2

-:{(2)}:-
Explanations
"How the eternal rift and bond came to be…"

___A single butterfly fluttered through the air carefree and oblivious to the previous day. Landing briefly, it rested on a mountain of delicate tan flesh, gently waking its owner before alighting into the sky with more arduous fluttering.
___Shifting, Nina was first aware of her ridiculous headache, and second that she lay on the ground. Sprawled upon the dew-drenched grass, damp clothing clinging to her skin, she strained feebly to sit up. Slender fingers burrowed in the soil and vision hazy, she held an unconscious sense of her isolation. Unnervingly alone, the effervescent sound of water was all that filled the air.
___How, did I get-
___Some random bird sang a piercingly chipper melody, perched invisibly in a nearby tree, almost forcing a smile upon the girl. Yielding, a slight arch tainted her cherry lips, and then the world darkened, this insurmountable avalanche overtaking her. Yesterday in pristine clarity assaulted her; broken images, pungent scents, and small impressions colliding. Halfway between sleep and reality, the flood came and went, setting her adrift with the only memory that mattered.
___Trapped in the lifeless gaze of her mother, she cried.
___Alex returned, loaded down with barely ripe red apples, just in time to see Nina weeping at the water's edge. His heart ached, but his youth left him absolutely nothing to say. Apprehensively approaching, the boy did all he knew how, timidly holding her in his small arms. Had he the power, he would’ve taken all her anguish for himself, foolishly willing to bear it instead. Luckily he could do no such thing, and instead simply watched her break, sparkling tears streaming down her face.
___Disturbingly unguarded, frail and shattered, Nina was all the more stunning? Somehow exquisitely picturesque, she embodied a poets darkest moment. A banished god lost among mortals, her cries stirred the deepest parts of Alex humanity. Taken by siege, the boy was overwhelmed with… passion, an almost righteous fervor. Lost in the moment, he swore then to be her protection, her family, her everything. He would live for her, but then again he was just a child, and the durability of his loyalty questionable.
___As for Nina, the vivid collage scrolling through her mind was so potent it took a while to even comprehend being held. Realizing the warm breath wafting across her face, she paused, peering up at Alex… furious? Angelic face marred with unnatural bitterness, she ripped herself away from his gentle grasp. His support only made her weak, and Nina would never again allow herself that luxury.
___Utterly confused, Alex watched her slim frame tremble from the force of her sobbing. Back turned on him, she was suddenly miles away, but still he had to try. Warily, he attempted to rest a comforting hand on her shoulder. From the response, he knew she couldn’t be the girl from yesterday.
___Gripping his wrist, small pink nails digging into his tender arm, she scornfully flung his childish hand away. It was more than an adequate signal to leave her alone for the moment and so Alex retreated, leering at her through watery eyes as he crouched to nurse his wound.
___Angry, sore arm held to his chest, he wondered what could have happened to her, but he knew all too well and as he continued to watch her shudder, to hear her breath catch with the intensity of her weeping, he only reaffirmed his commitment. Whether she allowed him or not, he would try to save her. He gave a small nod of resolution, raising hopeful eyes to a now eerily still woman. There were no more tears… only a brief frigid gust. The breeze was charged with callous emotion, nauseating to endure as she literally cast her feelings aside.
___"What's done is done,"
___Nina resolutely stood, impassively squaring her shoulders. Composure forced, all sentiment vanished from her face before she continued, "Let’s eat."
___Alex sat bewildered, watching wide eyed as wavy auburn tendrils were deftly compiled into a perfect bun. Had he not seen her village demolished yesterday, he might’ve doubted whether it even happened. There was no apology, no explanation, not even a small trace of recognition. An empty eminence had taken hold of her. Just about anything could be happening behind those deadened eyes. And so, he watched Nina pass him by, breath caught, afraid to even turn. How was he to know when she ‘d turn on him? If she could?
___“Here,”
___It took a light crunching noise to make Alex realize the apple being offered him, Nina already partaking of her own. Slowly chewing, her eyes seemed to give him no option, and so he uneasily accepted the bright red fruit in her palm. The lad awkwardly bit into the sweet, his whole body relaxing as he felt her gaze finally drift elsewhere. She was actually being nice to him?
___A discomfited breakfast was what they shared, silent and prophetic. It would be the first of many. Childishly hopeful, Alex eyes would occasionally peek up to find Nina’s, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth only to disappear in the face of her unwavering indifference. It was worse than being alone, meeting that empty gaze. Regardless, he had to ascertain her condition, and so, across the span of another apple, he summoned the courage to simply speak to her.
___"Nina, about yesterday, do you remember anything?” he began, “I mean, anything out of the ordinary." A terrible introduction, but it couldn‘t be taken back now.
___Nina didn’t even seem to recognize he had spoken until after a bite of her apple. "I remember everything.” she casually responded.
___"Oh…" he drawled, not quite sure what everything meant. "You’re, an Element… the Element of Azure Sky. That‘s why you control wind." He paused to see her reaction, and received nothing. With only that to go on he wearily continued, "Okay… would you mind traveling with me?"
___The jump from, "you're an Element," to, "travel with me," was preposterous, but the lack of any recognition was really wearing on Alex. The nagging desire to fill the silence was making him sound stupid.
