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Intermission 2B - Phis Backstory

  The air was filled with the smell of salt air and fish. The morning sun was casting its warm glow over the small fishing hamlet of Scarstooth. The soil was growing hard and cold this time of year, it wouldn’t be long until the ice settled in for the winter. Phi turned his face towards the warmth of the sun, the bandages that covered his face grew pleasantly warm. I wonder what you look like? He mused.

  Phi turned back and continued walking along the path to town. Moving his walking stick back and forth to help him avoid any obstacles. Every time he moved it to one side of the path he clicked the stick against the small wooden posts that father Herschel had planted in the road. This afternoon was the weekly mass, and that meant father Herschel was hard at work preparing the temple for the villagers. Which left Phi in charge of running into town for the day's errands.

  He knew that Herschel hated letting him go alone, but today was special, and now that Phi was turning twelve, Herschel had agreed that he was old enough to go on his own. That hadn’t stopped Herschel from triple checking Phi’s bandages before letting him go. Between his long cloak that dragged on the ground and the extensive wrappings that covered the rest of his skin there wasn’t an inch of him that was exposed.

  A twinge of sadness poked at Phi’s chest at the thought. Father Herschel had been clear that Phi had to hide his body from the villagers, that they wouldn’t understand how special he was.

  The ground began to level out, which meant that Phi was approaching the paved road. Sure enough, a moment later he felt the paved stone work beneath his bare feet as he turned towards the village.

  Despite the early hour, the town was teeming with activity as fishermen hurried to haul their morning catch onto the docks. The market was a cacophony of haggling and bartering, with the occasional cursing thrown in for good measure. Thankfully the frantic village folk gave Phi a wide berth as he made his way towards a particular stall.

  Having memorized the individual stones that made up the market's path, he felt around with his feet as he quickly found himself standing in front of Martha’s morning market. Which as usual was crowded with people elbowing each other to get the best catches of the day.

  With a sigh, Phi held his walking stick close and rushed head first into the scrimmage. For his efforts he received a back hand to the nose, undeterred he shook it off and tried once more. Squirming and wedging himself between two people who seemed on the verge of coming to blows with one another; Phi tried to reach a hand out to inspect the fish at the stand.

  “Hey! Give the kid some space!” Roared the husky voice of Martha. In response to the bellowing the two strangers that were crushing Phi seemed to move an inch or so, letting him catch his breath for a moment. “What will it be today kid?” Martha asked.

  Phi placed a handful of coins on the stall. “As much as I can get with this!” He said, his voice slurred and cracking slightly. He winced, his throat and mouth were aching so much today for some reason.

  Martha eyed the coins for a moment. “What’s the occasion?”

  “Toda-” Phi cleared his throat painfully. “Today is my twelfth birthday!” He said proudly.

  The adults that were gathered around the stall cheered loudly in response. A few gave him rough pats to the back as a way of congratulations. Martha cackled a hoarse laugh as she pushed the coins back into Phi’s hands. “You know what that means lad? You’re no longer a child in the eyes of the sea!” She grabbed a large fish and thrust it into Phi’s arms, nearly knocking him backwards from the force. “Normally you would head out and take a spoil of the All Mother’s bounty with your own hands. But I doubt she’ll turn an eye if we bend the rules considering your ailment lad.”

  “I don’t know what to say…”

  Another man put an arm around his shoulder. “Scarstooth takes care of its own lad!” He said with a laugh.

  “Thank you!” Phi roared with all of his might as he pounded his fist into his chest, trying his best to sound like an adult. The crowd gave one more cheer as he turned away with his spoils, making sure to place the fish in the cloth he brought and tying it in place on his back for the walk home. Marching through town, Phi was glad of his bandages for the first time, they hid his broad smile and tear stained cheeks.

  Nearing the end of the long hill back to the temple Phi felt weak and out of breath. Perhaps I’m coming down with a seasonal illness? He thought. As he neared his home he heard the sound of father Herschel practicing his sermon. It sounded like he was going with the litany of mercy today. Herschel tended to steer clear of the more violent and wrathful teachings of the Celestial court.

