Fatebreaker

46

Tommy sits on the edge of the bedroll, his knees pulled up to his chest and his unfocused eyes passively looking at the ground. Hetta lies on the bedroll behind him, a testament to her exhaustion since air elementals usually despise being on the ground. Hetta's hand is weakly curled around the edge of Tommy's shirt like a child clinging to a parent after a nightmare. At least, Tommy is making that analogy. He's never gone to his parents because of a night terror, though he's experienced many similarly grave situations in this lifetime and wrapped his arms around Philza or Kristin until he could satisfy his heart's desire to keep them close. Regardless of Tommy's personal experiences or lack thereof, he lets Hetta hold onto him. He listens to her soft breathing alongside the thundering inside his chest, echoing through his ears.

Deo and Olive are sitting on either side of the short table. Deo is pointing at different parts of the talisman papers, murmuring softly what he remembers from the vision. Olive does not say a word as they sketch the symbols based on Deo's descriptions. As someone who has practiced with talismans most of their life, Olive is able to ascertain what symbols Deo means even with how vague and undetailed his words are. When Olive has gotten the correct symbol and is in the process of drawing it, the room falls unnaturally still and quiet. Deo looks uncomfortably, constantly peeking over at Tommy and Deo. The former is barely inside his own body, and the latter is somewhere between awake and asleep, or whatever elementals do when they have experienced a great mental shock. And a growth spurt, apparently, but no one discusses that just as no one mentions what the trio experienced inside the simulation based on Deo's mind.

If Olive is curious where the tension in the room came from, they say not a word about it. Considering the hard expression they wore when the trio woke up from the simulation, Tommy suspects they know something. Olive could have sensed something as the Compass Rose, or they could have noticed a change in their physical bodies while administering the simulation. Olive is a quiet person by nature, so they have not brought it. They probably won't unless someone else does first or it is far too late into the night for secrets to retain their original value.

"The symbols could work in theory. The one on the top represents the Badlands and the one on the bottom represents Essempei. The two in the middle mean 'change' and 'space.' Space as in spatial distance, not the realm beyond the stars. I used ink coated in that crystal that should teleport us," Olive explains, their voice filling the room like the subtle oppression of heated humidity. Tommy's head jerks upward, meeting Olive's eyes unexpectedly. Hetta makes a bothered noise, rushing to sit upwards and cling onto Tommy's shirt with both hands. She looks around Tommy's side, and Deo stares at her with a mournful expression. Olive doesn't look away from Tommy's eyes as they continue, "Despite this, I can't confirm this will work. Although these sigils seem correct, there is no guarantee that they will. Talismans have always been... difficult to use. Sigils aren't specific, and using more than one is ill-advised. Using four sigils on one talisman paper is unheard of. Plus, even if we get to Essempei, the four of us might not end up together. Essempei is a large kingdom."

"Be that as it may, we don't have time for this. I need to get the Fire Elemental King to the capital now. We're going to have to work with what we have. Whoever is closest to the palace will fetch the Fire Elemental King. I know that I will be heading that way regardless of where I end up," Tommy explains, something thick in his voice that makes Tommy want to flinch away from everyone's eyes. He sounds emotional, but Tommy doesn't even know what emotions are churning in his stomach. There is fear from being reminded what will happen to him if he doesn't succeed in his war against fate. That fear is doubled by the sight of the world ending. Tommy knew that disaster was coming, but those thoughts were as distant as the unseen future waiting to descend upon them. Seeing it brought to life all around him, feeling it in his lungs and sensing it like a prickle against his skin, is something else entirely. All of these confusing emotions are brought to a halt by the memory of that woman laughing. Tommy wishes he could have spoken to her, learned who she was and for what purpose she stood before him. Tommy was unable to, and he has the feeling he won't get another chance for a long time.