FINDING SOUL

Minerva is climbing cliffsides with Python. Python sticks to the safer slopes, while Minerva climbs all over to gather minerals. Once Minerva’s backpack is full, they settle near a ledge and stare out at the ever-stretching mountain ranges.

MINERVA: I forgot how much I love scavenging for my own ingredients. I’ve been locked up for too long.

PYTHON: Agreed, my lady. I’ve been trying to tell you.

MINERVA: I know you said it’s easier to just stick to the one name, but please call me Minerva when we’re alone. Or ‘sire’, at least. You’re my squire, not my servant.

PYTHON: If you order it, sire, I will obey.

Sorry. I’ll try and do it less. Are you sure you can climb back down? That bag must weigh a ton.

MINERVA: It’s fine. Climbing really does feel invigorating, doesn’t it?

PYTHON: It does, but I wish you’d be a little safer. We can bring more harnesses; you could wear more padding…

MINERVA: We do that, and my dad finds out what we’re up to.

PYTHON: He’s going to find out, Minerva.

MINERVA: I know he will. I plan on it. Just not yet.

PYTHON: What is your plan, exactly?

MINERVA: I’m not sure, yet. Sometimes the ingredients tell me what I should make. Recently I’ve come into ogre’s guts, magnetite, daring dandies and more mushrooms than I can accurately identify…

PYTHON: I don’t see how any potion could fix our problem. If you spike your father’s drinks, he’ll notice.

MINERVA: I know. I don’t know what I’d make, anyway.

I do love my dad, Python.

PYTHON: I know you do.

MINERVA: I don’t want bad things to happen to him.

PYTHON: I understand.

MINERVA: I think they will.

I think bad things are coming for my father. And you know, I don’t think it’s just him. I think if we don’t do something soon, bad things will come for all of us. We have to stop him before someone else stops us.

PYTHON: Where’s this coming from?

MINERVA: Primrose and Ares getting married doesn’t make sense. The queen sent a bare minimum number of troops to help us, even though the war was on her borders. Instead, she lets our soldiers fight for years, then decides to fix things by marrying a son of Saber off to Tijora? And not even the part of Tijora we were warring with? Why?

PYTHON: She wanted to resolve things peacefully.

MINERVA: Well, she didn’t. Tensions aren’t eased. They’re just banned from being expressed. Now, she’s called for him to go away for some magic thing, even though he’s barely trained. It doesn’t add up, at all. He’ll die, and then… what of Primrose?

Anyway…we should go home. Ready?

PYTHON: Okay, but please, be careful.

They start climbing down and are nearly halfway when Minerva sees something — a white flower similar to an edelweiss growing from a tiny little ledge.

MINERVA: Do you see that?

PYTHON: Yes. I saw it on the way up. It’s too far for us to reach.

MINERVA: That’s a quartz flower! I have to get it.

PYTHON: Don’t, Minerva. Look where it is. You can’t get to it.

Minerva ponders for a moment before scooting sideways, aiming for the flower. Python tries to call her back, but she won’t listen. Minerva gets as far as her harness will let her and stretches her arm out, but it’s out of reach. She grips at the wall, defeated.

PYTHON: I told you. Now please, come back. It’ll be dark soon…

Minerva doesn’t go back. Instead, she unclips, and creeps further forward, ignoring the cries from Python. Slowly and so carefully she goes forward, further forward towards the flower, and this time when she reaches for it, she grasps hold of it before carefully pulling it out by the root. Once it’s safely in her pocket she shuffles back towards Python and clips back on.

PYTHON: Minerva! Don’t you ever do that again!

MINERVA: Everything worked out alright, didn’t it? Come on, down we go.

They continue down and aren’t far from the bottom when Minerva finally loses her footing. She slips out, the harness catching her, and swings into the wall, scratching her arm and bumping her head slightly. Python cries out, and the two of them scurry down to the ground.

PYTHON: Are you alright?!

MINERVA: Yes, it wasn’t a big fall. Ouch.

PYTHON: Let’s get you to the infirmary. Just to be safe.

MINERVA: Yeah, okay.

PYTHON: See now why you can’t just unclip when you feel like it?

