Afaris: Shadows on Aora

by Ciubotaru, Tudor George

‘Don’t worry, thank you for waking me up. I didn’t even realize how time has passed.’

  Recovering his sight, he could see her beautiful and smiling face again. He smiled back to her and she said:

  ‘I got home earlier than expected. I saw you on the pit stairs meditating and didn’t want to disturb you, then I realized that if I didn’t wake you up, you’d be sitting there for days on end.’

  ‘That’s very likely. How was your night in the forest?’

  ‘Beautiful as always. I see you’ve talked to Father about me.’

  Afaris nodded:

  ‘We actually did.’

  Finaria lowered her head to hide her blushing.

  ‘Will you go out in the town for a walk?’ she asked him. ‘I’m curious what I could learn from you.’

  ‘Certainly’ Afaris answered and they started together on the cobbled street towards the town exit.

  After a couple of steps, a firm voice from behind called Afaris. He turned back in surprise. From the pit, with firm steps, Saraf was emerging.

  ‘Are you done so soon?’ Afaris asked him slightly worried by his father’s attitude.

  Saraf nodded, looking serious and stern. Finaria, seeing Saraf, took a smart bow, which Saraf did not even notice.

  ‘I do not want to interrupt you, but I have got business with you’ Saraf said looking Afaris in the eye.

  “Great! This is the best time ever” Afaris thought.

  ‘Sure, I’ll let you two discuss’ Finaria answered:

  Afaris felt an energy wave strike his shield, so he allowed it to enter, guessing it was a message.

  ‘Don’t worry, I understand. I’ll see you on another occasion’ Finaria said.

  Finaria left for her parents’ home. Afaris was watching her sad.

  ‘Have you informed your brother?’

  ‘Yes’ Afaris replied shortly.

  ‘Good, if there is no other business to attend to, we must get going.’

  Afaris looked him in eye. He was not surprised Saraf wanted to leave without greeting his son, Urfius. Given his effervescence that day, anything was possible, though.

  ***

  The two left the town quickly, heading for Saraf-Menom. At his father’s request not to ask any question before he spoke, Afaris kept silent.

  Moving fast, without running, Saraf and Afaris went past the lakes surrounding Urfius-Menom, then reached a forest. Before going into it, Afaris glanced back, promising himself to be back on the first occasion.

  In the middle of the forest, Saraf reached inside his rod backpack and took out a crystal which he handed to Afaris.

  ‘Except for the bad feeling, I also had a new vision. You will find everything in there.’ he told him urging him to look into the crystal.

  Afaris stopped holding the crystal to his face. He closed his eyes and entered the crystal:

  He could see Saraf climbing the energy wave of a pit. He could feel him becoming tenser as he climbed higher. He felt discomfort caused by some strange energy.

  Exiting and stepping over the pit edge, Saraf reached Lint’s town. The presence of that energy was becoming stronger and stronger until Saraf realized it was the same energy as he had felt on the mountain, when they were near the energy pit.

  Saraf was becoming tenser and tenser. The fact that the energy was present so strong in the middle of the town frightened him and made him think about the worst.

  To his left he heard a voice:

  ‘What brings you around, Father?’

  Saraf turned around to look, it was Lint. His thoughts were moving incredibly fast. In an instant he decided it was not a good idea to invite Lint to the tournament. Suddenly the image he was seeing changed. It was a black outline, in which Lint was standing holding a knife. Lint’s knife, hands and face were soaked in blood, but what terrified him most was the expression on his son’s face. A diabolic, macabre and satisfied grin.

  His sight came back. He was back in Lint-Menom, and his son was standing in front of him, looking at him puzzled:

  ‘Are you alright?’ he asked.

  Saraf shook his head, trying to come to senses and tie up loose ends. One thing was certain. Lint was not supposed to attend the tournament.

  ‘You’re here to invite me to the tournament, aren’t you?’ Lint asked.

  Saraf looked up in shock. He failed to understand how Lint had learnt about the tournament.

  ‘Yes’ he replied. ‘How did you find out?’

