by Ai Meléndez
Then again, if they hadn’t traveled across Ru-Kai’s realm and personally witnessed what was happening, he wondered if they would truly understand what was going on at all.
Clearly, it had been going on for some time, albeit somewhat hidden thanks to Ru-Kai’s efforts, so it made sense that Kami-Shi knew before they did.
Ru-Kai sighed, standing and pulling a large map from a small collection on a dark wooden table against one of the blanket walls. He then knelt and spread it across the ground in front of the companions.
“You all are probably already familiar with this Dark Land and all of our realms: mine, Kami-Shi’s, and Cel-Lok’s to the north,” he pointed to each region as he mentioned it.
“We are here,” he said, pointing to his hut which he had drawn in on the map in the southeastern region of his realm. “It’s true that Cel-Lok hasn’t been seen in a long time. She keeps herself hidden in the mountains at the center of her realm – though honestly most of her territory is basically mountains. It’s frozen-over volcanoes.”
He paused, tracing a finger across the map and pointing to Cel-Lok’s realm. “I do have something that will help you all get there faster. Otherwise, it might take you months just to get there! We don’t have much time to waste.”
Mahnii felt slightly relieved. He wished Kami-Shi had done the same but there was no going back and doing it over.
Ru-Kai stood, rolling up the map and putting it back on the table where he’d grabbed it. He then turned, stepping easily across the room and grasped Celeste’s hands. “To find Cel-Lok, you are the key.”
Celeste frowned. “Why?”
Everyone else was looking between them as well.
“Because she is you and you are her.” He pulled Celeste into a tight hug. “Take care of my sister.” He then stepped back, smiling. “She’s one stubborn idiot, that one, but I still love and worry about her.”
“What?” Mahnii exclaimed, staring between Celeste and Ru-Kai. Granted, he could see the resemblance. On one hand, suddenly everything pieced together in the way that Shim and Kah had sensed her magical energy when they’d first met, and how Kami-Shi had said she reminded him of his sister.
But, on the other hand, it also didn’t make sense at all! Celeste grew up with the giants, and she was as oblivious as one could get. There was no way she had seer magic, Mahnii thought.
Celeste appeared just as dumbfounded as her brow wrinkled and she stared at Ru-Kai. “Well, I do feel like I know ya… kinda,” she said, putting one finger to her chin and twisting her mouth as she looked at Ru-Kai. “What exactly do ya mean? Ya jus’ said ya’s a Dragnai… but I’ma Dragnok?”
“Well, Cel-Lok will have to explain how you are her as I’m not even sure how to explain it… but we are Dragnai. At some point a long time ago in our homeland, Dragnok split into Dragnai and Dragnoi. Dragnai – us – have darker skin, lighter hair, prefer the sun. Dragnoi have light skin, dark hair, and they look odd. Plus, they like wetness… and shadows. So, in a sense you’re correct – we are also Dragnok. But, don’t repeat that. There was much bloodshed when we left over mixing of the two.”
Celeste slowly nodded, repeating, “Dragnai.”
Ru-Kai changed the subject. “Come. You can rest for now. There is another reason Kami-Shi sent you to me instead of Cel-Lok directly. After that, you’ll replenish your supplies, and be on your way.”
Ru-Kai served them a meal he had prepared. It was a simple stew, but it was one of the most delicious things Mahnii had tasted in ages, he had to admit. While they were eating, Ru-Kai approached Shim.
He sat beside her, resting his hands on his knees after he placed a neatly folded set of clothing on the ground next to him. “So, do you know what that is?” he asked her, pointing to the staff.
Shim glanced to Kami-Shi’s gift and then at Ru-Kai. “Of course. It’s the most powerful thing a necromancer like me can possess.”
Ru-Kai nodded and smiled knowingly. “Yes, but do you know what it is?” he repeated.
She paused, chewing her stew a moment. “Clearly you know something I don’t,” she said finally. “So you tell me.”
Ru-Kai chuckled. “That is the companion for the Guardian of the Afterlife. Well, and the gates between realms.”
