Leela signed obscenities to Katherina as they chased after Ruth.

  “I know, I know,” said Katherina. “I should have left it to you. I’m sorry.”

  Leela growled as the two gave chase. Ruth was remarkably fast for her little age. To make matters worse, it started to rain. Hard. The lightning and the thunder picked up as well. The downpour was forming a dangerous curtain of clear liquid. They dashed down the grassy plain, an outcropping of trees was coming up, the trunks shaking in the gale.

  Like a beacon, Leela could still see Ruth with her Soulsight. They had to stop her before she got to the treeline! She bounded on her cloven hooves, racing ahead of Katherina easily. If something happened to Ruth, she’d never forgive herself. Inch by inch she was catching up. Leela knew this wasn’t going to be pleasant, but she could talk Ruth down, she knew she could! They will work it out, she’ll fit in. She just knew it.

  Just as Leela was about to grab onto Ruth’s dress. Time slowed down. A blue orb of light descended from the heavens. Leela mistook it for lightning at first. But it was brighter and cooler and contained a strange aura, like a flame.

  In the next moment, the light entered Ruth, overtaking her and then disappearing.

  She stiffened and her back arched. Her eyes glowed and widened. A voiceless scream exited Ruth’s lips. Leela heard Katherina wailing in horror behind her. The impact recoiled through the grassy plain, flattening the reeds and knocking over the nearby trees. Leela was flung back and she collided with Katherina. The two of them tumbled in the dirt.

  Leela leapt to her feet, eyes wide as she rushed to Ruth. She couldn’t afford to lose her! Not like this. By the Gods, not like this! Ruth was on her knees, hunched in on herself. Raw unknowable energy was still smoking off her tattered dress. What disturbed Leela the most was her soul read differently now. The soulfire was much, much brighter than it was before. It even eclipsed hers. In fact, it was brighter than any Benelims!

  Gulping, Leela gently laid a hand on Ruth. She sighed in relief. Ruth was alive, she could feel her pulse. Katherina joined them soon after. It surprised them both when Ruth got to her feet with no effort at all. She looked at her hands, as if rediscovering them for the first time. Ruth at last turned to face her adoptive parents and they shrank back in shock.

  Ruth’s eyes glowed brightly now, and there was a deep passion in them that wasn’t there before. Ruth squinted for a moment, before slowly bringing her hands up, “What happened to me?” she signed.

  ………………………….

  Leela eyed the doctor nervously as he examined Ruth. There must have been something wrong with her. Ever since they came back home, Ruth struggled to look upon them before she cringed in pain. The mysterious light altered her little Ruth and she didn’t like it at all.

  “There’s nothing wrong with her,” said the doctor. “She is in perfect health, at least physically.” Leela repeated the statements in Benelim Sign to Ruth. She looked as confused and annoyed as she was.

  “You see her eyes, right?” snapped Katherina.

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  The doctor adjusted his spectacles and nodded. “I did. But it’s not a physical ailment. There is little I can do.”

  Katherina frowned. “So, you have no idea what this is?”

  The doctor paused for a moment. “There might be one thing. It’s a new phenomenon among the humans.” The doctor leaned in. “Have you heard of a Pars Deus.”

  Leela and Katherina looked at each other. “A what?” Katherina asked.

  “Pars Deus. The humans call them Godshards. They say that pieces of Dominus Omnitus are coming back to the mortal plane, merging with human souls. Granting them magical power and Soulsight.”

  “That’s impossible!” said Katherina. “No human has ever had such power!”

  The doctor scoffed. “Things have changed. When was the last time you've been to human lands?”

  Leela crossed her arms and frowned. Katherina echoed the motion. “Not since we found her,” grumbled Katherina. “We stayed on the border then. We don’t care for humanity. They’re ignorant and foolish! They left our Ruth to die!”

  “Be that as it may,” said the doctor. “They might be the only ones who can help Ruth now. I’ve heard of an island. Adam’s Island, a supposed sanctuary for these Godshards. They might be able to help her.”

  Katherina gestured to the door. “Your counsel is duly noted,” she muttered. “You may leave now.”

  The three of them just stared at each other for a moment. Right, Leela knew what she had to do. Katherina joined her as they knelt in front of Ruth. “We’re sorry,” signed Leela. “We shouldn’t have hid the truth from you like that.”

  Katherina nodded in agreement. “Can you forgive us?”

  Ruth was silent for a moment and her glowing eyes flickered. Ruth nodded, and Leela let go a breath she didn’t know she was holding. The three of them embraced. “I want to go to this island,” signed Ruth.

  Leela tilted her head. “How did you know about that? Did you read his lips?”

  Ruth shook her head. “Soulsight. He thinks he can find people like me there.”

  “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Katherina signed.

  Ruth put her foot down, her signs were sharp and harsh. “You know damn well he does!”

  Leela frowned. “Watch your words.”

  “Dominus Omnitus wants me to go. That’s why one of His Shards entered me!” signed Ruth.

  Leela turned to Katherina and back to Ruth. Leela could see something different in her. A drive that was pure. Ruth well and truly believed this was the right course. Yet Leela knew how bad the humans could be. “You don’t need humans. We’ve taken good care of you, haven’t we? Are you still upset about earlier?”

  Ruth sighed and her face softened. “It’s not about that,” she signed. “I know you guys love me.” Ruth tapped at her eyes. “Soulsight told me. You’re my mother. But I need answers.”

  “The journey would be dangerous. And while those kids exaggerated it, humans are greatly flawed. Don’t forget that they abandoned you.”

  “Let me see for myself, Mother. I don’t know who I am and I can’t control my Soulsight. I need help, maybe these island people can help me.”

  It unnerved Leela to see Ruth talking so differently. It was as if she aged a decade in maturity in the course of an afternoon. It must have been the Shard. Leela gleaned much with her Soulsight. There was some comfort, she could see that Ruth was always going to be her daughter, no matter how this goes. Despite how much Leela was screaming internally at the prospect of this, deep down, she knew Ruth was right. “Alright,” Leela signed. “If this is what you need, we will take you to this island.” Leela gestured to Katherina.

  Katherina nodded before dashing out of the room and quickly returning with a box. She handed it to Ruth. “Open it,” Katherina signed.

  Ruth tilted her head before carefully unwrapping it. She gasped as she pulled out a headdress. She didn’t know if it was cloth or linen, but it was golden brown in color. It was molded into the shape of antlers, similar to Leela. Ruth eagerly put on her new headwear, grinning. The sight brought a tear to Leela’s eyes.

  “With this, no matter where you go, the world will know you’re my daughter,” signed Leela.

  Ruth and Leela embraced warmly. Until Ruth had to look away again, at least.