by Blake Vanier
I’ve been so hard on him…
*****
“I’m sorry I’ve been mean to you over the years,” Iona says to Nero
“What do you mean?”
“Just crabby to you sometimes.”
Nero shrugs and turns back to Sosimo’s training session. Ryder is wearing a circlet Artifact, while Sosimo is using another spherical Artifact to excite Ryder’s essence.
“It’s just, whenever we were ever doing anything away from Fae, and you were around, I’d feel really uncomfortable. Like, my hands would sweat and my mouth would go dry. It was really annoying. I don’t know why it happens, but it can’t be your fault.”
Nero looks down, sticking his hands in his pockets.
“Can you forgive me?”
Nero glances at her briefly. “I know I’ve been annoying. You don’t need to feel bad.”
“Well, I’ve never had so much fun as I do exploring Kiats with you.”
He smiles briefly. “It’s been fun.”
They turn their attention back to the training. Sosimo stops, pulling the circlet off Ryder’s head.
“Did you feel anything?” Sosimo asks.
Ryder blinks and looks around as if the world were foreign to him. He shakes his head. “No. What’s it supposed to feel like again?”
“I can only explain it so many times,” Sosimo says. “Let’s try again. You’ll get it eventually.” Sosimo puts the circlet on Ryder’s head and continues what he was doing earlier.
“I don't understand why it's so hard for them,” Nero whispers to Iona.
“So could you really use Aether?” Maybe he was telling the truth…
Nero dips his head. “Yeah, but something's wrong. I’ve tried more, but I don't feel the same. It’s like I can only use it sometimes.” He looks at Iona. “Maybe you should try.”
“What? I can't use Aether. I've never absorbed an entity.”
“I'm not so sure. I have a feeling that you might be able to.”
“How?”
“It just seems like you should be able to. Let’s just try. I'll be right back.” Nero hobbles on his sore ankle to the Artifact rack and grabs an Artifact like the spherical one Sosimo is using with the other children. He comes back and sits next to Iona. “Your essence is like another body part. Once you can feel it, you can move it just like your arm or leg. It’s just a matter of recognizing its presence. Are you ready to try?”
Wow, it really seems like he knows what he’s talking about. Iona nods.
“Okay, close your eyes. Take some deep breaths and try to relax.” Nero moves to his knees, picking up her hand.
She feels a slight tickle in her hand that steadily grows stronger. What is that? Suddenly it disappears, and she feels a strange snap of something rushing back to her hand.
“Woo, what did you do?” Iona asks, opening her eyes.
Nero smiles and shows her the little sphere. “This thing somehow pulls at your essence. It’s weird, but I can use it to stretch your essence a little from your body. Then, if I jerk it away, your essence snaps back, which I was hoping you could feel.”
“I could! How did you know to do this?”
Nero shrugs. “I just can see things differently. It’s hard to explain. It’s like a whole world of light. Let’s try again.”
Nero repeats the process a few more times until the sensation in Iona’s hand becomes stronger.
“So that’s your essence you’re feeling,” Nero says. “Do you feel a tension or something in it when you relax?”
Iona closes her eyes and relaxes, focusing only on the new feelings. Everything just feels right. “I don’t think so,” she says. “Why?”
Nero shakes his head. “Just curious. It’s nothing. I want you to try to make your essence respond now. Pretend your essence is just another part of you and push it out of your hand into the world.”
Iona closes her eyes, pushing against what she thinks is her essence. It responds, but not by much. “I’m not sure I’m doing it right,” she says. “I barely feel anything.”
“No, you’re doing it right. You just need to do it more.” Nero brushes his hand over his head, looking to the side with an unfocused stare. He smiles. “I have an idea.” He hobbles back over to the Artifact rack. After a moment, he selects a pendant on a gold chain, then kneels next to Iona. “Now, try again.”
Iona closes her eyes and tries again, this time when she feels something respond, she also feels it get pushed back into her leg. “What was that?”