___Unhurriedly, Nina finished the morsel in her mouth, flatly replying, “Sure,” before continuing to eat. Her gaze never shifted. There was no desire to stay, and none to leave as well, but Alex distant request seemed reason enough to join him. What was there to stay for anyway?
___Standing up, she righted her clothes before heading back toward Mintt without another word. She left Alex alone and unsure as to what he’d accomplished. He knew she’d just agreed to accompany him, but also that the person he met and the one he had weren‘t the same. He took the blessing as it was though, and began searching for his next target. Closing his eyes, he put his hands together as if to pray, trying to feel the stream of energy around him. He was reaching out through the air, soil, and souls of the nexus realm. It was time to find out where he was headed.
___Meanwhile, Nina casually stepped through the still chaos of her home. Her keen eyes caught every detail and none at all simultaneously. It should have triggered something; sorrow, anguish, fear… She was past all of that though, simply too far away from herself to even find emotion again. Upon reaching her home, she couldn’t help but feel the lingering emotion in the air. She could almost taste the helpless agony in the back of her mouth.
___Grimacing, Nina waved her hand at this tangible memory, banishing it with one fevered gust. The sudden effort left her momentarily breathless, but still she spared no time. Carefully sidestepping the blood inside the door, a quick search for supplies commenced. She gathered some dried foods from the jars in the corner, folded some changes of clothing and even tidied up a bit. It was all mechanical and effortless as she stepped over her mother’s body to complete her preparations.
___Finished, she stoically made her way back to the pond. Now carrying a small sack on her back, nothing clouded her mind. The village was forgotten as quickly as it left her sight. She met back up with Alex, now patiently waiting by the pond, absentmindedly playing in the water. Hearing her near, he promptly stood to greet her.
___"So, it looks like your ready!“ Alex cheerfully offered with no reception once again. “Okay… well, do you know what's in this direction?" Alex asked directly, pointing a tiny finger to the North.
___Nina never really acknowledged his gesture, but, “Lars City,” dropped from her lips after an unnerving second or two, Alex heaving a sigh of relief.Nina was at least slightly amiable. The proper balance of space and attention was going to take awhile to learn, but he just knew if he kept trying, she would revert back to her old self.
___"Okay, that’s where we’re headed.” he replied with similar cheer.
___It was obvious he failed to notice how pathetic and unreliable it made him seem to have no clue where they were even going. Luckily Nina didn’t really care and therefore when the boy turned and headed off she was still more or less in tow.
___Late morning, long six-day journey ahead of them, both were taking their first steps into a bold new undertaking. Alex lugged only his threadbare satchel; its noisy contents nothing more than a mystery to Nina. She had all the truly necessary things like dried fruit, water and a small bedroll. It would be indispensable as they left the bulk of the forest behind and passed over the dry terrain leading to Lars.
___The first full day with Nina taught him that conversation was definitely going to be kept to a minimum. He was lucky to receive any kind of response, especially if it wasn’t anything important. Nina wasn’t mean, but just terribly hard to read. She seemingly ignored him, but then offered him her food and water when they stopped to rest. It was like kindness was automatic for her, even if no kind smile or words accompanied it. It wasn’t long either before Alex determined he would have to train Nina to control her powers. Having seen a small sample of her ability, he knew her control came at the cost of her consciousness, and that simply petrified him. Teaching her to knowingly manipulate air was of the highest priority, if only for his own safety. It might just help her get back to normal as well. Sitting under the night stars, having slept fitfully to say the least, his mind was made. Psyching himself up for the moment he would propose his idea was all that remained.

___Nina woke, as usual just as the first few rays of light crept over the horizon. A small yawn, a quick stretch, and she was fully awake without a single change in her demeanor. Alex watched her clean up, waiting for any kind of pause for which to use and found him self walking beside her once again without having said a single thing.
___This is ridiculous, he thought, almost half the day is gone!
___Looking up at her he finally just forced himself to speak.
___“Nina, I can help you...” he began, quickly looking down once again before he started to ramble. “I know what that beast was, and how you killed it. I can teach you to control your power. I know it may sound crazy, but your powers are meant to protect the world, and honestly, you have to.” he ended in a whisper, nervously peering up at her as he tried to explain.
___Her face gave no sign that she even heard him, and as they continued on it drove Alex crazy. Should I try again, he thought, I don‘t wanna annoy her though…
___Neither her stride nor expression faltered. She simply continued down the dusty path. There was absolutely nothing, and with that Alex lost all hope. It had taken all the courage he had to say his pathetic speech and now he was reduced to quietly trailing along… again.
___The silence they traveled in wasn’t uncomfortable at least. When Alex stopped inwardly cursing himself, he finally realized the strange sense of peace he had been feeling. It had started back when he first met Nina, walking in the woods. Now, even with all her feeling lost being with her still felt oddly right. It held a certainty to it. Peeking over at her feet, his head still hanging low, the knowledge she would be okay just naturally surfaced. Childish hope brightening once more, a small smile lit up his face and he began to wonder how many friends they would make together. The entire world waited for them.

