As his hands lifted higher, the light spiraled around him with increasing velocity.

Date: 441 Passes Ago

Two trails struggled side by side through the looming snow drifts. White seared the landscape until both sky and ground were faded mirrors of nothingness. From time to time, a scraggly tree limb poked through the ice like a desperate frozen hand.

Zento’s mother warned that it was too late in the year to make such a risky trip through the Highlands. His father didn’t listen, claiming the freezing season was still another month away. The migration of the Gathering wouldn’t wait and their family set out with their few belongings in tow. As it happened, the weather decided to favor his mother’s way of thinking.

Unannounced, the blizzard raged down across the land. Of the six that set out on the journey, only two remained. Zento’s father and older brother vanished one afternoon during a hunting expedition. Only days later, Mother caught deep chills that grew worse until she didn’t wake up one morning.

Heart heavy with grief, Zento forced his two sisters to keep moving. Kari was the first child to succumb to the freeze. Now SaRa, the youngest, barely had the strength to continue. When she finally fell stiff and shivering in the snow, her brother carried her on his back.

Two trails became one, struggling through the looming snow drifts.

All Zento could feel was a stinging numbness both inside and out. Each breath shot a stream of crackling white smoke in the air. Even the warmth of their bodies pressed together gave little comfort.

Still he walked, step by tedious step. He didn’t know where they were going or where they would end up. He only knew he had to keep walking. His father taught them to always move forward, even to the last breath. It was the way of the Clans of the North.

The snow grew abruptly shallow and in mid-step, the toe of Zento’s fur-lined boot caught on stone. The boy didn’t realize that he had fallen until he found himself sprawled out on the ground.

SaRa’s weight was so great upon his back that he didn’t know if he could push himself up again. For a long moment he simply laid still, his breath streaming an ice-flower decoration on the naked rock under his cheek. Lifting his green eyes, Zento realized that they had stumbled into a cave.

It looked very deep and dark, yet, it was warmer inside where the stone walls provided shelter against the frigid winter winds. Half crawling, the boy gathered up his sister and dragged her away from the mouth of the cave. With the last of his strength, he curled up next to her and wrapped his cloak around them with numbed fingers.

SaRa was not moving anymore.

A wrenching pain gripped Zento’s chest as he leaned forward and touched his forehead to hers. He knew she was there even though he could not feel the last of her pale warmth. As desperation rose up within him, the boy gave an internal cry.

Please, give me the power to save her!

Then, Zento’s eyes fell closed, heavy with the weight of the cold.

*****

It was like a dream.

Everything was white here, too. Yet, it was a different kind of white. This white was warm. It glowed and tingled wherever it touched.

Zento found a surprising new strength flowing through his limbs, enough for him to push himself up on his palms. SaRa was shivering under the cloak next to him, but for some reason, he wasn’t cold anymore.

The light was everywhere, tiny shimmers of sparkling white dancing through the air. It enfolded him in a gentle embrace and he knew that it was the light that made him warm.

What are you doing?

He wasn’t sure how he knew the light would hear his thoughts. It just seemed like the most natural way to speak to it. He was also not surprised when it answered him with a gentle voice in his mind.

~I am granting your wish.~

I didn’t make a wish.

~I am granting it anyhow.~

I don’t understand.

~You wanted the power to save her, yes?~

The boy nodded.

~Then make a fire.~

Zento looked around, feeling a gentle nudge against his shoulder. He turned to see a small gathering of dry twigs scattered across the cave floor. But…

I don’t think I can. Father always used a fire-making device to start the fire in the camps. I don’t have one.

There was a good-natured snort.

~Device? Maybe they needed help to make a fire. But you don’t.~

Zento stared at the shimmering lights in confusion.

~Relax. I’ll show you.~

At first, he felt a quiet tickle in the back of his mind. It was like an itch, but it was on the inside. It was an itch that he couldn’t scratch. Then a sudden power rushed through him with such intensity that the boy gave a startled gasp. His eyes grew dim, turning inward as pulsing visions leapt through his mind. The world became so clear and he suddenly knew what to do.

Zento found himself standing on his feet. As his hands lifted higher, a new light spiraled around him with increasing velocity. He could hear SaRa’s weak voice speaking in alarm from somewhere in the distance, but he couldn’t answer her. He couldn’t even answer himself. There was nothing but a new awareness and the power that filled him.

With a striking motion, the boy’s hands swept forward. At his command, a tiny pillar of flame leapt from the middle of the wood pile. An immense, triumphant hum filled the cave as heat pulsated from the growing blaze, as if the presence within the light was encouraging him.

Zento shuddered, his mind still reeling as the vast touch slipped away. He stared for a long time at the glowing heart of the flame. Somehow, he knew that the fire was created by something within himself. It was both exhilarating and frightening.

SaRa crept closer to the fire. Her eyes were already more clear and alive. When she looked at Zento, her expression was calm, yet apprehensive. Then she looked up into the dancing spirals of light.

“Hello?” she said, somewhat quizzically.

A soft hum filled the cavern. It sounded like laughter.

~Hello, little one. Do you like the fire? Are you feeling better?~

“Yes,” SaRa nodded and nodded and nodded.

~ZenToYa has quite a talent, if I might say so. You never knew your brother could command fire, did you?~

The girl’s mouth cupped into the shape of a little letter “o” as she turned to stare at her brother. “No…”

“I didn’t even know!” Zento spluttered quickly in his own defense. Then the boy pointed at the light, “He showed me how!”

The girl tilted her head, “Can you show me how, too?”

~Maybe when you’re a little older.~

“How did I do that?” the boy’s voice was low and shaky. “Was it some kind of magic?”

~You can call it that if you like. But it’s really nothing that wasn’t already there within you. I’m surprised your people haven’t discovered it yet.~

“It’s not something evil, is it?”

~ The one who uses this power decides what the power will become,~ the voice was very grave. ~Promise me that you will not use what I have shown you for wicked things, ZenToYa.~

“I won’t!” he shook his head back and forth.

~Good. I won’t tolerate Chaos in my Myfyriwr.~

“Myfyriwr? What’s that?” Zento echoed the unfamiliar word.

~It means… I’d like you to stay here for a while. I’ll teach you. Would you like that?~

“But, what about Mommy and Daddy?” SaRa’s lower lip trembled.

The light held a long moment of silence.

~I can feel your pain, though I don’t understand the emotion clearly. I can’t replace what you have lost, but I’ll take care of you, if you’ll let me. I’ll protect you and teach you. That’s all I can offer.~

The boy asked slowly, “Who are you?”

~I’m known as Zemi Dreigiau. I’m a guardian Arweinydd.~

“Arweinydd?”

~It means a Guide. Teacher. Patron.~

The light rose slowly, a motion not unlike someone getting to their feet. Zento knew the voice was leaving.

“Where are you going?”

~Little Earthians require more than flame to survive, yes? They require nourishment. ~

“Earthians?” the boy echoed.

The voice did not answer. Instead, a flurry of lights danced at the mouth of the cave. Then it was gone.

“Did you see it?” SaRa asked, her mouth still slightly open.

“See what?” Zento was staring towards cave’s door, trying to make sense of everything.

“The dragon in the light,” she clarified.

He had seen it too, but he found himself saying something much different, “It was just your imagination.”

Her fingers met something solid, yet not. The tip of The Dragon's nose.

This doesn’t look anything like what I imagined the Host Gate would.

AsaHi stepped warily into the dampness of the cave, as if she expected something to pounce from the shadows at any moment. At first glace, the cave seemed quite ordinary, like herself. It was certainly not the kind of place that a creature such as the fabled Dreigiau would live.

All the more reason to think that it can’t be real.

In a glass case between her two cupped palms, she cradled an exotic, blushing little flower. The old tome had called it a “Cred.” Though it was as solid or real as any bloom she had ever seen, when she held it up to the sun, it became sheer to the point of transparency. Sometimes it even felt as if there was nothing there between her hands besides the glass itself.

It took a week and a half of traveling the rugged Highlands before she discovered the legendary flower. Over months of studying the cryptic information dealing with its growing patterns, AsaHi learned that the Cred only bloomed under the right conditions. On that particular day of the year, when the loop of the sun was closest to the surface of their world, she watched the powdered snow melt from the craggy outcropping of the mountaintop. For only a short time, the face of the mountainside blushed warmly with the unfurling red buds.

Though they were incredibly beautiful, AsaHi took only one. She picked it and preserved it exactly the way the tome instructed. The legends said that if she had picked more than one, every flower would know her covetous nature and melt upon her touch, because a person was only allowed to pick one Cred in their lifetime. The stories also said that the flower would grow more and more beautiful until the seventh day, when it would disappear.

AsaHi believed the flower existed even before she saw the blossoming upon the mountainside. After all, SoYa told her it was real, and he never lied. Bringing a Cred blossom to the Host Gate of the Dreigiau was part of the ritual to become a Dragon Apprentice. It was said that the Lord Dragon was fond of the tiny red flower. Bringing it as a gift could gain approval from the Arweinydd spirit and possibly even an audience with him.

She knew that the Cred existed. It was Zemi Dreigiau that she did not believe in.

If there really is such a thing as a Patron Guide, then why doesn’t he show himself to everyone? If he’s so powerful, why does he only appear in this old, musty cave? Why does he only speak to certain people?

AsaHi had come to prove that the so-called Lord Dragon was not real. That the Dreigiau was a children’s tale spun by old mothers who had nothing better to do with their time. Or worse yet, it was the fabrication of the leaders of their city, Nefol, used to ensure their position and power above all others.

Even SoYa has been blinded by these silly stories. I don’t understand why he doesn’t see through it.

Her footsteps echoed coldly as she walked further into the depths of darkness. Much to her surprise, the little Cred blossom began to shimmer with an inner glow. With each step, the darkness grew thicker and the bloom grew more luminous.

I have to prove that this whole Dragon thing doesn’t exist.

Part of her cringed — what she was doing went against everything that the Nefolian people believed in. The other part of her chided that something couldn’t be sacrilege if she didn’t believe in it to begin with. Still, her stomach began to churn.

