At age sixteen, Mink Jollè still hasn’t discovered his Elemental affinity, which is an identity crisis unheard of on the planet Georra. He has endured constant bullying while being held back in school, and his parents have come to employ drastic measures to help him mature. Their current ruse is a camping trip on Rift Ridge, where they test Mink to the breaking point, to no avail.
Meanwhile, Mink and his parents run across a Machinist scout searching out a mother lode of ore, who finds more than he bargains for. An immense geode buried deep in the ground is fabled to be the Tear of God, and the first nation to claim it will hold power and protection unrivaled on Georra.
The race is on as Mink’s parents stand guard at the Tear of God, sending Mink back to his homeland for help. Defying the odds and surprising himself, Mink succeeds in delivering the news to his people, and is chosen to assist a Team in returning to the site to relieve his parents and acquire the Tear of God for Octernal. Along the way, Mink is forced to rely on his strengths without an Element in order to win respect and ultimately discover his true identity.
Raymond has enjoyed writing from an early age. He lives in Coastal North Carolina with his wife and two daughters. His character driven stories reflect the diversity of the places he has lived and the jobs he has had, focusing on animals and film.
Elemental use on Georra has more to do with function than battle. Just like any tool, the Elements can be used for battle and become quite dangerous, but that's not their purpose. This excerpt further demonstrates that.
Here the group has been laboring for the greater part of the day into the night to create a pass through the mountain range on the way back to where Mink found a Tear of God. Sapo's Elemental use is shown to be restorative and then Alre's helps them continue on in spite of darkness. This scene also shows more of how chants work, even in combination.
Book Excerpt
Tear of God – Elements
Sapo spat and moved her hands in large arcs with her fingers tickling the Air. The area around them humidified with a light mist. Tiny droplets hung in clouds that rippled in swirls reminiscent of Sapo’s own flowing movements. The cooling effect of the mist collecting on Mink’s arms and face refreshed him.
“Thanks, Sapo. That feels awesome,” Mink said.
Sapo shot him a quick glance like she had forgotten he was even there. Tralé looked back at Mink with a humored grin.
“Thank you, Sapo. I feel better now,” he emphasized in between Animation chants. “Don’t you, Mouké?”
“Thank you, Sapo.” Mouké said monotonously.
Mink felt a little foolish forgetting that Sapo was just doing her job of keeping up the twins’ energy with her Water effect. His own responsibilities were proving to be a cakewalk compared to everyone else’s. He made a mental note not to make any more complaints. His sole contribution of the day was to point out a marker tree that the army already seemed to be acquainted with.
Fortunately, the Guide Cell received permission to move forward, leaving a path for the rest of the Team to follow. That meant no more stopping, and the promise of more time to rest at the campsite. Powered by Sapo’s mist, the Penbik twins got into a rhythm lining up the trees like a natural colonnade along the road.
Despite their progress, twilight came down upon Alré’s Cell with a few more switchbacks still to carve out until camp. Scanning the horizon out across the plain, Mink saw that none of the moons had yet risen to illuminate their way. Without the sun’s heat, Sapo’s mist began to give Mink a chill. His clothes and hair had become very damp and now clung to him. Alré’s raspy voice chanted the Fire user’s Materialization effect, Candle,
“I bring Fire into this world.
My power makes it manifest.
Newly formed flowing from my palms.
I can change its shape with my hand.
My Fire burns with warmth and light.
My creation ends with a fist.
Create Fire upon my snap.”
She snapped her fingers, then lifted her palms skyward and shaped a two-foot column of blue-white Fire, careful to keep it out of the mist. It hung high in the Air as she followed up with the Animation chant, Flame Ghost,
“Fire has a new life with me.
I make it move, fight, bend, and dance.
My snapping implements my intent.
I use the target like a tool.
It remains separate from me.
I cannot kill my Element.
I can control just as Symg does.
Animate as soon as I snap.”
After a second snap, she reached for the Fire column and moved it along ahead of them. Mink looked away from the light, his eyes having adjusted to the dark. He could see a greater distance now. Alré’s Fire cast stark shadows throughout the Woods, lending a new creepiness to the trek. He was glad to be drying off in the warmth given off by Flame Ghost, but the process quickly became itchy and irritating. He shifted around a bit on the back of Tralé’s scooter and distracted himself by anticipating which trees would be next to slide out of their path.
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