A week went by and they were still lost. Leela was patient with Ruth and knew to trust her. But they hadn’t found any island. All they did was come across the outskirts of a town. Ruth kept getting distracted by the novelty of humanity. White stone pillars and columns stood before them. Red terracotta crowned each roof, and people bustled through the streets. Every building, every structure, ever person made Ruth gasp and her signs were wild and nearly impossible to read. Leela tried desperately to get her to slow down but she was caught up in the frenzy.

  Yet even Leela found herself caught up in the new sights. She had to admit, humanity was different than what she was told. They were called Godless barbarians, hateful heathens who destroyed nature and rejected the fellowship of her people. She almost expected a bonfire of rotten soul flames but they really weren’t so different. Most of their souls were about as amicable. Their outfits were similar and the soldiers they walked past were just as well equipped as their own. A winding structure snaked through the buildings like a river. She could hear water trickling through it, so that’s how humans were able to give themselves water in such… strange conditions! How clever!

  Unfortunately, as they entered the streets, Leela’s heart sank. While most of the souls weren’t truly rotten, the glares she was getting made her uneasy. They were whispering amongst themselves too. It snapped Leela out of her musings. They had to find that island and get out of here.

  She pulled Ruth close, startling her with how firm the grip was. Leela was stern as she got down to one knee. “We need to find the island. Stop getting distracted,” signed Leela, her gestures sharp. “We’re in a foreign city with complete strangers. It is dangerous.”

  Ruth pouted. “I know where I’m going,” she signed. “There’s a Godshard here. He can take us to the Island.”

  Leela’s eyebrow raised. “Do you know where?”

  Ruth scanned the area, stopping at a small building, a quaint fixture of old stone with a timeworn yellow tiled roof and green vines. Ruth nodded and pointed to it. Leela’s eyes narrowed, it was an inn. Leela turned back to Ruth. “Don’t leave my side, understand?” she signed.

  They entered the inn. It was surprisingly crowded, a mass of olive skinned folk in togas blocked their path. They had to worm their way through the crowd. Scowls and bitter whispers surrounded them. At the epicenter of the main lobby stood a person at a desk. They looked bored and tired, with long brown hair and a red toga draped over them. They perked up as Leela approached them. Leela signed to them, but they tilted her head. “Er… can I help you?”

  Leela sighed and she gestured to Katherina. “Hi, yes,” said Katherina. “We’re passing through. We’re looking for a Godshard. Have you seen any?” They shook their head, causing Katherina to grumble. “I see.”

  Their face softened. “They do often show up here, so you’re at the right place. You can spend the night if you want.”

  Katherina gave a polite smile. “That’s very kind er-”

  They shook her hand. “Lea. Call me Lea. It’s been a terribly long time since Benelim came around here.”

  “It should have been longer,” grumbled a patron.

  Lea scowled. “Oh butt out of this.”

  Leela ignored them and turned to Ruth. She was staring acutely at the far corner. Leela didn’t know what Ruth was staring at until the crowd parted for a brief moment. She saw a man with a beard in a long grey cloak staring back at them. His glowing eyes reflected off the light from a nearby candle. The crowd blocked his view. It took Leela a moment to realize a small group of patrons had walked up to them.

  Leela frowned, these were the rotten kind of souls she was warned about.

  “Animals aren’t allowed in here,” snapped one patron.

  “She’s not an animal, you ignorant fool,” said Katherina, stepping between the two.

  “You’re not exactly welcome either, Beney,” grumbled another patron.

  Katherina’s jaw dropped, and her pointed ears twitched. “Excuse me? Did I hear that right?”

  “With ears that long, I'd hope so, Beney.”

  Lea frowned. “You watch your language in my inn!”

  “You stay out of this!”

  Katherina’s fists clenched as the crowd closed in. Leela pulled Ruth in close. She didn’t notice, she was still staring at that corner.

  “Enough!” shouted a voice, radiating in power. The group of patrons parted, their hatred mollified by their reverence and with a raise of his arms they dispersed. It was the man from the corner. It was as Leela suspected. He was a Godshard. “Apologies. I was making sure the little one was the Shard I was waiting for.”

  “I’m glad you intervened,” said Lea. “I was getting worried.”

  Ruth glanced up to Leela, signing eagerly, “This is the Godshard! He’s a friend.”

  The Godshard pulled his hood back. His skin was paler than most of the other patrons, and while his eyes didn’t glow as brightly as Ruth’s, they were bright all the same. “My name is Mikel. My foresight told me you’d arrive today.”

  Katherina shook his hand. “My name is Katherina.” She gestured to Leela. “This is Leela.” She pointed at Ruth with a small smile. “And this is Ruth.”

  Ruth signed excitedly, causing Mikel to scratch his head. “What’s she doing?” he asked.

  “She’s deaf. Haven’t you seen Benelim Sign Language before?”

  Mikel shook his head. “I’m afraid not.” Katherina frowned. “But it’s in the spirit of the Adamite way to learn new things! I’d be happy to learn it. I’m sure the others would be too.”

