Afaris: Shadows on Aora

by Ciubotaru, Tudor George

  ‘We will eventually kill each other’ Urfius sighed looking down.

  ‘Unfortunately, times have changed. We can no longer continue our way of life. It is high time we decided. We either renounce our purity or our life. You must be prepared to shed blood, either Nymph’s blood or our blood, even.’

  Saraf stood up and with a more imposing tone, continued:

  ‘For now, we will be on defense. If I order, we will go to war!’

  ***

  That day, with the evening getting close, Afaris was sitting down on the balcony edge watching the sunset. His father’s words still echoed in his mind: ‘We either renounce our purity or our life.’ What had he meant? Their life that far would never be regained? Would he be forced to shed the life of his akin? Or maybe there was still a chance for peace. He knew that he was not capable of harming Falus, nor the other way around, but the situation forced them to be enemies. If friends got to take one another’s life, if brothers fought one another how could anyone hope, after the war, if they won it, that life would become what it had used to be? And if these values: love, friendship, brotherhood were lost, why continue to live?

  ‘So that the post-war generation could live in a better world’ Saraf answered from behind him where he was standing unnoticed.

  ‘I don’t like it when you read my thoughts’ Afaris reproached him.

  ‘Your shield was weak. I took advantage to see what you had in mind without asking you. I know you dread voicing your true thought.’

  Saraf joined him and sat on the balcony edge.

  ‘Beautiful, is it not?’

  ‘Yes …’

  ‘You see, when everything is beautiful around you, life loses its charm. You can no longer appreciate it. Does it not seem to you that the sunset is more beautiful than before? Like before the tournament?’

  ‘I guess so. But we don’t need a war to appreciate life more.’

  ‘We are not able to decide. But I want you to promise me one thing: if the Nymphs do fight us, after the war, after we win it, you will watch the first sunrise. I promise you will see the most beautiful thing in your life.

  Afaris looked away from his father and contemplated the sun disappearing behind the horizon. Its rays still illuminated Aora and the wind blowing gently was like a caress ensuring them everything would be fine.

  ‘If we get to fight each other, could you take the life of an Aorian? Tiftorius’s for example?’

  ‘Yes, if somebody tries to harm you, I will kill them.’

  ‘Have you ever killed anyone?’

  ‘Yes … but not from this world.’

  Saraf’s voice shook. Afaris realized that Saraf’s past hid many experiences which tormented him.

  ‘By the way, I would like to congratulate you for earlier’ Saraf changed the subject. ‘I noticed what Tiftorius wanted to do, how he was trying to urge us all to start attack first. I do not understand how I could not notice earlier that the energy has taken over him. And I had read his thoughts, how did I miss it?’

  ‘Maybe he knew how to conceal better than you can search.’

  ‘Yes, probably. That energy is extremely cunning …’

  Saraf stopped, gazed for some moments then resumed:

  ‘We must seal the pit. First and foremost.’

  ‘I agree with you, but how?’

  ‘I do not know yet, the longer they stay open, the more friends will turn into enemies. Pay attention, one of the following days, when time allows us, I would like us to go on a trip together.’

  ‘Where to?’

  ‘I cannot tell you right now, it is a secret.’

  ‘How long will we be gone?’

  ‘A couple of days probably.’

  ‘We cannot leave the town unguarded for so long. What if they attack in our absence?’

  ‘This is a risk we must run. On that trip, we will look for answers. Today we are fighting in blind. This might me our only chance.’

  Chapter 19

  Running away

  The next day, Afaris went out to meet Ulmaf and Debiana. They were at Ulmaf’s, together with their families. Afaris dreaded being alone, just like them. He preferred the company of others. The tense situation brought them closer together in a natural manner. If the Nymphs attacked them the following day, they would fight as one.

  But his friends’ company was not enough, he felt he needed more. He needed a warm voice coming from behind a charming smile to tell him everything would be in order. So he left his friends’ house and started looking for Saraf.

  Getting out, he looked at the sky, his palm shielding his eyes against the sun. The sunrays intertwined with small light dots flying on the sky at various altitudes. They were energo-spirits. Saraf had already trained the Aorians regarding the defense strategy, first thing in the morning.

  Walking on the town’s small streets, Afaris picked up Saraf. He was talking to several Aorians, strong stout men. When he got close to them, Afaris heard his father briefing them about the night shift. They would patrol around the town, making sure they were not attacked on the ground, while their energo-spirits were watching the sky.

  Saraf finished his conversation and the Aorians left greeting them both respectfully.

  ‘How are you?’ Saraf asked.

  ‘Looking for you. How are you?’

  ‘Preparing the men to my best. And honestly speaking, I am upset. I could teach them and you so much, yet time is not on our side. If I had the time, I could teach every Aorian to cope with a hoard of Nymphs.’

  ‘You can teach me. I’m a fast learner.’

  ‘I am not concerned with your learning, but your capacity to handle energies. It requires concentration which you can get in time. And distributive attention, that is important as well.’

  Seeing Afaris’s disappointed and slightly grumpy face, he continued:

  ‘When we find some time off, I will teach you as much as I can. In the meantime, if you have no business to attend to, you know what you need to do. Meditate!’