___Later that day Nina stopped under one of the last few trees they would see. It was old and withered but still provided a little shade from the heat. She wasn’t all that tired, but Alex was obviously exhausted. Pulling out the food she’d brought, Nina pertly offered some to her companion. Munching happily, earlier almost completely forgotten, he was far more concerned with how much further they had to go.
___“Tell me what it was I fought.” Nina lightly commanded. ”You said you knew about that beast.” It was random and unexpected but still a simple request nonetheless.
___Alex face lit up, his eyes big and bright, although he nearly choked on his food. He hadn’t had a reason to say anything in awhile and this was actually important.
___“Um wow, okay… well, it’s hard to put it nicely but the beast you fought in one word I guess would be… your, desire?” he began, finally swallowing the food in his mouth. He watched Nina’s face carefully and got nothing as expected. He was really starting to wonder if he was talking at all. With no other choice but to continue, he explained, “Your powers are a part of you and actually need to be used. I understand being ignorant of them, since stumbling into them is really the only way to know, but you went nineteen years suppressing not only your power, but different thoughts and emotions.”
___He paused, knowing his next words needed to be carefully chosen, “I know you must have loved your mother. You ran without hesitation to fight a Demon to protect her, without a single thought for your own safety… but, I also know you didn't want to take care of her your entire life. Your neglected power formed the Demon, but everything you held inside fueled it. That's why it destroyed your home, and killed your, mother. It got rid of everything holding you there. It fulfilled your innermost wish. It freed you to see the world.” he explained with no reaction to work from. “Believe me, it's not your fault. There's no way you could have stopped this. Absolutely none, but… it doesn't change what happened.”
___Nina listened intently to the boy‘s words. When he finally finished her fingers twitched and nothing more as an eerie power pulsed through her. With anger, sadness, and regret lost, all his message could do was evoke this strange energy within her. In place of her heart, it responded. It was all she had now. She raised her hand, feeling it reach farther than she could see, and peered intently at the world she’d never known. For one moment, everything the wind touched, she felt. It was an experience no one would have been able to express, even if they could feel it.
___Alex, sensitive to every change she made, shuddered from her nearness. He could feel the energy well inside her. He could see how it recoiled trapped in the cage of her body. Fearing the release likely to happen, his mind raced with apprehension. All the power, the insatiable power, just disappeared though. He looked up confused, only to find her staring him directly in the eyes.
___“If I learn to control this power, can you promise me there will never be another demon.” Her tone was even and mild, but something about her eyes made the request severe. It nearly echoed in his ears.
___Alex simply couldn’t hold her gaze. His head was almost forced downward by her intensity. This was the only chance he would have though and so without any further thought, he simply told her what he knew to be true. “If you let me help you, if you learn to control your power, it will never again betray you. You’ll never be powerless, able to protect yourself and anyone you hold dear.”
___The child sat, nervously fidgeting waiting for her response. To him, this moment mattered more than anything else. This was the true test.
___“Okay then,”
___There was no long pause, or moment of indecision. She honestly had nothing to debate. All that was left was to pick up the food remaining between them. They were done for now.
___Alex watched her, reeling from the conversation. He couldn’t quite figure her out. Without the anchor of emotion she was utterly impossible to read. Was he supposed to start now? Was she joking? Honestly, who would believe a child could instruct them in anything?
___As soon as Nina finished she stood and simply inquired, “Will traveling hinder your lessons?”
___“Um, uh, it shouldn‘t I guess. It really just depends on how natural it comes to you.” Alex surmised.
___“Let‘s continue onward then.”
___Her heart may have been lost, but reason was still well within her grasp. Their food was dwindling and Lars would come no closer standing still.
___Alex spared no time, his excitement nearly equal to Nina‘s calm. It took him a second to decide what to go over first, but he knew he couldn’t start any where else than the ground.
___“Nina, the entire planet has a life, a stream of energy that pervades all things. The balance of power and the continual flow of this stream is made possible by people like you. In all its forms the stream evidences itself in about twelve different ways. Wind is one of them, and you are responsible for keeping that portion of power in check. Storms, small breezes, even the waves of the ocean are all part of your unconscious will, although a few other people play a part in those things too…”
___Nina heard every word, listening with a skeptical ear. She had seen a small storm caused only by her rage, floated in the air supported by her own wings. Who was she to deny what the boy said? The question remained though: who was he to tell her such things? Honestly, she didn’t really care. Every step she took was a little further from her past and if Alex happened to be with her so be it. She had no where to return, no one who even remembered her, so why not trust some random child. If he could really teach her to control her new found power, all the better. At the very least he was a distraction and without him she’d only drift above the pit of her memories.
___“…the most important thing to know about your power is that you are not the source. You cannot create air. We should see where you stand though. Do you mind beginning now?”
___“No,” she replied, continuing her steady pace toward Lars. It was almost a whisper. Alex expected her to stop, but she never did, and it was unreasonably awkward to ask.
