“Of course he will be, don’t be silly. The other two though…”
“They were often assholes before all of this happened, so no, he’s not going to be keen to see them again.”
As the sun began to creep below the horizon, Dyn suggested that they grab some dinner and retire for the night. Sariel decided for the others, his stomach agreeing with him. That act alone earnt him a laugh, but no one opted to disagree.
Chapter 24: Family Talk
The others retired to their rooms, leaving Iliana, Dyn and Sakura together in one room. She had promised Dyn an explanation as to who he was, along with why he was with her. Iliana leaned in the corner of the room, giving himself an escape if the response was bad. Dyn listened as she gave him the details of her mother, something she had kept hidden before. Despite everything he was being told, Dyn was unfazed.
“My side of the family isn’t exactly rational, so I’m not going to criticize you for yours,” he said with a shrug of the shoulders, allowing Iliana to relax. “Besides, it’s nice to have more family that aren’t my own. One half abused me, the other half abandoned me and the final one well, you know that.”
“I’ve not met Amnur, but I’m interested to,” Iliana replied, turning his head towards Sakura. “Between our two families, how is it you’re so normal?”
“I wouldn’t call myself normal,” she said, though she opted not to elaborate. Her magic would come out by itself in the end, but not right now.
“Kind, then. How is it you’re so kind? You’ve cared more about me in a week than many people have their whole lives.”
“It makes a change to have someone who doesn’t want me dead.”
Dyn let out a sigh. “I can understand that one.”
He paused for a moment, staring at Iliana. The locals had been tolerant of his presence so far, but that was down to it being daylight. Night time brought a different crowd of individuals, including those fueled by liquid courage. When the Raven arranged their accommodation, he kept the location a secret to all but Dyn. There were only so many guesthouses to try, though disturbing their owners would incur their wrath.
“Would it make it more comfortable if I stayed here the night?” Dyn asked. Iliana smiled, nodding to the demon.
“That’d be great, thanks.”
Chapter 25: Aether and Its Forms
“Hey, wake up!”
Sakura jolted awake, scanning the room with her single eye. It focused on Dyn, who was sat on her bed. He looked excited and worried.
“How did you get in here?” she said.
“I might have a spare to all of the rooms, but that’s not the important bit. I received this.”
She was handed a single piece of paper that held an obvious message: a bloody handprint. The smell and the prominence of the black colour told her it was fresh blood, perhaps only stamped on an hour ago. It said that Amnur was alive, if injured.
“Let me into Solomon’s room, I need him to check something.”
Dyn did as requested, giving her access to the mage’s room. On hearing the door unlock, Solomon had leapt upright, ready to defend himself. When he saw Sakura, he groaned. She gave him a hasty apology but soon got to the point.
“Paper isn’t the best conduit of aether but it’s still blood, can you tell me anything about it?”
“This is Amnur’s then, I’m assuming?” Solomon replied, taking the sheet of paper from her. He pressed his hand against it, frowning at the result. There was Amnur’s aether there, he could recognise that. What disturbed him, was the presence of another’s aether. It was faint, subtle, but it was there. The paper only contained blood from a single source, however.
“Two sources? A binding spell, perhaps?” Dyn replied as he relayed his findings. “Not something a fire mage could do themselves, but nothing says they did it themselves.”
“Is hired help a common thing?” Sakura queried.
“There’s plenty that want to earn favour with the high houses, regardless of the task.”
Solomon’s expression remained taut, however. He wasn’t so convinced of that explanation, but he didn’t want to comment. Not without evidence.
“How do we read this?” he said, turning the paper towards them.
“I would say they took the bait, what I can’t say is how they’ll act next. I would suspect them to come here and brag, but how and when they’ll do that I don’t know.”
It was positive news, even if Dyn couldn’t give any more information. Sakura twiddled her fingers, wondering where to go from here. Dyn, however, had a suggestion for that. Eat, relax, keep up their strength. This was going to boil down to a fight, one way or another.
