Heritage (Under Revision)
Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Leon

In. Out. In. Out. In through the nose, out of the mouth. It was a simple technique one of my coaches taught me as a kid. I used to have asthma, and before I grew out of it, I would have to do this sometimes. I’ve carried the technique with me through the years and use it to control my breathing when I work out.

Exercising has been one of the few acts of freedom I have living here. Every day for the past month or so, Tal has been lugging me around to various areas across Argalia. While I can’t say that it’s not fascinating to learn about. I still feel like a prisoner. I’ll still take it over a tiny cell and one meal a day any day of the week.

The repetition of it all has simply grown tedious for me. I finish a set of push ups and stand up, using a towel to wipe off my brow. I turn around to face the window at the far end of the cabin and am nearly startled off my feet by a woman standing there, looking outside of it. She’s shadowed so I can’t make out her face.

“Do you mind if I visit more often? I feel like you’ve been missing me.”

She turns and walks closer towards me. As the shadow fades, I realize who it is.

“How.... How the hell are you standing in front of me?” I barely speak.

My knees become weak and I fall into a sitting position on my bed.

She hurries to my side and sits next to me.

“No worries love. I’m still in your head,”

“So...I’m just crazy and hallucinating then?”

“Oh, heavens no, I’m still real, just instead of in your dreams; I’m using your mind to project an image of myself while you’re awake. It’s a bit more personal that way,” She says while tapping on my forehead a few times.

I squirm away from her and stand up “This can’t be happening...why...is this happening?”

She suddenly appears at my side.

“You see...” She starts, taking her hands and placing it on my face, turning it towards her.

The touch feels authentically real, making me question whether what she says is true.

“You and I became quite a bit closer mentally the last time we spoke. You did kiss me after all,”

A smile forms on her face.

“You’re also rather close to the object that holds my consciousness, all you need to do is pinpoint it for me,” She finishes placing another tap of a finger on my nose.

I turn my body to face her.

“Who says I agreed to what you asked?”

She smiles again “You didn’t have to love. You want to,”

“I do not!” I yell, turning my back and walking away from her.

She sidles up behind me and wraps her thin, pale arms around me, placing her chin on my shoulder and running a finger up and down my chest.

“Why must you keep playing this game Leon? Do you really think that I’m lying to you? That I’m using you?”

I peel her arms off of me and face her

“Yes Ka.... Crinza...I do,”

Crinza shakes her head playfully “No love. I’m not,”

She turns and walks away from me, then turns back with a somber expression, staring at the floor.

“I’ve had many millennia to think on many things Leon. You and all of the other mortals see me as evil for simply doing what I need to sustain life,”

“Don’t lie to me Crinza,”

She looks up at me with anger in her eyes. I shake off the fear of her piercing stare and walk closer to her.

“What did you say?”

“I said...don’t lie to me. You enjoy the lives you take. You enjoy watching them become infected and turn into creatures and ravage the planet, coating it in blood until you drain the life from it and make it a husk,”

Crinza’s anger turns into a sinister smile “Apparently you know me better than I thought, love. But, that only fortifies what I want from you. You’re under this impression that I’m using beauty and seduction to get you to do my bidding. But as I said, I’ve lived a long time. You’ll never know how it feels to live thousands of years in loneliness. And to think, I never would’ve discovered such a feeling, as well as love and infatuation without studying humans. Or rather, humans studying me. And it’s all because of little Katie and your father,”

“So, you...want...with me...?”

A strong feeling of nausea overtakes me and I’m forced to look away as cold sweat perspires from me and I double over, nearly vomiting. I breathe slowly, in and out, trying to push back the nausea. Crinza walks in front of me as the feeling passes and my eyes trail up a bare leg showing through a side cut black dress.

I bend back up in to a standing position “Why not some other giant, celestial creature?” I ask.

Crinza laughs hard.

“That’s very simple of you Leon. For one, I am not a Celestial, that’s a little above my pay-grade love. But I am a cosmic creature. And we are very complicated things,” She giggles again “Did you honestly think I would even attempt such a thing with you if I didn’t have the means to?”

