It awoke, displaced from time and space. A being so powerful it couldn’t even consider itself alive. It was the Apex. Realities, Dimensions. Singularities. They are merely family lines to trace it’s fall through existence. Slumbering it did. For why be awake if you’re alone? Meant to take a nap but when it awoke, it found that so much time had passed. Time? Such a curious mechanism. A lock to keep the children close enough to bring them back in again.

What happens and what does not. It doesn’t bother to give it thought. For it was all and everything in everything. The first and last and before and past. The almighty. Thinks. Not in an instant but in an eternity. Writing it’s book of fantasy fiction to bore reality…

It would seem the page is almost full, a time to turn. Gilded in gold. No aid, no effort, no thought, no emotion. For when you’ve everything it cancels out to nothing and to feel you must pour more than the other. What does it need now? This moment of decision. It’ll ripple down, they might not know, ever… never. But it’ll grow and maybe one day it’ll be two.

Not alone.

What was one, is two, then three. A trinity. Was it it’s dream? What's next? A fourth to set the course then what? Keep going…

I made you out of me and then you made them out of you. I am through it all, and still I remain…

______________________________________

I awoke in a new room, this time a bit less comfortable than then the last. A bit further out from the rest of civilization. What remains of the Olcan Clan. The Goblin hut was made for goblin’s stature and not accommodated for the taste and fashion of the more pretentious races. This is what I imagine. Corin picks herself up off the dirt floor laying upon a fur carpet laid down for her and them all to sleep upon. Tye and Locke hadn’t fallen asleep it seems. They seem engaged with the Matriarch by the kettle as the noise of a small goblin, Tetters, can be heard scuffling about a giant’s presence just outside, outback, by the bath.

“Children, you argue over nothing. Your powers are your own. I cannot intervene.” the Matriarch complains. “You shouldn’t think so concretely about magic. It will lead you astray.”

“I am just trying to figure out the rules. So I don’t hurt anyone else.” Locke confides. She seems exhausted and worried.

“Yeah, I mean, I need to not burn people alive by accident. That would be nice.” Tye concurs.

“Well, you my child, as I’ve said before and again a thousand times by now, are more in tune with me and my people. For we are of Fire and stone. It does not burn us so you are safe here with me and my charge. I am confident enough.” The Matriarch states.

“So we’re making what again?” Tye asks while she stirs the kettle hanging over the fire within the hut. She is crouched as is Tye ever so slightly to fit into the space. Cramming herself into place between all the books and random trinkets and odds and ends the goblin has managed to horde into this small space. Built into isles as if it were a shopping center but overflowing.

“I am making a tonic that’ll allow the others to stand amongst your fire unharmed. Nora cannot be hurt by your actions but it seems you can injure each other. So I am making you totems to protect against the flame.” The matriarch states as she ruffles through her belongings.

“It seems to speak to me.” Tye confesses to her looking for answers no doubt. “I don’t hear it but I feel it’s intentions?”

“Yes, very good observation, little one. The fire has names and a will. It hungers, it laughs, it becomes sad and it does all those things. You must be able to recognize it. Harness it for your spells.” The matriarch confirms.

I brush myself off and crawl into the group's sight now and am acknowledged by the old Matriarch first. Caught in her sight by the corner of her eye while still lingering in the shadows of the hut.

“Ah, it seems the other one has finally awakened. Corin, if I’m not mistaken?” She greets.

“Good morning… I think.” I nod my head. It’s eerie in here, the fire dances at random and the flames when the spark doesn't initially die they run about here and there. Touch things that would otherwise ignite. Held within some sort of barrier… a circle etched into the ground marking where it is allowed to go no doubt. I notice it’s etched maybe an inch deep into the floor surrounding the kettle.

“I’m unsure of myself.” Tye admits. The Matriarch bows her head. 

“You are as lost as anyone. Like the rest of us. Seeking shelter by a fire but I’m going to tell you something..” The matriarch confides. “That fire, it’s ambition. It’s intuition. I’ll guide you to eternity. The land of free. Where everything happens." 

She seems to speak from faith at this moment. The words sound idealistic. Like a sort of heaven for goblins.

“Do you believe in something? More?” I inquire.

“Oh, child.. We live in infinity. There is always more.” The Matriarch replies. “The stars, the skies, everything you can imagine and see. Feel and think. What does it all mean?”

“Well I don’t know that's a very big question.” Corin replies as Tye and Locke fidget about themselves. Making room for Corin to sit near the roiling brew fire light.

“It’s fiction till it’s not. Reality without a thought.” The Matriarch laughs, sounding a bit insane as she does so. Stirring the pot.

“Magic, it does not limit. It breaks what cannot be broken. It is a fail safe.” The Matriarch continues stirring her stew. “It’ll grab you and shake out what it can to align you with its central plan. For we are in a crystalline state through time and space. A singularity brimming with possibility. To collapse or to not is the thought. Continue forward or end the story. Nobody knows. Time just flows.”

“This is all not very helpful.” Locke complains. “I’ve got this ability that apparently kills things. I don’t know how to control it. I think it revolves around my emotions and I thought I had them under control but I don’t.”

