Jak’s stomach lurched as she watched the ground shrink beneath her. She had flown before, with the use of her Telekinetic brand, but it was another thing entirely to be carried like this.
“Oh Relics!” said a voice behind Jak. To her surprise, it wasn’t Seph or Karlona, but Marek who voiced his discomfort. “They’re going to drop us!”
“We will not drop you,” shouted another Sky Fae through the roar of the wind. “Our wings are capable of handling far more weight than you will ever be.”
Jak wasn’t sure how that was possible. Their wings were large, yes, but they barely seemed strong enough to hold up their own bodies, much less others. Still, as with all the Fae, there was magic at work here.
They soared ahead, moving at a pace they could never have managed on foot. Jak squinted to see if she could find the demons. Yes, they were still there, traveling at a run up the slope of the mountain. They had already gained such a distance that Jak would not have been able to see them without the aid of her Sightseer brand. Still, those dark specks on the snow were growing larger. They were catching up.
But rather than head directly for the demons, the Sky Fae rose upward, heading for a secondary peak that they would have passed eventually had they proceeded on foot. While it was still nearer their goal, it was still out of the way from a direct path to the top of Mt. Knot.
“Where are you taking us?” Jak said. “Shouldn’t we intercept the demons and keep them from getting to the top?”
“He who guides them will only send more,” said Perchel, as he carried her by the right arm. “And he is not far away now. Your second test is more of a priority.”
“What is this second test, anyway? Is it anything like the first?”
“Similar, yet different. You will find out soon.”
“And why is it so important that you came to get us.”
“We do not usually interfere in such things, it’s true. Had all gone to plan, you would have continued the second test when you reached the top, and you would never have seen us. We would have been your guides through the tests, nothing more.”
“How does that work, anyway? You were in my last test, but you also weren’t.”
“It is...difficult to explain. We were there, and also here. We are, shall we say, guardians of a sort. Our job is to protect that which you seek.”
“The Pillar of Eternity.”
“Precisely. We believe in you Jak. But the Relic requires that you be tested.”
Jak quieted as they neared the secondary peak. As they approached, she could make out a large rock that jutted outward, with what looked like stone structures of some kind, which led into the peak itself, like they were carved straight out of the rock. She could also see more Sky Fae, gathered at the lip of the stone outcropping. Some flew into the air at their approach, flocking closer to get a good look at them. There were dozens of them, perhaps a hundred. At least as many as the gnomes and dwarves who fled out of Mt. Harafast.
With a gentle grace, the Sky Fae deposited them on the edge of the rock. It was even colder up here, but the wind had died down, and Jak spotted shelter ahead. Those structures she had glimpsed earlier were domed houses made of layered rock. They were small, as could be expected for the size of the Sky Fae. But if they tried hard, they could probably get Seph or Marek inside one of them. With a little warmth it could be enough to keep them from freezing to death.
Curious faces of other Sky Fae, clothed in similar fashion to Perchel, regarded them as they arrived. “Come,” said Perchel. “We have a fire further in. You can rest yourselves and get something to eat.”
“I don’t need rest, or food right now,” said Jak.
Perchel inclined his head. “That is for the best. We must waste no time. If you will come with me.”
Jak took one last glance at her mother and the others. Karlona gave her a brief nod. “I’ll see to Seph and Marek,” she said. “These people seem trustworthy enough. Go do what you have to do.”
“Good luck,” added Marek. “All depends on you.”
Of course it did. Thanks to Marek for rubbing that in. Yet they were true words. Jak needed to pass this test, whatever it was. If she didn’t, then the Pillar of Eternity would end up in the hands of Cain, and all would be lost. She had to get this right.
She followed Perchel further into their little sky kingdom. It truly was an amazing discovery. There was a whole city up here. The trappings were minimal, but who would have thought that such a thing existed undiscovered for so long. The side of the mountain towered over them as Perchel led her into an enormous cleft in the rock. The howl of the wind ceased completely, and the air stilled.
Jak almost laughed out loud. It was the first time that she had experienced this level of silence all day.
“There’s the girl,” said a voice ahead of them. Jak instantly recognized the voice as Harglim, the other guide from her first test. The Sky Fae himself looked more like a diminutive old man. His hair was white, and he had a beard that hung to his waist. His blue eyes twinkled at her in the dim light of the canyon. “We were very impressed by you last time. You showed true strength of character.”
“All I did was do what anyone would have done.”
“Ah, young one. If only everyone would have done what you did.” The corners of his mouth sagged, but only for a moment. “Come, we are ready for you.”
He led the way past the onlookers, and deeper through the canyon. Jak followed until the ground beneath her began to rise.
“We are nearly there,” said Perchel, behind her. He was walking now, as was Harglim in front of her. Together they guided her forward.
Finally, Jak saw where they were headed. The canyon led to an altar of some kind, standing resolute straight ahead of them. Beyond that the canyon ended and she could see nothing but sky, and in the distance Jak could see the very top of Mt. Knot. What was left of their journey stood majestic in front of her, visible in all its glory from the altar.
