Edgar Tekle's Story

Edgar sat in English class feigning a look of great interest on the subject of allegories and anecdotes. In truth his mind was already set in Reendria. Agatha had said she would have a big surprise for him but when a giant said big you had to wonder if they meant human big or giant big. He was sincerely hoping it wasn't giant big. Last time a giant had offered him a gift that was giant big, he'd had to eat a cake as tall as most trees with little help. As Edgar recalled this memory he tuned out the sound of the school bell telling everyone school was out. He was launched ungracefully from the memory by the feeling of his head hitting the desk. "What's the matter Runt forgotten what the bell means or is the floor just too far away?" came an all too familiar voice. It was Donny and his gang come to pick on him. Donny was the oldest kid still in the orphanage and couldn't find very many friends due to his repulsive nature. The people with him now were the other oldest kids hanging out with him so they didn't have to feel his wrath. The only teen that didn't fold was Edgar officially making him the one person the orphanage would allow Donny to pick on.

Edgar just rolled his eyes and reached down for his books as the gang high fived laughing at Donny’s oh so funny joke. When he tried to exit the room Donny pulled his gang over to block the way. "Where you going short stuff." said Donny tone mocking as he mirrored Edgar's movements blocking the exit. "Come on guys." Edgar complained as they started to surround him. It was obvious they wanted a fight and they knew Edgar could give one. Edgars previous reputation as a merciless bully had preceded him to the orphanage and Donny was determined to have that kind of fighting force in his gang. "You know we won't leave till the answer is yes," he said a sinister grin spreading across his face. Then Donny released a punch hitting Edgar right in the nose causing it to bleed. Edgar kept his expression neutral through the pain. Yeah it hurt a lot but he had taken worse punches. Turning back to Donny, Edgar brought his face close feeling their noses touch. "You want a fight Donny. Well here it comes." Edgar snarled releasing a punch right into Donny's gut cracking a rib unintentionally. The rest of the gang watched in shock as Donny keeled over in front of Edgar. Edgar nonchalantly threw his bag over his shoulder and walked out the door unable to describe disguise a grimace. He didn't like to fight, that’s why he became a pacifist, but he was a natural at it and he couldn't help but use a little of that skill now and then especially when Donny is always pestering him like this. Edgar stifled a moan as he heard Donny send his goons after him. The chase begins...again he thought as he tightened his hold on his backpack and ran out of the school.

Edgar slammed the door of his room behind him pushing it closed with his back. Donny's goons were right behind him and he was out of breath from running all the way from the school to the orphanage. He dug around the pencils in his pocket to find his key. Pulling it out of his pocket he was about to lock the the door when it bumped behind him causing it to fall to the floor. "Dang it." he said under his breath hearing them demand entrance from the other side of the door. If he wasn't so tired he could have easily kept the door still but he was and he could barely keep it closed. He glanced down at the ring on his finger knowing it was the only way he could get out of here without a fight. He really wanted more time before he traveled to Reendria but he didn't see that he had much choice in the matter. With another bump on the door his mind was made up. He brought the back of his hand to his face and focused on the center of his ring. As he focused in to the eye on his ring he felt the dreary heat of his bedroom fade into the cool of a Reendrian forest.

