ALEXiThymiA: Chapter 113 A Gathering of Shards

Chapter 113

A Gathering Of Shards

Friday (Morning)

Once Kelvin decided to finally join Alexa, she found that he was quite the good helper. Despite his status amongst the elves, it was clear that they had at least taught him the basics on how to maneuver through the woods, how to avoid detections. Better still, he had an innate understanding of where different groups would be sent to explore areas.

Originally, if she was doing this zone on her own, she would have gone to the top right corner and found a way to get rid of all the tainted land. Land that caused the plants and animals to slowly rot and decay. As it stood, it seemed that the elves and orcs had a minor treaty with each other, sending out roaming search groups to cleanse different parts of lands by just being on the land.

“Do they know what they are supposed to do here?” Alexa asked, wondering if the knowledge of what this zone was supposed to do.

“No, honestly, this is the first I have heard of these shard things.” Kelvin said, as he held up the three metal sheets that had already been collected. To Alexa’s eyes these sheets glowed with a deep blue aura that screamed that they were the most important part of this entire zone.

At that Alexa just nodded to herself, as she figured the people in these dungeons didn’t know what they were doing.

Silence.

Alexa ran quickly, but it was at a steady sustainable pace, that both she and Kelvin could maintain.

At first Alexa was surprised that she only found one or two roaming groups of orcs and elves alike. While Kelvin helped in the slaughtering of the orc spies, Alexa couldn’t help but notice he was hesitant to act at all when it came to dispatching the elves. Alexa couldn’t blame him, for years these were the people that he knew and that had cared for him, even if they were oppressive, they were still the only family he had ever known.

Finally, they got to the last clearing before they would have to enter the fully blighted lands. The two didn’t know what would happen to them if they entered the lands, nor how long they would have to act before the power of the lands started corrupting them. So they both decided to stop at the border and rest for a second.

“Do you already know what they say?” Kelvin asked, looking at the disks and trying to see how they all played together.

“Yes.” Alexa said, even going so far as to nod.

Another silence.

“Do you mind telling me what it says?” Kelvin asked.

“Nope.” Alexa said.

Kelvin just stared at her, “are you doing this on purpose?”

“No, it says <odd chirping sound>.” As Alexa spoke the word in the language of the Precursors, the three metal plates began to glow and vibrate in Kelvin’s hand.

Cling.

“What was that?” Kelvin all but screamed in excitement as he dropped the plates that he could have sworn burned for a moment. Well burn was not quite the right word to use, tingle? Yes, they tingled in his hands, causing them to feel like they were alive and full of energy.

“That was them showing that I got them correct.” Alexa said.

“Wait, you knew what they were all along?”

“Yes.”

At that Kelvin felt floored, like he was the butt of some incomprehensible joke being conducted by this beautiful, albeit a little off human.

“Then why did we spend the last hour or so running around picking up these shards, shards that you seemed to know exactly where they were by the way.”

At that Alexa nodded in agreement. “This isn’t just for me to know the word, this way you too will know what the word is.”

“Word? You mean like the one you said earlier to…” Kelvin trailed off as he tried to think about the way to describe what he was thinking. In the end no good words came, so he just gestured with his hand all around his head. “To cleanse that?” He asked.

“It wasn’t a cleanse, but it did sever the bonds that held you back from reaching your true potential.” Alexa said, as if that would answer the question fully. To her credit, Kelvin didn’t quite know what it was that he was trying to ask her, so this was as good of an answer as any.

There was another pregnant pause, before Kelvin finally found himself asking. “So, what is our plan now?”

“Now we charge our way through the enemy lines, find the last shard, have you piece them together and then supply them with energy. Then you cast it, we <odd chirping> the land, and go on to stage nine. Well, you go onto stage nine, where I will meet up with you. I have to leave for a bit to slay a dragon here shortly. Don’t worry, during that time I will contact my brother and tell him that your next spot should be with us, outside of the Trials,” Alexa answered.

At that Kelvin paused, “do you think you would need me during these Trials of Ascension that you spoke about?”

“Having an ally would always be helpful,” Alexa answered truthfully.

At that, Kelvin paused staring at Alexa.

Gurgle.

