Stepping off the pedestal I see many eyes upon me, questioning why I was taken upstairs. Nevari and Korra now approaching me, Neeba is not far behind.
“What did he say?” Korra asks me now, walking in stride with me.
“Did you ask him about my father?” Nevari asks me now, grabbing my arm bidding me to stop. Guilt rises in me for forgetting.
“I am sorry, I was distracted.” I admit.
“Too distracted to plead for the man who protected you. Too distracted to…” Nevari begins, but Neeba interrupts her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Let him explain sister, he cares for our father, I am sure he will help if he can.” He says, now turning to me with hope in his eyes “Right, Kada?”
The muscles in my face tense, the guilt threatening to drown me.
“That can wait, what did he say?” Korra says, stepping closer she whispers with her eyes growing wider “Was it about what you gave to me? Should I get rid of it?”
“What did you give her?” Neeba asks me, there is a change in tone, like he is offended I did not trust him with it.
“Forget that, what are you going to do about my father?” Nevari asks pulling at my clothes, eyes full of desperation “He will die in the next wave if nothing is done.”
“Enough!” I yell, my mouth cringing as it falls out. A bitterness rising in me for letting my emotions spill over.
They fall silent for a moment until I speak again, regret in me for letting it get to me.
“I did not mean to yell. Nevari, I have messaged my sponsor.” My pride struggles to say “I will plead with them for assistance.”
“Thank you.” She says gripping my shoulder firmly.
“Korra, he does not seem to know. Is it still safe?” I ask her.
“Yes.” She says looking around speaking in a hushed tone “I have hidden it well.”
“Good.” I can see Neeba is acting strange still so I add “I will show you later Kada.”
He nods to me, the tension relieving. I feel a buzz on my holopad, my pulse quickens as I see it is a notification from my sponsor tab. The others huddle around me as I open it.
You finally respond, can I take it to mean that you believe me? That I have your best interests in mind.
There is a sickening feeling rising in me as I begin to reply, the shattering of pride as I must plead with one of the masters. I do not even beg the gods for their assistance anymore, my pride will not allow it, those who forsake the cries of my people do not deserve my worship. Swallowing the remnants of my pride I reply.
Prove your words. H447 – Nekam as I know him, is in dire need of assistance, but he is unsponsored. If you help him, we can speak further. If you decide he is not worthy of your help… do not bother with a reply, for I will not answer it.
There is a quiet in the group as they read my message, until Nevari finally speaks.
“You are not afraid your tone will drive them away?” she asks me, there is a hidden anger in her voice “I have heard those who do not show respect lose their sponsors favor, becoming abandoned.”
“That is all my pride will allow.” I admit to her, a strain in my voice.
“Sekat your pride! My father suffers, you should beg them for his sake.” She says raising her voice.
“Sister, he has asked. We can only await their reply now.” Neeba says, but I feel there is a worry in his voice as well.
“Perhaps they will respect the strength of his will.” Korra says, but I can tell she says this for my benefit, there is no belief in her words.
“Sekat…” I say gritting my teeth pulling up the sponsor menu about to swallow my pride deeper.
My holopad chimes with a system notification, reading it aloud.
“Attention Hunter – System Announcement – This is an official notice of an injunction filed against an injunction that was pertaining to a injunction relating to yourself – Originating within the High Senate of the Republic of Hekat – In accordance with subsection 893.756-B9 – Your sponsorship account has been frozen – End of message.” The system says, then chiming off.
I blink, this is the third injunction. What does it even mean, what is happening?
“What does that mean, who is this High Senate?” Korra asks me, pulling my holopad closer trying to read the notification again.
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“Sekat, you have done this, because of your pride. Now you are abandoned, and my father doomed.” Nevari says pushing me and storming off. Her brother looks at me with concern, but he does not say anything about it.
I do not chase after Nevari, as I am relieved she has left, the guilt she inspires in me is heavy upon my mind. Is this my fault? It’s like the other messages, so I don’t think my words to the sponsor have caused it. Did they even receive my message? Sekat, I will have to find another way. My stomach churns from the development, a curse lingering on my tongue for the gods, itching to be spoken.
Suddenly my body begins to feel hot, there is something inside me stirring. My eyes are becoming blurry, my legs feel weak at the knees. My breathing increases, I put my hand to my chest, my heart is throbbing like I have been running. This feeling, is it the tea the Keeper made for me? Did he poison me? Why would he do that – there must be an explanation. My eyes become very heavy, waves of vibrations rattling around deep within me.
“Kale?” Neeba’s voice says to me.
Falling to the floor now, the room is spinning, the light around the edges of my vision becoming darker, until everything fades.
***
I am adrift in the sea of dreams, floating upon water, without a sense of direction. Above me there is darkness speckled with starlight. The waves from the water gently push me back and forth, there is peace here, not like I normally have. I feel myself being pulled towards something slowly, something that feels good, a warmth in the waters where it takes me.
The swells of the waves begin to increase as I get closer to where it brings me. In the water now I see purple lights in the depths beginning to rise. Speckles of silver glittering against the darkness. My body feels pushed back and forth more firmly, as though there is a change. Cold waters mixing with hot.
