Awakening the Light

Prologue

Lyum Rosecrown, Ruling Queen of the Northern Isles, looks out from her balcony while rubbing her very pregnant belly. This was her second child, and her nerves fluttered with the breeze that gently shifted the curtains behind her. She waited for a sign, wondering if her child would be the one foretold, her firstborn daughter.

Above her, between the red and silver moons, a star blossomed in a flash of light. As she watched in wonder, a cramp ripped through her belly and she fell, crying out into the night.

Af’Natano rushes into the room, followed closely behind by a midwife and Lyum’s personal handmaiden.

“It’s time, Af'Natano. The baby is coming.”

Chapter 1

I lunge upwards, unable to breathe but desperately trying to reach air. Nothing but blueness surrounds me. I feel dizzy from the lack of helium. Something heavy weighs on my ankles, cutting into the circulation. I glance down. Was that a net around my feet? Disoriented, I find myself asking questions. What was I doing? How did I get here? Was this how I would die? Instinctively, I hold my breath, knowing to breathe in was certain death. There's something I'm after, something I need to find desperately.

I sit up, gasping for air. It’s dark, so I lean over and tap my lightstone. A soft glow emanates from the smooth crystal. I’m sitting in my bedroom, the clothes I’d shrugged out of folded neatly on a chair by my vanity table. Two-toned pink walls shone in the dim light. I push my blankets off of me and rub my ankles unconsciously. I glance at my window. Shut tight. I decide to get up and go see my mother.

My mother was a tall, formidable woman, with flaming red hair, and a complexion like the bards sing about. Her green eyes flash in my mind. She would want to know about my dream.

It’s still late. The red moon outside hasn’t reached its zenith. Silver light from the second moon shone just enough for me to know that it was the wee hours of the morning. I walk through my bedroom door, pausing in the frame. Should I really wake mom up? She needed to know I had another dream. It felt so real, like the last one I’d had about my surprise eleventh birthday party, or the goose that got loose in the kitchen. She’d made me promise to tell her if I had one like those again.

Resolved, I follow the curving wall of my sitting room to the door of my dining room, exiting through my entrance hall into the hallway outside my room. Feeling nervous, I debate on going back in for my lightstone, but decide against it. I know the way to my parents’ room. Going down the flight of stairs, hand barely resting on the banister, I cross the next hallway to stand at the double doors of my parents’ room. I stand outside for a minute, biting my lip to build my courage. I pull on the doors and enter their entrance hall.

Their rooms are set up much like mine, so I follow the curved walls until I reach their bedroom door. I push it open, half expecting my mother to already be up and waiting for me. They’re still asleep, the room dark and quiet except for their breathing. I walk to the other side of the bed and put my hand on my mother’s shoulder. She wakes up, opening her eyes. She reaches over to touch her lightstone, lighting up the bedroom. My father wakes up as the light brightens momentarily before dimming to a suitable level.

“What is it, Lyum?” He asks as he sits up, blinking his sleep filled eyes. He glances over my mother and, seeing her unharmed, turns his attention to me.

“It’s A’Kasha, darling," she murmurs to him before turning to me. "Whatever is the matter, dear? You never wake us in the middle of the night. Did something happen?” Mother’s soft voice nearly pushes me to tears.

“I had a dream, Mother,” I tell her quietly.

She pulls me onto the bed, cuddling me close. “Tell me about it.” Her hair falls forward like a curtain against the nightmares. Her invitation motivates me to confide in them.

So I do. “I was under water. I think I had dived down to find something that had fallen in, but I don’t know where I was. I became entangled in something that was keeping me from going back up to the surface. A net, I think. It was really scary, and vivid. I thought I was going to drown. I couldn’t kick, and my arms weren’t strong enough to pull me up." I lower my head into my hands, "I don’t want to die yet, mom. I didn’t know what I needed to do.”

She shushes me, and I realize that I have started crying. My father leans over, putting his arms around both of us. “Don’t worry, dearest. We would never let you go that easily. Why don’t you stay with us tonight? Try and remember everything you can, and we’ll make a plan in the morning.” Father always knew the best comfort was their warm embrace for me. I snuggle in closer as mother pulls the blankets up over us, and I fall back into a deep sleep before mother could turn the lightstone off.

I awoke the next morning alone in bed. I don’t worry though, since I know my parents are early risers. After all, they have a country to run. I crawl out of bed, quietly walking to the door of the bedroom. As I start to open the door, I hear my parents’ talking together.

“There must be something we can do for her. She’s only eleven. She shouldn’t be having visions so young. Her awakening won’t happen for another five years. She’s not ready for this.” I can hear the worry in my mother's voice. I feel a twinge of guilt at putting it there.

“Darling, we knew by the time she was born that she was special. Our job is to help her be prepared for her awakening. The legends foretell of more than we have discovered. There is much that we can’t help her with, and much that has been lost. Her powers will be stronger than any in our family lines that has ever been seen or recorded.” Father sounded more confident. It helped ease some of the tension building in my chest. “She will learn. She’ll be fine.”

But wait, stronger? And which legends were Father referring to?

“You’re right, Af’Natano. Of course. Have you sent a messenger yet?” Messenger? For what, I wondered.

“Yes, I sent one early this morning, after she had fallen asleep. I should receive a reply no later than lunch. We’ll have to break the news to her soon.”

I can’t hold myself back anymore. I open the door the rest of the way. “Break what news?” I ask, already dreading the answer.

“A’Kasha, have you been eavesdropping?” Mother sounded a bit surprised. I look down, embarrassed.

“Not really... at least, I didn’t mean to. It just happened while I was opening the door to come out.” I tell her, feeling a bit guilty again.

She laughs a little, and I feel a bit more at ease.

“Well, come over here and sit down. Eat a bit and we’ll tell you all about it.” I sit down at the dining table and fix myself a plate of flat cakes. The spread was for a feast, with bacon, sausage, ham, eggs in multiple fashions, flat cakes, biscuits, gravy and more covering the table. Flat cakes had always been my favorite for breakfast.

“Oh no, Miss Helen must be looking for me!” I exclaim, suddenly remembering my handmaiden. She always woke me up in the morning. Cheerful and smiling, she had always been like a bird, flitting about to make the best of my tastes. She always told me one day she would show me proper fashion, as though I wasn’t fashionable enough. I giggle to myself.

“Don’t worry, dear. We’ve already let her know you’re here. She’ll be expecting you shortly,” mother assured me. I smile, digging back into my flat cakes smothered in syrup.

Father began to speak then, “A’Kasha. We do have something we need to talk about.” I stop eating, putting my fork down so I could listen closely. “The dreams you’ve been having until now are actually visions, glimpses of the future that come true. We know you know what they are.” I nod. Seers blood ran strong in our family. “Normally, these dreams don’t start until you’re much older; however, you seem to have started yours very early. Your mother and I have been planning to send you to a special school, where they teach many subjects and talents. We had intended to send you much later, after teaching you so much more, but your powers seem to have other plans. So, tomorrow at the earliest, we will be sending you to Yomya Vhi.” Visions of the heroes of old who studied at Yomya Vhi flash through my mind: Kaylis Baxlo, Torin Ixcha, and even Domin Xhacro, one of my ancestors.

“Is it very far from here, Father?” I bite my lip, suddenly realizing the dread from earlier. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Oh no, darling!” Mother exclaims. “You’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. We’re only doing this to help you. Don’t look at it as a punishment. Look at it like an adventure.”

“An adventure? Like in the story books?” I ask excitedly, visions of different heroic tales passing through my mind once again. Legends about a girl who saved the world was a common bedtime story, one of my favorites.

“Certainly,” she replies, “It will be a wonderful experience. You can send letters, and mirror call us anytime. You’ll learn all manner of things, and the library at Yomya Vhi is much more extensive than ours. I know how much you like to read," she places her hand in mine before continuing, reaching across the table. "It won’t be forever, dear. We’ll be waiting for you to come back to us with bated breath,” she adds with a warm smile, drawing a chuckle from me. I relax. An adventure sounds rather thrilling. I could already feel the excitement bubbling up inside. But a feeling of dread continued to persist.

“Now, finish your breakfast. You have plenty to do today if you want to go on that adventure,” father instructs me. I begin to eat with gusto. I already knew Helen would be in a tizzy. There would be packing and dressing and last minute instructions all day if I knew that girl. I could already guess that she would be fretting about me the whole while I was gone. I grin to myself as I finish my plate and hurry back to my rooms.

Helen had been busy. I could tell because my room was a disaster. I look around at the mess, noticing several maids as they came and went. They nodded to me and I nodded back.

“A’Kasha!” Helen cries when she notices me. “Would you like pink dresses? Or blue?”

My head tilts to the side as I consider the question. “Do I have to wear dresses on my adventure?” Helen’s shocked expression causes me to laugh. I still have my chores to do before I can get ready for lunch, so I smile and wave on my way back out the door.

I go to the main study, basically our opening into the palace library. I learned most of the history of my home here as I grew. I was familiar with the legends and stories, the beginning of Rathe, Enad’Tha and how she loved her world and wanted us all to live in harmony, the splitting of the lands and even some of the Old Tongue. At one time, our last name had been Xhacro, but generations ago it was translated into our common language, and now we were the Rosecrowns.

I trail my fingers along the spines of some of the older books. The first time an alphabet was created to record anything had been a momentous occasion. The Foretelling. I had imagined it as the most romantic story growing up. To fight for a future so far away, knowing the only way to ensure the livelihood of those you love would involve risk and death, I couldn't imagine the desperation or the bravery.

The Foretelling. The Queen of No’Paga, what the Northern Isles was called at the time, ordered for a way to record a vision. The first written word, first developed alphabet to be used across the continent. The Vision. A merchant’s daughter with the Seer’s Gift foresaw a future so incredible, but possibly so terrible. Rathe could be destroyed in an unforgivable future unless one capable of wielding the swords of all the elements came forth and saved us. She would bring together one from every place, bind the evil that lived within and create a new civilization for us to live in. But now it just seemed like a bedtime story. Certain pages had gone missing since that time...

“Sister-mine, daydreaming in the books again, are ya?”

I spin around, startled by my brother’s sudden appearance. “Perhaps, brother-mine.” I take in his disheveled hair, like his fingers had been running through them. He was still young, only two years older than me. “What does Master Arik teach today?”

“Battle history and sword practice. Will you be joining us?” E’Wra is my older brother, the first-born son of my parents and my designated protector as the future queen of the Northern Isles. The nation governing the continent was actually a Queendom, where the queen made the majority of the decisions.

But even so, I needed to know how to fight and defend myself. A queen who can’t protect herself can’t protect her people. “I’ll be joining you after I complete the task set to me by Lady Abigail. She requires a book that she is certain is here but cannot find. I shouldn’t be long, brother-mine.”

He nods to me before walking away. One of my daily chores was to take one request and fulfill it to the best of my ability. It helped me learn about the individuals of my homeland. Lady Abigail had traveled from the far northern tip of the queendom to ask for this book. I knew it wouldn’t take long for me to find it since I remembered it. It was a book about what could be on the other side of the mountain range that cut us off from the top of the world. A man, strong in water manipulation and light manipulation, had traveled as far north as he could, recording all his findings. He was renowned as the only explorer to travel as far as he did and return alive and sane. He brought back pressed plants and sketches of what he could see. While it appeared bleak at the top, he claimed the glimpses he could see past were inspiring and he believed that people lived out there, just beyond the range. But he also claimed that something else lived beyond the mountains. Something else that could fly. Why Lady Abigail needed this book, I wasn’t sure. But she was from the last large settlement at the base of that mountain range, and perhaps something had happened.

I walk lost in thought to the section the book should be in. I see it, picking it up and blowing the dust off its green leather cover. It shimmers briefly, and I almost drop the book in shock. I shake my head, quickly tucking the book under my arm and leaving to meet the Lady Abigail of Parsha.

My home is a sprawl of corridors and floors, each with a purpose and much of it built at different times to accommodate the advancement of manipulation and technology. The ground floor of the main building was where all the business of running a queendom was done. Special audience halls were built all along the throne room side halls for these one on one visits. My father stood outside one of the doors, waiting for me.

I hand him the book and he smiles at me. The business itself was conducted by the king or queen when in person was required. My task was complete.

“A’Kasha, would you like to join me?” The surprise must have been visible on my face because he chuckles. “Lady Abigail wishes to speak with you if you’re willing to meet with her. What do you say?”

I nod, slightly shocked that she had requested me specifically.

When we enter the room, Lady Abigail stands up from her chair. A low wooden table with chairs situated around it stood in the center of the room. Refreshments spread across the table in dainty containers and multiple carafes of drink. She gave a deep curtsy, while I returned with a small one and father just nodded.

“Lady Abigail, I’m pleased to introduce my daughter, Princess A’Kasha. She found the book you were searching for. A’Ka, this is Lady Abigail, hailing from Parsha.”

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” I respond automatically. I feel more like an observer than like a princess. I may spend most of my studies on how to rule, but, except for the servants who live in the palace, I always feel shy around the people who visit. They were like from a world of their own, with no way of knowing what they really wanted. I know I need to become used to dealing with them since I was their future queen, but somehow, I knew this meeting was more important than that. Somehow, this woman would one day be important.

“I had hoped to meet you, Princess A’Kasha,” she spoke with a lilt in her speech. It was pretty. “I’ve already heard you’ll be leaving for special training. Perhaps, as you take your travels, one day you will visit me in my own home in Parsha. It is cold, but beautiful. Tell me, do you know about this book?”

I nod, “Yes, I found fascinating stories inside.” I stop, certain the shimer I had seen over the book ripple across her blue dress. What does that mean?

I glance at father as he raises one red eyebrow at me.

“And I’d love to visit you in Parsha someday.”

I can’t tell if she noticed the pause’s meaning but she doesn’t acknowledge it. I ponder as I sit and father steers the conversation, hardly noticing the passing of time before it was time to say goodbye. After she was escorted away, I turn to my father.

“What was that shimmer on Lady Abigail’s dress?” I look up at my father, as he looks down at me.

“I believe you’ve seen manipulation of some kind, but I know you will learn more once you reach Yomya Vhi.” I nod, knowing that since I was going someplace to learn what I needed to learn there, I needed to stay focused while I was still here.

I was incredibly late for the history lesson, though.

Chapter 2

I don’t remember much of the last bit of the lesson, but I found my focus during the sword practice. Today we were learning about the Southern Isles’ style of fighting. In the hot springs’ massive underground metropolis and all the caverns therein, the people of the Southern Isles had their own style of fighting with a sword. The motions required reflex, control, and speed. Meant for tunnels and fighting in tight spaces, I found a rhythm that centered me.

When the session was over, I found myself bent over, hands on knees, breathing heavily. Gasping, I notice Arik approaching me. His platinum hair was easy to see in my periphery.

“A’Kasha, did you push yourself too hard?”

“No,” I pant between my gasps, “Never.”

I hear him chuckle before he pats me on the back and walks away. He would know that I refuse to show any weakness and therefore would not lay down or sit until alone. My brother glances my way and then Arik’s before he too walks away. I sit and then lay on my back.

I continue panting as I look about the training room and consider myself. I was barely four feet tall, eleven and a half years old, and the heir to the throne of the Northern Isles. I couldn't understand why Lady Abigail had wanted to meet with me. I may be the princess, but surely it was too early to worry about forging alliances so soon? Perhaps I was too naive in that perspective. And what was with that shimmer? I focus myself, preparing to wind down and return to my rooms.

I’m in a special room on the second floor of the main building, where the royal family has trained for generations. Additions had been added over several centuries, so it was a hodgepodge of many eras and styles. The only unchanging feature of the room was the wall of mirrors. The ceiling itself was even decorated with line art from a different era.

I catch my breath. I feel clammy as I lay there, before pushing myself to my feet. I catch a glimpse of myself in one of the mirrors, my hair unruly, tangled and curly. My eyes are the green of emeralds and I've never had freckles. There wasn’t much else to do with the day before I returned to my rooms.

Needless to say, the rest of my day was quite a blur. Dresses, rooms, appointments, all a blur. I could only think about Parsha and its strange inhabitants and Yomya Vhi. My adventure would begin tomorrow.

I couldn't fathom that my adventure had already begun.

I should be sleeping, but I can't keep my eyes closed. My day had become a routine as predictable as the plastic cogs in a time keeper. Metal was a strange substance here, easily binding with other metals when one wasn't careful. Plastic had been around for eons and was easily recycled into new designs. There were many uses for plastics, one of which were certain types of weapons. Weapons were my brother’s forte, though I found them interesting. I'm much more interested in manipulation. Scientific studies had found that on average, thirty to forty percent of the brain was in use in our daily lives. People had natural affinities for certain elements found on Rathe and could manipulate the atoms of that element even on a molecular level, capable of bending even light and shadow in some individuals. The most common was air and water. Most couldn't test for their affinities until their Awakening, which was usually around the sixteenth birthday. Although it was something I wanted to learn more about, my parents found it more important for me to learn about how to run a country, since I was future queen. My studies mainly consisted of etiquette, reading and understanding charts and columns of information, bookkeeping, and strategies.

I had heard the legends, of course. Bedtime stories and history lessons all rolled into one. I'm only eleven, but at sixteen I'll be considered old enough to make my own decisions. But if I was going to Yomya Vhi early, would I get a chance to wait until my sixteenth birthday? The Foretelling told the story of a girl in my family who would show the signs early. There were tales of the earliest versions of the Foretelling having the actual name of the girl in it. But too many family members were named that name, even the local families of the time, until finally it was removed from print.

Crucial pages had been lost to time over many generations, as Seers in my family passed down the royal copy of the Foretelling. It was a crucial moment in our history, one that set the path of many and today we lived in peace. But so much information had been lost. The main bit of information remaining easily understandable about the forces we would be facing was that one would come from the great depths of the sea, while the other would come as a group but may not be foe. Of course, the story became more vague with the passage of time, unwilling to force it to come to pass based solely on the telling of it for centuries and generations

The bedtime stories lulled us to sleep, however. I used to dream about it when I was much younger. A red haired woman was always in those dreams, standing with a woman who looked like the surface of Rathe as we knew it on our maps. I still like to daydream about the curious woman who stood with my ancestor. Would I ever understand what she represents?

I yawn, jaw cracking. Tomorrow would be a long day. I really should be sleeping. I glance towards my window. The crimson light of Rosem shown down and painted the world rose as she made steady progress across the sky. Soon, Ilystra would sail across the stars shining silvery light to make the world sparkle. But she would pass on in the span of three hours before returning once just before dawn. As she leaves her slower sister to tiptoe off the stage that is the sky, the sun will rise and brighten the morning dew. My eyes drift shut as the moon’s gentle rays grow lighter still, and I sleep.

I open my eyes to see the world as a blur around me. I soar through the air, gasping as leathery wings rise up on either side of me before beating the air back down underneath it. I glance up and see unfamiliar constellations, Rosem and Ilystra in places far from where I would have placed them had I been awake. The sense that I knew naught about where I flew took hold of me and I focus my attention forward.

A large serpentine neck arches forward ending in a rather large and greatly intimidating head with sharp teeth that suddenly flash at me in the moonlight and I realize the great beast is looking at me. I open my mouth to scream…

I sit up with a gasp, hands flying to my face. I could still feel the wind blowing my hair wildly behind me as we soared through the air at a rapid pace. My heart pounded as though I had truly been on a ride of my life. Memories already fading as I lay back on my pillow, not bothering with my lightstone. But the creature’s eye had been emerald green, just like mine.

When I wake the next morning, I don’t remember much of the night before. I remembered waking up, but the reason fled as I thought of it and before I knew it the door had flown open. Helen sweeps into my bedroom, ever one for a dramatic entrance. She smiles as she sees that I am already awake.

“I see some good habits are finally rubbing off on you,” she giggles before all but skipping over to stand by my bed. She was a young girl like me, only she was seven years my senior. She had already had her awakening. She was pretty, with honey colored hair, lilac colored eyes, and skin the color of sand along our beaches. She knew the gossip in the castle, and liked to talk my ear off while she helped me dress and did my hair.

“Well, aren’t you ready to get up?” she prods me as I stare up at her. Granted, I hadn’t been awake long, and I still felt groggy. I shrug my shoulders, before yawning and deciding a good stretch wouldn’t be remiss. Helen rolls her eyes at me before flouncing over to one of my wardrobes and pulling open the door. “Hmmm.” I hear her muttering about what dress I should travel in as I got up and followed the curve of my room to my bathroom. We had such things as plumbing now built all throughout the whole castle, which was no easy feat with how big it was. Of course, where the royal family slept had been the first place of installment and I hesitated little to relieve myself and strip for a shower. The pipes were mostly stone or plastic, as metal did weird things. Science wasn’t my forte, unless it came to manipulation, and I only understood the basics. That subject had little I could read and understand without an instructor, and my teachers had much else to teach me before it was time for those lessons.

I step into the stream of hot water, relaxing and forgetting the rest of my night. Helen had already ensured that my bags would be packed and I’m sure they were already loaded for my trip. Helen would dress me a final time until I returned from my studying, hopefully older and wiser and more in control than now. I step out of my shower and listen to Helen gossip as she helps me dress. One of the horse keepers had a wife who just found out she was pregnant. One of the maids who helped clean my room just broke up with her boyfriend of one year because he refused to commit. My father’s advisor Kris was planning a small family vacation before all of his daughters are grown and married off to start families of their own. She prattled on as I tilted my head this way and that for her. I would miss these days but I looked forward to the days of simplicity as well. Attention was well and good, enjoyable too, but it was hard to get a moment alone or a small window of time to one’s self. I was young, and quiet is my tendency. Mother says it is a wonderful quality to have, listening skills are very important for a ruler.

“Have you been listening to me, A’Kasha?” Helen asks me.

Smiling, I tell her, “You just said that the Mother Abbott would be coming to visit tomorrow, and I will miss all the ceremonies.” She beams at me as I continue to half listen to her until she finishes my hair.

“There, a half-do to keep the hair out of your face while keeping you stylish and presentable. Oh, A’Ka, I’m going to miss you. Who else will I talk to that won’t repeat a word I say?” We burst into fits of giggles before I stand to hug her.

“Of course, I will miss you too. Who else will tell me the heart of the castle news if not you? You’ll write me, won’t you?” I ask her as we let go of each other.

“Of course, silly dear. I can’t wait for you to come home all ready.” I smile and leave before I start to tear up.

