《Fragments Of Aeon》


 Book 1, Silk Bird Cage; ? The Grandmaster鈥檚 Teacher

    Crescent Cliff sect was carved into a mountain side over dozens of generations. Near the bottom a multitude of openings went deep into endless earth. Higher up the entryways became scarcer. The curve of the cliff side formed a half moon shape around the flat basin. This gave the school its name.


    Miles in the distance a cityscape started. In times of danger the townspeople would withdraw to Crescent Cliff for protection. This was why they supplied food and herbs every month. Most sects relied upon common villages to help support their lower ranked students.


    From atop the cliff Masters of the school would stare downward. They watched crowds of students train daily. There were ranks to the housing and students but today everyone would be treated equally.


    Today, all students lined up and sat in the basin below. Legs were folded while hands cupped together in their laps. Behind the sea of blue and brown loose fitting clothes were former attendees. Many had graduated or moved out of the sect but chose to keep ties. Most lived in the city nearby to assist the school with matters aside from Piercing the Veil, or training upon The Way.


    At the crowds head stood a man old beyond counting. This impression wasn¡¯t from his physical body. His muscles were tightly bunched and skin barely sagged. A slight curve to his back was the only visible clue to his age. Even crickets didn¡¯t dare to chirp in his presence.


    ¡°Today we will remember the man who wished to found our school.¡± The elderly man took a deep breath then let it out. His pace was neither fast nor slow. ¡°However, to do so we must also acknowledge the Twin Goddesses who nearly brought this world to ruin, Leona and Dalila.¡±


    Older students who had successfully breached the first finger of reality could peek behind the visible shell. By pulling back the curtains with all their strength they would receive a sense of age and power which shook them to their core.


    ¡°Of course you have heard the tavern version of this story, but with the Festival of Dawn tomorrow it is perhaps best to brush off the tale and ensure our newer arrivals understand its importance.¡± The Grandmaster walked while nodding slowly. His eyes scanned the crowd for signs of lax discipline. ¡°A man who founded this very sect, and a man whose death broke the world.¡±


    Students were advised not to peer too closely behind the curtains at other¡¯s development. Trying to see someone too deep or strong would frequently cause fear, which in turn became block that prevented future growth. This is why all were taught by a person only one or two levels above them. The Grandmaster rarely took on direct disciples. He could walk both hands of the veil and stood at the final bottleneck before godhood.


    ¡°In my childhood-¡± the Grandmaster paused in his pacing and gave a thin smile ¡°-the world had been divided between two great powers.¡± He spread hands out towards the north and south. His right hand lifted. ¡°In one direction lay Agoron. They held fast to the worship of Leona and praised the sun¡¯s seven spokes. Some still do.¡±


    The newer students didn¡¯t move. A few tenured residents nodded. Other Masters of the school roamed through the crowd slowly. Their white robes stood out among the sea of people. No one dared fidget despite an overbearing sun.


    ¡°To in the south was La¡¯ore, they held fast to the path of guiding stars and believed that when Dalila ascended she gave birth to the twelfth, and brightest star, which still stands for wisdom.¡± His voice had a hypnotic quality to it.


    Student tried to empty their minds and let the words flow through them. Most had been sitting outside waiting for the Grandmaster to start speaking hours before the man stepped down from his clifftop home. It wasn¡¯t every day that he chose to address the lower ranks. Many newer learners upon The Way hadn¡¯t even known what he looked like until today.


    ¡°To know these two goddesses warred for hundreds of years is to understand what forces shaped our history. To know that both countries lie broken is to understand that there was an end to the struggle.¡± From the top to the bottom, all members of the sect valued knowing. Understanding and experience helped them learn to pierce the layers of reality and solidify their foundations. ¡°Today I will make sure everyone here knows the war of two goddesses met its end because of High General Lee¡¯s sacrifice. What you understand from that is up to you.¡±


    Privately the Grandmaster believed the cessation of war and destruction of their empires had been the purpose of High General Lee¡¯s refusal to ascend. The Grandmaster would have been right, but only partially.


    ¡°Many of you look at me, and see an old man with deeply rooted power. Compared to many of the experts running around, you would be right.¡± The Grandmaster spoke firmly as if the fact didn¡¯t matter. To him such power meant little. ¡°However even now I fall steps short of the High General¡¯s shadow. Even on his deathbed he understood more of the truth than I ever will.¡±


    Two of the Masters in white robes shuffled uneasily. Their location sat behind the Grandmaster and faced towards hundreds of students. Their eyes looked around but avoided the Grandmaster. Regardless of intent the old man understood they disagreed with his words. The simple fact was that for all his current power, the Grandmaster had reached a bottleneck and would probably never break through to ascension.


    ¡°I will die soon, never truly knowing the depths of his expertise. I will die never delving deep enough to ascend.¡± The old man said. ¡°Many people, Masters in their own right, have heard me tell this story and come away with the same question. If High General Lee was so powerful, why did he not take that final step into godhood? Some go so far as to doubt me.¡±


    The students were well trained in most cases. Roving Masters sent some of those weaker trainees away to stretch or move around. Students sent away due to passing out, or inability to sit still were noted on a small piece of jade. Their unique essences were imprinted upon its core as failures. This was not a good mark to have upon their records within the sect.


    ¡°To them I say the High General saw something then, that even now I only grasp the edges of.¡± Their Grant Master kept up his slow pacing. His body moved back and forth along the slightly raised dais in an almost hypnotic pattern. ¡°Perhaps he saw another horizon beyond the first. Or a danger that might exist on the other side of ascension. Regardless, he chose to stay mortal to train myself and two others, and I founded the Crescent Sect in their honor.¡±


    The man stopped abruptly and a few older students jumped. They had been lacking focus in their stances. Like the younger crowd, those without the ability to sit still were sent away to do physical labor. Needs of the sect didn¡¯t stop because their Grandmaster decided to tell a story.


    ¡°Keep in mind that he chose to protect the people from war rather than grasp at more power.¡± The Grandmaster took another deliberate breath. His eyes managed to make many people feel they were being gazed through. ¡°This knowing is about the last moments of High General Lee, and the island of Lonely Harbor. Moments I myself witnessed almost seven hundred years ago, when I was barely a boy. You will see it as I did.¡±


    The Grandmaster lifted his eyes to the crowd. Arms reached out at angles that seemed impossible. Circles lit up on the rocks and all around the cliff face that had formerly looked like simple housing. Students who were looking down found their heads turning without warning towards the sect¡¯s leader. People who were already staring had their senses snatched away.


    In a moments time minds were pushed down into the unconscious and a dream crawled over every person''s senses. This memory made real caused each sect member to feel young again, even though some were still barely children. There was a sense of distance and age to the view as well. This moment they were rapidly becoming trapped in came from well before even the Elite Master¡¯s had been born.


    Around them the Crescent Cliff sect had faded away. In its place sat a large island peeked by a grand mansion. Their eyes were presented a night sky with distant stars shining through an open air room.


    ¡°They look up and only see stars,¡± a strong voice said as if the statement were obvious.


    Those enthralled by the vision felt disorientation. Most of them were shorter now, more in line with the child whose perceptions they shared. Female followers of The Way felt conflicted by being thrust into another body.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand Master,¡± the sect whispered in unison.


    The young body they perceived themselves stared at another man nearby. This was the dying High General Lee. He sat propped up in a bed and stared out towards the west. His eyes ignored the night sky and lantern lit village upon his island¡¯s shore. Instead he seemed content to stare at twinkling stars overhead.


    ¡°The stars.¡± He tried to lift an arm but failed.


    Knowledge slowly slid across crowd members. The High General was sick, damaged with a poison caused by a powerful enemy. This foe lay defeated, broken into pieces and scattered along the wind, but combat left a mark which would surely end in death. High General Lee ignored what was likely excruciating pain and kept speaking.


    ¡°People theorize about where the power to pierce the veil comes from. Some believe it to be from the heavens. Some expect a divine realm, others assume gods, some scream defiance towards those powers, and still more only see the stars.¡± The High General had long ago given up the practice of smiling. He rarely did anything without purpose.


    ¡°If you say so, then it must be true, Master,¡± said the young Grandmaster. In the memory all Crescent Cliff sect members shared he was but a boy. His voice was still high pitched but the words were nearly whispered.


    ¡°What if I told you our powers come not from the stars, but something else?¡± the High General asked. He still hadn¡¯t looked over.


    ¡°Then I would believe you,¡± the young man said. His words were whispered by a crowd of Crescent Cliff sect members that had been trapped within the vision. Even Elite Masters of the school were having a hard time shaking off the illusion which pulled at the senses.


    No words were spoken for at least half a candle. The dying man stared outward as if waiting for a sign. Eventually fate showed two lights flashing. One came from the north and the other from the south. Their reaction caused High General Lee to nod slowly.


    Grandmaster had heard High General Lee screaming nights before as the poison ate away. Smells most foul flashed across the crowds mind but were quickly blocked out again. To see the older male nod freely now brought a moment of hope to the young Grand Master¡¯s mind. Perhaps the High General would recover from a curse which ate at his body from the inside.


    ¡°Ah,¡± said the older man. ¡°It will be time soon. Do you remember the formation I showed you and your brothers?¡±


    ¡°Of course Master,¡± three voices echoed in unison.


    Students felt a moment of confusion at there being three people in the room. So far only the Grandmaster¡¯s younger self and High General Lee had spoken. In the illusion they felt eyes shift to the side, two nearly identical boys sat kneeling. All three of them wore the same simple clothes. Cut cloth was wrapped at the waist by a tightly cinched belt.


    ¡°Then go. Activate the protection, stand in it and don¡¯t move, no matter what happens you must stay still. Those who come to visit are fickle beings.¡± The High General didn¡¯t move. He watched as the bright beings changed and grew closer.


    A much younger Grandmaster looked towards the lights. There were human forms inside of them sailing through dark night. One blazed a bright yellow, like the sun on a windswept day. The other colored dark blue which somehow illuminated the surrounding darkness.


    ¡°Master?¡±


    ¡°Go, you three brothers must remain alive. The seeds inside you are still young, and have barely taken root. Even if they allow you to stand here it will likely drown your minds.¡±


    ¡°You must go brother,¡± one of the others whispered.


    ¡°We will protect our brother for you Master,¡± the third boy said. Both hooked arms under the youngest then started pulled him backwards.


    The formation grounds were only forty feet away, along a stretch of land that seemed both right next to the High General and a reality away. Once it had been enacted they would be locked in an unkind status. Untouchable by the world, but in turn unable to interact with that around them until it wore off.


    As young boy he did not want to leave. He knew tonight would be the last time they ever spoke, and so too did the Crescent Cliff sect. Heartbeats among the sect students thumped in unison. A multitude of mouths opened to form the same cry.


    ¡°Master!¡± The Grandmaster yelled for his own teacher and in that moment the illusion let loose a flood of emotions. His supreme formation faltered around the edges showing students a mismatched view of their Crescent Cliff school and memories long past. The elderly man huffed then rapidly wove strands of energy together once more.


    Those few students aware enough to see reality blinked in confusion. Circles were spun then laid over the crowd as their minds returned fully to the past. Some fought to shake lose and regain a sense of self. Senior students hummed to increase their focus upon the moment. Those who never escaped the Grandmaster¡¯s memory continued to scream out loud with the child version.


    ¡°Brother. You must remain safe.¡± Both of the people worked together to drag him, then pushed him into the formation circle. Out of habit the High General¡¯s smallest student uttered those chants he had practiced. Familiarity gave way to calmness as senses spiraled outward.


    Students among the Crescent Cliff sect gasped. There was knowledge to be had in these memories, but not everyone had remained self-aware enough to observe the movements. Hands clasped together, words were said then the young version of Grandmaster started pressing fingers into solid air. With each stab his left hand chilled until a trail of frost followed behind. The right arm heated up, stabbing a counter point of markings and eventually fingertips glowed like a half forged sword in fire.


    Holes in reality appeared about the boy rapidly as his contradictions grew. Lines formed between them linking the weaving together. Interlacing each crack a thin opaque substance spread, forming a shield of sorts. It snapped into place and the Grandmaster¡¯s body went still.


    His two brothers in training were performing their own movements. Their gestures were different from what the young Grandmaster had done. Both stood between the Grandmaster and High General Lee. Their fingers too were alight with opposing elements. A second and third layer of shielding appeared around the youngest boy.


    Knowing once again flooded the minds of all Crescent Cliff sect members. In that knowledge was the awareness that his brothers in training chose to sacrifice their own lives to provide extra layers of protection around their youngest sibling.


    In the distant horizon those two glowing figures could be seen growing closer. Both were female and ethereal. The very sight of these bodies shocked all onlookers. Even across the centuries their existences were enthralling. Crescent Cliff sect members were protected by the full brunt. Their faces burned to look at and caused students minds to shake. Even in the memory and locked within a status their presences inspired awe and fear.


    They wore robes that revealed opposing shoulders, as if their bodies were mirrors to each other. They landed at the same time from the sky and walked in slowly. Both were barefoot. Each wore a bracelet which trailed fine chains downward then tied into a ring. One¡¯s jewelry was orange, and the other¡¯s purple. Elder members of the sect tried to study the items but found resistance. The faint memory with senses muddled from a protection barrier proved difficult to overcome.


    The one made of sunlight stared at three children and waved a hand. A tinkle of bells could be heard and the High General¡¯s room shuddered as brightness flared. Fire swept over the room which cracked the outer most layer of shielding. Memories of stilled sorrow welled over the crowd as two siblings were charred without consideration or remorse.


    Shielding still held through the fire¡¯s wake. The woman of yellow energy sniffed while wrinkling her nose. Her openly displayed shoulder slowly turned away, as if the sight of such fair skin didn¡¯t belong to a worthless child. Those sect members who had managed to retain their sense of self felt aggravated at the slight to their Grandmaster.


    ¡°You¡¯ve come,¡± High General Lee¡¯s strong voice pierced the shield. Their distance of forty feet meant nothing


    ¡°Of course we did,¡± the blonde woman said. Her hair waved around, blown by a breeze that didn¡¯t touch the Grandmaster.


    ¡°You¡¯re dying. If we could not set aside our differences tonight of all nights, we would be undeserving of you.¡±


    ¡°Speak for yourself.¡± Knowing surfaced in the student¡¯s minds. The blonde¡¯s name was Leona, and she led all the people who lay to the north, across the waters.


    ¡°We give thanks for waiting for us,¡± they echoed together. The one in blue and purple hues smiled softly. The blonde female wore a look of anger.


    ¡°Yet again we must beg you. Cross over to us. Be more than this shell,¡± Delila spoke first.


    ¡°For thousands of years I have walked this world. From one life to the next. Both free of the wheel and part of it.¡± The High General tried to sigh but his chest barely moved. ¡°My purpose here is not yet done. I have not yet redeemed my sins.¡±


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    ¡°We were going to ascend together, but you changed.¡± Leona stomped a foot and the entire island rumbled. ¡°For no reason at all you changed.¡±


    ¡°There was a reason,¡± the dying man insisted. ¡°I only had to remember it, and ask the question.¡±


    The Grandmaster¡¯s psyche tried to split into portions. Low level techniques for self-defense against more knowledgeable practitioners were going through the young man¡¯s mind. He focused on viewing himself as a turtle with its head pulled in. Atop that layer was an imaginary sheet of reeds to act as a drain upon the energies rippling from both Goddesses. He couldn¡¯t shut his eyes quickly enough due to the distorted space which protected and entrapped him.


    Neither divine woman paid him any attention as they spoke. They stood in all their radiant glory and that would be enough to drive any person not upon The Way into blithering insanity.


    ¡°For what reason could you have turned away from me?¡± Leona¡¯s body was drawn rigid. The air about her was tense enough to be apparent in a memory. Faint images coiled in the air nearby. ¡°Was it the same which drove you from her side afterwards?¡±


    ¡°No, and yes.¡±


    ¡°Explain then!¡± She stomped and the island shuddered again. A rumble deep in the earth grew and Delila waved one hand as if stroking an invisible beast. The turmoil quieted.


    ¡°How I explain the order of this world? The moment you ascended, what you were became immutable, unchanging, crystallized and no longer belonging here.¡±


    ¡°You could have joined us.¡± Delila tilted her head towards the man¡¯s bed.


    ¡°I could not then, and cannot now. You don¡¯t understand the task I must complete.¡± High General Lee sighed and twitched just once to suppress a tremor. His words sounded defeated. ¡°I cannot explain myself, but you don¡¯t belong here anymore, and I cannot leave until my debt is paid.¡±


    ¡°We are still us, and we still love you.¡± They said in unison again.


    ¡°But I cannot be with you until my tasks are finished and the world releases me,¡± He responded to them. ¡°And it is loath to do so.¡± The man¡¯s eyes stared across his bedroom¡¯s length towards where the Grandmaster knelt, trapped.


    The High General smiled sadly. In the memory each sect member felt a sense of shock from young Grandmaster. Surprise was rapidly replaced by heart freezing grief as the High General''s body lost all strength and fell.


    In memory the young Grandmaster dared peek behind the first veil to see to the core of reality. Sharpened vision peeled away layers and looked beyond what normally seen. The spark to High General Lee¡¯s life started to unravel.


    In this entire span of time the Grandmaster¡¯s heart had beat once. The nature of his imprisonment slowed everything. Dawn poked over the horizon while a slowed child watched his mentor die.


    ¡°If he wishes to be released back to the cycle, we must let him.¡± Delila¡¯s head leaned over as if entreating the shorter blonde.


    ¡°I will not wait another thousand years to reach this point! I did not conquer half the world to return with nothing!¡±


    ¡°You were not the only one.¡± Delila would not relent. Her voice sparked sadness even in the dim thoughts of a young Grandmaster. ¡°I too scoured the planes for his soul.¡±


    ¡°We must not let him escape again,¡± the woman of fire said.


    ¡°We must honor his wishes.¡±


    ¡°Foolish girl! If he is not worth breaking the rules for, then you do not deserve him! My leniency for your kindnesses has limits.¡± The blonde woman shot out a hand towards the black haired female. Light flared.


    ¡°My tolerance for your forceful demands also approaches a threshold. Do not think the weight of years marks a difference between us.¡± The taller female caught Leona¡¯s hand then pushed back. Dull purple, or perhaps faint blue flared behind as Delila shook her head in denial.


    In the memory everything shuddered. The blonde¡¯s foot stepped down once more and the room started to simmer from heat. The Grandmaster knelt trapped inside the shielding. All three layers barely muted a rise of intense heat.


    ¡°You would fight me on this!?¡± Leona questioned.


    ¡°To honor him-¡± The black haired woman¡¯s head tilted to look down on Leona. ¡°-where you will not, I would fight you across every plane of creation.¡±


    Those words started a conflict which made reality shudder. Neither Goddess moved but air all around rippled then warped. Lights flared even more powerfully than they had while flying. Walls of the High General¡¯s home billowed backwards as if they were flag cloth, not wood and mortar.


    The world howled with their unleashed energies. Ringing filled each student¡¯s ears that dared to still witness the memory. Four sect members collapsed, no longer able to relive the past with their Grandmaster. In time they would curse and bless their inadequacies.


    Sky split. Stars and darkness tore apart and a gateway to insanity rippled above. Madness hung directly over every living being within a thousand miles, as surely as it hung over the entirety of Lonely Harbor¡¯s island.


    It distorted reality so fiercely that even those who huddled under shelters could see a rend forming. This night would become a legend known as The Long Night. Many would die in a brief span of time, at their own hands, or the hands of others.


    People screamed. Their noises were a dull undertone to the roar of energy being unleashed. Shadows stalked along behind Delila betraying a true form that was more than human and less than sane. Two students of Crescent Cliff sect screamed out loud as the vision made their eyes bleed. An Elite Master who managed to stay rooted in the present rushed over. His body glowed with a milky white energy which helped him pull unprepared students out of the memory and send them away.


    After the first three students were released he stopped and swallowed four small rounded pills. His body rippled unevenly then settled. The Elite Master resumed movement about the crowd. Other Elite Masters moved to do the same. Their white clothes stood out among a sea of brown and blue students. Many sweated while the memory of war between two women of great power marched on.


    In the vision both Goddesses stood still while air about them warped even more. Above, the tear grew in size and scope. So much so that even those sitting years in the future looked up and felt something might be wrong with the sky. Rocks ignored gravities laws then floated upwards. Huge waves formed with no need for a tide then crashed upon the island''s shore.


    In between the two lay the body of a single man. The High General¡¯s form started to give way. A young Grandmaster, barely stable upon The Way¡¯s first platform, watched as skin and bone were ground into pockets of another reality that didn¡¯t exist. His eyes were forced to watch each moment of the man who had rescued him perishing in a method most inhumane.


    As the flesh broke apart all that remained was a bit of grey that looked vaguely human. Both Goddesses were huffing in their ill-advised test of strength. Both were unaware of the body they had once fought over eroding away.


    The naked spirit started to grind upon the mill of power made manifest. Another noise echoed through while the island edges crumbled under their pressure. Sound climbed in pitch as a third light flared upwards between both Goddesses. It grew solid like an immutable wall with immeasurable density. Back went the gentle light of blue, put aside as if a doting parent herded squabbling children towards another room. It stabbed and overpowered spiked yellow lights from Leona. Curling auras caused shielding around the Grandmaster¡¯s self to shudder.


    Both Goddesses gasped in unison and looked down. Their eyes lost focus, or perhaps they looked elsewhere. Students of the Crescent Cliff sect couldn¡¯t say for sure unless they managed to pierce the final veil and ascend as these two great powers had. Many students were shuddering at the thought of their great teacher having stood in the presence of two Goddesses.


    ¡°What have we done?¡± Leona¡¯s eyes were wide.


    ¡°Are we really so far gone?¡± the other Goddess asked while looking into the broken island below. Land, which had once been whole, sat swallowed by a roused and wild ocean. Very few portions of nearby earth remained unscathed. ¡°Are we so detached that we truly don¡¯t care about their lives?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s broken. I can see the twisting of his soul. How did this happen?¡± The shorter woman of sunlight seemed to shrink even more. Her shoulders drew together and breathes came quick. Knowing flooded the students once more, Leona cared not about the people that had died that night.


    ¡°We must fix this.¡± Delila¡¯s head started to sway from disbelief. ¡°We will, we have to or there has been no point to our ascensions.¡±


    ¡°It seems you win this time,¡± Leona said while staring in the Grandmaster¡¯s direction.


    ¡°This was never how I wanted it to happen.¡± Delila sank to her knees then started trying to gather broken pieces together. ¡°With his knowledge he should never have succumb to such pressure. I think he expected us to fight again, and chose this way out.¡±


    ¡°No. He fought with Grigori. I see the scars of his poison marking what remains. That robbed his life, not inaction.¡± Leona starred briefly then frowned.


    ¡°He must have been very tired indeed. To overcome a God with his ways takes much. We should have been here,¡± said the dark haired figure. Her body blurred for a moment before reformed into something more mundane and less filled with energies from beyond.


    ¡°I do care how tired he is! I do not care how long he his road has left! I vowed never to leave his side and yet again he will escape!¡± Leona¡¯s voice rose and each sound accompanied a crack of thunder above.


    Delila cleared her throat and the blonde woman set her half raised leg down without stomping. She looked over at the kneeling woman then wrinkled her nose. An inconsequential eternity later allow both Goddesses to become composed once more.


    ¡°That technique, it¡¯s his. I can see his markings all over the framework,¡± Leona said instead. She pointed a hand indifferently towards the barrier around Grandmaster¡¯s young form. ¡°We should break it and remove the only witness.¡±


    Delila stayed kneeling next to the space where High General Lee had once been. Her arms reached out into the air to grab out items that only existed if one knew where to look. Bits of body and spirit were slowly brought together like clay. With each piece her body flickered and light blue light flooded the room.


    ¡°We¡¯ve caused enough harm, I think,¡± Delila said while working. ¡°In that our Lee was right. How many did we send to the millstone of war to flush out his soul? How many did we break ourselves in the testing? And still we found him too late.¡±


    Leona looked back towards the body and put both hands into the air. Sunlight brightened the entire region above. The chasm in the sky started to shrink. While working the blonde said, ¡°Another mortal¡¯s death means nothing to me.¡±


    ¡°No, another death because of us should mean everything. In our test of wills thousands were snuffed out. What do you think Lee might do when he learns of this on his next cycle? Could he forgive us once more?¡± The pale woman¡¯s vision was unfocused.


    ¡°He never looked at humans as a human. Not in any of his lives. You know what he did to learn his skills. In your time with him, in mine, in every life his path upon The Way remained the same.¡± Her hands rose towards the sky and grasped at the edges of an unseen object. Muscles on her athletic arms bulged from effort before they overcame whatever force dared set against her. Higher above the rift slammed shut. Reality stopped its whimpered cries.


    Delila walked closer to the Grandmaster. Her face became clearer. Both her eyes were a dark blue and they stared at the Grandmaster who had been nearly in a bubble of broken reality. Barriers did nothing to mute the gaze. Endless specks sat in each orb like a sea of stars. Leona too walked over. Her coronas held a sun¡¯s edge during eclipse, vast in size and energy. The blondes tanned skin proved a striking contrast next to Delila¡¯s pale body.


    Both Goddesses looked each other before nodding. Hands reached through the barrier, one burning like hot irons, the other cold enough to line an unbroken wall with froze. Bare shoulders touched each other for a moment and the air hissed. Their fingertips reached lithely through the remaining layer of protection to touch the Grandmaster¡¯s young body.


    ¡°Slumber young one,¡± Delila said.


    ¡°Rest, and await the return of your Master. If you see him before we do then let him know we will wait.¡±


    ¡°Tell him we are sorry. And for yourself, a gift of knowing. Know that your brothers have returned to the cycle and I will ensure their next lives are kinder,¡± the pale Delila said.


    ¡°Know that we shall cease commanding our kingdoms towards endless war.¡± Leona¡¯s eyes closed briefly and the twin suns were cut off from Grandmaster¡¯s sight. She opened them again and the stars had changed from bright red to a softer orange color. ¡°Know that even the Gods are fallible in love and jealousy, for emotion drives all beings towards poor judgment.¡±


    Their fingers both burned and cooled the Grandmaster¡¯s head. In the middle his mind went numb and the vision faded. Past stopped replaying in the minds of Crescent Cliff students.


