Forgiveness and Flight - Chapter 25
“You… you…” Erin’s knees began to shake.
So the beloved of Ahriman, Zohak the Serpent, sat upon the throne of Iran, the kingdom of Light. And he continued to pile evil upon evil till the measure thereof was full to overflowing, and all the land cried out against him. But Zohak and his councillors, the Deevs, shut ear unto this cry, and the Shah reigned thus for the space of a thousand years, and vice stalked in daylight, but virtue was hidden.
-Kavah, the Blacksmith
“Watch your step.”
Morien did a double-take as he stepped through the glass and saw what lay within the reflected world. From how it had appeared on his end of the mirror, Morien had expected things to look exactly the same, save a reflective flip in perspective. Now that he was on the other side though, all Morien could see was a giant, rainbow void. Colors from across the spectrum danced and moved like waves across the océan, and Morien became a little sea-sick just looking at it. Rina, on the other hand, did not seem the least bit put off by the shifting clouds of color, and walked as naturally as one would on a normal plane of existence.
“It’s simple really,” Rina explained haughtily as Morien followed carefully behind. “Reflections are made of light, after all. Therefore it stands to reason that mirror worlds would also be made of light as well. Thus we now stand in a plane of existence inhabited solely by light!”
“I don’t… what?” Morien was not an expert on either magic or physics, but even he felt something was a bit off about Rina’s explanation.
“Now all we have to do is find a portal back to our world, i.e. a mirror, and we’re all set!”
“But, how do you know there’ll even be a mirror in the… tower or wherever?” Morien realized glancing back that the mirror he had entered from was now several feet above his head.
“Well, maybe not a mirror proper, but surely something shiny,” Rina said. “Dragons love shiny things, after all. And if it’s shiny, that means it’s reflective, and if it’s reflective, we can enter through it. It’s purely scientifical.”
“W-well, if you say so.”
“Just trust me!” Rina laughed haughtily. “What could possibly go wrong? Mwahaha! Mwahahahaha!”
“Oh boy,” Morien sighed.
When the cowboy rode into town, everyone stopped and stared. With his white hat, red scarf, and tattooed hands, he cast a striking figure as he strolled into the academy on camelback. The younger girls cooed and giggled whenever he happened to meet their gazes, but he remained stoic and calm as he hitched his camel to the stables and made his way to the Headmistress’ office. Erin, Laschna, and Naomi had been assigned stable duties that day, and as they shoveled manure out back, they were overcome with curiosity.
“Wow! What do you think a man is doing here?” Naomi asked excitedly.
“Dunno,” Laschna shrugged. “We are over Mashreqi airspace now. Maybe the caliph wants us out.”
“Maybe,” Naomi supposed. “But he sure is cute! Right, Erin?”
“What?” Erin blushed. “Um! Uh! I mean…”
“Aw, I’m only teasing!” Naomi laughed.
Meanwhile, the cowboy and the Headmistress were in the midst of discussion.
“How do you do, Mister…?” the Headmistress petered off.
“Ashaknaz,” the cowboy replied. “Luk Ben Ashaknaz. If it’s all the same to you though, ma’am, you can just call me Luk.”
“Well thank you Mister Luk,” the Headmistress smiled. “So then, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
“Well ma’am,” Luk explained. “Recently a very valuable shipment of gold was intercepted on its way to the caliph by the notorious Shaw brothers.”
“The Shaw brothers?” the Headmistress exclaimed. “Why, they haven’t been in Hibernia for years! Not since they were banished for their thievery.”
“We know, ma’am,” Luk nodded. “However, seeing as how Hibernia is now back over Mashreqi airspace, we figured the brothers might have used some slippery method to sneak back up here and hide out until they were no longer in our jurisdiction. As such, I’ve been granted by his majesty the caliph authority to search Hibernia, and I was hoping you or someone else at this school might be willing to lend a hand.”
“I see, yes,” the Headmistress nodded. “Well, Mister Luk, I’m sure I could spare one or two of my staff to aid you. If the Shaw brothers are here, after all, no-one wants to see them brought to justice more than I. Come, I’ll let the staff know about your situation.”
“Thank you ma’am,” Luk nodded politely. “Oh, and by the way, I’m sorry about Jolly. I know most horses get awfully skittish when they’re around him.”
“Jolly? Oh, you mean the camel,” the Headmistress laughed. “Well, Mister Luk, I must admit he is a gargantuan beast. But he’s hardly much compared to the dragons we keep here.”
“D-dragons?” Luk gulped.
Erin and Laschna continued to sit in silence. They had searched and searched, poring over every text they had to find some rebuttal, some contradictory piece of evidence, anything to show that there was some other way. But try as they might, every pathway led to the same end, the same conclusion. The Key of Sky and the Heart were one and the same. There was no other solution.
