Keoni watched as Caste slinked away out of view. He was trembling, and his ears were flat as he pressed against the hill. He was muttering something in his own language.
The Quuarks in the valley addressed the nearest Cognate. “Surrender and nobody gets hurt.” The lead barked. The Cognate stood unphased.
“How about you surrender?” The Mir-Cognate spat. “You xemoch quonuyo.”
Caste snorted. Keoni would ask him to translate later.
“Just because you speak another language doesn’t mean you get to insult us, cheea x-nav.”
The creatures gathered around them all giggled at the mispronunciation. The soldiers just shrunk a little at the ridiculement.
“You have ten seconds to leave or we will make you.” The Cognate responded after at least five seconds of laughing.
The Quuark grabbed the Cognate by the scruff and held him on a chokehold. “If you all force us out of here, he’s coming with us!” She screamed.
“Or you could just blow me up.” He said casually. “In fact, please do.” The Quuarks gave him concerned looks from his suicidal comments, though the rest of the gathering shrugged it off. “I really hate this body.”
Caste was still tightly curled up, making Keoni wonder what was going through his head. Was something wrong with the comment that was just made? Or did he have a personal, traumatic experience like this?
“What’s wrong about being a dog?!” Another Mir-Cognate yelled from the crowd in a joking manner..
“Because cats are better!!” The hostage Cognate yelled back, grinning. Every Cognate not in the fight keeled over from laughing so hard at that, except for those who had just been offended.
Caste didn’t react. Something has to be wrong. Keoni thought
“Seriously!” He called again. “Do the thing!”
Without hesitation, a group of nearby Cognates started creating the glowy energy from their hands. They fired, sending two beams of light towards the group of ten.
The beams collided right before they hit the Quuarks. The collision, however, caused a huge explosion everyone had to duck for.
Keoni covered her ears and ducked next to Caste, Ryley following close behind. After the cascade of magic, everyone began to rise again.
The Mirae world began to grow back. The blast had killed all the grass, but it was already spreading back. Moments later, Keoni spotted two Cognates using some type of magic to grow the pink grass back.
Soon, all the grass consumed what was left of the gallybagger soldiers.
All that was left was an illuminated figure. Keoni didn’t think anything of it until it stood up, and she realized it was the Cognate who wanted to die.
People came over to help him up, and supported him as they walked out of the valley.
“If you didn’t know - we’re immortal, Keoni.” Caste emerged from his hiding position and crossed his legs on the ground, watching the cleanup.
“I knew,” she responded. “I read about it.”
Caste didn’t respond. He just watched the rest of the Cognates return to their work. Keoni was no empath, but something was clearly bothering him.
“Do the Quuarks scare you?” Ryley asked eventually.
Caste just said “Choj,” and left it at that.
Keoni glanced at Ryley. His face was drenched in concern.
“I should say something.” Caste whimpered. “I don’t want to be a rotten egg…”
“Say what?” Keoni inquired.
He let out a long breath. “This isn’t a joke.” He hung his head. “Sure, Enkoye was trying to be very funny with his comments, and he kind of was, but… I was taken the same way he almost was, and I never saw anything until now. I want to do something. It’s wrong to fight back just because it amuses you. I’m just vexed that they don’t do anything.”
Caste sighed again. “I should talk to the high council. Or at least the head of tactical if she’s still around.”
“You should.” Ryley said. “You can get your memory back too, right?”
Caste raised his brow. “And you learned this information where?”
“Um…” Ryley started. Keoni didn’t know what would not offend him. She read a book that was written about his kind, and kind of talked like he was a specimen instead of a living person. That would definitely make him feel hurt.
“I found a book that spoke a little bit about you in the library I work at,” Ryley stated honestly. “It said you’d recently went through a Mir-Cleanse, and were running from the Quuarks.”
Smoothly put, Keoni thought.
“That is true. It was not pleasant. What else did it say?”
“You were a clothier, and when you were cleansed you forgot everything you knew about your profession.”
“Yes. I did forget. The place I worked at knew I was a Cognate and pretty close to cleansing, so they let me go free with a welcome if I returned. I appreciated their understanding, though the rest of it was a jumbled blur.” He started walking towards the rising sun. “Let’s move as I answer questions. Or I can teach you more things, Keoni.”
The grass brushed against Keoni’s feet as she walked beside him, listening to his still foreign voice as he talked to her about different Mir terms.
“A Mir-Gate is one of the hardest of abilities to do, but is the most useful,” He explained. “It takes a crazy amount of focus and magic. Runes can be used to help, but they’re incredibly rare. I personally don’t have any: I forgot what I did with the ones I found.” Caste stepped over a small blue rock in the ground. “If we can find you one, traveling here will be ten times easier for you to learn.”
“What are runes?” Keoni asked. She’d learned on the way that Caste was entirely open to her questions.