    Many people shivered as the final words were spoken. Many newer students had lowered their heads to the ground in reverence. If one were to ask why, the students would be unlikely to fully explain. Only that something inside of them felt respect was due to a man dead more than seven hundred years ago.


    Lights which had held steady all around the rocky faces faded as the enchantment fell to pieces. Students who were previously breathing and speaking in unison found their own paces slowly.


    ¡°For five years, powers from all over the world arrived to demand answers.¡± The Grandmaster once again paced slowly across his platform. ¡°Both kingdoms of Agoran and La¡¯ore started to fall apart, dismantled, likely by those who followed either Goddess. I told this event to all who listened. Some even believed the words of a young boy. Eventually the morning after that hellish night became celebrated yearly as the Festival of Dawn. It stood,¡± he paused briefly and looked towards the sky ¡°it stands for an end to war, a terrible night, and an honorable man.¡±


    The Grandmaster leaned back then looked upwards. Afternoon¡¯s sun still obscured the stars but he clearly gazed out into space. Perhaps the old man still searched for meaning to his own Master¡¯s words. After a handful of nearly unsteady breaths he looked back to the much smaller crowd of sect members. Too many proved unable to withstand a shadow of Leona and Dalila.


    ¡°Because of two Goddesses and their struggle over his soul, the High General neither ascended beyond the veil nor return directly to The Wheels cycle.¡± The tired old man took a breath that still managed to be neither fast nor slow. ¡°It is believed by many that what remains of his spirit will find form one year, on the morning of the Festival of Dawn.¡±


    He looked deeply winded, as if the telling of such a story had drained him. Many Masters knew of exhaustion which followed in the wake of hypnotic techniques. Abilities of the mind were harder and more draining to execute than those of the body. Power had to be spent to hold a crowd spellbound in an illusion, more than any normal person would dare dream of. Even the sect¡¯s Masters could only control the senses of a few dozen. To do hundreds sat in the realm of experts of legend.


    The Grandmaster paused and stood still. His chest raised in steady even breaths. Senior Masters behind him were tracking the crowd less. Their eyes went wider with each movement their leader made.


    ¡°The foolish believe he will reunite the great countries. The fearful believe his return shall draw back the two Goddesses, Leona and Delila, and they will once again war to find his new shell.¡±


    His words slowed down. Some students dared to wiggle. More and more were being sent away to run laps around the sect¡¯s territory. The Master¡¯s believed physical exertion assisted in breaking through the veil¡¯s first hand. Or that draining the body of all its energy could their shells accept new energies and traverse The Way. Both were partially true.


    ¡°The wise know enough to simply wait and see, for a shredded essence will never return to its original shape.¡± A lingering sense of sadness swept over the crowd. What few who dared look up once again touched their foreheads to the ground in reverence.


    Far in the distance those who were too weak to withstand the enchantment tried to recover. Sweating Masters of all ranks formed a line between the lesser sect members and those still listening to the Grandmaster¡¯s words. Still he spoke, and even crickets dared not voice a complaint.


    ¡°Perhaps sharing this story is due to an old man¡¯s last wishes. My power and knowledge are deep enough to see an ending this shell¡¯s journey, and if I cannot ascend, then I must return to the wheel. One of you may, and must in my stead, be able to deliver the message to High General Lee.¡± The Grandmaster took another breath and still managed to stay composed. ¡°They still wait for him. And if you seek to deliver this message, look for turbulent times. For as his last student I know one truth for certain. When the High General Lee¡¯s spirit does return, the world will see great change.¡±

 Book 1, Silk Bird Cage; ? Boy on the Roof

    The city of Sol¡¯s Heart was divided into three different sections. Each region belonged to different social groups. Poor were given space on the outskirts while those richer had a lakefront district. This did not mean the rich were surrounded by a layer of disguised squalor. Region soldiers were often sent to clear out an entire stretch of land so that those rich and affluent citizens of Sol¡¯s Heart would never lay eyes on the poor. As such, even those desperate homeless rarely ventured to the southern edge of town.


    Influential clans had residences along the water, granted by the Region Lord. Three such families held larger holdings which spread for miles and distorted the cities shape. Their properties might house thousands of the downtrodden, but instead were private due to their powerful, and often arrogant, families.


    ¡°Mother? That boy is on the roof again.¡± The youngest daughter of a small clan wore finery that lifted already growing assets into an alluring shape. She leaned out the third story window of their manor and stared across at a young man.


    Those walking the pathway below could easily look up and see a young girl nearly spilling out of her tightly cinched top. Her mother hoped that such a dress might attract the eye of young nobles in higher families. The gambit paid off with both her older sisters in years gone by. Only one was successful married while the other found another, less proper way to survive.


    ¡°Show me you¡¯ve been paying attention to my lessons. What name should you address me by in public?¡±


    ¡°Lady Iola, or Clan Mother of Shore¡¯s Hearth.¡± the youngest daughter responded while giving an exaggerated curtsy. Almost immediately she turned back to the window and leaned out once more.


    ¡°Then to answer your question, direct your attentions elsewhere and ignore the young lord next door,¡± Lady Iola said.


    Across the wall of their estate lay a fairly unused but wide stone path. Past that was an aqueduct which funneled water from the lakes edge further into Sol¡¯s Heart. On the other side of running water lay a tall wall which had been carved with ornate decorations. One entrance had a stone bridge which went into a heavy double door. That passageway went to the Asger clan¡¯s property and had not been opened once in six years. Their main door sat further to the south.


    ¡°But that boy¡¯s up there every morning. He just sits, staring like a loon, then he bows. It¡¯s so strange,¡± the young girl responded.


    Noble families such as the Shore¡¯s Hearth clan held only a small tract of land. Their city property traveled an eighth mile along the aqueduct. It was only one of many such holdings that served to buffer between larger families. The three great clans were too prideful to withstand being direct neighbors.


    Many chose this path in hopes of witnessing the spilling treasures of her daughters, as they had at one time made less than casual glances at the middle aged woman. It served to increase their reputation, even if the cause was less than pure. Attentions lead to power of sorts.


    ¡°Mercy. I¡¯ve told you to stop looking at the Asger family¡¯s holdings. It¡¯s not proper,¡± her mother said in with a slow voice. In pieces about her was a dress that had not been fully assembled.


    Mercy¡¯s mother, or as she was called in public, Lady Iola, wore the same style of clothes. Part of it was competition with the budding flower her daughter had become. There were other reasons as well, of course, but mostly jealousy. Their family had few who practiced The Way. As such, they were all equally torn down by times cruel march.


    The youngest daughter turned. Her shoulders pulled back to lean on the windowsill which only served to highlight Mercy¡¯s chest. She said, ¡°But he¡¯s my age, and I¡¯ve never seen him in any classes. Shouldn¡¯t all nobles of age be in the Region Master¡¯s school?¡±


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    One of her fingers casually twirled towards the other property. The angle of their third floor living room allowed for a clearly visible view into the garden¡¯s other side. A small house sat inside, and atop it a smaller boy stared upwards at the sky every morning.


    ¡°And?¡± Lady Iola asked.


    ¡°I only asked why he doesn¡¯t show at class. The boy looks cute enough to contend with Prince Char and his friends, though this Asger boy rarely smiles,¡± the daughter responded with a shrug. Mercy¡¯s cheek tucked back in a disapproving expression that every woman in the family had.


    Lady Iola said nothing immediately and kept working at the dress. She enjoyed being a seamstress despite its toll. Each twist of needle wore on stiff fingers. Neither hand looked like the slender beauties they had once been. Such was the price of crafting clothes by hand. These works were creations of pure art, which was half the reason her house retained any nobility at all, that and ample charms coupled with slender waists. Beauty kept them noticed. It certainly wasn¡¯t the work of a philandering husband whose attentions drifted as age had its way with Iola¡¯s body.


    ¡°Their clan head can afford private tutors if they so desire.¡± The clan mother of Shores Heart spoke with a calmness her mind didn¡¯t have. Seeing her third daughter displaying such charms without an ounce of self-awareness nearly caused her to twitch in irritation. Eventually the jealousy would pass, once Mercy had been married off to a proper husband. Then the house would be empty, and perhaps she could leave Sol¡¯s Heart for greener pastures, or at least ones where Lady Iola could find a more attentive man to warm her bed at nights.


    ¡°Can we pay him a visit? He looks lonely and could use some cheer.¡± Mercy shook her front and smiled. The clan mother took a slow breath which disguised a sigh. Perhaps, at twelve, her daughter was not as ignorant about charming people as she hoped. Early maturity was dangerous, but that too could be used.


    One did not have to be a lady at all times, and often men preferred it when a woman knew exactly when to drop the fa?ade. The problem with each daughter had been showing them how to separate the two sides of a woman¡¯s nature. In public one had to remain refined and dignified. Such front shaking served better in brothels and bedrooms rather than a nobles dining halls.


    ¡°No.¡± She tried to lead her daughter by deed and word. ¡°It¡¯s not our place to pay any heed to that garden. A lady does not step above her station unless invited.¡±


    The next day Stone Hearth gardeners started creating a higher lettuce of vines to blot out their western neighbor across the aqueduct¡¯s edge. This only increased Mercy¡¯s intrigue, for something being hidden meant there was value in knowing. Both of her old sisters had explained this truth upon her twelfth birthday.


    Lady Iola started looking for suitors which might keep the youngest of her daughter¡¯s busy. Perhaps another outlet, a proper one of course, might reign in such idle curiosity. Most than one family around the city engaged in such actions, all striving for what they felt was best. Such plotting would keep her busy until more pleasurable activities could be pursued.


    Across the way, another set of parents plotted out methods to deal with their children as well. Lady Iola had heard of some of the Asger clan¡¯s plots, and counted herself lucky to only have three daughters. Sons only brought troubles, especially if the rumors were to be believed.

 Book 1, Silk Bird Cage; ? Greet the Stars

    Within the walled garden¡¯s center sat a small well maintained single roomed house. Slanted tile flattened out on the northern end of the roof, allowing enough space for a small boy of ten, like me, to climb up and study the night sky. A fading sea of twinkles kept me company upon awareness in an otherwise serene bubble.


    Perhaps simple desire to be closer to freedom drove me to scale the tallest structure available. Trees which once stood near the walls were trimmed back or removed entirely to prevent escape. Still, I looked upward because every morning for months started with an unexpected need to sit atop the roof. From there an observation could be made of the darkness between stars.


    I thought to myself, one day this vessel of mine might be able to leave the garden. From there my eyes could view the world and hear more than tales of court and distant heroes. Forming any deeper reason than vague hopes of freedom could be considered impossible for a ten year old, despite the insistence that my ways were years ahead of unseen peers.


    To the south lay a quarter mile of flowered gardens, stone walkways, and low grass which only paused for a fifteen foot wall. At the far western end sat a half lake which connected to a large aqueduct. It served as a moat I couldn¡¯t pass through yet. I once tried to swim down deep enough but the waters were cold and drove breath from my body despite years of self-training.


    Slowly, yet certainly, a sun rose to the east. As with each dawn before I stood atop my small home then bowed.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I said, but no one answered.


    Like a thousand sunrises before this I climbed down then walked towards the small lake¡¯s edge. Murmuring could be heard from the tall wall¡¯s other side. The sound of water trickling by mixed with idle chatter from city people. My parents said only nobles could stray so close the isolated garden.


    Shouting to those invisible people on the other side did no good. What few attempts were successful never lasted long. Fleeing the garden often lasted less than a day, and come morning I would be back in my protective cage. For punishment no one raised their hand in my direction, food simply became scarce. Hunger proved an effective tool in teaching.


    Yet, one day I hoped to be free and no longer so alone.


    Both arms lifted thin clothing off the ground. I knelt onto a worn spot near the small lakes edge then closed my eyes. Thoughts wandered slowly as they tried to pierce through reality around me and find truth behind the visible. A tutor had shown me this technique upon my seventh birthday, but instead of building a foundation as intended, I witness pieces of the past.


    Many repeated, growing clearer with each meditation. One such moment involved birth and the first time my parents spoke around me. At the time their words made no sense. Being newly born meant overwhelmed senses, a desperate distaste for natural air, and deep gnawing hunger. Tones which hit my prematurely body left an impression that time likely distorted.


    Hunger, wonder, exhaustion, and being near she who birthed me were all that existed when so young. Welcome warmth encircled me coupling with a steady heartbeat. They were all that I needed to feel content.


    ¡°Husband, you¡¯ve returned,¡± said a light voice. Everything tilted which propelled my resting self to full wakefulness.


    ¡°My lady, I have, to joyous news I¡¯m told. My council advises me you gave birth to a strong son. This is good,¡± a second deeper voice felt out of place which caused tiny arms jerk once then shiver. My face turned towards the other figure and the warmth on a cheek faded.


    The newborn babe I was found focusing impossible. The images still lingered in my subconscious. Both eyes tried to look towards the new voice. All about the man, whom I would later call father, sat a haze of dull grey mist. Bits of what existed around him rotated as if cutting the air until they settled into new formations. Some pieces didn¡¯t move and hung disconnected from the rest.


    This did not make sense to the young me. Yet, in hindsight I knew the concept behind this haze. This was father¡¯s sword aura, a skill tempered through two decades of cultivation and battle. He, like my eldest brothers, practiced piercing the veil to assist in times of war. That rotating haze could be channeled into weapons, to attack or defend.


    ¡°He looks as strong as I¡¯ve heard,¡± father said.


    ¡°Look at his gaze. Our fifth child acts as if he can see beyond already,¡± a closer red haze spoke happily. The voice belonged to my mother, at least I believed it did. She spoke with matter-of-fact assurance. ¡°He will be a great practioner, perhaps even a Master,¡± she continued.


    Even with meditation seeing the world through a memory proved difficult. My tutor said that eyes were not born perfect. Even in meditation everything felt too bright. First were the two hazes of light about both parents, but all around were bits of floating, things, which drifted in the air. Much like what I could see now, at ten, only they used to be far closer.


    ¡°Or an Enlightened One. Such a gift would mean great things for this family.¡± The male¡¯s blur bobbed up and down. Seeing past those grey hazes to the younger version of my father was impossible. As a babe I did not, therefore in meditation I could not.


    I remembered trying to reach for those tiny bits of visual flotsam. Arm muscles were pulled into my body and refused to stretch far enough. Jaw muscles tightened with mute irritation, though I had no name for the emotion as a babe.


    ¡°Look. He¡¯s reaching,¡± she sounded proud. ¡°Do you think he sees the energy already?¡± I longed to hear such pride directed my way once more, but mother never had.


    ¡°He¡¯s hardly a month old. Seeing should be impossible at this age, even for a prodigy.¡±


    ¡°Here little one. Try again.¡± My body was lifted by gentle fingers which pinched folds under both arms. The haze of red turned me towards a small piece floating nearby which I managed to grab weakly.


    The squirming energy popped upon contact. Its abrupt ending startled me into crying. Mother¡¯s fingers tensed into my side hard enough to leave an impression. Even now the memory of pain still radiated around my ribs. Other senses, such as the woman¡¯s smell, or taste of the air were impossible to pluck out.


    ¡°Do you know what happened?¡± she asked while the world tilted sideways.


    ¡°The spirit energy is gone,¡± my father hummed with his remaining breath. ¡°That should be impossible.¡±


    There was a lull while I reached for another stray bit of those floating bits. Energy my parents called them, and still do. I grabbed poorly at another and it too popped into nothing which renewed the crying. My hand tingled with numbness as the memory echoed across to the present.


    ¡°You see? He didn¡¯t absorb the energy, he destroyed it,¡± she spoke with a tone that I couldn¡¯t have recognized at three, or four. A ten year old understood. The vibration of her words shook with distant fear. Mother set me down, and I¡¯m not sure she ever picked me up again.


    In the present both eyes slowly focused on the small lakes far wall. Moments from a distant past faded and I stopped smelling the comfortable scent of family. Perhaps being captured in a garden was fate. Certainly the harm caused by my presence became more noticeable and damaging as time passed. Those small bits of floating energy which had tingled so now shied away completely. They may have chosen self-preservation, or something about me pushed them away.


    My parent¡¯s hope that I might ascend the ranks of power proved fruitless. Thus far the feats attributed to me were singular in sum. Reliving these moments served as a limited form of escape from the routine life thrust upon me. The only positive draw was that each bit from the past provided more fuel to question my tutors with.


    Being a master of any sort would have implied oneness with the energies every living being was permeated with. It would have meant consolidation of a life core within my consciousness. It would have meant purification of flesh through spiritual baptism. It would have meant through the right movements and thoughts I could alter reality and give birth to fires or floods with a wave of the hand.


    Even an Enlightened One could have been of great benefit to our family. Most souls were cleansed of their past upon rebirth and only carried their karmic debt to balance in the next life, or so I was told. Enlightened were rare existences which retained a sense of self while being washed by the great cycle¡¯s wheel. They could judge a man or lead armies with an instinct carried over from their previous lives.


    Neither of those were possibilities. I could only stare at stars, and wonder why the energy everyone else regarded as inert felt like living creatures staring at me. The idea felt wrong somehow, as if I should ask a question that sat unformed in my mind''s recesses.


    The rising sun¡¯s path cast early morning shadows. I used the lines to gauge how much time remained before my first tutor would arrive. There were hours yet to try and make a breakthrough in my knowing. I reflected once more upon a memory.


    Both eyes closed again and another scene from the past washed over me. This time I was much older and able to move myself about as desired. My fifth birthday come then went. As a gift father provided me a small set of army men and letter blocks to assist in writing lessons from one of our teachers.


    In the past I sat in a shade cooled corner near the rear garden gates. My youngest brother babbled incoherent rules at me while I tried to form the army figures as we had been taught.


    ¡°Those blocks are nothing compared to a real army.¡± Our older brother towered above us and did not partake of the shades solace. His back was illuminated by the sun. Our entire family shared the same square jaws, but brother Hakon had height only my second sister matched.


    ¡°Yes, brother Hakon,¡± I delayed too long in remembering my manners. By the time my head bowed in respect he had already stormed off.


    ¡°Mean,¡± whispered our younger brother, Colborn. There were seven of us back then. Most had their own duties and rarely interacted with us younger two.


    We moved the small toys back and forth into new positions. Both of us whispered quietly as we declared different events were happening. Colborn often felt that blocks and figures went in spots that shouldn¡¯t. He stacked them in shapes that annoyed me, but I bore with it. Aside from him, no one else played any games with me. These memories of the past displayed that loneliness was nothing new.


    ¡°Younger Masters.¡± A tall woman bowed in our direction. She was shorter than brother Hakon. Bamboo lined the walls behind her and small streams of water stolen from the aqueduct trickled through.


    I stood then gave a shorter bow as I had been trained to do. My brother, a little older than two, tried to lower his head but stumbled slightly. My outstretched arm kept him from tipping into plants as he had many times before.


    ¡°Young Fell, your father seeks your presence after his meeting,¡± she said to me. I could not remember the woman¡¯s name, even with meditations aid.


    I nodded to show her message had been delivered successfully. Father¡¯s meetings were always long, but once they completed he had time to see each child in turn. We would converse and discuss the day¡¯s events, and father provided thoughts upon our progress.


    Colborn continued to play with the blocks. He formed words then laughed with sharp delight.


    ¡°Shush,¡± I barely looked in his direction the first few times.


    Two small men of metal and wood sat in my hands. Their crudely made joints allowed for posing. In my head sat an image of both older sisters, practicing their martial arts. Each evening I had watched their practice and tried to understand what about them caused energy to swirl around.


    I tried to stand the soldiers like both sister¡¯s stances but failed. They didn¡¯t have the right air about them. Nothing moved or swirled. Their legs weren¡¯t stocky enough. Our family boasted women with strong thighs and slender waists, a build these toy soldiers did not match.


    ¡°Brother,¡± Colborn¡¯s words were slurred and simple to ignore.


    Further attempts were made to pose the figures then plant them upon the ground. They refused to stand correctly and fell over. Again and again I tried to make their bearing match either sister¡¯s movements. The idea had gotten stuck in my head and refused to dislodge until sense was made.


    ¡°Ewlder brother,¡± Colborn said.


    At that point something popped and vision tore down the middle. In the memory of my youth an odd sensation crept up my neck. Dizziness with tingles combined while eyesight narrowed to a distorted tunnel. Dryness invaded my mouth and each limb started to feel heavy.


    ¡°Fewl. Brother Fewl,¡± said our youngest sibling. Even with meditation¡¯s recall his voice sounded like a stretched out echo. High pitches distorted along incorrect paths then faded together.


    I lifted my head as the world warped. Bits of color floated about as they hadn¡¯t in years. They seemed excited by something. Ones made of brown coupled to faint green spiraled in the air about the both toy soldiers. Their coloration reminded me of film upon our fish pond.


    Breathing came in gasps. A large body thirty steps away slid towards us and as it did the energy around turned more violent. The image of a fish breaking through to eat food made me fall backwards. A film of surface scum energy pulled towards both statues and they started to brighten.


    Everything felt wrong but with the reflection of age I still couldn¡¯t figure out why. A second figure moved in the distance. My head snapped to and saw the guards who were assigned to watch us approaching. Younger brother Colborn had grown closer and had his tiny arms wrapped around me. His reasons were still unclear.


    Life hung in slow motion as the clarity of fully piercing a veil hit me for the first time. This was more than the natural vision I was born with, greater, and deeper. When I looked down there were strange items within view.


    Squiggling around in my brother''s back sat worm like bits of dull silver color. I peered at them and watched as skin faded away to show what lay beneath. They curled around muscles past bones towards his center. The threads inside his body went deep, and were rooted in white brightness underneath. They marred the perfection of little brother Colborn¡¯s core.


    Concepts like core, cultivation, stances of power and impurities were beyond me at that age. No child, however well they are tutored, can understand every task they are given. Such lack of knowing is especially common when topics that feel uninteresting. Now though, after years of trying to understand my burden, I understood, so the memory made more sense.


    Annoyance and a high of happiness flooded me. The problem of my brother''s tainted back could be solved if only someone like I dared. I reached out in wonder then plucked at one of the wiggling threads which linked to my brother''s core. It squirmed away but didn¡¯t vanish like the floating energy about me normally would.


    My fingers burned with the warmth of a heavy blanket after snowstorms. Both eyes closed as the guards running towards us were blotted out. Still, the threads which marred my brother sat glowing through both eyelids. I ground the wiggling end between my thumb and forefinger. It fell apart as if ash from a dead fire, then Colborn screamed.


    I jerked in response to the sudden onset of noise. Causing my sibling pain made both eyes open in panic. Those guards were four steps closer. My hands were both plucking at separate bits of energy which thread through to Colborn¡¯s core. They fell away under my pressed fingertips. Without understanding I reached for two new portions and pulled on them like one might unravel poorly made clothes. Still my younger brother screamed.


    Giant hands grabbed me while another pair pulled away Colborn. I did not scream as smaller fingernails tore into my sides with amazing strength. Breathing was too hard. Colors rippled through air were visible but not solid. Each splash and twist of them caused my head to twist around in worry. Even now madness¡¯s edge attempted to grab me through memories.


    I looked at the man holding Colborn and saw the mass of black twisted around his core. They choked the guard¡¯s center like a mess of vines, or as a snake might constrict lessor pray. That caused my young self to scream while swatting.


    The guard also yelled as blackness burned away from white purity. Sharp pain hit my neck, and the world vanished. Meditation allowed me to quickly skip unconsciousness. There was a sense of many hours passing by before awareness returned. Upon opening my eyes an older male sat in front of me. He wore a stern frown and maintained a straight back. Both ears dragged with the weight of three heavy loops which pierced his lobes.


    I tried to clasp my hands together in greeting but both arms were still sluggish. ¡°Lower Master Song.¡± My mouth clung to the words. The bow I had attempted was blocked by a firm hand on my shoulder.


    ¡°This child is indeed a foolish one,¡± he refused to speak to most people directly. Only my father received such an honor.


    Lower Master Song studied me from a distance at first. His eyes were more intent upon the bits around me which had haunted my vision since birth. He pushed a hand in my direction, cupping energy like a sideways cup. It pooled, compressed away and turned into a small violent whirlpool as colors melded together. This surprised the Lower Master. His bushy eyebrows stuck out further than both pursed lips then he nodded as if all the answers were clear.


    ¡°Does the reckless youngster understand what he¡¯s done?¡± He asked with a raspy voice. His body shook from age immeasurable.


    My head shook back and forth.


    ¡°The young lord attempted to enchant, a feat which should require a decade of knowledge and practice. While channeling the energies of other he turned a wide open mind upon his brother and tried to cripple babe Colborn¡¯s budding cultivation.¡± The man¡¯s head shook slowly and he stopped looking at me. ¡°Young Lord Fell¡¯s eyes and ears bled. They bled as the young lord peered through the veils first hand all at once. He dared the entire hand, and nearly reached the next, at five, how reckless.¡±


    I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself like father always did. It failed and my own body shook worse than Lower Master Song¡¯s.


    ¡°Poor foolish youth, barely off the tit then he flirts with death. Luckily he¡¯s studier than that other son. Still, the energy around us seems even more reluctant than ever to be near such a reckless child.¡± His face smoothed out again and one hand swam through the air.


    The motion caused different colored glows to appear as his hand passed passing through floating bits. They gathered in clumps of energy which matched the color of his fingers. A dirty green pile was pushed at me. It nearly reached my skin before fading away. Yellow peaked with thin strings of orange slipped away. A faint pink then azure also ran like a live thing which had been frightened.


    Through it all I shook but could say nothing. Our youngest brother had been hurt by my actions and I didn¡¯t understand how. Removing that which marred him should have been healthy, not crippling. My actions should have been no worse than preening a bird''s feathers or brushing dirt from a horse.


    Finally, after hours, the old man grabbed my face and brought his eyes close to mine. Each blink I dared caused his fingers to pinch harder and that displeased hum of noise to come out. After the fourth squeeze I held very still indeed, while staring into eyes that seemed larger than the world.


    After a minute he asked in a raspy voice, ¡°Is the young lord scared of me, I wonder?¡±


    My head shook with a no, but that was a lie. I did not know what gave him the right to speak so to me, only that his power ran far deeper than any of my siblings. Even father respected Lower Master Song, and father could pierce six veils at once and stood upon The Way¡¯s fourth tier.