“Let’s go rouse the others and get some breakfast, then we’ll inform the Raven of the news. How about it?”
“Perhaps a bit nicer than you roused me,” Solomon replied, rubbing the side of his head in a vain attempt to wake himself. Sakura asked Dyn to do the wakeup call, while she fetched Solomon a cup of water. When she returned, she could see the mage was disturbed.
“What’s up?”
Solomon glanced at her, taking the cup from her hands. He sipped the water, tapping against the glass with one finger. The tap continued as he took a second sip, ending when he placed the cup on the nightstand.
“Just a hunch,” he said, letting out a sigh. “Nothing I want to entertain.”
“Alright. Well, I’ll leave you to get ready.”
Sakura tapped her head and waved, stepping back into her room to dress. A few moments after she was ready, a knock echoed on her door. The fuzzy, bright head of Sariel poked through the now expanding gap, peering in. She laughed at the sight, welcoming him inside.
“Hungry?” Sakura teased.
“What can I say? I’m used to three meals a day, and this heat takes a toll. So does the humidity.”
The frizzy poof of his hair confirmed his statement, though he had stopped caring about it. Or, he lost the means to care for it. She placed both hands on his hair to squash it down, only for it to spring back up the second she took her hands off. Sariel laughed, mentioning he’d swing a shower later in the day and swindle a comb if he could.
With the others awake, Dyn collected them and took them to the communal dining hall. This time it was a bustling hub of activity, providing Sakura with a level of noise that she had never been exposed to. It scratched at her sensitive ears but she could cope, for now. Dyn sat them down at an open table, before excusing himself to place their order. While waiting for him to return, she examined the occupants of the hall. Amid the smaller new bloods, there were a few, obvious old bloods. Not as many as she expected, but there were some.
“It’ll be along in a few,” Dyn said as he sat back down. The others made small talk as they waited, while Sakura continued her watch of the individuals in the hall. A few newcomers came in and ordered, although they waited around the kitchen. Another old blood entered, strolling down the path between the tables when she stopped, right next to their table. Dyn glanced up, greeting her with a smile. They exchanged pleasantries, and Dyn introduced them to her.
Sakura’s attention was on her passenger, however. She was carrying a child, a tiny child. It was dwarfed by her massive stature, giving her many questions.
“Is that your baby?” Sakura blurted out, blushing in embarrassment afterwards. To her relief, the old blood laughed at the awkward question.
“It’s a friend’s child. She’s recovering from some health issues so I’m acting as a wet nurse for her since I’m pregnant,” the old blood replied, giving the child a soft stroke.
“That’s very sweet of you.”
The demon bid farewell to them for a moment, to place her own order. With her away from the table, Sakura took a deep breath. She felt Sariel nudge her in the ribs, finding amusement in her silly question. A few moments later, the demon returned and enquired if she could join them. Dyn agreed, so she settled down on the bench.
Sakura tried to join in on the small talk but foun
d herself uncomfortable. Whether it was the residual embarrassment or something else, she was unsure. The old blood noted this and chuckled.
“Am I the first old blood you’ve had a conversation with? We can come over rather predatory to other demons, particularly small ones.”
Sakura nodded, though it was a lie. None of the old bloods so far had worried her. This discomfort was caused by something else, something she couldn’t pinpoint. A giggle came in reply to her answer, followed by a pat on the shoulder.
“I’m not going to eat you, promise. Demon blood isn’t nice on the stomach.”
“I would’ve thought I was a bit tough and rotten, anyway,” Sakura replied, tapping her scar. The demon opened her mouth but ended up with a grin. For Sakura to joke about her wound meant she was comfortable with it, a fact that wasn’t missed.
She was offered some relief when the food arrived, as everyone was too distracted with eating to talk further. With a sigh, she tucked into her own meal. Her eye glanced at the other meals, noticing that Abel had been given a suitable meal for one of his size. That fact had delighted him and he was sparing no time to eat it all. The food was better than she expected, it was flavoursome and juicy. With the busy hall, she had assumed it would be done quick and dry, but this was the opposite.
