Chapter 38: Aether (Patreon)

After my discussion with Deluge, I sit through my astronomy class realizing my midterms will start next week. The dates caught up to me with a surprising speed, but with my reinvigorated will, I’ll drag through study sessions with either Joan or Sophia. I doubt any school material escapes their culminated knowledge as both prove intelligent..

Whenever I reach my soul forging class, Alastair walks up to me as I arrived early fearing his scolding. He says with a knowing glare, “Now I would never accuse a star student of any wrongdoing, but...”

I meet his gaze as I say, “I’m sorry for breaking the golem. It snapped into chaos for some reason. I don’t understand it.”

He squints his eyes while frowning as he says, “You broke it? What?”

I pop my index finger as I say, “I fought it.”

A scoff escapes his lips before he says, “That’s impossible.”

I raise an eyebrow as I say, “That’s rather narrow minded don’t you think?”

He crosses his arms as he says, “It's realistic.”

I open a palm towards him as I say, “Regardless, I broke the golem. Is there something I can do to recover the loss?”

An instant grin forms on his lips as he says, “Now that you mention it, I heard from particular source that you have a talent with souls. I actually want your help with something if you wouldn’t mind.”

I frown as I say, “What did Sophia tell you?”

He shrugs as he says, “Only what I could squeeze out of her. The fact you both destroyed a golem worth 50 gold doesn’t help the situation.”

I cringe before Alastair continues, “I will pay for its replacement, but I just want you to show me your ability to store and manipulate souls.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as I say, “Please tell me that’s all she said.”

He meets my gaze saying with a sober air, “That’s all Sophia told me. She also said you fought the golem as well, but she’s always had a way of seeing the improbable.”

My shoulders slacken as I say, “That’s reassuring. I can show the ability right now if you’d like. I’d rather just get this over with.”

He claps his hands in front of his chest saying, “If you’ll so kindly offer, then I’ll accept. I have several loaded gems in the back. Will those do?”

I shrug my shoulders saying, “Why not.”

As we walk towards the back, Alastair walks beside the enormous tree golem hunched against the wall comprised of pitch black stone intermingled with white glints. He says with a tone of wonder and greed, “First off, could you manipulate the soul locking this golem?”

My mind snaps into rapid thought. This golem may prove a grand ally or an apocalyptic foe, but honestly, the tree will likely just lay there. I doubt a tree will want to move much. If something chaotic occurs, I’ll just handle the golem as I did the last one.

This entity sat here for centuries, and the magician that stored him may contain a plethora of useful information as well. I ask Deluge, “Can I see the aura’s of souls?”

Deluge says, “Of course. You can manipulate souls just as I do, you simply chose not to try.”

I place a hand on my chin as I think, “Mind explaining how?”

He says with his impatient bluntness bludgeoning through his words, “It’s as simple as breathing. Instead of looking at the appearance of the creature, gaze at what it is.”

I stare at the thrall, but I still find a nine foot golem laying against the wall. Deluge snaps, “Stop looking at what you believe the golem is. Look at it for what it is. Simple. Stop being an idiot.”

I quell my urge to roll my eyes as I close my eyes sighing. I relax my shoulders and fists. I void my thoughts, and as I do so, an aura leaks from the golem and alistair. A blue, placid bloom ebbs from the golem, though its restrained by a vicious purple. That must be the magician.

Alistair's red aura boils with an obvious anticipation as I jaunt up to the golem where I place my hand on the alexandrite at the center of its chest. This golem’s peaceful nature implies no reason for keeping it chained, so I ask Deluge, “Will you consolidate the magician's soul? This golem could prove a worthy ally for our goals.”

Deluge snaps leaking greed from his voice, “Of course.”

He draws the soul of the magician into his subconscious jerking the spirit before the ancient magician may retaliate. The oppressive miasma surrounding the golem dissipates as the body of the creature shifts together more firmly. The stone’s once stary surface disappears as an absolute void of black covers the surface of its stony body.

