The Silicarite

Epilogue

Almost exactly 100 years later...

And on the beach of Crystal's island, Battus, the Silicarite, lived.

Some combination of Silicarite biology, Crystal's magic with the power of the island, and the Crystalline Heart itself had allowed him to survive. Although, now his consciousness lived on in a Silicarite body.

It was a spitting image to his old one, except made of jagged, rocky red crystal. The physique of a man, now carved into a crystalline statue.

He had been laying in the sand with his arms behind his head, watching the sun drift across the sky and reflect on the water, when the visitor's boat arrived.

The unexpected guest was a hooded figure that he couldn't quite catch the face of, his robes marked with a strange symbol he didn't recognize. As the boat glided into the dock, the man stepped onto the uneven wooden planks before the boat even came to a stop. Battus stood, walking down to greet the visitor.

"Welcome to Heart's Rest, traveler. Can I help you?" Battus reached out to shake the newcomer's hand, but the stranger kept his arms folded inside his robes. Battus slowly retracted his hand.

"...I'm looking for the Crystal Mother. I was informed I could find her here," the guest's voice was quiet, reserved. Battus nodded, gesturing behind him.

"I can show you the way."

Battus led the robed individual up the sandy slope, and into the clearing around the cave entrance. Small wooden huts encircled the circular path, pastel leaves serving as rooftops.

Several dozen Silicarites of all shapes, colors, and minerals were scattered around, some simply sitting and enjoying their afternoon, others repairing their huts or gathering materials from the jungle. Battus and the visitor passed by a purple amethyst and an orange quartz Silicarite sitting on opposite stumps, the former demonstrating to the latter how to shape its mouth to produce consistent vowel sounds.

"I work with the Crystal Mother, and we've set up quite the little community here for the Illudian Silicarites. They act more human, er, or elf, or what have you, than any of their off-planet counterparts. Being born here, with mine and Crystal's help, we've helped a few integrate into the more xeno-friendly societies, like in Gingkari, or the Galaxy Warp. But... well, I guess most people are still not, quite ah... fully silicon-friendly, or vice-versa," Battus tugged at his jacket's collar.

They continued across to the other side, the largest hut at the far end past the chasm's opening. Battus ducked inside, holding open the cloth door for their guest.

Crystal Heart was at the other end of the single-room hut, seated in the split geode that had originally held the Heart. The rocky crystal was fashioned into a makeshift chair facing the entryway, like a natural-cut throne. In the center of the room was a fire pit, dull red coals glowing in the dirt floor.

Battus strode over, standing beside the Crystal Mother, holding his hands behind his back.

"Ah, hello! Welcome to Heart's Rest, traveler. I apologize if I don't offer you a drink or a snack. We don't get a lot of non-Silicarite guests, on account of the fact that nobody can fall asleep here without losing themselves to the Dreamwilds."

"That is fine. Thank you," the guest waved, dismissing her offer of hospitality. "You are the Crystal Mother?"

"Indeed I am," Crystal bowed. "And this is Battus, the Crystal Guardian. We serve as Heart's Rest's protectors, the shelter for the Illudian Silicarites."

"I have come a long way seeking you. Of the wisdom you have, and perhaps... a shard of your crystal?"

"Well, I don't think that would be very-" Battus was interrupted by Crystal holding out her arm.