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    ¡°Good.¡± He hummed again then nodded. ¡°The young reckless fool should listen closely. This son is broken, and missing a seed. In turn he has no control, no anchor, and no middle.¡±


    Even now I didn¡¯t understand what he meant. Seeds were not a concept my tutors had explained, and I wanted to understand more before daring to ask. Often, especially in these past few years, I had been given answers that simply made no sense due to my limited knowledge.


    ¡°Does the reckless boy even know what a seed is, I wonder?¡± Lower Master Song stared at me yet addressed the room in general.


    To this I dare not try and lie. In the memory, my head shook back and forth once more.


    He hummed again then nodded. ¡°Then the boy should pay attention, and take heed for when he¡¯s older.¡± Lower Master Song jabbed me in the head with his finger. I hissed in pain and reached out to stop him. The man¡¯s other hand shook my jaw with a fresh pinch and I stilled. During this the person holding my shoulder showed no signs of relenting.


    ¡°The young lord¡¯s soul is damaged, and missing it¡¯s beginning and end. The fact that he returned from the cycle should be miracle enough. Clan Mother Asger is clearly a tenacious bitch to have carried a broken spirit into this world.¡± His eyes drifted off and both brows lowered. He hummed again but this time was much slower.


    I tried to form a question but couldn¡¯t. The entire situation froze me with fear. Lower Master Song¡¯s eyes were like still but deep waters. I half expected something to swim out of them and bite at me, like our fish did to bits of bread.


    ¡°He wonders, I¡¯m sure, what power might cause such harm.¡±


    At ten, such a question had certainly occurred to me. In the past, as a young five year old, I wondered no such thing. At that age only the fear of Lower Master Song¡¯s fingers causing pain registered.


    ¡°Only a strong demon of this world, or god from the next could rend a soul, and such would require an extreme level power to damage the soul into their next lift.¡± He let out yet another hum of noise. I came to realize that sound meant Lower Master Song was thinking. ¡°It is important to keep such a reckless yet gifted child alive and see what comes of him.¡±


    ¡°Gifted?¡± Being five little else of his words made sense. Even now I lacked information to properly understand. Were it not for meditation I wouldn¡¯t remember any of this conversation.


    ¡°Gifted in enchanting, probably. Gifted in unraveling, freakishly. Broken, certainly. The gods are cruel and perplexing.¡± He hummed again then nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll tell the reckless boy¡¯s father that such a unique talent should not be cast aside.¡±


    Without further explanation, he dragged me off. We moved past brother¡¯s rooms and sisters gardens, around the guest wing and guard quarters. Doors opened with a wave of his hand. On the other side my father paced. His eyes looked up and I saw a light of hope in them. My mother knelt on the ground and faced the eastern window with her head bowed in prayer.


    She had not talked to me in years. Mother rarely approached me the way father did.


    ¡°Well?¡± my father asked.


    ¡°His root seems damaged, however despite this, or perhaps because of it, your fourth son is very powerful, but his method is twisted,¡± the old man gave confusing judgment. His words hung in the air while I stared at the ground in shame. ¡°He shows talent at crippling others, and enchanting. Both of which will require exploration once he learns to any control.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Instead of letting the essences wash over him like other travelers, then refining it, he seems to be repelling all energies equally. Based on your own stories,¡± Lower Master Song¡¯s eyes flickered to my mother briefly then back ¡°energy reacts oddly in his presence.¡±


    A shudder passed through my mother¡¯s body. Her face lifted to gaze out the window towards an evening sky. Perhaps she sought an answer from the gods Lower Master Song spoke of. Father held still and stared at the elder.


    ¡°What then, should we do?¡± he finally asked.


    ¡°This one chose to follow you lord, because you¡¯ve always found a use for any person under your care. I believe you can find a use for such a son, even if the method is cruel.¡± The old man¡¯s head shook and the rings in one ear clinked together. ¡°It is not my place to suggest anything more.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your place, or you don¡¯t know?¡± Father questioned.


    ¡°Both, my clan lord. Perhaps with maturity we transform his gift to something more manageable. Age and knowledge plays a role in all paths of The Way. I will try to search the archives as well.¡±


    ¡°Do so,¡± my father said.


    Clan Mother Asger, she who birthed me, did not turn around. The side of her face shone with a single stream of liquid. To this day I do not understand if she was upset with herself for bringing me into this world, or with me for trying to cripple brother Colborn.


    Two days after my brother¡¯s near death this garden became home. Father was the only one to visit me during the following year. Each night he arrived and spent a few minutes watching me across through slits in the gateway. For the first month I tried very hard not to cry while repeatedly vowing to be a proper member of the household. During the months following that I found ways to escape and tried to return to my room in the main house.


    That room was no longer mine. I missed the comfort of knowing my brothers and sisters were nearby but received no alternative. At five my opinion mattered very little. Being forced into my garden and enduring starvation following brief escapes proved a harsh deterrent to escaping. Slowly the small belongings I had owned were transferred and the single house remodeled to be more familiar.


    The situation did not grow comfortable, but instead became familiar. Being relegated to near isolation felt a twisted punishment for plucking at what I considered to be strangling filth around my younger brother¡¯s chest. No sane person should want those wormy lines choking their lives like vines on a tree.


    In the years following, I noticed that everyone carried such strange passengers. Guards who watched me from afar, those family members who showed a willingness to visit me, everyone had them. The water¡¯s edge reflected my own essences as surely as I could see into my brother¡¯s. Nearly pure unmarred whiteness reflected back, save for the core of my core which contained a singular black spot.


    Based on the words of my father, those actions of plucking out bits had somehow harmed my youngest brother¡¯s purity. For months the knowledge plagued me. In the meditation¡¯s wake came denial, and hope that such an event might be undone through force of will. No such result ever could be achieved. Will alone solved nothing without power, as ability alone bore no results without action.


    I hung on the moment of my past while struggling to keep my breath even. For a heartbeat the prior memory of my mother¡¯s arms holding me surfaced. Those limbs once again briefly comprised the entire world. They cradled me closely against a familiar heartbeat. Vision shook and I tried to brush away unease by using three slow breaths to release the memory.


    After my mind felt centered in solitude I stood up and proceeded to the next portion of my day. Morning was set aside for meditation upon the past or nothing at all. Both were considered acceptable.


    A small plate of food arrived by an uninitiated servant, one who held no hope of ever cracking the first layer. She made no eye contact and often ensured the meal arrived before my mental exercises even finished.


    I ate but found the taste unremarkable after so many days of the same food. Eyes drifted upwards in search of the sun. I traced its path over my garden wall. Eating a meal took precisely two feet of time, as the wall tracked the sun. I had no better reference short of a candle, and as the sixth living child such items rarely made it to me. My few possessions were retained from birthdays prior to my isolation, or what my tutors believed was needed to assist in teaching.


    Over the wall people could be heard. The tall edge of a nearby building jutted upward with its ornate roof. Further still the Region Lord¡¯s manner could be seen. I looked to the east and wondered what lay outside of the city. Perhaps there might be more interesting foods or new people who knew of the world.


    The gate to my near seclusion opened. I set aside my breakfast plate then stood and brushed myself off. I turned in time to see one of my few regular visitors arrive with long measured steps. Today¡¯s instructor was a middle aged man by the name of Captain Nagi. He did not believe in long hair and insisted all students, though I knew not who the other learners might be, keep their hair short. So I did, as did he.


    ¡°Young Lord Fell,¡± he greeted me but did not bow.


    ¡°Captain Nagi, I thank you for taking time to instruct me.¡± I responded as advised by my second teacher.


    ¡°How goes your training?¡± He asked to start the midday exercises.


    I bowed once to ensure proper greetings were exchanged. The action was based upon my second tutor¡¯s advice. She stated that all people willing to teach me something new should be given respect for their efforts.


    ¡°Sir, my attempts at meditation has led to recalling the past yet again,¡± I focused on the positive aspects as the second tutor had taught me.


    ¡°That¡¯s important. The past ever shapes us in the present. Still, remember to clear your mind of everything.¡±


    ¡°I struggle to do so. Memories of the past often block my way.¡±


    ¡°Then something in your past holds you back.¡± Captain Nagi¡¯s voice was firm, like fathers, but slightly lighter in pitch.


    I nodded once.


    ¡°Come on then. We shall start with a warm up then go through the forms together.¡± He waved one hand towards the garden wall.


    My chest lifted in a deep breath and a sigh almost escape. Once I had dared sigh in Captain Nagi¡¯s presence and father starved me for a day due to disrespect. I would not sigh heavily at his orders again. Like the days before, I ran laps.


    ¡°Four more, if my cadets can do it, so can you!¡± Captain Nagi kept pace behind me. In his hand lay a switch to use if ever feet drug.


    Other people doing these exercises made me feel a bit more normal. At the center of who I was lay the desperate desire to fit in with my peers upon release, and a frustrating certainty that such hopes were unachievable. What sort of child was trapped in a garden like I?


    I asked those who taught me of the world why such a lifestyle came to pass. All my older brothers and sisters were treated much the same according to those in charge of my small world. Only they were out there together and I had been kept away like a monster. My teachers told me softly that I too would find a way to contribute one day.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯re done with the warm up.¡± He said, but I kept going at a brisk pace to a clear part of the garden. Once there he nodded then motioned at me. ¡°Start the first stage, Sunrise of a Man.¡±


    I nodded then posed my body as instructed. These exercises were nothing new. All Asger children were required to learn them. Since the age of four we each practiced but these basic stances and motions. There were six in total, one for each part of the day.


    ¡°Stretch those fingers future. Keep your shoulders back.¡± Captain Nagi walked around and hit me lightly with the switch. ¡°All stances require a proper center. Don¡¯t waver.¡± His attacks were not enough to cause harm or welts. The sting kept a child''s mind from wandering. So it was explained.


    The remaining afternoon went rapidly as reminders were repeated over and over. Captain Nagi left, well before the sun had reached dinner time. I sat in a cooling stance with both hands pressed to my lap and tried not to feel upset. My head tilted back and I saw no stars to keep me company.


    I mediated to clear my mind. Mental exercises truly started three years ago. The ease of seeing energies floating around grew worse as I gained mastery over piercing the first layer. Though I could channel no energies into my body as other people on The Way might.


    That portion of training still eluded me. I could not summon flames with a kick like my sisters. Sword energy did not answer my call as it did for father and my oldest brother. Those energies stayed far away from me. My sisters were experts in the Noonday Sun, a stance which channeled burning flames. In theory there were finer names for their techniques, but I could not channel energy myself so the knowledge was pointless.


    There were layers of colors, each one representing different types of energy which people on The Way could channel. They hovered in droves near the wall outside my garden. A smatter of light blues which represented ice and water floated past the tiny lake. Trees further back housed deep browns mixed with all shades of green.


    Afternoon approached. I walked to the entryway of my garden. The passageway traveled twenty feet with a heavy barred gate at its center. This served as a line which must not be crossed without approval. Grooves lay worn into the wooden flooring where I knelt to wait.


    Thoughts drifted and I struggled to stay upright. Today¡¯s exercises caused mostly wariness and slipping focus. I straightened my back then tried to focus upon nothing.


    A blink later both mother and father were kneeling on the gateways other side. ¡°Greetings Father.¡± I bowed down with both hands on the floor. ¡°Greetings mother.¡± I said while bowing a second time for my mother.


    Both people were clearly visible through the gateway. Unlike the teachers and the shy woman who left food behind, my parents did not come inside the garden. I quietly appraised them while waiting for a response. Their clothing did not look as fine as a year ago. Mother used to have a heavily embroidered piece which she had held as if it were treasured. Today marked the third month without its appearance and I worried for my family.


    ¡°Greetings fourth son Fell,¡± he said. The usage of my name made this prison bearable. They had not cast me away completely. ¡°How are you faring today?¡± By law, the person with higher status spoke first after greetings.


    ¡°I am well,¡± I replied while trying to sound positive. The sound came out flat despite my desires. Blaming the lack of emotion on physical exhaustion would be a lie.


    My parents kept me safe and arrived to the small garden to converse almost daily. Yet, they strayed no closer than twenty feet. They had little enough time for me given their household duties. Tutors spoke of a mountain gods worth of tasks which my parents had to perform.


    ¡°Have you managed to progress to the required level?¡± Father continued with his standard questions.


    I took a breath to steady myself and let tension from both shoulder blades. They dropped slightly as my eyes tried to look both left and right at the same time. The veil between reality and that which lay outside it parted slightly.


    Both parents sat in a dense fog of grey and red energy. They looked completely at home in air that had been tainted by a billion uncomfortable tiny pieces of other. My parents actually looked bright as they waited for an answer. Something about my father¡¯s presence drew in silvery floating pieces, while my mother pulled in slightly crimson ones.


    None of those colors cross the twenty foot gulf in my direction. I closed my eyes briefly then took three slow breaths to calm down. Eyesight relaxed and stopped trying to look in a direction askew from reality.


    ¡°No sire. Not yet,¡± I confirmed.


    My father frowned slowly. The look had grown commonplace as of late. His eyes glanced over towards mother. Their shared glances could indicate a multitude of responses, but most were probably about me.


    ¡°That is disappointing,¡± he said.


    ¡°I understand. I will try harder.¡± I bowed my head to the ground then lifted back up.


    There were many reasons father¡¯s request felt unreasonable. Primarily, I had struggled for years to perform as asked with no guidance on how to do so. Overcoming the natural world¡¯s aversion to me felt impossible.


    ¡°Recently, Doctor Lumin advised me that no record of a similar condition exists in the entire city. I was advised that the only way forward may be divinely gifted insight,¡± I dared speak in defense of myself.


    Mother clicked her tongue once in displeasure but said nothing. I blinked while showing no other signs of being snubbed. She had not spoken to me once since her youngest son nearly died at my hands.


    ¡°It is good that you work to overcome this tribulation,¡± father said.


    ¡°Doctor Lumin has requested insight from a clan of star watchers.¡± Father¡¯s eyes flashed at my revealed news. ¡°I¡¯ve reminded him that my name should not be mentioned. Regardless, your son will still struggle to complete his tasks.¡± I once again bowed my head to the ground and hoped the reminder of my efforts and our relationship might prevent a day of hunger.


    Perhaps if I could finally surmount this obstacle then they might embrace me once again as they did for my siblings. No amount of guidance from my three teachers helped overcome the problem so far, and I hoped for a divine revelation like heroes always received in stories.


    ¡°You must, and soon. The Region Lord has wondered why you do not attend class with other young men of the area. It would be a great occasion if you were to master yourself enough to attend.¡±


    I trembled at the thought of attending a school, of meeting other children and escaping this isolation. ¡°Perhaps I could be allowed to go once a week, if escorted?¡±


    ¡°You cannot. Until you demonstrate restraint and pose no danger to other clan younglings, we cannot let you venture forth,¡± father said. His words outlined my exact problem. Without mastering my repelling nature to energies, or the way those which came close were destroyed by a touch, going out would be dangerous.


    So I had been told repeatedly for a thousand days and more.


    ¡°Once again then, I vow to struggle towards self-control,¡± I said then bowed again.


    ¡°That would be best for us all.¡± Father then stood up, followed by mother. They left and I allowed a bit of muted emotion to reach my face.


    Letting such feelings surface often provided no solution, but my first teacher advised me everyone needed to let emotions well forth when the opportunity presented itself. To keep them suppressed created poison for the soul. For some, Captain Nagi said, emotions were a method to empty one¡¯s self out, and make room for inner strength. This was one of many paths to travel The Way, but it was not my path.


    All three teachers told me that both parents were proud of my progress. They insisted I know that I was loved by my family, and they worried about my condition. For three years they reminded me that the world outside was harsh, and that my family had sacrificed a great deal to provide me so safe a home. In return I should feel loyalty. Showing positive results during training would be the best way to respond to their love.


    Those ideas had slowly sunk their way into my head after years of repetition. They were worth considering but did little to mute my desire for freedom. Part of me hated them all the same for a simple denial of human warmth. I longed to be embraced as I had upon birth.


    The person my spirit was in prior turns of the wheel must have been a monster to deserve such a fate. I silently cursed that unknown figure then went to bed. The days marched on, and each morning I rose again to study the lingering stars. My attention focused on the dark spaces between each cluster of twinkles looking for a secret in the fading blackness.

 Book 1, Silk Bird Cage; ? Three Teachers

    One hundred days later my birthday arrived. Upon turning eleven my entire family visited. The stayed on their side of the gate and did not risk crossing the gate into my garden. What few chairs I had sat out ready in case anyone wished to step inside, but they went unused. Everyone in my family traveled upon The Way so crossing past the threshold would risk their progress.


    All five siblings glared at me from between lines of metal that day. This had been their first visit to me in months, out of obligation most likely, and they did not share the happiness I had at their presence. After minimal greetings my eleventh birthday ended.


    Time continued its march. Another season passed and still my promise to father remained unfulfilled, though other studies filled the time.


    That morning I woke up, shaking uncontrollably. Air hung heavily and weight pressed down upon my chest and stomach. Breath escaped yet eluded return while something hardly visible leaned over to stare downwards at me. The pressure was greater than Lower Master Song¡¯s and almost passive in its attentions.


    Eyes upon the half seen creature were ringed by bits of orange and yellow. Abdominal muscles started quivering rapidly as I struggled to take in fresh air. Blackness arrived at the edges of eyesight and I wondered if I was going to return to the wheel, perhaps to be a more fortunate person upon rebirth.


    Then I woke up again, this time to the sound of birds chirping. Breathing came smoothly and naturally. I sat up like a gear driven doll then removed sweat heavy clothes. A single cloth was dipped into water then I proceeded to rinse off evidence of a night demon¡¯s visit. Such creatures were said to exist by my second tutor, they often plagued people with visions which made no sense and inspired fear.


    I did not know if they were real, but not one of my three teachers had lied to me. The sheets of my small bed were hung up outside one window along with unclean clothes. Today¡¯s weather looked overcast but a sun could win through eventually.


    That had been a visitation, by a creature beyond the veil that did not care about my powers. It showed no worry that touching me might disrupt its nature. The moment perplexed and I felt detached while trying to understand. At times the world around me made perfect sense yet during other moments it made none.


    Both eyes blinked and three deep breathes allowed me to change thoughts to something more uplifting. Recently, martial arts instructor Captain Nagi had provided a positive assessment. His praise served to counter this morning¡¯s mood. Morning meditation upon my rooftop allowed me to recall the words from a week ago.


    "You''ve come a long way these past few years.¡± He smiled and I struggled to stay straight in his presence. ¡°Would that my students showed half the diligence you do in practicing."


    "Teacher, I do not deserve such flattery." I felt proud anyway. Much of each day was spent trying to follow the forms he taught me. Doing so for a thousand days could only lead to understanding. "I believe other students are more driven than I, they only lack a quiet spot to hone their craft."


    "Perhaps," he stared at me. "Their mastery of all six stances is nowhere near yours. Still, their practical experience is far higher. This training unbalances you." Captain Nagi nodded to himself and reached a conclusion of some sort.


    "If any wish to trade places for a day, I would not be opposed." I thought myself clever for expressing my desires in such a manner. "Perhaps we might exchange insights by experiencing new environments."


    The captain actually laughed with two loud booms of noise that startled birds on the wall nearby. I attempted a smile but found it expressing emotion harder as the years wore on.


    "No. I''m sorry little sprout," Captain Nagi used his nickname for me. I did not understand how it came about. "But perhaps I can find an appropriate partner for you to practice against."


    My head lifted too quickly and the older man laughed again.


    "Do not be too hopeful, there are few who fit the bill. Your father was lucky to find even one teacher free with the right qualities to come into this garden, let alone three of value. Truly the heavens have sought to balance your misfortunes."


    I nodded and said, "I would welcome any assistance you have to further my training."


    Captain Nagi''s few lines were like a fire of hope. I passed the morning with practice, trying to drown out the rush of anticipation with routine. I fiercely wanted to be visited by anyone new, to talk to someone near me own age.


    His hesitation to bring another student involved those upon The Way. Anyone who sought to conquer all the layers of reality and ascend to godhood could be considered upon The Way. The paths to an end were many.


    Captain Nagi was not a practitioner, none of my three teachers were. This helped me, because people upon The Way found coming into my garden disquieting due to the absence of all energy. Doctor Lumin, my third teacher, specifically equated stepping into here like being asked to put on a blindfold then pouring wax into both ears, though he did not practice.


    Today, unfortunately, was not the day for the Captain¡¯s return. Today''s teacher would be Mistress Charity, the second of three who instructed me. She always arrived promptly at noon, never before or after. We ate a meal together while manners and rules for interacting with people from all walks were discussed.


    Mistress Charity rang a bell twice then came through the gate without pause. Where General Nagi strode across the yard with rapid speeds, she walked slowly and with grace.


    "Good day Mistress Charity." I clasped both hands then bowed. Light rain wet my hair, while she used a large umbrella which funneled the water along tiny groves on either side.


    "Young Lord Fell. You''re practicing hard this morning," she said with a bright voice. Her eyes scanned once around the garden and settled briefly on the small dry space under my home''s root.


    I walked quickly then pulled out chair inside as part of our routine. A proper host provided locations to sit. One day I might break through in understanding and be let into the world outside, and a son of the Asger clan could not be allowed ignorance.


    "I am committed to working hard for the clan." I was often unsure of how to respond to her. The questions were confusing at times, and we repeated many points. It could be said that she was the person I interacted with most and her speech had impacted my growth heavily over the years.


    "Clan Lord Asger will be proud to hear of your dedication." Her words caused me to flush briefly.


    "I hope so," I said while getting a second smaller cushion ready.


    ¡°Well, shall we see where our conversations traverse today?¡± She asked.


    ¡°As you wish Mistress Charity.¡± My legs were tucked under me, which allowed for a simple bow of the head.


    Men bowed to those they respected or people who were above them in station. Women did not need to bow to a man, but had their own ways of interacting based on rank. Mistress Charity told me such teachings would not be for me to understand, at least not until I had gained my freedom and perhaps aged a few seasons.


    Once I had seen my mother look to Mistress Charity with disapproval, but knew not why. Asking about the gaze had resulted in the one bout of sadness to cross the kind woman''s face. Mother¡¯s lack of acceptance had upset my second teacher.


    There were no good reasons for them to be at odds to my knowledge. The teacher was kind to me, and helpful in ways that Captain Nagi was not. Where he preferred the switch to discipline, Mistress Charity simply showed disapproval. Perhaps my mother disliked the ever changing array of clothes which certainly entertained the eye with their patterns. I understood the swirls and colors brought focus to certain parts of the body, but she told me there was more allure in what the clothing did to her form. That too, I did not understand.


    ¡°Do you recall our lessons from last week?¡± She asked. The woman was beautiful and distant. Her back sat straight but there was a twist to her body that made the pose look relaxed instead of rigid.


    I nodded once then spoke, ¡°When conversing with known element, it is best to start with a polite greeting, then mild praise. This will allow for positive relations between both parties.¡±


    "And how did I greet you when we first met today?¡±


    Memory flashed back to a moment ago and I struggled to put her words into context. I nodded once more. "You greeted me then mentioned my hard work."


    ¡°Well said young lord. Please demonstrate this for me, so that I can report your clarity to the family leaders.¡± She was always polite and calm. Mistress Charity was said to serve many roles within the household by my other teachers, but I didn¡¯t understand what they implied. I only knew that the woman remained kind to me, and answered any question I dared ask.


    "You dress looks especially striking today."


    "Remember to smile with a compliment," she said.


    I tried to smile but failed. Mistress Charity took in a breath of air while her jaw clenched briefly. A heavy layer of air came in steadily before she nodded.


    ¡°If you find looking sincere difficult, perhaps practice might help. Work on your tone and face separately or together when you have time. Consider it another stance to master. Bright Dawn of a Clouded Face might be a good technique name.¡±


    Perhaps her naming sense could be improved. I nodded while trying to take her words to heart. Treating smiling as a motion to practice sounded like a good idea.


    ¡°You may also choose to remark on a specific aspect of the dress, such as a design. Jewelry will work if you see a piece that is of note.¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°Alternately you could have compared me to a ray of sunshine in a dark day.¡±


    ¡°Or a bight dawn during a clouded day,¡± I said while trying hard to smile again. Mistress Charity laughed with a tinkle of quiet noise then became serious.


    ¡°However a proper gentleman only remarks on what is seen.¡± Mistress Charity gazed to one side while twirling her umbrella slowly. ¡°There are some boys who feel the need to remark on hidden treasures as if they have earned the right to do so.¡±


    I nodded but started to feel lost. Often she alluded to problems which were beyond me in both age and understanding. The failing was mine.


    ¡°In public it is best to keep such crude ideas, if you ever have them, to yourself,¡± she said.


    ¡°Of course Mistress Charity.¡±


    Our lessons went on. She was one of five women I had seen since being confined to this cage. Her words spoke of subjects none of the other¡¯s did. My sisters shared no courtroom facts or tips on talking to people. The maid who served food said nothing at all. Clan Mother Asger, my mother, chose not to speak within earshot.


    As such, Mistress Charity was the best source of information on females that I had. She assured me that her knowledge would be enough to win all the favor I might seek, once a larger amount of freedom could be won.


    ¡°Did you have any questions to discuss today?¡± She smiled at me to show that our conversation caused no lingering displeasure.


    I nodded then asked, ¡°It is my sister¡¯s birthday soon, yet I don¡¯t know what to get her. Do you have suggestions of what I might be able to provide that she would value?¡±


    ¡°What do you recall of her?¡±


    ¡°Only her practicing, and the clothes she used to wear to allow for freedom.¡± I blinked rapidly and realized the commentary might be taken wrong. ¡°When she kicked, there was a hint of red, like fire sparking into being.¡±


    Mistress Charity lowered her eyebrows and twisted the umbrella around. Small droplets of rain still remained upon its surface. Despite our covered seating she still kept it above herself. The women worked hard to ensure pinned up hair suffered no marring from weather.


    Finally, she nodded. ¡°Do you remember the craft skills we have been working on these last three years?¡±


    We had learned a few. My teacher knew many different artesian abilities. She threatened often to teach me cooking, but only once I made it into the world. In her words cooking was a fine art all men should learn to properly woo a lady.


