by B L Barkey
Greater than the pain from the wound in her heart was the ache of losing a friend. Yet all will be restored in the end, came Torin’s comforting phrase. She hoped there would be a scar on her chest forever, as a memory of the Creation Stone she had come to know, as both the soul it was and the power it contained.
And then she disintegrated, fading from her mortal realm one final time as her physical body was ripped apart, never to return to this side of the veil.
Chapter III
Brothers
The next day...
Ammon and Mikael leapt from the trees into the radiant, colored sands of Coral Beach. Here they walked the west edge of Cephas Island, preparing for their ocean swim. One brother blonde and the other brunette, they were both equal in height and joy as they heaved with melodic laughter.
They had concocted a dangerous adventure to celebrate Ammon’s eighth birthday. They were going to swim over the Corals to Guardian Isle. There were many coral reefs surrounding Cephas Island, though none were quite as vibrant or lively as the Corals. The swim was long, stretching just over three miles.
“Do you really think we can make it the whole way?” Mikael asked, still panting with excitement.
Ammon grinned, then shoved Mikael before taking off for the shore. “Suckerfish!” Mikael yelled, chasing after him. They then stopped one last time at the receding foam of the tide, ready to cross the threshold.
They had woken up before their parents, snuck out of the house at twilight, then ran through the jungle on a rush of disobedience. Yet now that they faced it in person, the reality of it sank in. They could smell the brine of the salty air. Could see the brilliant white of the Sector Guard Temple. Could sense the marine life teeming between them and their destination. Amidst all this, there was one other thing they felt. It was the feeling that something was about to change.
“You know what they’ll do to us if they catch us, right?” Mikael said, still grinning.
Ammon turned to his brother and pulled his hands up into claws. “Hang us by our toenails and leave us for the gulls!” he cawed, his voice raspy.
Mikael chuckled. “No, but really. It’s one of the few things we are forbidden to do. Only Guardians can step foot on their Isle. Isn’t it almost… disrespectful?”
Ammon gave him a weird look. “Since when do we care about stuff like that? If anything, they should reward us!” He pulled his arms up then, swimming through the air hand over hand. “Swimming amidst the Corals, gliding over the bottomless abyss, then slipping through the final reef, all in one go.”
Their hearts were thumping in their chests. “Okay,” Mikael choked. “Let’s do it.”
They stripped to their shorts and dove into the tide. The Sun was already warm, the water cool against their tiny bodies. One dark cloud watched them from afar.
They treaded water for short rests, suspending themselves above particularly interesting coral reefs and diving under to take closer looks. In his dreams, Ammon oft had the ability to breathe underwater. Holding his breath on the dives, even for a few moments, felt like diving into the depths of his own imagination.
Creatures beneath the waters seemed so surreal. As he watched them, thousands of colors and shapes wove into the ever-growing tapestry that was his young mind. Fish, stingray. Eels, urchins. Swimming here and there, brushing and drifting. It was a different world. And as the reef dropped off into the abyss, the two young boys swam on, unaware of the beasts that lurked beneath them.
After a long while, they clambered onto the beach of Guardian Isle. Their muscles felt drained, though their energy was still revving from nature and thrill. Mikael was only six-and-a-half years old, making the swim a truly incredible feat for someone his age. They had grown up swimming and running. In fact, their mother had always had a hard time getting them to stay in their beds at night. Their energy seemed bottomless.
They escaped the surf and walked up the beach, stretching their arms like birds flapping their wings. Suddenly, terror struck their hearts like hammer on anvil as they felt an exploding tremor. The ground shook. The Guardian Temple was ahead of them to the north. And to the west, fast approaching, were legendary leviathans of the sea.
Another loud impact rang, causing both boys to drop to their stomachs. As their vision and hearing shook, they crawled on all fours to the nearest brush off the beach. The grass was soft with palm trees providing shade, though nothing could shield them from what they were seeing.
