Across the Threshold

The Discovery

Shade

Shade's armblade had faded, along with his Ender Eyes. Right now, he was just confused.

"What do you mean 'What happened'?" Rain asked. "You're the one who did whatever happened!"

"Well, at least we now know that he is trustworthy," Stella remarked.

Rain shook his head, and seemed to notice Ceris for the first time.

"Is that Ceris?" he asked in a weak voice.

"How would I know?" asked Shade.

"You are the one who rescued her," Kane told him.

"What? No, I couldn't have," exclaimed Shade.

He tried to think back. What had happened? He had a few hazy memories, but all of them felt like he was just watching someone else.

Ceris groaned, getting up off the ground. She looked around, processing what was happening. She took in the confused looks of Shade and Kane, Rain's worried face, and Stella and Ciara still trying to figure out what was happening.

"Ceris, are you okay?" Rain asked. "We thought you were dead!"

"I nearly was," she replied. "Naeus was about to execute me when he saved me." She gestured to Shade at the last part.

"Ok," Shade said, "but I don't really remember doing that."

Ceris nodded at that.

"I have a theory that might explain all of this," she told them, "but I'm going to have to ask you a few questions first."

"What type of questions?" Shade asked.

"Just some simple questions about your past," she assured him.

Before we get to that," Stella said, "we should all get some rest. Ceris, you look like you are ready to collapse again, and the rest of us have been traveling all day. Except for Shade that is."

"You're correct Stella," Ceris said. "We should all rest and talk about this in the morning."

Rain didn't look too happy about this, but he agreed. They all set up camp and went to bed, having already eaten.

As he drifted off, Shade became more and more convinced that not only was he far from home, he was also far from his own really.

~ ~ ~

The next morning, Shade woke to the smell of bacon. He quickly got up and exited the tent.

Most of the others were up. Ceris and Stella were still asleep, but the rest of the group was eating their breakfast. Kane hard made bacon and eggs and everyone was chowing down.

"Good, you're up," Kane said. "It was getting harder and harder to keep Ciara from eating all of the bacon. If the others aren't up soon, I fear that there will be nothing left for them."

He directed that last bit towards Stella's tent.

"Alright, I'm coming," came a muffled voice from inside the tent.

Kane chuckled, handing Shade plate as he did. As he looked at the food, Shade realized how hungry he was. He quickly finished the eggs, but he savored every last bite of bacon.

As Shade finished his food, he saw Ceris climb out of her tent and walk over. Kane passed her a plate which she graciously accepted.

Rain waited until they were all done before he started talking.

"So Ceris," he asked, " would you mind explaining what you were talking about yesterday?"

"I will explain," she assured him, "but first there are a few things I need to know."

She turned to Shade, who for some reason felt nervous.

"I just have a few questions for you that will clear some things up," she told him.

"Ask away," Shade replied. "I have nothing to hide."

"First," she began, "are you Enderkin?"

Shade frowned. "Am I what now?"

"A species that originated in the End, the dimension where you rescued me, and displays many of the powers that you used."

"Then no, I am not Enderkin," Shade replied. "I am just a regular human."

She nodded, seeming to have expected this.

"Second, have you displayed any of your powers before yesterday?"

"No," Shade said confidently. "Before yesterday I didn't know magic even existed."

"And finally, what dimension do you come from?"

Shade thought about this. The theory he came up with last night seemed so bizarre, but he could not think of any other explanation.

"I think," he began, "that I am not from any of your dimensions. I believe that I am from an alternate universe to this one."

"What is the name of the world you come from?" Ceris asked.

"Earth," Shade replied. "Though Earth is only one planet in our whole Universe."

Shade could see that the others were shocked, but Ceris looked like she had been expecting this. She nodded to herself, apparently having her theory confirmed.

"In that case, I know what happened," she told him. "Not just how you don't remember rescuing me in the End, but also how you received these powers and how you arrived here in the first place."

"Really?" Shade asked. "Those things are all connected?"

"Yes," she replied. "Though this is the same reason that you will be a target of Naeus."

Shade gulped at that. What could cause Naeus, supposedly the most powerful figure in this world to come after him?

"I believe," Ceris continued, "that you were drawn here by one of the End Crystals, and when you arrived, that End Crystal combined with you to give you your powers."

Rain's eyes widened. "The same End Crystals that you wanted us to find?" He asked.

"Yes," Ceris replied. "And the same End Crystals that Naeus is currently scouring all three dimensions in his efforts to find them."

Shade's blood ran cold. "And after my encounter with him," he said, "he most certainly knows that I possess one."