Between Water and Fire

The wind began to pick up.  As if it were a sign for congregation, like the bells of the temples, the islanders exited their houses. The designs beneath their feet depicted swirling water and sky, the scene contrasting with the clouds that were fast approaching. As one, great, small, young, and old, the islanders made their way to stand on the beach and watch the clouds advance.

Within the approaching storm, the sky had given birth to a monster. Gray-green, bubbling and churning, growling and flashing, the beast loomed over the island. The ocean arched and rose defensively as if daring the storm to do its worst. Sea and air were at war, and nothing would come between them.

“How is the storm this close to the island?”

“The crystals should have protected us.”

“Or the barrier at least.”

The elders, who stood with the masses, had no responses to the questions and comments that were quietly murmured around them. In fact, they were just as dumbfounded as the others. How, indeed, was this possible? The crystals that stood in the summit temple should have detected and dematerialized this storm. Were they malfunctioning? And if so, why wasn’t the problem fixed?

“Halthazar?” A middle-aged man with weathered skin and salt and peppered hair turned to the elder with dark, calculating eyes.

“I recalibrated them the last time this morning as you ordered.” He responded. “But I fear we might have overreached ourselves.” The elders began to murmur worriedly amongst themselves at this news.

 Halthazar watched them, his face expressionless. He had warned the elders against coaxing more power from the crystals. They had been maxed out for the past 200 cycles as it was. What did the elders think of the recent earthquakes? That they were just the land shifting to a more comfortable position?

The crystals had begun drawing on the very earth for power and now the islanders were paying for it.

Halthazar lived higher on the hill as a researcher, a scientist. A man who dedicated his life to discovering the secrets of the crystals from the pits of the blue planet. He was not a freeman, as those on the top of the mountain were. Yet he was not a common worker, like those on the beach.

And he was happy.

Was being the key word. After the order to increase power, Halthazar didn’t get to spend much time discovering. Most of his time was spent worrying.

The crystals of the summit temple were the source of power for the island. They channeled electricity for light, for charging other crystals that resided in the lower temples and healing houses, and for controlling the weather around the island. Of course, that was just a fraction of the things those powerhouses could do. With the researchers, Haltazar included, drawing more power from the crystals, these energy sources began to become more strained. And while there was more power, there were also more complications to work around. More and more frequently the summit temple kept its researchers late into the morning to coax the crystals into more normal and cooperative behavior.  The more they stayed, the more damage they did.

“Halthazar.” Hearing his name brought the scientist back to the present. Wind was now stirring the sand at the shoreline and teasing the hair and clothes of those present. The elders were watching him closely, their white, beaded hair blowing across their golden eyes. “Halthazar, we need you and your team to go to the summit. Do what you can. The island must not fall.”

There was a long pause as Halthazar studied them. He wished a million things were running through his mind to blot out the blaring I told you so. Instead of speaking his mind, he bowed and turned away from the leaders to head up the hill.

His team saw him when he parted from the crowed and joined him. There was Siphonei, a slight, young woman with hair darker than that of the population and burning green eyes. Next to her stood Caren, just older than Siphonei, taller than most, and one of the most meticulous people Halthazar had ever met. Both were geniuses in their own way.

They met Halthazar at the foot of the mountain and an understanding passed between the three of them. A silent language built from years together. From hours hunched over glowing light and parchment. From ink spattered noses and theoretical arguments. From late nights in the temple and teasing over the finest draught they could afford. The three had become a family when they were separated from theirs- as was custom when it was time to find a vocation.

Halthazar turned and led them at a brisk pace up the streets they knew so well. The three passed by empty shops of the middle-life and then entered the golden gates that lead beyond the great wall. They trotted down the main road lined by large and decorated stoned houses- the homes of the higher ups and elders. At the end of the main road sat another gold gate with intricate designs detailed in the metal. It was this gate that Halthazar passed under every morning to get to the thousand steps of the temple.

He felt his skin prickle as he realized it might be the last time he would take this journey if he failed. The man set his jaw in determination. He would not fail.

