The Chronicles of Edwin, Ch. 13 "Temptation"

Edwin sat up and rubbed his eyes.  It felt like he had been asleep for a very long time.  His nerves were on fire like he was just waking up from being numb.  But when he glanced around he suddenly realized that something was off.  He could not place it exactly, but there was something wrong with the world.  It felt... upside down.  Like the world one sees when peering between ones legs.  The trees grew down, reaching into the sky far below.  It felt like there was some mysterious force holding him to the ceiling.  Edwin was afraid to jump lest that force let go and he should fall down into the sky.

"What is this place?" he whispered in awe.

"This is your mind." a voice replied.

"Wha... who are you?" Edwin said, his heart begining to race.

"I am whomever you want me to be, Edwin." said a feminine voice.  This confused Edwin.  The voice had not been female before, but neigher had it been male.  There were certainly not two voices.  It was like, a new attribute had been appended to the voice.  It was taking shape.

"Where are you?" Edwin said as he glanced around nervously, trying to pinpoint the origin of the voice.

"I'm right here" she said softly.  Edwin turned around and took a step back in surprise, it was Keely.  Only... it was not.  She was either Keely with different features or Keely's body without being her.  That is to say, physical manifestation of Keely and the idea of Keely resided in the same presence, but never at the same time.  "Why are you looking at me like that?"  She asked.

"I'm... why are you here?  ...and where is Squiggers?"  Edwin said, as he took another step back.  As he did so, he tripped on a root or something.

"Oh my!  Are you okay Edwin?" she said with a horrified look on her face.

"Eh... I'm fine." he said blushing.

"Well, okay... who is Squiggers" Keely said with a cute tilt of the head.

"Squiggers... she's my familiar.  We were... training..."  Edwin paused.

"Training?  For what?" she said eagerly.

"I... don't know."  Edwin was dumbfounded.  He had no idea what he was training for.  He felt it was incredibly important that he know this, but he could not remember.  Edwin screwed up his face trying to think, what was he doing?

"Edwin... are you alright?"

"I... I'm not really sure, to be honest."  Edwin looked down at his forearm, there was no tattoo.

"I'm worried about you Edwin, you seem ill."

"Maybe, I don't feel ill though..."  Why was there no tattoo?

Keely walked closer and said innocently, "I could, make you feel better..."

Edwin's heart skipped, "h-how do you mean?"

Keely batted her eyes and said, "oh... I think you know."

"Wha... who are you?  Are you an appirition here to torment me?  Is this some kind of nightmare?"  Edwin's heart was now about to beat out of his chest.

Keely slipped off a strap on her dress, "oh, this is certainly a dream.  But it is hardly a nightmare.  You've probably figured this out by now, but, I was born from you.  Deep inside you know you want me, and here in this place, you can."

Edwin felt like he was going to pass out.  Keely was right there, all he had to do was take her and live out this wild fantasy.  The choice stood before him like a flood gate.  He could open it and be swallowed forever by whatever lies inside, or he could run.  Edwin tried to think, he tried to reason with himself.  But his head was spinning in circles.

"What are you waiting for?  Just do whatever your heart desires, there's nothing to think about here.  Come and live out your wildest fantasies with me here in the forest!"  Keely said as she climbed on top of Edwin.

Suddenly something occurred to him.  She said to do "whatever your heart desires", and she claimed to be born from his own desires, but Edwin had never once actually wanted Keely like this.  Sure this thought had come up before, but then he had vigously beat it down ashamed something so perverse could come from his mind.  Why was this any different?  Edwin made up his mind.  He tossed Keely off of him and ran.  He ran with all his might.  He ran like he had never run before.  Tree limbs tore at him, roots threatened to topple him, but he just kept going.  He ran until he could no longer see straight and he fell in a heap.  With his lungs on fire, his muscles burning, and head throbbing, he lay there in the dirt panting and in pain.  The upside down world was spinning around him, and everything was burning.

Burning?!

