Ezekiel remained on his knees, hunched over Shine as they were stabbed into the ground. His breathing was heavy from exhaustion. He also felt a sense of awe as he looked at the gathered Guardian Spirits. All of them were peak Legendary, on the verge of breaking through. But he still felt like the Lightning Spirit would outclass them all.
“Greetings, young man. It is good to see that our expectations were not misplaced.” The Legendary Lightning Spirit said. “I am Invera, one of the Guardians of the Feather Peak Tribe. These are my companions, Spina, Guardian of the Flame, Feynari, Guardian of the Obscure, Callrond, Guardian of Radiance, and Morty, Guardian of Glacier.”
The Legendary birds all nodded in greeting as they looked down at Ezekiel. Each of them had a noble bearing as they perched on the pillars above. For a moment, Ezekiel forgot to say anything. The only Spirit he had ever heard actually speak was the Forest of Morncrest. A Spirit that was on the border of the Mythic Tier. A being that outclassed all the Spirits here.
“... Hello...” Ezekiel said before taking Shine out from the ground and raising them into the air in front of him. “I’m Ezekiel, and this is Shine.”
The Legendary birds, upon seeing Shine presented to them, all directed their gaze towards the young Void Spirit with an intensity that was unexpected by both Void users. Ezekiel had to wonder what was so interesting about Shine that they would focus on them so intently.
“Hmmm... We were told that you existed, but it is different seeing you face-to-face.” Invera said. She turned her gaze to her peers as they spoke in the way that only Spirits seemed to be able to. It took a few minutes, but she eventually turned back to Ezekiel and Shine.
“Tell us, how did your Spirit come to be?” Invera asked.
Sighing in confusion, but knowing he would have to tell the story, Ezekiel began to speak. As he went on, he finally found out whether or not he had passed his trial, since the sun set not long after. The sky turned dark well before he finished his story.
----------
----------------------------------------
The only light that could be seen at the top of the mountain peak was the shining light that was emitted from Callrond’s luminescent feathers. The softly glowing light was actually quite comforting as Ezekiel told his story, all the way from the discovery of his meditation technique, up until to Shine’s formation, the island of Morncrest, and finally, the civil war of Tarquessa, and his goal on reaching his family in the Empire.
“You have been through quite a bit. Both of you.” Invera said. “However, I can see it in your soul. So long as your life is not snuffed out, you will reach heights that even I have yet to reach.”
The Legendary birds all closed their eyes and nodded in agreement. Ezekiel wasn’t certain whether or not it was because they were Spirits, and therefore innately aware of things that humans simply weren’t, or if they were simply seeing his general potential.
“Thank you. I will try to live up to these expectations.” Ezekiel said.
“I will too!” Shine chimed in, regardless of the fact that they probably couldn’t hear them.
Ezekiel hadn’t known that birds could smile, but the eye smile that Invera gave him, and Shine, was more heartfelt than some he’d seen on human faces.
“Now, as your trial has come to an end, and your story has been told. We shall provide our judgment.” Invera declared. As one, the Legendary birds raised their right wings to the side. “It is unanimous, your entry into our mountain is permitted, and so long as you do not betray our trust, you shall be known as a friend of Feather Peak.”
From the side, Morty pulled out a badge from beneath his wing. Tossing it to Ezekiel, he caught it without any issues. Ezekiel saw that was similar to the one that Talon had given him. One side had five feathers interwoven into a laurel like pattern, while the other side had a featureless human holding a sword. A symbol of the Feather Peaks and Ezekiel’s connection to them. It looked to be made of blue and white ice, with several colors to indicate the elements of the Guardians in the feathers.
He hadn’t looked too far into it when Talon had given him his badge, but he thought that the symbol on the back was different. Likely personalized for him alone. Something that was confirmed as he channeled his mana into the badge, and he felt himself become attuned to it.
Information flowed into his mind, and he could tell what enchantments were interwoven into it. There was an enchantment that would regulate the temperature of the bonded wearer, no matter the climate. As well as a defensive enchantment that would protect the wearer with a shield, so long as the attack upon it wasn’t too strong.