The void absorbs light from the nearby area soaking the air near the construct in a fluid shadow that shifts as it moves. Smooth, blue patterns crawl from the alexandrite slab in its chest illuminating with an aura that glows like blue coals in a fireplace. The blue runes reaches its ruby eyes turning the red gems a glowing purple from the fiery red.

Alastair rasps, “What in the hell did you do?”

I look at him raising an eyebrow as I say, “I absorbed the soul of the magician.”

His eyes open wide as he gasps, “You...you...”

He falls into silence before the golem lifts its right arm peering at its limb while clenching and relaxing its fist. After observing its limb, it looks at me saying in a deep, serene voice that echoes through my bones and skin, “Did you free me?”

So the golem already acts far more than I reasoned. Interesting. I reply while opening my palm towards the creature, “Yes, I removed your shackles.”

The construct looks at its hands then back at me. It says with a slow and excessive pronunciation of its words, “Thank you...This place has never seen the cycles of the sun and moon. Not even a single breeze grazed me since I have been here.”

It meets my gaze as it says in its metallic tones, “Please help me again to escape.”

I reply with a grin, “If you wish to, but would you mind sharing your name first?”

The huge golem stands up without a sound emitting from its joints, but the dull booms its meager steps produce incite an awe at its weight and strength. It says, “I am a golem from what your kind has called me, so call me golem.”

I reply while placing my hand on my chin, “We use the word golem rather frequently. There’d be frequent confusion if we used that name unfortunately.”

The being looks down as it says with a surprising sadness, “Then call me what you wish. I am only a tree forced into this body. There must be a name that suits me.”

The hint of desperation in his voice inspires my words as I say, “You were once a living monolith that pierced the clouds. Did you enjoy soaring in the sky wafting in the aether of this world?”

The golem lifts its head staring with its glowing, lavender eyes as it says, “Those times were of peace and the sun. I remember eons of light. The air was thin there. I felt the pull of the earth as it spun dragging my body along its rotation. My children gave me strength. I remember those millennia fondly. ”

He felt the pull of the earth's rotation. How massive must he have been? I quell my thoughts as I reply while raising my arms to my side, “Then how would you like the name Aether as a reminder of your times spent in it?”

Aether looks to a wall for a moment before he meets my gaze again saying, “I enjoy the name. Thank you human. What is your name?”

I put my hand on my chest as I tilt my head sideways saying, “I go by the name Jack Donovan. Jack will do nicely however.”

The golem says with penetrating sincerity, “You ceased my imprisonment and gave me a name with energy like water and substance like earth...Thank you Jack.”

I redden at his absolute honesty. He speaks with a closeness like loving family members even though we comprehend very little about each other. I reply stumbling on my words, “Think nothing of it.”

As I avert the golem’s gaze towards Alastair, he peers between me and Aether with a level of shock defying comprehension. His jaw nearly unhinges as he gapes with his eyes opened beyond what I believed possible. Literal drool falls from his mouth as the sight overwhelms him.

I say to Aether, “Would you be willing to wait here for a while longer before you leave?”

The golem says, “I have waited thousands of years. What is another human’s lifetime of waiting?”

I shake my hand saying, “I was thinking more like several hours.”

Aether asks, “What is an hour? Is it less than a year?”

The golem’s perception of time baffles me. I wonder what each second must feel like for him. It must experience time differently. I reply after my initial shock with a smile, “Much less.”

Aether loses tension in his legs before he lands on the ground resonating a sharp crack from the floor crushing under his weight. Shards of splintered rock jut into the air around the golem’s landing spot while the shade around the golem shifts with its movements. I stumble as a small earthquake resonates while Alastair falls down on his back.

He heaves for breath with a near frenzied panic, so I say to Aether, “I will show you the outside later. It was a pleasure speaking with you Aether.”

The golem looks forward then back at me saying, “I enjoyed our speaking as well...Goodbye Jack.”

I jot up to Alastair saying, “It’s just a tree golem. I’ve faced far more fearsome foes.”

My words snap him from his stupor as he shakes his head while blinking several times. I offer him a hand, and he grabs it saying, “I believe you about fighting the golem now.”

I pull him up as I say, “Let’s just say I have a penchant for trouble.”