It’s not because I believe in any of that gibberish. But it’s the only way to prove that this is all nothing more than the Council’s plea for attention.

It was a clever idea the more she thought about it — using the Council’s own rite of passage to call them out. She could prove that the people of Nefol were blinded by their desire to believe in legends from a time when the School was new and the leaders were pure.

That time is gone. And SoYa is caught up in the battle for Nefol’s succession, with enemies around every corner.

AsaHi paused as the hall lengthened into a full chamber.

If I don’t find the answers soon, if I don’t show people the truth, it might mean his life.

Hundreds of dark eyes glittered at her from the top of the chamber. She gave a quiet hiss, freezing in their gaze. The light of the flower was brighter now, trembling as her hands shook.

SoYa never mentioned there were beasts guarding the Gate.

The serpent eyes watched in unblinking vigil, their shadows deepening and looming against the stone wall. Huge gaping maws hung open, displaying rows of teeth longer than her arm and sharp as a blade. Several heartbeats passed. She stared. They stared. Neither moved. The light of the Cred shown more desperately.

I don’t have long before the seventh day is over. I have to get past them or I’ll never know. I’ll never be able to protect SoYa without the truth.

Teeth bared in determination, the girl took a step forward. Then another. The eyes followed her. Still, there wasn’t an inch of movement from above. Not even a sound. As she lifted the glowing flower in her hands, a flood of embarrassed relief washed over her.

They’re… they’re not real. They’re only statues!

Her eyes traced the lines of the sculptures, the first signs of any décor in the cave. They reared so high above her head that they were nearly lost to the shadows of the upper chamber. They were lithe beasts, all of similar make. Their eyes were fitted with blazing gems that reflected the light of the flower in such a way that AsaHi swore the carvings could spring to life at any moment.

A distant glimmer appeared ahead of her, faint veins scrawling paths over the wall at the far end of the chamber. The stone rose up in a sleek arch above her head, fine lines webbed over its surface, glistening like early-morning dew. A soft throb shifted the stone under her feet, so faint that AsaHi couldn’t tell if she had just imagined it.

As she crept forward, the throb came again. This time, a soft, golden hum rippled through the chamber, a warm vibration caught between light and sound. The jeweled eyes of the sculptures began to illuminate the room with their own inner fire.

AsaHi paused in the final archway, now standing in a spherical hollow at the end of the cave. Here, even the floor was curved to perfection. Every inch of the wall was etched with shimmering runes and symbols that shifted and danced away from her gaze. Nothing remained still, the vision always flickering just as her green eyes touch it.

A second globe hung in the center of the chamber, suspended in mid-air. Unfamiliar writing traced its translucent surface and her mouth grew dry as she stared into the warmth of its light. The strange symbols reflected down upon her, patterning her upturned face and dancing over the shoulders of her robe.

Her hand reached tentatively upwards, fingers stretched with longing. Though she was sure that it had been floating far out of reach, as her hand lifted, her fingertips touched it.

It’s here. It’s just like the tome said!

AsaHi looked away from the globe, towards the bloom that was still cupped in one hand. As the girl lifted the encased flower, the two lights fused, and an eerie glow crowned her white hair. When she pulled her hands away, the red flower had become sheathed within the warm golden sphere.

Another vibration filled the air, making the room quiver. A spiraling light grew within the heart of the globe as the flower exploded into a heatless fire. The dripping embers from the globe lit the threaded runes on the floor. Before she realized, the flame spread across the chamber, everywhere except for where her feet touched the stone.

No, wait!

It was both wondrous and terrifying. All AsaHi could do was turn around and around, craning her head back to see the chamber’s transformation. Outside, the hall’s length was illuminated with showers of crimson light that streamed like waterfalls from the open mouths of the stone creatures. Steam rose from the bottomless pools into which it ran, runic patterns leaping across the floors and walls with reflecting scarlet ripples.

This isn’t supposed to be real!

AsaHi turned back towards center of the chamber to find the flaming globe clutched between the claws of a radiant white creature. She squinted to make out its shape, her breath fluttering in her lungs as disbelief flooded her face. There was no mistaking what she saw. The creature could only be…

The Dreigiau!

The vibration rose and fell within the chamber, a mixture of a warm golden song and a deep-throated draconic growl. She could feel the prickle of unimaginable power racing through every pore of her being. It didn’t hurt. In fact, it felt as if it was trying to comfort her.

It… really… really… exists!!

Only one thought spun wildly through her head.

Now what do I do?

She felt the heat on her face as a soft hissing whisper swelled within the back of her mind, a sound without sound. A warm breath of air flowed past her pale cheek, brushing away the dangling strands of hair from her eyes. It smelled like a summertime meadow full of flowers of every imaginable kind. A strange sense of joy flowed through her. Joy and comfort amidst the awe.

~Morwynol neh-win-og bron rheen-nee ahr rheen-yog~

At first, AsaHi thought it might be her imagination. Then she realized that words were forming within the shifting hum. Words that were both familiar, yet not. For a passing instant, her mind gripped them, almost able to decipher the obscure message. But as she reached for it, the meaning scampered away.

“I… I don’t understand,” she lifted her face, green eyes squinting against the light.

A ghostly image drifted in the air before her, a Dragon’s form traced in pure translucent white. The soft glow rose and fell with each sweet-scented breath it took. It was huge, far too large to logically fit inside such a little chamber. Yet it was there — soft teal eyes focused upon her, long coils of tail and body dressed with tiny runes too intricate for even the most studied hand to sketch.

The great head bowed downwards, leveling with her face. The lips peeled back to reveal two perfect rows of sword-like teeth. With a gasp, AsaHi recoiled, shuffling backwards.

The warm melodic hum rose within the hall.

In a panic, she clamped her eyes shut and attempted to explain the situation, but could only manage a broken stammer. She felt the breath upon her cheek. The hum grew in intensity. As the room began to sway with a gentle motion, AsaHi sat trembling before she realized…

He’s laughing?

She opened her eyes slowly, finding herself face to face with a huge luminous grin. Or, at least, the closest thing to a grin that a dragon could make.

Somewhere inside the wave of relief, AsaHi felt somewhat insulted.

Her hand moved upward of its own accord. Confusion wrinkled her brow as she watched, feeling helpless to stop what was happening. As her fingertips brushed the white aura surrounding the creature, tiny sparks flew out in all directions. The humming grew louder in her ears, a harmonic stream flowing in to a weave of light and shadow.

Her fingers met something solid, yet not. The tip of the Dragon’s nose. The pulsating form supported the weight of her fingers, though just barely. It was like touching the wind.

~Now, I am free!~

As the words resounded in her mind, the hum rose in a staggering crescendo. A brilliant flash of light filled her vision and a sharp crack resounded throughout the chamber. Then, AsaHi felt her knees buckle as a deep misty sleep rose to claim her.

There was a mass of indigo arrows, circles and scribbled words all over the white writing-platter.

The writing stick made a wild scree as the teacher drew across the board, finishing the last leg of the diagram’s triangle. A mass of indigo arrows, circles and words sprawled all over the white writing-platter. The man at the board indicated the top tip of the triangle with a double tap of the stick.

“This scribble here represents Lord Zemi Dreigiau — please excuse my lack of drawing skills,” the teacher gave a sheepish grin. “I’m a healer, not an artist.”

A few snickers met his ear as he turned towards the students. A small white curl escaped the confines of his violet cap, just at the peak of his forehead. His friendly green eyes observed their reactions, working to warm up the discussion. They were a group of young people, all newcomers to the city Nefol — it was his responsibility to ease their jitters and introduce them to their new home.

He tapped at another corner of the triangle.

“Here we have the Dragon Apprentices,” his gentle gaze slipped from face to face for effect. “That may be you one day. But only if you train hard to pass the Trial of Meeting.”

The tip of the stick rested on the last corner of the triangle.

“This is where everyone else sits in the equation — including yourself. We are all students of life, for time is an unending trial of discovery. However, only a few will become a Myfyriwr, an Apprentice of the Arweinydd.”

A hand lifted in the middle of the class. The teacher pointed to it with his stick, pleased to have questions so early in the lecture.

“Who are the Arweinydd? How are we supposed to learn from them?” asked a hesitant voice.

A tranquil smile crossed his face in response, “The Arweinydd aren’t so much a ‘who’ as a ‘what.’ It’s my opinion that they don’t exist as a “self”… not like you and I do. No one is certain of exactly what they are. We do know there are many of them and they don’t appear to originate from our world.”

His stick indicated the vastness of the darkening night sky through the window.

“As for learning from them — there is a way. Though of all the Arweinydd that we think exist, there’s only one that has shown interest in reaching out to our people. And that would be Lord Zemi Dreigiau.”

“The others don’t like us?” the innocent question came from the right side of the class.

The words came with a pondering look, “I don’t know that the concept of ‘liking’ and ‘not liking’ is relevant to their kind. From what we’ve come to understand, they work somewhat differently than we do. Even in the most basic of things.”

A different voice rose this time, “Why should we want to learn anything from an Arweinydd at all?”

The query was met with stifled giggles in the back of the room.

“No, no. Good question,” the Apprentice joined them with a good natured laugh, templing his fingertips together thoughtfully. “Why? Well, it’s like asking why learn how to walk and talk from your parents.”

Curious eyes watched him, mulling over the answer. So he continued.

“What do you have to lose by learning all that you can?” he leaned back tapping the stick against his leg. “The more knowledge you have, the more strength you’ll have. The better you know how things work, the better you can make things work. Knowledge is the key to opening every door in life. That is why this School in Nefol was established. And the knowledge that Lord Zemi Dreigiau shares with us far exceeds anything that our people could have found on our own.”

“But why would he teach us?”

There was a momentary pause, then a slow sincere answer, “I… am not certain. I have never asked him.”

“You’ve talked to him?”

“Why, of course! I believe he enjoys speaking with us as much as we enjoy learning from him.”

“Where is he? How can we talk to him?”