Edwin sat up, and looked around.  Everything was burning.  Ashes filled the sky below and were pulled to the ground by that same mysterious force holding Edwin to the ground.  The ashes covered everything.  Through the swirling black specks Keely came walking, or floating.  Edwin could not tell.  He was too weak to move, all he could to was cry out, "go away you demon!"

Suddenly, even before Edwin had shouted, a bright flash emanated from where Keely's presence was and two words were spoken by a deep booming voice that seemed to originate inside Edwin's head, "YOU PASS."  The instant after the echoes died, Edwin felt his world shift to black again as the upside down world burned away.

The next thing he knew he could hear a familiar voice screaming his name.  This time the voice felt real.  Who could it be he wondered.  Then his memory flooded back to him like the water rushing past his head.  Edwin's eyes flashed open as he yelled a string of barely perceptible words at the top of his lungs.  Flames exploded forth in every direction, the water around Edwin was vaporized in an instant.  Heat coursed through his body as he stood up, it felt like there was an inferno inside of him and it was all he could do not to let it all out at once.

Then, as soon as it all happened, it stopped.  And there, where he stood, was a massive blackened crater.  Edwin then realized that he was holding a sobbing Ariel in his arms.  How long had she been like that he wondered.  Edwin stroked her head and hugged her tight as he took a seat by the now reforming creek.  He whispered, "I'm back."

At this a new wave of tears hit Ariel.  "I thought I lost you Edwin... you were taking so long to complete the test... and then our contract was severed... and then your heart stopped... and... and..."

Edwin gave Squiggers a squease, "It's alright now, I'm back."  Edwin let her calm down a moment before continuing, "When you say test, do you mean the thing with Keely?  You set that up?"

"Keely?" Ariel said surprised.

"...yeah, I was in some weird world, I can't even describe it.  It was like this one, but not.  And there was Keely, or, I think it was her.  And she uh... well she pretty much offered to have sex with me... but I ran, then everything was burning and a voice said 'you pass'.  Then I woke up and everything exploded."

Ariel looked puzzled.  "Edwin... that was not the task I had you doing...  do you not remember anything before that?"

"...um... no.  All I can remember is you screaming and then Keely, then you again."  Edwin sighed in frustration.

"That's strange..." Ariel said lost in thought.

As they had been talking Edwin had been looking at the little crater and the singed tree limbs nearby. "...did I do this?"

"Yes, and you nearly burned me alive too, I was not expecting that from you...  in fact, it should not have been possible.  Your contract with me had not been reconnected at that point.  Edwin... I think..." she hesitated.

"You think what?" Edwin was painfully perplexed.

"Well, here, lets try to use a basic fire spell."  Edwin slid his fingers down his forearm and let Ariel's spirit merge with his.  He let her craft the spell and form the words for him, but nothing happened.  Edwin could feel the power welling up somewhere, but there was some sort of gate locked tight that was holding it back.

"What was that?" he asked.

"...Edwin.  I can't be sure, but I think it is possible you were just chosen."

"Chosen?  What, like another contract?" Edwin said with a smile.

"Um... yes.  It is entirely possible that you may have just formed a partial contract with an elder dragon."

Edwin's brain exploded.  He dropped Squiggers and lay there drooling.  He had always dreamed of meeting an elder dragon.  Most said that they died out long ago, but Edwin was not convinced.  So, the idea of haivng a contract with one was a little bit too much for his brian to handle.

"Wait, didn't the dragons die out ages ago?" he said, once the neurons were firing normally in his brain again.

"Psh, even you don't believe that story, Edwin.  But if you want the facts, they have hidden themselves away and usually take the role of guardians of some sort.  Being able to take whatever form they wish is certainly helpful.  They usually don't make contracts though.  My guess is that a newborn, probably not even one hundred years old yet, has chosen to test you."

Edwin's brain exploded again.  Once he was sober again and had wiped up all the drool, he asked, "So, where is he?  How do I complete this contract thing?  And why can't I use fire magic?"

