The MirrorMasters (26 page)

Aedalina and Erik turned and fled into a swampy forest of battered, overturned evergreens, closely followed by the rest of them. Only then did Caleb let Brian go.

"And what cost is that, Dad?" He asked, shoving his father away.

"Everything you are."

I was panting with exertion after a whirlwind exchange of energy spheres with Aedalina, but I raced to my parents to ensure nobody had any injuries. To my profound relief, they had all come out of the battle relatively unscathed, with superficial cuts and burns.

We bid farewell to the people of the plains. Brian, Caleb, and Korin worked together to defend some of them from the last of the opposing fighters. I had a nagging suspicion the retreat was a trick, and they would return with an even larger army. "We should go while we have the chance. I can see the crystal forest up ahead, the other way."

Keeping a brisk pace, the group ventured into the forest. Dense clusters of foliage lined the path we followed, and beyond, crystalline trees sparkled in sunlight. The sounds of chirps filled the air above us. A gentle breeze blew, making the trees hum a tinkling melody like chimes. I marveled at how untouched, how peaceful, this forest seemed in comparison to the rest of the plains. Even the grass had not become marshy.

Deeper into the forest, the branches grew thicker overhead until finally no sunlight filtered through. The crystal trees in this area lit up like neurons, allowing us to see by their soft glow. A little further on, tree branches interlaced, blocking the way ahead, creating a wall that enclosed the area. Even the trees wove themselves together to surround us.

"What's happening?" Kara gripped my hand.

Shaking my head, I took deep, slow breaths to calm the hummingbird-fast beating of my heart. "I don't know."

The Crystal of Knowledge hummed, a soothing melody the trees all around us returned with a high harmony, and their lights seemed to dance.

Then, experiencing the rush Aedalina mentioned, I could see everyone and everything on Jantyr. Suddenly, I knew every flower, every bird, every crystal, and every tree. I knew each person, their hopes, their dreams, and every dark problem they needed to leave behind. As I swayed, Kara steadied me, helping me stay on my feet.

"What will you do, Wielder?" A high, clear feminine voice sounded. Her demanding tone, filled with authority and power, intimidated me. I wanted to step back, but my head was still reeling with the effects of the Knowledge Crystal.

My heart skipped a beat at the question. This was a strange puzzle — or test — to sort out my worthiness to wield the Knowledge Crystal. What if I answered wrong? What would the being behind that voice do to me, or my family and friends?

Even with my mouth going dry and my voice shaky, I lifted my chin and straightened my body. "There are things, dark things, holding the people back from resolving the issues they face. Prejudice and fanaticism, political disputes, exploitation of resources. A fresh start might help them free themselves of that. I want to keep everything and everyone in the new world."

"You can only keep those who are alive."

"Why? If I can create..." My protest was cut short, and I fell silent as the woman's voice thundered.

"No — you cannot create life where it has been extinguished. You can only renew what is there."

Glancing down, I crossed my arms. I bristled at the idea that there were limits to what I could do here, but this didn't seem the time to argue about it. "Even if I don't like it, I understand. All right — I will renew everything here, let it take on the forms it wants to take, and make sure resources are abundant again. I'll also set up some defenses against the sky-gods."

"A wise course, but ambitious. It will be difficult to achieve. Good luck." As the being spoke, the tree branches blocking our path pulled away from each other, allowing us to continue on.

My second challenge called me to envision a new path for the planet. Something like a hologram was produced from a group of trees in another enclosed area an hour's walk deeper into the forest, where I viewed what the next version of Jantyr could be like. I explored a myriad of possibilities as the images displayed every possible variety of flowers and other plant life, animals, homes, natural resources, and land features.

Where once there was desert, I envisioned a beautiful, sparkling lake that could be home to the people there. A frozen tropical beach thawed, turning first into grasslands, then to a mountain region, then an island in the sea. The jungle bloomed with beautiful fruit and nut trees unlike anything I'd ever seen before, and the thunderbeasts became as small and harmless as turtles. Now I found them cute. Over and over again, landscapes and life on Jantyr transformed.

Throughout all of this, I was aware of other beings who evaluated me, measuring my thoughts, my spirit. I thought they approved. A video of the sky-gods coming began to play, and I envisioned what defenses needed to be in place. The hologram displayed an endless array of weaponry and defense systems.

"Choose well, because what you create must last until the next time of renewal. You will be part of it, part of everything, for all time. None before you have managed to escape this fate, but there's always a first time."