  Lint had a stupid smile:

  ‘A Nymph paid me a visit the other night and informed me.’

  ‘Which Nymph?’

  ‘Crifius’

  ‘Crifius? Never heard of him.’

  ‘You’ll meet him at the tournament, I’m sure. Anyway, won’t you come inside for a chat?’

  Saraf shook his head:

  ‘I am sorry, but I must reach all towns as soon as possible and inform them.’

  ‘Sure, we’ll talk on another occasion then.’

  Saraf noticed his son was fairly delighted he could stay no more.

  ‘Yes. Have you got a ride?’

  ‘Sure, we’ll manage, don’t worry.’

  Saraf smiled at him. He was not concerned with the fact that they could go.

  The two embraced, a gesture neither wanted to make. Then Saraf told him:

  ‘Be safe, my son.’

  He turned to the pit and dived inside, descending to Aora’s core."

  Afaris looked up from the crystal. He had a light headache, while the information rendered in his thoughts. Saraf was standing in front of him regarding him patiently:

  ‘What do you make of it?’

  ‘If I’m not mistaken, Lint mentioned in the council an energy pit close to his town. From what I felt in the crystal, the energy is much stronger than expected. What you felt there is what we felt while standing a couple of steps from the pit on the mountain.’

  ‘Precisely.’

  ‘And what you saw, the vision, what does it symbolize?’

  ‘I could not say exactly, but Lint is the key element.’

  ‘What if he’s lost? Him and his offspring? The entire Lint-Menom?’

  ‘That’s what I fear …’

  ‘What shall we do then?’

  ‘We cannot do anything for now. I find it surprisingly painful and outrageous to suspect my own son, but there is nothing we can do until we have concrete proofs.’

  ‘You may as well read their thoughts …’

  ‘Their minds are shut and very resistant. I cannot do it without them noticing it.’

  ‘Well, explain them the situation and ask them to let you in.’

  ‘Yes, this would be the only solution, wouldn’t it?’

  Afaris raised his shoulders:

  ‘I don’t know, that’s what just came into my mind.’

  ‘Anyway, I cannot do it now, I must wait for a couple of days to pass. I need to go there cheerful and friendly, otherwise the tension between us will not allow for any cooperation. Moreover, do not mention it to anybody. We need not wake suspicions for no reason.’

  Afaris nodded.

  ‘Let us resume our way. If you have any ideas, do not hesitate to share them with me.’

  Saraf started running, followed closely by Afaris. They were running as fast as they could, but Afaris felt pushed to the limit. Every now and then he stopped to catch his breath, but Saraf seemed relentless. Afaris admired his father’s outstanding stamina.

  Before sunset they reached Saraf-Menom without speaking too much on the way. They were both tensed and feared the worst.

  Reaching the tower, Saraf summoned his advisors and Calis to the council floor. They all arrived very quickly at Saraf’s urgent call.

  On the council floor, like the last floor of the tower, there was another small library of crystals stored in the trees maintained by the pit energy. Saraf used his powers to manipulate the room, thus forming a living wood table, chairs and raising a tree wall around so that they could not be heard.<
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  Everyone sat down at the table and Saraf presented the events, showing them the crystal where he had stored all the information.

  Afaris was sitting quiet on his chair between Saraf and Calis, and following the reactions of those reading the information contained in the crystal.

  After everybody was updated on the situation, Tiftorius, Saraf’s most respected advisor, asked:

  ‘Have you encountered anything like this in another town?’

  Saraf denied firmly.

  ‘I see’ the advisor continued. ‘I have sensed high tension between you and your son, Lint. Regardless when you are going back to his town, you will not be able to achieve what you intend. Their attitude will be as cold as that, maybe even colder.’

  ‘So, what’s there to do?’ Calis wondered.

  ‘I think it would be a good idea for us to go. Or at least, two, three advisors should go and live in Lint Menon for a while.’

  ‘Do you think you will be able to read their thoughts?’ Saraf asked him, surprised.