Ariel rolled her eyes, "well, I have no idea where he is.  Probably long gone by now.  The way you complete the contract is, well, you wait for him to test you until he is satisfied, then he will make his presence known.  The reason  you cannot use fire maigc is you never completed my training.  The dragon, for whatever reason, took control during your trance and tested you.  The fireball you saw when you regained conciousness was the dragon's magic flowing through you..."

"So...  what you are saying is, you have no idea when I'll get to ride a dragon and shoot fireballs."

"Yep." she said with a wink.

"You're so useless, you know that?" Edwin said, sticking his tounge out at Ariel.

At this they began a series of insults that culminated in another tickle fight.  After they had both laughed till it hurt to even grin, they headed back home.  It was dark now, but the moon was full and bright illuminating the path home.  When they got back, they found out that the back door had been locked.  They must have forgot Edwin was not in his room and locked up for the night.  So, he and Ariel had to fuble around the yard to find the spare key to the front door.  Evenutally they found it and crept inside.  Edwin did his best to move to his bed in silence, only knocking over a couple chiars and stubbing his toe once.  Finally he was in bed and drifting off into a peaceful sleep, dreaming of the adventures that were to come.

The Chronicles of Edwin, Ch. 12 "Fire and Ice"

It had been a while since he had left that strange scene on the road, well, okay, three days.  But to Edwin, it felt like weeks.  The attack, the damsel in distress, the comedic duo that escorted him home... it was a little hard to believe that actually happened, it was too much like the movies.  Edwin was enjoying the news, however.  The big story right now was the mysterious attack and the unnamed hero that saved the general's daughter.  Plus, they kept playing a clip of Keely.  Edwin had to admit, he was quite smitten with her.

Squiggers jumped up in front of the TV, posed like a model, and made a big show of blinking her eyes.  "Edwin's in love!" she said mockingly, drawing out her vowels.

Edwin threw a shoe at her which smacked the TV with a hollow clang.  Squiggers stuck her tongue out and started prancing around the room, "Keely and Edwin sitting in a tree K I S S I..."

Whump!  Edwin tackled her, slid a finger along the faint tatoo on his arm and she disappeared, her spirit merging with his through the contract.  Just then Edwin's mom walked in.  "What was that noise?"

"Sorry mom, I tripped."

"You alright?"

Edwin laughed, "it's me mom, built like a boulder, nothing's gonna hurt me."

She smiled, "I'm more worried about the house than you, I mean, are you doing okay?"  she nodded at the TV.

Edwin understood what she meant, "I'm fine mom, it was just a Jeed."

His mother knew better than to take that at face value, but she decided it would be better to let it be.  She smiled, "well, okay.  We'll go out shopping for another one once your father finishes this project."  She came over and gave Edwin a hug before leaving.

"Thanks mom..." he said as she left.

Edwin had told her about most of what happened, how the Jeed had died and how he met the O'Connors.  He left out the fact that he was rather infatuated, though.  Edwin still wasn't really comfortable talking to his parents about girls.  It just was not a subject that came up in the house a lot.  Of course, Edwin guessed that his mom probably knew anyway.  She would make awkward comments during the news like, "oh, she's cute, Ed, and you saved her?  haha" then she'd elbow him.  Why are moms like that?

Edwin whispered, "Ariel, I summon thee."  Edwin's tattoo glowed and out popped Squiggers with a sparkle.

"What'd ya do that for?  ...big meanie"

Edwin sighed, "come on, you know I hate being teased like that."

"But you do like her.  Why so embarrassed?"

"Meh, I don't know, I just am... okay?"  Edwin paused, "haven't told anyone but you anyway."

Squiggers laughed, "haha, even that is only because I can read your mind through the contract."  She nodded at the tattoo with a smug look on her face.

Edwin turned off off the TV and slouched down in his seat.  His features were lost in thought for a few moments then he asked, "Squiggers, do you think I'll ever see her again?"

