by Blake Vanier
“You, under the table. Get up here.”
One of the feet starts to tap. Nero builds up the courage to scoot himself out from under the table, peeking his head over the top.
The woman is sitting at the table with both hands palm down. There are two white boxes between them. She is wearing a bland combination of typical working clothes. Her short brown hair just barely makes a ponytail. She gives him a thin smile. “Sit. I’m not going to bite.”
Nero cautiously sits, keeping a constant eye on her.
“Are you hungry?” She opens one of the boxes, sliding it over to him. Inside are baked fish over eggs and seasoned potatoes.
Nero ignores the food. She looks familiar. “Have I met you―” He jumps out of his seat and spins to run away. Just as his body starts to move forward, his arm stops, and she yanks him back to his seat.
“Hey. I said I wasn’t going to bite,” the woman says with a snarl, squeezing his wrist. Nero looks at her in utter terror and the woman drops the curl to her lip. She lets go of his wrist, releasing a rush of blood that tingles his arm like an army of ants. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m having a rough go of things at the moment. Will you hear me out for just a moment?” she asks. “Please?” She says the word as if it is as foreign to her as breathing water.
Nero gives her a curt nod and the woman smiles. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the fruit she took from Nero in the forest. It is dark green with red speckles all over it. “I just wanted to apologize for taking this. It was wrong of me.” She puts the fruit in front of Nero. He stays stationary. They look at each other for a moment. “So, why were you sleeping under the table? And where are your friends?”
Nero rubs his wrist, glaring at her. “Why should I tell you?”
The woman’s face remains unchanged. “You’re right. It’s none of my business, but you’re better off on your own if they abandoned you.”
“They didn’t abandon me!”
“Easy now. Friends will only get in the way. They did you a favor.”
“I told you. They didn’t ditch me. They were taken by―” Nero bites his tongue.
The woman raises an eyebrow. “Taken? What happened? Were they taken by the police?” Nero shakes his head. “Alright then. Who?”
Nero looks down. “I don’t know… I think they were taken to some huge boat in a crate.”
“That’s bad. I hope they weren’t particularly important to you.”
Nero looks at her sharply. “Yeah, they are important to me! They’re the only family I have.”
She opens her mouth to say something, but then closes it. Her callousness falls away. “Look, if I had to guess, they were taken by traffickers. They’ll probably be sold as slaves on another continent.”
“What? Slaves are illegal. I’ve got to go to the police or tell someone!”
The woman grabs his hand. “Hold up, kid. If there’s money in something, then it’ll always exist. Slavery can be quite the lucrative business, especially when you’re selling a bunch of kids that no one cares about.” Nero’s mouth drops, and she rolls her eyes. “Don’t take it personally. It’s just reality. Do you know anyone in Blue Horin?” Nero shakes his head. “And I’m guessing you’re running away?”
“Kinda.”
“Well then, there’s no one here to miss you if you get taken. Unfortunately for you, most of the city officials will turn a blind eye. These ruffians provide certain legal ‘services’ at a reasonable price, and they do it by not-so-legal methods. As long as the city isn’t endangered, the officials would rather not know how they do business.”
“What am I going to do?” Nero bites his lip but cannot prevent tears from gushing out.
“Okay, cut it out, tears never solve any problems. You’re so damn pitiful it makes me want to drown myself…” She says, disgusted. She grimaces. “Sorry, maybe that was inappropriate. Can you show me where the boat is? Maybe we can figure out something that might help your friends.”
“What?”
“Don’t tell me you’re deaf.”
“No. But you’re going to help?” Nero looks at her, his eyes bloodshot.
“That’s what I said.”
“Why?”
Her face turns hard. “Maybe I feel bad for how pathetic you are. Does it matter?” Nero shakes his head. “That’s what I thought. Now collect the breakfast and show me which boat.”