“Special stones or artifacts with high deposits of intense concentrations of magic. They all originate from Trin’s enchantment, and were scattered every which way when he was killed. Also, when a Mir-Cognate’s Mir-Link gets interrupted, a rune can be left behind of any of their existing magic.”
“Speaking of runes,” He said, “We’re here. The Runes of Trin. Trin himself left behind 15 of these across all of the Mirae World. The high magical concentration was left here for students.”
Keoni looked down at what he was talking about. In a small circle, huge, blue stones surrounded a patch of trampled grass. Sitting inside were twenty or so people, though Keoni didn’t know if they were all Cognates.
They were all kneeling and facing someone, who was standing and seemed to be teaching them.
“These stones hold millions of memories. Everything you’ve forgotten could be here.” Caste explained, still walking towards the runes.
The teacher saw Caste, Ryley, and Keoni approaching. He quickly spoke up to the class, telling them something in the Miraen language.
They all stood up and began chattering with each other.
“Hello again,” he said, and Keoni suddenly recognized his voice. It was Qaye, and now she remembered Caste saying he was a teacher.
“Heya.” Caste brought his hands up in an odd gesture. “How are the classes going?”
“Quite well.” Qaye responded. “And I know you need something. What can I do for you?”
“If you could, please, could you gather some memories you think I should have back and charm them for me?”
“Sure,” Qaye nodded. “It’ll take a few hours, obviously, but it can be done. And there’s something else…”
“Yes, I…” Caste hesitated. “I want to do something. You understand exactly what I mean.”
“Indeed I do.” Keoni guessed they had some sort of magic relation to tell what was going on with each other. “I will help. As long as you promise me you will fully recover.”
“You have my word, Qaye. I have one more thing to ask of you. Will you help teach Keoni how to open her own Mir-Gate?”
Keoni took a step back. “Really?” The words escaped from her tongue.
“Yes, really. It will help tremendously if you can travel between worlds.” Caste looked at her, a spark in his gray eyes. “I’m just not a perfect teacher. It is the first step of many.”
“And, your Spectrum Strength is really up there. In fact, it’s higher than mine.” Qaye said matter-of-factly. “I’ll show you what you’re capable of.”
With that, Qaye held his arms up. Glowing, blue light started from his heart and rushed through his limbs. Light started traveling from his feet through the grass, blowing it around as it traveled further. Qaye’s body was lifted off the ground a few inches as the magic spread.
Illuminated orbs grew from his hands and began to orbit around him. Qaye opened his eyes and more things seemed to orbit. A strong wind was buffering Keoni, but she held her ground, continuing to watch.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
He landed gently and the wind died down, the light returning to him. The little orbs kept revolving around him. Eventually, he caught them all in his hand and they combined smoothly. Suddenly, the light warped into a small pink leaf.
Qaye blew on it, and it turned into peaceful dust and drifted away.
“Show off.” Caste immediately snorted.
“Hey, I’m showing off before you get your magic fully recovered and blow me out of the water.” Qaye teased. “Besides, you’re a wielder of dark magic too. My strength isn’t high enough for that.”
“I tried teaching you,” Caste continued, “But you were all like ‘I can’t! I’m just not strong enough.’ Which you are, silly. It’s ten times easier in the Physical World, too.”
Qaye rolled his eyes. “I’ll have that rune ready for you later,” He changed the subject. “If you’d like me to give Keoni a lesson or two on Mir-Gates, I suggest she stays here, while you go speak to a doctor and perhaps re-register yourself in the city of Finx. Ruka will be happy to know you’ve returned.”
Caste then asked Qaye a question in their language. Qaye gave a saddened reply and hung his head. Caste nodded solemnly to Qaye and turned to Keoni. “Will you be alright with Qaye for a long while if I visit Finx?”
“Yes.” Keoni responded. She actually looked forward to a mini lesson. She’d miss him, though she’d only known him for a week, but he’d be back.
“I’ll stay with Keoni,” Ryley spoke up. “Though I probably can’t do much magic.”
“Anybody can learn, my friend.” Qaye bowed again. Apparently that was a common gesture.
“Qaye,” Caste said again. “I could really use an escort, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course.” He whistled for his students. “Fo'go zoon poukninv uzeah hkugopinv he hto Finx. Fte yun huro quch xouk wkionx Kaste he?”
Many students volunteered, and he chose one small sloth to help. The sloth waddled over to Caste, and immediately the two fell into a portal that wooshed open and collapsed shut shortly after.
“Gather around,” Qaye gestured for everyone to sit down. “We will be speaking in Physcia today, as not only is it good practice, but there are a few among us that don’t understand the common language here. If you don’t quite know it, ask a neighbor to translate.”
