08. Reckoning, page 18
part #8 of Second Skin Series
While the lake appeared quite normal, the instant I focused on it, the strands became visible once more, and I extended my arm as I reached out to take hold of a single individual several yards away. Alone, the solitary creature fell to me easily, almost without a struggle, and I reveled in my victory as my fingers mimed grasping at the distant strand. As I pondered my next step, a soft gasp from behind reminded me of Elistá’s presence—in my triumph, I’d forgotten I wasn’t alone. I didn’t know if I was quite ready to pull off what that brought to mind, but if I could, it would be a rather impressive display for my Tarí…
Although exerting my influence over The Waters was strictly a matter of will, I found that gesturing with my hand helped to focus my concentration. Clamping down with a firm, squeezing motion, I commanded that one strand to freeze before expanding my orders to those around it. Having just the single strand under my control left the others helpless to resist, and in a literal flash, a three-foot-wide ball of ice was floating on the surface of the lake. My breath caught in surprise, yet I continued balling my fingers into a tight fist.
Not only could I hear the sound of the frozen sphere cracking under the strain of my grip, but I could feel the stress as it began to yield under the tremendous pressure. When its limits were finally breached, the giant ball of ice burst apart, launching a shower of water and frigid shards in every direction. As the ripples slowly died down, all that was left of my creation were a slew of miniature icebergs bobbing on the surface.
A broad smile of victory was plastered on my face as I turned around to face Elistá. Our first effort might’ve ended in failure, but the second attempt was an unmitigated success. I was under no illusion that this small victory would guarantee my survival; much more progress would be needed before I could even begin to entertain that notion. I had definitely taken the first step towards that goal, however, and looked forward to sharing the elation I felt with my Tarí.
As I drew close to shore, Elistá’s expression was not what I expected. I’d thought she’d share in my relief and even my sense of accomplishment, but as she stared out at the slowly melting remains of my experiment, her face was twisted in a way that suggested something closer to horror than joy.
“I thought that went well,” I spoke softly as I approached, not understanding the reason for her dismay.
“What you did…” Elistá’s gaze never wavered from the site of the dwindling chunks of ice. “It isn’t possible.”
“The level of control you exerted is inconceivable,” her tone suddenly bordered on revulsion. “Even the Gods themselves lack this level of dominion over the elements.”
“My love, that’s a good thing,” I tried to coax Elistá from her strange fixation. “Or did you forget that a Goddess is trying to murder me?”
“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten about her.” Elistá finally pulled her eyes away from the water to offer me a thin smile, but it wasn’t very convincing.
“Perhaps we’ve done enough for one day?” I extended the olive branch as I gathered up my discarded clothing.
After unlocking the first of my elemental abilities, it wasn’t a bad way to end the day. Of course, I still had three more to go before I’d be willing to even attempt unleashing my Shadows, but the progress certainly boded well for my future.
“I think that might be for the best.”
Rather than offer any indication that we’d resolved the issue, Elistá’s voice rang of hollow agreement. I would have pushed further, but the feeling I got through our bond suggested that it was something better left alone for the time being, and she remained silent as we trudged back towards the cabin. Nika had been absent throughout the day but was lying in the grass with the fresh carcass of a deer when we returned. Elistá walked past without even noticing her presence, only muttering a few words to herself about needing to clean things up as she crossed the grimy porch and retreated inside.
‘What happened?’ Nika’s concern was evident as her gaze lingered over the door Elistá had vanished behind.
I’m not sure, I replied, still completely baffled by the situation. I was able to figure out how to manipulate water, but instead of being happy, she seemed almost… disturbed by my methods.
‘This is good news.’ Nika smiled in her cat-like way, and I was relieved to feel her sharing my sense of accomplishment.
So, you gonna eat that whole thing, or were you intending to share? I gestured towards Nika’s kill, diverting our conversation away from the topic of Elistá’s inexplicable mood.
‘There’s more than enough,’ she answered, inviting me to take a portion as she drew back her paw to uncover the carcass.
Despite her boast, considering Nika’s size and the demands of her appetite, the small deer barely had enough meat on its bones to count as a snack for her. Still, I wasn’t going to turn down her offer of fresh venison, so I drew my blade and began peeling away a section of its hide. Cutting my way to one of the tender backstraps, I carved out two thick slabs, leaving the rest for Nika to enjoy. By that time, my shorts had finally dried out, and after wiping the blood from my hands, I was able to get fully dressed again. Nika was already tearing off large chunks when I began walking away, taking a short detour to harvest a handful of wild onions on my trip back to the cabin.
