Is this worth continuing?

Well I was digging around my laptop today and came across a piece of work from a few years ago. It was a work that I did with 3 other writers but this portion is completely my own writing and plot line. Anyway long story short we are not working on it anymore and was wondering if this piece would be worth continuing. If I do continue it I know that there will be changes but not anything dealing with my established character or plot line. Right now I am kind of on the fence about it. What do the rest of you think?

Michael stood there with his arms crossed leaning against the pillar with a posted warning. It read ‘Be warned all who enter these doors! All actions are watched by the Goddess Albertina and her judgment will be swift on any who break the law!’ He was tapping his foot impatiently while the Monks of the Order of Albertina debated on giving him access to the Inner Chamber. At 19 he was the youngest person in the building complex. He stood six feet tall with bright blue color eyes. His short blond hair stood out against the worn brown trench coat hanging around his shoulders. He had a blue t-shirt on that was a different color blue than his blue jeans. His brown boots were the same worn brown color as his coat. On a first glance you would notice that he had the body of an athlete long distance runner, but then you would notice his belt that held bullets along the outside. He was very out of place inside the Temple of Albertina.

The entirety of the room was covered in beautifully detailed murals depicting the history of the Goddess of Lighting. Across the ceiling a bird made completely of lightning had its fierce gaze upon all those below it. Along with the history of the Goddess were images of the Divine chosen by her in years past. There was one mural that was being completed. It depicted a young prince being born to a family with a royal seal of a wolf howling at the moon hovering above two mountains. The child had bright eyes that were a mix of the color green and blue. Below the picture was space for the writing about the mural but the only word present was ‘prodigy’. He was the only one in the room until a monk dressed in brown silk robes entered.

“Well?” Michael asked.

“You have proven yourself worthy of the council of Albertina with your many acts of kindness as a healer of the people,” the monk responded, “right this way.”

“Thank you,” Michael responded and then thinking to himself, If only you knew who the goddess really was you wouldn’t admit me on my acts of kindness. He followed the monk through the many corridors that led to the Inner Chamber of the Temple. He memorized the rights and lefts leading back to the Entrance Chamber just in case. He felt uneasy because he had lost his reader ability when he entered the temple grounds. Without his reader ability he couldn’t dive into people’s minds and look at how they fought. It was a great advantage to have for combat but reader abilities never worked on any temple grounds. It was one of the rules the Gods had put in place. They had allowed him to keep his weapons because everyone knew that no violent actions were tolerated in a God’s Temple. These rules ensured a level playing field for all who entered the temple regardless of their intent.

“The Goddess should be waiting.” The monk said, “I will take my leave now but remember that the Goddess demands the utmost respect from her followers.”

Michael sighed. I hate this part. I don’t know what’s worse this or when I leave, he thought to himself as he opened the door leading to the Inner Chamber. The room was lit with the recent innovation of electric lighting. It was a small room and there was a stone chair facing a stone statue that was carved to look like a bird made of lightning resting on a branch. It’s fierce gaze piercing the onlooker’s soul. He took his place in the chair and waited for what was coming. The ascension happened quickly. He knew how this process worked because he had asked Albertina about it only once. Her response was ‘Oh it’s a simple matter of removing your soul and bringing it to the Immortal realm. The real trick is putting the soul back.’ after that he had stopped asking questions about how he visited her realm. In the half second it took to blink an eye he was sitting opposite an old lady sitting in the chair that appeared before him. She was wearing a white silk dress that was of the purest white he had ever seen. It was a shade lighter then her hair which was long and at times was almost indistinguishable from her dress. Her attire offset her dark blue eyes in a way that brought attention to her piercing gaze above all else. Even sitting down her head was level with the tallest man Michael had ever seen.

“So let me get this straight. I give you certain abilities to make you superior to most mortals and not only do you decline to use them but you hide yourself from those whom you can defeat in battle. Is that correct?” the old women broke the silence that had hung in the air.

“You can drop the act, I am not one of your simple minions. Stop showing off already.” Michael said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“Wow somebody woke up on the wrong side of the proverbial bed,” she said as her form instantly changed. She now wore a light blue t-shirt with blue jeans. She now looked about 25 years old with short black hair and light blue eyes. She shrank in size to the normal height for a woman.

“So where is Anthony?” Michael asked.

“He is not so patently waiting to be allowed in,” she replied, “But before that happens I have something to reiterate to you for the 167th time. Your tiny continent is not the center of this world. Before you start to try to fix things you should take a step back and see the whole picture.”