Looking up from the ring he looked around at the mountains around him. Without the door to support him Edgar was quickly off balance and fell back onto the dirt. "You shouldn't have fought them." came a pleasantly familiar voice. This voice often greeted him when he came into Reendria often criticizing him on his decisions that day. "I did what I had to. I think I made the right decision unless you can think of a better way out of there." he responded tiredly defending his decision. The voice was silent letting Edgar know he had won the argument. He decided to change the subject as he got up dusting himself off.
"Anything major happen while I was gone?" he asked hoping he could go and get Agatha's surprise out of the way.
"The usual skirmishes," the voice replied trying to hide that it had just been beaten. "Your police actually stopped a few of them."
"Really." said Edgar looking up with genuine surprise. The police were a new concept that Edgar had introduced to the giants made to stop the constant unnecessary battles the giants were getting themselves into. The police were meant to stop battles peacefully through logic and reason instead of brute strength. This was so contradictory to a giants nature that it was not well received by anyone, police included. That a giant had taken them seriously enough to actually stop a battle was a big improvement.
"A giant approaches." the voice warned him before fading away. The warning wasn't necessary because Edgar could already feel the ground shaking from the giants footstep but he thanked it all the same. Looking over he saw a Forest elemental giant looking very much like a tree himself. Elemental giants often resembled the element where they made their home and this one was no exception. He was a deep brown much like the trees around him and smelled heavily of pine sap. Looking around Edgar found a suitable log and hoisted it over his shoulder as he walked over to the giant. "Hello!" Edgar yelled up to the giant switching his voice to the gruff language off a giant. The giant looked down slowly regarding Edgar briefly before taking interest in the log he carried. "May I have a ride to my home." he asked waving the log temptingly in his hands. The giant looked at him for a moment and then reached down and grabbed the log placing it between his gigantic teeth. True to his word the giant sent vines to carry Edgar into the canopy. Once in the canopy the leaves pushed him along to the mountain on the forest edge. Edgar lied back and started to relax before tending to his broken nose.

Edgar Tekle

The leaves under Edgar stopped and he jumped upright. He had come to the edge of the forest and as soon as he stepped out he would be beyond the giants power. A vine reached out from his platform giving him a clear path to the ground. He stretched out his arms and yawned before grabbing the vine and climbing down. He was much more refreshed form his nap and his nose had finally stopped bleeding. "That's a relief." he said recalling Agatha's reaction last time he was in a fight. Agatha was the most peaceful giant he had every met and therefore his best friend. Granted that all 100 armed giants were peaceful compared to most giant species but Agatha was the only one he knew that took it to the point of being a pacifist. It was actually Agatha who had inspired Edgar to become a pacifist with the way that despite her size she didn't feel the need to cause pain to others.
He was thrust from his thoughts as he hit the ground and walked on towards the nearby mountain. Upon reaching it he inspected it before giving out a big yell at the mountain or at least what appeared to be mountain. Responding to his yell the mountain side sprouted two giant big brown eyes that stared intently down on Edgar. It was Edgar's house bodyguard Ithian the earth giant using his rock-like skin to completely conceal the entrance into Edgar's house. "So you return." he said in his usual deep monotonous voice not letting any emotion through. "Yes now can you let me pass." Edgar asked failing to hide his impatience. He was refreshed from his nap but he didn't get to eat before he left in his hurry and he was starting to feel hungry. Ithian looked down regarding Edgar before shifting to the side so he could leave enough space for Edgar to enter. To the untrained eye it looked as if a part of the mountain have just come off but Edgar knew better. Thanking him Edgar walked into his home. He ignored his desire to just go and rest in his bed and walked through the house to where it connected to Agatha's.
He entered her house seeing everything growing considerably in size feeling like a mouse going through a mouse hole to the world beyond. No matter how often he came into Agatha's house he never got used to being so small in comparison. He was about to yell out for her when he saw her working intensely by her work bench, 100 hands moving slowly but confidently. He sighed and walked over to her workbench having to run to cover the distance quickly. With effort he climbed the leg of the workbench thankful for the ladder carved into it. Reaching the surface of the table he sat down and just watched as she worked. Her focus and attention to detail had always fascinated him. He knew that he had to wait until she acknowledged him because he knew that there was nothing more dangerous than engaging a 100 armed giant while they worked. Agatha was a pacifist but she seemed to forget this when she was working.