*****
Nero and the woman duck behind a building, peeking out from the corner at the huge battleship. It has several large turrets on its top and a green alligator creature painted on its hull. The creature’s legs are just visible at the water line. At the prow, the creature is snarling, its white teeth ready to chomp.
The woman pats Nero on the back. “Yep, just what I thought. If your friends are on that boat, they’re screwed.”
Nero looks at her in shock. “What?”
“Definitely taken as slaves. We need to collect some info if we want to even consider doing something about it. For all we know, the boat could leave within the hour.”
“Couldn’t we just ask someone on board?”
“That’s a battleship, if you didn’t notice. It doesn’t shoot hugs and kisses. They’d kill you and not think twice of it. If you threatened one of them, they’d cut off their own leg before they gave us any info. Trust me, it’s not something you’re going to be up for. We need a different angle.”
They watch for a while. The crew bustles on the main deck. A lone man dressed in casual clothes walks along the path from the market area.
Nero points. “Hey, that’s one of the soldiers we ran into just outside the city. I think his name’s Walter.”
The woman scowls. “That scumbag. I’ve run into him a few times. He’s a total prick; what I wouldn’t give to see him strung up. I bet he’s the one who tipped off the traffickers about you.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I told you. Money. People will do anything for money these days, and, if you’re willing to make some moral sacrifices, it’s especially easy to come by. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out a handful of children coming from the forest aren’t from the city.”
They watch as a guard escorts Walter into the ship. Fifteen minutes later he is shoved down the ramp. He walks hastily away.
The woman taps Nero’s shoulder. “Alright, kid, meet me back at the table where I found you. Eat some breakfast.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to extract some information,” she says with a curt smile. “What’s your name?”
“Nero.”
“Nero? That’s not your real name, is it?”
Nero looks down. “No, I gave it to myself. I like the story of Nero the hero.”
“Well, you have a lot to live up to with a name like that. I’ll see you at the table. Don’t go wandering off. I had enough trouble tracking you down the first time.”
“What’s your name?” Nero asks, hesitant.
The woman stares at him without blinking. “I committed autonomicide. I am no one.” She strides down the path after Walter.
What the heck does that mean? Nero waits several minutes before he leaves his spot and walks back to the table. He picks through his breakfast, glancing up at anyone walking near his table. Maybe she won’t come back.
When he finishes eating, he worries about his friends for a long time until he catches a glimpse of her. He sighs with relief but feels the stress of her presence weigh down on him instantly.
The Woman reaches the table, a smug smile on her face. “I didn’t think I could find so much pleasure in helping someone else,” she says, almost to herself.
“Did he tell you anything?”
“Everything. As though his life depended on it.” She sits down and pulls one of the breakfast boxes to her. “It turns out he IS the coprophagist who got your friends in trouble.” She takes a couple bites of her breakfast. “How did they fall for that rat trap anyway? What did they do, just walk i
nto a crate? At least you had brains enough to avoid it.”
Nero fiddles with the lid of his box. “Actually… I got distracted. By the time I found my way back, they were in the crate.”
She shakes her head. “Your friends deserve what they got. If it were up to me, we’d leave them. It’s survival of the fittest in this world. The weak don’t deserve to make it.”
Nero’s mouth drops open. “But…”
She puts her hand in front of his face. “Don’t even start. I’ll still help. I’m just saying, if they’re stupid enough to get caught in a crate, then being a slave is about the best they can do.” Nero’s mouth continues to hang open. She ignores him. “Walter told me they’re planning to leave the bay tomorrow morning. He even felt so bad for what he did, he gave me all his money.” She smiles at Nero, but he remains catatonic. “So, being as we have some cash and time, I think this is about the best scenario for rescuing your friends we could ask for. What’s your plan?”
“What?”
She raises an eyebrow. “I just have to say one of my pet peeves is when people complain about something and then don’t do anything about it. And here you are, complaining about your friends while you don’t even have a plan to rescue them.” Nero’s mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. “I guess I was hoping for too much, seeing as your name is Nero. I’ll try not to dwell on it.” She crushes a potato under her fork. “You must have some sort of skill if you and your friends managed to pass through the forest. Can you fight?”