    ¡°Yes, I remember Mistress Charity. This year you¡¯ve had me focusing on sculpting animals from a book. You said it was an important skill to go with painting and drawing and fostered an imagination.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps with these skills you could craft a handmade gift. Something you believe captures the essence of your sister. Or better yet, something which demonstrates her captivating focus upon martial skills.¡±


    I nodded. In order of birth, my sisters were second and third children, while I was sixth. They were both years ahead of me in all aspects, save perhaps, for art. Ideas ran through my mind, ways to craft or draw a present. The ease of applying such techniques to gift giving felt startling.


    ¡°Did you teach me crafting for this as well?¡± My tone took on a dumbfounded tone. Mistress Charity might be a prophet in disguise, or an Enlightened One. Such a status would not surprise for she often had incredible foresight. Or perhaps, despite my maturity of thought, I was still an inexperienced eleven year old boy.


    ¡°I taught you because no noble¡¯s child should be ignorant with regards to art.¡± Her eyebrows went up and I wondered about the fine line on her face which accented ruby lipstick. ¡°And, appreciation of fine work truly starts when one is exposed to the difficulty of crafting.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps once I am free, such appreciation might be truly valuable.¡± Even breathes assisted in keeping calm as I bowed once more. ¡°Thank you teacher, for gifting me the key to this puzzle. I will attempt to craft a gift suitable for elder sister Eerika.¡±


    ¡°Do not give up. No matter what tribulations your efforts encounter, time and dedication will surely provide you a worthy result,¡± she said.


    I nodded once more, and the day passed. Once Mistress Charity left my feet turned to the small abode. Inside hands sketched out pictures from distant memories. The urge to create a perfect gift drove me well into the night. Exhaustion eventually pulled me away from the burned out candle and pile of charcoal drawn figures. I stared at the finest piece under moonlight and for the first time in an age, felt loneliness chip away.


    All five remaining siblings were penciled in a row. Blurry lines representing bars framed the scene of their arrival on my birthday. If I could not come to my family, and they dared not approach for fear of being hurt, then pictures of them would serve as proxy.


    Time was one commodity given to me in droves. Each morning after still started the same. I greeted the sunrise after stargazing. Days went by while I honed my skill and worked upon the gift. What started as a series of perspective drawings became a statue formed of sculpted earth.


    There were two compounds Mistress Charity taught me to sculpt, and in the weeks that followed we revisited them many times. First was a darker material to be used for stiffer portions of the world. Surface and skins were done with lighter clay of sorts. The small sculpting tool allowed me to work fine lines and curves into the material as it dried. Getting them to form correctly took hours of practice.


    My last batch of darker material had been used in learning to craft legs that balanced correctly. More was needed to form a replica of my sister¡¯s thicker legs correctly. When I asked, Mistress Charity or Doctor Lumin would bring a small amount of the materials.


    Each teacher operated on a schedule and would not be rushed. Captain Nagi arrived every other day like clockwork. Mistress Charity showed every fourth day, always at noon. My third instructor showed up with far less rhythm or reason, occasionally interrupting the other two. The only clue he had arrived was a rapid-fire knocking on the gateway to the garden.


    Today I awaited the arrival of any teacher. Quick paced thudding hit my gate door. I walked steadily, already aware who awaited me. Only Doctor Lumin beat on my gate with such unstable ferocity.


    ¡°Hurry Fell. Hurry,¡± the man said through my gate. Captain Nagi¡¯s voice ran sharper than most males. The person visiting now rasped from perpetual sickness in his lungs. Doctor Lumin¡¯s words held a whine that Lower Master Song did not.


    My third teacher carried many different objects, and always did. Were it not for father¡¯s order this person might have filled the garden with devices to measure every sort of information available. Experiments were his life.


    Personal grooming was not. One ill-timed visit set Mistress Charity against the Doctor. She tried to straighten his clothes and comb back unruly hair, as a result he rarely showed when she was around.


    ¡°Hurry. Hurry. Grab those, and come with me.¡± He stomped through the gate after pointing towards objects which lay on the wrong side of the threshold.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    I stared at the box covered in silk. Hovering all about it were bits of energy. They felt safe over there because I had not stepped that way years. My few escapes were long behind me now.


    ¡°Come on!¡± Doctor Lumin shouted.


    Feet stayed rooted on the spot while I marveled at the open door. A guard¡¯s spear could be seen along with slightly green armor. They were my protectors, or jailors, and the men who wielded those weapons never spoke to me.


    Footsteps charged up behind me. A hand brushed by as the Doctor leaned over for his goods. He slammed the gate shut and I cursed myself for not taking brief advantage of the freedom. One single step might have let me out, or set me shaking.


    ¡°Come on! We mustn¡¯t tarry. I don¡¯t know how long the specimen will last this time!¡± He coughed repeatedly and a thump behind me caused a jump.


    I turned and briskly walked to his side, picking up the small box covered in silk. The object felt no heavier than a bucket of water. We made our way to a clear patch of ground. The Doctor rapidly gestured downwards with a finger.


    ¡°Open it, quickly! Pull back the scarf!¡± Doctor Lumin insisted.


    I did as bid and revealed a small hairy creature attempting to climb one wall. The being was no taller than a finger. It slipped down the smooth surface, unable to find purchase.


    My third teacher scrambled to bring out palm sized piece of glass. He rubbed a cloth against its surface then carefully placed his fingers upon the edges. Doctor Lumin¡¯s hands shook with a demand for attention.


    ¡°Do you see it?!¡± The glass in his hands slid over to give a finer view of his creature trapped in a jade lined box.


    I leaned over to use his magnifying glass. Under scrutiny the creature became more apparent. Parts resembled a bug with fur, extra arms, and long protruding bones which came out its mouth. This finger sized being had human eyes and hands.


    ¡°Yes teacher. This one is bigger than the last weeks,¡± I said.


    Doctor Lumin started bringing such creatures into the garden after my eleventh birthday. They rarely lasted long, finding the absence of energy like poison. Even now the creature¡¯s eyes were widening and growing less human. Fur turned to wiggles of black and green energy then threatened to unravel.


    ¡°Can you make it do anything? Try to focus your thoughts on walking, but don¡¯t move your actual legs.¡±


    Toes twitched as I tried to envision both moving and holding still. The merger of opposites sent a chill along back muscles. Neither I nor the small monster moved more than a foot.


    ¡°Ahh! Do you see? It responded!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe so.¡± I shook my head. It looked to be huddled in a corner, perhaps whimpering. Such creatures were said to be beasts and could bedevil a human mind into unspeakable acts. This one simply seemed pathetic.


    ¡°Do you know what it is? Would familiarity help? Knowing might increase your ability to create a link.¡± He grew horse near the end then he could no longer suppress coughs.


    The smaller creature was yipping now. A plaintive noise while multiple arms clawed against the box¡¯s jade lining.


    ¡°Based only on the whine, I would call it a gibberling.¡±


    ¡°A very, very, very small one. Can you tell what energies made it?¡± Doctor Lumin nodded while wiping away his eyes.


    My head shook back and forth. Doctor Lumin had pictures, but nothing amounted to real experience. As a sixth child, most of my requests went towards crafting supplies and not books.


    ¡°Maybe this one will be able to last?¡± He coughed once, which caused the miniscule creature to rear backwards and start chattering towards us. Doctor Lumin grew sick looking while shaking his head rapidly.


    I reached down then snuffed out the tiny gibberling¡¯s life with a touch. Energy popped then steamed through my hand. Black fell to pieces and crackled as if catching fire. Soon every trace of its existence had vanished which left me feeling dirty.


    ¡°Ah, gods be damned.¡± Doctor Lumin sighed then leaned backwards. Wrinkles pinched around both eyes while one hand rubbed at the bridge to his nose. ¡°I thought we might learn more with a larger beast.¡±


    ¡°It finds my touch destructive, as did the other three,¡± I spoke slowly. A smile almost crept across my lips at the thought of having some unique talent which others did not. Save for the price of imprisonment.


    ¡°Size means nothing so far. I fear the only way we might know for sure is to bring a full Night Born, or something of similar complexity.¡±


    I nodded, hoping such an experiment might be avoided.


    The gibberling was one of many creatures created from the energy flowing around. A million possible combinations could happen. For instance, an avian twisted together with the right energy become a ravening monster, hungry constantly with wings of flame. Smaller creatures turn into smaller beings, like gibberling. Most such compositions were formed of bugs and nightmare energies which came off of dreamers.


    ¡°Are all such creatures made of energy and animal?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The reasons have plagued us for millennia.¡± Doctor Lumin took both palms and banged gently on the sides of his face. ¡°We might know more, were it not for the constant destruction that followed in the greater beast¡¯s wakes.¡±


    I nodded. Over the years this topic had come up more than once. Every season at least one rural town became razed under bandits or cursed by wandering beasts. Each such monster had different effects, and not all of them left damage of a physical nature. Some, like the People of Idle Brook, went for months before anyone noticed them sacrificing of travelers.


    ¡°Captain Nagi says that even our greatest soldiers can barely scratch some of them, like demons of the world,¡± I said, trying once again to bring up the most dangerous of such creatures.


    Doctor Lumin shook his head quickly then coughed. His messy hair stayed almost still despite the motion.


    ¡°Only a few can hurt them, and people upon The Way are sometimes counterproductive.¡± He stood up then went to the bags of stuff he had brought. Items were pulled out one after the other.


    Many I recognized. One helped him take my pulse, the other allowed for hearing a heartbeat. A traveler of The Way could hear such items without the need for a device, once they reached high enough, or someone Piercing the Veil might do the same upon reaching the third layer. Doctor Lumin and I did not have those gifts.


    ¡°How are they counterproductive?¡± I asked. The word did not make complete sense to me.


    ¡°Travelers of The Way are powerful, more powerful than a standard human. Energy infuses their every move. Many use this to fight each other, in the name of a kingdom, or region, or for foolish notions like respect and honor.¡±


    Still more items were placed in a half circle around him. In the growing collection was more putty for my statues. I reached for it slowly and got a nod from Doctor Lumin.


    ¡°The Way involves channeling energies from the other realms, and makes them more than human, so for us it is harder to fight. Yet between a beast and follower of The Way, their battles are quicker, more violent, and deadlier.¡± His head shook and a series of coughs hit him again. This time they were powerful enough to set the man onto his rear. There he dabbed at a sweating forehead and shook.


    I gathered water from a small kettle then brought it forth.


    ¡°Teacher, this was boiled earlier today. I warmed it with a small sprig of Cold Clear from the rear wall.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he took the cup and drank it in three large sips. We sat for a minute while he slowly recovered. ¡°I find it odd that such a plant dares grow in here. So little else of power does.¡±


    My shoulders traveled up and down in a slow shrug. The Cold Cure would have fallen to nothing if I dared touch it directly. Instead one shirt and a small blade let me snip it without skin contact.


    Doctor Lumin stared at me then rasped, ¡°We exist in a strange world, you and I. A strange world. Our best defense against inhumane monsters may be our inability to be more than human.¡±


    ¡°For you perhaps teacher, but what of me?¡± The question rushed out. This topic had veered into new territory. ¡°I can see through the first hand of veils, but am unable to channel the energies as my brothers. Am I more, or less than they?¡±


    He gave me a pat on the head. Doctor Lumin was the only person to directly touch me in years. The contact made me freeze with heart stutters. I cautiously looked over to see what else the older man might do.


    ¡°I worry that your place in the world may be even more dangerous than simply traveling The Way. And make no mistake, such a unique path is already fraught with danger. But,¡± he gestured to the empty jade box. ¡°Perhaps you are not so defenseless.¡±


    ¡°For all the good it does me Doctor Lumin. Such defenses do not allow me freedom however strong they might be.¡± I sighed.


    ¡°One day, young Lord fell, one day.¡±


    I nodded once, but privately contemplated the value of such a strange in between. It would have been better if I were born like one of my siblings. Being different only risked young Colborn¡¯s life and incurred isolation. At nine Colborn¡¯s eyes carried accusation.


    Doctor Lumin ran his tests all about my house and the garden home which kept me safe. I checked the sketches and tried to work with half formed pieces of putty. Legs to properly pose the statue provided most difficult.


    ¡°Most interesting,¡± the Doctor said upon approaching my small workbench. My house only had room for a foot deep table sitting under the window. ¡°May I have some of these?¡± He pointed towards discarded attempts.


    I nodded. They meant little to me because the material had hardened beyond workability. He picked one up with slack jaw and wavering eyes. The magnifying glass appeared out of a pouch, was polished then held up to the carving.


    What he sought to learn I did not know. The doorway to my garden banged shut with a lingering screech. It wiggled in the outside breeze until someone locked it shut. Sometime later I took note of a figuring moving through the garden to confirm my presence. Once he came within sight the guard in green nodded then briskly walked back out.


    Eventually I realized the Doctor had left. My third teacher did not perform greetings, or farewells. In this he was nothing like Mistress Charity. Still, he dared to touch me, and in that Mistress Charity was nothing like him. Each teacher was dear to me for a different reason. They were my connections into a wider world.


    Perhaps I could make statues for them as well. I nodded and added their names to a growing list. Capturing their figures should be simple enough, but an essence like my sister¡¯s statue likely held different challenges.


    I engrossed myself in the project of replicated my stance from years ago. Drifting meditation helped bring a memory of her, moving slowly in motion, to the present. Fingers slowly shaped the base in yet another attempt to form precious material correctly. Eerika, would hopefully value the gift.


    Minute corrections were made before a layer of softer material went on top of the hard base. Hours came and went as I struggled to capture every line correctly. Drawing practice helped me understand where the dips were, but turning a flat memory into fully three dimensional product ruined many attempts.


    Finally, by bedtime I had a finished product at long last. The timing was fortunate since my eldest sister would be celebrating her birthday in a few days¡¯ time. This felt like a valuable contribution to my family.


    I slowly studied the statue, smoothing out places where fingerprint marred its surface. After a dozen such passes the piece looked nearly ready. Overnight the material would finish drying.


    Sleep came slowly as I stared across at the statue. Perhaps this might be a better pastime than even the drawings. Family made physical, to represent the one which stayed distant.


    Later the next day, slightly after high noon, my eldest sister sat at the threshold to my garden. She arrived shortly after hearing of a gift from me for her birthday. Twenty served as an important marker, and I had been told she would soon leave the household. Perhaps I might not succeed in my own endeavors by the time she left.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Eerika asked with a voice that sounded rougher than it used to.


    ¡°A gift for you, elder sister Eerika. A statue,¡± I bowed while speaking, but she did not.


    Eldest sister wore a tight bit of clothing that curled up around the neck. Crimson coloring, which all three women in the household favored, ruled a flowering pattern that hugged her form until the legs. They were left in looser fabric to allow for defensive arts, which I remembered curling with red flames.


    It had been years since seeing their practice first hand, and this meager offering tried hard to capture the essence of those movements. I did not know what else to provide them, trapped as I was.


    ¡°You¡¯re giving me a gift,¡± she stated while tilting her head slightly.


    I nodded slowly and tried to gauge her reaction. Rarely did any of us wear true emotions. My siblings were standoffish, with others of course, but especially among each other. It was part of how we were raised. We needed to be smarter than other children, more capable, stronger, faster, and learn The Way. We had been groomed to compete with rarely met enemies. Even isolation wouldn¡¯t stop teachers from being sent at us to report on progress.


    She opened the gate slowly, reached inside then grabbed the statue. My sister looked like timid young girl compared to Mistress Charity, who braved the garden without hesitation.


    ¡°Thank you, brother Fell,¡± Eerika said.


    I bowed. By the time my head lifted she had gone, taking the statue with her. It was a small success. The emotion rode with me making the day easier, at least until a late afternoon meeting with father, much later.


    He rang a bell at the gate, summoning me from distraction. For him I rushed to get into position. We both knelt then father asked his standard array of questions. Replies stayed the same as a thousand days before. I was well, and no progress had been made.


    Only today¡¯s conversation held a different tone. My father abandoned his kneeling pose, stood up then walked towards the gate. My breath hitched as the enormity of his presence truly hit me.


    He swam with grey sword essence. Every motion radiated power and confidence. His dark gaze stared down at me until I felt very small indeed.


    ¡°Fell,¡± my father¡¯s voice sounded serious and I went rigid with tension. The attempt to right myself did nothing to detract from his presence.


    Perhaps my cleverly worded phrases and desire for freedom were pushing too far. I had only mentioned to my three teachers that experience with the outside world would allow for growth. It served as an excuse for the true goal of escaping me four walled prison.


    ¡°In four days the month shall turn, and a black day will be allowed,¡± his words made my mother¡¯s head snap with a glare. The idea had barely begun being explained and already met with disapproval.


    Father didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°I see,¡± I lied.


    Black days came once every three months and were said to allow all actions. At the turn of each season was a day said to be hidden from, or by, the gods. Every other day they watched the planes of reality below and judged those who traveled around. On this subject each of my teachers had something to say.


    Captain Nagi believed them to be a dangerous time. People fought endlessly, citizens of the state did not attempt to keep the peace, and those family guards who roamed were extra aggressive in watching their guards. Thieves ran the streets and murders were allowed.


    Mistress Charity called them hedonistic events which people used as excuses to engage in immoral trysts or other slanderous behavior. Her face betrayed a small amount of happiness while speaking of such events. Yet, as with many things Mistress Charity spoke of, I did not fully understand.


    Doctor Lumin warned of one thing only, that creatures which preferred to remain unseen often arrived in droves. Creatures, I believed, which might be dangerous to more than the body of a human.


    ¡°If you truly wish freedom, even if only for a day, then I will provide two guards with a limited area.¡±


    Mother¡¯s body seized with a suppressed emotion but I took no heed. Both my eyes watered at the idea of venturing forth without punishment.


    ¡°Yes, father, such a gift would mean worlds.¡± My head bowed to the floor once more, and there it stayed until both parents started to leave.


    I looked up only during their leaving to see a worried expression across my mother¡¯s face. It meant little in the wake of joyous news. Eventually I would regret not paying heed.

 Book 1, Silk Bird Cage; ? The Unfortunate Sisters

    In a way, Eerika¡¯s younger brother was fortunate to avoid family squabbling. He sat outside all the games of manipulation and honorable standings. For the other clan members lay an endless landscape of intrigues that everyone down, to nine year old Colborn, was forced to participate in. It kept them sharp against each other and other clans.


    Once they had another brother. Unn, a short year older than Fell, did not survive these games. Only three siblings actually knew what had happened, and that shame would follow them to the grave to be balanced during their next turns at the wheel. Perhaps there they might be allowed a simpler life, free of high noble clan¡¯s intrigues and a tight fisted Region Lord. Or, as their clan father insisted, their performance in this life was all that mattered.


    As such gifts, true gifts, were rarely seen in the Asger household. Prizes were to be earned through survival, successes, or learning to give way for need. Most arrived on birthdays, or when honor had been won and could be recognized, and occasionally when a sibling gave up their desires for the household¡¯s betterment.


    Each child of the Asger clan hoarded their items while casting glances towards prizes their brothers and sisters received. Measured evaluations were applied to each item, such as a simple looking piece of pottery, new dresses, or stacks of herbs. Jewelry often became the target of bartering and trading favors.


    ¡°Will you be reserving your normal field young lady?¡± An elderly female servant bowed towards Eerika. ¡°Though you are early we always make sure to keep it prepared in case some desires it.¡±


    The first daughter of had been so lost in her thoughts that she naturally veered towards a rear practice yard. Asger¡¯s household had six spread across their property in Sol¡¯s Heart, and they were reserved based on times.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t intend to use this field, I¡¯m sure there are many soldiers of our family who can make use of the extra time.¡± Another female voice spoke nearby. It was sweeter sounding than Eerika¡¯s.


    ¡°Good day to you, younger sister.¡± Eerika kept her hands clutched tightly at the object that burned like a coal.


    ¡°Good day to you, older sister,¡± Eira said with a smile and bow that only displayed respect.


    Eerika heard the rumors as serving maids tittered to each other. They whispered of how the Clan Mother had spread her legs for another man. For none of Asger¡¯s overwhelming strength showed as she aged. Eira however showed no lack of both drive and skill despite a four year difference in age.


    ¡°However, a better idea occurs to me. I could make use of this field. Would older sister mind allowing me to practice here?¡± Eira smiled and not an ounce of insincerity could be noticed.


    Eerika knew this location was the best on their city property for flame cultivators. It was part of why she normally reserved this small region.


    ¡°The sun¡¯s energy is easier to reach at this time of day, and the extra practice should help me break the current threshold,¡± Eira pressed.


    The women of Asger clan all practiced a cultivation method titled Solar¡¯s Five Horses. Standing in an open field where the sun beat down during high noon yielded great results. Sweat rolled from glistening skin as their women burned away impurities and took in the heat.


    ¡°I too need to practice younger sister,¡± Eerika responded. ¡°Rights are granted based on seniority and family.¡±


    As the second child, Eerika often had preferred treatment in nearly everything. Only those with a higher position in the clan could fight for this yard. That meant her parents, or eldest brother Hakon.


    ¡°Or performance,¡± Eira reminded her elder sister. ¡°At my current rate I will be able to take a good spot in the bi-yearly clan meet. Until then it is up to older sister if she wishes to be one who helped the clan succeed, or hindered it.¡±


    They might only be half-sisters, or maybe they were full blood. Whatever spark of talent their father had, only a few of the children inherited.


    ¡°You may have yard, of course. Take it with my well wishes in your success,¡± Erika said. A small jealous part of her wished that Eira might instead break a leg but such a result would be unlikely. Their cultivation techniques usually prevented such an outcome. While their legs became more powerful, honing a long standing trait of their family to brutal perfection, traversing into new platforms often proved difficult.


    ¡°Thank you older sister,¡± Eira bowed while her eyebrows drew together in confusion. Eerika felt proud that caving so quickly had perplexed the younger sibling.


    All too often family members sought to keep their training private. This allowed them to hide their true strength from each other and added a layer of surprise to their maneuvers for status. Keeping her birthday gift from Fell secret meant more than arguing with Eira over one day.


    No one bothered to explain this to their younger brother Fell. He had proven to follow a different or nonexistent path at too young an age. Cultivation, bottlenecks, all the terms which were used by a traveler of The Way meant little to him. His only successes seemed to be in Piercing the Veil. Perhaps in enchanting.


    Eerika hoped the little figurine truly held powers. She could feel it¡¯s heat under her fingers, a pleasant scalding sensation that threatened to become too much. Fell¡¯s looked so much like her. The eldest sister calmly rushed down an alternate pathway, to a small patch of sunlight outside her private room¡¯s window. The light of the noonday sun wasn¡¯t as strong but there was no lack of fire energy.


    She set the statue down in her window. It glittered peacefully in a single ray of unfiltered sunlight. The surface of it seemed to glisten with a hard days sweat. Piercing the Veil¡¯s first layer would have shown a leg outstretched and fully aflame with sun energy. Such a true channeling would have been enough to be fifth, or maybe sixth rank, nearly entry level mastery.


    Eerika could not Peirce the first veil for sight, and instead showed promise on the fifth veil, for touch. Part of it stemmed from being a physical traveler of The Way. Most that focused only on this path were eventually able to feel energy.


    Hours passed, and while the sun set, Eerika felt full of life, as if she still danced her limbs under the sun¡¯s rays. She knew such a gift came from Fell¡¯s creation. The statue was made for her. Even now it vibrated with the same energy Eerika channeled.


    ¡°I see you are working hard,¡± a female voice spoke up from behind Eerika.


    Eerika did not respond right away. She stood halfway through a slow motion that strained muscles from the effort of keeping upright. The same pose would be repeated four times in a full set, and grew progressively more difficult. This motion also allowed her to wash out all the energies which conflicted with their training style.


    ¡°Will you be joining us?¡± Clan Mother Runa asked as Eerika finished this phase of her training.


    Eerika nodded. Her small chest lifted with an unexpected level of strain. Despite the location she felt as if the training had been more effective and intense than a weeks¡¯ worth in the courtyard her younger sister took.


    Runa¡¯s first daughter bowed once then said, ¡°Of course.¡±


    Once light faded each woman would retreat to a shared bath to wash off the residue. Soiled water was cast into the aqueduct for lesser clans to sort through. Many families treated the water similarly. By the time lake water reached poorer parts of town it was often filthy.


    The bath itself was closer to a large spa. Ten people could easily fit into a location used only by three. Perhaps some of the servants or men dared touch this spot in the mornings. If they did, they were careful to cover up signs of trespassing.


    ¡°Elder sister, Clan Mother, how faired your day¡¯s cultivation?¡± Eira asked politely. Eira was often the first to arrive, and last to leave. She was three years younger than Eerika, almost to the day.


    ¡°As well as can be expected. It is hard to find time for a truly strenuous session. Noon¡¯s is often a busy time for household affairs,¡± Clan Mother Runa said while disrobing.


    Despite seven children her body still looked trim. Age could only be blocked so far unless one reached new stages upon The Way. Most of her fitness was the result of daily exercise and diet. Where Clan Mother Runa showed small signs of dragging at forty, Eerika and Eira were supple and without wrinkles.


    Steam started to rise up almost instantly as their bodies dropped in temperature. Channeling energies of fire then submerging in water was a long standing technique countering nastier side effects of the Solar¡¯s Four Horses cultivation method. Stretches and stances held the fire down deeper and refined them one layer at a time, but that which could not be contained had to be washed away.


    ¡°Eerika was putting on quite the display,¡± Clan Mother Runa said. ¡°Both her martial mastery and cultivation have clearly progressed.¡±


    Eerika held her breath and said nothing. Instead, she grabbed a small cloth and started scrubbing at dry flakes of skin to remove them.


    ¡°We both wish to do you, and the Asger clan proud,¡± Eira said with a nod. At fifteen she displayed an almost viperous respect towards those above her in station.


    Runa often reassured Eerika that all children of the Asger clan were committed to their household and maintaining its strength. Both daughters quarreled frequently. Their mother was no so blind as to miss that, any more than she could ignore the pain her sixth child went through being isolated. Runa lived by her own mother¡¯s words, a soft heart will break a clan.


    ¡°Eerika, have you finished your letter of greetings to Young Lord Lire?¡± Their mother changed the subject.


