Page 71 of Elemasters

The moment it was off his finger, it was as if there was some sort of aura disruption; a blast of powerful red energy erupted between the twins, forcing Dustin back to the ground and sending Chris flying across the lot, landing in a motionless heap about ten feet away.

“DUSTIN!”

Bailey’s screeching voice was the last thing Dustin heard before the darkness lurking in his periphery finally pulled him into unconsciousness.

But even as he succumbed, he made sure to grip the Fire Ring as tightly as he could.

Chapter 28

Can't Go Back

“But I want the Superman ones! Why do you gotta take the stuff I want all the time?!”

Dustin chased after Chris through the aisles of the children’s clothing store, nearly tripping over his untied shoelaces as he went. It was the first time their mom was letting them pick out their own outfits for their trip to Bartholomew Pier, and the moment Dustin laid eyes on those Superman overalls he knew he had to have them.

But of course, Chris swooped in and grabbed them instead.

“Heh, just twust me,” Chris defiantly replied, outpacing Dustin with ease.

“Just give them back already! You freakin’ bully!” Dustin finally caught up to his brother, fully prepared to tackle him into one of the clothing racks… but then he stopped cold. Chris was standing proudly, hands on his hips and a big smile on his face showcasing his missing front teeth.

On the rack behind him was another pair of overalls, almost identical, but with a large bat-symbol patch on the front pocket instead.

“Told you to twust me! I saw those ones and it’s perfect for you, riiiight?” Chris beamed, “let me take Superman, and you can have the Batman! We can be same same but different!”

Dustin’s frown quickly melted into a wide grin… and then he tackled Chris anyway, both of them laughing like madmen as they rolled around on the floor.

The harsh sound of a throat clearing ended their fun immediately, sending them both scrambling to their feet as their mother towered over them.

“As happy as I am that you two aren’t fighting, I’ll remind you that we’re in public,” Charlotte said, leering down at them, “Dustin, I expect better from you than to participate in antics like this,”

Dustin’s shoulders fell and he hung his head.

“S-sorry okaasan,” he sniffled, before turning his glare on Chris, “you always get me in trouble,”

Chris’s lip quivered and his gaze dropped to the floor… but he didn’t respond.

“Dustin?”

“Do you think he can hear us?”

“I’m not sure? Dusty, if you can hear me, you’ve gotta open your eyes,”

Dustin’s eyes snapped open with a gasp; light and feeling suddenly flooding his senses. He had to blink a few times to fully process everything, but he seemed to be… in some sort of bath? Or hot spring perhaps? Warm water was lapping against his naked body as he floated there on his back, and it seemed to soak through his skin, right down to the bone, healing him from the inside out. The scraped-up skin on his arm looked like the injury had never happened at all.

He turned to float upright, allowing him to better see the space he was in; a tiny alcove that looked to be part of the Palace of Radiant Clouds, with its silver moonrock walls, and high windows letting in starlight. A small tree stretched overhead, with roots growing down into the water, large enough for Bailey, Chloe, and James to sit on as they looked him over.

“What happened? Where is this place?” he groggily asked.

“Sima Yao called it the Celestial Grotto. The water here has special healing properties,” Chloe explained, rolling up her sleeves to show her burn-free arms.

“So, we can connect with him again?”

As if responding to his query, the mist rising from the water swirled along the surface; rising and taking shape until Sima himself appeared within it.

“Not with the same ease as when the five of you were awakened and in harmony, Second Master Ying. But now that the Fire Ring is free of Qin Shi Huang’s corrupting influence, I can at the very least transport you all here once more,”

“We asked about what it means now that Chris isn’t wearing the ring anymore,” James spoke up, his voice small and tentative, “it’s kinda better for us? Kinda worse…”