  ‘No, not at all. But that’s not the point. The point is to notice the influence they will have on us while we stay there. When we come back, you will read our thoughts. Maybe, if the energy flow is as strong as you have described, within ten days we will be as affected as any other person in the town.’

  ‘Right’ Saraf exclaimed. ‘Yes, that is a very good idea. And if you fail to return by the set deadline or do not agree with me reading your thoughts, then it will be obvious.’

  The advisor nodded.

  ‘It is set: we will leave in two days from now, the trip to the town will take us five or six days if we move fast and we will spend ten days in Lint Menom. I will probably be back right before you leave.’

  Another advisor took the floor, with a shier voice. He was rather scared of the situation.

  ‘What if our presence is not welcome? What if they’re so corrupt and slay us?’

  Tiftorius answered in a firm voice:

  ‘Nobody forces you to go. Nobody forces anybody. I will go and take all risks to fulfill this mission. At the end of the day, Aora’s fate may depend on us. So, who wishes to join us?’

  They all looked around. They looked at each other, but nobody moved. Eventually, disappointed by his colleagues’ cowardice, Tiftorius stepped up:

  ‘Well then, I will go alone.’

  Saraf frowned. He had not expected his advisors to be so marked so as to be afraid to visit a town. He looked at Afaris, and his look meant one thing: ‘This is why you should not induce panic, people are easy to scare.’ Afaris understood immediately what his father was telling him.

  ‘Well then, I am going if there is nothing more to say’ the brave advisor said. ‘I am going to rest and replenish my energy before I leave. I have difficult challenges awaiting me…’

  Tiftorius and the other advisors stood up and Saraf lowered the tree walls allowing them to attend to their business.

  Afaris, Calis and Saraf remained at the table. After all the advisors had left, Calis asked Saraf:

  ‘What if our concerns turn true and they are corrupt? What then?’

  ‘Then the situation is rather complicated and biased’ Saraf answered. ‘We first need to find out how serious the situation is. We could try to protect them ourselves, create new mental shields for them and try to set them free from the influence of that energy, obviously after we evacuate the town.’

  ‘But we are exposing ourselves to a great risk’ Afaris stated.

  ‘Right. If we fail, then there is only one option left …’

  Chapter 15

  The Nest

  Starting the following the day, Saraf resumed training with Afaris and those who were interested, enhancing the level of difficulty of exercises. His aim was to make sure that the people in his town would not risk falling prey to that energy or become the victim of a fouled individual.

  As for Afaris, Saraf dedicated his entire free time to training him. Afaris felt his father indeed was turning him into a weapon, but did not complain nor comment. He was determined to follow all instructions, as he understood the importance of his training.

  As days passed, Afaris was becoming stronger and stronger. Shortly, he managed to create his first level one energo-form, then a second degree one. The information transfer via the hand shake was no longer as painful as in the beginning, and, this way, Saraf transmitted him fight styles, both personal as well as those he had learnt in his journeys. He also taught him how to handle swords and other blades.

  Afaris proved skilled in all types of training, learning fast and becoming an opponent who matched Saraf’s expectations.

  As the day for leaving for the Nest was drawing close, Saraf became more and more anxious, looking forward to Tiftorius’s return. Yet, there was no sign of him.

  One day before departure, Afaris was together with his friends, Ulmaf and Debiana, on the tower balcony, basking on the grass, replenishing after a long and tiresome training session.

  Afaris told them about his trip to Urfius-Menom and, particularly, about Finaria.

  ‘I’m glad you’ve finally found somebody’ Debiana said smiling.

  ‘Hold your horses, it’s difficult to say after a few words. He may have liked her, but after some time he’ll discover they don’t match’ Ulmaf added.

  ‘Anything is possible’ Afaris replied.

  ‘When do you plan to visit her again?’ Debiana asked

  ‘No idea, really. Maybe, after the tournament. By the way, have you made up your mind? Are you going?’

  Debiana looked down, becoming slightly agitated:

  ‘No. I really don’t want to see Nymphs fight or slaughter one another. I understand it’s their tradition, but it bothers me.’