I had one final goodbye before I left for the first adventure of the many I am determined to have.

Chapter 3

I stand at the foot of the steps leading into my home. My parents stand behind me with my older brother. I’ve heard murmurs about the picture we make when we stand all together like this. Red hair runs in the family on both sides so our hair tends to excite comments about the old “Flames of the Northern Isles” stories. Not everyone from the Northern Isles has red hair, but most of the nobles tend to. It’s just a characteristic of our royal blood that ours looks more like living fire in the sun. Father’s and brother’s hair ran to a deeper hue, whereas mine and my mother’s hair was lighter like the outer edges of a flame. Fire isn’t used very often; in fact, it was considered taboo to ever start a flame. Our atmosphere didn’t allow for much of the strange occurrence. Hydrogen didn’t get along well with combustion and Helium didn't really bind with anything. With low amounts of oxygen in our atmosphere, fires were possible, but either needed to be strongly controlled or were terrible accidents, although sometimes they did nothing but peter out.

There went my thoughts again. I am so excited and nervous that my mind has begun to wander to relieve some of the tension. I am about to leave to begin a journey to Yomya Vhi. Where I’ll spend I don’t know how much time training before being allowed to come back home. Mother says to study hard and don’t be afraid to call her if anything happens. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop me from imagining something dreadful, like being treated differently because I’m a princess. Hence, the nervousness. But I still craved companionship and true friendship.

A car pulls up, sleek and black, just in front of us. I try to remember how it runs, but I’m too scared-slash-nervous suddenly to recall. I could just remember it had to do with hydrogen and batteries. And manipulation, of course.

My mother pulls me into a hug. “Don’t forget, if something happens just mirror us. Mirror us anyway when you get there to let me know you arrived safely. I love you, darling.” I pull back to look up into her face. I feel like I’m trying to memorize every line and look of love that I can. “Promise me you’ll give your best?” I nod. My father kneels down to hug me too. He rumbles, “Give as good as you get. And don’t forget you’ve a home to come back to.” I squeeze him tightly, before looking into his eyes. Green, like the grass, with flecks of gold scattered throughout. He smiles reassuringly at me. I feel comforted, even without any words. “A ti Avh, my little girl.” Light is Love.

My brother, E’Wra, just rubs my head with his hand. I look up to see his seafoam eyes much closer than I expected and realize quickly that he planned to hug me too. I can’t help but laugh as he grabs me up and twirls me around.

“Be careful, little sister-mine. I don’t want to have to beat anyone up over a misunderstanding, okay?” he teases me. I giggle, “No worries, brother-mine. It’s an adventure, afterall.”

Bags put away in the trunk of the car and goodbyes said, I make my way to the open door. I turn at the last minute, smiling bravely and giving one final wave before climbing in. The thud of the door behind me left me feeling rather alone. I told myself not to be a worrywart. I was Princess A’Kasha Rosecrown of the Northern Isles, and I was starting my own adventure. Here goes.

Several hours have passed, with me dozing in the back seat. A book I’d been holding had fallen out of my hands and now lay on the floorboard. I knew I was asleep and that I must be dreaming, but it didn’t allow me to wake up. Somehow, I could see myself, like I was looking inside the vehicle from someone else’s point of view. I looked toward the front of the car. Unexpectedly, something jumped out onto the road. The driver swerved the car to avoid it. We were suddenly spinning, the vehicle flipping over into the brush. I awoke with a gasp.

Looking around through the window, I realize we were near the place of the accident. I call out to the driver, “Excuse me, could we slow down for a minute?” He glances back at me in surprise, but I could feel the car declining in speed. As the car continued to slow down, out jumps a deer across the road ahead of us. The surprise on my driver’s face was priceless, but I knew he wasn’t supposed to know about my visions.

“Oh my light!” I exclaim, “Did you see that? What on Rathe was that deer thinking?” He was giving me a funny look, so I decided on another tactic. “I was hoping I’d see a good spot to go to the restroom, do you think there might be a place nearby?” As long as he thought it was a coincidence, I’d be fine. I mean, who expects an eleven-year-old to be able to tell the future, anyway? And it was better than bursting out laughing.

“Yes, miss. There is a stop up ahead for a bathroom break if you need it.” He responded, still glancing at me in the small mirror above his head.

“Yes, please. If you don’t mind.” He chuckled at me, and I relaxed into the seat. Dreams like this every couple of days might wear me out more than sword practice ever could.

But as I relax again, I can't help the feeling of dread pooling in my stomach as we continued on towards Yomya Vhi.

The sky is darkening, the light of Ilystra turning the landscape into a silver dreamscape. We crest a rise and I catch my first glimpse of Yomya Vhi. Even in the shining twilight, all I could see were walls of garnet sparkling. Behind the walls, I could see many buildings glowing the same magnificent red color. Gardens and trees were briefly visible, breaking up the waves of red with flashes of blue and speckles of brown and brilliant dots of rainbow hues. It was gorgeous. We slowed down as we approached the gates to enter my new home. A feeling of trepidation grips me as we wait.

The gates opening provides me with a new look at where I would be staying. The road leading into the monastery is paved smooth, lined with bluish trees on either side that bloomed purple flowers. The car comes to a stop shortly after entering through the gates. The building in front of me as I exit the car is built of some kind of red stone, rising several stories into the air. The front door is made of solid wood, a thunking noise resounding deep within as I knock. I crane my head back as far as I can, noticing the roof was flat and that stones rose up along the edge in an alternating pattern.

The door is opened by a quiet looking man. His hair is auburn, eyes the color of the trees shining under Ilystra. There are laugh lines all over his pale face, and he welcomes me with a warm smile.

“Our newest member, I presume?” He leans down to meet me at my level. I could feel myself growing shy, so I just nod in answer. “Why don’t you follow me? I’ll take you to the headmaster. He’s been waiting up so he wouldn’t miss the last guest’s arrival.” He straightens himself, nodding to my driver who was carrying my bags, before turning to go down a long straight hallway. His robes were so brown, I thought they were black before catching a glimpse of them under some lightstones. I follow him, the only sounds accompanying us the swish of his robes.

I feel a stone of dread settle in my stomach. He breaks the silence suddenly, causing me to jump.

“The headmaster’s office is just ahead, a straight shot from the entrance. We have a bed made up for you to sleep in tonight. I look forward to meeting you in the classroom.” We walk all the way to the end of the hall to stand in front of a pair of double doors. He knocks, before bowing to us and walking away. My eyes follow him as I wonder what I’m supposed to do now. Then the door opens.

“Hello, A’Kasha. Welcome to Yomya Vhi.” Jumping again, I turn to look at another man. This man is much older than the first man who had let me in. He’s bald, with eyes like a stormy sky, skin the color of sun-kissed sand, but such a kind countenance that I almost want to cry. I don’t, though.

“Hello. It’s nice to be here, I think.” I respond as politely as I can. I give him a small smile.

“My name is John. Everyone here calls me Father John, and it would be my pleasure if you would call me the same. I like to greet everyone who comes to stay with us, whether it be for a day or a decade. I knew you were running late, so I decided to stay awake.” He turns to my driver. “Kairol will be by shortly to take her possessions to her new room. If you can wait out here until she arrives, it would be most appreciated. She will take you to a room we’ve prepared for you to sleep in tonight before returning in the morning.” The guard nods an affirmative before stepping back and setting the bags on the floor beside him. I offer him a small wave and receive a small smile in return before the door closes.

Father John motions for me to follow him, so I enter what is apparently an office. I immediately notice the desk he must sit behind. Made of some dark wood, every inch of its surface is covered with carvings and engravings. A fantastical world emerges from the artwork. Creatures of fairy tales; nymphs, dryads, dragons; surrounded by forests and oceans and clouds. There was so much to make out that I couldn’t even focus on anything specific. A chuckle grabs my attention and brings me back to the present.

“It is a fine specimen of art, and quite useful too. Have a seat. You must be tired after the long journey just to arrive at this old place.”

“Oh, no! This place looks really quiet and peaceful. There’s a word for it… Tranquil. I think it must be very tranquil. Besides, my mother said this place would train me.” I trail off, suddenly unsure of myself. My eyes fall to the desk again. I give a small start as a memory flashes in my mind, a ride in a night sky far from here, with a green eye looking at me.

“Child, this is not a place simply for tranquility, but for learning. I must say, your mother speaks the truth, you will be trained here. However, you are rather young.” He sounds so amused by this that I look up at him in surprise. “Most come to be trained as they reach the age of awakening, but from my understanding you are only eleven. Tell me, how did you come to be here?” he asks me, raising one gray eyebrow.

I fiddle with my thumbs as I debate on how much to reveal. “I have dreams,” I blurt out. I feel myself blushing as his other eyebrow raises to meet its twin.

“Indeed. And do your dreams come true?”

“Yes. I knew about my surprise birthday party early this year the night before it happened. I knew about the goose who got loose in the kitchen. And I dreamed I was drowning in an unknown body of water. And today, on the way here, I dreamed we would have an accident with a deer and woke up right before it happened and asked the driver to slow down so we didn’t hit it.” I couldn’t make myself stop once I started, so I let all the truth come out, “And I know that something is going to happen soon. I don’t know what yet. But it’s a sense of foreboding that has only grown stronger the closer I came to here.”

“Hmm.” I wait, holding my breath as he ponders my response. “You speak well for one so young. Earnest, too. Yes, I think Yomya Vhi is right where you need to be for now.” He nods to himself. “It is late, child. Rest, and we will speak in the morning.” He stands, walking slowly around his desk. I stand up, following him to the door. “Kairol should have everything taken care of. If I’m right, she should be right outside this door. She’s quite a character. But don’t let her scare you. She has a big heart.” He opens the door to reveal a woman in the same robes as the man previously. I felt my eyes growing rounder as I look at her. There were few people who worked at home that looked like her. Granite hair, ebony skin and eyes the color of rubies. Based on my past history lessons, I knew she must be from the Western Isles. She looks ageless and beautiful. I blush again, knowing I’d been caught staring.

“Many people are startled the first time they meet me. But I think I like your reaction better than most,” she laughs, her voice the sound of tinkling bells.

“Kairol has the ability to read emotions. She came to Yomya Vhi to learn how to block this ability. She had quite some difficulty learning how not to let the emotions consume her. But, as you can see, she has become better in tune with her abilities. She decided to stay with us to teach the next generations.” Father John informed me.

“Yes. Instead of fearing our powers, I discovered that it is best to embrace them and learn to control them. I hope to help many in the years to come.”

I nod. There must be people from all over the world here. Excitement fills me. To learn first hand about people was always better than reading a textbook.

“Come. I will show you to your room. You will stay in this building for the first couple of weeks before we move you to another building better suited to your talents. We will begin with a tour tomorrow and start assessments after lunch.” Kairol spoke with such calm that I immediately felt more at ease. I give a small bow and wave to the headmaster before turning to follow her. When we had entered earlier, I had realized the hallway was actually in a T shape instead of a simple line. We went to the left and came to a stop near the outer edge of the building.

“This room will be yours for the time being. I hope you will be comfortable during your stay here. I will be two doors down across the hall if anything happens. Try to get some rest.” She turns to leave.

“Miss,” I hesitate. She turns back and looks at me expectantly. “If I have a nightmare, can I come to your room?”

She smiles gently at me, “Of course you can.” She pats me softly on the head before continuing on to her room. I assume she could sense my worry. Having never been patted on the head, I was unsure of what to do in response. Instead of doing anything, I turn and open the door to my new sleeping quarters. There is already a lightstone near the four poster bed left on for me. It is situated in one corner, with an end table between it and the bed. In the opposite corner is a simple desk. A chest is at the foot of the bed and a wardrobe sits catty corner to it, while not quite sitting fully in the corner. My bags lay on top of the chest. I quietly close the door and walk to my bags. I notice a small mirror hanging from the space left in the corner on the other side of the wardrobe. I change into sleep wear and fold my clothes. I climb into bed, deciding to put my clothes up in the morning before mirror-calling my family, laying there for a minute before tapping the lightstone to turn it off. I slowly drift off to sleep. Pale, familiar pinkish light streams in through the window, but I can’t help the dread now spreading from my core.

Chapter 4

I’m awakened by the sound of clanging metal, yells abruptly cut off, and a sharp metallic smell. I climb out of bed and run to the door. I feel disoriented but I know something is terribly wrong. I pull open the door and immediately notice that the hallway is dark. For two weeks, the hallway had never been dark. With a heavy feeling in my chest, I begin to make my way down the hall. A booming noise echoes from what I thought to be the West Gate. The door to Kairol’s room is ajar, so I don’t stop, knowing that she is already gone. Reaching the intersection, I notice the headmaster’s doors are both thrown open. I start to enter when I recognize the headmaster. Father John is laying on the floor in front of his beloved desk. I wonder for a minute if he had fallen asleep before I see it.

Blood.

Blood was everywhere.

I freeze before raising my eyes to look at the rest of the office. Everything is in disarray. Documents and bits of paper are scattered everywhere. Everything I look at is speckled with the terrible glistening redness. That’s when I notice the man in black in the corner. His face, covered by a hanging black cloth, slowly enters the light. In his hand is a wicked looking blade, a black metal that gleams with the headmaster's blood. His other hand raises to his mask and he removes it to reveal his face. A cold, cruel smile stretches the skin near a scar that spans across his face, striking fear deep into my heart. I scream.

I wake suddenly, feeling hands on my shoulders. I’m completely disoriented. There was an unending noise in the background, further confusing my efforts to come out of my terrible dream. I can hear voices slowly breaking through the noise. My mind begins to piece together words.

“Shh. Zwe. Breathe, child. Breathe.” I think I recognize the voice. The neverending noise in the background begins to fade before I realize that the whimpers I could now hear were actually coming from myself. “You’re at Yomya Vhi, the monastery. You’re safe. Nothing is going to harm you.” Kairol’s voice is soothing as I gasp, trying to catch my breath. Hyperventilation, not a good sign. I realize that my eyes are open, the terror so strong that I was merely unable to register anything in my sight. The door is open and I think I see the headmaster enter as my world fades to black.

When next I awake, daylight streams through curtains near the bed. A window I hadn’t paid attention to the night before lets in a warmth I didn’t realize I needed. A chair is pulled up next to my bed, and Kairol appears asleep with her head on her chest. I start to sit up and realize that I feel incredibly weak. I fall back against my pillows.

“You might want to rest a while longer, A’Kasha.” Father John’s voice startles me and I jump where I lay. I suddenly feel very tired of jumping. Kairol’s head straightens and she looks at me with her ruby eyes. She looks exhausted and I feel guilty for causing her stress and worry.

“Feel guilt if you do something wrong, or for that which you could have prevented. Do not feel guilty for the events that you have no control over.” She leans forward as Father John steps closer to the foot of my bed. “You asked me last night if you could come to me if you have a nightmare. Are your dreams normally so vivid as last night?”

I nod, the guilt staying with me regardless of her words. “I’ve never had one so terrible. I thought I was going to die.”

“Do your dreams always come true?” The sincerity of her questions assured me in their belief of my words.

“Yes. Some haven’t happened yet, but eventually they do,” I look at the headmaster again, reassuring myself that it was just a dream and that he wasn’t dead. He looks back at me with a curious expression on his face. I don’t know exactly the reason for it, but I had felt great grief at his loss.

“Why don’t you tell us what happened?” he requests of me. I nod and close my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I begin.

“It was late. I think it was the night before I was supposed to move dorms. Everything was packed back up. I somehow knew it had been about two weeks. Booming from the West Gate and the sounds of fighting and screaming woke me. I went out to try and find someone and went down the hallway. Kairol’s room was already open and I knew somehow that she wasn’t in there. She’d already left to help elsewhere. So I kept going towards the headmaster’s office. The doors were thrown open and Father John was on the floor. In front of his desk. There had been a struggle but,” here my voice broke but I made myself continue, “he was already dead when I got there. I noticed a man standing in the shadows, in the corner, and he was coming to kill me. He unmasked himself before coming for me. He wanted me to know that he would be my death. I get the feeling that it was his only mission. Father John was just a...,” I trail off, unsure how to continue.

“A warmup?” Kairol offers. I nod. Then shake my head.

“Not a warmup. More like a time killer. It was something he did just for the fun of it. For the pleasure in the pain it would cause. His job is to be an assassin. He enjoys it.” I don’t know how I know this but I’m certain that it’s true. I lay there more tired than when I woke up. I look at Father John and Kairol again.

“Thank you, A’Kasha, for telling us everything. I know it must have been hard, but you’ve done a good job. Now get some more rest. We will have food sent to you shortly. Make sure you eat to get your strength back. Come, Kairol. We have much to prepare.” They both leave and shut the door softly behind them. My eyes drift close on their own as the quiet soaks in. The sound of birds chirping slips through the window and I feel myself relaxing a bit more at the normal sounds.

The door opens an indeterminate amount of time later. I open my eyes sleepily to see who it was, half fearing the assassin had entered unknown to the monastery to kill me without delay. But it was a young girl, someone slightly older than me, with gold spun hair and honey colored eyes and skin the color of the sand found at the eastern beaches, which is a pale shade of purple. She walks quietly carrying a tray of food. She sets it down on the desk before coming to help me sit up.

“Hello. My name is Sharon. I brought your breakfast. They said you had a bad spell last night and to be kind to you. I don’t know who they were talking to though. Everyone is nice here.” She laughs quietly as she plumps the pillow behind me. She gets the tray and settles it down in front of me before sitting in the chair next to the bed. I’m quickly distracted by the food. Flat cakes and apples and fried meats and more, way more than what I could eat in one sitting.

“Sharon. Could you help me eat this?” I ask her shyly. I can see her look of surprise out of the corner of my eyes.

“You want to share?” she sounds so incredulous that I look at her.

“I’m not really used to eating alone, anyway. And there’s no way I could eat all this by myself. I don’t really want it to go to waste, either. Please?”

She gives me a genuine smile before scooting the chair closer. “Okay, then. Let’s eat together.”

Silence passes companionably as we eat together. The door opens and the man who had opened the door for me last night enters. He smiles at Sharon before speaking to me. “Father John says when you feel like it, to come to his office. He has some things to go over with you before Kairol takes you on a tour of the grounds. I’m Davide, by the way. I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself last night. I had quite forgotten.” He laughs and I smile at him. He must be a bit scatterbrained. “Enjoy your meal, you two. And Sharon, if you don’t mind helping A’Kasha to the headmaster’s office, I’m sure she would appreciate it.” With that, he leaves and I look at Sharon.

“You don’t mind, do you?” I ask her. “I’m sure you must have your own schedule to follow, after all.”

“Silly, of course I don’t mind. Is your name really A’Kasha, though? Like the princess of the Northern Isles A’Kasha?” Her voice sounds so incredulous that I can’t help but laugh.

“Well, that is my name,” I eat another mouthful of food before asking, “You’ll still be my friend, though, right?”

“If you want someone like me as your friend, then I will happily be one,” we giggle together. We finish breakfast quickly and she helps me to stand up. I felt much better with some food in my belly, so I walk to my bags, even if it was a little unsteadily. I change clothes quickly and fold my night clothes, setting them down on the bed for tonight.

“I’m ready.” I tell Sharon. She pulls my arm around her shoulder and we walk together like this to the headmaster’s office. She knocks softly on the door.

“A’Kasha, Sharon,” Father John opens the door. “Thank you for coming. Sharon, if you don’t mind returning the dishes to the kitchen, I’ll help A’Kasha the rest of the way. Thank you, Sharon.” He offers me his arm and I regretfully let go of my new friend. She smiles at me.

“Don’t you worry. I’ll be seeing you again soon, I’m sure.” With that, she smiles and turns to leave. I turn to the headmaster.

He looks down at me before speaking.

“Today, you will be tested beyond what I had imagined for you,” he murmurs quietly. My head tilts as I look at him curiously. He shakes his head before leading me onward. I enter the office.

I look around with different eyes than the night before. I guess I wanted to make sure last night’s dream hadn’t come true yet. When I look at the headmaster again, there was a twinkle in his eyes that said he knew what I had been doing. I blush again. I seem to be doing that quite a bit since I got here. I pause. There were other people in the room this time.

“Is this who had the vision?” Derision seems to have a voice. “But, she’s just a child. She can’t be anywhere near her awakening yet.” A deep bass voice boomed from across the room. “How can we take her word for something as serious as this?” The voice belonged to a man with tree bark brown skin, charcoal hair and sunflower eyes.

“Asron Crecra, don’t be such a skeptic,” this voice was higher pitched, but definitely male as well. I find the speaker and feel my eyes widen. I’d never met a Terad’Pagadean before. Blue skin like on a clear sunny day, hair the color of seaweed, and eyes like the blue neon corals I’d learned about in geography class.

"Fine, Child,” his voice, so condescending that I immediately snap back to look into his eyes, his words grating on my nerves, “Where exactly did the attack come from?”

“They came through the West Gate, and many were likely from across the impassable mountains.” I say without hesitation.

“And where is the West Gate?”

I point without pause to where I knew the West Gate would be located. Silence greets the gesture.

“You’ve never been to Yomya Vhi before, have you?” The question comes from a woman near the middle, genuine curiosity ringing in her voice. I notice first that she didn’t wear robes, but a leather outfit as though for fighting. “Or seen a map of the place?”

“No.”

“I believe her.” I recognize Kairol’s voice without looking. “No one can act like that when they are asleep. Her emotions were not fabricated. She truly felt the horror, the terror, from her vision.”

“We are not here to discuss her validity,” Father John cuts in. “We are here to discuss what we can do to protect Yomya Vhi and all who reside here.”

“Then I suggest recalling all available members that can make it back within a week,” the woman in leathers announced. “We will map the most likely course that would be taken from the mountains to hit the West Gate. All students need to be trained on the proper protocol for an attack. What time was it in your dream,” she directs her question at me.

I turn to look her squarely in the eyes, recognizing someone that understood authority and confidence, regardless of age. “It was night, the time during which no moon hangs in the sky.” Looking back, the window was a sure sign that there had been no light outside. I held no doubts. I knew she would sense it.

“Very well,” the Terad’Pagadean responded. “I will begin sending messengers right away to find any available members. Is there anything else needed of me before I go?”

“No, Acan,” Father John tells him, “Go ahead and begin the recall.”

“Bah!” Asron spat. “I’ll return later. I still think this whole thing is nonsense.” He strides from the room, the doors banging closed behind him. Acan stands as well.