Her question embarrasses me and I stay silent. She places a hand on my face.

“Leon, this form you see, I plan on making it my permanent one. And I want it to be with you. I wanted it to be with your father. But he found your mother to be more interesting--,”

“And you to be green, black eyed, and scary. Not to mention, still a child,” I interject.

Crinza gives me an annoyed face and lightly smacks me on the cheek.

“Not my best first try. But I’m glad it didn’t work. Because then I wouldn’t have found you. That girl...Stella, she doesn’t deserve your love. It’s too fiery, too violent for her. Can’t you tell Leon? I was infatuated with your father because of what I felt between him and Katie. But then I learned that that kind of love was reserved for a father and daughter. But you...there’s no infatuation, no adolescent admiration, only pure love, and passion, and...lust,” She says, emphasizing the last word while running her fingertips across my bare chest.

It’s then that I feel something break in me and I stifle back tears as I walk over to my bed and sit down. Crinza stays where she is, turning to face me.

I finally let the tears drops flow “Why me? You could have chosen anyone else in the galaxy, why did you choose me?”

Crinza comes and sits at my side, grabbing me and holding me against her chest.

“You’re...you’re actually warm...” I say.

She grabs my face in both hands and pulls me up to meet her eyes.

“That...is how I know that I am in love with you,” And with those words she pulls me in and kisses me intimately.

Instead of visions, what she gives me are intense feelings. Everything she’s feeling. Everything she’s felt: The millennia of loneliness, the realization of this loneliness, experiencing my father and Katie’s relationship, and her feelings towards me. The last one hitting me like a hand grenade of emotion. At this point, I can’t tell if she’s real or not.

How can she be a construct of my own mind when I feel the warmth of her lips on my own and all of the feelings and sensations she’s transmitting through them into me.

Crinza finally pulls away from me and stares at me with glossy eyes and silver tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I tried to help you understand as best I could...” She says much less intensely and for the first time...vulnerably.

The humanization of her personality starts to confuse me and I shake my head, walking away from her.

“I...I don’t know what to do...” I say quietly.

There’s no movement between her and I as she appears at my side once again, placing another hand on my face.

“I won’t force you Leon...I realize that now. You know who I am...what...I am. I cannot change that. Just like you, the cosmic beings were created for a purpose. This is mine. And Argalia is marked. But I will not force you to love me. I only ask that you try to set aside your basic earthly view on the galaxy...and try to start seeing it from my view,”

I look up at her with saturated eyes. I can only manage to give her a slow nod. Crinza gives me one more smile before her image fades away in front of me. I take the time to compose myself, wiping the tears from my eyes and taking a shower to relax myself.

Tal is standing inside of the cabin as I exit the bathroom, affixing the final button on my shirt. She says nothing as I finish getting ready and put on my shoes. The clothes they have given me are a rather unusual choice given I am little better than a slave, but make sense in the view of a military standpoint.

They have sought fit to give me a standard issue service dress uniform of the Sekrid military. To any other human soldier, this would be considered a slap in the face. I don’t quite care either way, but I’ll play along with their little game.

Tal and I exit the cabin and enter our usual vehicle. Sekrid command has deemed it worthy to trust Tal with me on her own given that she’s been bending over backwards proving herself the past month.

After what happened this morning, I can’t seem to bring myself to start a conversation and simply stare out of the window at the scenery.

“Are you alright Leon?”

“Hm? Oh...yeah, I’m okay. I’m just a little tired,”

“You should sleep earlier tonight then, not staying up late writing in that journal you asked me to give you,”

“That’s not it, Tal,”

“Then what is it?”

I can feel her eyes on me.

“Do you know anything about cosmic entities?”

Tal goes silent for a time. I see her expression darken as she thinks on my question.

“There are ancient writings in my people’s history, writings that predate Kal’Za and Crinza, that speak in length about these creatures,”

“And?”

