The Keys to Ascension

by Dilland Doe

  People in the back started turning around and stepping away. Finio held his composure. This always happens! He froze for a second. Is there nothing I can do to convince these people to come to the temple? I’ll never get those twenty people. The Divinity help me!

  “Now, folks. Just give it a chance and I promise Kitty can make your life better.”

  The back of the crowd dissipated, while the front glanced around, waiting for a chance to leave themselves.

  The Scripture of Belief says people need to experience the love and power of The Divinity themselves in order to come to the right path. The faithful act as lubricant to slide people toward belief. He smiled, confident in his new idea.

  “You can perform these tricks! Anyone can with practice and belief! Can I get a volunteer to try a simple trick?”

  A little girl raised her hands and jumped between two adults to stand in the circle. People stopped leaving and watched the cute girl.

  Perfect. “Hi, what’s your name?”

  In an adorable voice that increased in pitch as she spoke, she said, “Priska.”

  “Alright, Priska. Hold this stick with both hands.” She held it with an equal amount sticking out to each side of her. Finio placed a rock on one end of the stick.

  He then picked up a stick and placed a rock on the end to demonstrate. “What do you wanna be when you grow up, Priska?”

  She gave a toothy grin. “A dancer!”

  “Okay, well, here’s a tough trick. You wanna pull down the side that the rock is on, just a little bit.” He did so, she copied. “Now, I’m gonna flick the stick up very quickly, and stop it suddenly. Notice that the stick doesn’t actually move very much. With a quick flick, it doesn’t take a lot of motion. Then, I’m gonna catch the rock with the other end of the stick. This isn’t easy, but with practice, skill, and belief, it looks so.”

  He flicked the rock in the air and caught it with the other stick end. Finio scanned the crowd. “Everyone, be prepared to block yourselves, her aim may be a little off on the first few tries.” He looked at the girl. “Okay, you try.”

  She did. The rock flew over the crowd. Finio placed another rock on her stick. “Okay, that was too much power, just a quick little flick.”

  In a few tries, she had the rock falling near the end of the stick, but couldn’t catch it. Finio knew most people could never catch the rock, even if you lined it up perfectly, the rock would bounce off. You either would need years of practice, like he had playing Sedeux, or…enhancement.

  While she initially had a good attitude about failure, the recent attempt resulted in her stomping her foot.

  Finio squatted to look into her eyes, then whispered, “It’s okay. Let’s try one more thing. This time, before you do it, ask Kitty for help.”

  She nodded. “Help me, Kitty!”

  At her words, people made faces like they thought this was ridiculous.

  She flicked her stick. The rock flew too far to the side. Finio quietly growled and accessed Kwitty’s power, which thankfully was turned on to him. He sent increased speed flowing through the girl.

  She extended her stick toward the rock, stretching her arms. Finio knew that the rock must appear to be moving slower to her now. In her perception, she no longer had just half a second to line her stick with the rock. She could make little adjustments as it fell. The rock hit the stick. Instead of it hitting the stick and simultaneously falling off, she could see it hit, then make slight movements to balance the rock. It teetered for what would seem to her a few long seconds. Finio would have secured its balance more quickly, but…she did it. The rock sat on the stick. She froze and stared at it.

  The audience erupted in applause.

  As the sound lowered, Finio announced, “She could do it partially due to her own concentration, but partially due to help from Kitty! Kitty can aid us all in our lives. Come with me to the temple!”

  Most people turned away, but the girl jumped up and down staring at a woman in the second row. “Yeah! Please mommy, please! I felt the power! I really did! It was amazing!”

  The woman had a huge smile on her face. She laughed. “I’ve never seen you be so precise before! I suppose we can check it out.”

  “All who wish to come with us stay here and I’ll lead you there!” Finio said. “It won’t take long! Just a brief meeting with the Kitty priest himself and you can continue your day.”

  Outside of the girl and her mother, only two old men joined them. But that was okay. Finio knew how to attract people now. He could get way more than twenty people to that temple. But, would they come back a second time?

