by J E Mueller
Lydia sighed. “There’s never anyone nearby.”
“I’ve a good feeling.” I winked.
A simple gift all magic users could learn was to sense another’s magic. Everyone felt a little different based on if they were a healer, fire user, and so on. If you knew a magic user well enough and they were close by, you could also locate them in the same way. It was easy enough to let my magic senses trail out as far as possible and see if there were any other magic users this way, but I didn’t need to.
I knew someone was close. A little birdy had told me so. Rather, a ghost. While I tried to ignore my other gift, it didn’t ignore me. Most of my Blessed friends knew I could see spirits, angels, and demons, but it made almost all of them uncomfortable to talk about. Instead of trying to get them to face what my magic was, I sidestepped it and instead enjoyed having the advantage of knowing things only spirits could whisper. At the same time, while I could ignore spirits, once they realized I could hear them, they always had something to say.
Still, with the knowledge that someone was close, the easiest way to signal to them that I was looking for help was to let my magic find them.
Letting my magic seek out help, I felt a wisp of Blessed magic I knew well, and a soft warmth of fire magic alongside it.
“This way,” I said, helping Lydia move west.
As we navigated the thick greenery around us, I felt the magic seek out mine. It was a natural response. My touch had alerted them to my presence, and I was glad. I was drained from our journey to Lemsgroove and after two days of demon fighting, I was ready to be among friends.
“Are you sure?” Lydia mumbled. I could hear the exhaustion in her voice. I knew she could feel the magic as well, but in her beaten up state she didn’t seem to recognize who was near.
“They’re of Blessed blood,” I replied with certainty, giving her a hint of who it could be.
“Let’s just rest then. They’ll come if you’ve signaled.” Lydia moved out of my hold and nearly collapsed to the ground. “Didn’t think blessing your sword and fighting demons would be so tiring. Good thing you move so fast.”
“Yes, my running magic does get put to good use.” I smiled at her, choosing to remain standing. Truthfully, being able to keep pace with a demon was the only reason I had survived these fights.
“I don’t know if I recognize this magic.” Lydia yawned again. “Feels familiar, but two? One’s not Blessed?”
Nodding, I kept an eye out for their arrival. “You’ll remember soon enough.”
A few moments later I felt the warmth of fire magic surround me. It was soft and comforting. I let the magic wrap around me as they drew closer. It was so wonderful to know friends were close by once more.
“Long time no see, Key,” I smiled as she and Lee appeared a short distance from us.
Key smiled happily. “I see you’re still getting into trouble.”
“Less trouble than you.” Lee shot her a knowing look before glancing at me. “My dearest cousin, what brings you this way?”
“Stabbing demons,” Lydia called from the ground. “How’s it going? We’re great. Can you heal me?”
Lee laughed as Lydia got to the point of the matter. “What happened this time?” he asked kindly as he knelt by her and began to try and heal her.
It felt like it had been much too long since I had seen either of them. Physically, little had changed. Key still had her dark brown hair pulled back. Her eyes remained cautious, but full of curiosity. Lee did look a bit worse for wear, but like us, I’m sure it was from all the traveling. His kindness hadn’t been dimmed from demon slaying, and his laugh was exactly how I remembered it.
Key turned to me while they chatted. “So were you on the Grove Bend demon case?”
I nodded. “Yes, how did you know?” She smiled widely. “Oh, so you’re the ones who completed it.”
“We happened to be on the way back with Emmyth when we ran into the ragtag soulless group trying to complete the master level of their demon… whatever they called it. Long story short, there was arguing, some stabbing, and no saving. It’s been a shame we haven’t been able to actually save anyone from their bad decisions lately.” Key paused her tale and called back toward Lee, “Speaking of Emmyth, he’s finally caught up.”
“How did you get separated?” I asked, surprised.
“His choice. He had a stop to make.” Key shrugged. “We all have those moments. Speaking of, how’s the spirit thing going?” She kept subject hopping quickly, but I suspected she didn’t want to tell someone else’s story.
