‘No. He won’t even find out. I felt an energo-form in my bed and I’m going back to town as soon as possible.’
‘Nice. Clever’ she praised him and Afaris blushed.
He looked into her eyes reflecting the stones and ropes light. They seemed so beautiful. She was looking into his and seemed to be thinking the same. He leaned towards her and she did the same closing her eyes. They then kissed. His heart started pounding. It was the most pleasant feeling ever. He realized … she was his chosen one. Regardless of what would happen, he would protect her.
After the kiss, Finaria opened her eyes and contemplated him, smiled and held him, saying nothing. Words were not necessary anymore. They felt the same. Tender moments followed, they held one another, then Finaria detached and asked him in an enthusiastic voice:
‘Do you want to see the interior?’ and Afaris said yes.
She jumped to the closest balcony and Afaris followed. She showed him every room in all the suspended houses, every aesthetic detail, every decoration, with joy and pride. It was obvious she cared about her work. Eventually, they reached the terrace Afaris had seen from the ground, which was above the trees. They seemed to be floating on a sea of trees and the wind moved the dome of every tree creating the illusion of waves. It was beautiful, they could lie down to watch the sky and dive into oblivion.
‘Do you like it?’
‘It’s gorgeous. We don’t have such a strong connection with nature.’
‘Hmmm, if we were all identical in pleasures then nothing would be different anymore.’
Finaria bowed her head and said shyly:
‘I think I’ve kept you too long. Soon the sun will rise.’
‘I don’t mind hanging out with you.’
‘I don’t either, but what if your father finds out you’re gone?’
‘He’ll yell at me a bit and that’s it. He’s got greater worries now. I’ll stay until Urfius arrives and then I’ll go.’
Actually, the thought that Saraf could discover his little journey concerned him, but did not want to let her see this.
Finaria smiled delighted. For the rest of the night they went to one room and spoke until they fell asleep, Afaris leaning on the wall and Finaria holding her head in his arms.
A girl’s voice woke them up. They opened their eyes and saw it was light outside. Afaris startled, realizing it was too late and by the time he got back home, Saraf might discover that an energo-form was sleeping in his bed. He tried to restore the energy link with his peer back in Saraf-Menom, but to no result. Then they heard the voice again:
‘Finaria! Are you here?’
‘Yes!’ she shouted standing up and limping numb to the window.
‘Urfius is here! Something terrible happened in Saraf-Menom!’
Afaris’s heart started pounding.
‘What happened?’ Finaria asked.
‘Afaris was killed!’
Chapter 20
Death of a traitor
Afaris stood up and dashed to the window. She looked back at him scared and puzzled.
‘How come?’ she asked Afaris, but received no answer.
He looked down at the girl breaking the news. She was short and her hair was caught in a bun. Seeing him, her eyes grew and her mouth remained opened:
‘What happened?’ he asked, but she was unable to answer.
Afaris jumped over the sill and landed on the ground. Finaria jumped, too.
‘Afaris, what’s going on!?’
‘It must be my energo-form’ he replied. ‘On my way here, I felt a stab in its chest, then I lost my link with it. I think it was killed at that moment.’
‘By whom? Who on Aora could do such a thing?’
‘I have my suspicion … let’s go back to the town. I must find Urfius.’
He ran to the forest towards the town, and the two girls followed. While running, he tried contacting Saraf telepathically, but his energy shield was so strong he could not feel him. He put in even more energy, but it was in vain. His nerves had triggered a large discharge of energy fuelling his entire body, enhancing his skills in an unbelievable manner. Most certainly, Saraf could not be contacted.
Reaching the town, Afaris saw that everybody was on the streets as the news had circulated vast. One could see on their faces that fear of death had poisoned their minds. A woman turned to him hearing his fast steps. In awe, she pointed to him and shouted:
‘He’s here! Afaris is alive!’