By the time the three reached the temple, the storm was almost upon the island. Wind whistled menacingly as the ocean jumped and roiled, like a rearing horse, trying to attack the beast in the sky. The growling of the monster had reached earth-shaking levels, and now it belched flashes of light that sparked and cracked before fading into the darkness.

Halthazar held the mosaic-tiled doors open for his companions as they entered the room before shutting them against the wind. Lighted crystals flared to life, filling the temple with an eerie golden glow. The three didn’t pay attention to the depictions that decorated the walls, but ran up the stairs to their workroom.

 As they ran, the temple trembled with the thunder. The ground shifted uneasily like a dreamer, troubled by a dream.

“This is bad.” Caren murmured. Halthazer swallowed his fear as he led the way. The mountain hadn’t ever had tremors like this. Not in his 450 cycles of life had the island acted in such a way. And by the looks of it, the elders in all of their many hundreds of cycles had never seen such an occurrence either.

“Halthazar? What’s happening?” Siphonei demanded, breathless as she ran.

“The crystals! They’re under too much pressure!”

“Didn’t you tell the elders not to push them?” Siphonei asked.

“The elders wanted more power and we are just one shift.” Halthazer reminded her. They slowed to a brisk walk and Halthazar felt the eyes of his companions on his back.

“That sounds like an excuse.” Caron said bluntly. Siphonei looked between the two unsure.

“Why did you allow the increase in power?” The young woman pressed. “You should have known that it would cause calamity.”

“Yes. I did…” Halthazar hesitated. “But I wanted to see how far I could push them.” He paused and stopped walking to look at them, willing them to understand his side. When he couldn’t find the words, Halthazar turned his gaze to the steps. “Now I fear I have destroyed us all.”

Caren and Siphonei exchanged glances.

“We knew this day would come.” Caren said after a long moment. “We must do our best to stop it.” Siphonei nodded in agreement as Halthazar gazed at them in amazement.

“We’re a team.” Siphonei reminded him. “We understood the calling as much as you did. Let us finish this as a team.”

The three studied each other, a new feeling of unity blossoming in their chests. With renewed vigor, the group turned and sprinted the remaining stairs.  

When the trio reached the top of the winding staircase, Halthazar stopped and looked at his companions.

 “You must prepare yourself for whatever the crystals are willing to fight us with.” He told them. Siphonei set her mouth in a line of grim determination and nodded while Caren stared past Halthazar at the doors that held their destination.

 An ache began to build in Halthazar’s chest. These two, in their early hundreds, still had so much to live for. He pushed the thought aside. If they could salvage the crystals they could save the island. If they couldn’t, there wouldn’t be island to worry about, and no one to worry for the blue planet.

Halthazar pushed the doors open.

The circular chamber that housed the ultimate power source of the island was bathed in a violet light. The crystals, each taller than a grown man, jutted out from a central pillar at dangerous angles. They were glowing, pulsing, and sparking as small electrical storms broke out and danced along their clean-cut sides before disappearing.

Halthazar, Siphonei, and Caren stood before their beloved research in awe and fear. Never had they seen the crystals this dangerous shade of violet. Always had they been an iridescent shade, throwing blues, greens, pinks, and yellows around the room in peaceful waves as they worked their magic.

Now they were this. Their light contrasted against dangerous gray-green of the beast that had made its way to rest over the island. Some of the crystals were cracked and smoking, the breaks leaving black forks and trails over the straight edges of the crystal pillars.

A tremor shook the temple, snapping the trio out of their daze. Quickly they ran to their stations around the circular observatory.

The condition of the crystals was bad to say the least.

Needles on the meters were tilted and quivering on the “critical” section of their glass containers. Calculating devices were creating graphs with peaks that spiked off their parchments.  

“They can’t handle much more of this stress!” Siphonei called over the thunder as another tremble rocked the observatory.

“Shut them down!” Halthazar yelled to his companions as he ran to the first power lever. “Shut them down and open the ceiling. They need to cool down!”

Caren and Siphonei followed Halthazar’s lead. Caren ran to the ropes that were used to open the roof and unknotting them from their anchors. The other two flew around the chamber, switching switches and pulling levers. As Siphonei and Halthazar yanked levers that cut connections to the city, Caren began to pull the ropes to raise the heavy glass sheets that protected the observatory from the elements.

