Where are you? Richard transmitted.
Sorry, Ren transmitted, getting out of the shower now. Be there in a few minutes.
Ren dried himself in haste and dressed in his robes grateful—and not for the first time—to have a uniform to wear, rather than being forced to follow fashion trends and create outfits. As far as he was concerned fashion was an utter waste of his time.
When Ren opened the door to his living room, he was shocked to find the Archamethyst sitting on a chair waiting for him.
“I thought it would be best I come and get you.”
“Why?” Ren asked.
“I don’t want you wandering the tower at night. Other sorcerers may get the wrong idea, and the last thing you and I need right now is more scrutiny.”
“Does this have anything to do with the meeting yesterday?”
“Some,” Richard said as he walked toward Ren, “but let’s not discuss that. Instead, we’ll focus on the subject at hand; voidwalking.”
Richard grabbed tightly to Ren’s arm. He closed his eyes to avoid the bright light, and when he opened them, they were standing in the Archamethyst’s office. The red ring was already setup across the room from where they stood, and the sofas had been pushed against the bookshelves to create an open space.
“We’ll practice here today,” Richard said and took three long steps away from Ren. “Remember to breathe and clear your mind of everything other than the circle.”
How am I supposed to forget my dream . . . and the meeting yesterday . . .
“Now,” Richard commanded.
The rift opened to the circle, and Ren could see the path, but when he stepped forward the rift shattered like a mirror before him. Ren fell to the ground clutching his leg that had touched the rift’s barrier. It had fallen asleep instantly, and still his mind was filled with his memories of his dream.
“What happened?” Richard asked. “Did you clear your mind.”
Ren couldn’t bring himself to lie, “No.”
“What is your mind focused on? Because it’s not voidwalking.”
“The meeting, and . . .”
“Understandable—”
“I was stuck in a strange dream when I called for you.”
“You’re young. It’s only natural—”
“No . . .” Ren said. “Not like that.”
Ren’s leg no longer hurt—his anger pushed away the pain.
“I dreamt I was in a cave,” Ren stood back up with Richard’s assistance. “I think I’ve dreamt of the cave before, but this time was different. There was a man cloaked in black upon a throne. His face was hidden behind a veil, and he knew me.”
“Was this man a sorcerer, did he speak to you?” Richard sat against his desk.
“Yes, his voice was strange, and he hurt me, but it was gone when I awoke.” Ren said. “How did you know?”
“You’re describing the ruler of the Onyx Nation.”
“I didn’t know the king of the Onyx Nation was a sorcerer.”
“Few do,” Richard tugged at his beard, “and you can’t repeat that to anyone.”
“Is he who you were discussing in the meeting yesterday? Is that why I had to leave?”
“As I’m sure you recall, that meeting was not for your ears.”
“Is this king starting a war with us? I overheard Treasa—”
“Enough!” Richard was standing again. “You shouldn’t have been eavesdropping. I’m not sure how you managed to hear our meeting at all, but you are to forget whatever it is you think you heard. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good,” Richard took a deep breath. “As for your bad dreams, you should drink tea before bed. It will help relax you, but I’ll also see to it that new sigils are carved into your bed.
“Now, let’s continue your practice. The source-light will be up soon, and I think you’d rather voidwalk to the dining hall than descend the stairwell this morning.
Richard was right. Ren understood why he hardly ever saw another sorcerer. Who would willingly choose to climb all those stairs when they could voidwalk to the precise spot they wanted to be?
“What happens if someone tries to voidwalk to a spot where someone is standing?” Ren asked realizing how dangerous voidwalking could be to bystanders.
“A traveler can stay in the void until their chosen destination becomes clear.”
“Right, but what if they don’t? What if they lost control and had to leave immediately?”
“The person they hit would die,” Richard crossed from his desk to offer Ren a better line of sight to the circle. “But you needn’t worry about that. I’ve never known it to happen.”
The fact that Richard didn’t know of it happening wasn’t exactly reassuring to Ren. There was plenty he didn’t know about. Being Archamethyst didn’t make him all knowing.
“Clear your mind.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
REN’S BONES ACHED FROM COMPOUNDING FAILED ATTEMPTS. But he was improving. His last failure placed him on the ground close enough to reach his hand out and touch the rope.
“We’ll call that your first success,” Richard said. “Your finger made it into the circle.”
“I can do better,” Ren lay on the ground taking slow deliberate breaths—the best way he’d found to subdue the tingling.
He pushed himself to his feet. “How do you stay standing after voidwalking?”
“You’ll see,” Richard said. “It’s easier when you succeed.”
“Oh, now you tell me,” Ren laughed and Richard joined him.
It was a great sign that Ren was able to joke about his failures. By not taking himself so seriously—instead focusing his attention on the process of learning—he was able to improve by leaps and bounds.
“Do you want to try again?” Richard gestured to the sofa, “You’ve been at it for nearly three hours. Maybe we should take a break. I can summon food.”
“What happened to making me climb the stairs if I fail?”
“After how hard you’ve tried, that would make me an evil man.”
They laughed again and Ren made his way back to the starting position.
“No. I’ll try one more time.”