“He exists a different plane of existence than our own,” the man began to pace slowly in front of the drawing board. “The only place we can speak to him is the Host Gate. There, his image and words can cross the boundaries into our world. But even there, he doesn’t manifest in the physical manner that you or I do.”

“If he’s so powerful, then why can’t he come into our world without the Host Gate?” a hand from the far side of the room rose along with words of doubt.

The teacher gave a grim look, “Lord Zemi Dreigiau has his reasons for the things he does. Perhaps he doesn’t really need to. After all, his natural being is one of spirit, not of material.”

An indigo sketch of something that resembled trees began to form upon the surface of the board as he turned to draw.

“It’s by adopting his methods of planting and tending that we found ways of conserving food long enough to be able to make it through the winters without a yearly migration. He’s helped us understand our lands and given us knowledge of the beasts of our world – both dangerous and gentle. And he has never asked for anything in return.”

The Apprentice opened his arms with a soft smile.

“Nothing. We at the School of Nefol honor him as students should honor their Master. We strive to learn and understand all that that he offers to bring to our knowl-”

The class turned to look as a persistent and heavy-handed knock sounded at the door. The teacher gave a slight scowl, trying to ignore the interruption the best as he could. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the knock came again.

A soft snicker came from the back of the room as the door opened of its own accord, without the teacher’s welcome. Following that, a head poked bluntly into the room.

The intruder’s light green eyes were similar to the Apprentice’s, except for the lines of sternness that narrowed them tightly. Where the teacher’s expression was soft and friendly, this younger man’s mouth was curved down at the corners in a perpetual half-frown. The impatience of his expression spoke volumes… not a word needed to be exchanged between the two.

With a gentle sigh, the teacher turned to the class, “I believe that’s enough for today. We’ll pick up this question and answer session tomorrow.”

The class filed out, gathering books and cloaks, a line of cheerful chatter at being allowed out early. Once the room cleared, the Apprentice leaned back against his board with a face that juggled disgruntled concern.

“SoYa…” the other man began, speaking his older brother’s name.

“This had better be good Tsu,” the teacher sighed, massaging his temples. “It’s the third time this week my class has been cut short for one reason or another. First it was the false Nergh attack. Then it was–”

“Yeah. I’ve heard all about your terrible week. Sorry to say, it’s not about to get much better,” TsuYa’s dark frown scowled the importance of the situation.

“What’s going on?”

“AsaHi,” TsuYa’s frown turned grim.

The teacher’s eyes widened at the sound of his Promised’s name, “Is there some word?”

“More than that. They found her.”

AsaHi had a tendency to wander and explore — SoYa had always known that. She was, after all, born within the Gatherings. It was the nature of her people to move with the seasons and she often spent days traveling between the settlements.

However, this time, she had vanished without a word — nothing more than the nods of the students confirmed they saw her departure. When days began to turn into weeks, SoYa couldn’t help but worry. Those who were sent to search for her were unsuccessful in uncovering any clue of her passage.

“The found her?” SoYa echoed the words. “Is… is… she okay?”

“I don’t know. She’s asleep and no one’s been able to wake her up. It looks like she’s been asleep for a while,” came the slow answer.

“Where is she?” the Apprentice gathered up his belongings in a muddled rush.

TsuYa suddenly grasped his brother’s shoulders in both hands, giving him a slight shake. “SoYa. They found her in the Host Gate.”

SoYa froze, “Host Gate?”

“Yes,” the younger brother lowered his eyes for a long moment. “They found her with the Book of Ritual… she must have taken it. They think that she tried to summon Lord Zemi.”

“WHAT?” SoYa’s eyes widened. “Are you certain?”

TsuYa nodded curtly and repeated, “She had the Book of Ritual. There was no mistaking it.”

A low moan escaped from between half parted lips, “Noooo… why?”

“You know why,” the sharpness of the younger man’s eyes cut as he retorted. “She doesn’t believe Lord Zemi exists. Well, I suppose she had to find out the truth for herself.”

“How can you say it so…” SoYa’s brow furrowed at his brother’s disdain, then he turned to make his way towards the door.

TsuYa grabbed his brother’s arm a second time, stopping him. Warning was heavy in his voice, “She’s in big trouble, SoYa. You know the Council punishes non-Apprentices who try to enter the Gate, not to mention stealing the Book of Ritual and summoning the Patron without approval!”

“Stealing! She wasn’t–”

“She took the Book, SoYa,” his brother snapped back. “What else will they call it?”

“I…” SoYa felt a heaviness bottoming in the pit of his stomach.

“Look. Don’t get involved in this,” TsuYa’s lips curled back, “You’re pitting yourself up against the whole Council if you do. It’s just what they’d want to pin on you to get you out of the way. They’re already spreading rumors that Lord Zemi struck AsaHi down for her impudence. The gentlest thing that they’ll slap on her is banishment. And if you defend her, then son of the High Guide or not, you…”

SoYa’s voice was no more than a low mutter, “What do you expect me to do?”

“Stay out of it. You can’t do anything for her if she drags you down with her,” TsuYa crossed his arms with a huff. “The Council won’t miss a beat and you know it.”

“I just can’t do that!” without so much as a glance back, SoYa rushed out the door, books and papers scattering behind him.

His brother’s glittering eyes traced the white papers as they fluttered to rest on the floor. Then TsuYa’s low sigh filled the room, “SoYa, you’re such a fool.”

“SoYa. She cannot hear you. She sleeps safe within the Dragon’s Dream.”

“Aunt SaRa?” SoYa paused in the doorway of the dimly lit room, a palm on either side of the doorframe. He swallowed down his trepidation as the older woman sitting in the corner glanced up with a familiar, worn smile. Encouraged by the warmth of her presence, he took an uncertain step into the room.

His eyes fell upon the figure lying motionless in the bed. Then all reserve broke as the Apprentice rushed forward, nearly tripping over his robes in the process. SoYa reached for her hand, cupping it between his palms, “AsaHi? AsaHi, I’m here!”

There was no answer. No sound except for the echo of his cracked voice against the plain white walls. A gentle touch on his shoulder brought him reeling back to reality. Aunt SaRa’s motherly face hovered over the two of them, her expression lined with concern.

“SoYa. She can’t hear you. She sleeps safe within the Dragon’s Dream,” her melodic voice worked soothing tones.

Slowly the Apprentice lifted his head, eyes deeply pained, “Then what Tsu told me is true?”

The woman tilted her head in a girlish manner, “What did that scamp say? I’ll tell you if it is true or not.”

“They found AsaHi in the Host Gate? That she tried to…”

“She did more than just try,” Aunt SaRa reached forward, pulling a covered shape from the table. As she drew back the cloth, SoYa recognized the familiar, worn cover of the Book of Ritual. “I believe this belongs to you?”

The Apprentice could do nothing but shake his head as his hands closed around the Book. It was all that he could do to keep them steady, “I can’t believe she’d do something so… so… foolish! Why would she mock Lord Dragon like this? Why would…”

Aunt SaRa touched his shoulder again. There were no words. She had never needed words to put his mind at ease. She was like a second mother to him, and the only mother-figure that his brother, TsuYa, knew.

SoYa spent the first fourteen years of his life with their real mother. But, Tsu was three when Mother passed away. From that time onward, SoYa learned everything he could about healing magics with a voracious appetite. He wasn’t the most powerful magic user or warrior in Nefol — certainly nothing like his father had been. Still, he swore in his mother’s name that he would use the power he had to heal those who were in need.

Aunt SaRaYa was one of SoYa’s most influential teachers from a very early age. Though the Council no longer allowed women to be Apprentices to the Dragon, he knew that she had been there at the very first Meeting with Zemi Dreigiau. SoYa was certain that her great power, though often overlooked in the shadow of his own father’s name, had come as a result of being a child raised under the guidance of the Arweinydd.

She was a woman who inspired love and gave the sense of absolute protection. Now, with both of their parents gone, she was the only real family that he and Tsu had.

“So is it true? Is Lord Zemi punishing AsaHi?” he murmured.

Aunt SaRa looked up with a grave frown, “Where did you get such an idea from?”

SoYa looked down, “I…”

She gave a sigh, taking her nephew’s hand in her own, “SoYa, you’ve studied all these years. You teach the young that come to Nefol. And you can’t answer that question for yourself? Who do you think Zemi is?”

“I… I…”

Aunt SaRa shook her head curtly, “The Council… Nefol… the whole School… they have it all wrong. Since your father… well… Everything has gone completely astray. I know this is not the way that he would have wanted you or anyone to think of Zemi.”

Guilt marred SoYa’s face, but he pressed on, “If that’s true, then why did Lord Zemi strike AsaHi down? Will she ever wake up? Tsu said that it was her punishment for–”

“SoYa,” the woman gave a half sigh, half laugh.

He fell silent.

“It figures you’d hear it from your stone-headed brother. Foolishness! That is what all this speculation is,” Aunt SaRa pointed to the sleeping girl, “She sleeps because if she did not, she may have died. The things that she subjected herself to, the things she saw… she was not schooled enough to endure. Zemi is not punishing her. He is preserving her.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why do you think it takes Apprentices years of preparation before Zemi allows them to come to the Meeting?”

“I just thought it was something Lord Dragon wanted us to do to prove our dedication,” SoYa spread his hands.

“No,” Aunt SaRa sighed again, “Do they teach nothing in Nefol anymore? A lot of power is released into our world when the Gate opens. It’s for your own safety that you train to ready your mind. But the Council, they turn everything into some ritual, some political ordeal. It never used to be this way.”

SoYa’s voice was quiet, “Will she be okay? I mean, she will wake up, right?”

“Her body has slowly begun to function on its own strength. I’m not sure how long it will be before she is completely conscious, however. Zemi is being very careful. I don’t think he wants to rush it.”

SoYa swallowed, “You talk as if he’s here with us right now.”

A secretive smile hovered upon Aunt SaRa’s lips, “One can never tell.”

“So what you’re saying is… Lord Zemi isn’t angry with her?”

“I don’t see why he would be. In fact, I think the old rascal is probably amused,” she answered.

