Tael waved his rifle, gesturing for Elion to lead the way back to the house. Elion walked slowly down the slope, heading toward the house. He kept his hands in the air, wondering what infection made Tael so afraid.

Should I worry about catching it?

Elion followed the dirt path that led to the house. He glanced uncomfortably at the dying plants, drooping in their plastic tubs as they passed. Against one side of the house, a few old tires had been partially consumed by twisting vines with small red flowers on them.

They reached the house.

“Open the door, Kasm,” Tael ordered.

The younger boy pulled the door open and held it for Elion.

Elion peered into the dim space beyond. A cramped workspace presented itself, cluttered with boxes, scraps of wood, and other paraphernalia. Light from windows high in the far wall illuminated the space, along with a couple of work lamps placed strategically around the room. In the center of the room, a hoist held an ATV lifted over an oil pan.

The smell of sawdust and grease hung in the air, along with the tartness of decaying wood and rusting metal.

The ATV had two seats and a roll cage, but no doors. A cargo rack at the back bore scuffs from heavy usage. The tire treads were bald in places.

“Dad,” Kasm called into the garage. “We’re bringing the hero in, but Tael says he thinks he’s infected.”

“Bring him in,” the deep voice boomed from inside. The voice, Dad, had a strange quality about it, an artificiality which oddly reminded Elion of ordering at a drive-thru. He clenched his jaw, a sense of claustrophobia warning him away from the space.

Elion glanced back at Tael, meeting the boy’s hard eyes. Tael gestured with the gun, so Elion stepped through the door, palms sweating. Elion tried to stop just across the threshold, but Kasm and Tael pushed in behind him, forcing him out into the center of the workspace. He now saw a garage door at the far end.

“Come closer and stand in the light,” Dad said. Elion looked around the garage but couldn’t tell where the voice came from. Tael pushed Elion with the gun, forcing him closer to one of the nearby lights.

“Put the gun away Tael,” Dad said. “He’s not infected.”

“But Dad–”

“Away Tael,” Dad said. Tael complied, but grumbled as he hung the rifle up near the door.

“His name is Elion,” Kasm said. “Elion Walker, and he’s a hero. He’s going to help us defeat the infected.”

Elion looked around, still unable to spot Dad. He noticed more strange shapes cluttering the garage. A device with several cranks on it might have been a vice; and an oblong object with a point on the top looked something like a rocket. A futuristic looking dirt bike leaned against one wall.

“Calm down Kasm,” Dad said. “I thought you were trying to summon a Heranan, and he is clearly Aurelian.”

Kasm blushed and started to protest, but thought better of it. Elion glanced down at himself, wondering what features marked him as Aurelian. How did one become an Aurelian? Perhaps by accepting Aurelia’s Protection? He touched the star pendant at his neck, still concealed by his hoodie.

“Pleasure to meet you, Elion,” Dad said. “My name is Domas.”

“Excuse me,” Elion said. “But where are you?”

Kasm and Tael snickered.

“Right in front of you,” Dad/Domas said. One headlight on the ATV blinked on and off, as though the vehicle was winking at him. Elion furrowed his brow, leaning around to see if the man might be hiding beneath the ATV.

“Pardon my appearance,” Domas said, and this time Elion saw a set of lights at the front of the ATV, lighting up in sync with Domas’s voice. A small, circular grate beneath the lights appeared to be a speaker.

Elion guessed that Domas was remotely connected into the ATV, perhaps giving his son guidance on performing an oil change. That made more sense than Domas being the ATV, but the chuckles of the boys gave Elion pause.

“Sorry,” Elion said. “I wasn’t expecting–”

“Nobody is,” Domas said. “I’m not sure that I’m totally used to it myself. It’s a shame that we’re so low on parts these days. Gorman is an excellent artificer but even he has to work within the limitations of his supplies.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Elion nodded, even though he didn’t understand what Domas was talking about. He needed them to keep talking, give him more information. Then he could figure out what to tell them about himself.