Just before they were about to leave, Kelvin’s stomach rumbled. Hearing the sound, Alexa turned to look at him.

“Sorry, I haven’t had a meal in some time.” Kelvin said.

Hearing that, Alexa just nodded to herself before holding out her hand and Creating first a plate and a cup, then filling said cup with some water, then conjuring some of her Grandmother’s chicken for the starving boy.

Seeing the food Kelvin’s eyes went wide, but he paused, looking at Alexa to see if this was some kind of trick. When Alexa gestured with her hand, in a manner that suggested he take it, Kelvin moved quickly. His hands shot out in a way to grab the food before it could be taken away. Years of torment and ruthless jokes caused at his expense were summarized in that one gesture. Normally the joke would be that the elves would take his food and throw it on the ground if he was too slow or didn’t care.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you wanted it, the way you just stared at it.” They would say cruelly, as they all laughed at his expense. Of course, they only did this when his mother was away, when she had no direct oversight, not that she truly cared. Kelvin was not so dumb as to think that she cared about him, but rather she cared that an assault on him was effectively an assault on her authority, which was something she wouldn’t stand for. He realized this now, especially after his geas had been shattered and he was able to start understanding the true events that had surrounded him for the entirety of his life. He was just a plaything for them, something meant to pass the time until they were needed to either advance another worthy candidate, fully indoctrinate a candidate, or end a potential candidate’s run. By the time they got to his stage, most of the candidates were exhausted, and needed a moment to relax. That was where the fortifications came in. There were exactly two safe locations in the maze and both were occupied by either the elves or the orcs, with both locations occupied, it all but forced the challenger to seek one of the two factions out to rest before completing the trials.

These thoughts and more raced through his mind, as he greedily ate the food that tasted more amazing than anything he had ever eaten.

“Slow down, we have time.” Alexa said, her words cold, but her expression calm. Then just as she said, she created more of the chicken on his plate. Then taking the time, she created her own plate and cup and began eating and drinking. In that moment, Kelvin felt something stir within his chest. In his mind he paused, leaning back slightly to try to take in everything. He caught the way the grass was particularly green under their bodies, the way the foliage of the trees seemed to give them an intimate moment. The way all of his troubles seemed to be so distant, so inconsequential, then he saw the way she was beautiful. Her hair was silky smooth and shiny, having layers of depth, dark hair on the bottom and a top knot of golden light on the top. Also, her frame was large and powerful, with muscles that rippled, easily putting her as larger than any elf he had seen. Seeing her, this Alexa, he could see a drive and passion that pushed her onto greater heights. What was odder still, rather than using others as mere stepping stones, as he had grown accustomed to, this warrior pulled everyone along with her, as if she had both power and time to spare. It was clear that she had prior obligations, that she had found a way to skip out of going directly to the next stage of the trials, and yet she had chosen to stay with him, to work with him, but why?

Finally, after a long moment, Kelvin found himself asking the very question.

“Can I ask why you are doing all of this?”

Hearing that Alexa paused, then nodding to herself she began to speak. “Originally I would have said that it was because you are human, but it is more then that. I would do this for anyone who was being oppressed, or anyone who wanted to improve their station in life. Bringing you with me, costs me little more than time, which while being a precious commodity is not as precious as many of us would think. For time is just a measure of potential, but that potential is meaningless unless you act on it, unless you actually use it to its fullest. Only then will time as a value mean something, only then will it truly have the potential value you mentally assign it in your mind.”

At that Kelvin paused, taking in the concept that she was explaining. Then after a minute, he spoke trying to make sure he understood what she meant. “So, you are investing your time in me, to gain the true potential with your use of time?”

Alexa paused, but then answered, “I guess. Ultimately, just know I am terrible with people. Here in places like these, talking to people like you, these are some of the few times I can work on my social skills.”

“You seem to be doing just fine to me.” Kelvin said, and he meant it too. If his mother didn’t watch out, she would have a true enemy to deal with. Then shaking that thought away, he realized that such thoughts were trappings designed to bind him to his past life, a life he was done with. For better or worse, he had decided to follow this girl, this warrior to wherever she may go, to any battlefield she found herself on.

“Well thank you, though if you are done, I think we should get going.” Alexa said.

“Oh sure, but what should we do with these?” Kelvin asked.

