by Jessa Ford
Xave’s voice pulled Cora from her thoughts. “Cora,” he started. She looked up at him and couldn’t help but notice the fear still present in his eyes. “It’s possible that you’re a Time Bender,” he whispered, so softly she was sure she misheard him. “W-what did you say?” “I know you heard me.” Cora felt as if her knees would buckle. Xave must have expected such a reaction, because he kept holding her against the door. “I don’t...how could that be?” she shook her head and began to piece together what Xave was saying.
“Think about it, Cora. You read faster than anyone Dari’s ever seen, and you remember every detail, as if the book is right in front of you. You can recount almost anything you’ve ever done, and any story anyone has ever told you. In a much more general manner, you have almost inexplicably quick reflexes...you show a lot of signs.” “You said Dari sent you? Does she share your opinions about my supposed gift?” Cora studied Xave’s face for any hint of a crack in his resolve, but found none. “She believes it more than I do.” “That still doesn’t prove anything.” “Cora, trust me on this. I know the signs.” Cora scoffed, “Oh really? You’re suddenly an expert in time bending?” “An expert, no, but I know what I’m talking about,” he was nearly pleading with her. “Xave, I just...it doesn’t make sense. I would have known.”
Xave sighed and looked at the girl in front of him, a picture of confusion. He wasn’t sure what to do next, but he knew he was running out of options. Though she’d spent most of their time together loathing his company and making it clear she doubted his expertise in anything, she hadn’t tried to leave since he admitted his suspicion. Her eyes widened at his news, and he knew she was on her way to being open to the possibility of believing his theory. But, she was not going to take the leap if he didn’t give her a reason to completely trust him. To save this girl, he would have to risk a little piece of himself. “Look,” Xave took a deep breath and began again, “I know you show signs of being a Time Bender, because I know first-hand what some of those signs are.” “I read the books, too,” Cora tried to argue, but one glance at Xave made her hesitate.
He tipped her chin up so she could look him in the eyes and said, “I don’t know because of the books. I know because of who I am. I’m a Time Bender.” Cora stopped fighting him and stared at him in disbelief. As the words sunk in, she shook her head slowly. “That can’t be. Your Reading placed you here. You work with Dari. You…” she ran out of reasons to doubt him. “I couldn’t say anything. It was for my own safety.” “Your own safety?” Xave was growing more exasperated by the minute. “Look, I need to get you to Dari. She’ll explain everything.” “Prove it first,” Cora demanded. “What?” Xave dropped his hands from her arms for the first time since he’d locked them in the closet.
As Cora ran through the ins and outs of her memories, she knew deep down it made sense. The first time they met she should have plunged from the library ladder, yet she found herself perfectly balanced, not even a hair out of place. And Xave worked faster than humanly possible. Sometimes, in a childish act of defiance, Cora left stacks and stacks of books for Xave to shelve when she left her shift; yet anytime she returned to study, it was if they were never out at all. He was also frustratingly punctual. She’d never seen him late to anything, but from the way he and Dari spoke, he seemed to have an intensely busy schedule. Still, the rational part of Cora’s brain kept her on the ledge.
“Prove you’re a Time Bender and I’ll listen to whatever you want to tell me.” “I really don’t see how my gifts have any bearing on this.” “Show me you’re telling the truth or I’m going to my Reading,” Cora held firm. “We really don’t have time for that.” The tall boy protested, but his protest was met by a surprisingly devious grin. “Oh, don’t we? I’d have thought out of everything you would have all the time in the world.” Xave shook his head, smirked, and pulled her close to him. “What are you doing?” “Just hold on,” he whispered.
Cora closed her eyes for a mere moment, and when she opened them she stood in awe. They were no longer cramped in a storage closet near Headmaster Keenly’s office. Xave transported them seamlessly to the middle of the dining center; no one seemed to think them out of place, nor was anyone startled by their sudden appearance. Cora was acutely aware, however, of Xave’s arm which had not left her waist and she nearly jumped back. Xave stood wide-eyed and suddenly burst into laughter. Something about sharing his secret with someone else had lifted a weight from his chest. It was a small weight, but a weight nonetheless.
