The Rifts of Psyche by Kyle West (i love reading .txt) 📕

Lucian said. “I know you’re a Radiant, but you can’t stream that ward nonstop.”

“That is why we must get moving now, Lucian,” he said. “It’s my job to get you to the Orb of Psionics safely. And yes, that might require sacrifice on my end.” His gaze took in the rest of them. “Just as it will take sacrifice for all of us.”

The other two were quiet at that. Serah looked off into the darkness, while Cleon kicked a rock.

“Another thing,” Fergus said. “It’s a miracle we’ve made it this far with all this conflict and bickering among us. That’s something I’ve been meaning to say for quite a while. We must work together as a team or we’ll never make it to the Burning Sands, much less Dara or even Slave’s Run. We have strength together. We cover each other’s weaknesses well. But if we each have our own goals and ambitions, then this mission has already failed.”

It probably wasn’t what anyone wanted to hear, but it had the ring of truth. Lucian felt the others’ eyes going to him, as if he needed to say something. He supposed that made sense. It was because of him that anyone was here at all.

“I know coming down here is not anything you guys had in mind,” Lucian began, somewhat awkwardly. “It’s definitely not what I had in mind. None of us asked to be mages. It’s just . . . something we’re stuck with, I guess.” To his surprise, they seemed to be listening to him. “As for me, I have no choice but to keep going. There’s no home for me to go to. I have no friends or family left. This stupid mission is the only thing I’ve got. I could refuse to do it. I’ve thought about that countless times. But if I do, where does that leave everyone else? Or even me? If I had another choice, I’d have taken it already. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m sorry all of you are caught up in this. You’re victims just as much as I am.” He lowered his head. “I hope none of you have to die for this. That . . . wouldn’t be fair.”

There was a long silence following that. He had overshared. Why would they care about his own misgivings, or even accept his apology? It was too late for that now.

Fergus broke the silence. “I underestimated you, Lucian. I apologize for that. You carry an incredible burden. A burden that will be impossible for you to see through without help.”

Everything wanted to spill out of Lucian. Here in the darkness, what he said didn’t seem to matter. All of them were probably going to die, anyway. What was the harm in being honest?

“That’s my problem,” Lucian said. “Accepting help. Always has been. I was a problem child. Grew up without a dad. My mom was always off fighting some war or another. I had to raise myself, mostly. I’m sure my life was easier than everyone else’s here, so I probably have no excuse. But I had no one to help me, so I had to help myself. I still work that way. Even now, it hurts to ever need help. I’d do this on my own if I could. Take on the whole world if it meant no one else had to suffer.” He sighed. “I can’t, though. I tried to do it all on my own at the Academy, and they exiled me. Maybe I should just stop fighting the tide.”

He looked up at the others, who were all watching and listening. He wanted to stop talking, but he might as well complete his thoughts since he’d come this far.

“It’s not fair to ask you for anything. But you’re already here, voluntarily or not. The truth is, I need your help. We need to get to Dara, first. And after Dara, we need to reach the Burning Sands and the Orb of Psionics. I don’t know how that’s going to happen, but we’re out of options. For some reason, I’m the one the Oracle entrusted with the Orb of Binding. If I die, one of you will have to finish what I started. I’ve already told you everything I know about it.”

“I wouldn’t take that thing if my life depended on it,” Cleon said.

“If you were there, listening to the Oracle as I did, you might change your mind,” Lucian said. “Wars were fought over a single one of these back in the times of Starsea. Everyone wants to live forever. Everyone wants the power to change the universe. Right?”

“I don’t know what I’d do with an Orb,” Cleon said. “Not save the rotting universe, I’ll tell you that much.”

“I’d run far away,” Serah said. “Find a way off this moon somehow. See the Worlds I hear off-worlders talking about. Has to be a way of doing that with an Orb.”

“What about you, Fergus?” Cleon asked. “You’re awfully quiet.”

The Captain’s eyes were closed. “I’d use it to make the Riftlands safe. And I would keep the Queen and her soldiers far away.”

“That’s a Fergus answer if I ever heard one,” Serah said. She frowned in thought. “Speaking of Starsea, there’s a city of ruins on an island in the middle of the Moon Sea. I’ve never been there before, but I’ve seen it from a distance. I’ve always known that old city is theirs.”

“Wait,” Cleon said. “You’re saying there’s a city down there, and you’re just now telling us?”

“There hasn’t been much time to talk,” Serah said. “Besides, there was no point in mentioning the Moon City. I never honestly believed we might make it this far. I only caught a glimpse of it.” Her blue eyes found Lucian’s. “It was beautiful, but sad. Towers, broken bridges, all rising like ghosts above the still surface of the water. When you told me about Miami, Lucian, I thought of the Moon City.”

Lucian knew the two probably couldn’t be