Six years later.

  Ruth knelt by the statue of Terra. Her likeness towered over her like a protective guardian. It wasn’t as well kept as the ones back in the Golden Wood, the paint was chipped in many places and the floor was fighting a losing battle against dirt and grime. But she could make do with it. Ruth was just grateful the human cities still kept their temples, even if they had seen better days. She looked around, the temple wasn’t empty either, small parties of people entered, to-and-fro. She even saw a mother and her children, the sight gave Ruth hope. Emboldened, she turned back to the statue and bowed her head in deference. She moved on to the statue of Omnitus and paused. She struggled to decide whether or not to bow.

  It was profoundly strange. On the one hand, the Gods deserved veneration, at least the ones honored by the Benelim. But a piece of that same God was in her. A part of her, so where on earth does that leave her? She looked into the matter in her studies. Adam believed in bowing, as did Mother and Aunt Kathy. But Elias and Sheba believe it is unnecessary. That act of goodness and using the power of your Shard to help people is an act of veneration in of itself.

  Ruth sighed and placed her head in her hands. Blast it. Why was it that every part of her life was at odds with itself?

  She left the temple, tossing some coins to the local druid Fiona for her efforts. She kept the place from falling apart anymore than it was. Her green robes were dirty, so Ruth hoped the money could help her get it cleaned. Fiona smiled warmly at the gesture. “Thank you,” she signed.

  Ruth nodded back as she strolled down the street. Septentrio was the town’s proper name. She saw Lea coming down the street the other way. They waved and signed good morning and Ruth waved back. As Ruth walked through the forum, she read so much from the people around her. It wasn’t so different from the Golden Wood. There were those that greeted her amicably like Lea. Sometimes their souls were bright, some were black and rotten. Ruth learned quickly to stay away from the latter. Ruth might not be the best at reading lips, but she was all too familiar with their hateful gazes. Some things never change.

  Ruth rolled her eyes, let them scoff and mock. They weren’t Godshards. None would dare try to mess with her. She still couldn’t cast spells, but they didn’t know that. She had grown quite tall, she was already taller than Aunt Kathy and was approaching Mother fast. To the point where Mother had to keep resizing the old headdress.

  She had to get back to the others. It was an important day after all!

  …………………..

  Ruth gracefully landed down on the island. She nodded her thanks to Mikel as she joined the others. Sheba turned to see Ruth approach and gave a bemused smirk. “Where were you?” she signed.

  Ruth smirked before signing, “You know where I was.”

  “Are you sure you’re not a Benelim?”

  Ruth rolled her eyes,“We’ve talked about this many times, Sheba. It’s not a Benelim thing. We all used to venerate the Gods once.”

  Sheba shrugged. “Times change. Humans had to figure things out without them. It was Adam who saved Primus and it is us who can save them now.”

  Ruth frowned and her signs turned sharp. “But without Terra, the world wouldn’t be here at all! The Gods kept us safe well before Adam. They’re far more powerful and wise. Mortals are flawed and make mistakes.”

  Sheba closed the distance, her signs matching Ruth’s. “But the Gods abandoned us long ago, and the Benelim with them.”

  Ruth’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not true!”

  Sheba smirked. “Is it?”

  Ruth and Sheba stared each other down for a long moment before bursting into laughter. They could never be mad at each other. “To each their own,” signed Ruth.

  Sheba gestured to Ruth to join the others. There were a dozen of them, sitting all in a line, all of the same age. Other Godshards had come around, as well as Mother and Aunt Kathy.

  Megan and Elias stood side by side.

  Elias' arms were raised wide as he spoke and signed at the same time. “Today, we undergo the Shard test. We can deduce much already, but only via this test can the upper limits of your power be explored.”

  “But before we begin,” signed Megan, “Let us talk about what spells are. Magical spells are incantations in the Old Tongue. It is the God's own language and as far as we know it is a language with special qualities. It is a rich and ancient language with a diverse array of words and meanings.”

  “You can thank High King Ioannis for that,” signed Mother.

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  Megan nodded. “Indeed. Out of all aspects of the Adamite way, it is the spellcraft that is the biggest point of exploration. Omnitus was a God of nearly unlimited power and potential. Nearly anything is possible, it’s just a matter of figuring out what words to say, in what order and what gets emphasis. Any questions so far?”

  Jolene raised her hand. Megan pointed at her in turn. Jolene didn’t sign, Sheba offered to translate it but Ruth was able to read her lips. “If anything is possible, how come Mikel seems to only cast fire, abjuration and metal spells?”

  “That is his Magical Leaning,” replied Megan.

  Kai said something in reply. They tried to sign it at the same time but their form was still too sloppy for Ruth to read. But the confusion and curiosity on their micro-expressions told Ruth what they probably were asking: “What is a Magical Leaning?”

  “In truth, we’re not actually sure,” said Megan. “The best theory we have is perhaps the Shard that is within Mikel maintains some Omnitus’ aspects that preferred those types of spells. He could learn more if he so chose.” Megan pouted upon seeing Ember staring at something in the far distance. Ruth turned to see what it was. It was a hawk. Ember looked drawn to it, almost enthralled. The sense of longing on her face was as strange as it was endearing to Ruth. With a gentle shake from Jolene, Ember was brought back to the discussion.

