Underestimated Affinities

by Matthew Scarcella

  Well, I’m glad you don’t have any pull with the Council, I think. Even if she did, nothing would happen, because of how high up Safeyya is. Anyway, I haven’t really done anything so significant to warrant expulsion.

  “Willow, rel —” I start to say, before realizing that using the word ‘relax’ is a terrible thing to do in this situation. “I just want to talk to him, maybe show him around the city.”

  “Why? Why did you even bring him back here?” she spits back at me.

  “Why do I want to talk to him? I don’t think that’s your place to query. I brought him back here because he was on the brink of death, and I’m not lacking in emotional sentiment. I would have done the same for any other severely wounded Zicarnum I found — including you. I think that speaks volumes about my moral character.” She grimaces at the small jab to her ego. “Now please, just let me pass. I’ll bring him around the city and show him the lakes and how things run, and you’ll be able to sit here and not have to work for a few hours. Seems like a win-win to me.”

  She purses her lips and nods rhythmically as if surveying her options. We both know she’s going to take full advantage of the time to sit on her ass and do nothing, which is basically her only option as is.

  “Well, yeah, I guess you should go show him around. He may be here for a while after all, and I wouldn’t want the burden of having to call another guard to sit here while I go to the Council and explain the situation before coming back.” Trying to save face, as always. What a nuisance. “Safeyya already did agree to it, anyway,” she says after viewing a scrap of paper my sister scribbled on.

  She tucks the note into her shirt and walks around behind the shack, providing me with some semblance of privacy. At the front door, I raise my hand to knock but hesitate momentarily. What am I supposed to say?

  Oh well. I knock anyway, four times in quick succession. There’s some rustling inside, and a loud clattering, as though something was just knocked over onto the floor. The door opens and Piero’s smile greets me without inhibition.

  “Selvyn!” he yells. “Hi!”

  “Ah. Hello Piero,” I respond while scratching the back of my head to relieve some of the tension present. “Uh, Safeyya told me that you came by looking for me yesterday?”

  He grins, flashing me that incredible smile. “I did, that’s correct.” Standing fully upright, looking down at me from above, he’s quite dashing. He also scratches the back of his head before continuing. “I was thinking, you know, that maybe we could talk for a bit.”

  I glance past him into the shack, moving my head to the side, as if to suggest he wanted to talk inside. Employing all the charm in the world, Piero leans against the doorframe and runs his hand through his hair. He changes course. “Perhaps we could go for a walk somewhere? I’m not that fond, or proud, of this little place they’ve put me. But hey, at least it’s something.”

  “Sure.” I smile back at him. “I was actually mentioning to my family that I should probably show you around. It’s basically my fault you’re stuck here, so I may as well show you some common courtesy.”

  “Your fault? Fault?” He stands tall with wide eyes. “You’re joking, right? You saved my life! Can’t you tell that I’m grateful? Here, let me show you.” He steps out of the door frame and before I can even process what’s happening, his arms are wrapped around me and he’s squishing my torso in the vice grip of his hug.

  “Err — I… okay.” I don’t know what to do, so I just stand there with my arms by my side. “You’re welcome, of course. I would have done it for anyone; it was the right thing to do.”

  “Of course you would,” he replies enthusiastically. “I could tell that from the first time I saw you. It’s why I immediately took a likening toward you.”

  “I see.” A few more seconds pass and his grip has slackened, but he’s still hugging me. “Um, Piero? Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine,” he mumbles.

  “Okay, but… is this really appropriate?”

  “I suppose that depends on what you deem appropriate versus inappropriate.” He pulls out of the hug and looks me square in the eyes. “So yes, I felt it was appropriate. Besides, I’m not concerned with what other people think of me. That’s no way to live one’s life.”

  “Well, that is true. It’s just —”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he cuts me off. “Even some people back home never got used to my candidness. Give me just a moment.” At a loss for words, I stand there while he rummages around in the shack before coming back outside. Closing the door behind him, he asks, “Shall we go now?”

