Pinnikle: The Lost Truth

26: Of reunion, in many ways

Recorded by Sophia Lionhartt,
Of the events which took place on the 19th day of Radia, after midnight, year of Pinnikle: 1,229.

Yield not, at any place of uncertainty, where paths are split to produce choices. For either path ahead will be subject to your stepping, and by choice, many steps pass through any path; and any path leads to new things. So do not yield, for new beauty awaits on any journey.

— My mother said that. Her name was Kielaura.

I opened my mouth to ask Jack, "What was through your threshold?". But I would not find out, because another sound came before I could ask. From close outside, I heard the heralding cackle of Lofi Phelix.

"Haha! We've done it!" he celebrated, "The darkness had not a chance! Come to me, Luca!"

Luca was the name of the wizard's familiar. When called, it wagged its tail and let out a happy bark, which I would not expect from a wolf. It ran right through us - literally, it passed through my body - and ran to Lofi. I felt my body to make sure I was solid. I was, but that thing was not. How did it destroy the spine? I wouldn't know just yet. I was overcome by the thought of reunion.

We turned, and my trio - along with ol' sandy, a band of constellations, and stars I knew - all followed the wizard's bright wolf through the threshold of starfall fix. We left what had recently been a lively tavern, but was presently a torn mess, lit by starlight. Holes, small and gaping, were torn and splintered through walls and the ceiling (thus: "lit by starlight"). A piece from the roof fell and thudded onto a sleeping nix.

"Ugh!" He shouted in waking.

Snap. He was thrown back into a peaceful slumber as Jack paced away, exiting the tavern. We came outside, and Lofi stood exactly where he'd been before. He chuckled deeply as he scratched his canine familiar behind the ears.

For the first time, I saw my dear old friend as I had once known him. His eyes danced with joy and hope when they met ours, and he walked toward us with a wide smile. As he came, his funny wolf jumped at his side to lick his face and ears. It gnawed at his staff, like a puppy wanting to play, but was met with a gentle zap from it.

"I created him after your own likeness, you know?" were the first words Lofi spoke to me, since I had been a child.

I had not known about the name of the dog, and it was just like Lofi to trade a greeting for some whimsical phrase. I loved him! I had missed him.

"You are the second of those who have displayed true courage in Pinnikle, among recent history," He said in a fatherly, proud tone.

"An-and who were the first?" I asked, involuntarily running my hand down my braid, and over the green ribbon.

"I believe if you look up, you will see them," He pointed to the sky, and smiled.

He sat and spread his legs before him, leaning back on his palms as if he had done nothing noteworthy at all. Luca, the wolf, took its place by his side. The familiar was noble and I was glad to see it had not sustained injuries. I did not know how that was possible, though.

"Well, stop staring at the dog, and have a look at the night sky," he said with some kind of joyful urgency.

We looked up, and sure enough: out in the yonder, there were two very bright, twinkling stars.

Fin whispered a long-forgotten phrase: "...You'll find that when you close your eyes on a starry night... we'll be there,". Jack had recorded those words from our parents' last thoughts.

"Why haven't we noticed them before?" I asked. I felt so many things, but confusion foremost.

"I cannot say," Lofi said peaceably, "But conceivably: all that matters is that they have noticed you; and for a very long time at that."