Gazing out at the undulating waves along the pristine coastal stretch, a light purple and pink spotted Auctian perched gracefully on a weathered bench. A delicate blue bow adorned the crown of her head, contrasting elegantly with the vibrant hues of her skin. Seven tentacles, each adorned with intricate patterns of iridescent spots, wriggled occasionally in a mesmerizing dance as she maintained a serene stillness. A paper adorned with the sigil of the Arvendon Kingdom lay on the ground. One tentacle cradled her head, providing a delicate support as she lost herself in the rhythmic ebb and flow of the ocean.

Unbeknownst to her, a silent visitor approached from behind, footsteps muffled by the soft murmur of the waves. Nat, carrying a worn pack slung over his back, made his way toward her. The pack bore the weight of his cherished book, pen, and the items entrusted to him by Erik. Two weeks had passed since he left Erik’s troop within the mystical depths of the Wylde Wood Sanctuary, adhering faithfully to Erik’s directive.

As Nat drew nearer, he marveled at the tranquil scene unfolding before him—the Auctian lost in contemplation, the gentle sea breeze playing with the tendrils of her intricate tentacles, and the rhythmic melody of the ocean creating a soothing backdrop. The paper on the ground next to her took off in the gentle wind, Abby paying it no mind. The sun cast a warm glow, painting the surroundings in hues of gold and coral.

The Auctian, still immersed in her thoughts, remained oblivious to Nat's presence. The air carried a subtle tang of salt, and the distant cries of seabirds added a touch of wild harmony to the coastal serenity. Nat, standing a respectful distance away, paused to absorb the quiet beauty of the moment before announcing his presence.

"Hello, am I in the presence of Abigail Tiller, sister of Lieutenant Erik Tiller of the Arvendon Kingdom?”

As soon as Nat started speaking Abby jumped, startled at the sudden voice. At the mention of Erik’s name, Abby looked slightly back at her visitor. “Aye, that is me, and you are?”

Nat bowed slightly in a theatrical manner. “I am Nat, a traveler, ordered by your brother to come searching for you.”

“Funny how I told no one I was coming here,” she narrowed her eyes. “Is your ability locating people? I hate type two Kah users.”

“You could say that; however, my ability is very much in the type one of Kah users. Or since we are in human territory, would it not be the correct vernacular to use the term Soulbound? And last I checked; humans don’t care about types. That’s an Auctian classification.” Nat put his hands up in a sign of surrender, showing he wasn’t meaning anything disrespectful.

“You know your stuff,” she tilted her head slightly. “Erik told you my people’s secrets, did he?”

“Nope, trust me, I have my ways of knowing things.”

The coastal breeze carried a hint of intrigue as the conversation unfolded, and the sun began to cast a warm glow over the scene, highlighting the interplay of shadows and light on the ocean's surface. Abby curiosity had been peeked, but she was astonished at what came next.

A couple was walking along the beach, talking in hushed whispers while looking at Abby. Whether it was because she was Auctian she did not know, but they walked through Nat.

“You’re a spirit?” she asked paying the couple no attention.

“Nope,” Nat replied with a smirk on his face. “That couple, they think you’re crazy out here talking to yourself.”

“So, I’m going crazy then.” Abby sighed and returned her gaze to the ocean before her.

“Wrong again,” Nat unslung the pack from his back and took out his book and pen. He then threw it at Abby, who was not expecting it. The bag smacked into the back of her head. “Real enough for you?”

“OW,” Abby cried loudly, rubbing the back of her head with one of her tentacles. “Ok so that was real. What are you?”

“A Narrator. Well, Leader of the Narrators, you should be honored.” Nat came and sat beside Abby on the bench.

“I don’t think the leader of anything should be going around throwing things at random strangers,” Abby muttered under her breath. “So no, I’m really not that honored. Narrators, like as in people who tell or write stories?”

