“Let’s start with an apology. I don’t typically jump into someone’s brain and cause such stress, I assure you. I just couldn’t let you walk around as we talk. Confidential and whatnot.”

Darkness. Emptiness. Aleia did not want to be here. Where even was here? She could not speak. She could not move. She could only listen to this intruder.

“The orcs are so simple to read. They have memories that spread evenly down the rope of life that resides within them. Honestly, I quite admire their simplicity. Their memories are so delightful, too. I tend to jump in and out once in awhile just for fun. You, however? I cannot read you. There’s so few memories to jump in to. Its as if they’re blocked, greyed out if you will... Completely strange. Completely and utterly strange.”

Aleia wanted to scream. She wanted to run. She was sinking into darkness. Into nothingness. She felt herself floating away somewhere else. But where?

“Oh, my. You’re afraid of the dark. I apologize. The dark, I find, is quite calming. It would’ve been terribly rude of me to not think of you, the person I’m currently controlling in a terrifying paralysis in which I hadn’t asked permission to do. I should have been less impolite. Perhaps asked you what you’d prefer. Like I said, your memories are locked behind a wall I cannot penetrate. Not from this distance at least. Anywho, let me help. I’ve got access to quite a spectacular memory. I should have started with this one. Silly me. One moment.”

An image appeared in the dark, so very far away that it was little more than a blurry series of lights. Then, all at once, the image exploded out into the endless dark around Aleia as far as she could see. Vibrant greens and blues transitioned into rolling hills and a clear blue sky as the image solidified around her. She was home, back in the Zephyr Prairies; long stretches of rolling hills, tall grasses and gorgeous wildflower blossoms where she’d lived with her parents in a small cottage which her papa had built. She hadn’t been there since she was a young girl.

“Ah, the prairies. I’ve been there, you know? Quite long ago, really. Hard to leave such a dreamy place of pure natural beauty. My life thrives on natural beauty, you know. Anyway, my apologies, I must proceed.”

Aleia felt the whisper of a warm breeze glide across her cheek. She could smell the faint, seemingly far off aroma of the Togoshi blossoms that bloomed before her. She reached out to run her hand through the soft tall grass like she had as a child, but she could not feel it. Still, this place filled her with a nostalgic, innocent feeling. She wished she could pluck a Shoru mushroom straight from the soil and taste its nutty flavor again. Wake up to delicately dewed ripe tomatoes in the garden and bite down into one, savoring its juicy soft flesh. The thoughts filled her with warmth and happiness.

‘It’s like a dream’ She said.

“I told you its your memory! One of the only ones I could access! I suppose it is dreamlike, but dreams are made up of a bunch of different things, and not everything is true! Memory is made up of only what you know. Let me tell you honestly and truly, this is something completely unnatural, I assure you! I rarely speak to a soul! It can be quite lonely indeed. Also, how am I supposed to know a body doesn’t think the darkness of nothing is absolutely terrifying? I suppose from now on I could start out with something a bit more pleasant. Well, no worries. I’ve come because I’ve got a request of you.”

‘What do you want from me?’

“I’ve been watching you for quite some time, ever since I felt an aura of power when you entered the Ora Village. It was as if you were radiating power. Radiating magic. Tell me, girl, why is that?”

‘What do you want from me?’ The thought repeated as the prairie grew dark and was replaced with a still image of Valhiki.

“You will not tell me? Very well. This is Elrukai Valhiki, Son of Vilder Elrukai. Chief of the Ora Tribe. You know him, yes?”

‘Chief Valhiki? Of course I know him, but I-‘

“Very good. I admire a truth-speaker. It was simply a test. Of course I know you know Elrukai. I had to do it, you know. Just to see you were not a lie-speaker.”

‘But didn’t you just say...’

“Now, I must admit a terrible truth to you, as I myself am a truth-speaker. I am dying. Well... ‘Dying’ is such an incredibly accurate word but far too dreadful. I am simply withering away. Is that less dreadful? ‘Withering away’? Humph. What shall I call it?”

‘Wait, what-’

“Ah. I must apologize. I do tend to go on and on. I have so much to say and so little time to say it. I suppose thats silly of me, really, because now I must take more time away from what I need to be saying by apologizing for talking far too much. You must be awfully tired of my speaking. I suppose you’d really appreciate having your body back. Fair enough, to the point it is.”

“I know Elrukai Valhiki very well. Him and I have grown quite friendly throughout the years, though our speaking is a rare occasion indeed. Fact is, him and I both have problems. The biggest being that he - oh my. You don’t know, do you?”

‘Don’t know what?’

“Well...he does not yet trust you. I see. Though I am an all around truth-speaker, I will not release sensitive information to those who are not yet worthy of it. You know that I am dying and that indeed is the worst of luck. Perhaps not luck. ‘luck’ is not the correct word. It is simply life. Life that, if given more time, would be much luckier, for then I’d need not worry about death, or rebirth, or...”

The voice abruptly stopped. Aleia didn’t know what to say. Her thoughts were hazy and distant, and she couldn’t muster up a single solid thought.