The Apprentice stared at his aunt. How she could talk so nonchalantly about the Arweinydd, he never knew.

Aunt SaRa just winked, “Zemi knows exactly what it’s like to be a youngster in trouble. Believe me. Many, many years of raising your father and I taught him all about that sort of thing.”

He turned his eyes downward.

“She will be okay,” his aunt reassured him in a gentle tone.

“Even if Lord Zemi isn’t angry at her, the Council is going to judge her when she wakes up,” SoYa spread his hands in a pleading gesture. “They’re going absolutely ballistic by the sound of what Tsu said.”

“Is that so?” Aunt SaRa’s lips were drawn in a thin, unhappy line.

“You know it’s true. And it’s just… wrong…”

“I agree,” the woman nodded with a wistful look. Then she added, as if to herself, “There has been a lot of wrong in Nefol ever since your father left.”

“Isn’t there something we can do?” the Apprentice tightened his grip on the Book. “I mean, maybe if we appeal to Lord Zemi he could… er… I dunno..?”

They both fell silent for a long moment.

Finally, Aunt Sara spoke again, “You really love AsaHi, don’t you, SoYa?”

“I do,” he nodded. “Even if she can be a little stubborn and a little wild. Even if she doesn’t always agree with the things I work for. We were Promised. I will honor that, no matter what.”

“I know you will,” Aunt SaRa placed a cool palm over his forehead. Then she gently brushed his bangs out of his face.

“I don’t care what happens to me. My status here at Nefol… all this… doesn’t matter if she’s in danger. There’s got to be some way to help her,” his voice cracked in a desperate tone.

A distant look of memory trickled over the woman’s face. Then she nodded.

“I’m not much for the road these days. My years of traveling have long since passed, I’m afraid. But I can start the girl out,” Aunt Sara’s voice lowered to a rich murmur. “I know a place where she will be safe from the Council. But you must trust me to send her there. And you must speak to no one about it.”

SoYa nodded quickly.

“I thought you would agree.”

“But, if she leaves, will I… ever see her again?” he paused, tracing a finger along side of AsaHi’s cheek with a longing face.

“Of course you will. Don’t speak such nonsense,” Aunt SaRa’s eyes glittered in the darkness. “Maybe you will even go to join her when you’re ready.”

Brow furrowed, SoYa squinted questioningly at his aunt, “What do you mean?”

“Nevermind,” she abruptly took his arm and lead him towards the door. “There’s much for me to do to ready her for the trip.”

“But..?”

Aunt SaRa pulled his face down so that they were staring eye to eye. “No questions for now. And don’t worry. You said you would trust me, yes?”

SoYa gave a meek nod. He was afforded one final glance over his shoulder at AsaHi before the door at his back closed.

“I’m in serious trouble… aren’t I?”

“Well, now. Welcome back!”

The voice was overly cheerful, even through the groggy haze that clouded AsaHi’s mind. The girl’s eyes inched open, then fluttered against the amber light filtering in from window above.

“Sunset already?” she murmured. “I slept that late?”

There was the sound of a warm chuckle, “You like understatements, don’t you?”

AsaHi pushed herself into a sitting position. Instantly, stiffness racked her body, nearly forcing her to collapse back against the pillows again. She fought the desire until her muscles finally complied with a dull ache.

“How do you feel?” the voice asked.

“Like I fell off the top of the top of the Spire,” she grumbled a reply.

Rubbing her temples, the girl rolled her head around to loosen the tension in her neck. Then she glanced towards the source of the kindly voice. Instantly, she recognized the middle-aged woman who sat there. “Aunt SaRaYa?”

“You really are one for finding the nastiest scrapes to get into. You remind me of me when I was young. Between Zento and I, I am surprised we left Zemi with any sanity at all,” the woman gave another chuckle.

“Lord… Zemi…” AsaHi heard herself speak as if by reflex.

I remember now! I was…

Everything suddenly came back to her. Images flickered through her mind, superimposing upon each other until they became one. The flower… the cave… the statues… the globes… the runes of light… The Dragon. An overwhelming fear and awe gripped her at the realization that such a creature really did exist. That she had seen it with her own eyes, and she was still alive.

The girl reached out, grasping the older woman’s robes, “He’s real!”

“Who is, dear?” Aunt SaRa gently removed the girl’s fingers from the hem of her garment. Then with a silence born of grace, she strode to the other side of the room and began pouring a drink over a little tray on the table.

“Lord Zemi Dreigiau!”

“Of course he is,” she replied drolly. “Now, do you take your mastak with or without sweetening?”

“I… I… didn’t believe it!”

“You seem the type to like yours sweet,” Aunt SaRa dropped a spoonful of soft white powder into the cup and began to stir gently.

“I didn’t think I’d find anything there!”

“I see,” the sound of stirring stopped. “So that’s what you were doing in the Host Gate, was it?”

AsaHi nodded meekly.

“I am certain you discovered that Zemi doesn’t like when his existence is discounted. It must have been quite a blow to that colossal pride of his,” Aunt SaRa glanced over, her deep eyes shimmering in mirth.

“There’s nothing funny about this! He could have easily…” the girl swallowed, leaving the thought unfinished.

“Bah!” The woman waved a hand with a girlish grin, “Zemi needs to be taken down a few notches every now and then. Either that or the old fossil will get too big for his own scales.”

AsaHi gaped.

Aunt SaRa didn’t seem to notice as she carted the tray across the room on one palm, placing it in the girl’s lap. It was filled with an array of sliced fruit, cold-cut sweet meats and warm puffed pastries. “Here, you must be starved. Close the talk and grab a bite to eat.”

The girl stared down, eyes moving over the cuisine in wonder. At the sight of the food, she realized she was absolutely ravenous. With nothing more than her fingers, AsaHi began to tear into the dishes with great relish, stuffing bits of this and that into her mouth all at the same time.

“I’m afraid it’s not much. I didn’t have time to prepare for you.”

AsaHi attempted to speak her thanks, but all that came out was a muffled, “Mrruph!”

“You’re welcome,” the older woman nodded before continuing. “I didn’t trust to leave you alone.”

The words were so grave that the girl swallowed down the mouthful of food, pausing with a concerned look, “What do you mean?”

Aunt SaRa gave a sad but encouraging smile. “Finish your plate. Then we’ll talk. You’re going to need all the strength you can muster.”

Troubled thoughts drew around AsaHi as she returned to eating with a good deal less enthusiasm. The apprehensive look on the older woman’s face was not one that she had seen often. When Aunt SaRaYa was displeased about something, then there was truly a cause to worry.

The girl fidgeted, an uncomfortable feeling rising, “I’m in serious trouble, aren’t I?”

“AsaHi… How do I explain?” the older woman paused, looking uncertain, one finger tapping her lower lip.

“Lord Dragon wants me punished, doesn’t he?”

Then, Aunt SaRa gave her the look.

Urk… maybe I should keep things to myself…

She fell silent with a shudder, waiting for the woman to speak. When the voice came again, it was firm and direct.

“What you did was terribly thoughtless, child. The powers that you were toying with are not things to take lightly,” Aunt SaRa’s eyes grew hard and sharp. “It is not because of Zemi’s anger that you were in danger. I doubt he was upset by your appearance there, despite what you or anyone else thinks. I believe the one thing that would have upset him was the danger that you placed yourself in by summoning him.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are no Apprentice, child.”

“I know that,” AsaHi looked down meekly.

“There are boundaries between Zemi’s realm of existence and ours. It’s like an invisible wall, if you will. One that we Earthians cannot even perceive, much less cross over. But he can. That is how he can come to speak with us. Does this make sense to you?”

The girl’s mouth was slightly ajar. She nodded.

“It takes a great amount of power to push through this wall.” Aunt SaRaYa continued, “The Apprentices train to be able to handle the force that it releases.”

“And what if someone is not trained?”

“Death is possible. Or worse, living with half a mind for the rest of one’s life.”

AsaHi sucked on her bottom lip, “I didn’t know.”

“Now you do.”

“But, why am I still alive?” the girl finally breathed.

“Zemi protected you.”

She croaked out one word, “Why?”

Aunt SaRa’s face was unmoved. “Why not?”

“Because I’m just a… a… nothing… next to something like him!”

“I don’t think he’d approve of that sort of thought from you. Not after all he went through to see that you came out of this alive. If you are truly nothing, then all he did was for nothing, yes?” the woman pressed her lips together. “Besides, what would you do if you saw someone hurt?”

“I’d help them if I could, naturally!”

“Then why do you think Zemi wouldn’t do the same?”

“I… don’t know. I just didn’t think…”

“I am living testimony to his generosity,” Aunt SaRa’s face softened though her voice grew more grave. “Besides, the danger you are in now does not come from Zemi.”

The girl blinked up questioningly, “Danger?”

“This infernal institution that’s grown up around the knowledge that Zemi has shared with us, it’s all gone too far. This is nothing like what he would have wanted it to be.”

“You mean the School?”

“Yes,” Aunt SaRa answered quietly.

“The Council is not happy with me,” AsaHi looked down.

“To put it lightly, no.”

“I knew they wouldn’t be. I just thought that everything they tried to pass off on us was a way of keeping the people quiet. I didn’t know that Lord Zemi was real,” the girl let out a long, ragged breath, winding her fingers together. “What are they going to do to me?”

“Do you want to wait around to find out?” Aunt SaRa’s tone shifted once again.

AsaHi’s head jerked up, “What are you saying?”

“I promised SoYa that I’d see you to safety.”

“SoYa? He knows?” AsaHi’s chest ached at the thought.

“Too many people know,” the woman nodded. “That is why you must make haste with the night.”

“You mean leave?”

Aunt SaRa looked as if she wasn’t sure of what she was about to say, “I know that you’re aware of the threat that the Council poses to SoYa and his position as the rightful successor as the High Guide of Nefol. This is nothing new, however. It’s something that’s always been, since before my brother… vanished.”

AsaHi could only look up in quiet wonder. It’s the first time her own fears about the Council of Nefol and their ambitions had been confirmed by someone else. And now that it had been said, she discovered she didn’t have the words to reply. The thought that the Council, the people who were the leaders and protectors of the city, would be working towards something so treacherous left a lump in her throat.