We walk out into the empty classroom where Alistair says, “I didn’t expect you to free it so...easily.”

I shrug as I say, “It’s not like I can control it. Regardless of my capacity, when do you wish to walk it outside?”

He snaps while grimacing, “What? We aren’t taking that thing outside.”

I squint my eyes as I say, “It just wants to feel outside. That’s fine. Let it.”

Alastair’s shoulders relax as he says shaking his head, “You act like it’s a person. This is just a golem Jack. The most powerful one ever formed to be precise. It could kill every person on earth.”

I respond with steel in my voice, “I’ve known a monster of the same caliber, yet he became my closest friend. Who are we to imprison Aether any longer?”

Alastair snaps, “We are sane human beings who act with caution. We should study this thing-”

I howl, “It’s name is Aether. Not thing.”

Alastair steps backwards for a moment, so I avert his widened eyes as I say, “I’m sorry. I...I just know what it’s like to be a lonely anomaly. The golem only wants to go outside. Do you fear it so thoroughly that you won’t even fulfill such a simple desire?”

Alastair sighs as his shoulders relax before he says, “When we purify the souls of animals, we take away the portions of their mind that will make the golems unstable or make the elemental powers of the gemchains unpredictable. It is a necessary evil.”

He opens his palms saying, “That process was never performed on this golem. It is made of materials we know nothing of, with energies and rituals we know nothing of, and it isn’t even an animal I can understand. It’s a tree. It’s a hazard for every living creature within its 100 mile radius.”

My voice hardens and my gaze crystallizes as I say, “You know, I believe you would say the same for me.”

Alistair shakes his head before he says, “What? You’re a star student. You broke the golem sure, but you’re no walking calamity like, uh, Aether is.”

I lift my hands staring at each of them as I say, “You see these hands. I crushed the golem with just these weapons.” I gaze at him as I continue, “How many people do you think I could kill before I was stopped by a squadron of gemchainers?”

He snaps reddening as he shouts, “I know you well enough to see you’re not a murderer. You would never do that.”

I shout back, “You gave me the chance to prove my intentions, so why won’t you give the same chance for Aether? What makes he and I so different?”

Alastair averts my gaze before I continue, “You heard him. Aether is sentient. He has his own wants and desires just like you and I, and he only harbours the potential for harm. He has done nothing wrong since his inception thousands of years ago.”

Alastair says, “But his potential for harm is greater.”

I roll my eyes as I say, “so is a city’s, but you don’t see kingdoms eliminating towns out of fear of their potential.”

Alastair begins saying while dragging his hand across his face, “We-” but before he can finish, a student walks through the doors. He cuts his reply short as he says, “Let’s discuss it after class.”

After the worst lecture Alastair has ever given, we continue our conversation with him saying, “Alright. When do you want to take Aether outside?”

I raise an eyebrow as I say, “What changed your mind?”

He shrugs saying, “We couldn’t restrain him in here either way if he decided to leave one day. The enormous shards of rocks jutting around his sitting position also paint a peculiar picture. Taking him outside just makes sense.”

I frown while placing a hand on my chin. After a moment's thought, I say,

“Yeah. I guess the philosophical and practical approaches agree with one another in this instance. I think the best time for taking Aether out would be tonight. Either of us can do it, but Aether trusts me. I also have a pool of experience to draw from when attempting the insane.”

Alastair nods his head saying, “I’ll inform Sophia about the event. I’ll see if we can’t work out some sort of scheme for handling this unknown.”

I turn around with a wave saying, “thank you for your understanding Alastair. It shows a lot of maturity.”

He grins while notching up his glasses as he says, “Or a lack of it. See you next class Jack. Make sure to memorize the elemental configurations for your test.”

I walk off saying, “Sure thing.”

As I pace over to the GC, I trek through an alternate route exploring a slice of campus. I discover an ornate, well organized park at the center of campus, yet few students jot through its winding trees and walkways.Students must spend the vast majority of their free time wasting their parent’s money in the town below Mareovosa.

