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

indecipherable, aside from the one bit that mentioned the Orbs. If there was anything about a “Chosen of the Manifold,” then it would have to be from another passage. As much as he hated it, he might have to trust the Queen on that one. At least for now.

“Long story short,” the Sorceress-Queen said, “we must work together to find out how to find the rest of the Orbs. And to piece together whatever fragments of The Prophecy of the Seven that we can.”

“Does The Prophecy of the Seven reveal the locations of the Orbs?”

“Yes. Where do you think Shantozar’s line comes from?

“Under the White World with red-whorl eye,

Upon a moon of violet, violent sky;

Peers beneath Burning Sands and wind,

Lies the Amethyst of Starsea within.”

“Elder Jalisa said as much,” Lucian said, without thinking.

“Jalisa.” The Sorceress-Queen gave a short laugh. “I exiled her from the borders of Dara. We had something of a . . . disagreement.”

“What disagreement?” Lucian asked.

“It was long ago.” She seemed ready to move on to more important matters. “Most days, I pore over the lines of Arian’s work for additional clues, but so far, my efforts have been fruitless. And of course, I have spoken with the Oracle, whose spirit abides in the Burning Sands. From him, I had the revelation that the Chosen of the Manifold would come to Psyche and point the way to the Orb of Psionics. That he would bear one of the Seven Jewels of Starsea.” Her eyes became focused and beady. “I have never felt such raw power, Lucian. Such a void you created in the ethereal background. It was as if all ether disappeared from a single spot. I have . . . never experienced that before. It was quickly refilled, but for a few seconds, it was as if the foundations of the Manifold itself were shaken.”

Lucian tried to ignore the hunger in her eyes. “That wasn’t me, but the Orb.”

“It was both,” the Queen said. “Your Focus is strong, but not just anyone can control the stream of an Orb.” Her face became sorrowful. “Alas, the Orb of Binding will not work for you forever. It will only obey one powerful enough to wield it.” She watched him with a neutral expression. “And you are most certainly not that yet.”

Lucian didn’t see any point to denying it. It seemed she already knew everything he knew, and more. Even the Oracle had said wielding the Orb of Binding would require competence, that it respected power and the wielder’s heart. Lucian was failing on one of those two counts, and perhaps even both.

“The solution isn’t what you think,” the Queen went on. “That I take your Orb. If it were that easy, I would have done so already. The solution is for you to become stronger. That is how I can help.”

Lucian couldn’t help but be curious. “How?”

“I have delved the Manifold itself,” the Queen said. “It’s dangerous, but it only kills those who are weak, those who are not devoted to their cause. I am so devoted that I am willing to lay down my power, my crown, my very flesh to help you, Lucian. I’ve learned much from the Manifold. I can teach you to use the Orbs effectively. Following me is the right path because the Orb wants you to work with me.”

How could that be true? “I can handle the Orb fine. I don’t need your help.”

But it seemed the Queen sensed his weakness, his doubt. “Don’t you? You know that’s not true, so let’s not deceive ourselves. The Orb has been testing you. And you have been failing. You are using the Orb like a hammer, like an ace up your sleeve to get out of any trouble you land yourself in. The Orb sees this as a flagrant abuse of its spirit and abilities. It does not exist to serve you, Lucian. It has a higher purpose. And unless you are working toward that purpose with tangible results, it will betray you. And as a last resort, it will even allow you to die to pass on to one who is more capable. Perhaps then you will not be as Chosen as you think you are.”

“What are you talking about?”

“One who is Chosen, can be un-Chosen. There’s nothing magical that says it has to be you. You have a destiny, Lucian. This isn’t about you anymore, what you want or need. Just as my empire and my wants and needs pale in comparison to necessity. That necessity is that we work together, for the good of magekind.”

Lucian was quiet as he considered her words. He never dreamed he might agree with her, but everything she’d said made a strange sort of sense. He didn’t delude himself that she was a good person. But a good Queen and a good person were not necessarily the same thing.

“It’s a lot.”

“I understand,” she said. “But we are on the same side. I would never ask you to give up what one of the great Oracles of Starsea deigned to give you. That is an honor not even bestowed on me. You are a de facto Vigilant of Starsea, a holder of one of the Orbs. Were we in those days, billions would now be under your command, with sycophants, advisors, and armadas sworn to your name. You would have honors, riches, and titles beyond your wildest imaginings.” Her eyes shone brightly, as if those hypothetical things were actually real. “Even if you don’t see yourself as such, you are a Vigilant. And you will become an even more powerful one once you add the Orb of Psionics to your retinue. But you will never reach those lofty heights without my help. Do you really think I would be speaking to you as an equal if this were not so?”

His mind was reeling. “What are you getting at?”

“You need a mentor, Lucian. Someone who can hold her own. You are young, yes, but you