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Chapter Four:
Three Elements Choose Marium
Back outside, Marium was
listening intently to Cadillac's ramblings. "Cadillac, I'm sure I'll be
fine. Just tell me what to do and I'll try my best."
The short mage studied
her with a teacher's eye, then nodded. "I suppose I'm being overly
cautious, but as I am taking you as my pupil, you are my responsiblity. Just as
the people of this world are Altaire's and your responsiblity."
Marium nodded slightly,
unsure. Cadillac pointed a finger to the sky and called out words in a tongue
Marium had never heard before. The energy and light swirled around her,
accepting her, or pushing her spirit away. First, a wave of water surged into
her soul, urging her to become one with it. Then, another element trembled
forth from the ground itself to her spirit, wanting her soul to bear it as
well. A third energy, black and oppressing caressed her gently, lulling her to
accept it... black, darkness, cold.. everything deep within her...
Another element was
starting toward her, but her heart couldn't take in anymore power...
"AIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"
"Enough! Three is
too much! No more!!!" Cadillac commanded, as if speaking to nature itself.
He knelt next to Marium. She was shaking like a leaf, and he put out his hand
to sooth her. His earlier prejudice of her was gone, she was like him. Alone,
scared of the Jinju... guru or not, she was a kindred spirit to him.
Jonah and Altaire were
watching in surprise from the window. "Wow. The Master Mage's taken a
fondness to the Priestess, eh? Already, and just a moment ago they were arguing
like there was no tomorrow."
Altaire stared out
through the glass at the girl whose spirit was desired by all the elements, but
she could only handle three. Maybe she would grow and be able to take on more.
"Are you okay, Marium?
I'm sorry, I didn't realize what risk I put you in." Cadillac said,
helping Marium to her feet. She sensed that he was truly ashamed, and just
shook her head. Her voice was quiter than before, more... mature, even.
"I forgive you,
Cadillac. I'm sorry too. Physical size has nothing to do with the strength of
heart and soul within. You have both," she said, with a quick smile. They
went into the house and were met by the two men that were standing close to the
window. "Peeping toms. What do you think you're doing?"
"Um, uh... I wanted
to show the designs for your weapon to the Master mage!" Jonah quickly
thought up the excuse. "Altaire thought that this would be the best,
Cadillac."
"Hm.. very well,
indeed. But-" the small squirrel mage traced a small image over the
picture of her weapon. The image altered the drawing slightly. "This would
be even better."
Jonah nodded in
admiration. "I didn't know you were such a great weapon designer, Cad, or
I would've asked you sooner!"
Altaire watched as Marium
slowly moved over toward the bed to rest. Her feet stumbled from her
exhaustion, and she put her hands out to stop herself from falling. He moved
quickly across the room and caught her hands, and she regained her balance.
This happened so fast that Cadillac and Jonah didn't notice until Altaire had
gotten Marium onto the bed safely. He made an attempt at a smile, but it was
barely visible on his lips.
"I know you're
smiling, Altaire. It's okay, I feel the same way." she murmured, almost
inaudibly. She was asleep in a heartbeat, and Altaire went back over to his
spot next to Jonah and Cadillac.
"She's your kindred
spirit, Altaire. Don't be so surprised." Jonah stated, smirking over his
design of the weapon. Altaire blinked once.
There’re those words
again. Kindred spirits. Could she be kindred spirits with me and Altaire? No...
of course not. She's the High Priestess, what am I thinking? Cadillac thought,
appearing to be extremely interested in what Jonah was saying.
Night came quickly, and
Marium was still asleep. Cadillac and the others were worried, but it should be
expected. She'd been exhausted earlier, and would probably sleep throughout the
night.
"We should get some
rest, too. We'll have a lot to do tomorrow." Jonah stated, finally. It was
late and Marium showed no signs of waking up. Altaire glanced up from the girl
to the weaponsmith and Master Mage.
"Go to sleep
whenever you're ready to, Altaire. No rush. Just remember that we will be busy,
just as Jonah said." Cadillac stood and stretched his small body.
"I'm glad that we decided to keep the extra bed, just in case. It'll come
in handy while she's here."
Altaire continued to
watch Marium well after the mage and pharle were asleep. He had feelings he
couldn't sort out... emotions he'd never had to feel before.
Sitting there, watching
over her then, she seemed so peaceful, and serene. He felt like he knew her...
he was the embodiment of the god Yang, and if the legends were true, she was
his opposite, the embodiment of the goddess Yin.
Marium stirred and
yawned. Her eyes met his groggily, and she smiled up at him. "Altaire, why
are you up? How late is it?"
"Oh, well, I slept
that long? Wow." she blushed. He gazed at her in silent admiration.
"The elements all wanted a part of me. First was water, then earth... and
another one. It was dark... haunting... I don't know if I want to use that
power much. It's frightening."
He placed a hand on her
shoulder and willed her to understand that that power was part of her now. It
wouldn't help to be afraid of it. She would have to try to harness it. It might
be her most helpful elemental trait.
"I know. But... I
can't... I won't use it! I won't!" she sat stubbornly, cross legged on the
bed. He shook his head and smiled at her from deep inside. "You... You're
laughing at me."
Altaire cocked his head
to the side and just gazed at her for a few moments. "I'm not beautiful.
I'm annoying and stubborn. You barely know me, when you finally do, you'll wish
you didn't."
He just continued to
watch her face for minutes at a time. She blushed furiously. "Kindred
spirits..? Who told you that? Cadillac? That little squirrel. I thought I
finally understood him... What..? Of course I like him. I don't really know him
all too well, but we seem to be close already.
"No, not that kind
of close. Just... like you put it. Kindred spirits. I'm glad he stopped the
spirits of the elements before they tore me to pieces. I suppose I can't be
mean to him any longer. Oh, I didn't mean that kind of mean. Just teasing kind
of mean. I was joking with him. He's really not all that bad."
Altaire wondered how she
could tell what he wanted to say. They were so in tune with one another that
they didn't need words. But she obviously favored words to thoughts.
"You look tired,
Altaire. You should get some sleep. Of course I'll sleep too. I'm a little
tired still."
'Good night, Marium.'
"Sweet dreams,
Altaire."