Page 20 of Dark Awakening: New World

Showing and not telling applied to Ell-rom's situation even more strongly than it did to fiction.

Jasmine gestured towards the double doors they were approaching. "That's the kitchen." She pushed one side open and held it for him to enter.

Ell-rom's eyes widened with interest as he took in the gleaming stainless-steel appliances and the enormous prep counter that ran in the middle of the space.

"This is where food is prepared, but it's way bigger than what people have in their homes. This is a commercial kitchen, which makes me think that there must be an event hall somewhere down here."

Another possibility was that it had been used to feed an army of Guardians before they had all moved to their new location.

How many Guardians were there?

There couldn't be too many if most of the clan could fit onboard the Silver Swan, which was a mid-sized cruise ship that could house a thousand people at the most.

Edgar had told her that in the past, the keep was the center where most of them lived. That's why Kian and his sister had penthouses there. Then, everyone moved to a new location, and most of the apartments aboveground had been leased. The clan still used the underground facility for training and other things. They also had a catacomb level, which she hadn't seen and didn't want to visit. It gave her the creeps, and she preferred not to think about it.

"What else is down here?" Ell-rom asked.

"I haven't had much chance to explore. But maybe we can find out on these walks." She led him out of the kitchen. "There are many levels in this underground, and we can explore all of them, a little bit at a time."

Jasmine hoped that Kian would be okay with that. No one had told her that there were places she wasn't allowed in, and so far, her thumbprint had allowed her access to all the levels she had wanted to get to, but she had tried only three, so there might be others that were restricted.

A smile spread across Ell-rom's handsome face. "I would like that. I'm curious about this world, and this structure is a good place to start learning about it."

As they continued their slow progress down the hallway, Jasmine peeked into the various rooms they were passing by through the small square window at the top of each door.

"What are you looking for?" Ell-rom asked.

"Somewhere down here, the gods are working on the equipment they salvaged from your pod."

His eyebrows rose with interest. "I didn't know they did that. I also don't know what they did with the pod itself. Is it hidden?"

"Yes. They toppled half a mountain on top of it." She peeked into the next room. "These all look like classrooms, which makes them perfect for spreading out the equipment, but maybe they are on one of the other levels. I would love to surprise them with a visit. I'm sure they'd be happy to see you up and about."

A shadow crossed Ell-rom's face. "I doubt it. It's not like I can be of any help to them. Even if more of my memories returned, I probably wouldn't know the first thing about Anumatian technology. I was raised in a temple, remember? My education was most likely limited to spiritual matters."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." She cast him a sidelong glance, making sure that he didn't look like he was about to keel over. "In human history, monks and priests were often the most educated people. They were the ones who learned how to read and write, so they kept historical records. Your education might be more comprehensive than you suspect."

12

ELL-ROM

"Ihope so."

Ell-rom hoped that he had been taught skills that could be useful in this world. He didn't want to be a burden on his sister.

Annani had promised to come see him again, but no one had told him to expect visitors today. She was probably busy with more important things than visiting her half-brother, who had turned out to be a big disappointment.

Instead of the powerful compeller she had expected, she had gotten a weakling who needed to be nursed back to health and kept her medical staff away from others who might need their services.

"What's that glum face about?" Jasmine asked.

"I hate being weak and dependent so fully on others. I can't even go to the bathroom without Julian's help. I try to inconvenience him as little as possible, and I only call him when I can't hold it anymore, but even that is too much."

"Oh, Ell-rom." Jasmine stopped, forcing him to stop as well. "It's okay to need others from time to time." She cupped his cheek and looked into his eyes. "Helping you is making me feel like a better person, and it does the same to everyone else who's involved with your recovery. So, in a way, you're helping us feel good about ourselves and become better people. And one day, when you are back to being strong and your memories have returned, you will find ways to pay it forward." She chuckled. "I know you don't understand the expression. It means that you will help others, giving back to the universe in payment for what you have received."

He tilted his head. "It's a beautiful sentiment. Is this part of the spiritual teachings you grew up on?"

She snorted. "Not at all. I did not grow up with any spiritual teaching. My father was a devout atheist. When I became an adult, I found my path to the goddess, and I learned that in order to receive good things from the universe, you need to send out positivity first. It doesn't need to be anything big. It can be as small as smiling at someone for no reason and brightening their day a little. Or it can be sitting with a friend and letting her vent her worries without passing judgment. There are many ways to do good."