“When are you going to stop telling me the same thing every time we meet?” Michael responded.

“When you actually understand it.” She said seriously as she turned and walked out a door that materialized out of nowhere. Anthony appeared instantly in the spot Albertina had been standing. He looked about 35 with a short red hair that was the same length as his beard. He had bright crystal green eyes and stood slightly shorter than Michael at 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was wearing a purple silk toga which signified he was of high nobility.

“Why did you risk going to a temple?” Anthony asked with annoyance in his voice.

“I am just checking in. I haven’t seen you in more than a year. I was wondering if anything had changed,” Michael replied as he stood and looked his god directly in the eyes.

“The point of hiding is to remain hidden. Not go to places that you could be identified,” Anthony continued to lecture him.

“So?” Michael asked.

“So what?” Anthony still sounded annoyed with Michael.

“Is Freiheit going to become independent?” Michael persisted.

“There is no certainty in predicting the future.”

“What are the odds?”

“The odds are very good of that event happening,” Anthony answered Michael’s question.

“When?” Michael started to sound annoyed as well.

“When it secedes from Heimat. Don’t be so impatient. All good things come with time. Trust me,” said Anthony.

“I will hold you to your word.” Michael spoke as he began fading from the Immortal realm.

“I would expect nothing less.” Anthony’s voice echoed in Michael’s ears as the rest of his body faded.

Michael opened his eyes to the false light of electricity and sighed. The meeting had not gone as he had hoped. Anthony and his damn nonanswer-answers, he thought to himself. The monk who had shown him to Inner Chamber was waiting for him to exit. He had been sitting on a wooden chair that he must have brought there during Michael’s conference with the Gods. He was reading a hardcover book that must have been important to the Monk’s studies because he didn’t notice Michael exit the Inner Chamber.

“How long have I been away?” Michael said, bringing the Monk’s attention to himself. The Monk finished reading his sentence and pulled out a golden pocket watch. He studied it for a moment and then closed the lid.

“You were a way for about three hours. Did the Goddess bring good news?” the Monk asked.

“She was about as helpful as Anthony was.” Michael replied. He didn’t care what the Monk thought of his conference of more than one god. It was common for people to converse with a different god than the temple was built to honor.

“Have you finished your business with the Order of Albertina?” the Monk asked.

“Yes, please show me to the exit.”

The walk back to the entrance was as silent as the walk to the Inner Chamber. Michael thought about the short conversation with the Gods. Anthony wanted Michael to wait for the right moment before he did anything. The only problem was the right moment could be long after Michael’s life span. Michael understood that the future was not certain and events were determined by probability. The Gods actions tipped the scales one way or the other on those events. That was how the future was determined. The only thing he had gained from the conversation was the idea that right now was not the right time. After all he had risked coming to the temple all he got in return was the same order he had been given a year ago.

“Thank you for stopping by. Your patronage will be greatly appreciated,” the Monk said.

“Thanks for all your assist…” Michael was cut off by four armed guards rushing into the Entrance Chamber. They were wearing chain mail armor and had swords attached at the waist. In the center of their chests was a coat of arms belonging to a noble family.

“Empowered by the noble Darius I order you to stand down and come peacefully! You are ordered by Darius to be in detainment for questions.” the leader demanded.

“I am under the king’s law only!” Michael shouted. At that comment the leader’s face contorted with rage. The monk that had shown Michael around the temple stood his ground and didn’t move.

“Kill him!” shouted the leader as he pulled his sword from its sheath. The three others drew their weapons and all four charged. Any time now Albertina, he thought as he stood still holding his arms in plain sight, daring the attackers to strike him down. To him time slowed down drastically. He watched the men close the distance between them but most of all he watched the sword of the leader.

It was a worn short sword with a few deep scratches in it. He saw the sword be pulled back. He heard the other three moving to surround him in case their leader was unable to deliver a deathblow. The sword moved toward Michael’s torso with enough force to almost cut him in half. Any time now!

There was a roar of thunder as the sword touched Michael’s neck the leader’s body disappeared instantly in a blue flash of lightning. Michael grabbed the guard on his right by the shoulders. The man was so awestruck by what had just happened he didn’t react.

“AHH,” a quick scream of pain escaped Michael’s mouth as the guard’s short sword plunged into his belly. The guard so shocked by the move he instinctively pushed the sword deeper. Instantly the guard disappeared in a similar blinding blue flash of lightning. Damn. I thought that would work better, Michael thought as he bolted for the door. He clutched the shallow hole in his belly. Blood drooped on the floor with every step.