  Phi made his way around the side of the temple and opened the door that led to the living space he shared with father Herschel. The temple was about the size of a two story house, with most of that space taken up by the main chamber. The living space in the back was cramped and narrow, the first floor consisted of a wood stove, sink, and a small table. Placing the fish on the table, Phi quickly climbed the stairs to the second floor. The staircase was just beams of wood cantilevered out of the wall in uneven spacing. He had lost track of how many times he had fallen on this hellish staircase.

  The second floor was a bit more open, but not by much. Half of the room was father Herschel’s, it had his cot, dresser, and his writing desk. On the other side of a curtain was Phi’s room. Much like Herschel, Phi had a desk and dresser, but instead of a cot he had a hammock that was level with the window overlooking the sea below. Not that he could really appreciate the view, but he enjoyed the fresh air.

  Phi reached for the chest that was under his hammock, opening it and pulling out a bundle of cloth. After closing the lid of the chest he reached into the cloth and pulled out a wooden stand, a decorative plate, and a stick of incense. He arranged the objects on the chest as he had done every day of his life. Taking a flint lighter that he kept in his desk, Phi kneeled in front of his makeshift altar and lit the incense as he clasped his hands together.

  “Dear Mother. It’s me again, Phi. Though, you probably already know that. Today is my birthday, and I am turning twelve years old.” He paused for a moment, his mind whirling at all the things he wanted to say. “How are you today?” He asked. After a moment he nodded to himself and continued. “I hope you’re doing well. Father Herschel asked me what I wanted for my birthday; I’m turning twelve by the way. I told him that I had everything I could ever want already. But that wasn’t entirely true. If I can ask for something a bit selfish…” He gulped, trying to build up his courage. “Could you, I mean, would you please give me the chance to see like everyone else?” Phi’s stomach churned, he felt like he was bothering his Mother with his selfish wish.

  “I’ve never seen father Herschel’s face, though he sounds like he has a kind one. I would like to see it just once if that’s not too much trouble. Also, if I could see, I could help more around the temple, and maybe I could become a cleric and make you proud of me!” Phi rapped his fingers together. “That’s all for today; again, it’s me, Phi. Okay, I love you and I’ll tell you how my birthday goes tonight!” He said enthusiastically as he gingerly placed the altar pieces back into the cloth bundle. Making sure the incense was snuffed out completely.

  From downstairs Phi heard the door close. Father Herschel’s voice called up to him. “How was the market?” He gasped slightly. “My word, how did you afford such a large fish with the coins I gave you?”

  Phi hurried downstairs. “Martha gave it to me for free since it’s my birthday. She said the sea considered me an adult now!” He beamed as he made his way towards Herschel.

  “Well, we should make sure to thank her properly the next time we see her. This will make a fine feast for tonight.” Herschel reached down and checked Phi’s bandages again, pausing for a moment. “Phi, are you alright my son?”

  “Of course Father. Why do you ask?”

  Herschel ran a thick, calloused hand across Phi’s cheek, the bandages felt off, probably from the tears that had sullied them. “It’s nothing. Let’s get these off of you.” With practiced motion, the bandages were removed one by one until Phi’s translucent skin was revealed once more. Moving Phi to the sink, Herschel took a cloth and washed Phi’s eyes and cheeks. Strangely, it smelled off to Phi, there was a hint of copper in the air as his face was wiped clean. Perhaps there was something wrong with the pipes for the water?

  After finishing, Herschel made his way over to the table to move the fish into some waiting ice. Clearing his throat he told Phi. “I finished revising your lexicon this morning. There are some passages I was hoping to go over with you tonight, I thought you might enjoy them considering today is such a big day.”

  Phi perked up. “Yes! I can’t wait. What passages?” He asked excitedly.

  “Well-” Herschel was interrupted by the clock on the wall chiming. “Oh stars above, is it that time already?! I’m sorry, I have to ring the bell for service. I’ll tell you all about it later alright?”