MINERVA: Yeah, yeah…

Minerva and Python ride back home and enter the castle through one of the back entrances, trying to get upstairs to the infirmary discreetly. On the way, they’re caught by Marsden.

PYTHON: Oops, sorry boss.

MINERVA: Not used to seeing you out by yourself, Marsden.

MARSDEN: …Young lady, is that a scratch on your arm?

MINERVA: Yes. I fell over. Excuse us, will you?

Minerva and Python hurry off, and Marsden eyes them suspiciously. Once they’re out of earshot, Minerva grabs at Python’s arm.

MINERVA: He suspects. Does he know?

PYTHON: …he knows.

MINERVA: Shit! Will he tell?

PYTHON: …I’ll ask him not to.

Python continues to lead Minerva up to the infirmary, Minerva fretting all the way.

*✧₊ ༉✧*‧₊˚✧*

Somewhere up a hill, not far from the main gardens, Moonie sits with Ares beneath an evergreen, sipping tea. Ares has left his tea untouched.

ARES: Ready to talk yet?

MOONIE: No~Y

ARES: We’re wasting time. What’re we doing up here, Moonie?

MOONIE: I told you. I want to talk to you.

ARES: About…?

MOONIE: In a minute.

Ares groans and fidgets dramatically until Moonie slurps up the last of her tea.

MOONIE: Mm. Good tea.

It’s nice to just sit for a bit, isn’t it? Sit quietly and do nothing but look into the distance, listen to the leaves, and drink a nice big cup of herbal tea. Doing nothing. It’s nice, right?

ARES: …no. Doing nothing is never doing nothing. You can say you’re looking at the hills or listening to the birds but what you’re really doing is taking time to think. What’s next, what was then? Sitting still isn’t peaceful.

MOONIE: …I see. Interesting. So, how do you find peace?

ARES: Via exhaustion. It’s hard to think when you’re pushing your body to the limits.

MOONIE: Do you fret, Ares?

ARES: Fret?

MOONIE: You know, like worry. Stress over the little things, make problems that have nothing to do with you occupy your brain space?

ARES: …I suppose I do.

MOONIE: Fretting uses a lot of nervous energy. You must be mentally exhausted by the end of each day.

ARES: I’m mentally fine at the end of each day. Can we get to what we’re here to discuss?

MOONIE: This is what we’re here to discuss.

Look, Human Magic is powered entirely through our souls, right?

Well, a human soul is powered by a lot of things. Our Body is powered by physical strength, our Mind by emotional strength, and our Spirit by mental strength. We need Mind, Body and Spirit to connect to access our Soul. Everything is connected.

At least, those were the original theories. But strong magic users — those who were born with some innate abilities — can access Human Magic without having their mind, body and spirit connected. They can disconnect their minds or spirit or body altogether to create soul power. People like us, Ares. People like us are what make using magic dangerous. If you don’t have control of yourself, in any regard, you can do hurt. If your soul is vulnerable, you become dangerous.

ARES: I know all this, Moonie. Just because I can’t sit still for a cup of tea, doesn’t mean I’m mentally broken.

MOONIE: I didn’t accuse you of being broken. I’m trying to understand why you don’t have control of yourself when you perform magic.

ARES: Why do you need to understand? Just skip that and cut straight to teaching me what I need to know.

MOONIE: Okay. Don’t go insane while you’re doing magic. Lesson complete. Ready to fight now?

Come on, Ares. Give me something to work with. Why don’t you tell me what happens when you ‘lose control’?

ARES: …when I lose control… like, properly… I can’t stop myself from becoming a beacon of destruction. If I’m not attacking violently, I’m oozing soul. Not to mention, when I’m practicing, even when I’m being careful, I get side effects. Hallucinations, paranoia, insomnia… I don’t want Primrose to have to deal with me if I turn into a wreck.

MOONIE: That’s really bad, Ares. If you hallucinate after using magic, it means you aren’t disassociating enough from the soul. You’re leaving yourself exposed at all times.

ARES: Think you can help? I don’t want to explode out on the field and hurt people.

MOONIE: I mean, it’s not that easy to fix. It’s supposed to take years, decades of practice, to protect yourself from harm. I’m still not sure which part of you needs addressing. Is this a problem in the mind, or a problem in the spirit?