Elistá was nowhere in sight; the front room was completely empty when I entered. There weren’t many places to hide in the small three-room space, so I didn’t bother trying to hunt her down. She clearly needed some time to come to terms with whatever troubled her about my abilities, so I left Elistá to her own devices while I began preparing a dinner that I hoped would lift her spirits.
I used to love to cook extravagant meals for my family. The effort I put into it was more than rewarded by how much they enjoyed the feasts. Although I lacked the tools and ingredients for one of my more ‘epic’ dishes, I did the best with what I had. While the steaks seared in one pan, I began caramelizing the onions into a sweet relish in another. The aroma managed to draw Elistá out of hiding by the time I was finished, yet she barely reacted when I set the plate in front of her.
After skipping lunch, I was practically starving, so I dug in the moment I took my seat. While I wolfed down my portion, Elistá seemed to take no pleasure in hers as she ate at a far more deliberate pace. Hints of her unusual mood filtered through our bond the entire time, and we finished our meal in silence. Even so, Elistá managed to consume every last bite before she rose from the table, and without uttering a word of thanks, retreated back to the bedroom.
As I cleaned up the mess, I realized that Elistá’s reservations ran far deeper than I’d first imagined. Initially, I’d assumed that she was just a bit overwhelmed by how abruptly my powers had manifested, but there was clearly much more to it than that. Once the last dish was clean, I tossed the wet washcloth aside and reluctantly followed after Elistá.
She was climbing into bed as I opened the door, her figure hidden beneath a long, flowing nightgown. While it was certainly a lovely garment, after my accomplishments that day, I’d been looking forward to celebrating that success with something a little bit… more that evening. Or even better, something a lot less. But that was definitely not on Elistá’s agenda. Although I was disappointed as I got ready to join her, I understood that resolving the issues that were troubling her mind was far more important.
Even after I’d slipped under the covers, Elistá remained on her side of the bed, distancing herself from me in more than just a physical sense. Thankfully, she yielded when I cautiously pulled her closer, but never looked me in the eye as her head came to rest on my shoulder.
“You’re going to have to explain this to me,” I said softly, running my fingers through the long strands of Elistá’s hair. “Probably with very small words.”
A slight smile crossed her lips at my attempted humor but then faded away just as fast as it had appeared. Her lungs filled as she steadied herself with a deep breath, and then the words finally began to flow.
“You don’t seem to realize how dangerous your ability is,” Elistá laid still as she began her explanation, never lifting her head from my shoulder or even glancing up to look me in the eye as she spoke. “The way you exerted your influence over The Waters is absolutely terrifying.”
“I’ve peered inside your heart. I know that we can trust you, but others would use this sort of power for evil purposes.” Elistá’s fingers dug into my skin as she went on, and a sense of apprehension and even terror drifted through our link. “Knowledge of this talent would lead to our enslavement. It would be the end of us.”
“You can’t tell anyone how you’re able to do the things you do,” she pleaded, finally sitting up to meet my gaze. “No one else can ever be allowed to wield this power.”
As healers, Elistá’s Order had a deep attachment to The Waters, evidenced by the way she’d referred to them collectively as ‘we’ and ‘us.’ That seemed perfectly natural. It was only through them that her Order was able to access their curative magic and other spells. While I understood her desire to preserve their sanctity, I didn’t fully comprehend the reasons for her profound concern. My methods were unique and would ultimately be more powerful than the spells others employed, but the results weren’t all that dissimilar.
“Aren’t there already summoning spells that allow Evokers to command the elements?” I inquired, trying to uncover the source of her fears.
“No,” Elistá’s voice filled with despair as her head shook slightly. “Not the way you do.”
“Those spells have limits and boundaries,” she clarified after noticing my confusion. “No Evoker, no matter how powerful, could ever force an elemental to do anything that violated those terms.”
“But I could,” I was barely able to speak the words when her concerns suddenly became all too clear.
Seizing absolute control over even a tiny portion of The Waters was only a small step, but it was a first step none the less. Played out on a larger scale, there was only one inevitable outcome: The complete and total subjugation of an entire race of beings. I couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Do I have to stop?” I asked the question, not sure that I wanted to hear her answer.