Edgar sat down after he realized that Agatha was nowhere near finished. It had been about 30 minutes and she hadn't even looked at. He wondered what it was she was working on now and tried to look but there were too many hands in the way. He was starving now and thought about going over to Agatha's kitchen but dismissed it as too far and just plain rude. He knew it was dangerous but he was tempted to just yell and get her attention.
Thankfully he wasn't the person who had to fill this role because just as the thought occurred to him another giant rushed into the room. It was Edgar's bodyguard, Gideonn probably come looking for him. Gideonn was probably one of the most highly respected warrior giants in Reendria but for some reason chose to defend Edgar and Agatha, the most peaceful 100 armed giant in Reendria. Gideonn was very well muscled and Edgar could compare him to most human body builders only Gideonn didn't sacrifice any agility in the process. A curly beard framed his scarred face and serious brown eyes. "Mistress Agatha," He began before a hard stare from Agatha silenced him momentarily. All 100 of Agatha's hands had stopped as she turned to face Gideonn anger evident in her face. "What?" she said normal sweet tones lost to this angry discontented one.
"It has been reported that Edgar is back in Reendria," He said barely phased by Agatha's anger. "I was wondering if you had seen him."
Agatha's anger disappeared as fast as it came and was replaced by concern. All 100 hands placed her work gently on the table before she lifted herself up and started to look for him. He let them search for awhile until he finally decided that he should make his presence known. "Hello." He said almost laughing as both giant heads turned to him. "How long have you been here?" asked Agatha sending a half dozen hands to reach for her pocket watch. "I've been here for about thirty minutes now." he said trying not to sound too smug. "Well thank you for at least trying to wait until i was finished." she said flashing a glare that was lost on Gideonn. "You really should come to me when you enter Reendria. I can name a number of giants that would have no problem disposing of you." He said carefully trying to make sure he didn't sound jealous of Agatha. "I can take care of myself." He said receiving a disbelieving grunt from Gideonn. "So what were you working on?" he asked turning towards Agatha who was absently trying to calm all of her arms. "Nothing special." She said holding up a flattened piece of metal with some words engraved into it. "But I did make you this." she said reaching for a small red box sitting on the workbench. She deftly handed the box to Edgar and Edgar just stared at it in his hands. He was yet again amazed at Agatha's attention to detail seeing the lines of gold paint coursing over the boxes surface. He pulled one side of the box off and gasped at what he saw inside.

Placed inside the box were a set of leather boots styled in what humans would call steampunk. He could only tell that they were leather after looking closely because there were wires and gears all over its surface. Every wire and gear was a testimony of Agatha's attention to detail each turning or twitching in sync to everything else. Taking one of the boots in his hands he turned it around trying to figure out what it did. There were two cylinders strapped side by side onto the boot and he went about investigating these. The metal was smooth except for maybe a few dents reminding him Agatha wasn't perfect despite doing an overall great job. At the bottom of each cylinder there was a part that wouldn't open no matter how hard he tried.
"Agatha I can't figure out what these do for the do for the life of me." he said turning up to her after he gave up inspecting the boot.
"It's not enough for to just make you boots," she started before noticing Edgar's knowing stare. Edgar knew better than to believe she would be satisfied just making boots. Agatha was peaceful but she wasn't boring and would never go about making a pair of boots for the intended purpose. "Twist the green gear." she said giving a vague gesture to the boots. Edgar looked and there was in fact a green gear standing out against the silver and bronze everywhere else on the boot.
He was cautious about turning the gear because it wouldn't be a first if it ended up hurting him. He shivered remembering her attempt at making a robot bodyguard. She didn't want to do it but she relented because Gideonn told her it was for his own protection. It turned out it was just the opposite because as soon as it was turned on instead of protecting Edgar it tried to kill him. It was always too close to Edgar for either Gideonn or Agatha to do something. Eventually he was able to knock it off the workbench but it escaped before any giants could smash it. Long story short Gideonn no longer suggests projects to Agatha and Edgar always took care with Agatha's creations.
Taking a deep breath he turned the gear and heard the clink as gears switched function. In the next moment the part that Edgar couldn't open released a long metal tube that nearly impaled him in the gut. It stopped extending about 40 feet away almost knocking some of Agatha's tools from the table. All of agatha's arms went about showing their excitement with some giving others high fives and some content with a thumbs up. "Yeah it worked." said agatha failing to hide her excitement. Edgar wasn't disheartened with the fact that she was just as surprised as he was. With hands as big as a giants it would have been took much work to get to the green gear turn it and reset it every time. That was usually where Edgar came in so he could test the things too small for Agatha to get to.
After a brief moment of thinking he slipped both boots onto his feet before turning the gear on the other boot. Together he realized that they formed a pair of stilts. He hadn't used before but he thought he could give them a try as he slipped himself off the work bench. The springs at the bottom of each stilt made good shock absorbers but that didn't compensate for the fact that he didn't know how to use stilts. He stumbled forward a few steps before Gideonn caught him in between his grotesque fingers. "They may take some getting used to." admitted Agatha who felt slightly guilty for almost causing his fall. "No better way than using them." he said nodding his thanks to Gideonn. When he was ready he took some steps towards the door only slightly more steady than the last time. "Where are you going?" Gideonn asked before stepping forward to steady Edgar again. "I'm going to see a fellow tamer." he responded trying to focus on keeping his balance. He tuned out gideonn's protest as he retreated to his thoughts. He had very few friends inside of school so he really hoped that other tamers had come back to Reendria too. As well as wanting to see another tamer he really wanted to go through agatha's doorway. He had never gone through the doorway through his own power before always having been carried by another giant.
This want was delayed because gideonn had placed himself in between Edgar and the door still believing it was too dangerous. "Would it make you feel better if you got to pick the tamer?" Edgar compromised not really caring what tamer he went to see. Gideonn thought for a moment before saying that Edgar could go see Pippa. Edgar shrugged and turned back to Agatha who was seating herself down back at the work bench. "You not coming?" he asked already knowing the answer. "No i'm too busy here. Have fun though." she responded waving with a few hands while the others went to work. Edgar knew she was using this as an excuse so she wouldn't get hassled by fairies. Fairies were as annoying to giants as mosquitoes were to humans so Edgar didn't blame her. Gideonn opened the door and Edgar stumbled out of it taking a big breath of fresh air before setting off to Pippa's house.

