The Tale of The First and the Eastern Treasure

In the back yard of Elysia's house, there stood an old tree. It was tall, ancient and sturdy. It withstood storms and winters and Twisted attacks. Elysia and Kraelin had spent countless hours growing up underneath it, using it as a secret base and swinging its sticks like swords.

As the night sky stretched above her, she stood under it for the last time.

Elysia had her eyes closed. She listened to the sounds of the birds in the forest, the hammers still working on rebuilding the town, cars moving through the streets again. The leaves in her tree. The movements of her friends.

“Let me tell you two a story,” Elysia said without turning around. “Long ago in Ekodyne, there was no magic. Until one day…there was. He brought it here. The First. A great man shrouded in the secrets of time. He showed those of us with Talents how to harness them. He created a golden age of magic and wonder, with technologies which still confound us. But then came the Twisted. Nobody knows where they come from to this day, but we know it started around the time of the First. Fighting broke out, and the gifts of the First began to be used for combat. The First grew horrified at the monsters, and in seeing his gifts used to kill. And so, one day his grand temple at the heart of Ekodyne vanished, the entire building disappearing, leaving only a crater and his followers to recite his final words.”

She looked up to the stars. She knew the words by heart. “My wonders. My legacy. My treasure. All of it I leave to the one who knows how to use it, and can brave the dangers of this world to find it. It will be at the end of the world. All you must do is look towards the east.”

They stood in silence for several moments, the wind stirring the grass around their feet.

“So, when do we leave?” Jake asked. Elysia looked at him, surprised. “Why else would you give us a lore dump if you weren’t going to pitch us an epic quest?”

“Yeah man, we’re not dummies,” Alex said with a shrug.

“You don’t know what you’re agreeing to,” Elysia said.

“In the past four thousand years, countless people have looked for the Eastern Treasure,” Kraelin said. “None have ever found it. It’s suicide to try.”

“Well I said I would stay with Elysia until she didn’t need my help anymore,” Jake said. “Besides, this is why she wanted us here. Right Elysia?”

She looked down. “Guilty. You have to understand, I’m not doing this for fame or glory.”

“Or trying to prove yourself?” Kraelin added.

“I’m doing this,” Elysia continued, “because somebody has to do something about the Twisted. They are growing in number yearly, getting more vicious, more coordinated. People are dying. People…have died.” She shook her head, pleading with the boys with her eyes. “Many people think the Treasure is tied to the Twisted somehow and finding it could be the key to stopping them! If there is even a chance finding the Treasure could do it, then I have to try!”

“So you’re on a quest to save the world?” Jake asked.

“Kind of. A little bit. Yes.” Elysia said, building confidence.

“Well…at least we’ll be dying for a good cause,” Alex said with a sigh.

“So you’ll come?!” Elysia exclaimed.

“Of course,” Jake said. “Provided you tell me one thing. Could the Eastern Treasure give us our bodies back?”

“Its possible if the Treasure is as powerful as I think it is,” Elysia said. “And the chances of us finding another method are much greater if we don’t sit around here.”

“Sounds good to me, right Stick?” Alex said, petting his little whiptail.

“Stick?” Jake asked.

“Yeah. He needs a name. And he likes sticks.” The little creature held up a particularly sturdy stick. “See? Stick.”

“Okay,” Elysia said. “You two and Stick and I will head out tomorrow. I’ll pack our gear tonight and…”

“I’m going.” Kraelin stood there, arms crossed, looking intensely at Elysia.

“Kraelin, you’ve always said your number one goal was to protect your home,” Elysia said. “It’s why you’ve busted your ass to be a warrior. To protect Lugara.”

“Elysia, wherever you are is my home,” Kraelin said softly. “You’re my best friend. As good as a sister. And if you’re going to do this insanely stupid thing, I will protect my home.”

“Kraelin…” Elysia could barely hold back the tears.

“Besides, I have a truck,” Kraelin added.

“Welcome to the team!” Alex said, stepping around Elysia and shaking his hand.

“I call shotgun!” Jake said, wrapping his arm around Kraelin’s shoulder.

“Like hell you do!” Alex shouted.

Elysia watched them argue with Kraelin in the middle. Those dumbasses. Her dumbasses.