Nero shakes his head. “The others did most of the wrestling, I usually just watched.”
“Wrestling! Did you have any sort of training, or have you just wasted your life so far?”
“I’m just a kid,” Nero says, eyes swelling with tears.
The Woman closes her mouth, taking a deep breath. “Okay, that’s alright. We can still manage. Sorry, I don’t have a good sense of what a normal childhood would be like.” She squashes another potato with her fork and licks it off. “You’re a bit scrawny, anyway, so fighting doesn’t seem like it’d be your strong suit. How about Aether? Have you taken an entity or an essence?”
“A what?”
“An essence…” Her eyes scan the area. She takes another bite of food. “Essence is the stuff that connects our world with Aether and it’s what makes using Aether possible. Humans can absorb them, which lets them use Aether. Do you have any idea what I’m talking about? It’s like a floating blob of mist.” Nero’s eyes light up and the woman smiles, but just as quickly, Nero’s shoulders drop, his excitement fading away. “Marks’s blade, you’re dramatic. What’s wrong?”
“Well, me and my friends found some canisters with stuff in them in the old industrial district of New Lur. My friends absorbed them. I tried, but it didn’t work…”
“How so?”
“I touched it and wanted to absorb it, but it kinda just faded away or something. I don’t remember. I passed out. I keep seeing more of those things and I try to get them, but I can’t.”
“More essence? Was there a dead person nearby?”
Nero shakes his head. “No, but Korbin absorbed something from a dead bug in the forest. The ones I see are just by themselves.”
“Where do you see them?”
“That’s actually the reason I got separated from my friends when they got captured. I thought I saw one.”
“Here? Are you kidding? There’s no way you’d see an essence just floating around a city. It must have been some reflected light, but I doubt you saw an essence. You said you found the others in canisters?”
Nero continues to play with the food container. “Yeah, we think a Catalyst member stole them from the Erohsians. That’s why they’re chasing us…” Nero trails off and looks at the Woman, uneasy.
“The Erohsians are after you?” She smiles, slapping the table. “So, I should give you kids more credit. That’s something to be proud of, as long as they don’t catch you.” She pauses a moment. “So, you and your friends dimwittedly decided to escape through the forest? Whose idea was that?”
“Ryder’s. He thought the Erohsians were just making the danger up.”
“Well, they’re not. You all may be the first to pass through the forest and survive in fifty years. And you’re probably the first kids to try. How did you find the fruit? Was that with the canisters?”
Should I mention the big creature, or is she going to think I’m lying like Korbin? Nero looks at his hands, playing with a fork. “I found a few next to a big tree.”
“A few? What happened to the others?”
Nero hesitates. “I ate one when I found them and another a little later. But I don’t see what the big deal is. I think they taste really good.” He pulls out the last fruit and starts to pull away the tough peel. “Have you tried it before? My friends all think it’s disgusting.” Nero hands the Woman half. “Here, try it.” He starts on his. The Woman watches Nero but does not eat hers. Nero finishes his half, looking at her. A tingling sensation spreads outward from his stomach. “You don’t like it, either?” The Woman looks at Nero, eyes squinted, leaning forward. Did I do something wrong? “What’s the matter?”
The Woman shrugs “Apparently, nothing. I was just waiting to see if you were going to die,” she says casually.
“What!?”
“The fruit you just ate is from a Katashne’n Tree. It’s a very expensive delicacy.”
“Is it poisonous? Why didn’t you stop me?”
“I didn’t stop you because you said you already ate one. Naturally, I didn’t believe you, so if you died, it’d be suitable punishment for lying.” She smiles. “But you didn’t, so good job being honest.”
Nero looks at her in horror. “How do you know I’m not going to die!”