“First thing you’ve gotten correct. We write and categorize all that happen on this planet since our founding fifty thousand years ago. We allow our charges, or focal points, to see us and interact with us. But they are the only ones who can. Since I’m the leader, you may see things others may not, like other narrators or ethereal projections. As leader, I’m allowed a little more leniency in what I do. And as the founder of the Narrators, I know exactly all our limitations and allocations.”

“Sounds like Madness,” Abby retorted. “You’re telling me you’re half an eon old?”

“Your brother handled it well.” Nat shrugged. “I haven’t had many focal points in the last ten thousand years. You would be my third in a row, though. I’m closer to sixty thousand, witnessed the split of the Auctians from the land myself.”

“What made me so lucky to have you as my narrator?” Abby asked sarcastically.

“Erik no longer needed me on the mission he is on.” It was Nat’s turn to stare absentmindedly towards the ocean. Seagulls could be heard calling each other along the wind. Abby opened her mouth to say something but didn’t. Instead, she cleared her throat.

“So, all important leader,” she said. “What are you here for?”

“To deliver unto you what Erik has so graciously given you,” He looked towards the bag. “And that I have most delicately handed upon you.”

“Riiiight.” Abby opened the bag to find a letter, two blue stones; one complete one cracked; and Erik’s light armor. She took out the armor with one tentacle and with another caressed it gently. “His armor…”

Abby's tentacle traced the intricate patterns on Erik's armor, memories flooding her mind like a torrent. The familiar feel of the enchanted metal brought back childhood games and late-night talks, a time when the weight of responsibility had yet to rest upon her brother's shoulders. She couldn't help but smile, a mixture of warmth and melancholy settling in her chest.

As she held the armor against the gentle coastal breeze, Abby's gaze drifted to the horizon, where the sun dipped below the edge of the world. The ocean, painted in hues of orange and purple, mirrored the complexity of her emotions. Erik had always been her protector, the anchor in the storm of Auctian politics her parents forced upon her. Yet, seeing his armor now, a tangible reminder of the dangers he faced, stirred a cocktail of pride, worry, and an unspoken understanding.

"He wanted you to have it," Nat's voice broke through her reverie.

Abby sighed, a blend of gratitude and frustration. "He always did have a flair for the dramatic. Probably thinks I'm defenseless without him around." Her tone carried a hint of annoyance, but beneath it, there was an acknowledgment of the unspoken bond between the siblings.

Nat, ever perceptive, observed her closely. "Siblings have a way of worrying about each other, especially in times like these."

"Yeah, well, he should worry less. I can take care of myself," Abby retorted, though the defiant gleam in her eyes betrayed a vulnerability she refused to admit.

The bag containing the letter sealed by Nat and stones lay open beside her. One of Abby's tentacles brushed over the cracked blue stone, a visual metaphor for the fractures in their world. The weight of responsibility pressed upon her shoulders, and she couldn't help but wonder if Erik shared the same burden.

"I wonder, is he okay?" Abby's voice, softer now, carried an undertone of concern. But she eyed Nat as if trying to pierce his thoughts with her mind.

Nat hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Erik is strong, but even the strongest need support. He wanted you to have this, a piece of him, a reminder that you're not alone."

She stopped momentarily with a smile on her face, but then her brow furrowed. “Why? There is no way this would fit me, and I would look completely ridiculous if I did manage to wear it. He can be an idiot sometimes.” She rolled her eyes. “Here you take it.”

“Thanks, I did write it into existence for him. I call it The Potential Lag of Time Armor. It’s designed to give the wearer enough time to have a split-second change in whatever is happening. Or save the wearer from a deadly attack. One of my masterpieces,” Nat said with pride in his voice.

“That sounds more ridiculous than me trying to wear it,” Abby mused. “With the kingdom the way it is, enchanted equipment has fallen to the wayside here. Auctians hate creation type powers so they would never use this.” She handed the armor over.

“Type Ones are at a severe disadvantage.” He agreed taking the armor and slipping it onto himself. As he dressed his top half, he looked slightly pensive for a moment. “But you know that all too well already, don’t you?”

“He told you about me. Was there anything he kept to himself?” She asked slightly annoyed at Erik.

