Gek sighed again. He cursed himself. He had terrible luck to find the Fragment of the Cothica. Now, everyone would harass him about how he found such a thing, "It's official. I hate miracles."

"It's also a miracle that prevented the m'arrillians from conquering the Cothica without too many deaths," he replied. He still thought back how he convinced Milla'iin to surrender. He wondered if the m'arrillian was watching this occurred, or he had no idea.

"I still hate miracles. Do you know how many elementalists are going to come because of those gossips. I was 'blessed by the Cothica' because I had the honor to hold this fragment until the one who would obtain and create the jewel would come. I live here to have a relatively peaceful life."

"Yeah. I can see what you mean. They are all over me when I showed up here. All because I come from the Cothica," Tom sighed. Still, the creatures were kind to him. He couldn't say the same for the other tribes. On the island they came from, it took a while for them to get used to Arias. They weren't kind, but did nothing wrong to him either.

Gek glanced at the boy, "I suppose you are interested in the fragment for a reason. Are you the one who come to create the full Jewel of the Cothica?"

Tom glanced at the side. He had no intention of lying, but just asked straight up like that prevented him from giving an immediate answer.

Chapter 76: The First Fragment

The elementalist frowned a bit at the lack of answer. At the same time, he noticed the boy was a bit nervous. He wasn't certain if it was the question, or the fact that he just threw that question on his face. Still, he wanted an answer. The timing was obviously suspicious after all.

Tom took a deep breath and truthfully answered, "Yes. I'm the one who came here to get the fragments. I still don't know why I am chosen really. The guardians of the Cothica didn't explain everything since they don't know everything. It seems that many things were lost in our world."

"Because of the war against the metalists. You two tribes were the tribes of the Cothica. Opposite in many ways I heard. Your power and the kind of body you have. The war was costly and we knew that the metalists were the evil of this war. Trying to enslave human while they were in possession of the jewel. They went mad with power and it cost their tribe everything. The liberation of your tribe was extremely costly. From what I overheard and the rumors, your kind couldn't keep everything. That was why we almost had no contact with humans for so long," he turned around and looked at the door, "With this fragment coming, I have no idea what would come."

"You… You know a lot about the jewel," Tom commented. He heard that from the Guardians of the Cothica, but he wasn't expecting a civilian of the elementalist tribe to know that much about it.

"It is common knowledge, even if few spoke about it," Gek sighed, "Because the appearance of the jewel doesn't necessary mean that it is a good omen. It was one that ended up with your tribe enslaved."

"I guess it isn't seen in a good way if that was the case. The Jewel of the Cothica surely was misused… I hope it was the case."

"It is a powerful artifact from the Cothica. I have no idea why it always appeared in pieces and why you are the one to seek it," the rock creature prevented him from talking, "But if it showed up, then there is no reason to fight against fate," he looked at the boy, "I'll ask one more time I know you said yes, but just to be sure. Are you the one chosen to obtain the fragments?"

"Yes. I don't know why, but I feel like I encountered something about it. I just have that weird impression," he replied as he tried to remember something. It was at the tip of his mind, but he couldn't recall anything. It was as if something was mission, "I just know for certain that I am the one who should go get those."

"What are you going to use this power for?" he asked as he looked deep in the eyes of the human.

For a moment, Tom wasn't sure if it was the actual creature asking, but someone else. There was something strange in the granite eyes of the creature. There was the light of something else. He tried to look away or elsewhere. Somehow, he couldn't look away. He had no idea what was going on, "Gek?"

"The Jewel of the Cothica is an extremely powerful artifact. The metalists misused it long ago you know."

Tom just knew something was definitely not normal right now. He was certain of one thing, "Who are you?"

"Answer me, Tom. How do your intent to use this powerful artifact?"

The conversation wouldn't go anywhere right now. He had a feeling that there was a case of possession there, or something weird like that. He wanted to glance back, but his gaze was locked on the creature, "I still have no idea. I mean, I don't even know what it can do."

"I have no idea why you think you are certain about it, but I guess that's why you are here anyway," Gek suddenly talked like he never asked the question about his power.

The boy felt relieved. He had no idea what just happened. It was like they were there, but not that at the same time. He took a deep breath, "I also came here for another reason. I'm sure you know why I came… Not just to look at the fragment."

"The moment I heard what it was, I know it was not just curiosity. Even your presence in among our tribe could be simply because of that. How many knows about this quest of yours?"

"The fire creature of the council, my friend Arias and Milla'iin," he honestly replied.