“You’re not causing any real harm by yourself.” Seeing that I finally understood, Elistá offered me a reassuring smile. “But you do have to promise me that you won’t share the secret of your abilities—with anyone.”
“I’m not sure the effect could be duplicated even if I told them how it’s done.” Elistá’s eyes narrowed slightly before I could finish the thought. “But there’s no reason to take any chances.”
“Thank you.” A soft breath escaped her as a rush of relief flooded through our bond.
Elistá’s shoulders fell as the tension that had been lodged there slowly began to subside, and I coaxed her back to me as we settled in beneath the covers. Darkness had fallen while we’d been talking, and the only illumination came from the flicker of a lone candle as it sputtered its last breaths. Pulling her closer, the long strands of her golden-brown hair shined like spun copper, almost glowing as they reflected the subtle light
Despite the apparent resolution, a thin current of anxiety still flowed from Elistá. In an attempt to soothe her, I traced my hand across her back, scratching her skin softly with my fingernails. She let out a purr of satisfaction once I found the right spot, arching her spine gracefully to guide me along. It might not have been the ending I’d been looking forward to, but after the difficult conversation, the return of Elistá’s affection was rewarding enough.
26
Daylight had barely begun seeping through the dirty windowpanes when the sound of Elistá snoring softly in my ear drove me from my slumber. Having been rudely awakened by far worse, I couldn’t complain. I managed to sneak out from under the covers and slip away without disturbing her, no real surprise considering all the practice I’d had.
I headed outside after a quick bite to eat, but without an actual destination in mind, I came to a halt almost instantly. The large lake only a stone’s throw away had been an obvious choice for attempting to decipher the secrets of Water magic, but my goal that morning was to duplicate that feat with Earth. Once that was done, I’d move on to Air, tackling Fire next before Shadow. At least, that was the plan.
The area was protected by the enchantments The Waters had placed upon the lands, and the lake served as a focal point for their magic, but there was no similarly obvious location for my study of the other elements. Since no one place seemed to offer any real benefit, I wandered around for a short while searching for a comfortable spot. The remains of a small fallen tree promised at least a decent place to rest, so I sat down and pondered my next move.
Obviously, I couldn’t simply immerse myself in the ground as I had done in the lake. Or, maybe I could, but that sure as hell wasn’t going to be my first option. Instead, I let my fingers burrow into the soft soil, exploring its texture and… earthiness? Either way, it didn’t offer much enlightenment, only a pair of dirty hands and blackened fingernails.
In frustration, I left the spot behind, wandering aimlessly again as I tried to come up with a new approach. Kicking a rock ahead of me as I walked along, I watched it bounce across the ground before coming to a stop with a ‘clack’ when it struck a larger stone.
There are… moments in life when things happen, and you realize they’re important, but you have no idea why. This was one of those moments. I knew there was something special about the stone I’d come across, though I had no idea how or why that knowledge popped into my mind. I knelt down to retrieve the fist-sized rock, but as I took hold of the dusty brown chunk of stone, it spoke to me. Not in words, but in a strange series of images.
The Earth viewed things in a manner that was completely alien to my mind. Although I couldn’t decipher the pictures, not directly at least, their meaning was still clear enough somehow. My sudden appearance in this world had been recognized, not only by the elements themselves but by the entire planet. Despite my unusual origins, I’d been accepted as another Sintári, and the mystical energies I was seeking were reaching out to welcome me home. Gaining access to the power of those forces was the key to my survival, and I’d been concerned over how long it might take for me to uncover their mysteries. While I was still faced with a daunting task, knowing that they were trying to guide my hand offered me hope—a ray of light I desperately needed.
Just like the lake was a focus for the energy of The Waters, the stone I’d stumbled across was similarly attuned to the power of Earth. Not that it held the same degree of potency, but it was a resonance point of sorts. I closed my eyes and gripped the rock tightly between my fingers, trying to pry loose its secrets. But as my luck would have it, things weren’t quite that easy—although the rough surface of the stone dug into my skin, my efforts went unrewarded. Still, at least I knew that I was on the right path, so I took a short break as I searched for a new approach.
