Jal went to visit the armorer that Master Barloch had suggested. It looked over the woven armor and had a conversation with the armorer about the special enhancements that she had put in the material. The options for extra speed, dexterity, and strength, were all very appealing. At the same time, Jal had to consider its bank account and the cost of going to the university. It left the shop without making a purchase but considered the possibility of getting something with multiple enhancements.

That evening Jal told Jan where it had been while it was in Nik. “Don’t spend your currency on that. Save it for university.” Jan took Jal into the armory and the two discussed the enchantments of some of the weapons and protective wear. “This might fit you, Jal.” Jan took a black and grey fabric suit from a hook. “It was my parent’s. It has extra defense woven through, and an enchantment against blast protection.”

“Which one is yours?” The red and orange shirt had a design in the center studded with pieces of bornite, rubies and amethysts. “Hm. Decisiveness, justice, protection, and courage.” The leggings were grey and enchanted to grant extra stamina.

“Do you have any idea what we’re up against as we cross Shifos, Jal?”

“I’ve seen the environment and the animals, if that’s what you mean.”

“I’m talking about unusual creatures.”

“Like the ones from the folktales?”

“I guess so.”

“I saw a couple of odd things. But I didn’t see anything that we can’t deal with.”

“What if they’re invisible?”

“Invisible?”

“What if there’s something that you only see under certain conditions?”

Jal looked at Jan oddly. “You’re really scared, aren’t you?

“Yes.”

“There’s a reason you’re scared. Who taught you the stories, and what did they say?”

“My grandparent, Timoche. He told me that there were creatures that lived in caves and tunnels, who kept the valuables for entire villages. The creatures somehow had power to influence the villagers to fight people from other villages for their valuables.”

“Did he talk about a specific experience or where he’d been?”

“I don’t remember. His eyes and hair were black when he was telling me, and it was terrifying. I’ll never forget the look on his face.”

“It wasn’t what he said, but what he looked like, that you remember,” Jal observed.

Jan didn’t say anything for a long moment.

“Did Timoche work with the Zibran and Haybuti people, too?”

“He did.”

“I wonder if he wrote a journal,” Jal murmured.

“You know that you’re welcome to read anything on the shelves.”

“What if it’s not on the shelves? Would it be somewhere else?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. You opened the secure drawers and went through all the contents, didn’t you?”

Jan hung its uniform back on the hook. “I have to work on the accounting books,” it said.

“Or there could be a journal in the archive room,” Jal suggested.

“I think you should stick with the books.”

***

Jal stood in the kitchen stirring a huge kettle of liquid. Slowly, it measured and dumped various ingredients into it. The substance slowly became red and foamy.

“What is that?” Niki came from her room.

“A very strong healing potion.”

“Does it smell good to you?”

Jal inhaled. “Not really.”

“Are you filling these bottles with that stuff?” Jal nodded. “I don’t think you have enough bottles.”

“I’ll go get more.” Jal waved its wand. “Kp.” The spoon kept stirring as Jal left and returned with a box of potion bottles. As the healing potion cooked, Jal mixed up a healing ointment and filled several containers. When Niki was ready to start dinner preparations, rows of potions lined one counter.

“Why did you make so many healing potions?” Jan asked as they ate that night.

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“I’m hoping to learn how to fight using magic and weapons simultaneously.”

“I remember doing that.”

“You did? Who was your teacher?”

“Memo Isolan died several years ago.” Jan thought about the old teacher. Jal began to pelt Jan with questions about the training and practice sessions. “Jal, let’s eat, then we’ll talk about that.” All kinds of questions ran through Jal’s head. It stopped eating and looked at Jan. “What?”

“I don’t know anything about you before we met. Except that you attended university and worked for the Peace Foundation. I don’t know anything about your father or any of your ancestors, except that Pitir Ridiali built this place. Why haven’t you told me anything?”

“There’s not much to tell. My ancestors were diplomats. They worked for the Peace Foundation from its earliest days.”

“Did they write any of the books that are on the shelves?”

“I told you to help yourself.”

“Did they write down any stories that the people of Haybuti and Zibran told them?”

Jan sighed, exasperated. “What are you getting at?”

“Jan, you asked me if there was anything invisible. You want to know what we’re up against, too. I know you do! If I find anything in our books, I can go back to Dr. Gyasi and ask for time to study specific locations.”

“Oh, all right! Timoche and Goldan both kept journals. I think they’re mostly brief daily accounts of conversations regarding major conflicts that occurred when the Protectorate allowed various groups temporary residence.”

“Are those people still on Zuphreon?”

“One group was the Zibrans. They came here from a planet that was overflowing with people, emotion, and violence. Most of them weren’t willing to follow the agreement their leaders made with the Protectors, so they left. The Protectorate workers worked hard with the ones who stayed. Over time, the temperament of the people has calmed down somewhat. The Genus and Flopence peoples were both here for a short time. When they came, they believed the Protectors could change the properties of the planet so it would be warm and humid everywhere. There were huge fights, which turned into a war between the Protectorate security forces and them. You won’t find any of them here.”