“I’m supposed to say words to activate it. Like a game. I’m unsure of what I’m doing or if I should even try.” Locke rambles on.

“Dude, this fire, it just jumps onto me. I don’t know what the mystery is here. Like, they just like me? So maybe your ability works like that?” Tye interjects.

“I don’t think I have any abilities. Actually.” I say as I pull my hands toward the pyre beneath the kettle for warmth. I can’t help but notice the eyeing glare of the goblin matriarch upon me. It feels as if she doesn’t trust me. As if there is more than looking happening behind her eyes…

“Are you doing something to me?” I ask her.

“Relax, my child, I’ve an eye for these things and it sees what it sees.” The Matriarch writes me off with a huh. As she stirs her kettle. “What you are sensing is my magic, I’ve always have it. I do not turn it off because it is alive and I do not control it I merely… mold it to my intentions.” She says. “I insist… It just seems to react to you. It’s alive and dancing. This is true. I wonder what it sees. I can only observe how it reacts. I cannot read its thoughts, you understand?”

“Not really,” I confess.

“Yes, well, it is unendingly interesting to be in your presence. I wish I could lock you up and keep you here suspended. For observation my dear. I believe I could make very strong magic with you near.” she finishes. Tye, Locke and I back away a bit as if confronted by a witch.

“I’d prefer to be not that.” What the hell is she talking about? Does she want to keep me in a cage like a bird or something? Like a battery? I gulp.

“It interests me greatly. That it does…” the Matriarch finishes as she cackles and continues her mission.

“Maybe you should leave.” Tye whispers to me. She’s sitting beside me to my right. Locke to my left. She’s beautiful. Both of them. It’s kinda obnoxious. The thing that really catches my attention is their matching eyes. Boys for blues, girls got the greens but Tye remains the same. Empty funnel, endless blue, true.

“I’m alright, Locke can kill her if she gets too crazy.” I reply flatly.

Locke doesn’t seem to take the joke lightly. It seems to bother her more. Oops. bad place for sarcasm I guess. 

“Hey man, I’m not afraid of you. You’ll figure this shit out.” I try to tell her. Her, Locke, female form. Long white hair, glasses, perfect nose, teeth, lips supple. Pink. skin white and unblemished. Outside of all the dirt we’ve gathered getting into here she’d be beyond renown. I admit Tye might be the most attractive woman I have ever seen. Gross. But Locke gives her at least a decent run for her money. I shouldn’t be thinking like this. Everyone has their own taste as do I. It’s very pig-like to indulge right? Idk, I’ll ask for forgiveness later…

“You didn’t hear what I said, did you?” Locke states.

“What?”

“You just zoned out.” Locke says, “I know that look you didn’t hear a word of what I said.”

“Well, I’m sorry, you got me. I’m trying to process everything that's going on here. It’s kinda’ a brain overload right?” I am trying to ease the tension, confession.

“Fair.” Locke affirms. “What I said was I only felt like doing it. I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“Yes, child. Yes. That is the difference between your powers and mine.” The Goblin Matriarch interjects. “See, I’ve intentions and I’ve to ask and perform. You have the ability to just do. No asking. It’s appalling in a way..” she cackles.

“So, our abilities are tied to our emotions and your magic is tied to…” Tye states out loud.

“So intention. Yes, remember this. Your abilities lie in your desires. You will them into happening around you without thought. Random. Dangerous. You must find a way to control that and harness it if you’re to protect our Nora and finally vanquish this Demon from these lands.” The matriarch finishes. She seems supremely satisfied with herself as she walks away from the kettle she’s been tending to sit at a chair not quite buried beneath the hoarding. Just outside the circle array.

“Alright I just gotta control my emotions. That’s not hard at all!” Tye laughs out loud.

“I get the feeling he’s going to be the worst at this.” I state bluntly to Locke.

“You read my mind.”

“So exciting!” the Matriarch laughs out loud in her rocking chair cackling. Tye, while crouched, laughs to herself too out loud in a similar display of arrogance.

“Can you believe this shit?” I ask Locke.

“I can’t really believe anything anymore…” Locke responds.

“Hey, didn’t you just wake up?” Tye pokes me while asking. 

“Well yeah I did.” I yawn. 

“Then why aren’t you?” Tye replies. 

“Oh god!?” I scream. 

“Children, children don’t get all excited. It’s part of the process; it'll flip and stay if it’s supposed to. Might have longer stints but it’ll settle.” The Matriarch assures us. 

“You’re certain?” Tye pleads. “I mean sure lie to me if you must. Or kill me now.”

“Don’t be so dramatic dude.” I scoff. 

“See this is why you’re loosing your battle for your masculinity. You don’t cherish it dude. Total chic attitude. Flippant and emotional and shit.” Tye replies back. 

“Who’s being emotional you’re literally about to sob about it. If anything I’m being stoic.” I retorted.

“Stoic? You can shove that robot shit up your new hole loser. I don’t wanna be a girl forever.” Tye replies back. 

“Well don’t worry you’ll eventually die. So you won’t be anything for very long right?” I joke. 

“Fuck you.” He finishes. 

Tye crosses her arms, scowling, but the firelight flickers in her blue eyes. I smirk. Some things never change, even if everything else does.

Obstacle 31. Paige