Cora didn’t know if she was more shocked by what he had just revealed, or the laughter erupting from her typically sullen acquaintance. “I’m not going to combust, you know,” his eyes sparkled when he laughed and Cora noticed they were almost blue when he was happy. That is, she wasn’t actually sure she’d ever seen him happy before. “I know that. I read the entire library collection on time bending, remember?” Cora stood with her hands on her hips. “Do you need me to give you another demonstration? Because at the length you’re standing from me, I may need to if I even want to continue our conversation.” Cora rolled her eyes, instantly reminded of how irritating he could be. “You were just…you were standing very close to me. Some of these people might talk,” Cora looked around nervously once more to ensure no one took interest in her and her tall companion.
Xave began to laugh again, “I’m sorry, I forget how prim and proper you Telgrians are when it comes to social interactions.” He shrugged. “Aren’t you from Telgria?” “Arvendry, actually.” “You never mentioned it.” Xave shrugged again, “Was it pertinent information before today?” Cora shook her head, but he continued, “We should go. We need to get you to Dari before anyone notices you’re here. Unless of course you still don’t believe me?” Cora met his eyes, and before she could answer Xave pulled her close and moved through space and time unnoticed. It was suddenly very possible that he was with another Time Bender for the first time in a very, very long while. More importantly, it was the first one he’d reached in time. That knowledge alone gave Xave a small ounce of hope.
Xave and Cora arrived in the library before the minute hand made another rotation around the clock. They were met by not one, but two concerned faces. Dari and Headmaster Keenly were awaiting their arrival. “Close the door and start turning off the lights.” Dari moved quickly, flipping the available signs over on the checkout counter. “I’m going to make an announcement and when we’re sure it’s empty we’ll continue,” she pushed the button for the loudspeaker and continued, “Students please excuse the interruption, but the library will be closed for the remainder of the day due to an electrical issue. Please return any books to their shelves, and make your way toward the exit. We apologize for any inconvenience.” She ushered Xave over. “Take her to the magical section. I don’t want anyone to see her here.” He nodded and grabbed Cora’s hand. In another blink of an eye, and to no one else’s knowledge, they arrived in the least visited section of the library.
✽✽✽
Cora felt oddly comfortable amongst the dimly lit stacks. It was the only thing that kept her from completely bursting at the seams. Xave sat at one of the tables and scanned the aisles for any lingering students. Cora, on the other hand, could not sit still and walked back and forth between the table and the closest shelf. Soon, the other members of their group arrived, but Cora refused to sit. “I see she’s taken the news well,” Dari hid a smile as she watched the young girl pace. “We’re wasting time,” Martin Keenly looked almost ghostly. He could not hide his concern, though not for lack of trying. He drummed his fingers nervously alone the wood grains of the table as he shifted in his seat. “You have a point, Martin,” Dari continued, “Miss Vaunderly, I suppose you would like us to answer some questions?”
ELEVEN
Cora stopped and stared at the three individuals sitting before her. It was almost surreal that this would be happening to her, and at Starbury no less. “Look, I’m not sure you have the right person,” she hesitantly joine
d them at the table, but sat a safe distance away from her company. “Perhaps it would help if I shared some history with you.” The old librarian sat a little taller and looked from Martin to Xave. “It’s better if you tell it,” Headmaster Keenly nodded to Dari. Cora could barely keep still from all her nervous energy. Her mind was still buzzing. Dari, noticing Cora’s demeanor, calmly placed a hand wrinkled from age on Cora’s and smiled, “This will all make sense soon.”