They all gazed at him. But atonement was soon replaced by happiness. They all started cheering his name and congratulating him. After all, he was Saraf’s youngest son and an important factor for their morale.
Urfius stepped out of the crowd, pushing them aside. He could not believe his eyes; he got closer and squandered him:
‘You little rascal …’
He then hugged him so strongly that Afaris could hardly breathe. But in that beastly clench he felt a tear run down Urfius’s cheek.
‘I thought you were dead. What happened?’
‘You tell me. I sneaked out of Saraf-Menom and came here, leaving an energo-form in my stead.’
‘You could not have chosen a better time. Shortly after we left the town, I felt Father’s thoughts strike my shield incredibly strong. After we established the communication channel he told me “Your brother is dead. Afaris was slain.”’
‘By whom? Didn’t you go back?’
‘Saraf broke the link with me so I contacted Calis. By all Pandora’s children, I was devastated, and when I felt her thoughts full of pain, I fell to my knees and …’
Urfius put his right hand over his eyes, hiding away his tears. Then lowered it and blew his nose loudly.
‘You have no idea how glad I am you are alive.’
Afaris was touched. He had never felt so much affection from anybody. He placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder and said:
‘Everything’s fine, brother, calm down. What did Calis say?’
‘Tiftorius, the maggot, did it! Bastard! We all wanted to search for him, left no spot unsearched.’
‘Tiftorius? Saraf had that energo spy following him. How could he move around without Father noticing?’
‘No idea, he didn’t know either. Saraf left to look for him. I immediately saw flights of energo-spirits on the sky, all his. They were searching for Tiftorius all over the place.’
Afaris took his hand from Urfius and looked at the crowd. All Aorians from Urfius-Menom had gathered around them, many of them tears in eyes. Too many mishaps in a short time for their hearts to be beating normally. He then looked in the direction of Saraf-Menom.
‘I must return home.’
‘Have you told them you’re alright?’
‘I haven’t managed to contact Saraf. His shield is too strong.’
‘Yes, I know. Try to reach Calis or one of your friends.’
Afaris closed his eyes and focused his thoughts on Calis. She recognized him immediately and replied:
‘Afaris!?’
‘I’m alright. I’m in Urfius-Menim. Tiftorius killed my energo-form.’
He felt his mother cry with joy.
‘I can’t believe it. How did it happen? I don’t understand.’
‘I’ll tell you when we meet. Where’s Father?’
‘Gone after Tiftorius, that cursed murderer. He’s not back yet.’
‘Alright, I’m coming home.’
‘I’ve spoken to Mother. They haven’t caught him yet. I must leave immediately for Saraf-Menom.’
‘Of course, go ahead.’
‘Do you think we can make an exception from Saraf’s rules and use the energy pit to go back home?’
‘No way. I’ve tried it countless times, you cannot descend. The energy won’t allow you. Saraf is the only one who can.’
‘I was expecting this …’
Afaris looked around. Finaria was behind him, hands crossed under her chin watching him scared and next to her was her friend holding her, trying to c
alm her down. Afaris went to her and grabbed her hands placing them onto his chest:
‘Everything is fine, we will solve everything. I promise.’
Finaria nodded and embraced him. Behind, Urfius laughed ironically and whispered to himself:
‘Better now than never … it is a bad time, though.’
Afaris let go of Finaria’s hands and turned around to his brother:
‘I must go, take care!’
‘What a pity we’re not on the same page as the Nymphs’ Urfius added. ‘Where are the winged friends when you need them most?’
Afaris looked down. An idea occurred to him. A crazy and risky idea:
‘I could create one.’
‘An energo Nymph?’ Urfius asked amazed. ‘Are you sure you can? It may drain your energy and then you won’t be able to leave.’
‘Exactly. That’s why I’m going to need your help and that of other volunteers. Lend me your energy and I’ll give a push.’
