Chapter 13
“This is Woe’s Resolve! Kalex, this outpost was the closest thing to a home I’ve ever had! This is the part of the Realm that my parents frequented, so I spent a lot of time here.” Lyla solemnly sent her presence sight out over the outpost. After a moment, she felt a prick of pain deep within her mind and she instantly brought her presence back to herself with a wince.
“Ow, is it usually painful to use this presence sight?” She asked Kalex. “Because I just felt a spike of pain when I scanned the area.” Kalex closed his eyes and sent out his much stronger presence out into the local area. At first, he saw nothing of note, until he looked closer at the largest house on the outpost.
He still didn’t see anything but he felt a sense of emptiness directly at the door of the residence. As he peered closer, the void disappeared and moved directly in front of them. Kalex took a defensive posture as he opened his eyes, expecting a fight. To his surprise, he saw Lyla running up to a thin elderly woman. “Elder Viv! I’ve missed you!” Lyla’s tears flowed freely as the Elder took her into her arms.
“I’m happy to see that you’re safe my dearest Lyla.” The Elder looked over to Kalex. “Who is your friend you’ve brought with you?” Kalex felt an itch in the back of his mind. The same itch he’d felt before when someone was trying to rifle through his presence. He began to shallowly ponder and the itch went away.
“This is Kalex, Elder Viv. We’ve actually been meaning to come here to ask you about a few things.” Tears welled up in Elder Viv’s eyes. “Let’s head back to my home and we can talk there. And do my old eyes fail me or have you become much stronger? Your spark is extraordinary.” Lyla fell from her arms and nodded. “I have! I’ve been working on making my spark more powerful, not only for my sake but for the next person my spark will go to, just like you taught me!”
Elder Viv brushed moisture from her cheeks. “You’ve done well, I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures.” She turned to Kalex and before she could speak, He bowed. “As Lyla said, My name is Kalex. It is very nice to meet you and we would be in your debt if you helped us answer a few questions.” Kalex exited his bow and looked to the Elder. She gave a small curtsy. “Young Kalex, it would be an honor to help in any way I can. Please follow me to my humble abode.”
Lyla gave the Elder an odd look. You’re acting weird Elder Viv, How come you’ve never talked to me like that?” The Elder peeled her stare away from Kalex and looked upon Lyla. “My sincerest apologies, Young Lyla. Please allow me to carry you like a baby to my home. I wouldn’t want you to have to dirty your new shoes.” The Elder gave a playful smirk. “Elder Viv!” Lyla’s cheeks reddened and she burst out laughing.
The walk to the Elder’s home was a peaceful one. The streets of the outpost were spotless and the only sounds of rowdiness were heard at the small shack that was used as a tavern. At the end of the main path was a quaint home surrounded by a patchwork wooden fence that gave off an aura of comfort. Kalex didn’t need to see the home with his presence sight to know that the yard and everything in it was packed with myst, but it felt different somehow.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Putting his thoughts aside, he continued being led to the house. Lyla was pelting the Elder with questions the whole way to which the Elder told her to wait each time. When they reached the door and the Elder opened it, Kalex’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
“Elder Viv’s house is a little weird compared to regular homes, but you’ll get used to it.” Lyla said to Kalex as they entered. “This isn’t weird, Lyla. It’s familiar. I never thought I’d see this again,” Kalex whipped around to the Elder. “Who are you and how did you do this?”
A look of shame entered the Elder’s features. “I’ve been waiting a long time to see you, young Kalex.” Kalex immediately sent a shield around Lyla and took a defensive position. The Elder took a step back as Kalex pulled up her status.
Name: Vivian Graves
Race: Human (Enternia)
Rank: Platinum Seer Sayer
Maturity: 399/400
Path: Afflicted Traveler (Master)
Vitality: 12,700/12,700
Myst: 1,998,300/2,000,000
Strength: 113 (Diat’s Bounty)
Wisdom: 1,400 (Diat’s Bounty)
Agility: 167 (Diat’s Bounty)
Charisma: 82 (Diat’s Bounty)
Luck: 12,670 (Diat’s Bounty)
Kalex quickly let down his guard as Vivian started to speak. “Please, don’t be alarmed Kalex, there is an explanation for all of this.” The shell of myst fell from Lyla. “What’s going on Kalex? This is Elder Viv, she wouldn’t hurt anyone!”
Vivian’s face scrunched up in pure emotional agony. “Lyla.” Kalex said. “Pull up her status.” Lyla took on a blank stare that lasted much longer than it took to read through a status. “Elder Viv.” Lyla said softly. “We have the same last name. How?”
Vivian stepped back in astonishment. “You can see my name? That’s impossible, I’ve never told anyone of my heritage. But yes, Lyla, we share a last name.” Vivian let out a breath she was holding. “After you tell me how you were able to see my name, I’ll explain why.” She turned to Kalex. “And Kalex, we have much to talk about as well. Come and sit down, It’s going to be a very informative night.”
Kalex and Lyla took a seat on a large padded chair that was reminiscent of furniture found on Kalex’s home world. Vivian left for a moment and returned with a hot beverage of fragrant steeped leaves. Accepting the drink acted as an icebreaker and the questions started.
“Names are one of the most guarded secrets of anyone on Enternia and many tend to keep them close to their chests. With the advent of the Consolidation and the Roamers, that convention has become lost on the population, although many elders still hold it as tradition. So how on Enternia were you able to see mine?” She asked both of them and Lyla looked to Kalex to answer.
“That’s a little hard to explain but I made a kind of translator that ended up allowing us to see the names of others.” Kalex attempted to be vague as telling someone exactly what it was would go directly over their heads, and frankly, Kalex didn’t have the same trust in the elder that Lyla did. “It also lets us see the general status of people, and yours showed something odd. What do you know of Diat?”
Vivian peered into her cup in thoughtful contemplation. “Diat. I never thought I’d hear that from anyone but myself.” She took a breath and visibly brightened. “I think it’s time.” Lyla was on the end of her seat and couldn’t keep her excitement at bay. “Time for what, Elder Viv?” Vivian’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Time to talk about my final days on Diat, following Kalex's death.”