Cassie
The Nightscape seemed far more populous than she’d expected. A multitude of Nightwalkers occupied the range of her Vague hearing, though she wasn’t sure how to measure distance with the landmarks so misleading.
Most were far too powerful to consider approaching. Some radiated malice, others hurried about their business fearfully or with confidence, and few, if any, resembled her kind. Many didn’t appear to be flying but ran or swam on invisible paths. It was the strangest kind of ‘people watching’ she’d ever done.
She idled, unsure of herself, until she heard a Nightwalker apparently as overwhelmed, confused, and aimless in its wanderings as her.
Cassie examined the odd Nightwalker, a traveling circus of searchlight projections waving in all directions like antennae. Her Vague hearing detected an amorphous or swarm-like body too distant for her Vivid hearing to draw fine details unless she dove into the range of those spotlights. It didn’t seem more powerful than herself, though that didn’t make the situation less dangerous. She approached with caution.
The Nightwalker floated from one star to another, curiously prodding each with its searchlights without attempting to breach the Thresholds. There was something voyeuristic about the way it lingered, looking but never touching, though Cassie might say the same about herself. She didn’t get any malicious intent from it, at least.
Then, all at once, every one of its searchlights turned toward her.
Startled and alert, Cassie fluttered back, ready to dodge an attack and flee. So did the Nightwalker. It used a floating island as cover, peaking at her around the curved underside. Could it really see her? If so, it must have a Clair ability beyond its physical senses similar to her Vague range.
Curious, she circled the Nightwalker 90 degrees, far out of its searchlights’ reach. To her astonishment, the searchlights followed her, though they seemed unable to pinpoint her position. As she rounded the island in this way, the Nightwalker ducked behind the rock to avoid exposure. After a moment, it reappeared, peeking around the other side of the island.
Then it did something strange.
The Nightwalker floated out from behind the island to inspect the place where Cassie had first been discovered. Cassie wasn’t sure why she mirrored its actions, perhaps her playfulness got the better of her, but she perched on the same spot of the island’s rocky underside where the Nightwalker had first hidden.
When she did this, the Nightwalker retreated further away as if stung.
It’s afraid of me.
She recalled her progenitor’s words. IT IS YOURS TO DECIDE WHO WILL FEAR YOU AND WHY. The Nightwalker surely wouldn’t let her come close enough to talk. Then she had an idea. On the rock she clung to, she scratched words with her claws.
> Hi, my name is Cassandra Chiroptera. It’s not an impressive name, a minor prophet in my people’s history, and you should call me Cassie anyway since that’s shorter.
>
> What’s your name?
>
>
She withdrew to a safe distance, and as she’d suspected, the Nightwalker drifted back toward the island—as enticed by curiosity as her.
After confirming Cassie was too far away to swoop in for an attack, the Nightwalker inspected her handiwork. It took a long time, to the point Cassie got a little anxious, but the Nightwalker finished at last and retreated even further than she had.
Unable to restrain herself a moment more, Cassie pounced on the message it had written next to hers. The letters were burned into the rock in melted rivulets. She didn’t recognize the foreign script scrawled in impeccable calligraphic ‘handwriting,’ if she could call it that, but the Rosetta Stone on her sleeping body faithfully translated:
> Hello.
>
> My name is Auge Mokumokuren. You may think it strange, but I like it.
>
> Actually, its full meaning is a rather interesting pun. You see, Auge literally means ‘eye,’ but it can also be ‘the highest point’ in another language, and when pronounced, it sounds like a word that means ‘a tool used to bore holes.’
>
> Among my people, the name’s complete meaning is something like, ‘The Eye Which Bores Down From On High,’ which is embarrassingly pretentious.
>
> Even if it’s longer, I like your full name better, by the way. Cassandra sounds grander, more dangerous. Can I call you—
>
>
The message cut off there, skipping a few lines before continuing.
