I N F I N I T E S

Be Infinite

Brite stood there as small particles of light glimmered to the ground. The others didn't even know what to say. Tessra studied Brite with her eyes glancing over each part of him.
    "Redrig might've been right about him. I had heard the stories about the Lighteen so I knew they were strong, but he just obliterated a giant with one punch."
    Fern's reaction to Brite was different than the times it had been before. He smiled showing off his canines.
    "Looks like I'm gonna have to work harder to keep up."
     Frost smiled with him.
    "Yeah me too."
    They were all a bit battered from the ceiling nearly caving in. Gray sand and rock powder covered their clothes and hair.
    Brite looked at the fist he used to destroy the giant. He could hardly believe that he had done that either. He remembered that the armor had said something before he struck the giant. Light energy level: INFINITE.
    He would have to ask Frost what that meant, it for now he needed to focus on getting that flower. He turned to where the pedestal was when they had entered the room. There the flower was untouched.
    It was a miracle that all the battling hadn't crushed it. He wanted to get it himself, but he seemed that he stumbled as he walked. Frost saw this and came up behind him to put a hand on his shoulder.
    "I got it, you stay here."
    He made his way over to the wall that the pedestal was a fixed to. He bent down then jumped up and used his claws to climb the wall. He reached up and plucked the flower from where it grew.
    He jumped down and landed holding the flower in the air. Tessra drew her sword from the dirt and cleaned it off with a spare bit off cloth from her tunic. She put the sword back into it's sheathe and adjusted her shield then fit it on her back.
    "We should get going. Let's get that flower to them, Frost can you carry it there?"
    "Yes."
    "Good."
    She scanned the room with her eyes and then stopped at one point on the right wall that had several large cracks and crevices. She picked up a fair sized stone from the ground, and chucked it at the wall. The stone smacked into the wall and the bricks gave way and crumbled out of their places.
    "C'mon let's moving."
    They all left through this conveniently made opening and felt the warmth of the sun on their skin.  Brite turned his attention to the sky. Blue crossed across all of what was above them. He tumbled a bit and fell to one knee. Frost offered his hand to help him get up.
    "Here."
    Brite took it with gratitude and was lifted up from his fall. Frost continued to hold his hand.
    "You can lean on me if you need to."
    Brite wrapped an arm around Frost's neck. Frost put the flower through his belt and helped Bite to walk. Frost seemed to be still in amazement at what Brite could do. He glanced over at Brite to see that sweat was actually running down his face.
    "I've never seen Brite this tired. He doesn't grow tired from doing physical things like running or climbing, but I think he get's tired when he uses that power. So maybe Lighteen only need rest if they use their light powers."
    The group walked up to where they first came down the slope. The sunlight grazed over the glass and made it glow green. Frost readjusted his footing and helped Brite to climb the slope with the others. Brite seemed to have an idea as his face lit up a bit more and he looked to Frost.
    "Hey Frost."
    "Yeah?"
    "What does infinite mean?"
    Frost thought for a moment so he could best explain this.
    "It goes on even after you and me."
    "Even Fern and Tessra?"
    Frost smiled.
    "Yes even Fern and Tessra. It goes on after the trees, the flowers, and everything."
    "Does it go on after smiles, or friends?"
    "Well I guess yeah."
    Brite seemed to have a small smile and look of determination in his eyes.
    "Then I will make us all infinite."
    Fern surprised a laugh. One of the things that had drawn him and Fern to Brite was that Brite had the want to always make others happy. Even when times would seem terrible he would continue to show his shining smile.
    They had made it past the grassy rise of the slope and now went through the wooded descent. Birds chirped and chirred in the trees. Fern and Tessra led the group ahead. Fern seemed too be quiet, but he had the look as if he had something he wanted to say. He finally opened his mouth and spoke to Tessra.
    "I froze. I was so scared that I couldn't do anything , and that got you hurt. I-"
    "Don't be."
    Fern paused. Tessra put a hand on his shoulder.
    "This wasn't something we should've taken on at your current level. But from now on I'm going to need you to promise me something."
