by Kristen Pham
“What’s his story?” she asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
“Oberon is one of the founders of the Globe, like Azra. He’s the one who set up the weather system. He has powers over the sun, earth, and sea. No one knows the specifics, but he is one of the most powerful Conjurors of all time.”
“What’s he doing sweeping the sidewalk, then?”
Cyrus’ face became very serious. “For many years, he was a spy for the Fractus. He believed that Conjurors should be able to move back and forth between Earth and the Globe whenever they wanted. He gave the Fractus some pretty important information, supposedly. But then maybe his conscience bothered him or something, because he confessed everything. His punishment is that he can’t use his magic for 100 years, and during that time he has to serve the city as groundskeeper.”
Valerie had paid so much attention to Cyrus’ story that she hadn’t noticed that they had left the horseshoe of guilds, and were now walking through the twisted streets of the city. But the strangeness of the buildings finally demanded her attention. Never on Earth would a cottage stand next door to an L-shaped skyscraper – especially when the skyscraper was completely filled with water and mermaids swam around inside. It reminded her of a giant aquarium.
Part of her wanted to stop to marvel at every new feat of architecture, but Cyrus pulled her along until they stopped at a building in the shape of a tall cylinder. Every floor was painted a different shade of blue, and a silver staircase spiraled up the side all the way to the roof.
“What do you think of the Imaginary Friends’ dorm?” Cyrus asked with a grin.
“I get to live here? No way!” Valerie exclaimed, thrilled. Then she glanced doubtfully at long, winding staircase. “What floor am I on? This could be quite a climb at the end of every day.”
“Check it out,” Cyrus said, leading her to the base of the stairs. Suddenly, she felt the floor beneath her rise and without warning, she and Cyrus were swiftly gliding up the stairs on a small platform. She smiled as a breeze made her hair stream out behind her.
“These platforms are inside most buildings in Arden. You steer it with your mind, by thinking about where you want to go, like when you traveled to the Globe in the bubble,” Cyrus explained.
“Let me try,” Valerie said, and concentrated. She steered the little platform up and down the stairs effortlessly. “It’s so simple!”
“The best magic always is,” Cyrus announced authoritatively.
“Stop at the 6th floor so you can check in with Dulcea,” Cyrus said, and she was proud that they came to a smooth stop at a tall wood door with a giant brass “6” nailed to it.
The door opened automatically to a scene that looked like a picture from a storybook come to life. At one end of the room was a giant bed with a pink canopy. The wallpaper that went around the entire circumference of the room was decorated with lollipops, cookies, and candies of every kind. The sweet smell of chocolate filled the room, making Valerie’s mouth water. Giant pillows were in the center of the room, and plopped right in the middle was a woman with golden ringlets who was popping candy in her mouth as she read a book.
She looked up as they arrived with wide, innocent eyes. She reminded Valerie of a grown-up version of Goldilocks. “You must be Valerie! I’m Dulcea! Welcome!” she said in a happy, bubbly voice. “Have a chocolate.”
“Thanks,” she said, feeling overwhelmed by Dulcea’s energy. She sank down on a pillow next to her.
“So, tell me about yourself, Valerie. I know the basics, you’re from Messina, you’re a friend of Cyrus – which I won’t hold against you,” Dulcea said with a grin. Cyrus rolled his eyes, but Dulcea continued as if she hadn’t noticed. “But what are your passions? What gets you up in the morning? Who do you want to be?”
Valerie had no idea what to say.
“Sheesh, take it easy on her! She’s had a big day,” Cyrus said to Dulcea. Then he explained, “Dulcea’s training to become a grand master in the Imaginary Friends guild and she’s writing her thesis on finding your passion through imagination. She asks everyone these questions and no one knows what to say!”
Valerie relaxed slightly. “Well, I know I want to help people. And go on adventures!”
“It’s so wonderful to see such enthusiasm!” Dulcea exclaimed. Then she quizzed Valerie on everything from her hobbies to her favorite color. Valerie found it dizzying trying to keep up with her as she jumped from topic to topic. Finally, Dulcea seemed to notice her exhaustion. “I was so interested in what you were saying, I didn’t notice the time. Cyrus will take you to your room. It’s all ready for you.”
