by Eric Vall
Alyona sat up a bit straighter and smiled.
“Of course. I have been meaning to explain more magic to you since you mastered fire. I have just been so busy, it slipped my mind. Are you free the rest of the afternoon? We could start immediately.”
“Well, we are finished with the walls for today,” I replied as I stood from the table, “and we can focus on the library tomorrow, so yeah. I’m free. Do you want to start now?”
“Yes, let us begin,” Alyona said and stood as well. “Is it alright to practice in the River Moonstone House? I find having privacy helps to learn new feats of magic.”
“Fine by me. Walk with me?” I held out my arm.
Alyona smiled, walked over to me, and grasped my arm.
I grinned at her in response before I looked over to the dryads and winked.
“I’ll find you three later,” I told them. “Maybe we can have dinner?”
“Oh, yes,” Polina agreed, and her green eyes sparkled with glee. “We would like that very much!”
“Yes, yes!” Marina and Trina chimed in unison.
“Alright,” I chuckled. “Try not to get into too much trouble in the meantime.”
“Goodbye, Lord Evan!” the dryad sisters called out, and their voices overlapped as they scrambled to be heard over one another.
“Goodbye Mil--uhh, I mean Alyona!” Polina’s voice rang over the other two sisters.
“Yes, goodbye Alyona!”
“We must continue to catch up later!”
Alyona and I waved as the sisters’ voices began to run together again. Then we set off toward the gardens of The Lunar Palace ruins.
“So,” I started once we had walked for a while, “did the dryad sisters seem strange today? Or was it just my imagination that they were in some kind of custody battle over me?”
“No, they were not very subtle at all, were they?” Alyona chuckled with a shake of her head. “They idolize you, Evan. They each want your sole attention. They have been gone for a few weeks, and they missed you. Maybe if you would talk to them about it, they would stop acting so strange.”
I hummed in agreement. “I’ll see what I can do.”
We reached the gardens, and I pressed the base of the statue of the woman and opened the staircase that led down into the River Moonstone House. We quietly climbed down the staircase, and the marble walls were a welcoming comfort.
I could already feel myself relax as we entered into the structure.
Alyona walked ahead of me and headed toward the underground river, while I followed on her heels and stopped just behind her. Then she turned to me and held out her hands, and I grabbed them and entwined our fingers.
“Spatial storage magic is not necessarily difficult, it is just slightly confusing,” the princess began with a sweet smile. “But don’t worry, Evan. You are smart, and I’m sure you’ll be able to master it quickly. Now, let’s begin.”
“You think I’m smart? Thanks, Princess.” I gave her a wink.
“Evan, focus,” she replied with a small laugh.
“Okay, okay. Continue.”
“So, the first thing you need to do is feel the space around you,” my lover explained. “We have to open up a pocket dimension, and in order to do that, you need to be aware of the space you are currently taking up.”
I closed my eyes and let my mind expand to feel the world around me. At first, there was nothing, only the black on the inside of my eyelids. The pounding of my heart echoed in my ears, and I could hear the air whoosh in and out of my lungs. Then, slowly, I expanded my senses past my body. I could feel the walls of the River Moonstone House, and the cold stone floor beneath my feet. I took a deep breath and focused harder, and then I could sense the ceiling high above us, and beyond that the sky.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“Now, once you have found your place in the current area, feel around for the magic in the world,” Alyona continued.
It took me a second, but I could feel it. The magic was all around us, in the stones of the River Moonstone House, in the ground beneath our feet, in the very air. The magic was warm, and it reminded me of my fire when it danced across my hands.
“I feel it,” I whispered to Alyona.
“Good. Now, take both of those feelings and use them to open up a space between them. Use your hand and press against them. It will feel similar to ripping a piece of cloth.”
I felt for the world and magic around me and did as Alyona said. I pictured my hand pressing against a bedsheet, there was a slight resistance, and suddenly, I pushed through both boundaries. My hand was cold as it slid in between the two different realities of Inati.
“Well done, Evan!” Alyona praised.
