“Headquarters, come in.” Oynoiz spoke into the gem in their ear.

After a pause, a voice responded, “We hadn’t heard from you in a while. What happened after initial contact with the displaced pod? You haven’t updated us since you made personal contact.”

“The woman, Juliana Humesier, I believe was mislabeled. She was given a Re rating, but witnesses shared they heard other notes when hers was assigned.”

“Fascinating. Other notes?”

“Yes, her measurement produced a chord.”

“What happened after you broke observation?”

“Nue’ant is furious.”

“Avoid the judge.”

“I cannot any longer.”

“Are you compromised?”

“Yes. But not how you think. Juliana asked me to join her clan.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Headquarters, are you there?”

“You? Join a clan? What is that human thinking?”

Oynoiz wondered if they were meant to hear that response.

“So, what is your plan?”

“My plan is to retire. Our goal was to recruit a woman to our side, and if not ours, away from Asa. It worked.”

“She defected to us? We need to join her to our other families, especially if she has special potential.”

“No. She started her own clan.”

“…Excuse me? This is unheard of! Oynoiz, it is your responsibility, no, your duty, to convince her merge with one of our clans.”

“Did you not hear what I said? She formed her own clan.”

“But if you just convince her—”

“Headquarters, she has two other Adasions in her clan—one a pink Fa level. You know they cannot be controlled. We are taught to run immediately if one is in the vicinity.”

“Then why are you around‽”

“Headquarters, I’m retiring.”

“WHAT? You can’t do that!”

“What should I do—work for you until I die? I get a pension like every other Adasion. This will be my final mission.”

A pause came before a Gongre clipped accent spoke, “Understood. Headquarters out.”

Lying on her bed Juliana thought about Eirian’s words:

“As a healer I am concerned, Juliana. You must not go much longer without exchanging your mana. If this continues, you’ll permanently forget everything and everyone from your old world.”

“I’m just not ready for that yet.”

“I understand. Just don’t wait too long.”

They mussed their yellow hair, “AAAAH! I can’t stand that you are choosing both that frivolous actor and that serious null. But it looks like they might all get along. That’s what’s important. If it works out, you’ll have the start of a powerful clan. And remember—if you need me, just send me a mana message. Royce and I will come.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Her dreams came in waves. She was back in the mayor’s bland neutral office. The Public Works Director was speaking to her about the next council meeting. She couldn’t remember his face. It was blurred. The next moment she walked into the council meeting. She knew they sat around the round crescent table. She saw their figures, but again, no faces. She worked tirelessly with them for six years with only two weeks of vacation. She talked to them more than her relatives, friends, and church community. She should know them. She tried to see them, but her mind would not allow it.

She woke trembling.

Throwing her legs off the marshmallow soft bed, Juliana called for Jun’ep. “Call Fionn over! I need to mana transfer. I cannot wait any longer.”

After getting dressed, Juliana sat in a sunroom. She fiddled with the fringes of her toga-like dress. Nue’ant sat down next to her.

Their stern face was framed by their long white locks. Juliana noticed that their left side was braided. Nue’ant cleared their throat, “I heard. I do not have words for what you are going through. We don’t have memory loss unless there is a head injury, and usually that is easily healed. This is an Earth-arrival disease. One that I’ve seen many men suffer through. Be thankful that you’re capable of a mana transfer.”

“Is there any way for a man to retain his memories?”

“If they swear to the Red King, they can become his executioners.”

Juliana gasped. “How horrible!”

“Do not be so quick to judge. Men are able to extract mana from an Adasion. The problem is that if they try to take even a little, it’s always lethal to the Adasions.”

She thought back to Alan’s complaints of being a pariah. It was no wonder the Adasions didn’t care about human men. They were afraid of them.

“Wait—so you mean if they try to do a mana transfer, it’s an extraction instead of a release and return? It won’t flow back?”

“It’s more than that. It’s a theft.” Nue’ant stood, “Seems like your new clan member is here faster than I expected. Juliana, you did well choosing your new allies.”

Juliana was surprised by their admission.

They continued, “I am glad you chose Id’rit. They are very knowledgeable and have a steady mind. While I would have preferred all your new clan to be my contacts, or at least for you to stay in Adasion, I understand the need to discover yourself. Once when I was a junior clan member, I too left to see the world. Adasion is beautiful, colorful, and dangerous. You will experience many things and grow from them.” They patted her head. Juliana sputtered. She wasn’t sure if she should feel flattered or insulted that they saw her as still young. But perhaps she was in comparison to how long an Adasion lived.

Fionn arrived in a storm of color. Their bright green robes were disheveled as though they ran the whole way. They were not even wearing all the jewelry they had when she first met them. Only a single earpiece. With a smile, they embraced Juliana. As they stepped away, she smelled their grassy cologne.

“I’m so glad you called. How bad is it? The memory loss?”

“I can no longer remember the faces of my colleagues.”

Juliana’s face held no smile. A grim acceptance was in her eyes. If she was never to forget her home, she needed a mana transfer now.

Fionn led her to a white couch and projected powerful waves of calming. Her heartbeat slowed, her breathing relaxed.

“I’m okay now. You can stop the emotions.”

A surprised look flashed over them, “Are you sure? I felt your distress as soon as I entered the mansion.”

She nodded. “Yes, I want to be fully present.”

“My lady, you are brave.” They sighed, “I believe you learned the basics at the Training Center. You’ll feel a warm energy from me. When you do, you’ll be able to also feel the mana from the planet. Allow my energy to circulate around you and pass through you. It’ll combine with the planet’s and return to me. This cycle will continue until my mana feels pure.”

Nue’ant called from the edge of the room, “As your sponsor, I will stay nearby. I’ll be in the next room.”

Fionn nodded, “Very well.” To Juliana they said, “This is something sacred for the Adasions as we are born from the planet. It is not done that those outside of a clan witness this. Nue’ant is seen as your caretaker—like those we have when we’re first born in the creche. But even they do not have the right to witness. But if you want them to stay, I will do as you need.”

Juliana was shocked by their openness. She smiled, “No Fionn. I am comfortable enough and I don’t want to make this awkward for you. This is your first mana transfer too.”

They breathed out. “Yes, yes it is.”

They closed their eyes. A warm feeling rose. The air around them began to glow. It moved outwards from Fionn in a soft pink wave as golden energy from the planet rose and combined with their energy. Shimmering, it gently flowed across the space between them. With a deep breath, Juliana felt it enter her core. It wasn’t forced. It was a calm thing. Something that existed since the beginning of life. More powerful than awareness. More noticeable than strength. She accepted this feeling of love. This love of the familial. Of oneness and joy. The warm energy and feeling ebbed away. Despite its loss, Juliana didn’t feel bereft. Instead, she felt energized.

Fionn looked at their hands. A soft glow surrounded all their skin. Their eyes glowed, then faded.

“That—that was more than anyone could have ever told me. I feel energized, stronger. I felt at home. I felt my clan, even if it is just us for now.” Fionn pressed their forehead to Juliana’s and laughed.

The cobwebs clouding her mind began to disappear. Slowly some were coming back. Not all of her memories were recovered, but the ones she felt fading returned strong.