Lucas came out of the tent in a flurry. Memories flooded into his head. Flashes of the past, of his mistakes, of his regrets. He stopped a few feet from the tent, eyes to the dirt under him. He was no savior. He was no hero from the history books. He was not brave. His entire life he had lived pampered and taken care of. More than anything in the world he wanted to be normal, to be accepted by those around him. How could he be accepted when he was something that everyone he had ever known was terrified of?
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the tent flap open behind him. He didn't turn. Facing whoever it was, would be to face reality. He wanted to go back to the boat. He wanted to set sail, even if it meant going through that Way forsaken storm again. Knowing that there was no way he would make it off this island alive did not help. He wouldn't make it back into the water before a metal bead flew through his skull. He was bound here until he could find a way to slip away. How he had managed to evade the search this long eluded him.
"I know we just met," Brecken said behind him, "but I think we should go with them. I would give anything to go back to Lautten; to run back home and have everything go back to the way it was. I wouldn't even mind going back to work as odd as that sounds. But I can't. You could try to run, but I think we both know you wouldn't get very far. I don't completely understand all of this Way Mage talk, but I know if it were me that had whatever power it is, I would use it for the people who need my help."
"You don't understand," Lucas said after a moment. How could Brecken understand the weight of responsibility he held on to his shoulders. "There aren't supposed to be Way Mages Breck. I am not supposed to exist. If I use my powers to fight, I could end up hurting people that I am trying to protect. I can't make that mistake again. I just can't.
"I don't care if you want to be whatever you are. You have two choices. Run back to your boat and keep running, until someone finds you and kills you, or decide your own fate and stand strong. Use whatever Way Magic is to do something good. Everyone I have ever known has been convinced that this is the way it was meant to be, the way it has always been. But there is more out there. There are other people. There are other places. And if what that old man is saying is true, then the King of All is going to force my people to wage war on your home. He will crush Atleos under his boot. I want to save my people from that, and I hope you would like to save yours as well. So, what is it going to be? Fight, or keep running?"
The Eartheye stood tall, a wall of determination. There would be no changing his mind. Even if Lucas decided to run, to leave Elementis and never come back, he could tell Brecken would fight for his people until his last breath. Lucas looked down to his hands. He held so much power, even then he could feel it coursing through him. I he could help them, maybe it would make up for the things he had done.
"I'll try," Lucas said after a long moment. The words carried more weight than he thought they would. "My entire life I've been told to fear what I am. If I'm honest, I'm not even sure what it is that I can do. I can feel it, but I don't understand it. I will try Breck, but I don't know if I'm strong enough to make a difference." Lucas met Brecken's eyes again, searching for an idea of how the man would respond. Brecken responded with a smile. Together, they stepped back into the tent and retook their seats.
"Have you changed your mind young Lucas?" Orhin asked through his pipe's mouthpiece, smoke seeping from his mouth.
"I don't have much a choice at this point, do I? I could try and run on my own, but I don't think I would make it far," Lucas responded.
"You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that young Lucas. After all this time waiting, I thought it might have all been for naught. I will teach you how to use The Way without killing yourself or burning yourself out. It will take time, but you will someday be as powerful as me," Orhin told him with a chuckle.
