Chapter 1.3 - Unfinished

There, inside Earth's core, an explosion of lights and lasers revealed a new Adam.

Covered by golden clarity, he was no longer in Earth's core. The young man emerged in a new place—a room with tall marble pillars that resembled ancient Greece.

Confused, the boy touched his chest where he had been shot and felt nothing strange. His body looked the same—arms, legs, and, well, you-know-what—were all in the right spot.

The only thing different was his clothes. Before, he had been wearing the same outfit he went to the bar in, but after crossing, he was dressed in a light golden and black tunic, accompanied by a matching belt.

Echoing claps called his attention, interrupting his Cinderella moment.

"Congratulations, Adam."

Another bearded man spoke, but it wasn't Tellus. This one looked less intimidating.

"Are you feeling alright?" the man asked.

"Yes."

"Is everything in the right spot?" The man covered his mouth before continuing. "You know, sometimes we have to send people back because, ya know… things come missing." He chuckled.

"I've got plenty to spare."

Noticing Adam had a sense of humor, the bearded man laughed out loud.

"Who are you?" Adam asked, intrigued.

The grizzled man stood at the top of a staircase, gazing down at him with a spontaneous smile.

"I am Calder, your guide and the Water God."

Glaring at the old man, with his long gray hair the same color as his beard, Adam didn't believe it.

"Really?" Adam thought for a second, analyzing the man's spontaneous smile. "What was I expecting?"

"Come up here and tell me more about your journey!" Calder waved and disappeared into the upper room.

Looking around, Adam didn't see anything too weird. The place was gigantic and shiny, but it looked real and earthy, so he felt safer.

Walking up the stairs, the boy tried to guess what would've happened, but it was probably impossible.

Once at the top, a new section of the room was revealed.

The first thing to be noticed was the center of the balcony. There were four genderless human statues, each one carrying a different Element of Nature.

The first one held a real flame in its hand, flowing from its chest and flickering in a bright shade of red.

The second had its arms open, looking up. As Adam paid more attention, he noticed the whole thing was wavering up and down, in the rhythm of a heartbeat. Curious, the newly arrived looked down and, to his surprise, there was no base supporting it. The statue was levitating on its own.

Some droplets wet Adam's face as he walked over to the third one.

A stream of water surged from the statue's feet, spiraling up its torso and flowing infinitely between its hands.

The fourth one was the strangest. It looked unfinished. Staring straight into the horizon, the sculpture was the only one not standing. Instead, it was leaning on one knee while the rest of its lower body was still partially carved out of the rock.

Behind them was Calder, looking outside at the blue sky with only a few white clouds passing by. The room was open on one side, allowing for a magnificent view of the woods at the foot of the mountain where the temple stood.

"Why isn't this one finished?" Adam was intrigued by the last statue.

Without looking, Calder answered.

"That's the Earth God." The old man looked wise, gazing at the horizon. "It can't be separated from the Earth because it is a part of it. That's what holds everything together."

"Hm…"

Adam reflected on how he had gotten there. It was only a second ago, but it felt like ages had already passed.

"So what now? Can I go back to haunt people?"

Calder looked at the younger man.

"You're not a ghost."

"But can I?" Adam raised an eyebrow, trying to look clever.

"I'm sure someone has explained to you what you are." Calder turned to watch the boy closely.

Adam was eager for answers. Too much had happened to him in so little time. He had gone to space and back to the center of the planet—all after he had supposedly died, which was weird because he felt healthier than ever.

"Does this happen to everyone who dies?"

The afterlife had never concerned Adam too much. His family wasn't spiritual, so he knew very little about it.

"No, only to the chosen ones." Calder began to stroll around the room as he spoke. "Every once in a while, a God ceases to exist…"

Adam mirrored Calder, who was walking on the opposite side of the statues.

"Can Gods die?"

"I didn't say they died." He stopped and looked at the boy between the statues. "I said they stopped existing."

"What's the difference?"

Adam didn't appreciate enigmas or vague answers.

"The difference is that a God has to decide not to live anymore, but their power never disappears."

Adam thought about Tellus. He had seemed kind, tired, and distant. That was probably how a person who didn't want to live anymore must feel.

On the statue's balcony, Calder and Adam met after finishing their walk around the statues.

"That's why you are here. You've been chosen to inherit the divine power of the Earth God."

Following Calder's hand, Adam admired the face of the unfinished statue in front of him. He was focused on its solid, white eyes when, to his surprise, they suddenly moved and locked onto him.

Something was awakened inside Adam.

Like a spear being lodged into his brain, uncoordinated visions dominated his mind. Mountains, deserts, forests, volcanoes, caves, animals, plants, rivers, seas, cities, buildings, houses, men, women, children—all the things that were in contact with the Earth, Adam saw.

He didn't just see them; he felt them—their energy, their breathing, their dreams. It was like he was a part of each living thing, just as the planet was.

Shocked and exhausted, Adam fell to his knees.

"What was that?"

Offering him a hand, Calder showed him a generous grin.

"That is the Gift you just inherited."

Confused, Adam took his hand while gasping for air.

"You are the New Elemental God, Adam."

Calder opened his arms in a grand gesture while projecting his voice to echo around the temple.

"Ok…"