> —I shouldn’t be doing this. I just told you my race and thus what my abilities are.
>
> Goodbye,
>
> Auge
>
>
Cassie scanned through the content of the message, noticed Auge drifting further away, and hastened to scribble her reply.
> Please don’t go, you’re very interesting, and I want to learn more about you. It’s okay you told me what you were because I told you what I am first. Let me tell you more about me. I’m fourteen years old, and this is my first time Nightwalking. And, yes, you can call me Cassandra.
She flew far away to the nearest floating island, giving Auge lots of space, and Listened from there. Auge stopped to Watch her as she flitted away from their message board. Caution and curiosity warred as they were inexorably drawn to read what she’d written. She smiled.
A Mokumokuren.
Cassie knew enough about the races to work out this ‘Auge’ was the Eye from her nightmare. The Eye hadn’t attacked her, then or now. The demon had wanted her to fear them. She had a good feeling about defying that manipulation, though it might be dangerous, nonetheless.
As soon as Auge started reading, Cassie wrote another message on the underside of her island.
> Can you really see me when I’m this far away? I can hear what you’re doing and the range of your vision or influence, but not your fine features or details.
Having noticed what she was doing, Auge waited until Cassie left that island and read the second message before writing a response.
> Cassandra,
>
> I also find you quite intriguing. I would never have initiated with another Nightwalker and wouldn’t usually attempt communication like this. That would go against my mission (I’m bad at this.)
>
> But you’re not a normal Nightwalker. Yielding the dominant position… It’s simply not done. I have a hard time believing you’re a Chiropteran in truth—bit of a bad reputation—or a first-timer, let alone fourteen.
>
> However, I find your terms agreeable.
>
> I will repay your offerings of information in kind. I’ve been out here before, thrice, but didn’t think I could be surprised like that—your ears are as keen as they say. I saw your consciousness as it became aware of mine, a shadow in the dark, startled to find the Watcher being watched.
>
> I know nothing of what you look like. Or your body shape at all, except the silhouette of your wings. Menacing. Fearsome and powerful.
>
> Fifteen.
>
> Looking forward to learning about you,
>
> Auge
>
>
The letters in the crossed-out line were thoroughly melted, but Cassie’s Vivid hearing was so boosted in the Nightscape she could read the echoes. Auge seemed to realize they’d be unable to erase what they wrote.
Excited by her success, Cassie couldn’t wait to discover more about this mysterious person.
She told Auge about her abilities.
> Cassandra,
>
> I knew some of a Chiropteran’s capabilities from myth and rumor but never heard one’s first-hand experiences. What’s more, as a Mokumokuren, I find your unique perspective fascinating. I would never have imagined the way you interact with the world around you.
>
> This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
>
> Thank you for sharing with me.
>
> It’s only proper I should detail my own viewpoint and hope you find some similar pleasure.
>
> My race is one of those with a buffet table of weak or situational abilities instead of a few powerful or flexible ones. All of mine revolve around vision or eyes.
>
> I can see, or project in a beam, virtually any wavelength of light: infrared for heat vision, microwaves, ultraviolet for forensics and sterilization, X-rays, gamma radiation, and radio waves—A rare overlap between our races, but I’m not sure I could effectively jam a signal the way you can.
>
> I also have the ability to identify the chemistry of a material by looking at it (what humans call absorption spectroscopy) and determine the optimal laser wavelength to heat said material. I have exceptional night vision, telescopic, and microscopic vision. I can watch the blood flow of the tiny vessels in peoples’ faces, allowing me a limited ability to accurately guess their emotions.
>
> The Mokumokuren can justly boast the most extended and accurate Second Sight of any race. I can identify a person’s magic to any type I’ve seen before by their aura.
>
> A number of much more challenging but very possible techniques I’ve been working on allow me to change my laser heating into laser cooling.
>
> I’m saying I can make a freeze ray.
