunity and sent an emissary to talk with those who had yet to be conquered.
“By some horrible stroke of luck, I ended up at that meeting and was once again talked into crafting a weapon. This one was simply designed to counteract the Origin and bring it back under control. So, along with the help of several others, we once again hunted down a powerful beast, a lion this time, and forged a pendant of shining metal.
“The demons supplied us with blood and another special metal, and from that, we created what we believed to be our salvation. They then took it to imbue with a special type of magic, and we, like the fools we were, trusted that it would be returned to us. What we didn’t know was that the Demons had sent an emissary to Titus as well, and had convinced him that they could offer him far more power than the Heavenly races ever could.
“Being the greedy man that he was, Titus thought he could play both sides, and eagerly accepted the pendant. He then followed the instructions of the Demons and created an entirely new race, one in their likeness, and used the very blood supplied by them in their creation. Gremlins were born, but unlike with the elves, they were born without the option to rebel. You see, the pendant that was created was done so with a singular purpose — to control the gremlins and assure that they would never rebel, unlike the elves.”
Arbor looked down at the gleaming pendant sitting around his neck, the true horror of what he was wearing finally sinking in.
“Yes,” Silver said sadly. “That pendant, bathed in the blood of Demons, is known as the Pendant of Control. It was designed with the singular purpose of enslaving a race and keeping them meek and subversive.
“With the power of his new army, Titus once again declared war on Laedrin, and using the massive power he’d built up in the world, he began slaughtering all those who stood in his path. Finally, unable to stand it any longer, the other races decided to fight back. Despite the odds, the salamanders, elves, dwarves, and humans, all banded together and faced the gremlin hordes in the Endless Wood.
“I’m sure you remember the history I taught, the one remembered by all. Sadly, that recounting of history is completely made up. There were no betrayals, no backstabbing for lands, but a desperate battle to stop a tyrant from ruling the entire world. Fire was brought forth from the earth and sky as the magic Titus had pumped into the world ran wild. The Flatlands were created as the Endless Wood burned, and Titus himself was forced to make an appearance.
“It was there, when he was exposed and weakened, that he was finally brought down. The pendant he so cherished, the one that gave him control over the gremlins, was lost, and the dagger, the one that had killed my grandfather, was retrieved by me. I killed that man with my own hands and took the Origin for myself. With the prize in hand, I fled the ruins of the battlefield and headed back to my people.
“What I didn’t know was that Titus had left an heir, one that would lead to the ruin of my people. However, that is a story for another time…”
33
“Wait…Is that it?” Arbor asked as Silver trailed off. “That’s the whole story?”
He was truly horrified, but there was still so much that was missing. Like how his father, a carpenter living far from anywhere really, had come into possession of the horrific artifact lying around his neck. Or why the gremlins had continued to serve the human king, even after losing the pendant. Or what this all had to do with Zir, or how he’d ended up with the Origin.
“Of course not,” Silver replied. “Now, if you’ll just calm down, I can finish the story.”
Arbor was a bit embarrassed at his outburst, so he did as he was told and simply sat back as Silver continued.
“Titus’s heir soon showed himself to be an even bigger monster than his father. He had magic, the likes of which had never been seen before, and worse, he seemed to have an affinity unmatched by anyone of his race. After a prolonged war with so many casualties, he simply didn’t have the forces needed to launch a widescale war. That didn’t mean he wasn’t plotting though, and my race would soon learn the true depths of his depravity.
“In the meanwhile, I, as the new holder of the Origin, was approached by the Heavenly and Demonic races, each trying to sway me to their cause. Having seen the devastation wreaked upon this world, I wanted no part and made a pact of my own. One that would change the fate of the world and how magic worked in general.
“It was not an easy task to complete, but after the deal was struck, I was implanted with the Origin and entrusted to be its guardian. With the help of the two races, the wild magic was tamed and implanted in the children of the next generation, so that what happened to the forest would never happen again. The dwarves could not be joined in the pact, as their race simply had never been given an affinity in the first place, while the elves and salamanders, who’d been steeped in magic, were given more.
“The humans and gremlins remained neutral, though when I asked why the gremlins were not being freed after the loss of the pendant, the Demons told me that they would be forever enslaved to the bloodline of whoever had last had the pendant until it would fall into another’s hands.
“As you might guess, I spent many a year searching for the pendant to try and free the gremlins, but to no avail. It, like a massive portion of the Endless Wood, had vanished. I was also forced to abandon my search when word reached me of my people’s plight. As the guardian of the Origin, though, I was forced by the agreement between the Heavenly and Demonic races to remain neutral.
“Choosing sides was what had started all this conflict in the first place, and so, I was forced to watch as my people were destroyed. Their power should have protected them, but Titus’s son seemed to have a magic that could rival even theirs. Despite my promise to remain neutral, I did confront him once, demanding he put an end to the madness. All that did was put me square in his sight.