ARES: How should I know?

MOONIE: Well, let’s figure it out, shall we? Answer my questions and stop complaining. Physically you seem to be alright — is there anything bothering you with your body?

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

ARES: …No. It’s fine.

MOONIE: Alright, alright, I had to ask. Emotionally… there’s a lot going on for you emotionally, isn’t there? You were in the middle of fighting atop waterfalls against a horde of barbaric Tijorans, and the next thing you know, you’re being withdrawn because you’re supposed to marry one of them to end the whole thing? You must look at her and be reminded…

ARES: Nope. Stop right there. Whatever problems I might have, Primrose isn’t one of them. She’s the best thing I have in my life.

MOONIE: She can be a good thing in your life and still cause unbalanced emotions. Should we talk mental health, then? Goals, willpower, values, religion… anything we should discuss?

ARES: I don’t know, Moonie…

MOONIE: Well, we need to figure it out. It’s going to suck, but the best chance we have to keep you safe is pinpoint whatever’s out of balance and put it back into place. If everything’s balanced, your soul will be protected.

ARES: …so, what do we do?

MOONIE: Look, I’m no therapist. I don’t need to know what it is that’s bothering you. But, if we’re not practicing sparring, then there’s no—

ARES: Let’s practice, then.

MOONIE: …oh?

ARES: Yes. Sorry I’ve been avoiding it. We can practice. Not now. Tomorrow, first thing.

MOONIE: …alright. Deal. We’ll duel in the morning and see how we go.

ARES: Great. Can I go now? It’s boring here.

MOONIE: …yes, Ares. See you tomorrow.

Ares scurries off, back towards his room to look for Primrose. When she isn’t there, he wanders back into the hallway to find Kur waiting for him. He jumps in alarm.

ARES: Sorry, dad. Didn’t see you there.

KUR: I finally caught you. I’ve barely seen you since you came back.

ARES: I’ve been busy. Sorry to spring Moonie on you, but Len ordered it directly.

KUR: Ah, Len ordered it. That makes more sense.

ARES: What’s that?

KUR: I was confused why you’d think you need a new magic teacher. If you like, I can write to Len and explain Moonie isn’t necessary here.

Ares stares and thinks for a moment. Thinks back to the buckets of cold water thrown in his face.

ARES: I’m… No. No thank you, Father.

KUR: …you want her here?

ARES: Not her, specifically, but someone trained in human magic. I know you say your magic skills work the same, but they don’t. Your magic is as normal to you as breathing is, and mine… is different.

KUR: …so you’re saying I’m inadequate?

ARES: Don’t take offence, but it’s not like things have ever gone great for me with magic. You saw how I was before I left. I shouldn’t need to be drugged to be controlled.

KUR: How is Moonie supposed to help?

ARES: I dunno, dad, but I’m going to give her a go. She can’t do me any harm.

KUR: Hmm… I suppose not. The harm she can do to your brother, however—

ARES: Yeah, I’m sorry about that. What was he like at dinner yesterday?

KUR: He, same as all of you, chose to take dinner in his room last night.

ARES: Well, you must have seen him since then.

KUR: …No. I haven’t. I haven’t seen you, or Minerva. It reminds me of when you were teenagers and getting up to mischief, avoiding me so I wouldn’t catch you in your lies.

ARES: No mischief here. I promise.

KUR: Good. And Ares…

ARES: Yeah?

KUR: Nice work killing the ogres. People are calling you ‘heroic’. It seems you spread good word about our family while you were in the capital.

ARES: I mean, someone has to clean up the family reputation.

*✧₊ ༉✧*‧₊˚✧*

Late that night, Python is in the infirmary remaking the beds when Marsden comes in behind her and stands quietly in the doorway, waiting patiently for her to finish. When she turns around and sees him waiting, she jumps.

PYTHON: Oh, Marsden! I didn’t hear you come in. Is everything alright?

MARSDEN: …remaking all the beds?

PYTHON: Yes, well, I hear Ares and Moonie are training tomorrow. I want to be ready, just in case.

MARSDEN: I see…

The other day when I bumped into you and Minerva on the stairs, she had a scratch along her arm.

PYTHON: Like she said, she fell…

MARSDEN: She climbed.