>
> I also have the ability to hypnotize people. From what you’ve told me, however, I’m guessing you’d be immune since my target has to make eye contact with me.
>
> Besides that, I propagate and amplify my power through floating eyes. Their sight as they orbit me is probably what you call my ‘searchlights.’
>
> What all these abilities amount to is that I’m exceptional at reconnaissance but less effective in a fight and terrible in melee.
>
> Auge
>
>
Cassie told Auge about her friends.
> Cassandra,
>
> That is quite an impressive crew and a bit of an oddity to have such varied races together.
>
> Ordinarily, I’d never reveal information about my allies without their consent. I will not condemn the fact you have, though many would call it foolish, because I feel others would call it brave.
>
> It certainly shows confidence in your ability to protect them. Not to mention trust they’d help you in acquiring a possible ally.
>
> For you see, I now find myself obligated to do the same or be forced to abandon this enterprise. Perhaps you are shrewder than I first suspected.
>
> Among our group of five, we have me as our Clair (one might say I’m the ‘you’ of my group), our utility is a fifteen-year-old Key Meister, our support is a fourteen-year-old Alchemist, and our muscle is a sixteen-year-old Gryphon. Our guardian is an Ophid of indeterminate age. They each bring significantly more offense to the table than I.
>
> Though I do not feel comfortable revealing more details at this time, I hope you find my offering acceptable.
>
> My apologies, I am not as brave as you.
>
> Auge
>
>
Her heart leaped as she read the message, claws frantic in her haste to respond.
> An Ophid! Does he have an extra Snake Stone?
The reply was curt.
> Cassandra,
>
> I shall not answer you for two reasons.
>
> One, you have offered me nothing in exchange for information that could endanger my ally if your intentions are to obtain said item through nefarious means.
>
> Two, your clear interest indicates a desire for possession—Even if you could provide an item or service of equivalent exchange, the trade would require a meeting ITWW.
>
> Auge
>
>
She immediately tried to correct her mistake.
> Sorry. I was a little overeager. A monster named Medusa petrified my parents, and I’ve heard one cure was an Ophid’s Snake Stone.
>
> I don’t think we have anything of value to trade except some information on Red Tail, though I might be able to talk the others into performing a service?
>
> By the way, what does ITWW stand for?
>
>
>
> Cassandra,
>
> It’s supposed to mean, ‘In The Waking World.’ Sorry, I guess I’m trying too hard.
>
> Auge
Cassie laughed.
> No, I get it now. It’s kind of clever. You’re not that bad, :<)
> What is that?
> This, :<) ? That’s my nose. It’s kind of flared upward, like a bat’s.
>
> Ah, I see. o-)
>
> I’m a Cyclops, by the way.
>
>
>
> : > > Cassandra I wouldn’t know I continue to be bad at this. I can’t tell if you’re deviously baiting my responses or if you’re as innocent as you seem. No, my indiscretion is justified because you’ve already stated you were orphaned—regardless of whether your petrified parents can be revived. I have never seen another of my kind. Auge So, this Nightwalker was an orphan as well? Cassie considered. > I’m the only one of us who can Nightwalk. What about your friends? > > Cassandra, It is the same for me. At this point, I can’t see any way I could tell my friends about you. They’d think me a short-sighted idiot for going this far. I’m not sure they’re right, though I have to admit I’m doing this purely for my enjoyment. They’d make me break things off if they knew. Auge She felt a stab of anxiety. > I don’t want this to stop. Can we keep it a secret? > Cassandra, > > I don’t want to lose this either. Interacting with you is fun. My skepticism fears you are laying a trap of some kind, but I want to see this through. I want to believe in you. > > Auge > > She eventually asked how long they’d been asleep. > Cassandra, > > Time and space vary in the Nightscape compared to the waking world. It’s very hard to measure things. When your body tries to wake up, you’ll feel it pull on you—the harder, the more urgent. > > That’s one way to navigate back if you’re lost. > > Hope you’re not leaving already? > > Auge > > > > How do we find each other tomorrow? Can you find your way back here? > > > > Cassandra, > > Yes. I have an excellent mental map of the Nightscape, though landmarks drift with time. I trust you’ll be able to