“As the new bearer of the Origin, it was clear that I had power, and as the son of Titus, that power was believed to be rightfully his. He pursued me for years, until I finally gave up and went into hiding. For millennia after, I guarded the Origin, keeping the peace on this world and bearing the weight of my decisions in solitude.
“The world advanced, kingdoms were raised, and borders were drawn. The races thrived, new histories were written, and the horrors of the Origin were forgotten. Gremlins, as close relations with the Demons, soon discovered summoning, though their summons were often those too weak to do any real damage. Every once in a while, someone of note would make it through, and it was on just one such occasion, some fifteen years ago, when a Demon Lord came into contact with an elf named Zir.
“Zir was ambitious, and like many mortals over the years, he struck a deal with the Demon, one that would allow him to achieve his ambitions of ruling all of Laedrin. At first, I didn’t think much of it, as so many mortals had struck deals over the years. However, as he began to set his plans into motion, it soon became clear that he had taken something from the Demons, something that no mortal, no matter how desperate, had ever taken before.
“I could see the beginnings of a conflict, even back then, and the repercussions that the world would face as a result. But the Demons were not actually breaking the Accords, so there was little I could do about it. As a neutral party, I was forced to sit and watch as he enacted his plans, making dark sacrifices and butchering innocents to increase his own personal strength. I had lived through many atrocities, but I knew that the time had come for me to act, or once again face the possibility of another worldwide war.
“I began to search for an answer, looking at the strings of fate, and soon found a way out. I needed to shed some of my burden if I were to help, so I did the only thing I could - I began to search for a new bearer to take part of the Origin. I needed to unburden enough to allow me to act, but not so much as to place the world in serious danger. I also needed to find someone who I believed would be a good match, someone who could manage their destructive tendencies and temper it with logic.
“For many years, I came up short, but then, one day, you stumbled into my neck of the woods. I thought of simply taking you to the nearest town, but I received the shock of my life when I saw you carrying the Pendant of Control. I had thought it was lost forever, yet there you were, a youth of only eighteen, carrying one of the most powerful weapons in the world.
“I debated taking it from you, but after living as long as I have, decided that fate had brought us together. When I discovered your magic, I started to become convinced that you had to be the one I was searching for, and once the Origin began to resonate with you, I knew that you were the one. So, one night, as you slept, I implanted half of the Origin within you, trusting you to manage its power.
“Only a small thread of Creation sits within your body, while the voice of Destruction rages through your soul. Now, before you ask, I had a very good reason for splitting the Origin in that way, and it’s because Destruction is far easier to manage than Creation. I had originally planned on giving that to your sister and finally freeing myself of this burden, but Karria developed a second core of her own, which leaves no room for Creation.
“After seeing how well you’ve managed to handle Destruction, I will be entrusting you with the other half. Destiny is a funny thing, Arbor, and it comes for us when we least expect it. I know you might hate me for putting you in the position I have, but please allow me to finish the story first, and then ask your questions.”
Arbor stared at the man, wondering just how much more he could take in one day. The pendant around his neck was a device to enslave an entire race. Zir had made a deal with Demons to take control of all of Laedrin, and now he was being put in charge of the Origin, the literal source of all magic. And, even worse than that, it seemed that the insane power he’d been displaying this whole time had only been half of the Origin.
He was angry at Silver for having gotten him involved against his will, but also desperately needed some answers. So, despite the fact that he was practically bursting with questions, Arbor nodded, allowing Silver to continue his explanation.
“By giving you the Origin, I have broken the Accords between the Demonic and Heavenly races,” Silver continued. “But judging by Zir’s actions and the way in which he was circumventing the Accords, it was my only course of action, and, for several months, my plans went undetected. However, they didn’t stay quiet for as long as I’d hoped, as you were forced to face that Elemental, and in doing so, brought the attention of the Demons upon yourself.
“Zir, as a pawn of the Demons, has been trying to kill you ever since by sending assassins after you. The Heavenly races have begun to stir, and as a result, the Demons decided their best action was to try and get ahold of the Origin themselves by transporting you to their lands. Right now, we are in the Lower Realms, the world of the Demons and their kind.
“My guess is that you were supposed to be transported straight into a dungeon of some sort, but the interference of the Origin and their lack of knowledge as to how much of it you actually have, threw off their calculations. Right now, they’re likely hunting for you, trying to pin down your location, so they can extract the Origin for themselves. I cannot help you escape myself, but there is a way back to Laedrin for you, one that will require that you head into the Elemental city.
“It will be extremely risky, but as of now, it is your only way out. Karria will be setting up on the other side, and in exactly eight days from now, the two of you can open a portal to bring you home. You have to…”
Silver trailed off then, his eyes going distant for several long moments before he came back to himself.
“What?” Arbor asked. “I have to what?”
Silver rose quickly, causing Arbor to look around, trying to spot the attackers he was sure were nearby. He didn’t see anyone, and when he turned back, he saw that Silver had crossed the distance between them. His hand flashed out, clamping over his arm, and before Arbor could yank it out of his grip, his entire body locked up as a viscous blackness began oozing into him.