At her words, my eyes popped open. My hand had seemed to vanish at the wrist, and I smiled. This was going to be so cool. I was already thinking of all the different things I’d be storing away when Alyona spoke again.
“Now, take this,” she handed me a charcoal pencil she pulled from her own storage space, “and store it away.”
I grabbed the pencil and slid it inside the chilly empty space. Then I dropped the pencil and pulled my hand back. The object had vanished.
“I knew you’d learn how to use it quickly.” A brilliant smile stretched across Alyona’s beautiful face. “Okay, now bring it back.”
I reached for the void again, focused on the empty space, and found the rip. I felt the chill of the storage reality, but I couldn’t find the pencil. My hand danced around for a moment, and my frustration must have been evident on my face because Alyona grabbed my free hand.
“To retrieve an item from a storage space, you need to focus on the item,” she explained gently. “Your inner magic will summon it to you.”
I closed my eyes again and focused on the pencil. Then I quickly felt my fingers wrap around a solid object, so I closed my fist and pulled my hand out. I looked to Alyona and twirled the pencil around my fingers with a victorious smirk.
She took it back gracefully and slipped it back into her own storage space.
“Congratulations, Evan,” she said with a smile. “You can now use your own spatial storage. I am very proud of how quickly you can master spells.”
“Well, I had a great teacher.” I winked at her.
“And I a great student,” she countered. Her eyes were proud as she looked at me, and I kissed her lips quickly.
“I actually have another magic favor to ask you,” I said when I pulled away. The idea had just come to me, and I knew the princess could help.
“Oh?” Alyona tilted her head. “What is it?”
“It’s about Asher,” I replied. “He’s still in my mind. I’m kind of sick of him being in there, and I was wondering if there was any way you could help me kind of flush him out? I don’t want to completely destroy him, he’s not an evil guy. I kind of feel sorry for him. I’m just tired of my thoughts not being my own. Between him and Miraya, I feel like I’m going crazy.”
Alyona nodded in understanding.
“Of course, Evan. I cannot believe I forgot about him, I am sorry.” She shook her head and started to pace around the room. “I’m sure I could find a spell to remove him from your mind. In fact, you might even be strong enough to learn the spell yourself. I’ll return to the archives at once and do some research.” She decidedly turned to the stairs before I could say another word. “I will hopefully have answers for you tomorrow, my dragon.”
With a twist, she was gone as she slipped up the stairs, and I slowly followed after her. When I reached the top of the staircase, Alyona was already gone from view, and I shook my head and smiled. When she was determined to find answers, nothing could stop her.
I was walking back toward the heart of the city when a small red flame-fox appeared in front of me
“Evan, we are going to begin our questioning of Aleksey if you would like to be present. Meet us at The Blue Tree Guild’s airship as soon as possible.”
The fox spoke with my father’s voice, a
nd then it disappeared in a puff of smoke.
I quickly changed directions, turned toward the airship, and jogged over to where my father, Anton, and Pyotr were waiting.
“Nikolaus not joining us today?” I asked as I approached the group.
“Not today,” Pyotr answered, and the older wolf shook his head. “He said he wanted a break, and I don’t blame him. He grew up with Aleksey, so I can’t imagine how deep the sting of his betrayal goes for him.”
Before I could answer, Laika emerged from the entrance ramp of the airship, and I saw the beautiful warrior woman’s tail wag as she noticed me.
“That was fast, Ruslan just sent his messenger a few moments ago,” Laika commented before she turned her attention to my father. “The prisoner is ready for interrogation.”
“I wasn’t too far,” I replied to Laika as we walked inside the airship. “Alyona was teaching me how to use spatial magic at the River Moonstone House.”
“How did that go?” Ruslan asked as we climbed the ramp.
I turned to him and reached my hand into the void. The coolness of the space was familiar, and I could tell the magic was getting easier each time I used it. I hadn’t stored anything inside it yet, so I just moved my hand around to show the group.