“No,” Erin spoke at last, her voice hoarse and raspy.
Pardon? Laschna cast a curious glance Erin’s way.
“There’s another way,” Erin stood up, her gaze locked with fury, and made her way out of the library.
Laschna said nothing, simply following silently behind. She knew her friend well enough not to question whatever it was she had planned. But even so, Laschna could not shake a terrible sense of foreboding, as she kept pace with Erin’s purposeful stride. Just what did she have in mind?
“He’s such a pretty camel.” Naomi, Erin, and Laschna had finished with their shoveling, and now Naomi was occupying herself with petting the camel’s nuzzle.
“He’s huge is what he is,” Laschna gazed up at the colossal creature.
“What’s his name?” Erin asked the girl who’d hitched him.
“Jolly,” Luk grinned, as he entered the stables with two other teachers in tow. “And he is a pretty thing, isn’t he?”
“Jolly?” Laschna furrowed her brow. “Kind of an odd name.”
“Well,” Luk laughed. “Originally it was Hajj Ali, but the first time I met him, I thought the dealer was saying ‘Hey! Jolly!’, and it just sort of stuck. Heheh, yeah. Ol’ Jolly’s the best camel a fella could ask for.”
“Hajj,” Naomi grinned. “So he was a pilgrimage camel?”
“Yes,” Luk nodded. Then, as he noticed the veil Naomi wore, a smile made its way to his lips, and he switched to Khaleeji. “Say, you wouldn’t happen to be Mashreqi yourself, would you?”
“Oh no,” Naomi giggled, as her Khaleeji was still not very good. “Persian, Persian. And you’re Eloy, aren’t you?”
“Eh?” Luk blinked, before he noticed the Yebrew tattoos on his hand and grinned. “Ah,” he said in Yebrew. “You know quite a lot of languages, don’t you?”
“Not at all,” Naomi laughed sheepishly. “My Yebrew even worser than my Khaleeji.”
“Gooder than me Persian,” Luk chuckled in Persian.
“Ahem,” a teacher coughed. “Mr. Ashaknaz?”
“Ah,” Luk caught himself, and bowed politely. “My apologies, ma’am. I’m taking up enough of your time as it is.” Then, to Naomi, “I must be off now.”
“So why’d you even come here?” Laschna asked as Luk saddled Jolly up and the teachers saddled their horses.
“The Shaw brothers,” Luk said as he and the other teachers rode out. “They stole from the caliph, and they should be hiding in these hills. I’m to find them and bring them to justice.”
“Well, good luck!” Naomi called out.
“Thanks!” Luk shouted back as he rode away.
“Wow,” Naomi whispered as he disappeared into the distance.
“Yeah,” Erin muttered sullenly. “Wow.”
“Hm?” Julia looked up to see Erin and Laschna, making their way across the campus field.
“Hey! Hey Erin!” she called out, but as Julia saw from Erin’s furrowed brow and gritted teeth, the young sorceress was blind to the outside world. She didn’t know why, but somehow the sight of her friend in such a state sent a terrible chill down Julia’s spine.
Don’t ask, just follow, Laschna’s silent pleading was the only clue Julia had to the current situation. But whatever that situation was, Julia could tell it was serious. Quietly as she could, Julia hurried over to join the two witches as they continued to march.
“What’s going on?” Julia chanced to whisper Laschna’s way.
“I don’t know, but it concerns the Key of Sky,” Laschna explained the situation as best she could.
“Oh Yeshua,” Julia gasped. It was too cruel.
“There’s another way,” Erin hissed, causing Laschna and Julia to shrink back in fear. What was she planning?
Soon the group had made their way to the stables, and Julia could hear the sounds of talking inside. Erin evidently heard it too, but to Julia and Laschna’s surprise, at the sound of it she flew into a terrible rage, and burst into the building with her staff at the ready.
“And the father says, it’s called ‘The Aristocrats’!” the ox laughed jovially.
Yes, yes, very amusing, Yann sighed in a manner most bored. This conversation was going nowhere.
“You!” Erin flew into the room and pinned the ox’s neck against the wall with her staff.
“Whoa! Erin! Holy crap, what are you doing?” Julia ejaculated.
“Y-yes, I should ask the same thing myself,” the ox managed to choke out. “Y-you know, I’m not used to standing solely on my hind legs, could you…?”
“Wait, the cow talks? Why does the-?”
A hand from Laschna and Yann silenced Julia at once, as a glance from each of them warned her not to anger Erin any further.
“Listen Deus ex Machina,” Erin growled. “You know I wouldn’t have come unless the situation was desperate, but I need you to do something for me.”