“Ready?” Richard asked.
“Ready!”
The rift opened with such ease it nearly broke Ren’s concentration. Deep in his gut Ren knew he could voidwalk. As he stepped closer the void opened itself wider, as if welcoming Ren inside.
An icy chill overtook him as his hand crossed into the void, it spread throughout his body as he continued through.
The interior of the void was shrouded in darkness, aside from a pinprick of light at the far end. It felt like he was trapped, miles away from the Archamethyst’s office. Fear began to crawl up his spine, but he was prepared for it. Instead of succumbing to panic, Ren reminded himself of how he’d been through this before—what must have been fifty times or more.
The pinpoint of light became Ren’s reality. All his effort was directed toward that small point. As his focus deepened, the light grew wider, and soon Ren saw the circle of red rope.
Ren felt a burning in his chest, and realized he’d been holding his breath. In a sudden gasp for air Ren passed through the veil on the other end of the rift and emerged in the circle. The cold air filling his lungs never felt so good.
* * *
RICHARD WATCHED AS REN’S FACE GREW STILL and lost all expression. The boy stepped forward, and in his gut, Richard knew this was the moment.
In the time it took him to blink, the boy was gone. Richard turned his head to find Ren standing in the circle.
“Huzzah!” Richard cried out.
* * *
REN’S LIMBS WERE NUMB, but he remained standing. Successful voidwalking hadn’t taken away his strength in the same way as his failed attempts. Instead he was left numb on the outside and tingling with excitement inside. He understood how in some strange way, sorcerers might claim they enjoyed the feeling. If given th
e choice, Ren wouldn’t ask to experience the sensation, but success felt bearable compared to his failures.
“What now?” Ren asked in shock.
His body knew he succeeded, but his mind was still surprised. Hadn’t he just failed not five minutes ago? What changed between then and now? He hadn’t done anything different. But there he was, inside the red circle he’d been striving to reach for the better part of a week. Hours of dedicated focus paid off.
Ren noticed Richard had tears in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Did I not do it right?”
“No,” Richard said. “Nothing like that. Forgive an old man’s foolishness. I’m overwhelmed with pride.”
In that moment it dawned on Ren that Richard was the closest thing he’d ever had to a father figure, and probably the closest he ever would. He didn’t know why the realization came, but all the same, there it was, and nothing Ren could do would make it go away.
Ren ran across the room and gave Richard a strong hug. Rather than suppress his feelings Ren chose to embrace them and risk scorn.
Richard returned the hug, “I’m so very proud of you. I can’t wait to tell the council about your success.”
Two tears ran down Ren’s burning face, but he didn’t care. In that moment—embraced by Richard—Ren felt unconditionally loved for the first time in his life, though he didn’t know what the feeling was called.
Instead Ren thought, I’m home.
The happiest thought an orphan could experience. The two words were worth more to Ren than all of Fencura.
* * *
“AS YOU CAN SEE, Ren is in complete control of his voidwalking ability,” Richard explained to his advisors. “Months before the average pupil would be.”
Ren stood at the far back of the council room—short of breath—an arm’s length from the metal doors. This was his fourth presentation for them, and before that Richard insisted on Ren voidwalking into the circle three more times just to be sure. By then, Ren’s whole body was numb to the point it wasn’t recovering between voidwalks. Which if anything, made it easier for him to perform in front of the council. All apprehension had disappeared when Ren stood before a rift. In a single morning, he’d switched from an amateur to an expert voidwalker. The thrill of it kept him going, even though he was panting like a dog.
“We can all see he’s able to voidwalk, but that doesn’t prove he’s ready,” Emil said. “Nor does it settle the matter of whether he should be your pupil in the first place.”
“Ren’s superior ability to learn should bear weight on who his mentor should be,” Marcel said.
Just to show off, Ren voidwalked to the front of the table where the four advisors sat.
“We get the point,” Mao said to Ren before addressing the Archamethyst. “The boy is young. He still has many years of study before him. Do you really intend to instruct him the whole time?”
“This is a moot point, don’t discredit me so much that you insist I haven’t thought of the ramifications of having a pupil,” Richard said. “I’ve proven to all of you how gifted he is as a courtesy. He must be taught by the greatest sorcerer if he is to live up to his potential.”
“Potential,” Treasa scoffed. “I’m in agreeance with Emil, it’s not right for you—”
A bright light flashed in the back of the council chambers, but not by Ren. He turned around expecting another council member coming to express their doubts about him being a suitable pupil for the Archamethyst. Instead stood a figure fully covered by an overly large bright yellow suit. Ren only knew it was a person because of the clear visor around his face. An overwhelming feeling of dread filled his mind.
What the fuck?
“Welcome to Fencura,” Richard stood to speak in a formal tone.
“Thank you,” the figure said, his voice was muffled by his suit.
“Richard the boy!” Marcel whispered in a single breath.
Ren turned around to find the Archamethyst glancing around the table to all the councilor’s faces.
“Fine.” Richard rolled his eyes. “Ren, please return to my office and wait for me there. I’ll update you as soon as I’m finished here.”
