Ch2-7: Wayrift

They look exactly like the statues I saw at the Host Gate!

AsaHi craned her head back, staring up at the monolithic stone dragons that arched over the small rock clearing. Their eyes were hooded in deep shadow, giving them a more daunting feel than the statues she saw before. Their wings reached up towards the sky, meeting at a pointed peak directly above the circle etched on the stone ground.

“Welcome to the Wayrift of Ceiswyr,” ZenToYa waved one hand in a grandiose motion.

“Ceiswyr? Is that the city’s name?” AsaHi peeked around from behind Kaze’s arm.

“That’s right. Just walk right into the Rift and you’ll be there,” ZenToYa nodded.

As he stepped forward, a light began to trickle from his form. It dripped down from his open palms, pooling into the middle of the circle, tracing the engraved runes and lighting the ground with a pale blue glow.

That magic! It… it’s just like…

The memory of her discovery in the Host Gate bubbled through her mind. AsaHi wove her fingers into Kaze’s cloak, holding the hem tight in apprehension. Somehow the fact that the big man was at her side made her feel a little more courageous.

Kaze’s large hand dropped lightly on her head. Startling, the girl tilted her head back to gaze up at him. His soft teal eyes reflected down in a warm, encouraging light and a hint of fangy smile hovered on his face.

AsaHi couldn’t help but give a tiny smile in return, “Kaze, I’m glad you’re here with me.”

The trip would have been much more lonely and desperate if he had not been there. The pain and homesickness that crashed so heavily upon her shoulders vanished with the addition of his charismatic company. AsaHi wondered if she would have had the courage to face ZenToYa the way that Kaze did if she arrived at the city all by herself.

“I am happy,” the big man replied lightly.

The sound of ZenToYa clearing his throat woke her back into reality. Kaze’s expression didn’t miss a beat.

“Be patient, Zento,” his voice was level and smooth. “She has seen much to come here.”

“I know she’s afraid,” the other man replied, his gentle face lit by the dancing reflections of the runes below. “But we cannot leave the Rift open for too long. The energy it gives off might attract notice that we’d rather not have.”

AsaHi bit down on her lip.

“It’s not going to hurt you, child,” ZenToYa extended a hand out towards her. “You have my word.”

The girl stared at his outreached hand with hesitation.

“I’m not sure what you saw on your journey here. But you don’t have to be afraid of the power that moves through this place,” he continued softly. “We are the true people of the Dreigiau. We have sworn to use our knowledge for protection.”

The girl didn’t completely understand his words but she could hear the sincere concern that edged into the man’s voice. Taking a deep breath, AsaHi moved forward. One foot in front of the other, she carefully avoided stepping on the etchings in the stone. Kaze walked next to her in a patient procession.

Light danced around them both as she passed through the first barrier. Tall shafts of blue rose from the streams of energy that flowed through the narrow rock. AsaHi lifted her face, watching the shimmers drifting up into the sky over the arched wings of the stone dragons. Their eyes were also lit a brilliant, pale blue.

As ZenToYa’s hand closed around her own, a sharp jolt of energy raced up her arm and into her body. The girl had never felt a sensation quite like it. It was not wholly unpleasant, yet… A stirring rose within her as if she was being called. And she yearned to respond.

The light around them grew so brilliant that the rest of the world faded from her vision. Her body felt suspended in mid-air, as if her limbs weighed nothing at all. Her senses fought to tell her that Kaze was right there next to her, but she could not feel or see him.

For half a heartbeat, AsaHi knew what it felt like to be nowhere.

Then, a downward jerk sent her stomach lurching up into her throat. It took the girl a few seconds before she realized her feet were back on solid land. Caught between gratitude and relief, AsaHi slowly opened her eyes. The faded crimson of Kaze’s cloak was the first thing she saw. Turning her head, ZenToYa’s huge grin beamed down at her.

“See now! That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he chortled good-naturedly.

“What just happened?” she asked weakly.

“We Rifted.”

“Rifted?”

“What? You don’t know about Rifting?” he chided, wrinkling his nose at her playfully.

“Not really,” AsaHi answered sheepishly.

“Zento,” Kaze reminded the other man with a gentle frown, “Rifting is not well known yet. Even most Apprentices don’t understand.”

“I know, I was only joking with her,” the other man leaned back on his heels.

It still didn’t make AsaHi feel much better, “I’m sorry. There’s still so much I don’t know.”

Until now, I didn’t believe this could be possible.

“You don’t have to say you’re sorry, child. You don’t have to be ashamed of the things you don’t know as long as you have a desire to learn about them,” his tone was encouraging.

The girl felt the negativity fold back and fade away. ZenToYa had an air about him that commanded respect, even fear. There was also something about him that was so easy to like — charming and warm. Still, it was hard to believe someone who was a childhood legend as a living person standing right in front of her.

“Rifting, to put it simply, is a means of instant travel from one point to the next,” he spoke in a slow, timely cadence. “You stepped on the Wayrift back on the ground and it transported you to this spot. Very economical. But it requires an enormous amount of control and power to use.”

All of her curiosity faded as he took a step back and motioned into the distance with one hand. For the first time, AsaHi realized they were no longer standing under the shadow of the dragons’ wings. They were somewhere quite different.

