Page 22 of Orange Sky
“A pity. Axad talks about Coone a lot. How he pesters him with all sorts of stories. Though he said it irritably, I knew he is fond of this Coone. And that he looked strange. This boy looks strange to me. I thought.” Nokin shrugged. “So tell us Zirc. Why are you here?”
Yes, my question exactly.
“I found the relic.”
The place became silent as a tomb.
10
Zirc
Isaw both parents of Axad straightened from their seats. Ah, they know. Of course, being tribal leaders, they have access to such information.
“Where?”, Runax asked. He is eager to know where, not what kind of relic it was. Most relics, they leave a magical residue over time and can be harnessed. Runax is fully capable of harnessing the relic’s residue.
“In the outermost region of Crane.”
“You went to the Crane?”
“How can you stand the stench of that wasteland?”
Both leaders grumbled and knowing how they like everything in order, they will not dare go to the Crane. This is why they think Axad is a disappointment to them. He doesn’t mind that he gets dirty every now and then. If these two had any idea what Axad is eating they will drag him back home by fangs and tail.
“What kind of relic is it?”, Nokin harrumphed. From his tone of voice, he doesn’t even want to see it because it came from the Crane.
I drew the crystal from inside my vest. I unwrapped the black covering and I wasn’t surprised when they both gasped.
Even I was amazed by the glowing crystal. It beats regularly like our heartbeat.
“By the ancestors,” Runax breathed and stood up. Nokin was stupefied.
Of all colors for the relic to be, it is blue. The color of their tribe.
Runax came forward and knelt before the crystal on my hand. He reached for it with one hand but stopped. And looked at me for permission. I nodded. Strange when he is a tribal leader and I am not.
He carefully, like a precious child, took the glowing crystal and its warmth left my hand. Runax carefully held it with both of his hands and slowly stood up. He looked years younger as he surveyed it with wonder. As far as we all know, it is the only known glowing crystal ever recorded.
“Have you used it yet?” Nokin is now approaching Runax who stood up and took it to him.
“I dare not,” I answered. I was tempted to do so.
Runax aimed narrowed eyes at me. “I see why Axad admires you as well. And follows you,” he grumbled.
I hid a smirk. Axad is a precious member of my small team. I lead them but all know they are free to leave whenever they want. We banded together because circumstances led us to one another.
“The High Council forbade me to use it. No one knows how to use it so we need their laboratory to test it. And I believe them.”
“Why do you think so? Oh, careful now Runax,” Nokin said as Runax carefully transferred the crystal to him. “We don’t know if this is stable enough.”
Runax straightened, his shoulders touching Nokin effortlessly making a connection. The two remind them painfully of how close his parents were Before It Happened.
“It fell from the sky.”
Nokin hands trembled but Runax’s hands were there to support the crystal. “W-What did you say?,” Nokin’s aqua blue eyes are so much like Axad though his built and coloring is like Runax.
“It fell from the sky,” I repeated. I can feel Brin stiffening beside me. “The High Council said to head northwest. They said I will know when I see it. When it falls from the sky.”
Runax snorted. “Those old farts! I can just imagine them summoning you, all pompous and royalty like but delivering a vague message.”