    ¡°I have not found the proper words for our first exchange,¡± Eerika said.


    ¡°Your betrothal is important to the clan¡¯s well being, and by all accounts he is strong, as was your father at that age,¡± Runa said. ¡°Young Lord Lire can be a man worthy of you.¡±


    ¡°I do not wish to make a fool of us by sounding witless,¡± Eerika spoke but kept cleaning until skin showed an irritated pink. The dry spot that truly bothered her had long ago been removed.


    ¡°If you need assistance, perhaps I can offer my own pen,¡± Eira said.


    ¡°No. Let your sister handle this affair. It would do no good to let Young Lord Lire believe Eerika is someone she is not.¡±


    Eerika sunk lower into the water and tried to count the minutes until her body would be ready to leave. Fresh liquid trickled down from the aqueduct siphoning into their waters. Eira chose the spot directly opposite the cooling waters, in order to stay warmer in the bath.


    ¡°Is it true Fell will be allowed to leave for a day?¡± Eira asked.


    ¡°Your father decided the Black Day would be the best time to test his progress.¡± Clan Mother Runa spoke with tightened cheeks.


    ¡°And Lady Sahi¡¯s tokens? Does he really intend to give those to the guards?¡±


    ¡°Where did you hear of that?¡± Clan Mother Runa¡¯s hand lifted out of the water quickly but the surface barely rippled. ¡°No, never mind. If you know, then likely half the servants know, and likely other clans. Your brother can not use them with his nature, and yes, Fell is going to seek an exchange with Lady Hasi. This was not my idea, and I do not know which outcome might be better.¡±


    Eira nodded but asked no further. Eerika felt startled, such news had not made its way to her at all. Once again the younger sister showed remarkable ability. This served as another venue in which the gap between them was obvious.


    Her upcoming marriage was likely about getting rid of a useless child and making way for Eira¡¯s rise. Gaining clan ties served as a secondary benefit, along with whatever else may have been exchanged for a lesser family to win a daughter from a greater one.


    Eerika hated herself for such unkind thoughts but found like error in the reasoning. She cast glances towards the other women and once again wished she might have an area to be strong in, something proud and solely her own. Try as Eerika might, there were no good places to hide from her family. Exiting the bath required traveling past both women while suffering their judging stares.


    ¡°Is brother Fell really so dangerous?¡± Eerika asked in a moment of weakness.


    Clan Mother Runa leaned backwards and water splashed. The motion made both daughters perk up in confusion. Disrupting the water showed how deeply the question bothered her.


    ¡°I had two brothers once, they died long before you were born, and I had been betrothed to your father for less than a month at that point. They were killed in war with the Region Lord across the northern mountains.¡± Clan Mother Runa stared upwards at the forming stars. They too were a source of strength for some cultivators, but their energy felt more cooling and gentle then the suns harsh rays.


    ¡°The war ended and their bodies came home in casket, while sons of lesser clans and commoner households came home in carts, or not at all. With our dead came a delegation from the northern clan.¡± Their mother shuddered briefly despite the water¡¯s warmth. ¡°I hated them. I hated their clothing ugly looked and flat faces. Each one spoke with a brutish accent.¡±


    Their mother took a breath that would have easily drawn the attention of many men. Even in age she retained beauty. Though her hair was plain and brown, and formed waves at greater lengths, Runa still held the Clan Lord¡¯s attention. Both daughters shifted slightly and stared upwards.


    ¡°My mother told me some years later, on her deathbed, that people, no matter their gender or methods will be affected by how we perceive them,¡± she spoke softly but the words were easy enough to hear. Any guards nearby, be it inside the house or on the walls other side, wisely kept their mouths shut. ¡°First impressions, she warned, are the most dangerous. It caves a framework into our hearts on which every other moment is built.¡±


    Eira nodded as if she understood. Eerika did not pretend in the slightest. Instead she focused simply on carving the words into her mind for reflection at a later date. Understanding came slower to the older daughter than she desired.


    ¡°I still find them ugly, flat, and brutish. Every time I see a delegation arrive, or a trader hawking their wares in the market I feel revolted,¡± their mother¡¯s words were sour. ¡°I¡¯ve carried this hatred for nearly twenty years. Yet, in recent years they have done nothing but good for our region.¡±


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    ¡°What about brother Fell?¡± Eira asked.


    ¡°Fell,¡± Runa sighed. ¡°I can see my son as nothing but a frighteningly dangerous and lonely child searching for a place in the world. Lonely, because we must keep him safe and cannot approach him for fear of losing what strengths we have. Dangerous because he nearly killed your brother without even a moment of hesitation.¡±


    Both siblings nodded. The historical event which nearly ended Colborn¡¯s life had been embedded in their minds. Energy distortions disrupted their training that day, swirling all around the property. Guards had been upset, and father dropped his normal routine to rush over. At the center of it all they found one brother, bleeding from his eyes with a ghastly smile, and the other crying as his tethers to life unraveled.


    ¡°I wish had not seen those things, for they taint my perceptions and make monsters out of simple men. They remove any chance at good which might have occurred,¡± their mother said as both young girls shuddered. ¡°As your grandmother warned me, I in turn warn you. We are made not only by what we ourselves do, but by how people perceive us.¡±


    Both daughters said nothing. For once they agreed, seeing wisdom in keeping their mouths shut. Clan Mother Runa rarely spouted out moments from her past. Perhaps the heated waters or recent changes in the household had stirred something inside.


    ¡°Remember this Eerika, when you meet this future husband, or else how you first see him will forever color your time together.¡± Clan Mother Runa smiled and in that moment her age of nearly fifty showed through. ¡°Try to see the good, and if not that, see strength, see loyalty and honesty, and give those traits in return. Do that, and you will find a man worthy of you.¡±


    Eerika¡¯s mouth hung open slightly as she tried to find clever words to say, but none came forth. Her eyes cast towards the younger female in hopes for a clever deflection or other assistant. Eira said nothing. Runa nodded then sighed.


    ¡°It seems I have already cooled enough for today. Tomorrow I will work harder to keep up with my daughters.¡± Clan Mother Runa then stepped out of the bath. Water barely rippled as she left to grab a fresh robe from the house wall nearby. In parting she reminded her daughters, ¡°Remember not to fall asleep, and retain some warmth for the nights, especially you Eerika, soon you will need it.¡±


    Clan Mother Runa, the mother of all six siblings, frequently reminded her daughters to always leave the bath before completely cooling down. There were other uses with the day¡¯s lingering heat. Eerika and Eira would both nod as if they understood. They did, but both were sheltered maidens in regards to men.


    Still, they knew Runa spoke of warming a man¡¯s bed but used far less crude terms. Men were not a subject spoken of often. In this respect the Stone¡¯s Hearth clan and Asger differed greatly.


    Once their mother had traveled far enough, Eerika stood slowly then said, ¡°I shall leave too, goodnight younger sister.¡± The older sibling stepped away from the cooling waters. Her body still held far more heat than normal but being alone in Eira¡¯s presence felt uncomfortable.


    ¡°Goodnight sister,¡± Eira responded while laying her head back on the rocks.


    For a moment Eerika paused to look at her younger sister. Weakness normally covered up by bravado showed through. Eira¡¯s face flushed with red and eyes dropped. Perhaps their younger brother Fell was not the only one who felt a sense of isolation.


    The elder sister nodded. Their family members were under a lot of pressure to perform well. If one didn¡¯t wish to be married against their will then they could demonstrate enough martial and cultivation prowess to escape. Strength for the family came in many forms.


    Perhaps Eira simply sought to carve her own path, as Eerika once had. The eldest sister walked off. Each step warmed the rocks and cooled her feet. Heat circulated to replace the portion being siphoned off by bare skin in night air. A thin robe went over both shoulders and Eerika made her way back to the small room she slept in.


    That night, the statue still glowed with a bright light that reminded Eerika of the noonday sun. She loosened the robe slightly, dropped both legs into a wide stance, then pulled her fists back. Darkness passed while she exerted herself. Alluring progress proved difficult to disregard. Her body lost what little fluff remained until only muscle shone through. The routine continued throughout four days, until the Black Day¡¯s morning.


    That sunrise, sweat saturated her bedding and skin from overexposure to heat. It dripped down as she grunted, struggling to get out of the narrow bed. Her legs cramped horribly and a crunching sound could be heard when Eerika tried to stand.


    ¡°Ahhhhhghhh!¡± A loud shriek rang out from Eerika¡¯s body. Bedding caught fire and quickly climbed up one of the walls. She weakly beat at the walls with her blanket, working rapidly to prevent their destruction. Red flames flickered and died before taking root.


    She fell to the floor then tried to roll and there was another crack. Her legs were alight with uncontrolled flames that burned from the inside out. Air hissed while Eerika clutched wounded legs. She crawled out the door to reach a place where nothing about her might suffer damage.


    Kirkwood, the brother who¡¯s room nestled between her and Eira, practiced in the morning. He followed a training school tied to the Sunrise of a Man stance. Red hued eyes went wide as he took note of his sisters crawling form. Kirkwood rushed over.


    ¡°Elder sister!¡± He shouted while reaching for a bucket. Water siphoned from the aqueduct flowed throughout their compound. Soon he was back, splashing it against the flames.


    Kirkwood brought the flames under control along with a household maid.


    ¡°What happened?¡± He asked Eerika rapidly while breathing heavily. Six laps to the water¡¯s edge with a giant pale had drained him. Kirkwood followed a more mental path along The Way and lacked the physical sturdiness of his sisters.


    Eerika¡¯s head shook with refusal to answer. This would never have happened if she hadn¡¯t become obsessed for days. While she sat hissing through clenched teeth, Fell was being introduced to two guards and given an important task by their father. This would be his first day of allowed freedom in years.


    She prayed that her foolish desire to excel wouldn¡¯t cause young Fell to be punished. Between gasps of pain her mind tried to remember the saying that gods would plead blindness and forgave all which happened on a Black Day.


    ***


    Outside the walls of the Asgar clan holdings were tens of thousands of people. The city of Sol¡¯s Heart was divided into three different sections. Each region belonged to different social groups. Poor were given space on the outskirts while those richer had a lakefront district. This did not mean the rich were surrounded by a layer of disguised squalor. Region soldiers were often sent to clear out an entire stretch of land so that those rich and affluent citizens of Sol¡¯s Heart would never lay eyes on the poor. As such, even those desperate homeless rarely ventured to the southern edge of town.


    Influential clans had residences along the water, granted by the Region Lord. Three such families held larger holdings which spread for miles and distorted the cities shape. Their properties might house thousands of the downtrodden, but instead were private due to their powerful, and often arrogant, families.


    ¡°Mother? That boy is on the roof again.¡± The youngest daughter of a small clan wore finery that lifted already growing assets into an alluring shape. She leaned out the third story window of their manor and stared across at a young man.


    Those walking the pathway below could easily look up and see a young girl nearly spilling out of her tightly cinched top. Her mother hoped that such a dress might attract the eye of young nobles in higher families. The gambit paid off with both her older sisters in years gone by. Only one was successful married while the other found another, less proper way to survive.


    ¡°Show me you¡¯ve been paying attention to my lessons. What name should you address me by in public?¡±


    ¡°Lady Iola, or Clan Mother of Shore¡¯s Hearth.¡± the youngest daughter responded while giving an exaggerated curtsy. Almost immediately she turned back to the window and leaned out once more.


    ¡°Then to answer your question, direct your attentions elsewhere and ignore the young lord next door,¡± Lady Iola said.


    Across the wall of their estate lay a fairly unused but wide stone path. Past that was an aqueduct which funneled water from the lakes edge further into Sol¡¯s Heart. On the other side of running water lay a tall wall which had been carved with ornate decorations. One entrance had a stone bridge which went into a heavy double door. That passageway went to the Asger clan¡¯s property and had not been opened once in six years. Their main door sat further to the south.


    ¡°But that boy¡¯s up there every morning. He just sits, staring like a loon, then he bows. It¡¯s so strange,¡± the young girl responded.


    Noble families such as the Shore¡¯s Hearth clan held only a small tract of land. Their city property traveled an eighth mile along the aqueduct. It was only one of many such holdings that served to buffer between larger families. The three great clans were too prideful to withstand being direct neighbors.


    Many chose this path in hopes of witnessing the spilling treasures of her daughters, as they had at one time made less than casual glances at the middle aged woman. It served to increase their reputation, even if the cause was less than pure. Attentions lead to power of sorts.


    ¡°Mercy. I¡¯ve told you to stop looking at the Asger family¡¯s holdings. It¡¯s not proper,¡± her mother said in with a slow voice. In pieces about her was a dress that had not been fully assembled.


    Mercy¡¯s mother, or as she was called in public, Lady Iola, wore the same style of clothes. Part of it was competition with the budding flower her daughter had become. There were other reasons as well, of course, but mostly jealousy. Their family had few who practiced The Way. As such, they were all equally torn down by times cruel march.


    The youngest daughter turned. Her shoulders pulled back to lean on the windowsill which only served to highlight Mercy¡¯s chest. She said, ¡°But he¡¯s my age, and I¡¯ve never seen him in any classes. Shouldn¡¯t all nobles of age be in the Region Master¡¯s school?¡±


    One of her fingers casually twirled towards the other property. The angle of their third floor living room allowed for a clearly visible view into the garden¡¯s other side. A small house sat inside, and atop it a smaller boy stared upwards at the sky every morning.


    ¡°And?¡± Lady Iola asked.


    ¡°I only asked why he doesn¡¯t show at class. The boy looks cute enough to contend with Prince Char and his friends, though this Asger boy rarely smiles,¡± the daughter responded with a shrug. Mercy¡¯s cheek tucked back in a disapproving expression that every woman in the family had.


    Lady Iola said nothing immediately and kept working at the dress. She enjoyed being a seamstress despite its toll. Each twist of needle wore on stiff fingers. Neither hand looked like the slender beauties they had once been. Such was the price of crafting clothes by hand. These works were creations of pure art, which was half the reason her house retained any nobility at all, that and ample charms coupled with slender waists. Beauty kept them noticed. It certainly wasn¡¯t the work of a philandering husband whose attentions drifted as age had its way with Iola¡¯s body.


    ¡°Their clan head can afford private tutors if they so desire.¡± The clan mother of Shores Heart spoke with a calmness her mind didn¡¯t have. Seeing her third daughter displaying such charms without an ounce of self-awareness nearly caused her to twitch in irritation. Eventually the jealousy would pass, once Mercy had been married off to a proper husband. Then the house would be empty, and perhaps she could leave Sol¡¯s Heart for greener pastures, or at least ones where Lady Iola could find a more attentive man to warm her bed at nights.


    ¡°Can we pay him a visit? He looks lonely and could use some cheer.¡± Mercy shook her front and smiled. The clan mother took a slow breath which disguised a sigh. Perhaps, at twelve, her daughter was not as ignorant about charming people as she hoped. Early maturity was dangerous, but that too could be used.


    One did not have to be a lady at all times, and often men preferred it when a woman knew exactly when to drop the fa?ade. The problem with each daughter had been showing them how to separate the two sides of a woman¡¯s nature. In public one had to remain refined and dignified. Such front shaking served better in brothels and bedrooms rather than a nobles dining halls.


    ¡°No.¡± She tried to lead her daughter by deed and word. ¡°It¡¯s not our place to pay any heed to that garden. A lady does not step above her station unless invited.¡±


    The next day Stone Hearth gardeners started creating a higher lettuce of vines to blot out their western neighbor across the aqueduct¡¯s edge. This only increased Mercy¡¯s intrigue, for something being hidden meant there was value in knowing. Both of her old sisters had explained this truth upon her twelfth birthday.


    Lady Iola started looking for suitors which might keep the youngest of her daughter¡¯s busy. Perhaps another outlet, a proper one of course, might reign in such idle curiosity. Most than one family around the city engaged in such actions, all striving for what they felt was best. Such plotting would keep her busy until more pleasurable activities could be pursued.


    Across the way, another set of parents plotted out methods to deal with their children as well. Lady Iola had heard of some of the Asger clan¡¯s plots, and counted herself lucky to only have three daughters. Sons only brought troubles, especially if the rumors were to be believed.


    In a way, Fell was the least fortunate of them all. Fate created a lengthy noose around his neck. That excess rope threatened to strangle everyone who dared approach him, regardless of intent.

 Book 1, Silk Bird Cage; ? The Black Day

    Leaving the garden was beyond a rare occurrence. I woke up early, skipped meditation and instead checked my best clothes for imperfections. A small fire let me heat up water to straighten out unruly hair. Mint, paste, and a bottle of cleansing tonic were mixed together. The resulting mush went onto stiff bristles together to clean teeth.


    Often such extravagances were reserved for Mistress Charity¡¯s visits. Captain Nagi only cared for discipline and motion. Doctor Lumin was too busy with questions and wonder to worry about cleanliness; unless of course it interfered with an experiment. My parents never approached close enough but I tried to present them a decent figure.


    Well before dawn I stood at my garden¡¯s egress. The gate opened and two men stood on either side of the hallway. Their bodies were layer with thick armor.


    ¡°Young Lord fell. We shall be your escorts for today.¡± The tall men looked like a wall with arms. I felt as if they might reach out and snap my body in two should any attempt to escape me made. My broken form would then be casually tossed back into near solitude while one man went to report to father about the transgressions.


    Vision crossed briefly and revealed the layer of reality beneath normal eyesight. Small bits of black energy lined their muscles from heart to hands and feet. Both men practiced The Way. Based on what Doctor Lumin taught me these two were likely physical travelers of The Way.


    My head shook and I looked down briefly to clear the other sight. Seeing into people¡¯s core felt like a violation at times. I knew where their strengths were. Their power paled compared to mother and father. It sat at least two level below big sister Eerika but above my normal guards.


    ¡°These two are Rear Guard Yon, and Rear Guard Ion.¡± My father gestured backward with an upturned hand. His arrival surprised them but not me. Both men stiffened then gave short bows in my direction. ¡°They are brothers formally of the Long Gate clan. We have worked closely with their family for generations, and their loyalty is without question. You can trust them as you would me.¡±


    Father didn¡¯t turn around but I saw the effect his words had. Their backs stood straighter and the edge of a smile lingered behind still expressions. Pride made them seem even more imposing. Yon¡¯s face didn¡¯t move on one side, and Ion had lighter hair then his brother. Both were older than brother Hakon but younger than Captain Nagi.


    ¡°They will be with me all day as we travel around?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Father¡¯s head nodded deeply causing his beard to shift. ¡°Consider today a trial. There may be no better day or second chance until you have made clear improvements.¡± His eyes bored into mine while I tried to hold still. ¡°You must succeed.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± I said.


    ¡°They will take you to the market, and a few other approved locations. Black Days are risky for all, but your face is unknown. Most will believe you nothing more than a page of the household, out shopping.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± I repeated myself again and winced. Mistress Charity had taught me better than this, but her lessons escaped me.


    ¡°Today you have two tasks. First you must mingle in public without creating a disturbance.¡± Once he paused I nodded rapidly. ¡°Secondly, I want you to seek a woman named Lady Hasi.¡±


    I felt like a bobbing bird as my head dipped once more. Captain Nagi¡¯s advice haunted my ears. He would say, a good soldier listens to those above him, then moves to complete the orders provided. Father¡¯s commands were simple enough that I understood them. My body slowly shifted to a rigid attention stance which Captain Nagi drilled into me.


    Father¡¯s eyes flashed briefly and the energy about him swirled in irritation. Tiny bits of grey about his body all pointed at once in my direction then relaxed by tilting back towards the ground. A shiver rippled through me. That one moment had been like staring at a half drawn sword.


    ¡°Lady Hasi chooses Black Days to ply her trade openly,¡± he spoke as if nothing had occurred.


    I dare not ask who Lady Hasi was. Father did not like when anyone cut him off. Still, he always seemed to know when a topic confused me and needed further illumination. Eventually, the statement would be made clear.


    ¡°She will carry with her a book that should glow like a rainbow if you peer through the veil of sight,¡± he said. The first veil had to do with visibly seeing what lay beyond, a talent which haunted me since birth. It grew stronger upon the event with Colborn. ¡°In that book, we may find an answer to your plight. Do you understand the importance of this task?¡±


    ¡°I do. This book, is it special? Will she allow me to copy it?¡± The idea of finding any knowledge to help me achieve normalcy was alluring. Breath quickened while my heartbeat thumped faster.


    ¡°Perhaps. Bargain for everything you can by using these statues.¡± Father gestured to a small tray.


    Atop the reflective surface sat two of my army men, the very same set that I had worked hard to pose correctly prior to nearly destroying youngest brother Colborn. Without meditation I would not have remembered these toys. They were slick with mulch colored energy that stood out even while not piercing the veil.


    I gulped once upon seeing them and tried to figure out how they might be moved without destroying that film. My mother carefully wrapped them up in a small cloth, placed that cloth inside a box, and the box inside another bag with straps to go over both shoulders.


    ¡°Lady Hasi and you share an interest.¡± Father tilted his head briefly and I struggled to understand what he meant. Did we both wish to be free of our cages, or were we both shunned by energy that other¡¯s embraced? Could we both destroy it with ease? ¡°Offer the statues in trade, and accept nothing less than time with her book.¡±


    I nodded then chose not to question further. Asking now would risk getting me in trouble. Being close to freedom could not be risked to resolve a moment of confusion.


    Mother stood nearby. She had waited the entire time while father told me what to do. Her face pinched up slightly with an unknown emotion. On Mistress Charity, I would call the expression worried, but Clan mother Runa, my mother, would never have such simple thoughts.


    There were other topics explained to me. Due to my peculiar nature finding a beast to ride proved difficult. The guards wouldn¡¯t touch me directly unless a dire situation occurred. We could not take advantage of a beastless carriage because my presence might destroy enchantments.


    At the end, father advised me the trip to this season¡¯s Black Day festival would take an hour to reach by foot. I nodded and did not complain. Feet would ache by the days end, but the cause would be freedom.


    We made our way through the courtyard which connected my garden to the main household. Our path wove carefully near the buildings. Rear guard Ion stayed ahead, calmly deterring other guardsmen, servants, and my own family from approaching too closely.


    Their eyes followed me as we walked. Perhaps they knew I was to be allowed out for a day. Some, such as my younger brother Colborn, might be hoping for a different outcome.


    Our path traveled further down the aqueducts edge to a giant main gate. Two heavy wooden doors sat open with a small line of guards protecting the entryway. I looked out and marveled at how much had changed with the properties nearby.


    Maybe during my younger years the importance of flowers and gardens were overlooked. I remembered making it out the doorway upon turning eight and running for miles before coming to a stop. In that panicked dash to freedom, there had been no time to smell roses or marvel at clothing.


    Freedom awaited but both feet froze at the doorway with nervousness. I tried to remember Mistress Charity¡¯s lessons and Captain Nagi¡¯s advice. Doctor Lumin¡¯s words flooded my head. Everything jumbled together poorly. I felt unprepared for the looming challenge despite prior eagerness.


    ¡°Are you allowed to talk to me?¡± I asked the guards while looking downward. Thankfully, frozen feet could not shuffle with nervousness. After years of being caged and fearing to escape because of starvation, I was hesitant. Too many sights looked foreign.


    They seemed not to hear me so I looked up then asked again, ¡°Can you talk to me? About anything?¡± If I were sitting in my home, the request would come with a head to pavement bow to show sincerity. ¡°It has been many months since I ventured outside and I do not wish to be ignorant about simple matters.¡±


    The guard¡¯s eyes both flashed with the same expression my father had only very little energy moved. Their glance was one I did not recognize. Perhaps they worried that I might attack at any moment like a mad animal.


    They both shook their head slowly then Ion said, ¡°We are not birds to yammer away all morning. Speech may distract us from our duties in protecting you little lord.¡±


    ¡°We will try to advise you accordingly, but it would not do for guards of our station to overstep,¡± Yon stated after his brother. His had a lisp because one side of the brother¡¯s face stayed motionless. Both stared down with flattened lips and clenched their spears tighter.


    I nodded then blinked once. They were here to protect me, not to be my friends. With that knowledge, my feet took their first step off of clan property and started down the road.


    Perhaps thanks might be in order, had they chosen to talk to me I might never have stepped passed the main doorway. My adventure could have concluded with simply speaking to a new human being as if my life did not revolve around being jailed. Privately a small trickle of eager delight warred with nervousness.


    ¡°I will work hard not to be a burden upon you both,¡± I promised as we walked.


    They almost smiled. Ion¡¯s cheeks tightened briefly while one of Yon¡¯s ears rose. The left side of his face stayed slack and unresponsive.


    I crossed both eyes and peered into the other again. Part of guard Yon¡¯s face looked tainted with a piss colored yellow. The black that sat inside most of his muscles didn¡¯t reach past a series of tendrils crawling up his neck.


    My head nodded once more as we traveled. The market itself was a few miles away, and we could not use any of the enchanted rides that others might handle. Energy died upon contact with me, albeit out here the apparent aversion to my presence was less noticeable. Reaching out distorted the waves as small hazes of all colors moved to get away. Maybe half an inch of space lay between me and every color imaginable.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never been to a market,¡± I said.


    ¡°You mean a Black Day market?¡± Ion asked. He took up a frontward position while Yon stayed behind. Our bodies moved in a line along the roads right-hand side. Horses clopped by and devices with round wheels moved quickly.


    ¡°What is that?¡± I had already forgotten about my earlier admissions of ignorance.


    ¡°A trike, they tell me.¡± Ion faced forward while scanning increasing throngs of people. With a sudden couch he spit up a ball of phlegm then continued speaking. ¡°They named it so because of the triangle inside, which creates a sturdy frame. Attached wheels let it rapidly travel. One of the smith¡¯s in town created them a year ago. He earned a minor land grant for the contribution.¡±


    ¡°Some say he stole the design from a western region.¡± Ion turned and muttered. His hushed tone made me smile. The world outside was full of wonders that my teacher''s stories couldn¡¯t compare to. If simply walking down the street held so many new experiences, what would the market have?


    They looked marvelous. Both delectate and study, and they were much faster than a horse¡¯s canter. ¡°Can anyone use such a device?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Here it¡¯s used by couriers, mostly. They require nothing but physical strength. Even those not upon The Way can make one work, though most rarely do.¡± One of Ion¡¯s shoulders lifted. ¡°We can get around faster without using a crude machine.¡±


    ¡°Are they expensive?¡± I asked. It didn¡¯t register until later that both Ion and Yon were slowed by my limitations.


