The Elementals II: Knit of Fate

Decadent!!!

There were only a handful of villagers around. Most are grown ups, one mother lactating her child. It’s a wonder she can still provide her milk considering the fact that she looked sickly.

I was actually expecting them to be more and Alvis might’ve sensed it so he said, “Just like I told you. Most of them fell dead on streets.”

Flashes of images came to me, disturbing images. If only Alvis’ and my path crossed earlier, if only there are more people who would like to help. Nature is quite cruel after all, survival of the fittest. Sighs. If we wanted to cure the nature, I guess it starts in healing ourselves.

Alvis took the bags and handed it to a middle aged slim woman who’s wearing a very long dirty shirt. She seemed gentle or probably just weak but I feel she’s the strongest of these people around. Alvis said she acts as the village captain. Wew, tough woman indeed.

She was the one to take over the food distribution from this point and that’s only when i realized, her arms were the one who reached the food I bring before. Bony yet strong. I smiled at her and she also did.

“It’s the best Christmas we had after years, kid.” She wiped her teary eyes, “Thank you so much.”

Alvis took me to the house where he stays. It was not different among other houses, almost ruin-like.

“Would like to go search for Jaray and Nai, if you may ask.” I said.

“We wait, boy.” He replied putting his weird stick on the table.

“I’m just wondering why you always have that stick.”

“This stick saved me from D5 kid.”

“You mean it flew and kicked their butts for you? Like a powerful super, super- wonder-stick?”

And he waved the stick above hsi head and suddenly water came flowing from its tip towards Alvis’ arm, like it was a soaked sponge and has just been squeezed and now water came ozzing all over it.

“Is that the fountain of youth?”

“If this weren’t a precious stick, I would be happy to knock some sense in you kid.”

“I’m not a kid.”

“Well, probably your mouth ages slow.”

“Alright Sir, I was just joking. Anyways, you’re a Master Elementalist and what’s so surprising about your trick?”

“I control blood but this is pure H-2-O here.”

“And?”

“And what kid? Don’t you get it?”

I tried to concentrate but yeah, though they mentioned before HB (human-born) Elementals are restricted to their own talent of manipulating their elements; Mrs. Samartia told us that as we grow old, as we mature and as we learn things, we can actually venture into advanced levels of E-management.  And I told him that.

“Alright, I give up. There’s no hope for you.” He put his going numb arm down, “This stick lets me control all liquid-based elements, produces water from thin air, from trees, grass and even from your own bloodstream; I can harness water from anywhere. A master of water, liquid elements.”

“Can that stick be ordered? Or made-to-order? something like that?”

“Decadent!!! This stick is precious only the noble, supreme elementalist can handle this. There are only five of these stick in this world, one for each major elements. Courage and Compassion, qualities that a holder must gain before he is given by this. The E-beings themselves choose the Human-born elemental to be endowed.”

“Endownment from Elders... Supremacy, Nobility and Strength, the Chosen shall gain.” Well, my brain’s auto-recovery is working, “It was a stick. Like a wand?”

“Same principle, kid, but wands are different stories. They can be reproduced, the source of their power is an E-being whose power is limited so the strength is bounded by some limits. But this stick, even if the holder dies; the stick lives, its strength stays and its power is unlimited.”

BLAAAG!!! The door banged open and it was Jaray’s fault.

“Let’s go!” He demanded like he’s not interrupting a good conversation here.

“Jaray?”

“I said, let’s leave!”

“Actually, you said ‘let’s go’.”

“If you’re not leaving then I’ll go ahead!” and turned around.

“What’s the rush about? Nai’s not yet returning, did you catch him? Have you talked to him? Is he coming with us?”

“NO.” And the wind blew hard from the windowless-window.

“Wait, I didn’t catch that.”

“He wants to stay. He said he’s needed here. He said the outside world will just reject him. He said he’s dead anyway. He doesn’t need us! Okay?!”

“You’re lying. Let me talk to Nai. Where’s he?”

As I was about to get out; Jaray pulled my arm and stormed towards the gates giving Alvis no chance to say goodbye or to react. He pulled, dragged, hauled, and towed my going limp body.

“Jaray my arm feels bad. Let go!”

And he released me just before we reached the gate.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with that guy?! We all wanted to see him alive right?! We all longed to see him! Our friends will be so ha-“

“And you’ll be able to prove yourself right in front of the Council.” I said firmly. “That’s your goal right? The very reason why you wanted him back?”

“How could you Elly? How can you think of me as selfish as that?” I felt his heart stopped.

“Now tell me if I’m wrong? Tell me that there’s not a single moment you thought of bringing Nai back to prove yourself right?!”

And he went silent.

The cold blowing breeze of twilight is brushing my face, whispering in our ears and dying with the rustling of leaves. The honks and horns of distant vehicles, the noise of busy streets and some yells of people echoes from afar. Yet, I hear my heart beat up and down. I hear Jaray’s breath grow faint.

Then Jaray said calmly, “What he wants is to stay and train under Alvis’ guidance, grow strong and kill whoever attacked their village. We are stronger together, aren’t we? We are stronger with friends; with people we fight for.”

“The people he fights for are dead... His entire family is gone... His friends continued life without even stretching effort of finding him the way Roxy, you and me did.”

“Does it takes for him four persons, five, six, a whole class to go back? Aren’t we three enough?” And again, I saw Jaray crying. It just feels awkward seeing a guy cry.

“He chose to deal with pain alone... We’ll never understand his grief. As long as he’s fine, we shouldn’t insist but the moment he needed us, we must be around. Friends don’t need to show up all times, don’t need to be around always but the moment you feel you need one, they’ll come without you knowing.”

And we returned to our dorm without telling anyone a single word about Nai. Jaray said it’s what Nai wants. So be it.

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