Finally, there was an enchantment that he hadn’t thought was possible. It was a signal enchantment that would alert the Feather Peaks that the wearer was in the vicinity of their mountain. Allowing the Guardians to check on them if they were in trouble.
As he examined the badge in curiosity, he was shocked to see that there were no Runes, or other means of engraving enchantments onto an object, that he could see. It was a means of creating enchanted objects that he had never seen before. But before he could ask how it was made, he was suddenly picked up gently in a pair of talons.
“Come. I believe that you are in a rush, are you not?” Invera said as the other Legendary birds looked on. “I shall bring you down to the path towards the Empire. It should only take you a couple of days before you are out of the Fjorya. Given that it has only been a couple of days, you can likely meet up with your companions before they pass through.”
Ezekiel was swiftly lifted into the air, and even though it was incredibly dark, Ezekiel found himself in awe once again as the clouds below them cleared, and the expansive mountains of the Fjorya stretched out below him.
“One day, you will have to come back to us. To repay our kindness, and to learn our ways.” Invera said, her voice carrying over the howling winds. “Your knowledge is extensive, but it does not flow with nature, as the Spirits tend to. Not entirely. We shall show you how to develop your knowledge and empower your magic beyond its current limits.”
He wasn’t certain what exactly Invera was talking about, but he knew it was important. Perhaps it was the secret behind the badge that the Guardians had given him. Regardless, he would never say no to learning more about magic. It was just unfortunate that there was no time for more. He had many questions to ask right now.
But it seemed like they were rapidly approaching the destination that Invera had in mind. Ezekiel couldn’t help but feel that they had moved far faster than he had thought they were. A small light in the distance, denoting a small waypoint village, shone brightly in the darkness.
The large, smoothly carved, and well-maintained road leading into it was something that Ezekiel felt was a great sign. As it meant that this was a village with a trade route, and the chances were high that his companions would be passing through, if they hadn’t already.
Reaching the ground roughly a kilometer away from the waypoint village, Ezekiel landed with a crouch. Shine still held firmly in his hand.
“Be ready, young man, the Desolate forces have been pushing far harder than before. If possible, I would’ve liked to keep you here for a few months, at least.” Invera said. “Make sure that you survive. I hope to see you within the next few years.”
Startled from the dark premonition, Ezekiel couldn’t help turning back, hoping to ask for more information. But it seemed like Invera wasn’t willing to hang around for much longer. The large Lightning Spirit had since returned to the sky, and in a flash of lightning, disappeared back in the direction of a massive mountain peak. One that stood taller than all the others around it and was so far away that Ezekiel couldn’t help but wonder just how they had made it so far, so fast.
On the ground was a shoulder bag and backpack, filled with rations and basic camping supplies. Apparently, the Guardians had been confident enough in his capability to make preparations beforehand.
He couldn’t help but lament how short his experience in the Fjorya actually was. But he knew that he couldn’t afford to remain for long. So, a part of him was happy that the Feather Peak Guardians were so accommodating regarding his situation.
“Ezekiel, we should go. It’s not safe to be out here when it’s dark like this.” Shine’s voice pulled Ezekiel out of his wandering thought process.
“Right, let’s go.” Ezekiel replied as he put on the backpack and shoulder bag. As he ran towards the short walls of the village, he couldn’t help but examine his body. Amazed at the bizarre experience he and Shine had gone through. Knowing that whatever they had gone through was ultimately the cause of their quick recovery.
Reaching the village, he showed the badge given to him from the Feather Peak tribe as a form of identification when asked. Seeing it, the guards at the gates quickly let him in, not asking too many questions, and directing him to the nearest inn.
One that he was overjoyed to see had a familiar wagon parked outside it.
Stepping inside the inn, Ezekiel looked around, not expecting to see his friends, given the time, but was pleasantly surprised to see that they were sitting at a booth. Sipping drinks and eating dinner. It seems like they must’ve just gotten there. That, or they had things they needed to do that were keeping them up. Regardless, it was great for him.