___“Okay… then, I guess the first thing to do would be to unite with your element. First, try and gauge what you intend to do. Use your entire body and feel the air on your skin. Once you know what is around you, reach through it, letting the air on your skin become an extension of yourself. If you can, try to keep reaching out, slowly stepping further outside yourself. As you become more skilled, connecting with the air will feel more natural, until eventually it will simply be another sense like smell or-”Alex tried to explain. He quickly saw how pointless it was though when he noticed the sudden vortex Nina created. Her body was encased in yet another awesome gale. Without any emotion to cloud her focus, capturing wind was already like breathing. Alex shuddered, not from the cold, but from the feeling of her surrounding him. She was literally everywhere and still continually walking forward.
___“I almost thought that was impossible,” Alex mumbled, watching the gale die just as quickly as it started. He’d stopped gawking and jogged to catch up.
___“You‘re amazing! I had no idea you could learn so easily?”
___Looking up at her, distant and cold, the picture of power, he was surprised to see her wince. She stopped, finally halting and took a moment to compose herself.
___“Nina, are you okay?!” Alex asked confused, watching her kneel supporting her self with one delicate hand planted in the dirt. She had reached too far to quickly. “I‘m sorry, I should have warned you… Your body has to adjust to being used like this.” he explained, earnestly worried. His small hand automatically darted for her shoulder, nearly making it when he felt his arm suddenly blown away. It didn’t hurt, but he was terribly confused. Why won’t she let me help her, he wondered, peering into Nina’s eerie lost gaze, her glowing eyes gradually fading from her last small exertion.
___His question nagged him all the more as he beheld her next. Closing her eyes, she released one long cleansing breath before she began to reach for the small amount of strength she had left. Her entire body was straining to meet the demand, small tremors in her limbs worrying Alex of another impending collapse. Thankfully none came. Nina merely stood beside him with no grace spared.
___“I can handle this.” she calmly whispered.
___A loose curtain of air slowly formed around her. It was merely a wisp if anything, barely even noticeable but there all the same. With all Alex focus, he couldn’t detect any signs of control, no real reason for the air to react thusly. It was simply a part of her, a wall between herself and world and a constant reminder of the person he lost. His beautiful Nina was tucked away within a castle of wind where no one could reach her… including him.
___Silently, they continued on, Alex afraid to ask anything more of Nina. Her struggle was obvious.
___With all that went unsaid though, time still marched on, the day drawing to a tense close. The two settled in for the night as usual. Air crystal clear, the stars brilliant, and the ground colder than ever, Alex sat up watching Nina prepare their bed. Guilt eating him away, he chose to stand oddly further than normal, although what he was guilty of he wasn’t quite sure.
___“Nina, I-I‘m sorry about before. I didn‘t mean to upset you.” he innocently offered, his back pressed to hers, sharing her small mat and her warmth. A silence like no other ensued. He was nearly asleep, confident he’d already severed any link he might have had to the girl beside him.
___“Alex…“ she whispered, “my, mother...” Lingering near the thought of her was simply too painful. A soft gale replacing the tears she couldn’t shed, she continued. "You've nothing to apologize for."
___The words floated like dandelion seeds on the breeze, warped into an awkward staccato. Alex watched them, the pieces of her heart, drifting to die where no one would care. The air was literally charged with her, and she had no idea she was letting herself loose, or maybe she did? Alex just didn‘t know anymore. He closed his eyes, realizing he was powerless in everyway that truly mattered. He prayed, his words in time with Nina’s heart that tomorrow would bring her the peace she deserved. The rest of the night was filled with nothing but the sound of their slow shallow breaths.

___The interesting pair found morning come, surprisingly quickly, and the night‘s truth was left behind. Tossing and turning, annoyed by the light in his eyes, Alex finally just gave up trying to sleep. He rolled over, arching his back as he stretched. It was glorious, feeling his body realign itself, realizing belatedly there was no Nina in his way. Her bags were still lying nearby, but she was nowhere to be found.
___The still groggy child got up, looking around with his eyes and mind simultaneously in one yawning sweep. It was a nifty trick, even if completely unnecessary. All he had to do was follow the shifting breeze to find her. Her energy was at the center of a growing vacuum. Curious, Alex took the short trek to where she waited, finding her atop a small rock outcropping, statuesque and powerful. She had made up her mind a few days ago that weakness was unacceptable and it still held true. This time, there was no violent vortex, but merely a steady pulsing flow of air. Nina would push herself past her limits, but it was obvious patient practice was the only way to get there.
___Alex watched her, smiling as he neared, realizing she was willing to work just as hard as he. The truth of that didn’t hit him though until he made within the last six feet of her. The air actually felt heavier, until it was not only harder to breathe but to walk. She was gradually building on what she could hold, slowing when the burden felt to great and continuing once the pain passed. It was pointless to try and draw any closer.
___“Nina, you‘re doing great!” He called out to her, “Sorry for not getting here sooner. If I knew you were going to practice I would‘ve gotten up with you.”
___Nina only continued to focus, acknowledging him in the only way she knew how. Her concentration expanded, taking just enough strength to divert her stream of pressure from where he stood. Alex immediately perked up, his hope nearly doubling as he felt her gift. He promptly sat down facing his travel companion. He was ready to do his part, starting to meditate amidst the stillness. His hands clasped, eyes closed, and posture perfect the process began. He allowed his body the freeness to accept the energy around him. He looked through it, merely viewing instead of mastering like Nina. It was in this state he noticed the irregularity of Nina’s stance. Her spirit was struggling with the wind, forcing it to move. It was hard to explain, but it was like she was rowing upstream when she could just ask the current to turn around instead. He peered at her deeper, realizing, that although her mastery was useful, it was terribly incomplete.