  Katherina paused. “Adamite? What are you talking about?”

  Mikel outstretched his hand to Ruth. “If you follow me, I’ll show you what I mean.”

  …………….

  It took them a few hours to get to the island. They traversed through ancient pines, the needles green and the trunks rustic and brown. The cedar’s smell was warm and comforting as they traveled. Ruth picked up a pinecone at one point, and was content to juggle it in her hands. Leela rolled her eyes, but one look at Ruth’s excited face mollified her irritation. It warmed her heart to see her so happy.

  Besides, the extra time gave Katherina the chance to teach Mikel some signs. It impressed Leela to see a human so open minded. Especially compared to most of the patrons of the inn. Mikel waved to Ruth before signing. His gestures were slow but he managed to sign, “How are you?”

  Ruth giggled but nevertheless signed back, “I’m doing great! The trees are beautiful!”

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  Mikel turned to Katherina. “What did she say? I only got the first part.”

  Katherina sighed with amusement. “She was talking about how pretty the trees are.”

  Mikel nodded. “Right. So, you’re saying a Shard entered her a month ago?”

  “Indeed, not too long after she turned seven.”

  Mikel leaned in. “That’s fascinating! Elias is going to want to hear about this.”

  “Who’s Elias?”

  Mikel shrugged. “Our leader. The oldest living Godshard, the last of Adam’s original six disciples.”

  “I see,” stammered Katherina.

  “I’ll tell you this right now,” said Mikel, “Ruth is special, I can feel it. She’s going to shake things up. I’m glad you brought her to us. You’ve taken good care of her, but recognize that she needs this. Even if it means going to a foreign land. That’s very commendable and shows how much you love her. ”

  Katherina glanced at Leela. “We’re flattered. But what do you mean she’s going to shake things up?”

  Mikel’s glowing eyes flickered. “She is the first Godshard that didn’t become one three days after she was born. That goes against everything we thought we knew! It also explains why a Shard of her size went missing! The more I read, the more promising she is.”

  Katherina blinked. “Are all Godshards so… enigmatic? I thought it was just Ruth.”

  Mikel winked. “Just the good ones.”

  It wasn’t til the afternoon that they finally arrived at the shore. Leela squinted as she stared ahead. Like Mikel said, there was indeed an island. It wasn’t big but it was still quite the sight. It was extremely flat with only grass and shrubbery, very little trees or rocky outcrops. A bunch of leather tents dotted the area. A crowd of figures were gathering along the shore on the other side. Even at their distance, Leela could see their glowing eyes.

  Katherina scratched her head as she looked around. “How are we going to get across? I don’t see any boats.”

  A twinkle entered Mikel’s eyes. “Allow me.” He began to chant a spell. Leela’s eyes narrowed, it was the Old Tongue Pure, not the offshoot that the Benelim use. It was the closest to the Gods’ own tongue. Maybe that’s how humans were able to use magic? A weird sensation enveloped them, causing Leela to shuffle uncomfortably.

  It turned into a loud bleat when the four of them hovered into the air. Katherina was not much better, screaming in a panic. Ruth, on the other hand, was gasping in wonder, her eyes wide. Mikel tried not to laugh at the display as they landed on the island.

  Katherina and Leela glared daggers at Mikel, who raised his hands. “Sorry, I should have warned you.”

  The other Godshards gathered around them. They were at least a couple score, possibly more. Many were young, little older than Ruth. There were a couple older ones, wizened and stoic. Still more were of Mikel’s age. They were quite the bunch, with a variety of skin tones and demeanors. It was as if they were a microcosm of the world itself, united by their plain grey cloaks and their glowing eyes.

  An older Godshard, and taller than the rest, shifted through the crowd. He had greying hair nearly turning white and a long beard. He bowed grandly to them. “Greetings, my friends. We’ve been expecting you. I am Elias. We bid you welcome to our island.” Elias got on one knee to wave to Ruth. “And you must be Ruth. I’ve felt your presence from the mountain pass. Welcome!”

  “How did you know her name?” asked Katherina.

  Elias gave a knowing smirk. “Soulsight. We’ve been in contact already.” Elias turned to Ruth before signing, “Apologies for not signing more. I’ve had a hard time finding a full lexicon.”

  Ruth smiled before signing back, “It’s okay. Mother can teach you now.”

  “Indeed,” signed Elias. He turned to Leela. “You must be Leela, I’ve heard much about you.” He got to his feet, laying a hand on her shoulder. “I know you were hesitant to bring Ruth here. It’s understandable, as any mother would be concerned for their child. But you did the right thing.”

  Leela nodded. “We have much to discuss,” she signed.

  “Indeed.” Elias clasped his hands together, his face brightening, “Why don’t we show little Ruth around! Megan,where are you?”

  A woman came to the front of the crowd. “I’m right here,” said Megan. Her face was gentle and her long brown hair fluttered in the breeze.

  Elias nodded. “Take her for a tour, while the adults chat!”