My insight into The Waters had come almost by accident. All I’d done was gaze at the lake’s surface when its depths had suddenly become apparent. As different as Earth was, I wondered if that same strategy might also work. The rock didn’t exactly have ‘depths’ to look into, but I thought perhaps it was the concept of the process that might be more important than its reality.
Despite my initial impression, after taking a closer look, I discovered that the stone wasn’t quite as featureless as I’d thought. Thin veins of rich yellow ran along its surface, and when I drew it towards my eyes, sunlight sparkled off the tiny hints of metallic flake I hadn’t noticed before. My initial quick glance had only seen a featureless lump, but a thorough inspection revealed so much more than that.
I placed the rock back on the ground as I contemplated my discovery. Of course, it just sat there while I considered my next move, reminding me how I’d been lucky to have stumbled upon it in the first place. It would’ve still been lying in the same spot where I’d found it had I not been kicking the smaller stone across the ground. Although capable of exerting tremendous force under the right conditions, unlike the constantly flowing waters, Earth was an element that preferred the comfort of stability over motion.
Annnnd, it seemed like that little bit of insight was all it took…
Unlike viewing into the depth of The Waters, Earth revealed its nature to me through another series of images sent directly to my mind. Although they were somewhat clearer than before, the pictures still had the same unfamiliar quality to them, yet their message was plain enough. While The Waters functioned as a single collective of sorts, Earth was a loosely associated group of individual entities. They generally acted in a supportive manner, protecting and nurturing all who lived on their surface, but they were also capable of wielding terrifying powers when roused to action. Their protective nature left them longing to rise up against the many depravities that had and still were occurring all across the land, but the restrictions placed upon the Earth left them helpless to intervene. Sensing the unique nature of my power, the Earth elementals offered themselves to me willingly, asking only for the opportunity to avenge some portion of the evils they’d been forced to observe. It was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse.
The moment the images faded from my mind, I picked the rock up off the ground. Despite its bulk, I didn’t intend to leave the talisman behind. Using my newfound talent for the first time, I concentrated on the rock, trying to reduce it to a less cumbersome size. As before, mimicking the action with my hand helped focus my mental efforts, and the stone began contracting beneath my fingertips.
The rock shrank slowly, growing increasingly dark as it did. Remembering the fate of the icy sphere, I stopped when I felt the stress inside it beginning to build. By then, the fist-sized stone had been transformed into a slick, jet-black marble, and even though it was much smaller, the pebble still retained all of its former weight. I marveled at the change for a while before pocketing the trophy and rising off the ground to test the limits of my abilities even further.
Although exerting my influence over The Waters was strictly a matter of will, I found that gesturing with my hand helped to focus my concentration. Clamping down with a firm, squeezing motion, I commanded that one strand to freeze before expanding my orders to those around it. Having just the single strand under my control left the others helpless to resist, and in a literal flash, a three-foot-wide ball of ice was floating on the surface of the lake. My breath caught in surprise, yet I continued balling my fingers into a tight fist.
Not only could I hear the sound of the frozen sphere cracking under the strain of my grip, but I could feel the stress as it began to yield under the tremendous pressure. When its limits were finally breached, the giant ball of ice burst apart, launching a shower of water and frigid shards in every direction. As the ripples slowly died down, all that was left of my creation were a slew of miniature icebergs bobbing on the surface.
A broad smile of victory was plastered on my face as I turned around to face Elistá. Our first effort might’ve ended in failure, but the second attempt was an unmitigated success. I was under no illusion that this small victory would guarantee my survival; much more progress would be needed before I could even begin to entertain that notion. I had definitely taken the first step towards that goal, however, and looked forward to sharing the elation I felt with my Tarí.
As I drew close to shore, Elistá’s expression was not what I expected. I’d thought she’d share in my relief and even my sense of accomplishment, but as she stared out at the slowly melting remains of my experiment, her face was twisted in a way that suggested something closer to horror than joy.
“I thought that went well,” I spoke softly as I approached, not understanding the reason for her dismay.
“What you did…” Elistá’s gaze never wavered from the site of the dwindling chunks of ice. “It isn’t possible.”
“The level of control you exerted is inconceivable,” her tone suddenly bordered on revulsion. “Even the Gods themselves lack this level of dominion over the elements.”
“My love, that’s a good thing,” I tried to coax Elistá from her strange fixation. “Or did you forget that a Goddess is trying to murder me?”
