Aruters

by D Leon D.

  - The exile is not eternal, but it’s certain –Said one of the phrases which called more his attention, under it was a name he didn’t know, it was followed by a sort of code “03ENP”, he kept passing the pages until he reached the last before the one he had to modify, and this one said:

  “Exile, Storm, Traitor

  A hidden carrier

  Beasts, beasts, beasts

  You must stop, you must stop and run

  You will be able to control them, Sonyei

  You are going to die”

  Ycze 88P2.

  That must have been what Ycze had told him when she returned to the temple, that’s why Sonyei had decided to throw her into the pit, he was afraid to die soon, that’s why he also felt the time was against him, everything made sense now, the word “beasts” was written three times and he thought maybe that could help him because the first thing that Sonyei would do after reading the notes of his last vision would be undoubtedly to go page by page backwards and with luck he would notice that detail. Windark changed the phrase in an impeccable way, he didn’t have to pretend having to be in a rush so his handwriting would be the same, because he already was, after modifying the note he went out of the room, got to the guard in front of Sonyei’s room.

  - Go for you partner with our loyal allies, go back to your post, the students I sent to cover you will assume the test would only measure their reaction, it doesn’t matter, I’ll handle them later –The guard nodded and left jogging, turning at the end of the hallway getting lost from his sight.

  Windark opened the door just a little, he didn’t enter, with a movement of his hand he removed the spell that kept Sonyei paralyzed and with silence he closed the door, he went to his room and laid down after washing his face and looking at himself in the mirror in silence.

  - This will give them some time –He said in a low voice– I hope it’s enough.

  He felt tired and started to fall asleep, the modified phrase repeated a dozen times in his thoughts, it was a cynical lullaby of his memory, everything he did to change it had drained him mentally, he fell asleep and one last time he heard the new phrase he had formed.

  “Send the beasts to Vicnelia”

  CHAPTER 21

  Two days had passed, Vicnelia had done a great job with the carriers, being separated they discovered how to improve their abilities, by using their Feiders they always lost some of their strength, but it seemed to be like a muscle which they had to train. With Onevin she was able to discover that he had the ability of taking the vital force not only from the other habitants, but also from fire and water, he tried to do the same with the air and the earth, but it turned out to be more difficult for him, nevertheless he felt satisfied, he assumed the elements were some sort of life form, they would have energy he could use without harming someone else; with Ycze she developed the way of perfecting her regeneration ability to transfer it temporarily to a desired object, Onevin offered himself to check it, Vicnelia made him a wound with the dagger and gave him a piece of crystal from the village, when he touched it, the wound lighted up with a neon glow from Ycze’s Feider, quickly the wound healed.

  Ramsil, on the other hand hadn’t progressed much by being alone, he hadn’t succeeded at taking back the form of an Aruter, actually what made his purpose difficult was that he had never seen one in real life, the closest thing had been his own shadow mutating, he assumed he had to have the aspect in his mind to achieve the change, that frustrated him a bit… but without losing his encouragement, he asked Vicnelia –Whom still wore the guard uniform, but without the black cloak– to help him with his aim, she helped him with that and also taught him some maneuvers for hand to hand combat and gave him some advices to awaken the senses of his Feider.

  - You have to feel it in your blood, it’s a part of you, it’s not only on you like a piece of clothes, your Feider is you, yourself.

  - I’m trying –He sighed a little disappointed– How are Onevin and Ycze doing?

  - They have improved a lot, tomorrow you’ll be able to train together, I’ll try to combine your abilities.

  - Wow, that sounds cool.

  - You’re going to do something big, Ramsil, they have lived with their abilities knowing they possessed them, you haven’t, and it’s not your fault, trust me, we’ll figure it out soon–she tousled his silver hair, which he normally hid with his outfit.

  - Can I see them train tomorrow?

  - You know what? Why don’t I tell them to come here now? Don’t underestimate yourself, you have progressed too, I’ll go look for them –Ramsil saw how she got away and in the distance he saw how the other two bonfires were put out, leaving only his lighted up, providing light.