“He will come around, after the girl is proven to have spoken the truth.” He nods his head to me, I nod back. “I look forward to training with you later this week, A’Kasha. Good day.” With that, he leaves the room, quieter than his predecessor.

“Are there any more questions?” Father John pauses to look around the room. “If not, A’Kasha has a schedule to keep today, as do all of us,” Father John breaks the tension in the room. “Kairol, why don’t you and A’Kasha go ahead.”

Kairol stands and moves to me, taking my arm and guiding me out of the room. With the doors shut behind us, my limbs begin to shake. I try to control it, but my muscles refuse to obey me. My breath grows shaky as well, my vision blurry, my own thoughts distant.

“Take deep breaths. It’s called the after effects of an adrenaline rush. Or the shakes, if you prefer. You did very well in there, A’Kasha. Now, just breathe,” Kairol coaches me, concern coloring her voice. I take some deep breaths, breathing in deeply through my nose and exhaling from my mouth. The shakes slowly subside. We are walking outside, going slowly left out of the building and around the side. There is a garden and Kairol leads me there. The center of the garden holds a small water fountain, and we sit on a bench in front of it.

I begin to take in my surroundings more clearly. The trees around us are all fruit trees, apples, oranges, pears, and cherries. The blueness of the ground is dotted with spots of brilliant color that coalesce into berries before my sight focuses on the fountain. The fountain is made of the same red stone as all the buildings in the monastery, the water sparkling and creating little rainbows as it sprays into the air. The water gushes from several spouts in the shape of roses coming from a bush as the centerpiece. As I look closer, I realize all the branches of the bush are actually pipes designed to look like a real budding rose bush, complete with metal thorns and rose buds. It was really breathtaking.

“You held your ground incredibly well for an eleven-year-old,” Kairol brings me back from my artistic musings. “I’ve never witnessed anything quite like it. Asron doesn’t like to be wrong. I rather liked seeing him with his feathers ruffled,” she laughs that tinkling laugh of hers. I find myself grinning back at her.

"I'm a princess, and the future queen would never make a good ruler if she couldn't stand her ground in the face of adversity," I remark. “I only hope I haven’t made an enemy here,” I tell her somberly, my smile fading as I recall the expression on his face as he left. The anger and resentment had been clear even to me, with something I did not understand below the surface.

“He may not like you, but he doesn’t have to like you to respect you. Remember that. Now, are you feeling better? There is still much you haven’t seen yet and we still have to eat lunch before we can begin your assessments.” With that, Kairol leads the way, with me trailing behind her, and thus the tour begins.

Chapter 5

The grounds of Yomya Vhi are massive. There are seven different buildings, each one focusing on different talents. Pathways criss-cross each other, creating a maze for the uninitiated. Seven gardens abound here and each one has a different purpose. The first garden where we sat during my recovery is situated between the main office building slash master’s quarters and the dining area which is also used to teach those with an affinity for earth. Behind and adjacent to the dining area is another garden made up of stones and water. The building on the other side is for the water affinity studies. Behind and more to the left of this building is another garden and another building. Thinking back, I realize that the layout of the monastery must make up something like a seven pointed star, with gardens between each point. My favorite part of the tour was the center. A real life maze grows there. Students that wish to graduate to mastery must prove their skills within the maze. My imagination runs wild about the many obstacles that must be hidden inside.

We have lunch at the dining hall. There are so many students from all around the world here. We see Sharon, and Kairol allows me to invite her over to eat with us.

“Have you finished the tour yet?” she asks me excitedly.

“Yes, we finished just in time for lunch,” I smile at her, happy to know at least one person near my age in the vast sea of people around us.

“Isn’t this place just amazing? I still can’t believe how many gardens are here. And every one of them is used for training in one aspect or another,” she happily informs me. “I’ve only been here for half a year, but I’ve heard the awe for this place never wears off.”

“Hmm. Yes,” Kairol muses, “I admit, I’m still fond of showing the grounds off and I’ve lived here for close to two decades. There are many changes that occur over the years, but the place is still an amazing home.”

“I look forward to training here. A sense of fulfillment hangs in the air like a sweet fragrance.” I immediately blush when I say this. They both look at me with different expressions. Sharon gives me a look of curiosity and confusion. Kairol looks at me with understanding in her eyes. We finish the rest of lunch rather uneventfully. Sharon shows me where to put my empty tray of food and we part ways at the entrance.

Kairol and I head through the fruit garden towards the office building. Others walk the paths around us as they head to their next destinations. This time when we enter the building, we turn left in front of the headmaster’s office. Our rooms were situated to the right when facing his office, so I could only assume that going left meant we were headed to other instructors’ offices now. We stop a few doors down.

“Your first assessment will be with a trainer you haven’t met yet. Are you ready?” Kairol asks me.

“I’m as ready as I can be,” I tell her. I take a deep breath as she turns and pushes open the door. This office is smaller than the headmaster’s, but I suppose that is to be expected. A man sits behind a dark wood desk. His hair is a pale silver and his skin is the color of porcelain. When he looks up at me, I am caught off guard by his peridot eyes.

“This is Perit. He is one of our best, if not the best, assessor at Yomya Vhi. Perit, this is A’Kasha. She is the youngest student to join us. Father John has asked that you perform a few tests.” Kairol smiles at Perit and I get the feeling that they get along well.

“Yes,” Perit’s voice comes out softer than I expect. “A’Kasha, do you have any idea why you have come to us at such a young age?”

“Well,” I still hesitate to tell the reason. No one at home was supposed to know about my visions but then again, I wasn’t home. I had been sent to be taught control of my leaking powers, and how can they help me if they didn’t know what I needed help with? “I have dreams that come true. My parents are worried about me and want me to learn to better control them. They think Yomya Vhi is the best place for me right now.”

“Your dreams, did they always come true?” he questions.

“No. They only started coming true on the day I turned eleven.”

“Have you had any more that haven’t come true yet?”

“Yes. Two. I dreamt I was underwater, with something trapping my ankles. It was an unfamiliar place that wasn’t home, and I thought I would drown.”

“And the second one?”

“I dreamt it last night. Yomya Vhi will be attacked in approximately two weeks time. There will be a man that comes for me then.” I shiver unconsciously as I recall his evil face.

“Why don’t you come closer. Have a seat. Kairol, I think I’ll spend a little time with Miss A’Kasha here. Would you come back in an hour?”

“Of course,” Kairol replies. She waves to me and gives me a smile of encouragement before leaving.

“Have any other powers begun leaking that you’re aware of?” Perit asks me.

“I am unsure of what other powers there are, to be honest. I don’t know if anything else is different except for my dreams.” I tell him truthfully. There was so much that I hadn’t been taught or had time to discover yet. My time has been spent learning some history, etiquette, basic studies and how to rule a country. I knew of some manipulation powers. You couldn't live in a castle or anywhere else for that matter and not see something.

“I see. You have much to learn. Very well. Let’s begin with an affinity test, shall we? Perhaps, if your powers are strong enough, I’ll be able to tell if you lean in one direction or another.” Perit brings out a metal device. It had a round bottom with what looked like sliding doors, with four arms coming out from the points of a compass. Each arm ended in a sphere that appeared to open somehow. My curiosity got the better of me as I lean forward to get a better look at it. He chuckles as he sets the device down.

“Yes, it is a curious device. Most people do not know what it is the first time they see one. This object is the most common testing tool found at the monasteries around the world. The four points each hold an item for a different affinity. Earth, water, light and dark. The very center part down here,” he points to the bottom of the inside, “is the place for the air affinity.” He steps back from me and the device. “Now, I want you to hold your hand directly above the device. Concentrate very hard on one element. Let’s start with water; it’s typically the easiest.”

I put my hand out, hovering over the center. I take a deep breath and close my eyes tightly. I concentrate with everything I have on water, the sound it makes, the way it flows, and the colors it takes on. I hear a whirring sound and my eyes pop open to see one of the balls open and a small amount of liquid swirl upwards into a sphere under my hand. I gasp and lose my concentration. Perit brings his hand forward and the water returns to its original place.

“Interesting,” he murmurs to himself. Giving me a sideways glance, he says, “Do it again, but this time I want you to concentrate on earth.”

I put my hand out, palm down again, but this time I keep my eyes open. I watch in fascination as the opposite ball from the water opens, sand dancing across the distance until it settles beneath my hand, taking on a triangular shape, like a pyramid. Without a word, I send it back to the sphere it came from. No longer hearing his instructions, I find myself in a world of silence. I concentrate on light, a starry galaxy forming before returning to its place. Darkness, and a shadow hand forms below my own. And the final element, air, I bring out in a tornado no bigger than my pinkie. Euphoria floods me. I felt exhilarated.

Suddenly, Perit grabs my hand and yanks me away from the device. He is panting as I stare at him wide-eyed.

“You are absolutely certain that you are eleven-years-old,” he annunciates slowly.

“Yes. As far as I am aware. Why?” I respond, a little bewildered. My head felt like one of those spinning tops, the ones with the string that you throw and can spin for a long time. All I could feel was dizziness and happiness.

“I must speak with the headmaster. What you just did should not have been possible. Has never been seen in the history of Yomya Vhi, and I have studied extensively to learn the smallest part of what you just did. We must keep this quiet. For your sake and safety. Do not breathe a word of this to anyone but Kairol, do you understand?” His adamant attitude causes my euphoria to vanish in an instant. I nod slowly. “Promise me,” he says quietly.

“I promise. I will not tell anyone except Kairol what just happened,” I swear. He lets go of my hand.

“Good. Let us go find Kairol, she should be in her office. I will leave you with her before going to speak with Father John.” Perit leads the way out of his office, continuing the way Kairol and I had come when heading to his room. He stops and knocks at a door and Kairol answers.

“So, how did it go?” she asks when she opens the door, the surprise evident on her face.

“I will let A’Kasha tell you and let you be the judge. I must find Father John,” he responds before turning and walking away, his behaviors abrupt and unusual for him, judging by Kairol's face.

I motion to go into her office as she looks at me questioningly, fatigue abruptly settling into my bones. She steps aside so I can move into her office. I immediately go to sit in one of her chairs. She shuts the door quietly before sitting at her desk.

“What happened?” she asks gently. “I’ve never seen Perit so distraught before.”

“I did something he has never seen.”

“What?”

“I called all the elements to me.”

“Are you certain?” The amazement in her voice does not go unnoticed by me. I look up at her.

“I started with water, then earth, then light and shadow before calling air in a little twister. I didn’t, no, couldn’t hear any sounds except for silence. It was invigorating. And now I am so exhausted that I feel I might fall asleep where I sit,” I tell her. I yawn suddenly, jaws cracking from the strain.

She looks at me worriedly, making me wonder what she is thinking. I watch her stand up and move to the other side of her office. Where there is a blank wall, she pushes on a small plank that I hadn’t noticed was actually out of place. Part of the wall pops out, and she smoothly pulls down a small bed built to hide in the wall. I am so surprised that I don’t even realize that I am leaning forward to watch until I almost fall out of my seat.

“Come over here, A’Kasha. You can rest here while we wait for Perit and Father John to come,” she tells me. I hesitate. “I promise it won’t fold up into the wall with you on it,” she tells me after reading the doubt that must have shown on my face. She chuckles softly. I nod and stand up, wobbling suddenly. She starts to move to come to me, but I put up a hand. I make my way to the bed successfully and settle down with a thump. I hear her chuckle again and look up at her.

“It is hard to remember that you are only eleven, A’Kasha. You are very independent. I suppose that comes from your family, though most would assume it to be the other way around.” She smiles at me as I lay down. I’m so tired that I hardly notice when she pulls the covers over me and tucks me in. “Rest. I will wake you when they come.”

I do not know how long I slept. It felt like a moment suspended in eternity. I dream about galaxies sitting in the palm of my hand before a single star burns brightest. It grows larger and larger until I am no longer holding it, but standing before it. I feel like I should be shielding my eyes from the burning brightness, but it has no effect on my sight. A planet rotates around it with a fast moving silver comet and a red moon. It takes me a moment to realize that I was looking at my own planet. Rathe.

The world was much bigger than I could have ever dreamed of. Strange lands spun across the surface as the planet rotated, orbiting a giant star in the distance. Then, I recognized the map we had of our world. Four islands and one sinking landmass to the southeast of the center.

I am drawn into Rathe suddenly; however, instead of crashing into the surface I float above the lands. I am being pulled to a certain destination. I don’t fight the sensation. Instead, I go with the flow and fly through the air until I recognize my own home. A longing comes over me immediately to go back. I cannot. Not yet. But I realize there must be a reason for this dream, so I soar through an open window and down a hallway to find my mother.

She is sitting in the library, in a quiet corner at a desk with a pen and paper in hand. I lightly touch down to walk towards her when she looks up at me.

“A’Ka?” surprise crosses her features. “How can you be here?”

“Am I really here, momma? I think I’m sleeping in Kairol’s office at Yomya Vhi right now.” I tell her. I rub my hand across my face tiredly. It was a lot to take in so quickly. Understanding settles on her face and she stands up.

“In that case, it would appear that you are projecting. Has something happened today?” Her concern is evident on her face. She moves closer to me as we speak.

“I think I’m not supposed to tell anyone but it must be alright if I tell you since you’re my mother. Professor Perit tested me for my affinity today. I gave him such a shock that I really feel bad about it.” I hang my head low. “And I’m sorry I didn’t mirror-call you.”

“Don’t worry about that, Father John made sure we knew you were safe. What could give him such a shock that you would feel guilty, dear?” She stands in front of me, but I notice that she doesn’t reach out to touch me. I put my hand out in front of me, only to be shocked that I pass through her as though she were a ghost.

“Yes, I’m afraid that you won’t be able to be touched or to touch while doing a simple projection like this, dear. You’ll learn more about it later, I’m sure,” she reassures me. She smiles at me, but I notice she seems strained, like she was worried.

I straighten myself back up in my head and answer her question, “I have an affinity for all the elements he tested me for.”

“Pardon?” The exclamation escaped her lips in a gasp as her breath seemed to catch.

"It was really something magical, mother," I tell her as excitement builds in my chest. "Professor Perit pulled an odd device out and set it on his desk. He said it was for testing for affinities, to see where my strengths might be. After pulling water in a sphere to my palm, he asked me to test for earth. I brought some sand from the device to my hand and then it was like the whole world just fell away. I couldn't hear anything. But it was like I could feel the element just waiting for its chance to be called by me. Lights like a galaxy and a shadow hand and a little tornado twister and-" I find myself stumbling over my words in my excitement to tell mother about my experience. "Then I was so tired that Miss Kairol pulled a bed from her wall and told me to go to sleep. I don't remember falling asleep, though." I finish a little more calmly as the tension in my chest eases.

"That was quite an adventure all ready, I see," she says as she looks at me carefully. I don't understand the look she gives me, it's so hard to read. "And your trip to find me, how did that begin?"

"I was looking at a giant ball of light. It kept getting bigger and bigger, but it didn't hurt my eyes. Then I noticed a planet circling around it with two moons and realized I was looking at Rathe. Before I knew it, I was flying through the air, over the ground towards home. So I flew through the window and found you." I pause for a moment. "This isn't normal though, is it? I shouldn't be able to do any of these things that I've done today…" I trail off, unsure how to continue that thought.

"It's a big responsibility, having powers like these. I just hope to help you get ready for what lies ahead. Dearest daughter, don't overthink this. You're almost twelve years old, and growing up so fast. Learn everything you can, and come back home to us. I love you... so much. Now, it's time for you to go back. Concentrate very hard, and good luck." She smiles at me, bravely, as I close my eyes and concentrate on going back to my body. I feel a breeze warping around my body, and I peek as the colors blur past me. When I fully open them again, I'm laying in Kairol's office. I groggily look around, realizing that Kairol wasn’t in the room. I can't understand the emptiness I feel inside. While I'm pondering the complexities of my experiences, the door opens.

Chapter 6

Kairol enters the room first. She holds the door open as Father John and Perit both enter. I sit up, worry settling deep into my stomach at their expressions.

Father John sits down next to the bed. "A'Kasha," he says in that deep voice of his, his shining eyes looking at me intensely, "Perit has told me some news of great importance. But first I want to ask, how do you feel right now?"

"I'm okay, Father John. Miss Kairol let me sleep here," I tell him quietly.

"Good, good. Now, do you understand how the building system works at Yomya Vhi?" He pauses, waiting for my nod of acknowledgement. "When someone shows an affinity for a certain element, we place them in a certain building for training in that field. Sometimes, when one has an affinity with two elements, they start with the easier one to learn and begin in that building before moving on to the next. However," here he pauses again as he glances towards Perit, "You will be a special case. After a quick meeting between Perit, Kairol and myself, we have decided it may be best if you stay in this building for the majority of your stay. You will move to the water building for the first part of your training to expose you to the learning techniques we will use here; but, you will move back once that training is complete."

Kairol speaks up then, "We mustn't let it be known to the other students that there is one here that has an affinity for all the elements. There are… legends, so to speak, from many places about one and not all of them are pretty. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand," I nod. I begin to feel worn out all over again.

“Keeping your age hidden as well will need to be factored in. Few students are as young as you that can produce any manifestation of their affinity. So from now on, when asked how old you are, tell them you are fourteen years old. Okay?" Kairol continues, leaning down to my level. I nod that I understand again. She straightens, "Good. For now, I think we can merely begin tutoring you on some knowledge that most kids have by the age of thirteen. Perit?"

"Yes. I'll begin tutoring lessons at eight in the morning starting tomorrow. After breakfast. We will go most of the morning until lunch. Then you will join Kairol in her office until the afternoon tea call. You will be seeing a new professor after the tea call. You've already met him once," I begin to feel anxious as I recall all the faces I saw earlier in the day. "Acan will be giving you some of his time after his normal lessons. So pay good attention. I think that's all." He looks at Father John and Kairol, neither of whom had any objections.

Relief sweeps over me as I recall the Tera'Pagadian who had taken the headmaster's word and had spoken a bit to me before leaving. I get the feeling he was really a kind person. I could feel a bit of excitement bubbling up as I realized that tomorrow would start my lessons.

Father John stands up to leave as he smiles at me. "Do a good job, A'Kasha. I know you will. Now I'll be going to find Acan and inform him of his new schedule. Get some rest and I will see you tomorrow." He leaves quietly. Perit takes his seat as Kairol sits on the edge of the bed. "So how do you really feel A'Kasha?" She asks me, concern showing in her ruby red eyes.

"I really feel fine. A bit tired, excited, a little confused and curious." I answer her truthfully. I knew she could feel my emotions if she wanted to anyway. Then I remember my projection and I feel a bit guilty suddenly.

"What's with that feeling, A'Ka? Did something else happen?" She asks as soon as the guilt hits, brows drawing down and together. Perit leans forward suddenly as I nod.

"I'm sorry I didn't mention it right away. I kind of forgot when everyone came in at once. I'm afraid I didn't just sleep while you were away," I pause, trying to gauge their reaction. "I met my mother in a dream. Only, it wasn't a dream."

"Wasn't a dream? How do you mean, exactly?" Perit questions.

"I mean, my mother could see me too. She called it projecting. She said she couldn't touch me but that we could have a conversation. And she said I needed to get back to my body. I guess I'd left it behind or something? I didn't really understand. But she told me to concentrate really hard and then when I opened my eyes, I was here. That's when you guys walked in." I stop talking. They look at each other as I wait impatiently for their response.

"You're sure it wasn't a dream?" Kairol asks. I nod solemnly. "Very well. It's nothing to feel guilty about, so stop your bouncing," she states as she straightens up. "Perit comes from a family that is very good at projecting. Projection is a means of moving your mind from one place to another without traveling or moving your body. It's a common practice, especially useful for those in certain trades, such as finding ore and exploring new tunnels to see where they lead without the possibility of getting trapped or lost. When you're done, it's exactly as your mother told you, concentrate very hard on returning to your body. Usually, one wakes up afterwards. There have been stories of people never returning to their bodies for one reason or another, so never leave your body for long periods of time, understand? That's something we will teach you in time. Any questions?" She looks at me expectantly.

I shake my head no. I was beginning to feel tired again. Suddenly, my stomach let out a loud growl. I blush, sure I was turning crimson with embarrassment. Kairol laughs and Perit chuckles.

"It's just about time for dinner, so let's go wash up and head to the dining hall." Kairol leads the way. As I get up to follow her, Perit pauses to lend me a hand. I never thought I'd be so wobbly, but I guess I used up a lot of energy today. I follow them to the dining hall.

It looks much more crowded now than it did earlier when Kairol and I had lunch with my friend Sharon. It must be because all the classes are finished for the day. I don't see Sharon anywhere in the sea of faces around me, so I eat my dinner with Kairol and Perit. It's a mostly quiet mealtime, which surprises me. There are so many people here but I figure everyone is concentrating on their food before continuing their studies for the night. When we finish, we drop off our trays and head to our rooms, parting ways with Perit at the T in front of the headmaster's office. I say good night to Kairol and she tells me she will see me tomorrow after lunch.

I undress for bed and climb under the covers, hitting my lightstone before praying for no more dreams tonight.

I drift off into the lullaby of the night.

Chapter 7

I open my eyes a little before dawn breaks. I feel well rested and ready for the day. I get up and get dressed. Pulling a chair over to my window, I look out at the view. I can dimly see the garden with the rose bush fountain in the fading moonlight. A lull disturbs the night sounds as the sky begins to lighten from the velvet of midnight to the pastels of morning. I feel so relaxed and in tune with the nature happening before me that I fall into a trancelike state. I breathe deeply and just relax, harmonizing with the beauty before me. I never notice my door opening.

"A'Kasha," a chiming voice startles me from my concentration and I jump up to see who was there. Kairol's tinkling laughter fills the room at my surprise. "I didn't realize you would be awake. I see you're already dressed for the day. Why don't you meet me at the dining hall for breakfast and I'll see you to Perit's office when we're done?"

"Yes, ma'am, I'll do that." I laugh to myself as she leaves. She really had given me a fright. I finish washing up and put on my shoes, heading to the dining hall. It's still very early in the morning and there were only a few people getting their breakfast. I stand in line to get my meal. As I'm finishing gathering my plate, Kairol enters. I realize without looking around that I sensed her entering rather than saw her. I pause, holding an apple in one hand and my tray in the other. Could I sense other people too? I decide to ask Kairol when we sit down to eat.