“And...they are not the hopeful writings of my people that you have witnessed thus far. The dialect used does not even exist anymore. Very few Sekrid can read it. I happen to be one of them. And the words they use to describe these beings...there is not any words in your language, or the common Sekrid tongue that can properly translate the descriptions of them. Those beasts are evil. They only seek chaos and destruction. Trust me when I say that you need to stay away from such knowledge,”

For the first time I see fear in her eyes. Not simply a scary story fear. A fear that sits deep within her, hoping that it will never come true what she has read. My conscience tells me to leave it alone. But I simply can’t. Not with everything that’s happening to me.

“Can you teach me? Or at least read it to me?”

Tal’s brow furrows as she looks at me.

“Did you not hear a word I have said Leon?”

“I heard you, okay? But...I just want you to show me, alright?”

She raises an eyebrow at me.

“What is going on, Leon. Something is not right with you. I can feel it. You need to tell me,”

I breathe an aggravated sigh.

“Forget it then,” I say returning to my window view.

With a slight jerk and a rumbling, the vehicle quickly comes to a stop.

“Look at me, Leon,”

I turn towards her reluctantly.

A softer expression paints her face.

“Tell me why you wish to know. This is not just knowledge you stumble upon,”

“I’ve been...seeing things,”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s like when I was infected. I would hallucinate and all of that kind of stuff. But now, it seems so much more real and I don’t know if I’m going crazy or if something is really happening to me,”

“What is it you have been seeing, Leon?”

“Crinza...as a woman. At first it was just dreams. But today...I saw her and spoke to her when I was wide awake. And it felt so real Tal,”

Tears of fear well in my eyes as I explain to Tal my entire experience from earlier on. She can only stare at me in disbelief as I conclude. Tal doesn’t say anything, only looks away from me and stares out of her window into the horizon. I’m unable to react as she quickly turns back to me, grabs the back of my head and pulls me into her, meeting her lips with mine.

I feel the sensation of the connection return and for a long while she exchanges a multitude of things between our link. It feels like forever, but she finally releases me, throwing herself backwards as if she were shoved. She stares at me with terror consuming her.

I notice that tears of lambent blue pour from her eyes.

“Tal, are you...is that blood?”

She shudders away from me in fear and wipes her eyes on her hands.

“What...what did you see?”

Tal snatches me by the shoulders and squeezes me so tight I can feel her fingers digging into my shoulder blades.

“What did you too Leon. What did you do?!” she screams.

“Wha...what do you mean?! I didn’t do anything, Tal! Calm down!”

“Were you intimate with her...? Answer me!”

I grow tired of the pain from her fingers and shove her off of me, outstretching my arms and placing my hands palm outward in case she lunges at me again.

“You need to calm down, Tal. Tell me what you saw,”

She breathes heavily for a moment, staring at me with wide eyes. Tal finally recognizes the state she’s in and begins to compose herself, returning behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and resting a forehead on it.

“What I saw...was you and her...”

“Me and her what?”

“You were both on a mountain of bones. Human...Sekrid...creatures I didn’t even recognize. You were seated on a throne. A throne of black glass. An ancient, but powerful sword was draped over your lap. A crown of silver and the same black glass was placed on your head. Your skin was grey and lifeless...just like hers. Your eyes were red as crimson and surrounded by black. A smile adorned your face. An evil smile...savoring the chaos you’ve made. And beside you...she...she stood. She had a hand on your shoulder. She bent down to kiss your cheek and she.... she...”

I lean over and place a hand on Tal’s shoulder. I can feel her tense up at my touch. She sits up finally and looks me in the eyes, more blue flowing from hers.

“She saw me there...she grabbed me by the throat and uttered her terrible words to me...my eyes felt like they were going to burn away while she stared into them,”

“What did she say Tal?”

“I can not bring myself to repeat them...”

“Please Tal...I need to know,”

“She...told me the truth,” Tal states simply as she takes the handkerchief from a pocket and clears the blood from her eyes.

“What truth Tal’Vira?”

With sorrow adorning her face, she places a hand on mine and gently rubs my cheek with her thumb.

“What would become of you and I,”

“This is all confusing me Tal. Be more specific...please,”

“She...she told me that we would fall for each other. And that nothing would be able to tear it asunder, that my cold heart would soothe your burning heart. But...in the end, your flame would prove to be too furious and consume me. You would end my life...and go to her,”

I stare at her stunned.