Laschna, Julia, and Yann’s eyes all grew wide at the mention of that name. Deus ex Machina? The ox? But how?
“You mean you need my help,” the ox said, before a press of the staff made him gag out in pain.
“Don’t make me beg!” Tears began to stream down Erin’s face, but her anger held firm. “Don’t you dare make me beg!”
“Erin…” Deus sighed.
“No!” Erin sobbed. “I didn’t want to come here! I didn’t! But if you don’t help me, everyone on this island is going to die! I… I will make you do this!”
“Erin,” Deus said calmly. “My help is always open to you. It always has been.”
Erin stiffened. “You’re lying.”
“No Erin,” Deus shook his head. “Please, put me back down?”
Erin stayed where she was, glaring suspiciously at the ox, before finally relinquishing her hold on him.
“Alright then,” she whispered.
“Thank you,” Deus ex Machina shook the stiffness out of his neck and smiled at his student. “Now then, if we must talk, please, may we do it outside? It’s been ages since I last ate fresh grass.”
At dinner, the Shaw brothers and their would-be captor were the source of much gossip and chatter. Many a witch had heard the tales of the dastardly thieves and their exploits, but few had ever expected their return to Hibernian soil.
“D’you think they’ll attack the school?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. They’re petty crooks, nothing more. Even if they tried anything it wouldn’t succeed.”
“Still, the Headmistress sent two teachers after them.”
“Aw c’mon. That was just a show of goodwill to the caliph.”
“Do you really think they’re hiding out here, Laschna?”
“Dunno,” Laschna shrugged as she chewed on some mutton. “Probably.”
“I wonder where they’d hide,” Erin wondered aloud. “Naomi?”
“Hm?” Naomi blinked in surprise.
“Thinking of something else?” Laschna asked.
“Sorry,” Naomi laughed sheepishly. “It’s just, they said his name is Ashaknaz, so I guess he’s Ashk’eloy, but if he’s Mashreqi that would make him Miz’eloy, but maybe he’s actually Berb’eloy, or like an immigrant or something.”
“Well, it’s all Yebrew to me,” Laschna shrugged.
“H-he doesn’t seem that cool,” Erin mumbled.
“Are you kidding?” Naomi sighed. “He’s so tall and handsome. And the way he handled Jolly. He knows his way around animals, for sure.”
“Well, maybe once he catches the Shaw brothers, you’ll get a chance to chat,” Laschna said.
“Yeah,” Naomi smiled dreamily. Then, with an exclamation, “Waitaminute! Guys! I just realized.”
“What?” Erin asked.
“Remember that place we camped out at?” Naomi leaned in close to whisper conspiratorially. “The cave mouth? We were going to try it out at midnight?”
“Yeah,” Laschna grunted.
“Those caves would make an excellent hiding spot, don’t you think?”
“Wait…” Erin gulped. “You don’t mean…?”
“Why not?” Naomi grinned. “Think about what’ll happen if we become the girls who caught the Shaw brothers. We’ll be famous! We’ll be hailed as national heroines.”
“No way!” Erin cried. “We’re still kids. We can’t take on a pack of thieves.”
“I dunno,” Laschna shrugged. “For all the fame those guys have, I doubt they’re much match against magic.”
“Exactly,” Naomi said. “It’s perfect.”
“Well, why don’t we tell a teacher, have them take care of it?” Erin suggested.
“I mean, we could do that,” Naomi sighed. “But… I mean…”
Although Naomi stumbled around her words, trying to find some good reason not to entrust the task to a more qualified adult, Erin knew the real reason behind her decision. She wanted to impress him, the cowboy. She wanted to amaze him with some grand display of courage and cunning. Erin knew it. It was as plain as the nose on Naomi’s face. Something had gotten ahold of her from the moment he’d come to the school, and Erin didn’t like it. But as she saw the pleading, desperate look in Naomi’s eyes, Erin knew what her decision would inevitably be. There was no other option. Not when it came to Naomi.
“Al-alright then…” Erin whispered. “Let’s do it.”
After accidentally popping out of a glass cabinet, a changing room mirror, and a bowl of soup, Morien and Rina at last found their way to a place which neither of them recognized. Indeed, apart from the single open window that lay far, far above their heads, there seemed to be no source of light there at all. But even if it was minuscule, as Morien and Rina looked down at the shimmering coins in which they now stood, the window provided enough light for a reflection. And, judging from the shape of the building they were in, it certainly seemed as though they were in a tower. Perhaps they had found what they’d been looking for at last.
“Do you think…” Morien whispered tentatively.
“HEY!” Rina bellowed out. “Mister Iron Dragon! Come out here so I can kick your butt!”
