Sarah fell silent for a moment, and Kalen felt in his chest the burden of the emotions leaking from her soul. The impossible grief which resulted from mourning her own death.
He was prepared for the pain this time, but caught himself wishing he wasn't. He wanted to escape, to lose consciousness. To only wake up again when his heart had been released from the crushing grip of the invisible force currently holding it.
'Did you not know whose lineage he belonged to?' Kalen managed to ask.
Sarah shook her head. 'Not at first. None of the gods of Novarus have white eyes. But later I remembered the Emperor of Athrea does.'
The Emperor? Kalen thought in surprise. Of course! He is also a god, and would stand to gain the most if Novarus was suddenly plunged into chaos. Maybe it even explained why Kalen himself was targeted. The Emperor would never allow a descendant from another lineage to live in Athrea.
Kalen eyed Sarah. He was able to escape death only because Gaea seemed to have chosen him for some reason. But Sarah was so strong. The memories Kalen had seen from her abilities... it was difficult imagining the white eyed descendant could overpower her. Then again, he still knew so little about wielding.
'Was that descendant stronger than you in the end?' Kalen asked.
'Despite his cunning,' Sarah replied. 'we remained evenly matched for a while. I began to understand the patterns in his attacks and without the surprise factor, he no longer had any advantage over me. That's when he mentioned for the first time the name of my sister. He teased me with other information only those within the lineages of the gods of Novarus could have.'
'And that proved there is someone on the inside working against the other gods.' Kalen said.
Sarah nodded. 'It rattled me. I lost my focus and my wielding became unsteady. The realization that the sister I loved so much could be in danger and I had no idea who was behind it... I had never had to face such dread before. It was the one weakness I couldn't hope to overcome.'
When Sarah mentioned her sister, different feelings started to manifest inside Kalen, pushing aside some of the grief. He felt the love, the longing, and also the fear to lose someone. He never had a sibling, but he could understand how much Sarah cared for her sister just based on those feelings.
Sarah tilted her head, staring at the nothingness above them. 'I dedicated my entire life to forging my soul as a powerful wielder who could protect everyone I loved. Who could protect my beliefs. The chance to live in this World given to us all...' She trailed off, then sighed. 'but in the end it was my own weak heart that defeated me.'
Kalen shook his head. 'I don't think loving too much makes your heart weak, Sarah. It's quite the opposite. You were only ever that strong because of it.'
Sarah turned toward him for a moment, then her gaze moved to an undefined point in the mind space. Finally, she let a smile return to her lips. 'Thank you, Kalen. I don't know how your parents accomplished that feat, but they raised an impossibly smart and sensitive young man.'
'It was nightmarish at times.' Kalen said, shrugging. 'They never learned their son wasn't supposed to hear about their intimacies.'
Sarah chuckled. 'I would like to meet them someday.'
'You will.' Kalen replied. 'Hopefully as soon as we find a way to return to Athrea.'
They remained quiet for a few moments, both adjusting to Sarah's new feelings after the catharsis generated by having talked about her death.
Inside his mind space, Kalen could feel the strong link he had with Gaea, and he could also sense his link with Sarah strengthening each time they shared memories. It resembled the sensation of discovering a new path in a location you always visited. As if the World grew bigger while you had your eyes closed.
He focused on their link, and something caught his attention. There was a third source in his mind space. It was faint, almost indistinguishable, but its different signature became more pronounced once his link with Sarah expanded greatly.
The source felt somewhat... familiar. There was a comfort in sensing its existence. He reached for it, focused on the mind tunnel connecting to the source, but couldn't stretch the construct no matter how much he tried.
That's odd, Kalen thought, it's like it's there and it's not at the same time.
Kalen considered asking Sarah, but then something else popped up in his mind.
'Sarah,' He said. 'If you fought the white eyed descendant in the north of the continent. How did you leave your amulet here in the south?'
'As a last resort,' Sarah said. 'I tried to escape through the irregular gate. But my wounds were already fatal and I couldn't survive long after that.'
'So that gate sent you to the cave as well?' Kalen asked.
Sarah nodded. 'It surprised me too. Do you remember that I mentioned I also had a link with someone, just like you created with me?'
Kalen nodded.
'I found his ring in the cave,' Sarah continued. 'In the same fissure I left my amulet. He was the one that instructed me on how to anchor my soul. My theory is, because I spent so much time in the cave wielding, and then later created a soul link when inside it. A similar anchor to my soul was somehow created in there. And that must be how to navigate irregular gates.'
Kalen frowned, placing his hands over his head. 'The metaphysical implications in all of this is making my head hurt.'
Sarah chuckled. 'Welcome to the World of wielding anima.'
Accepting his need to reconstruct most ideas he held about mind and matter, Kalen found Sarah's theory making some sense after analyzing what he had learned so far. But if that was the case..
'Ok,' Kalen said, standing up and walking through the mind space. 'Assuming we go by your theory. It doesn't explain how I was sent there.'
'I admit I can't exactly explain that.' Sarah replied. 'My theory might as well be wrong for all I know, but it doesn't change the fact Gaea has been guiding you your entire life. You being sent to the cave... I think it was Gaea.'
'You think Gaea wanted me to find you?' He asked.
Sarah nodded. 'I didn't know what to expect when I anchored my soul to the amulet, but Gaea led you to me. A lost descendant with tremendous talent that is somehow connected to everything. I don't believe that was a coincidence.'
Kalen considered Sarah's words. Could that really be the explanation? Why was he so important Gaea would go through such lengths to guide and protect him? He still struggled with the idea nature could have a will of its own, let alone accept he had a crucial part to play in its plans.
'Please, Kalen,' Sarah said, staring intently at him. 'Help me protect my sister and stop the destruction of everything I fought for.'
He took a deep breath, gazing at the infinite white horizon of his mind. 'I almost died. Those I love are on the other side of the ocean and I have no idea if they are safe. Now I am in the middle of a conflict between the most powerful beings in this World.'
Kalen paused, searching for the right words. Then he saw Sarah lowering her violet eyes, a sorrowful expression in her face. 'But I understand what wanting to protect means.' He said. 'I am now a part of this whether I like it or not, and I need to become a wielder strong enough to keep the people important to me safe, otherwise I'll never be able to go back to them.
'I'll help you, Sarah. We'll stop them, together.'
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