Aorians started stepping aside, most watching him with interest. The rest, together with Urfius and Finaria placed their hands on his shoulder and those behind them on the shoulders of those in front, thus forming an energy web directed at Afaris. He stretched his arms in front and channeled that energy. He first generated a first degree energo-spirit, a midget Nymph, like the ones he had seen while hallucinating in the Nest. Then he enhanced it, until it reached the second and then the third degree.
Feeling he had reached his energo-spirit’s maximum level so as to be able to control it, he changed the way the energy was placed in his creation. The energy became matter inside the Nymph. Gradually, it became alive from the inside. First, the bones were outlined, the veins in its chest to the sides, then the flesh, skin and finally, the feathers.
Afaris opened his eyes to see his creation. A Nymph the size of Falus was in front of him contemplating him. Two separate bodies, two minds, but a single entity governing their movements, and that entity was Afaris.
‘It looks like your friend you rode here last time’ Urfius said looking at the energy creature hallucinated.
‘I had him in mind when creating it. It is alright now, you can stop the energy transfer.’
Urfius removed his hand from Afaris’s shoulder, but Finaria continued to hold hers, feeding him energy.
‘I must go’ Afaris said.
She nodded and dropped her hand.
‘I hope you’ll be back as soon as possible.’
‘Sure’ he replied and kissed her on the cheek then turned to the Nymph and jumped to its back.
Looking at his brother, he told him:
‘Prepare your offspring. This will be no easy war …’
The Nymph started waving its wings and took off heading for Saraf-Menom.
His control over the two bodies was sound, he did not worry about that. The Nymph was waving its wings more and more strongly and its speed increased. It was flying at a low altitude, above the trees. Afaris could now fully understand the Nymphs’ gift. Both hearts were beating strongly.
‘If only you saw me now, Falus, you’d stick your head into the ground with envy …’
***
Saraf-Menom could be seen in the horizon, behind the lines of trees. He flew higher and higher for a better view. The energy column coming out of the tower was shining bright. It seemed that the planet herself was directing more energy to the town, to where the people needed it most.
Above the field, he saw the energy spirits hovering the town looking at him. He realized the trouble he was in.
‘Not good …’ he thought.
Under him, energy shells of fire and rocks started to fly towards him, shot by the town’s guards. The people in the town were agitated and screaming. They did not know it was him actually.
Making a great effort, he generated an energy shield to protect himself. It was already too much, two bodies to maintain and a shield …’
He dived to the square around the tower, where the crowd had gathered. He landed among the people where there was more room, trying not to hit anybody. The people were amazed to see who was riding the Nymph. Their sadness soon turned into joy.
Afaris jumped off his Nymph into the crowd who started to cheer just like in Urfius-Menom and through the Nymph’s eyes he saw Calis and Saraf standing in front of the tower stairs and in front of them, on his knees, hands tied and head down was Tiftorius.
Saraf was holding a sharp sword. It was obvious they were preparing for an execution. Upon seeing their son, he dropped the sword and dashed to him, but Calis stayed put making sure the traitor was not going anywhere.
Reaching his son, Saraf hugged him strongly. He continued to do for some moments and neither said anything. He then released him and looked him in the eyes:
‘I’m proud of you’ he said tears in eyes. ‘And I’m glad that last night you disobeyed me.’
Afaris started laughing amused by the situation and Saraf was laughing too while crying. He then looked up at the Nymph, which was looking at him from above.
‘Falus? How come you have met?’
‘It’s not Falus, it’s an energo-form.’
‘I cannot believe it … did you create it!?’
‘With the help of Urfius and his people.’
‘Wow, this is incredible indeed. You have managed to control a third-degree energo-form so soon …’
Saraf’s voice was bursting with pride. He was impressed indeed.
Realizing he had forgotten something, he turned around to the tower, where Tiftorius was sitting on his knees in front of Calis, head bowed.
Saraf walked towards him, clenching his fist and Afaris followed him.