  “Sorry,” said Ember. Ruth was grateful Ember was practicing her signs at least. “I feel this desire to… join it. To become it.” Ember brightened. “Could I cast a spell to turn me into a bird?”

  Megan fought to conceal her bafflement and Ruth giggled at the struggle. Megan’s befuddlement leaked out of her micro-expressions like water out of a pot. “Maybe. Perhaps you have a piece of Onmitus’ shape shifting aspect within you. But that might not be enough. Regrettably, you won’t be able to do much if your Shard isn’t powerful enough. But that’s what the test is for.” Megan gestured to Elias to take over.

  “This is a procedure that has been pioneered by Adam and refined by myself,” said Elias. “Observe!”

  Elias began to chant, Ruth couldn’t hear the words but his glowing eyes brightened. He raised a hand and a sparkle of white light went into the air, punctuating in a tiny flash like a dying candle. Ruth tilted her head, that was underwhelming. But Elias wasn’t done. He repeated the spell three times, his body straining more and more with each attempt, the sparkle of light becoming larger and more complex. The fourth one sent the sparkle into the air, flashing bright in an explosion of multi-colored splendor. Ruth and the others were in awe by the end of it. It all made sense now.

  Elias turned back to the group. “Each version of the spell requires more raw power to cast. Training can help a Shard reach a higher level, but this test is about power alone. Let’s begin.”

  Elias gestured to Sheba, who stood forward. He pulled out a parchment and placed it in her hands. Ruth gave Sheba a comforting pat on the back. The others backed away to give Sheba space. Ruth watched Sheba’s lips move, hoping to emulate it when it’s her turn. Sheba finished the first version of the spell and a sparkle shot out her hand, to the applause of the crowd. She repeated the process again, and while Sheba shifted uncomfortably at the end of it, she casted it successfully.

  Sheba got stuck with the third version. The incantations left her lips but nothing happened, except her grumbling in a mix of pain and frustration. Elias stopped her before she hurt herself. Sheba rejoined the others, Ruth signed encouraging words to her, and Sheba leaned into Ruth affectionately. For the next half hour, the other Godshards underwent the test and they all got different results.

  Kai and Jolene got to the second one. Jana and Shawn only got to the first. Ruth and Sheba patted them on the back and hugged them, determined to make sure they didn’t feel any lesser for it. Ember got all the way to the third one, which according to Elias meant she could be as powerful as Mikel one day.

  Last up was Ruth. She paled. She still hadn’t been able to cast a spell. She tried practicing the incantations, straining to get her throat to make the right sounds. But she can’t hear! So, she had to go by others telling her if they were right. Elias passed the parchment to her and Ruth readied herself for the cue. He began to speak, the words drawing out, so Ruth could imitate them.

  She tried, she really tried!

  Nothing happened. Sometimes Ruth could swear she saw a flicker, but nothing! It just wasn’t working! Ruth threw the parchment to the ground, storming off in a huff! She didn’t know if anyone was signing to her to stay, but she didn’t care.

  It wasn’t fair! Why was casting spells an oral thing? Why did they have to be spoken in the Old Tongue? Ruth merely talked differently. Why does that matter? She wanted to help people. She wanted to be like Adam! What kind of Godshard can’t cast spells? What is the point of being a Godshard otherwise?

  Ruth sat down by the beach. The sound of the rustling waves was a faint murmur to her deafness. Never had Ruth wished for the ability to hear until this moment. She never missed hearing, a person can’t miss what they didn’t have. But now? She would give anything to hear. A flash of pain reminded Ruth of the encroaching crisis. They have to figure something out soon! It’s not just for the sake of power or vanity, her soul would start burning up soon if they couldn’t find an answer.

  Maybe it would have been better if she wasn’t a Godshard. It felt like a choice, does she want to be a Godshard or be deaf? It was like she was once again stuck between two things, and unable to belong! Ruth punched the dirt, blast it all! Why was this happening to her? Why was she like this? She didn’t choose to be this way. She didn’t choose to be deaf. She didn’t choose to be a Godshard. She didn’t choose to be with Benelim or humans! She wasn’t a woman of both worlds, she was simply neither. Nothing.

  A gentle hand snapped Ruth out of her musings. Sheba took a seat next to her. “Are you okay?” she signed. Ruth shook her head and Sheba brought her in for a hug.

  “You should go with the others,” Ruth sloppily signed, too sad to care about the details. “I’m not like you.”

  “That’s not true. You’re one of us! We just need to find a different way for you, that’s all.”

  Ruth teared up. “What if we can’t?”

  Sheba smiled, her glowing eyes twinkled in the midday sun. Ruth found herself getting lost in them. It was like she had an aura of charisma and comfort that made Ruth feel okay. Her sadness and doubt fell away at her warm smile, even if it was only for the moment. “No matter what, you will never be alone,” she signed. “Where you go, I go. Wherever you stay, I’ll stay. If the worst happens, at least I’ll be at your side. To the underworld and back.”