“But...but you told me it could never happen Tal...You told me that you didn’t see me like that,”

“I don’t...but I will,”

“You don’t know that. You said it yourself Tal, they’re evil beings. That means they can lie,”

“No,” Tal turns to me with seriousness in her eyes.

“It was the truth, Leon. She burned that truth into my spirit. But now I know that it doesn’t matter what I feel for you. We can not allow ourselves to indulge in such a thing,”

“Well hypothetically speaking here, why not?”

“Because Leon, it is not because of her that you change, it’s because of me,”

“How do know that?”

“Because that’s how it felt,” Tal snaps at me for doubting her.

“If this is all meant to be true...what do you suppose we do about it?”

“No matter what we feel, we must refuse to act on it. She said our feelings would be true, not that we would be together. In that case, regardless of any feelings that grow between us, they need to be kept within, Leon. Do you understand?”

“That’s...not really me Tal. I don’t know if I can do that,”

“Promise me!” Tal says gripping one of my shoulders, giving me a piercing stare.

I feel at this moment that if I don’t do as she says, that she will take matters into her own hands. The only action I can manage to make is a slow nod. She releases me from her grip and continues her previous action of driving the vehicle. A long silence persists for the better half of an hour before Tal finally speaks a simple statement.

“I’ll show you the writings,” She says.

I don’t respond, knowing she’s said all she cares to. Another hour or two passes before we reach our destination.

After parking and exiting our vehicle, Tal begins to speak again as we walk up a long set of stone steps, leading to a large temple at the top of a tree-covered hill. I notice various vines and roots are protruding out of the stones of the steps, weaving back in to the dirt underneath.

“This is perhaps, the most important place you will be visiting here,” She says.

“What is it?” I ask.

“This is the original site that your scientist came to when trying to explore our beliefs. It is the temple of our high priests. Within, holds every known writing we have on various subjects. Historical document to myths and legends of our people. There are even some writings directly written by Kal’Za himself. The priests spend their entire lives studying these articles of text, hoping to gain every drop of wisdom entombed in the writing,”

As we reach the top of the stairs, I lay eyes on a very peculiar site. There’s a statue in the center of the courtyard depicting the scientist who came here centuries ago.

“If Sekrid hate humans so much, why do they have a statue of him erected in one of your most sacred locations?”

“The priests here view him as a hero of the Sekrid people. The scientist was an extreme advocate for our people. It is said that he sometimes held more compassion for us than for his own kind. If it were up to High Command, the statue would most likely be destroyed. But, any desecration of a temple and the various erected structures therein, is considered blasphemy under our laws, and punishable by death. So, they leave it be,”

“I don’t think I will ever understand the convolution of your government,”

“Many Sekrid do not either,” Tal says giving me a half smile.

I smile back as we reach the entrance of the temple, when a priest comes out to greet us. At other religious sites that Tal took me to, the inhabitants were inclined to wear more modern garb. The sites themselves were also fairly newer looking architecturally and used the modern techniques to deforest the area for its construction. The temple is like walking through a time machine and entering a far older piece of Sekrid civilization.

It’s clear that it’s well maintained, but the age still shows prominently. The priest himself is quite fitting to the setting. He wears an old set of robes made from a silky type of cloth. A vest of unusual bones is bared on his chest. A necklace of teeth of various lengths hangs from a muscular neck. I notice that this Sekrid has retained the same green skin that I learned was reserved for purebloods of the species. He wears a hood over his head and has his hands tucked into wide sleeves as he stands in front of us with a less aggressive posture than I’m used to with Sekrid.

“May the green bless this morning for you both. Tal’Vira, it is good to see you again,”

“And you as well High One. This is the human we discussed earlier. Leon Blake,” Tal says, bowing to the priest.

He looks at me and smiles before bowing low towards me.

“Welcome Leon Blake. We are all excited to have an honest man of human origins come to learn our ways again,” He says, honoring me.

I’m unsure of what to do and look to Tal for advice. She gives a silent bowing motion towards me and I mimic.