  #

  Finio watched the Kitty priest explain the temple to the little girl, the mom, and the two old men. None seemed interested. Finio followed them outside as they left. He watched his chance to learn magic, live in shelter, and eat regular meals stroll away.

  Darn it, I need them to come again.

  “Hey!” Finio said.

  All four stopped and turned, but he only wanted to talk to the girl and the mom. He switched his eye contact back and forth between the two. “I can be sure to be here at a certain time if you want another lesson.” Finio gave his best friendly smile.

  The girl’s face lit up. The mom glanced at her then back at Finio. “I could never get my husband to pay for lessons from a street entertainer.”

  “Free of charge, mam. Just stop in and give some regards to Kitty and the priest before we start.”

  She nodded. “Tomorrow afternoon then?”

  Finio looked at the girl. “Bring your dancing shoes!”

  #

  For days, Finio worked full time dancing in the streets, giving lessons, and convincing people to come into the temple. He slept on top of that other temple, tried to pet his chinchilla, drank from the public fountain, and got pretty good at asking for food from those who liked his performances.

  Arriving at the eastern bazzar for the first time, he smiled at all the people walking every which way through wide avenues and tighly packed alleys created by the wooden, tent covered shops. He noticed a few of the same vendors that he’d seen in other parts of the city.

  I guess they’re really successful to have two spots.

  Using two sticks and some rocks, he warmed up with some easy tricks.

  From behind, a familiar voice yelled, “Guards! A thief!”

  Finio snapped his head around. The apple-vendor snarled while pointing at him with his thick, hairy finger.

  This guy should really leave me alone. I was starving!

  “Guards!”

  Steps ran from around the corner.

  Finio grabbed his pot and sticks, leaving the rocks, then ran. He sprinted right up and over a wall with enhanced speed, then around a few corners before stopping. Breathing heavily, he listened for any chasing footsteps, hoping the guards never had time to see him. I can’t get twenty people while I’m on the run all the time. Maybe he’s so determined because I pulled down his pants…

  He headed to the fountain and drank a little water before going back to the main central market to dance. It was a busy area, but he had danced there a few times before, so many of the people had already seen him. He glanced at a drawn picture posted on the side of a wooden tent. He looked past it before double taking. The top said: WANTED. Below that was a fairly accurate drawing of his face. How am I gonna recruit with the city guard after me? I just stole a few freaking apples!

  He nonchalantly strolled out of the market, occasionally glancing for more posters and guards. In less than a week, twelve people had joined the temple. Most of those were just there for dance lessons, but it was filling the requirement of the deal. How can I get eight more now?

  He wanted to cry. He wanted to ask his dad what to do. He wanted to see what his brothers thought. The Divinity, he even wanted Lizeto’s opinion. He examined the dull kitty temple as he neared it, hoping the priest could help him out.

  From behind, an unfamiliar little girl’s voice said, “Hey.”r />
  He turned around. He really didn’t feel like dealing with people. She wore rags for clothes. Her little dirt-stained face was surrounded by messy, intertwined brown hair.

  “Aren’t you the man from the posters?”

  He froze. Could she get money for reporting me? I didn’t see a reward.

  “I’ve seen you dancing.” She smiled. “I like it a lot.”

  Finio forced a smile, fearing she’d scream for guards. She probably knows these streets like the back of her hands; she could always find me.

  “Mr., I wanna give you food for your dancing, but I don’t got any for myself.” She frowned, holding out her little empty hands.

  Finio’s day had not been a good one. He ate a small amazing taco in the morning, but other than that, he just had one orange in his pocket for the rest of the day. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to give me anything.”

  “Okay, but I want to. Oh well. I should go to my little brother. I left him in one of our hiding spots.”

  She’s worse off than me.

  She gave a huge smile and waved over her head.

  He put his hand up in a motionless wave. As she turned around, Finio felt the orange in his pocket. For the good of all, he heard his dad saying.

