Some worlds weren’t meant to last.
This story is about the character seen in the sneak peek of book 2, but takes place before the events of Beyond the Abyss. If you haven’t read Beyond the Abyss, there will be some context missing :)
Edgar didn’t move. The island sat below while the abyss threatened to engulf them from behind. They didn’t even notice the way their island shrunk, not that he could blame them. He never gave it much thought until the idea of escape became a reality. Now Edgar stood above what remained of his home, the stone pillar one of many scattered across the water, numb despite the island’s fast approaching demise.
Kalamai had called it an ele’minak. A creature born of the elements. It circled around the lonely island, sending ripples towards the sandy banks. The shoreline receding while the water creature drew closer. It would twist at times in an attempt to capture those who stray too close. Yet they continued to ignore it. Too busy to be aware of their diminishing lands.
“Come on Edgar, you shouldn’t watch this.”
Edgar didn’t move. A low rumble and the water swelled, the island shrinking by a fraction. The ele’minak shuddered, its swimming grew erratic. One of the people on the beach glanced up in a moment of clarity. Their world was ending, and there was nothing Edgar could do to save anyone.
Then a hand rested on his shoulder followed by a familiar tug at his chest. Edgar, we’re leaving.
Shaking him off his shoulder, Edgar glared at the offending soul carrier as he snapped, Stop it.
Borran lifted his hands up. “I’m sorry, but we do need to leave before this place kills us.”
This time Borran yanked him up, putting an arm around his shoulder as he guided him to the jump construct a few feet behind them. “Come on, we can talk about this back home.”
Wait, give me a few minutes…. please.
Borran met his gaze with a steady one of his own. “Okay, but if you’re not back in twenty, I’ll drag you home myself.”
Then Borran was gone, disappearing before the light of the activated construct. Edgar stared at it for a few seconds before turning back to the island. Crouching down, arms wrapping around his leg, he trained his eyes on the island. No matter how much he stared, however, he couldn’t help but get lost in the memories. He could still see the statue from here.
Edgar remembered the night Kalamai saved him. It was by luck that she jumped to this island in a desperate escape from her pursuers. By the gods had it hurt. Even thinking about it made his head ache as he pressed a hand against his mouth. He tried to shake it away, but it was hard to forget the fingers plying his mouth open and cold metal slipping between his lips. Punishment for the sins of speaking out, of noticing that their world was dying, of insisting on escaping. One too many attempts to persuade them to leave and it cost him a tongue. Why did Edgar care that they were going to die? Didn’t they deserve it for damning him?
But a rumble swept through. The tides rose. The ele’minak swum faster, creeping up the shore. Even the people began to retreat, uneasy of the beach though Edgar doubted they knew why. Would they regret their choices when the water consumed them?
There was no escaping this. Regardless of their choices, they were fated to a watery grave.
“Edgar, you need to leave.”
Her words made him turn around to find Kalamai. The feline sat tall, blue eyes glowing with an ancient wisdom that comforted him these last couple of years. She held his gaze, her tail twitching the only clue to her mood. She stood up and stalked forward, wrapping her body around him while settling her head upon her paws. Her ears flickered and the flames stilled to reveal her black fur and swirling, silver stripes.
“This world is dying.”
Kalamai sighed. The water inched further up the sands. The ele’minak stilled its movement, a lump in the water pointed in the direction of the island. A crowd formed at the center, around the rising statue. Edgar could imagine what was being discussed. The same denials despite the increasing lack of space and resources.
She didn’t need to elaborate. Much as he hated these people, he didn’t want them to die. A part of him tried to forget this place, the other was what asked Kalamai to create this construct. Watch from afar and wonder what his life would have been had he not stood apart from the crowd. Away from the traditions and teachings the people tried so hard to believe was for the good of the tribe. Who was he kidding? He would be dead along with them had he stayed, miserable until the ele’minak consumed him.
The lump rose from the water, the ele’minak rearing back as its mouth gaped open. It was the first time Edgar had truly seen it. Formed from the liquid, it resembled a massive serpent with the dripping water creating an illusion of fangs. It stilled, emerald eyes peering down upon the growing crowd on the island. And still, no one seemed to notice. The world shook again with the waterline rising again.
The snake drew its head back, mouth widening. Another rumble and it launched forward, straight for the humans. It swept across them, too fast for anyone to realize what was happening until it was too late. A few ran away, their screams drowned out as the massive snake sliced across the island. Figures flailed from inside its body. The snake didn’t care as it dipped back into the water and turned to make another pass.
“Come on,” Kalamai said as she lifted herself up, nudging her head against his shoulder, “Let us leave this place.”
Edgar offered a muted nod as he stood up. He sniffled, surprised to find tears when he swiped at his nose. He rubbed his eyes and stared down at his hands, admiring the glistening tears. Then he stared up at the island before them, a decision made before he thought of the repercussions.
He grabbed onto the energy from the presence within him, allowing it to rush up his spine and expand out from his head. Unleashing it, he sent his power further than he had ever done before, crying out and tumbling against the tigress. But he clenched his teeth and pushed through the pain, reaching out for whoever was left alive with a single message: I’m sorry.
Then he released the power, gasping from the effort as he spied a lone figure at the center. Edgar reached out again, this time his message more targeted. I’m so sorry.
He maintained the connection, wondering if whoever it was would know to respond back. He was about to release it one last time when they finally reached back.