“About time,” Cyrus said, finally getting a word in edgewise.
Dulcea handed Valerie a small book. “Here are the dorm rules. Curfew, dinner hour, that kind of thing. As long as you follow these few rules, things will be sweet for you here.”
“And if you break the rules, things can get really sour, really fast,” Cyrus muttered under his breath to Valerie.
“My door is always open. Come by any time to talk, and grab some candy on your way out!”
“Thanks, Dulcea.”
Finally escaping Dulcea’s sugary presence, Cyrus led Valerie up another two floors, where the platform paused. The door to the 8th floor opened automatically, and the platform glided down a hall carpeted in red. It stopped at a door at the end of the hall. She could hear music that sounded a lot like American hip hop blaring in the room.
Cyrus grinned. “You’re gonna love your roommate. With Kanti, you’ll never be bored.”
A muffled base pounded through the closed door. Cyrus opened the door to reveal someone doing the most complex break dancing Valerie had ever seen in her life – clearly unaware that anyone was watching. The girl was graceful, and she moved faster than any human break dancer that she had ever seen. Cyrus applauded mockingly, and she stopped dancing and collapsed on the floor laughing.
“Wow, you really love those Earth dance moves, don’t you? You look like you’re pretty into it. I wish I had a picture of this for blackmail,” Cyrus joked.
The girl grinned and teased, “Whatever, Cy. I could tell your friend here some pretty entertaining stories involving you and your attempts to master the art of flying.”
“All right, you win. You keep that story to yourself, and I won’t tell the gang at the guild about your super cool dance moves,” Cyrus said, shaking his head and laughing. “Kanti, this is your new roomie, Valerie.”
At first glance, Kanti reminded Valerie of a wicked witch in a fairy tale. Her skin had a yellowish cast, and she had two huge warts on one of her cheeks. She had long greasy dark hair that fell past her shoulders and thick black eyebrows that were growing out of control. But her smile, which revealed her buck teeth, was so genuinely warm and friendly that it eased any awkward tension.
“It’s really nice of you to share your room with me.”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been waiting and waiting for a roommate. We’re gonna tear this town apart.”
“I’ll let you guys get to know each other. Val, I’ll come by tomorrow for the rest of your tour. Let her sleep, Kanti, she’s had a really long trip.”
“Yeah, yeah, got it, boss,” Kanti said as she shooed Cyrus out the door.
“Night, Cy.” For a moment Valerie felt very alone, more alone than the first time she stayed overnight at the hospital and no one came to visit her.
Kanti closed the door, and Valerie looked around the room for the first time. She gasped when she saw that one side of the room was already decorated in her favorite color – green. Everything from the curtains to the bedspread on her side of the room was how she had always imagined her room would look one day when she had a place of her own.
“Who did this for me?”
Kanti laughed. “Dulcea. When she was asking you all those questions, she was figuring out what kind of room you would like so that you’d feel at home. Then when you were on your way up she used magic to decorate this half of th
e room for you!”
Valerie was touched by Dulcea’s kindness. It was the first time anyone had made a home with her preferences in mind. “So is that her power? Decorating?”
“No, her power is in creating the best candy you’ll ever taste! Couldn’t you tell from seeing her room?” Kanti said with a giggle.
Valerie laughed too. “Of course, I should have guessed. But how did she create this room for me?”
“A couple of years ago when she became the dorm matron here, she convinced her friend to use his magic to make the building read her mind. So now, just by thinking, she can decorate any room in the entire dorm. She redecorates all the time, so you’ll always find unexpected surprises around the dorm. And she filled your closet with clothes, too,” Kanti added as she sat down on her own bed, which was made up entirely in black.