The brothers realized the massive shapes were not mythical sea monsters, but wooden ships with billowing sails. There were twelve of them. Foreign ships approaching rapidly from the west, releasing a hellfire of metal upon the Isle. Ammon had heard stories of pirates before that day. It had all seemed like fantasy before then, though incomparable to leviathans.
He felt a flood of new questions pour into his mind, all concerning the outside world. The first of which was, Why would they hurt us?
After several more blasts, there was still no reaction from the Temple. The white structure was ghostly as sand and flowers fell around it. Dust and strange shouts drifted about, illuminated by the rays of the setting Sun. The brothers couldn’t believe the mysticism before them. It was like a scene from Ammon’s often-vivid dreams.
As the wreckage ensued and the ships drew ever closer, it became clear to the brothers that they were in real, mortal danger. The entire Isle was in shambles as projectiles continued striking the Temple. Everything seemed ablaze as sunrays lit the scene on fire. All was hazy and red like crimson clouds. All while the Temple stood still.
Finally, the Temple doors fell open. The brothers whimpered with relief. Two lines of Guardians appeared from the bright void, marching out with white robes and blank faces. There was a fluid motion to their step, lacking all impatience. Ammon looked at Mikael as a sideways smile grew on both their faces.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Ammon said, turning back towards the violence. The two lines of Guardians were parallel to each other and to the beach, facing the approaching threat. Metals pummeled the sand around them, launching fragments into the air. The Guardians remained untouched.
A great dust storm stirred up, obscuring all shapes into dark-brown shadows. The Guardians stood still as the dust cloud thickened, while the blasts from impacts grew louder.
“What are they waiting for?” Mikael mumbled, tears of anticipation in his eyes. I don’t know, Ammon thought to himself. I don’t know…
The brothers had never seen such violence before. It felt like the end. The end of themselves, as well as their island. The end of their family and friends. They had trusted the Sector Guard with their lives. The highest calling on Cephas Island was to serve in their ranks. Given all this, they were still falling to outside forces.
A dark cloud overcame Ammon’s feelings, amplifying his inner fears. Doubts swarmed in every corner of his mind, consuming him. Hope for their island disappeared. He could almost hear the screams of his loved ones, particularly those from his brother whom he had brought there. His little brother Mikael trusted him to the ends of the world. He followed Ammon on any adventure. This kind of trust left no room for failure. And yet, Ammon had failed his little brother.
Then something happened. Something they would never, ever forget.
The sky shifted. Shots continued to rain down from the ships, their sails shifting like breathing lungs. The Guardians stood still. Then, every projectile slowed to a halt, floating amidst the suspended particles. The shifting sands converged on the metal scraps, coming together as one large mass.
The Guardians took a knee, all bowing their heads, as if to finally acknowledge the destruction before them. They gazed down, refusing to look upon the scene in which they now conquered. As the ships realized their shots were no longer striking the Isle, they ceased all firing. The atmosphere became soft, left with only the sounds of shifting sands and crashing waves.
And from deep within, almost as an outline of the entire scene itself, Ammon
felt something appear. It was like hearing a new song. It was a feeling that emanated from the Guardians. It rang low. Quiet. Unabashedly joyous. The fear within him weakened, though no greater hope for victory arose. He placed his arm around his brother, accepting his own fate, while hoping to shield his brother from the same. If nothing else, he would be content to die together. For he had thought about life without Mikael before, and had found it devastating.
Suddenly, an explosion of rock and dead coral shot from beneath the ocean waves, ascending into the sky to join the painting of particles. The sands converged faster. Dust gathered as locusts upon the rock mounds. Everything moved as sinuous waves. As the mounds engorged, they merged as one, creating what appeared to be a floating mountain.
All eyes were fixed upon this mountain. All except those of the Guardians. They kept their heads bowed, remaining still, strengthening the peaceful hymn. The mountain glided then, placing itself above the twelve ships. Cries of anguish pulsed from the wooden beasts. Splashes appeared around the hulls as desperate souls decided to abandon ship, though it was already far too late. They were in the shadow of the mountain.