“What does that mean?” asked Shim, eating another bite.
“Tell me this,” said Ru-Kai, “How readily did Kami-Shi part with that?”
Shim blinked. “He practically handed it to me as soon as he saw me,” she said bluntly.
“He’s been waiting a long time for you,” Ru-Kai said. “And really, it’s been gathering dust waiting for you for ages. The staff allows you to travel freely between worlds. It doesn’t just expand your abilities or enhance your control over the deceased. With it, you can allow the living to visit those they have lost, for a time. You can grant the spirits of the dead temporary travel to the physical plane. Or even ask their souls to spy for you.”
Shim was silent after that for a long while, continuing to eat until her bowl was empty.
Ru-Kai watched her patiently, letting everything he explained sink in.
Finally, Shim rubbed the orb of the staff beneath her thumb. “But why me? Why now?” she asked.
Mahnii, listening in, tried his best not to be obvious as he coughed on hearing her insecurity verbalized. It felt strange to him when he was used to her brazen demeanor.
She ignored him, staring intently at Ru-Kai.
“You never wondered why you were born a necromancer to a ruling family of animancers? Or why you wielded the staff without struggle when Kami-Shi tested you?” Ru-Kai asked. “Kami-Shi told me you all were coming and what he already knew,” he added when Shim’s expression narrowed.
“Of course I did,” she said. “But… I just assumed it was my fate and decided to become as powerful as I could. My family shunned me. What else could I do except prove I didn’t need them anyway?”
“You are the Guardian of the Afterlife. So the staff responds to you naturally. However, it will take a lot more than raw power to master the staff.”
Ru-Kai paused, his eyes darkening and his face turning from smile to stern. “If things go as they have been, I suspect it will be up to you to guide the nonhumans back to Aeros. Otherwise, the bloodshed could become catastrophic. Kami-Shi can’t use the staff. It defies his very magical nature and his one use was given a long time ago. Cel-Lok will give you the details but there’s no way in hell she’ll be able to train you to hone and master your magic. So… it’s up to us together. That’s why Kami-Shi sent you to me.”
Shim nodded, gripping the staff. Her jaw set in determination. “So, are we starting tonight?”
Ru-Kai shook his head, holding one hand up. “No, tonight you need rest. We will start at sunup. We don’t have much time, as I mentioned, so I’ll offer you the best I can before you must be on your way. Before it’s too late for my sister. We have three days, at most.”
He paused, turning and picking up the folded clothes he had placed beside him when sitting next to her. “Here, you’ll need these,” he said with a smile.
Shim took the clothing, her brows furrowing slightly, and sighed, her determined expression falling. “Alright, fine. But you better not be late in the morning,” she demanded.
Ru-Kai’s eyebrows rose and a broad smile filled his face. “Never,” he promised.
He stood then, moving smoothly around one of the hanging blankets and out of sight.
The companions left Ru-Kai’s hut and made camp on the other side of the clearing.
As soon as they were settled, Mahnii glanced between Celeste and Shim. The silence from everyone being in their own thoughts about all they had learned from Ru-Kai was only filled by the crackle of fire and the normal sounds of night, like tiny creatures flitting between the trees and grasses.
Both women had received life-changing news about themselves. And Mahnii had actually grown to care about both of them. And with how they liked to put on the ‘tough’ act, ne
ither of them was likely to admit how they really felt. He knew Shim had Kah, if she really wanted to talk… but then again, Kah wasn’t exactly conversational.
And he doubted Celeste would be able to explain herself well either. Plus, as he looked over at her, she was settling into her blanket.
He moved closer to Shim.
He couldn’t help noticing that already, there had been a shift in her energy. He had no doubt that despite her tough exterior, that in truth being the only one different in her clan and being shunned by her family had left deep scars for her.
Now she finally had insight about why and who she was meant to be.
Her eyes met his as he got closer and she smiled. “So, what do you think?” she asked.
Mahnii was a bit surprised. She was asking him about his thoughts? “Er… well… I was about to ask you that, actually,” he said.