Squiggers tried to keep a straight face, then burst out laughing.  "Bahahaha, you're hopeless!"  Edwin shot her an evil look, to which she retorted, "you'll see her again on the 10:00 news!  Baha-whoa!"  She barely dodged Edwin's other shoe.  Before she was up again Edwin had caught her.  She could feel the terrible twitching torturous tickling hands of doom descend upon her.  "Oh no!  Stop it, bahahahahaha, sto-ahahahahahaha, oh please, wheehehehehehe..."

The two of them rolled around as Edwin tickled Squiggers and she tried to escape.  Finally they both fell in a heaving heap.  Squiggers was want for breath for all the laughing, and Edwin for all the tickling.  As they both lay there, eyes glazed and staring through the ceiling, Edwin said, "You know, I was fine before I met Keely, and nothing has actually changed.  So, what is it about her existence that troubles mine so greatly?"

"Emotions, Edwin, are something we do not have control over.  Thoughts and actions, however, are a different story.  They are what give our emotions shape and power.  You need to stop fixating on the problem and let the solution work itself out by the will of the Great Designer."  She let her words sink in then continued, "Come on, let's go train by the river, that should take your mind of things.  Maybe you'll even get the hang of fire spells" she said with a wink.

Edwin sprang to life at the mention of fire. They both got up, Edwin grabbed his things and yelled to his mother as they bounded out the door.  "Going out, be back for dinner!"  With that they were gone.  He and Ariel went tramping out through the woods behind Edwin's house to an old secluded spot they had found a while back.  It was a ways off from any houses and was by a little creek.  It was a natural clearing by the creek bed that was good for all sorts of exercises.  The steep bank on the other side and the larger rocks made for a good place to practice balance and the like.  Plus with ample brush and fallen branches around, there were ample supplies for a natural training ground.  But most importantly, it was very private.

They finally arrived and Edwin asked, "you finally going to teach me some magic today?"  Edwin's face exploded with anticipation.

"I'm insulted!  Don't tell me you have not enjoyed learning my enhancement techniques?  I worked hard to teach you those..."

"Hard you say?  You sat and ate grapes while I did all sorts of absurd tasks that I'm pretty sure you made up on the spot!  ...where the heck did you get the grapes anyway?"  Squiggers points to a grapevine nearby.  Edwin just blinked, not quite sure when that had appeared or if it were even real.

"Whether I was eating grapes or not is not important.  It's time to learn some new spells!"  She said, emphasizing the end of her statement.

"But... hey?!  you...  Oh never mind.  Fire spells...  what grueling task would you have me do today then?"

"Strip."

"Strip what?"

"Gah, no, I mean get naked..."

Edwin blushed.

"Oh geeze, you'll keep your drawers on."

That still wasn't doing it for Edwin.  "Why on earth would you have me strip in the woods in the middle of winter?  What if someone walked by?"

Ariel laughed, "you know nobody comes around here, and besides, I'll be on lookout."

"Fine, but it's still ridiculously cold.  I'm wearing two jackets for goodness sakes!"

"Edwin, do you know how you learn to shape flames?"

"Of course not."

"You have to freeze, I mean really freeze.  Like, you'll probably risk hypothermia and death if you fail this test."

Edwin's heart stopped for a second.  He had never thought about the inherent risk in learning to use magic.  In magitech devices all the reactions are controlled in a medium, often crystals and energy conducting metals.  But if too much energy went through at once or the magical equations were off the wires could vaporize or the crystals explode.  Edwin tried to shake the unpleasant thought of exploding there in the woods.

Ariel watched Edwin think and when she thought he had really understood what was going on she continued.  "Fire magic is one of the most powerful and most destructive, but it is also more risky.  I have seen several talented wizards freeze to death trying to learn just the basics.  But you have two things they did not."

Edwin perked up at this.

"First, you have the blood of an ancient race of giants running in your veins.  That is a powerful magical catalyst..."