  ‘I see …’

  ‘I’ll go’ Ulmaf said. ‘We’ll have fun, enjoy the show, then leave for our homes. It’ll be great, I look forward to seeing the Nest.’

  Saraf appeared from behind them, approaching them fast.

  ‘Afaris, can you join me, please?’

  ‘Sure’ he answered and stood up.

  The two walked to the other end of the balcony so that they could not be heard.

  ‘Tiftoriu has not shown up. I fear the worst.’

  ‘I see. What shall we do then?’

  ‘Nothing. We are leaving for the Nest, tomorrow, at dawn, and we will gather there. I hope Tiftorius will be there, too. Anyway, I would like to ask you something. Meditate tonight, gather strength. As of tomorrow, I need you to be in full shape and ready for anything. If something goes bad, I trust you most.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Anything …’

  Saraf looked Afaris in the eye. Even though Afaris knew what he meant, he felt that pronouncing those bloody words would affect both him and Afaris.

  Afaris nodded.

  ‘Good. Mind your business now’ Saraf urged him.

  Shortly after, Afaris, Ulmaf and Debiana decided to go back to their homes in order to prepare and rest for the trip the following day. Afaris spent his evening meditating at the base of the pit, charging himself with energy. Afterwards, he went to his room and fell asleep.

  ***

  The next day, he woke up early, shortly after sunrise. He put on his cloak and went outside. On the tower balcony, there were Calis and Saraf, watching the sunrise and waiting for those about to leave for the Nest.

  ‘Any news about Tiftorius?’ Afaris asked on reaching them.

  ‘Unfortunately, no’ Saraf replied.

  Afaris sat quiet for a couple of seconds, then asked:

  ‘What do we do then?’

  ‘We are going to the Nest and we will see there. Ready yourself for anything.’

  ‘Do you think Lint and his offspring may go there and try to kill us all in the Nest? Just like that?’

  ‘I do not hold the answer to this question, but anything is possible. We do not know how it has affected them. You, Calis and my advisors are prepared and informed. We will all
fly with Akdarosif, Afaris, you can ride with Falus and Fasus. When we reach the Nest, the first thing we need to do is find out whether Tiftorius is there, too. If he is not present, I will forcedly read Lint’s thoughts. That will be the turning point, when we decide what we need to do.’

  ‘What if your fear becomes true?’

  ‘I could never harm my own blood, but I can block his mind so that he falls into a coma. His mind and those of others, simultaneously, but if they are too many, then …’

  ‘We will have to protect ourselves’ Afaris continued his sentence.

  ‘Not only ourselves’ Calis said ‘but also the Nymphs. An unfortunate event with us doing nothing to prevent the evil heading their way, especially in the Nest, will seal our relation with them for good.’

  ‘Absolutely. That is out of the question’ Saraf added.

  Some Aorians emerged from the pit behind them, ready to depart. Afaris, Saraf and Calis finished their conversation and joined them. More and more Aorians gathered. They were all speaking about the tournament, what they thought the Nest looked like, who the finalists would be, the new era of Nymphs and many others. They were all high-spirited.

  Shortly after, the tower balcony was almost full of Aorians. Akdarosif showed up, followed by a flight of Nymphs. Among them, there were Falus and Fasus, who, on seeing Afaris, landed on the tower edge and Falus called him in his thoughts.

  Afaris felt Falus’s thoughts hit his shield. He searched around, among the Aorians and Nymphs getting ready to leave, looking for him, and eventually saw him. He made his way through the crowd and reached them.

  ‘Greetings.’

  ‘Ready to leave, young warrior? Falus aked.

  ‘Hello, Afaris’ Fasus greeted him. ‘I apologize for the last time. I was having not such a good day.’

  His words surprised Afaris. He was not expecting it.

  ‘We all have our good and not so good days. Don’t worry, I don’t mind it.’

  Behind Afaris, Aorians paired Nymphs for the flight. The Nymphs already carrying Aorians took off, allowing other Nymphs to land.

  Afaris felt a hand on his shoulder, then heard somebody greet him. He turned and saw Ulmaf: