The Alexandrite, the last of the Eji’derr, the worst of the Eji’derr. To be an alexandrite is to dance with an iceviper around your neck. The Alexandrite never shows its physical form but we always feel its gaze upon us. It speaks to us when we waver, it shows itself in our inner minds wearing the guise of our deepest fears. Most alexandrites slowly descend the steps of madness trying to battle against it. Our Eji’derr culls its own people to have the most potent specimen to study their minds further. To be a strong alexandrite is not to dance to the iceviper’s rhythm. It is to make the iceviper dance with you.
I was at a construction site, one of the many building projects across the scorched lands. The explosion expert was there and he was the first thread I needed to pull. I had already done my research on him but I prefer a face-to-face, especially a fist-to-face. His name was Cardinal Cardinal, a ruby who was a master at explosion-based gemcraft. He was never a suspect, I trusted Count’s eyes more than his words, but there were questions that only he could answer.
I made my presence noticeable with a cough behind him. When he turned towards me, it took him just a moment to switch his face. I had a certain reputation, one that made it a lot harder to do my job. His clothes were neat, tidy, and formal. He was an older ruby with flames rising from his rocky eyebrows. He returned my words with a deep and annoyed voice.
“Cardinal, may I have a few words? It is about the incident at Hotroad. This is not an official investigation, I’m just here for a casual exchange.”
“I know you are not here on official business because there is nothing to investigate! A report has been filed, go read it… And tell the Count he can ask himself instead of sending his hound.”
The famous temper of rubies, the Count lacked it but I knew the way around it. My job did not teach me how to deal with people or how to speak to their liking. However, it did show me how to get what I want from them. This was a pissing contest so I growled back.
“Oh, I’ve read the report. I even went to the site to see the sloppy job you did with my own eyes. Now, this incident can stick to your record like a rotten egg or you can be a helpful little pup and make it easy for me to find the truth. So what will it be, Cardinal?”
His eyes burned bright yellow flames while he shouted in whispers to avoid drawing any attention. He almost tried to touch me but reality hit him midway. If it didn’t, I would have.
“How dare you assume I made a mistake, you mutt? Didn’t you see how long I’ve been doing this job during your research? Just… ask and leave.”
“That’s the spirit, Cardinal. According to Count’s examination, there are traces of tampering on your gemcraft. At the time of the incident, there was only you and a diamond worker on the site. Project manager Maroon Baron said that you allowed the mentioned worker to spectate. Can you give me details on who he was and the conversation that happened between you?
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Cardinal’s temper rose when he heard about the tampering, at least the focus of his anger wasn’t just me now. Also like Count, he was confused about the diamond’s involvement. Once you master gemcraft, the way you perceive our reality changes. Naturally, most gemcraft experts have an unconscious bias against diamonds, the only people that can not use gemcraft.
“Tampered? Like you said detective, the only people who were even near the site were solely the two of us. Am I getting senile or do you suspect a diamond with tampering with gemcraft? It is more likely for the Ruby herself to intervene than a diamond! I will tell you what happened to humor this silly theory of yours.
He said his name was Aine. He told me that he had a fascination with the usage of gemcraft that improves our daily lives and that he wanted to spectate. Of course, I allowed him, he is a diamond! Since I was focusing on my gemcraft, I did not see what he was doing during the explosions. When the explosions got out of control and the procedure was over, he thanked me and left.”
Cardinal gave me just what I needed so I didn’t bother him with any more silly theories. He was right, it was more realistic to assume that it was the Eji’derr who intervened instead of a diamond. He was wrong, an Eji’derr would never interfere with human business like that. The Eji’derr have rules, though only a minority in Gemsoil know of this.
Tracking down that diamond wouldn’t take too long since the incident was still fairly recent but he simply wasn’t the next thread I needed to follow. To untangle a pile of threads, you need to know the order and the force you need to pull on them. I knew what the next step was but I didn’t like it even a bit. I had no problem with the plague that is the Eji’derr of Gemsoil, except that bastard Alexandrite of course. Yet, I always hated using gemcraft, the instrument of the Eji’derr.
I wandered around the scorched lands to find an isolated field. I opened my bag and took out my game set. Dance of Eji’derr is a sacred game that is played between two minds. The game itself is considered a clash of intelligence, tactics, and planning. People even use it to resolve conflicts. I think of myself as a decent player, all thanks to playing it so much with Count who is a big fan of the game. His mind is brilliant but also transparent. No matter how well he plays, I always know what he is thinking so I win a good amount of our games. However, my opponent was not him. It was the parasite that resides in my mind.
My eyes… Close them, open the third one.
Deep breath... Take it, don’t let go.
My mind… Kill it, rebuild it, set it free.
The gem on my forehead… Feel it, don’t let go.
Alexandrite… Release me.
Gray… Let it flow, bathe in it.
Dance… With death.
A gray reflection of me was smirking on the other side of the game table when I opened my tired eyes. I smirked back and put the pieces in their place to set the game up. It waited for me patiently like a predator stalking its prey. It was time to dance, with myself, with my mind, with death, with the iceviper.