Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-37824398-20191127220126/@comment-37824398-20191128002544

 Chapter One

Cold.

'''That’s all Sophie could feel. Cold. Cold. Cold.'''

She was barely aware of the fact that she was tumbling down, further, falling.

'''She couldn’t think. Couldn’t move. Cold. Could barely breathe, let alone regulate her temperature the way Keefe had taught her.'''

Keefe.

'''With a strangled cry, Sophie forced her eyes open, ignoring the suffocating chill around her. She couldn’t let herself get distracted. This was for Keefe. She could never live with herself, if...if…'''

“Sophie?”

'''Councilor Oralie’s soft, soothing voice broke through Sophie’s freezing frenzy. For a moment Sophie forgot that she hated Oralie now. Then it all came rushing back to her, in a lukewarm blur.'''

'''“Where are we?” she asked, reluctant to look past her anger at Oralie. Her voice echoed throughout the empty, dark space, where Sophie could feel her consciousness tumbling.'''

'''“I believe we are in a sort of passageway,” Oralie said softly. “I think—”'''

'''Sophie felt a steep drop, and she interrupted Oralie with a strangled yelp. “When will we get to the Forbidden Secret?”'''

'''She could hear Oralie swallowing. “I think...I think I have to say the password now. The one my subconscious mind knows. Again.”'''

'''“Well, what are you waiting for?” Sophie snapped. “Stellarlune,” she said, her voice sucked into the emptiness.'''

'''“I believe I have to say it,” Oralie’s voice whispered. She sounded like she was about to say one last thing, then changed her mind. “Stellarlune.”'''

'''At first, nothing happened. And then there was a rush of warm air, and Sophie felt herself land as the cold finally thawed.'''

'''Everything was soft. It was like marshmallows were layering the inside of Sophie’s brain. Soft. Calm.'''

'''And then a voice broke through the haze. A deep, rich, velvety voice Sophie had heard a million times before.'''

Sophie opened her eyes.

'''The changes in Councilor Emery were hardly discernible, but Sophie could still tell he was younger. His eyes seemed...softer, somehow, and he carried himself differently.'''

'''Sophie forced herself to focus on his words, even though every bit of herself felt drained. “We have reason to believe there is a new element,” Emery was saying.'''

'''Sophie straightened, opened her mouth. No, that wasn’t right. Sophie felt herself straighten and open her mouth, but it wasn’t her doing it.'''

What…?

And then Sophie began speaking, and Oralie’s voice came out.

'''“How would there be a new element?” Sophie/Oralie asked. “That’s impossible. We already know of all of them: air, water, earth, quintessence, fire, and….shadowflux.” There was a grimace in her voice on the word ‘shadowflux’. There was also the slightest tremor when she said ‘fire’, but not quite as much.'''

'''Sophie tried to turn her head, observe her surroundings, but her body wouldn’t obey any of her commands. She couldn’t even tilt her eyes downward to see if it was really her body. It was like she was Oralie, experiencing the moment, except that because she wasn’t really Oralie she couldn’t control what she was doing.'''

Not all memories were meant to be shared.

'''“You are correct, Oralie,” Emery said. He paused, cleared his throat, smoothed an already-in-place strand of his hair. “At least, you would have been correct. It’s true that there are six natural elements.”'''

'''“Natural?” a familiar voice beside Sophie/Oralie asked. Sophie’s mind felt like it had been frozen as her/Oralie’s head turned to face the elf who had spoken. “As opposed to what?”'''

'''Kenric looked exactly the way Sophie remembered him. For a moment he glanced away from Emery and seemed to make eye contact with her, and a fierce stab of guilt threatened to eat Sophie’s sanity away.'''

Then Kenric blushed, and Sophie remembered that he was looking at Oralie.

'''Emery cleared his throat again, and Sophie/Oralie turned back to face him. “Likely you have heard that humans are known to experiment and create unnatural things, which they call ‘manmade’?”'''

'''“Yes,” said Sophie/Oralie. She heard affirmative sounds all around her. Although she couldn’t look directly at them, Sophie could see other Councilors in her peripheral vision. If she tried to focus on them for long enough, though, she felt nauseous.'''

'''“Well,” Emery went on, “a group of elves has been inspired by those humans to create what they call elfmade elements. One, specifically.”'''

Emery continued speaking, but Sophie was already sure she knew what he was going to say.

An elfmade element.

Stellarlune.

She came to, startled, when she heard a familiar name.

'''“This project has been brought to our attention by its leader, Lady Gisela Arnelle.” Emery smiled. His teeth were so, so white. “According to Lady Gisela, she is in charge of a group called the Neverseen.”'''

'''Oralie’s body stood strong, but inside, Sophie was shaking. In charge of a group called the Neverseen.'''

The Councilors knew about the Neverseen?