“Because if you were, you’d already be dead. Or screaming. The Katashne’n trees have a lot of Aether in them, and they’re only found in areas with high background levels of Aether, such as the Ferin Forest. If you couldn’t have handled it, the Aether released from eating the fruit would have burnt a hole right through you. Which―as you can imagine―would be quite painful. Does your stomach hurt?”
Nero puts a hand on his stomach, looking at her, worried. “Well, now that you mention it.”
She waves her hand at him. “Oh, shut up, you’re fine.”
“If it is so dangerous, why’s it considered a delicacy?”
“Because finding a tree is almost impossible, which makes it rare, expensive, and if the sudden jolt of Aether doesn’t kill you, it can make even the oldest person feel like they’re young again. Occasionally, someone is lucky and stumbles upon a tree. For whatever reason, though, it’s near impossible to find it a second time. It’s like it can only be found if it wants to. You probably could have paid for all the food you have eaten in your entire life, with what you ate just now.”
The color drains from Nero’s face. “Could we have used it to trade for my friends?”
“Probably not. The traffickers wouldn’t expect anyone to mess with them, but they aren’t stupid enough to deal illegally in the city. Especially if it could be a set up by another group. No, they’ll just deny it the entire time then try to steal it from you when you’re not looking.”
“So, why didn’t I die, then?”
“That’s a good question. I’ve never heard of someone who can eat a Katashne’n fruit like you. You must have an impressive Aethersotto.”
“What’s that?”
“Aethersotto is a measure of how well you interact with Aether. It also affects how you perceive the world. Hmm. Maybe you’re a Natural.”
“What’s a Natural?”
“A Natural is a rare Human born with Aether. They can’t absorb essence. I didn’t think they had such a high Aethersotto, but I’ve never met one, so who am I to say? Their true potential doesn’t show until they come of age, though you should still have enough ability to do what needs to be done to save your friends. Have you ever used Aether?”
&nbs
p; Nero shakes his head. “I don’t think so, but I can always tell when my friends are doing something they shouldn’t.”
“You’re referring to being scared, which you’ll have to get over if we’re going to work together.” She takes the remaining half of fruit and squeezes one drop of juice onto a piece of fish from her breakfast. A shiver runs through her body when she eats it. “I don’t know how you do it,” she says as she hands him the fruit. “If you enjoyed it, you might as well finish the rest before we start the tests. The fruit is going to go bad soon anyway.”
“Tests?”
“Well, we have to see if you’re worth a damn and figure out what you can do. So, eat up.” Nero does as he is told. “Aether allows for the manipulation of energy. It acts like an extension of your body and requires an input, just like anything else. Nothing is free in this world, and it sure isn’t easy. Get that straight in your head right now.” The Woman picks up a piece of the fruit’s rind. “Are you ready to try? How do you feel?”
Nero nods, swallowing the last bit. A strong tingling sensation runs up his spine and over his scalp, energizing his muscles. The euphoric sensation is followed immediately by a wave of hostility. He clenches his fists and curls his lip. What’s going on? He lets himself breathe for a moment, relaxing.
“This is a few steps above where I’d start if I had the choice, but I don’t have the time or the tools to hold your hand, so we’re going to start here. I want you to try to knock the peel off my hand.”
Nero reaches over, poking it off.
“No! Not like that.” She grabs the peel from the table. “What does that prove?”
“I’m just doing what you say!” he shoots back. “You don’t need to yell at me.” Nero notices his fists are clenched. Whoa… He takes a breath, relaxing his hands.
The Woman looks at him curiously for a moment then takes a breath as well. “Yes, you’re right. You accomplished what I asked quickly, so I shouldn’t complain.” She holds her hand up to Nero. “I want you to use Aether this time.”
Nero focuses on the peel and tries to knock it off with his ferocious glare. Come on, move! Nothing happens. His frustration grows. “How exactly am I supposed to do that?”