  “Of course,” I respond, regaining my composure.

  ***

  I walk Piero around the Academia and explain to him the history of our city, then we fly south and walk through the training grounds toward the Militia. He has a lot of questions about me and the city, and I answer the basic ones I can, about: our irrigation; our Council members, some of which is confidential and I can’t disclose; our food sources; my siblings, and Safeyya’s Tune status; about my bracelets and belt; and a few other miscellaneous things.

  “What is that? And why is it made entirely of metal?” he asks, pointing toward a large structure. The baroque building is over four times as wide as any house in the city and twice as tall. It gives off a rather sinister feeling if unfamiliar with it. “It looks unnerving,” he says, admiring the ornate spiraling of metals intertwining in dazzling patterns, coursing throughout the structure.

  “That’s the headquarters for our Militia. Though we shouldn’t go any further in that direction, Safeyya would kill me. The Council doesn’t trust you yet.”

  “Sure,” he says with his hands in the air. “We don’t have to go anywhere we aren’t supposed to. I’ve already seen most of the city center as is; I walked around with some guards yesterday after Safeyya told me you were gone for the day. It’s a nice city. Though your citizens seem a bit wary.”

  “It is a nice city. Well, it’s natural for them to be cautious around a foreigner, don’t you think? Especially a powerful one.”

  “I suppose.” He nods agreeably. “Hey, why don’t you take me somewhere nice? Do you have any place here in the city that’s special to you? I’d like to see it.”

  “Hmm. We can go to the lake. Well, we have two of them, but I like the eastern lake better. It’s quiet and usually empty around this time of day. There’s a lot of trees overhead that block out a good portion of the sun, so everyone goes to the other lake.”

  “Oh, yeah! Let’s go! I love the water, and judging by your wing, so should you.” Piero grins at me. Well, of course I do. Though to be fair, who wouldn’t love the water? Even Aethyr, with his fire and lava affinities, loves water and the lakes, almost as much as I do. I don’t mention anything, as I don’t see the need for a snarky remark. Instead, I just spread my wings and lead the way toward the lake.

  We sit under a tree by the lake, one of the same trees I sat under with my siblings all those years ago. I look overhead and see the four colors interlocked, impervious to the change in time the years have brought upon me. I sneak a glance at Piero, but he’s been looking at me, so he catches my eye and smiles.

  “This is a beautiful place,” he says. “I see you were looking up at the trees. I wonder how old they are.”

  “I’d wager at least eighty or ninety years for the youngest.”

  “Can you begin to imagine what they must have seen over the years? I mean, I’m sure it’s quiet here in the city, but what about the trees in the wilderness? They must witness interactions between species, animals foraging, friends talking, overhearing conversations… and of course, fighting from our race.” I think about the incident at Petalsong Forest, and I’m sure he must be reliving it as well. “It’s disheartening,” he says. “To think about the damage we cause to our environment. Have you ever wished you weren’t born into this race? Or that Zicarna as a species weren’t able to manipulate elements?”

  “I haven’t thought a
bout it before. But perhaps that’s because up until yesterday, I didn’t think I was capable of damaging anything.” He rolls over onto his stomach, elbows in the ground, propping his face up in his hands — listening to me intently. “You could imagine that with my affinities, how life must have been growing up. I’ve been raised, as I’m sure other wind and water wielders have, to essentially be programmed into thinking that my affinities are only capable of sensing, and healing, respectively.”

  “So now that you’re older, do you see differently?”

  “Yes and no.” I shrug. “Everyone seems to be so intent on fighting and training and seeing who can be the best, or who the strongest is. I just want to enjoy life. You know, spend time with my family and friends, travel across Cinderfal, interact with the animals. I love trenga, in particular.”

  He smiles warmly at this. “There were some of them in front of my house earlier today before you arrived.”

