by R N Skye
“Who are the Eliom?” asked Leslie as she tried to absorb the tale.
“You are, as well as anyone else born here,” stated Ahhan. “Anyone that comes here from a lesser world and lives the Laws of Light and can abide here will be able to extend their lives and eventually be able to live on the greater worlds.”
Leslie sat on a stool. “This is confusing. Are you saying that there are other worlds? The whole “people on other worlds” is not just a myth? And unless you are a Lumen Mage you cannot live on them?”
“Only partially,” explained the mage. The universe is a very big place. There are the lesser worlds like this world used to be, and there are those of higher orders that only those with a higher ability can abide.
Once long ago there were worlds that linked the lower worlds to the higher worlds. They were called transition worlds. A good example would be if you were to swim in an icy river then suddenly climb into a warm tub the feeling would seem like a scalding. However if you got out of the river and waited a while before you climbed into the tub it would feel comfortable and relaxing. The transition worlds were like that. If you were born on a lower world you could travel to a transition world, acclimatize, and then move on. If you were magical you could use magic to accomplish the same thing with out the transitional worlds. Those that lived on the lower worlds could not survive the higher or greater worlds if they didn’t have access to a transitional world or if they were unable to use magic. This world was created to do both. The entire purpose of Eliom is to be a transition world for those without magic and to give the magic or control of lumen to those that lack it or need to increase their capacity for lumen; making it possible to transition beyond even Elios.”
Seeing questions in her expression, Ahhan diverted to a different topic. “Have you ever been to the southern shores of Jehhet?”
Leslie nodded.
“Have you ever heard of the tuj fish?”
She nodded again.
“Then perhaps you are aware that the tuj is a fish that swims the waters of the rivers and deltas that flow into the southern sea and can only tolerate sea water briefly and if they do not return to fresh water they will eventually die. When the rivers are high in the spring they can be fished far out to sea as they feed in the nutrient abundant fresh water currents that extend only in the springtime. As soon as the runoff diminishes they swim back to the fresh water of the rivers and later back up to the head waters to spawn. If they venture out to the sea without fresh water they perish.
The Tuj are a delicious fish and used throughout Jehhet as a food source because of their size and flavor. It might interest you to know that many years ago an enterprising young Luion mage who was fond of the taste for tuj, but happened to live in a northern city known as Coh Y Nord decided that he would like to have the same fish on his table. He carefully caught some of the fish during the spawn and transported them to the rivers that flowed north to the shores near Coh Y Nord. Unfortunately the tides and water temperature of the northern seas were uninhabitable to the southern tuj. Not to be dismayed he discovered a saltwater fish called the runnor. Being indigenous to both the northern and the southern oceans the runnor was able to tolerate fresh water for short times. The runnor fish would spawn in the fresh water and then retreat back to the saltwater of the ocean and could survive. Over a few years he introduced the tuj into the spawning pools of the runnor and before long the tuj cross bred with the runnor and they began to tolerate the colder temperatures of the northern sea and to a minor extent the saltwater.
Alas the problem still persisted that the tuj of the north still retreated when the runoff retreated. Additionally the northern tuj could not tolerate the warm southern waters any more than the southern tuj could tolerate the northern waters. As it turned out the runnor could survive both. Noting this, the Luion mage introduced both species into the open ocean and because the runnor was capable of surviving both environments. After a few years the tuj shared a common genetic similarity; he was able to breed the northern and southern tuj with the pure strain of the runnor and now we have a fish called the junnot. Which of course is able to abide both the northern and southern seas and it also spawns upstream in the streams of its birth both north and south. It has the same flavor of the tuj but now survives the waters of both the North and South and can adapt to both fresh and sea water.
While a crude example, it is similar to what has occurred on Eliom. This world is a planet of a single sun but has been given the attributes and abilities to endure a binary system and is habitable to many species that could not otherwise tolerate the glory of a binary system. The Arc was placed upon this world for - among other things – to be a temporary source of magical power simulating a binary environment while the world stabilized itself and until a pair of Star Seeds, capable of eventually becoming a binary system, could be found. The final step will be to integrate the magic of the Arc within the world. This can only be accomplished by someone with heritage of pure Elios Blood but born on Eliom with the magical link to this world.”
Leslie pondered this for a moment then asked, “Why wasn’t this done when you first came?” I’m sure there were many of Elios that could have accomplished this.”
“Your logic is sound,” Ahhan smiled as if he were teaching a class. “But there are a few items that needed to occur first. At the risk of using unfamiliar terms I’ll see if I can explain. Once we relocated this world to its current location we needed to make adjustments to the hosting solar system. There were many calculations to be made and adjusted for. Small changes that were crucial to set things in the right order necessary to stabilizing an orbit that was not too close or too far from the sun, would not interfere with the future planets that would come from mating of the Star Seeds, and we also needed time for the refugees of the other worlds placed here to – like the tuj fish – become native to a world of this nature, and to begin the process of developing a sensitivity and awareness to Lumen Magic. Finally there was the matter of creating the Arc of the world and infusing the Lumen necessary to create Eliom as a transitional world.
