The Year of the Lumin

by Andrew Ryan Henke

  Noir looked at Elrid. No signs of his wounds could be seen. He held four corners of a cloth that showed outlines of small berries inside pulling it down heavily. “Glad to see you are alright, Noir.”

  Noir smiled at him and said, “What's that about you giving me this headache?” He pointed at his head.

  Elrid placed the cloth full of berries on the crudely carved wooden table. A few rolled onto the wooden surface, but he paid them no mind. “I did not enjoy injuring you, but when one is dominated by a Syeter, there is little else that can be done.”

  The group all fell silent. Fafnir stood across the large room by a huge, oddly-shaped table. Noir looked at the three others and said, “So, what's the plan now?”

  Adeel spoke. “Well, tomorrow morning, the three of us are going back to Talik.”

  Ratt took a step forward. “Three of us? Why do I have to go back?”

  Elrid took a seat at the table, “Because you pledged your services to Captain Grandel, remember?”

  “Well yeah, but....” He couldn't argue with that. He turned to Noir for help but Noir had nothing to say either. Of course Noir would have loved to have the companionship, but he was so new to this world, he wasn't about to argue with someone like Elrid.

  Surprisingly, Fafnir spoke up from behind Ratt, Elrid, and Adeel. “Actually, Noir could use a sparring partner for his training.”

  Adeel added, “This is true. It is beneficial to have another human present while learning how to use lux.”

  Everyone was looking at Elrid for approval. He sighed and said, “If Captain Grandel asks, you all twisted my arm over this.”

  Chapter 12

  Goodbyes

  At the request of Fafnir, everyone except herself and Noir went outside to cook the rabbits. They were alone in the large chamber. Needless to say, Noir felt a little nervous being in the presence of someone whom he knew to be a powerful ancient dragon. Even though Fafnir looked like a human at that moment, her power, wisdom, and age could be felt filling the room. She had Noir sit on his knees and legs with his feet tucked under him. His hands were on his knees and he sat up straight as instructed. His damaged leg hurt under his weight, but he did not want to show the pain.

  “Noir. My power is limited when I am keeping this form.” The woman gracefully strode over to the large object in the room which resembled a huge curved table. The corners bent up toward the ceiling creating a rectangular bowl. The legs were extremely thick and reinforced. “In order to train you correctly, I must change. Do not be alarmed.”

  She put a hand on the huge table and turned to face Noir. A light filled the room from Fafnir's direction. Noir had to avert his eyes until the light faded. When he looked back, an enormous white dragon was resting on the large table. He realized it was not a table, but a resting stool for her. It supported her abdomen and allowed for her feet to rest effortlessly on the ground. Fafnir's wings were drawn in and rested on her back. Her massive limbs and body were covered with thick white scales. Each scale was flecked with yellow at the very tip. Her tail was lying on the ground behind her in a long crescent shape. Her thick neck rose upwards and turned toward Noir. Her massive head had two yellow horns curving backwards. Her jaw had smaller horns pointing down. Noir estimated that if he stood next to her, his head would reach up to one of her massive knees.

  The creature was an amazing sight. Noir was not at all prepared for the magnificence of what he was seeing, though he did not lose his poise.

  Fafnir opened her great mouth and spoke. It sounded similar to the voice that had come from her human form, but it was deeper and gravely. “Now, you must tell me before we start, have you ever used lux untrained before?”

  Noir thought, though it was hard to concentrate with such a magnificent sight before him. “No, I do not think so.”

  “It would have felt like a throb of power inside you. Think, child.”

  Noir thought back throughout his life. Even though he had only been in this new world for a little over a week, with all that had happened, the time before felt distant and unreal. His thoughts about the change from his home to there made him think of the cave on Medicine Mountain. He had felt the throb of power there. He had grasped it and forced it into that sphere.

  Fafnir noticed the change of expression on his face. “So you have grasped lux before. Tell me what happened. What were you doing at the time? What did you do with it?”