The entire world seemed to hold its breath. A distant whisper echoed about, followed by a low rumble. And then, the mountain fell apart. It separated into countless particles, all raining down as if driven by a force stronger than gravity. The particles pummeled the ships, dragging them to the ocean bottom. After what seemed like hours of splashes and stifled screams, there were no remnants of the assailants. Great waves crashed upon the shore. Mists rushed in upon the two brothers as they stared in awe.
No particles were left in the sky. Ocean waves continued to lick at the beach, tending to the wounds from the attack. The Guardians stood, then turned and walked inline back into the Temple. A few fell back to shift the sands with the same unseen power that had formed the mountain, repairing craters with sand and soil. Their garden was replanted in moments.
Before that day, Ammon and Mikael had never thought such immense power could exist in their world. It was incredible. Unbelievable. And now, perhaps… Obtainable.
He looked over at Mikael who was hysterical with excitement. “Did you know, Ammon?” Mikael asked with a high-pitched voice. “Did you know that they could do this?”
“No…” Ammon answered honestly. No I did not.
“Ammon, I want that!” Mikael continued.
“I dunno,” Ammon mumbled.
“Hey, there were small Guardians out there too,” Mikael said. “Imagine if we both made it in! Mum and Dad would be so proud.” He stared at his clenched fists with excitement.
That would be cool too, Ammon thought. But that’s not why I want it. I want to move mountains. To raise them up high over the heads of my enemies. To see the pause and regret in their eyes, just before justice comes raining down upon them.
The Sector Guard had done it. They had defended their home from an ominous threat. Not only that, but they had done it with ease, remaining shrouded in cloaks and composed with peaceful calm. With that power, Ammon thought, No one I love would ever get hurt. And imagine the true potential of it. The things we could accomplish. The evil we could destroy. Could anything pose challenge to such strength? We could even travel to the outside world.
It was this moment that guided Ammon for the next ten years. He used the memory to become stronger, training his mind and body every day, in order to someday conquer the Trials of the Guardians, to join their ranks and gain their power.
Ammon and Mikael were reborn that day through new purpose. They had been called upon. The brothers were going to become Guardians.
Chapter IV
Cloud Mountain
Ten years later…
Ammon pondered how the world was created from the peak of a mountain. Such thoughts often touched his mind. ‘You think too much’ many people told him. Perhaps it was true. Yet he still felt most people didn’t think enough. After all, no one could tell him for certain how the world was created.
He sprinted up the mountain trail, pulling air deep into his lungs. His last step rewarded him with a view of Mirror Lake, a crystalline expanse true to its name, settled within a peaceful clearing of trees and smooth stone. He stopped for a moment, placing his hands on his knees. His gaze then drifted up toward the true peak. The landscape all around was painted with a thousand blends of blue, green, and yellow, with life and color swirling together as one.
Cloud Mountain rose high towards the heavens with rapid ascent, breaking from the beach and jungle terrain while creating smooth faces of sheared granite. From a distance, it appeared as a black diamond, both beautiful and dangerous. While most islanders avoided these steep slopes, Ammon and his friends climbed them for the thrill. The tiered hike was a promised adventure, layered with views and drops that could kill. And at the peak, waiting to reward the courageous, was this refreshing pool.
Mirror Lake was his favorite place on the island. He enjoyed the space, the fresh air, and the peace it brought to all weary travelers. The hike always left him feeling changed and enlightened.
He approached the lake shore and removed his shoes, setting them upon his usual rock. He crawled up the large boulders, which towered almost thirty feet above the water, then lowered his eyes into the shadowed depths. At first, he saw only the crystal clear details of submerged rock and moss. As he focused, his eyes grew used to the refracting light. And he found what he was looking for.
There was movement beneath the surface. Discreet. Lurking. It started with occasional rifts and ripples in the smooth, glass water. His eyes adapted to the motion and he could see three distinct shapes.