Kairol waves to me as I finish putting food on my tray and I smile brightly at her. She motions to a table to the left and I follow her to our seat.

"How did you sleep last night?" Kairol asks me when we settle in.

"Good," I tell her as I take my first bite. "Is it possible to sense other people?" I ask her.

"Yes," she says. "It is especially common among those with very close bonds. The closer the relationship, the stronger the sense of finding them becomes."

"Do we have a close bond?" I ask her, pausing to look at her. She nods and we finish our breakfast quickly. We head back to the main building. I begin feeling nervous as we walk to Perit's office. He meets us at the door.

"Morning Kairol, A'Kasha. Are you ready to begin?" I nod in answer to Perit's question. "We will see you after lunch, Kairol." He smiles at Kairol as she bids us farewell and we enter his office. He's rearranged the space and now there is a little desk in one corner. I guess it is for me. While I'm busy checking out the new area, Perit brings over two books. He sets a textbook on the desk and hands me a black book.

"This book is where you will put all of your assignments. The first subject we are going over are the affinities," he sits at his desk which is next to mine. "The first affinity we will cover today is water. It is the most essential element to our existence and the easiest to manipulate. Go ahead and read the first lesson and let me know when you are done." I sit down, setting my black book to the side, and open the textbook to chapter one.

The reading is informative, but rather dry and boring. I learn about the atomic makeup of water, hydrogen and oxygen, and about theories of why it is so easy to manipulate, like how part of our body is made of it and a lot of other things. I yawn and stretch. Then I come across a section that is a lot more interesting. Water manipulators. Apparently, most people have a small amount of water affinity, but true water manipulators can do fascinating things with water. Water can be used as a shield, a wall, a trick. The list went on. The examples with pictures intrigued me the most. A whole city was created out of water. Stone and metals were used too, but most everything had water. It could be tied off and kept in place indefinitely. The capital city of Tera'Pagad, where most of the world's water manipulators were born, was one of the world's wonders. It shone like crystal, even in a photo. I felt a little sad as the chapter ended. I wanted to know more about how they were able to tie off a manipulation and how they were able to pull water to them. I sigh.

"Are you finished?" Perit asks me. I nod that I had finished. "Very good. Now I'd like you to write about what interested you the most in that chapter. This will be a regular segment for the next two weeks. Let me know when that is complete."

I already knew what I wanted to write about. As I write out my thoughts about the water manipulators and the questions I have, a loud boom makes me jump. I look at Perit, his head cocked to the side as he listens. His mirror, hanging on the wall next to his desk, starts to ripple. He stands and answers the mirror call. I feel a little guilty as I remember that I hadn't called home yet.

"I'm sure everyone has heard the explosion," Father John appears in the mirror. "I'm making a quick announcement that it is nothing to worry about. Some new construction is being put into place. Please advise all students to be aware and to avoid disrupting the work. Please carry out your day as normal. Thank you." The mirror ripples again before returning to its original form. Another boom sounds as Perit returns to his desk. I return to writing.

Perit keeps me busy with a questionnaire about what I've read and we discuss some stuff in the chapter. He doesn't answer my questions about manipulation, telling me instead that it is something Professor Acan will assist me with. When he checks the time, it is almost time for lunch. "I think that we have covered enough for today. Go ahead and have lunch, A'Kasha. Head to Kairol's office when you're done eating and she will see you off to Acan around tea time. I will see you tomorrow morning. We will be covering chapter 2 and earth affinity."

"Good bye, Professor Perit. See you in the morning," I tell him as I leave his office. As I walk across the garden to the dining hall, I look towards the West gate. As I had thought, that is the source of the explosions I'd been hearing all day. The gate had been made of wood from a long time ago, and it looked like it was being torn down. Another boom echoed across the grounds as I'm watching and I see wood chips fly up into the air. The ground on the outside of the gate is being pulled up with tremendous force, which was causing the booming sound. The earth was being thrown towards the gate and breaking it apart. The broken bits of wood stayed suspended in the air before floating over to a huge bucket and falling inside. I wonder what the point of a trench in front of the gate could mean as I enter the hall and gather my lunch. That's when I see Sharon in line. She runs up to me.

"A'Kasha! Have you heard the news? They're putting in a new gate. Isn't that exciting? I wonder if they will do that for all the gates." I smile at Sharon's brightness. She is always so happy. "Want to eat together?" She asks me. I tell her of course and follow her to a table. Other girls greet her as we sit down. She introduces me to several of them but I doubt I could remember all of their names. I finish eating amidst a bunch of laughter and find myself laughing with them.

"A'Ka, will you eat dinner with us?" Sharon asks as I stand up to put away my tray. I laugh as I tell her yes.

I head to Kairol's office next, wondering what we would go over. I knock at her door and she calls for me to come in. She had also added a place for me to sit at. It wasn't a desk though, but a little table with a chair pulled up on either side.

"I thought it'd be nice to sit across from each other while we learn. Perit gave you a book, I assume?" I nod. "Good. Let's get it out and go over some things, okay?" I pull the book out of my little bag I carried over my shoulder.

"Now, before we begin, we need to center ourselves. It is the first thing I want to teach you. The main thing you need to remember is that you are not going to empty your mind. You are going to center it, to focus it." I take notes as she talks to me. She instructs me to first focus on the things around me while controlling my breathing. To then turn my focus inward until I am one with the breaths, to let go of the thoughts that would normally cross my mind, without focusing on them.

I remember this morning, when I felt so at peace with the outside world. Had I been centering myself without realizing the name of it? "Can centering be done without closing your eyes?" I ask Kairol.

She nods as she answers my question, "Yes, it can. Sometimes people will mistake you for a day dreamer, but I say let them. It's funnier that way. Would you like to try it now?"

I nod at her and watch her as she relaxes. I notice the even breaths. She opens her eyes to look at me so I copy her posture. I basically sit cross legged in the chair and place my hands on my knees. I glance at Kairol and realize that I'm amusing her. I smile and change to a more comfortable position. I close my eyes and concentrate on my memory of this morning. A sense of peace fills me. I listen to the sounds of singing I'd heard before, and watch behind closed eyelids as the sun rose this morning all over again. I release the images and lift my eyes slowly. Kairol is watching me, but I do not dwell on it. Instead, I allow her to drift by me as I take in everything with my peripherals. I can see the sunlight climbing through the curtains on her window. I hear the ticking of an old clock as its pendulum swings steadily on. I see the air currents as they drift lazily by my face. Then, I sense a warning.

Some thing seems to pull on an invisible thread behind me. I turn slowly towards the strange disturbance in the environment around me. "Kairol." I close my eyes, mentally searching for the thread I could sense just there. I feel the air shift as Kairol approaches from behind me now. I have it.

I don't pull the thread; instead, I begin to follow it. Kairol places her hand on my shoulder. "Let me see what you see," she murmurs. I merely accept and feel another presence with me. I hear her gasp. Ignoring this, I follow the thread further, my mind floating through the walls and over the rose bush fountain towards the West gate. I pause, staring at the ruins of the entrance. On the other side, past the bushes and the trees, someone was watching the destruction of the gate. I will myself back to the present with Kairol. She breathes deeply before making eye contact with me.

"What did you learn?" Kairol asks me quietly.

"Someone is watching the West Gate, and their intentions are evil. That's why among all the peace I could sense it." She nods at my explanation. I shake my head, "It wasnt like this morning, even though the peace was similar. It was like there was a thread of discord stretching behind me. Did you sense anything like that?"

"No. I didn't." She looks at me thoughtfully. "Write this incident down in your black book. Don't forget the date and time." She motions me to the table. " Try to remember every single detail. This could be very important. Let's try to have a chat with Father John before he retires for the night." She sits down in the other chair and breathes a sigh. "Let me know when you have finished."

I could tell she was shaken by what had happened. I bend over my book, pen gliding across each page as I recount the past little bit. When I finish, I lay the pen across the upper corner of the page I had open. "I'm done, Kairol."

"Good." Kairol stands and walks behind her desk. She picks up a green book and brings it to where I could see. "This book is called Manipulation Basics for Beginners. We really must get your powers under control before you can be taught how to use them. Take this book only to your room or the other professor's offices." She hands the book over to me carefully. "This is my personal copy, so please do not take it off the premises. Read chapter one tonight. We will talk about it tomorrow."

"Yes, ma'am," I reply. She nods her head and walks to the door.

"It is almost tea time. Go freshen up and eat something. When you are done, I will introduce you to Professor Acan." I pack everything up and move to leave. "And A'Kasha, please be very careful and don't mention anything to the other children."

"Yes, ma'am," I tell her again.

I grab something to eat but take it outside with me. It was still warm outside and I didn't feel like being around other people. I sit, watching the rose bush fountain as the shadows lengthen around me. I eat absentmindedly before I rise and walk back to Kairol's office. She greets me at the door and I follow her further down the hall. We stop in front of another door, only I'm entranced by it's beautiful color. It didn't look painted but it certainly wasn't a normal wooden door. I notice Kairol doesn't knock on the door either. Instead, she merely speaks.

"Professor Acan, A'Kasha is here to begin her lesson with you." She puts her hand on my shoulder.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

The door opens.

Chapter 8

I look up at the man who had accepted my dream without hesitation and remained so calm in the face of blatant disregard. His blue tinted skin seemed to glow faintly, as though lit from within.

"Please come in," he murmurs as the door opens wider. He steps back as Kairol and I enter his office. I stand in awe at my surroundings, taking in one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. The walls, ceiling and floor shimmer as though coated in some iridescent material. The furniture in the room must have come from Tera'Pagad. Everything depicted scenes of ocean life. As I turn to take in the rest of the room, I am interrupted by his soft voice.

"This is your first time seeing water effects, isn't it, A'Kasha?" I turn to face Professor Acan. His face remains unreadable to me, but I sense amusement in his tone. I glance at Kairol to see her smile at me. I answer, "I've never seen anything like your office before. It's… breathtaking, honestly." I look around again. He motions, catching my eye again.

I look at the device he brings from his desk.

A circle of metal looped between three legs in an endless spiral, and held an eyepiece to look through that was multicolored and small. He held the device gently, almost cradling it in his hands, as he handed it to me.

"Look through it and tell me what you see," he commands when I cup it in my hands. I lift it to my eye and look through the swirls of rainbow kaleidoscoping endlessly. Concentrating, I move the item, trying to make sense of it.

I suck in a deep breath. The water was inside a woven layer of magic. That was the only way I could understand it. It's more like woven strands of water holding the loose water in place behind it and keeping the luminescence swirling under the surface. The lights, the water itself, were multicolored and was somehow kept separate so none of the colors mixed. It was like the colors and lights created shapes and pictures, and the weaves I could see were meant to display the nature of things. But I could see through it too, to the other side. I realize suddenly that I was looking at his wall.

"What? How is that accomplished?" I pull the glass shaped like an eye away from mine. I look at Professor Acan as I try to work out what I had just seen. He merely smiles at me and motions back to the wall. I put the glass back up to my eye, my palm cupping the base. I’m drawn to the ceiling, noticing how the water weaves into the different angles. I look down, half expecting to see the water flow across the floor, but stop. I stare, trying to figure out what I was looking at. The only way I can describe it is as a knot, knitted back into the weaves that ran up the wall to meet the ones across the ceiling. I tilt my head, trying to determine what knot could be used in such a way.

“Can I touch it?” I ask before I realize I’m speaking. I hear chuckles and move my head to look at them. They are both smiling at me, and I realize how eager I must seem. I blush and turn back to the wall.

“Yes, A’Kasha. You are welcome to touch it. I would like to see what you might be capable of. Professor Perit and Father John have spoken with me.” I look over at Professor Acan. He is still smiling. His tone was welcoming and gentle, like the waves of an ocean on a sandy shore. He continues, “I came to Yomya Vhi to train with the best water manipulator in all the lands. But when I went home, I found that I had lost something in leaving, both at home and at the monastery. I had to choose, what I loved or what that love had cost me. So I returned to teach and continue learning. It is my passion and my strength. Please allow me to teach you during your stay here.”

He must be very formal, I can’t help but think. He’s sincere, I realize. I nod slowly, “I would like that, I think.” I kneel at the wall. Looking through the glass, I reach out my hand to touch the wall. I pause, studying my own hand through the glass. I hadn’t thought to look at anyone else through the lens, much less myself. It was strange. Like I could see the outline of my hand, but where one would normally see skin, wrinkles and all that consists of, I could only see blue. Different shades of blue. All going in specific directions. I realize it is my blood flowing through my body. My mouth drops open. It was like seeing through my body! I gather myself, continuing to reach forward towards the line of knots.

Contact with the magic felt like contact with literal water. It was cold, and I could feel a current like an updraft of air. I withdrew. Curiosity ran rampant. How had my hand remained dry when I could clearly feel the wetness of the water? When I had concentrated before, I had been able to feel the elements in a four dimensional type of way, not just with my normal five senses. I breathed deep, shutting out all sound from my surroundings. I closed my eyes for a moment, continuing to call for that sense, imagining everything I could about what I knew about water.

Waterfalls, rivers, oceans. Sounds, smells, wetness. All the wildlife and sentient life that existed with it. I open my eyes. I raise my hand, reaching out and touching the threads that lead into the tie. Instead of the flow of water, I now felt the luminescence beneath the woven water. The in and out of the weaves were real. I felt how the ends were weaved back through the standing weaves. I put my finger against one of the unders and push. It snaps and two threads straighten.

I freeze. Had I broken it? Did they notice? I tune back in to my surroundings and hear them speaking softly closer to the fireplace. I refocus. I took another deep breath, firming myself. I set down the glass piece carefully. I lean down, balancing myself to look through the glass and have both hands free. I grab each end of the broken thread and match up the ends. I concentrate as hard as I can, channeling every thought into it becoming whole again.

Suddenly, the whole patch of wall where I kneeled awkwardly glowed fiercely. I let go suddenly and fall flat on my face. Embarrassed, I raise myself up on my arms.

“A’Kasha, are you alright?” Kairol said as she rushed over to me. I nod, not trusting my voice. Professor Acan, who had been right behind Kairol, ascertained I was alright, and turned to the wall. Surprise flitted across his features, the first true emotion I had known him to express besides his calm.

“Incredible,” he murmurs. He raises a hand to touch the once glowing patch near the floor. I guess he can see with his eyes what I need help to see with mine. “I’m not sure what or how you did what you did, A’Kasha, but I’ve never seen the like. It’s stronger than any I have ever seen.” Awe filled his voice, making me nervous. I shift my weight from foot to foot.

“Could you do it again?” Kairol asks me. I look at her, feeling fatigue sink into my bones.

“If I do, it won’t be today,” I tell her softly. I suddenly felt so tired. Professor Acan turns to me and looks me up and down.

“Come to my desk and have a seat. I’ll brew you something to drink.” He gestures to the other side of the room. I stumble on my way, Kairol catching my elbow at the last second before it became a fall. I find myself sitting in a soft chair in front of his desk. He brought a tea kettle forward and set it on a portable flame. He set the temperature and turned to me. “How tired do you feel at the moment?”

“Exhausted. Like I haven’t slept in days,” I reply. I struggle to cover a yawn.

“I see. Give me a moment,” he replies as he opens a drawer and pulls out a little wooden box. He sets it on the desk next to the kettle. When he opens it, I realize I am looking at a multicompartment box filled with different elements for flavoring tea. I didn’t know enough about it to know what he retrieved from the box and set in the kettle to boil. As he returns the box to its original position, a new aroma drifts past my nose. The smell is somehow enticing, even though I don’t normally drink tea. Professor Acan pours me a cup, pretty and blue. I hold the cup in my hands after he passes it to me, feeling subtle ripples under my palms. I take a cautionary sip.

I’m surprised. I imagine a meadow in a forest, next to a bubbling stream, where birds sing and butterflies flit from flower to flower and scents hang heavy in the air. It settles a peace inside of me and reminds me of home. Flavors like chocolate and honey tease my tongue. I open my eyes, remembering that I’m still sitting in Professor Acan’s office. I sit a little straighter, suddenly feeling a bit better. I look to the professor.

He smiles, “Finish the whole cup. We have much to discuss, and you have much to learn.” I nod in response and continue to drink. I relax. Leaning back, I look over at Kairol, leaning against the wall to the left of the desk. She glances at me before she speaks,

“Are you starting her right away?” she asks Professor Acan, sounding surprised.

“Certainly,” he replies immediately. “She has just shown not only aptitude but also raw skill. I have not seen the like outside of my homeland since the last Tera’Pagadian left Yomya Vhi.” He looks briefly at Kairol before returning his gaze to me. I get the feeling he is weighing his options with me, weighing me. I can almost sense the curiosity in the air, as though it were a wolfdog scenting the hunt. “To have done what you did with such natural focus must be guided, or harm could befall you.”

“What exactly do you want me to do?” I ask quietly. His head tilts slightly to one side before he answers me. He suddenly glistens like the walls surrounding me. It was brief, had I blinked I would have missed it.

“I want you to access your powers. Only then can you learn to train, harness, and suppress them.” He stands and turns to Kairol. “Perhaps you can stay and help with this lesson, Professor Kairol. I could use the help and I’m sure A’Kasha would appreciate the support.” I look at Kairol, her ebony skin a sharp contrast in this strange office. She nods and takes the seat next to mine.

“Now, let’s begin. Traditionally, in my classes, I teach students first to see the water around them. If you cannot find it, sense it, see it? Then you do not have the skill to use your affinity. Those who have the affinity are limited to what they can see and sense. While still teachable, these students leave earlier than the rest when there is nothing else I can teach them.” He pauses and I sense deep sadness in this man. “Today, you have broken the mold for many. You have been able to tie off and reconnect a knot without seeing it with your naked eyes.”

I give him a nod, letting him know I was keeping up. “I am going to give you a series of exercises. Each exercise will be unique and I expect some will be difficult and few easy. Professor Kairol will act as guide and translator but can only help a certain number of times per round. You must complete one full exercise before being able to move on to the next one. Do you have any questions?” I look at Kairol, wondering what I had gotten myself into. She merely looks back at me, waiting for my decision. It was strange, the situation, the man, the everything. I close my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I think to myself, Take one day at a time. I can do this. I open my eyes. I had made a promise to do my best.

“When do I start?”

I sit comfortably on the floor against the wall. My eyes are closed for the moment. I listen to Professor Acan, arguing with Kairol. Why they argued about techniques or whatever was beyond me. Their voices take on a pattern, a cadence. Rising, falling, ever changing in volume. I allow myself to relax further. I feel as though I am sinking, sinking, through the floor; yet, at the same time I feel as though I am floating, drifting, a current billowing around me. I hold firmly to my physical body, while continuing to allow myself to drift just a little more. It was like I was projecting again, but without the need to sleep first. I look around wide-eyed. Everything shimmered. Sparkles dance, rainbows fly, and everything looks surreal, more vivid. What was it I needed to do?

I close my eyes briefly and focus. Water. I needed to be able to see and sense water around me. I struggle to separate my senses, to realize that which was so close I could almost taste it.

It was like something suddenly clicked. I could taste it. Miniscule water droplets hung suspended in the air around me. I could even feel it on my skin, like the humidity I had failed to understand when I was younger. I open my eyes. There, the flashing of a rainbow signals light passing through water. I reach out, touching and scattering the drops across the room, sending waves of color.

I realize a moment later that the background noise I had taken for granted had stopped. The atmosphere was made heavy with the silence. I look at Acan and Kairol. Both stared at me, struck mute and dumbfounded. I lose all concentration and snap back to myself. My eyes are closed again. I will myself to open them and look at my mentors. I laugh out loud at the sight. I just couldn't help it. They both looked as though something unbelievable had happened before their eyes and they were still processing. They both snap their mouths shut at the same time, furthering my hysterical laughter into maniacal. I struggle to take deep breaths as Kairol walks towards me and Acan readies more tea for me. As I calm down with Kairol kneeling in front of me, Acan walks over with a teacup for me. I take it with shaky hands. I look at him before smiling.

He looks at me strangely, curiosity warring with some emotion I was unfamiliar with. I wonder what it could mean but my elation at what I had just done would not be abated so soon by curiosity.

I look from Acan to Kairol, still smiling tiredly. I take another sip of hot tea, this one tasting of mangoes and oranges, before speaking,

"I found the water."

Chapter 9

Professor Acan and Kairol help me back into a chair before pulling another two up closer. They sit with me, waiting patiently for me to explain myself.

“I don’t really know how I did it, and I’m not sure I can even describe it,” I pause, taking another sip as an excuse while I gather my thoughts. “It started out with me ignoring you guys arguing, wondering what difference it could make.” I flush, having just confessed to ignoring my teachers. I continue, “It was like I was meditating, then suddenly projecting. Only I wasn’t asleep. I was aware as it was happening. It was so pretty, but I felt like I was halfway between the two.” Kairol leaned forward interestedly. “I had to really concentrate for a while. I thought about how badly I wanted to find the water around me, that I could almost taste it. I think that’s when it clicked. I could taste it. It was in the air, in your weaves, in the ground outside the window. It's everywhere," I end somewhat quietly. “It’s like it clicked and I blinked and I could see the world differently.” I look back at them from where my gaze had drifted, by the desk.

They both appear lost in thought as I glance at them, noticing the striking resemblance in facial expression as they stare at me, one ebony and one sky blue. The silence stretches on, my curiosity quickly replacing my satisfaction before being injected with a good dose of self consciousness and doubt. No, I could do it again. I knew I could, like I had discovered a new set of eyelids and was suddenly more aware of them than my original.

I decide to blink and study both Perit and Kairol, having come to realize that was what they had been doing.

Everything changes, shifting colors, stretching shadows and everything is tinged with blue light. I study Kairol carefully. Her ebony skin glows lightly, giving her an ethereal appearance. Her ruby eyes were more cutting, shining with some inner light, and her hair seemed to vibrate slightly, wisps drifting on an unknown breeze.

I shift my gaze to Acan. His blue skin was almost blinding where Kairol had simply glowed.

"Does one's skill with their affinity change how they look with this sight?" I ask suddenly, curiosity causing me to blurt out the question. I can feel my cheeks heating up. I never did like being the center of attention, although I should learn to expect it since I was a princess. Kairol raises an eyebrow, but it is Acan who answers me.