“Let’s say I’m a fan of a campfire narrative,” Nat said as he sat back down next to her.

Abby slowly nodded not quite getting what he was meaning. A few moments of silence were shared between the two as they reflected on their conversation.

“So,” Abby started awkwardly. “You’ve delivered the message and materials, you’re good to go now.” She did a shooing motion with two of her tentacles.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“I’m afraid that’s not how it works. The narrative, so to speak, is on you now. You are my focal point, my charge.” Nat was shaking his head in disagreement. He took his pen and book and began to write while scanning the coastline.

“What all can you do?” Abby asked with a questioning stare.

“Something like this…,” he said, then he spoke aloud the sentence he was writing. “A massive sea turtle gently maneuvered itself from the crashing waves on the beach. Its cracked shell told of battles in the sea for supremacy and victories it achieved. One giant red spot adorned her left side as she searched for a place to lay her eggs.” As he read the lines from his book, the event took place before Abby’s eyes. They widened in fear as she visibly shook. “That’s terrifying! Please don’t do that anymore.”

She looked at him with a hint of animosity in her voice. “You’re a monster of the highest degree.”

“True, but why are you afraid of sea turtles?”

“When I was banished from my home, I was hunted by one about the size of that,” she pointed to the turtle on the beach. “Day and night for a week,” she shuttered at the memory.

“And your powers hadn’t awakened yet.”

“Yet? They still haven’t thirty years later.” She was frustrated at this; it was one thing she tried every day to accomplish.

“Then let’s set that as our second goal.” Nat stated confidently. “Powers awaken in Auctians anywhere between ten and sixty.”

“Okay, but what would the first be?” she asked, curiosity in her voice.

“To get you to the destination you’re avoiding,” Nat said. “I’m not completely connected to you yet as our connection will not be complete for about three days. Then I’ll be able to actually read your thoughts. So, let’s get going.” He stood up and motioned for her to follow.

"That’s more terrifying than the turtle,” she paled, looking at him in bewilderment. She continued to stare at him for a moment and sighed. “It’s happening two days from now near the ruins of Iverst.”

Nat nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We don't have much time, Abby. If we act quickly, we can reach Iverst in time to face whatever awaits you. If we get a powered car we could get where you need to go in twelve hours.” Nat suggested, pointing to a rental area near the beach.

“I thought they were closed today.”

“Listen, I can make a lot of fudges in reality. But they are open now, they must have come in late. They were opening as I came over here.”

Abby bit her lip, contemplating the impending journey. “Fine, let’s get a car then.”

As they headed to the rental area, Nat couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Abby's story than she let on. Since they were not connected, he could peer into her thoughts and find out. Nevertheless, he focused on the task at hand. "We'll need something fast and reliable," he mused, scanning the available vehicles.

Abby eyed the cars thoughtfully. "What about that one?" She pointed to a sleek, black vehicle that seemed to exude power.

Nat raised an eyebrow. "That’s a high-performance model. Are you sure?"

“We don’t have time for subtlety,” Abby replied, a determined glint in her eyes. She pointed a tentacle at his chest. “And you’re coming up with the money.”

Nat rolled his eyes and smirked. They went to the rental agency and rented the car. With the rented car ready, they sped towards Iverst, the landscape blurring as they left the coastal town behind. The road stretched ahead, winding through dense forests and open fields.

As the ruins of Iverst loomed on the horizon, a subtle tension filled the air. Nat glanced at Abby, who remained silent, lost in her thoughts as she drove. He knew they were approaching a pivotal moment, though it concerned him that he didn’t know what her destination was or why he didn’t know it. An inn appeared on the road and Abby veered toward it, intending to stop for the night.

“Before bed, maybe you can use some of that reality-warping mojo on me to awaken my Kah,” she said as they parked in the dusty lot. There were three other cars and several powered carts sitting in the darkening space.

Nat considered her request, his gaze fixed on the dimming horizon. "Okay, but that may be impossible even for me. Abilities are completely random. If I could activate it, would you want it to be limited to what I want?" He looked at her with a questioning stare.