___He broke free of his trance, wondering how to get her to understand best. She had done it once before so he knew it wasn’t impossible.
___“Nina, there‘s something important I have to tell you.” he yelled, standing up. He felt her relax, her exertion lilting somewhat as she ceased dragging in more air. The sphere of compression never faltered, but it was obvious he had her attention. “The air is being moved, but there is more to your power than this. Your body and the wind you control shouldn‘t fight against one another. I don’t know if this makes senses, but your power can actually be part of you. If you never learn to connect with your medium though, you‘ll never be able to truly use it either.” Alex hoped what he was saying was getting through. He took a moment to think when it hit him. “Before you were able to fly because the wind within you formed wings. Your body and power together formed them. Try and reach that level again. You can use the air you already have around you. Just relax, and let it sink into you. Your goal is to merge to the point where moving with the air, is just as easy as gathering it.”
___Nina understood well enough. She shut her eyes, finding her whole body tense. Gradually relaxing, she was surprised to find her forced holds on the air remain intact. It fought against her with only as much force as she used to capture it. It felt odd, controlling so much with so little effort, but it also held a peaceful surety; almost a degree of trust. The metal plates slowly dropped from her body, finally letting a portion of air seep inside and drift within her. It was foreign, almost tainting her body. It took a long moment to adjust, but as Nina did she realized the massive emptiness it was trying to fill.
___She had been devoid of it for so long, that her body had learned to hate it, to be okay with missing it. What she had to do now was obvious. Even if it was uncomfortable, hurt even, she would complete herself with what she had pushed away so long ago. That goal would preoccupy her training for the rest of her trip, and Alex would be by her side always willing to help.
___They soon set off again, Alex lugging his satchel, and Nina doing similar. The mood between them was changing, at least to Alex. The silence was the same as always, but he was becoming more and more comfortable with it. He understood Nina’s continuous battle, to stay just ahead of the pain following her. He felt her struggling to unite with the rebellious power contained by heart. Each step she took was just a little lighter, the air around her steadily finding a home within her. She was truly going to move with the wind.
___Alex couldn’t help but keenly watch. The moment of triumph was quickly approaching with each passing hour, more imminent with each day. The ropes tying her to the ground were slowly but surely being severed. His chest was bursting with faith in her strength.
___“Nina, walking is just holding you back. The air is your power and the sky where you belong. It‘s time to fly.” Alex suddenly proclaimed around their fifth day of travel. His hope in her was nearly visible.
___The young woman stopped, possessing no real reason to doubt the child anymore. He seemed to be an authority. The time for patient exertion was over it seemed. Eyes opened wide, glaring green and gaining a fiery intensity she strained. The air around her began rushing upward, trying its best to lift her; her arms outstretched catching as much as possible.
___She could feel it, not just pushing, but pulling her upward, grabbing at her skin with growing insistence. Flight was still a far way off though, even after quite a few minutes passed. Eventually growing impatient, a growl escaped her throat as she pressed herself harder. It began to actually hurt, a small tear running down her cheek as the wind randomly broke through her skin. Minute and nearly imperceptible gashes soon riddled blushing skin, each decidedly more painful then detrimental in the winds prying grip. It was an inconsequential nuisance as far as she was concerned.
___Alex was quick to notice her crying, earnestly debating whether or not to stop the exercise. With her composure it was difficult to really gauge how much pain she was in, if any at all. Had he known her back was moist from two crimson trails of blood dripping from her shoulder blades, he would have quickly said something. The pain, torturous as it was, meant nothing to her though. If anything she deserved it and continued to press on with that in mind, wind escaping her bleeding wounds and forming precious wings. Translucent nubs, flapping uselessly were growing from her gashes. Feeling them, phantom appendages flexing at her command, Nina wasn't going to let anything stop her now, most of all herself. Resolve strengthened, the wind rushing around her intensified once more, sweeping the blood running down her back upward. Wind-chilled and frozen, sparkling shards of blood smashed into the newfound limbs forming behind her. Gradually absorbing the crimson essence, her wings easily tripled in size, the air building off the material provided.
___Alex eagerly watched her heels bouncing on the ground. This was a battle gravity couldn’t win, her wings visible even to him now. The tips of her wings peeked out at the height of their travel giving the child just enough hope to let her continue. He could easily see and sense her pain, but found himself too enraptured with Nina’s progress to stop her.
___He had to doubt himself though as the air around Nina suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Eyes closed, green light sparking between her lids, she tried to force her wings from her back, unable to stifle a soul wrenching cry. Hands curled into fist, knees weak and heart pounding, she knew she was standing at the brink, body on the verge of fulfillment. Opening her eyes, she summoned power to which she held no right, glaring at Alex with unimaginable passion.