“The chefs take pride in their work,” Dyn said, licking the juice off his lip. “Full bellies make for happy demons.”
As they were finishing up their meals, another demon came up to the table, whispering a message to Dyn.
“The Raven wants a word, though we were heading that way anyway,” Dyn said, offering an apology and a farewell to their temporary companion. Once they were out of the hall, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. The throb of conversation had started to echo in her head. They arrived outside the familiar hut, offering a respectful knock on the door before entering.
“Ah, there you are,” the Raven said, gesturing for them to take a seat. “Enjoying our facilities?”
“Yes, thank you for your hospitality,” Sakura replied. Her response was met with a smile before it returned to a neutral line as he spilt the reason he had summoned them. Dyn had sent them the bait, but the Raven had done the digging that the demon hoped he would do. He had managed to confirm that the siblings were acting erratic and that activity had surged after Dyn’s letter had arrived. One of the servants had told them of increasing aggression within the household, along with screams. Screams weren’t something Sakura was keen to hear, although it told them he was indeed alive. Dead people can’t scream, after all.
“With the distance between the two cities, I wouldn’t expect them to turn up today. It’s too warm already, it’s easier to move in the morning,” the Raven stated, twisting his head around to confirm with Dyn.
“Morning or evening, though evening would be a foolish move,” Dyn replied to the stern glance. Sakura frowned at the thought of having to wait it out, but she had no option.
“I’m sorry, kid. I know it’s not the best news. Why don’t you spend the day with me? Take your mind off this.”
Dyn gave her a thumbs up, prompting her to agree to the suggestion. The others thanked the Raven and departed, leaving her alone with him. She felt his aether flare for a few minutes before it faded away.
“As bad as the older siblings are, I can’t go to war over one individual, your father or not. I’m not happy with the situation as I know they’re up to something, but I need further proof.”
“By the time you got that proof, my father would probably be dead.”
The Raven sighed, slumping his shoulders against his chair. “That’s why I’m glad they’ve taken Dyn’s bait, or it seems like they have. It’s the best course of action here.”
Sakura wriggled her wings to release the tension in her body. It wasn’t him she was angry at, just the helplessness of the situation. Relying on a string of ‘what ifs’ was tenuous at best, based on information on people she didn’t know. She noticed that he was staring at her, as his head tracked her subtle changes in position.
“Now they’re gone, I have a question for you,” the Raven said, resting his chin on his folded hands. “Your aether is twisted, why is that?”
“Uh,” Maelor said, echoing her statement, “I guess we should’ve expected someone who sees aether to pick up on your weirdness.”
“Thanks. What now?” Sakura responded to the voice. She looked at the Raven’s expression, it was neutral. He didn’t see her as a threat, not yet anyway.
“If he can see you, can he also see me? My aether won’t be as prominent as yours, but our signatures are different.”
“This isn’t the Central Isles, they may not want me dead for simply existing.”
Sakura heard Maelor agree, so she took a deep breath. She first told him about the chaos magic to test his reaction, including the events that lead to her losing her eye.
“Interesting. Has anyone persecuted you over your element?”
“No, not yet but I keep it hidden. The Central Isles has killed every chaos mage that’s existed, however.”
“Then how are you alive? If you don’t mind me asking,” the Raven said. Sakura told him about the other half, about Maelor. He nodded along as she spoke, never once did his expression sour.
“I see. Well, I’m not going to get you into trouble by passing that on, so don’t worry. I know the South isn’t in the best state right now but if you ever need sanctuary, our gates are always open.”
“Thanks, that means a lot.”
Sakura hoped that it wouldn’t come down to that, but the offer was welcome. Silence washed in as the two thought on matters, unsure where to take it next. She stood up and fetched a drink, offering one up to him. The cool fluid was a relief in the heat, even if the hut provided a constant source of shade. After a few sips, the Raven gave her a suggestion; she was safe here, far enough away from the watching eyes of the Central Isles. He could use the day to train her, to give her confidence in her power. All of this with Amnur would end in a fight, so it would be an advantage if she could protect herself.
