Read Online From the Ashes by Gareth K Pengelly - Free Book Online Page B

had been, of course, for it was his very nature to channel and contain power such as…
                  He froze, the incredulity of the thought striking him like a splash of cold water to the face.
                  “Your power,” he began, tentatively, “your own power, rather than that of the spirits, it can withstand the nearness of the demons, yes?”
                  Water circled him, frowning.
                  Yes, that it can. But we cannot enter your world, not ourselves. For us to step into the real world would be to unleash apocalypse.
                  Stone nodded, mind racing furiously, thinking back to the Runestone Gwenna had presented him back at the Retreat.
                  “Yes, I understand that. But a portion of your essence can be bound within a vessel, can it not? If a vessel were strong enough, it could carry your power within it. Power enough to stand against whatever the enemy can unleash…”
                  The Sylphii atop his shoulders backed off, hands to their mouths in shock as they began to register the scale of his plan, flitting away on butterfly wings, leaving trails of light behind them. Fire gazed down upon him, eerie glowing eyes that floated amidst a storm of flame.
                  Impossible. It stated. Our power is limitless. You think of the Runestone with which we gifted Wrynn, yet that mighty artefact contains but an infinitesimal fraction of our might.
                  Water nodded in accordance.
                  A brave offer, Stone. But to withstand the sapping presence of the enemy you would have to possess a permanent link to us, rather than merely contain a portion of our power. You would have to become a conduit, if you will.
                  “It would be madness,” whistled the Sylphii, the Avatar of the Air, as they flew about the cavern on streamers of glitter. “It would be insanity. An Avatar of the Avatars. Such a thing cannot be. It would violate all laws. It would be like a candle burning with the power of the Sun.”
                  Silence, for a few moments, as Stone stood before the scrutiny of the Avatars, crestfallen, bereft of hope now that his last, lunatic plan had been torn down.
                  No.
                  The booming, volcanic rumble of the Earth shattered the peace.
                  No, it repeated. It would not be madness.
                  The rest of the Avatars turned, as one, to look up at the looming mountain.
                  I have felt his strength, continued the Earth . I know him, as I know each of my creatures. The enemy have changed him, corrupting him on the genetic level, the atomic, the quantum. But within their taint lies the key to our salvation.
                  A crunching, grinding rumble as the mountain sank to one knee, bending down to regard Stone with abyssal obsidian eyes. Even crouched thus, he still loomed above the gathered elements and the onyx island.
                  I believe that Stone can withstand our might. I believe he truly could be an ‘Avatar of the Avatars.’
                  Water turned to Stone, a smile beginning to creep across her face at the prospect of attempting something so daring, so insane that even the eternal elements were apprehensive at the thought.
                  My brother’s confidence is all I need Stone, she told him with a gushing torrent of syllables that nearly washed him away in their excitement. Are you really willing to do this? Are you willing to risk channelling our might? Willing to risk death for the chance of salvation?

              Stone closed his eyes as he thought. Was he? He had been so many things over the years. So many incarnations. But this was a choice, it was not forced upon him. They had made that