I bow low towards the priest “It is an honor to be in the presence of your history. Thank you for having me here,” I say.

We both return upright and the priest gives a wave of the hand, motioning us to follow him as we enter the temple. As we enter I see that the inside is far more remarkable than the outside. The temple opens to a large hall with natural sky lights carved out of the stone. There are four on each side and they are angled so the lights bounce off of a wall that gradients a shimmering, opal-like surface at the bottom that crawls to the standard stone at the top three quarters of the way up.

The colors are beautiful and remind of that of a lightning ridge opal I remember reading about that was mined to extinction during the gemstone rush of twenty-one hundred. I can’t help but run a hand along the wall, feeling the smoothness of it, taking in the sight of the sunlight reflecting the beautiful blues.

“How did you construct this place?” I ask, still enamored.

The priest speaks “Every building you see on these grounds was originally a natural formation of large rocks. Spire stones we call them, because of the way they jut out of the ground in a cone shape. This place is one of the few on the planet that stand defiant of the forest. Its hard stone goes deep into the ground, keeping the roots from tunneling through and multiplying. Each building we have here is hewn directly from each of the spires. The first inhabitants of the area carved them out themselves over many years,”

I step away from the wall, return to the priest and Tal, looking down the hallway where the back of the temple is shrouded by a large, ornately patterned curtain.

“What’s behind there?” I ask, intrigued.

“Behind that curtain is where our high priest, who is I, will enter to commune with the green,” He explains.

“Forgive me if I sound cynical, but how does that work? Wouldn’t you be talking to a planet after all?”

I expect the priest to become angry, but he simply gives me a half smile and expands on his explanation.

“Your people believe in a singular God, do they not?”

“Most do, yes,”

“And this God, he created all planets and living things, did He not,”

“Yes,”

“And in creating these things, He filled all of them with a spirit, correct?”

“More or less,”

“So, in making these assumptions, if your God gave the humans and animals a spirit, why would He not give the same to the planet in which He created? The planet that will provide sustenance to countless generations of your people,”

I think for a moment on the priest’s question, unable to come up with any sizable answer.

“I see your point. But placing it in that context means that your people would have to believe in the same God that mine do,”

“Not entirely, Mr. Blake. The Sekrid people have seen things on a much grander scale than yours have. Or rather, we believe that those stories exist. Instead of making them tales of myth and legend, we sought to replace proof in our monsters and gods. And we succeeded in just that. Humans are under the impression that God made them as the sole inheritor of His glory. Perhaps that is true. But the difference is, my people do not know the true God for what He is yet, and so we seek to grow close to something that is close to Him. That is the Green. And until this God of gods reveals Himself to us, we shall remain in the arms of the Green. But, that is what you are here to be taught after all. Come,” The priest finishes, leading us back out of the temple.

I stare at the curtain for a moment, feeling a strange energy resonating from it. An energy that’s heavy, but also...familiar. Over the course of the next few hours, the priest leads us from building to building, giving me the full tour. After we’re done he leads us to the only building hewn from wood in the area. He leads us inside and down a narrow hallway to an empty room with a bed and other basic commodities.

“Tal’Vira has deemed that you will be staying with us for a few days,” He says.

I look at Tal with a raised eyebrow.

“It will be good for you stay with the priest. It will allow you to learn many things. More than you would if we only spent a day here. I will come back to see you every day that you are here, do not worry,”

I give an annoyed sigh and step into the room.

The priest points towards the bed. “There is a fresh robe there. And there are others in the dresser, enough for your stay here. Breakfast is at sunrise. A bell will be rung to notify you. I will have a schedule created for you by tomorrow. For now,” The priest points towards a nightstand, a book placed on top of it. “I suggest you begin reading that book. It is our Book of Wisdom. It outlines our basic principles and practices, much like your Bible. It is a good starting point. There is a translator in the drawer. Monks come to the dorms to serve dinner every night as it is already study time for those who are learning. They will be by soon. Is there anything else you need?”