“Though you’re young, I imagine you’ve heard of what things were like before, when we had more magical gifts. Martin and I remember it well. It wasn’t so many years ago that you couldn’t walk down a street in Telgria without seeing someone utilizing magic. Always revered, those with magical gifts played a significant role in our society. Aside from their obvious importance to many of Telgria’s systems, they also served as a symbol of prosperity for Telgrians. It’s why the few left today are so highly regarded. Much of Telgria’s success rests on their shoulders. Magical blood has always been a burden, but it has been a burden they carried with pride,” Dari paused, remembering the time she had described. For the old woman, it had been the last time she’d known peace.
“Everything changed after Nikol Delmarno,” her eyes lost their usual sparkle at the mention of his name, “Nikol Delmarno arrived like a mad dog, turning everything to chaos. He started with small crimes--theft, robbery, and break ins in various parts of Telgria, including the School of Knowledge--and then he moved into more dangerous pursuits.” Dari sighed, as if remembering in vivid detail what had happened. “How was he able to do it?” Cora interrupted. It was funny how small details like that were often left out of the stories. “He had devout followers, many of them Thought Seekers unfit with their limited career options. Thought Seekers possess a strong, sometimes dangerous magic. An individual can learn your thoughts, see your truths, and use them against you. They can make you relive your nightmares. You can imagine how it doesn’t take long for people to heed the warnings.”
“After some time, Nikol and his followers began kidnapping those with magical gifts. It was always assumed he found a way for Thought Seekers to control the actions of others, even others with magical gifts. He had amassed quite an army at his height. Even those with non-magical gifts were afraid to leave their homes some days. We thought it would go on until there was no one or nothing left.” Cora remembered the stories her parents told. Healers risked their lives numerous times by staying in healing houses and helping those who had been affected. She had always felt proud that her parents showed such bravery. “What was the point of it all?” she asked. Cora never quite understood the reason for all the chaos. Surely the risk wasn’t work the reward of break ins and high-level kidnappings. Though her parents had told her the stories, they never revealed too many details, as if it was still too fresh in their minds.
Xave spoke up then and Cora’s attention snapped toward him. “He found a way to use magical gifts from other people.” “But how?” Cora’s mind began to spin. She’d never heard anything about it before. Xave leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, “It’s true. It’s the reason so many Telgrians with magical gifts disappeared. Time Benders, though, are the rarest. Their magic is hardest to understand. It’s likely he was hoping to master all the magical gifts and allowed others to wreak havoc in return for loyalty when he needed something.” “But then Eldri Arafo stopped him.” As a girl, Cora always liked this part of the story. Eldri Arafo was the famous Time Bender who defeated Nikol Delmarno. She showed up out of nowhere and forced him to flee; she was that powerful. Not long after, she disappeared and no one had seen or heard from her since. “How did she do it?” Cora had never thought to question the story. Who would doubt a hero?
“You’re aware of how Time Benders can carry another when they travel?” Martin Keenly sat up straight and joined the conversation. “Just recently,” Cora looked to Xave who now sat with his legs crossed and head resting on the shelf behind him, as if bored by the conversation after his contribution. “It’s been said very powerful Time Benders--I mean Time Benders who possess an immense amount of magic in their blood--have the ability to carry someone a great distance through time.”
Cora’s eyes widened. She hadn’t read anything about this ability in all of her research. “The stories say Eldri carried Nikol somewhere and showed him something that made him flee. He just left and his followers disappeared right along with him without his protection. It’s been twenty years of peace since then,” Martin, too, looked as if he were reminiscing. “But if he’s been gone that whole time, why are magical gifts still so rare?” Cora thought back to the conversation in her History of Gifts class.
“Some believe the people who were kidnapped never wanted to put anyone else in danger and refused to have children, for fear of passing along their magical blood. Others say it’s the result of so much gift mixing, but science would prove that to be ignorance. Others still think the number of Telgrians with magical blood never lessened, but rather they just stay in hiding…” Dari began to trail off. “But we have another theory,” Xave interjected, grabbing Cora’s attention once again. “You do?” “We think Nikol Delmarno is the reason there are so few Telgrians with magical blood.” “How could that be? Eldri Arafo defeated him.” Cora noticed Dari’s face change slightly. “He was defeated,” she began slowly, “but not killed. We have reason to believe Nikol has been slowly stealing those with magical gifts after they have their Readings.” Cora felt a chill run up her spine. It sounded impossible, yet the three faces across from her held such conviction at Dari’s words, Cora didn’t dare question them.