  Before Phi could answer Herschel was already hustling out of the door as quickly as his aging body could permit. Phi simply offered a farewell as the door closed. A sharp stab of pain shot through his eye, like an icepick rammed through to the back of his skull. He reached a hand up and held his palm against the pain. Pulling his hand away he felt something viscous and thick in his palm. This doesn’t feel like tears? He wondered with dread.

  Nervous about the pain and liquid. Phi grabbed some ice in a cloth and held it to his eye, hoping that the cold would help the pain. I must be coming down with something. What terrible timing. He thought with a sigh as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, collapsing to the floor with a terrible thud as he blacked out.

  As Phi drifted in and out of consciousness he heard things that he couldn’t quite make out. The sound of Father Herschel screaming in panic, the feeling of being carried, the shouting and screaming of the Father as he fought with a stranger whose voice Phi couldn’t recognize. A few of the words he made out were, ‘stroke’, ‘aneurysm’, ‘fatal’, and ‘hybrid’. Through it all he felt the world around him as a storm of noise and pain. The storm ravaged his body as it tried to rip him apart piece by piece. The only thing Phi could think as he fought for his life was, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t wanna be a bother.’

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  Phi opened his eyes for a brief moment, in the darkness of his vision there was something silhouetted in the nothingness. A masked figure hovering above him, staring at him with three perfect circles in its skull-like mask. It laid an oozing hand on Phi’s, and instead of pain, he felt a comforting numbness. Words came to his mind that were not his own, but spoken in his own inner voice. Rest child. I will guide you from this pain. It will all be over soon. He felt a peace spread through his body as Phi was pulled by his hand, he felt himself float up, his worries and cares that tethered him to his body eroding until he felt nothing but calm oblivion.

  Just as the last of the fibrous threads unraveled, Phi stopped. “I don’t wanna go.” He said quietly.

  The masked figure turned back, its expressionless face devoid of any anger or animosity. Few do.

  “But, father Herschel needs my help! I have to go over the lexicon with him! I need to tell Mother that I love her!” He cried, tears stinging his face.

  A long finger reached up and wiped the tears from his cheek. All things must end. Were you happy child?

  Phi nodded.

  Take solace in that, many spend their fleeting lives bathed in misery. Your story might be short, but be proud that it was a happy one. It said comfortingly. It did not pull or yank Phi, it simply waited. There was no rush to this process, it was inevitable.

  As Phi leaned forward to continue he felt a horrible blow hit his chest. He gasped with pain as another blow landed, then another. With each crash to his chest he felt the pain return as the masked figures' hand loosened.

  Twould seem your story is not yet done child. Though there may come a time when you wish it had. A short and happy life can sometimes be preferable to the alternative. I wish you well, and will see you again when your thread reaches its terminus. The masked figure said as it released Phi’s hand.

  The pain in Phi’s chest was excruciating as he howled into the ether between worlds. A moment later he awoke from his dream gasping for air as he clutched at his broken ribs. He could make out the sobs of relief from father Herschel as the cleric offered prayer after prayer to the Gods. Phi’s vision swam with noise as his eyes throbbed in pain. Herschel stood up and screamed at someone else in the room. “Were you just going to sit back and watch a child die!” He roared.

  The stranger's voice pleaded meekly. “He is an abomination! An affront to the Gods!” The man was cut short of his tirade by the meaty fist of father Herschel clocking him in the nose.

  “You call yourself a doctor! I should gaff you like the worthless bottom feeder you are!” Herschel turned to look at Phi. Moving to stand over him.

  Phi’s vision was a chaotic mess, he could feel Herschal above him, the lines of noise seemed to settle for a moment as for the first time he could make out the face of his guardian. Herschel was a large, burly man, with a balding head and a thick beard. And a smile that was so warm and comforting that Phi wept at the sight of it. “I… I can see you!” Phi croaked out in rasps.

