Broken Elements Read Online Free PDF

some of their magic and tie the people to the land they were slowly destroying.” I looked back at Simon. His head was tilted back and his eyes closed, but he was still awake. When he made no move to begin telling his story, I continued.
    “After years of silent observation, the originals found it surprisingly easy to assume human shape and move among them. As now, beautiful women had power, and it was not difficult to lead the human men to their beds. The men’s seed quickened in their wombs, and as the children grew, the women whispered to their bellies, speaking all the secrets of land and water. By remaining in human form and carrying human children, they found humanity imprinted on their bodies. They were unable to return to their original forms and were forever stuck between their world and the human world. Though they mourned their loss, they found comfort in their children, who possessed a magic nearly as pure as that of their mothers. In this way, the first elementals were born, many thousands of years ago.”
    “So far, that matches the stories I have heard, though perhaps more mystical than is altogether necessary,” said Simon. “I would hear just a bit more.”
    I was beginning to feel like I was the entertainment for this leg of the trip, but I didn’t really mind. I always found these stories beautiful and oddly comforting, and I could see they had the same effect on Sera. Besides, it beat arguing about music.
    “To the mothers’ surprise, they found themselves unwilling to part from their children and return to the old way of life. Perhaps they thought their newfound humanity had corrupted them too much, or simply felt they now belonged with the humans. Their children were taught to respect the land and water, but with time and many generations of children, those lessons were forgotten. The descendants of the first creatures lost their connection to the elements, and with it their connection to our magic. In so doing, they also lost their longevity. Few of these children living today know what they are, and they possess a mere fraction of the original magic. But some mothers chose to raise their children in the old way, and so we call those that follow their path the old ones. The old ones tell our stories so that we do not forget. We remember that, beneath our flesh and bones, we are land and water and magic.” I stopped speaking, and the car was silent. Sera did not speak, but when I glanced toward her, I saw that her fingers were emitting small sparks, the magic eager to play.
    Simon finally opened his eyes. “I let you go on a bit long, but I liked hearing that. Of course, you only know half the story.”
    Finally, it was his turn. I was a little nervous to hear his version of events. After all, it’s somewhat disconcerting to reevaluate your entire origin story. “Right, then. Spill. Where do baby shifters come from?”
    Without rising to my bait, Simon looked me directly in the eye and asked, “Have you never wondered what happened to the fathers?”
    He sat back as if his point was made. I wasn’t that impressed, mainly because I had no idea what that point was. “What fathers?”
    “That story you just told, the original creatures all took a female shape, yes?”
    “Of course. Being female is the best way to get pregnant, or so I’ve heard.”
    He looked disappointed at my obstinacy. Obviously, he hadn’t known me long enough to just take it as a given. “Are you deliberately being dense, or are you a little bit slow?”
    “I’ve asked myself that same question for many years,” Sera helpfully said. “Hold on to your garters, Ade, because this is about to mess with your understanding of the world.”
    “Some of the creatures did not disappear into the wilderness or become human females. Some became animals. Male animals.”
    I stared at him, waiting for him to continue. He said nothing more, obviously thinking his explanation complete. “But there has to be more to the story.