I could only smile. Key never strayed away from the rougher topics. “Terrible. After Rania went missing, I’ve no idea where to go with my training, but at least it’s given me the upper edge on information and slaying. Now, if only I could figure out how to get them to cross over.”
“Go to the Order of Reawakening,” Key said bluntly, almost like a command.
“Why there?” I asked curiously. The Blessed never bothered with that place. It was a nice neutral little community working on teaching healers their craft and giving shelter to cursed who were looking for their way in the world.
“I bet you won’t find a single ghost, demon, or Blessed soul there,” Key replied with a wink and came to stand closer to me. “So, if there are no ghosts, what’s keeping them away? Is anything? Or is someone helping them cross over?”
Her closeness and whispered words surprised me. Key, even after defeating her curse, was not a touchy person. “How do you know all of this?”
“I finally went back for a visit last year. There’s a lot of interesting new faces there. Some old friends and I caught up a bit. One conversation led to another, and that’s the path you need to be on.” Key took a step back, resuming her normal distance from people.
“I owe you one.” I nodded my thanks. “After we get this mission turned in and debriefed I’ll head there.”
“Head where?” Lee asked as he and Lydia joined us.
Lydia looked tired, but ten times better than she had moments ago. “You’re making plans without me?”
“I could never!” I gasped dramatically before laughing. “Just talking about my crazy magic stuff. Mostly its lack of progress.”
Lee glanced over at Key suspiciously.
In turn, Key smiled and began to hum a tune. She didn’t know the words or the name. It was always the same one. Soft, sweet, and sad...
“What trouble are you getting Tells into now?” Lee asked tiredly.
“Key, get someone into trouble?” Emmyth asked, joining the group. “Never heard of such a thing! She’s a fine young princess.” I loved his way of entering a room, or clearing in this case. His ease of sliding into the conversation was unmatched.
“Now you’re overdoing it.” Key crossed her arms, but laughed at the joke. “I just am helping my awesome little friend out. Information that can benefit one's learning is always best shared.”
Lee looked over my way. “What trouble is she getting you into?”
I laughed, skipped over the few steps between us, and hugged Key. “My favorite cousin was telling me about some ghost stuff.” Key never hesitated to tell me things. More times than not, she referred to me as her shadow. That was before we were both traveling so much.
“Oh from Reawakening?” Emmyth asked knowingly.
Lee glanced at him. “Am I the only one not in on this?”
Lydia raised her hand. “I for one am not in on this either. Explain, people.”
Key laughed and stepped back away from my hug. “I heard of a person with a special gift. One that allows them to see spirits and help them pass, and on top of that is said to keep demons away. Reawakening has always had its unique residents. Why not let Tella visit such a well-meaning place?”
Lee was about to say something, but shook his head. “I’ve got nothing. It actually doesn’t sound like a bad idea.” Victory to Key.
“It’s not like I’ve had only bad ideas recently,” Key pointed out, arms crossed.
>
“You do have more than your share though,” Emmyth jested.
“Please. No one’s been stabbed recently. Minus the demons.” Key waved off his comment.
Lee snickered and moved to whisper something into her ear. With a whack on his shoulder, Lee stepped back.
“That doesn’t count!” Key momentarily fumed.
“I don’t know if this is demon or person related.” Lydia glanced at me. “But it’s a three-day walk, so we should probably get started. Are you heading back home?” she asked everyone else.
“Sort of.” Lee smiled. “We’re heading to see Mom. We promised to stop by Kegan’s on the way though, so we’ll be going in the same direction.”
“Kegan’s!” Lydia’s eyes lit up. “I miss her!”
“You just miss the food,” I said, picking up the path again and letting them follow.
Lydia was close behind. “But Kegan can be fun too. Sometimes. She gets mad if you don’t practice enough forms. Dodge and stab are all you need!”