My eyes lit up with hope. I gripped Kara's hand, and she clutched mine back. "You mean, there is a way I can survive?"

"Yes, but it takes much more trust than most can manage. We hope you are the one to find the way."

Tree branches parted, allowing us to continue on once more.

The third challenge had to do with trust, and I was beginning to suspect that these were not merely tests, but a way to prepare me to face what was to come. Finally, we reached the heart of the forest, and found our way blocked by a wall of icy crystal. To get to the monolith beyond, I needed to trust the magic guarding the monolith to let me pass. The magic was a wall of ice crystal that would freeze anyone, though I would be safe if I could trust the magic.

Oh, I tried, I tried. My hand froze for a moment as I touched the wall with my fingertips, but it returned to normal as I snatched my hand back with a gasp. I thought about what I had to do. This power would heal, would renew, would protect — I could trust it. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and passed through the ice crystal wall to stand alone on the other side. There, in the center, I found the monolith. Its top slid away as I wielded the blue crystal of Knowledge, in the shape of several interconnecting snowflake crystals — like neurons, with flashing silver energy inside.

In the songs of the crystal trees around the monolith I could hear fragments of the spirits of former wielders, catching snatches of what they were trying to tell me. Something about the state they were in. Aware of incompleteness. Aware of restoring and giving life to every flower, every bird, insect, droplet of water. Great joy, but also great sadness at never being whole again. They'd lost most awareness of who they were. They had the sense that they did something wrong because they should not have ended up like this.

It would haunt me forever.

T
here was
no mirror in the plains, but the group caught an airship to Brisa later that day. I tapped my foot against my seat, eager to arrive at the island. This time, we would not need a room, as we would arrive at Galdera in a matter of hours.

"So, what does the next part of the legend say?" Kara asked, scooting next to me so she could read along.

I glanced down at my data pad and brought up the next part.

"The fifth warrior travelled by sea to the island continent of Galdera, seeking the source of the legend of the healing waterfall. There, he discovered that the crystal cliffs from which the water fell into a vast spring were healing crystals. They were used to heal all types of injuries. The warrior used the crystals to form a Healing Crystal in the shape of a sunburst. This crystal will renew the damage caused by the times of disaster and restore the balance of the solar system."

"Here's the problem," Caleb said, leaning forward and steepling his fingers. "The crystal could be anywhere. We have no leads on where it could be."

"We've been lucky so far. There's got to be a trace of it in records, or something." I waved my hand over the data pad after reading the next fragment of prophecy we'd downloaded. Doing a search, I learned that the Healing Crystal was recovered by some reef divers and transferred to a medical university in Brisa for study.

"Guys, look at this!" I exclaimed, pointedly ignoring Caleb's frown at my use of too-informal language. I had bigger things to worry about than etiquette. Everyone gathered to read the article as I passed around the data pad.

O
nce we arrived in Brisa
, we raced to the university via Maglev monorail, passing through a dense forest. As we neared the city, the forest gave way to a vast network of floating crystal buildings. Delicious aromas from culinary schools permeated the train. Customers enjoyed the students' efforts in outdoor cafes above the silvery-purple ocean. I could hear strains of music from a concert across the way. Closer to the university, a group of dancers dressed in red performed a routine for a cheering crowd.

Finally, we arrived at the university campus, and snagged the crystal after doing some major convincing of the researchers. When I drew close, the researchers gasped in astonishment to find the crystal glow a soft golden light. I reached out, and nobody stopped me as I took the crystal and added it to my pendant. The crystals hummed for a moment, a high, clear harmony.

"You're the wielder? But that's just myth and legend."

I shrugged at the scientist. "So I've heard."

"Disasters are escalating so rapidly, it's like nothing we've ever seen before," one scientist said. She pulled back her hair out of her face, securing it into place with a bejeweled ponytail holder. Now ready for lecture mode, she brought up her latest report on her data pad, iridescent eyes shining with both worry and fascination as she warmed to the discovery. "Look here, how we've tracked not just one, but ten mega-tornadoes of a magnitude greater than any in recorded history!"

"Great." Caleb said, his words dry, clipped "I'm sure we'd all love to hear more about this, but we have to get back to the airship." He turned toward the door, gesturing for the others to follow.

"I'm afraid that's impossible. The airship isn't going anywhere." Another scientist, a middle-aged blonde man with a beard and mustache, burst into the room. He was out of breath, shaking, panic-stricken. "We've just tracked another megastorm, a cyclone brewing out in the ocean, headed right for the island! We have to get down to the basement! Now!"