As I frown at the spiteful thought, I walk through the GC’s doors noticing their lightness. Deluge’s alterations slowed in pace, but the consistency of his project builds eventual changes. I hope Joan doesn’t mind a gray skinned, 7 foot, and 2000 pound hulk as a boyfriend.

At least whenever Joan sees me as I walk in, the beaming grin she graces me eliminates the concern for now. As I walk up to her, she bounces over to me until we hug one another. I say, “It’s good to see you once more my siren.”

She smirks as she says, “Stay steady their sailor. You haven’t even heard about the training I have planned today.”

I interlock my hand around hers engulfing her petite hands with my enormous grips as I say, “I know there's at least one aspect I’ll enjoy.”

She raises an eyebrow as she says, “Ever the smooth talker I see. Let’s see how far your words get you through today's exercise.”

We practice an assortment of reflex training exercises where she throws daggers at me much the same way Petra did her. I learn with a feverish pace as I lock my eyes onto her wrist as she throws them.

They fly through the air with such speed that they blur preventing me from dodging after their thrown. I must predict their trajectory before then, else I end up with another gash in my thigh.

Joan exercises caution however. She never throws near my neck or major arteries unlike Petra, and she ramps up her tossing power with a steady and predictable increase allowing me to adjust accordingly.

She teaches me how to throw knives as well, but I struggle holding back my strength. The daggers either dig their full lengths into the scratched wood behind her, or I destroy the dagger by snapping the handle sending two metal projectiles jumping through the air.

After snapping three daggers in a row, I swap to wooden balls, but I throw the missiles with such speed that the ball would leave a dent in Joan’s skull. However, she dodges with a fluid, natural elegance as if dancing through her motions.

She never generates a wasted movement, and as she flows through each maneuver, she ties her techniques preventing even the smallest error. After several minutes of the exercise, my pace for throwing the balls increases until one shatters against the wall flinging a projectile piercing her skin.

She stumbles for a moment on a single foot, but I charge towards her using my arm as a prop against the wall. She grabs me before she shakes her head saying, “Wow that hurt.”

I cringe as I say, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean-”

She smiles saying, “I’m no damsel in distress. I’ve gotten far worse injuries from Petra’s capable hands.”

After seeing Petra’s training methods, I nod my head saying as I remove my arm from against the wall, “Fair enough.”

She presses her hand against my chest as she says, “The thoughts nice however.”

I enclose my hand around hers saying, “Come on, let’s go bandage your wounds.”

After I repair her injuries, we end our training session, and we enjoy a two hour study session before my brain fries from absorbing too much material. I sneak her a kiss before I leave the building, and I trot outwards with the vitality of fresh love as I pace with a skip in each step.

As I walk towards the soul forge, I worry over my actions dampening my mood. My absence of control over my strength left Joan injured. While no tragedy occurred from my mistake, the incident omens future problems if I neglect mastering my new, now monstrous form.

I enter the forge before I pass through the caged classroom noticing the sound of boulders crunching against one another. As I arrive at the back room, Alastair orders golems for repairing the floor. His utter absorption with the task sparks a mischievous idea, so I sneak behind him using the sounds of clashing rocks to disguise my movements.

Whenever I skulk behind him, I shout, “Bah!” As I poke his ribs. He jerks his right elbow behind him with a smooth attack as he turns around, but I duck underneath his blow before he shouts, “Who’s there!”

I meet his gaze from a crouch saying, “That was a practiced blow for someone who never attempted any fighting.”

He raises an eyebrow as he says, “Well that was a smooth dodge for someone new to the craft.”

I stand up shrugging as I say, “Well I have been enduring training sessions with Joan and Petra.”

He grimaces as he says, “Ah. I heard nasty tales of what Petra does to new recruits.”

I juggle my hands saying, “She’s effective at least.”

He tilts his head saying, “Effective at breaking their will to fight. You have to show fun and engaging parts of a craft before you can show its darker side. You end up with only two disciples like Petra otherwise.”

I shrug as I say, “She also trains the two best fighters at the most prestigious academy known.”

Alastair smirks leaning towards me while pointing his index finger towards the ceiling as he says, “I’ll give you a comparison. I tutor over eighty students, but I also train the two best soul forgers in this academy.”