“Well done!” Ruslan laughed, and his voice dripped with pride as he slapped me on my back. “Though, I shouldn’t be surprised. You are my son after all.”
“Thanks, Pops,” I chuckled before I pulled my hand out and fell back to walk with Laika. “How has everything been going?”
“Fine, my Lord. The prisoner isn’t telling us much of anything, and the other prisoners are still under their sleeping curse. We are no closer to figuring out how to break it than we were a week ago.” She sighed in annoyance, and I reached for her hand and entwined our fingers. A blush dusted her cheeks, and her tail wagged a bit faster.
“We’re gonna figure it out, I promise.” I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
We arrived at Aleksey’s cell shortly. The door slid open, and our small group slipped inside. Aleksey was sitting down, chained to the wall by his wrists. His hair was matted to his scalp, his left eye was swollen shut, and a small line of dried blood was crusted under his nose and mouth. He looked up when we entered, and I could hear him scoff.
Anton growled and took a step forward, but Laika placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him. With a huff, the wolf stepped back, and Laika removed her hand.
I approached the traitor’s cell, and my fire begged to be released as I felt it dancing under my skin.
“Aleksey,” I began, and hatred was clear in my voice. “Are you ready to tell us anything about your friends at the Green Glass Sect?”
His eyes narrowed, and he spat in my direction.
“Fine.” I stepped back and nodded to Pyotr.
The wolf Demi-Human’s smile was cruel as he unlocked the cell. Then he grabbed Aleksey by his chains and yanked him up onto his feet.
Aleksey stumbled slightly but caught himself before he collapsed into a heap on the floor. He glared daggers at Pyotr.
“I am still a nobleman of Leyte,” the traitor snarled. “I promise you will all pay for this unlawful treatment of me.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Anton replied with a roll of his eyes. “We know, we’re gonna face the wrath of Leyte for how we treated you. Just throw him in the chair. Let’s just get to the fun part.” Then the wolf flicked his hands, and his flames sprang to life on top of his skin
Next to me, Ruslan’s flames appeared in his hands as well, but I kept mine at bay for now, since I knew I would need my healing magic more than I needed my fire at the moment.
Pyotr tossed Aleksey on the chair against the wall of the room. Then the wolf trapped our prisoner’s arms against the armrest with leather bonds and locked the chains on the floor before he walked back to the rest of us.
I crossed my arms and approached the chair.
“Aleksey, as much as I really do enjoy beating the shit out of you, it really is in your best interest to just tell us what we want to know.” I braced my arms on the chair’s arm rests, leaned down, and placed my face directly in front of his. “You’re so loyal to the Green Glass Sect, but where is their loyalty to you? You’ve been trapped in here for weeks now, and yet they let you rot in here like you’re nothing. If they really cared, wouldn’t they send someone to help you? You are a nobleman, surely you’re higher on their totem pole than just a pawn they sacrifice for their insane cause?”
Aleksey’s good eye narrowed, and I could see the rage burning inside it, but I just smirked at him. I could also see the slight fear and doubt in his eye, and I knew my words resonated with him.
Yet, his mouth stayed shut.
When I first came to Inati, I was still operating under Earth morals, and torture rubbed me the wrong way. I also didn’t think it was very effective. But now that Aleksey had hurt my people, betrayed Rahma, and tried to destroy my city, I was a little less restrained. Plus, Anton was really good at his job, and everyone had a breaking point. If Aleksey came to realize the Green Glass Sect wasn’t coming for him, if he thought the torture wasn’t going to stop, maybe he’d be more inclined to cough up some answers.
“Fine,” I growled and stood up. “Anton, if you will.”
Anton approached the chair and sucked his teeth. He let his flame die, and then he reached into his spatial storage and pulled out a leather pack. He placed the pack on the table next to the chair, and I saw Aleksey’s eyes follow Anton’s movements. The wolf Demi-Human opened the pack, and I realized it wasn’t a pack at all. It was a knife roll. Anton unrolled the leather, and knives of all shapes and sizes were inside.