“Yeah…this is going to work…” she said, a smile curling her lips.

*

Elysia packed, knowing each article she would need for their long journey. She had been planning this for years, dreaming of the day she could go on her quest. She was interrupted by a knock on her door. Opening it she saw Master Augarium. His face betrayed no emotion. “May I come in, Elysia?”

“Of course,” Elysia said, going back to her packing.

“I hope you aren’t mad for what I did today,” Augarium said slowly. Elysia slowed her movements.

“No. I broke the rules. I knew the consequences.”

“Better than most,” Augarium said.

Elysia winced. “Yes…better than most.”

“And now you’re going after the Eastern Treasure, as you’ve wanted to do for all these years.”

“Yes, well, I don’t have many options. I can’t stay here.”

“Yes, I know,” Augarium said, eyeing her reactions. “It’s as if you knew this exact thing would happen…and yet you did it anyways. In fact…I believe you wanted it to happen.”

Elysia turned to face him. “What…”

“You have no home now. There is nothing holding you back from going after the Treasure. No responsibilities, no family, no…” He paused, his eyes weary. “Elysia…I never wanted children, you know. I was going to devote my life to magic and being an elder of Lugara. But then the Twisted attack on Havenbrook happened, and I found you, a little babe, screaming and crying. I picked you up…and could never put you down again.”

“Master…” Elysia started, but he waved her down.

“I tried my best to raise you. Even with your difficulties in using magic. The tragedy which befell Saphira. All of your trials. But I learned  you didn’t need me to raise you. You were so incredible, so strong willed. It…it has been the joy of my life to share this home with you.”

Elysia was starting to crack. She couldn’t. She had to leave. She had to find the Treasure. “I…I’ve enjoyed…I mean…”

“Please, Elysia,” Augarium said, going to her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Give an old man one last request of the girl he raised. For once, could you simply call me…father?”

They both broke, collapsing into each other’s arms, knowing they most likely would never see each other again. “You were the best father I could have asked for!” Elysia wailed into his chest.

“Elysia…my Elysia…” He stroked her hair as he had when she was little, and for a moment, they pretended life could have been different.

*

Alex laid under the stars, looking up at the sky, throwing the stick towards the tree. Stick quickly ran to fetch it, chirping happily before coming back.

“At least one of you is having a good time,” Jake said as he sat down on the grass.

“You know, it’s weird. The stars are different. I know how the sky is supposed to look, and this isn’t the sky,” Alex said.

“Yeah,” Jake said. “You think they miss us?”

Alex shrugged. “Our parents? I dunno. Maybe yours do. My mom might not have even noticed yet. Too many bottles to drink. And Steve never gave a crap anyways.”

“I’m sure mine will be mad about losing their investment,” Jake sighed. “You nervous about all this?”

“Of course I am,” Alex said. “Dude, when have we ever actually won a fight? And now Elysia basically asked us to help her save the world.”

“I know. Wild, right?”

“Stupid, more like it.”

“You know…we can still back out.”

Alex sighed, hesitating to throw the stick again. He sat up and pulled the old watch out of his pocket. “This is my dad’s. My real dad, not Steve. He gave this to me right before he died. Said it was his dad’s. Said it…when I was a man, I would understand why I have it. Heh, ironic, right?” Alex gestured to his new body.

“I swear to you, Alex, I’ll find a way to fix this for you. I’ll get you back to normal,” Jake said, guilt flooding his voice.

“No,” Alex said, shaking his head. “I will. But you can come along for the ride.”

“Oh, thank you,” Jake said sarcastically, laughing and punching Alex’s arm lightly. “You know, other than the dying part, this is all…”

Alex grinned like an idiot. “Insanely cool? Yeah, tell me about it. I’m about to go on a quest to save the world with a witch and a warrior with my best friend in our magically enhanced bodies. We’re probably going to die horribly, and I want to headbutt the mirror when I look into it, but this is still pretty cool.”

“You know, you’re braver than you give yourself credit for, bro,” Jake said.

“Thanks. Do me one favor, though. When we’re out there doing God knows what, know when to quit. Because if you die on me…”

Alex didn’t finish. They both knew.

“Nobody’s dying,” Jake said confidently.

“I’ll hold you to it,” Alex said.