Pinnikle: The Lost Truth

29: Of an unexpected guest, met on a journey in the night

Recorded by Finnegan Lionhartt,
Of the events which took place on the 19th day of Radia, long past midnight, yet Fin remained sleepless; year of Pinnikle: 1,229.

Better things are only choices away. 

— My sister, Sophie, said that.

To love a person - whether as a friend, a sibling, or a lover - is a great privilege. Toward Sophie, I feel the endearment of a father, and it had always been an honor to live out my days at her side. Some feel honor as though it were a feeling of luck. For instance: that I might feel lucky to live such great a life, knowing bravery, riding atop stars, and being a promised heir to the only king of Pinnikle. I didn't even care about the throne, no; but there was a nobility I felt in holding Sophie up, making sure she felt empowered, and coming through whenever she was anything less. I was her sibling, but felt a proclivity to act as both her father, and her brother.

We had been taken up to the sky portal in the house of Lofi Phellix, and the wizard gave us great rest. The stars took us up, as when we were young, and I'm unsure I had ever seen Sophie so elated. She was not so, particularly from being in a magical house, nor from flying with stars, and not even from sleeping on a cloud.

It is true that humans become easily burdened when they feel too many things, and often the burden is one of misunderstanding the world around. My sister was happy, because her burdens had been alleviated by understanding. Before that day: she did not perceive she had an ability to think deeply, and reflect. To add to this: She had learned many wonderful things about her nature as both nix and human, and relished in them. It was a newly-unlocked understanding of things she had not known before, which set her free from burdens she had not perceived. And in that freedom, she was able to let out her goofy, silly self: the part of her that was nix was unable to control the feeling of joy.

While Sophie had surely been lost in thoughts that night, discovering she was human, I had known all along. It was never my privilege to unveil that to her, though - and I do not mistake privileges with rights. We are both human, and we are also nix. Each part of our nature holds particular misgivings. I had known these things for quite a long time, though they had never been articulated to me. I had not been bothered by the character flaws, because most days I was only concerned with bringing out the best in one person: Sophie. And I have never done this through explanation, but by cultivating her curiosity. It is how father raised me until he was gone, and so it is how I raised Sophie. Curiosity leads to answers, after all.

The night we fell asleep with the stars, I was the last to sleep. Sophie and I talked about our story so far, and about wondrous things. I knew she would give some thought to the darkness creeping about in Pinnikle, but I felt it would not be a long thought. I remember hearing the snap of ol' Jack, but I had heard it before, and I knew I could stave off the dreams for a little while. That night, as with any, I only needed to know that Sophie was safe and happy. Once my needs were met, I took my own moment, to cultivate wonder in myself. One must lead by example, even when no one is watching.

I sat up, and whispered to Lumin, "What do ya say we go for another ride?"

He smiled, wrapped my torso in his massive arm, and we flew off until Lumin could speak without concern of waking Sophie.

"Where would you like to go?" His voice sounded over the sky.

"Would you take me to my home?" I replied.

We soared past Starfall Fix, and it looked wonderful from above. Lofi had even added a personal touch: on the roof, where Tryn had crashed through, there was a painting of a bright star in rainbow colors. We flew up End's drop, and Lumin spun me up, through the mist.