Page 67 of Gift from the Source
When Draken warned me of his secretive nature, I scuffed, claiming it was only because he doesn’t know us yet.
Well, I was wrong.
V seems to know far more than he’ll ever be willing to tell. I still don’t know how he can hear everything anyone thinks, and I’ve quickly learned when to push Draken for answers on him and when I’ve overstepped with my nosiness.
For reasons we still don’t know, Draken and I get the most attention. He’s only spoken a few words to the others. Just enough to let them know he can and will infiltrate their minds if he pleases.
What my dragon man and I need from him is unclear. It’s only clear that he’s guiding both of us in two totally different ways.
“We’ve got a lot going on, V. Not much time to stop thinking.”
“I suppose that’s true. The Ancient one and your bonded sister are looking for you,”he hoots.
“I have no doubt they know where I am. They’re just slowly making their way to me to make sure I’ve finished checking on the portals.”
“And you have. So why are you playing in the grass like an animal?”
Snorting, I shake my head against his feathers, deciding blunt honesty is best with him. He’ll just call me out if I give him any other answer.“I miss the connection once I break it. The more I do it, the more I crave it.”
“That is natural. Your lineage runs through the threads of magic in this realm. It will feel more settled once the portals are reopened,”he says nonchalantly and my head whips to the side so fast, he squawks and glides to the ground in front of me.
“Reopened? I can’t reopen the portals right now. That would be devastating. The Summum-Master would be able to travel wherever he wanted.”
“Not right now, no, but one day, you must. They’re an intricate part of who you are, how you were made, and what this realm stands for. They can’t remain closed forever,”he says without any further explanation.
“I’m going to need a little more than that, V. As much as I appreciate the small nuggets of things you’ve been dropping for Draken and me, some answers would be much more appreciated. I’m already having to suck up the facthe knows what kind of creature you are and I don’t. And supposedly I can’t know yet, so why don’t you throw me a bone here?”
“Throw me a bone…I do love to hear the mortal terms every now and again.”
“V.”
“Fine, you impatient girl. Much like your Guardria, I’m a being of guidance. The main difference between us is I don’t have a bond that will connect us for all of time. I connect for the time being, when I am needed. You will learn soon enough why I am here to guide you, then you will guide me. Draken needs me now because his greatest asset is manifesting differently than his kind would usually garner their communal knowledge. He is the king of creatures, so he needs guidance, creature to creature. That is all I will speak on him. He may share with you what he pleases, within reason of what I tell him.
“My purpose of being created was to guide powerful beings in a way they don’t allow their power to corrupt them. The moment my eyes meet with my ‘connections,’ I know everything there is to know about them. I know the challenges they face and what could fix it all, but that’s not what I’m supposed to do.
“I’m well aware it drives all of you insane that you don’t get the answers you seek immediately. But it’s crucial you all learn that it would be detrimental to any involved if we told you what to do. It’s frustrating for you, yes, but I assure you, Elementra, your Guardrias, myself, none of us like to withhold information from you. It’s a matter of what’s best for you.
“You’d never grow or succeed if someone told you all the answers all the time. Not only that, but I swear to you, Willow, it’s not always best to know all the answers. That can be very lonely, haunting, and some things are just best left unknown, maybe even forgotten,”he says softly, making me feel guilty for pushing for answers.
I’ve learned the hard way the importance of timing and finding things out gradually.
It’s a level of patience I’ve yet to reach.
“You’re right. But it does get frustrating waiting for answers when you know there’re individuals who have them but won’t, maybe can’t, give them to you,”I whisper.
“I’ll give you a tip and let you in on a little secret. You need to suspend the belief you have on what all-knowing and all-powerful means. Even for creators such as yours, there are rules and exceptions. They come from forces even the most knowledgeable and ancient as me do not understand. But yes, Elementra knows everything, millennia in the making. But that includes all possibilities. She doesn’t get the right answer right away either because the paths haven’t narrowed enough for her to know one hundred percent. That doesn’t happen until the time is almost upon her. That’s why she begins her preparations so many years in advance. Multiple plans, many paths, and countless outcomes.”
“What—”
“Oh, Willy. Ready to go get thrown to our asses?” Oakly cheers behind me.
“Yeah, one sec,” I call out mindlessly while staring at V.“What do you mean? Are you telling me she doesn’t know how any of this will end either?”
“Go and learn, filia. We will have our time together soon. As will you and your creator,”he says, then hoots to Oakly and Gaster as he flies away.
“Magnificent, isn’t he?” Gaster asks as he watches him soar through the sky.
“Magnificently frustrating. I asked him for answers, he gave me answers, then left me with more questions,” I huff.