  He sighed, then said, “Hey!”

  She turned around as he tossed her the orange. He growled a little, accessing Kwitty’s power and increasing her speed. She flashed her hands and caught it.

  Finio smirked. “Share that with your brother.” He turned toward the temple as she said, “Thaaaaaaaaaanks!”

  Hungry, tired, covered in dirt, and carrying a handful of sticks and a blue pot, he trudged toward the temple’s entrance.

  Out stepped the priest. “Finio, I saw what you did for that girl.”

  Finio nodded. “Yeah, I got twelve, need eight more.”

  “That’s gonna be hard with the authorities after you.”

  Finio jerked his head back. “How do you know?”

  The priest smiled warmly, blinking an unnecessary amount of times. “My apprentices have good eyes and ears.”

  Finio didn’t want his potential teacher to see how defeated he was. Holding his head high, he said, “Well, I’ll find a way.”

  Speaking sternly, the priest said, “Kneel.”

  Huh? After pausing a second, he took a knee.

  “Apprentices of the Kitty temple kneel on two knees.”

  Finio made the change. The street kinda hurt his knees.

  The priest rubbed his hands together and twiddled his fingers. “Son, I will have a talk with the apple-vendor and a head guardsman. I’m sure we can work out a way for you to make amends. You are now my apprentice. Go in, and get cleaned up. Eat. Rest. Tomorrow your new work begins.

  Finio’s mind lifted above his skull, floating high as a kite. “Whaaaaa?” I’ve done it? I’ve done it! “Thank you, sir. Thank you. But why wait? I’m ready to start now!”

  Lifting a hand, palm up, the priest said, “Stand.”

  Finio did so.

  “I’m tired, man,” the priest said, “Let’s do this stuff tomorrow!”

  Ch. 24

  Blank the mind. Focus on the task. Let it flow. Blank the mind. Focus on the task. Let it flow. Blank the mind…Finio kicked air in front of him. “It’s the same stuff! How does the priest release so much power from myyyyy high being in a matter of minutes? I’m doing the same growl he is. The Divinity curse it!”

  On top of the building with Finio, a fellow quickener stood on each side of him, all of them being the lowest level of apprentice. They watched another quickener below who danced for a growing gathering of people.

  The guy to Finio’s right said, “Uuuuuh, The Divinity?”

  Crap. “Heh, yeah. I don’t know why I use his name to curse. It’s pretty silly.”

  Patting Finio on the back, the guy on the left said, “Ha. What if Finio is a secret Hyzantrian?”

  “Oh yeah, he could be a spy for the empire.”

  Finio tried to focus on the guy dancing below. Finio had been so successful at gaining followers that the priest made him teach all eight apprentices how to dance. They now had to bring in followers just to get more lessons. They practiced their magic by enhancing the current performer.

  From the left: “Maybe he’s building up our temple so he can usurp and use it as a base for insurrection to lay the groundwork for a Hyzantrian invasion.”

  The right: “Yup, yup. I guess we have no choice but to kill him. For Citia.”

  The left: “For Petra!”

  From both sides: “For the League!”

  Finio jerked his back to stand up straight, no longer watching the dancer below. “Three months I’ve been here, and I’ve just barely advanced. Kwitty, why don’t you just give me your power!?”

  From the blue pot that sat behind them: “It’s fully open to you. You just gotta figure out how to use it.”

  The chinchilla jumped onto the rim of the pot. Finio froze. Please don’t run. Please don’t run.

  Its round, fluffy body didn’t seem very dynamic, but it balanced on the rim with ease. Finio extended a hand toward it. It sniffed in his direction. He slowly brought his hand down to its back. It jerked its body, but didn’t run. Finio stroked a few times. So soft.

  “That’s the dumbest communicator ever, Finio.”

  They laughed at Finio, who smiled at the creature.

  Finally, it let me pet it.

  The chinchilla jumped back in its hole.

