Almakia_The vilashi and the Dragons

by Lhaisa Andria

  Krission Dul'Maojin paced his rooms in the main house, clearly irritated.

  Although he had said nothing to the other Dragons, his sister's visit had left him worried. Even though he had promised his mother that he would make a Decent Assignment, despite using that promise as the bargaining chip to be the vilashi's mentor, he was not exactly doing what he had said. It's good that his sister and mother did not have as close a relationship as others thought, but... and if his sister had accidentally let go that he had been in the fortress all this time?

  If she told So-ren, surely the information would come at a moment or another to the Lady of the Fire Capital.

  This place was merely another of his family's possessions, kept in return for giving the impression that the Dul'Maojin cared for the other Regions as well. The Lady of the Fire Capital had never stepped on that property, and the occasional wearer was only her sister, and he. However, if his mother suspected her son was there, she would know very well how to get there. And he did not want to imagine what she would do if she came.

  Distracted with his thoughts, Dul'Maojin only realized that he was walking randomly when he collided with one of the bedroom furniture and the pain made him go back to reality. Cursing in good tone, he pushed the furniture into a corner, ordering him to stay out of his way when he was digging his thoughts. Then something in the window right in front of him caught his attention.

  For being the lord of the place, the best room in the main house was his, and that included the best view. While the room of Garo-lin and the Kodo Princess stood in the back and the windows only showed the inner courtyard with a full view of the servants' movement among the buildings, there he had the landscape of the lake in all its splendor. But what he saw now was not the landscape – he had seen her since he was little and it was not new. What was different there was her protected vilashi in her unsuccessful attempts to handle almaki in a larger order than she had been brought up since entering the Institute.

  She followed in the footsteps as he instructed her, but all she could produce was a small flame that only served to illuminate momentarily and nothing else. Dul'Maojin knew from the beginning that it would not do any good to teach something to someone who had not been born for it.

  How could a mere vilashi who had lived her entire life somewhere in the Inland Valley be able to keep up with the soul of a lineage like him?

  But he could not help but notice with interest how she struggled. Complaining, but never giving up, day after day she was on the edge of that lake, trying, and that made him intrigued. What good would it do to handle almaki in a second order if that would not erase the fact of who she was?

  — I FOUND YOU! – Kandara Dul'Maojin opened the door with a kick and almost made the brother fall from the window with the fright.

  — You need to break the door of my room? – he complained, trying to compose himself so she would not mistrust what he was looking at until that moment.

  — Aaaahaaa! – she rolled over to the bed and dropped into it, sighing. – I need to leave today.

  — Then go!

  — Why such a hurry? – she asked, smiling. – Does it have a special reason?

  — Of-of course not! – he sounded disguised.

  — Huuuum... Don't worry. You know I don't talk to our mother. And I can't visit So-ren without her discovering I'm going to be there.

  The dragon stared at her for a while, assessing what she had said.

  — But I guess that's not exactly your fear, is it? – she asked, as someone who understood something.

  — I’m the Fire Dragon! – he replied. – I don't feel fear!

  She nodded, rising from the bed and following the large window overlooking the lake.

  — But it's good to learn to feel, my brother. Not even the great Fire Dragon can be totally immune.

  — Whatever – he paid no attention to what she was talking about and looked out the window again, hoping that with this she would stop pestering him and leave.

  — Then that's it? – she asked suddenly, very close to his ear.

  — What? – he asked, at the same time jumping to the side.

  But in response, she just smiled and leaned over the parapet, as if she were commenting on the wind:

  — Nobody really can have absolute control under their plans... who would have thought a vilashi would be taught by a Dul'Maojin... if our mother knew...

  — Why don't you leave now, huh? – the dragon complained, not wanting to advance in this matter.

  — Because I know you love me and you don't really want me far! – she exclaimed contentedly.

  — Only in your dreams! – he folded his arms, bored.

  — Don’t worry, Kris. I really need to go.

  He stared at her for a while, as if analyzing.

  — You still have this diplomacy thing?

  — Diplomacy, Kris – she corrected patiently. – And it’s my job.

  — You don't need to work... You’re a Dul’Maojin.

  — I can't avoid my origin, but I can be someone I want, can't I? – she looked at the lake and saw the vilashi once again manage to create a small flame and hold it for a few seconds, then losing it. – I hope you understand too.

  — There is nothing for the absolute I understand!

  — Glad I have the most absolutely wise brother in the world! – she laughed and then grabbed something in the pocket of her robes, begging for him: – Open your hand.

  — What?

  — It's a surprise! Open your hand!

  — What is it?!

  — Open the damn hand!

  Suspicious, he obeyed and she handed him what he held.

  — What is it? – he asked, staring at two small spheres of glass, fastened to silver chains.

  — A news of Kinaito! – she counted excitedly. – And these two are special! They were made to order! I also have one! – she took her out of her pocket and held it out, as if it were a prize.

  — Are you walking with Kinaito again? What if the mother knows?