Valerie opened the closet and saw every skirt, shirt, and dress she had ever dreamed of owning. Her heart felt warm and full, and she made a mental note to find a way to thank Dulcea for her wonderful gift. It felt strange to think that for the first time in her life, she had more possessions than would fit in her little suitcase – especially now that she had her own sword, she realized, looking down at Pathos, which she had forgotten that she was still carrying. Gently, she slid it under her bed.
When she looked up, Kanti was looking at her with raised eyebrows. She looked like she was about to say something, but instead, she turned up the music she was playing, “Hey – is that Tupac you’re listening to?” Valerie asked.
“No way, you do not listen to Earth-music too!”
“That’s the only thing I listen to.”
“Girl, fate made us roomies. I live for hip hop. I’m always watching that Earth channel – MTV. We are going to have such crazy good time, I know it.”
Valerie had to smile at Kanti’s enthusiasm.
“But Cy’s right, that pain in the butt, you do look like you need sleep. Tomorrow we’ll talk more.”
Valerie barely remembered Kanti showing her the bathroom, where a green toothbrush was waiting for her. Minutes later, she put her head on the softest pillow she had ever felt. Just as she was drifting out of consciousness, she saw the door crack open and Dulcea peeked in, checking on her. This little attention made her feel safe, and she fell asleep with a smile hovering on the corners of her lips.
Chapter Eight
Valerie and Kanti woke up early the next day to get ready. While Valerie showered and brushed her teeth, she couldn’t help fantasizing about which of her new outfits she should wear for her first full day on her new home world. But when she finally opened her closet, she felt overwhelmed by all the choices. It took her fifteen minutes to narrow it down to a light green sundress or a pair of wide-leg jeans with a flowered top.
“Go with the jeans, you’ll want to be comfortable since we’ll be walking all over the place,” Kanti advised. Valerie gave her a grateful smile and quickly changed. She brushed her long hair to get the knots out and swept it up into a ponytail. Minutes later, they glided up two floors to bang on Cyrus’ door.
“I’m up, don’t rush me. Sheesh, you’d think the Fractus are attacking!” Cyrus said, appearing minutes later with his coolest grin.
It felt strange to be able to hang out with Cyrus for real. Valerie never had a lot of guy friends her own age before, and in the last two weeks, she now had two – which reminded her of something.
“Will you teach me how to project myself to Earth today? I want to check on Chisisi and Thai.”
“No problem, Val. But first, let’s go to the horseshoe. I want to show you the lay of the land out here.”
“I’m coming with you guys,” Kanti added.
Before they left, they stopped by Dulcea’s room for some breakfast. She wasn’t there, but she left a warm plate of fluffy, neon-colored pastries with a note saying that anyone who stopped by should help themselves. The weird appearance of the pastries made Valerie hesitant to eat one, but her stomach grumbled. She cautiously nibbled on a corner, and groaned in delight as the sugary sweetness melted on her tongue.
“Dulcea’s pastries are made to adapt to your unique taste buds,” Cyrus explained, wiping a crumb off of her face. “You’re such a little kid sometimes, you know that?” She rolled her eyes, her mouth still crammed with a neon green piece of heaven.
On Earth, she almost never had a chance to eat treats. In the hospital, they made sure the kids all ate healthy food, and in her foster homes, her parents had rarely spent money on such luxuries. She could definitely get used to eating such delicious food, for free, no less!
The three took a roundabout route to the horseshoe, which was the heart of Silva, as well as the center of Arden. Kanti and Cyrus answered all of Valerie’s questions about the strange buildings that she saw. The giant aquarium skyscraper was a hotel for visiting guests from Illyria, the underwater city on Arden’s southeastern border. That way, when the Illyrian mer-Conjurors sent representatives to Global meetings to discuss issues affecting the planet, they had a place to stay.
Kanti also pointed out Enchantz, a nightclub for underage Conjurors to cut loose and show off their dance moves. “If you ask me, that club is a place for a bunch of show-offs to twitch like they’re being bitten by fleas,” Cyrus said disdainfully.
“Says the guy who has two left feet,” Kanti retorted. “Valerie, you have to see Cyrus try to dance. It’s hilarious.” Cyrus reddened, but Valerie pretended not to notice, staring at a building that looked like a giant mushroom.