follow your echoes to return here? > > Let’s use this as a first meeting spot, but never use the same place twice. We’ll have to see if we can find a new spot for the next night. > > Auge > > Later… > Cassandra, > > While I may not have wings, I don’t need my Gryphon friend to fly. Riding my floating eyes, I can reach the clouds. > > I love being up high more than anything. Sunrise, sunset, the moon, and the stars, the view is always best without obstruction. > > Sometimes I watch the people far below living their lives for hours. It helps me clear my head. Gives me a sense of perspective. The world makes more sense from above. > > Auge > > > > I did the same thing in Radio World! When it felt like everything was falling apart, I’d listen to the city and feel better. > > I did have to call the police a few times. Just listening isn’t always enough! > > And later… > Cassandra, > > On the topic of Rana reacting negatively to your cutting off the blood bargain, I can sort of see her side of things? > > Not that you made the wrong decision; I simply want to express something of what she may be going through. Assuming she doesn’t have any relevant issues from her history, which she definitely could, straight-up being told ‘You’re not needed anymore’ can be hard to take. > > I know you weren’t rejecting her when you decided to stop drinking blood but, in a similar situation, I might’ve reacted in the exact same way as Rana. > > Think about how much energy she put into caring for you that year. > > Beyond the pain of being repeatedly bitten, beyond the drain on her vitality, beyond the guilt of keeping your secret from your friends, imagine the sheer emotional investment she must’ve had in your wellbeing—how much time a day did she spend worrying about you and supporting you? > > Not that I have personal experience but think of how a mother feels when their child becomes independent. There’s a void left behind because so much of her life was interlaced with yours. > > When you said you didn’t need her anymore, it must have been like ripping out a chunk of her psyche. > > I’m not trying to make you feel bad. > > A friendship built on that kind of dependency and power dynamic is doomed to wither and die. You needed to become independent. > > The close bond you formed out of life-or-death desperation needed to end before it spiraled out of control. > > However, now you’ve cut the cord binding you two together, she’ll drift away if you don’t put energy into the relationship—maybe a lot of energy. If you value this friendship, as I think you do, you either need to bond with her over something new or reconnect over something you used to share. > > I think you made the right decision, regardless of whether your vitality pool theory is correct, to create a lesser bond of dependency between you two in place of the previous. It’ll give her more time to collect herself and you time to establish a new direction for your friendship. > > Auge > > Much later… > Cassandra, > > Going over my records of our conversations, I’ve noticed I often use sight-based language after repeatedly promising to stop. I can see—It’s apparent that I must endeavor to improve going forward. > > My sincerest apologies. > > Your friend, > > Auge Mokumokuren > > ---------------------------------------- They had many conversations about Cassie’s life and history, late into the night. It seems abundantly clear you would’ve been the demon’s prey if not for Paul’s love, Auge wrote. Love? Cassie asked. Not romantic love, I presume, but the no less potent bond between close friends. He cares about you, wants to protect you, and wants to be with you, something he shares with that Tsukumogami boy, Tarō. It was his love taking the form of a candle that guided you through the demon’s forest of fear. With the demon using your abilities against you in your dreams, your salvation had to be intervention from the waking world. Cassie nodded to herself. That’s really good, Auge. I’m not sure I would have realized that on my own, thank you. No, thank you, Cassandra, Auge replied. I have enjoyed your stories immensely, though it makes me feel guilty to think of how little I’ve shown you in return. She smiled at that. Don’t worry about it, honestly. That doesn’t matter to me at all. I’m glad to have found another friend! :<) And she was touched by Auge’s response. I do worry about it, though. Friends shouldn’t have debts between them. Give me a little time, and I know I’ll think of something… o-)