She rolled her eyes at him, her finger and thumb slowly rubbing the orb in her hand. “It all finally makes sense. Everything has led me to this all along. I feel like I finally have answers. And purpose. I just hope I can master all of this in time for whatever threat Ru-Kai was talking about.”
“I’m sure you will,” Mahnii said, unable to think of anything better. He couldn’t believe how vulnerable she was being. “Especially training with a dragon-god.”
Shim nodded. “You’re right. I should consider myself honored.” She paused. “Anyway, we should probably sleep.”
Mahnii nodded, though didn’t move immediately. He almost wished this would last a little bit longer. If only she could see how amazing she was. Then, he realized the silence had grown awkward and she was staring at him. “Right, yea, we should…” he said, half smiling and then turning abruptly back toward his blanket.
As Mahnii lay down, he overheard Kah, who was already lying down and staring at the sky, say to Shim, “Could you be any more obvious?”
Mahnii then stifled a laugh when Kah coughed from Shim shoving her foot into his stomach in a sibling rivalry kind of way. He watched as she stomped back to her blanket and lay down with a slight smile to himself.
Chapter 17
The first touches of light expanding across the sky woke the companions. Mahnii groaned and rubbed his eyes. The “Ha!” of training pulled his attention to Shim’s figure. She was already with Ru-Kai… or Ru-Kais? He noticed she had changed her clothes to the ones Ru-Kai had presented the night before. They suited her.
Ru-Kai had three clones standing around Shim and Mahnii had to admit he had no clue which was the real Ru-Kai.
He kept insisting she had to master the basic magic of the staff, to which she was convinced she already had.
While Shim was training, Mahnii decided to approach Celeste, since he had chosen to ask Shim about her thoughts before.
Celeste had already gotten up as well and had made her way over to Ri Kuu and Chew.
“So, you’re a dragon-god…ess,” Mahnii said as he approached.
They both looked at him.
“Good morning,” said Kuu. “We’ve decided that since we’re staying for Shim to master her staff, Celeste is going to master her magic too.” He grinned.
Celeste beamed at Mahnii. “Cookie’s gonna help,” she added.
Mahnii wasn’t sure how a lycan could help with Dragnai magic, but then again, he really had no place to say as he knew little, if anything, about the subject.
“Well, I guess you got it all figured out then,” he said. While at first he had been totally against Kuu joining them, he had to admit that it seemed really good for Celeste and Kuu to have each other now.
“C’mon, Cookie!” Celeste said, grabbing his arm and moving to the opposite end of the clearing from Shim and Ru-Kai.
Mahnii could see that as much as he wanted to be a part and be useful… at the moment he was pretty useless. So, he moved back to where they had set up camp and plopped down into the grass. Kah was not going to be any type of company, but at least he wasn’t completely alone.
To Mahnii’s complete shock, Kah sat across from him, eyes boring into his.
“What?” said Mahnii.
“She’s my sister,” said Kah.
Oh dragon-gods, they were doing this? “And?” was all Mahnii said.
“I want her to be happy and I’ll do anything for that. I was supposed to be the leader of my clan, and I left that all behind and abandoned my family so that she wouldn’t be alone. You screw this up? And you’re dead.” His face was unreadable, but his tone was somber and Mahnii knew he would follow through on every word.
He gulped and nodded. Apparently, their attraction for each other was now blatant. “You should know I want the same thing.”
“Good,” said Kah. With that, he laid back in the grass completely silent.
Kah shifted so he could watch Ru-Kai and Shim training. Shim was poised and completely focused.
Ru-Kai and his clones lunged in and out in a dance, challenging her to identify where they were instantaneously through mere sense. Every time he struck, he demanded she start again.
He argued that while the staff recognized her as its wielder, it needed to bond with her at its core. It should feel as though they were one.
Clearly, Ru-Kai knew what he was doing as suddenly, Shim cried out in excitement. “It feels lighter! It’s like an extension of my own body!”
Ru-Kai remained calm but smiled. “Good.”