    "What's that?"
    Tessra looked him in the eye.
    "Get stronger. I'm not sure if I'll always be there to protect you, so get stronger."
    He nodded.
    "Ok."
    The four of them strode through the forest. Over the winding roots and crunching leaves they walked til they made it back to the town's road. Shop owner's were out on their stoops brushing away leaves and painting signs.
    Tessra approached one of the men sweeping up leaves.
    "Excuse me, but did you happen to see a man in raggedy clothes carrying a boy?"
    He rubbed his chin for a moment.
    "Yeah I think they went into Kara's shop over there.'
    He pointed across the street at a building a little further down the road.
    "Thank you."
     Tessra was about to turn around and leave as the shopkeeper stopped her.
    "You should probably get yourselves patched up there too. You lot are lookin a little rough, like you were dragged through a crystal mine."
    "I will consider that."
    She returned to the group.
    "They're in that shop."
    She pointed a thumb at the store the shopkeeper mentioned. Fern looked to Frost and Brite.
    "We're almost there."
    They helped Brite up the wooden stairs of the building. The door was closed so Tessra knocked. There was the sound of locks and chains moving. The door opened to reveal a small old lady in a pink dress with her gray hair all frazzled about.
    She tipped her glasses closer to her face and her eyes widened in surprise.
    "Oh my, let's get you all in immediately."
    She walked away from the entry and beckoned them to come in. They ducked under the small doorway and were greeted by the appearance of a kind of indoor garden. There were pots and troughs filled with soil and multicolored types of ferns and flowers.
    "How did you all get so bruised up, oh and you're all covered in dust."
     The whole building seemed to be in a state of overgrowth. Carved logs served as furniture and the pillows were stuffed with grass. She bright them to an area deeper in the house where there were plenty of blankets and furniture.
    They caught sight of the man looking over his son who was lying on a collection of grass pillows. The man was kneeled down beside his son and holding his hand.
    The old woman who they assumed was Kara wandered about collecting up rags and bandages.
    "First we have a child sick with Necro blight then we have beaten knights."
She cleaned off one of the benches and ushered Frost and Fern to sit down. Frost set Brite down onto one of the chairs. He then took his place down next to Fern. She offered up a seat to Tessra.
"You should sit down. You all look like you've had quite the day."
Tessra held up a hand.
"No thank you, I'd like to stand."
Kara clasped her hands together with a worried look.
"Well ok dear."
The man now noticed just who had entered the room.
"It's you, did you get the flower?"
Frost untucked the flower from his belt, and spoke to Kara.
"Please use this to make an antidote for that man's son."
He set the flower into Kara's cupped hands.
"Where did you get this."
Fern threw his arms up behind the chair.
"You think we'd look this bad just daily."
He grinned jokingly.
Frost looked Kara in the eyes.
"Do you think you'll be able to make a medicine from this?"
"Yes, I should be able to make it right away."
She set to work, running around the room gathering different tools for grinding and potion making. She ground the flower's petals down into a powder that she mixed with some water and a kind of root.
"I don't often run into this kind of plant. When most of the Cyndri left Cynthil it seemed that this particular species couldn't be grown anymore."
Finally she poured the mixture into a bowl. She knelt down beside the boy and instructed his father.
"Move his head up I need him to drink this."
He did as he was told.
Despite the pain that Brite experienced he got up from his chair. He walked over to where the boy lied.
Kara poured the mixture into his mouth. At first nothing happened, but then the boy's expression changed. It looked as if he was brought out of the nightmare he was in.
Then slowly his eyes flickered open. Recognition flashed cross his face.
"dad..."
Happiness returned to the grieving father's face. He hugged his son and held him close.
"Y-Yes it's me son."
He cried out of joy and relief. Kara turned to look at Brite and the others.
"You've done a good thing today. You young ones are heroes."
Brite smiled and his golden eyes, although tired, glimmered. The man turned to face the rest of them.
"Please tell me, I have to know, who are you?"
Brite looked to his friends behind him, then he looked back to the man.
"We are the Infinites."