Last Messenger - Chapter 28

Chapter 28 – Aael

“What?” Aael asked in disbelief. “How can you save the world with a single word?”

“That is what he said. I believed him and now I’m here with you,” the Abbot said, sitting down. He motioned for Aael to do the same.

Aael sat, crossing his legs. “I think—”

“Not enough,” the Abbot interrupted.

Aael smiled and closed his eyes, mimicking the now quiet Abbot. He couldn’t believe that someone would throw their entire life away on the word of another. Maybe that was unfair. The Abbot did a lot of good here, but certainly his life wasn’t as good as a wealthy merchant’s.

“I have much to learn,” the Abbot sighed.

“You?”

“Yes. I came to help you focus now that you know what to look for. Instead, I filled your mind with questions.”

“My mind was already full,” Aael joked, opening one eye to see if the old man had smiled.

“Close your eye and focus,” the Abbot said, never opening his eyes.

Aael squeezed his eyes shut. Did the Abbot use his Void to see things like Aael’s open eye?

“Can you sense it?” the Abbot asked softly.

Even though Aael had expected this question, he still felt the anxious dread of trying.

“No.”

“Do you remember what it felt like?”

“Dark and cold and—” Aael paused.

“What?”

“And inevitable. Hopeless even,” Aael said and shivered.

“Very good, Si’Aln.”

“I’m not sure I like it.”

The Abbot laughed, and Aael opened his eyes. Anger filled him that his honest answer had amused the Abbot. He tensed to stand.

“Sit, Si’Aln. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m not sure I like it either. The Gods have chosen us, we are servants of Raln, and it probably never occurred to them to ask.”

Aael relaxed, but kept quiet, the anger slow to leave him.

The Abbot continued. “What you use words like ‘inevitable’ and ‘hopeless’ you are describing Raln. He provides order and as order increases the energy decreases. Chaos is powerless without energy.”

“That chaos is Raln’s brother, Thalt,” Aael said.

“Yes.”

“You are a servant of Raln, but if he wins, it will destroy this world along with everyone you care about.”

“Should I serve Thalt?” the Abbot asked.

“No, he would see the world burn.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Kael?”

The Abbot sighed. “Kael is a mystery. She strives to balance her brothers, but with no power of her own, how can she succeed?”

The more Aael thought about it, the more he realized there were no good choices.

The Abbot shook his head. “Raln chose me, and the alternatives are poor.”

“That is why you worship Raln? Because he’s the best of three poor options?”

“Worship is a strong word. I use my power to make the world better, and I respect the God that gave me that power.”

“You are betting on Raln then?”

“I’m betting on us. There are no winners if the Gods have their way.”

Aael slouched, depressed by the options. The only entities with power were the two intent on destroying the world.

“Enough,” the Abbot said. “Sometimes judgement prevents progress.”

“What does that mean?”

“Something you should appreciate. The quickest way off a cliff is jumping,” the Abbot said and then plunged a needle into Aael’s chest.

“Hey!” Aael shouted, jerking backward.

“Relax, it’s barely in your skin.”

Aael studied the small needle of Aln sticking out of his chest. Why did people keep stabbing him?

“Look again,” the Abbot said. “But keep your mind from getting too close?”

“Too close? It’s inside my body.”

The Abbot had closed his eyes again. “Don’t get hypnotized by the motion or the swirling flow of energy. Keep your thoughts out of its rhythm.”

“That makes no sense.”

“It would if you’d stop talking and try.”

Aael closed his eyes. The needle sticking in his chest hurt, and he could feel the sliver of Aln pulling the magic from his body. It itched, and he reached up to rub it.

The Abbot slapped Aael’s hand away. “Don’t touch it. It’s not hurting you.”

“It itches.”

“I have a sword and I’m willing to get it.”

Aael stopped complaining. He didn’t want a sword in his chest.

Refocusing on the sliver of Aln, Aael used his mind to explore the area around the wound. As the Aln fed on his body, it exuded something like vapor. The vapor moved through his body, permeating it. After a minute he discovered an area where the fog wouldn’t go, and after another minute, he realized why. Something repelled the fog.

“That’s weird,” Aael said.

“Can you be more specific?”

“It’s like the Aln gives off smoke, but there’s a place inside me pushing the smoke away.”

“That smoke you sense is called Raln’s Breath. The Aln uses the breath like roots looking for water. The place that repels it is your Void producing its own Raln’s Breath. Your Void, just like this sliver of Aln, is pulling energy from your body, killing you, and we need to close it.”

Now that Aael had found the edge of his Void, he reached out with his mind, moving it along the edge, around and around, circling.

Aael felt the warm sand under his back and opened his eyes. His cheek stung and he rubbed it. “Did you just slap me?”

“Thank Raln your back. Didn’t I say to stay out of rhythm.”

Aael sat up and found the sliver of Aln gone. He rubbed at the itch that remained and then looked at the Abbot in amazement.

“Padda, I can still feel my Void.”

The Abbot closed his eyes. “Thank Raln. This is so dangerous.”

“What happened?”

“You need to seal the open edges of your Void, but you don’t have any control yet, and you’re getting sucked right in.”

“If I can close the edges, I won’t kill myself as fast, right?”

The Abbot nodded.

“Then we need to keep trying,” Aael said.

“Great news, then. I’m going to show you what those old man exercises you’ve been doing every morning are really for.”

Aael flushed, embarrassed the Abbot knew how much he complained about them.

“Until now,” the Abbot said. “All you’ve done is move without purpose. Now you will begin to understand.”

“But first we need to rest,” the Abbot said as he stood.

“What?” Aael asked. “Aren’t you going to show me?”

The Abbot shook his head. “We’ve made incredible progress. For the first time you can feel your Void. But I’m going to go take a nap.”

Aael stood. “Are you kidding? You’ve been hounding me my entire life about this stupid Void and now that I’ve found it you want to take a nap?”

“A few more hours won’t make any difference. But if I fall asleep on my camel and get lost in the desert, I’ll die. I don’t want to die.”

“Where are you going?” Aael asked, the pain of his parent’s departure slamming him in the stomach. The Abbot was leaving him too?

“I’m leaving for the Cloud Temple tonight.”

Caden had told Aael the Abbot hoped to find a cure at the Cloud Temple. Aael had wanted to go as well, but the Abbot hadn’t mentioned anything. Now it sounded like he would leave tonight.

“Tonight?” Aael asked, dumbfounded.

“Yes. The others are already packed.”

“Others?” Aael whispered.

The Abbot smiled. “Go pack your things, Si’Aln. This is mostly for you after all.”

Aael grinned, relief flooding him. He would finally get to go on an adventure. And he might find a cure for his self-inflicted wounds in the process.

“Bacchus’s going too,” the Abbot said.

Aael stopped himself from shouting in joy. This trip would be the best thing that ever happened to him. Another thought struck him.

“I’m thrilled for Bacchus,” Aael said, and then continued in the most even tone he could manage. “Is anyone else going?”

“Do you have someone particular in mind?”

“No,” Aael said, a little too loudly.

The Abbot shook his head. “Mia will join us.”

Aael nodded, not trusting himself to speak, and then looked down to hide his relief. The Abbot laughed as he strode away.

Suddenly, crossing the desert in the middle of the summer didn’t seem so bad.