by Andrew Rowe
As she opened her own eyes, she found herself sitting across from her brother, Dyson.
“Good morning, sis.” He pushed a book across the table toward her. “Think you might like that one.”
***
The vision cleared as quickly as it had come.
I was speechless for a moment, then I wiped at my eyes. “Thank you.” After a moment, I paused and began, “That Dyson in there...”
[The cost of maintaining a spirit entity is negligible compared to the cost of maintaining the space in which she was to live. I determined that in order to properly grant your boon, she would need companionship. I crafted a copy of her brother to suit that purpose.]
I exhaled a breath. “Thank you.”
[You need not thank me. I do not believe your boon was a wise one, but it demonstrated a values system I had not seen in some time. You have reminded me of one of my creators. For that, you have my gratitude.]
“Your creators? Which one?”
[That information is restricted.]
That wasn’t a surprising answer, but it was worth asking. I did have another important question, though. “I don’t suppose I could trade you for another boon?”
[I may only issue boons to one who has succeeded at my tests, and only one at a time. There are no exceptions.]
“Why?”
[Answering that would require a boon.]
I sighed. “Okay. Can I just...exit and retake your tests later?”
[You may face my challenges again, but only after six years have passed.]
I didn’t bother asking why that seemingly arbitrary requirement existed, since I was sensing a pattern in the answers.
“So, what now? Do I just leave?”
[That is up to you. I can transport you out of this place when you are ready.]
I looked around. “I probably should meet up with my friends first. Can you send me to them?”
[Not yet. Reika is still completing her tests.]
I blinked. “Wait, what?”
[She was not aware she was being tested, but anyone who enters this place must face the challenges. Even the guardian of the sacred sword is no exception.]
“Is she okay? Can I help her?”
[You may not help her. But you may watch her complete her tests, if you wish.]
I didn’t know if I should accept that offer, because it sounded sort of invasive. Especially if her test was as personal in nature as mine.
I decided to accept for two reasons.
One, because I’d been letting her and Dawnbringer watch my own tests from the start, and watching her take a single test seemed fairly reasonable.
And more importantly, if there was any chance she was in mortal danger, I wanted to know so I could try to intercede on her behalf. I didn’t think the crystal would approve of any attempts I made to intervene, but I wasn’t going to let her die in a test she wasn’t even aware she was supposed to be taking. Not if I could stop it.
“Very well.” I nodded at the crystal. “I’d like to see Reika’s test. How does this wo—”
My vision turned white again, then I was somewhere else.
***
I found myself standing in the grove where I’d retrieved Dawnbringer from the crystal. Reika was nearby, physically unharmed.
When I moved around the field, I passed through everything I touched, save for the ground. Reika clearly couldn’t see me, either. I was there as an observer, not as a participant.
I’m not going to tell you what I saw happen in that place. It’s not my story to tell.
Reika faced a manifestation of her own fears, just as I had. Her fears were of a different nature than mine, and far too personal for me to share without her prior approval.
No, Sera, it wasn’t a duck. Not even a very large duck. That would have probably been her second greatest fear.
Good guess.
I’m still not going to tell you what she saw in there. If it was just a monster or a purely physical threat, I’d have no problem sharing it. But I don’t think she’d want me to, and that’s more important than including one more part in my tale.
I’ll say this much, though — she didn’t need any help from me.
She faced her fears without any help, save perhaps from the voice of the sword that she still carried by her side. By accident or the crystal’s choice, Dawn was with her the whole time.
When Reika succeeded, I saw the now-familiar blur of white, and we had been moved again.
***
Reika and I appeared together in the crystal chamber. It took us both a moment to adjust.
“Keras!” Reika smiled on seeing me. “You look...”
“Awful,” I finished for her. “Yeah. I miss having eyebrows.”
“I was going to say ‘different’, but uh, yeah. You do look kind of awful, if I’m being honest. Are you okay?”
I grunted. “I’m alive. I should probably find a healer soon, though. I’m in bad shape.”
“We’ll head out soon. Did you get what you came for?”