  After a moment, the three of them got there, Ycze, without holding back, ran until she was next to him kneeling to hug him, then Onevin came close, who stared at his hair, he greeted him with affection too.

  - Wow, you look different –Onevin commented, referring to Ramsil’s silver hair.

  - Doesn’t he look handsome? –Ycze laughed, everyone laughed a little.

  - I missed you guys, how has it gone without me? –He commented to hide a little how happy he was of seeing them, actually the comment he kept to himself was: It hasn’t gone very good for me without you.

  Onevin started talking cheerfully, every once in a while he stopped his story and asked Vicnelia to confirm that the facts had happened that way: «It’s true that it was like that, isn’t it?», then Ycze spoke and explained the extension of her ability and threw a crystal that Ramsil caught.

  - Keep it safe–The girl asked, and Ramsil did.

  - It has been a little hard for me; I’m close to achieving it.

  - Don’t worry about it, we’ll defend you –Onevin said as a joke.

  - Yes, yes, little one, you won’t have the same luck you had before if I attack you with the dagger, I won’t miss next time –Once again they all laughed a little.

  They talked for a long time, they were all at peace, they felt at home, Vicnelia laughed from the deepest of her soul, Ramsil knew that few times in his life he had laughed that way, then another moment of serenity and silence, they all breathed with tranquility.

  - Was it of any use the information I got out of the temple? –Ycze asked Vicnelia.

  - No, I’m sorry… it all seems to be incomplete; some things seem to be interesting, but nothing of much help.

  - What did you think it was interesting? –Ramsil delved into curiously.

  - Some titles, I read something that said “The origin of the Feiders”, it seemed like some sort of story, it said something about a war in Tenebris, ah! There was also some kind of map, but almost transparent, I guess it was taken from another page that complements it.

  - So, nothing Sonyei could need? –Ycze asked again.

  - No, and what I’m going to say won’t be a consolation, Ycze, but nothing that Sonyei needs is written on some book, only maybe, the book where he takes the notes from the visions, and that’s only because you forget them and it’s inevitable –Vicnelia answered.

  While she was speaking they all deviated their attention towards the sky, you couldn’t see the moons, because it was midnight –The moons where in new phase– far away and at a great speed a storm was forming, which gave the impression that in a few moments it would destroy them with strength.

  - A storm is coming, let’s go to the cabin –Ycze commented, but Vicnelia intervened.

  - That’s not a storm –She said alarmed putting them all in alert.

  - Then what… –Ramsil started to ask getting up without hesitation.

  - Onevin, put out the fire quickly –Vicnelia ordered.

  The boy stood up and from where he was –Six steps from the bonfire– he extended his hand with the palm open, the neon glow of his Feider lighted up just a part of the palm of his hand, the fire glowed too for a brief moment until it was put out completely. When Onevin took the force of a fire, it was the same as taking a life: he extinguished i
t.

  - What do we do, Vicnelia?

  - Run, and don’t use your Feider again or he will see you.

  They started running at the same time the drops of water rained on the village, Vicnelia was running behind and suddenly she remained rigid like a stone, Ramsil was the one who saw her stop, not only her, the drops of water around her had stayed static for a moment too, before they started going up and surrounding her while her body was also elevating towards the sky, Ramsil was able to feel what he was seeing as a personal memory, he hadn’t seen it, but he had felt it moments before the death of Ybrian, at that moment Onevin came back.

  - VICNELIA – Onevin shouted.

  - Don’t try it, she can’t move, she can’t breathe, she can’t… Onevin – Ybrian had felt the same way, and by being connected to her, Ramsil too, but he hadn’t understood it until that moment.

  - Is it the water? I can…

  - No, it’s Sonyei from the temple.

  - Ramsil, your skin! –He heard Ycze’s voice from behind.