It was a place wonderful beyond imagination. The sky stretched wide, above and below them. A number of earthen islands floated serenely, fading off into the drifts of cloud-tops. Between soft fringes of cloud-mists, long white bridges wound in every direction. They drew delicate, vein-like paths across the open air from one island to the next.

Somehow, AsaHi knew that they were also standing on one of the floating islands, far above the ground. The islands themselves seemed to be reflections of the world below. They came in all shapes and sizes, with numerous features. From an islet above, a silver waterfall streamed down into a pool that gathered a few yards away. Birds darted in and out of the draping, dew-speckled tree branches. Off in the distance, a tall rise of purple mountains broke the horizon.

She could see motion across the islands. People. Many of them were crossing the bridges on foot. But, just as many were soaring through the clouds on wings.

“Kaze!” AsaHi felt her breath come in great rushes. “Do you see it? Is it really real?”

Kaze only chuckled in reply.

ZenToYa’s grin was insufferably large, “Welcome, Morh-AsaHi, to the city of Ceiswyr.”

Excitement tingled through the air. All eyes were upon the group as they descended the steps of the first white-spun rope bridge. A melodic sound shifted between the cloud fringes as the voices rose in a joyful hum.

The winged people gathered to meet them. Some floated serenely, their wings barely moving, long trailing robes of light pastel colors fluttering around their feet. Others landed upon the small island, perching in the nooks of trees, atop the silver rock outcroppings, their eyes reflecting warm delight.

I’m the only one here who doesn’t have wings.

AsaHi swallowed, clutching hold of Kaze’s cloak.

Well, other than Kaze.

The big man stood absolutely unruffled by the sea of faces. He didn’t appear to be bothered at all by the fact that he didn’t have wings like the rest of them.

They look just like the people live on the ground, except for the wings.

There were people of all ages there, both men and women. And many, many children. A soft pair of white feathered wings rose in a gentle arch to crown their heads, just like those of ZenToYa’s. Rather than seeming awkward and cumbersome, the feathers spread and moved, folded and stretched all in a very fluid, willowy manner.

A shimmer of adulation rained all around them. It fell from the tree tops, from the passing cloud drifts, from the sky. One word vibrated through the air with the sound of song.

“Master!”

At first, the girl couldn’t understand what was happening. A warm song of greeting opened up out of nowhere. It was obvious that the winged people were elated at the new arrivals.

Master? Master… who?

Her eyes fell upon ZenToYa. She could not see his expression, but his stance was intense and commanding as he stood facing those who had gathered before them. There was something almost triumphant in the way his wings spread, feathers arching up towards the sky.

Master! Of course… they’re welcoming ZenToYa home!

She turned, taking in a soft hissing breath as she caught a glimpse of Kaze’s look. His face, too, reflected the unconstrained bliss. The way the sunlight reflected from his form gave him a hazy, dreamlike luminosity. His teal eyes were very deep and far away, as if he was listening to something immensely wonderful. Something only he could hear.

Kaze? What’s wrong? Oh, please, not you, too!

AsaHi released her grip on the man’s robe, taking a step back. The more she watched Kaze, the more she felt that above anyone else, he belonged in the city in the sky.

It’s as if they all know each other somehow…

The hum diminished into a soft undulation of sparkling harmony. Even though the girl did not know the meaning of the sounds that wove throughout the air, she could still sense the warmth of the welcome.

Within the inch of a breath, all became silent.

A peaceful contentment fell over the island. AsaHi didn’t dare to move as the stillness filled her mind. Trepidation clutched her throat as time slowed to a creeping halt. She didn’t know how long they remained soundless before the first voice came again. Looking up, AsaHi could see ZenToYa lifting his hands above his head. There was a ritualistic feel to the motion, as if it was something he had often done.

“Kindred of Ceiswyr! It is my honor and privileged to present to you Morh-AsaHi.” His voice lifted in a powerful thunder, “Please welcome your new-found Sisterling!”

AsaHi realized in horror that she had just been singled out. The girl could feel her stomach drop straight down into her feet as all eyes fixed in wonderment upon her. The desire to run far, far away wrestled with the thought of internal dignity. She took a step back only to feel the warm strength of Kaze’s hand on her shoulder.

“AsaHi,” his voice purred quietly right next to her ear, “Why not say ‘hello’?”

Because I’m afraid…

“There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

But, I’m not like them…

“You can be like them, if you choose.”

Me? Be like them? How?

“Why not find out?”

But what do I do?

“Why not say ‘hello’?” Kaze repeated gently.

Steeling herself, AsaHi nodded slowly.

It’s impolite not to, I suppose.

Green eyes fixed on her feet, the girl took three slow steps forward. The silence returned, a wall between herself and the watching people. As she attempted to speak, her voice trembling in her own ears, “Hello…”

Silence grew in great measures. Standing alone in the flow of tall dew-specked grass, without even Kaze’s warmth at her side, AsaHi felt more vulnerable than she had ever known.

The first sound finally came, the soft crunching of grass under light sandaled feet. Approaching her. After a short pause, something blurry and white appeared before her eyes. AsaHi lifted her gaze to see a little winged boy standing in front of her. One hand was outstretched, a delicate plumed feather pinched between his fingers.

“For hopes of your Awakening,” he urged, lifting the feather higher.

AsaHi’s lips parted, trying to speak. But all she could do was reach out and reverently take the gift. As she did, the soft humming rose into the air again. From the smile on the little boy’s face, she knew that this time it was a song of welcoming for her.

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