But the most surprising thing, that also made him incredibly happy, was the red-haired girl sitting next to Fiana, slowly sipping on a bowl of soup with a little lizard seated on her shoulder. Slowly, he approached the table, pulling down his hood and opening his heavy coat as he did. Coming to a stop next to his friends, they turned to look at him. Not expecting anyone to approach them.
Riley, upon seeing Ezekiel standing there, dropped her spoon in shock. Fiana gasped in surprise, and George jumped up with a shout as Marc and Cinder looked on in shock.
“Hey guys, I’m back.” Ezekiel said with a smile.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The group hug he found himself in was incredibly comforting. More so than he had expected. He could only hope that he’d receive the same greeting when they got into the Empire proper.
----------
----------------------------------------
Back at the Feather Peak Mountain, Welt and Rosen were standing before the Guardians of their tribe in a roofless chamber. Currently, Invera was still returning, but they expected that she would be back within the hour, if not sooner. Nonetheless, the elders needed to be updated, and while Welt wasn’t an official elder of the tribe anymore, as the one that had treated Ezekiel, and ensured that he was fully recovered, he was welcomed in this meeting.
“So, that’s it then? We just save him, test him, and then send him away? I thought that there was more that we were going to do with him. Young Talon spent nearly a month with us before he could leave.” Welt said in a curious tone. “What makes this child so special?”
“In a word, timing.” Spina mentally covered through her soul speech. “He only went over the details of his time in Tarquessa with you and the other elders. With us, he went over the state of the lands towards the north. They are in just as much turmoil, if not more so, as the Desolate ones from the east are pushing forward. If they succeed, then that will put us into conflict with them, as it will not be the small area of the shores that will be at risk.”
This made Welt and Rosen focus much more intently on the conversation. If there was a chance of the Desolate Lands invading their mountains, then that was a concern for all the tribes within the Fjorya. This wasn’t just a matter that they could deal with. Perhaps with the conflict to the south they could deal with things alone. But not if there were issues to the north as well.
“I will get a team of messengers gathered. Our allies will be informed within a week. Would it be possible to get your guarantee regarding this information?” Rosen asked as he turned to Spina. “It will help once we start reaching out to the other peak tribes.”
Feynari waved a wing, and a dozen small rings made of five differently colored feathers drifted towards Rosen. They floated in the air as he bowed in thanks before taking them into his Void Pouch.
“With your permission, I will be off.” Rosen stated as he mentally went over the names of the people that he would need to send out to deliver messages.
This was going to be difficult, as there was already a team gathering for the sake of returning Talon’s badge to him as well. But it seemed like one of the Guardians had plans regarding who to send.
“Send your children, Narrik and Reya. It is time that they began learning about the world beyond the Feather Peaks.” Morty conveyed. “I know you worry for their safety, ever since your wife died when they were children. But they are adults now, and they are amongst the more skilled Adepts of the tribe. It is time they took on some greater responsibilities.”
Rosen grit his teeth but knew that the Guardian had a point. His son and daughter were respectful regarding his concerns and had rarely tried to push for missions outside the tribe’s territory. But it seemed like it was time for them to venture beyond that. They had long since stopped being children, after all.
“Understood. I guess it is time for them to take a more prominent role in the tribe’s politics.” Rosen replied. With that said, he turned from the Guardians and left the room.
After he left, the Guardians and Welt turned to Morty.
“Well, it’s about time. You spent far too much time coddling that man. He should’ve been sending his children from the nest years ago.” Feynari said.
“They are his children, but the children of my bonded one. The loss we both felt when she died was devastating. It is not something that a Wild one like you would understand.” Morty said in a frustrated tone. “Rosen is also getting on in years. Even if most of his hair is grayed from stress, more than anything else. It did not feel right to tear his family away from him.”
Feynari was about to reply, but a bolt of Lightning appeared in the large roofless room.
“The boy has been returned to the path to the north. He will likely leave the mountains within a couple of days. From there, I do not know how far he will need to go to reach his destination. But the way should be mostly clear. The Desolate forces have not been seen near our borders just yet.” Invera said aloud after landing on one of the perches that line the chamber’s walls. “Where is Rosen?”