“What do we do?”

“I don’t know!”

“What did he do!?”

“He didn’t do anything. Albertina punished them!” the voices of the monk and remaining guards grew quieter as Michael exited the temple. As soon as he opened the door he felt the heat of the bright sun’s rays hit him. The day had turned out to be a bright warm summer day. Why couldn’t it rain today! Michael thought as he prepared for what was going to happen next. The worst part of coming to a temple, for Michael, was when he regained his reader ability. He pulled a small piece of wood from his pocket. It was as long as a finger and just as thick. Michael placed it in his mouth and prepared himself as best he could. He knew he was close to the invisible barrier. No place to hide. I guess I got to go for plan B, he thought. Images flashed through his mind as the world faded from his mind. He became everyone in his reader range in an instant and yet was no one.

I hope mommy didn’t put jelly on my sandwich today. he rounded the next corner in the building and could see the cafeteria. This wasn’t the one room schools that most students went to but a series of rooms that were based on a University. He could tell that only the middle class and elite’s children went to school here. None of that matter to him though as he peeked into his bag for lunch.

My feet hurt. Crap is that price right!? he though as he quickly looked at the number that the cash machine came up with compared to his quick mental math.

“That doesn’t seem right,” the customer completed her math at about the same time as he did. She was right and it wasn’t to her favor either. Now he had to make a decision. He remembered hearing rumors that she was a supporter of king. That made his decision easy.

“No it’s correct,” he said.

I hope he turns out to be a strong boy. I really don’t want another daughter. he though as he rested his swollen ankles. He leaned back in the worn rocking chair and put his feet up on a wooden stool. He felt a familiar sharp jab of pain on his left side that lasted for an instant. He sure kicks like a boy.

Who am I?

Is he dead? he could see himself lying face down in the dirt of the road he was on. He could see part of the school building on left and the store on his right. That’s not right. Isn’t that me? he thought his mind started to organize the overflow of images.

I have to… Michael though as he finally sifted through the images in his head and began to regain his individuality. When he finally regained control of his body he kept his eyes shut. He had fallen face-first onto the dirt road and was breathing very shallow. His stick had fallen out of his mouth when his jaw relaxed. He could taste lead in his mouth. It must have been deeper than I thought. What worried him was the fact that his high caliber bullets didn’t stop in people’s bodies or the walls behind them. That leaves spell casting, he thought as he crossed his front fingers.

“What do you think?”

“I think he’s dead. With the way he was shaken no way is he alive.”

“Check him. He could have faked those death spasms.”

“You check him!”

“I know healing spells. You don’t.”

“Fine, but I am sure he’s…”

“Eisstachel,” Michael spoke the word softly to try and muffle it in the dirt. He caught them both by surprise. Ice began appearing out of thin air and raced towards the guard closest to Michael. A spike of ice a bit thicker than a man’s fist pierced through flesh and bone. It was a deathblow. The man’s body still tried to live the next few minutes. What was left of his heart was frozen along with what was left of one of his lungs. He gasped air trying to franticly rip out the ice sticking out from his chest but he could do nothing. Michael leapt to his feet and whipped out his revolver. As he aimed it at the last guard he pulled the hammer back. He stopped short at firing.

His reader senses were finally working properly. Behind the last guard and through the wall a few feet he could sense a young boy’s joy at his sandwich being made correctly. The cafeteria was filling with children and he knew that the chances were high that he would hit one of them if he fired.

“All I want is to be healed. After that you can revive your friend here and be on your way,” he said as he carefully aimed his revolver.

“And if I refuse?”

“I start by blowing off your kneecaps so you’re in too much pain to cast spells and it ends with me leaving you wallowing in pain while you bleed to death,” he pointed his revolver at the man’s knees, “Which one do you want to start with?”

The guard hesitated for only a second before dropping his sword in defeat. He slowly extended his arm forward in a casting stance.

“Leben Heilen,” the guard spoke the word with such disgust that at first Michael didn’t know if he was actually casting the spell or mocking him. Michael felt the effects rather than saw his wound regenerate at an accelerated rate. He was so focused on not having to shoot the guard he missed sensing the women exiting the store behind him.

“ENFORCERS! WE NEED ENFORCERS!” she screamed as loud as she could.

Shit! he thought as he turned and ran. He lowered his revolver’s hammer as he frantically ran down the street. He stuffed the gun back in it’s holster as he turned the corner of the street and disappeared from view.