___Alex felt his breath catch, awe inspired by her presence, at least until she started to fade. A sweeping weakness was taking over her, until she literally blacked out, her mind simply unable to cope with the pain. Alex watched her body slump, positioned like an angelic martyr, all his eagerness disappearing in panic. He rushed to catch her, belatedly noticing the giant wall around her. Her wings, gigantic compared to before, hovered near but separate. They towered in the air, folded around her in protective brilliance. Reminiscent of a marionette doll, she hung limp and oblivious in her own majesty. Slowly tilting to the right, grandiose wings shifting around her, she wearily blinked as she began to fall. Hazily aware of the world’s imbalance, she subconsciously commanded her forgotten wings to bring her upright, her body actually too weak to accomplish the same. They artfully waved, moving only enough to do as she wished.
___Alex smiled, seeing her regain consciousness so swiftly. He had been wrong obviously to push her so soon, but she was far stronger than she appeared.
___Light-headed, weak, and freezing cold, Nina was satisfied? The back of her clothing was drenched with blood, the reason she felt so weak, but she had enough strength to know what she had accomplished. She could feel her weight, distributed upon the air rather than her legs. It felt ungodly good, to support herself with her will, not just her strength.
___"The pain of your transformation will only lessen from now on. You still have quite a way to go, but your biggest milestone is behind you." Alex explained excitedly, "Congratulations Nina!"
___She lifted her head slowly, hearing him clapping, seeing the small boy jumping up and down before her. This child, almost killed me, she thought, her mind nearly as weak as her body. He's cute though...
___Her face never faltered. Her wings merely extended themselves, letting her use her feet for a brief moment, before rushing inward and speedily propelling her into the air.
___Alex tumbled to the ground, rolling backward and landing in a heap, bombarded by her gust of air. Lifting his arm to shield his eyes the child cowered in the gale. When it finally subsided, Nina was gone. He could only smile, knowing exactly where she'd gone. It didn't take a genius to know she was airborne.
___With his single Element lost, he started to settle in for the evening. When and if Nina returned, there would be a fire waiting. While he gathered tinder, he couldn't help but question what he'd just done. In the future he would have to be more careful with his Element's training. Lucky for him, Nina was proving stronger than the average person in multiple ways.

___Alex awoke to find Nina sleeping beside him, flute in hand. Her hair sprawled out beneath her face in pools of glistening red. He had fallen asleep before she got back from her maiden flight. As Nina slept, he thought about how just about everything she did amazed him. Four days and she went from small breezes to full-fledged flight. "Two more days and we'll be at Lars and who knows what she'll be able to do by then," he sighed, watching her sleep. Alex knew Lars held another Element, a strong one by the way his meditation pulled him. He only hoped it wouldn't be as eventful locating them.

*___*___*

___"It’s always some broke butts,” a stranger grumbled, leering at her misfortune.
___Perched in the only tree for miles around, she closed her eyes taking this last chance to breathe the dessert’s frigid night air. Acutely aware of the coming dawn, she knew it was now or never. Time was running out, in more ways than one.
___"You can do this Tiffany…" she whispered, jumping down with a cat’s finesse.
___It wasn’t long before the familiar rush gripped her yet again, a small smile wedging itself between her lips, whole body trembling excitedly. With a small jerk of her head, she tossed the few rebellious blonde strands from her face, letting them fall back into a perfect bob as her approach began. Expertly concealed, she nimbly stalked through the underbrush attempting to contemplate the angles. Steps planned, distance gauged with every four, the young thief was meticulously aware of the target’s line of sight.
___Undeniably pretty, the young girl was nearly invisible with her outfit, a careful mixture of dessert tans and subtle greens. At sixteen years of age she could still easily be labeled cute, her innocent smile, button nose and bright eyes resting on a childishly round face. On the other hand, her body was obviously a product of womanhood, maybe even more developed than Nina and startlingly so with her petite frame. At any rate, she was a thief, born of desperate times and purely coincidental talent.
___Calm, patient, swift… shit, she thought, breaths tense as Alex began to stir, one small arm reaching to the sky as he stretched. The young bandit knew being spotted was impossible, but as his gaze drifted past, her stomach instinctively tightened.
___Sitting up the boy scratched his ear, wearily blinking and lazily looking around. Surprisingly, he took a moment to pray, hands clasped before his chest and an almost tangible serenity enveloping him. Tiffany took this as her cue to move. At least she would have if his eyes didn’t suddenly shift back. At first Tiffany brushed it off as mere coincidence, but precious seconds ticked by and then a few unsettling more, his gaze growing all the more discriminating as he woke.
___"I know you're out there! You can stop hiding…" Alex yelled, his voice just barely shaking.
___He wiped the sleepiness out of his eyes, rubbing them adorably with the back of his hand and still returned his inexplicable attention to her exact location.
___…What?! Is this some kinda joke?
___Tiffany couldn’t even begin to comprehend what had just happened. At more than forty feet away and without making a single sound she’d been found, and by a sleeping child no less. It just didn’t make sense, but there was no getting around it, the boy refusing to even blink now.
