Echoes of the Seed

The soft crunch of footsteps approached the entrance. A familiar figure with dark blue hair appeared, her voice cutting through the quiet morning air.

"Hey, old man. Father wanted me to tell you the Sinking is about to start."

The old man turned, his weathered face breaking into a grin. "Kiddo, you really have no respect for the elderly," he said, shaking his head with a sigh. But there was a fondness in his tone, the kind reserved for someone he'd known for years.

They began walking toward the town center, their footsteps echoing in the empty streets. The air was crisp, the faint smell of woodsmoke lingering from the festival the night before.

Jade glanced at the old man, her brow furrowing. "I saw you at the bar yesterday," she said, her tone accusatory.

The old man's expression faltered, the color draining from his face. "I was just there for a pint," he said, laughing nervously. "What's wrong with having a pint or two for the festival?"

"Tch. Sure. You weren't there betting again, were you?" Jade crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing.

The old man fell silent, avoiding her gaze. He scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable.

Jade sighed, her frustration evident. "Is this your first time witnessing a Sinking?" she asked, changing the subject.

The old man shrugged. "Nah, I've seen a few. It's tradition, you know? We're there to pay our respects."

"Respect?" Jade scoffed. "You talk about respect, yet you bet on it."

"Hey, this old man needs to survive too," he grumbled, his tone defensive. "Times are tough."

Jade rolled her eyes but didn't press further. Instead, she shifted the conversation. "Speaking of betting, I saw you talking to that new kid yesterday. What's his deal?"

The old man's expression darkened. "Weird kid, that one. Showed up out of nowhere yesterday. Gives me the chills, honestly. Seems like he's here to make some quick cash, but I don't know who told him about the Sinking. I saw him at the betting last night, but he didn't place any bets. Just walked around asking about the sinkers."

Jade frowned. "He's strange. Too young to be a war merchant."

The old man chuckled. "Ooh? Thank the lord I wasn't rude to him. Also, it's rare for our lady here to be curious about someone, aye?"

Jade hit his arm hard, her face flushing with irritation.

"Ouch! Hey, watch it! I was just playing with you," the old man said, rubbing his arm.

"Did you happen to catch his name?" Jade asked, her tone suddenly serious.

The old man blinked, surprised by her intensity. "Huh? Yeah, of course. His name is Reed."

Jade's face froze.

"Huh?"

Her body began to shake, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin. Her chest tightened, and her breath came in short, shallow gasps. The name echoed in her mind, stirring something deep and forgotten.

"Jade, are you okay?" the old man asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"What did you say his name was?" she demanded, her voice urgent and panicked.

"Reed," the old man repeated, his brow furrowed. "Jade, do you know him?"

Without waiting for his response, Jade turned and sprinted toward the town center, her heart pounding in her chest.

***

The town center was a sea of people, the crowd forming a wide circle around the thirteen sinkers. Members of the Church stood at the center, their presence solemn and imposing. Father Ursus, a towering figure clad in flowing white robes adorned with golden embroidery, presided over the ritual. His silver hair gleamed in the morning light, and his piercing blue eyes radiated a calm, unshakable authority. Around him, his holy knights stood like statues, their armor polished to a mirror shine, their faces hidden behind visors.

Cassie held hands with her childhood friend Natty, their faces pale but resolute. Lloyd stood nearby, his expression stoic, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Casspian, clad in dark-plated armor, stood confidently at the front of his group of four protectors, his dark hair and sharp eyes giving him an air of unshakable determination. Other sinkers in the crowd tried to hold back their tears, while some prayed quietly, their lips moving in silent pleas.

Jade's hurried steps slowed as she reached the edge of the crowd. Her panic surged, her mind racing.

Reed. I know that name. Who are you? Why are you here?

She scanned the crowd frantically, her eyes darting from face to face. But the crowd was too large, too dense. People pressed in from all sides, their murmurs blending into a low, restless hum. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made it hard to breathe.

Father Ursus's voice rang out, cutting through the noise like a blade. It was calm, steady, and carried an undeniable weight of authority.

"Today, we are here to pay respect to the sinkers."

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Jade's heart raced as she pushed through the crowd, her movements frantic. She elbowed her way past people, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The crowd seemed to resist her, bodies pressing tighter together as if to keep her from reaching her goal.

Wait. Why am I panicking? What am I rushing for?

But she couldn't stop. Something deep inside her screamed that she had to find him.

Father Ursus continued, his voice calm and steady, yet commanding. He raised his hands, and the crowd fell silent, their attention fixed on him.

"We shall all hold our hands together and pray to the lord, pray for the lord to give them mercy."

As Father Ursus closed his eyes, the necklace around his neck began to glow, emitting a warm, holy light. The crowd followed suit, their hands clasped in prayer. The air seemed to hum with a quiet, reverent energy.

Jade's eyes darted through the crowd, searching desperately. And then she saw him—a boy with white hair, standing deep in the crowd, watching the ritual with an unreadable expression. His pale eyes were fixed on the sinkers, his face calm, almost detached.

"Reed?" Jade whispered, her voice trembling.

She tried to push through the crowd, but the bodies around her seemed to close in, blocking her path. The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, more frantic, as Father Ursus opened his eyes and spoke again.

"The lord has spoken. There shall only be three survivors. We wish all the best for the fourteen sinkers."

The crowd erupted into chaos. Whispers turned to shouts, confusion spreading like wildfire. One of the sinkers, a young woman with tears streaming down her face, looked up at Father Ursus. "What do you mean, fourteen? Wasn't there supposed to be only thirteen of us?"

Father Ursus's expression remained calm, his voice steady as he addressed the crowd. "The lord's will is not for us to question. Trust in his wisdom."

But the crowd was already unraveling. People turned to each other, their voices rising in panic. "Fourteen? Who's the fourteenth?" "This has never happened before!" "What does this mean?"

Jade's panic intensified as the crowd grew louder, more chaotic. She shoved her way through, her voice rising above the noise.

"Reed!" she shouted, her voice breaking.

SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. LOOK HERE, PLEASE.

"REED!" she screamed, her voice raw with desperation.

Reed heard his name and slowly turned his head, his pale eyes scanning the crowd. For a moment, their gazes locked. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something that made Jade's chest tighten.

"REED!" Jade reached out, her hand stretching toward him, but the crowd surged, pushing her back. She fought against the tide of bodies, her heart pounding in her ears.

Almost there.

She saw a smile on his face—a small, knowing smile that sent a chill down her spine. Her hand was inches away from him when Father Ursus's voice rang out, calm and commanding.

"Now, the Sinking begins."

Jade watched in horror as the figures in front of her began to fall—not to the ground, but into it, as if the earth had turned to liquid. Her heart sank, all panic and nervousness replaced by a numb realization.

He is from here.

Reed's smile lingered for a moment, and then he was gone. Not in a flash or a blur, but as if he had simply ceased to exist. One moment he was there, a boy in the crowd, and the next, he was nothing but an empty space.

Jade's hand fell to her side, her breath catching in her throat. The crowd around her continued to panic, their voices rising in a cacophony of fear and confusion. But to Jade, the world had gone silent.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the spot where Reed had stood. A tear rolled down her cheek, and her chest felt hollow, as if something vital had been ripped away.

Who are you?