Disaster

“I was useless,” Elysia said.

“Shut up. You were not,” Saphira argued.

“Yes I was! You could have died! Right in front of me! I…I can’t do anything!”

“Elysia, don’t worry. We won’t be doing it again,” Kraelin said bitterly.

They sat around in silence under the tree in Elysia’s backyard. Usually it was a spot for fun. This night, it only brought feelings of emptiness.

“What did you mean by…you were useless,” Saphira asked.

“I’m Talentless. I’m nothing. No matter how much I try, I can’t…can’t find my real power. Only stupid light shows,” Elysia said sadly.

“What…what if you didn’t have to…” Saphira started.

“What? What if I what?” Elysia asked.

“My dad…he said a new artifact was discovered. He…”

“No,” Kraelin said.

“No what? What no?” Elysia asked.

“It’s only a simple…” Saphira started. Kraelin stood up, glaring at her.

“How could you?! How could you even suggest something like using First tech in front of me?! Knowing what happened to my parents!” He stomped away angrily, only turning around once. “Elysia. You’re fine as you are. Whatever she says you need…you don’t.”

The silence was thick after he left. Elysia remembered the day the news came about Kraelin’s parents, his aunt sobbing while telling him some ancient piece of First tech exploded on a dig site. It was the only time he had ever looked broken to her. Even remembering his tragedy, though, Elysia softly asked Saphira, “What is your idea?”

“My dad has been studying a machine dug up from an ancient site filled with First tech. He mentioned something about it enhancing magic user’s powers. I was thinking…maybe…” Saphira trailed off.

“Kraelin's right. This is a bad idea,” Elysia said. “His parents died messing with First tech they didn’t understand. What if something…”

“What if it doesn’t?” Saphira says, looking up at the stars. “I’m gonna leave here someday. Travel the world. Kick Twisted ass. And I want you and Kraelin to come with me.”

“What?” Elysia asked. “You never told us you wanted to travel.”

“It’s not  a plan. Kind of a dream now. But I want it,” Saphira said. “Don’t you have a dream?”

“I…I want to find the Eastern Treasure. I believe the stories saying it could get rid of the Twisted. Then we could all live such happier lives. No need for barrier towers or warriors guarding towns,” Elysia said. “No more people dying.”

“Always the altruist.” Saphira said. “But see? You have the same wanderlust I do!”

“But it’s just a dream. I can’t. I’m too weak,” Elysia said.

“For now,” Saphira said, nodding at her, pulling her closer as they sat together. “Trust me. I promise you, I would never do anything to hurt you.”

*

The Hall of Learning was dark and quiet, the only sounds the footfalls of Elysia and Saphira as they walked the abandoned halls. Saphira knew right where to go. “It should be in the testing lab.”

“And you’re sure you know how to use it?” Elysia asked hesitantly.

“I’ve been reading my dad’s notes for weeks on this. Ever since I heard of this thing I thought of your…problem.”

“Still. What if something goes wrong? It’s old and rusty and…”

Saphira stopped and grabbed onto Elysia’s shoulders.

“Nobody in this town believes in you. Nobody but me and Kraelin and maybe Augarium and my dad. You know who else doesn’t believe in you? You. Elysia…I want you to do something for me. I want you to promise me something.”

“What?” she asked, looking deep into her friend’s eyes.

“Find the Eastern Treasure. No matter what. Follow your dream. I believe in you. You keep growing and growing and show all these miserable jerks in this town what the Talentless little girl is able to do.”

Elysia could barely speak. Nobody had ever put so much faith in her. She nodded quickly. “Yes. I will.”

Saphira’s grin lit up the dark hallway. “Good. Now follow me. I’m gonna give you a super charge.”

Entering the laboratory and research area of the Hall of Learning, Elysia could see the various bits of technology from the era of the First scattered about on various tables and platforms, from little bits the size of a book to massive pieces of machinery the size of cars. But the one they were looking for was along the back wall. It was about the size of a clothes washer, with a control panel along the top and a blue crystal in the upper center, sectioned off by a glass dome.

“What is it?” Elysia asked, looking at the crystal.

“You know the Void? The place between worlds?” Saphira asked, starting to touch some buttons.

“Yeah, I heard Kraelin talk about a machine here once. Something which could breach the Void,” Elysia said, starting to get a bad feeling.

“Yeah, the dimensional tuner. Legends go the First used it to find followers from other worlds. But this…” Saphira slapped the machine, gazing at the crystal. “From my dad’s notes, this crystal is FROM  the void. These cracks happen from time to time and stuff falls out.”

“From the…okay, I know I said I trusted you, but my ‘this is an incredibly stupid idea’ senses are going crazy right…” Elysia said, but Saphira put a finger to her lips.

“Imagine the power you will have, the looks on everyone’s faces when you finally show your Talent.” Elysia nodded. Saphira was right.

The next few minutes were spent pushing buttons and twisting levers, getting the machine running. It shuddered to life in a clanging, jerky fashion, and faint wisps of smoke emanated from it. The crystal inside it began to glow brightly. “Is it supposed to…” Elysia started.

“Its fine. Everything is fine,” Saphira lied.

“So…what do I do?” Elysia asked.

“Well, from what I read, the radiation from the void crystal should, I dunno, activate you. Do you feel activated?” Saphira asked.

“No. I feel mostly anxious. And kinda hungry,” Elysia said.

“Damn. Maybe if I fiddle with a few dials…” Saphira turned her back to Elysia, pressing the buttons and turning the knobs she thought she should. “This damn thing is so old, maybe it takes a few minutes to…”

She turned back again and her jaw dropped. Elysia was floating in the air, black energy crackling around her. She had a combined look of excitement and terror on her face. “Saphira?! Is this supposed to be happening?!”

“I…I don’t know! But look at you! You’re definitely using magic!” Saphira exclaimed.

“I’m not, though! It’s happening without me wanting it!” Elysia said, looking down at her hands, the energy arcing between her fingertips.

The machine began to sputter and shake, and the crystal began to flash like a warning beacon.

“Okay, I think you’ve had enough. We could probably turn this thing off and…” As Saphira reached for the machine, a bolt of energy lashed out and zapped her right arm, arcing into her face. “Ow! Come on! Elysia, can you…”

“No…no! Too much! Too much power!” Elysia reached her hand out, and black energy blasted from it towards the crystal. The machine blew to pieces, blasting Saphira backwards. “Saphira!”

The energy grew harsher around her, burning trails in the floor and walls, blasting apart the artifacts they came into contact with. Yet still Elysia floated ever higher, and the crystal which had been in the magic amplifier floated up to meet her. Fire began to spread from the broken amplifier, moving throughout the room at a terrifying pace.

“Saphira! It hurts! Too much…it’s too much! I’m sorry! Please, I take it back! I don’t want the power! I’ll be normal again I’ll be weak only please please Saphira HELP ME!”

The side of the Hall of Learning exploded outwards, and Elysia rocketed out like a comet, crashing into the ground and leaving a crater. Her body still pulsed with energy, and she kept rolling in and out of consciousness. She remembered staring up at the sky, seeing the stars blinking out as smoke covered the sky. She remembered Augarium cradling her, the other Elders shouting, screaming as the firemen put the fire out. And she remembered the one overwhelming thought which took over her brain.

“Saphira…where’s Saphira…”

And then, blissfully, for a long time, she knew no more.