“Your essence was just barely coming out of your leg. Since this pendant has Aether, I used it to push against your essence a bit, hoping you would feel it. Did it work?”
“It did! It was weird.”
“Okay, go again.”
They continue, and as Nero pushes her essence back, it becomes easier for her to push it out. They do it until she can easily push her essence from any part of her body.
“You’re getting it, Iona. Nice job. Are you up to try to move it now?”
“Yeah! How do I do that?”
“Do the same thing, but now you need to feel the pendant with your essence. Once you get that down, you should be able to move it. Just give it a shot.”
She closes her eyes, reaching out for the pendant. There is a strange snag. As she pokes it, the pendant begins to feel more tangible. She pushes it.
“You moved it!” Nero gasps. He is smiling when she opens her eyes.
“I can use Aether!”
“I knew you could.”
Iona jumps up. “I'm going to show the others. Maybe I can train with them now.” In her excitement, she fails to notice the smile fall from Nero’s face. She grabs the pendant, hurrying over to the others. “Sosimo, I can use Aether!”
“Really? But I thought you never absorbed an entity,” Sosimo says.
“I know. Or at least I don't remember. Maybe I absorbed one when I was little?”
“Perhaps, that would explain why you were so hesitant to go for one in the mountains. I’ve heard of a ceremony by a group of Humans called the Daynin to force young children to absorb essence; it doesn’t sound gentle. It could have been a traumatizing experience.”
Am I Daynin? “Where do they live?”
“They lived all over the world, but I believe most of them integrated into society a long time ago. Maybe your parents had a similar belief. Maybe you absorbed one by accident. There are an endless number of possibilities… I’m not sure you’ll ever find out.” Sosimo thinks to himself for a moment, putting a new toothpick in his mouth. “Are you going to show me what you can do?”
Iona hands him the pendant, which he looks at curiously. She closes her eyes and again pushes against it with her essence.
“Wow, great. It looks like you can train with us now,” Sosimo says.
Ryder throws his arm around Iona. “Awesome.”
“What made you pick this Icor Amulet?” Sosimo asks.
“Oh, it wasn't me. Nero grabbed it.” She looks over to where they were seated. Nero is gone. Her heart drops.
16
Taunting
Nero
Nero finally slows from a gimpy jog with a heavy heart. Memories of the dream that woke him still cling to him.
Just when I thought I had a friend, I'm ditched again. He reaches the park and wanders along the empty paths, head down. A fall breeze rustles the leaves in the trees. This might be a good place to die. Maybe they would think about me then.
You don't mean that.
Nero looks around. Maybe I do.
Then you're being stupid.
Jeez… He throws up his hands. I’m going crazy, and my imaginary friend isn’t even nice to me. “Why don’t you keep your comments to yourself?”
Fine.
Nero shakes his head. When will anything good ever happen to me? Just out of the corner of his eye, behind a thick clump of trees, he sees a strange light. Again? This is the third time I've seen it here.
He runs over to t
he trees and sees a violet entity, similar to the one in the back of Fae's house but darker in color; orange, red, and yellow light swirls from within. He tentatively walks toward it. It slowly moves away. Well, at least it’s not attacking me like the green one in the mountains.
Nero shifts his perspective to see Aether. Instantly, he is overwhelmed by an intense energy. Wow, it must be strong! Maybe I can absorb this one!
Nero lunges after the entity and it dodges him easily, zipping off behind some trees. He runs after it, chasing it through sections of thick growth. He comes close to touching it a few times, but it is always a fingernail's length away. A large root catches his foot, sending him crashing down. He lies on his back, unmoving. I can't do anything right! Before he knows it, tears are welling up in his eyes and he sobs. I'll always be alone.
After his tears run out and his head starts to hurt, he uncovers his face. The entity, which is now a lighter violet and has less swirling light coruscating from its core, is just off to the side. It is close. He reaches out for it, feeling a gentle, tingling warmth; not the same surge of power he felt when he was at the hideout with the canisters. The entity dissipates into nothing.