“Stay focused,” Silver said, his voice intense. “Be ready at all times, and above all, do not allow this to fall into the hands of the Demons. I am only giving you this now, because you would stand no chance otherwise, and it does me little good to see you die here. Not after all the work I’ve done to prevent another war.
“You have a good head on your shoulders and a truly righteous heart. Do not second-guess your relationship with the gremlins. They follow you out of a sense of loyalty, not control. All you did was break the king’s hold on them, nothing more. You have given them fair treatment and good lives!”
Silver stepped back then, releasing his arm and staggering a bit, as though he were about to pass out.
Arbor felt about ready to throw up as the blackness oozed down to his Origin, mixing into the white magic and swirling around like dirt at the bottom of a clear pool. His head was spinning, his vision going dark around the edges, yet Silver’s voice still reached him, even through the fog of unconsciousness already threatening to take over.
“The Origin will take some time to attune, and the voices will come soon after. Do not fight it, Arbor. You are going to have to be the voice of reason. Trust your instincts, and keep a level head. The Origin offers immense power and opportunity, but you, unlike I, will not be dealing with the same constraints. You have the power to change the world for the better, so fight for what you believe in and secure our future!”
Arbor barely heard those last words, seeing a blurry Silver vanish into thin air, even as Kya came rushing over. The blackness was heavy within him now, and Arbor vaguely felt himself falling. By the time he hit the ground, he was already out cold.
34
“Please, can’t we convince you to stay? Lord Arbor would be devastated if you were to perish on your mission.”
Karria resisted the urge to roll her eyes as Frunk, the strange gremlin who seemed to think he was her babysitter, tried once again to stop her from leaving. Thankfully, she was spared from answering by Grak, who, at that moment, strode out of the manor with a bag slung over one shoulder.
“Calm down, Frunk. It’s not like she’ll be going alone. She’s got me.”
“As capable as you are, Grak, you’re hardly in any condition to be fighting,” Frunk said dryly.
“Who said anything about fighting?” Hord asked, lifting his head from the large wooden trunk Karria had forged onto the back of her carriage. “We’re just sneaking in and kicking little Jek’s ass off my brother’s throne!”
“Last I checked, kicking of any sort constitutes a fight,” Frunk said.
“Look, Frunk,” Karria said, straightening her back with a series of small pops. “I’m going, whether you like it or not. Arbor needs my help and can’t get back without me. I’ll have both Akkard and Hord to help me sneak in, and Grak to back me up if anything really bad happens. Between the four of us, I’m sure we can handle ourselves.”
Karria swung a leg over the side of her carriage then, sliding into the seat and tying her hair back. She was planning on traveling quickly and knew from previous experience that her long hair would be sent flapping by the wind, making it difficult to see.
Grak got into the seat beside her, though a lot less gracefully, due to her injuries. The gremlin woman had made a remarkable recovery after hearing that Arbor had been trapped in another world. She was still far from being battle-ready, but hoped that in the few days it took them to reach the Jagged Peaks, she’d be well enough to fight if the need arose.
“Please, at least promise me you’ll be careful,” Frunk said with a resigned sigh. “Losing Arbor would be hard enough, but if you were to disappear as well, our entire fledgling settlement would be disbanded. I’m not just saying this to be selfish, but rather, I am saying this as someone who speaks for those of my race who have bucked the system.
“We can’t go back to serving the king, fighting needless battles and having our young raised to be fodder. Arbor was our only hope until we found you, and unless you can get him back, you are our only hope now.”
“Don’t go writing my brother off just yet,” Karria said, pulling the harness over her shoulders. “He’ll be back, and I’m going to be the one to make sure it happens.”
She half-turned then, watching both Hord and Akkard scrambling over the sides. She felt a bit bad about their less-than-graceful entrance, but she hadn’t had the time to adjust the carriage’s height.
“Strap in and hang on,” she said, grabbing ahold of the wheel and reaching for the pulleys with her magic.
Before the two dwarves could do either of those things, Karria took off, pushing the pulleys hard and propelling them forward. She ignored the shouts of alarm as the two of them scrambled to get seated and strapped in, speeding up as she headed down the road. The glittering manor flashed by as she passed, and Karria set her shoulders as she bent her mind to the task of getting them to the Jagged Peaks as quickly as possible.
They’d already been delayed a full day and a half, and now had less than six days to reach the Jagged Peaks. Arbor would already be on his way to the meetup point on the other side, and she wouldn’t disappoint her big brother.
Karria pushed them for the entire day and well into the night, only stopping for a short rest before continuing on. They were nearing the Flatlands by the time the sun was peeking over the horizon, and Karria, despite feeling tired down to her very bones, was glad to see the flat planes opening up before them.
“Oh…Crap. That is not good,” Grak said as Karria pulled her carriage to a halt.