“Do you want to keep them?” Alexa asked.

Hearing that At first Kelvin was about to say no, but then he realized these were the first items someone had ever just given him. They were simple, two metal plates and two metal goblets, enough for two people. Seeing them, he paused and realized that “yes, actually I would.”

Hearing that Alexa nodded, “I figured you might need something to eat from in the future.”

Kelvin began gathering the plates and the goblets, and was about to try to find a way to stash them in his satchel, when Alexa held out her hand and once again Created something out of nothing. This time Kelvin looked on in shock as she was able to produce a back pack with straps and an interlocking buckle at the front.

“Here.” Alexa said, holding out the item.

Seeing the gesture, Kelvin almost broke down right then and there. She just gave him a fully functional backpack, granted it was something she had created out of thin air, but she didn’t need to create the pack for him. There were no demands for servitude, no demands that he beg or ply himself to do favors in the future, it was freely given.

Reaching out his hand, he took the backpack then placed the two plates and cups inside. While he was doing this, Alexa stood up and stretched. At first Kelvin held himself ready, not knowing if this was where she would finally show her true colors, but to his surprise, she just turned away and began going. Kelvin just stared at her for a moment, trying to ingrain this moment, her beauty glowing in the sun’s morning light, the graceful moves she made with each stride, he wanted to take it all in. He knew in this one moment, that this was the best moment of his life, and he felt truly blessed to have had it. Thinking back to her words, he realized that she too likely enjoyed the moment, that whole time being a potential thing. He still didn’t quite get the concept, but he felt this was what she meant, at least slightly.

“Come on, we are almost done.” Alexa said.

“Right.” Kelvin said as he placed the items in the backpack, then thinking about putting the plates in, he paused for a second.

Gah!

Ahhhh!

Cries of pain could be heard coming from up ahead. Hearing the sounds, Kelvin knew it to be an ambush, likely orcish raiders, if the deep gurgling cries of the enemy could be heard. How messed up was his life that he knew intimately the sound that orcs made when they were being slaughtered? Still, she would need help, grabbing the disks, he threw them into the backpack, slung the backpack over his shoulder, then pulled out his sword as he charged forward.

When he got out of the clearing, Alexa was standing over the corpses of no less than five orcs, each with burning scorch marks in their sides, heads, and body. Kelvin could even see the faint glow of Arcane energy around her hands. Seeing that, Kelvin gulped as he realized that if she could conjure glowing hands now, then she could have done so at any time.

Kelvin watched her go over the five bodies and pull forth five augmentation crystals. There he watched as her hand trembled ever so slightly from holding the crystals. “Are you okay?”

“What?” Alexa asked, tearing her gaze away from the crystals, but then had her expression change slightly, as she looked like she had been caught doing something distasteful. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Kelvin paused, looking at her, as she quickly took the five crystals and placed them in her own backpack.

“Come on, lets go.” Alexa said, once her crystals were secure.

“Okay.” Kelvin said, as he followed her through the last patches of grasslands and into the blighted lands.

The minute he entered the field, he could feel an oppressive tickle on his skin. It was the same feeling as if he was walking through invisible spider web after invisible spider web, each web sticking to his face, hands, and mind. The further in he went, the more uncomfortable the whole situation made him feel. Yet, Alexa just barreled through, running in a path that seemed to be a direct collision course for something. Kelvin was sure she had some type of divine powers, maybe an oracular ability, for her ability to determine dungeons, to find hidden resources, they were beyond compare. Even now he followed her as she charged forward and channeled out energy into the ground far ahead. This caused a small fissure to rise up from the ground, and at the top was another missing artifact.

Even from this distance, Kelvin knew that it would be the final piece of the puzzle. The final shard needed to complete the word, a word he was supposed to say for the two of them. Kelvin didn’t know why she would force him to be the one to say it, when they had all four items right here, it would only be a matter of her saying the word, the same word that caused the shards to glow earlier. A word she already knew, but why?

Then Kelvin realized, this had all been for him. She was investing time into him, but why? He was nothing, a no one, not even worthy of being called a human or an elf.

“Here.” Alexa said, having run forward, picked up the fourth shard, and brought it back to him in the time that it took him to think about why he was here, what she was doing.