Edgar sat in the palm of Gideonn's hand sulking slightly because Gideonn had confiscated his boots. Edgar couldn't really blame Gideonn for doing his job but that didn't mean he had to be so serious about it. Gideonn had forced Edgar to take the boots off after Edgar almost fell to his death three times just when he thought he was really getting the hang of the boots. Edgar had tried to run before Gideonn could reach him but the stilts still only brought Edgar to his knees and Gideonn could reach him without breaking a sweat.
Edgar broke from his sulking as he saw Pippa's house coming closer. Going to see pippa usually cheered him up due to Pippa's naturally bright personality. He could see even from here that that would not be the case today. He could see pippa flying from her house followed by a stream of glowing lights. She definitely seemed different than usual he could tell that by the flying style. It seemed more determined and anxious than her normal leisurely pace. He knew he should go to her but Gideonn would through a fit if he just jumped after her. He figured that she would be going to her normal fairy meeting spot at the meadow and instructed Gideonn to drop him off there. Upon arriving Gideonn set him on the ground and was about to turn and leave when Edgar shouted up to him. "Your going to leave me here barefoot?" he called wiggling the toes inside his socks for emphasis. With a disgruntled sigh Gideonn dropped the brand new boots on the ground but not before giving these parting words. "only use those stilts if you have too. I don't want to have to explain to Agatha what happened to her favorite tamer." and with that he was gone or at least off to a safe watching distance.

Nodding he took off running to where pip had landed suprised at how easy it was to run in these boots. The fairies swarming around pip created a wall that he couldn't penetrate. "Hey pip are you all right?" he asked calling over to her through the many tiny wingbeats.

Pip was in the middle of tryingto put a bandage around one of the pixies hurt legs when she heard the fairies and pixies start buzzing around anxiously. She looked to Artemis and Artemis took a look past the swarm of fairies and pixies to see a young boy. Artemis smiled looking to Edgar and then looked to Pippa "its that boy Edgar" she said in a motherly tone then went back to relaxing. Artemis approved of Edgar in many ways which was a good thing for him and knew Athena has been around the boy for sometime, though she wasnt sure why Athena has shown herself to him yet.