These were the great fish of Mirror Lake. Three massive fish, each one weighing more than an unbelievable legend, or two full-grown humans, acted as guardians of this little mountain oasis. Stories of these fish had been passed down since the creation of Cephas, showing that they were born over a century ago. Some islanders tried to interact with the creatures. Few succeeded. The fish were too bright to bite on hooks, and too aware for nets.
The creatures had plenty of space to hide. Mirror Lake was extremely deep, plunging subsurface through the mountain and beyond. According to many tales, the fish were infrequent in their appearances. Ammon found this curious, for every time he visited, the fish were swimming about, brushing the surface and blowing bubbles. He entertained the thought that this phenomenon made him special, though he knew the truth. There’s nothing special about me.
During his visits, he would keep the peace, as to not disturb the serenity within the mountain mist. He came to the lake to be part of nature, not to dismantle it. Perhaps the three fish could sense this spirit within him, which then summoned them from hiding. As far as Ammon knew, he was the only Cephasonian to have ever touched them.
There seemed to be no origin tale of how the great fish were first introduced into Mirror Lake. Rumors floated around about how the fish were born from pure energy, preserved and transported by rain clouds from worlds long forgotten. ‘For water does not forget,’ his Father often said. To Ammon, the rumors seemed transparent. The fish had been placed there with intention and purpose. Today, he was going to explore that purpose. I will not fear them. He held this resolve close as he prepared for his next move.
His calves burned as he stood high upon the rock. Ascending Cloud Mountain usually took him two hours if he ran, or five hours if he hiked. This time he had ran it without a watch, though he suspected he broke his own record. His lungs were raw, yet soothed with satisfaction. He could feel the effects of natural chemicals rushing through his veins. Thoughts and ponderings poured upon him like cascading waterfalls.
His shirt was off and lying atop his shoes. This cooled him from the heat of the Sun, though not from the heat inside his chest. He stood up, taking in the landscape. He could see every pebble and plant beneath the water, up to where the lake floor dropped off into an abyss. The fish emerged, purging the surface with their fins. Their colors matched those of the black, bro
wn, and marble pebbles beneath, making them difficult to distinguish from their habitat. The water didn’t seem like water at all, but as an ethereal world viewed through a glass window.
He took two running steps forward, then leapt headfirst from the rock. He brought both arms above his head as wind howled in his ears, joining his hands together and flattening out his body. It felt like a much longer fall than it was. Ammon prepared for impact, watching as his reflection came rushing towards him, the wind growling. And then…
Numb. Icicles. Stabbing. Darkness. Cold. Burning. Swim. Pain. Swim. Am I still under? What if I die? Swim, swim…
Ammon broke free. The open air welcomed him back with a brutal slap. Clear thought escaped him, his brain frozen from the icy waters. Even in the midst of a warm, tropical evening, the lake was still bitter cold. I will never do it again, he would think after each dive. Yet there he was, doing it again.
Except this time was different. He was going further. He focused his thoughts, his lips trembling. In a matter of seconds, he became utterly miserable. It seemed possible to reverse this state, should he just summon warmth from within. It was a test of will and mental strength. It was dangerous. It was time to find answers.
He focused his heat at his core. He slowed his thoughts, keeping them basic to conserve more energy. He slowed his wavering breath. Then, without thinking, he sank back underwater.
He flipped upside down, then kicked into the shadows. He opened his eyes and spotted the three fish. One rushed past him. He continued to swim. Another drifted towards him. He kept kicking. His muscles took control from rhythmic memory. He could feel nothing. His body. His emotion. His fear. All frozen. Suppressed. He kicked further, looking deep down, hoping to see a light. That was the answer he sought. A light within the mountain.
He saw the third fish. It nudged him, pushing him sideways. He ignored it, pushing further. His ears ached with the growing pressure. The third fish nudged him again, then took his arm in its mouth. It swam to the surface, pulling him along. He could not resist.