  Megan bowed. “Should I bring her with the other kids? We were about to go on a walk anyway, to enjoy the weather. I don’t think we should overwhelm her after all.”

  “Indeed, no rush.”

  Megan bent over and reached out for Ruth’s hand. “Follow me,” she signed.

  Ruth was all too eager to take her hand. With a curt wave to Leela, she was on her way. Mikel muttered a spell and three dirt constructs propped out from the ground. One under each of them. “Thank you, Mikel,” said Elias, who gestured the others to sit. “Mikel is our resident Maghi. He’s one of the larger Shards among us and has been making excellent strides in his research.”

  Mikel bowed. “You’re too kind, Elias.”

  Elias gestured to the other Godshards, who took the hint and dispersed, Mikel included. He turned back to Leela. “Finally. Let us talk. I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”

  “Indeed,” said Katherina. “We’ve heard rumors about you. About this island, about the Godshards. They’re saying pieces of Omnitus are entering humans, granting them magical power.”

  Elias smiled. “It’s true. A Shard entered me when I was three days old. I burned with questions, not unlike Ruth. When I was older, I set out into the world, desperate for answers.”

  “And that led you here?”

  Elias shook his head. “It led me to Primus. Rumors reached me about a mysterious man with the power of the Gods. I came across five others like me, we all headed to Primus.” Elias’ face softened, his eyes glittered with distant fondness, “That was when we met Adam. He was the first Godshard. This was shortly after the daemons were driven back and he was-”

  Katherina raised an arm, “Wait, wait, wait, the daemons attacked the Cradlelands?”

  Elias blinked. “Why, yes. They nearly destroyed everything. But Adam rallied the people of the Cradlelands at Primus and together they drove back the daemons. Adam himself slew the daemon lord Hanbi.” Elias tilted his head. “I can see this is unfamiliar to you. Is this story not known amongst the Benelim?”

  Katherina glanced at Leela. “No. It wasn’t. Relations have been strained since the Second Novalim War. That terrible conflict and the latter daemon wars stretched our forces thin.”

  Elias leaned in. “How fascinating. It explains a lot. About both our peoples. Adam wrote an account of his life, which includes that war, if you would like to read it.”

  “To get back to the point, what is the deal with this island?” signed Leela.

  Elias turned to her. “Adam had the foresight to see that the Godshards had much to learn about what they were and that they needed a safe haven to learn and study. While they aren’t wandering throughout the world, that is.”

  Leela nodded. “It’s good you found this island then,” she signed.

  A glimmer appeared in Elias’ glowing eyes. “Found it? Oh no, no, you misunderstand. We rose this island out of the sea. Me, Adam and the others. All seven of us conjured this island. It is a haven that is well and truly our own. Here we do not recognize any kingdom, republic or God. We are outside the world, safe and protected from those who would harm us or take advantage of us.”

  Katherina was on her feet, frowning. “You created the island? This is sacrilege! It is against the dictates of Domina Terra and Dominus Aquarius! Their domains are not to be altered.”

  Elias was undaunted by her anger. “We begged for their blessing and they clearly granted it. Adam always believed in venerating the Gods, he always respected them. He met with Mighty Terra Herself on his travels.”

  Leela gently laid a hand on Katherina’s shoulder, bringing her back to her seat. “It is as the Gods will then,” signed Leela. “Where does that leave us?”

  Elias bowed. “We would be honored to have Ruth among us. We have much to teach her, about our history, as well as the history of humanity. We’ve learned a lot about our abilities and our numbers are growing. We’ve long ago mastered how to control our Soulsight, just like the Benelim. Ruth needs this, I know you can see that.”

  Katherina turned to Leela. “I don’t like this. No offense, but you want us to leave our daughter amongst a bunch of strangers?”

  Elias shook his head. “Of course not. You are more than welcome to stay with her.” His glowing eyes flickered. “In fact, I would prefer it, at least til Ruth comes of age. There’s much we can gain from working with each other. And I foresee some issues that perhaps only a Benelim could help with.”

  Katherina’s eyebrow raised. “Like what?”

  Elias took a deep breath. “We need a way to cast spells in a non-oral fashion. It’s the only way Ruth will ever be able to do it.”

  “I don’t see why that matters?” signed Leela.

  Elias shuddered. “You will find that Ruth has to find a way to cast spells. The more powerful the Shard, the more she can do, and if she doesn’t, the energy will build and build over time until it destroys her!” Leela and Katherina gasped. Elias raised a hand. “Do not despair, for we have plenty of time, years at least. But it must be dealt with.”

  Leela nodded. “I’m grateful for the warning,” she signed. “But why do you care? Why go through all this trouble for her? With this island?”

  “Adam taught us that life is an ever expanding process. Nothing we know is ever set in stone. We have power and we should use it for good. The island gives us what we need to explore this. As for Ruth–” Elias grinned. “She’s special. More than you think. Her Shard is large, bigger than mine! Her potential in power and wisdom is vast. The last time I saw a Shard like her was none other than Adam himself. This cannot be squandered.”