    ¡°It is unlikely your father would allow one, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. Trikes are unfit for nobility.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± my face numbed as budding hope rapidly wilted. I had been trying to apply Doctor Lumin¡¯s lessons in math towards those bikes. Many miles could be traveled in a day if my legs held out.


    ¡°The market we are headed to is special, young lord. Many oddities will be present.¡± Yon whispered behind me. Some sounds came out slightly garbled but his tone was kind. ¡°Your father warned us not to let you touch anything. Your, nature may cause complications.¡±


    I nodded and clutched my arms around the bag in front of me. The world outside was full of wonder, true, but danger also existed. My last foray sent a stall full of lesser beasts into fits after the urge to pet their fur struck me.


    They reacted much differently than the gibberling had. Huge beasts went insane as wisps of energy flickered off. I remembered being paralyzed and huddling in a corner stall while felines with scales down their sides clawed at each other. Another creature, a long-necked bird big enough to ride on, stomped around creating small whirlwinds. Each one made my eyes grow wider and body stiller. The past lay behind me and such moments only provided a framework for my dangerous existences.


    ¡°I am trying to control myself,¡± my weak words amounted to nothing.


    ¡°It is Lower Master Song¡¯s judgment that you simply need not touch anything,¡± Yon said from behind me. ¡°We¡¯ve been told you can pierce the veil of sight, and see energy? What is it doing now?¡±


    ¡°Staying just out of touch.¡± I held my breath and once again marveled at the living sentience to those bits of color. How could such little bits be unaware yet still indulge in self-preservation? Doctor Lumin believed it might be magnetic in nature as if I repulsed them. That made no sense to me because my small garden couldn¡¯t possibly share the same trait.


    ¡°There you have it, young lord. Whatever ails you isn¡¯t beyond your means to cope with,¡± Yon whispered happily. His voice came from over one shoulder.


    I noticed that neither guard touched me, however. For all their words of encouragement on the survivability of my nature, they still didn¡¯t risk contact. Doctor Lumin remained alone in that regard.


    Many people threatened to grow too close. Many travelers along the road jostled us around as the market grew closer. The bag hung from my front like a shield. Both guards pushed back those who ventured too close. One boy, smaller by far than I, dared reach over. I remained unaware of him until Yon¡¯s spear zipped by me and butted into the urchin¡¯s foot. He glared with hatred at us then vanished.


    ¡°Black Days bring thieves out as likely as anyone else. Be wary young lord,¡± Ion said from ahead of me.


    ¡°Who was that?¡± I asked.


    ¡°A homeless waif, or some other vagabond.¡± I turned enough to see one of Yon¡¯s huge shoulders ripple with indifference. ¡°We must be careful not to hurt them too badly or they may develop a grudge.¡±


    ¡°I thought today was a Black Day?¡±


    ¡°The gods forgive all trespasses on this day, but men¡¯s spite knows no boundaries. Remember this when you seek to spill blood,¡± Yon whispered behind me. ¡°Violence is an answer, the first child of violence is harm, then hatred, then more violence.¡±


    ¡°Too many upon The Way forget that,¡± Ion said from ahead. ¡°To lose humanity is to risk demonizing. The dark paths of The Way are slippery.¡±


    Our path turned abruptly and an entire row of stalls came into view. The brother¡¯s words were drowned out as an entirely new set of noises came to the front. There were all sorts of people chattering away.


    I looked for the person my father had described. A tall woman who weighed as much as I. Father described her as frail beyond belief, dark in garb and atmosphere. I imagined Lady Hasi as night demon given woman¡¯s flesh.


    If my memory failed, as it likely would since many people looked alike to me, we had another tool made available. In the moments before we parted he gave both guards a loadstone which might lead towards Lady Hasi. The small token was only given to those who were approved to do business with her from prior transactions or referrals.


    ¡°We should speak no more of this in mixed company,¡± Ion said from ahead. His eyes were rapidly scanning all people nearby. One free hand pushed away people who might get too close.


    ¡°If not today, then when? His other siblings have their training to fall back on, but young lord Fell has nothing.¡±


    A few who came too close looked upset at being pushed back. Others simply shrugged and accepted being guided away from us. I did not know what the standard rules were, and an endless list of questions for Mistress Charity came together.


    ¡°Captain Nagi trains him,¡± Ion said. The brothers were slowly squishing in as the roads became more crowded. I strained to see past their huge wall forms towards the market items on display, but couldn¡¯t. All that greeted my sight were the edges of people and light green armor.


    ¡°The captain understands nothing. It¡¯s like watching a duck train fish to sing.¡± One of Yon¡¯s hands waved away the brother¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s all wrong.¡±


    ¡°Captain Nagi has assisted me greatly,¡± my protest came out with more force than intended. ¡°The fault for these limitations is solely my own.¡±


    Neither brother responded. Thankfully my tactful reminder of the cause for Captain Nagi¡¯s hardships in teaching me had worked. There were too many people around to speak plainly and their talk bordered on disrespectful.


    We kept moving about the crowd. Both brothers occasionally stopped and let me peer from between them towards a stall. Bobbles of odd shapes and colors floated around. Some hung heavy with thick energy, but that proved an exception rather than standard. People haggled over those works while other small pieces sat ignored.


    Food attracted me the most. More than one stall left me drooling and slackjawed. Sharp aromas tickled at my nose and each breath of sweet pastries took longer to let go than the one prior. I listened to Ion haggle for a low price, then he turned to hand me a skewer of meat. Without thought for dangers or poison, I tore at the meat then groaned in bliss.


    ¡°See? He¡¯s a growing boy no matter how adult he might sound,¡± Ion whispered to his brother. ¡°Food makes every child feel better.¡±


    I heard them anyway. Both ears were finely turned towards picking out sounds. Many a night had passed where I strained to hear my family over the wall to my garden.


    Their words caused me to reflect. My method of speech was oddly his level compared to those nearby. The people conversing in this market spoke nothing like what Mistress Charity taught. She spoke with a formal complexity used for courtrooms. I emulated the speech because there was little else demonstrated to me.


    Captain Nagi spoke only of training and all things which might further that. His words were simplistic but firm. Doctor Lumin coughed too much and spoke with extreme excitement and theories beyond my understanding.


    These people around me did neither. They discussed food, or other goods in rapid words which sounded almost like a form of combat. My head turned fuzzy as hearing turned to one conversation at a time.


    We arrived in front of a much larger building towards the market¡¯s edge. Ion and Yon took more relaxed stances as the crowd thinned out.


    ¡°This is one of the four city libraries, young lord,¡± Yon said from behind me. ¡°They do not remain open on Black Days.¡±


    ¡°Some say the librarians and scribes all leave because they hope someone might burn the building down,¡± Ion¡¯s voice contained a strange mix of energy and disapproval.


    ¡°Or they¡¯re people too. Robes don¡¯t make a man a eunuch or turn a woman¡¯s nethers dry. They¡¯re like as any to want a drink and a wench when the gods won¡¯t judge them for not tending the stacks,¡± Yon responded.


    ¡°Shush. The young lord doesn¡¯t need to be exposed to the more adult manners just yet,¡± Yon¡¯s voice lowered in a whisper. I stared forward at the building and pretended not to hear. ¡°Leave that to Mistress Charity, it¡¯s what she¡¯s paid for.¡±


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    I looked at the building and admired the carvings. Hand crafted beasts were on display all around the buildings base. Some were chipped with age, others looked worn, more near a side alley showed signs of abuse and strange markings.


    A slow sigh came out upon seeing the mistreatment. The corner pieces were some of the most exquisite I had ever seen. Their mouths hung open and looked almost alive, feathers were proudly carved in extreme detail. Mistress Charity had been correct once again. Appreciation of art felt easier once I understood the effort which went into it.


    Perhaps, if I ever earned a more lasting freedom, I could return and correct the damages done to these pieces of art.


    ¡°It is unlikely you¡¯ll be able to venture inside anytime soon young lord. As my brother said, the libraries close on Black Days.¡± Ion repeated. ¡°Even scribes may desire more than words.¡±


    ¡°How tactful brother.¡±


    Their status as open mattered little. Energies of all sorts layered across the place, so much so that even walking in result in countless bits of energy being destroyed. I understood not what they meant or did, only that these pieces were unlike all the others. They looked hard, as if someone had bound together energy and formed a solid web of iron.


    ¡°I understand,¡± I said with a simple nod. Hours had already passed during our travel and brief market wanderings. ¡°We should find this Lady Hasi soon.¡±


    My words were slowly spoken. Part of me felt proud that we had survived pressing through such a crowd without incident. Those that brushed against me seemed okay provided no skin contact had been made. Thinking so made me tuck my arms deeper into sleeves despite the heat.


    At my fingertips lay a haunting memory of those statues. I longed to feel the rough curve to each creature. The level of craftsmanship lay upon a higher level than my own, despite times wearing.


    ¡°This way young lord,¡± Ion waved from ahead.


    I nodded and followed the wall of a man. As we walked he kept one hand on the spear, while his other clutched a small stone no bigger than my palm. The object sat mere inches across the middle and part of its curved edge glowed emerald. As we turned the stones lightened side shifted, like a compass made of rock and green.


    We walked along the busy markets edge towards an unknown destination. With two simple breathes I left the defenses against piercing the veil fall. For me, seeing past the first five veils was more about distracting myself long enough to cross. I used this now and stumbled about a market that looked even more insane than it had been.


    We passed stalls with objects a glow with energy. People with various colors spiking through them hovered near each item. Sparks flew as different bits of flotsam interacted.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Yon said. ¡°Right, Ion?¡±


    Ion nodded and checked the stone in his hands once more. Connecting to the green lit edge was a small trail of similar forest energy. It traveled through the tangled mess of marketplace lights and bodies.


    Ion strode right in, and my feet froze. I swallowed then tried to block myself from the veil once more. There were too many people nearby. Both eyes closed as I stood there frozen. Not only had vision been pierced but taste and sound of otherness assaulted me.


    Crackles popped through and skittered across my mind with inhumane after echos. Smells which made no sense invaded my nose in odd mixes. The strongest stench belonged to meat. Rotten meat that had no right to exist and should have long ago been buried but still made me think of spring overwhelmed my other senses. Thinking I had devoured unwholesome food caused the sickening sensation to magnify.


    A finger poked at my nose and caused me to fall backward. I looked up to see a woman no older than my sisters staring downward. A smile lit up her face while she laughed. Others shied away from us while a few wore smiles of amusement.


    She leaned over and I felt as if my head might be swallowed up by spilling mounds of flesh. They were tightly bound and the border of fabric drew the eyes downward into a deep valley. I looked, because a young man is not wise enough to stare elsewhere.


    All of a sudden a dozen other questions for Mistress Charity flooded my mind. Fabric did indeed create an attractive frame. Her warning not to speak of hidden treasures flashed through. I managed to blink once and break eye contact. Carefully I clutched the bag while standing up.


    ¡°Fell Asger, sixth child of the Great Asger clan.¡± She leaned back and I found myself gasping for breath while trying to not let eyes linger where they shouldn¡¯t. ¡°Little silk bird, have you flown the coop or been given a leash?¡±


    ¡°You have me at a loss beautiful lady.¡± I fumbled the words and completely forgot to offer a compliment.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know me?¡± Her head tilted and the smile grew wider. ¡°Do you know nothing of the neighbors outside your walls?¡±


    My head shook back and forth quickly and I tried not to feel flushed. At eleven such a woman was too far ahead of me in every way. My mouth felt dry the more she moved about in clothes which lured in ways no one else¡¯s had. Perhaps it was the wide hips or how fabric hung.


    ¡°Young Lord Fell!¡± The guard who escorted me yelled. My head snapped up to see where they were. All at once I realized how unprotected the world had been from me. My hands dug into clothes while I tried to hide every ounce of skin.


    ¡°Come on!¡± The young woman with a dress finer than sisters pulled at my arm. Her fingers laced into mine and I had no clue when that had happened. This girl showed no fear of what might happen. For that alone, I found it difficult to form words and argue.


    It had been years since anyone outright touched me. All that time without so much as a comforting pat of acknowledgment and this girl¡¯s warm fingers pulled at me.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t,¡± my protest landed upon careless ears.


    ¡°Today¡¯s the Black Day!¡± Her smile lingered in my mind long after she turned and started running, dragging me behind. ¡°Today the gods forgive all their trespass!¡±


    I almost whimpered between fear and hope. Girls were a mystery to me, as much as anything in this world might have been. Where we went escaped me. People turned and bumped by. I focused only on preventing their touch in case one of them practiced The Way.


    As we moved confusion increased. Perhaps my touch was not so disastrous as believed.


    She ran us to a narrow alleyway then spun around. ¡°What¡¯s in the bag?¡± the girl asked.


    ¡°A child¡¯s toy,¡± I tried to deflect her curiosity with courtesy. ¡°Who are you lady?¡±


    ¡°Third daughter of the Stone Hearth clan, Lady Mercy,¡± she said with a mocking courtesy that Mistress Charity would never allow. ¡°Now young lord Fell, what¡¯s truly in the bag?¡±


    Lady Mercy reached out for the bag and I once again held still. I dared hope that she might actually risk touching me again. Not because of the overwhelming womanly charms she displayed, but for simple longing to be treated as human.


    Instead, the woman went for my bag and undid the top. With the next breath, I realized the situation and moved to put the container behind me.


    ¡°What¡¯s the harm in looking?¡± Her eyes twinkled and a grin grew. ¡°Are you being shy about what you¡¯ve got hidden under some simple cloth? I promise not to laugh.¡±


    I shook my head in an almost calm manner. Lady Mercy laughed loudly in a way completely unlike any other woman I knew. She sounded free and excited. Then her mirth choked off as a shadow loomed over us.


    ¡°There you are brat!¡± A heavy sounding voice lumbered closer with thudding footsteps. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting all season for this day, and you¡¯re trying to escape me!¡±


    Mercy¡¯s eyes went wide as an unhealthy huge arm shot by. I froze in confusion and something vile sensation crawled across exposed flesh. My stomach flopped sideways for a much different reason.


    ¡°Trying to wiggle out!¡± the man shouted as his flabby arm grabbed on to the young girls hair. ¡°Good! A proper lady should know when to shake her ass!¡±


    ¡°Father, stop!¡±


    There was a crack as the man¡¯s other hand slammed against a wall. I shrank away from the outburst of violence and tried to find out what reaction might be proper.


    ¡°I ain¡¯t your father,¡± the man said. ¡°That whore of a mother has been sleeping around for ages!¡±


    ¡°Father!¡± Mercy cried.


    ¡°Sir?¡± I tried to form a sentence to protest. My heart beat rapidly and fingers itched from the gross sensation this man¡¯s presence brought.


    ¡°Shut up brat!¡± The man¡¯s other hand came in my direction. I saw the arm and my body moved as Captain Nagi trained it to react. My bag dropped to the ground.


    Sunrise of a Man flowed into High Noon¡¯s Decent. Arms and fingers moved in accordance with the Hourglass Tipping technique then slammed the person who grabbed me downward. The offenders arm twisted backward as they fell awkwardly. These were techniques taught to me which did not require great physical strength and relied upon flow.


    I honestly had no clue why the maneuvers were so easy to perform aside from hours of practice and the unsteady feet of a drunken man. Certainly, I had not sparred against another human being so much larger than I, yet the motion felt easy.


    With nary a pause for breath, my freed hand slammed downward into the person entrapped by his own bulk and poor posture. A loud rippling oink echoed across the third veil of sound like a pig had been stuck. His clothes and back rippled under the pressuring palm. Thick wet air smashed into my face and left sourness.


    ¡°Father!¡± Mercy yelled at me now but her tone had changed. ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    I huffed and felt as if I had been rooted on the spot. Below me the man bucked like a wild beast. Terror made me clench his arm then press harder upon his back. A gross feeling of being dipped in gritty honey nearly added my recent meal to his already messy frame.


    The clothing rippled then gave way to filthy flesh. Sores appeared and welted. Black puss oozed and burned away like all other energies in my presence. Oddly my stomach hardened at the sight and I nodded as if this were a spot of foul dirt to be purged. Dark lights flashed along the first veil of sight as Mercy¡¯s father continued to oink.


    A curled tail appeared while thick cloven feet tore through sown leathers. Squealing accompanied another surge of his mass as my body nearly was uprooted. I took deep breaths and clenched stomach muscles to stay steady.


    Energy steamed off the man then swirled around me, causing shortened hair to stir upwards. I felt elated and confused at the same time. Finally, the beast who had once been a man lay still and unmoving. Mercy cried openly. People whispered nearby from the alley¡¯s mouth.


    Two pairs of hands slammed upon my shoulders. Ion¡¯s eyes were wild as he quickly pulled me back into the crowd. People were muttering but their words escaped even my fine hearing.


    ¡°Quickly, we must go. Before anyone takes note,¡± Yon whispered behind me. He stood back further while Ion pushed back outstretched hands. They pulled me back by my clothes but took great care not to touch flailing arms.


    I reached for the bag at my chest only to find it had vanished. The figurines lay back in the marketplace somewhere, likely lost in the shuffle of movement.


    We made it halfway home before showing any signs of slowing. Both guards kept glancing behind us as if they expected a ravenous beast to charge up the roadside. Their worries were contagious, as I worried a mob of pig men might arrive at any moment.


    Finally we stopped to take measure of what happened. I huffed quickly and wished that Captain Nagi¡¯s lessons had been a bit harsher, if only to ease the suffering which now plagued me.


    The brothers were muttering to each other and I couldn¡¯t discern what was said. My ears were still partially through the veil and listening to energies not visible to normal people.


    ¡°What did you do?¡± Ion asked twice while Yon¡¯s mouth hung half open.


    I tried to rein myself in and go with their movements. The thought of another human dying under my hands didn¡¯t frighten me so much as cause distress. As a son of the Asger clan I could not afford the repercussions this would bring. Mercy had called him Father, which meant he was a clan lord of some sort. This brief day of freedom would never happen again once father learned of it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted.


    My escort¡¯s said nothing as I staggered back to the Asger family properties. Both brothers marched quickly. My mind spun, replaying the scene for understanding. The techniques given to me by Captain Nagi proved far too deadly. There would be no chance of sparring against another person until my ability to burn away other¡¯s energy could be prevented.


    Why was the Stone Hearth daughter able to touch me but the other man had died? What caused him to transform so much during those final moments? I hadn¡¯t intended to harm him, merely make him stop. Lady Mercy claimed the man had been her father, which meant I killed, or transformed a clan lord into a pig. That fat disgusting man who had reached for Lady Mercy ended up looking exactly like one of the demons described by Doctor Lumin and worry lead me to the conclusion that I had somehow transformed him.


    At the home gate stood my father with a frown access his face. Behind him was my mother and second brother Kirkwood. Of our siblings, Kirkwood looked most like father. Their expressions shared the same mixture of distaste and worry. Mother¡¯s eyes were closed while she tried to keep each breath steady.


    Guards rushed by us as Ion rapidly reported what had happened. I felt disoriented but managed to perform a greeting.


    ¡°Greetings father. Greetings mother, and elder brother Kirkwood,¡± I said. Both hands clasped together at my front as I gave the proper bow.


    ¡°Is this a craft of your''s brother Fell?¡± Kirkwood blurted the words which made father¡¯s eyes narrow briefly. He showed no other sign of being upset.


    I nodded to my brother, confused why the statue of Eerika rated higher than what had happened in the marketplace.


    Kirkwood stared at my father and the two shared a glance which might have meant anything. He set down the statue onto a small table by in the doorway and stomped off. It shimmered with light despite being placed into shade.


    ¡°Were you able to see the book?¡± Father asked.


    My head shook back and forth slowly.


    ¡°And I see you are no longer in possession of either figurine,¡± he further remarked.


    To this, I nodded slowly while trying to remain calm.


    ¡°And now I¡¯m told there was a disturbance in the market.¡±


    My head hung. Word had traveled ahead of us to reach his ears.


    ¡°Go back to your garden son,¡± my father said. ¡°While I consider what to do with these additional complications.¡±


    Father turned then started to walk away. His body moved far slower than Kirkwood¡¯s rush. The guards at my side went stiff as Captain Nagi stepped towards them. Both saluted rapidly but otherwise stayed quiet.


    ¡°Did something happen to Eerika?¡± I dared to shout at my father¡¯s back.


    He tensed. His clothes stiffened and the sword energy which surrounded him stood ready to skewer me at a moment¡¯s notice. Three steady breaths escaped and father finally answered.


    ¡°Your sister Eerika lay in her room, being tended by a physician.¡± He took a steadying breath but did not turn to see me. ¡°Whatever untrained ignorance allowed you to enchant the statue has achieved a terrible result.¡±


    Then he walked away again. I briefly reflected upon the common sight then shook my head. ¡°Enchantments?¡±


    According to the brief explanation, my statue gift caused Eerika harm. My face grew numb and ears rang. The desire to divorce myself from reality struck hard making vision swim. My body started to sway and no one made a move to keep me upright, save for Captain Nagi.


    He walked me back to my garden, and I had no heart to lift my head from the floor. Labored breathing and a wet face were to be kept private, as, apparently, everything in my life should be.


    Tragedy stuck my garden home as well. My few handcrafted items were gone. The multitudes of failures for sister¡¯s gift were missing. Artwork which I had drawn to keep company on lonely nights had been removed. The craft tools used in their making no longer sat in their box.


    I sniffed and tried to harden myself against the wrenching feelings. The statues were gone, without a single glance at the book in exchange. A lesser clan would now become united in their displeasures with me over killing their head. My sister lay sick as a result of my gift. To put a fine hat atop it all, I was once again banished to the garden with less freedom. Mistress Charity would not be pleased.


    But I also learned I felt no remorse at causing a man¡¯s death. Only worry at the repercussions. Mistress Charity would never find out how little the event itself bothered me. Poor Mercy, to be robbed of her father by me. Despite his manner, the man still sired her.


    Eerika¡¯s status worried me most of all. Today was a Black Day in truth. All the ascended gods of the world would plead blindness to my trespasses, but once again harming my family deserved punishment.


    There were no stars above which could bring me comfort, yet to the roof I went. Loneliness felt even more apparent after being cast back into this gilded cage. I raised my arms and wanted to scream, but could only whisper.


    ¡°Today should be a day of forgiveness, yet there is none for me.¡± My head shook. I felt dead inside then leaned my head back towards a dark night sky. ¡°So I ask you, whoever may be up there, when will I be free of this burden?¡±


    My heart beat once then grew afraid to do so again, for in the emptiness between stars, something moved. First one portion of darkness twisted with an even darker hue, then another. As if a beast of immeasurable size and power coiled lazily among the blackness between. Perhaps a demon of the sky above stirred from sleep.


    A single star utterly vanished as the impossible creature curled. I held very still, frozen with my neck tilted backwards and eyes wide open. My heart dared to beat a second time which caused the darkness to seize. The sense of something singular and immensity loomed in the air above. A being so far away that seeing me should have been impossible, but it peered across the distance as easily as I saw through the veil.


    The darkness split open and lightning poured down like spears all around. Each ripple carried no normal sound, but instead pierced in a manner that felt like my ears were straining to hear. The defenses between me and the veils shattered and piercing them revealed a keening noise that made teeth hurt. The haven of my secluded garden no longer kept floating bits of energy back. They fluttered through as a wild wind tore grass and shingles away.


    Wind tore across skin face but touched no bushes. Energy assaulted me then hissed as they were destroyed. Gaspes appeared upon my skin where the very air attacked and welts rose under the battering of dying essence. I grasped all ten fingers tightly around the edge of my perch.


    Chest muscles strained to hold onto rapidly fleeting breath. People in the distance shouted. I heard my garden gate slam open while those large eyes glared from an eternity. They blinked once then a jagged mouth heavy with the promise of more lightning opened.


    ¡°Soon.¡± The mockery of a face formed one word made of chattering lights. Bolts stayed suspended in the air above as its illumination faded. All at once multiple rounds of restrained thunder clapped in unison, deafening me.


    Dizziness shook a barely stable equilibrium. Warmth trickled down my neck then vision blurred. For the first time in almost a decade, I lost my grip and fell from the small houses roof. The ground greeted me with indifference while energy wildly spun above.


    The day became blacker still.

 Book 1, Silk Bird Cage; ? Fell鈥檚 Sky

    Prayers were sent to the gods above in hope that I was reborn in a better lifetime. Such an event was unlikely because I still remembered life. The Wheel washed away nearly all of a souls past, save for karmic debts to be repaid. Only a few escaped the cleansing and the gods would never see fit to make me an Enlightened One.


    My body was still my own. The pillow¡¯s side felt flattened. Thick blankets piled on top me. I did not wish to look up and attempted to curl onto a side. A shocked gasp came out from nearby while I wished the world away. Footsteps rushed off down a hallway. Doors slid open and more people returned then had left.


    I opened my eyes and expected to see that mouth of lightning who spoke in thunder¡¯s voice. Instead my father stood nearby, looking less assembled than normal. Clothes were uneven, strands of hair poked out from under the hat. His beard lacked its normal luster.


    ¡°Greetings father,¡± I tried to move my arms but motion hurt.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± he stated. ¡°Do you know where you are?¡±


    The location I sat in did not seem familiar. The sensation of not being my garden made me quiver. Many places in our clan property were alien now, and after the recent failures I felt even worse.


    I shook my head slowly and tried hard to get out from under the covers and sit up. The motion failed. My legs refused to work correctly. Being limited made shook something deep inside and both eyes tried to widen and take in light. Everything refused to come into focus. This felt worse than a hard day of Captain Nagi¡¯s training.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been sedated.¡± Father stared down at me while taking slow steady breaths. He sat closer than ever before and I tried to move my hand out, to reach him. The effort resulted in a flopping arm panting breath.


    ¡°Why?¡± I managed to ask.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re dangerous, son.¡± He stared down at my hand and I watched with unfocused eyes as one of his fingers twitched. ¡°Everything I do must be for the clan,¡± father said in a low tone. ¡°Were I a different man, or if I believed another more capable person might be able to lead our family in my stead, this, we, might be different.¡±


    My head bobbed slowly and the pillow about my ears rustled. I didn¡¯t understand why he couldn¡¯t overcome this, but being restricted because of who we were made a twisted sort of sense. Life had delivered that lesson to me repeatedly.