I shook my head. “No, I—”
[Hero. You have succeeded at many challenges to reach this place. Your tests are now complete.]
Reika turned toward the crystal, a look of incredulity on her face. Then she pointed to herself. “Are you talking to me?”
[Yes. The one calling himself Keras has already received his boon. Having successfully completed the tests, you may now choose one for yourself.]
Reika blinked. “I...uh, what? I think there’s something wrong here. I was just kind of following him. And I stepped over that line, too!”
I really wished she hadn’t admitted that.
[Your role in that test is a part of why you succeeded. You displayed charity, exposing yourself to danger during the tests without any consideration of personal gain. You were there merely to provide support for someone else. That is a worthy cause.]
That sounded surprisingly like an ethical judgment, which seemed to contradict what it was telling me about the tests earlier. I was curious if that meant anything, but maybe I was just reading into it too much.
“Uh, thanks, I guess.” Reika looked down. “Shouldn’t I be ineligible, though? Since I’m the guardian of one of the swords?”
[I have existed long before the sacred swords. My role as a portion of your challenges is only a recent addition to my responsibilities.]
“Hm.”
Reika turned to me. “You already got the amulet, right?”
“I was trying to explain before, but...no, I didn’t, Reika.” I winced. “I’m sorry. And I’m even sorrier to you, Dawn, if you can hear me from this distance. I know that was why we were here.”
Reika folded her arms. “What? Why? Did you fail the tests?”
“No. I used my boon for something else.”
“You what?” Reika took a step forward. “How could you? Do you know how disappointed—” She frowned, then shoved the sword toward me. “Here. You talk to her.”
I accepted the sword. “Hey, Dawn. I’m so sorry. I know you must be upset.”
I heard her voice in my mind.
“My last test involved a vision of people that I cared about. I had to fight one of them, and the other was dying. I managed to save the latter, but I realized that after the tests were over, she was probably just going to fade away.”
I grunted. “She wasn’t an illusion. She was made from a spirit. This crystal over there,” I pointed at the giant crystal, then pictured it in my mind so that Dawn could see it, “Made her as a copy of someone I cared about. She wasn’t exactly that person, but she was a person, as far as I could tell. And I didn’t want her to die.”
I spent a few more moments explaining what I’d learned to her and Reika in a bit more detail.
<...You spent your boon on saving the life of some kind of artificial spirit? You know she probably doesn’t even have all of the things that make a hum
an, right? And her memories were probably limited to what she needed for that specific test?>
I nodded. “That would make sense, yes.”
“I’m sorry. The crystal said I can come back in six years, and I intend to do that. I’ll make it up to you. I promise. Or if you’d rather I find someone else—”
I nodded and stepped over to Reika, offering a part of Dawn’s hilt for her to touch. “Dawn wants us both to hear this.”
Reika nodded.
“Dawn, I—” Reika started, but Dawn cut her off.
The voice from within the sword sounded agonized, and I felt awful for what she’d gone through.
I hung my head.
I’m sorry.
I looked down at the sword and blinked.
“You’ve always been a person to me, Dawn.” Reika gave the hilt a pat.
Reika smiled. “I didn’t really want to give you up, either.”
“You’re gonna make me cry.” Reika rubbed at her eyes.
“Actually, before that...” Reika smiled. “I have an idea.”
Reika turned toward the crystal. “Okay, Mr. Crystal. I’ve made up my mind. Can you give me the Amulet of Bravery?”
[I cannot.]
We all blinked at her. Even Dawn did, I think. Her glowing light kind of flickered for a second.
“What?” Reika frowned. “Why? Did I do something wrong?”
[No. Both you and Keras would have qualified for the amulet. The problem is that I do not have one.]
“...What?”
[You are too late. Another hero retrieved it not long ago.]
Reika took a breath. “Son of a—”
I hung my head.
I felt the same way. “Maybe we can find whoever has it and offer to trade them something for it?”
“It might. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll see what I can do.”
I looked at the crystal. “Can you tell us who got the amulet?”
[I do not have the ability to give out the names of those who have finished my tests, unless they give me their permission to do so. And this one did not.]