"Yes, there are those who can see the differences in people's skill. It is unheard of in one so young. But, I am coming to believe that you are going to break all the rules." With that he stood. "I think we can bring this day to a close. I will arrange a room in the new dorm for you tomorrow and we will resume our session in the afternoon once again. Until then, A’Kasha, rest."

I join Sharon and company for dinner that night. I can’t help but notice that most everyone left each other alone. It was pleasant to dine here, no sense of unease or unhappiness ever tainted the air.

“A’Kasha!” Sharon jumps up and hugs me tightly until I struggle for breath.

“Can’t breath…” I gasp in her ear.

“Oh, sorry,” she releases me. “I forget sometimes that I squeeze too hard.”

I laugh as we sit back down. Dinner passed pleasantly. Sharon always told jokes that kept us giggling. She is definitely the life of the party. The perfect companion when you needed a good pick me up.

I returned to my room with a smile on my face, but as I lay down I find I am unable to sleep.

I was restless for most of the night. I was exhausted, drained mentally, but also ecstatic. I was learning so much in such a short time. I blink again, studying the room I was staying in. Even in the dark, there was so much I could see with this sight. As I toss and turn, the sky loses its illumination one by one, first the silver comet, then the red moon, before each star slowly winks out. Finally, I slept.

Down a hallway I walk. Doors line each side of me. On every door was carved a symbol, each symbol different, each door changing as I pass, fading into blackness with each step. I walk endlessly, searching for I knew not what. Still the hallway continued, still I walked as I passed door after door.

I stop.

To my right was a door with a sun carved into the front. On the left was a comet. Blink. The right was gold, the left was silver. Did I have to make a choice?

I wake in bed, sunlight filtering slowly through my window. The vividly shining dream impressed itself on my mind. Did I have a choice coming in the near future? I had never had a vision so vivid before that hadn't involved a more literal prediction. What could it mean? I was going to have to ask somebody.

Dressing hurriedly, I dash out of my room to try and meet Kairol on time in the mess hall. Breakfast was an important meal, and I had a lot to do today. Professor Perit had warned me he would be testing me daily on what I learned the day before. I would have to ask about my dream later. Perhaps I could stop by Father John’s office later. I’ll ask Kairol as we eat.

Lunch has come and passed, meditation with Kairol helping the time pass by. I crack my eyelids to steal a glance at Kairol. I want to talk to her, but now isn't the time. I'll wait until we are with Professor Acan to bring up my dream. I plan to ask Father John to be there. It might be a good idea not to invite Perit. A bad feeling followed me when I thought of telling him anything.

Tea time comes, my final break before the last stretch until bed. Instead of moving to the mess hall, I make my way to the headmaster’s office. I knock at his double doors, waiting with bated breath.

"Come in," Father John called from behind the doors. I push them open a little timidly, stepping inside his office. I still half expect it to look torn apart and it's a small relief that it still looks normal.

"Father John?" I call out when I enter his study. He's leaning over paperwork, quill pen scratching across the surface. The desk still looks intricately ornate, and I blink, curious if the office would change. Instead, I’m surprised by the complete lack of change in the desk itself. I glance at the rest of the office to verify that I was using the sight.

"Ah, A’Kasha. To what do I owe the pleasure?" His voice pulls me from my thoughts as I notice there was hardly a difference in this room when I blinked.

"I have something I would like to tell everyone, and I want you to be there. I was going to tell Kairol and Acan after tea time." I hold my breath, waiting for him to tell me he was too busy, that it would have to wait until tomorrow.

He chuckled at me, the anxiety evident upon my face obvious from his amusement. "Of course, I will meet with you there. It must be important for you to have asked me in the first place. Don't worry," he smiles kindly at me as I relax, "I'll be there."

Chapter 10

I stand before Professor Acan’s door, hesitation causing me to pause before knocking. Should I go through with telling them about my dream? I force myself to face what I have avoided thinking of since sitting in the car to come here. I was alone.

Unless I could truly trust these mentors.

Unless I can master my power.

If I could just survive the invasion coming to this monastery of peace.

I take a deep breath. I had to start somewhere. Pulling from a well of strength I didn't know I possessed, I raise my hand and knock. The door opens slowly, Professor Acan standing behind.

"A'Kasha," he nods his head and motions with his hand that I could come in. I step past him, eyes focusing on Father John and Kairol sitting by the desk. They both look at me expectantly. Of course they knew I had asked Father John to come, so that must mean I needed something.

"I had a dream last night," I swallow hard past the lump in my throat. "But it seemed like a vision without a prediction. Without a concrete objective." I wait a moment to hear what they would say. Acan walks around me to stand by Kairol.

"A'Kasha, why don't you describe this dream?" I nod to Acan.

"I was walking down a hallway. I must have walked a mile without feeling it and the doors I passed would disappear behind me, though I don't know how I know. I never looked back. I suddenly stop before two doors, turning to face them. One was gold with a sun carved in it and the other silver with Ilystra carved on its front. I didn't open one or the other, even though I felt a very strong need to open one. I woke up after staring at the two doors. I don't know what it means but I know it means something. You three are the only ones I know and trust." I trail off, unsure how to ask for their help.

"Don't feel so helpless or frustrated," Kairol consoles me. "We all cannot hold the answers to life's questions." She turns to Father John, "Do you know what this could mean?"

"I cannot be certain, but my intuition says that the dream must mean you have a choice before you. I cannot help you with that choice." My face must have fallen for he looked at me kindly before continuing, "But, I may know someone who can."

My excitement and curiosity drown out the words spoken in reply to Father John. But I temper my elation enough to listen.

“How do you know they can be trusted? That is all I ask.” Kairol spoke seriously, clearly having waited for a moment before speaking. Father John looks her in the eye before turning his attention to me. I wonder what secret needs to be kept so vigilantly.

“I trust her because she saved my life once. She told me long ago of a dream very similar to yours, A’Kasha. But I leave the choice to you. If you would like me to contact her, I will. If not, then I shall await a better solution.”

I suddenly felt very small with all three adults looking at me. But even beneath their stares, I wanted him to. I wanted to meet someone who could be similar to me. Did they turn out okay? Was there a chance I could master my powers? Was there a deeper meaning to my vision?

“Yes. I want you to contact your old friend. I would like to know her story.”

Father John had left soon after, and I practiced calling water to me for the duration of my time with Acan. Perit and Acan seemed to work well in conjunction with each other. I would learn certain techniques in the morning, gather my energy with Kairol after lunch, and practice what I learned through the afternoon with Acan. I spend the next couple days falling into a routine. I wonder briefly who will be training me when I start to learn about air and if it will be at all similar.

Kairol interrupts my thoughts to bring me back to the present. “You’re wandering again. A’Kasha, are you okay?” She looks at me with worry, but I feel a part of that worry stemmed from something else.

“I’m sorry, Kairol. I’m distracted by the thought that I might get to speak with someone who might be like me.” I stop myself there, unsure if I wanted to voice the rest of that out loud. Kairol returns to the book before her, studying something. I’d asked about it earlier but she had said it was for one of her classes.

“It’s okay. I understand. I’m used to being that person for most of the people from the Western Isles.” She looks at me again. “It’s okay, A’Kasha. This just means you get to practice working around the distraction. Focus. Zwu.” I jolt, remembering the whisper zwe just a few days ago.

“Was it you? The one who found me when I had my vision?” I hold my breath, hoping I’m not wrong.

“Yes. So you do remember some of it?”

“Only enough to know I wasn’t dreaming. What did you say then? Zwe?”

She laughs, tinkles rippling through the air. “Your pronunciation is a little off. Try making more of a zu sound at the beginning. It is breath in the old tongue. Zwu means focus.” She looks at me carefully. “The old tongue is constructed of sounds of which is only used five times. Once with each vowel. Zwa is air. Zwe is breath. Zwi is meditate. Zwo is void. Zwu is focus. Can you understand that?”

I nod slowly. “Yes, I think I can. Nobody at home speaks it, but I remember looking at old books written in the old tongue.”

“Good. When the time comes, it will prove useful to you.” She returned once again to her book. I zone out for a minute, digesting this new information.

With a shake, I begin to manipulate the water particles, calling them to me from anywhere I felt their presence. Loose in Acan’s weaves, floating in the air (though those were few), from the ground outside the window, until I realize that there were suddenly so many more. I spin, running to the window. Above me, clouds begin to gather. Slowly, more drifted towards Yomya Vhi. I blink and shift my focus. I could actually see the water moving way up in the sky. Currents above Rathe pushed towards us in an impenetrable wall.

“Stunning, isn’t it?” Acan startles me, speaking from my shoulder. I look at him and he smiles down at me. “Weather works in patterns, and what is happening in the sky above us is called a warm front. Pushing against cool air causes a reaction with the molecules, creating water as it uses up energy and creating the clouds. Those strong enough in water manipulation are capable of calling up a shower or a storm. Though that’s normally for watering crops or reducing a drought.”

All I could latch onto was that a water manipulator could create storms. What else was possible out there? I had lived among luxury and never minded where it came from, how it worked, or who had made it. How self absorbed had I been? Light knew Helen was out of her mind with worry since I hadn’t written to her even once in the last four or five days. A moment of guilt grips me.

Focus. I had to learn to focus. Zwu, as Kairol says. I reach out with my hand and call a bundle of water to my palm. Still in the sight, I watch a puff slowly come down and rest on my outstretched hand. I hold my breath and blink. A small cloud floats in front of me, slowly dissolving and turning into mist.

Kairol pulls me from the window, Acan lowering the blinds. Surprised, I look up at Kairol. She bends down and pulls me close for a hug before holding me at arms length.

“A’Kasha, I know you don’t really understand, but no one should ever see you do some of the things you do. It takes someone with much skill to pull a full cloud down while keeping its form.” Seeing the look on my face or sensing the turmoil within me, she says, “A’Kasha, you are so special and important. No matter what you learn or what you see or what life throws at you, know you are A’Kasha.”

I nod, calming a little. I didn’t understand what was so different about me. How I could do these things they claimed were so difficult for others to do. I remain confused, but I no longer feel overwhelmed. I had a feeling I would learn why sooner rather than later.

The dinner hour had come and gone and I lay awake in the light of the red moon, Rosem. Today was the fifth day since I had arrived. Eight more phases until Chodro’a, the night when there would only be Ilystra in the sky twice before the morning sun. The night I dreaded with every fiber of my being.

As the silver light faded to pink for the second time, I drifted into a dream.

Chapter 11

Clangs and clashes wake me, but I know I’m not awake. I’ve been here. Only this time, I wasn’t supposed to be asleep when they came. I look out my window. It was earlier. How long had the fighting been going on the last time I had this vision?

There was no way to know. I walk out the door and quicken my strides down the hall. I don’t stop to notice if Kairol’s door is open, I already know it is. I’m heading for the headmaster’s office. I have to know if it matters that I had warned him.

The doors are open, and papers are still fluttering in tatters through the air.

“It doesn’t matter how well you prepare, old man. I will still kill you and the girl.” A raspy voice sends chills down my spine and I steel myself to look in. The assassin stood there. He looks at me and smiles. “Enjoy the view, little girl. I’ll be doing much worse to you.”

His cackle still echoes in my ears as I gasp, finally awake in bed and drenched in a cold sweat.

I don’t get the chance to see what Father John does.

Directly after breakfast, I headed to find Kairol instead of going to my tutoring with Professor Perit. The rest of my night had been exhausting, and I felt no more rested now than I had before waking from my vision.

I stood before her office door, checking her posted office hours even though I knew she was in there. I could sense her. I also sensed the moment when she felt my urgency.

The door opens before I could knock.

“What’s wrong?” She stands back from the door, letting me in quickly. “I can sense your emotional turmoil from across the hall.”

“I had another vision last night. It was earlier in the day, the fighting had already begun. You were already gone. There was a big difference this time. Father John was still alive. I was dressed in leather armour. But the man in the office was the same. An assassin. But here’s the problem I have. Here’s the issue. He knew. He knew I had the vision in the first place. He said specifically to Father John that it didn’t matter how much he prepared, he would still kill the both of us. How did he know? Kairol, how could he know?” By this time my hysteria had bested me and I was starting to run out of steam. I collapse in the chair in front of her desk.

“A’Kasha, stay here. Do not leave this room. I’ll return shortly.” With that Kairol was gone.

“A’Ka, wake up. The time for sleep is over. Open your eyes.” The voice was soothing, comforting and familiar. Kairol.

I open my eyes to see Kairol standing with Father John and Acan, holding a cup of tea in his hands for me. I smile weakly, drinking the tea in slow sips. The dream must have taken a lot out of me, since I didn't remember even closing my eyes.

When I’m finished, I sit up, “Don’t tell Professor Perit. Or Asron. Or anybody else for that matter. Only you three need to know. If he knows then, well, I guess we’ll see.” They exchange glances, causing me to raise my eyebrows in surprise.

Acan nods his head before folding his hands together, the tug of his manipulation as a ripple through the air to me. “A barrier to prevent unwanted ears from hearing,” Father John murmurs. I nod thoughtfully. Was that the intent in his office as well?

Acan finishes quickly. All three adults rearrange the furniture until it looks more like a small conference room instead. “Kairol has informed us that your dream has changed,” Father John says. “Is it true?”

“Yes,” I confirm wearily. “The assassin knows that Yomya Vhi has had warning of its coming attack. They no longer worry of surprise under cover of darkness. I’m afraid word has reached him, whether by intent or otherwise. They will come full on with the sun. The assassin knows a way in or has an inside hand. Regardless, he still corners Father John in his office. Only this time, I’m right outside. He wants us to know that he knows.” I feel a burst of anger at his cruelty and words. “He just doesn’t know how bad of a mistake he’s made.”

The others nod around me. Father John continues, “There was a large number of people who knew last time. We also can’t be certain a pigeon wasn’t intercepted en route to our members in the field. This time, we will be subtler.”

That night, my sleep was interrupted by terrible dreams, outcomes beyond my control, and shadows struggling to snuff out the light.

The following day, I returned to my routine with Professor Perit, Kairol, and Acan. My excuse for the day before was that I was feeling ill and had requested the day to recover. I eat all my meals with Sharon and our circle of friends, with my professors joining us sporadically throughout the days, so I hung out with Sharon and the other girls during lunch and dinner and retired to my rooms after a quick debriefing with Acan. Certain people that could be trusted were informed of the changes in plans. The rest would be formulated by individuals, so no single person knew the entire plan. Each decision changed the future just a little bit, didn’t it? I stop recording my actual visions in the black journal.

Another day begins to pass, day seven of my stay here. If my dream remained true, then we had seven days left to prepare. But could we prepare enough, before he came, before they changed their plans to counter ours.

I arrive at Kairol’s office after lunch, ready to begin meditating when I realize we weren’t alone in the room. A small woman, black hair, copper skin, and sapphire eyes.

I stare in shock. She was gorgeous. Her petite frame was silhouetted by the charcoal curls that fell to her waist. Her skin glistened in the firelight. Silver skin. Sapphire eyes. They said true sapphire eyes only came from the Southern Isles. Was this…

“A’Kasha, please meet Keron Crecra of the Southern Isles.”

If I hadn’t been standing still, I might have stumbled. Crecra? As in related to Asron Crecra? This was who Father John trusted? As confusion swirls in my mind, Father John enters behind me. Keron Crecra stood in front of me now. I didn’t know she had moved. Her lips form words, but I no longer hear anything. Only a high pitched ringing in my ears. I feel dizzy. Darkness shrouds my sight.

“Keron!” a man shouted from afar. My head whips around, recognizing the voice. I look towards the commotion and recognize the woman I had just met. She’s fighting against three men, wielding her dual swords expertly, but even I can tell they were wearing on her. I raise an arrow as I pull back my bow, notching into the string before taking aim. I shoot one in the shoulder before drawing another and shooting a second in the opposite arm.

I look again to where the voice came from.

Asron stands, back near the wall, drips running down the already crimson stone. One man stands in front of him. But the vision is fading, edges turning grey before stealing the last of my view.

I’m sitting in a chair, tea held in my hand, when I slowly become aware of my surroundings. I don’t quite understand what I had just witnessed, but I know it’s not for some time to come. I can’t understand it, but something tells me to keep this vision to myself.

“A’Ka, are you alright?” Kairol questions worriedly. I nod slowly, taking another sip.

“I’m fine. I’m sorry to worry everyone. I just blacked out for a moment I guess.” A strange look crosses Kairol’s face, but I ignore it, hoping she wouldn’t push it in front of this stranger.

“I’m glad you’re better, A’Kasha,” Father John’s voice soothes me a bit, his kindness and understanding evident in his words and actions. There was no way I could let him die. “Please, Keron meet A’Kasha. She has had a dream similar to one you once told me of. Perhaps you would be so kind as to share your story with another?” He looks at Keron with something I couldn’t read.

“John… very well,” she sighs softly. “It was such a long time ago. I dreamt of a long endless hallway, one that only existed around myself. I dreamt this dream a hundred times if I dreamed it a dozen. Until one night I finally stopped, in front of two doors. One was carved with a moon, the other a star. I learned I had a choice, and once the choice was made in life, then I could enter the corresponding door. I was faced with the choice soon after that final vision. We are never allowed to see the future behind the other door, so we can never regret the choice we make in this life. There are others like me, like you too. We work together.” She leans forward and looks me in the eyes, “I hope one day we can count you among those we fight with, and not against.” With that she stood. As she walks towards the door, Acan opens it. Keron pauses in the doorway.

“I understand the confusion. The curiosity. I’ll be here a few more days, so maybe tomorrow we can talk more, you and I, A’Kasha Xhacro.”

The silence once she left was deafening. She had known my true last name. This could only mean that she knew who I really was, and not just a young girl sent to the monastery. I am glad I am already sitting down. I go to take another drink of my tea and find the cup empty.

Father John left soon after Keron Cracre. Kairol sits next to me while Acan sits across the desk. “Hey, Kairol? How did she know the name Xhacro?”

“It is the old tongue for your last name, A’Kasha. Rosecrown. You’ll find there are many names that can be traced back many generations whose names originate in the old tongue. My name is a prime example. Kairol, Ka for earth, since I am from the Western Isles. Have you ever heard the phrase A ti Avh?" I nod. It was a phrase my Father said to me often. "It means Light is Love in the old tongue. We say it in farewell, hoping the light will shine on our loved ones and remind them of our love.” She seems to make up her mind over something, because she gives a firm nod to herself. “A’Ka, tomorrow we will begin to study the old tongue. Be prepared to take plenty of notes, and to study.”

“I know a few words in the old tongue. And I knew what my last name once was in the old tongue. I just don’t understand how she knows.”

Kairol leans forward, “Father John probably told her, so she would know why it was so important to him.” I nod, accepting her statement, since it felt true to me and to who I had grown to understand Father John to be.

Acan stands, “And I think it is getting close to the dinner hour. Why don’t you go ahead and call it a day. Tomorrow will prove to be much longer.”

I eat with Sharon and the girls before returning to my rooms, a pleasant distraction from my day. Sleep sounded wonderful. If only I could sleep without dreaming. I was still anxious about the vision I had had earlier. I've never had one while still awake. It was disconcerting. And then to hide it, I'm not sure what had me so worried. I lay in bed pondering what instinct led me to covering up my vision. I would tell Kairol about it when the time felt right.

The worst part was we only had seven more days until my vision of death became reality. What choices had everyone made? Would it make a difference? My exhaustion steals me into blissful sleep.

I wake early to a knocking on my door. As I pull myself out of bed to open the door, I wonder who would wake me, but I’m grateful to be woken from my latest dream. Running down an endless hallway and never reaching the doors in time was a terrible way to spend the night. I open the door to find Kairol, fully awake before the red moon had set in the sky.

"Here's a set of leather armour. Put it on over your clothes and meet me in my room before it's time for breakfast." She hands me a bundle and smiles at me. "Morning comes early for the next week." She glances at my face as she shuts the door before turning away. Guess it was time to start the day.

I dress hurriedly, struggling with some of the ties on the armour. When I'm finished, I walk down the hallway the short distance to reach Kairol's door, knocking but once before she opens up.

"Come in. Let me see how you've done your first time." She holds the door open for me and I step into a replica of my own room. "It's not my first time," I respond quietly while looking around the room. Little differences show me how she's made the space hers. A ruby coverlet comforted the bed while the lightstone next to it had a little shade shaped and colored like a rose, with matching curtains framing her window.

"You did really well on your own,” she walks around me, checking knots and the fitting. “Let’s redo the sides under your arms and then we will eat an early breakfast.” Her fingers were more deft than mine as she unties my fumbled knots and shows me how to tie them properly. She gives me one more look over before we head out the door.

“What are we doing?” I ask Kairol as we walk through the rose fountain garden to the dining hall. I take a deep breath of the heavy floral scent. It was fresh, and clean. We pause before leaving the garden to follow the path into the hall.

“Today, I have received permission to train you in self defense.”

Chapter 12

I hardly know what I ate for breakfast. Inside was only turmoil. I never thought I would fight, a real fight, seeing how princesses were normally groomed for finding a spouse and governing a country. Not exactly warrior material. Granted, I had to know how to defend myself. But that was usually ceremonial training, though it was good training and I knew I had some basics with the sword and staff. I was excited, anxious, worried.

Kairol led me around the compound until I could only guess that I was at the bottom of the seven pointed star layout. All the buildings were made of the same red stone, but I didn’t have to have anything to tell this building from the rest.

Each garden we went through was unique and a blend between the buildings for care and learning. Through fruit trees, around a hanging garden and next to a pond teeming with life stood our destination. A fish splashes out of the water, throwing droplets in the air. Birds chirp in the trees around us. It was easy to lose oneself in such serenity.

“A’Ka, let’s go. The top floor is where you and I will train together. Today we will be alone, but be prepared in the future to train with other students and professors.” Kairol holds the door before following me in and taking the lead up the stairs. Four flights of stairs later and we stand on a landing. One of the rooms would be ours to train in.

When we enter, I wander around the room. I recognized a lot of the space. Mirrors line one corner, for stances and other visual practicing; a giant bag hangs suspended from the ceiling, my brother uses one at home; a smaller bag stood next to it, for speed and hand eye coordination; and an equipment rack, complete with everything one could need.

“So, what weapon would you like to learn first?” She said it so matter of factly that I was startled. A flash in my memory surfaces.