Morien’s heart skipped a beat as he stared horror-struck at Rina’s face. What was she doing? Morien certainly didn’t know much about dragons, but he at least knew enough to realize that if the creature was locked up inside a tower with no normal way in or out, that was at least some indication that one oughtn’t simply rush headlong into its lair looking for a fight!
Before he could make his objections clear though, Morien felt the coins beneath his feet shift, as something large and powerful began to stir from down below. Morien gasped as two geysers of steam burst forth from up ahead, and a massive, blinking eye flicked aside several gleaming coins as the iron dragon’s head erupted from the ground. Morien could only gibber in fear as the dragon stretched to his full height, to tower high above the pair of humans in his lair. His iron hide gleamed like liquid metal, like a glowing river of obsidian jade. His wings, though curled up and atrophied, still stretched wider than any noble banner. And his voice, though he never once spoke, pounded in their heads with a tidal wave of contemptuous power.
“Who dares?” the iron dragon spoke. “Who dares disturb my eternal slumber?”
“W-well, your mighty and elegant-”
“I do!” Rina cut short any attempt at diplomacy. “My name is Rina, and I’m here to learn your magic secrets, Mister Iron Dragon!”
“Uh!” Morien hastily objected. “What we mean to say is-”
“Silence.” Though the dragon did not shout, his voice still halted the pair in their tracks. “And what, my child, makes you so certain you are deserving of my magic?”
“B-because!” Rina’s bluster, though damaged, still carried her through. “Who else has dared to come directly to your lair? I mean, the Dragon Mother keeps you locked up and forbids us from seeing you. I don’t know why. I mean, you’re not really much of a Dragon Mother if you’ve only got one dragon and you don’t let anybody see that dragon, but I mean-”
“Is this Eloy slut always so irritating?” the dragon asked Morien.
“W-what?” Rina’s mask began to crack.
“I can smell it on you,” the iron dragon’s nostrils flared. “The stench of your people, the tainted blood of a wandering race. And you, a poor orphan found on the side of the road. They took you in, raised you, even allowed you to learn their magic. But they cannot remove that taint. You are nothing more than a pet to them. An amusement to keep and show off when it suits them. You see it from the other girls, hear their snickering whispers and feel their silent judgements. This school is meant to be a haven for all. A place of many faiths and peoples united in learning. But you know better. You will never be a proper witch because you will never be a proper woman. The taint runs too deeply through your veins.”
“Y-you’re wrong,” Rina whispered. “You’re wrong!”
“And now you dare? You dare come to my domain, and demand from me my magics? Me! Zahhak! Aži Dahāka! Last of the dragons on this plane? Oh yes, I am all that remains of that once proud race. I am the last surviving teacher of those black and powerful arts. The others have all gone, left this world for another, better plane. But I remain, and do you know why? Because every day the Dragon Mother comes to feed me, to gaze upon me with her sad and lonely eyes, as she slowly realizes that I am all she will ever find of her ‘children’ again. The pain, the exhausted agony she feels when she looks upon me, it fills me with endless joy. When she dies and I can no longer see that horrid face, I shall break free. No magic can contain me. But in the meantime, I am content. Yes, I am content. Now leave me.”
“N-no!” Rina cried.
“What did you say?” Zahhak hissed.
“No!” Rina stood firm, resolute, even in the face of the dragon. “I won’t run! I came here to learn your magic, and that’s what I’m going to do!”
“Y-yeah!” Morien surprised himself with a sudden outburst of courage. “What’s wrong with her?”
“The taint is in you as well,” Zahhak said.
“Wh- huh?” Morien blinked in surprise.
“Yes,” Zahhak smelled the air once again. “It is faint, diluted with the blood of mongrel, but still it persists. Did your harlot of a mother tickle his beard when they conceived you? Did he haggle his way into her bed, as all those fat, greedy usurers do?”
“S-shut up! SHUT UP!” Morien screamed. What was the dragon saying? Was it true? Did he know who his father was? The man who had written the saphie he now clung to so tightly?
“Ah, but I sense something else. Yes, young love! My boy, you do your mongrel breed no credit. Your lust for the fair, Augustine temptress is as sickening as those Moorish emirs.”
Morien froze, as he looked up and saw Zakariyya’s jeering face leer down upon him.
“Just like you, they were,” Zahhakariyya laughed. “Sick, lovestruck puppies, chasing after southern women and making sick half-breed cubs. And you think yourself deserving of such forbidden fruit? You, a tainted mongrel? You, a weakling and a coward? You, who would hardly know what to do with a woman even if you got the chance? A boy like you, with a woman like her? Ha! At best you would be an idle distraction, a toy for her to play with and dispose of when she grew bored. Can you truly imagine? Her ever really wanting you? What is there to want? What could you ever truly offer? The very idea would disgust her.”