It was interesting to see not all of the students were young, some seemly older, and some appeared to not even be Mir-Cognates. Some had little charms laced around their necks, others around their wrists or ankles.
“Remember: the most important thing when opening a gate is focus and calm. Your attempts will all be unsuccessful if you feel overbearings of emotion. Qibu, you especially.” He added teasingly. The class giggled.
“It is quite healthy to spend a while every day keeping calm and neutral by meditating. Or at least for Cognates. I’d say it’s a requirement.”
Was that what Caste was doing, when he was kneeling on the floor earlier?
“By knowing your calm, a Mir-Gate can be opened by focusing your calmness into your surroundings and sensing what has the most harvestable magic. Try it now.” Qaye knelt down in front of them. “Close your eyes and clear your mind. Think of what soothes you.”
Keoni did as she was told. She pictured herself in front of a sunset, reading a book and alone. Her heartbeat slowed and her shoulders settled.
“Listen to the rush of the wind. Hear the sound of magic in the breeze.”
It was hardly noticeable, but Keoni could hear it.
“There’s magic surrounding you. You feel it in the Runes of Trin. Among your classmates. In the ground, in the sky. It is peaceful, and so are you. Now, open your eyes.” Qaye’s voice was serene by this point. “Any volunteers to try opening a gate?”
A rabbit stood up and stepped over everyone to come to the front. He turned to the class and knelt down and closed his eyes.
Qaye whispered more instructions gently behind him, and Keoni could start to feel the wind rush around them. The current-like feeling started to appear, but it was weak.
The student seemed to get excited, because the wind subsided and he was smiling. He exclaimed something in their language then trotted back to his seat.
“Excellent try, Wxoh.” Qaye nodded.
A few more volunteers tried, but each got very close and didn’t make it.
Around the fifth, the learner did actually create a portal. He let out a secret smile as Qaye closed the portal for him, congratulating him.
“You should try, Keoni,” Ryley whispered in her ear.
“No, I wouldn’t make one.”
“That’s not the spirit,” Ryley commented. “You wouldn’t know until you tried.”
Keoni jabbed him with her elbow, although she knew he was right. She pushed him over before standing up and making her way to the front. She could hear Ryley secretly giggling.
She got down on her knees and closed her eyes, resetting the feelings in her mind she’d known before. Reading. See the sunset. The wind in her ears and fur. The magic around. Although she wasn’t sure how she sensed it. That feeling had never emerged before.
“You know the magic around you. It knows you. It will listen if you speak its language and feel its presence.” Qaye told her gently. “Remain calm, and ask for it to help. The magic will help you if it can understand you.”
Keoni sighed and kept calm, focusing on the magic around her. It seemed to see her too, which was odd.
“You would like access to the Physical World.”
Keoni repeated the words in her head as gently as she could. Wind started swirling around her.
Keep focus. Do not be excited.
The wind intensified, and she could feel something opening up under her.
Ryley’s words echoed in her head. You wouldn’t know until you tried.
The wind died. Keoni felt something she didn’t notice until now be taken out of her.
Why did it stop? What did I do?
“Very good, Keoni.” Qaye said, and she returned next to Ryley.
Ryley squeezed her hand. “I’d say that was the best if I knew anything.”
She smiled at his comment. “I don’t know what emotion caused it to stop.”
“Worry,” Someone whispered next to her. “Errr, I could see it on your face.”
“Worried about messing up, I guess,” Keoni said.
“I’m not sure it’ll be much help it I just said ‘Don’t worry,’ so instead I’ll say ‘Worrying is not allowed, Keoni.’”
“What an improvement,” Keoni commented. “You are the most helpful friend I’ve ever had.”
Ryley grinned. “I personally believe I deserved none of the sarcasm in your phrase.”
Keoni pushed him over again.
After a couple more people tried, Qaye stopped everyone. “Opening Mir-Gates is hard, everybody. With enough practice, it will become easier. Remember: calm and focus. That is how magic talks.”
Someone raised their hand. “What about dark magic?”
“Dark magic required an overwhelming of emotions. It’s very hard to do here, though. Only members of Ruka’s team are allowed to use it, as Ruka’s team can control their emotional outbreaks.”
He moved on. “Who can tell me about some of the differences between the two worlds?”
“The Physical’s world colors are all inverted,” A leopard near the back stated.
“Oo! Everything that is poisonous in the Physical world is edible to the natives of the Mirae, and vice versa!”
A few others shouted out their answers.
“There’s green!”
“Industries!”
“Huge population!”
“Cites everywhere!”
“Good, good,” Qaye continued. “All of those are true. Both worlds have their upsides and downsides. It is unfortunate that currently, members of the Physical are not welcoming to those in the Mirae. And yes, that is a generalization. Most of them don’t care that we intermingle, or like that we do.”