“Yeah,” Kelvin said, taking the piece, then pausing as he looked for the others, only to find that they were missing. With a slight shock, he panicked and looked towards the woods.

“They are in your backpack.” Alexa said dryly.

“Oh, right.” Kelvin said, a bit of color filling his face, as he felt extremely embarrassed for having already forgotten the gift, no gifts he had just been given. With that, he fished out the three metal plates, and then watched as they all clicked into place like magnets. He held the one combined plate in his hands, for a second and just stared at it. It was beautiful, but what did he do with it? Almost as if reading his mind, Alexa spoke.

“Channel your energy into it. Once you do, you will see the energy connect with your mind. Then once enough energy is channeled into the shard, you will make it go from a simple word to a concept that the universe must acknowledge.”

Hearing that, Kelvin did exactly as she said. With his hand clasping the large solid metal plate, he channeled a bit of his energy into it. As he did, he saw the runes on the sheet begin to spark to life.

Grahh!

Just when he thought it would be easy, the ground began to shake, as monsters buried deep within the ground began to rise up.

“Focus on the word, I will protect you.” Alexa said.

Zizow.

With that an arcing bolt of Arcane energy flew through the air.

Whoosh!

There was an explosion and then a burst of energy as the Arcane bolt landed and then detonated outwards.

The more he focused on the world around him, the more horrors he heard climbing up and moving about. His skin crawled at the thought.

Splat.

The gooey crackling of bones and organs could be heard all around. Out of the corner of his eye Kelvin saw for a second a shambling green orc body rising up and stare at him with ethereally blue glowing eyes. Seeing the look of hunger in the monster’s eyes, Kelvin felt himself tremble slightly, he had seen horrors of the battlefield, but this was something else entirely, here the dead were coming back.

“Close your eyes if you must.” Alexa shouted, as she darted past him.

Whoosh!

Kelvin looked back to find a charred hulking mass of flesh where the zombie had just stood. Seeing that, he visibly relaxed, then decided to trust Alexa. Regardless of what happened, he would have to trust her in this. So closing his eyes, he did just that, focusing solely on letting the energy flow out of his body, into the interconnected three dimensional runes and felt the word come to life.

Gurrh!

Splat.

He felt the splash of slime cover his face and body, but he dared not look. Instead, he only used that as motivation to move faster, to push more energy into the word before him.

Then, just as it was nearing completion, he felt it, the moment the word was filled to the brim with energy.

“What do I do?”

“Say it, say the word.”

“But I don’t know what it is.” He said, feeling a slight sense of panic begin to take him as he realized it would all come down to this, once again he was the weakest link.

“Yes you do, now focus.”

“But I don’t…” Kelvin complained, but then something clicked in his mind. A key turned, and he felt a door open as he realized he did know the word, “Purify.”

WHOOMM!

With that one word, a burst of energy was released, and with it that strange odd tingling sensation that told him something was wrong, was gone. The layers of spiderwebs that had been prickling his skin and senses was no more, and he felt oddly free.

“Here.” Alexa said, pressing something into his hand.

“What? What is this?” He asked, but then the oddly crystalline shape made itself known to him almost immediately, it was an Augmentation Crystal.

“Now come on.” Alexa said, all but hefting Kelvin to his feet, but he was exhausted, his body spent. She wrapped his arm around her shoulder and began carrying him over to a different area.

“Where are we…” Was all Kelvin managed before he first saw the portal exit to the dungeon, that was so similar to the one he had seen only a few days prior. As soon as he found his way forward, the support that had been carrying him, Alexa, disappeared leaving him to support himself.

Thud.

He crashed to the ground, his crystal cracking under the weight of his fall, causing a white hot pain of energy to flow into him.

Blackout.

When he came to, he found himself in yet a third new world that spoke of mystery and danger. As he came to, he felt the intense fear that many other trial takers must have also felt when they barely completed one challenge, only to find themselves at the start of another. Looking around, he saw only dense tropical forests and a foreboding sense of danger.

“Hello, is anyone there?” Kelvin found himself asking, only to hear the slight chirpings and movement of branches that only a forest can offer. For the first time in his life, Kelvin Mackie was truly alone and on his own.