Page 47 of Elemasters

But he also wasn’t just the Water Sage; an heir to an impossible legacy of imperial defiance and heroism.

He was a boyfriend. A best friend. A brother.

He actually had the one thing he’d convinced himself he’d never find; true, unconditional love. And he refused to surrender all that to some bottomless pit of despair, not when he had something to fight for.

James taking his hand and telling him that he saved his life.

Bailey’s selfless support and unyielding presence at his back.

Chloe’s sharp pragmatism and constant support.

Chris’s mere existence as his biological mirror, biggest supporter and most consistent frustration.

“Hang in there kid,” Dustin’s voice trembled, but it never broke, “I’m gonna get you out of here,”

Finally, the dam that he’d blocked himself with so many months ago came crashing down. His powers exploded outward with newfound ferocity as every molecule of the water he’d been trapped in became part of his awareness.

Before he was blind, but now he was omniscient.

With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent the seemingly endless ocean spiraling away; like bathwater down the drain. Little more to him now than inconvenience.

And suddenly, as if nothing had happened at all, he found himself standing in the Lotus Garden once more; alone, but completely unharmed.

He immediately scanned the room for the others, but they were nowhere to be found; in fact, the only other thing in the deserted garden was a single door, standing all on its own in the center of the room, made of thick wood and overflowing with vines.

Dustin instinctively knew that James was on the other side, likely fighting for his life in the same way Dustin himself just had.

Without a thought, he rushed towards the door, preparing to throw it open… but something caught his eye first.

The fleeting shape of a young, dark-haired boy in the periphery of his vision.

A boy that looked an awful lot like he did as a child… right down to the stupid overalls.

That must’ve been the source of the voice; his own disembodied inner child calling out to him for help. But if he’d saved himself… why did it still feel like part of him was missing?

He couldn’t make eye contact with his younger echo, before it vanished into a cloud of mist, leaving him alone once more. Dustin wanted to question it, wanted to call out to Sima Yao for more answers, but with the Wood Door standing alone before him, he knew he’d have to compartmentalize it for now.

James needed him, and he wouldn’t let him fight through his personal Hell alone.

Chapter 18

Seven Minutes in Heaven (Atavan Halen)

Dustin didn’t know what he thought he’d find on the other side of that door, but it certainly wasn’t a sprawling forest made of gnarled trees, limp brown grass, and the stench of rot.

He immediately scanned the area, trying to find any trace of James, but there was nothing.

Actually, less than nothing.

No birds singing, crickets chirping, not even the eerie silence of the woods at night. Just… absence.

An absence that was only interrupted by the sound of bickering voices in the distance.

“This is a complete shitshow. James just blinked out of existence and the next thing we know we’re in the middle of some creepy ass woods, and we still can’t find Dustin!”

Chloe’s frustration was palpable, but at least she sounded close. As Dustin moved in the direction of her voice, he heard Bailey’s next.

“We’ve gotta keep our heads on straight. I’m sure we’ll find Dusty soon, but it’s clear we’re in James’s trial now. If it’s like Dustin’s, we won’t be able to interact with him directly,”