“So tell me, what is an Aurelian doing here? And how did you get across the bridge, onto this island?”

Elion decided not to lie about this. The fact that he was on an island was news to him. “I didn’t cross a bridge,” Elion said. “I came through a portal.” He glanced at Kasm. “I wasn’t exactly trying to come here.”

“See!” Tael nudged Kasm. “He isn’t here to save us.”

Elion’s heart twinged as Kasm’s face fell, full of disappointment.

“No, I’d like to help you if I can,” Elion said. “If there’s anything I can do for you…”

“You are a hero?” Kasm asked, his eyes brightening. “You’re going to help us?”

“Stop being naive,” Tael said, elbowing his brother.

“Tael, the oil is all drained now,” Domas said. “Finish the job, would you?”

While they talked, Tael started working on finishing the oil change, replacing some pieces underneath the ATV and adding new oil, then cleaning up.

“So, young hero, what is your name?” Domas asked.

“I’m Elion,” Elion said. “Elion Walker.” He noticed the text in his vision, still there.

<< Translation Active >>

“Welcome to Aterfel, Elion,” Domas said. “Some might not take kindly to your presence, but you’re welcome in our home.”

“Thank you,” Elion said, though Domas’s statement worried him.

“I apologize if Kasm’s runes interfered with your portal. I let him do it because I didn’t think it would hurt anything.”

“Oh, it’s not a problem,” Elion said. Did those runes have something to do with me ending up here? “I’m happy to help if I’m needed here.” He could probably play the part of wandering Aurelian hero. As long as he was clearly identifiable as an Aurelian, he may as well also be a hero.

“If you weren’t trying to come here, where was it you were going?”

“That’s a long story,” Elion said, racking his brain for something reasonable to say. “Has anyone else passed through recently?”

Maybe they’ve seen Zev.

“No,” Domas said, laughing. “Nobody from outside Aterfel has been here in around a year.”

Elion pursed his lips. How much should I reveal?

Domas didn’t wait for Elion to continue. “Ah, well, I assume you’ll be wanting to see the Altar as long as you are here. When Tael is done, I’ll take you there. No sense in dallying, waiting for the rabble-rousers to start causing problems.”

A phantom curl of warm breath on his neck made Elion’s hair stand on end. A distant whisper; “Come to me,” brushed against his ears.

“Yes,” Elion said. “Of course. I am an Aurelian, after all. I…” he glanced at Kasm. “And I’ll help you however I can. I would love to see the Altar.”

“Excellent,” Domas said.

“Woohoo!” Kasm cried. “I told you, Tael! He’s going to destroy the scavengers and cure the infection, and we’re going to go back to Kairn Tol!”

“Um…” Elion fiddled with his hands nervously, not wanting to dampen the boy’s enthusiasm. It didn’t seem like the right time or place for it.

Tael rounded the ATV, wiping his hands on a cloth, still eying Elion suspiciously. The boy did not believe Elion’s lie.

“If you’re an Aurelian, where’s your sword?” he asked.

Elion immediately thought of the butter knife in his pocket. Not really an impressive weapon, but then again, the warlock had seemed afraid of it. Elion repressed the thought. Stupid to think he’d impress a teenage boy with a butter knife.

“Tael, be polite,” Domas said from the ATV speaker. “Aurelians don’t walk around with their blades summoned all the time. They only draw them when there is a serious need.”

“Whatever,” Tael grumbled. He hit a switch on the lift, lowering the ATV to the ground.

The ATV engine started up, revved a few times, then the vehicle rolled forward off of the lift.

“Ah,” Domas said from the ATV speaker. “Nothing like that clean oil feel. Thank you Tael. Everyone climb on, we’re heading out!”

The two boys scrambled onto the ATV, Tael taking the driver position, and Kasm settling into a basket at the back of the machine. Elion climbed on beside Tael. Frowning at the place where a steering wheel should have been, Elion wondered how the vehicle would navigate.

A garage door opened up in front of them, and the ATV rolled forward, out into the central square of Aterfel.