The Brink of Creation

Chapter 12 - The Judgment Seat

"I can't do it! I can't do it!"

"What's happening? What did you do to her?"

"I don't know, I've never seen someone like her before!"

"Paladin, ah yah okay?"

"I asked, what's happening?"

"Stop, quiet down! She's trying to think!"

"She doesn't heal by thinking, empty-head."

"Is there anything I can do to assist?"

"I can't do it! I can't help her!"

"Who are you all? Who am I? Please, get away from me!"

"Everyone, stop! Give her space!"

The Scientist shooed everyone away from The Paladin as The Healer attempted to course healing light into her body, to no avail.

"Why don't I know who I am?" The Paladin began to sob. Seated within the water with her legs aside, she attempted to wipe her tears away, but her hands jabbed into the mail covering over her face. She ripped her corundum helmet off with its facemask and hurled it across the baobab enclosure. It crashed against the side opposite the group and clinked into the water among some of the glowing tendrils of Wisdom.

Her hair billowed as it drifted to her waist. Deep auburn with hints of pine-crease brown, many of the strands dipped their toes into the lightly bubbling water. Her hands found her face, grabbing at it as she whimpered like an abandoned fawn.

The Healer wept as she placed her hands on The Paladin's delicately soft hair. "I can't heal wounds this deep. I don't know what to do."

Holding parts of her plasma-twined body together with her glowing hands, Wisdom rasped, "This is not a wound of the body. She is pierced to the very soul. She requires a soul-tetherer."

The Destroyer threw darts at her with his tongue. "How could ya do this? Why would ya choose to serve the dragon? You deserve everythin' she did to ya, and more."

"I had no choice," Wisdom gurgled as she held the ropes of her plasmic body together. "He is more powerful than you can imagine. This world is already gone. As far as your friend, this is not my doing. I saw the injury in her soul before you stepped into my swamp."

The Scientist squatted down to The Paladin. The lens of her eyes still wrought hatred behind her trembling fingers. The Scientist grabbed her head and held her close as she poured her injured soul forth. He comforted her the best he knew how, from the experiences that he'd lived himself.

"I feel nothing."

"You are allowed to be without feeling."

"The tears I cry are meaningless."

"The tears you cry have endless definition."

"Do I love you?"

"I-"

"Do I love anyone?"

"Do you do good things for others?"

"What is goodness?"

"Goodness... is complicated and simple at the very same time. It is comprised of thoughtful actions and an intentional heart. It is what the space in your mind tells you is correct."

"Who am I?"

"You are the person of your thoughtful actions, from this day forward."

"What is my name?"

"Your name is The Paladin, but that may not be your purpose anymore."

"What is my purpose?"

"That is for you to write into reality, your choice to weave into truth."