Jeremy

  Sleep eluded Jeremy. Adrenaline still coursed through his veins, refusing to fade, buzzing beneath his skin like static. Beside him, Elionas coaxed the fire back to life, stirring the embers until flames chased away at the chill. Once satisfied, Elionas made himself comfortable and drifted off, leaving Jeremy alone with the night.

  Jeremy turned his gaze skyward. Stars pulsed across the void, some burning far brighter than any he had seen from Earth. Twin moons hung above, side by side. One loomed large and silver, while the other, smaller or perhaps more distant, shimmered like a pale pearl. Jeremy had always dreamed of seeing an alien skyline; ever since Star Wars, he’d longed for a sky with two moons

  Elar felt different, yet strangely familiar. The grass felt soft and lush beneath his feet; flowers unfurled in bursts of alien color; and the streams flowed with a familiar, life-giving shimmer. Even the trees, though their shapes skewed odd, consisted of recognizable wood and leaves.

  Jeremy remembered a trip to Colorado where the Rocky Mountains dominated the horizon. Here, the peaks similarly crested and fell into valleys with a rhythmic, intentional harmony. Breathtaking.

  As dawn crept in, the heavens blushed a delicate pink. Wisps of cloud wandered lazily across the canvas. The sun echoed the familiar light of Earth’s star, but the atmosphere on Elar felt scrubbed clean, more vivid and natural. The sky transitioned to a brilliant light blue within moments, a silent reminder of sunrises back home. Jeremy couldn’t remember the last time he’d watched a sunrise. Sitting there beneath a foreign sky, he vowed he would try to catch more.

  Elionas stirred, so Jeremy nudged him lightly. They skipped breakfast and resumed their journey.

  After a few minutes of steady climbing, they reached another small stream. Jeremy scanned the bank for water dogs—or anything else with teeth—when a faint shift in the water’s color caught his eye. While grey and dark brown stones lined the stream bed, a single aquamarine shape stood out.

  “Elionas,” Jeremy called. “Do you see that bluish rock over there?”

  Elionas followed Jeremy’s gaze. His eyes widened. “If it is what I think...” he whispered, his voice hitching. “This is a rare find indeed! Approach slowly. It is not dangerous.”

  As they crept closer, the "rock" revealed itself. Iridescent orange spots ran along its back like a koi fish, but four tiny legs tucked against its underbelly. Its fins were flexible, flowing in the current like silken ribbons.

  “Oh, Great Nivalár!” Elionas gasped. “I believe it is a ripple sprite. In my lifetime, no one I know has ever seen one. This is a rare blessing! We must not alarm it; they can teleport through the water.”

  They snuck forward like Elmer Fudd hunting wabbits. Jeremy stifled a laugh at the mental image. He didn’t know what a ripple sprite was, of course, but in the games he played, sprites were usually a good omen.

  “Jeremy, you should be the one to communicate with it,” Elionas said.

  “Me? Why?”

  “You are... similar, in a way. Lie on your stomach and whisper a greeting. It should hear you. It will either teleport away or turn to face you. If I remember correctly, when it makes eye contact, you can attempt to bond.”

  “If you remember correctly?” Jeremy asked. “What if it’s like the water dog and tries to melt my face off?”

  “It won't. Trust me. Now, lie down.”

  Jeremy slowly lowered himself to the. “Hey there, little fella,” he said in his best high-pitched baby talk. “My name is Jeremy, and I’d like to meechya.”

  The sprite unfolded from its fetal curl. Jeremy couldn’t believe his eyes. It was easily the most striking creature he’d ever seen. Four pectoral fins fanned out from its head, each longer than the last, fluttering like gills. A silver-blue dorsal fin, edged in bright orange, graced its back. Its three tail fins trailed behind like liquid ribbons. It had tiny feet with itsy-bitsy salamander toes. Then, its deep, brilliant blue eyes met Jeremy’s in a hypnotic stare-off.

  “How about it, little guy?” Jeremy asked softly. “You wanna be my little helper?”

  Jeremy could’ve sworn, when it looked at him, he felt the air shift as if it were listening.

  Did it just smile at me? he thought.

  “It worked!” Jeremy looked up at Elionas. “The bonding worked. What should I name him? What’s a good Elarian name?”

  Elionas didn’t answer. He fell on his knees and started chanting to the heavens, thanking Nivalár for her blessing.

  Jeremy looked at his new friend. He looked as if he was smiling. Moonwake Koi, Jeremy thought, so it’s part koi. I think it looks a lot like an axolotl too. What am I going to name you?

  [Melorien,] A voice projected directly into his mind. [In your tongue, it means ‘friend’. We are friends now, yes?]

  “Melorien!”

  “Yes,” Jeremy confirmed. “Come here, little Melorien. Let’s get a good look at you.”

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  “You have chosen the name; Friend,” Elionas said when he finally finished praying. “It is perfect.”

  “I’m pretty sure it telepathically named itself.”

  “It spoke in your mind?” Elionas froze.

  “Yeah. Is that a big deal?”

  “Yes! Only once in recorded history has a sprite communicated directly with its bond. Usually, it is only gestures. Nivalár has truly favored you!” He turned away and started praying again.

  “That’s cool,” Jeremy said to Melorien. “Thanks for choosing me. Can I see what you can do?”

  [Sure!] Melorien projected.

  Jeremy read through the details. “You’re not exactly a tank, but that’s okay. I’ll take that fear resistance. Hopefully, I can share some of your luck!”

  Melorien just stared at him, blinking slowly.

  “Okay. Well. I’ll take that as a ‘maybe’. Welcome to the party.”

  Elionas prayed for several more minutes. When he eventually rose, he dusted off his knees. “Apologies. A miracle of this magnitude requires proper credit to the Divine.”

  “I get it. We ready?” Jeremy offered his hand. “Wanna ride?”

  [Sure!] Melorien darted from the stream and scrambled onto Jeremy’s hand. He zipped up Jeremy’s arm, coming to rest on his shoulder, and gave his cheek a quick, wet lick. Jeremy could get used to the friendly and bubbly nature of his new friend.

  Elionas sang hymns in a surprisingly clear voice. Jeremy didn't know the words, but the melody reminded him of those Gregorian chants that went viral years ago.

  After drinking their fill, they set off toward their quest destination. Elionas sang hymns of his faith in a surprisingly clear voice. Jeremy would have sung along if he knew the lyrics or the melody. It reminded him of those Gregorian chants that went viral years ago.

  Suddenly, Elionas stopped, extending an arm to bar Jeremy’s path. “From here, we tread lightly. Vaerunel has many slaves guarding the shrine of Nivalár, preventing its repair. Your lightning and wind should destroy the lessor ones; however, if we are overwhelmed, I will teleport us away. You must stay close to me, so do not be alarmed if I grab you suddenly. Understood?”

  Jeremy nodded, his pulse quickening. This wasn't a game, so if Elionas sensed danger and wanted to skedaddle, tJeremy was right behind him.

  [I hope this helps,] Melorien said as he cast Glow on the party.

  “Thanks, little buddy,” Jeremy said as a wave of unnatural calm washed over him. In games, he’d popped potions and cast buffs hundreds of times, but the physical sensation was something extraordinary. He felt the sharp sting and strange tickle of his wounds knitting themselves closed, while raw electricity surged through him. Being blanketed by a resistance to fear was a unique experience. Every experience on Elar was vivid, terrifying. Aside from the sting of the wind the experiences of this new world were strangely addictive.