___Confused, bitter, ashamed and just… defeated she stood. A hundred shards of broken pride glistened at her feet.
___Am I still dreaming, Alex wondered, completely unprepared for the dessert elf standing before him. She wore a tan vest and asymmetrical miniskirt with a silky sage green blouse and knee-highs. The colors were so muted and perfectly matched to the surroundings she seemed to disappear without trying, her milky complexion only adding to the illusion. Their was just something magnetic about her face though. It made everything else disappear, setting her apart like a blazing fire. Emotion poured from her gray eyes, shining like polished silver in the growing dawn’s light, beacons forced to share their radiance with the subtle peach artistry of her lips; lips currently set in a defiant pout.
___Too intrigued to quickly find words Alex just stared, deaf to the girl‘s blaring body language. Hand on her hip, weight shifted to one leg and gaze directed just over his shoulder she was too pissed to meet his eye.
___If this kid thinks he can just ‘accidentally’ spot me AND keep his stuff he's got another thing coming.
___"W-who are you… and what are you doing watching us?" Alex finally asked.
___It was then Tiffany let her cutting gaze meet his, practically snarling before she turned her back on him, dismissing the child with a sniff.
___“Hey, wait a minute!” Alex yelled, assuming she was going to leave.
___Tiffany had no such plans though, breathing deeply as she retreated into her mind. She was willing the world to change, and for the briefest of moments, her blonde hair and clothing floated outward as reality began to morph. The gray of her eyes crept outward, devouring the fresh white surrounding them, changing with the magic welling within her until she viewed the world through two perfectly reflective mirrors. Flawlessly, her eyes depicted everything before her and in one extraordinary instant captured it as well. The surrounding area, Alex and Nina included, all blurred in one dizzying jolt. An explosion of chaotic gray energy emanated from her body, sucking the colorful life from the immediate world. The dwindling campfire, falling leaves, even the minute dust blowing across the road all stopped frozen in time.
___"Nothing to it," the young thief sighed, taking a moment to gain her bearings again. The strange ability never ceased to make her a little woozy. A queer punishment from the divine she guessed, but it was well worth it. Pushing through it, she turned back around and hurried past the newly frozen child for the bags behind him. Of course her eerie gaze inspected him, the young thief unable to stifle the disgust welling inside as she passed. She couldn’t resist the urge to pluck him in the forehead, turning slightly to nail him and losing her balance as a result. Her feet couldn’t maintain their course, colliding into one another and initiating a perilous fall.
___“Not again,” she calmly sighed, visualizing herself tripping in her mind, fully aware she couldn‘t stop.
___Random patches of skin along her side had that familiar warm prickly raw feeling after sliding across the ground, and the real pain was still on the way. Holy crap there‘s dirt in my mouth, she realized, gagging. The fresh burn starting, the young girl struggled up and feebly dusted off. The whole episode was a repeat, her coordination always lacking after a freeze and a fall inevitable with too much haste.
___I’ve got to stop doing that, she reminded herself again.
___Deciding it would probably be better to walk a slow saunter ensued. It wasn’t like she had to rush and so with carefully she squatted at Nina‘s side, intent on taking the bright silver flute lying there. Subconsciously asking permission, she couldn’t help but peer at her angelic sleeping face. Even now, after all this time the guilt lingered.
___Calmer now, she headed for the bags, their measly two bags, ready to rifle through them for any unexpected valuables. Peering down at Alex threadbare satchel, she almost left it alone assuming nothing of value could lie within, but past experiences told her otherwise. Kneeling down, she untied the small knot, finding a very odd assortment of things. The most peculiar, were six grubby brown balls, each about the width of her palm. Random elegant characters were etched on the surface, some sort of ambiguous script wrapping around their circumference.
___Alex felt everything slow down, the temporal warp washing over and through him like a ‘prickly’ powder, settling in awkward itchy piles all over his body. Standing there paralyzed and irksomely uncomfortable, there was nothing he could do feeling his conscious ditheringly drift between real time and all time. His body reacted for him thankfully. With one solid jolt his chest bucked, his heart fiercely beating against time’s insistence. Warm unrelenting blood forced its way through his body, the child gasping as time gradually restored itself to his members. He looked around, bewildered, wondering how the girl disappeared and why he couldn’t feel his extremities. It was a discomfited experience to say the least, but when Alex finally gained control of his entire body he turned to find Tiffany somehow behind him, and absentmindedly rifling through his things.
___"What are you doing?!” he yelled, beyond furious at the robbery in effect. Everything he had to call his own in this world sat in that one bag. “Get away from my stuff!"
___Completely stunned, Tiffany nearly had a heart attack, falling backward as she looked toward the voice. Their eyes locked and for a moment Alex fury was subverted by apprehension, Tiffany’s gaze was simply overwhelming. The sight of her reflective eyes made him shiver, and it showed on his face. She looked so eerie… like a living ghost; although, truth be told she was an awfully adorable apparition.
___"You can talk! Y-you can move." she stuttered. "I-I'm so, really sorry." she mumbled, shaken with twice as much fear as the boy. It gave her face a less ghastly appeal but it was still hard to look at her. There wasn’t even much time to adjust with how quickly she manage to get up, awkward as it was and run away. She didn’t make it far before the world began to steadily brighten, just enough for Alex to notice and shift his attention.
