By my reckoning, there are at least five different types of Godshards. I am a Magnus, Ruth and Adam on the other hand are surely Maximus. But this is merely the beginning of my research, who knows what the future holds? – From the notes of Elias, last of Adam's disciples.

  Etheros tried not to grin when he glanced over the ledge. Elizabeth and Martin were finally getting somewhere. They still had a ways to go, and now someone else needed to talk. Annabelle was leaning against the far gorge. Her arms were crossed, a frown on her face. He had his suspicions of the cause. It was time to make it right.

  She saw Etheros approach and scowled. “What is it? Have you plucked them out yet?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “I want to talk. You seem troubled.”

  “Why do you even ask?” Annabelle grumbled. “You already know why, probably. You know everything! I’ve never met a Godshard like you. You always have the answer. You can do anything. You are always saving the day, always the best. I saw you forge that sword. Are you trying to replace Leo now?”

  “Leo helped me.”

  Annabelle gave a dismissive wave and said, “That makes it so much better. Look, I don’t want to talk, especially not to you. I’m not jealous, but you’re just . . . hard for me to be around.”

  Etheros took a deep breath. “Why do you resent who you are?”

  Annabelle blinked. “What?”

  “You’re not mad at me. You’re mad at yourself.”

  Annabelle frowned. “I told you, I’m not jealous!”

  “I never said you were. But there is a storm inside you. I can see it with my Soulsight. Why do you resent being a Godshard?”

  Annabelle looked him over with her Soulsight. He was being honest. That made her even more frustrated. She shook her head. “Why do you even care?”

  Etheros’ face was soft. “I’m an Adamite. It’s who I am to care. And I simply wish to help my fellow Godshard.”

  “Please, like I deserve to be seen as a peer by the likes of you. You’re a Godshard Wizard!” Annabelle’s eyes flared, and the vibrance turned to a glow for the briefest moments. “Your spells have liberated cities, crushed countless foes, and you’ve saved us from danger three or four times already. You turned rubbish into a god damned war wagon! You have masterful intuition. You’re just . . . everything I’m not!”

  “And yet, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. You saved my life.”

  Annabelle rolled her eyes. “Maga Avalon saved your life. I just stalled the inevitable.”

  “If you hadn’t bought some time, Avella would have been too late. If you hadn’t used your power, we would be dead or have been taken by the daemons by now. We would never have escaped Tressviae. Our journey would have been over before it even started.” Etheros held her shoulder and added, “You’re better than you think.”

  “Tell that to the sacerdozio then. I wasn’t even able to be an acolyte. They said I didn’t have enough control. My Soulsight was too unfocused, they said. Padre Angelos did what he could, and I don’t blame him. But I was left on my own. I still keep the benefits. I’m tall and beautiful, and it brings so much unwanted attention! Men see me, and they think I’m a goddess, ‘Your eyes are the most beautiful I have ever seen!’ If I had a coin for every time I’ve heard that, I’d be richer than Signore Alessandro. They all act like some hero from the old tales until they realize I’m a Shardling.” Annabelle teared up but continued, “And I cannot have children. Suddenly I’m the most despicable person in the entire world. They act like it’s my fault, but I didn’t choose to be this way!”

  Etheros gently pulled her into a hug. “I’m so sorry, child. It saddens me to see my sacerdozio brethren fail you so shamefully. At least you have Elizabeth and the Order of the Dove.”

  Annabelle shrugged. “That’s true.”

  “You have spirit and drive. You desire to help people regardless of your shard size. This is worthy of respect. Perhaps this is why a Shard chose you in the first place even. It is the ultimate honor for a Shard to choose someone. This cannot be squandered. You just need the proper guidance. I can help you control your Soulsight.”

  Annabelle grew still. “How?”

  Etheros took a seat across from her cross-legged. He gestured for her to do the same and said, “There are more teachings and techniques than what the sacerdozio teaches.”

  Annabelle obliged. “Now what?”

  “Close your eyes. See with your Soulsight.”

  Annabelle saw a realm of emptiness. There was a fire beneath her. The sight frightened her until she realized it was her. She turned to Etheros and cringed. His essence was a big white blaze. “Too hot . . . too hot!”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Calm yourself. Take deep breaths.” Etheros inhaled and exhaled, and Annabelle slowly copied. “Good, that’s it.”

  “It’s so hot,” whimpered Annabelle. “I can’t stop the heat.”

  “But you can. You were fine moments ago, so you have the ability. The problem seems to be that your soulfire is fickle. There is a core that’s unquenchable, but it struggles to hold its own when confronted with another. This is why your Soulsight is so sensitive.”

  “What am I supposed to do then?’

  “You just have to tune your soulfire manually. It is a reservoir being used for many things. Breathe deep, deep from your core. Take your fire, and make it grow.”

  “That’s impossible!”

  “Remember, a soulfire is still a fire; you can feed it. Your earnestness, your desire to help people, and your love for Elizabeth are the things that make you who you are and what makes your fire strong if you embrace it. For instance, did you know that most Godshards are too aloof to love anyone as you do?”

  In response, Annabelle’s fire flared brighter momentarily, and the heat from Etheros waned. “Really?”

  “You have something most Godshards never have, especially the more powerful ones.”

  Annabelle felt a twinge of pride for the first time.

  “There also things that smother the flames. One I see for you is trepidation. You lose control of your Soulsight when you’re around people you think are better than you. That fear and self-doubt quenches your soulfire, often bringing the results you think are inevitable.”