“He’s already headed out to prepare the messages for the various Peak tribes and our allies.” Callrond said. “It seems that Narrik and Reya will be setting out soon.”
“You’re quite talkative right now. Were you not opposed to speaking when the Voidling was here?” Invera asked.
“He is an outsider, and I was incredibly angry when he mentioned those blighted Cultists.” Callrond said. Invera decided to drop the subject, as she knew that it was a sore spot for him. “I do intend to check on him at some point, however. I refuse to let him die at the hands of such traitorous monsters.”
That brought surprised looks from the Guardians, as they hadn’t thought that Ezekiel’s story would have that much of an impression on their fellow Guardian.
“Pardon, Guardians, but what else is there you need for me to tell the elders?” Welt asked, causing the Legendary birds to turn back to him. Invera proceeded to tell him of all that Ezekiel had gone through. It was more in depth than what Rosen had been told, and the messages that they prepared would need to take it into account.
“Thank you, Guardians. I will convey this information to the elder council.” Welt said before he too left the chamber.
“Do you think we’ll actually see that Voidling again?” Feynari asked.
“Perhaps. He seemed like a curious young man. I think the things I hinted at were enough to keep his interest. When he has the time, I don’t doubt he will come back.” Invera said.
“If he survives the conflict with the Desolate ones.” Spina said.
Invera simply nodded her head. She knew there were no absolutes when it came to surviving conflict. But she also hoped that Ezekiel and Shine would be strong enough to survive. They may not be able to change the world on their own, but she thought that they might be able to shake things up. Given the amount of time that she had been alive, she hoped that she was right.
The two of them were too new and interesting for her to simply ignore, after all.
----------
----------------------------------------
Given the time of night, Ezekiel didn’t end up staying up with his companions for long. They were apparently staying up simply because they had arrived much later than intended. Having gotten to the village just an hour or so before he had.
Riley, who had regained consciousness the day before, had been drifting in and out of sleeping and waking states. It seemed that her soul had, for the most part, recovered enough to no longer need to be in a coma to recover. But she wasn’t anywhere near healed to be able to use her magic. Nor was Celia, though in her case it was far more severe.
In Riley’s case, she might lose her ability to use magic. For Celia, it was possible that her form would shatter, and she would simply fade away.
Given their current state, George, as their healer, was doing his best to ensure that Riley was getting at least some activity when she was awake. Regardless of the time. Same with food and water, rather than having Riley subsist of his Life magic. Something that Ezekiel was greatly appreciative of.
Riley was also greatly appreciative of this, and regularly promised George that she would repay everything he had done for her when she was healthy again. She had done the same for Fiana, Cinder, and Marc as well. But when she had seen Ezekiel again, she had almost become something of a limpet. Almost always insisting on being as close to Ezekiel as possible, now that he was here.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this? I know that Fiana and Cinder would be fine tripling up for a room with you.” Ezekiel said to Riley once again. They were currently sharing a room between the room with Fiana and Cinder, and the room with Marc and George.
Celia and Shine were also, obviously, in the room with them. Though the two Spirits were sharing a space in the corner of the room, where Shine was propped up in a sheath, and Celia was curled up around them. A soft glow emanated from Celia as a pattern of scales running along her back lit up in contentment. Shine seemed confused as to why she was doing this, but Ezekiel asked them to go with it.
“I’m sure.” Riley’s voice whispered from the other bed in the room. “Just knowing that my hero is near will help me sleep better.”
Ezekiel smiled at the slightly teasing tone that he could just make out. Riley was still incredibly weak, and there was a high chance that she had fallen to a lower Tier, but until she recovered, they wouldn’t know for certain. So, there was still concern regarding her well-being.
However, the fact that she was talking like this was good. That she was joining around was even better. Though Ezekiel did allow himself to wonder if it was just a facade to reassure him of her health. But he would allow it, for now.
“A hero would have saved you no matter what. I simply tried my best since you’re my friend. That doesn’t make me a hero.” Ezekiel ultimately replied after a moment’s thought. “But, please, tell me truthfully, how are you?”
Riley remained silent for a second, and Ezekiel could tell that she didn’t want to answer him. But after a moment, she finally did.