“I assure you that the Council does not know the will of the very Patron they claim to serve,” the woman lowered her head in thought. “They have forgotten what it meant to be a part of Nefol and to spread the knowledge that has been given to us.”

The girl blinked, the concepts ringing in her mind.

Aunt SaRa’s head lifted again, a sadness creeping back into her eyes, “You do not have much time. It’s your choice to stay or leave, though I gave my word to take care of you. And I don’t believe you will be safe here.”

“This is what SoYa wants?”

“Yes. He already talked with me about it. He understands what happened and he thinks it’s for the best,” she nodded.

AsaHi took a deep breath, “Won’t the Council try to find me?”

“If they do, they will discover you are well protected,” Aunt SaRa answered with a somewhat mysterious look.

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t think that I would send you on a journey unprotected, do you?”

“Well… I…” the girl blinked, eyes turning towards the window.

The world outside was falling into a deep, blue slumber under the glow of the triple moons. Nefol lay silent beneath the shroud, flickering lights dotting the darkness where homes of people lay, people that she had grown up with, whom she loved. As much as the girl enjoyed traveling and exploring, she always had a home to return to.

Suddenly it didn’t feel that way anymore. There was a spot in her heart that had grown cold and afraid. A spot where something important was missing.

“What is your choice, dear?” Aunt SaRa asked, giving the girl’s hand a soft squeeze.

After a long moment, AsaHi nodded, “Tell me where I must go.”

"SoYa... you can talk to me. I'm your brother... if you're in trouble, I want to help."

SoYa made his way double-time down the streets of Nefol. His green eyes watched warily over one shoulder as he rounded a corner.

Nefol. It had been SoYa’s home since he could remember. It was the first city of its kind, a civilization founded on hard work, courage and legendary skill. In Nefol, the magic arts first began to flourish and the knowledge of the arcane was offered to those who wished to learn secret truths. It was also there that fierce and powerful warriors were trained under the watchful hand of the mighty High Guide of Nefol – his father, ZenToYa.

For the first time in the history of the Inner Realms, people came to live, work and learn in an established city. Before then, the people were nomadic in nature, traveling with the seasons in family groups called Gatherings. But when ZenToYa came, carrying the knowledge and strength of the Dreigiau with him, he turned society upside down.

In a land where cities had never existed, buildings now rose proudly, lining the streets of Nefol. Everything there revolved around the School and the structure that represented the ever-reaching ambitions of the Nefolians — the majestic tower known as the Spire. Even now, SoYa could see the shadow of the Spire stretching across his path as it presided tall and unwavering over them all.

Only, things haven’t been so good here, ever since father died.

Aunt SaRa would never say it outright. That father was dead. She always persisted in saying that he vanished. But everyone knew the truth – the Council proclaimed him dead. He had fallen in a valiant battle against enemies from the outside lands, remembered as a hero to the people he once led.

I wish he was here. He would know what to do. He wouldn’t let the Council push people around.

In the shadow of his memory, ZenToYa had left two young sons. SoYa was the eldest, the one that was meant to follow in the footsteps of the mighty hero and become the next High Guide. It was no secret that the Council wasn’t too thrilled about the succession. Driven to greed by the lack of true leadership, more than one member sought to control Nefol for their own. All that SoYa could do was keep his head down to ensure that he was not the target of that avarice. He could sense when the Council held their meetings that it would only be a matter of time before they found a way to gain the power that they sought, even at his expense.

And now with what AsaHi has done, she will be caught up in it, too.

Since AsaHi left, SoYa felt a foreboding weight wherever he went, as if something dark and distant was watching his every move. From time to time, he could hear it – a whisper in the shadows. As much as he tried to ignore it or pass it off as imagination, it was only getting clearer. He swore he just heard it from a shadowy alley a few roads over… and this time, it called his name. Spooked, he made his way quickly to the closest place he knew to go. Somewhere that he wouldn’t be alone.

I’m sure Tsu won’t mind if I drop in.

TsuYa. The younger of the two brothers, and by far the more level-headed. If there was anyone that the Council saw as a strong potential leader for Nefol, it was surely the younger brother, rather than the elder. Strangely enough, TsuYa never made a move to take up that claim. Instead, he always defended SoYa, even protected him from the Council’s scorn. Though he was tough and hardened by the loss of both mother and father at an early age, there was a true concern in the stern light of TsuYa’s eyes.

Still, I’ve been going to him for advice far too much lately. Who is supposed to be the oldest one here?

SoYa paused in front of the worn compound door. Before he could lift his hand to knock, the door opened. A hand shot out and grabbed his wrist, dragging him in.

“Wha-woah!” the Apprentice exclaimed as the door shut behind him. When he rounded, he was looking up into the face of his younger brother. “What are you–”

“No. What are YOU doing lurking around my door?” TsuYa crossed his arms with a dark frown. A scowl meant to hide strain and trepidation.

“I was coming to see you. Why?”

“There’s some crazy things going on,” he lowered his voice, eyes shifting around the chamber.

“Like what?” SoYa asked, swallowing the lump in his throat. He decided not to talk about the strange feelings that were haunting him, worried that he would put his brother even more on the edge.

“Like everything anymore,” TsuYa let out a long breath. Then striding across the length of the room, he pulled out a rolled piece of parchment from a hiding spot behind some of his books. “Check this out.”

The Apprentice took the scroll and unfolded it, eyes flicking over the contents. The further he read, the lower his brows dipped. “Children developing… wings? Wings!? And people coming up missing in the Gatherings? It sounds like some strange folk tale if you ask me.”

TsuYa rubbed the side of his face, “For all we know, it probably is.”

“Really then? If it’s nothing more than a folk tale, why are you so tense?”

“Listen, there’s not been anything confirmed on these reports, but I thought you should be aware of what some of the men are bringing back. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want rumors to start spreading all over.” TsuYa sighed, “You know how out of hand that sort of thing can get. Then you get the Gatherings riled up in the frontiers, spouting their Bane nonsense, as if things here haven’t been crazy enough.”

SoYa pursed his lips at his brother’s heavy-handed tone, “I suppose that’s true.”

TsuYa pulled out an extra cup and shook it out, examining its spotless condition. Then he set about fixing a cup of tea for his brother. There were not many cups on his shelf — he didn’t have people over often.

TsuYa was a serious child who grew into a quiet and solitary young man, especially since Father died. Not having known his mother very well, Father was his early childhood hero. Everything TsuYa ever wanted to become was in Father’s smile of approval. And though SoYa tried as hard as he could to help raise his brother, the only place TsuYa looked for love was in his father’s heart.

I wonder if what I’m doing now would make Father proud. I wonder what he would do if the Council turned against him.

SoYa’s thoughts trailed off as his brother brought him the cup of tea. TsuYa frowned, his green eyes fixed upon the dapple of light that played through the shifting reeds outside the window. There was an echo of apprehension on his face. For the first time, SoYa realized how pale it looked.

That’s when a soft melodic whisper rose to his ears, sending a prickle of fear running over SoYa’s skin. Then, it was gone.

“Hey?” he heard his brother’s voice reach out across the room, a strangely gentle murmur. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Wha..? Uh… yeah. I’m fine,” SoYa blinked once, the touch of the world running off of him like water on wax. He realized his hands were shaking as they gripped the cup. Some of the tea had spilt over the side, making a spattered mess over his robe.

“SoYa,” TsuYa put his cup down and came to stand next to his brother’s shaken form. One hand reached out in silence, fingers dropping lightly upon the burdened shoulder. “What’s going on? Talk to me.”

When he answered, his voice was surprisingly weak, “I’m scared…”

“About what?”

SoYa didn’t trust himself to answer. Before he could find the words, TsuYa continued.

“Is it about AsaHi?”

“What… have I done wrong?” SoYa gritted his teeth, fighting to keep his voice level. “Is it all my fault?”

“You’re asking me?”

“Yeah,” he blinked up.

“It’s not your fault. AsaHi was responsible for her own actions. But the Council is probably not going to see it that way,” TsuYa answered grimly. “I think you could both be in danger.”

SoYa fell silent.

“Something else is going on, isn’t it?” TsuYa’s mouth curved in a downward slope.

Still only silence.

He leaned forward with a tilt of his head, “SoYa, you can talk to me. I’m your brother… if you’re in trouble, I want to help.”

SoYa gave a troubled look, folding his hands around the base of the cup. He promised Aunt SaRa that he wouldn’t tell anyone. But TsuYa wasn’t just anyone…

“AsaHi left Nefol last night.”

“What? Left?” his brother’s eyes widened. “What do you mean she left?”

“Aunt SaRa said there was a safer place for her and…” SoYa spread his hands, trying to explain.

“Well, this isn’t good,” TsuYa huffed.

“Why?”

“Running off… you know what that makes it look like?  That AsaHi is guilty of something. That’s how the Council will see it,” he answered with a flustered sound. “It means she’s probably not going to be able to come back… not anytime soon. You realize that?”

SoYa lowered his eyes.

“Where did she go?”

“I… don’t know. I didn’t ask. I wasn’t even supposed to tell anyone she left,” SoYa answered quickly.

TsuYa just stood with a flushed frown. Then he took a long, solid breath, eyes leveling on his brother’s face. “Look. This is all really complicated. With the Council getting involved and everything… I think this is beyond us to deal with. We’re going to need some help.”

“What kind of help?” SoYa began wiping the spots from his robe with a spare napkin.

“I think you should go and talk to Lord Zemi,” the words dropped out of the air like a great weight.

The Apprentice choked, his pale face turning towards his brother.

“I know it sounds nuts. But the only way the Council can nail AsaHi is if they can prove that she’s done something offensive in the eyes of Lord Zemi,” TsuYa explained with an intense look. “If you have Lord Zemi on your side, what can they do to her? Nothing. They’ll have no leg to stand on!”

“Tsu, if this is just another one of your ideas to upstage KoGuRai then–”

“Give me a break!” he snapped back, looking insulted. “I’m trying to help you here!”