  Annabelle flashed back to the party. The Benelim caused her to leave. She cringed at the memory, and the flame shrank.

  “You are a valuable person, more than your shard would say whenever you feel the pain from your Soulsight. Think back to what makes you so special, what makes your fire burn bright. You can always see this if you but close your eyes.”

  Annabelle grew nervous, and her flame began to dwindle. She took a deep breath. She had Elizabeth, the woman she loves, and a relationship most Godshards cannot have. Her flame began to grow. She saved Etheros, holding out for two days despite everyone in the room doubting her. She wanted to help people, to heal them of their hurts, just like Joan the Healer. Through this, she tried to make the world a better place. She didn’t need to be in the sacerdozio to do that. She had the Order of the Dove!

  Her fire was bright, brighter than it had ever been. Yet it didn’t hurt. It felt good! She felt like she had power!

  Etheros smiled. “Excellent. Now open your eyes.”

  Annabelle stood up; she felt great. The best she had in a long time. “Thank you, I-I don’t know what to say?”

  Etheros bowed. “It’s all in the Adamite way.”

  “Do you have any more teachings like that?”

  Etheros smirked. “I might, but we should save those for another time. It’s almost time to take Elizabeth and Martin out. But first . . .” Etheros tossed Annabelle a short sword. It was simple, sleek, and shimmered of star iron. “You said you didn’t have a weapon. I wanted to remedy that.”

  ……………

  “I want to ask you something,” said Martin. “I’ve heard many of Leo’s stories; some have even involved you—stories of battles and conflicts. Some of those have pretty messed up things in them too. How do you cope with it?”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “You just get used to it. You have to. You make it sound like that lifestyle is something you can just turn off and on. But that’s not the case; I’ve lived there. For most of my life, it’s been a day-to-day struggle. Only recently has it been anything better. You learn quickly or die. You numb yourself to the horror and just keep moving.”

  Martin frowned. “But it still affects you, doesn’t it?” Elizabeth didn’t answer. “Have you ever wanted to do anything with your life besides fighting?”

  Elizabeth turned to Martin. “What?”

  “Is there anything else you wanted to do besides be a soldier?”

  Elizabeth blinked and said, “I never thought of it before. I always assumed I’d just keep doing this until I died. Such is life.”

  Martin tilted his head. “Surely there must be something?”

  Elizabeth grew silent momentarily. “The only thing I would do is prevent little girls from going through what I went through.”

  “So, an orphanage then?”

  “I-I guess?” Elizabeth shook her head. “Why are you asking this?”

  “It’s okay to dream.”

  Elizabeth scoffed. “I stopped dreaming when I was eight.”

  Martin shrugged. “Just think about it.”

  A familiar and weird sensation wrapped around them. Elizabeth whimpered as they were thrust into the air and back on the cliff with the others. They were all waiting for them.

  “Are you okay?” asked Leo as they landed. He was amazed to see them in one piece. They glanced at each other.

  “Yeah,” muttered Martin.

  Elizabeth nodded. “I think we are.” Annabelle handed the blade over to Elizabeth with a grin on her lips. “You seem better; where did this come from?”

  “Etheros made it,” said Annabelle.

  Etheros bowed. “She wanted a weapon; I made her one.”

  Elizabeth examined the blade, stabbing and slicing the air. “Good blade. I’ll teach you how to use it later, Anna.”

  “Well, this is all well and good,” said Petro, “but we still need to figure out how to deal with Ireo.”

  “Our best bet is still holding out hope that the Island City sends help,” replied Leo.

  Elizabeth frowned. “There is still quite a stretch of ground to cover; they might not get to us in time.”

  Leo turned to Elizabeth, his face grim. “Well, we won’t be able to outrun him, and we can’t beat them in arms.”

  Martin sighed. “It’s a shame we lost our horses.”

  “Well, they’re somewhere in the woods. They found their way back to us last time.”

  “But there’s only two,” muttered Annabelle. “Even if they arrived, only two of us could go. Maybe we could double up?”

  Leo shook his head. “They’d be too slow.”

  “Even so, would they be able to outrun these raiders?” asked Martin.

  “The slope is boxed in, and Ireo will no doubt plan for us to make a break for it. Even if they snuck in, I don’t know if they could get out before the jaws close in.”

  Martin pointed to the distant tree line. “What if we just exited now? It’s not as close but won’t be where Ireo expects.”

  “That’s too far for me to lift all six of us,” grumbled Etheros. “Besides, we still would only have two steeds, assuming we’d be able to find them.”

  “What about two of us? It would be easier for us to be discreet.”

  Leo nodded. “That might work. But who should go?”

  “Well, one of them should be Annabelle, Etheros, or Petro. Since they have Soulsight, they might be able to find our horses easier.”

  Petro raised his sword. “I’ll go. Etheros and Annabelle are needed here.”

  “I can go with him,” said Leo.

  Martin adjusted his tattered acolyte robe. “I think it should be me. I’m still technically part of the sacerdozio, and I’ve been a liability on these blasted rocks.”

  Leo raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I think it’s a good plan.”

  Martin took a deep breath. “So, we find our horses. Go with all speed to the Island City and return with the cavalry?”

  Etheros nodded. “And let nothing stop you.” He cast the spell, and Martin and Petro hovered over the trees below.