Did I absorb it? Nero looks at his arm. When he shifts his perspective, it looks exactly the same. Still nothing. But what the heck happened? And why did it come to me? He jumps up. Maybe Sosimo will know.
*****
Nero hides around the corner as Iona and the other children leave the training room. When Sosimo is alone, he pops out.
“Hi Sosimo. Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.” Sosimo pulls out a toothpick from his little container to chew on.
“I was wondering about entities. Do they think?”
“As I said back in the mountains, they don't really think. They only react to their environment. Similar to jellyfish in the ocean. Do you know what those are?” Nero shakes his head. “A jellyfish is a primal creature that has a very simple nervous system. To train it to do something would be impossible.”
“So, it wouldn't come up to you if you were feeling sad or something?” Nero asks.
Sosimo creases his brow. “That's a strange question. They do react to emotions, but I doubt they would approach someone.”
“So, if I were chasing one, would it hide behind trees?”
“No, I think that would require some sort of reasoning.”
Well the violet one did. Could it be smart? Next time I find it, I should test it. “Are there different types of entities?”
“An entity is an entity. Aside from their Aether abilities, they’re all the same,” Sosimo says. “There are different types of essences, though, such as spirits and demons.”
Nero frowns. “Spirits and demons are real?”
Sosimo nods. “Any essence that comes from a living creature is called a Vitaya. Generally, these will absorb back into the World Essence if they aren’t taken or trapped. Sometimes, a person’s or creature’s will to live is so strong that when they die their essence resists the pull of the World Essence. They create their own protective shell. That’s what you’d call a spirit. Occasionally they’re powerful enough to possess living things, in which case they’re called demons.” Nero’s face melts into horror. “You shouldn’t worry about demons. They’re pretty much fantasy. And spirits are few and far between. The best places to find spirits are at the Corusnigmas. Do you know what those are?”
“I’ve heard the name before but… not really.”
“Some people think they’re the original sources of the different Aether casts, but no one really knows. The Aether concentration around them is beyond any other location in the world.”
Could it be a spirit? “Do spirits look like the entity we saw in the mountains?”
“No. Spirits usually take on a rough shape of their living form. They’re generally confused. Part of them still thinks they’re alive.”
Doesn’t sound like a spirit. “Are there any free entities in Kiats?”
Sosimo shakes his head. “I doubt it, someone would have captured it and used it in an artifact by now.”
“What if I were to find one?”
“You’re not going to find a free entity in Kiats. I’m sorry. Are you feeling left out because you can't train with the others?”
Nero looks down. “What's wrong with me? Why can't I absorb entities?”
“Keep your head up, Nero. You’re always welcome to stay and practice with us even though you can't use Aether. We’ll find something for you to do.”
“Okay…”
“I think I have something that might be interesting to you.”
Nero looks up. “What?”
“Follow me.” Sosimo leads Nero to his private study and pulls a thin leather rope out of his desk drawer. The medallion hanging from it has a dark wooden center surrounded by lighter wood. It is covered in strange flowing carvings. “This was given to me many years ago. I believe it has some sort of mental Aether, but I’ve never been able to figure out what exactly it does. Since the other children can use Aether, maybe you should have your own Artifact. Would you hold on to it for me for a while?”
Nero shifts his perspective. He sees a pulsing green glow of Aether encompassing the entire medallion. While he watches, the dominant green glow abates and a darker green, swirling Aether is visible for an instant.
“Are you sure?” He asks. “It seems so nice.”
“Yes.” Sosimo pushes the medallion toward him. “Put it on.”
Nero puts it around his neck, tracing the carvings with his finger. “Thanks.”
“Let’s get ready for dinner.” He scoots Nero along.