“Where did they go?”

Jan shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t care. I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with them. I have enough to worry about with the Zibrans. Some of them are so erratic. They drive me nuts at times.”

“They like you. You’re pretty levelheaded when you respond to their craziness,” Jal laughed. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Don’t laugh, Jal. You’ll be dealing with them someday.”

“Maybe,” Jal responded. “Maybe I’ll just provide dishes and they can throw them at each other.”

“You’d profit from that!” Jan chuckled. Jal followed Jan up to its sleeping room, where it looked through a stack of papers that were piled on the floor. Jan handed Jal a thick sheaf of papers. “This was in Timoche’s drawer.” Jan crossed the room to a desk. “I haven’t read it or the one from Goldan.” Jan gave Jal a bound, lined journal.

“The thought of this makes you anxious,” Jal observed.

“How do you know that?” Jan demanded.

“Your voice changes. I think the muscles in your neck are trembling.”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

Jal tipped its head. “Why would you say that?”

“I’m a well-known mediator, Jal. People don’t need to know that I’m scared when I go there.”

“I would never tell anyone that. I do wonder though, who else is scared about things that live in those mountains?”

Jan’s eyebrows went down. “Huh?”

“I didn’t see those headless creatures anywhere east of the mountains, Jan. We only saw two. I’m betting there are more. The people of Zibran and Haybuti live and work in family businesses. My guess is that information about anything unusual isn’t shared outside of a family setting, because the business owners don’t want to lose anyone’s respect.”

“So people may be seeing things and not talking about them.”

“Exactly.”

***

Jal flipped off the side of the practice area. Its sword clanged loudly when it hit Karriya’s. They both lost their balance and fell. On the next try, when the swords met, Jal lost its grip on its sword. Karriya tried the same move. Again, they lost their balance.

“You two are having a hard time today,” Master Barloch commented.

“Are we supposed to adjust our grip somehow?” Karriya asked.

“You need to work that out.”

The two did the new move over and over, but simply couldn’t make it work. “Let’s break it down,” Jal said to Karriya. “Down here, I have a grip on the handle in the middle. When I strike your sword at this angle,” Jal turned his sword, “the broadest parts of both swords meet, and I lose hold. What if we slide this hand more toward the cross guard?”

“I’ll try it first.” Karriya bounced off the wall and swung at Jal. He hit Jal’s blade and it sailed through the air.

“Good.” Jal retrieved the sword and took a turn. “If we continue the fight, based on the premise that the opponent’s sword is irretrievable, what would you do next?”

On the next try Karriya didn’t wait after the sword was knocked out of his hands. He kicked at Jal, who slashed horizontally, just missing Karriya’s leg. Karriya kicked again, and hit the grip of Jal’s sword, knocking it out of Jal’s hand. The next moment, Karriya picked up Jal’s sword and made a cut across Jal’s chest.

“Hey!” Jal exclaimed as the fabric was sliced. It yanked the magic wand from its belt, “Erboon!” Without considering what it was doing, Jal said, “Brviden!” The sword flew from Karriya’s hand to Jal’s.

“What was that?” Karriya yelled. “How did you do that?” he demanded.

Master Barloch looked at Jal, who stood with the wand in one hand and the sword in the other. “Put that away! Get out of the fighting space, Jal!” He sent Waza to spar with Karriya and pulled Jal to the side. “Don’t you ever do that again! We don’t mix fighting and magic in this gym.”

Jal immediately apologized. “Karriya cut my vest from edge to edge, Master. I did a repair without a second thought. Then I took my sword without thinking.”

“From now on, you need to leave this building before you do any repairs, Jal. I don’t want to see your wand at all. Do you understand me?”

“I do understand. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, Master.” Jal looked at Master Barloch. “May I ask a question? Why can’t I do magic to repair equipment while I’m here?”

“We don’t use magic in this gym. It’s a clearly stated policy.”

“But if someone gets hurt, we use healing potions,” Jal pointed out.

“That’s not magic.”

“Do you make healing potions, Master?”

“No. I purchase them from the ‘Nutty Elixir.’”

Jal’s eyebrows went up. “Dukelis Lajos owns that shop.”

“So what?”

“Dukelis and Kende Lajos are brothers. Kende owns ‘Stones and Solutions’ in Dagmon. They sell each other's products in their shops. Wizard Kende specializes in charms and jewelry, and Wizard Dukelis specializes in potions and elixirs.” Zarlesh scowled. “Wizard Kende is my magic instructor. He taught me how to make the various types of healing potions, Master Barloch. I had to learn where to find the special ingredients, what words to say for the enchantments, and how to cook them. They are made by using magic.”

“Don’t be a jerk, Jal.”

“I’m just stating the facts, Master. The magic potions are the reason I’m able to return to the zone so quickly after an injury. You may not allow magic and fighting to be mixed in your gym, but healing potions have magic qualities, and your students use them every day.”