When the roof cracked opened, the wind grabbed hold of the glass sheets and tore them from their hinges. Caren let out a groan and let go of the ropes as they burned his hands. Like demons, the storm’s winds swirled around the observatory, scattering and carrying away papers and graphs.

The crystals hissed with steam as rain fell into the temple observatory, ruining whatever was left in there. The three watched their power source with baited breath, praying to any god that was listening to help them. Slowly, the violet glow began to fade away. The crystals returned to their normal clear color, except for those that were cracked. They were blackened with soot and Halthazar knew they would have to be replaced.

Halthazar let out a breath of relief and turned to his companions who were both looking at him with a combination of wonderstruck and disbelief.

            “Alright.” He murmured, gathering his composure. “Alright.” He brushed his wet hair off of his face. “Why don’t we try to start them up again? On their lowest power.” Siphonei and Caren nodded and began to flip levers back to the ‘on’ positions.

The three made their way around the room. Halthazar stopped at the final switch and stared at it. All he had to do was pull the lever and power would be restored. The crystals would equalize the storm and the island would be safe.

He grinned at his companions and they smiled reassuringly at him. Everything was going to be all right.

Halthazar pushed the lever up. It clicked once. Twice. Three times. The crystals vibrated into life. Three sets of eyes turned to watch them.

The three waited.

The crystals began to shine their beautiful, iridescent glow.

They were working!

But then… why wasn’t the rain stopping?

Worried glances were exchanged.

            “Siphonei?” The young woman turned to a machine and and pulled out a wet bit of parchment.

            “They seem fine…” She murmured, studying the scribbles of the machine. Caren walked to the crystals and reached out as if to touch them.

            “What is going on?” He asked, ignoring the rain that tumbled into the workroom and the wind that tugged on his clothes. Halthazar didn’t respond. He needed to think of a solution fast. If only the elders hadn’t told them to up the power on the crystals… maybe they needed more cool down time? He looked over the workroom. There had to be something he missed. If only he could-

CRACK

Caren jumped away from the tower of crystals as a shard as long as his arm broke from the tower and fell to the ground. It hit the mosaic floor with a resounding crash and shattered.

“What-?” Siphonei asked as more and more pieces began to break along the premade cracks. As they hit the ground, the temple began to shudder and tremble.

“No.” Halthazar murmured. The crystals were done. All his life’s work was toppling to pieces before him. “NO!” He rushed to his companions. “We have to leave!” He shouted over the falling crystals. The other two didn’t argue.

They bolted to the door, threw it open and ran down the steps. Above and around them, the temple moaned with the pressure of losing the source that had sustained it for so long and the earth began to shudder underneath it. It was if a large band had snapped and the island was caught in the backlash.

The three burst from the doorways to be greeted with screaming carried up to them by the fierce winds. Below, through the driving rain, they could see the ocean swallowing the beach. People were climbing on the roofs of the straw huts or scrambling up the hill to get away from the waves and water.

“They’ll never get up here in time.” Siphonei called to her companions over the wind. Halthazar watched the scene in horror. All his life’s work was destroyed and this was the consequence. Those who had raised him were down there. Neighbors he knew and lived with. People he had walked to work with.

All of them were down there. Either swept away by the ocean or pursued by it.

“Halthazar!”

“Halthazar!”

Halthazar numbly turned to his companions at the sound of his name. Siphonei was gazing at the summit, fear in her eyes as black snow fell to the ground. Caren was pale; his face turned upward, disbelief etched into his features. Slowly, Halthazar raised his eyes.

Red.

The summit was bathed in red as fire flew to the heavens. Black mingled with the storm-beast as smoke billowed into the sky. Trails of gold snaked their way down the mountain like glowing serpents- deadly, but somehow beautiful.

The land had gotten so used to the crystals that without them it would tear itself apart in an attempt to reach equilibrium.

“Oh no.” He murmured.

They were trapped with nowhere to go. Trapped between water and fire.

            “The city of Atlantis sank with a moan into it’s watery grave… Some say you can still hear the bells tolling beneath the ocean waves.”

~Merlin