  “I saw them. They flew off when I started talking to Willow. Anyway, I don’t really want to hurt anyone… but my sister Aislynn told me something a few weeks ago which kind of stuck with me. She doesn’t like fighting either, but she does in order to survive, and she does it more-so to protect us than to protect herself. I understood where she was coming from when she mentioned it to me, but I didn’t quite take it to heart. Not until yesterday, anyway.” He raises an eyebrow in response.

  “Well,” I sigh, then look into his eyes momentarily. Something about them makes me feel at home. “Don’t mention this to anybody, but when I was out yesterday with my friends, Alexyo and Celestra, we were attacked. I was kind of freaking out at first, but then I realized what Aislynn was talking about. I needed a clear head to defend myself and help protect my friends, to make sure they stayed alive, and it just sort of clicked in that moment. I killed for the first time in my life. I didn’t particularly relish the moment. I mean, it was fascinating, realizing I had more power than I’d ever imagined, but causing fatal wounds to another living being is not something I will ever find fun.”

  “I won’t tell a soul. And I know what you mean. I didn’t have much family back home, but I did have someone very close to me. I fought for him, and protected him….” Piero’s voice trails off with a melancholy tone. He walks over to the lake and sits at the water’s edge, digging his toes into the muddy earth.

  I get the urge to be closer to him, so I get up and slowly walk over. I reach the edge of the water and look down at Piero’s face for a moment.

  He stares into the water dully, not moving a muscle.

  I sit beside him and for an instant my wing brushes against his. It’s an accident, as I wasn’t thinking about their width, but in that instant, I feel a jolt course through my body. He looks up at me with sorrow still in his eyes, but within their violet depths, I see a flicker of something — affection, perhaps? No, that must be wrong. Maybe kindness — but he smiles with his eyes, and then I know he felt the jolt as well. The silence is palpable, and I relish it for a few seconds before breaking it.

  “What happened to him?” I say. “The guy you were protecting.”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugs. “One day I woke up and he had vanished. He didn’t say anything, or leave a note, or let anyone know.”

  “How long ago was that?”

  “Hmm. A few years, probably three or four,” he says wearily. “It was right after I gained my second set of ice wings.”

  “I see. What —”

  “I don’t mean to interrupt you, or come off as abrasive, but we can talk about it more at a later point. I’m sure there will be time for that. Do you mind? Right now, there is no point in dwelling in the past. I’d like to hear more about you, anyway.”

  “Sure,” I respond, slightly taken aback, but I don’t need more than a second to recover. “I don’t mind at all. Did you have anything specific in mind?”

  “Yes. Are you currently involved?” he spits out.

  “Err — that’s a tad vague. Am I involved in what regard?”

  “Romantically,” he articulates. “Are you dating anyone?” I turn my gaze from the remote stillness of the water and look at him, watching me intently. I feel a nervous twitch in my intestines and my heart starts beating faster. My pulse accelerates and I can sense the tinge of blush in my cheeks as it happens. It’s a very strange and unique sensation, to be flattered in such regard. I want to open my mouth to answer him, but it feels as dry as desert sand.

  A couple of birds chirp merrily in the background.

  “Selvyn?” he asks, a note of insistence in his tone. He places his hand on my thigh and the jolt returns, shocking me out of my trance. “This doesn’t have anything to do with the subject we were just discussing. I am not displacing my feelings onto you. You’re the most beautiful individual I’ve ever come across in my entire life. The thought crossed my mind the first time I saw you — all I could think was, ‘oh man, who the hell is this guy looking over me right now? If I end up living through this ordeal, I need to get to know him.’”

  He’s obviously not capable of reading my mind, but I was just thinking about displacement a second ago. It made sense for a fleeting moment: he’s melancholy and remembering someone dear to him from his past, and I happen to potentially be available. But he’s not just trying to flatter me; I can tell by the tone of his voice that he sincerely means what he says. I blush in embarrassment. The intense silence resumes, as I ponder the implications of all the outcomes that could happen from my next word or action.

