Chapter 5: Essence Shard

Helen noticed the sad smile. It was not the look of a sixteen-cycle boy. His silver eyes were looking far off as he felt the material of the shirt. He had grown a bit taller, but still only stood around her height. She didn't fail to observe his thin frame and how his once healthy tanned skin had grown more and more ashen. It broke her heart seeing her once jubilant child looking like a weathered sailor after one too many storms.

She had tried everything she could to regain a job somewhere that would allow her. She begged with everything she had, pride be damned. Yet no one would allow a thief to work for them, except the small fishery that barely paid enough to buy a loaf of bread. There was no way to travel to another town or village without some sort of coin and all her savings had been ripped away from her after…

she shook her head trying to rid the thoughts of that fateful day her life was ruined. Today was a happy day. It was her child's sixteenth cycle, the day he was officially a man. Gods be damned if she wouldn't continue to try her best for the both of them, no matter how often dark thoughts entered her mind.

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I thanked the woman who was Antone's mother repeatedly. Over and over complimenting the craftsmanship without seeming derogatory. She continued to smile while brushing off my flattery but I could tell from her eyes it brought her no small amount of joy.

Soon enough she pulled out a second surprise. Which was some sort of meat pie from the looks of it. She hid it in the second small room that was sectioned off as her sleeping quarters, inside it was a small mat and another fire pit. They had long ago sold all personal items they owned leaving, nothing left to fill the small shack.

She had tried to insist I eat it all, saying that she had already eaten beforehand. I would hear none of it, we split it in half and ate in quiet peace for a few moments enjoying the warmth of the fire Reny had built up and the taste of the pie, it couldn't compete with food I’d had on earth, but judging from mothers face it was a delicacy for them normally.

I didn't want to ruin the little moment of respite, but for some reason, without something sparking them, I couldn't fully regain all of the previous Antone's memories and knowledge. I needed some way of gaining insight into what was happening in this new world around me. It was sad, but she was one of the few people I could ask without severe repercussions.

“Mother… What are Essence shards?” I asked nonchalantly, trying to bring it up in a casual manner. She stopped moving immediately and looked over at me with worry.

“Why are you asking such a thing? Antone, you know how dangerous it can be.” She whispered back while glancing over her shoulder at the doorway. The reaction took me by surprise again. I knew that Reny was that nervous because of the activities we had been a part of just a few hours earlier, but for my own mother to have such a reaction… She must know something of importance. I didn't wish to worry her more, but I needed answers.

“I know mother… I only ask because Mr. Tibbs requested that I learn more about them for work.” I made up the lie on the spot. I didn't know how much she knew about the line of work Mr. Tibbs was involved in, but I didn't have many options. She slowly nodded, rolling the answer over in her head. Seeming to come to the conclusion that the excuse was valid enough.

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“I see… Well, from what I know, Essence shards are what mark those who are able to gain the Goddess Systemias blessing and those who are not. You are too young to remember, but five cycles before you were born, the first Worshippers of Systemia appeared across the land. They were capable of magical feats that no one thought possible. Shooting fire out of their bare hands like a dragon of legend, creating a flood from a single drop of water. Even erecting castles from nothing!” She grew more enthusiastic as she spoke, a twinkle of child-like fantasy graced her eyes as she continued.

“People whisper, saying they traveled down to each leader of men and taught them some of the powers of Systemia. I am not sure if that is true or not, but according to the royal servant's rumors, the power they gain is achieved through something called Essence. I don't know how it gives them this power. But given enough, one can form an Essence shard, thus granting Systemias blessing. That is at least what the town folk spread about, Remember if the guards hear you talking about it… they will not withhold punishment. Promise me you will be careful Antone, with whatever this Mr. Tibbs has you doing.” she grabbed my hands with her own trembling pair giving a tight squeeze. I returned the gesture, already feeling guilty for lying to the worried woman.

“Of course. I'm always careful, if I'm ever in real trouble I'll throw Reny in front I promise.” I still felt slightly odd when speaking with her so casually, though it glided off my tongue like I had done it a thousand times before which I suppose made sense. She smiled warmly while scoffing at my jib once more before excusing herself for the night. I offered to start the fire for her in the other room but to quote her.

‘This old bag of bones can handle that challenge on her own young man.’ While she snatched a half-lite branch, carrying it across the room before disappearing behind the curtain.

She had given me a lot to think about. Question after question popped into my mind without permission only causing my thoughts to wander in far too many directions. Coming to a mental decision I slowly shifted my hand down to my ankle feeling around for the small bump that had been there since I had awoken inside this body not a few scant hours earlier. It was no larger than half a pinky nail, but it was causing me more strife than anything that small should. Slowly and methodically I removed the wrappings around my foot until a shining speck showed its upper half exposed. I realized then my breath was being held the entire time and took a deep inhale. With shaky fingers, I pried the little gem out of my makeshift shoe fully and brought it before the dimming fire to see it more clearly.

It was as dazzling as a tiny gem could be. It was a deep azure color that bordered on black, the significance of the color itself was lost on me. The way it shone not only from the firelight but with its own deeper glow, caused my eyes to have a hard time looking away. This was the prize Antone had paid his life for. This minuscule splinter. There was a moment I debated throwing it into the fire, the ridiculousness of a child being killed over something like this was almost too much. But the voice of Demios rang in my head. Reminding me if I wanted to return home, I needed to gain as much Essence as possible. And somehow make a ‘safe-haven’, whatever the hell that meant. For the hundredth time I wished I had asked more questions, my mind had been in such disarray at the time. I suppose it was impressive I extracted as much information as I did.

Now the largest question that remained was what to do with this cursed speck. From observing it there didn't seem to be a user manual anywhere. As embarrassing as it felt, I began to whisper words to the damn rock hoping to unravel its secrets.

“Absorb. Enter. Confirm. Open sesame!” A dozen more attempts escaped my mouth with each being stranger than the last. Nothing changed. The little rock seemingly mocking with its never-ending twinkle.

Sighing I let my head drop in between my knees. This was a hopeless endeavor. Without some sort of guidance, how was I supposed to gain strength from a magical fairy rock for god's sake?

Then a strange idea hit me. I had already tried to close my eyes and feel the rock in my hands. That had done nothing but cause me to look like a fortune teller with a very small mystical ball. Perhaps the key was, ingestion? Now the idea of eating a stone was not appealing. There had to be another way in which this was done. But with my limited knowledge and the possibility of someone finding me with the murder stone only increasing the longer I had it was greatly affecting my judgment. After all, I could still ‘retrieve’ it after a few hours if Antone’s body worked the same as any other human.

‘Here goes nothing.’ I thought before throwing the glittering ball into my mouth and swallowing it as quickly as possible.