“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten about her.” Elistá finally pulled her eyes away from the water to offer me a thin smile, but it wasn’t very convincing.
“Perhaps we’ve done enough for one day?” I extended the olive branch as I gathered up my discarded clothing.
After unlocking the first of my elemental abilities, it wasn’t a bad way to end the day. Of course, I still had three more to go before I’d be willing to even attempt unleashing my Shadows, but the progress certainly boded well for my future.
“I think that might be for the best.”
Rather than offer any indication that we’d resolved the issue, Elistá’s voice rang of hollow agreement. I would have pushed further, but the feeling I got through our bond suggested that it was something better left alone for the time being, and she remained silent as we trudged back towards the cabin. Nika had been absent throughout the day but was lying in the grass with the fresh carcass of a deer when we returned. Elistá walked past without even noticing her presence, only muttering a few words to herself about needing to clean things up as she crossed the grimy porch and retreated inside.
‘What happened?’ Nika’s concern was evident as her gaze lingered over the door Elistá had vanished behind.
I’m not sure, I replied, still completely baffled by the situation. I was able to figure out how to manipulate water, but instead of being happy, she seemed almost… disturbed by my methods.
‘This is good news.’ Nika smiled in her cat-like way, and I was relieved to feel her sharing my sense of accomplishment.
So, you gonna eat that whole thing, or were you intending to share? I gestured towards Nika’s kill, diverting our conversation away from the topic of Elistá’s inexplicable mood.
‘There’s more than enough,’ she answered, inviting me to take a portion as she drew back her paw to uncover the carcass.
Despite her boast, considering Nika’s size and the demands of her appetite, the small deer barely had enough meat on its bones to count as a snack for her. Still, I wasn’t going to turn down her offer of fresh venison, so I drew my blade and began peeling away a section of its hide. Cutting my way to one of the tender backstraps, I carved out two thick slabs, leaving the rest for Nika to enjoy. By that time, my shorts had finally dried out, and after wiping the blood from my hands, I was able to get fully dressed again. Nika was already tearing off large chunks when I began walking away, taking a short detour to harvest a handful of wild onions on my trip back to the cabin.
Elistá was nowhere in sight; the front room was completely empty when I entered. There weren’t many places to hide in the small three-room space, so I didn’t bother trying to hunt her down. She clearly needed some time to come to terms with whatever troubled her about my abilities, so I left Elistá to her own devices while I began preparing a dinner that I hoped would lift her spirits.
I used to love to cook extravagant meals for my family. The effort I put into it was more than rewarded by how much they enjoyed the feasts. Although I lacked the tools and ingredients for one of my more ‘epic’ dishes, I did the best with what I had. While the steaks seared in one pan, I began caramelizing the onions into a sweet relish in another. The aroma managed to draw Elistá out of hiding by the time I was finished, yet she barely reacted when I set the plate in front of her.
After skipping lunch, I was practically starving, so I dug in the moment I took my seat. While I wolfed down my portion, Elistá seemed to take no pleasure in hers as she ate at a far more deliberate pace. Hints of her unusual mood filtered through our bond the entire time, and we finished our meal in silence. Even so, Elistá managed to consume every last bite before she rose from the table, and without uttering a word of thanks, retreated back to the bedroom.
As I cleaned up the mess, I realized that Elistá’s reservations ran far deeper than I’d first imagined. Initially, I’d assumed that she was just a bit overwhelmed by how abruptly my powers had manifested, but there was clearly much more to it than that. Once the last dish was clean, I tossed the wet washcloth aside and reluctantly followed after Elistá.
She was climbing into bed as I opened the door, her figure hidden beneath a long, flowing nightgown. While it was certainly a lovely garment, after my accomplishments that day, I’d been looking forward to celebrating that success with something a little bit… more that evening. Or even better, something a lot less. But that was definitely not on Elistá’s agenda. Although I was disappointed as I got ready to join her, I understood that resolving the issues that were troubling her mind was far more important.
Even after I’d slipped under the covers, Elistá remained on her side of the bed, distancing herself from me in more than just a physical sense. Thankfully, she yielded when I cautiously pulled her closer, but never looked me in the eye as her head came to rest on my shoulder.
“You’re going to have to explain this to me,” I said softly, running my fingers through the long strands of Elistá’s hair. “Probably with very small words.”