___Once she disappeared completely, leaving Alex still standing bewildered, the boy noticed the odd quiet. Suddenly his breathing seemed terribly loud. Spinning around, he could actually hear the slight thud of his footsteps and raising his eyes upward a bird literally hung suspended in the air above him.
___Like a bolt of lightning everything came together in one clear explanation. That girl stopped time! She was an Element exactly like Nina and the boy figured it out just as she… where was she? And she‘s gone, Alex thought, taken off guard as the world ‘shrank.’ It didn’t really move per say but somehow everything seemed to adjust, to grow and shift and then, just be. The colors were vibrant again, though it was hard to remember what they were before. The sounds and movements causing them were all back. Before anything else Alex worriedly looked over at Nina, thankfully still lost in dreams. She’d missed so much, but the more Alex thought about it he realized she really didn’t miss anything?
___"I find one Element and lose another," he muttered, trudging over to put Nina‘s flute back in her possession. She awoke shortly after and they shared a final small breakfast of dried fruit. Alex was obviously preoccupied but still content in the silence between them.
___"I don't care if you're trustworthy," Nina randomly announced, motivated by his sudden withdrawal. It was the first thing either of them had said aloud. Just finishing the last of his food, Alex only looked up confused.
___"I’ll protect you, until you give me reason to kill you." Nina concluded. She looked straight into her companions eyes, making certain he understood her.
___Alex was taken aback, but felt the certainty in her manner. It was a little unnerving at first, to hear she held the capacity to murder him, but it didn‘t really matter since he would never do anything to harm her. Somehow, it made him want to help her even more, which is why he resolutely began his journey with Nina once more.
___Tiffany’s appearance never came up either, even though Alex really did want to tell Nina. He just didn’t know what to say at first and after awhile assumed Nina probably wouldn't care anyway.
___We'll meet again sooner or later, he thought, we have to…

___As they departed Tiffany watched them from a distance completely flabbergasted by why her power didn't work on that boy. How did he even know she was there in the first place? Maybe he had strange gifts too…? What if she wasn’t the only one like this? So many questions plagued her mind and she knew only one way to get answers. Courageously, she took the only option available; tag along and follow the odd pair.

*___*___*

___"A hundred years with him… For a mortal that’s longer than a lifetime, but was it enough for you? Can it suffice for an eternity?" August inquired as they walked through the darkness.
___Almost completely invisible to one another, they carried on conversation.
___"It doesn’t really make much difference. I was given an assignment to teach, not to mother. I’m merely grateful I was even allowed.” Aloedy professed reflecting on her time with her son. “All that aside though, it was still wonderful to be near him. He was surprisingly level-headed, focused, and incredibly intelligent too; terribly intuitive as well, just like you August.” She couldn’t help but smile as she praised her child. “Thank you for all you’ve done in his care."
___"Nephilim is such a magnificent child, with a future precariously unscripted. I find it so regrettable he’ll never know his true parents. You know better than I how Gabriel would only use it against the Great Guardian. I worry about him more than I think I should sometimes… " August reckoned, thinking of all the controversy surrounding the boy.
___"My love with his father was forbidden. It’s only fitting that neither Michael nor I are allowed contact. I knew the rules and foolishly accepted them when I fell in love with him. I’m beyond fortunate he found a way to give me just a few years of time.” Aloedy sighed, her smile gently faltering. “I’ll treasure them for the rest of my life."
___She used the guardian’s name without any sense of fear; a fact the beastly servant always found intriguing. Just how powerful that made her, he would probably never know.
___"I still don't know how to feel about Nephilim gathering the Elements. No matter how much training he’s given he’s still just a child. My sister Aerial or even I could just as easily been sent. Why choose his young son?" August questioned, thinking back to the day Nephilim left for Nevia.
___"Isn't it obvious? This was the only way he could show his faith in him. He may not have been the best suited for such a demand but it does show his father trusts him. I know Michael doesn't make bad decisions no matter what his past shows.” Aloedy replied, trust nearly visible. “He’s done the right thing. I'm positive of that."
___"You always were the optimist.” August conceded, glancing in Aloedy's direction. His keen senses easily detected her graceful movements. “I must say it is comforting to hear your voice again. It's lonely without Nephilim."
___"You still have Aerial…” Aloedy stated with only the smallest trace of question. “At least you’re not completely alone."
___"Well, yes and no. I merit the occasional visit but she spends most of her time now with the Guardian.”
__It was one of many reasons August was finding himself growing frustrated with his life. “Sometimes, I question whether we're drifting apart."
___"I understand more than you know August. Distance, time, and love can be devastating when they work together against you."
___"Are we almost there?" Sir Bastien interrupted, growing tired of the suffocating dark.
___"Are you sure you know where you're going?" Lady Ward whined. She too was growing impatient with the long hike.
___"Let me assure you we are heading in the right direction my much esteemed Nites. Unfortunately, we still have quite a way to go." August replied to the anxious travelers.
___Aloedy merely remained silent, cringing at their impertinence.
___"August, after my visit with Michael I think we should speak further. I have much to tell and to hear." she insisted thinking once again of both Gabriel and Nephilim.
___With that the odd group continued through the darkness drawing ever closer to the Great Guardian of Earth.