  Noir was taken aback. He had not told anyone about the cave and his home. He had no idea how Fafnir would interpret his story. He wasn’t even sure that she would believe him. He had a feeling that he shouldn't lie to her, though. So he said, “I'm not sure what to say. I don't understand it and I'm not even sure if I believe it or not.”

  “Then tell me all that you know to be true and I will interpret it for myself.”

  Noir sighed and started from the beginning when he saw the cave. He went through each detail of what had happened since he had come to this world. She kept asking about Noir's “home” world, as she called it. She was very intrigued about electronics, asking over and over how they worked and what powered them.

  When Noir finished the story up until the point where he arrived in the cave, she said, “Your home world uses these ‘electronics’ to make up for its lack of chakra. Instead of enchanting objects to perform tasks through chakra, you have these battery devices. Instead of Luxins, you have doctors. While we have Din Mages to throw fire, you have chemical substances to create fire.” She grumbled and shifted her weight on the large stool. “Obviously, we see lightening in the sky, but never have we thought to harness it like your world has. Marvelous!” Then her expression changed and she growled deep and low, “Though I feel this knowledge could be disastrous if obtained by wrong group.”

  For the first time since Noir had seen her in her true form, Fafnir stood up and stretched her limbs and wings. The wings were so massive that she could not stretch their full width out in the huge chamber. She took the few steps it required to get next to Noir. The massive appendages moved up and down next to Noir and he was surprised to see they moved silently and with great hidden agility. She stopped and swung her head toward Noir. “I believe you, boy. No one could concoct a story that bizarre. We will stop your training until the morning, though today was mostly just story telling. Come, the smell of cooking rabbit has whetted my appetite.”

  Fafnir continued forward through a chamber. Noir had not expected the lack of response that she gave him after he was finished with his story. The growl of his stomach convinced him to put the question off for another time.

  Noir limped behind the massive creature, still marveling at her size and beauty. The hall led around a curve and to the outside air. He could now smell rabbits cooking as well. Though Noir would have preferred fast food from back home, his hunger made him less picky.

  Noir walked out into the evening air to find Adeel, Ratt, and Elrid sitting around a small fire. Three of the rabbits were on sticks over the flames.

  They greeted Noir as he exited. Fafnir said to the group, “The smell of your food has made me hungry. I am going to hunt. I should not be long.” She walked a few large steps away from the group and spread her massive wings to their full, immense span. Then, with a gust of air, she flapped the mighty wings and leaped at the same time. As she shot upwards, her wings blossomed out with the air filling them. She flapped a few more times to gain height before she was lost from view, hidden by the trees.

  “I'd hate to see what she hunts,” joked Noir. The other three were looking at him oddly. They must not have gotten the joke. “I mean, I hope it’s not people or anything.”

  “Don't be foolish,” snapped Adeel with surprisingly harsh words.

  Elrid said, “Fafnir is an elder dragon and deserves more respect than that, Noir. She has lived thousands of years.” He flipped the rabbits over for the other sides to cook, then continued. “Anyway, she is probably going to hunt goat. There are many in these mountains.”

  “I'm
sorry, I did not mean....” Noir trailed off.

  “Forget about it,” replied Elrid plainly. “Come and sit. I think they are just about ready.”

  The four ate the berries and rabbits and talked together peacefully. There was a sense of security knowing that Fafnir was nearby to protect them. Noir was grateful that Adeel and Elrid seemed let Noir’s foolish joke go.

  Noir asked Adeel about Fafnir's training. She said that all he had to do was follow her instructions exactly and try hard and he would be fine. She said it had taken her only a couple months before she was using lux effectively. Noir's heart sank when he heard that. He could not wait that long to go find his family. If that was to be the case, he would have to leave before he finished his training.