  Finio turned back around to watch the dancer below, but before his eyes could gaze downward, he saw someone standing on the building across from him. Why is that man in black leather pointing a crossbow at me?

  The weapon fired and a bolt flew. Finio threw himself to the ground, laying behind a ledge that provided cover. The other apprentices screamed as the bolt buzzed between them.

  Growling, Finio increased his speed as much as he could, then launched himself away from the attacker, grabbing the blue pot, sprinting, then leaping off the end of the building while the assailant reloaded. He landed on the wooden roof of some vendor’s stand, then leapt to the street.

  “Heeey!” yelled the vendor.

  Finio sprinted into a medium-sized alley. He had to lose whoever that attacker was. In front of him, from smaller alleys, two similarly dressed men with long hair popped out, aiming crossbows at Finio. There was no cover; he kept running forward.

  The men pulled their triggers, the crossbows released their snap, and bolts flew. For a normal person, bolts are so fast, you pretty much have to make your move right as they’re fired to dodge in time, and even then, the bolts may get to you too quickly. But Finio was magically enhanced, not as much as he’d like to be, but enhanced never the less. He could see the bolts coming at him, although at the current range, he didn’t see them for long.

  One bolt angled for him from the front-right, the other—the front left. Finio pumped his legs to take his sprint to another level, dashing between the bolts before they closed in on him. He blew by the attackers, then heard bolts being placed in the weapons and wood being pulled against wood as they reset them. He turned a corner.

  Finio ran, turning as often as he could, hoping to lose the attackers while also looking around for more to pop out. He was in pretty good shape, but no one could sprint full speed for long, especially when awkwardly carrying a big round pot. He switched to a quick jog, putting distance between himself and where he was attacked. He didn’t hear or see any sign of the attackers. Behind a building, some boxes were stacked with a space in-between them. He slid into the space, and caught his breath.

  Who were those guys?

  He peaked left and right out from the boxes. One old man walked by, leaning heavily on a cane. Finio stepped out.

  Something landed behind him. An arm came around and slammed a wet cloth into Finio’s face. Another arm held him tight, and both squeezed against his arms. He struggled, but the man held him with strength and Finio’s mind seemed to slosh
around in his head as the alley wobbled and spun.

  The man whispered, “Don’t worry. I’m not with them.”

  The powerful call of sleep pulled Finio in.

  Ch. 25

  His prey didn’t see him coming. Even at night and wearing his black robes, Parto had feared he’d be spotted riding down the forested hill. But, his target moved inside like it suspected nothing. The cold glass pressed against Parto’s ear while the rim of the cup touched the wood of the small cabin’s outside wall; through which, the humming of an old man and the shuffling of pans sounded. Him being awake may make sneaking in easier. Parto forced any fear out of his mind as he caressed the pommel of his long dagger. He had to go into what the trainers called, “The zone.” One mistake, and he’d be the dead one tonight.

  Parto crawled under the window and toward the door. The door wasn’t visible from the small kitchen, so his main worry was sound. He carefully examined the lock before taking out his multi-tool. He knew which skeleton key to pull out. He carefully inserted it, feeling for the right spots to turn. He found them, then waited for a noise. Freshly boiling water did the trick. Parto entered the house. The kitchen, and the maleefa to be killed, were right around the corner.

  Listening to the man, Parto needed him to face away so the dagger would penetrate the heart before any magic could protect him. The old man seemed to stand humming, not moving for minutes. Impatience rose within Parto. C’mon, man. Don’t jump to a mistake. I had to wait six freaking months before getting an opportunity. Do this right, become full inquisitor, and I can research my parents in The Authority’s High Library.

  Steps shuffled toward Parto. He breathed silently. Parto stepped back into a dark corner near the door and squatted. The man shuffled right by him, stopping at the window. A mental spark urged Parto to attack now, but he knew the wizard could turn away from the window at any moment. The maleefa leaned his frail upper body on the seal, his wrinkly thin arms shaking at the minuscule weight. His long, white hair lay past his shoulders, but none grew on top.