Gek frowned a bit at the name. The way it was pronounced meant something obvious to him, "Milla'iin. That's the name of a m'arrillian creature. Why would one of them even know about this?"

Tom sighed, "It's along story, but I also made Arias wait outside for a while," he commented as he checked back.

"Alright. I also wonder, but a bit less, why an overworlder was there. Let's going him and you will answer my question next," the elementalist asked.

Tom agreed. The two walked outside and saw Arias waiting at the door, tapping his fingers on his arms.

"Tom. You were in there for a while," he smiled in relief. The ram creature glanced at the other one. He saw the fragment in his hand, "So… This is what it looks like," he noticed the simplicity of the stone, but he felt something grandiose out of it at the same time. He wasn't sure how he felt at the sight of such jewel. He smiled a bit, "It is an incredible fragment, even if there isn't anything standing out for it for now."

Gek nodded at the creature repeated his question, "Now that we are outside Tom, tell me why a m'arrillian creature even knows about your search. Also, him," he pointed at the overworlder.

"Long story short, Milla'iin was asked to come here because of the invasion of the Cothica and he also asked someone to come here with him. The Guardians thought it was a good opportunity for me to come here and get the fragments of the Cothica. Since there is one that appeared on Earth."

"And him?"

"I just decided to follow him. I won't let him go to Perim, the real self alone when he could get in trouble. A human already got capture by the metalist and I refused to let him on his own," he answered.

"W-what?" the moment he heard of the metalist, he could tell this got serious, "Then the metalist kidnapped a human?"

"Yes," the two replied.

The earth creature knew the situation was grave, "You should know that the metalists will also have a fragment with them. Their ruler would know of its existence soon enough, of not already."

"Since you know about this, you clearly know why Tom came here," Arias asked.

"Yes. You surely want the fragment and collect the others," Gek replied.

"Yes. Can you please give it to us," Tom showed his hand, "I came here to collect all the fragments and-" before he could try to convince him, the fragment was on the palm of his hand.

"If you take it, can you please not tell the others that I found the fragment. They won't leave me alone if they knew that I found it," the elementalist asked in exchange.

Tom smiled, "Of course."

"Now that you have what you want, you can leave. I talked with a strange for way much longer than I intended for my entire life," Gek turned around.

"Thanks for the help," Tom told him before the creature returned inside.

"He makes me feel like this creature is a hermit, even if he is not," Arias concluded. He looked at Tom and asked the boy, "What now? We cannot just let everyone knows you have this and wander around in the village," he crossed his arms and hummed in reflection.

The fragment shined a little more in the hands of the boy. He had no idea why and it wasn't time to guess. Arias was right. They now needed to find a way to leave the village and returned to the continent of Perim to find the other fragments. He took a deep breath, "Maybe I should put it in my pocket, or a place like that. I don't really know what to do honestly," he admitted. He had no idea how they should proceed to leave the island.

Milla'iin spoke in their mind, (I guessed that you either hide it on you or on Arias. Still, I have no idea how bit it is, so it is only a suggestion. As for leaving, you should talk with the fire creature of the council. He might have a way.)

Tom looked at the fragment. It wasn't that big. It rested in the palm of his hand. He guessed it would be disrespectful, but necessary to put it in his pocket for now. He put it in his front pocket and hoped that it wouldn't upset anyone. It didn't stand out, (They won't notice it in my pocket. That's a good thing. I can't wear it around my neck, but I feel like it is disrespecting the jewel.)

"You are from the Cothica. I think it won't be the case," Arias replied in reassurance, (Anything strange you can see from your jail?)

(Nothing suspicious. I won't try to connect with the mind of our help for now. He is busy with the other members of the council. He might only be available later. As of now, you might just take it easy for the rest of the day and wait for an opportunity to organise our escape route.)

(I don't think telling everyone that we are leaving would help us in any way at all,) Tom nervously chuckled as he suggested that foolish idea.

(Terrible idea,) the two creatures replied in his mind.

The boy chuckled a bit as he scratched the back of his neck, (I know. I just don't have anything else.)

(As I said, we will wait for now and speak with the fire creature later. I'm sure he could help us with this situation,) Milla'iin concluded.

(Thanks,) Tom told him.

Once the communication was over, the duo returned to the village. They talked with the creatures during the rest of the day.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: The Need For Answers.

Maxxor visited the Earth to speak with the Guardians of the Cothica about the real Tom left with Arias. He knew something bigger was going on.