During the creation process – sometime between moving Eliom into place and finding a female Star Seed - The doomed world of the Luion was discovered. The entire population of Luion was non-potent, in other words, had no magical sensitivity. It was determined that there was not sufficient time to neither create a new world for them nor find a lesser world suitable for them to relocate to. So it was decided that we would attempt something that had never been done before. We would integrate a race of non-potent beings from a lesser world into the world that we hoped would be the salvation of our own people. It seemed appropriate as the whole purpose of creating Eliom in the first place was for saving those of our own race that were not sufficiently magical enough to dwell on Elios without aid. It was the right thing to do.
As you study to become a glyph mage you will begin to understand much of what I have shared with you regarding other worlds. Do not feel bad at the amount of information that I have thrust upon you on such short notice. There will come a point in time where you will understand these things and infinitely more. However, before that time comes you will start to feel as well as know the true Laws of Lumen, or the Laws of Light. The more you master lumen the more you will be sensitive to it laws. The most important thing will be for you to accept these Laws of Light. The Luion refer to them as the Laws of Elios. Yes they are our laws but the truth is they are more than that. The Laws of Lumen are as real as any physical law. The practitioners of Lumen must live them or they will not be able to expand their use of lumen. Those that fail to do so will die from the conflict. It cannot be ignored. The laws of Lumen and the practice of Lumen Magic are inseparably intertwined. If a mage practices Lumen Magic and does not live the Laws, the conflict will continually build until the mage self-destructs. The same as if you ignore the buildup of electrons prior to a lightning strike. It doesn’t matter how much you ignore the storm, if you don’t move or provide a path for the energy you wi
ll be struck by it and destroyed.”
The conversations with Ahhan continued for what seemed hours with the entirety of the records center appearing as a three dimensional projection of the many topics that they covered. At first he seemed to be telling her stories and relating history but soon the discussions were lectures on the properties of lumen, glyphs, and the true nature of mastery of all of the different levels of being a mage. She found that she was bombarded with many references and terms that were unfamiliar to her but somehow she seemed to understand.
Finally Ahhan stopped with the teaching and commented on her necklace that she was wearing. He eyes seemed to smile. “The Sicam has chosen well; as have you. You two will make a great couple.”
Leslie blushed; while positive that she had not heard the term ‘Sicam’ she knew he was referring to Ari, “we have known each other for a long time.”
“May I examine it?” asked Ahhan.
Leslie unclasped the tiny intricate chain and handed the small amulet to the mage. After a few moments of inspection the necklace suddenly changed shape and became a small square plate of gold with a fiery opal border; full of glyphs and scroll work. Leslie recognized it to be an instructor like Ava’s. Ahhan looked into her eyes and with a nod said, “The lumen of your ancestor is within you. I think that Yenal would agree with me.” In two empty corners of the metal plate appeared a kero glyph and a glyph that looked like a star with a lightning bolt through the center. “These are the glyphs of the recorder; they represent both knowledge and the power of knowledge. Your role on Eliom is key to the future of Eliom. Your primary focus, as well as those you appoint to be manage the other records centers on Eliom will be to instruct and to record the works of the Singers of Eliom. To provide information to those studying to become mages and masters of both glyphs and lumen; as they prove themselves ready. Lastly to record the knowledge the lumen masters of Eliom obtain throughout the history of Eliom – Whatever that may be.”
Ahhan drew a glyph in the air. “Look closely at the glyph in front of you.”
Leslie studied the glyph and with slight surprise realized that she somehow knew it meant invisibility.
“Now close your eyes and tell me if you can still see it.”
Leslie closed her eyes and could see the glyph still hanging in the air but this time she could just see the bright glow of the glyph and nothing else. “Yes,” she answered.
“Keeping your eyes closed I want you to look within yourself. Do you see the same glow as you saw in the glyph?”
Amazed Leslie saw that she seemed to radiate bright white golden yellow. She opened her eyes and she could now see the glowing lumen in everything. “How did I not see this before? Can all mages see lumen in this manner?”
“Not all,” Ahhan said with a grin, “but like I mentioned earlier you come from a talented heritage.
What I would like you to do next is to concentrate on the lumen that you saw within yourself and will it into the glyphs that you see on the lower corners of the gold metal plate.”
Leslie concentrated and nearly jumped from the tingling sensation when the glyphs absorbed the lumen.
“Congratulations you have just activated your first glyphs. You are officially a glyph mage. One last item and you are done. You need to bind yourself to the instructor and your unique glyphs that are in the upper corners.
Are you ready?”
Leslie nodded.
“Do the same thing with the glyphs in the upper corners as you did with the glyphs in the lower corners.”
Leslie concentrated and once again felt a not unpleasant shock as she visualized the light from inside herself flow into the kero and lightning star glyphs; amazed as she watched them flare to life.
“Congratulations you have your own instructor,” Ahhan beamed, “tonight when you sleep you will have a dream that will instruct you on its use and features.”
The records center was once again back to its normal stone walls. Leslie yawned feeling extremely tired she felt as if she had been speaking with the cream and maroon robed mage for days...