Keoni zoned out. She wondered what was going on with Caste and tried to imagine what he was doing. She thought about what her family was seeing, but didn’t picture it. She really didn’t want to.
She’d be home soon, though. And perhaps she could open a Mir-Gate and come back without Caste’s help.
It could only be a matter of time.
. . .
Usually pain wasn’t felt in the Mirae, but Caste had to open up so the medic in Finx could see his back.
The aches and sores and pains leaked through his body. For seven years he had to put up with that awful feeling.
He’d think - and only think - it’d eventually just fade into everything else. But no.
Caste was in a hospital gown as they instantly sensed with magic how horribly injured his physical body was. Immediately, he was taken up a flight of stairs and now laid on his stomach while the doctor behind him was weaving magic through his skin. He could feel it, obviously, but it wasn’t painful, and felt more soothing. He wasn’t a magic expert when it came to medicine, just tactical.
So he was told. Caste didn’t remember. His memory was too hazy before he was taken, and during. Though he was supposed to remember, he didn’t. It was like coming back to a family reunion and remembering everyone’s names and not much else.
All Cognates permanently knew each other’s names, which was pretty nice. Caste could name everybody in the room.
He yipped as the doctor behind him touched a wet cloth to some sore area. He wasn’t even sure where.
“The burn into your back…” he said, touching it. “I can’t do anything about that. It’s a permanent scar that may even carry over to your next physical body.”
“I figured as much,” Caste responded. He tried not to sound depressed, although he certainly felt that way.
Caste had re-registered himself back into the city of Finx - translating to the city of the wind - which meant he could challenge for positions among the High Council. He was informed he did have a position, but of course, the Mir-Cleanse took everything away from him. He’d have to fight back for it.
“I’m finished there,” the doctor told him, helping him to the seat of the treatment bed. He summoned a flash of light and shined it in his ears, looking around. “It’s best to give you a full lookdown before you leave. I have no idea what the Quuarks did to you. It could be anything.”
Caste wasn’t really paying attention. He was distracted on how he was going to convince an entire species to fight against their arch enemy. When he had been speaking to one of the scholars, they had informed him that the High Council had voted not to do anything and wait it out.
He would’ve thought that was wise before he was taken. But he knew how many Cognates were just in the one prison. Two thousand. He let it sit in his mind, trying not to picture the countless, countless times he too had been lashed. The Quuarks were only growing in power.
“I have a faint idea.” Caste finally commented. “But I don’t know who’d listen to me.”
“You have to consider the risks.” The doctor reminded him. Caste could refer to him by his name, but he didn’t feel like racking his brain. “If Ruka takes her entire team right into enemy territory, we might as well just march to the doorstep and offer them our most powerful Mir-Cognates.”
“I know the danger.” Caste replied, “But at the same time, if we do nothing, we’re just handing them all sorts of our people.”
"You sound the same as usual." The doctor mumbled.
"You keep reminding me of things that I don't remember." Caste sighed, exasperated. “I was supposed to get all my prevalent memories back when my physical body turned 18, but the Quuarks took me.”
“I know, I watched. Almost everyone saw the raid that day.” He said. “Over a hundred were taken from their homes in Jefu, the care center. Do you not remember?”
Caste shook his head heavily. “I don’t remember much about anything. All I know is the people here and the Mirae’s magic I so powerfully wield. Everyone keeps bringing up how great a hero I was… and I wish I could just remember something.”
“You said you asked Qaye to recover your important memories?” He asked. The doctor was now watching a light in his palm change color as he moved it in front of Caste. If he remembered correctly, the colors represented something, as well as the brightness of the light. He’d never learned how to use his magic for healing, so he had no idea.
“Yes, I did. He’s one of the few Cognates I actually got to know when I was cleansed.” The light started flickering.
He wrote something down, then kept holding the light to Caste and watching the patterns.
“If you remember everything necessary, I hope you rechallenge for your position. I know you dislike people saying you were a hero, but you literally died fighting to protect both worlds. You’re powerful.”
Caste didn’t leave him with a snarky comment. “I hope I can see that,” He said instead.
After a few more notes in the nearby journal, the doctor gave his report. “It looks like you’ve got some internal injuries the Mirae has on hold. It also sounds like your cleansing is still active in your mind, which means your memories are still getting taken elsewhere. A few hours of meditation should stop that, and if it doesn’t, you need to come back here. Other than that, I recommend you don’t leave the Mirae for another day, get yourself cleaned up, and don’t exert your body or your magic.”
Caste nodded. “The Mirae won’t heal those injuries without help, will it?”
He shook his head. “I will heal those, too. I just need you to not be awake.”
Caste nodded again, knowing what he’d do. It was a simple, passive trick that worked like a charm every time. He laid back down on the bed and watched the doctor’s fingers as he snapped. A spark of magic came from there and landed on his forehead, and he was out.