    ¡°What happened?¡± The words came slowly.


    He hesitated to answer. Father rarely showed pause in anything, but today the older man seemed lost. ¡°Tell me son, what do you remember?¡±


    ¡°I asked the sky a question,¡± the admission tumbled out.


    ¡°What did you ask?¡±


    ¡°When will I be free of my curse?¡± I said.


    There was a pause and father¡¯s head lifted. He stared through walls towards sights unknown. As a powerful man on both The Way and able to pierce the veil¡¯s first hand, father would know of secrets I could never reach. Even now he seemed lost, and the sight of someone I looked up to being uncertain made my heart unsteady.


    ¡°Did you receive a response?¡± the man who sired me asked.


    ¡°Soon. It said soon,¡± my throat felt dry and vision swam. Part of me believed that more than simple sedatives had been used. Perhaps they added Serpent''s Tongue and Liars Bane to make me truthful and more talkative.


    Father¡¯s stance turned rigid. The words we had exchanged upset him. I started to ask a question but he cut me off.


    ¡°You are well enough to return to your garden. Lower Master Song has been all over its grounds in search for what might have caused the event, but found nothing that should endanger you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back,¡± I spoke the half-truth. Imprisonment was both comfortable and lonely.


    My father, the Asger clan head, a man further along The Way than most, lowered his head in my direction. ¡°Forgive your father, and work hard.¡± He rose up quickly as if nothing had happened. ¡°There are many problems we must straighten out before letting venture out again. I will talk to your teachers and see what options we might discover.¡±


    Father had never once bowed his head while making a request. We only exchanged greetings this way while kneeling across from each other. I did not dare ask to be free again, and nodded slowly. He left, and I felt too muddle headed to watch the retreating figure.


    An elderly woman with wrinkled features and loose fitting clothes walked in the room. She had been Colborn¡¯s wet nurse many years ago, though I remembered little else of her.


    She stared at me then raised both eyebrows slowly, causing more wrinkles to appear. Her head shook and lips smacked three times. ¡°Rest some more, young lord. In the morning you¡¯ll return to your little garden.¡±


    In her hands was a small cup of water. She tilted the glass back and I drank, thankful for something to quench the growing dryness. After the first few sips, my temporary room started to fade.


    In that final moment of awareness cracks along the wall became apparent. They ran together towards a small dresser. Behind the wood should be a location to hide valuables. It dawned on me as blackness arrived, that this room had been mine during childhood. Stranger still, I no longer felt comfortable in a location which had once been my fondest dream.


    The next day two guards escorted me slowly to the walled in garden. Ion and Yon chose not to speak in my presence then separated at the gate. They closed heavy metal behind me and the slam felt like a trap snapping closed. My back shivered with a rush of cold.


    Slower still was the journey to the small home. My garden looked much the same as before. Grass and building were unharmed from the repeated blasts of lightning. New flowers lined a wall that had not been present before. Their vines were already taking root and climbing upward. Thick pick blooms sat open and added color to the surroundings.


    Tomorrow I would inspect the foliage for extra properties. Doctor Lumin might shed light upon these new additions. The travel from my entryway to the bed took two hands of the wall. Once inside I toppled into thicker blankets than expected and returned to oblivion.


    The following week occurred in its proper order. Teachers visited me but getting out of bed proved difficult. Doctor Lumin and Mistress Charity were kind with regards to the plight. Captain Nagi¡¯s level of irritation only elevated with each visit.


    ¡°Stand up little sprout!¡± His voice filled the small home. I tried to rouse myself but sluggish hampered motion. ¡°Come on! Sweat clears an addled mind.¡±


    My body moved wrong. Commands which normally lifted arms and legs went haywire. I felt as if the world around me jerked by at uneven speeds and could not tell if these issues stemmed from lingering drugs or perhaps a poison. Still, I made it into morning¡¯s last light and stood poorly at attention


    ¡°Move. The best cure for sickness is exercise, and you¡¯re running laps!¡± He lifted the long thin reed and threatened to hit me with it. The fear of sharp pain served as a powerful motivator despite fatigue.


    ¡°Yes Captain Nagi,¡± I recited a standard reply then tried to hustle along the wall. My feet hung limply and stumbled over exposed roots. Ground around the yard had become uneven following the lightning storm¡¯s wake.


    On a normal day, I could have reached ten laps or more. Exhaustion reduced today¡¯s performance to four.


    ¡°Stop, move to Silent Night and stretch,¡± he ordered.


    Silent Night focused on laying back and stretching leg muscles. There were five Silent styled poses which all contained limberness and range of motion exercises.


    I worked my leg as directed in order to work out kinks which had formed. Moving in such a manner assisted working my grip as well. All these ideas had been drilled into me over years of practice. Counting kept the movements on track and thoughts stayed clear of distractions. The blankness of physical exercise made long hours of near solitude easier to bare.


    ¡°Good,¡± Captain Nagi nearly implied satisfaction. ¡°Now we run again. Up, go.¡±


    The switch cracked near me and I startled into motion. By the first laps end I felt winded. Struggling through the third lap left a layer of sweat beads. Halfway through the fourth the torment paused again near shade.


    ¡°Perform a Long Afternoon, then work through to Eternal Twilight,¡± he ordered.


    We performed this action two more times before physical exhaustion overpowered mental conditioning. The ground grew closer as I fell forward. Thankfully sunlight did not add it¡¯s burn in this protected bit of shadow.


    ¡°Get into proper form,¡± my teacher said.


    I struggled slowly to do as asked. My teacher did not touch or help lift me upwards. In this, I was alone despite the presence of another human nearby. Breathing came in labored gasps. Sweat dripped no matter how correct a pose I maintained.


    ¡°Captain Nagi,¡± hoarse words came out that could equal Doctor Lumin¡¯s wracked coughs.


    ¡°What?¡± he asked.


    Chest muscles worked to keep my breathing steady. Vision swam and my control over the first hand of veils started to slip. I could smell the sun¡¯s energy, a dry scent of heavy air which tickled like fur. The small trickle of water feeding into my lake magnified into a roaring river that made me think of morning dew hanging from grass blades.


    I took another breath then struggled to shut off thesenses. Captain Nagi waited with narrowed eyes and a flat frown.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m defective as a human?¡± I asked.


    ¡°What do you mean? Physical strength can be regained through training,¡± he drifted off as my head shook in negation.


    ¡°I killed a man, and feel nothing for the lost life. I ended his existence in front of his daughter while she screamed. Instead I only worry that father will think less of me.¡± I managed to sit upright, tilted my head back, and looked into the Captain¡¯s eyes.


    He stood there with cheeks drawn tightly against an early afternoon sun. I felt no cooler or more rested than before. My heart still raced as if a beast inside my chest struggled to be free.


    ¡°I cannot gather energy as others in my family. Even a lowborn can make progress upon The Way if they receiving training. Instead my very touch clearly ends lives, seemingly without reason.¡± The worries of a young boy poured out from me and felt unceasing. Each uttered line made the racing pulse inside me thud louder. ¡°I nearly killed my younger brother. My actions have brought harm to my eldest sister. The very gods themselves acknowledge my plight and send down lightning to our clan.¡±


    Captain Nagi stood there. He wore the same confusing expression that Yon and Ion had displayed. A slight pinch around both eyes, eyes that were unfocused, lowered eyebrows and downward turned lips.


    I knew happiness, worry, and standoffishness. I knew dislike, and confusion. I did not understand the expression Captain Nagi wore. There were many which made no sense. Mistress Charity would help me, if I could remember to ask her.


    ¡°Did no one explain tell you clearly what had happened?¡±


    I shook my head. The entire situation still remained very much a mystery to me.


    ¡°Gods above, what fool decided to deny you that information? No wonder you¡¯re lacking spirit.¡± He turned away then started his brisk walk out. I tried to complete my Falling Evening stance but found both legs unsteady. ¡°Keep practicing! Go through all the Hour Glass Turns!¡± Captain Nagi yelled back at me. ¡°I¡¯m going to talk to the clan head right this minute!¡±


    The gate opened with a rapid creek, then slammed shut. The rattling noise hung. Despite the disorientation of movement, hearing functioned correctly.


    I tried to go through my practice again but frequently failed the motions. My body¡¯s stiffness from being drugged for days followed by a week mostly abed had already turned trained muscles sour. Nearly all movements required a firm stance, but legs had been run until they were wet noodles.


    The Hour Glass stances were all designed to assist in toppling people. There were different ones based on angles, outstretched arms, and speed of the attacker. I knew them all but mostly in theory. The seventh stance is what I had used on Mercy¡¯s father. It represented the first hour in which a full noon sun started it¡¯s descent.


    Every muscle in my body strained to reach the normal range of motion. I worked through all twenty four motions of the Hour Glass stances and only paused when I needed to catch my breath. By the fourth slow repetition my body felt empty of energy and limbs hung heavy. I fell downward then weakly crawled to the tiny lakeside for meditation.


    Captain Nagi did not return that day, or the next. I saw no signs of Mistress Charity or Doctor Lumin during that evening or the next.


    On the morning of our third day I sat in wait, pretending to meditate upon the past. There would be no purpose in recalling my failures today. Instead I waited for the gate to open.


    There was no sound, but a person slowly moved into the yard. The thin woman held a tray of food and wore no shoes. My visitor wore a long skirt on coupled with a poorly made top which left thin arms exposed. This girl looked far smaller than I.


    Each footstep reminded me of a bird tip toeing along while avoiding any noise. Perhaps she thought of me as a dangerous feline. I stayed still as the young girl moved forward.


    Perhaps she was not as young as her looks lead me to believe. Age could be deceptive. A strong follower of The Way would look the same for decades, or so my teachers informed me. Each one wore a different face upon speaking of those who learned The Way.


    This ragged looking serving girl couldn¡¯t be a real follower of any school or training method. She had no black squiggles like our house guards. Yellows and oranges did not follow her like they did for my sisters and mother. Even father¡¯s silver haze of swords would have been familiar.


    Instead a light blue energy trailed behind and curved upwards as if the sky itself held onto spider thin strings to control her like a puppet. I could not recall ever witnessing such a scene on her before, but rarely did she risk delivering materials while I remained active. The confusion made my head tilt.


    My movement caused her to react. The young girl¡¯s head snapped up, once again making me think of a small bird being startled. She froze completely as our eyes met. Black pools swam to huge sizes while eyebrows rose.


    ¡°Wait!¡± I tried to move but still felt heavy from exertion.


    She did not. All pretense of stealth vanished as the young girl ran quickly towards the gate door. Unsteady and tired feet could not even stand to give chase. Moments later I heard my gate clank shut with uncommon softness.


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    I could find nothing else to say, but reflected upon those careful and quiet movements. Her feet had barely touched the ground. The girl looked to be younger than Colborn with hardly any internal energies swirling about inside light skin. Whatever power she used strung behind her. The oddness of external energy daring my garden stuck me deeply.


    Two more days passed without a sign from any instructors. Her repeated presence implied I had not been completely abandoned. There was value to be had in that knowledge. Such a small hope kept me going and I started to look forward to the hesitant and careful footsteps of a young girl delivering food.


    The stealthy movements amazed me. She brushed past plants and trees without causing ripples. I managed to remain still as she crept in each morning. Discoloration lined space under each eye, and purple marks showed on what little skin slipped into view.


    Their markings reminded me of welts left behind when I failed to perform for Captain Nagi. Many such spots lined my skin during the earlier days of my isolation. Doctor Lumin would have remarked on the young girls bruises, pointing out their size and spacing. I could almost see the imprint of a hand in their pattern.


    If ever the little girl looked up and saw me studying, she would flee quickly, leaving the meal set upon a small porch. I tilted my head and tried to piece together this new riddle in this tiny garden, and wondered how such an oddity had gone for years without notice.


    Perhaps young age caused me to overlook her presence. Those footsteps may contain hints of a technique that allowed one to avoid detection. Studying her helped me pass through isolation, and once the girl departed, I tried to mimic her method of movement.


    Her steps didn¡¯t match any stances Captain Nagi taught me. The moments were unlike any cultivation technique Doctor Lumin tested me with, and there had been dozens. I dared hope that such a silent and focused method of moment might allow me to escape unnoticed one day.


    It only distracted me for so long. As time passed without more company I started to desire freedom once more. A single taste on the Black Day had rekindled my needed to peek at the world outside. More and more I stood near the gate which sat latched from the other side.


    Each time I truly considered fleeing but worry paralyzed my feet. I had made progress, and escaping now might undo years of work. Being punished involved no food, and no visits from the younger girl. Such additional restrictions might tip me into insanity.


    Nearly two weeks after the Black Day I still adhered to a recovered routine. The evening sun drifted down and I worked to keep my body well trained. Rapid knocks broke the garden¡®s silence.


    ¡°Young Lord Fell?¡± a voice shouted through the metal wrought fencing. ¡°Are you awake?¡±


    I walked briskly to the doorway while feeling giddy.


    ¡°Young lord Fell? Quickly, quickly before these fools change their minds.¡± Doctor Lumin¡¯s rasp was barely suppressed as he strained to make words carry.


    Other voices grumbled at the edge of hearing. Metal clanged together. The doctor¡¯s rasp kept up a chain of protests at unseen assailants. I rounded the corner in time to see two large men in green uniforms trying to take objects away from the Doctor¡¯s grasp.


    My head tilted as I studied the situation. Both guards were known to me now. Black energy wove its way through their bodies and radiated like sun spokes. I stepped towards the doorway, closer than normally dared, and knocked on the metal. Both guards froze and glanced in my direction.


    ¡°Guard Yon, Guard Ion, can you please release the Doctor?¡± I asked while clasping my hands in front of me. Per Mistress Charity¡¯s instructions I remained civil but did not bow to those below my station unless they deserved respect.


    ¡°Yes. Let me go. I have studies to complete and information to gather. You oafs are getting in the way of science.¡± Doctor Lumin started coughing and quickly charged through the gate. His armfuls of luggage took up nearly the entire hallway. My form pressed up against a wall to allow room.


    ¡°Sorry Young Lord,¡± Yon said with a lisp. ¡°We¡¯ve orders to be extra careful.¡± Half of the man¡¯s face dropped as his eyes were cast down.


    Ion glared at his brother then shook his head. I carefully closed the gate and both guards gave that odd expression again. Emotions ran through my thoughts as I walked back into the courtyard to catch up with Doctor Lumin.


    The frazzled man hovered over blue and purple flowers which had grown rapidly at the rear of my garden. His eyes were wide and movements rapid. Two blooms were plucked and pressed between cloths. They went into a pocket while he studied the remaining row of flowers.


    He continued about his work while I sat with both feet tucked under my rear. Doctor Lumin eventually looked over with a frozen expression upon his face, like the servant girl who delivered breakfast. My head bent forward to touch the floor a full two seconds before I lifted up.


    ¡°Doctor Lumin, I wish to share my observations with you, and seek guidance,¡± I said.


    ¡°Sit, sit up. You should not bow to me.¡± He flushed red while two hands wildly waved in my direction. The protest confused me.


    ¡°You¡¯ve never stopped me before.¡±


    Bowing to the guards was against the rules, but a teacher was worthy of respect. Their attempts to impact knowledge should be acknowledged in both action and word.


    ¡°No, not anymore.¡± The Doctor¡¯s hair shook rapidly. He looked more frazzled and unkempt than ever before. His hands wavered as objects were set up to take measurements. ¡°Station, we must remember our places. Station is all that protects us from those who dare be cast accusations. I am your teacher but you are my young lord.¡±


    I took three deep breathes to prevent myself from panicking. The world outside my garden must be in turmoil, or the Doctor felt threatened by events I did not know about.


    ¡°Has something happened?¡± I chose directness.


    ¡°Yes.¡± His head shook. ¡°No. But yes.¡± Doctor Lumin sighed then coughed. ¡°Everything is in doubt.¡±


    ¡°Can you explain this to me?¡± I asked.


    He said nothing. Suppressed coughs were disregarded as he ran around the garden taking readings from devices. Notes were scribbled into a stack of papers with one iron bar through one corner. I walked after him while eying the granite and longed for my own papers to sketch with. My mouth opened multiple times to ask for a few small sheets but nothing came forth.


    The Doctor frowned then headed at a much slower pace to the garden¡¯s center and my small home. He pulled out an odd coin which hung from a silver chain. I stood in the doorway as he waved the item around the small home.


    His four faced coin pulled sharply to one side as it approached a wall above my bed. There was little room inside but I approached to see what the issue was. Doctor Lumin pulled out a small blade and started digging at one crack.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I asked.


    Part of my wall came undone. A gasp escaped and my eyes blinked rapidly. A small square, no bigger than Doctor Lumin¡¯s palm, fell out. Its edges were lined with writing which I did not recognize. Swirls merged together along the edges. He pulled out another object from stuffed pockets then waved it over the cube.


    ¡°Gods, it¡¯s almost dead.¡± A smile crossed his face then his head shook rapidly. ¡°Less than two weeks, the charm should have lasted six months.¡± He spoke to himself then placed the square into a pocket on his robe.


    I stared at the bulging fabric in confusion. The object he had stored away was not one I remembered. He grabbed a chair and pointed to my bed. Doctor Lumin quickly sat down then gestured for me to do the same, once seated the older man started talking.


    ¡°The Region Lord knows someone in the Asger household dared murder another clan head in broad daylight. Nosey people followed your guards, young Fell, for this house¡¯s colors are known to all.¡± He leaned in close then pulled back. I held still and tried not to let the hurt show. Doctor Lumin continued, ¡°the deduction was easy to make. Those who follow practice the Black Demon Fist all owe loyalty to the Asger Clan. Dark green attire, guardsman spears, and that energy lead the inquisitive to here.¡±


    I nodded once, and once again felt the world was a more complex place than an eleven year old child dare imagine. There were monsters beyond the wall, and if Doctor Lumin¡¯s worried motions were indicative of anything, it was how close those evil creatures truly were.


    ¡°The Black Day did not prevent this grudge?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Why should it? The Black Day is for the gods to ignore us mere mortals.¡± His head shook and unkempt hair fluttered about. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, if murder of a minor clan head were the only factor, perhaps it would have blown over. But no, the man proved to be inhuman. The first in two years found inside the nobles sector of Sol¡¯s Hope.¡±


    ¡°Inhuman?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Yes. Listen well young clan lord, listen and take heart. Be thankful you cannot practice The Way. Be thankful you are avoided by those energies. Their presence warps the sane even as it empowers the mind, body, and soul. No gain is without cost, and incredible danger.¡±


    I said nothing, but wondered if my own family risked their minds as Doctor Lumin implied.


    ¡°Not all paths are true ones.¡± He shook his head with more fever. ¡°Some bend and turn, some attract demons of the world. Even those I had you try were possibly impure paths. A strong mind is required to break through to godhood, a strong soul, and a strong body. Empowered, at a risk.¡± the doctor shook both hands as if something icky stuck to the skin. ¡°Traveling The Way is very dangerous if not controlled.¡±


    ¡°What does this have to do with the Clan Lord of Stone Hearth?¡±


    ¡°Everything.¡± The doctor tightened his hand and patted the pocket which had a cube inside. He stared down for a moment in consideration. ¡°Your actions, right or wrong, revealed him to be upon a twisted, mentally damaging path. His body and soul were unclean.¡±


    I remembered the pig like squeals that erupted upon contact. That day had gone by quickly. The assault of new scents and people made every moment nearly overwhelming. My feigned composure had fallen apart under the onslaught of Lady Mercy¡¯s forward attitude and strange allure.


    I took a slow breath through my nose then started speaking. ¡°May I share my observations with you, and listen to your insights? It may help me understand what was happened.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, of course.¡± He scooted the chair closer and leaned over. ¡°Quietly though, quietly. The walls may have other ears which I missed.¡±


    The comment made me pause, as many words from Doctor Lumin did. He frequently spoke as if his terms would naturally be understood, but their references slipped by me. Still, I hoped the older man might have a suggestion or two once I explained the events from my point of view.


    I started speaking simply. For the moments which were unclear I mediated upon the memory then spoke again with a fresh recollection of the past event. Doctor Lumin nodded frequently, and wrote down notes. His eyebrows touched together while sweat dripped down his forehead.


    Perhaps what we spoke of scared him. I did not feel outright fear, but instead attributed the unevenness of my heartbeat to worry. Relaying the day¡¯s events took a good portion of the evening. Night started to set outside while we both sat without speaking. The aqueduct¡¯s babble along with lead scratching filled up our silence


    ¡°Is there anything else Young Lord fell? Anything at all?¡± He asked while my head shook back and forth. ¡°Even one detail missing might corrupt the information.¡±


    I told him of the food both guards had bought me. I explained the attention grabbing garb of Lady Mercy, which caused him to cough then look away without explanation. My father and Kirkwood¡¯s glares upon returning to the Asger doorway were recounted. Doctor Lumin noted it all. He stared at the pages while shaking his head multiple times.


    ¡°Gears as spinning young lord Fell. Gears all over. Star readers have spoken of a great beast in the sky stirring once more. They urge the Region Lord to action. Dehumanized monsters were revealed among nobility,¡± he paused and looked at me sidelong. I pretended ignorance and stared forward towards the flowers. Their tear drop shaped bulbs surprised me. Mixes of dark blue bordering near purple could be seen among the petals. ¡°Here you sit, tied very closely to both events.¡±


    My head dipped once as if I understood and agreed. Neither presented emotion held complete truth. Much about this perplexed me. Perhaps they would make more sense at fourteen years of age.


    ¡°These are strange times, very strange times,¡± he said while fighting a cough. The raspy edge to his words reminded me to get up and offer fresh water.


    Doctor Lumin coughed while I dashed off to get fresh water. My belongings were fewer now than they had been a week ago. Whoever had absconded with the possessions felt I only needed one cup. I worried that many other items might be out there in the clan hurting my family as the statue had. The fault could have been how I crafted the tool, or simply in my presence as with the garden.


    ¡°Here you are teacher,¡± I said.


    ¡°No more Cold Cure?¡± he asked with a hopeful voice.


    My head shook. The small stockpile of herbs had vanished, along with nearly everything else. A lack of personal belongings bothered me greatly.


    I licked my lips to remove dryness then asked, ¡°Can my artwork supplies be returned to me?¡±


    His head shook and I deflated. My one recently discovered enjoyment had been short lived. Doctor Lumin reached out and gave my head a pat and I struggled to remain calm.


    ¡°But I will ask them again, perhaps Mistress Charity may sway your father where I cannot.¡±


    ¡°Is she okay?¡± I briefly forgot my own woes. ¡°And Captain Nagi?¡±


    ¡°It has been a rough month for all of us young Fell. But they champion your cause as righteously as any parent might. They, we, do not agree with your father¡¯s handling of this situation.¡±


    My head lowered, and I dared not speak ill of the clan leader aloud. My father had bowed to me and asked forgiveness. Only an unfaithful son would disregard the severity of that gesture.


    Yet, I feared that Mercy had been right when she called me the Asger clan¡¯s silk bird. If nothing else, this garden certainly acted like a cage, to keep me in, or others out. Her smile upon delivering a friendly taunt lingered, as did her other features.

 Book 1, Silk Bird Cage; ? Mistresses and Misters

    Time passed slowly in the garden. Being confined grated on me. I had little in the way of distractions aside from physical exercise. Doctor Lumin kept providing assurances that most other boys found it far harder to focus, and that my nervous agitation should be considered commonplace.


    Both Yon and Ion told me in hushed tones through the closed gate that visits from all people were being restricted since the Black Day events. I nodded but didn¡¯t understand if this was to protect me by screening visitors, or keep a low profile until the situation blew over.


    Eventually, Mistress Charity was allowed to visit nearly a week after Doctor Lumin. She walked in with a harried pace then knelt near the chair and soiled the hem of her dress in a wet patch from last night¡¯s rain.


    ¡°I beg your forgiveness young lord,¡± Mistress Charity spoke then lowered her head towards me.


    I sat frozen by confusion and tried to consider what she meant. Mistress Charity rarely demonstrated any faults that I could detect, much less ones which required forgiveness. Her crimes against me were nonexistent to my knowledge.


    My teacher might have been apologizing for not visiting me recently. I did not feel slighted at her absence for nearly three weeks. The fault lay purely with me. Still, her manner caused a tremor of worry to pass through.


    ¡°My father died this past month,¡± she continued to speak. ¡°And my mother has been, burdened by the results.¡±


    I looked at the kind woman then nodded. ¡°Rest assured Mistress Charity, I would forgive you were I to feel upset, but I am not. Caring for one¡¯s family must come first.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Mistress Charity looked at me and made that odd expression again. ¡°Family is very important.¡±


    I wondered why her eyes pinched at the sides and both orbs wiggled with a loss of focus.


    ¡°What does that look mean?¡± I stared at her eyes. ¡°It resembles sadness, but not completely. I¡¯ve seen in multiple times before.¡±


    ¡°Which expression?¡± She face quickly turned to what I considered questioning, and interested. Mistress Charity stared directly at me and moved both hands slightly closer together.


    I tried to make my eyes wiggle and cheeks slacken at the sides. Expression emotion was a difficult skill to master. Were it not for my ability to grow in height, I might consider myself a Wooden Child. Doctor Lumin had shown me pictures of them before. They never grew more than four feet tall and fed on grieving parents.


    Mistress Charity stared at me for a moment. She smiled slightly while watching my face twist. Her humored died and was replaced by a perfect replica of the expression I asked about.


    ¡°That one, yes,¡± I said while nodding. My face tried to make the smile she suggested but likely failed.


    ¡°It is like sadness, on behalf of another person.¡±


    My head tilted. ¡°Then, is it pity?¡±


    Mistress Charity nodded slowly but managed to keep her face under better control.


    ¡°Why would anyone pity me?¡± None of my family members demonstrated sadness at this entrapment. Even father had only asked to be forgiven.


    ¡°It is hard for us to watch a bright child being treated so. Doctor Lumin and Captain Nagi have been especially aggressive in their protests.¡±


    ¡°I do not wish to see people harmed because of me,¡± I said slowly. Consequences bothered me most of all. If they were chastised by father, there may be no one left to teach me. Eyes lost focus while facing a distant wall. My mind played out a dozen possibility futures which might come about.