Everyone ran to the staircase. Three by three, we descended the steps. Already, I could hear wind howling outside, an eerie, shrill sound. The wind shook the building, rattling windows and shaking us all from side to side. At one point, I gripped the railing so tightly to keep from falling, my knuckles turned white. We descended further, and I couldn't help but scream as I saw the mammoth wall of twisting wind and water coming at us. My eyes widened in terror. For a moment I froze, staring at the fast-approaching wall of death.

"Run! Go!" I had no idea if we would be buried under all that debris and water, or if the storm would stop short of the university.

Down in the basement, a level reminiscent of a submarine, I heaved a sigh of relief when a circular, watertight door sealed shut behind us. It was much quieter in here, and I could almost forget that we could be trapped, or worse.

The scientists huddled together in one corner of the room, monitoring their data. One of them sat with her knees up to her chest as she stared at the data pad, tears slipping down her cheeks. When she caught me looking over at her in sympathy, she sniffled. "I don't want to die," the young woman whispered.

In that moment, the storm hit overhead. It sounded like the world outside had exploded, threatening to take the building we were in with it. Everyone screamed and clung to each other. I closed my eyes and prayed, one hand clutching my birth mom's and my other clutching Brian's.

The world began to spin, leaving me dizzy and disoriented as, faster and faster, the cyclone caught the university in its grip. Creaking and groaning sounds added to the deafening roar. I had a sudden, terrifying thought that the building would disintegrate around us, torn to shreds by the storm raging across the entire city. No one spoke; it would be impossible to hear each other over the din. Then the building swayed, tilted, and crashed to the ground, slamming everyone against the floor. Glass shattered, and furniture toppled over. People screamed as massive storage shelves filled with boxes fell, crushing a few of the scientists trapped in the basement with me. This was my last awareness as my head struck hard tile and I fell into blackness.

I
awoke to an excruciating headache
, a hand shaking my shoulder, and the sounds of sobs and murmured reassurances. I opened my eyes and slowly sat up to find my mother smiling in relief.

"Are you all right?"

"Fine. Just a bit sore." I tried not to wince or focus on the shooting pains running through my head, especially at the back. "What about you?"

"I'm fine, but I'm not so sure about everyone else. There have been several casualties."

Glancing around the room, I saw Caleb, Brian, and Korin helping the scientists lift boxes and shelves to get to their trapped friends. Three people lay on the floor. Two were covered with a sheet, still and without life. My
heart jumped into my throat at the sight. One woman lay groaning, her head propped up by someone's jacket. Blood dripped from a cut in her leg. Beside me, Kara and David searched on the data pad for news about Aedalina and Erik.

"Look!" David was saying. "Here's an article siding with them, talking about how this Council will save the world, organize it into one system of government capable of taking quick, decisive action against threats like the sky-gods. Whoever wrote this hails Aedalina and Erik as heroes. It says leadership transitions are occurring worldwide to ensure this system is in place."

Kara wrinkled her nose. "Heroes. Do they even know what those two did, unleashing all the disasters?"

I put a hand to my head and stifled a groan. "I think they know and don't care."

"Leah! Good, you're awake. I was so worried," Kara said. "Hmm, I wonder if they're doing something to cause each disaster, or…"

"They might have set it all in motion years ago, and now it's escalating way beyond what they imagined." I sat up and made my way over to the injured woman, silently applying ointment and bandaging the leg. The man who'd retrieved the first aid supplies gave me a nod, then stood and went to help the others free those still trapped. It sounded quieter outside now, but I could still hear fierce winds off in the distance.

W
hen it was over
, we surveyed the devastation outside. Buildings crumbled into ruins; monorail tracks and train cars lay on the ground, and rubble blocked roads everywhere. This storm was part of the signs pointing to a dramatic climate change — a pole shift — the scientists said, and the blue flames in the heavens had sped up the process. I wanted to help the clean-up and rebuilding effort, but I could only do that by activating the device. No other choice remained. Now, after everything I had been through during my short stay, it had become personal because I had fallen in love with the people, this world, and its cultures.

We had to take an open air bus-cab back, and the debris on the roads slowed us down so much we barely made it back to the airship in time to fly the rest of the way to the island.

"Run!" I exclaimed, grabbing Kara and pulling her along. I had never run faster in my life, and for one heart-stopping moment, I worried we wouldn't be fast enough.