I gave a small noise of approval, and Anton fingered along the weapons. He finally chose a small thin blade, and it took me a moment to remember where I recognized it from. It was a fish fillet knife, and my Aunt Emma back on Earth had used one once when she took me fishing as a kid.
Anton slid the knife from its leather strap and took an ominous step toward Aleksey.
In response, Aleksey pushed back against his chair and tried to put distance between himself and the wolf. Then Anton swiped the knife gently against Aleksey’s cheek and made a small nick along his cheekbone. The blood dripped in a thin line down the traitor’s face and fell onto the arm of the chair.
I saw Aleksey wince at the cut, but his eyes stayed glued on Anton’s.
“Who is the leader of the Green Glass Sect?” Anton asked as he slid the knife down Aleksey’s arm. He pressed the knife down every inch or so, and blood would appear across each cut before it ran down the arm in a red line.
Anton stopped at Aleksey’s fingers. Then the wolf slid the blade against Aleksey’s index finger and started cutting horizontally into his flesh.
Aleksey struggled against the chains and clenched his jaw in an attempt to keep from screaming.
Part of me admired his determination to not give us the satisfaction.
Anton slowly cut further into the flesh, and Aleksey finally let out an anguished wail. Blood from his finger dripped onto the floor and left a small pool at his feet.
“Talk, and he’ll stop,” I told the traitor as he let out another scream.
“Never,” was the broken reply.
I nodded to Anton, and he pulled the knife out of the sliced-up finger. The cut had gone until the first knuckle. I pushed my healing power toward Aleksey and watched as my magic began to pull his flesh back together. When his finger was finally healed, I nodded again, and Anton began to slice into our prisoner’s finger once more.
Aleksey screamed for a long moment before he finally broke.
“Alright! I’ll tell you something!”
Anton stopped cutting and stood, and I tried to keep the smile from my face.
My dragon soul appreciated how quickly this went.
I used my magic again and let Aleksey heal before we all looked at him expectantly.
“I don’t know the leader,” he sighed. “Howeve
r, I do know I wasn’t the only member from my city. Nor am I the only member in Hatra.”
Then he flashed us a crimson smile.
My blood ran cold at his words. There was a possibility of another traitor in our midst. I knew his words could also mean nothing, but I’d be lying if I hadn’t suspected other citizens of having loyalties to The Green Glass Sect. I glanced around my small group. I knew they were thinking the same thing I was. It was a possibility, but we needed proof.
So, I stepped forward and summoned my flames to my hands.
“I need names,” I demanded. Then I put my flames next to his good eye, and I could smell the scent of singed hair.
Aleksey tried to pull away from my fire.
“I don’t know,” he spat. “Only those within our Sect’s inner circle know the names of the members. It protects us from instances like this. We are smarter than you people think.”
He grinned, and I pushed my flames down as I punched him in the jaw. I saw blood pool in his mouth, and he spat it out onto the ground.
“You’ve got quite the temper, young dragon,” he laughed mockingly. “Tell me, does it infuriate you to know that not everyone is under your thumb? That there are those who don’t think of you as The Great Guardian of Hatra? I promise you this, Lord Evan. The Green Glass Sect is coming for you. You dared to interfere with their plans, and for that, you and this pathetic city will pay.”
My fury sprang to life again, and I didn’t attempt to quell my flames as I punched him again. This time, his head hung limply on his shoulder, and his hair smoked from where my fire had burned away a few strands. There was a bright pink burn on his cheek from where my flaming fist collided with his face, but I didn’t bother to heal him this time as I turned and stalked out of the room.
As I left, I heard someone move Aleksey back into his cell and chain him back to the wall.
I strolled from the airship, but my anger was still present. I was ready to just kill Aleksey. He didn’t deserve to live after all he’d done, but I knew we still needed the traitor alive, for now at least. He had information, and I would get it from him.
I’d thought about using the mages that The Blue Tree Guild had used on the snake Demi-Human, but I didn’t want to destroy his mind. We needed to know the truth, and for the truth, we needed Aleksey mentally sound.