  Ramsil’s skin started glowing and changing, it looked like the skin of a strong reptile, he felt the first heartbeat that made him vibrate through the bones, and then he raised his eyes and saw Vicnelia, if those eyes could talk to him they’d say “Calm down, he’ll see you if you do it”, Ramsil calmed down, with a shining that lighted the village, Vicnelia was gone, leaving the three of them alone, in silence, under the rain.

  CHAPTER 22

  Before the storm in Vicnelia.

  When Sonyei woke up the first thing he did was going to Windark’s room, he assumed the old man had taken him to his, he didn’t know how long it had been, and he didn’t remember quite clearly the vision he’d had, he thought he’d had a strong vision, of a great energy load, he got to the room, entered and saw the old man meditating, he asked him to go together to the Agatha room, and so they did and when they reached this one, Sonyei took the book and read the phrase, he wrote underneath his name and a code:

  “Send the beasts to Vicnelia”

  Sonyei 32P1.

  He started to repeat it aloud walking from one side to the other, Windark was nervous because he didn’t know how much Sonyei managed to remember, he kept repeating the phrase, just like Windark thought Sonyei would act, he started reading the previous notes, the first one was the previous page to that one, Ycze’s last vision, “the beasts” he thought.

  - This was clever, old man, the phrase, don’t you think? –He walked around the book.

  - What do you mean?

  - That is a clever phrase; it contains more than one message, doesn’t it? –Sweat peeked on Windark’s forehead, he felt exposed.

  - Sonyei…

  - At first sight, the vision indicates to send the beasts to Vicnelia.

  - But you don’t control them yet, you can’t release the Aruters.

  - The phrase says more, it’s perfect!

  - What do you mean? What else does it say? –The old man sat in front of the book as if he were reading it carefully.

  - The vision was powerful, were you able to feel its strength?

  - Yes, the room shook completely –Windark answered with pauses so that his voice wouldn’t tremble.

  - Look at the phrase yourself –Windark looked at the phrase he had modified and searched for any trace of the previous phrase, it was clean, you couldn’t see the modification.

  - I don’t understand, Sonyei –The monk got closer and wrote a different phrase:

  “Send Vicnelia to the beasts”

  - The vision gave me a problem and a solution, to control the Aruters – Sonyei didn’t seem to have noticed Windark face, which would have revealed he didn’t agree with Sonyei’s interpretation– I need the soul of Vicnelia –The woman– once I possess her soul I will be able to initiate the ritual to control the creatures and send them to the village with the same name: Vicnelia.

  - Sonyei, that is… –Windark didn’t finish the phrase.

  - Brilliant, I knew that crystal would be powerful, in ways I didn’t manage to imagine– Sonyei seemed pleased with the result, which must have calmed down Windark, but he knew then that changing the phrase hadn’t resulted how he expected it –I will use on Vicnelia the same spell I used with the fake carrier.

  - With Ybrian? –Windark asked.

  - Yes, I must create a movement of energies; it’s no use sending the army to create a chaos as it was in Aruland, what will it be then? –He exited the room and led to some sort of library, with Windark after him.

  - Sonyei, you don’t think that…

  - A storm… that’s it –Sonyei said closing the book he had taken– with a storm I will put her on alert, I will be able to feel her energy and transport her directly to her death… get everything ready, old man, tonight I will have a strong enough soul to begin the ritual of the beasts.

  That night Sonyei began the ritual in one of the far chambers from the main areas of the temple, inside a kind of pool with water he conjured the ritual, he conjured up water to create the storm, which soon he was able to hear forming in the sky above the temple, with a map, his hands, and some amulets he diverted the storm towards the village, the water inside the little pool had irregular waves, through it you could see the energies he was looking for, he saw Vicnelia running and extended both arms with the palms opened, in the water Windark was able to see how Vicnelia lost her will and ability to move, Sonyei moved with calm, but with precise movements, he started to say a spell, it sounded like a chant, in the room there was a sudden silence, the water in the little pool rose up like a powerful fountain, when it plunged, it splashed almost everything and went back to its original place. As though it had always been there: Vicnelia’s body lay in the middle of the hall.