I nodded. “Okay. Can you tell if the other shrines have already given away their amulets as well?”
[Yes. The other amulets have already been retrieved from their respective shrines.]
I frowned at that.
I nodded. “Yeah, that’s awkward.”
I shrugged. “As long as it doesn’t disappoint you too much.”
I ran a hand across Dawn’s hilt. “My, my. It sounds like you’re asking me for a serious relationship. Are you sure you’re ready for that kind of commitment?”
“You do know that I can still hear the two of you flirting, right?” Reika said. “Also, the crystal probably can, too.”
Reika waggled her eyebrows at the sword suggestively.
I would have waggled my eyebrows, too, but I didn’t really have eyebrows at that point. Fire was bad.
“Oh, right, that.” Reika looked up at the crystal. “Other idea. Can you give Dawn a corporeal body? Ideally a dragon one, because obviously dragons are the best.”
My jaw actually dropped a bit at the suggestion.
That was a brilliant idea, and a far more meaningful way of addressing Dawnbringer’s situation than simply giving her an amulet.
I could tell from Dawnbringer’s unusual silence that she was stunned, too.
[I cannot.]
Resh. So much for that.
[Creating physical bodies is not within my abilities.]
“What about just something that works on the spirit plane?” Reika asked.
[I cannot tie her to a new spirit, as she already has one of her own. And the enchantments that bind her are of a nature I cannot alter.]
Reika shook her head. “I’m not done. Can you tell us where someone who is capable of altering Dawnbringer to make her a body would be?”
[Yes. I am capable of granting this boon.]
“Then that’s what I’d like, please.” She turned to me. “Sorry, Keras. I thought about healing your injuries, but we may not get another chance at something like this.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. I agree with you. Dawn deserves this chance. We were here for her, and I’m glad we can get something to help her.”
[Then your boon is granted. Seek out the woman who calls herself Anabelle Faren. She is the owner of Faren Labs, an attunement and enchantment researcher facility in Caelford. At present, she is on her way to Edria to observe a tournament. You would be wise to seek her out there. If you succeed in the tournament, I am certain she would grant you an audie
nce.]
Reika beamed. “That sounds like something we can do! Thank you, Mr. Crystal!”
[You are welcome.]
I was glad that we were almost ready to leave for the next part of our journey. Heading to Edria sounded like a chance to find a healer and a good meal. Moreover, it would also be an opportunity for me to learn more about the local cultures, and any other methods of reaching the goddess.
It was a little strange that the crystal knew exactly who this Anabelle Faren was and where she was going, though. Maybe she was the one who had earned the amulets, and she had told the crystal something about her plans at that time?
Before I left, I did have a couple more important questions. “Spirit Gateway Crystal, are you happy here? Do you want us to try to find a way for us to get you out of this place?”
[You are kind to ask, but I am content with my role. Unlike the young sword, I have the ability to make myself one or more bodies to explore the spirit world at any time. I am not trapped as she was, nor do I require aid.]
I nodded at that. “Okay. One last question. If you can tell me, have you seen the actual Lydia or Velas? Or perhaps one of my other friends, like Jonan, Landen, or Wrynn? Maybe one of them is the one that got the amulet?”
It was a longshot, but I had a bit of hope that maybe they’d gone here ahead of me. It wasn’t impossible that the old wizard had sent someone directly to a shrine, or that they’d gravitated toward a place of power like this for other reasons.
[Speak the full name of the last person you listed.]
“Wrynn Jaden...” I was a bit confused by the requirement.
[Wrynn Jaden has visited this place. She did not claim the amulet, however, nor did any of the others that you spoke of. Your name...do you carry another?]
“Yes.” I wasn’t supposed to use it while I was on the continent, but I trusted Dawn and Reika enough that I felt that it was a good time for them to learn my other name. And the crystal didn’t seem to be a threat. “Taelien Salaris.”
I heard Dawn’s voice chime in my mind.
I ignored her.
The crystal spoke next.
[Wrynn Jaden left a message and an object for you here.]
A treasure box appeared in front of me.