Chapter Twenty-Nine. Eban
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
EBAN
Gin crumples to the floor. I run over to her, the way she had for me only minutes before.
I put my hand to her stomach. It rises and falls. She’s breathing. I don’t know if I should try to wake her up or let her wake up on her own. I look over to Luwalhati for guidance, but she maintains that frustrating neutral expression.
Gin gasps and her eyes open wide. She holds up her hand and examines it, then breathes a sigh of relief and closes her eyes again.
“Are you all right?” I whisper.
She nods, eyes still closed, then inhales deeply and opens them again.
I offer my hand so she can get to her feet. She pushes herself up on her knees with her hands, then grabs my hand to stand. When she touches me, I get a shock.
Once she’s standing on her own, I back away.
When she opens her eyes, they crackle with white sparks like lightning, which suddenly fade when she blinks.
She holds up her hand, marveling at it, her skin sizzling with that same lightning, though like her eyes, the glow quickly fades, revealing skin that glows blue briefly before returning to its natural color. She achieved what I could not.
She’s bonded to her spirit and connected to the power of the gods.
I look at Gin. Though the strange spark in her eyes has gone, she still isn’t the same person she was prior to her bonding.
There’s something intimidating about her that wasn’t there before.
Her power seems to emanate from her body, invisible but potent.
Gin turns to Luwalhati. “What happens now?”
Luwalhati smiles softly. “The spirit will act as your guide, teaching and explaining how to access it.”
Then Luwalhati approaches me. “Be patient, Eban,” she advises me quietly.
My frustration must be evident all over my face.
“Your time will come. The spirit has awakened in you and you will be given another opportunity.” Her words, while kind, do little to assuage my disappointment.
I nod. Next time, I won’t allow the same to happen. I’ll either succeed, or I will die.
I don’t want to die.
I want to avenge my people.
I bow and Luwalhati places her hands on the top of my head. A blessing. An order.
“Retrieve the relics from our enemy’s hands. Resurrect the Drowned City. Bring back the Kingdom of Waves. Let Ophir rise again.” With those words, Luwalhati vanishes.