Ren wanted to protest, but realized Richard had voiced it as a request rather than a command. There was no way protests would help his future prospects as the Archamethyst’s pupil. Rather than giving in to his desires, he took a deep breath and voidwalked to Richard’s office.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
RICHARD EYED THE MAN WHO STOOD before them, doing his best to ignore the bright yellow suit. “I trust your trip went well?”
“Yes, thank you,” the man walked forward as he spoke.
“What’s this?” Treasa asked. “You know this man?”
Richard fought the urge to rub his temple. True, he kept Treasa around because she was always willing to speak her mind, especially if it were a minority view, but at a time like this when a visitor was before them. Did she not have any sense of decorum?
“Please forgive my advisors rudeness,” Richard looked down at her, “you’re most welcome here.”
With a flick of his hand a chair slid out from behind a desk and into the aisle before the Archamethyst’s table. “Please sit. I’m sure you’re weary from your travels.”
“Thank you,” the man eagerly sat. “I’m a bit sore, and my hands and feet are numb.”
“It’ll pass,” Richard sat back down. “This is Treasa, Marcel, Mao, and Emil; they’re my team of advisors, and speak with the authority of the Amethyst Nation.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Walter Cummings representative for The Council,” he bowed his head in respect to them.
“Again,” Treasa said, “what is this all about?”
“Walter here,” Richard said, “has been sent at my request to assist with our Onyx Nation trouble. He represents a powerful organization from another world.”
Silence filled the chambers as Treasa opened and closed her mouth. For once she was dumbfounded: Richard was grateful—the last thing any of them needed was for her to continue running her mouth while there were bigger concerns at hand.
Like why The Council chose to send Walter now? Why not earlier? What was different about this moment, than all the ones before it? Richard had been in contact with Walter’s superiors for the better part of a century, but it was only now they chose to send a representative.
“I think it’s time to explain,” Marcel said.
Richard knew he was right, but explaining would lead to pointless discussions and debates. When what he wanted was to take action and settle the Onyx Nation problem once and for all. Even if that meant confronting a war head on. Maybe then, he’d be allowed to return to his studies in peace.
“Very well,” Richard said, “but first summon the council. I don’t want to repeat myself.”
* * *
THE CHAMBER WAS FILLED. Not all the council members were able to attend—many off on diplomatic missions—but more than enough to establish a quorum and ensure what Richard revealed would spread to all in the Amethyst Nation. There were more than double the attendees than expected for a typical council meeting. Sensing the importance of the summons, the councilors had filled the vacancies toward the front of the room. In front of Richard, sat a sea of inquisitive minds. A steady murmur of speculative discussions echoed off the stones.
How will they react?
It didn’t matter, the outcome was irrelevant. The course of action was already determined, and it was Richard’s responsibility to follow through, even if his stomach protested.
He chuckled to himself at the irony of an Archamethyst experiencing stage fright. How many times had he spoke before this council?
Nothing this important.
Richard’s advisors sat alongside him at the head table, behind them sat their new visitor and his pupil. How quickly things change. Just that morning, he’d been overwhelmed with pride in Ren, and now anxiety threatened to do him in.
Marcel stood and cleared his voice, “A
ttention, attention please.”
The murmur of the crowd died, and all eyes were upon them.
Richard stood to address the council, “No doubt you’re all curious why I’ve summoned this meeting with no forewarning. Allow me to be direct. For nearly a century I’ve been communicating with people from another planet.”
A shouting match of questions and accusations came flying at him.
“Traitor . . .”
“Conspiracy . . .”
“. . . process of Law?”
“Tyrant!”
“Silence!” Marcel shouted, and with the aid of magic, his voice permeated the entire room. The result being each person felt as if Marcel had just yelled directly into their ear while standing less than a foot away.
“Thank you,” Richard continued. “As I was saying. I’ve been in communication with these people for nearly a century, as was the Archamethyst before me. But long before then, people have been visiting Fencura. I have evidence to prove the king of the Onyx Nation is one such person.”
Heated debate broke out again, but this time not directed at the Archamethyst, rather amongst themselves. Such world-shattering news was bound to cause turmoil, but Richard knew the only way to move forward was to face the truth and work together. He couldn’t keep his fellow sorcerer’s in the dark any longer.
“Silence,” Marcel yelled without the aid of magic, but effective all the same.
Richard stood and turned to Walter, “Come forward.”
Walter hesitantly stepped forward to stand beside Richard who addressed the council, “Let us welcome our esteemed guest, and representative of the Seventh Realm.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Explorer’s Exit: Academy 3, will be released in August 2020!
AUTHOR NOTES
THANK YOU! I know I say it at the end of every book, but I truly mean it. You’re the reason I have a career as an author, and I don’t know what I’d do without you.
I learned something new about myself while writing this book—creating an external deadline destroys my momentum and gives me anxiety. These last two months have been the most stressful I’ve had all year, and it was all self-induced. My only hope is it resulted in a better final product, but I’ll not forget this lesson anytime soon. This is why there’s no preorder for Explorer’s Exit. Though I’m actively working on it, even as I type this. Moving forward I’d prefer to structure my release after the books are finished, rather than beforehand.
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