Bonus Chapter 02: A Promise Made

After a night racing through the forest and avoiding any nasties that might delay me, I was slowly approaching the ruins. Unfortunately, something else had been lurking about and causing trouble. Its unusual presence made all the nasties I’d assumed would be obstacles act out of sorts. I felt something get uncomfortably close a few times, but I eventually lost the thing by hiding in an abandoned den that I partially caved in.

Maybe… Was that the cause of the light? Just what is a Harbinger? If only I had more time to plan before… this.

When morning finally arrived, I was still farther from the ruins than I hoped. The well-traveled trip was often much shorter with how often I made it. To cut down on time, I darted up a tree and took the high ground, sending flocks of birds and families of flying fennecs scattering in all directions. Though not a subtle approach, time was of the essence.

"Nysh! What are ya even getting yourself into, Fabri? If… If it was for anyone else…"

I’d never really connected with my mother’s family, her people. Most elves looked down on shared-bloods like me. Still, I made a promise to my mother to never bring an outsider along when visiting the ruins, yet the thought of making an exception crossed my mind during the night. A decoy would have given me the advantage against whatever was running amok, but they definitely wouldn't have lasted long from what I sensed. I'd have to be extra cautious if I ever felt it near again.

For all their petty secrets, hiding an ancient Elvish place like that from outsiders when it had already been ransacked and long forgotten ages ago made no sense to me. Nothing of any worth remained except for a certain something she once showed me slumbering deep within—a secret she wasn't supposed to share. The chances of anyone else knowing the truth were unlikely, though.

"Many have forgotten the truth of the greater lesson, but… a few of us still remain. We know what it really means. It’s my—our family's duty to protect that legacy of what was left behind, the heard and unheard. Soon, you too will understand, but only when you're much older."

"B-but… They don’t trust—They never… They hate… me, and… and I… I HATE them! They’re… They're so… m-mean to me, and always teasing… Th-they even… They whisper about… me. They think I can’t hear them because… because I’m not a… I’m not a real elf. N-not like…"

"Shh… It’s okay. You’re more than any of them could ever hope to be, and a part of two amazing worlds. Plus, you’re my world and your father’s, even when he's busy with his many crafts."

"But they c-call me 'Shorty' and 'Dull Eyes' and… and… o-other names like—"

"And one day, you will prove them all wrong. Do you hear me? You’ll show them where your true strength lies. Your heart is so much bigger than—"

"No! I won't. It’s… It’s not FAIR! Why do I have… to prove…? Why should I do ANYTHING to… to help… them?"

"All of us a chord, my sweet little Fabrienne. I know you can't hate anyone that much. Trust that we all have a role to play in the greater song. Do you need a reminder? Shall we recite it together? Weave your fingers together like this, and…"

"N-no, Momma. I… I understand. Praise the whole song, unbroken."

"Close enough, dear. Remember now, we have to watch over these ruins, and… just maybe… those who don’t understand, too. It's not their fault. You see, there are some who would burn the world for even the slightest chance of—"

That smell!

Smoke rose in the distance.

"Am I too… late? No!"

There was no doubt a fire was burning in the ruins. My mother wasn’t around to fulfill her duty, but I could honor her by protecting her purpose in her stead. I needed to stop whoever was damaging the ruins before they inadvertently destroyed it, too.

I pushed myself harder, taking more risks, and leaping farther between the trees until something shook the forest and I missed the branch I had aimed for.

Crack!

Thwack!

Snap!

Thud!

"Uah!"

I barely caught myself. The first branch I grabbed broke, and I stopped at a lower branch more than halfway down. My pack and quiver fell to the ground, both spilling out from the impact. Whatever made the trees shake came again, then again. An odd vibration rolled through the air, shaking the earth and trees.

"What's capable of…? Is this what Etan warned me about?" If not for the sound of my pounding heart, I might never have recognized the pulsing pattern. "Is this the Harbinger’s heart? Is it… afraid?"

The vibrations intensified, and I held tight as an eerie darkness swept over the forest. Trees came alive as animals fled for safety. The sky looked darkest directly above the ruins and spread outward. For just a moment, the light I saw from Docheo returned with a flash.

"No. I-I won’t… I won’t let you destroy… Nysharra, give me… strength. Please… I can’t fail her. Not here."

The tremors and noise slowly died down, receding with the darkness. Once the swaying trees stabilized, I left my branch and returned to solid ground. Gathering my equipment and patching myself up from the fall was another delay I couldn’t afford, but necessary all the same.

"I’m… I’m trying Momma. I'll… I'll do it… for you."

Whatever caused the forest to tremble in fear had ended, but returning to the treetops risked another fall if the quakes returned. Next time I might not be lucky enough to catch myself.

When I finally stepped into the ruins, a wave of death nearly knocked me on my ass. Something or someone was burning in a raging blaze, and the corpse of a wolfang laid rotting with pieces of bone ripping through its back. Hate and greed lingered in the air.

"Did the Harbinger do all—? The fountain!" It hadn't worked in ages, yet there it was, flowing freely. "Who…? No! It's… It's gone!" My mother's pledge to protect the sword, the promise I made to honor it for her, and the statue's hands were all broken. "Harbinger…" The word was a growl in my throat. My leather armor squeaked from the bulging muscles clenching beneath. "Its life is mine. It'll pay for—"

A light erupted from the southern rim of the ruins, even brighter than the night before, and the sun vanished as darkness swallowed everything else. Tremendous waves of vibrations rolled through the ruins, knocking over loose and damaged structures while making others crumble entirely. Second by second, they grew more violent.