"To me, at least I would have been thrown out of my country for a reason," she said, turning off the car.

"Alright, we'll try."

"Good, there’s a pond over there." She got out of the car, and Nat followed her, standing beside her at the brink of the pond.

"Any reason why you'd think it was water?", he asked.

She placed four tentacles over the water and stared into her reflection. "Um, Hello? I’m an aquatic creature? Most of my kind live in the water. Most type one Kah were also water-based, according to my nation’s history."

"Okay, I’ll try, let’s see what'll happen."

He pulled his book and pen to his front and began to speak what he was writing. "As Abby stood there, hands above the pond, a crisp air began to blow. Mystical energies welled up within her, and she felt chills travel across her entire body. She then tried to exert her will on the water."

As he spoke the words, Abby felt it happen—the chill, the air. "Now move," she commanded, raising her tentacles in the air.

Two minutes passed, and she held the pose. Five more minutes passed. Her tentacles began to ache from maintaining the stance. “Nat, you’re useless,” she muttered and stormed off into the inn.

Nat watched her retreating figure, a mix of frustration and determination on her face. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the pond in twilight's embrace. He knew that it wasn’t going to work as Erik had asked something similar years before for her. The intricate dance between an individual and their Kah was a delicate process, influenced by a myriad of factors.

Undeterred, Nat pocketed his pen and book, casting a lingering glance at the pond. The ripple of water reflected the uncertainty that lingered in the air. It wasn't just about awakening powers; it was about confronting the past, the very essence of what made Abby who she was.

That night, as the moon cast an ethereal glow over the outskirts of Iverst, a distant howl echoed through the quiet town. Unseen by Abby and Nat, a fierce battle of monsters unfolded in the shadows. Distorted growls and the clash of claws against scales filled the night air. The moon hung low in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the otherworldly spectacle unfolding near the inn. A duo of colossal creatures, each a testament to nature's most formidable designs, plus a spirit’s blessing allowed for such beasts to become monsters, engaged in a tumultuous clash.

One behemoth, its form adorned with gleaming, razor-sharp fangs that caught the moonlight, lunged with primal aggression. The air resonated with the ominous hum of its ferocious attacks. Across from it, a hulking monstrosity boasted armored scales that shimmered in the lunar glow. Each scale reflected the ambient light like a cascade of silver, creating an illusion of moonlit armor.

Their dance of primal fury shook the very foundations of the earth beneath them. Thunderous blows reverberated through the night, the ground trembling in response to their immense power. The air crackled with the energy of their otherworldly abilities, manifesting in flashes of arcane brilliance that added an otherworldly ambiance to the scene.

As the colossal titans clashed, their brutal brawl inexorably drew closer to the inn. The monsters, towering over a single story in height, posed a looming threat to the humble structure. The inn's silhouette stood stark against the backdrop of the night, a potential victim to the collateral damage of this titanic struggle.

As the behemoths neared the inn, the potential for destruction loomed larger. The ground beneath them cracked and shifted with each clash, and the air filled with the scent of imminent danger. The monsters, heedless of the consequences, pressed on with their primal struggle, their roars echoing like a savage symphony in the moonlit night.

Abby, abruptly awakened from her sleep, shot up in bed. The sounds were unmistakable – a primal symphony that resonated with a history older than the town itself. Abby had rented two rooms for the night; the innkeeper had asked why she needed two if she had been traveling alone. She had stated she was expecting some company to join her later. In the neighboring room, Nat had already grabbed his pen and book, anticipation etched on his face. The monsters' battle had drawn his attention, and he was ready to document the unfolding narrative. Without a word, Abby stormed into Nat's room. The faint glow of moonlight illuminated her determined expression.

"We need to do something about this. We can't let them wreck the inn," she declared.

Nat nodded, recognizing the urgency in her voice. Together, they rushed down the creaking stairs of the inn, their footsteps echoing in the silent corridors. A grounder, the innkeeper they met when checking in, emerged from his room, eyes wide with concern.

