Tales Of The Elements: Darkened Ice

A woman with a majestic pixie cut with long sides in glorious white locks. Her pale purple eyes that bordered white as she glanced over the rows of vials filled with river water. Each labeled with dates in another worldly language. She took a vial and poured a third of it onto a table that hummed to life, the candles going out as the water reached out like tentacles to stand upon the wicks. Those tentacles grew a small humanoid figure at the top that used these tentacles to hold themselves upright. It looked up to her as she sat down.

“Nunga. You found out how to speak to me? Last time you forgot the candles.” The water humanoid spoke, the parting of its lips dripped like a runny tap and she smiled.

“Correct. I think I’m getting used to it all now.” She began, “But… I heard your whispers earlier, you told me to ask about the visitors.” She said and the water humanoid nodded.

“The group of unlikely friends building a symbol of peace for your people.”

Nunga looked confused but thought for a moment.

“So, what does it have to do with me? They sound like a lovely addition to the current forces here.” She said, leaning her cheek in her palm.

“Mighty; they are with you and your brothers help. But without? They are dead.”

“I don’t know… you should know. Heybai hasn’t been the social type after what happened.”

“I know. And I can guess the tension you feel knowing I’d allow such to happen. But all is with reason. Heybai must have space to accept the imperfect to save your universe. Here my warning Nunga Zerfer; A war threatens both your home and many more and only these young heroes create a promising future.” The water shuddered as it dripped.

“Okay. I can’t ignore a warning from you. You are the Author no? But who are these travelers?”

“On a night in a year and hour’s time from now they gather wounded under a tree past the forest and over Kelpie’s territory. There you will aid them if you wish to keep this story alive.” The water dripped more before she nodded and let the water fall on the table.

Nunga sighed and walked over to her calendar that had various times and dates scribbled all over. She flipped through them until finding the next year and circled the exact date and time before looking at her door. She took a deep breath and walked out into the darkened hallway. Cobwebs on all their decorations and the dust settled for months.

She stopped outside the door beside hers and then knocked.

“Heybai… May I come in?” She said softly. After no response she entered anyway to see him on his queen sized bed in the middle of the well decorated but dusty room. He was bent over with his head in his hands. Nunga steps past a part in the floor where the floor boards had been torn up. She then stands in front of him with a mournful gaze at the pictures and children’s drawings all over the floor in front of him.

“Heybai… Brother?” She said and Heybai stayed still and silent. His white hair covering his eyes and unwashed. He had a thick stubble growing, which was a contrast to the usual disciplined look he would have in better circumstances.

“I was speaking to the creator. They need us to… to teach a group of heroes.”

“No…” He said with a cold finality.

“What? We can’t say no brother… It is for the safety of everyone. I’m talking about our whole existence.”

“But not Restoria’s? Or Nitski? Or our grandmother?” He stood his posture too broken to match the anger in his voice, the pain that swallowed his vocal chords as he helplessly disintegrated further and further under her helpless gaze. “It’s not fair!” His voice broke as tears fell down his cheeks and he bent over to his hands hiding his over-flowing emotion.

Nunga felt her heart break as she reached out and held her brother close and felt his heavy breaths leave his lungs with each sob.

“I know… I know… I know… I know” She began to repeat over and over as her own eyes swelled with tears holding her brother tight as she allowed him to use her as a safety net.

After all, Restoria wasn’t her wife and nor was Nitski her daughter.