“By sending me to the Host Gate where all of this mess started?” SoYa lifted his hands with a shake of his head.

“And why not? You don’t think Lord Zemi will help you?” TsuYa leaned back with crossed arms.

The Apprentice mulled the thought for a moment. “I don’t know. I’m here to serve him, not to ask for favors.”

“That’s not the way Father thought.”

SoYa found himself answering before he realized it, “Well Father’s not–”

There was an awkward silence between the two. The elder brother rubbed the side of his face, not daring to look over. He knew that he had slipped up.

Finally, TsuYa broke the silence. His voice was quiet and level, more than SoYa had a right to. “I know that. I just really believe that Lord Zemi will listen and help.”

SoYa peered up at his younger brother’s face. When he spoke, he spoke the truth as he believed it. And though TsuYa was sometimes hasty in his choices, it was rare to hear him encourage trust, even in the Patron that they both served. It was hard to deny that it all made sense.

“Are you afraid?” TsuYa asked.

“A little,” came the answer.

“How much do you love AsaHi?” was the unexpected question that followed.

SoYa fell silent, understanding what his brother was getting at.

“You chose to stick this out. So do something about it. For once, use your status! You can help her,” TsuYa murmured.

The Apprentice took a long, deep breath, staring down at his hands. “You’re right. I should at least try and see what Lord Zemi says.”

“There you go,” a slow smirk crossed the younger man’s face.

~TsssuuuYaaa… now your time has come…~

TsuYa didn’t know why it was so cold in his room. He piled the fire until it roared within the wall cleft, but nothing TsuYa did gave any warmth to his quarters.

It had been that way since SoYa left on his journey to speak to Zemi Dreigiau. TsuYa knew that SoYa wanted nothing more than to give his sincere apology and ask for assistance on AsaHi’s behalf. There was always something candid and earnest in his brother’s manner — deception and spitefulness were foreign concepts to SoYa’s way of thinking.

But it is also his weakness. His lack of ambition will never lead him to his birthright. If something doesn’t change, he will never be able to empower the School the way Father did. The Council will take it from us first.

Despite his sharp manner, TsuYa could not deny his fondness for his brother. SoYa was the one person that he shared so much with – no one else knew him better. Then again, there were not many people who really wanted to get to know TsuYa at all.

I’m harsh with him, I know. But it’s for his own good! We’ve seen all of Father’s dreams fade away at the hands of these political gamers!

TsuYa felt his teeth grind as he thought about the Council and how his brother never stood up to them.

If only he had a bit more resolve! If only he’d defend himself and our inheritance. It’s as if becoming the High Guide of Nefol doesn’t matter to him at all!

As the chill in the room grew more pronounced, TsuYa pulled his cloak further over his shoulders. His eyes shifted towards the windows to make sure they were latched and not the source of the frosty draft.

A whispering hiss shifted through the room. And he felt it — a strange touch tickling the back of his mind. Everything within him recoiled from the sensation, a deep queasiness rushing through him.

~TsssuYaa…~

The Apprentice turned his head with a jerk. Though a voice had sounded right next to his ear, there was no one there.

“Show yourself! What do you want?” he called out.

~To give you everything you could dream of… and more…~

This time the voice came from in front of him. TsuYa turned just in time to see the fire begin to swell. With an eerie quiver, the golden flame abruptly lost all color, bathing the room in a chilling white light. As all heat was drawn into the expanding vortex, the chamber continued to grow more and more frigid.

Stumbling back, the Apprentice lost his balance over a wayward footstool and sprawled on the floor with a loud thump. A ghostly waver drifted up from the heart of the flame, two wings stretching from either side as a serpentine head erupted with a soul-shattering roar. TsuYa shook violently as the image of a white Dragon grew distinct. Its red eyes turned upon him, head craning forward slowly.

~TsssuuuYaaa… now your time has come…~

It took a moment before he could gather his voice. When he did finally speak, it was a frightened tone, “Lord Zemi? But how have you–”

~I am greatly displeased with the one that came before you.~

“You mean SoYa?” he shivered, mind reeling in attempt to make sense of things.

~Yes. His heart is weak, his spirit is of no use to me.~

“I am sure that even at this moment he has is coming to you to seek forgiveness for the disturbance at the Host Gate! Please don’t –”

TsuYa’s words melted in his throat as the heat of the flame back lashed in his face. A growing fury raged in the Dragon’s eyes.

~Worthless creature of flesh! Do not order me unless you desire the same condemnation as your other has earned!~

“N-no, Master! That was not my intent!” he choked, trying to keep his voice level and his knees from quivering.

~Steel your heart, servant. Fear and soulful longing win no power. His limp mind and devastating compassion render him useless to me. Do not fall into the same trap of weakness.~

TsuYa bit down on his lip, still shuddering at the heat on his face. Without warning, his body jerked back as a vast consciousness shifted around him, caressing his mind in warm, tingling strokes.

~He has forfeited his natural birthright through his limitations. The time has come for you to rise above him and take these matters in your own hands.~

“Rise above…?” TsuYa’s vision was fading, becoming blurry.

~He is not worthy of his position. He would allow the Council to come and destroy all that was built in your father’s name. He would stay his hand as Nefol comes crumbling down.~

“SoYa..?” the word came as a hoarse, broken whisper. “But I can’t… he is my brother. He is the one meant to be…”

~Should not the strongest rule? You were the one rightfully gifted with your father’s power and courage.~

“I…”

~Don’t you think he holds envy in his heart towards you for this?~

A stricken expression flew across TsuYa’s face and he shook his head very slowly, “No, not SoYa.”

~Do not be deceived. Do you think he does not see you as a threat?~

The whispering coil wound around and around his mind, nearly choking him as each word sliced through the last susceptible areas of his heart. One hand lifted towards the Dragon spirit in a tormented grope.

~Can you simply stand by and watch the School and Nefol wither away?~

“No…” TsuYa croaked, “No, I cannot…”

~Then get up and take up your Father’s legacy! It is your rightful place. It is what you were born to become!~

“But what if SoYa objects? What if he fights me?”

~He will. And when he does, you must show no mercy, or else all of Nefol will fall.~

With a final hiss, the fire shuddered, melting back down into a low, dwindling amber flame. The room was darker, more foreboding.

~No mercy…~

TsuYa slumped forward, drooping with exhaustion as the vast presence faded away. The firelight illuminated the grief-stricken lines of his face, his voice hoarse and muted, “Brother…”

Perched upon one of the uprising stones was a tiny translucent sparrow, little beaded eyes watching him in with intent curiosity.

SoYa instantly knew that something was wrong. The life force that had once flowed through the stone of the Host Gate was not there. The presence that he could always feel was gone. Nothing remained except a churning void in the cave’s darkness.

Lord Zemi, I’m here to ask for your forgiveness. AsaHi meant no harm!

There was never a time that Lord Zemi was not within the Host Gate. There was been a time that he did not come when one of his Apprentices called.

Everything is a huge mess… I need your help.

A gentle tickle of energy shivered through his body. It was similar to when the power of the Dreigiau flowed through the Gate. Yet, it wasn’t quite the same.

Maybe he heard me after all.

SoYa stood silently in a moment of anticipation, but there was no sign of the white Dragon. Not even the slightest hint of light glittered in the cave. Yet, the soft pressure in the back of his mind grew.

~Here, Earthian. Look here.~

SoYa startled at the sound that flittered into his mind. The voice spoke to him in the same manner as Lord Zemi had always done, except, this voice was feminine. His eyes fell upon a pale shimmer of white behind him. Perched on one of the uprising stones was a tiny translucent sparrow, little beaded eyes watching him in with intent curiosity.

~Did I frighten you? My apologies. ~

SoYa shook his head, mouth half-open in a stammer, “You’re not Lord Zemi.”

~That is correct. I am not. And you should not be here.~

“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude,” beads of sweat broke out on his brow.

~It is not intrusion that is the trouble. I warn you from concern, young SoYa. I know my brother cares greatly for you and your family. Since he is not here to watch over you, I am honoring his wishes.~

“Brother? Do you mean to say you are Lord Zemi’s… sister?” SoYa’s eyes widened. It was only then he realized he was rudely staring at the tiny white bird and closed his mouth with a click.

~That is what he calls me, yes. Though I admit it is more of an Earthian concept that just took his fancy than actual relation.~

A tremor rushed through his body as the Apprentice inched forward, “Please, I beg your assistance. I came to ask hi-”

~I know why you came. I heard your heart cry out. But still, you should not be here.~

“Then Lord Zemi doesn’t want to see me.”

~It is not that. He is not here.~

“Not here?” SoYa pursed his lips. “But where has he gone?”

~Into your world. He has gone to find our other brother who has become lost. I do not know what he seeks in your lands. Perhaps he is intoxicated by the power of the physical realm.~

“Other brother?” the Apprentice echoed, wondering exactly how many siblings Lord Zemi had.

~ It hurts so much to see the struggle between them. But there’s little I can do to stop it. Even with the seal on Host Gate broken, my power in this world is still far too weak.~

“Host Gate… broken?” SoYa peered into the darkness.

~Yes.~ the tiny sparrow peeped. ~ There’s now a fracture between your world and ours. It leaks. It was through that leak that my brothers were able to step into the physical dimension.~

SoYa grit his teeth, “Is that a bad thing?”

~I don’t know. Zemi is the one who has knowledge of such powers, not I.~

The Apprentice fell silent for a long time. Though fear choked his words, he finally asked, “Is there something I can do to help?”

~You?~

He bowed his head deeply, “I’m not trying to be presumptuous! I know my own power is nothing compared to the Arweinydd…”

There was a trickling sound, like laughter. The little bird titled its head.

~Please, you do not need to treat me with formality. After all, I am nothing more than a sparrow, yes?~

“I… well…”

~You are an honest and courageous soul. I can see that in you. But you alone do not have the knowledge that we need to mend the hole between the worlds.~

SoYa fixed his eyes on the ground again, “No, of course not.”