He wears his expression with the distinct satisfaction of someone who loves their craft and succeeds at it as he says, “The difference is 78 soul forgers who are talented and passionate about their craft versus the zero students that Petra trains.”

As I nod while squinting my eyes in agreement, he lowers his hand gesturing me towards a side room behind several dormant golems. The stale air transforms into a repressed shade as Aether appears standing while staring out a single missing brick in the wall.

The orange light of the sunset complements his lilac rubies and blue runes, and as he stares at the sun, the atmosphere around him generates a wholesome fullness as if everything were right in this world. As we walk up, he remains gazing at the brightest star shining in our sky. I say,

“Once the sun sets, you’ll be able to go outside. You may not feel the vibrance of the sun, but perhaps the star’s shine may satiate your yearning.”

After several seconds, Aether gazes towards me saying, “I enjoy your usage of your language. You describe concepts...beautifully.”

The blunt compliment crashes against me, so I avert his gaze saying, “Well, I, uh...”

Aether says, “You do not have to respond. I merely shared my thoughts. If that makes you uncomfortable, then I shall stop.”

I shake my hands saying, “No, no. It was just sudden.”

After a moment of silence, Alastair chimes, “Aether sounds like earthquakes when he moves, so we will need someway to lessen his sound whenever he leaves. I tried getting two golems to lift his weight, and he even tried stepping slowly. None of that mattered in the end.”

After a few seconds of thought, I nod my head as grinning as I say, “I think I’ve found our way out.”

After several minutes of furious debate, Alastair agrees, so I stand on the roof of the GC five minutes later. I walk towards the edge of the five story building.

I bite my lip as I contemplate my scheme. My plan involves faking a suicide attempt so that I can absorb the campus’s attention. At the height of my display, Aether will run out of the soul forge booming his steps as I leap from the roof. I silence all thoughts of doubt by thundering a single thought through my mind - The plan’s foolproof.

Worse plans have worked for me in the past, and my reputations already beyond belief. Why not add another feat to the list? Besides, a lack of confidence ruins far more plans then any amount of worrying helps them succeed.

As I gaze over the edge, no fear assails my frame. My body will handle the fall without any problems. People’s attention proves a far more fearsome foe. The idea of having dozens of people stare at my melodramatic performance kills me on the inside like salty razor blades slicing through my skin.

Despite my experience with unpleasantness, it still takes several agonizing moments to build my courage to overcome my stage fright. Somehow, I overcome the sensation as I howl, “This world is but a curse. I aim to end it all!”

Several students already stare at me as I fumble my fingers on the rooftop. Squeezing my hand into a fist, I hit my forehead several times before I muster up the courage to shout, “This world’s against me! Everyday is torment!”

Dozens of students bunch up underneath me whispering within seconds of my foolish display. Insects composed of shame and humiliation crawl across my skin as my face reddens, but I swallow my embarrassment as I shout,

“My life wades in the eternal ebb and flow of oblivion. My mind fights against demons of brutish bane...” I falter at the ridiculousness of my own words before I bolster my drive. I continue, “I simply cannot sustain through my anguish for a moment longer.”

Far worse than the entire crowd, Antoinnette shoves through the circle of students staring at me with disbelief. She shouts in her ignorance, “You would throw it all away after having fought so hard to live!”

Her words offer an explosive kindle for my flames of humiliation. Her words even resonate with truth. My suicide would definitely throw away all of my efforts so far. Despite these musings, I say, “You know nothing of my suffering!”

She shouts back with a voice flowing with compassion, “I may not know just how much harder you’ve had it, but I know just how much stronger you are than me! You’re like a mountain. You don’t wilt. You don’t break. You can live!”

Her words form a burning pain in my throat. She speaks with a sincere kindness, and I don’t know how to handle it. I grate my words as I shout, “Why did you have to be here.”

She opens her arms shouting, “Because you were there for me. I remember that night with the fassars. You still save me even in my nightmares just like you did then. If you can’t live for yourself, then live for the people you’ve saved!”

