Felix of Vale

"So be it," growled Saturos. "When the column isn't in front of the window, you can come inside."

"But-" complained Felix as Saturos stomped into the house.

The Proxian turned to scowl at him. "Felix. You're nearly sixteen, plenty old enough to use your Psynergy at will. Since you haven't done so, clearly you need motivation. I won't let you freeze to death, but short of that you're staying out here until the column moves." He stepped back, shut the door, and locked it.

Felix was left to gape uselessly at the door. It didn't seem to be opening. He sighed and turned back to the column he was supposed to be moving.

It was made of stone, and probably at least seven feet tall. There was no way Felix could move it on his own with his physical strength. He squinted, trying to summon up the Move Psynergy.

Nothing. The earth wasn't lending him any of its energy.

He tried again, throwing his arm out in front of him as a representation of his intent.

The pillar still didn't move, but there wasn't quite no effect...

It couldn't be natural.

There was no way a storm that appeared from a nearly-empty sky in less than a minute could be natural.

This, however, wasn't the first thing on Felix's mind that evening.

He'd been on the pier behind his house watching the first stars come out when it began. The heavy rain, combined with the wind-whipped river, had made the footing treacherous enough that, instead of getting back inside, Felix had slipped and been swept downstream. He hadn't gone more than a few yards before he managed to grab onto a branch that was sticking out of the water, and how long he could hold on and how long the branch would stay stuck were much more pressing matters than the origin of the storm.

It seemed like hours, but was probably more like a minute, before his family - and Isaac's parents, what were they doing here? - came out to find him. Jenna was the first to spot him, and shouted, "Oh, no! Felix!"

"Just hold on!" called Kyle. "We'll get you out of there!"

Felix could vaguely hear some discussion on the pier, but he didn't listen very hard, since a particularly big wave made him lose his grip and go under the water for a moment.

Dora and Jenna left, while his parents and Kyle just dithered - apparently none of them could concentrate enough for any useful Psynergy. Felix hoped they had gone to get someone who could.

And indeed, after a few minutes Jenna reappeared on the path from the plaza, along with Isaac, Garet, and one of the older villagers, whom Felix didn't recognize immediately. They crossed the bridge and were almost close enough to help when there came a series of crashing noises.

Someone shouted, "The boulder!"

And indeed, there it was, the Mount Aleph boulder, bounding down the hill, breaking trees and walls as it came. Everyone except Felix - who was rather immobilized - scattered, trying to get out of its path, but it bounced directly onto the pier, where Felix's parents and Kyle were still standing. The wave caught Felix, and then he was somewhere else...