~There is one that may have that power, however. If you were to bring him here.~

The Apprentice pursed his lips, “Just tell me who he is… where he is… and I’ll do what I can to find him!”

~Young SoYa, do you think you are ready to know the truth?~

He blinked, surprised by the sudden question. Then, he slowly nodded his head.

~Very well. I will tell you. The one you must find is the Earthian known as ZenToYa.~

SoYa’s face grew very pale, “Father? But Father is–”

~He is the leader of Zemi’s people in a place unknown to Nefol. We have been watching over your city… we are aware of the danger that the Council poses to you and your brother.~

A strangled sound escaped his lips. The thought that his father was still alive left his mind completely numb with shock and joy. New hope began to warm him from within.

~Your Father has been waiting for the day when you would find him again. Are you ready to begin that journey, young SoYa?~

SoYa peered at the tiny white sparrow as one word rose resoundingly, “Yes!”

AsaHi grumbled to herself as she shifted the aching weight of the traveling pack on her shoulders. All she had done for the past three days was walk, and it was starting to catch up with her now.

You can’t blame anyone but yourself.

She was used to long days of traveling, but something about this journey was different. It was more pressing, more exhausting and more terrifying. Every sound on the road sent her scampering to hide. Every shift of the air made her glance over her shoulder in fear.

What’s going to happen to Aunt SaRa if they find out that she helped me? What’s going to happen to SoYa if I’m not there to take the blame?

She stumbled along the path, head drooping in a long stream of white hair that hung loose around her shoulders. So many days she had been alone, left to think about her crime. She wished so much that she had thought about all these things before she chose to challenge the truth of the Dreigiau.

If I had known it was going to end up like this… that I would have to leave my home… my Promised… everything. If I had known…

AsaHi found the nearest tree and leaned against it to catch a moment’s rest.

Would I have still done it?

She dropped her forehead against the rough bark, drawing in a broken breath.

Now all I have left is what I carry on my back. And a sketchy map that is supposed to take me to a place I’ve never even heard of.

The girl closed her eyes, letting her pack slide down over her shoulder to rest on the ground.

What have I gotten myself into?

For a time, the world turned around her in pale silence. The sun was going down for the third day, and now more than ever she missed her home. But there was nothing she could do except continue forward.

AsaHi gave a somber sigh, reaching to gather her pack. That’s when she realized that it was gone.

What?

The girl turned quickly, looking at the spot where she placed her bag. Though it was getting harder to see as the night shadows drew long, the pack was too large to overlook. It was nowhere.

What’s going on?

She heard the sound of footsteps crunching on the path only seconds before the voice came, “So… are you having second thoughts yet, AsaHi?”

A man stood there, dressed in the Apprentice robes of Nefol, the hood over his head rendering his face unknown. His voice was familiar, but she couldn’t identify him by the sound of it alone. He obviously knew who she was, however. And her pack now dangled from his hand.

AsaHi took a step back, “What do you want?”

“Do you really have to ask?”

As he approached, she heard the sound of more footsteps from the surrounding brush. There were eight of them. All were hooded, wearing Apprentice robes.

“We were sent here to bring you back, AsaHi,” another one of the Apprentices spoke.

“We don’t expect any trouble out of you,” said another.

AsaHi shook her head and turned in a full circle. They completely surrounded her. For the first time ever, the hooded robes worn by the Apprentices seemed terribly foreboding. As the last traces of the sun melted from the sky, darkness loomed over them.

The girl watched them, her mind leaping from fear, to thought, to courage, to plea, to hopelessness. Her eyes flashed for a moment before her shoulders hunched slightly. Then her stance drooped, and with misery written on her face, the girl took a slow, docile step towards them.

“That’s it,” the nearest Apprentice said quietly, reaching out to take her by the arm.

I’m not coming without a fight!

With a wildcat yell, AsaHi threw her whole weight straight into the Apprentice’s open stomach. There was a sinking feeling as her elbow slid deep into his gut. With a grunt, he buckled over in shocked pain.

She turned the surprised man around so that he stood between her and the others. It was just in time — one of the more trigger-happy Apprentices had already unleashed a leaping bolt of sizzling light at her. AsaHi threw herself as far away from the point of impact as possible.

The others all watched with wide eyes as the bolt struck their companion, rather than the intended target. The Apprentice reeled back with a jolt, surrounded by flickering sparks of dull yellow light. She could hear a crackling sound as he stumbled and dropped face-down in the dirt.

Everyone stood absolutely still. The Apprentices stared at their fallen companion in a combination of awe and horror.

I bet they’ve never used their hocus-pocus on another person before.

After a minute, the fallen Apprentice gave a choking wheeze and shook his head out. Momentarily stunned, nothing more.

“What are you doing? Stay on target!” the leader of the group was chafing at how poorly the situation was unfolding. Eight magic users against one magic-less girl had seemed more than enough.

The Apprentices advanced towards the girl again, somewhat warily. This time, she knew they would be wise to her tricks.

Great, AsaHi, you’re getting a wonderful track record. Summoning the Dragon Patron. Running away from home like a criminal. Throwing people out in front of lightning bolts…

Before they could reach for her again, a rumbling thunder echoed from the darkness of the forest, a thunder that did not come from the cloudless night sky. The Apprentices turned as the sound swelled through the creaking trees and shifted into a roar.

“What was that?” one Apprentice choked.

Another Apprentice blubbered, “Something’s out there. Something big! Can you feel it?”

“SHHH! It’s going to hear you!” the leader hissed sharply. But he, too, was backing away towards the center of their circle.

They all fell silent. The only sound was the hissing of their breath and nervous shifting of their feet.

AsaHi’s eyes darted in every direction, only to be met with darkness. She couldn’t hear or feel anything, but it was apparent that the rest of them could. The tension in the air was tremendous. Fear rose as thick as fog.

That’s when she finally heard it — a low, throaty growl. It seemed to be coming from every direction all at once, vibrating through the very fiber of her soul. AsaHi had faced many creatures in her wanderings. She had seen her fair share of close calls. But something about this sound was unnatural, unlike any animal she had ever heard.

Squinting into the darkness, AsaHi could make out a pair of slitted teal eyes watching them from the nearby tree line. Her body froze, staring with terror into the unearthly glow.

“Noooo… noooo…” someone moaned.

With a jolt of panic, the men behind her began to shove each other, sending her stumbling straight towards the teal-eyed creature. AsaHi shouted and fell forward, her breath whooshing out of her lungs as she caught herself on her palms. Staring up, she could see the eyes focusing down on her. They were glowing coldly, only a few feet away.

Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!

The growl grew louder, thundering into a soul-freezing roar. AsaHi heard her own scream rip through the night as she flung her arms up to protect her head. She could feel the motion of the creature stalking closer. And then…

In complete astonishment, the girl watched the blurring shadow leap from obscurity, straight over her, to land among the Apprentices. As their shouts mingled with animalistic snarls, she managed to gather enough sense to run.

AsaHi fled, stumbling over the rocky hill sides, dodging through trees and bushes in the darkness. Tree limbs raked at her face and pulled at her tattered clothes. The night’s darkness shifted and reeled at her feet, closing thickly behind her. Her flight was blind, sending her tumbling and rolling down steep inclines, terror riding her every step.

Taking a wrong turn on a narrow ledge, she suddenly found herself without footing. AsaHi’s body met air as she cartwheeled and fell on a mossy rock outcropping below, where she sat dazed and exhausted, trying to catch her breath. A welling of fearful discouragement rose in her heart. She was still alive… but that was about all she really had at the moment.

I’ve lost my packs… my food… my map. It’s all gone… and I have no idea where I am or where I’m going.

AsaHi’s body ached fiercely as she pushed herself up, daring to peer around. Not too far away, she saw a sheltering shelf of stone in the rocky hillside with a narrow crawling space tucked underneath. Her hands and knees were raw and scratched, but she knew she couldn’t remain out in the open, not with the creature still lurking out there. She began to pull herself towards it.

From behind her, she could hear the low-throated growl. She hefted herself forward into the crawling space and froze as the sound vibrated down into the little hollow where she hid. To her horror, the pair of teal eyes watched her from above — she was cornered.

Much to her surprise, the creature did not move. The eyes simply watched from the shadows. A strange sensation swept over her as she stared into the teal lights. It felt as if something was trying to coax her to sleep, and she was too exhausted to fight it. Soon, numbness crept over her body. Then her eyes closed and AsaHi was swept into a deep, soundless slumber.

More like a nightmare.

Her tattered clothes were covered in mud. Her whole body ached from the fall and her hands throbbed, rubbed raw from scrabbling along rock. On top of that, her pack was nowhere to be found.

But still, she couldn’t help but stop to wonder…

I hope the Apprentices are okay.

Even if they had been intent on taking her back to Nefol, something soured in the pit of her stomach at the thought of anyone getting hurt. They were boys, not much older than herself, maybe even classmates of SoYa. It was likely she had grown up with some of them. Yet, something in the back of her mind told her that she needed to be more worried about herself at the moment.

AsaHi pushed herself weakly to her feet, carefully taking one stiff step. Then another. And another. The sound of the nearby water was calling her — at least there, she could wash the remnants of the night from her face and hands.

A tiny silver stream stretched out before her, winding peacefully through the hollowed rocks. Moss sprung up in patches over the flat stone faces and a few stunted trees embedded themselves into the banks on either side.

Leaning forward, the girl tried to catch a glimpse of her face in the water, but it was moving too quickly to see anything more than a blur of distorted color. Dipping her fingers in, she cupped the cool liquid between her hands, then began to splash it all over her face and arms, rubbing vigorously.

Where am I supposed to go now?

The girl crouched at the waterside, shivering as the chill moisture began to soak into her travel-stained clothes.

I don’t have my pack. I don’t have my supplies. I don’t have my map. And even if I did, I don’t know which way to go to get back to the path…

As if on cue, something heavy landed next to her with a flump. Giving a surprised sound, AsaHi turned quickly. There, on the flat stone next to her, was her pack.

What? It can’t be!