When they reached the horseshoe, Cyrus led the way to an empty grassy area in the middle. Then he cleared his throat importantly. “So you were wondering about my power. Allow me to demonstrate.”
Cyrus held out his hands, and a glow began to surround them. Valerie noticed that light seemed to be attracted to him, as if drawn to him like a magnet. He moved his hands so quickly that she couldn’t see what he was doing, but it almost looked as if he were molding and shaping the light with his hands.
There was a bright flash, and then he held out his hand to her. He was holding a delicate flower that was completely made of light from the petals to the leaves. Valerie didn’t even dare to exhale, afraid that her breath might blow it apart.
“Take it, Val, it’s yours.” Carefully, Valerie reached into the palm of his hand. The flower felt infinitely soft, like touching the warm down of a baby animal. “It won’t break, ever. I made this flower to recharge itself, so it will always glow for you.”
“Oh, Cy,” she said softly. “It’s the most amazing gift that anyone has ever given me.” Cyrus beamed with pride. Valerie twisted it into her hair.
“Very impressive, Romeo,” Kanti said, wiggling her eyebrows dramatically. “Bet the ladies love that trick.” Cyrus glared back at her.
Valerie giggled, and asked, “Can you make anything out of light?”
“Small objects are the easiest. Right now I’m practicing how to give the light different textures. Making it hard, like metal, is really difficult. I can also make objects that already exist, glow, like the stones on the horseshoe path.”
“That is such an awesome power!”
Cyrus tried to hide the grin tugging at the corner of his lips, but Valerie could tell that he was pleased that he had awed her. “It’s cool. And I’m the only Conjuror on the Globe who uses this power. The last practicing light-weaver died over a century ago,” he added importantly.
“How did you discover your power?”
“I think it runs in my family – I’m just the only one who uses my magic. My parents are the keepers of the lighthouse on Messina. It’s a tiny island on a huge ocean, so it’s an important job. One night when I was really little, I couldn’t sleep so I went to the top of the lighthouse, which was my favorite place in the whole world. As I sat there, staring into the light, I felt hypnotized. It was as if every time I breathed, the light was pouring down my throat. It felt warm and tingly. I looked down, and my hands were glowing. Then, there was a bright flash, and
I was holding a tiny ship made of light in my hands.”
“No way!”
Cyrus’ face darkened. “I looked up and saw my mom watching me, all worried. She told me that it was wrong for me to use my powers. She wasn’t angry, but I didn’t understand her reasoning. I still don’t. She thinks magic is evil, and that Conjurors will abuse their powers and end up destroying the Globe. But magic does so much good, too, and I don’t want to live the rest of my life hiding who I really am.”
“I never heard you talk about that before,” Kanti said, looking at Cyrus with interest. “I know what it’s like to have parents who wish you were different.”
Valerie felt a little irritated with them both. Didn’t they know how lucky they were to have parents who cared about them? Maybe his parents weren’t perfect, but at least Cyrus was loved.
“Do you know what kind of magic you have yet, Valerie?” Kanti asked, interrupting her line of thought.
“All I know is that a couple times when I was threatened, I was suddenly able to fight a guy who was a lot bigger than me. It’s weird, because I’ve never taken lessons in martial arts or anything.”
“My roomie has fighting powers? I suddenly feel so safe,” Kanti teased.
“What about you, Kanti? Your magic must have to do with dance, right?”
To Valerie’s surprise, Kanti blushed. “Um, thanks. No, I don’t have any magic. That’s from practicing.”
“None? I thought everyone here had some kind of power.”
“Nope. There are a few Conjurors all over the Globe who have magic in their blood, but it never develops into a power. It’s kind of rare, though. All of my family has powers except for me. My sisters can all enchant people with their singing, and make them do whatever they want them to do. They once convinced two brothers to repaint our entire house. It took them weeks, but they came every day until they finished the job, grinning like fools the entire time. But all I can do is cause men to swoon from my drop dead gorgeous looks,” Kanti said with a grin.