"Yirf! Yirf! Yirf!"

Though difficult to tell from the intensity of the light and thrumming noise, a family of flying fennecs cried out in a nearby building. Finding anything living in the ruins, even rodents like them, was odd. Sticking around as the world fell apart around them was even stranger.

"Shoo! Get out of here!" I ran over to make them leave. "Get to safety!" The mother fennec cowered over two pups in a nest of leaves, but wouldn't move. "Why aren't ya—?" I stopped in my tracks. Everything resonated, but feeling emotional intent this strong from such an animal was a first for me. She was afraid or maybe worried about something like a missing pup. Even she knew family was important, it seemed. "Ya can't stay here. Go!" It refused to listen. "Nysh… Fine. If I find it, I'll keep your pup safe, aye? Now go! Move!" The rodents finally took off. "Stubborn little… I don't have time for this nonsense."

"NO! Thut… up!"

"Someone else? They're still here?"

The light was too intense. I shut my eyes and ran towards the source of trouble sweeping through the ruins.

"Thtop it! Thtop… thmiling!"

"Smiling? Is the Harbinger… taunting them? Is it enjoying this… this terrible—?"

Gong!

A new sound echoed in the distance among the sound of destruction, and I headed right for it.

"M-my hand! My… HAND! Y-you broke it! You broke my—!"

"Get off!"

"What's happening over there? I can only sense… one?"

Gong!

Gng!

The sound of smashing rocks increased, but it didn't follow the same vibrations as before. A fight was still playing out ahead.

"Eeeek!" The fight seemed to pause, and footsteps dashed my way. I couldn't see much thanks to the light blinding everything else, but I sensed the pain of a beaten man and caught the smallest glimpse as he ran past me, crying. "Y-yew… Yew monthtah!"

Monster? No. Harbinger!

With the fight apparently over and the only surviving victim running for his life; the vibrations subsided. The natural calm of the familiar ruins was cautiously returning, but it wouldn't last long when I found the nasty Harbinger and dealt with it. I'd end things permanently before it ever found Docheo.

"B-but I… Why?"

Another survivor? No. I can't sense anybody else ahead. What is this?!

"Please, I need… How else am I supposed to… No. It's not… fair." The voice sounded like they were on the verge of tears. If they really were another survivor, maybe I'd get some answers. "Come on, why won't—?"

"Stop right there! Tell me what happened! What are ya doing here?!" A blurry figure stood in the light that remained, but I couldn't sense anything from them, no matter how hard I tried. "Well? Are ya the one behind all this? Answer me!" It refused, remaining silent. "Ignoring me, are ya? I won’t let—!"

"O-one aft… after another? Bring… it on." Cough! "I…don't c-care… who y-you… You're n-not… You're…" Another what? Harbinger? Nothing the figure said made any sense. I was certain Etan only mentioned one. "Please, just—I don't… I-I need—" The figure fell and landed on the source of light, a pedestal in the broken shell of a building we stood in. "Oof!" It only stayed there a moment, then dropped to the ground. "Th-this… all… your fault."

"My fault?!" I just got here! "Hey! Ya can't go throwing around blame, like… I didn't—! What's wrong with—? Nysh, I can barely see… How?! Why aren't ya resonating?!" The quaking, the panicked heartbeat, it all slowed immensely and took the light with it. Laying on the ground was a kid who had to be clinging to life. Under his body laid the stone sword, but there was no chance someone like him caused all the carnage I'd seen and sensed. "Hey! Wake up, ya hear me?! You're gonna be okay. I'll help ya. I-I can help ya, aye? Just… hold on."

I rushed to the boy and dropped my pack. He looked beaten, bloody, and had a dagger buried in his left hand. Unable to sense any of his pain or injuries, I could only treat the damage I saw.

"What happened to ya? Did the Harbinger do this? Did it steal your resonance? Why are ya even out here? Nysharra, who is this kid? Why didn't his friend try…? Are ya the one who…? No. He can’t be. Look at him. He’s just a broken…"

Tearing off my gloves, I frantically dug through my medical supplies. He was lucky I had more than enough to make a difference. He might actually pull through, thanks to Asa’s teachings.

I knelt beside him, using my canteen to rinse his face and maybe wake him up. There were no major cuts behind the bloody mask, but his arms and hands were another story. Unsure of how bad his eyes were, I tilted his head back and carefully held them open to flush out the remaining blood. Bloodshot and red from the obvious irritation, but otherwise they were fine, a bright…

Blue? They look… They’re just like… hers? The sword! No. I can't forget…

As I grabbed the blade to free it from beneath his body, a jolt ran through me. Being a blacksmith, I knew the creation of an object could imbue it with a strong resonance, but the sheer force of what I felt was almost crippling. The world's Greater Song cried out. Everything came alive around me and joined in a unison I'd never experienced, but not him. He was a void.

How is—Wait! What… is that?

Pressure emanated from somewhere nearby. Something where a wall once stood now shimmered in the air.

No. That's not possible. A… a crack?

Unable to withstand the increasing force spilling out from behind it, I dropped the blade and gasped for breath.

"M-Momma, what was…? What do I… do?" Another deep breath. "I-I can’t… I need…" I looked at the boy again. "He needs a real…" I gently wiped the rest of his face clean. "Focus. One problem at a time. Aye. That's right. I… I can do that. I can do… this." Whoever he was, he couldn't have been much older than Lottie. "Please, ya can't… No. I won't let ya die. Not out here. Not… alone, g-got that? You're safe now, here with… me. Ya have me, aye? That's right. I'll… I'll save ya. I promise."