  Herschel’s eyes widened. “By the Gods. It's a miracle. I thought I had lost you son.” He held Phi’s hand to face as he bawled. “It’ll be alright. I promise.”

  The door slammed open as a series of rough looking villagers entered the small room. Phi was starting to get his bearings, he realized that he was laying on the table in the temple's first floor. The crowd looked at Phi and he could see their faces twist as the muscles and skin shifted into what he could only assume was fear or sickness.

  This would take some getting used to.

  Father Herschel rose to his feet, towering over the villagers as he turned to address them. “The boy needs his rest. I am afraid I will have to ask you to leave.” He said with a warm smile, though his tone made it clear that he felt nothing but contempt for the men and women.

  A large woman stepped forward. Phi was wondering who it could be until he heard Martha’s voice. “You’ve been harboring this creature under our noses! We need to kill it so that our town will be cleansed of its filth!”

  “But Martha, it's me!” Phi croaked out as he tried to sit up. He watched in horror as the kind woman's face contorted with rage.

  One of the men stepped forward and made to draw his sword from his belt. Herschel’s hand snapped out faster than Phi could follow. Coming to rest around the other man’s hand, he squeezed as he spoke. “No one is going to harm this child. If you are so set on driving us out, then we will simply leave this backwater cesspool.” There was the sound of breaking fingers as the swordsmen dropped to his knees, clutching at Herschel’s iron grip.

  Martha made to step forward, raising a bat. Once again Herschel snapped his other hand outwards, resting it gently against the woman's throat before she could blink. Her eyes grew wide.

  “That would be unwise. Remember the teachings of mercy, ‘to raise an axe in anger, is to offer your own head in return.’” He quoted calmly.

  The villagers screamed as they fled the temple, the doctor scrambled out the door after them. Phi tried to apologize but Herschel simply hugged him close. “It’s alright my son.” He pulled back from the embrace. “We must make ready, it would seem we have a pilgrimage ahead of us.” There was no anger or frustration in the man’s voice, just his usual jovial tone.

  It didn’t take long for the two to pack their belongings. Though Phi was definitely moving slowly with his broken ribs. He was disoriented as he packed his clothes, he could feel where Herschel was even through the walls. Worst yet, he could even sense him when Phi closed his eyes. Sneaking a glance at where Herschel was, Phi quickly set up his altar. “Mother. It’s Phi. We are moving tonight. It would seem the villagers don’t like me anymore, and that makes me sad. But, I wanted to thank you, I can finally see! Yes, it isn’t like how father Herschel described it, and yes, I can see through walls. But still! I am super thankful for this gift you have given me. Today is the best birthday!” Phi heard father Herschel calling for him. “Oh shoot, I have to go. I love you and I’ll talk to you later.”

  Phi ran down the stairs with his bag over his shoulder. The two gave a final farewell to their home as they hurried over to the stable.

  The night air was cold as Phi and Herschel rode towards the road out of town. Chestnut was a solid workhorse, but she was getting older and couldn’t handle having both of them riding her at once. So Herschel walked alongside and guided Chestnut while Phi rode in the saddle. The bumping and jostling did little to help with Phi’s pain in his chest, but it was the only way he could travel right now.

  As they neared the edge of the woods that marked the village's outskirts. Phi felt something amiss. “Father, I think there are people nearby.” He said quietly, still unsure if he was interpreting his new senses properly.

  Herschel laid a hand on the Chestnut’s neck as he glanced around. “Good eye son. Whatever happens, just keep riding. I’ll catch up to you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out something, handing it to Phi. It was his lexicon. “I was hoping we would have the chance to discuss the revisions I added, but it will have to wait until later. Keep it safe.” With that he smacked Chestnut on the backside, causing the horse to cry out as it ran down the road at full speed. The men and woman hiding in the bushes leapt up and fired arrows and bullets at the passing beast.

  Father Herschel wasted no time making them regret that choice. Phi could feel the man flow like the currents of the sea, moving from one form to the next as he effortlessly dispatched villager after villager with calm efficient movements.