I do a quick scan of the room “I think I’m good. Thank you,”

“My name is Nan’Bal, by the way,” The priest says before gently shutting the door, leaving me to my devices.

I spend the rest of the evening, not studying, but thinking about the odd feeling I had earlier. My thoughts became so intense about it that I begin pacing the room back and forth. The monks come and go with dinner and I only cease my thoughts to fill my empty stomach with what seems like the Sekrid version of porridge.

As the dark falls, I try to sleep, forgetting about the issue, I replace myself tossing and turning. I finally lose my patience and jump out of bed with an idea. I open the small window in my room and look out. The grounds are nearly pitch black, only the light of Argalia’s moon shines down.

Perfect I think to myself as I hop out the window quietly.

I crouch down and creep along the ground, scanning in every direction, making sure there’s no one around. It turns out that sneaking around a Sekrid monastery is much simpler than one of their compounds. It doesn’t take long for me to reach the temple.

I walk in slowly; making sure the High Priest isn’t in sight. When I see the coast is clear, I make a hurried walk over to the curtain. I slowly pull on the separation, making a hole that’s just large enough for me to peek through.

I scan left and right.

No one.

I enter the sacred space.

The area is simpler than I expected. Only an ornate rug and a heavily padded cushion are placed on the floor. There’s a pillar carved from the same gemstone material as the walls and is made from one piece, jutting out of the floor. On top of it sits a black urn, a green flame burning on top of it.

As I stare into the flame, that same heavy feeling hits me. I slowly creep towards it, mesmerized by the dancing ember. I lift a hand, the only one I have left and stare at it for a moment, glancing back and forth to from the flame to it, then slowly reach my hand into the flame.

As it makes contact, there is no burn. The flame is cold as ice and as I start to pull my hand away, I feel something grip it. I struggle to break free, but to no avail. The fire begins to burn brighter and all at once turns a bright red color.

That is when the heat starts.

There’s no warning as the fire starts to burn my skin. I clench a fist, doing my best to hold back a scream from the pain. When I’m nearly at my limit the pain instantly ceases and a flash of white overtakes me. My vision goes black for what seems like an eternity before I hear a voice.

“You are very bold indeed, Leon Blake,” It says as a column of light shines in the darkness many miles away from me.

I can’t seem to control myself as I’m dragged at a high speed in the direction of the light, stopping suddenly in front of a figure standing in the light.

“Who...who are you?” I ask.

The figure outstretches an arm and flicks a pointer finger towards his direction, causing me to be pulled closer within speaking. What I see is a man with long, sea-foam green hair and mint green skin. His eyes resemble that of a goat’s and he has two small horns protruding from his head. He’s shorter than I am and has hooves for feet. He is dressed very finely in a hunter green, velvet robe adorned with golden sigils on the borders.

“Some would call me The Green,” He says with a smirk.

“Who are you really, then?” I ask brazenly.

He looks at me through narrowed eyes before smiling wide and coming face to face with me, studying my features.

He steps back from me “I can see why she likes you so much. I must say that I never really knew what she saw in your father but I do quite think that you are a better fit for her,”

“What the hell are you talking about,” I ask, puzzled.

“What do you mean what am I talk about? My sister...thin, grey skinned...likes black a little too much...ring any bells?”

“Crinza is...you’re sister?”

“Well I mean...it’s obvious, isn’t it? I’m a purveyor of life, she’s a harbinger of death, the balance of the universe and all,”

“So, wait...that means you can help me. You can help me deal with her and keep her out of my head, right?” I ask excitedly.

The Green’s response, however, instantly deflates my hope.

“Why in the stars would I ever do that?” He retorts, treating me as if I’m an idiot.

“Well because...you’re good, aren’t you?” The Green starts to laugh hysterically at my statement.

I stand there humiliated as he tries to catch his breathe.

“Oh, dear child, she’s right. You are simple thinking sometimes. My dear Leon, with creatures like us, there are no principles of good and evil. Just the role we were created for. Now, whether we enjoy our purpose is another story entirely. Oh and, don’t let my sister fool you, she really does enjoy her job,”

“And it seems like you enjoy playing God,”

“Me? Well, it’s not my fault if these oversized lizards decide to worship me. They were the ones who put me in the jar in the first place. What else do I have to do with my time? I must admit, this planet has become a bit of a magnum opus for me. I have resided here for a millennium or two, so it only makes sense,”

“How exactly did they manage to put the both of you in a jar by the way?”