*****
The next morning, Nero jogs to the park, reviewing his plans. He walks down the paths to the deeper parts of the park. When he is alone, he shifts his perspective. A faint trail of violet light reveals itself. After following the trail for a few minutes, he sees the entity off the path, in the thick trees and growth.
Yes! Nero jumps up and runs. Whoa. He catches himself. Easy. I need to do my first test. If it’s like a jellyfish, then I should be able to walk up to it calmly without scaring it away.
He slowly walks through the growth toward the entity, trying to calm his breathing. He comes within arm’s reach, and the entity has not moved. Nero moves a little bit closer, circling the entity. He slowly moves his hand toward it. The warmth tickles his skin.
Nero’s shoulders drop. Check one for stupid. It didn't even move. Maybe there’s a chance I can still train it… Let's see if I can get it to change colors.
Nero pulls out three colored cards: red, yellow, and blue. He holds the yellow card up to the entity. Nothing happens. Great, this is going to be a waste.
He holds up the red card and again, nothing happens. “Change colors!” How do I demonstrate? A thought brings a smile to his lips.
He holds the red card next to his face, holding his breath and forcing the blood to his head until his face turns red. The entity does the same.
Nero jumps up. “Yes!” The entity shrinks away and Nero calms himself.
He holds up the yellow card, and the entity turns yellow. It changes colors for the blue card as well. He holds up two cards at the same time and each side of the entity changes color to match the cards on either side: half red and half blue.
This is good! That's kind of like training it… maybe one more step.
Nero holds up one finger and the red card. Then he holds up two fingers and the yellow card. Finally, he holds up three fingers followed by the blue card. He continues this until the entity changes colors by just following his fingers.
Alright, one last test. Maybe I can get it to change to red and blue, like I did with the two cards.
He holds up a one with his left hand and a three with his right hand. The entity turns purple.
Nero throws up his hands. “Check two for stupid. Where did purple come from? You're just a jellyfish.”
A bolt of energy shoots out from the Entity an
d hits Nero's foot.
“Ow! What the crap!” Nero jumps on one leg as numbness swallows his foot. That hurts. Maybe it reacted to my frustration. I'll have to ask Sosimo about entities attacking. He turns around to leave and immediately is zapped in the butt. “Ow!” Nero grabs a rock. Before he can throw it, the Entity zaps his hand. He drops the rock, thrusting his hand between his knees to relieve the pain. Oh my gosh, that stings… Think jellyfish. If I stay calm, I can walk up to it and whack it!
He takes a few deep breaths. The numbness fades. With a stick in hand, he takes one step forward and gets zapped. He jumps like a scared cat, running away. Alright, this mist is going down!
*****
In the early morning of the following day, Nero walks down the street to the park.
“Off to war, young one?” An old Borukin sweeps the front of a shop as Nero passes. Nero dips his head, avoiding eye contact. “Let Marks bring you fortune with your breakfast,” the Borukin says with a chuckle. His greying, disheveled braids bounce around his head.
Moments later, Nero sees an especially large Borukin with white tattoos on his face and arms. He is walking with a young Borukin girl with braided hair. Nero changes direction, hurrying along to avoid further interaction. The colander-helmet bounces against his forehead and the cooking sheets tied around his chest rub awkwardly when he hurries. At the park, he sets down the trashcan lid and broomstick. In his thick leather gloves, he fumbles to tighten oversized hiking boots. He checks the layers of towels wrapped around his arms and legs, then heads into the park.
He strides purposeful and proud. When I slay this evil, pink, zapping Entity, I will be a hero!
Once again, the Aether trail leads him to the Entity. It flickers in brightness and color, settling to a dark violet as Nero continues to approach.
You’re going down!
The Entity shoots a bolt of energy at Nero, who pulls up his trashcan lid to block. The lid violently vibrates, shooting pain all the way up to his shoulder. He hides behind a tree for cover.
Holy moly, that hurts! It must be zapping me harder today. It must be an evil entity, for sure.