  Ratt told Noir about how he had killed a rabbit with a rock and sling with Elrid's guidance. They traded other stories as they ate. Elrid was in the middle of telling a story about catching a Chiron scouting party near Talik when Fafnir returned. Dust blew in their eyes and the cook-fire nearly blew out as she gracefully landed.

  “I surveyed the path out of my territory,” Fafnir said as she pulled in her wings and walked toward the group. “I saw no signs of any more straghs, so you should have safe passage tomorrow.” Noir looked at the dragon's head as it hovered above him. For the first time since he could remember, Noir noticed the night sky. The sky was clearer than he had ever seen. Stars filled the night sky with unimaginable numbers. It seemed to Noir that he could choose two stars close to one another, then look closer and count a hundred more between them.

  Fafnir noticed Noir's gaze toward the sky and looked up herself. “It is a clear night. Your friend should have an easy passage to the afterlife, if he did not already depart yesterday.” Noir looked around at the group. They all fell silent in remembrance of their fallen companion. The fire crackled peacefully.

  Fafnir finally broke the silence. “Noir, say farewell to Adeel and Elrid and then rest well. Your training will start in earnest tomorrow.” Then she disappeared into the cavern opening.

  Once Fafnir had gone, Adeel said, “Noir. Your training is a once in a lifetime experience. Fafnir brought the power of lux to the world, and she is gifted with teaching it. Remember what she tells you and do what she says without hesitation.” She looked to Ratt and said, “And the same goes for you. Being the sparring partner for a new Luxin’s training is an honorable thing.”

  Ratt stood up and bowed. This was something Noir had never seen him do before. It came across a little awkwardly, but he did it confidently. “Yes, Luxin Adeel. I will do my best.”

  Adeel smiled. “Good.” She stood up. “Then I am off to rest for the night. Ladies in the cave, boys outside.” She smiled impishly and walked toward the cavern mouth. The three looked at each other.

  Elrid gave Noir the quick lesson that he had given Ratt the night before about building a solid personal tent from items found in the wilderness. They each constructed their own. When they were done, Noir felt proud of both Ratt’s and his own. However, Elrid’s tent looked much larger, more apt at keeping out water, and more sturdy. Noir wasn’t sure how he had built so fast and seemingly effortlessly.

  Ratt was already snoring by the time Noir laid down in the simple tent. Noir watched Elrid as he took off the pieces of his armor and placed them inside his small shelter. When he got to the chest plate, he lifted it up and looked closely at deep claw marks on the side of a leather piece. Then he put a hand to his chest where the claws had pierced his flesh and held it there. He took a large breath and released it, then put the last piece down with the rest.

