The Great War: Chapter 15
A game for one
“I don’t know,” Ezra hums. “I don’t mean any disrespect, but… I don’t even know you.”
The heavy pit of disappointment can’t help but drop inside Samuel. He understands the Creationist’s hesitation, and yet…
“What’s it for?” Ezra adds.
Samuel opens his mouth to speak, but his words die in his throat. He doesn’t really know what this is all for, either. Korodon didn’t give him any definitive reason. Find some wizards and bring them to Him, and then somehow “usher in a new Era”. That’s all he really knows.
Besides, he’s not sure how much he should say in front of Ezra’s sister.
So he shakes his head and replies, “Truthfully, I’m still trying to figure that out. But… right now I know I have to find wizards.”
Ishtar bows her head as Ezra fumbles with her hair, licking his lips as his eyes narrow. The tent is completely silent, anxiousness permeating the air.
“I’m not going to stop you from going, Ezie,” Ishtar speaks first.
Ezra shakes his head back at her, even though she can’t see him. “I’m not a fighter or a tactician. I’m a bookkeeper.”
“Maybe you don’t have to fight, then,” Samuel jumps in, trying not to sound too desperate or eager. “There are plenty of other things to do.” Ezra looks back up at him quietly, his eyes full of questions. “Though, I can’t say much here.”
“It’s a good opportunity,” Ishtar adds helpfully.
What about Ishtar? Ma? Pa? Anya? Isaac?
Isaac can’t help but let out a small sigh at Ezra’s thoughts. He understands his hesitation. But it’s okay. He’ll come around to it in the end.
Isaac folds his arms and awkwardly looks up and down the tent-lined road, standing outside his own shelter for seemingly no reason. The noise of thoughts is dim, as many beings have already left to search for work and food in Ica by now. Although he misses the peace and quiet of his meditating. It’s always better when it’s quiet.
He taps his foot impatiently, his own head stirring with ideas and theories. He never means to pry, but it’s so easy to do. Thoughts of Korodon keeps Samuel busy, and he repeats that “poem” so often it’s starting to grate. Isaac has done well to keep his special talent hidden from his new friends. He doesn’t know how well it’d go if he told them he can read their thoughts whenever he wishes.
And yet…
He can’t stop the prince. His determination is clear. At some point, either he will come to Isaac, or Isaac will go to him. If the Spirit of Shadow Himself issued the cryptic list of wizards for the prince to find, then it’s practically useless to fight it.
But he can remain hidden for a little longer. There’s no harm in simply standing by and observing, is there? Samuel doesn’t even know why he’s collecting these wizards in the first place. From what information he’s gathered, Korodon has given him free reign to do whatever he wishes with these wizards, so long as he finds them.
And the wizard who knows everything about you. A small, amused smile tugs at the corners of Isaac’s lips. What an accurate line. The longest, the most vague, and the hardest to solve. For if the wizard can already know everything about a being in an instant, they will surely know of this line as well. Hiding might be hard.
I shouldn’t, he chides himself, and yet his own excitement builds in his chest as a scheme begins to lay itself before him. Paths and paths branch from one another, exploring a wealth of possibilities as his own mind marks out an exciting story. No, a personal challenge.
Of course, the first step of it all is determining whether or not he marches back into the tent and reveals himself.
Ezra ties Ishtar’s braid together with her favorite silver ribbon and lets it fall from his grasp with numb fingers.
The castle in the distance that looms over the island, it always seems so grand and out-of-reach. Now to be suddenly offered the chance to go and meet one of the great Spirits by the prince of the royal family? Obviously, it’s going to make him feel… well, all sorts of things. Nervousness, skepticism, worry. What about his family? What about his new friends and tent-mates?
His gaze strays to the lump of blankets in the back that is currently Anya. She is not doing well, and Isaac really isn’t the right Illusionist to help her through her pain. He doesn’t want to suddenly leave and never return.
I’ll come back, he promises himself. I don’t have to leave forever.
“Okay,” he finally says, “I’ll go. But I’ll want to come back.”
Samuel nods sharply. “Of course.”
Ishtar finally shifts, turning around to give him a hug. “Don’t feel like you have to.”
“Ish, it’s not just you,” Ezra sighs. The two pull away, and Ishtar stares at her little brother with an understanding smile.
“I can look after the two while you’re gone,” Ishtar suggests.
Ezra smiles back at his older sister thankfully. “Thanks.”
And then, in an instant, the three are gone, their thoughts abruptly falling silent. Ishtar steps from the tent and meets Isaac’s gaze.
“They’re gone,” she mutters, awe in her eyes.
Isaac says nothing, pulling a small frown in response.
“Just…” she holds up a hand, fingers curled into a fist before having them explode outwards. Gone, she silently finishes.
Isaac blows a sigh through his nose and shakes his head. “They can afford magic lessons.”
Ishtar stands for a moment, still processing the sight. A single touch from the prince’s guard, and then nothing, all in a blink of an eye.
“You can go back in,” she finally says, turning away. “I’m… going to tell my parents.”
“Good idea.”
He watches her walks across the road and disappear into a nearby tent, then quietly slips back inside his own. Anya is still asleep. Ezra and the royals are, indeed, gone.
One step forward. His game has begun.