"Wait, I thought the giants were powerful earth magic users, not fire."  Edwin interjected.

"Well, that is true, but earth and fire are related and many forget that in The War of Three Continents, it was the giants who raised volcanoes from the earth, combining fire and earth for devastating results.  But also, the giants are one of The Hunted, during the great purge of the last century it was the giants who bore the brunt of the killings since they were among the most conspicuous of the sapien races, and the most peace loving.  During that time something snapped in the hearts of those gentle beings.  They say that it was like watching an explosion in slow motion when a pure blooded giant's composure finally broke.  There were not many who were witness to the giant's wrath and lived to tell the tale.  To bring this back to you, Edwin, you are one sixth giant.  Your great great grandfather was a pure blooded warrior giant, and that fire of his burns in you.  The aim of this training is to wake it up."

"...and to do that I have to freeze because?"

"Your body's natural bent for self preservation will seek to compensate for the cold, but when it can't you will either die or be forced to tap a new resource of warmth."

Edwin was beginning to piece things together.  "You said I have two things going for me that others did not, what is the second?"

Ariel laughed, "me of course!  Our contract lets me help you form the spell correctly, so you can avoid any unseemly syntactical errors.  Plus, once you have made the connection with your own inner flame you will be able to connect with mine which is considerably larger."  Her eyes twinkled dangerously for a moment and Edwin wondered for the first time, was she as benign as he had assumed?

They talked a bit more about the details and Ariel described more precisely what Edwin would have to do.  Finally it came down to the decision.  Edwin was apprehensive.  It is not easy to consciously strip down to nothing and submerge one's self into the icy creek water till hypothermia sets in and hope that ones mind is able to connect with his inner flame and then repel the cold just in time to live.  But Edwin had always wanted to wield fire.

"Squiggers... if I do die... what would happen to my parents, my brothers, and friends?"

Ariel knew what he was getting at.  Being privy to his most private thoughts had it's advantages at times like these.  "Well, first off, I do not think you will die.  But should that happen, you know I've shared your mind long enough to know what you would want to tell those you leave behind.  ...I probably should not say this, but I know you feel that this risk is somewhat irresponsible given your situation.  Even though you won't admit it to yourself, you are a very responsible person, other people are always a burden on your heart.  I want you to complete this training, Edwin.  I have a bad feeling about what the future holds and I've been intending to teach you these techniques for some time.  I believe that the incident where you met Keely and your Jeed died was not an isolated one, and I would like to prepare you for whatever the future holds."


Well dang...  Was all that went through Edwin's mind at that point.  "That's all a little..."

"...hard to take in.  I know, and I can't explain any more than that right now."  Ariel paused to gather her thoughts, "so, will you follow through with this training?"

Edwin, who had sat down some time ago, stood up and stretched.  "I don't see why not."  He winked as he took off his shirt and jacket.  In a matter of seconds he had stripped down and was standing at the edge of the little creek wondering what the best way to get in would be.  Should he walk in and lay down in the deepest part in stages or just go all in at once.  He was starting to shiver rather violently already and it wasn't two moments longer that he got fed up with thinking and just rushed in.

His body fell into the freezing water with a massive splash.  The initial shock of the cold took Edwin's breath away and he gasped sharply for air.  He was waiting for that peaceful feeling one gets when one gets used to the temperature of the water, like when the family would go to the beach over the Summer.  But that feeling was not coming and Edwins heart was pounding out of his chest.  He began to shiver violently shoving some of the sharper rocks in the creek into his back drawing blood.  Everything in Edwin was screaming at him to get out and find warmth, but Edwin refused to get up.  He could feel his heart and the large arteries feeding his brain with life sustaining blood.  His extremities were shutting down, the nerves were shutting off cause of the pain of going numb.  Edwin tried to think of Keely, of his family, of the instructions Ariel had given him but it all faded into the dull thud of his heart surrounded by the rushing of the freezing water.  Edwin could barely make out Ariel desperately shrieking his name as his consciousness shifted to black.