“A bow.” Spoken with more conviction than I had intended, the surprise that crosses her face mirrors my own. But I had used a bow in that waking vision with the Crecras. I needed to know how to use it. Lives depended on it.

And possibly an ally or two.

I still don't know what I am or who I'm meant to be right now. But I do know something depends on me. I know I need to learn and be prepared. The conscious understanding was dawning slowly, catching up with my subconscious thoughts. More dangled just past my grasp.

"A bow. Very well, A’Ka. Follow me," she leads through the room to a side door, passing a massive selection of one and two handed weapons. On the other side of the door Kairol opens is another room, slightly smaller than the one it was connected to, full of ranged weapons. Hand crossbows, normal crossbows, short bows and longbows and others. So many weapons in these two rooms, it was enough to arm an army.

"People train with all of these weapons?" I ask incredulously. Kairol laughs.

"Not everyone trains with all of these weapons, but we wouldn't be much of a training facility if we didn't offer something for everyone." I could see the truth in her statement. Yomya Vhi was rather world renowned.

I'm small, so I avoid the longbow. Touching my fingertips along the row of short bows, I walk until I feel a sudden tingle. Surprise stills my feet. I look over, noting the yew bow and supple feel. I pick it up, surprised by its lightness. It felt right, somehow.

I glance at Kairol as she watches me. Returning my attention back to the bow, I study it. I don’t know much about weapon making, but I’ve seen quality weapons my whole life. The bow seemed well made, bending easily when I stood it up and pushed down.

“Do you know how to string it?” Kairol asks me. I shake my head no, silent as I continue my study.

“In this drawer,” she opens a shallow long drawer to the side of the long lines of bows, “are multiple types of strings. Some are made from gut, some from twine, and others from an assortment of materials. I’m going to show you the easiest way I know.” She pulls out a long, coiled white string. “The ends are knotted. This particular string is made of sinew, so it’s durable and stretchy. Put your foot over one end like so,” she pressed her foot against one end, holding it down, before placing one knotted end through the notches on that side. “Once you’ve placed the knot on one end, then you loop it through the top, which you push down like so,” she demonstrated the technique for me, unstringing and restringing several times. “Do you get the general idea? The first part of any weapon is the caretaking and wellbeing of that weapon. Today you will learn the stringing of a bow, Tonight we will learn the drawing of a bow. If we can, we will do more than that,” she hands the strung bow to me, “but first, unstring the bow.” She commanded me easily, though I would have listened to her regardless.

I practiced for hours, unstringing and restringing that bow. I wanted to give up, give in, but I knew I couldn’t. I had to know how to shoot an arrow. It was so important that I dreamt my first waking vision for it. Hours passed before Kairol called a halt for lunch.

“Let’s eat for lunch, then return and practice before tea time with Professor Acan after your practice with drawing and firing your bow. What say you?” If only I knew how much that saying would mean to me in the coming years.

“I agree.” I grunted as I practiced working the string on and off the bow. I had watched carefully, attempting her quick demonstration over and over again.

Finally, she called out, “Come now, time to draw the bow and see if she takes to you.”

I walk over to stand against the mirrors, facing towards my reflection. I take a deep breath, blinking slowly as I exhale. Arrows sit in a quiver next to where I now stand. My green eyes stare back at me, face stilling as I concentrate. Turning, I breathe in, pulling an arrow out of the quiver and notching it to the string, just as I had seen my brother do so many times. Three targets lined the wall opposite the mirrors, circles of straw painted red, white, and black. I try to aim, raising my arm slightly as E’Wra had done, before releasing the arrow. My fingers sting, but I watch the arrow fly.

It thuds on the outer ring of the middle target, then falls to the floor in a flutter.

I laugh. My first try, and I hit a target! Even if it didn't stick, it surely still counted.

“You seem to have a knack for it. There’s a training range not far from the walls of Yomya Vhi. I think it will be a good place to learn archery as a team. There are drills twice a week you can attend once you master the basics. Sound good?” Kairol explains to me as I try to absorb all the information. “A master will be here shortly to begin the basics of many weapons with us. Do some stretches before he comes."

I nod an acknowledgement before setting the bow leaning against the mirror next to me. I try to replicate the stretches I could remember my brother, E’Wra, doing. I had been young when I watched him practice. I had started my own training not long after, so the memories were distant since I was started out on daggers and short swords. I stretch my arms and lean side to side, before stretching my legs. I knew the basic stretches, of course. But whether or not they would do me any good, I wasn’t sure.

“A’Kasha,” Kairol’s voice pulls my attention to her. “When he arrives, do not be surprised when he knows who you are. He tends to always know what’s going on.” I nod again, wondering who this man was and how he could know everything.

When the door to the room opened, I looked up. Bronze skin flashes in the fading sun, amethyst eyes flashing in the rays of light from the windows up high. Midnight blue shows in the light and in the shadows shined black.

“Ah, here he is now,” Kairol murmurs, “A’Kasha, meet Shoshin Ja. Master Shoshin, this is A’Kasha.” I notice my last name is not provided before the honorific hits me. Master Ja?

He bows low, black hair in a topknot upon his head. “It is a pleasure to meet you, A’Kasha.” His voice was low and soft. I felt decidedly deceived by his tone. There was nothing soft about this man that I could see.

I return his bow, “The pleasure is mine, Master Shoshin Ja.” I look up in surprise as he laughs.

“So solemn, for one so young,” he chuckles. His eyes twinkle. “You have been trained from an early age already, have you not?” He looks at me beneath bushy black eyebrows, “Not much interaction with those your age, but much with mine?” His smile appears genuine to me.

“I admit, I prefer meals alone to those surrounded by strangers.” I grin at his raised eyebrows. “I have always taken meals with my family or servants. I’m not old enough at home to attend the big gatherings, nor have I ever really wanted to. Solitude is not a bad thing,” I sigh, missing my home and room, where only Helen, her mother, and my parents came to me, though sometimes the maids were still in. “So, I suppose it is true that I am more accustomed to adults.”

“I can understand, for I was much the same way. The only difference between us is I was not the heir, but second in line, and able to walk away if I so chose since I had two younger brothers and a sister capable besides me.”

I nod, knowing he had some sympathy for me. But was he one I could trust?

Kairol had stood to the side of us while we sized each other up. Now she made an impatient gesture with her hand. “Come now, there is much to learn and little time to learn it in.”

“Very well,” murmurs Shoshin. “Let us begin with a warm up.”

He strides across the room to a small closet door, reaching in and withdrawing a few rolled up pads. He laid them in front of the mirrors in a row. “Pick your spot, and we will begin stretching.” He walked back to the closet, pulling from it long wooden rods and circular bands for each of us. I chose the right side, Kairol standing to my left.

“I see I have the center. Very well. Let us begin,” he moves to stand between us. He hands a wooden pole to each of us before picking up his own. “Hold the rod like so, grabbing it from behind your elbow with your other hand. Pull back to stretch these muscles.” He demonstrated with each arm before turning to the bar that ran low across the mirrors that I hadn’t noticed earlier.

“This bar will also help you with stretching. Put your back to it, grab with both hands like so, and squat, stretching these muscles,” Master Shoshin demonstrates multiple techniques that I will need to learn and begin practice of immediately. I try to commit them to memory, my forehead creasing under the intensity.

I suddenly felt Kairol’s amusement, laughing quietly to herself. What's so funny? I can't help but wonder. I glance at my reflection, bursting out laughing at my face. I had scrunched my face up so much, I could barely see my own eyes. Drying my eyes, smiles on all our faces, I picture this memory being stored somewhere in my brain.

I felt content, even happy, giggling at myself.

Could I save this moment?

I fall into my bed at the end of my long day. After my meeting and practice with Master Ja, we had eaten together. I joined Acan for more practice before going back to that building to meet Kairol for more target practice. I pray that no dreams would torment me tonight.

Chapter 13

I wake, gasping in terror. Another dream. Another nightmare. His pale scarred face haunted my sleep, pale eyes full of malice. I sit up, covers falling to my waist. I begin breathing deeply, centering myself before grabbing a notebook from the nightstand drawer. I had decided, from the multitude of notebooks Helen had packed me, to use one to begin recording my dreams. I had placed it there the night before bed.

It's been two days since covering the basics with Master Shoshin. That night, I had no dreams that I could recall when I awoke. The next day, I had class with Perit, like normal, but he reads the black journal where Kairol had first instructed me to record my dreams. Neither Kairol nor Acan do that unless I request them to read something. That night, the night before last now, I had a nightmare about Kairol being killed in front of me. But I didn't write it in the black journal. That was when I had decided to see if I had a spare notebook to use instead.

My heart feels heavy. I know what I do not want to admit to myself. I record my vision of Acan being murdered, without writing any solutions. They only need to know, that way he has no way of seeing what is being done to stop him until after it has happened.

I focus on my studies. I know I need as much knowledge on my side as I can gain. I fib my black journal dream entries to keep Perit from becoming too suspicious, but Father John, Kairol, and Acan all understood the implication as much as I.

Perit was a traitor.

There were few that understood who I was supposed to become. I didn't even understand. But I also knew that without wanting to admit it to myself.

The days are marked by the coming of the invasion in my dream. I train hard, using my mind and my body. I’ve got the basics of the bow, practicing daily now with a sword, a bow, and a dagger, though I had trained with a sword for two years prior to coming here. I worry if I were to get in a fight with a sword that I wouldn’t be able to attack. Defending myself would only get me so far. I didn't really want to hurt anybody. Even though he planned my assassination, I couldn't bring myself to hate even the assassin.

“You’re mind is wandering, A’Kasha. How can you hope to defend yourself when you are so distracted?” I scramble in my mind as my arms swing up as though with a mind of their own. I block his surprise attack, but he still knocks the practice sword from my grip.

"You are a very good swordsman, A'Kasha," Master Shoshin relaxes his stance as he watches me pick up my practice sword, "So what is bothering you?"

I sigh, my shoulders drooping. “I had another dream.”

“And what does that mean to you?”

I look up in surprise, studying the serious look on his face. “I don’t know.” I shake my head, eyes falling to the floor, “No, I do know. It’s dread. Fear. But also a puzzle, a… complication. It’s a knot of tangles I can’t unravel, and I worry that speaking about it will just change it again so that I don’t know what is coming. I don’t know how he knows, but he knows I am seeing his plans, and he’s showing me so he can prove there’s no hope.” I glance towards Master Shoshin.

“And what about your dream is different?” Serious, he approaches closer, until he stands within arm’s reach. “What can he possibly show you, a born and bred No’Pagaean, with the history of thousands of years of hope, to rob you of this one essential function in your life?”

I remain silent for a moment, his question bringing me up short. So the man mocked me with death at every turn, but only because I was able to warn and forearm those he would kill. Father John, Kairol, Acan, even the Crecra siblings were somehow a part of all this. And yet, the dreams were constantly changing, because the future couldn’t be set in stone like that. Forewarned, forearmed.

Of course, Master Shoshin is correct. Hope isn't lost, it's given up. I straighten my shoulders, determined to strive toward that hopeful future of studying in peace before returning home to learn to rule my people justly. I wouldn't lose hope. He had simply changed the game, and now it was time to turn the tables.

Shoshin Ja stood silently, watching my answer as it came to me.

"Master Shoshin," Our eyes meet and I smile, "I would be honored if you would join me for tea with Miss Kairol." His grin matches my own.

"I have an idea."

Master Shoshin joins our planning, adding so much valuable information and training. It was almost as though he were a spider, sitting in the center of a web of some intricate design, gathering information from far and wide without ever seemingly leaving the monastery.

Two more days have passed. We have four days left. I can see things going on that the other students mainly seem oblivious to. Sharon seemed to be the only one who let on that she noticed anything out of the ordinary, and that had just been a comment about the number of mentors returning to the school.

“Hey, A’Kasha, how are the lessons going?” Sharon asks me as we walk away from the dining hall.

“Well enough,” I smile. “How are your lessons?”

“Interesting and decently pacing myself. I’ve noticed a lot more of the professors and tutors around the school. There’s no end to the help, but I find it a little weird.”

“Maybe they just need to check in?” I respond, unsure of what I could tell my best friend. My closest friend at home had always been Helen, since I was usually kept busy and didn’t meet many girls my own age. Hanging out with Sharon was one of my favorite parts of every day.

She shrugs, and I assume she accepts my answer. She skips ahead before turning around and walking backwards to face me.

“If anything is going down, and you aren’t telling me about it, I’m gonna punch you,” she looks at me hard. “In the arm or something. I wouldn’t punch you in the face. But I will punch you,” she promises. I believe her, and I know she could see it in my face, but she doesn’t continue to push the issue. She faces forward and slows for me to walk beside her. “I figure there are good reasons. So I’ll let it go for now. Hey, I had a crazy dream last night!” She fills me in on the crazy details and we laugh in the garden as Rosem and Ilystra swing across the sky.

With my countdown ticking off in my head as I lay in bed that night, I don’t mind the thought of the dreams anymore. Even if the nightmares come, I knew the changes, the nudges, in the right direction would save them. The dreams no longer held any power over me.

The next morning, I recalled no dream as I laid there after waking up. Reaching for my journal, I record the first night without dreams in four days. Perhaps this was a sign?

Chapter 14

Waking up early to train my body gave my mind time to wake up before joining Professor Perit in his office for morning book learning. We had covered the basics of each element, except for one: soul.

So far, there is water, earth, air, metal, light, and darkness. Fire is considered taboo in most places, so it tends to be a touchy subject. Lava manipulation however, was considered a part of the earth element and was actually quite interesting to learn about.

But the last subject to be covered before the invasion began is soul or spirit manipulation. We had covered fire at least briefly, but I had worried Perit would avoid the element altogether. Having given a demonstration of my ability to manipulate all the elements in his tester, Perit had seemed wary of me. I hadn't really noticed at the time, but what he reads and what I dream seem to be correlated. I have to be careful to keep some truth in it, or else others may become suspicious.

I knock on his office door, and wait for him to open it. He's taking his time this morning. A sense of unease settles into the air. Looking both ways down the hallway, I take a step back from the door. Something felt off.

I stride back the way I came and knocked on the Headmaster’s door. The door opens to reveal a kindly smile gracing her from the old man as he answers her knock. Something he saw as he looked at her caused the smile to drop and his arms to open.

"Whatever is the matter?" He asks in his deep rumbly voice. I gave him a hug for the comfort he was offering before leaning back to look him in the eyes.

"Professor Perit didn't answer the door. Something has happened." Whatever he saw in my face created a grimness and tightness in his.

"Indeed. Find Professor Kairol and send her to me. Do the same with Professor Acan. Then return to the top floor and train with Master Shoshin until one of us come for you," he crouches slightly, letting me know he was really serious about this. "Do you understand, A’Kasha?"

"Yes, Father John. I understand. Don't be too long, okay?" Throwing my arms around him one more time, I take off for Kairol’s office.

Master Shoshin had been very surprised when I returned to knock on his office door. It was as bare and minimalist as the training rooms, although I would bet he had a closet or secret door hiding a treasure trove in weapons. He collects them.

"Hello, A’Kasha, to what do I owe the pleasure of your unexpected return?" He asks me curiously with a twinkle in his eyes. Smiling in return, I answer,

"I wish it were happier than the truth, but something has happened to Perit. I don't know what yet, but no one is to enter here unless it's Father John, Professor Kairol, or Professor Acan." I shrug, "I don't have anything else yet," I chuckle nervously.

He motions for me to sit while he begins digging through his desk. I then noticed my surroundings more carefully, minimalist though it was, there were still lots of little details carved into the desk and in the raised portions of the walls. The images were impressive if done by his own hand, and even if they weren't. Swirls and line work brought forth pictures of living in a cave system, with many rooms filled with water. The hot springs of the Southern Isles, perhaps? One corner of the wall closest to me caught my attention.

It was the visage of a woman, partially turned away, half her hair up in a knot as she seemingly glances back into the room.

Slowly the intensity of the image begins to burn my eyes, until she appears to turn more towards me, black hair softly swishing as chocolate eyes meet mine from the wood. I see one word forming on her wood grain shaped lips, Kairol.

"A'Kasha," Master Shoshin's voice startles me, causing me to jump in my seat. Casting him a sheepish glance, I mutter sorry for spacing out.

His concern is touching, but not necessarily misplaced either. I glance at the square of wood to my left and notice the woman back to her original carved position.

What did she mean by Kairol. Was she on her way? Or had something happened to her instead?

"What did you see?" He startles me out of my inner questioning.

"I saw a woman in the wood on your wall here," I gesture with my left hand toward the wall. "She turned to look at me over her shoulder and said Kairol. I don't know what it means."

His observation and uncanny ability to know when I began drifting threw me for a loop. Could he sense something I didn’t understand yet? And who was that woman carved into the wall?

“Interesting. You are the first individual to ever notice there were any carvings in the room, though many have sat where you sit.” He seems relaxed, sitting behind his desk. “Perit was supposed to teach you the last lesson in his curriculum for you today, right?” I nod. “Tell me, what is the last lesson planned?”

“Soul manipulation. It’s the crossover path between light, dark, and air. A common manipulation is the ability to see and speak with those whose physical bodies have died.”

“Very good. You see, I hold a very small affinity for soul manipulation. The woman you see carved into the wood, the one who turned and mouthed the name Kairol, was and is a very real woman. Her name is Droshesh, meaning moon spring in the old tongue. She has been around for a while, and a good friend to me she has been. I create some bodily form for her to inhabit when she so chooses, and that is what you were seeing.” I nod numbly, shock putting all my emotions on hold.

“We will need to inform Father John and the others that you have an affinity with soul manipulation as well. I am afraid Professor Perit may no longer be with us.” Master Shoshin looks so solemn, and the sense of truth behind his words recall my earlier unease. Could my tampering with the dream journal have made it look like he changed sides and they killed him for it?

“Could it be my fault?” I blurt without thinking. The horror of it made me want to cry. I didn’t want to be responsible for someone’s death.

“No.” The answer is firm, and I look at Master Shoshin and begin to relax. “In fact, now would be a good time to test your soul affinity. Professor Perit himself has something he must pass on to you before his soul can be at peace. You’ll need to begin with meditation. Agitation will make it harder to communicate.” I nod.

I decide to turn the chair to face the carved walls, facing away from the Droshesh so I wouldn’t be distracted by her. It felt right. Sitting still and comfortable, I begin to relax. Observing what is around me, I slowly let go of each image, each thought. I allow them to float on the surface of my mind, not wishing to hold on to any of it.

Professor Perit’s figure seems to take shape in the lines I can see in the wood and grain. “I can see you,” I whisper. A soft voice floats past.

“A’Kasha,” my name whispers softly by.

“I hear you.”

“I’m sorry.” The words float between us for a minute before he continues, “I didn’t really have a choice, even though I did. I didn’t do it to be cruel to you, Morning Light. I only wished to return to my family. I hope someday you will forgive me.” The voice had grown stronger by the end, but I couldn’t bring myself to interrupt him regardless.

“I forgive you. I hope you find peace.” I hear a sigh as his form slowly fades away. I blink, realizing that I am crying. Master Shoshin moves around his desk and hands me a lavender colored tissue. For some reason it makes me giggle as I clean my face up. Perit was gone. But he would move on someday and return to Enad’Tha to rejoin the world.

A soft knocking startles me before I hear Kairol’s voice coming through the office door. I run, throwing open the door and wrapping Kairol in a hug. The sound of bells tinkling warms my heart as she hugs me back.

“Everything okay?” She holds me at arm’s length, studying my face. I nod, overwhelmed with the recent developments of my life and just glad that she was okay. As we enter Master Shoshin’s office, I hear Father John coming up the stairs.

“Acan, my boy, glad to meet you on the way.” I fling the door open again and hug each of them as they enter the office, space becoming increasingly more sparse as they join us.

Father John motions to Acan, and I notice a shimmer over the walls. Soundproofing barrier. I suppose that meant I was more wary of the world around me. But holding on to the past would only end up hurting me more in the end, so it was better to forgive and learn to let go instead of making it a habit of bottling it up inside. Emotions were meant to be felt.

“I know Professor Perit is dead,” I begin. “I don’t understand it all, but I spoke with his spirit before Kairol made it here.” I notice the look they all exchanged but I ignore it and continue, “He wanted to apologize and explain that he did it so he could somehow return to his family. I could feel the sadness in him, and I told him I forgive him. I know somehow he is no longer present. I just wanted you to know that first.” I plop myself down in the chair I have facing the wall.

Kairol nods to me, and I relax.

“Alright, A’Kasha. Now it’s our turn. You know Perit is dead,” Father John begins. “I will not burden you with the details of his death. Just know that it was not a good way to go, and it reveals that another traitor lives in our midst. One who isn’t on our current list of need-to-know basis.

“We did find a few traces and clues to lead us to the traitor, but we think we need to wait until they show their hand a little more. Three days are left before the attack, one before we begin bringing more students in on parts of the plan. Only two people know of the full plan and everything that has been thought out. That is Master Shoshin and myself. It will remain this way until after the execution of said plan.

“A’Kasha, you are the main unknown in this situation. You always start out in your dorm room. Will you remain there the day of the attack?”

I shake my head as I answer him, “No. I choose my path, and I will be going about my day regardless until they come. Where will I be the most help?”

“You would do best staying with one of us,” Kairol explains. “We understand and want to help protect you, so spend each part of the day with one of us as you normally do.” I nod in the affirmative.

“Good, now that that’s all settled, I expect a nice cuppa tea would do each of us a bit of good.” Acan grins all around before pulling his box out of his long sleeve. Master Shoshin clears and prepares a place for Acan to make his wonderful tea, and we sit in silence for a moment.

“Father John,” I query from where I sit, “Is Karon Crecra still here? And her brother, Asron?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“I get the feeling they’re both really important somehow, and I would like to spend some time with them if we’re able.”

“I’m sure it can be arranged. I’ll meet you tomorrow with the details over lunch.” I nod, accepting this.

The day continues on, skipping lessons with Perit as he was gone. I fall into bed exhausted. A long day, indeed. Tomorrow, I would get to speak to Sharon about what was going on. And possibly I would get to meet with the Crecra siblings. I close my eyes and drift off. Nothing more than normal dreams drift through my sleep tonight.

Chapter 15

I begin my day early, as I had been the past five or so days. It was easier now to get up in the morning, and while Professor Acan’s teas helped, they didn’t remove all of the exhaustion and fatigue. I was now sleeping through the night, and the rest had done me wonders. I felt like I was awake finally. Master Shoshin even let me score a point against him before disarming me once again. I laughed, joyfully, and continued the sparring session. He walked with me to the dining hall where we joined Kairol.

