The Elementals: Return Of Creation

Chapter 3: Lost In Thought, Part 1

 "Jack," Trode swallowed silently. Now The Boy knew what he was feeling. A hint of fear, wrapped under lots of uncertainty. "Do you know why we- you and I -are so different? Why the other elves treat us with no fault, why we can do what we do?"

 "Yeah before but," mumbled The Boy. "When I asked Nym and the others they just said we were special,"

 "She isn't wrong, however," Trode began gazing around, struggling to put his thoughts to words. "It is a very vague answer, that shouldn't suffice for much longer,"

 "What?"

 "Jack," Trode said, his tone sounding like it was carrying immense weight. "You and I, are Elemental Beings,"

 "What-?" Jack repeated with more question than the shock he figured Trode expected.

 "Elemental Beings. The reason I can 'control' lightning, and why you can run as fast as you do,"

 "But..I thought I was a human...and that you're an elf?"

 "Yes, yes you are human, and I elven. But, with that, we are also Elemental Beings,"

 "So..people with lightning powers?" faltered Jack.

 "Reductive, but true at its core..." Trode agreed. "Elemental Beings are people- remarkable people -who are guardians to the elements they represent, and as guardians, are granted control over their respected elements,"

 "Elements-?"

 "I sincerely apologize for the amount of information I'm drenching you with," Trode looked up when a drop of water splashed his cheek. "Elements are...like the building bricks of the world. Bricks create buildings, and the elements create everything you know,"

 "Like how lightning... and wind... and water makes storms?"

 Trode scoffed again. "Principally,"

 "So.. Lightning, wind, and water make up the world? And you and me can control lightning?"

 "Those are three of the Elements, yes," Trode looked to Jack, who hadn't laid an eye off him. "But there are thirteen,"

 "Thirteen?'

 "Thirteen," Trode affirmed. He dragged his left palm across the grass, pressing hard against the ground. "Earth,"

 Then, with a flick of his fingers, a zap of lightning struck a single green blade, setting it ablaze. Jack was amazed. "Fire,"

 He lifted his palm and opened it wide. Jack saw more thin zaps dancing on his skin. "Lightning,"

 Trode turned them both to face the mountain and pointed to the top. Jack could hardly see, though his guess was soon confirmed when Trode said, "Ice"

 Strong gusts blew above their heads.. Jack felt even chillier, almost to an uncomfortable amount. Trode straightened his hair. "Wind,"

Another drop of water fell, this time landing on the back of Trode's hand.

 He smiled and lowered it to show The Boy. "Water,"

 He turned back to the single blade he lit seconds before. It had almost burned out, miracoulusly not affecting its neighbors. After pinching it to snuff it out, he picked a dandelion from the nearby wild patch and handed it to Jack, who examined it immedietly. "Nature,"

 Then, Trode placed his index finger over The Boy's heart. "Souls,"

 His hand now reached into his robe and pulled out what looked like a berry. Clueless and surprised, Jack watched as after another zap struck the berry, it begun spraying thin blue smoke. The smoke clumped just near Trode's nose before transforming into an impressive round sapphire. Trode handed a jawdropped Jack the gem and continued, "Sorcery,"

 Trode then gestured the night sky, glimmering with millions of stars afar. "Time,"

 He closed his fist, still in the air. Jack suddenly squinted. Trode revealed a small orb of light, similar to the color of his robes, twitching mildly in his palm. "Light,"

 He snapped his fist shut again, crushing the orb and killing the bright light. "Darkness,"

 Finally, his arm rested over his knee. He looked back to Jack and said, in a tone he couln't name, "And last, but far from least, all those Elements combined. Creation,"

 Jack blinked. He quickly shut his gaping lips, blank as his mind tried to understand. His fingers clutched the sapphire tight, slightly hoping he too could zap it and make it do something as wonderous. It was all slipping his focus, some of the Elements already escaping his memory, so he said, "Thirteen," to hopefully move the conversation.

 "Thirteen," Trode nodded.

 "We're,,,guardians?"

 "Protectors, watchers, defenders, keepers,"

"But...from what?"

 Trode sighed. "Unfortunately Jack, your question should be one without an answer- the most dreadful type of questions. However, all I can tell you now is that, if there exists people who guard the Elements, there also exists those who seek to disturb them,"

"Who..?"

 The elf's rather thin eyebrows rose. There wasn't a clue of positivity behind it. "One day, I will tell you,"

 "But," Jack pursed his lips slightly, annoyed a tad that Trode wouldn't just tell him then. "If I'm gonna help you be a guardian for lightning, shouldn't I know what I'm facing,"

 Trode pat his back again, now with a small smile. Even then, Jack couldn't tell if there was any joy in him. "I'll teach you when you have begun your training. After you've turned one hundred and sixty years old,"

"But that's so long from now!" Jack whined. "Why can't I start now? I can already run super fast!"

 "I approve of your spirit, Jack," Trode chuckled. It was unmistakenbly because he was tickled, which made Jack happy. "But that's the age we all agreed to start our training. We call it the Age of Becoming. It's only another rule now,"

 "I don't like rules-"

 "Oh none of us do," Trode agreed. He stood and helped Jack up. "It's only to keep us safe,"

 "I guess," Jack sighed, toying with the sapphire.

 "Come now," said Trode, putting his hand over The Boy's shoulder, playfully squeezing and chuckling along with Jack. "Do you still have room for that blueberry cake you mentioned?"

 "Of course!"

 Deafning thunder crashed above them. Jack squealed with laughter.

 "Let's hurry, shall we?" said Trode.

***

 Jack blinked and shook his head. Sitting across him was Povious, now with a more concealing tunic, looking to his left. Beside him was Nym, obscured by both of their tattered hoods, but recognizeable from the strong smell of her hair. They were sitting in a wooden carriage, strolling through the blues of Xylosmida.

 That was...extreme, he thought to himself. It wasn't rare for him to drift off, quarantined from conciousness by his mind and imagination, but what he saw just then- it was almost too vivid. As though he had just dived into his own memory.

 He looked ahead, the same direction Povious was. Calliar, a skinny elf with black hair nearly as thick as his own, was holding reins tied to the grey horse pulling them.

 A few hundred yards away, the blue trees of Xylosmida grew scarce, replaced by greener pines. Far in the horizon, just above the furthest trees, he saw a group of rooftops against greying skies, rising along the hill. He grinned with wist. It was the elven town of Eshiyo.

 "Are you all right, Jack?" Nym asked.

 "Yeah," he assured her. "I'm completely fine,"