  ‘Actually, that’s why I was looking for you. When is Urfius going back home?’

  ‘Tonight. Why?’

  ‘Can I join him? And be back in 2 or 3 days?’

  Saraf frowned.

  ‘You want to see that girl.’

  ‘Well, yes. I’ve been thinking about her…’

  Saraf looked up to the sky and then down to Afaris:

  ‘Let us have a walk, I do not like standing put.’

  They started strolling on the town’s streets. After a couple of moments of silence during which Afaris showed anxiety, Saraf said:

  ‘Falling in love in the time of war that is the most stupid thing one can do. Your mind must be focused on your duties, not the girl. What if you lose her? Or she loses you?’

  ‘You know I cannot deny my feelings.’

  ‘I know, but you can ignore them until better days, whenever that might be. Then, you will do as you please.’

  There was no chance Saraf would allow him to leave, so he gave it up. Anyway, he had another plan.

  As the evening fell and Calis went to bed and Saraf left the tower to patrol, he got out of bed. He gathered all his powers and concentration. He closed his eyes and guided the energy in front of him and it started taking shape. The process was slow and painful, sweat was running down his forehead and his veins were pulsating. With his mind eye he could see the energy take the shape of a body with two hands and legs. Gradually, the head was outlined. The face, the toes, the feet. Eventually, his creation was ready. He opened his eyes and saw himself. Now there were two Afaris. He laughed happily with his two bodies. He had made it. His first second-degree energo-form. It was strange, stranger than with energy birds. He could see through two pairs of eyes, feel with two bodies. Slowly, he grabbed the energo-form. He felt how he grabbed him and how it grabbed him in turn. It was unbelievable, but there was not time for fun.

  He put his energo-form back in bed and sneaked out with his real body. Phase two was up n
ext: escaping the town. It was not very difficult. The energy birds would rarely look down, they were defending the sky, and the guardians were watching all directions, but one: the ocean.

  Afaris stretched his hand to the pit’s energy flow and asked for energy. The particles quickly jumped to his help, deflecting their patterns and heading to his open palm, replenishing his body and mind. He glanced behind. Everything he was experiencing was strange. He was outside the house at the same time as lying on the bed. Everything seemed surreal. But he thought it was the same like flying, eventually one got used to it.

  He focused his energy on his clothes. White was too obvious, so he ordered them to go dark. They became black generating a hood to cover his head, giving him the perfect hiding.

  He ran to the tower balcony’s edge. He looked around hastily to check for intruders then cast himself into the void, landing silently, then ran to the ocean. The streets were illuminated by energy stones, but that was no concern for him. Even if somebody saw him, he was moving too fast to be recognized.

  Reaching the ocean shore, he stopped and looked at the ocean’s vastness. Memories still made him anxious, but he would not let them stand in his way. He stretched his hand, and using Saraf’s spell, froze the water in front of him, but just a small piece, large enough for him to stay afloat. He jumped on it and urged the air to carry him forward. The ice started to move him away from the town and turned right slightly. His plan was to get off it where the forest crossed the ocean, after the field surrounding the town. Thus, the guards could not detect him.

  Floating to forest town slowly, Afaris kept looking at the town. Fortunately, it seemed everybody was asleep except for the guards. Passing the town’s border he saw them patrolling, keeping an eye out to the forest and sky, as instructed by Saraf, and they would not look at the ocean at all. Afaris smiled satisfied that his plan was running so smoothly. He then noticed something. Several people exited the town, surrounded by lights. They headed to the forest. They were quite numerous. He then understood they were Urfius and his men were going back to their town. There was one thing he could not grasp, why were they leaving at night in the dark and not during the day.

  An idea occurred to him, to catch up with them in the forest and join them, but there was another possibility, that his brother would kick him back to the town so he gave it up. His ice platform reached the forest and Afaris leaped forward and landed on the shore, among the trees. In front of him everything was dark, even creepy. The star light did not penetrate through the dense trees domes. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his extra-sensorial perception. Gradually, around him, everything caught form, until he reached the maximum concentration level. He could distinguish the energy surrounding him better than ever. He did not see lines, but each tree’s, leave’s and stone’s individual energy. Eye closed he sprinted to the forest, as fast as he could.

  He wanted to reach the town before his brother and, considering his speed, he was bound to succeed. The route was spectacular, the trees went past him at high speed, and in front of him other trees were catching form. Every detail in his way was highlighted. He could not fail. He was delighted with his progress. He was doing this eyes closed!

  Shortly after, he felt a strong stitch in his heart. He came to a halt and placed his hand on his chest. But the stitch was not to his body, but his energo-form. He switched focus to it. He opened the energo-form’s eyes, but his room was too dark to see much. Then the image became hazy and darker and vanished. Maybe it was the distance. He had not thought that the distance between them would affect it so much. He looked behind. It was a good idea for him to go back, but he was too far. Anyway, if he kept the pace, he would reach Urfius-Menom, greet Finaria and return before anybody entered his room.

  He started running in his initial direction again.

