Child of the Paths

[Valdar and Astralis]

Far from the paths and in the darkness of the void, a battle raged on the long-forgotten Plane. The grey bubble of reality flickered sporadically from the battle raging within, smoke and debris pouring from massive rents in the Planar crystal. Fell voices drifted in the Void, each spell was punctuated by flashes of light and destruction. Here, reality had been gutted beyond repair. Every stone not vaporized or cast into the Void had been irreparably changed by the wild magic pulsing through the hazy madness. The ferocity of spellfire intensified, each pulse illuminating the debris and sending up a dull thud. The two voices grew louder, shouting each spell in a rising crescendo. Finally, the broken crystal barrier of the world flashed an otherworldly blue and shattered. Pieces of burning Planar crystal spun madly into the darkness.

 

 

Then it was silent, with only the dissipating smoke lying between master and student now.

 

"You did well, apprentice."

 

The elf raised his head wearily to look at his teacher.

 

"Is that it, then?"

 

The Dreamer nodded. Coughing smoke, Valdar rose from his kneeling position and bowed ritually. Dreamer returned the bow before crossing the smoke filled battlefield to his apprentice. The elf grimaced. He knew the unpleasant part of the ritual was fast approaching, when his master would scar and proclaim him a Planewalker. Instead of drawing Pain however, the Dreamer put his hand on Valdar's shoulder, eyes glowing the faintest shade of pink.

 

"That was it. You are ready."

 

Before the elf could respond, the touch turned into a crushing grip. Mana flowed into the Dreamer in a wild flood, and down his arm. Too exhausted to raise his own barrier spell and held too tightly to flee, Valdar sagged under the weight as the Dreamer whispered his final spell.

 

Crushing pain turned into liquid starfire, and poured into his body. Valdar was dimly aware of the heat and flame blasting through his body, tearing at his Core shielding while his flesh burned away. The torment seemed to last an eternity, and when it was over only the Dreamer remained with his hand outstretched into empty space.

 

The Planewalker slowly lowered the arm to his side, eyes returning to the calm blue of the Void. For a long moment, nothing happened. Pieces of the shattered world floated silently in the dark.

 

You have shown you have the Power. Now you must show that you understand.

 

Then there was light.

 

It started with a tiny pinprick, and grew rapidly into a shimmering blue sphere.

 

I. . .understand.

 

The Dreamer nodded, and stepped away from the Core as it began to absorb mana.

 

It was like being born again. Protected by his inner shielding, Valdar's soul had survived where his frail mortal body had not. He pushed his soul outwards against the glowing barrier of the core. The sphere pulsed, growing larger and brighter with each measure until it blazed like a miniature sun. Screaming with energy, the orb grew to the size of a man with blazing streams of raw creation racing across its surface.

 

The Core collapsed inwards into a singularity, then exploded like a star. Blinking away the light, the Dreamer smiled.

 

Almost as good a show as. . .the other

 

Valdar didn't hear, of course. In the bright afterglow of the explosion, a newborn elf child floated where the core had been. The child cried out in hunger, and strands of raw magic displaced by the shockwave connected to the tiny elf, feeding him with pure mana.

 

"Your memories will return presently, Apprentice."

 

The Planewalker drew an enchanted blade, and advanced on the child. Taking the tiny hand, the Dreamer cut a rune on the child's palm. The baby cried in pain, unleashing a mental blow that bounced off his wards. The infant was instantly surrounded by his distinctive shimmering blue shield.

 

The Old man smiled again, his scars twisting into a not so unpleasant configuration as the child lost interest in the rapidly healing scar, and closed his eyes.

 

Sleep well m'lord Valdar Shinyhunter, true child of the paths.

Edited August 16, 2004 by Valdar and Astralis

[Valdar and Astralis]

Epilogue

 

"The body of a Planewalker is a projection of our spirit. Valdar would never have become a full member of the caste with that mortal body he had."

 

"So ye do understand the need for this"

 

"Of course-just because 'm the master of hiding in remote corners of the void dosn't mean 'm the ignorant fool m'lord Wodzan."

 

"You will keep an eye out for him, wont you? He will age faster than mortal children. . .or perhaps slower. He's got a strange mind."

 

"Ya, Ruggy will see to that. 'less ya cut the map upside down, that is."

 

The Dreamer only grinned.

 

"Fatespeed, Phacyra."

 

"Fatespeed, Wodzan."

[Zadown]

Six C

 

Running through the maze of narrow Paths of the Veil, the Dreamer draw his wicked-looking knife and gazed at it with dark blue eyes.

 

"Did ya think I was too merciful, Mask-Maker? Should I have slit his shoulder open all th' way to his elbow, like my master did to me?"

 

The knife spoke back, its voice like a dozen snakes with scales of steel gliding over each other.

 

"yEs mAstEr bUt thEn yOu havE chAngEd. thE chIld mAkEs yOu sOft."

 

"Ha! As if ye knew, piece of sharp steel. Why do I even bother talkin' with ya, hmm?"

 

"bEcAusE thE othErs arE scArEd Of yOu and sAy whAt thEy thInk yOu wAnt to hEar mAstEr. i hAvE nOthIng to lOse."

 

"Oh ya, so it was, ye posses'd junk. ... or well, I could give ya to an angel, how'd ye like that?"

 

"onlY wAy yOu evEr wIll gIvE mE tO an angEl is pOint fIrst, mAstEr."

 

"Ye know me too well, Mask-Maker. I really should destroy ye, someday..."

 

The planewalker sheathed the knife and sped on, eyes toward the uncertain future.