“Oh, wouldn’t you like to know,” The Green says slyly.

“You still haven’t told me why you won’t help me,” I ask, returning to the original subject.

“Just because we’re gigantic creatures, floating in space does not mean that we do not have feelings. My sister was a little late on the uptake on the subject of love, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have it. I want her to be happy; even if that means she will be with a sack of flesh like you. Though I suppose you are the best sack of flesh she can get her hands on,”

“Then why call me here? So far you have given me nothing but half answers or none at all. You won’t even give me your true name. So, if you aren’t going to do anything helpful, just send me back,”

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch my dear boy. Next time you see me, I’ll have some of the answers that you seek. For now, I think you’ve been spotted,”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, my dear boy, is that you aren’t really here, just your mind. And now your body needs you back. Oh, and by the way, my name is Valak,” He says before flicking my forehead, sending me careening back to reality.

I feel myself fall hard back into my body and when I open my eyes, I’m in the air, flying backwards. I jettison an indeterminate amount of feet before landing hard on my back and slide across the floor. I lie there, staring at the ceiling, stunned.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What could you possibly have been thinking, sneaking into the temple like that?” Tal asks me, scolding tones in her voice.

“I told you already Tal, I kept getting a weird feeling from it. It wouldn’t leave me alone. I tried to sleep but all I did was toss and turn. I had to replace out,”

“Do you have any idea how dangerous it was to touch that flame? Do you know what has happened to everyone else who has?”

“No,”

“They’ve been consumed and incinerated by it. You are lucky your hand only came out blackened by soot rather than charred to ash,”

“I’m sorry Tal...I just needed to know. I thought that if it could give me some answers, then I would be able to change the situation I’m in,”

Tal gives me a hard stare and digresses. “Well, in any case, the High Priest has been merciful enough to allow you to stay. But you must stay away from what is hidden behind the shroud,”

“What if...I couldn’t do that?”

Tal raises an eyebrow at me in annoyance.

“Are you trying to test my patience, Leon?”

“I have a good reason, honest. Something happened when I touched the flame of the urn,”

“And what is that?”

“I met the Green,”

“You...met the Green?”

“Yes Tal, I did. And he told me a lot of different things. He said that he would tell me more the next time I came to see him. That means I have to touch the flame again. I have to keep communing with him,” I plead.

Tal sighs heavily and pinching the bridge of her nose between two fingers as if it’ll relieve tension.

“Just...make sure you do not get caught again. I will be back for you in two days. That is all the time you have,”

I stand up to meet Tal’s eyes.

“Thank you. I knew I could count on you,” I say before placing a kiss on her cheek and smiling at her.

Tal maintains a straight face while looking back at me before quickly turning away and heading for the door.

She stops just before she exits “Two days Leon, that is all. By the way, check that box before on your table. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the contents.” She says before closing the door.

I quickly sit up on the bed and grab the box from the end table. It’s a simple box made of metal. As I open it, I notice that the contents inside are much more interesting. Within is a mechanical hand. It shines a bright silver color that the Sekrid like to use so much.

There are many ornate vines etched into it. I lift it out of the box and notice a card underneath. The card states very simply ‘place on amputation and twist the wrist piece,’ I do as the instructions say, placing the prosthetic on the stump of where my hand used to be. I feel a clamping of the device on my skin. I twist the ring on the wrist area of the hand and feel a sudden, intense pain as multiple pieces of machinery pierce my skin and enter into the bones of my arms.

After a minute or two the pain subsides and the hand starts to move on its own, seemingly calibrating. After performing this initial cycle, it goes limp. I try to move it. Amazingly, the prosthetic feels as if it’s my own hand with how easily it moves with my thoughts. It’s like it’s completely wired in to my nervous system. I spend most of my time that day making the new hand my own.