I call Sharon over to us. As she eats, we fill her in on everything that has been going on and explain to her what we would need her help with. She turns to face me as Kairol explains more of the situation and raises one eyebrow. Then, with no preamble, she punches me hard in the upper arm.

“Ow!” I exclaim, rubbing at the sore spot. She sticks her tongue out at me and then giggles.

“I told you I was going to punch you if something was going down.” She giggles again and Kairol just looks at us with a funny look on her face. Before we know it, we laugh hysterically until we could no longer breathe. Finally catching our breath, we resume where Kairol had left off before the arm punch.

Around us, dozens of similar conversations were taking place. It would continue through the day and through tomorrow until all the students knew. It would be over much sooner than anyone could have guessed, but the rumor mill must have been on fire that day. By dinner, it seemed every student knew about the impending attack and what was to be expected and what they needed to listen for.

During lunch, Father John came to eat with Kairol and me.

“A’Kasha, how would you say breakfast went today?” Father John asks me as he sits down at the table.

“I think it went rather well. There’s been enough things happening that while the students didn’t necessarily notice what was going on, there was relief for some that something was happening. Sharon was raised using a bow and arrow so she will be joining us in the morning for some practice.”

Kairol smiles as Sharon exits the lunch line and heads our way. “Yes, she is a splendid student. And so far seems a good friend to our little A’Ka,” I blush as she laughs that tinkling laugh of hers.

“Indeed,” said Father John with a twinkle in his eye. “Well, I have some good news. The Crecra siblings will be joining us tomorrow morning for the learning session. They will join us for lunch and we will continue to be prepared.”

The dinner hour was rather hushed, everyone beginning to feel the weight in the air. Anticipation, anxiety, nervous energy hung like a shroud over our heads. And yet, I did not feel afraid. I go to bed with hope shining bright in my heart.

That night, I had a vision.

The attack would begin in a day and a half.

As Ilystra passes over us in the second half of the day, they would begin their attack. We had already reinforced every gate and entrance into and out of Yomya Vhi. Guards were posted at every lookout available. Someone let the assassin in.

Someone lets the assassin into Yomya Vhi.

The face was not one I recognized, but it did not matter. The dawning realization that it didn’t matter how well the defense goes, or how much we plan for the attack, someone lets the assassin into the compound to kill us.

I breathe deeply, focusing with everything I have within me.

My vision stops. Everything around me is paused, suspended in a single moment in time. I walk forward, moving with purpose, knowledge I did not know somehow guiding me in this moment. I studied the man who I’m sure had friends among us. His eyes were dark, like good fertile soil turned over after a recent rain. His hair was copper, and his skin the color of roasted chestnuts. I would let Father John know who he was, and he wouldn’t be letting anyone inside.

I wouldn’t let the assassin have the easy way in.

I concentrate again with my eyes closed, focusing this time on meeting with Father John. When I open them again, we are standing on a small balcony overlooking a beautiful enclosed garden. Father John appears very surprised to see me.

“A’Kasha? How are you in my dreams?” his bewildered tone does not escape me but I cannot afford to lose the memory I had come to show him.

“Look, Father John,” I point to the man, visualizing him striding forward in the garden below us. “This man lets the assassin inside Yomya Vhi. It’s how he’s always inside when the battle begins. Bind him, and the assassin will have to find another way in.”

I won’t let anything in that will harm those I’ve come to love on my journey. I look down, studying the man once again as Father John moves to stand beside me and see. A soft gasp breaks my heart a little for the old man, for he must love all those he teaches and nurtures here at Yomya Vhi. I’m certain he knows who the man is, and knows the best way to take care of him.

“I’m visiting you in a dream because the assassin has a seer and understands visions and the decisions and actions that must be performed to influence those visions. At the moment, I am operating at a much greater understanding of knowledge that I have not yet learned in this lifetime. There is a great likelihood that the seer cannot watch dreams or visit a dream without his presence becoming known, hence why Perit was so important. He read all my journal entries. If there is no decision to speak with you about it, no record of the writing, nothing, then the seer will not be able to know about this vision. He will only see the man imprisoned. Make sure it happens too late for them to replace him, but without conscious decision, and with the constant mind change of not doing it, because uncertainty creates a weak vision. Do your best to remember this for me, Father John. I won’t remember a lot of it once I wake up. I will be intentionally removing my dream from my memories. And since I won’t remember it when I awake, so I won’t remember to be embarrassed,” here I turn to face Father John with a smile on my face. “I can’t wait to learn all I can at Yomya Vhi with you and the others. You’re like the grandfather I didn’t get to know until now.

“Sleep well, Father John. Sweet dreams.”

I blink, and leave Father John alone to return to my own dreams and body. I sleep through the rest of the night.

I awake early, before the setting of the moon, to go train with Master Shoshin. I reach for my dream journal, as I’ve made a habit of doing, and record another night of no significant dreams. I smile to myself as I do so, although I am unsure of the full reason behind it. Sharon joins us looking groggy as Master Shoshin and I begin our stretches. She’s an incredible marksman. I’ll have to train harder to match her someday.

Sharon and I walk together to the dining hall to eat our breakfast. Master Shoshin escorts us before stepping out with his tray, murmuring his excuses. He didn’t like large crowds of people. Kairol was already in the dining hall and had her tray at our usual table.

I was surprised the Crecra siblings were sitting with her.

They made quite a picture, the siblings sitting there in stark contrast to Kairol’s smiling face. Sharon and I passed through the line and joined them.

“You seem like you’ve been awake for a while.” Keron says by way of greeting. She seems the very abrupt personality type.

“Yes, I’ve been awake before Rosem sets for over a week now. Been training.” I answer her and sit.

Asron looks distrustful, like he still doesn’t believe tomorrow we would be attacked at Yomya Vhi. “What do you really want?”

Keron kicks him under the table. “Mind your manners. Remember your own past.” She quietly reproaches him. He has enough sense to look chagrined as Keron faces me once more.

“I suppose you have questions. Asron has an office we can meet the others in. They already know, so let’s eat up.” Definitely no nonsense. It made me like her even more.

We finish eating mostly in silence, as dozens of conversations continue around us. Sharon continues on to her classes, while I walk with Kairol and the others back to the main office building. I’ve since learned that the stone tops were called a crenelation. Shadows move between the openings at regular intervals, so guards and lookouts must be making their rounds.

Asron’s office is much like Kairol’s and the other offices I had been in. Mostly bare, with a few personal touches. He had a shelf in one corner on the other side of his desk filled with books. I wonder if I will ever get a chance to see what it is he reads.

Father John, Professor Acan, and Master Shoshin soon join us.

“Keron,” I begin, nervous. “I know you’re here to help tomorrow, and I know you’re one of the best fighters I will meet. But I need to know what your side is. Can you explain your comment to me?”

“Where I hope we are fighting on the same side?”

“Yes,” I respond simply.

She takes a deep breath and sighs. “Asron.” He moves to her side and she grips his hand tightly. “We come from a special family on the Southern Isles. But we were the first mixed babies in generations, and twins at that. To many, it showed that I was meant to carry on the family legacy, as I held the dominant genes.” She glances at Asron, “My brother was always distanced by the family, and one day he left. I keep up with him, and met John through him. But that is another story.

“My family is the network of spies directly under the King and Queen of the Southern Isles. The pulse of the world is gathered by us, and for the most part, peace reigns throughout all the lands. But there is a Council, an Order of sorts, that wishes to disrupt the peace and bring chaos on the world.

“I have found members a handful of times, and always at the center of destruction. They have their own twisted prophecy of what will come out of the depths of Rathe, and they wish to control it and create a new world order.”

Father John steps forward, “And there is reason to believe this attack comes from this order?”

“Yes, the Order of Chaos is the term coined for them. They operate from the shadows, shrouded in darkness, and pull strings we cannot seem to find from the center of their bloody webs. People who would never kill or betray suddenly find themselves in situations where they must. The Order is evil. A’Kasha, you have much to prove. I look forward to watching your progress.”

The day passes much like the day before, without tension, while maintaining order and system. Everything appeared so normal. Such a twist to the two weeks prior, when I arrived feeling like I might have been in the wrong place. How quickly one adjusts to life. Such wonderful people to be surrounded by.

At the end of the day, I return to my room, the one across the hall from Kairol. Instead of going in just to sleep, I turn to the mirror hanging on the wall. I needed to mirror-call my family. I figured it might be a little late, but I also knew they would want to hear from me soon and I didn’t want to worry them. I step up to the mirror, placing my hands on the frame on either side. I visualize my parents’ bedroom, where they normally sit at night to wind down from the day before going to sleep. A mirror hangs there, for a moment such as this. My mother picks up pretty quickly.

“Hello?” she calls through the mirror as she answers the call. I smile widely at her.

“Hey, mom.” She grins from ear to ear as she calls for my dad over her shoulder. He moves into view just a moment later.

“Darling! My, how you seem to have grown,” my dad’s voice is a mixture of emotions.

“I have grown. A little bit, at least. I think I’m two inches taller! And I met a Master and he’s been training me on several weapons. I can shoot a bow and arrow now and hit dead center of the target from 100 yards away. At least, I did it three times. And I’m learning a lot.” They seem to be a little blurry suddenly, and I have to wipe my eyes.

“A’Kasha, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re doing an amazing job,” mother says to me. “Slow it down soon, and allow yourself the time to grow into that knowledge with maturity. Don’t rush it and grow up too fast. You still have to come home soon.” I nod, knowing I didn’t have much longer to hold the connection. It took a lot of concentration and stamina I hadn’t built up enough of.

My father leans forward, “A ti Avh, my little girl. Don’t forget to come home after your great adventure. We love you. Call us again soon.” They blow me kisses and I laugh as I blow them kisses back before losing the connection. It had been good to call them. I had to make more time for them soon, plus it was good practice for endurance.

Soon it would be over.

One way or another.

Tomorrow would be a true test of my understanding. Of my abilities. Of myself.

I planned to pass with flying colors. I was determined to not lose anyone tomorrow. I am determined to stop that assassin.

That night, no dreams came to visit me.

Chapter 16

Today was the day that we would be attacked.

It began just like any other day.

When I awoke, hardly any light shown on the ground outside my window. Tonight would be Chodro’a, the night without moonlight. Rosem would hide her face from Rathe, before slowly emerging night after night until the night of Yadro’a. I dress in my gear and armor and walk out into the still night air.

I planned to see the next Yadro’a with my friends.

Master Shoshin was joined by Keron when Sharon and I entered the training room. I glance at Sharon. They appear to be deep in discussion over the use of bows in battle. We join them in the middle of the room and listen.

“Yes, but the strategy for employing them must be correct. Being able to shoot a bow and arrow does not necessarily mean one can join a rotating fire line without prior practice. If the man is a hunter, then strategize him into a sniper position.” Exasperation colors the air around Keron.

“But we need the rotating fire line. We need to press the advantage of higher ground. The rotating fire line is not complicated, but can provide cover fire, allowing our maneuvers and hindering theirs.”

“What seems to be the problem?” I query from beside them.

“One of our students has decided he would like to participate in defending Yomya Vhi and claims he knows how to use a bow and arrow for hunting. We are simply arguing over where to put him.” Master Shoshin turns to include us in the conversation.

“So, why don’t you ask him what he would like to do? If he knows he’s good at long shots, then let him volunteer to be a sniper, but if he’s better when a part of a team, with a leader, then let him volunteer to be a part of the firing squad. If he’s been training here, then he can follow instructions and he’ll be fine.”

They both look at me, surprise evident on their faces. I shrug. I had been here two weeks, and I understood the basics of how the school ran. There were classes, training times, testing times, a whole schedule to follow at the school. But for the most part, each timing was decided by the student. Professors were available at certain times of everyday and meals were provided as well. The students chose the class, and passed as quickly or as slowly as they wished or needed. Instructions, examples, walkthroughs were all available if you needed it. I guess they had forgotten how much of someone’s performance was actually up to the student.

Keron nods her head thoughtfully. “Very well, I will simply ask him. I’ll leave you to your training.” She looks at me before turning away to leave, “I’ll be seeing you later.”

I watch in dread as the first loop of the comet swings around towards lunch. Ilystra brightened each day and each night, but I feared what I would see as she passes by tonight.

I don’t train much most of the day. I am conserving my energy for what will come. It is nearing the beginning of Ilystra’s second loop of the day, as teatime draws to a close. I sit with Professor Acan in his office, still overflowing with his water effects that I had since learned had some pretty cool uses. He made us some tea, and we sip from our cups, waiting.

Time seems to pass by slowly and quickly. The waiting was the hardest part.

Dinner is a quiet affair. Ilystra flies above us, and we all know the battle is right there. Students look to other students and to professors. The time of waiting was at an end. Those whose only job was to protect or defend the heart of Yomya Vhi began to move to their designated positions. If all went well, they wouldn’t even see any of the fight. Guards off duty came to eat and bring food to their comrades on the ramparts of the wall and the roofs of the buildings. Most were mentors, a lot of them used to traveling to far off places to help those who could not make it to Yomya Vhi itself. Some helped others who truly needed guidance to Yomya Vhi. All of them knew how to fight.

Weapons training was taught to every student, any weapon of their choice, and upon graduation from Yomya Vhi, one was usually gifted a weapon crafted for them for their journey through life. It was a tradition, and many helped craft the weapons somewhere on Yomya Vhi grounds, but it was a mystery to most students where.

I can tell I’m nervous, my mind wandering off as it does. I eat absentmindedly, observing everyone around me. Before I know it, my plate is empty. Kairol touches my shoulder and we stand and put away our trays. Other students are behind the wall tonight, taking the places of those more qualified to fight.

Ilystra shines down on us as the sun sets on the other side of the West Gate. Soon the sky will grow dark and only the stars will shine their light. We walk through the garden with the rose bush fountain, and I remember when we sat here. Two weeks seemed like such a short time ago, yet I felt as though I had aged in that short span of time.

We sit together in Acan’s office. Father John and the Crecra twins gathering there also. I sit in the floor underneath his window, leaning back and beginning my meditation.

That’s when I felt it.

That same thread of discord I had felt once before. The intention of doing great harm sliced through the weave of the world, pulling it taut in some places and loosening it in others. I stand slowly, turning to face the window. I can see it. I follow it with my eyes, directly toward the West Gate.

“They’re here.”

Father John stands and approaches the mirror hanging behind Acan’s desk. As he places his palms on the frame, I realize my sight is on. I watch in fascination as the surface of the mirror ripples outward in a rainbow of colors, every changing. And then it became magical. Each rainbow thread spun out, making connections to dozens of other mirrors, an iridescent web of intricacy.

“The attack has begun. Prepare yourselves. Remember, we fight on our grounds, in our home. We are No’Pagadeans. Never lose hope.” That is all Father John says before releasing the connections. The web straightens itself out before spooling back into the mirror. I turn my gaze back to the West Gate briefly. The assassin was on the other side.

I could feel his rage.

I blink to correct my vision and turn, following Kairol out the door. We grab our weapons leaning against the wall. I sling my bow across my back and tie my dagger on my hip. My arrows strap on to my belt at my other side.

We head to the roof. The light is fading. I can see the stars winking into the night. Everything is quiet. I glance around me, noticing the shadows moving around me. Glints of reflection spark my curiosity. The realization hits me, they were using the sight to see in the dark. I could see it flashing from their eyes.

I blink and look around once again. Everything is still dark, but shapes and movement are clearer to me than they were before. Many people were on the high ground around us. All the rooftops had people skilled in fighting from a distance. Archers and manipulators of various elements stood ready. Patient.

I sit under the dark sky. The waiting and tension has exhausted me. Leaning against one of the stones jutting up, I wait. I could feel something happening. I just couldn’t tell what.

I sleep.

I am suddenly surrounded by Ilystra’s bright light. Thuds and whacks seem to have woken me until I hear the scream. I stand and the ground before me is illuminated.

Kairol leaps over the side of the roof. As I follow after her, I see her manipulate the air under her feet. She runs down stairs made of air. I look to where she runs.

Another scream rents the air. The West Gate is destroyed, a giant hole gaping in the center. A mass of confusion I cannot discern. A cacophony of madness.

I jump from the rooftop. I focus the air around me into slowing my fall. I had to reach the West Gate, too. My friends were there. I need to protect them.

My heart is pounding in my chest as I touch the ground and begin to run. Kairol runs ahead of me, and I follow as fast as I can. That’s when I see him.

The assassin steps past the fighting. He slinks in the shadows, searching with his dead eyes. I stop and pull my bow off my back, pulling an arrow and aiming for him. Our eyes lock. I shoot, but he moves his hand and my arrow is knocked aside.

I growl in frustration, shooting another arrow as he begins to walk towards me. Again it misses, but I’m already firing another. He takes his time coming closer. I don’t know where Kairol has gone, but I can sense the chaos around me. I drop the bow and pull out my dagger, just short of being a sword.

I can see his ghoulish smile beneath his draping mask. Silver light reflects off of something in his hand. He throws it down, and smoke begins to billow up from the broken pieces. It spreads out, blocking my normal view. It blankets the ground.

The only warning I had was the swish of fabric when he came for me. My sight allows me to catch the glint of his eyes as he lunges for me. I slice the dagger down, halting his initial attack. I hear him chuckle as he pulls a dagger out of his clothes and he attacks. I block, but I barely hold on to my dagger. He’s strong. Stronger than me. He swings at me. I step back, ducking and thrusting my dagger for his stomach. He blocks but grabs hold of my hand before slicing across it. I drop my dagger and scream. He grabs me, then.

Holding me by my arm with one hand, he raises his dagger, “Any last words?” His voice is gravelly, cruel and cold. It’s like a dead man’s voice. My hand feels like it is on fire. I can feel wetness dripping from my fingertips. But my other hand is free.

Gripping one of my arrows, I look up at him. “A ti Ahv. May peace find you.” I stab the arrow into his guts as hard and deep as I can and jerk myself away from him. He screams in rage and pain, but I use his own smoke against him and drift away, out of reach. I can’t feel my hand responding to me. I’m too scared to look at the damage.

“A’Kasha!” Someone yells my name. Another scream of anger as I continue to stalk away from the assassin and towards the sound of help. I hear his running footsteps coming up behind me. Light breaks through the smoke as it finally begins to disappear. I look behind me. I can make out his rushing form as the smoke moves about him.

“There!” I hear a different voice shout. Suddenly, the smoke was gone. Bright light flooded the air around us, and for a moment I am blind. I stumble and fall.

A strong hand pulls me to my feet. I look up into Kairol’s ruby eyes. She presses a new dagger into my uninjured hand. Together we face the assassin.

I suddenly understand why there was so much shouting. The sound is deafening. He stood facing us, a maniacal grin on his face. But when he speaks, it’s as though his voice cuts through the sound, chilling me to my core.

“Do you know why they picked me as your assassin? I’ve never failed,” smug arrogance drips from his words. “I will never stop coming after you and your loved ones until I succeed.” He begins to laugh and starts walking forward.

He pulls daggers from his back and begins throwing them at us, all the while laughing evilly. Kairol knocks them from the air with a gust of wind. He pulls more daggers from his sleeves, keeping up his barrage as he continues closing in on us.

Sharon suddenly runs out of the shadows. Someone screams no as she hurtles toward the assassin. He changes targets and throws some daggers her way before continuing to approach closer to us. Kairol manages to deflect the daggers at Sharon, but I duck the ones she couldn’t stop from reaching us.

I don’t see all of the next part. But the man screams before grabbing Sharon and stabbing her in the chest. I stare in horror as I see her gasp. As the assassin drops her to the ground and she collapses. I scream in pain and anger as I see her reach for him, doing her best to stop him even as she lay dying on the ground.

The world goes silent. I see him kick her away from him. But I don’t hear the thud. My pulse beats loud in my ears. I stand, my rage growing as he continues to approach.

“This is where you fail,” he slows, surprise flitting across his face. “I will not die today.” The air swirls around me, “You will not take another from me.” Lights and shadows begin to dance. Silence ripples out from me, a vortex of pure energy. “And you cannot have me.”

I focus all of the anger and rage. All of the pain and despair. I remember Perit and his yearning to return to his home. I pull all the grief and fight straight from the space around me. And I center all of it on him, and wish him to the middle of the sea.

A giant flash.

And the world goes dark.

Chapter 17

I awake to find Father John and Kairol sitting in chairs beside my bed. Someone had changed my clothes and stored my weapons. My head pounded and my hand throbbed with each beat of my heart. I try and understand what has happened.

“A’Kasha, it’s so good to see you awake,” Kairol leans over me and hugs me tightly. “I was so worried about you. What do you remember?”

Father John pats my knee, “Do you remember last night?”

Good, I hadn’t been asleep for long. I nod, as the pounding in my head intensifies. Memories flit across my mind. Sharon.

“Sharon is dead.”

“I’m sorry. We did all we could to save her.” Kairol’s eyes glisten as she holds my hand tightly in hers.

“I should have stopped him.”

“No, you can’t think like that.” Father John leans forward and makes me look him in the eyes. “Sharon made a choice to go out there to try and help save you. You can’t save everyone. But you stopped him from hurting anyone else. Do you remember that?”

I can feel wetness on my cheeks, but I don’t bother to wipe them away. “I sent him to the middle of the sea.”

They exchange a look with each other, but my head and hand hurt too much to bother with trying to decipher it.

“What happened after I blacked out?”

“There were many who saw you do what you did. The battle pretty much ended right after. Most fled into the wilderness. A few were killed on both sides.”

“Who else died?”

“None of them were people you knew, A’Kasha. You cannot burden yourself with their deaths. Everyone has a choice in this life, A’Ka. It’s what you choose that will inspire others or turn them away. Don’t take that choice from them.”

I nod, though I don’t really understand. Maybe I will when I grow older. I drift back off to sleep with Kairol still holding my hand. I knew she was only holding back the grief that would flood me if she let go.

I wake some time later, Acan sitting next to me in the chair. He’s reading a book, but he closes it and sets it aside when he notices I am awake.

“How are you feeling?” He studies my face before pulling his tea box out of his long drooping sleeves.

“How do you keep that box in your sleeves, anyway?” I finally ask him. He chuckles, before spreading the sleeve open and revealing a set of straps on the inside. Huh. Maybe I should start wearing sleeves like that. We smile at each other and he begins a pot of tea.