  - Take her quickly to the pit, I’ll be right there in a moment –Windark had no other choice, he took the key which Sonyei was offering him and took her to the pit in his arms, he tried to think on something to dissuade that decision, he didn’t want to do what Sonyei had ordered him, but he didn’t have a choice, he would be exposed, so he obeyed.

  - Don’t… wo… rry –Vicnelia said when Windark laid her of the ground next to the pit.

  - It was my fault, I’m sorry –One tear fell from the old man’s face.

  - It’s an honor… giving my life for them, the carriers –Sonyei’s steps were heard, he had to end this.

  - I’m so sorry –He passed his hand over her face, paralyzing her, so she wouldn’t feel pain and let her drop into the pit.

  When Sonyei arrived all her energy was glowing at the bottom of the pit, the beasts devoured her eagerly, they surely were able to feel she was special, Sonyei kneeled next to the pit, placed his hand on the force field and the light melted just there, the force field changed of color, Sonyei rose and looked at the old man, who had changed his sad face for a hard expression.

  - This is the last one I need, everything is ready for the ritual of the beasts –He got out of the basement followed by Windark, who wouldn’t stop blaming himself for Vicnelia’s death.

  CHAPTER 23

  The silence not only allowed them to hear the sound of the storm already turned by that moment into a tranquil rain, none of the three of them knew what to say or how to act, Vicnelia had helped them so much and in such a short time, each one had a different memory of Vicnelia, which they kept in silence.

  - She saved all of us –Onevin commented a little frustrated– she knew they were coming for us and she warned us until the last moment –Ycze and Ramsil didn’t answer to his comment.

  - We can’t stay here –Ycze said after a while.

  - Where will we go? We have nothing left –Ramsil on his part, was immersed in a feeling of guilt.

  - Let’s find a place that shelters us from the rain –Onevin asked without referring to someone in particular.

  - Is the mine an option? –Ycze asked looking at Ramsil; this one answered negatively moving his head.

  - Vicnelia asked us not to use our abilities, but, how
long? When will we know that it’s safe?

  - We no longer know what’s safe, if Sonyei has Vicnelia; we don’t know how much he knows–Ramsil answered to Onevin.

  - Well, I can’t stay here, simply sitting under the rain, I refuse –Onevin stood up– I admit that I don’t know where to go, but I know that I won’t stay here waiting for something to change without me doing something.

  - That’s how you speak, Onevin– The three of them turned around to see the place where that voice was coming from. Standing at a few steps of distance was Darrell, a little wet by the rain, a few seconds after they saw Cornelium by his side.

  - Cornelium! –Ycze got up and ran to hug him– I knew you were all right, thank you for coming back.

  - I came back for you– He answered her while the girl still hugged him– We came back, he corrected himself –Ycze looked at Darrell and then at Cornelium who were dressed just the same, like…

  - Are you part of the council? –She asked surprised.

  - But I’m still the same… now, what do you think if we go to the nearest cabin and catch up.

  - We’re not safe at this village, a few moments ago… –Ramsil started to explain, but Darrell raised his hand to indicate that they didn’t need explanations, they knew.

  - We’re safe for now –He said– Sonyei wouldn’t be able to attack you again, each ritual drains him and for what we believe, he’s very weak now.

  Once that was said, they all walked under the rain, which little by little was substituted by some scarce drops of water, they reached the cabin that was in the best state –The one Vicnelia used– there were the scriptures, the black cape from the uniform she wore, if it weren’t for those things, it would be in complete abandonment, dusty and wet, with little holes, which allowed the entrance of water and light, the floor was covered by a little vegetation, the same for the walls and everything that in so long hadn’t been touched, the combination of all that was a little nostalgic, maybe a few suns back Vicnelia ran in that same cabin and in that moment The girl from Vicnelia was called by her real name, with a peaceful future that had been taken away from her by the guards who wore the same uniform she had worn to die, life was strange.