The complete and utter shame assailing me multiplies as the situation spirals out of control. This whole incident expanded beyond my wildest expectations. She faces this situation with a life or death fervor. She’s ignorant of my near physical immunity to harm, and I manipulate her words for my gain. What I am doing is filthy.

As the situation overwhelms my endurance, I roar the signal Alistair and I agreed upon before I left, “I become death, the destroyer of worlds.”

I step off the ledge as levity leaves me. After two seconds of acceleration, I land on the ground quaking the earth. I crouch into a lunging position with my left hand punching the earth. The urge for redemption crushed my rational thought, so I countered my idiocy on the roof with an epic pose as I landed. At least that’s the theory.

I stand from my pose as I brush off some dirt from my shoulders before Antoinnette runs up hugging me as she cries. She says, “What’s wrong with you. I don’t understand. I...”

I place my hand on her head as I say, “It’s alright. I’ll explain later. I’m sorry about this.”

The crowd of students stare with a mixture of awe and even disgust. Suicide’s a serious problem, so using a fake attempt for attention turns many against me. Many believe I used a gemchain when I landed, so the loathing outweighs the awe.

Unfortunately, Without such extreme measures being taken, I doubt my ability for Aether’s escape.I’ve lived as a slave. I understand the oppression of being caged. If I must tarnish my butchered reputation further for Aether’s liberation, then I accept such a price with a broad grin across my face.

Guilt presses against my chest at Antoinette's tears though. Her honest involvement blemished the otherwise harmless display, but with some thought and action from my end, I will repay Antoinette for her kindness here.

I say, “I must leave Antoinette. We’ll talk about this at my next tutor session, and your words were touching. I thank you for them.”

As I nudge her away with a gentle press, she lets go of me whimpering, “Alright...Please don’t do this again.”

I grin as I say, “I’ll let you know before I do next time.”

I rip my back foot from the small crater before I dash from the semicircle of students. I contort and squirm past several students as I do so, and the awkward maneuvering prevents me from tackling anyone through the air.

As I sprint in a straight line, I accelerate as my feet tear through the ground and my shoes. As I near a wall of bushes, I torque my body by stomping my foot against the ground forcing me into the brush. After I slide through several alleyways and patches of trees, I walk with a casual nonchalance as I pass through the campus.

Darkness envelops the campus as I escape any pursuers, so I reach the dorm ready for sleep. After entering the room, I find Luke in the dorm room moving his uncasted arm by flicking his wrist as he props a book on his casted arm. I raise an eyebrow as I say, “What’re you reading?”

He meets my gaze with hard eyes as he says, “I see you want to talk with me now. What was wrong with this morning?”

Damn you Deluge. My mind races as I fumble for an excuse, but Deluge says in my mind, “You were sleepwalking.”

I wince as I say the terrible excuse, “I have a problem with sleep walking...I didn’t want to tell you about it. I’ve had an exceptional case since I was born.”

He raises his eyebrows as his eyes deaden when he says in a tone flowing with skepticism, “How can you talk while sleep walking?”

My mind pops with clarity under the pressure as I say, “Have you ever been sleeping and heard the voices of people around you?”

He squints as he says, “Yeah.”

I open my palms as I say, “It feels like that whenever I’m sleepwalking. I respond with a sort of dullness and the thoughtlessness that you experience in dreams. It’s a problematic disorder to say the least.”

He leans towards me as I meet his eyes sweating down my sides. He says after a few seconds of intense scrutiny, “Alright. I could see that. My cousin Dane has the same problem, though he isn’t quite so...animated when he’s doing it.”

I restrain the visible signs of relief from showing as I say, “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard of someone else having the same problem. How did he handle it?”

He replies and we chat about our days before I lay in the bed ready for sleep. I think to Deluge, “Have you learned anything from the magician?”

Deluge says , “Hah, after thousands of years of holding Aether against his will, the soul only rambles madness. Pieces of his ramblings make sense, but none of it relates to our current strife. I shall inform you if he says anything pertinent.”

I close my eyes sifting into slumber as I say, “Alright then. If you decide to meet Aether, please try to avoid enraging him with your wit.”

“Hah, no promises.”