Python, you gave me your word she was being safe.

PYTHON: She was… she was already very low to the ground, the harness caught her so instead of landing on her feet, she swung and hit the wall. It was an honest accident.

MARSDEN: Yes, problem is, I’d been at the climbing gym earlier that day. No-one who frequents there has seen either of you for weeks.

Python, are you climbing around on the mountains?

PYTHON: Yes. We are. Please, don’t tell Lord Kur. It won’t happen again.

MARSDEN: You can’t promise another accident won’t happen, Python. You can promise not to climb outside again.

PYTHON: …I can’t.

MARSDEN: Then, I’m bound to tell Lord Kur.

PYTHON: Marsden, don’t—

MARSDEN: If something bad happens to Minerva— you’d never forgive yourself.

PYTHON: Something bad will happen to her if you tell Lord Kur what she’s doing. She’s an adult, she works with explosives, she goes to war… she should be allowed to climb. Please, don’t say anything. Not yet. I’ll tell you if it gets too dangerous, I promise.

MARSDEN: …I’m getting worried, Python. First, you start talking about manipulating Kur into stepping down as Baron, and now, you permit his only remaining daughter to climb?

It’s not like it is with the boys. Freyja died climbing. Phoebe was a stillbirth. He can’t lose Minerva, too.

PYTHON: Minerva is struggling. For years we watched the way he treated his children and stood idly by. Minerva is sick of it. Horus becomes angrier and angrier every day. Now, he’s pushing Ares, who’s already dangerous. What if…

MARSDEN: We’ve known the children since they were born. We helped nanny them and raise them. But make no mistake, Python, we are not their parents. Lord Kur knows what’s best for his children. He understands the world better than we do. And until Lord Horus becomes sole Baron, our loyalties are first with Lord Kur. Do you understand?

PYTHON: Yes, Marsden, but please, don’t talk to Lord Kur yet. Let me talk to Minerva first, see if she’ll listen to reason.

MARSDEN: …very well.

While I’m here, seeing as we’re on the subject… I suppose I could use some medical assistance.

PYTHON: Why didn’t you say something when you first came in?

MARSDEN: You’ve been avoiding me for days, and this was more pressing.

PYTHON: What happened?

Python pulls back his sleeves to reveal whip marks. She frowns at them quietly before raising her hand above them to heal.

MARSDEN: I’m just not as young as I once was, is all. Reaction time is slowing down. Thank you, I know it’s tiresome. Go to sleep as soon as we’re finished here.

PYTHON: It’s fine…

MARSDEN: …You alright?

PYTHON: …Are you?

MARSDEN: Yes. I injured myself because I was careless. Let’s not make this about politics.

PYTHON: You didn’t injure yourself, Marsden. Lord Kur injured you.

MARSDEN: Yes, he did. With good reason. He understands the world better than we do. Need I remind you of his generosity?

PYTHON: Marsden, legally, you and I are slaves. Should I remind you…

MARSDEN: Lord Kur saved us from a life of misery, educated us and gave us opportunities to grow and develop our skills. All he asks in return is undying loyalty to him and his children. I don’t understand how you can be so ungrateful to him.

PYTHON: Yeah… I know. Is that alright?

MARSDEN: Much better, thank you.

PYTHON: Augustus says we shouldn’t be so protective of people who think of us as servants, and nothing more.

MARSDEN: Do you really think you’re nothing more than just a servant to Lady Minerva?

PYTHON: No, I don’t. To Lord Kur, after thirty-two years? I’m not so sure.

MARSDEN: Lord Kur shows his kindness in peculiar ways. Augustus will start respecting our acting Baron if he knows what’s good for him.

PYTHON: Osprey said Augustus is leaving. Going to study in the capital.

MARSDEN: It’s not up to him though, is it?

PYTHON: It isn’t?

MARSDEN: Without Lord Kur’s permission, Augustus can’t go anywhere. Legally, he’s a servant, but as long as we’re being honest, every single one of us is a slave to Kur’s word.

*✧₊ ༉✧*‧₊˚✧*

Thanks to all the mountains, it takes quite a lot of time after sunrise before any sun actually reaches the castle, so mornings are long and cold. Sometime in that early morning, sitting alongside the frost, Moonie meets Ares near the training yard.