“I look forward to seeing you grow during your stay here,” he begins as we settle in with a cup each. “You’ve turned out to be quite remarkable. Do you think you will return to your studies tomorrow?”

I frown. I had been so caught up in the vision and the reality of it happening that I hadn’t considered what I would do after. “Yes, I suppose I will.”

“Good. I look forward to your lesson tomorrow.” A soft knock interrupts us before the door opens.

A group of girls stood in the doorway, peeking inside.

“You can come in,” Professor Acan calls. They all seem to glance at each other before finally stepping inside and approaching the bed.

I recognized them all as girls we ate lunch with together. They were Sharon’s friends.

“How are you feeling?” they begin to question me and I did my best to answer them. Then they hugged me each in turn and tell me they expect me to eat with them as soon as I get to the dining hall. “You have to get better. For Sharon.” We all smile watery smiles before they excuse themselves.

“Looks like you have friends. And they’re your age, too. Not just old folks wanting your time anymore,” he grins at me and I can’t help but laugh. None of them looked old to me anyway.

I remain in my room the remainder of the day. I meditate and spend time in prayer. I walk around my room in circles until I feel my strength returning. In the morning, I would begin my day as I had before, and begin my training again. I finally lay down to sleep.

It is night time where I stand, and Ilystra flies straight and true above me. I do not know where I am. Everything along the horizon looks unfamiliar. A great gust of wind knocks into me from behind and I fall forward. A great thud keeps me from regaining my feet. I turn around.

Above me stood a dragon, wings spread wide and casting great shadows upon her feet. Glowing green eyes looked down at me, studying me intently.

“Who are you?” A voice booms out from her snout. I don’t know how I know. I just knew the dragon was a female.

“A’Kasha Rosecrown. Who are you?” I finally stand, though I do not quite reach her belly. Is she a little small? Or just young?

She snorts, and a puff of smoke disappears on the breeze. If I didn’t know better, I would think she thought I was funny.

“I am Wrazas, of the House of Ku. You appear in my dreams. Why?” I blink in surprise. I was in her dream?

“I thought I was having a vision. I am sleeping last I checked.”

“Oh, do you often have visions?” She sounds surprised.

“Yes.”

“Interesting, because I also have visions. What is your age?”

“I am eleven and a half years old. I’ll be twelve come springtime.”

“I see. I am forty-five and a half years old. Do you have an Awakening time?”

“Well, yes. It’s sixteen years old. When is your’s?” I feel a little bewildered by this conversation, but it must be happening for a reason.

“Ours is the age of 50. So you will Awaken at the same time as me. In the spring. Very well. Wherever you are, wherever you hail from, I choose you to bond with. You glow with a brilliance I have not seen in a Rathean in a long time. Someday, I will find you.”

Suddenly she bursts her wings wide, stretching forth her neck until her head is level with mine. She studies me and I slowly reach out a hand to touch her scales. A flash of pain erupts at the contact, her eyes flash a brilliant emerald, and then the dream was broken.

I sit up, gasping at the memory of the pain. But my hand wasn’t hurting anymore. I look at it. The cut from the assassin is gone. A strange scar marks its place. A cut and a strange circle broken by dots on each side. I can open and close my hand at will and it didn’t hurt. Strange. I grab my dream journal and record everything I can recall. Wrazas, of the House of Ku.

Who was she? And how could dragons exist?

Chapter 18

I settle into a steady rhythm of training, learning, and studying. I took tests as I felt I could pass them and continued to be tutored by my favorite professors.

I continue to dream of Wrazas. I have many more visions and dreams.

Three years passed this way.

It is now approaching winter, and they close the mastery maze during the coldest months. If I wanted to pass and go home before my next birthday, I would need to do it soon.

I’m fourteen and a half years old.

I knock on Kairol’s office door before entering her room.

“Hey, A’Kasha. How are you doing today?”

“Hey, Kairol. I think I’m ready.” She looks at me with her ruby eyes and smiles.

“Alright. When do you wish to begin? You have the next month to choose.” I’d been thinking about it for a while, and I didn't want to wait much longer now that I had made up my mind.

"How about tomorrow morning?" I ask her.

"If you're sure, then tomorrow morning is fine. You'll need your gear and you can take a dagger if you choose. Otherwise, you'll enter the maze on your own and alone. You'll be expected to apply all your knowledge and skills learned here to overcome the maze. I'll inform Father John so everything can be prepared." She beams at me, and I can sense the pride she feels for me. It makes me feel good and I smile back at her. "Good luck."

I laugh, "May luck follow you everywhere, Kairol. I'll see you for teatime." Today, I would walk about Yomya Vhi and seal every place and secret space in my heart. The friends I had made, the people I learned about. All of the memories we shared could never be taken from me. But I was also ready to go home. Mirror-calling had helped with the homesickness, but I wanted to see my family in person again. I wanted to hug them. Helen had sent me a letter once a month, detailing everything I was missing at the palace, so I wouldn't be too far behind but I knew she left out the best parts. She told me she would in her first letter.

As the sun begins to set and Rosem peeks above the horizon, I return to my room. I decide to mirror-call my parents.

I place my hands on the frame, calling the mirror in their rooms. They answer pretty quickly, which is normal for this time of day.

"A'Ka! How is everything?" Mother is always happy to hear from me. She smiles from ear to ear.

"Hey, just thought I'd call and chat. I made my decision." I begin when Father pops into frame.

"What did you decide on?" Mother prompts me as my father leans over and places his face next to mom's.

"I'm taking the mastery test tomorrow. I'll begin in the morning and it will continue until I pass. The length varies for everyone," I feel a bit nervous as I explain this. Some students make it out in a few hours, but there were some that had to be rescued and stories of one or two who refused to enter the maze again. I didn't know how it would go for me, but I couldn't let that stop me. "I'll mirror-call you when I finish."

"Darling, that's wonderful news!" Father exclaims. "We know you'll pass with flying colors."

Mother claps her hands in delight. "We can't wait for you to come home, dearest. We can plan a birthday party for your return. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

“We will see you soon. Don’t forget to mirror-call. We will be waiting all day.”

“I won’t forget. I love you guys. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” We end the call. I’ve grown a lot, and a mirror-call no longer drains me as it once did. I finish up my day with some form training and then meditation. I sleep well, and no dreams find me in the night.

I awake early, looking out the window at the gently pink light floating to the ground. Ilystra must be just slipping out of sight as Rosem drifts towards the end of the sky. I dress in my gear, strapping my dagger on tightly. Centering myself, I prepare for the day ahead.

The sun has begun to lift itself above the horizon to the east. Kairol, Acan, Father John, Master Shoshin and a few of my friends stand in the middle of the complex leading to the entrance of the mastery maze. Father John steps forward, looking very solemn this morning.

“Are you prepared to begin the test? This test will prove your mastery over yourself and your skills will begin the moment you step foot into the maze. Once you begin, the test will not end until you either step into the center and claim your mastery, or you are unable to continue,” his eyes search mine as I stand tall before him. “Are you ready?”

“I am.”

“Then begin.” He steps back into line with the others, and they stand quietly. I take a deep breath, meeting each of their eyes in turn. I couldn’t fail today. Sharon would have expected me to walk out of that maze a master in a few hours. I smile as I step past the threshold and into the maze.

The entry behind me vanishes. Whether an illusion or transportation, I had no way of knowing. I cannot turn back. Before me a long hallway of hedges directs the path, with openings on either side allowing access to other parts of the maze. The plants themselves were manipulated to grow a certain way and manipulated after each test to prevent any one person’s experience from being copied by another. It would be a true test for each individual. I start forward, following the hall all the way to the end. Three openings on the right, two on the left, and the end made a ninety degree turn to the right before continuing down. I look straight up, noting where the few stars still softly twinkle and the direction the lights of the sun and moon shone from. I continue down the path, rounding the corner and heading towards where I hope the center will be.

A strange creak stops me in my tracks. It reminds me of the sound new growth on a tree makes before it breaks.

Snap!

I whirl towards where I hear the sound, but I see nothing but the path behind me. I don’t want to discover whatever it was, but it will follow me regardless. I keep walking the direction I was initially headed. Two more openings on the right, four openings on the left, and the corridor I stood in ended in a T. I glance up but the stars are all but gone and Rosem has already begun her rest. The sun climbs higher, and is directly in front of me.

Swish.

I look over my shoulder but see no movement. I close my eyes and concentrate. Using my earth affinity, I focus on my surroundings noting every bush and plant within a 15 foot radius of myself. I sense movement in the hedge behind me and slowly turn around.

There. Where I had rounded the bend, tucked up against the hedge, I could just make out a shadow. As I take a step back the way I had come, the shadow vanishes before my eyes. What on Rathe? I shake my head wearily, wondering if a shadow manipulator was somehow nearby and playing tricks on me. But it didn’t seem like a manipulation.

I shake myself and return to my decision. I decide to go left this time since I had recently made a right turn. I continue forward until I hear another sound. This time it comes from in front of me. Another trick?

I hurry forward, trying to pick out the location. That’s when I realize the sound I was hearing now. Water.

Ahead of me, the trail ends in an opening. Beyond it lay a bed of water. I cross the threshold and stand on the only dry spot I could see except for the other side. No openings on either side of it, and thorns grow along the hedge here, preventing any chance of climbing along the edges. Very well, I’ll have to cross the water. I didn’t care to turn back. An obstacle meant I was closer to the center than I had hoped.

I study the water line in front of my and notice two ropes running parallel straight across to the other side. That could either be a help or a trick. Nothing broke the surface of the water except for in the very center, between the two ropes. It looks like a pole, with something attached to the end of it. I walk to the edge of the water and look in, but I can’t make out anything beneath the surface except that the water appeared especially clear and the bottom was smooth stone. The ropes were perfectly spaced that I could use them to pull myself through the water. But I hesitate. I’m wary of the water. Something is… off about it.

I take a deep breath. I picture in my mind’s eye a dozen other ways to get across the water, but I immediately reject any ideas where I have to get into the water. I study the ropes. They were a little less than shoulder width apart, and perhaps half a foot above the water. I could walk across them.

I center myself and decide to use air manipulation to help me across. As I place one foot above the water I visualize the air stiffening, becoming stuck in one place as though suddenly solid around both the ropes and as similarly to handrails on each side as I could manage. I grab at the air on each side of me and begin to walk across.

The pole that stuck out of the water was soon directly in front of me. Made of some strange metal I do not recognize, at the top sits an object I do. It is one of Sharon’s bracelets, made of plastic links, blue beads, and pretty charms she had chosen for each of her family members, so they would be close to her forever. I thought she had been buried with it on.

The pole blocked my progress forward, and I couldn’t leave the bracelet behind. My most immediate problem I needed to solve, however, was how to reach the top where the bracelet dangled. Feeling the need to hurry, as I didn’t want to drain myself too much in the first obstacle, I decide to jump and try to grab the bracelet. Nothing appeared to be holding it in place, so I assume it was manipulated to hang there until someone picked it up.

I grab hold of it and begin my descent back to the ropes. My feet slip off the ropes, my fall too hard.

Splash.

I am engulfed in blueness. I had been so shocked as the cold enveloped me that I hadn’t gotten a good breath of air. There was very little helium in water, so I couldn’t manipulate a bubble around my head. The water was so cold, and struggled trying to rise back to the surface. Bubbles billow up past me from my fall into the water, so I struggle to bring them to me instead.

The water feels heavy somehow. I’m unable to swim upwards like I should be able to. I knew how to swim. I gasp and hurriedly try to slow my breathing as I see the bubble shrink around me. I clutch the bracelet in my hand still. I kick hard, and freeze as I feel something cut into my ankle.

I look down, though it’s hard to see with so little light penetrating the water. A net?

It couldn’t be.

I look up at the surface above me and breathe a small sip of air. I was doing better already in comparison to that dream. Then I remember my dagger. Of course. Pulling it free, I cut the netting off, and begin to swim in earnest for the surface. I focus my energy on manipulating the water like I should have in the beginning and propel myself upwards, riding a current of my own design. I break the surface and grab the ropes, panting. The bracelet had slipped from my fingers as they went numb in the cold water, but somehow it had ended up around my wrist instead of lost to the depths of this pit. I pull myself out of the water as the sun breaks free of the tall bushes around me and bathes me in its warm rays. I ended up on the other side of the pole and make it to the other side without further incident.

I lay on the dry ground for a moment and just breathe. I’m alive. But I’m not done yet. I forcibly pull myself together and stand. I was closer, but I hadn’t finished the test yet. I exit and leave that experience behind me. There was surely more to come. I continue in a straight line as I pass more openings to either side, staying on the main corridor and rounding the bends. I took whatever direction seemed right and pressed on. At another intersection, I hear a strange rustling noise coming from the right and an overwhelming urge to investigate it fills me. I follow the sound some distance until it disappears.

With no trace of what it could be, I continue on. Finally, in front of me, is another opening. But this one is different from the last. It doesn’t open up to the sky on the other side. All I could see was inky blackness awaiting me.

Another obstacle, which meant I was closer to the center, but this was intimidating to say the least. It wasn’t the dark I was necessarily afraid of. It was what could be in the dark that terrified me. The assassin had taught me that.

I take a deep breath and pray to Enad’Tha for strength and guidance. Then I step into the dark.

I am enveloped by the shadows, but I pull the light from outside to cloak me and illuminate my path. It doesn’t reach far. I blink and focus on the earth, following the path in front of me. I reach an intersection and realize my biggest mistake. Direction. Above me the bushes grew together tightly, and no bit of light from outside reached here.

Again, a weird rustling noise draws my attention, coming from the left. Again I follow it. It stops, but I sense something familiar about it. Shaking my head, I continue forward. No other intersections appear in my path, though openings of various amounts and sizes dot my path as I keep moving. I make several more turns before reaching a final threshold where light enters in a beautiful golden glow. I rush out and take a deep breath of fresh air, releasing the light particles from around me. The sun is higher in the sky, but it hasn't neared its peak yet. I look behind me and notice this time there is no way back.

I make similar progress until I reach another opening, this one just a huge empty space. A cover runs over the top and a strange light emanates from the very air. No tingling sensations, no strange feelings, no obvious obstacle crosses the path between me and the exit and what could only be the center. No one ever did more than three obstacles to reach the center in all the history of Yomya Vhi. Against the sides stood rows of strange lightstones, none of them lit. Could this be similar to halls of remembrance?

I walk to a lightstone and study it. It was definitely different from the one that sits in my room, or the type lining the halls of the monastery.

Tap.

Nothing happens. It didn’t light up. Was it not really a lightstone? Confused, I move to the next one, and the next, until I finally touch one that illuminates. It shines blue light and brightens the space around it considerably.

Someone clears their throat behind me and I must have jumped a mile high. I hear giggles as I turn around. It couldn’t be. I knew that giggle. I knew that sound. Sharon stood in front of me. That strange light reflected off of her, so much so that she looked like she glowed.

“Sharon?” whispering, overcome with emotion, I just stare at her. Her long golden hair drifted around her as though there was a breeze and her honey colored eyes danced in mischief. Purple light colored the air directly around her as her skin reflected the strange light.

“Yea, it’s me. I know you must be surprised, but you didn’t get to say goodbye.” She smiles at me, but I see the quiver in her lips. Without thinking, I rush forward, throwing my arms around her. But I pass through her. I step back and look at her.

“Why?” I question her. “Why did you do it? I don’t want you to be dead. You’re my best friend.”

She laughs as she cries. “A’Kasha, I did it for that very reason. You’re my best friend. And I know you have a special role to play in this life. Let me help you for a little while longer, would you? I can help you, and be able to move on.”

I nod. “That was you, wasn’t it. Making the strange noises, helping the bracelet fall over my wrist. You’ve helped me so much already.”

She smiles as she slowly stops crying. “I know. You can make it up to me later. I can’t possibly move on when I could see the legends come to life right before my own eyes!”

I laugh at her enthusiasm and sparkle, just as she had been when alive. “So how do you stay with me?”

“Simple, I’ll attach to the bracelet, and you can wear it and keep it with you wherever you go. It shouldn’t be too hard, as that was my favorite and had a lot of sentimental value. You won’t be able to see me often, but I’ll help you the best I can until we figure this out. Best friends?”

“Best friends.” I turn towards the exit and can’t help but ask, “Have you met a Droshesh yet?”

I exit the final obstacle and walk into the center of the mastery maze. I am technically the youngest in the history of Yomya Vhi to achieve mastery status, but pride is not my ruling emotion. Joy at not having completely lost my best friend, relief to have survived, those were my prominent feelings as I stop in the middle. Father John stands there, smiling proudly, but exhaustion is giving gravity extra strength.

“Father John,” I start, but I am too drained and begin to collapse. He catches me, surprisingly fast and strong for his age.

“It’s okay, A’Kasha. You have passed the test. Your mastery celebration will be planned for the end of the week. For now, relax and let us help you to your room where you can rest. You’ve done well.” I smile up at him as my vision fades to black.

Chapter 19

I wake in my room. I dreamed of Sharon last night. We had just sat around and talked for hours about everything and nothing. A pleasant dream. Four days ago, I entered the mastery maze and became the youngest in Yomya Vhi’s history to achieve Master level. Tonight, there would be a small celebration with my professors, although they now ask me not to refer to them as professor any more. I was a master now, no more training was required for me to go home. I had learned from my mistakes in the maze and stayed more aware of my surroundings. I kept up my routine of rising early to train, and I hope to continue it in the future. What a surprise for Helen that will be.

I record my dream in my journal and go through my day. I still eat with my friends, but they had started to treat me a little different. I had become more like a celebrity, and it hurt that they thought they had to treat me differently because of it. But it wouldn’t matter. I would be returning home in a few days, and had plenty to keep me busy.

Over the years, all the pretty dresses Helen had packed me were never worn, and I had asked permission to give them away. I gave them to local girls and girls returning home from Yomya Vhi. Now I packed light, my valuables and belongings filling one bag. Another bag was filled with smaller bags that were now empty, but a few of those had been given away too. Helen might be a little upset, but she would bounce back quickly.

My day passes by quickly, and soon it is time to meet in Father John’s office.

I knock on the wooden doors. Kairol opens the door quickly, pulling me in for a quick squeeze. I smile at her and walk into Father John’s office. The Crecra twins are there as well and we exchange quick hellos. The old man had moved his desk to the center of the room and covered it with a variety of finger foods. A small table stood next to it, a little lower, and stacked atop it were several small boxes wrapped pretty with bows. A few chairs lined the walls on each side.

“Now that the reason we are gathered here today has arrived, I would like to begin.” He looks around at all of us, making sure he had our attention. “A’Kasha has passed the mastery maze,” here he pauses while they all clap, making me blush. “And in so doing has graduated to a Master.

“Master A’Kasha, would you please step forward.” I move towards him with a smile on my face, nerves and emotions choking me up. “I present to you four gifts from your professors and from me. Would you open them?”

“Yes,” I take the first box he hands me and begin to open it. Inside sits a set of mastery gear made from leather dyed black and intricately decorated. The next was a set of daggers, also black, beautifully balanced with etchings along the blade. The final two were also weapons, a finely made bow and a sword of the Southern Isles made with obvious skill. Each came with their own traveling case and a scabbard. Tears fall helplessly from my eyes as I hug each one in turn.

“You are always welcome here, A’Ka,” Kairol says to me before we are released to eat. “You will always have a home away from home here.”

I hug Father John last. He places one hand on my shoulder. “A’Kasha, you saved many peoples’ lives when you came here. You have shown courage, compassion, and hope at every turn. You have grown exponentially, but you still have a long journey ahead of you. We here at Yomya Vhi need you to know that one day, though it may be far off, we will be of use to you. Call upon us at that time. But for now, let’s eat.” He pats me on the back before drifting off to put some food on a plate.

I file away what he said for later pondering, but for now I decide I would eat with this strange group of friends that I had made for a lifetime. Someday in our future, we would fight side by side once again.

As everyone helps to clean up and begins to drift off, Keron approaches me. “I would like to go with you.” I stare at her in surprise, unsure if I had heard her correctly.

“I’m sorry?”

“I want to go with you when you return to the palace. You are very important, and many people heard the assassin as he spoke to you. You will not be safe forever, even at home. I wish to be nearby. I work for people set up to stop the ones I think are behind this. And if it is them, they won’t stop because of one failed attempt.” I nod numbly.

Of course, I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I had no way of knowing if the assassin had survived or not, but regardless, he wouldn’t be the only one sent after me. I study Keron in front of me. I didn’t know her as well as others, but I still remembered my vision of her fighting on my side with her brother. I couldn’t possibly know when the time would arrive where I would need them, but having them around might be the wise choice.

“Then come with me. A driver will be here to pick me up in three days. There’s enough room for two more to join me, if your brother wishes to come also. I’ll let my parents know tonight.”

She smiles at me, much like how the cat did after it caught the canary. “I’ll be the only one joining you on the trip. Asron has decided to remain at Yomya Vhi for the time being. I hope that’s not too forward. It’s been three years since I last saw you. And now you’re a master. I look forward to spending more time with you.”

I guess, looking at her now, she couldn’t be many years older than me. Certainly younger than my mom. Maybe older than Helen? I’d have to find out.

“Good night, A’Kasha. I’ll see you again in three days.”

“Alright, see you then. Thank you for coming.” I head to my room. What a strange interaction. It had been a little awkward, but I know it was mainly nerves and not really knowing Keron very well. I hadn’t seen her since the battle, although I’d been told she had been investigating several leads about the attackers and where they had come from.

I crawl into bed as Rosem’s red glow lightens my room. Three days will pass by quickly and I will return home a master. I still had much to learn and a lot of studying to do for my parents, but I couldn’t wait to get back home.

Even if returning home meant bringing a stranger into it.

Epilogue

Nobody sees the blinding flash of light in the middle of the sea north of Tera’Pagad. It happens in the middle of the night, when no vessel is out and the inhabitants of the sinking island sleep. The light displaces part of the sea, sending a giant wave out in a ripple effect.

As it calms, something bursts forth to the surface gasping and fighting to reach air. The current drags him inland where it dashes him onto the shore. A very pale man, coughing and still struggling to breathe, crawls forward out of the water before collapsing.

Half a mask still covers his face.

By dawn, there was no one left to find, and no trace he had lain in that spot.