  I have my family and friends to worry about, and all the other people that have known me for my entire life. I can feel the worry on my face like a giant rock is being scraped across it.

  Piero moves his hand off my thigh and threads his fingers through my own. It’s the first time I’ve had this level of contact with another individual. I mean, I’ve held hands with others before, but this is on a completely different level. It’s odd — but it feels right with him, as if I hadn’t known what I was missing up until this very moment.

  I need to consider more than myself here… or do I? Let’s be realistic for a second. I’m the only one that’s going to have to live with me for the rest of my life. I’m the only one that can be responsible for my happiness. My actions may reflect on others, but it won’t have any lasting effect on their lives. Their opinions of me shouldn’t matter; I don’t need to impress anyone or force myself to be someone I’m not just so someone else will like me.

  I look into his dazzling violet eyes once more and realize just how easy it could be to spend the rest of my life getting lost within them. My hand that’s not being held trembles slightly, but I can’t control it. I take a deep breath and look up at the trees above me. This is really such an incredibly wonderful moment. But I still don’t know what to do.

  Piero’s grip on my hand tightens. When I tilt my head back down, I’m greeted by the softest lips in the world pressing onto my own. I guess I didn’t have much to think about after all. My decision’s been made for me — I realize now it was made for me the second I saw him in Petalsong Forest.

  I close my eyes and lose myself in the moment.

  CHAPTER XIII

  THE TWINS COMETH

  The next few days were all but a blur. Safeyya wasn’t happy with my training regimen, so I had back-to-back training sessions interspersed with full-blown sparring matches. All of them were with or against senior members of the army. I feel exhausted to the point of no return; I’m surprised I managed to make it out of bed this morning.

  Evidently, after Melandria spoke to Safeyya earlier in the week, she went back to the Council and had to report to them as well. I had to face it sooner or later, and I knew it would be sooner. Had word got around about what happened or had someone seen the blades, Melandria would have had her ass handed to her. So, once the Council found out that I was possibly in possession of the Sais of Zulena, they sent a small team to Makoro to investigate the cavern.

  The evidence that was found must have convin
ced them because I was forced to endure a one-on-one sit down with each Council member, which was excruciatingly dreadful in and of itself. But to be subjected to listening to each one of them ramble on for hours on end about my newfound weapons and the responsibility that comes with the ownership of said weapons was mind-numbingly agonizing.

  However, what was quite amusing was that each member of the Council attempted to wield the Sais, just as Klaryk and Melandria had done. The look on each of their faces when they realized they were powerless to even lift the blades was priceless. If I had known, when I was younger and despised the Council for no reason, that this event would one day occur, I would have been able to think of nothing else day in and day out every day leading up to this moment. So, it’s good that I didn’t know — the surprise is enough to relish for a lifetime. The facial expressions generally started out as awe upon viewing the weapons, then fearfully surprised when the member attempted to wield them, and then progressed into appall and finally disgust, when they no doubt wondered why someone like me was chosen to wield the Sais.

  The only member that didn’t follow this pattern was Bayleigh. Being the leader of the Council, she no doubt holds herself in higher regard. There was no surprise or disgust on her face when she realized she was unable to wield the weapons; being able to control her facial expressions one hundred percent of the time must come with the job. Instead, the only noticeable change in her facial expression was a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth, presumably as she strained to lift them. “Selvyn, I’m impressed with you,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing good things from you in the future.” That sure was a different outcome than I had anticipated.

  As a consequence of all the rigorous scheduling, I’ve only managed to see Piero once for a few minutes since those hours by the lake. After the awkward-turned-comfortable kiss, we just sat and talked until we got sleepy. He asked me more about my family life and how I got along with my siblings, and how growing up with non-offensive affinities was for me. I’ve never been so upfront and honest with anyone in my life. He was very kind and genuine in return and seemed to be enthused by the conversation. I was flattered by all the wonderful things he had to say, but I was still surprised by his actions. He appears to be a very bold individual.