Sinking against Kalamai, Edgar couldn’t stop it as more tears poured out. He didn’t know how, but he recognized him. By the gods, Edgar didn’t know what to say.
I’m so—then the connection cut off, Edgar snapping his head up to see the once chief disappear in a rush of waters.
With a nudge, Kalamai finally steered him away and back to the construct. Yet, he hesitated, looking over his shoulder one last time to see the rest of the island disappear beneath the waves. The sky, once a brilliant blue, began to crack and splinter. A glimmering shower fell down from those fractures to reveal the infinite abyss. Along the edges, the water began to dip and swirl, creating whirlpools of increasing sizes. One was wide enough to see the darkness at its center. The stone pillar they stood on gave them an alarming shake and Edgar found himself being shoved onto the construct. The light blinded him from the final seconds of his old world. Blinking, Edgar found himself back at the outskirts of his current home.
“I’m sorry that they could not be saved. By the triads, I wanted—” Kalamai sighed, blue eyes somber as she shrunk in size “—I always hope that the soul carriers under my care would not have to witness the destruction of their worlds. In the last couple of decades, I’m afraid these… events are becoming more common.”
Edgar stared down at the construct, noting the painstaking pattern Kalamai had spent weeks making. A scattering of small squares connected by a series of runes and lines on a thin stone platform. He stepped off of it, crouching down to sit on the small ledge. He lifted his hand to his mouth, replaying the memory of his violent departure from that island. They hated me—condemned me. Why does this hurt so much?
Kalamai stepped up to him, pressing her forehead against his arm in silent support. “Because you shared a life with them.”
But the way they treated me…
“Those weren’t your only memories of them, it’s okay to mourn. But do not feel guilt over their fates, it was out of your control.” Then Kalamai pulled away, giving herself a full body shake before turning back to the jump construct. “In the meantime, rest.”
“I’ve discovered a world with some potential.”
“No, I believe it to be another feran.”
Weren’t we avoiding them?
“With you mortals, yes,” Kalamai said, “But I need answers and there are enough of you to safely start reaching out to other higher beings.”
Be careful then, Edgar said, rubbing his eyes and sniffling as he stood away from the jump construct.
“And you take care of yourself,” the cat nodded. Then she was gone in a flash of light.
Edgar sighed, knowing her shouldn’t linger any longer. The other soul carrier would worry too much. So he headed for the village. It was a hike through the forest and it left him time to muse over the life he had long since left behind. It had been years since someone last called him El-Dagar. Few knew his real name wasn’t Edgar Boyd. It had been Natalie’s idea. A new name and a new life. Sad how joining a war brought him happiness.
Breaking away from the trees, Edgar moved through the town and enjoyed the distraction of the busy streets. It was peaceful here, living in happy ignorance and keeping well away from the forest. They had taken care of the original feran, the one who had gone wild and hunted any humans who dared venture too close to the trees. A good, unimportant world to hide in as they prepared for their next steps in this war. It hadn’t been hard to get the house and no one cared about the new faces. The benefits of the curse, Edgar supposed.
Reaching the house, Edgar spotted Borran sitting on the first steps, elbows on knees and hands propping up his head. He looked to be miles away as Edgar took the spot next to him.
With hands dangling between his legs, Edgar said, It’s over.
Borran blinked, then sighed, “I’m sorry.”
Nothing you can do about, Edgar shook his head, clenching his hand.
“I guess, I just feel so useless.”
“No, it’s true. Can’t do anything without another soul carrier’s power to borrow and even then I need direct contact. I don’t even know why I agreed to join you guys. I have nothing to lose, a safe home in the Obowo, a good life.”
You’ve done more than enough.
“I guess,” Borran shrugged. “I’m glad you came back. Everyone has been worried. You going to be okay? Ah gods, what a dumb question—”
No, it’s fine. I’ll be fine.
Borran stared at him, searching for the lie, before reaching over to pull him into a hug. Then Edgar felt the familiar tug of his soul shard as Borran borrowed his power to say, You better be. We’ll give you space, but if you need us, all you have to do is ask, okay?
Tears leaked out as Edgar nodded against Borran shoulder, wrapping his arm around Borran into a tight hug. Thanks.
Pulling back, Borran gave him one last hug before he stood up and climbed the rest of the way to the door. Edgar remained in place, a smiling tugging at his lips despite the tears. Thanked the gods he found himself good friends—pits—a family.
Edgar wondered about their mission to stop Miedeza. Hopefully, Kalamai found something useful in whatever world she jumped to. In the meantime, he was going to take everyone’s advice and take it easy. Try to process all the emotions that came from losing the island. Maybe he’ll get more involved with the town, like the others. There were good people here and it would be a nice distraction.
Edgar spent the next hour enjoying the lively town. The people going about their daily chores. Children ran amok on the streets. Pits, even the local wildlife was out for a romp, though Edgar had never seen that particular creature before. It took him a few seconds the remember what they were called since there weren’t any on the island. Birds, if he remembered right. Yes, the things that can fly. And this one had such an interesting orange plumage, Edgar wondered where it came from. For some reason, the thought made him uneasy.
Shaking his head, Edgar dismissed the thought and stood, heading back inside to rejoin the others. He grabbed the latch, taking a second to compose himself—wiping the tears and rubbing his nose with a snort—before stepping inside.
Edgar Boyd will make his appearance in Book Two of the Soul Carrier Trilogy!
Pardon any grammar/spelling/style issues. I will be periodically coming back and tweaking this short story. Feel free to let me know about any issues!