  ***

  Faster than he though and without any breaks, which surprised him, he reached his brother’s town’s outskirts. The trees around it were masking him. Afaris was standing at the forest edge on the same spot from where he had left with his father, looking around, admiring the nature’s beauty while catching his breath. He could hear the waterfall sound muffled. It had a slow and pleasant pace.

  After a two-minute break, he continued and entered the town among the trees surrounding it. Urfius-Menom was as silent as his town. The streets were deserted and silent. Everybody was asleep. One thought shook Afaris: what if the silence was suddenly disturbed by a surprise attack from the Nymphs … or Lint’s corrupted people? He removed the thought, knowing his brother would arrive that day and apply all the defensive tactics Saraf had imposed. And if anything occurred until Urfius arrived, Afaris was confident enough he could cope with it, at least until the people woke up and came to his help.

  Leaving those disturbing thoughts aside, he continued his way on the town streets up to Urfius’s house downtown. As he got behind it, he launched his extra-sensorial scan through the house. Vilinda was sleeping peacefully in the bed in the master bedroom, but Finaria’s bedroom seemed empty. Perhaps she was sleeping with her friends in the forest again.

  Afaris sighed, slightly disappointed. He did not know where their tree house was. It could be anywhere in the surrounding forest. It would take him too long to find.

  He circled the house, continuing to analyze the possibilities and reached the central square with the town’s energy pit. He looked up and saw a figure in the energy flow. It was a curly girl dressed in light white evening clothes. Was it her?

  ‘Hey’ he whispered.

  She turned her head and smiled warmly. It was, indeed, Finaria. She left the energy wave and ran to the stone steps in front of Afaris and held him tightly.

  ‘Am I glad to see you!’

  Afaris embraced her and caressed her white curly hair. She stared into Afaris’s light blue eyes, with an honest smile.

  ‘I knew you’d come.’

  ‘How come?’

  ‘The waterfall sang to me the other day. It said you’d drop by to see me.’

  Afaris was astonished. Most certainly that waterfall held more secrets that he expected. The day before, he had no idea he would make it back to Urfius-Menom.

  ‘Can your waterfall tell the future?’ he asked, releasing her.

  ‘No idea, could be. Or maybe it summoned you here.’

  ‘Possibly …’

  ‘Let us not stay in the middle of the town. If anybody sees you they will assault you with questions and, believe me, you don’t want that. Everyone here is terrified.’

  ‘I agree.’

  She grabbed his hand and pulled him on the streets. At first they were walking, then she started to run until they exited the town. In front of them, there was the Sound of Life. Its smooth and relaxing song was whispering into the ears.

  They went towards it, Afaris guided by Finaria.

  ‘I don’t want to press you, but I have many questions’ she said.

  ‘I’m all ears.’

  ‘What will happen next? Are we at war?’

  Afaris looked away to the waterfall.

  ‘Most probably we are. Things are not however certain. Saraf decided to let them make the first move.’

  ‘Has anything happened since … that doomed day?’

  ‘No. No news from them or Akdarosif.’

  Saying that, questions popped into his mind: were Falus, Fasus and Akdarosif alright? He hoped nothing had happened to them.

  ‘But you, at least, were so close to the Nymphs, how could this ever happen?’

  ‘Lint and his people … their mind was taken over by that cursed energy. They planned it. What they are up to next, no idea.’

  ‘But why? I don’t understand, I thought it was logical for them to … slaughter each other?’

  ‘It seems not. Or, since they were all corrupt, they joined forces to destroy others.’

  They went past the waterfalls heading to the forest, Finaria holding his hand and guiding him.

  ‘Where are we going?�
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  ‘You’ll see. Anyway, I find what you’re telling me strange. I start to believe that energy does not exist just like that, but has a mind of its own.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Think about it. It has corrupted your brother and his offspring, it’ll corrupt others, too. It seems to be concocting plans. What happened in the Nest was premeditated, I can’t believe it was spontaneous. Did it seem spontaneous to you?’

  ‘I wasn’t there when it all started, but I tend to think you’re right …’

  ‘Be careful, I know you are helping your father seal the pits. I don’t want anything to happen to you …’

  They entered the forest again. The eyes were becoming more and more useless. Shortly after, Finaria let go of his hand and started groping for something. She found it, a rope which seemed to lead up into the trees. No sooner had Afaris focused his extra-sensorial attention to her than she fuelled the rope with energy and it started gleaming. It seemed to consist of vines leading to a network of threads among the trees. All over the place there were energy stones which turned on by the touch of Finaria’s energy. And suspended in the trees there were several wood houses, interconnected through bridges of rods or wood chunks. Many of them had porches, others rose to the tree height. Afaris noticed such a house had a terrace which overlooked the trees. He was stunned with the beauty of the place. When he thought that he had seen all of Urfius-Menom, he found a hidden gem.

  ‘Did you build all of this yourself?’

  ‘Not alone, but together with my friends.’

  ‘Are they not here?’

  ‘No, not since the Nest mishap we haven’t slept here. We were afraid and preferred staying with our families. I look forward to Father’s return …’

  ‘He’s on his way, I saw him leave Saraf-Menon when I ran away.’

  ‘Did you run away? Does Saraf know you’re here?’