“Th-that’s not true,” Morien whispered. “That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” Zahhak hissed. “Now leave, both of you. Your continued presence wearies me.”
“N-no!” Rina delivered one final shout. “We-”
“LEAVE!” Zahhak’s fangs burned with hellfire as he prepared to roast them alive.
What choice did they have? Meekly, the two humans retreated from the iron dragon’s lair, and once again Zahhak was left alone.
“Yes, yes! It’s all so deliciously perfect!” Xan, son of Shaw cackled as he bathed in his newly stolen pile of gold. Nearby, his youngest brother, Seagán, son of Shaw, stood with a confused and vapid expression on his face, while the two middle brothers, Shon, son of Shaw, and Sion, son of Shaw, played cards by the entrance of the cave where they hid (they were supposed to be keeping guard, but neither saw much point).
“How long d’you think till Luk comes to take us away?” Shon asked. “Oh yeah, any threes?”
“Go fish,” Sion replied. “And, were I of a gambling nature, I should say we shall be behind bars before sunrise.”
“But Xan,” Seagán said. “I still don’t get it. What even is our plan?”
“Of course you don’t get it, you nattering nincompoop!” Xan Shaw scowled. “I’m the only one with any brains around here!”
“Yes, yes, brother dear, whatever you say,” Sion sighed. “Any fives?”
“Go fish,” Shon grumbled. “Wonder if we’ll go to a Mashreqi or Hibernian prison. I miss regular mealtimes.”
“It’s simple, really,” Xan pulled out a glistening whistle. “With this, Culann’s dog-whistle, we can return to Hibernia at any time! That’s how we were able to transport all that gold right out of Mashreq with no effort at all! Mwahaha! Mwahahahaha!”
“But… wait…” The little wheels inside Seagán’s head began to turn. “If the whistle only takes us to Hibernia, how do we escape if they catch us in Hibernia?”
There was an awkward silence.
“Oh-ho,” Shon snickered. “This oughta be good.”
“Three, two, one…” Sion said.
“You… I… that…” Xan suddenly burst into a fiery fit of fury. “This is all your fault, Seagán!”
“Me?” Seagán cried. “But what did I do?”
“I don’t know but I’ll think of something!” Xan screeched. “Get out of my sight! Now!”
“B-but Xan-” Seagán pleaded.
“NOW!” Xan screamed.
“Okay,” Seagán waddled forlornly away.
“Don’t worry, big guy,” Shon said consolingly.
“Yes, after he’s had his temper tantrum, things will be right as rain once more,” Sion said comfortingly.
“O-okay,” Seagán sniffled, as he made his way outside.
“We’ll have to plan our escape immediately,” Xan grumbled from his pile of gold. “It’ll have to be somewhere on land, but how do we get off the island? Grumble, grumble.”
“Before sunrise?” Shon asked.
“Indubitably,” Sion replied.
“Ah,” Deus ex Machina sighed as he lifted his head to let the breeze blow across his face. “Thank you. I see they’ve renovated the campus field since last I was here.”
“Okay Deus,” Erin said. “I did what you asked. Now you need to-”
“Yes, yes, I know. The Key of Sky,” Deus nodded sagely.
“Huh? How did you know that?” Julia was surprised.
“Well, I should think that was obvious,” Deus ex Machina chuckled.
“This isn’t a laughing matter!” Erin burst out. “We need the Key to reseal Tar-Cruorem, but if we take the Key Hibernia falls! There’s no other solution, unless…”
“Unless we stumble upon a Deus ex Machina,” Laschna finished.
“Yes, I know,” Deus nodded. “Tell me, is your Angelic Sphere with you?”
“You mean Hobie?” Julia asked. “Um… not right now. He’s down by the Heart.”
“Could you bring him here please?” Deus said. “It’s necessary that he be present.”
Julia cast a sidelong glance at Erin, asking for approval.
“Do it,” she said. “If he tries anything, we’ll be ready.”
“Uh… alright then,” Julia reluctantly made her way away.
“Now then,” Deus sighed. “I can help with your problem. But first, as I was discussing with our bardic friend here, I must ask that you release me.”
“…Alright,” Erin made her way over to the ox’s yoke.
“Wait just a minute,” Laschna and Yann both grabbed Erin’s shoulders to halt her.
“Laschna, Yann, what are you doing?” Erin asked.
“What are you doing, Erin?” Laschna asked. “I’ll admit I don’t know the full story, but from what you’ve told me this Deus ex Machina is bad news. You and the other Spectral Sorcerers had to team up just to seal him in the first place.”
“Ah, yes,” Deus sighed wistfully. “I must say, I was terribly proud of you all for that.”