  Noir laid his head down and looked at the ceiling of his crude tent. In case it rained during the night, he would stay fairly dry. His head still hurt from his injury, but placing it on his balled-up shirt helped. He thought about all that had happened recently. He thought about his uncle and cousin and wondered how they were faring in this strange world. He missed his parents and the simple life he had before all of this happened. As he thought, he drifted off to sleep.

  ~~~

  Aimee grasped the chakra inside her and thrust it out her hand and into heat energy. The red glow spread through her arm and then a ball of fire appeared in her hand. Due to what her teacher had showed her, its heat did not scorch her hand. Using din, she then flung it at the pile of hay on the other side of the dungeon. With a blooming billow, it burst into flames. She then raised her other hand and charged the air with cold, freezing the water in the air into long spikes of ice. She manipulated the din and flung them at a straw practice dummy. The dummy was pierced multiple times with the projectile icicles. Some missed and shattered against the rock wall behind the dummy.

  Aimee’s teacher walked forward and clapped. “Well done, young Din Mage. Well done. Your training for today is complete.”

  Aimee spun toward the man and shouted, “No! Don’t stop me! There is still more to learn and do. Teach me!”

  “Well, then!” The man flipped the black cloak aside, making the red circle design dance. “More you shall have then. Again!” he commanded.

  Aimee turned her attention toward another straw pile. She thought to herself, “I will find my way out of this world if I have to blast my way out of it.” She formed another ball of fire in her hand, larger than the last. It filled the room with an orange, dancing glow. “Forget Dad and Noir. They were the ones who were interested in the cave. I didn't want to have anything to do with it!”

  The cloaked man smiled. He was witnessing the ascent of another strong Din Mage to serve Tier. It would not be long before he would have to affix her with the Din Slave collar in order to keep her under control.

  He watched as the girl threw a fireball larger than most average Din Mages could throw after months of training. Though he watched and scrutinized all of the short-haired girl's movement and actions, he did not notice the tears running down her face.

  Part 2

  Chapter 13

  Training

  Noir sat in the middle of the large chamber on his knees in front of Fafnir. Her massive form loomed above him. After a day, Noir was still in absolute awe of her. Ratt sat to the side at the table in what had become the two boys’ living quarters. He silently watched what was happening.

  Adeel and Elrid had left early that morning. Noir was sad to see them go. They had been friendly to him in this strange new world. Now that they were gone, he was very thankful for Ratt’s company.

  “The three vigors are similar to a plant, fire, and water. Each conquers and is conquered by one of the other. The plant drinks water, water douses the fire, and the fire burns the plant.”

  “Oh, like rock, paper, scissors.”

  Fafnir gave him an odd look like she didn’t understand, then continued with the lesson. “Lux is very good at blocking the elemental attacks of din, but has almost no defense against sye. However, a Syeter is vulnerable to the powerful attacks of a din mage. Lux beats din, din beats sye, and sye beats lux. You must understand your strengths and weaknesses as a Luxin.”

  “I understand.”

  “Now, I am not the creator nor source of lux in this world. I merely brought knowledge of it and developed it here. People have lux inside them. I merely guide them to the path of using it.

  “Din and sye have their own respective dragons. Jotunar brought sye to this world and Nidhoggr brought din.” Fafnir’s tone then betrayed a hint of long held anger. “And they have sold themselves out to the very people which they were to enlighten.”

  She stopped and looked like her mind was far away. “What do you mean?”

  Fafnir gave a rumbling grunt. “Jotunar resides in Chiron wasting away time. He dreams and thinks and plans, but acts on nothing. The people of Chiron feed him well and supply him with minds to connect with so he is lulled into a false sense of ease and security. In ages past, he was by far the wisest of the three of us. Now I fear he has given in to slothfulness and idiocy.”

  “And what of the dragon for din? Nidhoggr.”


  “I have not spoken to or heard from him in many years. I know he resides in the Tier capital, though I do not know what he does there. The Tierians are a brutal people, forcing its occupants into work by abusing din. Nidhoggr was always brash, but never foolish enough to help those who abuse.”

  She shook her massive head as if to forget the difficult topic. “We can talk more on these things later. Now place your hands on the siphon again.”

  Noir placed his hands on the carved cone-shaped device again. Fafnir had explained that it absorbed and absolved lux that was channeled into it. He put both hands on it as he had already done many times that morning.

  “Now remember, if you manage to harness the lux within you, force it into the siphon. If you grasp lux and then do not use it, it can destroy you.”

  Noir saw the dragon’s scales glow slightly. A faint yellow light emanated from the tips of each scale. Her body did not glow when she used lux as he had seen Adeel’s. It was just… different.

  Then he felt the pulse of power run through his body. He had felt it many times so far that morning, but he had not been able to grasp it like he did back in the cave. He felt another throb go through him and he inwardly grasped and strained at it fruitlessly.

  The feeling came and went over and over. He tried to utilize the power that he felt go through him, but everything he tried just did not work.

  Then, somehow it started to make sense. He felt the throb inside him and he somehow made his body swallow it. Power rushed through his body making his skin tingle. The feeling was strongest in the central point of his body, behind his belly button. Somehow he knew that was where the power came from inside him.