A slight smile crossed her lips at my attempted humor but then faded away just as fast as it had appeared. Her lungs filled as she steadied herself with a deep breath, and then the words finally began to flow.
“You don’t seem to realize how dangerous your ability is,” Elistá laid still as she began her explanation, never lifting her head from my shoulder or even glancing up to look me in the eye as she spoke. “The way you exerted your influence over The Waters is absolutely terrifying.”
“I’ve peered inside your heart. I know that we can trust you, but others would use this sort of power for evil purposes.” Elistá’s fingers dug into my skin as she went on, and a sense of apprehension and even terror drifted through our link. “Knowledge of this talent would lead to our enslavement. It would be the end of us.”
“You can’t tell anyone how you’re able to do the things you do,” she pleaded, finally sitting up to meet my gaze. “No one else can ever be allowed to wield this power.”
As healers, Elistá’s Order had a deep attachment to The Waters, evidenced by the way she’d referred to them collectively as ‘we’ and ‘us.’ That seemed perfectly natural. It was only through them that her Order was able to access their curative magic and other spells. While I understood her desire to preserve their sanctity, I didn’t fully comprehend the reasons for her profound concern. My methods were unique and would ultimately be more powerful than the spells others employed, but the results weren’t all that dissimilar.
“Aren’t there already summoning spells that allow Evokers to command the elements?” I inquired, trying to uncover the source of her fears.
“No,” Elistá’s voice filled with despair as her head shook slightly. “Not the way you do.”
“Those spells have limits and boundaries,” she clarified after noticing my confusion. “No Evoker, no matter how powerful, could ever force an elemental to do anything that violated those terms.”
“But I could,” I was barely able to speak the words when her concerns suddenly became all too clear.
Seizing absolute control over even a tiny portion of The Waters was only a small step, but it was a first step none the less. Played out on a larger scale, there was only one inevitable outcome: The complete and total subjugation of an entire race of beings. I couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Do I have to stop?” I asked the question, not sure that I wanted to hear her answer.
“You’re not causing any real harm by yourself.” Seeing that I finally understood, Elistá offered me a reassuring smile. “But you do have to promise me that you won’t share the secret of your abilities—with anyone.”
“I’m not sure the effect could be duplicated even if I told them how it’s done.” Elistá’s eyes narrowed slightly before I could finish the thought. “But there’s no reason to take any chances.”
“Thank you.” A soft breath escaped her as a rush of relief flooded through our bond.
Elistá’s shoulders fell as the tension that had been lodged there slowly began to subside, and I coaxed her back to me as we settled in beneath the covers. Darkness had fallen while we’d been talking, and the only illumination came from the flicker of a lone candle as it sputtered its last breaths. Pulling her closer, the long strands of her golden-brown hair shined like spun copper, almost glowing as they reflected the subtle light
Despite the apparent resolution, a thin current of anxiety still flowed from Elistá. In an attempt to soothe her, I traced my hand across her back, scratching her skin softly with my fingernails. She let out a purr of satisfaction once I found the right spot, arching her spine gracefully to guide me along. It might not have been the ending I’d been looking forward to, but after the difficult conversation, the return of Elistá’s affection was rewarding enough.
26
Daylight had barely begun seeping through the dirty windowpanes when the sound of Elistá snoring softly in my ear drove me from my slumber. Having been rudely awakened by far worse, I couldn’t complain. I managed to sneak out from under the covers and slip away without disturbing her, no real surprise considering all the practice I’d had.
I headed outside after a quick bite to eat, but without an actual destination in mind, I came to a halt almost instantly. The large lake only a stone’s throw away had been an obvious choice for attempting to decipher the secrets of Water magic, but my goal that morning was to duplicate that feat with Earth. Once that was done, I’d move on to Air, tackling Fire next before Shadow. At least, that was the plan.
The area was protected by the enchantments The Waters had placed upon the lands, and the lake served as a focal point for their magic, but there was no similarly obvious location for my study of the other elements. Since no one place seemed to offer any real benefit, I wandered around for a short while searching for a comfortable spot. The remains of a small fallen tree promised at least a decent place to rest, so I sat down and pondered my next move.
Obviously, I couldn’t simply immerse myself in the ground as I had done in the lake. Or, maybe I could, but that sure as hell wasn’t going to be my first option. Instead, I let my fingers burrow into the soft soil, exploring its texture and… earthiness? Either way, it didn’t offer much enlightenment, only a pair of dirty hands and blackened fingernails.