She gawped, before rushing an answer that sounded like yes. Her eagerness earnt her a chuckle. “Is this house the best location for it though? I wouldn’t want to accidentally damage your home.”
“The wind is lighter today so I can move around,” the Raven said, giving his wings a welcome twitch. “I have a place in mind.”
Sakura nodded and told him to lead on, feeling his aether once again flare up. After they stepped out of the house, the Raven locked the door. Precautions and all. He took a moment to get his bearings, before pointing in a north-westerly direction. Aside from trees and the odd house nestled in the trees, there was nothing obvious in that direction. Still, he knew where he was going, so she would follow.
The flight over was staggered, to allow him to reassess. Sakura noticed that they were nearing the edge of the mountain range, a secluded location. After a couple more stops, he landed outside of an octagonal gazebo. This time he stood up, signalling flight was over.
“An old scout outpost used more for observing the humans and angels to the north,” he remarked, tapping on one of the sturdy wooden beams. “We’ve not had trouble with either for a long time, but individuals still come here to experience solitude.”
“A good pick for practising dubious magic, then,” Sakura replied, admiring the beautiful setting. “Demons don’t think to sneak around this way?”
“Those that don’t live in nature tend to bumble through it, we’d see them before they ever got close.”
Her mind drifted back to what she could remember of Ciel, blundering through the swamps. She cracked a smile at the thought, though it also caused her pain. The Raven’s statement was true, though. If her father’s antics were anything to go by, the locals weren’t used to the thralls of nature.
“You alright, kid?”
“Ah yeah, just some memories is all.”
He nodded and then gestured for her to take a seat on the floor
, settling down beside her. His first question was about her ability to contact Maelor, as he knew the most on the subject. Sakura took hold of his hand and a few seconds later, the Raven was capable of hearing the spirit. Without Maelor even speaking a word, the demon already knew what Sakura’s main problem was going to be. Magic required visualisation, even for spells that were a simple shock or jolt. A fire mage would make a flame, while a water mage would summon water. Chaos, however, based on the opposites of each element. Without knowing those opposites, meaningful spells could be difficult to conjure.
Maelor started with an opposite that he knew, one that she had seen before. He told her to imagine a flame, one that healed instead of burned. The Raven got her to focus on the aspect of drawing the aether itself, aiding her in retrieving those sunken deposits. She had yet to cast by her own merit, so that task alone was difficult. He persisted with a calm demeanour and in the end, it paid off. A weak, greenish flame quivered into life above her hands, only to fizzle out a few seconds later.
“That’s a good start,” the Raven remarked, putting gentle pressure on her hands to dissuade her from casting further. “Your body isn’t used to casting, so take it careful. It’ll resist your efforts if you try to push, but if you ease it in you can teach it that this is normal.”
Sakura heeded his words and focused her mind, letting the spell come naturally. The flame poof returned, lasting for longer than it had last time. She repeated the spell several times, each time showing increased potency and duration.
“Good work, keep going.”
Once the flame had become stable and she could maintain it in one hand, Maelor was happy for her to move on. The next spell required a rock or something similarly hard, so Sakura excused herself to go and find one. At the base of the mountain were plenty of rocks, so she selected a handful with the pointers from Maelor. He told her this time of the ability to weaken stone, the opposite to an earth mage’s ability to harden and solidify objects.
“This one is a bit different, as the spell will only be maintained while you have contact with the object you’re altering,” Maelor said once the Raven had placed a hand on her shoulder. With his other hand, he grabbed a medium size rock from the pile and placed it in front of her. Not the smallest, nor the biggest. She stretched out her arm, putting two fingers on the rock. Once again, she concentrated, but there was no change. “Imagine yourself squashing the rock flat, rather than turning it to dust.”
Skies of Fyir Box Set Page 57