There is a rumbling of noise above as clouds begin to form blocking the light of the stars. Lightning arcs and thunder roars. Ground rises from the depths of the water, I climb onto it, drawn towards a small flickering light that is near the center.
Lightning strikes the center, I should be afraid – but I am not. From the area where the lightning strikes, I see something silver growing from the ground now, slowly rising upwards.
The storm begins to rage as the silver plant begins to rise further. The clouds part in the center and a blinding light radiates downwards. The plant grows faster now, spreading its roots outwards. I am in the eye of the storm now, waves rising meters in the air. The light calls to me. It reminds me of the warmth that the being swathed in light gave me. Something inside tells me to be calm, it soothes against the fear, telling me to embrace it.
The purple lights pull into the ground as the swells of the sea around me crash against it. It flows upwards towards the roots, the plant taking shape now into a tree, sprouting its first leaves. Silver laced with purple. I feel my face, there are tears running down it. I do not shy from them, as I have never seen such a sight, it inspires my heart. The sheer beauty of it flowing into me.
The sea begins to settle, the clouds and the light retracting. The tree begins to slow its growth upwards, until it comes to rest, the height of it barely above my own. I feel a pull beginning to take me again as the water becomes placid once more. The pull calls me to the realm of the living, and I do not resist it.
***
My eyes open slowly, above me I see a bunk. My body is sore all over, like all my muscles have been used vigorously, even my bones and tendons have soreness to them. I turn my head and I see Nevari asleep, kneeling on the ground, her head upon the bed. A wet towel in her hand, I feel my forehead and there is a cool one on it. She must have tended to me, I move my hand towards her and gently push the hair from her eyes. I hear a voice to my other side.
“You still have a demon’s luck I see.” Nekam says, there is life in his voice once more, life I have not heard in some time.
Turning to face him “My chief…” I stop abruptly as I see he is standing now without assistance. A smile rips across his face as he claps me on the shoulder.
“You like it?” Nekam asks with a raised eyebrow, lifting his pant leg. I see a metal leg attached to the stump. It looks mechanical, as he shifts his weight I hear the servos inside whir.
“I do.” I say, hope stirs in my chest “When – how?”
“Four days ago.” Nekam says to me, clapping me on the shoulder. There is a fierce smile upon his mouth still.
“Four days ago?” I say, not understanding.
“You have been asleep for seven days now little demon.” Nekam says, kneeling down to my level “Keeper Dargo told us to keep faith you would live, but there were times that I thought the fever would take you.”
Looking at my holopad, the counter has changed to reflect what he says. I also see there are hundreds of notifications to read still.
2 weeks; 3 days; 4 hours; 16 minutes.
“We tried to get the medibots to help you, but the Keeper forbid it.” Nekam says.
“Seven days.” I say, my mind still not fully understanding.
“Kale, you’re awake.” Nevari says, having stirred from her sleep.
“Kada.” Neeba says jumping down from the bunk above, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“Yes, but seven days. I don’t understand.” I say still confused, since the last challenge I have lost ten days now to sleep. Sekat, I will need to push harder in training to compensate for it.
“Brother, I must tell Korra and the others. I will be back.” Neeba says rushing from the room quickly.
“My chief, your leg, how has this happened?” I ask him.
“Your sponsor answered the call.” Nevari says before he can answer, she grasps my shoulder firmly. There is thanks in her eyes, a thanks I have not seen in some time.
“They sponsored everyone in our grouping little demon.” Nekam says, his grin somehow wider now “They give gifts to all of us for the next challenge, I do not know how you earned their favor, but the gods surely bless us.”
My mind is filled with questions about the sponsor now, how can they afford to buy everyone. My jaw flexes as I realize I will need to thank them for this.
“All that were injured are whole now. They even send to us medicines to make us stronger. There is hope amongst everyone now. Hope that you have helped to create.” Nevari says to me, her eyes genuine.
“I will have to thank them properly.” I say, there is happiness wishing to grow in my heart, but I can’t help but feel a sickness that it is there because one of the masters allows it. For the others sake I swallow the demon of my pride and allow the happiness to rise, forming a smile on my face.
Korra and the demon brothers come running into the room now with Neeba.
“I knew you would not die.” Korra says with a smirk as she clasps my arm “I bet with others you would survive this too.”
“Alakin, you are well?” Maki asks me, his brother Daki close behind, approaching me now. Nekam’s jaw flexes but he allows him to pass.
“I am, just a little sore. Has anyone given you issue?” I ask to both of the demon brothers.
“No, Alakin they treat us fairly. Thank you.” Maki says.
Daki, the one who tried to slay me before meets my gaze, there is something on his mind, it is written in his eyes.
“Alakin.” He says finally, the others wait quietly as he pauses “There is something I wish to speak to you later about. When time allows, I know you will be very busy.”
“Hata Jukon Tar.” I say to him in the old tongue, its given to show your intent is respectful, its meaning simple – When time allows.
“Thank you, Alakin.” Daki says, moving towards the back of the group.
There is a crowd beginning to gather around the bunk I lay upon. Whispers become hushed as I hear the gait of two feet I could recognize in the darkness.
“You have awakened.” Keeper Dargo says to me, the others part to make room for him, a grin beginning to form as he says “Just in time for training.”