Disclaimer: All characters copyright of Lego. At some point in future.
Chapter Three: Contemplations
"When's the wedding, hero?" Elurin sat up, blinking sleep out of her eyes, as her sister looked at herself in the reflective rock.
"What wedding?"
"The one between you and Chedrik."
Lariska paused, and looked at her reflection. Staring out at her was a weary, paranoid face, one that felt it should belong to a warrior, and was entirely out of place here as a farmer. The one that practiced hard and watched the horizon. The ultimate guardian, haggardly eliminating threats before they even threatened. The one that she felt she should be.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the face changed. It was still intent, still brave, but now… now it was noble. Now it seemed invincible. Now it seemed as though it could take in the world with one hand. Now it was as powerful as anyone could hope to be. Now, it was a hero.
Suddenly, it shifted again. Here was a beautiful woman, easily able to defeat anything you could think of, and yet she was not taken. Here she was, in the prime of her life, and yet she was… empty. Purposeless. Perhaps she needed a purpose?
"Lariska? Did you hear me?"
"Hmm?" Lariska snapped out of her trance. "Oh, sorry. I don't think we'll be getting married anytime soon though. He hasn't asked me."
"You could ask him."
Lariska cocked her head. "Nah. He's too busy. Besides, who's going to keep Conjurer away from you if I do?"
"Hey! Conjurer is a perfect gentleman!"
---And here she stood. Behind her, a maze of huts, some cropland, and the canyons. In front of her, a desolate beach, a sea, and the horizon.
There were clouds. It looked like they might be here tonight.
She stared at the barrier.
It did nothing.
She suddenly leapt sideways in a swirling move, never taking her eyes off the horizon. She did a back flip, which landed in a crouch that metamorphosed into a pounce. Her arms made a quick jab outwards each then a combined upward thrust. She spun a kick, make three and a half revolutions. All this, she did quietly, intently, and within five seconds.
The yellow one walked up, clapping softly. "A cunning eye and a well-trained body. Well done, Lariska."
"I knew you were there all along," she said, annoyed that this creature had walked in on her practice.
"I know you knew. I saw you shift your weight in the crouch. You were preparing for another back flip. Why?"
"Let's just say I don't trust your comrade." They both knew who she meant.
The yellow one sighed, and sat down with her. "He is a tad troublesome. Can never quite take orders. How is it, though, you can perform those maneuvers?"
"Training."
"Indeed. You seem to have a lot more training then any of the guards."
Lariska glared at him. He remained gazing quietly at the horizen.
"I have been…practicing."
"Half a day, every day, so I hear."
This time, Lariska's look was one of confusion.
"I overheard some of the villagers talking about it. I wonder, what could drive one to those extremes?" The question was lighthearted, casual, rhetorical. But somehow…
Why should she feel compelled to confide in him, a stranger, what she had not told anyone else? It was idiotic! Illogical! It should not be true!
And…and yet…
"About two weeks ago, a giant Nivwak was blown in from the sea. It…It started attacking the villagers. People ran. My sister was…picked up. She screamed…"
Silence.
"You did save her, and the village, from what I hear."
"It flew away! It managed to get into the canyons!"
"Where it no doubt died of starvation."
"That's not the point!!"
"Then what is?"
"The point is…"
Lariska paused. She had never really thought this through. She shrugged, uncertainly.
"That if that came from the horizon, others, more powerful ones, might come."
Lariska blinked. "Exactly! And if it does, what point is there in the Avrahk?"
The yellow one turned to her. "I'm sorry, the what?"
Lariska blushed and turned away. "It's a mythical protector of the village."
The yellow being stood. "Lariska, sometimes we must make our own destiny." He patted her shoulder, then glanced back at the horizon. "Storm coming."
"I noticed."