As it neared midday, Ru-Kai finally conceded about the basics. She had already been a master of her magic before she ever got the staff, so as soon as she deflected Ru-Kai and his clones through instinctual sense and truly demonstrated feeling one with the staff, he stepped back.
They took a break during which Shim scarfed down her food, eager to resume training. They only had two and a half days left and she was intent on mastering as much as she could before they left to find Cel-Lok.
The rest of the day, Ru-Kai sat with Shim, teaching her to connect with the realm of the spirits. He explained that in order for her to master all the potential of the staff’s abilities, she first needed to be able to simultaneously see both worlds at once. Both the land of the living and of the dead.
Once her connection to both worlds was equally strong, she could then wield the staff in its full power.
By that evening, Shim was exhausted, but Mahnii noticed a light in her eyes and a smug smile on her face. It was different than the ‘tough girl’ sort of demeanor. It was more like… true confidence.
Celeste, on the other hand, seemed frustrated. She had huffed during the evening about having no idea what she was supposed to be feeling when Kuu had tried to explain sensing her magic.
Apparently, seer magic was different than just being able to summon magical energy on demand. Truthfully,
Mahnii wondered if she would really grasp it before they encountered Cel-Lok.
The next day, Shim was up before sunrise once again. This time, she was perfectly still, eyes open but gaze distant. Her lips were moving, but no sound was coming out. Was she talking with the dead, Mahnii wondered?
He found it both terrifying and yet awe-inspiring at the same time.
Completely the opposite, Celeste woke only when it was clear she couldn’t get more sleep as the sun’s rays had now fully lit up the clearing and the others were moving around.
Kuu came over to try and encourage her.
“Thanks, Cookie,” she said finally with a small smile.
Mahnii wished he could understand what all she was thinking. Clearly much more had happened since her battle with Shim than what she’d told him.
By the end of the day, Celeste was once more frustrated. “Dis isn’t anythin’ like training wit’ tha giants!” she said, stuffing her mouth with food while they ate dinner.
Shim, on the other hand, was beaming. She had already begun learning how to mentally enter the spirit realm. Ru-Kai had shared with her that eventually, she could also go there in both body and spirit herself, with free reign to move between them. But for
now, she was excited by what she had learned.
The final day of training, Celeste slowly made more progress. Mahnii had to admit he was impressed with how patient Ri Kuu was. He wondered if it had anything to do with how he had shared he was small compared to the other lycans of his tribe.
Either way, it was impressive how he had been able to help Celeste.
She was somewhat back to the Celeste Mahnii was used to by dinner time. She was scarfing down food, not to cover her hurt pride, but this time out of excitement. “I kin feel it!” she kept saying. “I dunno what I saw, but it was somethin’, at leas’,” she shared.
The next morning, Mahnii actually felt a bit sad leaving Ru-Kai’s hut.
They gathered their belongings and supplies and began loading Kuu’s wagon.
“Good morning!” said Ru-Kai cheerily, waving as he was walking across the clearing toward them. “I trust you all rested well.”
He presented a few sacks with food and money, and some other goods for their travel, such as thick cloaks which they would need once they entered the northern regions of Cel-Lok’s realm.
Mahnii groaned.
“Are you all prepared?” asked Ru-Kai, looking at each of them.
They looked at each other, then nodded.
“Great!” He turned, “You can come out now,” Ru-Kai called out with an eager grin.
From the opposite side of the clearing, an enormous dragon stepped out from the cover of the trees. It was a brilliant green from head to toe, with golden horns decorating its face and trailing down its neck, back, and tail. Eyes the color of the sky stared down at them.
Mahnii jumped, peering out from behind Celeste. “Are you insane?” he asked Ru-Kai, looking between the dragon and the dragon-god.
Ru-Kai burst out laughing. “I told you I had a way for you to save time and get to Cel-Lok’s realm quickly. This is Terryu, my companion. She will do you no harm.”
“Look, we’ve seen a lot of burned villages from attacking dragons on our way here. I’m not so inclined to ride on one,” argued Mahnii.