“This is a sacred spot for us,” said Perchel, coming around her and standing next to Harglim near the altar. “It is near enough to the ancient Relic that we are sometimes able to commune with it here.”
“Commune with it?” Jak asked, cocking her head at them.
Perchel waved a hand at the Pillar of Eternity she already carried strapped to her pack. “You have already recovered the companion of our Relic. Does it not speak to you?”
“It did, once.” Jak confirmed. “But it hasn’t in some time. Not since it first gifted me its magic.”
“Well, these Relics are not simple tools. They were the master creations of our first ancestors. They represent everything your kind and mine are capable of achieving. Without them, we would not have much of what we now enjoy. This world, for example. Or branding. They are a part of all living things at some level.”
“So how do I...commune with it?” Jak asked.
“The artifact would have reached out to you eventually, as you drew closer. But since we are short on time, we will probably need to help you relax. Perhaps if you would lie on the altar.”
Jak hesitated. “You’re not going to...sacrifice me or something.”
“Oh no,” said Harglim. “I’m sorry, I see why you would think that. No, we just need you comfortable. It will work better that way. If it makes you feel better, we will not fully render you unconscious. Just give you something to help your body relax.”
“Okay, if you say so.” Jak unslung her pack, placing the Pillar of Eternity gently on the ground, before hoisting herself up and onto the stone altar. She wasn’t exactly sure how she could relax on such a hard surface, but she had Toughness so she didn’t need to let it bother her.
“Drink this,” Harglim handed her a shallow bowl with some liquid in it.
She drank a sip. The warm but bitter liquid trickled down her throat.
“Now give it a moment,” said Perchel. “You’ll begin to feel the effects soon enough.”
Indeed, Jak could already see a nu
mber of odd colors swirling in her vision. The cleft seemed to close in on her, than retreat, like it was breathing. This was an odd sensation. It was a nice one too. She found the tension in her shoulders leaving her body, and she relaxed against the stone table, staring upward and smiling.
The colors continued dancing around her peripheral vision, growing closer and closer, merging with each other, until they overtook everything she could see and all went white.
14
The light faded to night. Jak was on the side of a mountain, though not the one she had just left. She was surrounded by pine trees and a full moon provided what visibility she had. Did the mountain peaks look familiar? She couldn’t quite tell in the night.
Well, wherever she was, she was here for some reason. The odd potion the Sky Fae had given her apparently worked. This could only be a vision from the second Pillar of Eternity. Her second test. Nothing for it but to push forward and face whatever challenges awaited.
The soft crunch of boots on snow caused her to look up and see a figure stepping down the mountain. The moonlight glinted off Watcher armor. He was a big man, probably golden haired from what she could tell. He used a spear to steady himself, while his other arm carried something wrapped in a lot of blankets.
Her eyes went wide, finally recognizing the man as he drew closer.
This man was her father.
“I don’t know what the boys are going to say about this. Watchers don’t usually go into the mountains and come back with children.” Her father was speaking to the thing he held in his arm.
And suddenly she knew what she was seeing. That bundle he held was her. This was the day that he brought her home from the mountains.
“I can’t wait to show you the fortress, you’re going to like it. When you’re on the tower, you can see for miles. They even say you can see Tradehall on a clear day, though I think that’s probably too far.”
Why, why did the vision have to show her this? Her eyes burned as she watched her father come closer. He didn’t appear to see her.
“Father?” she said as he drew within a few yards.
But he did not hear her either. This vision must be one of those where she was permitted to see and hear, but not to interact. Instead young Rael continued on past, resuming his chatter with the baby girl in his arms. Her.
“I know you’re too young to understand this yet,” he said. “But I want you to know how much I love your mother, how much I will miss her, and how much I will love you.”
He was talking to the baby version of her, but the words could have been spoken to her directly. She blinked away a tear. Was this the reason why she had been brought here? To hear the loving words of her father, a man who had never displayed such emotion once she was older.
The scene rippled around Jak.
She was back in Riverbrook, staring straight at a young version of herself and Marek. They were playing by the river, both lying on their bellies near the edge of the bank, and splashing water at each other with their hands, all while the current roared by. Even though she knew this was the past, and that everything eventually turned out alright, she couldn’t help but feel worried for the two children. They were awfully close to a potentially dangerous river.
Then Marek, in an effort to reach more water, fell in.
“Marek!” cried the younger version of herself, who scrambled to her feet. Yes, she remembered this all too clearly.
Marek was swept along with the rushing water. Jak followed her younger self down the bank, trotting to keep up with Marek as he went.
“Help!” yelled Marek. But there was nothing to be done.
“Marek!” young Jak cried, powerless to do anything.
At last, Marek grasped hold of a large log that hung over the side of the river, but he could not get a firm enough grip to pull himself out. “Help,” he yelled again. “I...I…” the young Jak pulled away slightly, knowing that in order to help, she would have to climb out on the log and pull him to safety. Jak remembered what she had been thinking. If she tried to help, she would likely fall in as well.