Pardon? Yann raised an eyebrow quizzically.
“What are you playing at?” Laschna furrowed her brow.
“Nothing at all,” Deus said. “All my cards are on the table. Yes, I will fully admit, after my failure with Bluebeard, I began to grow worried. All my pupils had been chosen, but after Blue grew drunk on power, I started to wonder if maybe they had been chosen poorly. Who was to say that Red would not seek to reclaim his empire, or that Violet would not seek vengeance against Carolina? Orange had already made havoc up in heaven, and been cast down for it. Perhaps my other students would abuse their power as well. So, I began to interfere in the affairs of man. I took an active hand in shaping world politics and social movements. I began to craft the world to make it better, to see how my students would react. And then, to my joy, each and every one of you was horrified by what I’d done, and you imprisoned me in this yoke, just as I had done with Blue.”
“So…” Erin stared emptily at her master. “You mean, it… all of it… was just another one of your tests?”
“Exactly,” Deus grinned. “And I must say you all passed with flying colors.”
It was a while before Erin spoke, but when she did, it was with a weary smile on her lips.
“That… sounds just like something you’d do.”
“Yes, I know,” Deus chuckled.
“Hold on,” Laschna interjected. “That may very well be the case, but what proof do we have? You could be lying.”
“Yes, I could. This is very true. And the fact is I sadly cannot offer you any concrete proof beyond my word. But I cannot use my full power in this mortal form. So tell me, Erin, in all the time you studied under me, even when you and the others cast me down, did I ever once lie to you?”
Erin sighed. She already knew the answer to that. Old Deus ex Machina had always been a master at half-truths and hidden meanings, but he would never once outright lie. That was what had always made him so infuriating.
“No,” Erin shook her head. “You didn’t.”
Even if he had though, Erin would still have lifted her master’s yoke. There was no other option. Not when it came to something like this.
Before she could do so though, a beam of light tore through the ox’s chest, and as all those present stared blankly in shock at the hole in his torso, suddenly Deus ex Machina began to gasp and shake, before disappearing and dissolving into ash.
“No!” Erin screamed. Leaping forward, her hands groped desperately for the presence of her master, but all they found was a yoke and ashy residue. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be! Their only hope, destroyed in an instant. It had to be some terrible, horrible dream!
But as Erin, Laschna, and Yann all stared up in horror, to see the cackling, winged figure above them, they realized the awful truth.
“You,” Erin whispered incredulously.
“Psst! Hey, kid!”
“Hm?” Seagán glanced around, before he noticed a pair of eyes hiding in the bushes. “Oh, hello miss bush.”
“Hey,” the bush replied. “So, kid, y’like candy?”
“Do I?” Seagán’s eyes widened with joy, but he made no further reply.
“Well… do you, or don’t you?” the bush asked after an awkward silence.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Seagán sighed. “My brother says I’m not allowed sugar after seven.”
“Aw, who wants to listen to an old fart like him?” a hand stuck out of the bush with several appealing gumdrops in it. “Come on, just a bite.”
“Well… okay!” Seagán reached out to snatch the candy, before the hand deftly dodged his attack.
“Ah-ah-ah,” another hand popped out to wag disapprovingly. “Concessions must be made first.”
“Concessions?” Seagán furrowed his brow. “Like what?”
An evil gleam glistened in the bush’s eyes.
Morien and Rina sat alone and silent, as rainbow waves danced all around them.
“Um… hey,” Morien was the first to speak.
“What?” Rina sniffed, and Morien saw that she was crying.
“Just… what he said back there, the dragon I mean,” Morien stumbled. “It’s just… I mean…”
But try as he might, Morien could think of nothing appropriate to say. If Zahhak’s words had struck Rina as truly as they had struck him, there wasn’t anything to say. The iron dragon had seen into Morien’s very soul, found the exact thing that had been torturing him all this time. It was true, wasn’t it? Everything Zahhak had said.
Morien gazed into the clouds of color, to feel the warm light on his cheek, and slowly he sighed.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” the words came without Morien really knowing why.
“Y-yeah. I guess so.”
“How did you learn to do it?” Morien asked. “Come here, I mean?”
“I… I didn’t,” Rina replied. “Like, not properly. I just thought it was possible, so I tried it out, and it worked.”
“So…” Morien realized. “You just made up an entirely new type of magic? Just like that?”
“I don’t… I mean… I guess?” Rina shrugged. “It took a while, but I guess.”
“That’s amazing!” Morien grinned. “That means you’re the only witch on the planet who can do this! Nobody else can travel through this plane.”
“W-well,” Rina mumbled. “Someone somewhere probably already did it. I’m not… I’m not really anything special.”