MOONIE: How are you feeling?

ARES: I’m… fine. Prepared. Ready.

MOONIE: Good. Because it’s me you’re fighting, so you’re not in real danger.

ARES: I’m not in real danger.

MOONIE: And your father’s opinion of me doesn’t matter.

ARES: Father’s opinion doesn’t matter.

MOONIE: Because our combat is more like a dance.

ARES: Dance… Moonie, this is nonsense. I can’t…

MOONIE: Shh, Ares. You’ve been holding back. The only way you’ll let yourself be pushed is if you feel safe. Which leads me to my next point. And even if something goes wrong, your brother will be there to protect you.

ARES: Horus will be there to save me.

MOONIE: …maybe you and him should have a talk beforehand.

ARES: About what?

MOONIE: About… all of this. Everything your magic is doing to you.

ARES: No. We’re not the talking type.

MOONIE: Hmm… maybe you could talk to him about the pressure your father puts on you.

ARES: You’re not listening to me. We’re not the talking type.

MOONIE: No, you’re not listening. Horus isn’t the talking type, but you are. You don’t want to open up to me or Primrose, and that’s fine. How about Horus?

ARES: Is this part of my preparation for our fight?

MOONIE: You’re right. I’m sorry. How are you feeling?

ARES: …slightly worse. It’s weird going into a fight knowing I’m going to lose. I wouldn’t normally enter a fight without a sliver of hope…

MOONIE: Yeah, it’s going to hurt a little. But remember, you’re in no real danger.

ARES: No real danger.

MOONIE: Well… let’s get going, then.

Ares and Moonie reluctantly get up and walk to the training grounds. As they approach, they see Horus standing at the edge of the ring, smoking. Moonie stops short at the far edge.

MOONIE: I’ll wait here till you’re ready. Go tell him we’re here.

Ares looks wary of her for a moment but goes the length of the ground to where Horus is standing. It’s eerily quiet —the crunching of Ares’s shoes draws Horus’s attention before he arrives.

HORUS: You’re finally here. It’s getting too cold to be training outside this early.

ARES: Sorry. We’ll try and make it quick.

HORUS: Don’t worry about that. Just get started already.

ARES: …

HORUS: Are you alright?

ARES: I’m scared, Horus. What if…

HORUS: There’s no ‘if’. I’m here, alright?

ARES: You won’t be if I’m fighting a spirit.

HORUS: I won’t need to be. You’ll have something evil to unleash all your powers on. Go on, go fight so we can go inside.

Ares still doesn’t move. He looks at Moonie stretching down the other end. Horus sighs and puts a hand on his shoulder.

HORUS: I’m behind you. Go.

Ares nods and sheds his jacket. All around the training yard, people stop to look. Ares and Moonie start the fight. It’s harmless at first, but once they warm up it becomes more explosive, colours of light dancing into the sky. When he can’t seem to inflict damage back, Ares’s frustration rises. His attacks begin to slip, he’s hit more and more, and suddenly all the light from the attacks are causing him to squint. Sounds that aren’t there are distracting to him, and Moonie can tell. She does an all-out attack, sending a wave of faces towards him, that knocks him flat. When he gets up, she has swirling lights and magic circles everywhere. He can barely make sense of her through them. She launches some small attacks, teasing ones that keep him upright and frightened. The glow previously channelled into his attacks begins to leech out of his skin, and his retching quickly grows loud enough for all to hear.

HORUS: Enough, Moonie!

Moonie ignores the voice through the chaos. Ares, starting to shake and froth like a rabid animal, is watched carefully by Moonie, who lessens her attacks. She’s not so much attacking him anymore as she’s testing to see what he does in that state. Not visible to an untrained eye, little wisps are entering the human world from his aura. Moonie watches a moment longer before glancing at Horus. He’s scared and looks ready to run in, but he can’t see what she can.

MOONIE: Incredible…

With that, she twists all her magic together and wraps Ares in a tight bind, where she squeezes the breath out of him. The spirits go away, but his chi keeps dancing dangerously.

MOONIE: Alright, Ares. Calm down. It’s over.