“My soul hurts. It hurts a lot, and I want it to stop.” She said, nearly in tears. “But I need to hold on. Until I recover. Even though I don’t think I deserve to.”
Ezekiel climbed out of bed, knowing that he had pushed a button that he shouldn’t have.
“I need to repay you. And George, and Fiana, and Cinder, and Marc... And all the people that I hurt when I was stuck inside the Cult.” Riley said as she started crying. “I also need to make them pay! For binding me in a contract. For using my parents, and me, for their evil games. I need to make them pay!”
Riley nearly screamed towards the end, and Ezekiel became concerned that she would start flaring her mana as her emotions ran wild. So, he started channeling his own mana. Releasing an aura of Nothingness that dispelled any mana that she subconsciously summoned up.
“Okay.” Ezekiel said. “I won’t tell you not to do that. I’ll tell you that you don’t need to. At least when it comes to repaying me. But if you think that fighting the Cult is something that you need to do, then okay.”
Kneeling at the side of Riley’s bed, he held out his hand for her to hold if she wanted. She immediately grabbed it. Hugging his arm to her chest as hard as she could. He felt confusion emanating across his bond from Shine, but mentally waved them away, and told them to continue resting.
“For now, however, you need to heal. There’s no point in fighting the Cult of Light if you’re just going to die as soon as you see them.” Ezekiel said. “You need to value your life, just like I do, or else what was the point in me saving you.”
Riley just continued to cry, but Ezekiel could hear her growing quieter and quieter, until finally, Riley fell asleep. Still holding his arm in a death grip. A part of him couldn’t help but sigh, as he knew that his concern for his old friend had forced her to face a demon that she wasn’t ready to fight just yet.
Shifting himself into a more comfortable position, Ezekiel did his best to sleep with his arm still being held. He was in for a rough night, but as he looked at Riley’s sleeping face, he knew that it was worth it. But he wasn’t looking forward to the teasing and taunting that he was going to get from his companions in the morning.
----------
----------------------------------------
The next morning, Ezekiel was woken up by a hand shaking his shoulder. Opening his eyes in and instant, He nearly jerked away, as he could feel his arm tightly bound by something that his sleeping mind did not comprehend.
“Wait, wait, wait!” A voice whispered quietly. He paused for a moment as he could hear the concern in the voice. “It’s me, George. Don’t move just yet.”
Ezekiel blinked the sleep out of his eyes as he processed what he was hearing. As he slowly woke up, he realized that George had come in to check up on Riley, who was sleeping silently with his arm held tightly to her chest.
George’s glowing green hand ran over Riley’s head before moving to run down her back. He quietly examined her as Ezekiel remained at the side of her bed, waiting for him to finish. The moment he did, he turned to Ezekiel with a great big smile on his face.
“Fun night?” He asked. “Heard things got a little rowdy last night. Good job!”
“Get out!” Ezekiel growled as he ordered George to leave the room. The older Scholar did as he was told, leaving with a chuckle under his breath as he did. Focusing on his senses, Ezekiel channeled his mana to reinforce himself. Just to make sure that he wasn’t being spied on by the Scholars outside.
Hearing nothing nearby, he turned to Riley, having noticed that her breathing wasn’t even.
“You know he would’ve realized that you were awake, right?” Ezekiel said in a bland tone of voice. Riley tensed up momentarily, before she relaxed and opened her eyes.
“... Sorry...” She said in a whisper.
“It’s fine. I’m the one that brought up a sore subject. But you need to tell me if something’s wrong. Okay?” Ezekiel said as he gently pulled his arm from Riley’s slackening grip.
She nodded in response.
“In that case, I’m going to get Fiana and Cinder. They’ll help you get ready for the day.” Grabbing his bag with his robes and other clothing, Ezekiel left the room, grabbing Shine and picking up Celia. He placed the little lizard on top of Riley’s chest before leaving the room. Closing the door with a sigh before heading to where he could vaguely sense Fiana and Cinder.
He knew that George’s response to his actions wasn’t going to be the end of things. But at least they were making their way to the Empire. Now he just had to get there and hope he didn’t trip in the final stretch.