“Not true,” I argued. “While your contract is in fact about slaying demons, there’s more than just turning them to dust involved.”
“Yeah yeah, save the people, greater good. I’ve done my healings already.” Lydia rolled her eyes.
“But have you given yourself to those in need? Truly given to someone in a way that was not expected?” I asked, knowing she hadn’t done any unscheduled service. Not that planning out your good deeds was wrong, but sometimes going the extra mile was better.
“I save your butt constantly. I think that counts.” Lydia smirked.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m pretty sure you’ve got that backward.”
“Arguing, the second most popular way for a bard to travel!” Emmyth interrupted us with his laugh.
“What’s the most popular way then, smarty pants?” Lydia glanced back at him.
In one swift motion Emmyth pulled out his lute and began to sing, “Our hero, our hero claims a warrior's heart!”
With a laugh, I grabbed for my pan flute and happily joined in the tune while Lydia took up the song. Her alto voice rang out sweetly as she projected her voice throughout the woods. Her singing was always my favorite part of any long journey. While we grew up together, I had hardly heard her sing before learning of her secret life as a part-time bard, full-time demon slayer. It was great to be in on this world, and I was glad we were finally able to really be friends with no secrets. My family had had its share as well, but that didn’t matter now. Instead, I pushed the memories down as I enjoyed the group coming together to create a fun song of our own.
It was well into the night of the second day of our travels that I lay, restlessly staring up at the stars. It was too loud. The pleading, the sobbing, the constant chattering…
But no one else heard a word.
This was one of those nights I hated hearing the dead. The recently departed who hadn’t moved on right away, wandered around, confused. They didn’t know what was happening, and why no one seemed to notice them. Those souls were beyond my grasp. While I could hear them, I didn’t know how to speak with them. The souls who had adjusted to their unlife I could speak with, and I didn’t know what the difference was. It made sleeping rough some nights while we traveled. Only places far from towns seemed to be quiet enough at night lately.
I rolled over and saw Lydia watching knowingly. “They’re loud again aren’t they?”
Nodding, I adjusted my pack turned pillow. “We’re pretty close to a town. Maybe Brighten?”
“Sounds about right.” Lydia was silent for a moment before whispering to me, “You know I’m coming with you to Reawakening, right?”
There hadn’t been a doubt. “Of course. Don’t know why. You hate this stuff.”
She nodded. “True, but you’re awesome and if figuring out how to help the dead makes you happy, then I’ll see to it you get there safely.”
I almost laughed. “I can outrun anything. I’d be fine.”
“False. You run at the same speed as demons. Which means the first to tire loses.”
“I’d still be fine.” I yawned. “Try and sleep.” Closing my eyes, I pretended I couldn’t hear the voices in the distance and instead tried to concentrate on the crickets, and other sounds of the night.
2
Home greeted us from a distance. As the trees started to give way to the clearing I could see the peaks of rooftops. My heart skipped a beat as I could finally see the stone wall surrounding my hometown and all the fields that lay before it. We quickly made our way to the well worn road leading directly to the entrance. It was a relief to see after traveling so much, but it caused a small flutter in my stomach. I had not left on the best terms with my mother. Part of me was hoping she would finally start coming around to my traveling. It had been two years now. I mentally screamed the facts but knew it made no real difference. I knew that she was not coming to a point of understanding within this century. The one thing I wanted was the one thing she could not accept. I tried to mask my sigh, but Lydia caught it.
She raised an eyebrow at me and I shook my head. In front of us, Key and Lee were arguing over things that needed to be done once they got into town while Emmyth kindled the fire on both sides.
“We need to return those stones to Jamie,” Key had started to say.
“But you know Mother will be wanting to see us for dinner first,” Lee replied.
“And we can see her, but not for dinner. She won’t be ready for us, and it wouldn’t be nice to surprise her like that,” Key pointed out.
“Well, Juni is really good at knowing when you’ll be back,” Emmyth mused.
