Rising Shards

It was a surreal sight, but one I was getting at least slightly more used to. Tik Moonheart, an apparent master of projecting images of the past, was using her power in conjunction with Stella and I nearby to see our father, Arctus, and our aunt, River, sparring. I had barely processed that I even had an aunt before this, so seeing the image of her past through some incredible Pyre Cani power as almost unbelievable.

The siblings had just finished their battle, clanging silvery swords against each other, and an older woman had interrupted them. I had a guess as to who she was, but I didn’t want to say anything as she approached my father and his sister, River.

”I ask again,” the woman said. ”Don’t you have anything better to do than this?”

”Not really,” River said.

My grandmother checked her kids over to make sure they weren’t injured. ”I say it every time, but...”

”You don’t have to say it this time, we barely got any fighting done, nobody’s remotely hurt,” River said.

”I say it every time...” My grandmother repeated more forcefully. River and my father each sighed, reaching into their pockets, pulling out a lump of rock.

”When in doubt, get the crystal out,” River and my father recited in unison.

”Good, see? I didn’t even have to say it this time.” My grandmother said.

”What does that mean?” I asked.

I squinted at the crystal in River’s hand. It was about the size of her palm, in a pretty shade of violet.

”That’s an Atrian crystal,” Tik said. ”In Quatra, and the surrounding lands, they were mined so each person could have one. Most saw them as good luck charms, but the legends said that if one experienced a grave injury, that an Atrian crystal could save them.”

”That sounds really handy,” I said. Tik didn’t respond, her gaze not leaving the image of River for a second.

River whistled, and soon after her green dino pet came trotting over, climbing onto her shoulder.

”I know I said this before, but Rewen is so cute,” I said.

”Ain’t he a sweetheart?” Mars said. ”Precious little guy. I...” He looked like he was going to say something else, but a pointed look from Kara stopped him.

River left for work, and we sped past the moment we’d seen already, with River and her dino friend Rewen welding big giant robot statue things. Then she went to go see Tik, picking her up from training in a beat up minivan. The younger Tik’s voice echoed, begging River to go home because something was wrong. River and Tik returned to the Kathron homestead, both rushing out. After checking over their home, River grinned.

”There’s nothing wrong,” River said. ”You were just worrying too much.”

”I...I really felt...” Tik frowned.

”Arctus is probably dealing with a ton of paperwork after getting chosen, and Mom’s with him.” River said.

Tik didn’t look too convinced.

”My Lyric,” River said, a grin spreading across her face as she tilted Tik’s chin upward. Tik looked very...receptive to the gesture, to say the least.

”Ohhh,” I said. ”I get it, now. I had a hunch about that...”

”Stop that,” Tik pushed River’s hand away.

”Sorry!” I said. ”Oh, wait that was...past you.”

”I hate when you call me that.” The younger Tik said.

”It fits you so well, though,” River said. She looked back to her home. ”Hey, since my house is empty, and probably will be staying that way tonight...”

Tik giggled. ”You are insufferable sometimes.”

”And you love it.” River said.

The two laughed as they went to the house together.

”We’ll just skip the next bit,” Tik in the present said, using her powers to skip ahead.

Mars stretched, yawning. ”So while Arctus’ world was falling apart and he was getting exiled, Tik and her girl were busy, well...”

”Shut up,” Kara said.

”That was the last peaceful night for a long while.” Tik said.

”Then I hope you don’t regret it,” Stella said. ”Any time spent with your loved ones is time well spent.”

”I...” Tik said. ”There are things to be regretted about that choice, but I don’t regret it overall.”

The next day, River and Tik returned to the family van, storm clouds approaching on the horizon.

”Surprised Mom isn’t home yet,” River said.

”I’m sure your mom is still with Arctus...” Tik said, the nervousness in her voice coming out more.

”We should maybe...check out that choosing ceremony? Maybe the stage is still up?” River asked.

In a jarring shift typical of visions I’d seen in the void, the view shifted to Tik and River, standing at the desolate remains of the choosing ceremony stage, where my father had kicked down a cable that brought a mess of statues falling apart. Drops of rain started to ding against the jagged pieces of metal jutting out from various spots.

”I scarcely remember the drive over,” Tik said. ”I don’t...remember all the details of this.”

River and Tik looked around the area, which was strangely empty.

”Where is everyone?” I asked.

”They probably went looking for the exiles,” Kara said. ”Maybe?”

”Still, it is emptier than I pictured it,” Mars said.

Eventually, the two found a stranger passing by.

”You should clear out of this area,” The stranger said. ”They’re gonna raze it all, soon.”

”What happened here?” Tik asked.

The stranger told them about the tragedy at the choosing, and listed the names of those exiled. Moments after they finished saying ’Arctus Kathron,’ River fell to a seated position, completely stunned by the news. Tik went to River’s side, and by the time she looked up again, the stranger was gone.

”Where’d they go?” I asked. Nobody had an answer for that.

It did seem almost surreal how empty the place was, as well as how...off the person they talked to seemed. Maybe it was part of Tik’s memory of the event being foggy, or maybe something else. I didn’t have time to reflect on that at the moment, as the memory took an even worse turn.