Ares doesn’t calm down. Horus begins to run forward, but she yells to stay back. Instead, she keeps trying to get through to Ares. He can’t hear. He can’t see. He’s starting to convulse. Moonie moves forward hesitantly, and using long and slender fingers, draws a dark lump up out of his throat and into her hand, where it vanishes, and he suddenly goes limp. She’s there to catch him and lower him steadily to the ground. He’s still glowing, kind of fading in and out, but he’s stable again and back with the conscious world. Horus runs over.

HORUS: Are you out of your mind?

MOONIE: He’s fine. He’s a lot more powerful than I’d initially realised.

HORUS: Ares, are you okay?

ARES: Y-yeah…

Horus bends down to check on him.

MOONIE: That was amazing. I certainly never saw anything like that when we were younger.

HORUS: I could say the same about you. Where’d you learn all that?

MOONIE: The castle mages.

HORUS: …you…went to the castle… after years of swearing—

MOONIE: Kidding! I’m self-taught. After ‘us’ I travelled around in search of libraries that had different books on magic. This is what I learned.

HORUS: Well, it’s impressive. But please, don’t push my brother so hard next time you do this. When he starts to froth like that…

MOONIE: Yes, it was alarming. But there was more to it you couldn’t see.

HORUS: Oh?

MOONIE: Mm. He feels very cold.

HORUS: Osprey! Get the bath ready. I’ll help him upstairs.

Osprey nods and runs off. As Horus takes Ares’s arm, Ares slumps into him.

ARES: Am I… okay?

HORUS: Yes. You’re okay. Actually, you’re still glowing a bit. Here—

Horus pulls him into a tight hug. In doing so, he pours some of his soul into Ares to stabilise him, kind of like a blood transfer. Moonie, who watches on in silence, looks furious at the action. When Horus releases him, Ares’s glowing has stopped. Moonie follows behind as Horus takes Ares upstairs. He doesn’t seem to notice she’s followed him until he’s shutting the door to Ares’s bedroom.

HORUS: You’re still here? Was there something you wanted to discuss?

MOONIE: Yes, actually. You were soul-lending. Don’t you know how dangerous that is?

HORUS: I don’t know what you’re…

MOONIE: Didn’t we have this conversation like ten years ago? You know you can catch arcane madness that way. You’re opening your own soul up to—

HORUS: It’s fine, Moonie. I don’t need you lecturing me…

MOONIE: Clearly, you do. How are you going to help him if something happens to you?

HORUS: …good day, Moonie. If you have anything you need, tell Fairfax.

MOONIE: Please, Horus. Stop talking to me like I’m—

HORUS: That’s ‘Lord Horus’ to you. See you next time.

MOONIE: …Fine. Don’t take care of yourself. What should I care, anyway?

She turns and leaves. Horus waits till she’s out of sight before slumping against the wall. He’s exhausted. His watch buzzes to let him know he’s wanted in the study. He has to drag himself there.

KUR: Well…?

HORUS: Ares is alright.

KUR: So… you stand by your decision, then?

HORUS: Ares said he was benefitting from her. I just saw the truth in their battle. She can stay as long as he wants.

KUR: So long as it isn’t as long as you want…

HORUS: It isn’t. Trust me. Every time I see her, I remember how awful we were together.

KUR: …I’ve heard that before, son.

HORUS: What, ten years ago?

KUR: You always seemed to find your way back to her. Now, she’s found a way back…

HORUS: Oh, shut up and retire already, will you?

Horus leaves with a huff. When he gets to his room, he stops to see Set’s door open. When he looks in, he sees him, head in hands, leaning over a textbook. Horus invites himself in and places a hand on Set’s shoulder.

HORUS: Set…

SET: There’s no way in hell I’m passing these exams, Horus. There’s just no way…

HORUS: How? You’ve been studying…

SET: I just can’t focus. I read the same sentence twelve times, and it won’t… connect…

Set slumps his head on the desk and cries. Horus rubs his back comfortingly.

HORUS: So, we’ll try it a different way. Maybe you should go into the school…

SET: I hate it there. It’s no use. I can’t listen…

HORUS: Okay, well, let me give you a hand now.

SET: I can’t keep relying on you for help.

HORUS: Of course, you can. Always. What’re we learning about?