    Mistress Charity let me sit in silence and ponder the situation. Her mannerisms were far more refined once we started talking again. I felt thankful for a return to normalcy.


    ¡°My station does not allow me to expression myself in the same manner, but I have talked to those who would listen and learned how they feel about this situation we find ourselves in.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I followed her lessons and showed courtesy. ¡°It means a lot to know my valued teachers feel so strongly.¡±


    Still, my teacher did not move from her position. Our seating made me uncomfortable and went against the way it should have been. I began to wonder if this situation contained seriousness beyond my understanding.


    ¡°My sister tells me you prevented that man from violating her, and for that I thank you,¡± Mistress Charity said.


    ¡°Your sister? You mean Lady Mercy Stone Hearth?¡± My face went red. The young woman had been very fetching. I barely understood how a woman might be so attractive but felt conflicted finding out she was related to the woman before me.


    ¡°She is,¡± Mistress Charity nodded to me. ¡°As is Lady Hasty. Our middle sister married and moved far away. We hardly speak anymore, and perhaps it is for the best.¡±


    I looked at my teacher with a new light. As sisters, they shared similar builds, as did my own siblings. Mistress Charity kept protruding features far more covered up than Mercy had. Their ages were different by a number of years but I could see how their lines curved the same way.


    Fingers itched for materials to draw with. I wanted to follow that line completely then make a picture of both women. Perhaps my skills were strong enough to provide them as gifts. Wandering thoughts were slowly reigned in.


    ¡°Forgive me, in our time together I¡¯ve never thought to ask about your family,¡± I said.


    She smiled and tipped her head forward slightly. ¡°There was never reason to speak of them. My sisters follow much different paths in life than I. Which brings me to today¡¯s lesson.¡±


    I nodded and motioned one hand to the unused chairs. Mistress Charity looked surprised for a moment. She stood and sat in her standard chair. Pale fingers grabbed at the dresses hem then moved the smudge out of sight. We were now in our proper locations.


    ¡°This lesson is not just for today, but for your future. Should you have your own children, it is important to remember parents are dangerous to their children in many ways.¡±


    I listened. While her words may not make sense today, they might be illuminating at a later date. She had provided many different bits of information of the years. At the very least I struggled to pay attention.


    ¡°It is difficult to guide another mind upon the path to adulthood. Parents influence their young, by sharing the thoughts, reinforcing behaviors-¡± her eyes cast downward and lips pursed together. The woman swallowed slowly and twirled her umbrella before speaking again. ¡°We are not born from a void, nor shaped by one. Often a parent teaches by unspoken example.¡±


    I held still. Mistress charity did not look in my direction. There were few visual cues to base my reactions off of.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You father, as an example, is a stern and powerful man. He is much like his father in that regard. As is your uncle.¡± She smiled briefly but it faltered. Mistress Charity¡¯s mind had been distracted for our entire meeting. ¡°I see their distant gaze slowly forming in your eyes as well. You parents, even though they visit you rarely, have already had a hand in shaping the man you will become.¡±


    ¡°Your father, if I understood correctly, was a man questionable of questionable actions,¡± I tried to maintain polite wording as Mistress Charity had taught me. Despite the attempt her head shook and eyes blinked rapidly. ¡°Yet you are extremely kind. Is there not hope to be different than our parents?¡±


    ¡°Some people are harder to escape than others. My father was such a man. He, fouled me, and my younger sister. Despite years away from him, I am still very much marked by that past, and because of it, I have made poor choices.¡±


    ¡°Surely not,¡± I protested. The woman in front of me had been nothing but kind and proper for years.


    ¡°Your touch, revealed that man¡¯s depravity-¡± Mistress Charity was shaking. The small umbrella handle under her white knuckles cracked and threatened to splinter entirely. ¡°-to the world, so that none could ignore it.¡±


    She looked up and a barely suppressed wetness hovered around both eyes. I swallowed slowly and felt unsure how to react.


    ¡°I thank you young lord Fell, for doing what I could not.¡± She controlled herself well. I recalled my own rage and helplessness at being locked inside this garden. ¡°It is unkind of me to only wish you could have done it sooner.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± I said. No one should have to suffer unwanted advances. Still, I have killed her father. Surely the murder of another human being deserved punishment. I would have to ask Captain Nagi what the morality was of crime in war.


    ¡°You have no need to be apologetic, Young Lord.¡± She bowed once more. ¡°I only wish for you to be at ease with your part in this situation.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± I lied.


    A mental map of Sol¡¯s Heart taught me that the Stone Hearth clan was very close. Lady Mercy had said we were neighbors. That man shaped pig demon had been nearby more than once. Perhaps he was one of the people who frequented the path over the western wall. Perhaps his drunken mutterings had been one of a dozen to wake me up at night.


    ¡°I could have acted sooner.¡± I nodded once. The possibility sounded simple in hindsight.


    At any point I could have climbed over the fence and probably crossed into their properties. In half an hour it might have been possible to execute him where he slept to prevent such crimes sooner. Starvation for a day or two would have been a small price to repay Mistress Charity¡¯s kindness.


    Her head shook. ¡°You are young, and should not try to blame yourself for inaction on an issue you knew nothing about. Instead, simply remember to act properly in the future, if you ever do learn of other such horrors.¡±


    I nodded once, with all the seriousness an eleven year old could muster. Mistress Charity looked off into the distance and a film of water grew over the woman¡¯s eyes. The situation confused me, because I did not know what she might have to cry again.


    ¡°Are you alright Mistress Charity?¡±


    ¡°I find myself at a loss, young lord. Do you mind if I am a bit forward?¡±


    My head shook in the negative. Before the rocking motion stopped Mistress Charity had leapt across the short distance between us and wrapped her thin arms around my head. Her chest smashed into my face and I stood there stupefied.


    ¡°Thank you, truly thank you,¡± she mumbled.


    Eyes closed and I tried to enjoy the sensation of being hugged by anyone. It felt very strange and almost uncomfortable to have another person¡¯s flesh pressed so closely. Arms stayed rigid at the sides and feet shuffled as her weight pulled at me.


    ¡°My sister said you looked lost, and lonely,¡± Mistress Charity could barely be heard. ¡°She watches you sometimes from the clan¡¯s property across the way.¡±


    I nodded but could not recall seeing Lady Mercy ever before. The building across the way had mostly been covered up by tall trees and shrubs which blocked all but an ornate rooftop.


    ¡°Please consider this hug as coming from her. My sister was very thankful for your heroics on the Black Day.¡±


    Instead most of my attention sat focused upon the woman who captured me in her embrace. Her hands were the hottest parts. They burned upon my forearms as she wrapped me tightly. I wondered if Lady Mercy might feel that much warmer since she displayed more skin. The idea made me uneasy and I started to squirm.


    ¡°And this is a reward from me.¡± She let loose then bent downward and pressed her lips against my cheek. Scents unknown flooded my nose.


    It had been years since anyone drew me this close, much less showed any affection. I flinched backwards once realization set in. Mistress Charity pulled back and looked at me again. Her eyes pinched at the cheeks and ears pulled back. She felt sadness for me, pity. My own gaze went down and I swallowed back shame. One foot dug into the ground to serve as a distraction.


    When I looked up again, Mistress Charity had fled the garden. My fingers touched at goose bumps along one arm where her fingers had held tightly. Perhaps I truly was broken if such simple gestures left me speechless.


    A woman had both kissed and hugged me. Days passed while I tried to sort out the events with Mistress Charity. There was much of our conversation that alluded to deeper problems in the world and I wished to remember it clearly as I got older.


    Again thoughts cycled back to the sensation of being hugged tightly by a mature woman. I tried to recall the last time anyone had expressed affection of any sort in my presence, much less towards me.


    The event distracted me so much that I disregarded plans to watch the servant girl who brought in food. Plates appeared on their normal schedule but I hardly took notice. They left in the same way with a meal half eaten. I even forgot to question how she and Charity had survived my touch where their father had not.


    Days later the silence of my garden broke up from a gate being slammed.


    ¡°You can¡¯t bring him in here!¡± Yon¡¯s voice bellowed with a slight slur.


    ¡°Captain!¡± Ion was much firmer. ¡°This isn¡¯t approved!¡±


    ¡°Stuff your approval! The boy needs practice, and if the Region Lord really wants to move forward with his idiotic plan, it¡¯s my job to see him trained! You know he¡¯ll have no chance without more practice!¡±


    Visitors were scarce in my garden, yet today four people had brazenly strode across through the gateway and marched steadily across to the lakeside where I stood. I held the Long Afternoon pose and tried not to let confusion disturb my final motions.


    ¡°Captain Nagi, you must wait for approval!¡±


    ¡°Solder are you questioning my orders?¡± Captain Nagi responded to Ion¡¯s repeated protest.


    Yon and Ion looked like giants behind my teacher. They glared downward as if they wished to fight here in my garden. I worried for the plants and tried to intercede.


    ¡°Guards, is there anything I can do to assist you?¡± I asked the older men. They were in my small home, and while I held no illusions of power compared to people like my teachers or father, I was also technically the son of our clan¡¯s leader.


    There were other factors to consider and most of them left me unsure. The Black Day events would have changed their perceptions of me a little. Certainly, I was more aware of both men as a result.


    ¡°Young Lord Fell, your father still has not approved visitors,¡± Yon said with a calmer face than his brother. It helped that half of it was lifeless.


    I was still sweating from the morning routine. My back felt better, and limbs functioned with more ease than they had a week ago. My hands itched to keep moving, but the guards in front of me were worth controlling myself and acting proper.


    ¡°Trainee Lance, I suggest you start warming up. It looks like your sparring partner has nearly completed his own training for the morning,¡± Captain Nagi did not speak directly to me but still acknowledged the hard work. Perhaps he also had taken lessons from Mistress Charity.


    The brother¡¯s looked at each other, me, then Captain Nagi in unison. Ion nodded then took up an uneasy stance just inside my garden. He kept both hands wound tightly around the spear shaft and stared at the young trainee Lance. Yon marched off quickly through the gate, and presumably off to see father about this breech.


    ¡°Good, that gives us an hour to let you two beat sense into each other. Young Lord Fell, don¡¯t think that a warrior in training will be as easy as some fat noble!¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± I bowed, stepped back to my clearing near the small lake and tried to resume the last morning exercises.


    ¡°And you, Trainee Lance, put some effort into it! You¡¯re expected to actually try!¡± Captain Nagi¡¯s tone sounded just as harsh with this new person as it normally did when targeting me. I felt both irritated and reassured that the Captain didn¡¯t treat me special compared to a standard army member.


    Our clan managed one small branch of the Region Lord¡¯s armies, in part because of my father and eldest brother¡¯s efforts in wars. Much had come from our fore father¡¯s earning honor over generations. As such we have our own private fighters, the Read Guard¡¯s Yon and Ion being two examples.


    Then there were military contacts, such as Captain Nagi and Trainee Lance. My lessons with Mistress Charity implied that there were nearly two thousand such men under our clan¡¯s control.


    ¡°I¡¯m only here cus¡¯ I¡¯m being-¡° the tone Trainee Lance used was unheard of in my garden.


    I looked upwards and tried to place the inflection used. It stack of disrespect, something Mistress Charity would have frowned sternly about. The trainee words cut off as Captain Nagi¡¯s head tilted and eyebrows went up.


    The older man shook his head towards the young soldier. He did not sigh but pointed towards two spots on the ground. Captain Nagi said, ¡°Both of you, stand, bow, then show me a fight. Keep yourselves under control and do not cause long term harm.¡±


    We turned towards the captain, clasped our hands together then bowed to him, and each other. Afterwards I assumed the Sunrise of Man stance, with both arms up and ready. Trainee Lance lowered his legs down heavily into the ground and lifted his heels off the ground.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    He blinked once then attacked. Captain Nagi snorted and the sight of Ion¡¯s spear moving slightly distracted me. A rush of air went out as I turned to find a fist stretched towards my face. My body swayed backwards and one foot changed locations to retain balance.


    The other fighter kept on going. An extended punch reached air then quickly turned into a spinning back kick. Right arm passed over left to brush the attack aside. Force stronger than expected slid off leaving my arms nearly shaking. I struggled to push aside another blow but came up winded.


    I stepped back quickly in a curve along the familiar ground of my lakeside. Trainee Lance shook his head and rolled both shoulders.


    My position shifted to a lower stance. Height did me no good against the larger opponent. Trainee Lance was older than me by a few years. His body clearly had more muscle and mass. He relied mostly on his fists and chain attacks. Very little defense went into any moves.


    ¡°Do better Trainee Lance, or else I¡¯ll give you to Squad six instead of two like you asked.¡±


    Lance looked over at the captain and a hint of worry rippled through his eyebrows. They were the only bit of hair remaining on his body. I took a moment to analyze his attacks feeling oddly detached despite throbbing arms. There were no surges of energy from his attacks. The older teen wouldn¡¯t scream or burn away if struck.


    ¡°Fucking silver spoon brats,¡± the other male muttered quietly. Were it not for my own hearing I might have missed the slight. He closed his eyes briefly, righted the shaky stance then surged forward again.


    I dare not reveal his disrespect out loud. To do so would cost me a valuable opportunity. However, I did not feel above forcefully throwing the older teen into the ground for two out of next four bouts. Despite being a silver spoon brat, I was able to fight a man years my senior.


    By the fourth round we had a measure of each other. His blows were stronger by far, but my body bent through stances at a rapid pace, pushing his strength to one side. Captain Nagi¡¯s eyes were wide more than once as our fight circled around. Rear guard Ion stood closer still, wearing the same expression as his superior officer.


    Then I fell to the ground, not because of my opponent''s skills or a sudden injury, but because my father too had arrived inside the garden grounds. His hands sat tucked inside sleeves and the thin beard waved in an absentminded breeze.


    My feet scrambled and I quickly struggled to bow properly to the clan head. Failing to complete that round in front of father shook me. Yet, there were many people around who witnessed me defeat the older teen multiple times before. Even mother stood near the gateway¡¯s threshold, her eyes wide at the sight.


    ¡°Where did you learn to fight?¡± my father asked.


    ¡°Captain Nagi has instructed me well over the years,¡± I said with another bow.


    ¡°Captain Nagi, it was my impression you were teaching my son self-defense but had not provided him any battle experience, is that correct?¡±


    ¡°Sir, that is correct,¡± Captain Nagi stood stiffly and kept his face passive. Yon and Ion exchanged glances in the background, while my mother lifted a hand briefly.


    Whatever the motion meant, father saw it with a turn of his head. The haze of mist around him that had entered our garden hardened into a solid force then started spinning again.


    ¡°Yon, Ion, return to your posts,¡± he said. The stern man nodded in my direction. ¡°Continue training hard son.¡±


    Afterwards my father walked away. Layers of sweat prevented me from seeing his expression clearly. Captain Nagi didn¡¯t smile in his victory, but motioned for me to start another round. As instructed, I trained hard against a real soldier.


    ¡°I told you time and time again, he only poses a threat to those who practice The Way or Pierce the Veil,¡± Doctor Lumin muttered to the Captain. Both teachers stood together, but Mistress Charity was nowhere to be seen. ¡°I¡¯m thankful you were able to prove my theory.¡±


    ¡°Focus on your spar Young Lord! Stop getting distracted!¡± the Captain yelled.


    Trainee Lance shook his head then charged, showing once again his preference for being on the offensive. I turned and put both hands up in defense. My mind spun around our recent conversation.


    Their words became too quiet for me to hear. Perhaps the words of Doctor Lumin were correct, many wheels were spinning and it was my view of the world that couldn¡¯t see them.


    Still, the abrupt differences today had brought felt positive. My sparring partner did not like me, but I liked the opportunity he presented. In addition six people had visited in one day. Progress encouraged me to struggle harder. I trained endlessly. It was not for the battle, or from blood lust, but a long test to prove the worth of my existence. In such a manner months passed.


    Time brought little wisdom about the events outside my cage. All three teachers once again visited and the view of life slowly returned to a routine. My goal of self-discipline to earn freedom had changed simply changed methods and intensity. There would be another Black Day, father approved of my efforts, and my sister was showing signs of healing.


    In the first year of imprisonment I had longed to get out. As a young lord to one of three great clans, I had been destined for leadership, or positions of power were I to work hard. Now though, isolation kept me separated and grew increasingly aggravating. The prison walls chafed at me, though I did not understand myself well enough to recognize such an emotion.


    Remaining inside wasn¡¯t that easy. After the first month I grew antsy again. Feet traveled a slow lap around the wall. Every few hand spans I would reach out and touch the fortifications in hopes that my walls might dissolve away once and for all.


    There were other puzzles if my mind wandered. Increasingly attention focused upon this quiet visitor to the garden. Her subtle presence felt odd given prior disregard. It had been my belief before that she did not practice upon the way, but clearly those presumptions were incorrect. Energy flowed after her like silk ribbons.


    One day I held myself still in mediation and kept eyes at bare slits. I could see a portion of bruised legs slipping by the grass along my back wall. The food bringing young woman aimed directly for the garden of tiny blue flowers which had shot up like weeds in the last month.


    The flowers did nothing for me. My touch withered them as it did with Cold Cure and the Gibberling. Given this effect, the plants were likely spiritual in nature, infused with energy like many plants were. Plants, such as Cold Cure, had proven capable of growing in my garden despite the absence of all other energies.


    The waif stole a teardrop clump of petals, shoved them in her mouth then chewed. The energy tethered to her back, which flowed upward like an upside-down wing, pulse with light blue. A deeper color had started to form, that reminded me of a dark sky with clouds in the distance.


    My head tilted briefly in thought. Like every time before, she noticed, and halted with eyes staring at me. The young girl covered her mouth and tightened her jaw.


    I didn¡¯t understand why she stayed here instead of running. Her mouth kept chewing away.


    ¡°Are you afraid I¡¯ll ask for that back?¡± I asked her.


    She swallowed rapidly as her eyes watered and thin strands of feathery blue once again surged with energy. The girl still refused to speak and instead fled my garden rapidly.


    I hopped down and carefully walked over to the place she had been eating at. In one hand I held a branch, scavenged from a tree, and pushed aside plants. Deep under the current layer of growth there were signs of more flowers having been torn from their stems. They looked to have been savagely yanked out in some places.


    Days later, Mistress Charity arrived in the afternoon. She looked brighter than ever and often wore a clear smile instead of keeping it hidden.


    We chatted of small topics and court information. She kept me abreast of the changes going on around Sol¡¯s Heart and shared much about how the various clan¡¯s had responded to a hunt for fallen demons. I nodded but didn¡¯t know how much of the information mattered. Father didn¡¯t speak much on the subject during our brief exchanges. He recently only had concern for my battle prowess.


    I broke away from unsolvable gossip and decided to clear up another matter. It had been months since the Black Day and a new one loomed close. Events from the last day played in my mind.


    ¡°I do have a question, and I hope you¡¯ll forgive me if I¡¯m impolite,¡± I stated.


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re mindful of what I said regarding commenting on hidden treasures.¡± Mistress Charity pressed a hand against her chest and smiled. The meaning was clear, but my question might trip across the line.


    ¡°I do not know, but it was something that I overheard, and find myself confused about. Since it concerns you, I hoped that you might provide clarity.


    ¡°Some men I know were speaking rather crudely.¡± The two guards Yon and Ion had actually spoken of ¡®librarians being like as any to want a drink and a wench¡¯ then stated ¡®that¡¯s Mistress Charity¡¯s job¡¯. Their words combined with Lady Mercy¡¯s hidden treasure certainly had me wonder exactly what the open secret might be.


    ¡°Men often do, especially those less civilized,¡± she smiled at me, and I briefly considered not asking for fear that it might ruin her happy mood. ¡°I¡¯ve always been proud that you remain above such vulgarities.¡±


    ¡°They, mentioned that you might be paid to, explain more adult manners. I wasn¡¯t sure if this was an insult or not,¡± I said after a pause. It had taken me a month of trying to solve that problem, among others, before finally decided to simply ask her.


    Mistress Charity coughed briefly then sat a bit stiffer, her smile faded. I tilted my head and wondered what danger the question had triggered. She nodded stiffly then stared down at the ground. Her hands twirled the sun umbrella that sat over her shoulder.


    I waited while she composed herself then nodded once. Her eyes didn¡¯t look as bright, and I found myself staring at sad red painted lips. The space between them and her narrow chin would only take a few brush strokes.


    ¡°Part of our job as teachers is to make sure you know everything you need to grow into a fine adult. For your Captain Nagi this is the way of fighting, of killing men, and eventually of commanding them.¡±


    I nodded to show I understood her words.


    ¡°For your Professor Lumin, he struggles to teach you how to view The Way from outside, to learn to think of reasons behind the world¡¯s movements, and he works to help you understand your own power.¡±


    I nodded again.


    ¡°And it is my job to teach you conversation, and the art a man needs to know,¡± Mistress Charity tilted her head and emphasized the word art in a way that she never had before.


    The explanation felt light. My eyebrows lowered and forehead wrinkled.


    ¡°When you grow older, I shall be teaching you a man¡¯s art, if you¡¯ve desire to learn. This one involves the ways of a man and woman in the dark.¡±


    My face went slack briefly as I had a sudden inkling of what she meant. The exact nature escaped me slightly but I knew it would be embarrassing. It sounded like one of those subjects a man should not brag about in public.


    Worry hit me. This sounded strangely close to what Lady Mercy had been running from. I needed to ask, ¡°is this something you wish to do?¡±


    ¡°Do you remember what I said of our parents shaping us?¡± Mistress Charity answered.


    I nodded and felt like a thoughtless bird pecking at the ground.


    ¡°Then shaped I am.¡± Her head tilted slightly and the umbrella spun slowly. She wore a slight smile and only looked down for a moment. ¡°This is who I am, as a result of the choices made, I¡¯ve come to terms with that nature, as you must your own. But it is kind of you to worry, and rest assured I shall make sure the learning process is enjoyable for us both.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the answer,¡± I said while my mind whirred quickly. My face must have been foolish. The topic had thrown her off a bit but she still answered, and now she smiled shyly like the young girls did in her tales of courtroom antics.


    My face felt very red and heartbeat rapid. The very idea that she might be teaching me something intimate made thoughts scattered wildly. Part of me understood what she alluded too but the rest did not. Perhaps if I had been allowed to leave my garden more often, or lived a less isolated life this explanation would have made more sense.


    I shook my head then decided to worry about her words later. Quickly standing up I eagerly spouted, ¡°Mistress Charity, may I give you a gift, as an apology for the rudeness of my questions?¡±


    She smiled and there was a hint of something else entirely that I had never seen before. The expression looked like happiness mixed with a playful bend to her eyes. I studied the lines for a moment then tried to memorize the curl to her cheeks. Mistress Charity nodded.


    ¡°One moment,¡± I said before stepping inside the small hut.


    The table had dozens of drawn pictures stacked on leaflets. My sculpting tools had not been returned but Professor Lumin insisted on paper being provided for his lessons. A few weeks ago piles of parchment showed up and my drawing took on a nearly feverish pace since then. I used them to pencil out pictures of the various things I saw.


    Some were plants that we learned about, but many were family members I saw during my moments of meditation. Everyone I could think of was sketched, some far more than others. I tried to straighten up the mess.


    ¡°Your art is coming along well young Lord Fell,¡± she said with a pleased nod.


    I glanced back briefly to see the normal smile and color had returned to her face. My chest lifted with a sigh of relief. The one I wished to give stood pinned upon the wall above my desk.


    ¡°Here,¡± I said while trying not to let my feet shuffle about.


    She took the picture and stared at it. I had worked hard upon carving an aloft grace upon the page. It showed Mistress Charity from a distance, her eyes were a bit said, but the chin lifted high, as if no matter the challenge she would overcome. There was strength and sadness to the gaze.


    ¡°Is this me?¡± she asked.


    I nodded then looked down. Obeying Captain Nagi¡¯s instructions and Professor Lumin¡¯s experiments had never made me cast my eyes down like this. I felt my chest tighten and shoulders draw together.


    ¡°It¡¯s a wonder, thank you.¡± She smiled again then actually laughed. The sound made me relax. My ears perked up and head flushed with a tingle that crawled down my back.


    She scanned the other pictures with an excited smile. Mistress Charity looked at drawings of my brother¡¯s, and father. I let her pick out a second one that showed the backside of guard¡¯s Yon and Ion from one morning. Their bodies stood out as bright spots in a dark tunnel. They looked regal and resolute with straightened backs and tall spears at the ready.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this girl?¡± Mistress Charity¡¯s hand landed upon a small clump.


    She pulled one out using two fingers then held up the picture of a thin homeless waif with strands of blue tied to her back. There were stacks of her in different poses, each one captured after meditation helped me recall the moment. This one showed the girl cupping flowers in her hand and gazing into them as if secrets were hidden inside.


    ¡°I do not know. That is the young woman who brings my meals. She quiet, and startles easily, and a puzzle,¡± I responded. ¡°One I intend to solve eventually.¡±


    Mistress Charity¡¯s smile fell for only a moment before righting itself. I believed the change in expression to be a result of confusion. My startled bird certainly caused me to feel the same frequently. Everything in the moment had been captured, even a slightly darkened patch of skin along her exposed shoulder.


    ¡°It¡¯s lovely, maybe I keep this one as well?¡± she asked.


    The question was innocent enough, and praise made me flush with nervous pride. I nodded, and Mistress Charity left with three pictures under her arm. Soft but quick footsteps led her to the gate and it clinked in the distance.


    I stood at the desk with my hands carefully covering another pile of papers. Perhaps it was for the best that she stopped to look at my visitor with the blue strands. Other pictures lay further below that pile, marking the curves of Lady Mercy¡¯s well defined body. In light of our recent conversation I felt worried that Mistress Charity might not approve of my drawings of her sister. They were far less regal in their posing.


    Those would need to be removed soon, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to cast them away. I stared at her sketches often late at night and wondered exactly her father had intended.


    The adult world sounded mysterious indeed. I wondered which might be worse; a lightning casting down judgment from the heavens, or the flushed feeling I got when thinking of holding Lady Mercy¡¯s hand.