The Summoned
The Light Plane: LePaige's Castle.
Elayna sat on the edge of the seat, reflecting on the
Seeker's words of a few days before. People will be hurt, the aged
wizard had warned her. But Paul? How could he have not told her
about that, if he had known it would come to pass?
She sighed sadly, looking at the infirmary bed before
her. The very same one that Asa had occupied before, it now housed
the Seeker's apprentice.
Paul, as near as she or any of the other healers could
tell, was still alive. Barely. His hold on life was so tenuous, it
seemed, that any use of magic - even curative magic - in his vicinity
would destabilize him beyond rescue. The only hope was that Paul
would be able to heal naturally, and once to a certain point, would be
able to survive much-needed healing magic.
Even with as non-formal a training as Elayna had, she knew
that it was a longshot at best. Unaided, Paul would likely not
survive that night. Of course, he had survived three days thus far.
Elayna had hope for him yet, slim though it was.
Elayna heard a slight noise from the other end of the
infirmary - the door opening. She'd heard it enough in the past few
days. The room was nearly empty now, as the casualties as a result of
the attack itself were very low. The few people remaining had been
injured in the destruction of the wizard's tower. And most of them
were faring far better than Paul was.
"I always knew he was strong... for him to have done this
is simply amazing" a slight voice came from Elayna's left. She didn't
have to look to know that Seeker was standing next to her now - she
knew he'd be there.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Elayna whispered quietly, her
eyes still on the apprentice. She hadn't spoken to anyone in the past
few days, having been far too busy trying to heal others in the
infirmary. She supposed the rest of her group had seen Paul - she
knew she'd spotted Leo there earlier. Still, she hadn't been given
the chance to talk to anyone. She wasn't going to pass it up now.
"About Paul?" Seeker seemed to consider this for a
moment. "Because I never saw it, little one. I never knew."
Elayna slowly turned her gaze toward the Seeker, who was
looking at his enfeebled apprentice. "You never knew? But you spoke
to me before the battle - you said people would be hurt...."
Seeker sighed lightly. "Little one, I have spoken of this
to nobody. The others have also assumed that my earlier warnings were
about Paul, and I have thus far not challenged their ideas. I shall
tell you the truth, however. I used my abilities before the battle so
that I might aid by knowing what lied ahead. What I saw in the vision
I had made was... my own death."
There was a moment of silence. "You saw your own death?
Where? How?" Elayna certainly imagined that such a thing was
possible given Seeker's power, but why would one do such a thing?
"I was to die in the battle, focusing the enemy's magical
attacks on myself. It would drain the enemy so they would be unable
to use their magic for some time, and would take away Norax's one
advantage. I would pass away, true, but my time on this world has
come to a close already."
Elayna was shocked. "But that's how Paul... was hurt!
Are you saying he changed...."
Seeker nodded. "My visions are not perfect. They can be
changed. Thalla, the spirit of Banishment, once manipulated the
visions I received and tricked me into leading her to Asa. I don't
think that's what Paul did, however. Instead, he realized what I was
about to do, and changed it. As I had said - he's stronger than I had
believed."
Elayna looked back to Paul. "You were going to give up
your life for him.... Is this what it means to be one of you? Is
that what Planeskeepers do? Sacrifice themselves for the common
good?"
"Oftentimes, that's exactly what we must do. We're taught
never to fight in order to harm, and only fight in order to protect
others. Often, this requires that we put the lives of others before
our own. If we have Named an apprentice, we are glad to go in service
to others. If we have not, it is regrettable, but the right thing
still must be done."
"It seems a poor way to live, knowing that your life is
forfeit the moment you take on an apprentice, and possibly before."
Elayna observed.
Seeker smiled. "It may seem that way - it does to many.
There are those who would not join us for that very reason. Myself, I
find it gratifying that, when I pass on, it will not be in vain. All
my life, I have protected those who have needed it. This may be my
greatest failure - being unable to protect Paul from what should have
been my fate."
Elayna shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude.
I understand, I guess.... You were giving your life up so that Paul
and others wouldn't have to. For you to be killed would be less of a
loss to the world than for Paul to be killed, right?" the child
seemed a bit put off by the discussion.
Seeker merely nodded. "Essentially, yes. He could
replace me - in many ways, he has already surpassed my abilities. I
have lived an important life, a full life protecting others. It is
fitting that it should end the same way."
"So what do you do now? You're still here, and Paul...."
she closed her eyes, not willing to concede defeat on Paul's behalf
yet.
"The exact future that my vision told me has not come to
pass, true. But its meaning is clear to me - my time has passed,
little one."
"I know." Elayna frowned, clearly distraught at the
idea. "You should go, Paul should stay. But still... it's one thing
to say you'll give your life for another, and a different thing to
actually do it. Both you and Paul have demonstrated willingness to do
so. I'm... amazed at you, really." The child looked back up at the
wizened man. "How can you do it?"
Seeker looked back down at her. "It is not easy, but most
of us live by example. Luther, my teacher, gave his life for me and
others. All throughout my own life, I have struggled to live up to
his ideals, much as I suspect Paul attempts to emulate me."
"Luther...." Elayna whispered the name. "You speak of him
occasionally. Your teacher - he did the same for you as you tried to
do for Paul?"
"Yes...." Seeker paused, looking thoughtful. "If you are
willing, I will tell you the story of his end, and the moment I was no
longer an apprentice."
Elayna shifted to a more comfortable position in her
chair. "Yes, please."
"Very well." Seeker began.
Back - Home
Geocities