"What in the blazes is happening?" he asked, his gruff voice cutting through the night.

"Monsters. We need to get them away from the inn before they cause any damage," Abby explained quickly. The trio made their way outside the inn's entrance, while listening to the battle cries of the monsters growing louder, and witnessing their shadows dancing on the walls as they clashed together.

Abby glanced at the innkeeper. "Any ideas?"

He scratched his head, pondering. "Maybe I can give 'em a little nudge," he mumbled, his eyes narrowing in concentration. He stepped forward, his rough hands pressing against the ground. The earth responded to his touch, vibrations echoing through the soil.

As he focused, the ground beneath the battling monsters began to shift. Small mounds rose and fell, creating an uneven terrain that caught the creatures off guard. The monsters, already engaged in their fierce struggle, now found themselves stumbling and losing their footing on the unstable ground.

Abby watched in awe as the innkeeper manipulated the earth with a practiced ease. The monsters, disoriented by the sudden change in terrain, roared in frustration. His abilities provided a crucial advantage, disrupting their battle and diverting their attention. Emboldened by the innkeeper's actions, Abby felt the urge to contribute to the chaotic ballet between monsters. With determination in her eyes, she stepped forward, her self-taught Auctian martial arts training at the forefront of her mind.

As he continued to manipulate the earth, Abby gracefully moved through the night, her movements deliberate and swift. She leaped into the fray, utilizing her own Auctian techniques that melded water-like fluidity with deadly precision. Her tentacles became a blur, striking out with a combination of strikes and parries. The fanged monster bit at her as she neared him, but she blocked the monster and bashed three tentacles against his teeth. The armored monster shrilled and went after the fanged monster.

The monsters, already bewildered by the shifting terrain, now faced a dual threat. Abby's martial prowess added an unpredictable element to the skirmish. She danced between the creatures, striking with a finesse that defied her aquatic appearance. The monsters, momentarily distracted from their primal clash, turned their attention toward the agile Auctian. Nat, observing the unfolding spectacle, couldn't help but marvel at the synergy between Grounder's earth manipulation and Abby's martial arts. The monsters, caught between the unpredictable ground and the Auctian, roared in frustration and confusion.

Abby's movements were a dance of survival and strategy, a testament to her mastery of both her martial arts, and the swaying of the earth provided by the innkeeper. With each strike, she aimed not only to distract but to redirect the monsters away from the inn. The ground shifted beneath her, providing an ever-changing stage for her performance.

As the monsters struggled to adapt to the dual onslaught, The innkeeper and Abby worked in tandem, a formidable duo orchestrating chaos. With a final, coordinated effort, they forced the creatures to retreat, by directing them into earthen channels each leading in an opposite direction of the other. The monster’s roars of confusion and distraught echoing into the distance. With the monsters successfully diverted, Abby joined Nat and the innkeeper near the inn’s entrance, both breathing heavily from their impromptu collaboration.

"Let's hope they find some other place to fight," Abby said, attempting to catch her breath.

The innkeeper nodded. "Aye, and that we can get back to some decent sleep."

Nat chuckled. "Documenting a monster brawl wasn't on my agenda, but I suppose it adds a bit of excitement to the narrative." Abby looked to Nat for a second thinking he hadn’t contributed at all, but then she thought that maybe the scaring away of those two beasts was made easier due to his presence. She wouldn’t admit it, but maybe it would be handy to have a narrator around. With a shared sense of accomplishment, they returned to the inn, leaving the night to reclaim its calm, albeit with a newfound tale etched in the moonlit sky.

The next day, Nat looked out the window of his room. In the early morning light, he saw Abby by the pond deep in thought. He thought it best not to disturb her, so he took a tour around the inn until she was ready to leave. As they prepared to leave for Iverst, Abby seemed quieter, lost in contemplation. Nat, ever the observer, sensed the weight of her unspoken thoughts. They boarded the high-performance car, leaving the dusty parking lot behind, with the pond standing as a silent witness to the mysteries that lay within its depths.