Over the course of the next few hours, Dari, Martin, and Xave filled Cora in on their work--their real work. Martin, who Cora learned was also a Knowledge Seeker, had started to question the number of students who began attending the School of Magic. Though Reading results were typically only reported to the Telgrian Register, as Headmaster, he could access the Register. Time and time again he checked the results in hopes of staving off further confusion. The numbers never added up. Where there should have been classrooms full of students, the School of Magic only saw a handful of students each year. Fewer, too, at their graduation.
Martin began keeping record of the inconsistencies and eventually shared his concerns with Dari, an old friend and one of the few he trusted. Dari had also found it strange that magic would die out so quickly in Telgria, a city that was once an epicenter for those with magical gifts. Over the next few years they shared many late nights, drinking tea and theorizing the many possibilities which could account for such inaccuracies, both hoping the voices in the back of their heads was wrong. They monitored the small changes around them passively until Dari discovered Xave. He was their first real opportunity to investigate.
“We didn’t want to draw any attention to ourselves, so we observed the changes, never actively investigating anything,” Martin smiled and lines formed around his eyes, “But never underestimate what the mind can do with a little reading material. We had everything we needed: data, research, theories, everything ready and waiting for the right person to execute our plan.” Dari spoke up. “It couldn’t be one of us, you see, because it would draw attention given our respective positions. Luckily, Xavier made ever the slightest error one day.” Cora’s ears perked up at the mention of Xave’s error. As usual his face remained impassive, and she fought the urge to smirk at the thought of him making a mistake.
“You see, Xavier too had a habit of coming to the library quite often. Like you, he was a connoisseur of the magical section. Once, before closing, he knocked over a stack of books and slowed time to pick them up before they could fall to the ground. Almost no one around him would have noticed, but as luck would have it, another Time Bender was in the vicinity and saw him moving about before time returned to its normal pace.” Cora’s eyebrows were raised. “Another Time Bender?” “Me,” Dari’s eyes regained their normal twinkle and she smiled at Cora. Of course, Cora thought, how else
would Dari have suspected I had a magical gift? “That’s how you knew to keep me from going to my Reading,” Cora whispered while her three companions watched her come to her conclusions.
“I had already suspected it was possible you possessed magical blood after observing you all term. You’ve been susceptible to magic that was present with Xaiver and I. Do you remember when we spoke in my office over tea?” Cora thought back to the conversation, which seemed as normal as any other. “Xavier and I slowed time ever so slightly. You probably didn’t notice anything, but you weren’t so far off in the conversation that it kept us from continuing. I’ve also been terribly clumsy around you. I knock things over all the time, and you nearly snatch them out of the air without missing a beat. Your photographic ability to recall anything you’ve read could also be attributed to magic.” Cora forgot to breathe for a moment. Was it possible Dari was right?
“I shared my suspicions with Martin after he alerted me that Juniper Sniels approved your Reading request, and now here we are,” Dari continued to watch Cora, as if she expected her to flee any moment. “Speaking of,” Martin stood and straightened his tie, “I need to be getting back so I may cancel your Reading. Miss Vaunderly, you have unfortunately been very ill these days past, and do not want to allow your sickness to interfere with your performance. I’ll let Headmaster Sniels know you plan to reschedule once you recover.” He bowed his head and left the aisle, hurrying back to his office. Dari clasped Cora’s hands in her own. “I had hoped we’d have more time to explore your gifts, but perhaps this is for the best. I have a feeling whatever darkness is brewing won’t stay hidden for very long. If I’m correct in my assumptions about you, it won’t take them long to act.”