Shreds of an Archive

Unfathomable Power

Sullen birdsong rang through the forest, traveling among the crooked branches and deep into the thickest foliage. Vines parted, swaying to the sides as a boy passed through them, grime and dirt masked his face but still- he couldn't help but grin widely with excitement and joy.

Haeli was still just a child- but more than that, he was filled with a wanderlust that swayed all of his decisions, it was fueled by his insatiable curiosity.

He crossed a stream, merilly jumping from stones that stood barely out of the water, the current rippling around them smoothly. He was halfway across when a glint caught his eye, something reflecting the dazzling sunlight, shining brightly in the clear rushing water.

Haeli stooped down, his feet sticking firmly to the surface of the dry stone- Some kind of gemstone? His heart rate accelerated with excitement, he lived for this. Slowly, he waded into the shallow stream, his curiosity outweighing his distaste for soggy boots.

As his hand brushed against the smooth surface of the stone, energy buzzed through his body. Surging into his arms, flowing into his chest- and then slowly it dispersed itself into the rest of his body, giving him a newfound awareness of all that stood around him.

I quite like this stone. I will keep it.

Haeli arrived back in the meadow, his cottage coming into view, painted orange by the last rays of sunlight seeping through the trees.

"Haeli! Where have you been?" His mother questioned, the worry leaving her face.

"I was in the forest" Haeli said, shame flooding into him- he never liked to make his ma worried.

"Why? What were you doing there, and why are your pants all drenched? " She asked, a suspicious look surfacing onto her face. I shouldn't tell her about the stone, she might take it from me. Haeli hesitated thinking for a second.

"Exploring, I slipped and fell in a stream." Haeli held his head low. "I tried to hurry home I swear"

His mothers features softened, sympathy outweighing worry and frustration. "Come inside, I'll light a fire."

Haeli was laying in bed, he shook with the covers over his head as he listened to the sounds of men raiding the feeble village where he lived.

Screams of the dying and those who loved them cried out, filling Haeli with a deep hopelessness that shook his very core.

He vaguely remembered hearing the cottage door fly open with a crash- heard his mom scream a deep, terrifying scream. He heard his dad yell something, but as quick as it had started, it was over.

Minutes or hours passed by, he could not tell. Enough time for him to will his limbs to move, after the terror and despair had frozen him in place.

His door creaked open, revealing a terrible sight- his mom and his da's corpse lay on the cottage floor, blood and gore spread across the room. He stood- shocked beyond belief. It's not real- it's not real. But as much as he told himself, the truth was in front of him.

Two men- bandits, strode into the cottage, clad in chainmail, and they carried large shields.

"Now for the fun part" One of the men said "The spoils of war." The other man laughed, more of a choking thing.

Then they noticed him, kneeling over his mothers corpse.

"What 'ave we got here?" The man drew close, his breath putrid.

Fear twisted Haeli's heart like an icy knife. These men could have killed my parents. His face twisted into a snarl, he spat at their feet.

"Ah he's a feisty one." The man stood up, looming over Haeli. "Let's teach him a lesson aye?"

Haeli yelled, reaching out to grab the man, scratching and biting. It was to no effect, the man simply lashed out with his foot, sending Haeli sprawling on the ground.

"You'll die just like your parents did, screaming like little children, honorless, worth nothing to this world"
A fire of hatred boiled in his stomach, roaring to a boil, consuming his thoughts, his fear, his despair. It all turned to rage.

"DIE!" He screamed, he felt a weight to his words, as if they were tangible, able to be touched.

A moment passed, nothing happened. The men began laughing, looking down at Halei. Why is the world so unfair?

One of the warriors' necks jerked- snapping violently to the side. Bones cracked at the sudden movement. The man fell to the floor lifeless.

"What-" The remaining warrior stared in shock, quickly, faster than Haeli could see, deep gashes appeared in every part of the man's body. Soaking him in his own blood, with a gurgle, he too, fell to the floor.

What just happened? Haeli felt a trickle of blood down his hand, he looked down to see he was gripping a stone- the gemstone from the river. Did I do that? The gemstone was glowing, a pure, white glow, the depths of which could not be found.