“But look around you!” Morien cried. “Look at all this. Even if someone else can come here, you still got here without their help. All on your own, you’ve done something I didn’t even know was possible. That’s really and truly amazing!”
“But I…” Rina sobbed. “I’m still an Eloy… I don’t even have a name, besides Rina.”
“Who cares?” Morien asked. “Neither do I, and a name is everything to a Mandenka! I never knew my father, but I guess he was an Eloy, if Zahhak is anything to go on. And my mother had me out of wedlock. All the kids growing up would make fun of me, and my mother too. But the imam who took us in, my real and proper father, he never cared. And my mother, she told me Morien was enough of a name, because it was mine. There’s no other Morien in this world, and I’ll bet you there’s no other Rina either. My parents loved me, made me feel welcome, made me feel human. Isn’t there someone like that? Someone who raised you and loved you?”
“…Professor My,” Rina said. “She… she was the one who found me, when I was just a baby. She… she gave me my name. And she’s always been there for me. But the girls, the ones who make fun of me, they make me feel so small. I wish they’d just stop! I wish I could do something amazing, something incredible, be someone spectacular and wipe those smug, stupid grins right off their faces! I want to be someone great, someone no-one will ever make fun of ever again!”
“Well, I don’t know about that last part,” Morien sighed. “From what I’ve seen, bullies are everywhere. There’s no escaping that. But I think if you can do something like this, that’s already great. You’re already great.”
“You… you really think that?”
“Yeah,” Morien grinned. “I do.”
“I… thank you,” Rina smiled. “She’s a lucky lady, whoever she is.”
“Huh?” Morien blinked in surprise.
“The girl. The one you’re in love with.”
“Wh- Julia?” Morien gasped. “No! No way! It… it isn’t even remotely possible! I can’t… just look at me!”
“What’s wrong with you?” Rina asked. “You look fine to me.”
“B-but I… I don’t know the first thing about romance. And we’re already friends! If I try anything, that’ll all be over. I don’t want to ruin what we have now. And… and besides… I’m just… me.”
“So what?” Rina huffed. “I… oh, shoot. You probably don’t know this, but it’s a really popular Roman story. There’s this guy called Orlando, okay?”
“You mean the Twelve Valiants Orlando?”
“Yeah! That’s the one! So you do know him,” Rina grinned. “Then you know how he and every other Roman knight fell in love with Angelica, the most beautiful princess of Cathay, right?”
“Yeah…”
“So who did she fall in love with? Out of Orlando, Rinaldo, or any of the other countless, dashing knights she ran into, who did she choose in the end?”
“M-Medoro,” Morien said the name of the simple Moorish foot soldier, whose skill in battle had been minuscule, but whose loyal and kind heart had been bottomless.
“Right!” Rina grinned. “She didn’t choose some dashing knight or wealthy lord. She just chose a kind and gentle soul. And that’s you! That… that’s you. Thank you.”
“I…” Morien stammered. What Rina said was true. Angelica, who could have had any man she’d wanted, had taken the simple-minded Medoro as her husband in the end. But would Morien’s own story end the same? Morien was not Medoro. And Julia was not Angelica. No, she was not at all like Angelica, or any of the noble princesses in those fairy stories. Beautiful and crude. Filled with passion and guile. Equal parts tender and sly. That was Julia. And Morien loved her so much. His mouth is sweet and true; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, my friend, O daughters of Yerushalem. Those were the words transcribed on the saphie that Morien carried. Words of love, words of passion, words so akin to the ones he wished to say to Julia. But how could he tell her? How could he take that chance? How could he open himself up to her, knowing it was impossible?
Then suddenly, a tremor reverberated across the world. Morien and Rina lurched as they felt something ancient and powerful ripple through the light.
“Wh-what was that?” Rina asked.
“I… I don’t know,” Morien said. But whatever it was, he had a terrible sense of foreboding.
“Hey, what happened to your mustache?” Shon asked as his younger brother shambled stiffly back into the cave.
“Seagán?” Sion asked, but Seagán made no response, merely continuing with his course.
“Hey! You!” Xan fumed as soon as he saw his brother back. “Didn’t I tell you to beat it? Huh? What are you doing back here? Wh- hey, back off, will ya? Personal space! You’re too close man, too close! What are you-”
Thunk! A fist smashed down on Xan’s skull like a ton of bricks, and the eldest Shaw brother crumpled to the ground.
“Whoa! Seagán!” Shon cried.
“Whatever’s the matter with you?” Sion ejaculated.
“Charge!”
Before the other two brothers could react, a blast of magic from Naomi and Erin knocked each of them off their feet. Without stopping the girls cast a binding spell on the two brothers, as Laschna followed behind at a casual pace, a doll with mustache hair held firmly in her grasp.
