What happened? Where was he? It was…wet? Trenton rose from his back, taking a seated position to gaze across the familiar environment. Overhead, the sky storm, a gray and black flat of clouds bursting with flashes of bright white light. Around him, great waves of murky water turned and toiled, arising to great heights to battle against each other, striving for absolute dominance. But they only succeeded in taking each other down, crashing into each other like grand towers twisted into their broil by unseen hands .
At odd intervals, lighting from the sky descended, graces from the gods burning angry streaks of light into Trenton’s eyes. They struck against the waves, arching between every little droplet to create a dazzling web of light energy, of death. It was chaos, and yet, he was safe. He alone was peace, clarity. Trenton was resting atop a perfect circle of calm, crystalline water, the surrounding waves and lighting unnaturally curving around his bubble of tranquility like it were a field of unseen force.
“Hard to look at, isn’t it?”
Below him, a clouded figure wreathed in thick black channels sat in his exact position, only upside down to him, their eyes shining a bright golden hue. In a way, were he the mighty pillar, this reflection would be his foundation. Trenton cocked his head to the side, unbothered by the surrounding madness, gazing down at the figure below him as it cocked its head to look back up at him. How perfect it was, an exact copy of his every movement. In fact, it quite reminded him of himself. It had a face like his, a body like his, and a presence that struck a brilliant harmony within his soul. Only, it wasn’t quite right–familiar–but not perfect.
“It is,” Trenton responded, returning his focus out to the warring sea, the figure doing the same.
“It’s calmer usually, but it gets like this sometimes, whenever you start to slip,” the figure said. His voice was soothing in a way Trenton had never known before, like a brother he’d never known. “It’s all I can do to even keep it this tame. You’re in a rather volatile state at the moment, shifting back and forth without regard for your physical form.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve lived beyond death, a gift few others could lay claim to. But you are not immortal. Every moment you let yourself sink, it only grows angrier. These waves may yet take you if you’re not careful. Of course, I will be here, always be here to protect you, lift you up–guide you–but my strength is limited. Even I am but a wayward leaf amidst his storm.”
“I’m not sure…” Trenton hesitated, something tugging at his mind.
“It’s alright. We can walk. I imagine you’d like to go back. It’s been some time.”
Yes, he would, wherever back was. Trenton rose to his feet, spurred on by some unknown desire within his heart–the feeling of an old memory he couldn’t quite shake off. He walked forward, pushing through the waves and the lighting to follow the string pulling him ever gently forward. Below him, the figure did the same, their feet syncing together perfectly like he were Trenton’s platform, the only solid ground amidst all this.
“Where are we?” Trenton asked.
“I think you’d know better than I would,” the figure responded.
Yes…he did. How odd, it’d been so long he’d almost forgotten. That and it used to be so much calmer. He’d never seen it in such a crazy state. And this man he knew as well. They’d spoken many times before
“But why now? You said you wouldn’t come back until I had an answer to my question.”
“Well, don’t you?”
“I don’t…I mean…I don’t think I do. There’s too much going on. It’s all so…messy and confusing and painful and…I’m not sure how much longer I can go on like this.”
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“As long as you have to. There’s no other choice.”
“But when will it be over? How long am I supposed to go to sleep not knowing if I’ll wake up in the morning!? How long am I supposed to keep fighting just to lose again!? How long…am I going to suffer? Tell me, please.”
“I can’t, Trenton. I wish I could, but I can’t. You know that.”
“Then what do I do? I just…can’t stand being weak anymore, being helpless. I want to fight back, but I can’t. I feel helpless.”
The figure took a deep breath in, heaving out a great sigh, “I’ve already told you. You will continue on. There isn’t another choice. You must understand, Trenton, good men do not lead good lives. In my years, I fought with everything I had, fought for what I believed was right, and my reward? Death at the hands of those I sought to slay. I never got to see the fruits of my labor, but you have. In the eyes of eternity, we exalted few live forever. So yes, you will toil. You will lose. You will suffer. This world is a cruel one, begone the luxury of comfort you once knew. But you must never give in. Remember what it is you’re fighting for, Trenton, and let it steel you. Hearts of bespoke iron are not given, they are forged through years of hardship. And yours is already finer than most, durable at every edge.”
“...is it? I’m starting to have second thoughts.”
“It is. You’re far stronger than you know. Give it some time. Your enemies have had–some–millennia, others, merely centuries, to prepare. Do not think you can best them from desire alone. It is the mix of ambition, will, and power that makes a warrior great, and you’ve already most of the pieces. Now all you need is to keep trudging forward, even as hard as it is. I hope you know, Trenton, how proud I am of you. You grow so much every day.”
For a time, they walked in silence, Trenton mulling over the words of the man, coming to terms with what he’s done, and what he’s yet to do. Some dark corner of his mind truly did want to crawl into a corner and give up, die a painless death and forget all the suffering. But that part was outshone one thousand fold by a new light burning within him, a raging inferno which moments ago had been but sparks. How many times had they done this dance before? How many times had Trenton been about to give up? It was hard to say, but somehow, every time, the figure was there with exactly what he needed to hear.
“...we don’t have time. Tell me what I have to do. I’m ready.”
“You are. At least now we're on the same page. As for what’s next, that’s up to you. I’ve already shown you all the tools at your disposal: the channels, the earth, the presence, the rejuvenation, now you just need to master them. And don’t forget about that new boy, Wimbleton I believe it was. He can help you with your presence, but the rest is up to you.”
“I understand. And if I need help?” Trenton looked down at the figure, meeting his golden gaze with a certain intensity.
“You’ll have it, of course. Until you feel confident in your power, until you’re fully in control, I’ll be here waiting for you.”
“And what of the others?”
“I’ll do what I can, but I can’t guarantee you them. That you’re alive now is only thanks to his intervention. Death greeted us just as it would any other, but you’re different. Maybe he favors you, or maybe not. In honesty, I’m uncertain. But this much I can tell you. Death was unkind to the others. I’m the only one with a mind left to me, let alone a body. They’ll need time to recover, if they even can. So you focus your efforts out there, and I’ll focus mine in here. My influence is limited, but I’ll do what I can,” the figure finished. They had arrived. “Ah, here we are. About time.”
Trenton pushed through the last couple waves, stepping onto the rocky shore line and making his way to the summit of the cliff before him. The figure did not follow him ashore, allowing Trenton to fly the nest this time. He was there, but only in spirit. His support wasn’t needed. Behind him, the waves desperately lapped at his heels, doing all within their power to drown him, grab his attention, but he knew better. He knew what he was there for this time.
Up and up Trenton climbed, some hundreds, thousands of feet above the ocean below, cresting the top of the cliff to stand upon the precipice above the forgotten valley. Below him it was a sheer drop into absolute darkness, an imposing circular abyss darker than black night. And in the center of this darkness hovered a familiar, colossal orb of blinding white molten stone. It was perfect in shape, not a blemish anywhere in sight, just as he remembered.
“Well, do you have an answer now? What is it?” The figure's warm voice asked in his head.
“Home.”
The figure did not respond, but Trenton could feel he was satisfied. Trenton took a step forward, the figures' last words wrapping tight around his mind.
When you wake, I will be gone. In here I am free, but out there I am not. Farewell for now, and good luck. I’ve made you whole again. Do not waste it.