  Phi cried out for Herschel as he felt something rake across his back, arresting his momentum and causing Chestnut to falter. Large barbed fishing hooks bit into the flesh of his back as the villagers pulled him from the saddle onto the dirt below.

  Herschel screamed in rage as his body glowed with holy light. Striking the thick chains with his bare hands, the metal buckled and broke like glass. In that moment he was struck in the back by a spear, blood pouring from his lips as he turned and crushed the assailant's chest with a back kick. He cried out to Phi. “RUN! I’ll be with you soon!” A sword came crashing down and cleaved into Herschel’s shoulder as he grunted in pain. “Th.. the book… you need.. to read the..” A final blade sank into his throat as the towering man gargled. “M… m.. Son.” He gasped between the river of blood that cascaded down his lips.

  Phi could do nothing but watch as his body was wracked with pain, something inside of him was tearing and breaking. He reached up and felt his hair fall out in matted clumps as his jaw split open, each of his teeth fell out as he spat out balls of blood and broken enamel. New jagged rows of fangs grew painfully in their place. He gasped for air as his tongue grew in size, completely blocking off his airway, he tore at his throat as he suffocated until a tearing sound from his neck brought relief as he breathed through new holes of ragged flesh. As he dug his nails along the ground in pain, his fingernails broke off one by one, sharpened claws emerging in their place.

  Raising to his feet Phi’s cloak that had been too long for his body barely touched the ground, he looked back at the villagers and could taste their fear and terror. He saw them stumble back as he stepped towards them. Phi could feel the rapid beating of their hearts, the sweet fragrance of their flesh caused him to drool. His teeth convulsed in anticipation of rending them to pieces and gorging himself on his birthday feast.

  His foot hit something in his way. Whatever it was wasn’t part of his sight, perhaps a rock or something. But as he looked down he noticed a familiar scent. It was the body of Herschel. Cold and lifeless. He tried desperately to see his father’s face once more but there was nothing.

  All at once the hunger and rage bled away as Phi cried out in anguish. Dropping to his knees he buried his head against his father’s chest. “I’m sorry.” His voice a rasping thing that emanated from his neck. “This is all my fault. All I wanted was to be with you father. If I hadn’t prayed for new sight, then maybe this wouldn’t have happened.” He wept.

  An arrow struck Phi in the chest as the villagers tried to surround him. Gone was the anger, in its place was an all encompassing numbness. He rose to his feet, cradling his father in his newly strengthened arms. He turned away from the village as arrow after arrow landed in his back, the hooks and their chains still dragged behind him as he walked into the dark forest.

  After hours of walking, Phi found a place deep in the woods to bury his father. He clawed at the cold ground with bloody fingers to form the grave. Placing his father in the pit with care. As he moved the earth to cover Herschel he could do little to stop the flow of tears. Looking at the earth, Phi continued kneeling for the rest of the night in silence.

  The morning rays of sun touched Phi’s face as he blinked. He had spent the whole night trying to think of how to say farewell, how to apologize, he wanted some way to beg for forgiveness. In the end he couldn’t find words that felt like they were enough. He stood up on sore legs as he turned and walked away. “It would have been better if I had simply let the Nightfather take me.” He said meekly, as he wandered into the forest, alone.

  ◆◆◆

  Phi’s eyes fluttered open as he sat up in his bed. He held a hand up to his head as he sighed. It had been awhile since he last had a dream about that night. Stretching out his senses he felt Fel still sound asleep in their cabin, it was probably the middle of the night. It was no wonder that he had had that old dream again. As soon as Fel had mentioned their destination Phi had known where they were headed.

  Scarstooth. His home.

  They were still weeks away from arriving, but that simply meant he had more time to dread his return. Phi stopped for a moment and laughed. In all of the chaos he had forgotten what day of the calendar it was. Today was his birthday. “Today marks another year that I stole from you father. Maybe this will be the year I can finally die, then perhaps you’ll finally find peace.” He said, reaching out and grabbing the lexicon from his bedside and holding it to his chest as he laid back down.

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