#leximancy

They used to be. For a long time, they couldn’t stop looking over their shoulder every time Avoki came near. They knew Avoki was on their side. But still...something is so off about them that Alekos could feel it.

It’s as if darkness itself clings to them, covering everything around them in shadows.

And who are you to call the gods liars? You who wield their power in your fingertips, live on their land that they created, live a life made for you by them--who are you to say they’ve abandoned you? To them, you are nothing.

If I didn’t carry their blessing, walk their land, live the life created for me, then they would be nothing. I wield my own life; it is a blade they forged for me and me alone. I am everything. I am the reason they thrive. Without me, without us, they would be nothing. I don’t call to them as a flea wishing for the power of giants, I demand answers as an equal who refuses to cower under the grandeur of their names....

“I am life itself,” Alekos whispers as their fingers trace the words on the page. Like with all words, they felt the power behind them. Rage, defiance, pure unbridled emotions...a designer’s curse.

A curse they’re willing to bear if it means answers.

Question after question went unanswered. Still, Alekos prodded. Trying to get information from this companion of theirs that refused to ever utter a word. They wanted information - they want to know!! Who are they? Why did they agree to this? What’s their favorite color? Something, something must get this person to talk.

Alekos knows they’re annoying. They’d never trade their curiosity for anything. But, for once, they wonder if they crossed some sort of line.

In the silence, there is noise of creation. They see it all before them. The possibilities of everything. Of all that hides in nothing. It would take a thought to make a whole new reality. It’s the power of gods and the cosmos. What turns mortals into gods or monsters.

Alekos stares at the power they hold and calmly look towards the new god before them.

They smile.

“...What?”

Alekos doesn’t look up from their book as they point to the window, “Prove it. Jump out the window.”

“I...excuse me?” Kair stutters. “That’s suicide, I’m not going to-- how does that prove anything?”

“Ignore them,” another of the students tries to shove Kair away from Alekos’s table. “They’re trying to get a rise out of you.”

“You’ll live,” Alekos says while scribbling in their notes again. Kair, confused and fed up, brushes her friend’s hands away and shoves the nearby window open. She places a foot on the sill and turns to Alekos.

“I’ll live?”

“Will you?” Alekos finally looks up from their back, looking completely exhausted. “Or am I lying? You’re the genius, aren’t you? Figure it out.”

Kair’s friends drag her from the window and shut it. Kair glares at Alekos through their arms but Alekos doesn’t look to her. Attention already focused on their books again.

It’s not until two months later that Kair gets her answer. Dragging her bag out the gates of Novek, already anticipating the long ride home, her eyes catch some odd stones on the gate. Runes. Old runes, she can barely piece together what they’re saying. Grabbing some others from the throng of people ready to spend the holiday with their family, they piece it together as a protection charm. No harm will befall any within it’s borders.

“It’s repeated so often I’m certain it’d protect you from getting stabbed,” one of the linguists muses as xe point out the repeating sigils. “Must be there to ward off violence, or accidents.”

“Accidents?”

“Potion explosions, someone not using a faux sword, falling down stairs or --gods forbid -- the roof, blessings backfiring, things like that.”

Kair’s jaw drops. The linguist continues to chatter as Kair looks back to the library window where Alekos sits, already studying.

“No,” Vela takes Alekos’s hands and looks into their eyes. A smile breaking through his face for what seems like the first time in too long, “You wouldn’t be here unless you were meant to be. Not knowing isn’t a sign to run away but a chance to be amazed at the unknown.