Pip smiled/blushed/ then looked anxiously around as she whispered to the fairies "hang low Edgar is not going to hurt you" she said in the fairy language. The fairies soon dispered a bit so Pip had a clear view of Edgar. Then she heard him "Hey pip are you all right?" she sighed, usually she was in a happy go lucky mood but right now she wasnt and it wasnt often she was in a bad mood. "Hey Edgar, not really something attacked the fairies and pixies, some died and got some injured, trying to patch up the injured but something/someone used iron against them" she sighed and whiped her hand against her forehead. "I sent a fairy with a note to Sina but havent heard anything back from her yet and im not sure if i can give them any more help then i have already. Ive bandage there wounds but their light is fading and their glamour which is never a good sign". She points to the four pixies/fairies knowing Edgar probably could see them now. "They are in bad shape and im very worried, I have not clue who or what could have done this" then her voice change, it was deeper and darker, no one probably has seen this side of her before "if i find out who has done this...Beidh rudaí a deireadh go dona (things will end badly)" her voice was thick with her irish accent but didnt realize till the end that she said the last part in irish "Sorry...bad habit of going into irish when i am upset..."

After making the fairies/pixies as comfortable as she could she got up and brushed off her knees "well then...i guess thats all i can really do for now" she said walking over to Edgar she gave him a hug, she was a huggy person but at this moment she needed one badly. After a few minutes she let go and motioned to the cottage "would you like something to drink or eat?" she asked.

Artemis looked up and smiled seeing Pip hug Edgar once the girl let go of the boy she spoke up "its good to see you again Edgar, I hope things are going well with you and your myths" her voice was pleasent and there was a sparkle in her eye. She could feel a gaze from Pippa and she looked over to the girl and gave her a smile. "Well Pippa darling I will be in the woods around the cottage if you need anything. Im going to see if i can find anything around here that pertains to what happened here" she said and Artemis walked in to the forest, bow in hand.

Edgar walked forward as the mass of fairies moved around him. He listened nodding as she told him what was ailing her but his face remained neutral. He tried to put up an encouraging smile that told her he would help if he could but injuries and battle were pretty common for him. There's hardly a day in Reendria where he didn't find himself breaking up a fight between giants often not being able to stop one of them from taking a wound before it ended. That said he knew it would have been only a matter of time before he found one but he didn't expect with Pippa. Fairies were mischievous but they weren't violent so Pippa wouldn't be used to seeing her myths in pain much less dead.
"If i find out who has done this...Beidh rudaí a deireadh go dona " Pippa said her voice shifting into Irish out of anger."Sorry...bad habit of going into irish when i am upset..."
"Don't mention it." he responded preferring that he didn't know what she had meant to say. He came over to stand beside her and looked down at the fairies. The light surrounding them (glamour he thought Pippa called it) was fading so for what might be the first time he was able to see the fairies clearly. Just like giants seemed to be gigantic versions of humans the fairies seemed to be, though he wouldn't say it to Pippa, like dolls. It's nice to be bigger than a someone for a change he thought looking as Pip got up beside him.
"Well then...I guess thats all I can really do for now" she said walking over to Edgar. Edgar took her word for it because beyond the fairies fading glow he couldn't see much wrong with them.His eyes widened in surprise as she gave him a hug. People didn't usually touch him without he intention to hurt him but at this moment she needed a hug so he slowly wrapped his arms around her to return the hug. After a few minutes she let go and motioned to the cottage "Would you like something to drink or eat?" she asked. This question reminded Edgar of how hungry and his stomach growled as if to give Pippa her answer. He nodded his answer before responding to Artemis.
"Nice to see you too. And they're getting better." he responded honestly. He was the first giant tamer so instilling order on them was a painstaking task especially with how stubborn most giants are. Every type of giant had there own custom to earn their respect. With Gatherers you had to make a special dish, Warriors had to be beaten in battle, 100-armed you had to make them something of great value and finally elementals were just unpredictable. He had only succeeded with most 100-armed and some of the elementals meaning he still had a long way to go. Gideonn as the first giant and only warrior to convert to Edgar's new regime. His mind recalled his first meeting with Gideonn and it left him smiling.
He started to walk off with Pip when he turned around to see the fairies flying solemnly around their injured comrades. Gesturing to Pippa to wait a moment he walked back to the fairies. "hey guys." He greeted waving because he knew the fairies had no idea what he was saying. "There's a big giant over there and I'm sure he's ready to play." he said gesturing in the direction where Gideonn sat watching. At first they just looked at him quizically but after awhile thy slowly made their way over to the crouching giant that was Gideonn. Satisfied Edgar walked back over to Pippa laughing as he heard Gideonn reacting to the fairies arrival.