…With a start Leslie sat upright. She had fallen asleep at the desk where the recorder had been telling her about the history of Yllyan. There was no sign of the mage Ahhan.
I need to see Ava, was her first thought. She felt her necklace around her neck not remembering having put it back on. Unsure if her experiences so far had been real or imagined she looked around the room at various glyphs and within herself. Amazingly she saw a bright glow.
“Ava! What is going on here?” She ran for the exit and unconsciously opened the door and ran for the trolley that she potted approaching the corner; failing to notice the record center sphere’s farewell of “Welcome back Recorder I look forward to working with you again.”
~~~~~
Jamison stepped off the smelly boat with his small duffle. The fishermen that had rescued him wished him well as the captain paid him a few silvers for his share of the catch; telling him that if he couldn’t find work to look them up; that he was always welcome on their crew.
Jamison was not what he seemed. He had been a deckhand on a fishing boat in Jehhet when several soldiers with purple wristbands pulled him off of the ship he had been working on and dragged him to the palace. He was weak and confused by the time his captors had dropped him at the feet of the king. Not knowing what to do or say he scrambled to his knees and bowed. “Your Highness, I know not what I have done to displease you but I’m certain that it is a misunderstanding. I am just a humble deckhand.”
The king said nothing as he waived the guards from his office. When they were alone the king looked into the man’s eyes and laughed, “You are much more than a fisherman; you are a Lumenless non-potent and perfect for what I need. Hold out your hand.”
Jamison started to refuse but when he stood and turned to run he found that he was frozen from the waist down and was unable to move. Looking at the king he saw an extended hand with a red glowing sphere. “Take it,” the king commanded. “With this you will have the power of a hundred men and you will be a special servant to the king, never to be a lowly fisherman again.” The fisherman took the orb.
After a mere instant the struggle to keep his mind was over and the fisherman known as Jamison was now an Allyant possessed of the king.
The next day a fast ship took him to Cliffs Port and he began to execute the plan to infiltrate Lu Y Onton. Not as a wristband controlled agent but as a non-potent under the control of an Allyant. So far no one had been able to detect an Allyant possessed, other than the shadowed blue sword wielding man that had all but killed him so long ago; as there had been no sign of the man since, Pechor was certain that he had gone back to Elios.
From Cliffs Port he had taken a small boat with several soldiers who eventually dropped him in the freezing water at night near a fishing boat and then headed back to Infin. Being magically protected and a strong swimmer Jamison swam as fast as he could toward the anchored fishing boat. When he was certain that the watch would be able to hear him he began shouting for help. Upon his rescue he told them that he had escaped the conscript crews of the King and had been making his way to Lu Y Onton when his small boat had begun to leak. He had tried bailing and repair but the wood rot had been too bad and had crumbled away about the time he had neared the fishing craft. “Lucky I found you guys and I’m a good swimmer; a few more minutes in the drink and I’d have been fish bait.”
The captain of the fishing boat explained that they had just arrived to the fishing grounds and they wouldn’t be heading back for a day or two but if he would stay on as a hand they would not only take him to Lu Y Onton but would pay him as well. Jamison gratefully agreed and after a good night’s rest and some dry clothes he soon made fast friends with the rest of the crew and spent the next two days fishing.
As Jamison walked up the pier to the docks he was soon on his way into the area of shops and cafes that serviced the wharf area. Entering the first café that looked clean he entere
d. The first person he saw was just what he needed; young, energetic, and innocent.
~~~~~
Shane was tired as he sat on the stone bench. He often came to this secluded corner of the garden that surrounded the Yllyan records center to contemplate, meditate and ponder the new lessons that he was learning with his instructor. He took the last of the bread from his lunch and tossed it to the hearty sparrows that darted to and fro among the nearly bare bushes. It always amazed him that even though many of the larger birds tended to migrate to warmer areas in the winter, the tiny resilient sparrows chose to stay. Seeing that the afternoon sun had reached its high point and would soon begin its rapid early winter march for the horizon, he looked across the small lawn; noting that it had shed the last of its green luster for a pale brown. Hearing footsteps on stone he glanced toward the source and saw Ava’s Aunt Leslie rapidly exiting the records center and sprint towards the trolley a short distance away. Weighing curiosity against his current desire for solitude he kept still and watched her board the trolley; following it with is eyes until it was out of view. Glancing back to the records center building he saw that the door had not yet closed. As he considered the significance of the delayed closing of the door he saw a robed figure exit the doorway.
The robed man met his eyes and smiled and walked toward him. When the man was nearly to him Shane remained seated and nodded a greeting to the mage. “Uncle Ahhan, what a surprise. What did you do to Ava’s aunt she ran out of there like she had seen a ghost.”
Ahhan laughed, “She just finished a crash course in the history of Eliom, learned about the Laws, and accepted the appointment as the Records Keeper of Eliom. I’d say she’s had a full day. I imagine she was in a hurry to discuss the matter with Ava. You know how ladies like to relate – either that or she was looking for someone to talk it over with to make sure she was still sane,” he added with a laugh.
“Nice and peaceful here isn’t it,” the older man said changing the subject.