In frustration, I left the spot behind, wandering aimlessly again as I tried to come up with a new approach. Kicking a rock ahead of me as I walked along, I watched it bounce across the ground before coming to a stop with a ‘clack’ when it struck a larger stone.
There are… moments in life when things happen, and you realize they’re important, but you have no idea why. This was one of those moments. I knew there was something special about the stone I’d come across, though I had no idea how or why that knowledge popped into my mind. I knelt down to retrieve the fist-sized rock, but as I took hold of the dusty brown chunk of stone, it spoke to me. Not in words, but in a strange series of images.
The Earth viewed things in a manner that was completely alien to my mind. Although I couldn’t decipher the pictures, not directly at least, their meaning was still clear enough somehow. My sudden appearance in this world had been recognized, not only by the elements themselves but by the entire planet. Despite my unusual origins, I’d been accepted as another Sintári, and the mystical energies I was seeking were reaching out to welcome me home. Gaining access to the power of those forces was the key to my survival, and I’d been concerned over how long it might take for me to uncover their mysteries. While I was still faced with a daunting task, knowing that they were trying to guide my hand offered me hope—a ray of light I desperately needed.
Just like the lake was a focus for the energy of The Waters, the stone I’d stumbled across was similarly attuned to the power of Earth. Not that it held the same degree of potency, but it was a resonance point of sorts. I closed my eyes and gripped the rock tightly between my fingers, trying to pry loose its secrets. But as my luck would have it, things weren’t quite that easy—although the rough surface of the stone dug into my skin, my efforts went unrewarded. Still, at least I knew that I was on the right path, so I took a short break as I searched for a new approach.
My insight into The Waters had come almost by accident. All I’d done was gaze at the lake’s surface when its depths had suddenly become apparent. As different as Earth was, I wondered if that same strategy might also work. The rock didn’t exactly have ‘depths’ to look into, but I thought perhaps it was the concept of the process that might be more important than its reality.
Despite my initial impression, after taking a closer look, I discovered that the stone wasn’t quite as featureless as I’d thought. Thin veins of rich yellow ran along its surface, and when I drew it towards my eyes, sunlight sparkled off the tiny hints of metallic flake I hadn’t noticed before. My initial quick glance had only seen a featureless lump, but a thorough inspection revealed so much more than that.
I placed the rock back on the ground as I contemplated my discovery. Of course, it just sat there while I considered my next move, reminding me how I’d been lucky to have stumbled upon it in the first place. It would’ve still been lying in the same spot where I’d found it had I not been kicking the smaller stone across the ground. Although capable of exerting tremendous force under the right conditions, unlike the constantly flowing waters, Earth was an element that preferred the comfort of stability over motion.
Annnnd, it seemed like that little bit of insight was all it took…
Unlike viewing into the depth of The Waters, Earth revealed its nature to me through another series of images sent directly to my mind. Although they were somewhat clearer than before, the pictures still had the same unfamiliar quality to them, yet their message was plain enough. While The Waters functioned as a single collective of sorts, Earth was a loosely associated group of individual entities. They generally acted in a supportive manner, protecting and nurturing all who lived on their surface, but they were also capable of wielding terrifying powers when roused to action. Their protective nature left them longing to rise up against the many depravities that had and still were occurring all across the land, but the restrictions placed upon the Earth left them helpless to intervene. Sensing the unique nature of my power, the Earth elementals offered themselves to me willingly, asking only for the opportunity to avenge some portion of the evils they’d been forced to observe. It was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse.
The moment the images faded from my mind, I picked the rock up off the ground. Despite its bulk, I didn’t intend to leave the talisman behind. Using my newfound talent for the first time, I concentrated on the rock, trying to reduce it to a less cumbersome size. As before, mimicking the action with my hand helped focus my mental efforts, and the stone began contracting beneath my fingertips.
The rock shrank slowly, growing increasingly dark as it did. Remembering the fate of the icy sphere, I stopped when I felt the stress inside it beginning to build. By then, the fist-sized stone had been transformed into a slick, jet-black marble, and even though it was much smaller, the pebble still retained all of its former weight. I marveled at the change for a while before pocketing the trophy and rising off the ground to test the limits of my abilities even further.