  — She doesn't need to know, just like she doesn't have to know you're here. – Caught by her hint, he tried to divert, asking about the sphere:

  — And what do I do with this little thing?

  — It is a form of communication. Look that!

  She squeezed the ball tightly in her hand, concentrating. Instantly, the spheres in Dul'Maojin's hand began to glow in a red color and small flames appeared within her.

  When she opened her hand in front of her face, there was an explosion and a small miniature image of her appeared on her brother's spheres.

  — How did you do that?! – he looked surprised at her face in the balls and then at the real face in front of her.

  — It's called almaki resonance! – she said, along with the echo of her own voice coming from the replica reduced the spheres. – I'm seeing your big head here!

  He peered at her sphere, but saw nothing, not even his reflection in the glass.

  Knowing that if she did not explain the operation of those objects to her brother soon enough, he would be able to break them under the pretext of analyzing, the heiress Dul'Maojin tried to speak in an easy way.

  Then she sat on the window sill and forced him to sit beside her, explaining:

  — What we see here is a representation of what lies ahead of the sphere with which we try to communicate. An impression of our almaki, you understand? The image is not really inside the sphere, but in our almaki, so only those who have the sphere in their hands can see. For this connection between spheres to be possible, you have to be able to feel the frequency of the other person's almaki.

  — Fequency? – he asked confused, but at the same time admired by that.

  — Frequency! Let's say you need to be able to recognize someone else's almaki among thousands. A tuning. If you are capable of this, no matter the distance, you will be able to communicate through that sphere.

  — Even if we are Overseas?

  — Even tha
t – she confirmed. – Keep this sphere well, because it may be the only way to communicate with me from now on.

  — Hum – he did, more interested in the spheres than with the warning.

  — And I don't know if my absolute smart brother noticed, but you have two balls in your hand.

  — Of course I know there are two!

  She smiled with satisfaction and guided:

  — One is yours, don't lose it! Kinaito did only a few and I had to insist a lot for him to give me one more!

  — And why two then? Do you think I'm going to lose and why do I need a reservation?

  — I can't say no, but... let's just say that upon arriving here, I realized that this reservation will soon be useful for you.

  — Can I give it to others?

  — They already have.

  — What do you mean?

  — Of course, the Dragons must have such a sphere! They are the pride of Almakia and should be equipped to the height!

  — And I was the last to receive! – Dul'Maojin complained. – So what's the other's function, if they already have one?

  — Soon you will understand, Kris. Now, how about arranging a delicious meal for your sister to leave with a good impression of the hospitality of the Fire Dragon?

  — If I do, will you really leave?

  ***

  Garo-lin stretched out on the grass and took a deep breath, staring at the passing clouds of a bright day after a rain.

  It was not working, something was missing. For several days, she had tried with all her strength and had never been able to go beyond what she already knew, despite following exactly what she had been taught. Even adding what little she had extracted from the complicated books on advanced almaki that Zawhart had given her, not even something simple like changing the color of her flames was possible.

  Every second-order fire soul could handle flames and vary their colors. She had already become masters and students of the Institute with this ability to use her knowledge on feast days to produce dancing flames in the sky. It was always an event, despite their clear intentions for exhibitionism.

  — I wanted so much to make a colored flame or a fire drawing for a festival... – she moaned, raising her hands up and repeating the basic movements the dragon had taught her.

  — You vilashis really like parties, don't you? – Garo-lin looked back in alarm, and even seeing the other way round, she realized that someone was hiding in the shadows of the trees, close enough to hear her talking. Even though she was almost getting used to the silent form of the Royal Dragon approaching, this time it was not him.

  Then she rose quickly, while, without any ceremony, the heiress Dul'Maojin came out of the shadows and came to her. As if she were as tired as the vilashi, the almakin dropped a backpack that she carried on the grass and sat down beside her, counting:

  — As soon as I left the Institute I started traveling around Almakia. This fortress was my starting point and is where I always come back before leaving again. One of the first places I visited was the Inland Valley. I could have passed you back then, you know? But even if we actually saw each other, I don't think I would recognize you today, since you are all very similar...

  Although she possessed that thought of superiority, as was customary for the almakins, she did not use her brother's arrogant tone.

  But even if the heiress was talking to her normally, Garo-lin did not feel comfortable speaking. She could not explain it right, but it was as if the presence of the heiress Dul'Maojin was so great in comparison to her own that to open her mouth to utter anything before her needed permission. Even though the situation was obviously like this, it was something different from what she felt with the Dragons.

  Perhaps because of the fact that she had only recently met her, or because she still associated her with a figure that hovered above her in the dark during the rainy night, but... All she could conclude was that this person, alone, could exercise in her all the respect that the Dragons could not. Even so, for the sake of it, Garo-lin could not resist and began a little awkwardly:

  — But... Almakins doesn't usually go there.

  — I did. Not as an heiress, I assure you... I passed through several villages. What is yours?

  — Godan, near to Yue River.