"They're going to seal the door!" Brian waved his arms to get the attention of the ticket steward. He sighed in relief and slowed slightly when the man nodded that he would wait for us.

Inside, we collapsed in the lounge. Checking the latest news, I discovered there were more signs of disasters, including another flash-freezing the day before.

"I have to finish this before the planet slips on its crust." Biting my lip and facing my family and friends from Earth, I let the data pad fall into my lap. "It's getting way too dangerous here. We almost died back at the lab, and it's only going to get worse from here on in. Please, get back to Earth while there's still a chance you can. If anything happened to you…"

"No. We're not leaving until we've seen this through," Kara said, wrapping her arm around me.

David nodded in agreement but frowned. "Still, Leah, this could destroy you! People will understand if you don't sacrifice everything you are for this."

"She'll survive," Brian said, lifting his chin, his tone fierce, determined.

Brian and Caleb brought out their data pads to research the previous wielders. They came across tons of articles and personal writings from not only the wielders themselves, but family and friends.

Tossing his data pad on the couch seat beside him, Brian shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "There's a lot here, but none of it tells us anything more than the Knowledge Crystal already has."

Another traveler, a tall, thin, grey-haired man who appeared to be in his sixties overheard the conversation. "Forgive me for interrupting, but I couldn't help overhearing your dilemma," he said. With a wink at me, he added," I also wanted to meet the wielder. Alec is my name, and I may be able to help you. As it so happens, I am descended from the previous wielder. At least, my family says they can trace their lineage all the way back to him."

My eyes lit up, and I beckoned this stranger to sit. "We would love to know more. If there's anything you can tell us. A way to survive and even help the ones before me, anything…"

Alec clasped my hand in return, his glance kind, almost pitying. "The story goes that he had figured out through the Knowledge Crystal more about how the crystals work together. Each of the crystals augment each other's power, and in the hands of the wielder, the power is virtually limitless. However, it comes with a cost. The power is borrowed. It is a rare gift to be allowed to harness it, and only someone who can trust it and is willing to give it back might be able to withstand it. My ancestor failed, even knowing what he had to do. Maybe in the end, he couldn't give the power back. I don't know."

"What did he say about how the crystals work together?" King Korin asked.

The man shrugged. "It didn't make much sense to me, just that they worked in harmony — a harmony only understood by someone who had wielded the Knowledge Crystal."

Nodding, I replied, "I think I do understand."

"Then you have what you need. The question is whether you'll be able to do what it takes, even when none before you have. Best of luck and skill, Wielder. I hope you succeed."

"I will." Outward confidence aside, I wondered how I was going to manage it.

O
n the island of Galdera
; Brian, King Korin, and I strapped crystal-clinging gear onto our hands and feet, which we used to scale the cliff to a cave beneath the waterfall. I found the climb difficult — I'd never been rock climbing before, and my arm muscles burned by the time we'd gone only a quarter of the way up.

"Saints alive..." My eyes went wide as I noticed how high I'd climbed. From this vantage point, my family and friends seemed so small and far away. Pale and shaking, I squeezed my eyes shut and hunched close against the face of the cliff. I took a few deep breaths to steady myself and slowly allowed my eyes to open again, this time fixing my gaze on the goal far above. Stretching with my right hand, I pulled myself up, then reached with my left while using my feet for support. Inch by excruciating inch, I climbed, stopping only when I needed a brief rest.

"Come on, slowpokes. My grandmother could climb faster than you two," Korin called down with a laugh.

I made a face. "If she shows up, you two can race, then. Brian and I will get there when we get there."

Brian followed just behind and to my left. On my right, I could hear Korin still scaling the cliff faster than I would be comfortable with. Brian looked pale and scared, but when I managed a smile for him, he smiled back and kept climbing with renewed determination. My strength had given Brian the strength to climb with me. Reaching the top, we stepped into the cave — getting drenched by the spray of waterfall in the process — and found the monolith inside.

When I wielded the Healing crystal, a burst of green engulfed everything around me, radiating out as far as I could see. The light slowly faded, leaving us in darkness. I wondered if I'd now be able to heal the devastation back in Brisa, but I suspected it would have to wait. Nothing short of activating the device would be powerful enough to work.

A
s I climbed down
, Commander Lars and his army surrounded the others far below, weapons drawn. He was saying something, but I couldn't hear it. Whatever it was had my parents shouting in fury. I wished we'd left someone down there who could use magic.