“See?” Lee smirked happily.
“But…” Emmyth continued on, “Jamie does need those materials first, otherwise we can’t leave on time.”
“Ha!” Key stuck her tongue out at Lee. “We have a schedule to keep.”
“Yeah, yeah yeah.” Lee clucked his tongue. “We need more down time.”
“I don’t see that lasting long.” Emmyth chuckled.
“Technically we do have some down time after we check back in with the Black Violets,” Key replied.
“You know something will come up.” Emmyth smirked.
“But I really do have some time off after this,” Lee agreed with Key before glancing over at Emmyth. “Unless there’s something you’re not telling me?”
“Gut feeling something else will come up,” Emmyth said as he shrugged.
Lee grumbled loudly, “Is there such a thing as a month’s peace? We’re never going to get anything done with the house.”
I had completely forgotten that several months ago they had built a house on the outskirts of town. It was a slow going project that had gotten a lot of help from Key’s brother, Zarek. It was a very simple and modest building. The kitchen flowed nicely into the living room and branching off that were two cozy bedrooms. A small garden was in the back. The gate around it was fairly simple. We would be passing it on the way into town.
“Well, let’s grab what else we need and meet up with Jamie,” Lee suggested changing direction slightly.
Key turned back toward us. “You can head on home if you want. You don’t have to follow us.”
“Nah, you’re good company.” Lydia smiled brightly. She wrapped her arm around me. “We’re in no rush, and I’ve yet to see your house with all the walls actually up.”
“How did you miss that? I could have sworn you were here for that,” Lee asked as he thought back.
“Tells was.” She nudged me. “I was with my sister.”
“Oh, that must be it. It’s rare you two aren’t together.” Lee nodded.
“That’s because we’re the best team!” Lydia winked.
“I still think that’s us,” Emmyth disagreed, motioning toward himself, Key, and Lee.
I smirked. “We’re the best team because all you need is the pair of us instead of a trio to get things done.”
Lydia laughed. “Yes! We rock!”
Lee and Emmyth shared a look. “Didn’t we just come in and heal you?” Lee asked in a sweet and innocent tone.
“Why yes, I think we just did,” Emmyth agreed.
“Shamed… shamed by our own brothers in arms,” Lydia sighed as dramatically as possible.
Key swatted at them. “There’s no shame in being healed.”
“Oh, all right,” Emmyth relented as we neared the house.
“What’s that up there?” Lee asked curiously.
Key squinted into the distance. “Is that a goat?”
Without hesitating I dashed ahead to see what exactly it was. In the little garden was, in fact, a goat. By the time everyone caught up I was happily petting him.
“Rory, get out of here!” Key tried to shoo him away. “We’re never going to have vegetables at this rate.”
“I can’t even remember whose he is.” Lee glanced around, trying to find the owner.
“Maybe Danielle’s?” I asked, not quite sure myself. There were several neighbors close by who had goats.
“We’ll bring him back home,” Lydia assured them. “Get rested up, we’ll see you soon I’m sure.” She managed to coax the goat out of the gate.
I waved and went to catch up with her. While this was putting off the inevitable, I enjoyed the little distraction of finding Rory’s owner.
It was over much too soon, and I quickly found myself standing in front of my mother’s house. It didn’t feel like home since our big fight. A part of me respected that she didn’t like me traveling so far from home. But that wasn’t her biggest issue. The heart of our squabble, of the yelling and tears, was about me trying to find answers about this gift I had ignored for so long. Mother didn’t want me dealing with any of it. She hated that I could see them all; the ghosts, the demons, and angels. I knew she hoped if I ignored it they would go away. Years of seeing them no matter what I did proved to me that they weren’t going anywhere, and trying to shove this magic away from me wasn’t going to fix anything. I just wished there was a way I could convince her that ignoring my gift was a bad idea and that maybe, with some proper training, I could do some good with it.