“What did I tell you?” Sion sighed, not even bothering to struggle against his bonds.
“So I guess you’re all working with Luk?” Shon asked, similarly noncommittal.
“Luk?” Erin furrowed her brow. “You mean the cowboy?”
“Why, do you know him?” Naomi’s eyes lit up.
“Aw, c’mon!” Shon groaned. “You mean we didn’t even get captured by Luk this time? What a ripoff!”
“Well, cheer up, brother,” Sion shrugged. “If the locals caught us, it means we’ll most likely go to a new prison. Should be a nice change of pace.”
“Oh yeah…”
“So what do we do with the eldest one?” Erin glanced down nervously at the unconscious Xan.
“I suppose we oughta put a binding spell on him,” Laschna leaned over Xan’s body to make sure he was down. “Someone help? I’m no good at those.”
Before anyone could lend a hand though, Xan had leapt forward, snatched the doll from Laschna’s hands, and made Seagán wrap her in a vice-like embrace.
“Laschna!” Erin cried.
“Put her down!” Naomi’s hands charged menacingly with magical energy.
“S-sorry about that,” Laschna did her best to grin, though she could barely get air into her crushed lungs.
“Ha! You don’t scare me!” Xan cackled. “You think this is the first time I’ve been smashed over the head? Now then, before you try anything funny, just know I can crush your little friend before anything untoward should come my way.”
“Aw, c’mon Xan!” Shon groaned.
“The day is lost! At least face our defeat with dignity,” Sion grumbled.
“Lost? Not by a long shot! Mwahaha! Mwahahahaha!” Xan laughed. “Remember, you try anything, and your friend here gets it.”
“Come on, Seagán, let her go!” Shon howled.
“What has the girl ever done to you?” Sion bellowed.
“S-sorry,” Laschna grimaced. “But Seagán isn’t there anymore. So long as his hair’s on the doll, he’s just a puppet.”
“Exactly,” Xan grinned evilly. “So, why don’t you little ladies just let us be on our way, and-”
Just then, a shot of light burst through the cave mouth, to land directly on the doll with pinpoint accuracy. A look of horror spread across Xan’s face as he dropped the burning doll, and Seagán’s eyes slowly regained the gleam of conscious comprehension.
“H-hey…” Seagán glanced around after noticing Laschna in his arms. “What’s going on?”
“The Rei Gun!” Shon cried.
“Luk Ben Ashaknaz!” Sion exclaimed.
“The one and only!” Luk, the tattoo on his hand still glowing, leapt into the cave on Jolly’s back, with the two teachers close behind.
“No. No! Stay back!” Xan tried to scamper away, but it was too late. With one deft scoop, Luk had clamped irons on the thief’s wrists and tossed him up on Jolly’s back. Soon enough the teachers had rounded up the remaining Shaw brothers, and it looked like another successful day’s work for the forces of justice.
“Does this mean we’re not going to a new prison?” Shon, son of Shaw sighed.
“I would assume not,” Sion, son of Shaw replied.
“This is all your fault, Seagán!” Xan, son of Shaw bellowed.
“Me? But what did I do?” Seagán, son of Shaw cried.
“Well, looks like all’s well that ends well,” Luk grinned before turning his attention to the trio of students. “Now then, just what are you young ladies doing out after curfew?”
“You,” Erin whispered again, unbelieving. And yet, there she was, her familiar wings of fire burning, as thunder and lightning began to crash across the sky.
“What are you doing here?” Laschna hissed.
“Is that any way to speak to your betters, cow?” the witch laughed impetuously. “I should think you would show more respect when addressing a daughter of the noble House of Clem!”
“Gloriana,” Erin moaned.
“Yes,” the witch hissed. “I suppose it’s fitting that we meet here again. Here, where you stole what was rightfully mine!”
“She didn’t steal anything,” Laschna growled.
“Liar!” Gloriana screamed, and a rush of magical power sent Laschna flying.
“Laschna!” Erin cried, as passersby gazed up worriedly at the sight before them.
“I-I’m alright,” Laschna nodded thanks to Yann as the bard helped her back up.
“What do you want, Gloriana?” Erin howled. “If you want to settle something with me, fine, but leave everyone else alone!”
“Oh don’t worry,” Gloriana landed lightly on the ground. “I have no intention of pestering anyone else, provided they don’t get in my way, of course.”
As Erin gazed in horror at the sight before her, orbs of orange, red, and violet appeared above Gloriana’s head, orbiting like a halo of tiny planets.
“You… you…” Erin’s knees began to shake.
“Yes,” Gloriana grinned. “It’s time you gave back what was rightfully mine, the color Green, and all its power!”