  — Yeah, I know – she spoke excitedly. – The one that has a big space in the center where you get together?

  Garo-lin thought of a polite way of responding:

  — Most villages have a place like this.

  — Oh yes? Anyway, about the festival you were talking about, I was there one of these days and it was a lot of fun. I like those big low tables where you all sit together. If it were not for the insistence to continue the journey of someone who was together at that time, I would have stayed more. Vilashis like parties.

  — But our parties are different from yours – Garo-lin nudged a dry leaf at her feet. – We celebrate something that makes everyone happy.

  The heiress stared at her as if she had not understood and Garo-lin sought another way to explain:

  — In the Institute, for example, all parties and celebrations seem to have an intention for later, not for the moment, do you understand? You celebrate because the Dragons have left for Assignment and will come back bigger, more powerful. We vilashis would celebrate for the simple fact that they are leaving in search of something better... it doesn't matter if they will come back powerful or not.

  — Yes, you have a very strange way of thinking. So you live in dens.

  And there was proof that the heiress Dul'Maojin did not escape the rule of being a proud almakin, even though she was reputed not to follow the tradition of the family. However, what she said next completely cut off those thoughts of Garo-lin:

  — Think like this until it's good... I hope this way you make it understand.

  — What?

  In response, she received a satisfied smile, which reminded her very much of what the Fire Dragon gave when she had something totally architected in mind, and said:

  — Third-order fire handler, Garo-lin Colinpis, the first vilashi within the Dul'Maojin Institute.

  At this summons, Garo-lin straightened up, as when one of her masters caught her eye.

  — I must leave, and it is quite probable that we will not see each other again so soon... even if I am not one of your teachers, would you accept an assignment ordered by me?

  Garo-lin blinked. What do you mean, an assignment?

  Understanding her silent shock as an acceptance, the heiress continued:

  — I, Kandara Dul'Maojin, first-hand handler, ask her to watch over Dragons.

  — Wha-what? – Garo-lin choked on.

  — Promise me you'll stay with them from here – she continued, as if she had not been interrupted. – Who will help them, as if they were a mentor to the five?

  Fully understanding all the words she uttered, but unable to find their context, Garo-lin merely remained paralyzed as the heiress grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes, as if she wanted to record each sentence in the back of her almaki:

  — They will dictate the future of Almakia and Almakia will be what they are. Five Dragons exist at one time is seen as an opportunity. And they are so blind of how everything is walking so perfectly well, that they haven't noticed that a miserable vilashi is among them... I know my brother, Garo-lin, and I'm glad he's met you. Please keep Krission the way he is, don't lose him, don't let him get lost. His fate is no longer in my hands.

  She let go of her and then stood up, slamming the small leaves of dry grass that clung to her robes.

  — Ah! – she exclaimed, remembering something, putting aside that serious air of moments before. – You're concentrating and visualizing, and that's exactly what you need to do. But just as there is no one like you in the world, there is no almaki like yours. Only you are able to know it, and when you realize it, all the limitations will disappear... Sorry if you don't teach this at my family's school... It's just that if everyone
knew how simple it was, there would be no sense in having an Institute, could it? – so she grabbed her backpack and threw it on her shoulders. – I need to go. My mimbelula already be sealed and I need to get to Routes before the sun goes down. Don't forget the promise.

  And as suddenly as she had appeared, she left, leaving behind an extremely confused Garo-lin.

  Chapter 10 – The way a vilashi handle

  After the heiress Dul'Maojin left, leaving her a meaningless assignment, Garo-lin had trained all afternoon. But the tiredness, mixed with what she had heard, disturbed her thoughts and did not let her concentrate. What exactly was she up to, asking for something so disturbing and impossible as being the mentor of the Dragons?

  The only conclusion that came to her was that her sister thought just as absurdly as the Fire Dragon. And even if the heiress had asked for it, she had not answered or promised to do anything. She'd just looked at her with a grimace of astonishment, and that was not exactly a yes ... and, first of all, how could anyone she barely knew – which was so superior that Garo-lin was more insignificant than she was before her – to ask her something?

  Wanting to get out of the state of confusion in which she had stayed, Garo-lin decided that it was best to cling to concrete things, such as trying to improve her handling, even though it was not exactly working.

  The sun had set for some time, and the lights of the main house and the fortress buildings were already on. She looked at the windows that filled the dark mass behind her and noticed only a few shadows moving around, and none of them seemed to belong to her mentor. Satisfied, she turned her attention to the lake.

  In a way, it was a relief to train on her own. With the unexpected visit of the last two days, the Fire Dragon did not seem to feel comfortable staying close to her. He always made an excuse to leave when his sister showed up. Not that Garo-lin cared about that. It was so much better not to have her mentor around calling her useless or idiotic vilashi, pointing out all her slightest mistakes after every failed attempt. Training alone, without pressure, could make all the difference and she did not want to stop while still able to continue. Then, once again, she made perfectly the simple gestures that the dragon had taught her and raised her hand to the lake.