The Celestial Forge
By: Schin Ka’Tharos
CHAPTER 4
(Part 2)
As Thei’esolla Forged into him, my grandfather's soul split a thousand times. Specters of Grandfather flickered in and out all around the two of them. His face was frozen in agony and I could hear a thousand screams. She continued to pour the technique into him and with each passing minute the number of ghostly images diminished.
"Shia’sa wants you dead, you know." She released the technique, giving grandfather a short reprieve. "In part that’s why I’m here. I don’t know how you avoided the heavens punishment Oathbreaker, but you didn't think it would go unnoticed did you? So now, I get the pleasure of both taking what I’ve so long desired and appeasing Shia’sa.”
She resumed the technique and the cries of anguish commenced once more. Thei’esolla seemed to be affecting his soul directly and clearly it was killing him. For the first time he actually looked old and weathered.
“Before I finish, you will tell me what I want to know. I haven't sensed your Voids-Eye, where is it? Where have you hidden it? You WILL tell me, First One, and you will tell me of the flame that you harnessed earlier. I heard no voice, no song like other Eternal Flame. Was it a Seed Ember? Is that why you’ve been hiding here all this time?”
Grandfather tried but was unable to speak and Thei’esolla weakened the technique.
“Thank you, you don't know the profound gift you have given me.” Grandfather said in a raw voice.
Then, Grandfather ignited into flame. The flame did not just surround him, it consumed and replaced him, as if he was Spellforging from his own skin and using it as fuel for which to feed the flame. Thei’esolla cried out and fell back several paces, her hand damaged severely by the flame.
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"You would go this far.." Thei’esolla said absently.
A wave of flame rippled out from Grandfather, forcing everyone away from him even further. It also flung me off of the platform I had been kneeling on, sending me hurling down into the abyss below. Grandfather burned bright and appeared next to me, grabbing me with his hand and stabilizing me in the air next to him.
“Stop him!” Thei’essola's alarmed voice roared. Even Moonseeker and Anvarek followed her command and my Grandfather's four remaining adversaries collapsed on us.
The flame around Grandfather erupted, like a tiny star gone supernova, yet the light and heat affected me not. Time stopped around us, each of our assailants hung in the air like a painting, I could have reached out and touched them if I'd had the mind to. Before me stood Grandfather and as I looked at him I could see his very existence burning away rapidly moment by moment.
My Grandfather rested a hand on my cheek. I remained unaffected by the flames. “My boy... my boy, our time together has come to an end. Words fail for what I wish to impart to you. I’m so glad we have been able to share what we have. I am proud of the man you are making yourself into. I have tried to give you strong legs in which to walk the road before you without laying the Path itself. For that is only for you to forge. I am sending you to safety, Uncle will meet you there eventually. Tell him I never broke my oaths to him, even in the end.”
His body was almost completely consumed , nearly all that remained of him was an incorporeal flame in the shape of his body. He reached up to his neck breaking the necklace that hung there that had remained untouched by the flames.
“Grandfather I…”
“My boy I need nothing from you, no words of parting is necessary. The life we were able to live was enough. I need but one thing," He handed me the necklace and then waved his hand, creating a rip in space behind me. "Take this to remember me by my boy.”
He paused, unsure of what else to say.
“Live well my son. Live well.”
With that he gently pushed me and I fell backwards into the portal he had created. I couldn't even bring myself to say anything in response. It is one of my only regrets.
As I fell towards the portal I searched his face, I couldn't tell if there were tears there like there were on mine, all that existed of him was flame. The last thing I saw before I entered the portal was my grandfather being completely consumed by the flame and it then swirling violently in a vortex before abruptly drawing into his half-fist sized soulcore. Time then corrected itself and our assailants rushed to where we both had been, where my Grandfather's soulcore now fell towards the abyss.
Blink
I passed through the rip in space and found myself elsewhere.
Next Chapter...
Chapter 5: Even Within Calamity, A Path To The Good Remains.