Crying and frantic, the younger version of herself turned and ran.
The scene rippled again.
Jak was back in her old home, clean and well cared for, not like the last time she had seen it with the roof caved in. The young Jak sat at the table, her eyes puffy and red. Her father sat on the other side, facing her. This vision was from the same day, though perhaps an hour or so later.
“You did the right thing, coming to get me,” he said. “If you had fallen in, we might have lost both of you.”
Her younger self said nothing, but began to cry again. Once again, Jak remembered. She hadn’t run to get her father because she knew that he was better suited to help. She’d run because she was afraid.
“Marek is safe now, Jak. You can rest easy.” He reached one hand forward to touch young Jak’s arm. The little girl rushed out of her chair and rounded the table to hug her father.
Even though she knew it was only a vision, Jak took a step towards Rael. If only she could feel her father’s embrace again. She raised her arms forward, reaching for him.
Ripple.
She was standing in the main square of Riverbrook. The sun was high in the sky, clouds drifted lazily above Jak, and all seemed relatively normal.
Except for the screams.
Jak turned to see demons running through the streets, most of them coming in a wave at one end of the town. Between her and them, a lone man stood resolute, facing down the oncoming threat.
That man was her father.
No, oh please no. “Don’t show me this!” she pleaded with the forces that governed these visions, whether it was the Pillar of Eternity or the Sky Fae. “Please, not this, anything but this.”
No one replied. Ahead of her, Rael strung arrow after arrow, sending the shafts flying at the onslaught of demons. One by one they fell. At least a dozen before the remainder grew too close to shoot.
Her father grabbed his Watcher spear from where it lay next to him. Raising it high above his head, he entered the battle.
As much as Jak wanted to turn away, she couldn’t help but watch as her father rammed the spear into demon after demon. His Telekinetic brand shone on his left hand as he warded off some demons while killing others. Even after all that time living as a farmer, he still possessed the skills of a warrior. And that made him the only one who could defend the innocents of Riverbrook.
A dark form jumped onto his back from behind. Its teeth sank into Rael’s neck, and he cried out.
Unbidden, the tears once again streamed down Jak’s face. It had been hard enough to lose her father. Why did she now have to watch him die?
Just as her father fell to the ground bleeding, a cry went up around them. Watchers sprang from the side streets and rushed into the square. The demons lost interest in her father as these new warriors presented another source of blood for them to drain.
Carnage rained down around them, but Rael remained on his knees, still as a statue. But blood emanated from his neck, mixing with the pool of black blood that came from the demons he had slaughtered.
He collapsed.
Ripple.
Jak saw herself, cradling her father’s head in her chest, ignoring the pool of blood she knelt in. It hadn’t even been two years, but the girl she saw looked so much younger than how she felt now. A lot had changed since that fateful day.
Ripple.
“Do you wish you could change what happened?”
It was Perchel’s voice, once again emanating from somewhere behind her. She was back in that strange white corridor that led into nothingness. All was still around her.
“Of course I do,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes. She wanted to be angry. Angry that she had to relive that horrifying moment. Angry that she could not have done anything to save him.
“And yet…” Perchel’s voice waited for something. She knew what she was supposed to say.
“Yes
, I know that if he hadn’t died, I probably would never have become the person I am today. There are lives that I’ve saved, people who ultimately would not be alive if my father had lived. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have him back if I could.”
“Indeed. Then you understand this lesson. Sometimes that which must happen requires sacrifice, it requires us to do things that we may not want or understand. Such was the case when your mother gave you to your father, when you abandoned your friend in order to find help, or when your father gave his life for you.”
“I didn’t abandon Marek because I knew it was the right thing to get help. I abandoned him because I was afraid and didn’t know what else to do.”
“But that doesn’t mean it was not the right thing to do.”
Jak closed her mouth. He was right. Even if she hadn’t been hysterical at the time, she would have probably gone to her father for help anyway. And perhaps at some level she had known that doing so was the right course of action. Because at the time, all she knew was that her father could help.
She raised a fist to wipe the last of her tears away. “Was that it? Is the test over?”
“That was the lesson. Now comes the test.”
Ripple.
The air hung around her, dripping with humidity and blanketing her almost instantly in a sheen of sweat. She took a deep breath, feeling the heavy air flow in and out of her lungs. She was in a forest, though it was nothing like the one she had seen in the north, during her vision of Yewin’s transformation. The trees here had massive leaves, and the trees made up only a small portion of the life that burst around her.
Plants of every conceivable variety stretched out in all directions, strange creatures moved from tree to tree, and everywhere she looked there was color, like flowers in shades she didn't know existed naturally in the wild.
A low purring sound came from off to her right. When she turned to see what it was, she nearly stumbled backward. The source of the noise was a giant cat, covered in dark spots and baring enormous fangs at her. Its whiskers quivered, its shoulders hunched, and a low growl escaped its throat. She raised her hands to brandish her spear, but realized too late that she had no weapon. None at all.
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