Tiftorius looked up at Saraf, then looked at Afaris amazed, but he paid no attention to him. Afaris hugged his mother and she kissed him on his cheek smiling happily.
‘I don’t expect to forgive me, Saraf, but believe me, I couldn’t control myself …’
Afaris looked at Tiftorius who was staring at the ground tears running down his cheeks.
‘What are you going to do?’ Afaris asked his father who reached for his sword, and it flew directly to his hand.
‘What do you expect me to do?’
‘I don’t know, isn’t there any other way?’
‘So you want to take risks again? The bastard knew I was following him and keeping an eye out. He killed my energo-spirit when he was far from Saraf-Menom, on his way to Lint. I thought he would not be back.’
Calis intervened:
‘He has been your advisor for hundreds of years, can’t we do anything?’
‘Actually, he was …’
Saraf raised the sword and with a flash movement passed it through Tiftorius’s head. His body collapsed, a fine trace of blood coming out of the needle-thin cut left by the sword.
‘I entered his mind, it is infected, irredeemable. It poses a threat to us. If things were different, I would accept another solution whole-heartedly.’
Afaris lowered his eyes. Even though he wanted to kill him, he knew that the Tiftorius who had served his father for so long had died a long time before. He promised himself he would not allow recent events wipe away the reputation of Saraf’s bravest advisor.
That night, Tiftorius’s body was sunk into the ocean. It seemed that the ocean had become for Aorians what the Lake of Mirrors was for the Nymphs. After the funeral, Afaris went to the tower balcony. There, on a bed of flowers was his lifeless energo-form. It was extremely strange to see himself lying on the ground breathless. He grabbed its hand and started to drain its energy. The process was lengthy and complicated, more complicated than generating him; ironically, what had been done could be undone. When finally the last cell was turned into energy and seized by Afaris, he turned around to his Nymph. They exchanged looks. He knew he was to get rid of it as he could no longer control two bodies. It had become tiresome. How could he kill it though? It was as if he committed suicide, as if he murdered his own child.
He raised his hand. All he had to d
o was destroy the brain with one movement. Painless, free of torments, yet something was stopping him. The Nymph collapsed in front of him breathless. He felt nothing, but the link between them broke off instantaneously. He looked at it amazed, failing to understand what had happened.
‘I see that you are not yet prepared to take a life’ he heard Saraf’s voice from behind.
Afaris stood still looking at the lifeless creature.
‘Thank you’ he sighed.
Chapter 21
Battle for the crown
Starting the following day, Saraf resumed training with the Aorians, readying them for the harshest war. To his satisfaction, they progressed fast and gradually became fearsome warriors. Even if the hope for peace hanged by a thread, they were positive they would win despite all obstacles.
Also, Saraf devised a plan to seal the energy pits. As soon as enough Aorians proved to have the necessary strength, he would summon everybody on the planet to one pit, in order to focus together on one objective: sealing the clandestine pits.
Afaris tried to ask his father about the barbaric gesture. He failed to understand why Saraf had seen the death of his advisor as the only solution, but the answer he received was a mere ‘one day you will understand.’
The Nymphs, however, had not been spotted for a while, while made the Aorians restless, until one day.
‘Saraf! Nymph on the sky!’ a voice was heard outside the tower.
Saraf was in the council room talking to the Menoms’ messengers who had brought news about their evolution and the number of Aorians prepared to start the pit sealing. Hearing his name, he dashed to the tower energy pit, dived into its energy and let himself carried to the tower top.
Reaching the sunlight, he saw the guards allocated to that tower pointing to the ocean. He then noticed a small point flying above the ocean, heading towards them. It seemed to be a Nymph.
As he got closer, Saraf made up his form. It was Akdarosif. Afaris and Calis joined him, giving up their business to see what was going on.
Several Aorians climbed their houses, ready for an attack, but Saraf shouted at them to stand down.
Afaris: Shadows on Aora Page 19