While he wasn't as big or as strong as his cousin, and not that much smarter than him either, Zehno had really sharp senses, and not just physical ones, as it turned out.

After they started training his misting ability with Commander Zarin together, the commander tried to read his mind in secret only once. He noticed it immediately, but he didn't think it proper to tell his superior officer to stop doing that. Of course, since she read his thoughts, she was perfectly aware of the fact that Zehno noticed her, and how uncomfortable he felt about it.

So, the commander did something she hardly ever did: apologised to Zehno, admitting, it wasn't right to probe his mind without his consent. More importantly, she promised him not to do it ever again, unless it is absolutely necessary, or if Zehno proves that he cannot be trusted. So far as he could tell, she kept her word.

To his credit, for a while Zehno did try to do his best not to abuse the commander's trust.

But as the days passed on and his requests for a leave had been denied over and over again, he started to use his aspect to leave the fortified campus.

He wanted to visit his uncle who lived in one of the suburban houses, with five other people, all workers. He learned from Zonorien's flatmates that the military police took him into custody. They found it strange that Zehno didn't know about it, but even as a private he outranked any common worker, so they didn't question him.

Getting into the holding cells wasn't really that much difficult for a mistling, he only needed to avoid accidentally bumping into someone. A few of the guards could feel his presence, the strange cold but it was far less intense than a coldtouch, and since they didn't know what it meant, they simply dismissed it as no more than a sudden drop in temperature.

The holding cells were located in the former police precinct of Jukava. The cell doors were simple metal bars which offered minimum privacy.

Zonorien himself was really surprised that they allowed Zehno to visit him. Since the boy did not want to reveal the truth to his uncle, he fabricated a tale about knowing one of the guards, who helped him sneak in.

"He could get into big trouble, if the other guards learn about this, so please keep it a secret from everyone else, uncle," he asked him.

After that, he visited him three more times. The third time, there was someone else in the cell next to Zonorien's: Kaleg.

Zehno was still in the Mist when he noticed his cousin. He and Zonorien were talking about Darem.

"He could have gotten a better job for you, you know," Kaleg said. "He offered it, but I refused. I was still too angry at you."

"I know," came Zonorien's answer. "You're always angry. I think you got that from your mother… Or rather from her mother. They both died because of that anger."

Zehno sighed, despite himself. It was an old argument between father and son, and usually this was the time when Kaleg started to raise his voice. Only this time he didn't, he only shrugged.

"It doesn't matter. Igmol was never angry. They still killed him… I… no. It was not me, it was that son of a…"

"Kaleg? What are you talking about?" Zonorien asked frowning.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"I told you. It's classified."

There was silence after that. Kaleg stood at the bars of his cell, then suddenly something seemed to catch his attention. He smiled, a mirthless smile, and turned into Zehno's direction.

"It was about time," he said. "Are you going to just stand there in the Mist, Zehno, all night? Come, we've got a lot to talk about."

Zehno was frozen in place. How did he know he was there? Obviously he sensed the Water, but even then…

"Kaleg, what are you talking about?" Asked him Zonorien. "Zehno is not here yet, as you can see."

Kaleg waved him to silence.

"Private Zehno Ronos, as your team leader I order you…"

With a sigh, Zehno let go of the Mist. There was no point denying what his cousin already knew.

"Fine," he said. "But how did you…?"

"Fine, sir," Kaleg corrected him firmly. "And it's me who is asking the questions."

Zehno immediately felt annoyed at his tone, as he always did, when Kaleg went full military mode. On the other hand, he couldn't help but notice that his cousin was on the wrong side of a prison door.

"I don't think so, sir." He said.

Kaleg lifted his eyebrows incredulously, but before he could say anything, Zonorien quietly coughed, so the boys turned their attention to him.

"Now, before you two start arguing and alarm all the guards, how about first we make an escape plan? Then, once we are out, you can argue to your heart's content."

He didn't seem to be surprised about Zehno's entrance the least.

Zehno looked at Kaleg accusingly.

"I don't know how you found out about me, but why did you tell your father? Don't you understand the more people know, the bigger danger I am in. And the commander…" He stopped suddenly.

"I know about the commander too," Kaleg said thoughtfully, then turned his attention back to his father. "But I didn't tell him."

Zonorien smilled.

"Well, you know that the elemental abilities are hereditary," he said.

"Are you serious?" Asked Kaleg. "You're a mistling too? But, the vampire said…"

"Vampire?" Asked Zonorien. "Anyway, it's not important right now. First we need to escape, then there will be time enough to exchange intel. That's the word, right?"

Kaleg seemed to want to argue with him, but in the end he just nodded.

"Alright," Zehno said, "but if you're a mistling too…"

"I am a time traveler, just as your mom was, Zehno. So I could have escaped on my own, but that would have required me to go too far into the future, possibly. It was a risk I couldn't take."

"A time traveler," Kaleg said. "You know what? Fine, I don't even care. Zehno, get us out of here. Now."

Zehno shook his head. "I can't. The commander will know that I helped you. Also, Kaleg, you are too heavy. I can't take you to the Mist."

"Do you remember Darem, Zehno?" Kaleg asked impatiently.

He nodded. Of course he remembered. He knew him even before he became his sergeant. He was one of Kaleg's more sympathetic friends. Actually, he truly was a good man, a surprising trait for one of his cousin's friends.

"I know who is responsible for his death. And I am going to kill him. And you two are going to help me."

Zehno and Zonorien looked at each other. Then, Zonorien said: "Bring me to his cell, Zehno, please."

He nodded. Perhaps his uncle can talk some sense into Kaleg. Luckily his uncle was a slim man, unlike his muscular son, so he could use his ability on him. He focused on the Water, touched Zonorien's hand through the bars, and together they entered the Mist. The touch was necessary, since Water– as Commander Zarin explained to him– was a proximal element, unlike Fire. That meant that he could only use it on himself and things he touched. That was also the reason why it felt cold while Fire was warm.

He also felt weariness creeping up on him, now. Using elementalism was exhausting. His uncle walked through his cell door, then together they entered Kaleg's cell through its door. Zehno let go of Zonorien's hand, who, a few seconds later after he lost contact with Zehno, left the Mist.

"I don't understand, what do you want?" Kaleg asked, when his father appeared before him."

"It's alright Kaleg. I am here to help you."

With that, he grabbed Kaleg, and Zehno could feel the Water, whirling around his uncle and his cousin for a few seconds, then they were gone. Both of them were just gone.

They time traveled!– Zehno thought.

And then, to his horror, he remembered something he learned about time travelling back in school. That it was a one-way ticket. You could only go to the future, not the past, never the past, so there was no going back for them.