Instantly, she began to grapple with the clips, throwing the top open. Everything inside was just as she had left it. The little paper map sat primly atop the food and various items of clothing she packed away the night of her departure.

It’s all here! I don’t believe it!

The girl’s eyes lit brilliant. Seeing this was like sunshine breaking through the darkest clouds. Her mind was already calculating, trying to figure out which direction she had run the night before and which way the road was.

Wait…

AsaHi froze, a new thought shifting within her mind. She was so glad to see her supplies that she had not stopped to wonder how they returned to her. The last time she remembered seeing the pack, it was in the Apprentice’s hand back on the path.

Someone had to have brought it here… someone dropped it next to me… someone…

The girl lifted her head and looked up the length of the rock wall that ran alongside the stream. Her heart stopped short as her gaze was met by that of another — there was a man there, crouching on the top of the stone. He watched her in complete silence, a strange expression on his face.

One of the Apprentices survived after all!

AsaHi rose to her feet, demanding, “How long have you been watching me?”

“Kaaa…” a strange purr was the only reply she received.

Before she could blink, he cast himself over the ridge and landed lithely on the next ledge down. An intense curiosity was written on his face.

As he crept closer, AsaHi could see him more clearly. He looked as if he had spent far more than just one night in the backwoods. His white hair was wild and extremely long. As he moved, it caught and reflected the sunlight in a dazzling array of many colors. He was wearing nothing but a pair of battered Apprentice trousers, which were too small for him.

“Uh… uh…” she took a long step away.

“Kaha!” he gave an odd sound, something like laughter. The man seemed to have found her reaction amusing.

Embarrassed, her questions came out in a stutter, “Are you o-okay? That monster from last night didn’t hurt you, did it?”

At her words, the hollow was filled with a low-throated growl. AsaHi froze — there was no mistaking the sound. As she met the man’s gaze, she grew very, very pale. The growl was not coming from a beast, but from him. For the first time, she could see his sharp pointed fangs glinting in the sunlight.

Still on all fours, he crept closer to the edge of the rock. His slitted teal eyes focused on her intently, the same eyes from the night before. The eyes that had watched her in the shadows until she had fallen into the strange, inevitable sleep.

“It was you!” AsaHi backpedaled rapidly, her voice no more than a broken sound of fright. With a gasp, the girl flung herself at a dead run across the slippery rocks in the opposite direction.

AsaHi only put a few yards between herself and the man before she was forced to slip-slide to a panting stop. Somehow, he had managed to leap all the way from the far ledge on the other side of the stream… to a spot a few feet in front of her. As she spun to change her direction of flight, he was blocking her escape in that direction, too. She turned for a third time, and he was there. And a fourth. He was there, too. No matter which way she looked, the man was already there. Her mind lurched, refusing to believe it was real.

Finally, she threw her hands up over her head as a broken whisper escaped her lips. “Please, please don’t!”

The growl faded to nothing and the pressure of silence shifted in the hollow. It was written in the way the air moved — he was coming closer. Then one of her hands was carefully pulled away from her head. The hold was gentle, but firm. Her fingers were then splayed out and spread palm up. There was a tickling sensation, soft and tingling, dancing from one fingertip to the next.

AsaHi gathered her courage and peeked out from behind her other hand. The man crouched in front of her, holding her palm out to inspect it. Every now and then, he would hold out his own hand in a similar position and look back and forth, as if comparing.

What’s he doing?

Being so close to him sent another round of chills dancing over her skin. She realized for the first time that the man was huge — easily twice her size, and then some.

Noticing she was watching him, the man turned his teal eyes upon her. She could feel a vastness swelling behind them, as if she was looking into the flow of the universe. An unpretentious calmness settled on her shoulders, a feeling induced by his gaze.

“Kaaa…” his lips curled back, fangs glittering like dagger-points.

AsaHi recoiled with a choke.

The man’s face fell with an expression of disappointment at her reaction. A gentle sound, something like a croon, rose in his throat. A strange tingling filled the back of her mind.

He held up his hand. Then he held up her hand. And he placed them palm to palm — his hand was near twice the size of hers. Still, within the motion she could sense it, as if he was trying to say: See! I am just like you!

The croon within his throat rose in triumph. Again, his lips curled back, fangs showing. AsaHi nearly yanked her hand away at the sight.

Then she realized the man was smiling at her.

Or… at least as close as he could come to a smile with the fangs. There was warmth in the light of his eyes, almost pleading, as if he wanted nothing more than for her to confirm his statement.

AsaHi stared back into his smile, a dull numbness rising in her chest. She felt the words pouring out of her mouth with a jittery sound, “Are you going to hurt me?”

Instantly, his face crinkled into a pitiful frown.

She realized that he could understand her, even if he didn’t seem to speak. If he had known how to shake his head in negativity, then he probably would have.

“No?” the girl asked, shaking her head for him.

The man blinked in return, studying the motion. Then ever so slowly, he shook his head, too. When she stopped, he stopped.

“Then why did you kill the Apprentices?”

There was a puzzled expression on his face, as if he didn’t quite know what she meant.

“The Apprentices,” she pointed towards the pants that he wore, and then made a motion like a hood over her head. “Apprentices.”

When he snarled lightly, AsaHi realized he understood.

“Did you kill them?”

“Kaaa?” his brow wrinkled.

“Kill…” she made stabbing motions towards her own chest.

The man gave a hiss and shook his head back and forth vehemently.

Her eyes widened, “Did you kill them?”

He continued to shake his head back and forth.

“I know it was you last night. I saw you!” she demanded again. “Did you kill them?”

Exasperated at her demands, he reached out, grasping her shoulders with both hands. His eyes lit with a teal glow and suddenly, an image leapt into her mind.

She could see it, a hazy vision behind her eyes. She could make out the Apprentices, shuffling along the path. They looked to be a little battered — some limping along supporting bruised limbs, and one missing a pair of pants. But they were all alive and making their way back towards Nefol.

AsaHi gaped, caught between elation and astonishment. A huge weight dropped from her shoulders.

A hint of a smile played on the man’s face.

The girl blinked out of the vision as if it had been no more than a daydream. A million questions bubbled up within her chest.

How did he do that? Who is he? What does he want?

“Then,” she managed to stammer, “W-why did you attack them?”

He gave a snort that sounded like disgust. Then he took his own hand and imitated the stabbing motion that AsaHi had shown him earlier.

She blinked.

“Kaaa..!” he repeated the motion, lip curling up with a hint of anger.

“You thought they were going to hurt me?” she translated.

His eyes lit up, a wide fangy smile breaking across his face. It seemed as if he was pondering what the opposite motion of shaking one’s head in negativity was.

“Yes?” AsaHi nodded.

The man watched her for a moment. Then he began to nod, too.

“Yes? You thought they were going to hurt me?”

He nodded again.

She gave a weak little smile. Then she shook her head, “No. They weren’t going to hurt me. They were just going to take me somewhere.”

He nodded as if to indicate their intentions were more than just that.

She shook her head, “No…”

He nodded more fervently, “Kaaa…”

“Really, I was quite alright!”

His eyes flashed darkly, the flicker of another image slipping through her mind. It was herself, surrounded by the Apprentices, as she had been last night. She watched herself slam her elbow into the stomach of one of the Apprentices and sprint away as a bolt of lightning struck the place she had been standing a moment before.

The man’s face was stern.

“Oh!” AsaHi blinked. “I suppose seeing this, I would think that they were trying to hurt me, too.”

“Ka,” he grunted.

“But you didn’t have to scare us! We thought you were some sort of… of…”

She blanched as his eyes narrowed into serpent slits.

“Exactly.”

He gave another snort which slid gently into something that sounded like a purr. His face showed an open fondness as he reached a hand out and placed it on her head.

“I…” AsaHi swallowed, suddenly uncomfortable at the gesture. “I thank you… for your concern…”

The man paused, blinking hopefully at her.

Who is he? Why did he protect me?

She nodded, and then reached over for her pack. “I thought I was in big trouble. If I had lost the map, I wouldn’t be able to keep traveling.”

A rather pleased grin spread across his face, “Kaaa!”

AsaHi looked at him, then scratched her forehead.

He scratched his forehead too.

“You… can’t talk can you?” she tilted her head at him.

He tilted his head back.

“Talk… you know… like this,” she pointed to her lips, then to her ears. “Talk?”

He touched his own lips.  Then with a furrowed brow that expressed his frustration, he shook his head.

“I see,” AsaHi frowned too. She pondered for a moment then found herself saying, “I suppose the least I could do is get you cleaned up. You made a mess of yourself because of me.”

He shook his head as if to accent the point.

“That’s right, it’s not good,” she smiled.

He gave her a wide grin and kept shaking his head.

“You have a sense of humor as well, I see.”

The man arched his eyebrow in a rather peculiar expression.

She couldn’t help but laugh a little. Even though she really had nothing to be cheerful for, it just felt good to laugh after everything that happened the past few days.

“We’ll have to find you a name, too,” she told him.

His face brightened.

“Do you have a name?”

He nodded vigorously.

“You do? Can you tell me what it is?”

The man gave a rather intense frown. Then he ran his tongue over his lips and took a deep breath, “Kaaaa…”

Something as simple as speaking, one did not think too much about. But, the way he struggled, it seemed as if he had never attempted to utter a word in his life. It took all his concentration to shape his lips in the manner he desired.

“Kaaaz…” he scowled.

“Kaz…” she nodded trying to sound encouraging.

He took in another breath and tried again, “Kaaazzeeee…”

“Kaze?”

“Kaazzz… kaazeeem…. kaaazeeemiii.”

“Kazemi?” she echoed.

A strange look crossed his face as he nodded. Then, he wrinkled his brow and shook his head.

He looked so pitiful that she offered him a smile, “It’s okay, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Is ‘Kaze’ okay?”

The man gave a little choke followed by a reserved sigh. Then, he nodded.

“Kaze it is!” AsaHi motioned for him to follow her towards the stream. “Now come over here and we’ll see what we can do about…”

She paused, watching him trot after her. He was walking on all fours.

I have a feeling this isn’t going to be easy.