Weight of Worlds

Ranvir watched the daybreak from the roof of his house. Soon, he would attempt to move the entire building into the school’s space and he didn’t know how long it would take him to make a sun.

‘Make a sun.’ He shook his head at the thought, a slight smile on his lips.

The meeting had been a shit show. Stuffing that many powerful personalities into a single room would always be difficult. Yet they’d managed something.

The Lashed, they called themselves ‘the People’, had warned them time and time again about the Father of Horrors and Ralith. So while the agreement was permanent portals, Vednar’s would only be open at certain times. In fact, none of the portals would be open perpetually.

Surprisingly, nobody wanted the others to have constant direct access to their country or even plane. Still, Alexis had wrangled out a diplomacy deal from all the nations. The school would function as a politically neutral location. Having ambassadors from each nation sucked, but at least that signified some intention of allowing the school to exist.

The arguments and discussions were innumerable and most often nonsense. Ranvir saw not a single smile as any of them left, though all of them got something out of it. Even Ranvir got a place to do research and educate.

He didn’t know where to begin with the speculations regarding the global fallout of the meeting, but he understood that there was potential for greatness in it. Unless he didn’t fuck it up. The future of Vednar, Korfyi, and Belnavir rested on his shoulders in a way.

He didn’t think the others realized just how old Ranvir wasn’t. He strongly doubted any of them would allow him the responsibility. And he’d have been happy to let it go. Well, he’d be relieved. At least for a while. A short while.

Below him, the all but three slept soundly. Even Grev, despite his fears. Activating his body and mind sent him reeling into a dreamless stupor. Shiri was considering how best to get Frija and Vasso onto the roof to join him. They’d have to hurry though, because the last flare of the sundisk was filling out and night would soon come to an abrupt end.

Seemingly on its own, Loce rose from the grass, forming a set of stairs for them to climb. Presently, Frija slammed her full body weight into him, hard enough to knock a regular man from the roof.

Ranvir pulled her into his lap and tickled her. A slightly pale-faced Shiri and Vasso joined him on either side, walking the roof at a more reasonable pace.

“What are you thinking about?” Shiri whispered as he wrapped his arms around them.

“I’m happy. And lucky, I think.”

“Lucky?” she asked, glancing up at him.

He nodded. “I’ve got plenty of mysteries and tasks to solve. I recently discovered that my previous horizon was a simple trick of the eye. Not only am I not close.” He looked down at her. “I don’t even know how far I have to go.” He pecked her.

“I’m lucky because, even though it wasn’t cheap, the people I care most about are all with me in my life. At this very moment, my house is filled with the people I love and who love me. How could I possibly be anything but lucky?”

“Aren’t you…” she pointed at his eyes, not wanting to call him ‘dying’ or at the very least going mad.

“It’s literally the third time in less than five years that my soul has broken.”

“I feel like that’s a very bad track record.”

“Horrendous.”

Day broke. Light coruscated from the sun disk. For a moment, the sky was all the brilliant flavors of a sunrise, washing in a wave out from the disk before finally settling into a perfect light blue.

Ranvir pulled his family close as a new day arose before them.

The End.