“Anyway...I’ve come up with a solution to all of this. Indeed, I can be quite bright and insightful, quite useful and witty. Listen here! You must gain the trust of Elrukai Valhiki. Not only that, but you must help the orc tribe to my own satisfaction. Yes, help them and satisfy me. When it happens, you’ll know, and you’ll know because I’ll tell you! I’m sure if you could think about it right now, you’d think ‘why cant poor ol’ Elyr just use her ancient powers to help the orcs’, right? I’m sure that’s exactly what you’re thinking. Even though I can read your mind at this very second because I am in it, I refuse! If it turns out I’m wrong, well, I’d be absolutely gobsmacked! Humiliated! No, I couldn’t dare. Therefore, it is what I say it is.”

“Anyway, the answer to that question is simple! It’s because my power is weakening. There’s not much more my power can do than keep their soil fertile and give them meat from my forest. Therefore, you must help them. Besides...”

The voice paused for a moment before continuing,

“I know there’s a great power within you. I know because I can see the faintness of memory within you. That, and I felt your power the moment you entered the village. So, do the things I’ve asked of you. Then, come to my forest when the time is right. You’ll know when. It will come together nicely as it always has, so fear not. Just know that when you enter my forest, I will have the most wonderful time inside of your head. I believe the orcs call it ‘Suahu Nik’ta’, also known as ‘silent death.’ You see, they have an upcoming celebration, and...well, you’ll see soon enough.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Now, please, don’t go asking around for me again. It stirs up unneccesary questions. We will meet again in due time. Farewell, and don’t forget. I’m always watching.”

All at once Aleia’s body regained feeling and her vision came back. She slid over to the wall and leaned back against it. Her whole body trembled. She felt weak, as if she’d just awakened from a long, restless slumber. She listened to the singing coming from the celebration, trying to regain her sense of self. Sweat rolled from her forehead as the dizziness in her head nauseated her.

She gulped the swelling saliva in her mouth as Bunshida burst through the front door, filling the small dwelling with eardrum piercing laughter. She was tugging someone inside when she spotted Aleia.

“Oh. Aleia, dear. What are you doing here?”

Bunshida had clearly had her fill of gluknuk as she stood wobbly on her feet, her arm still extending in the doorway, tugging on a tan cloth shirt.

“I live here.” Aleia replied weakly.

It was then that a familiar hiccup came from the doorway.

Bunshida turned bright red as all the attention landed on the not so mysterious person.

“Hello, Mogshi.” Aleia said.

“Mogshi? Oh, no, dear, this isn’t...I’d never be with such a smelly, stinky, ugly...”

From the doorway, his shirt still bundled in Bunshida’s fist, stumbled in a drunken Mogshi, who seemed to not have heard a word Bunshida had just said.

“Oh, well wouldn’t you hiccup know it?. Aleia is hiccup here. Ain’t that hiccup something? Evening, hiccup Miss guest of hiccup honor.”

Even in the state she was in, Aleia couldn’t help but turn up a small smile.

“Sorry for intruding on your night, but I could use a hand.” Aleia reached up onto her makeshift bed, attempting to lift herself up, but her arm gave out and she plopped back onto the ground.

“Oh my goodness gracious!” Bunshida released Mogshi as she finally realized Aleia’s condition, and he fell flatly onto the ground in a puff of dirt.

“Here, honey, let me help.” Bunshida placed her arms under Aleia and, as if she were light as a feather, lifted Aleia straight off of the ground into a standing position.

She was wobbly on her feet and desperately trying not to vomit.

“What happened? Are you ok?”

Aleia nodded.

“Too much gluknuk I suppose.”

Bunshida gave her a weird look.

“Come to think of it, I don’t recall you being at the celebration tonight.”

Aleia could not think of an excuse. She hadn’t considered Bunshida’s sudden sobriety since coming to her aid, and because her head was still spinning, it was hard for her to think something up.

“Well, I-“

It was then, thankfully, that Mogshi spoke up.

“Hello? hiccup Is anyone going to hiccup help me?”

Both Bunshida and Aleia looked over and saw Mogshi face down in the dirt.

“Oh, you drunken idiot.” Bunshida sighed, walking to Mogshi and lifting him as she had Aleia.

“I’ll have to go on and take him home. You need anything else, sweetness?”

Aleia shook her head as she sat on the bed.

“No, thank you, Bunshida. Sorry for ruining your night.”

Bunshida turned red again and nodded.

“He’s much better sober.” she nervously chuckled before dragging Mogshi from the dwelling.

Relieved to not have to explain herself in her condition, Aleia fell back onto the bed and drifted off to sleep.

---

An early morning thunderstorm awakened her from a dreamless night. The ache of her headache still lingered as she prepared for the working day. Due to what happened last night, Aleia never had a chance to collect Ghillie from the forest. But, as she headed out to check up on him she immediatly noticed that something had changed. The village was eerily quiet. Usually, even if the rain was pouring it wouldn’t deter anyone from their daily chores. Today, however, Aleia couldn’t spot a single orc at all as she made her way to the gate. Upon arrival, she was relieved to see Mogshi leaning against the gate, arms crossed and face scrunched in anger.

“Hello Mogshi, May I leave?”

Mogshi scoffed. “Off ta see that blasted abomination too, eh, Miss Honored Guest?”

Aleia stared at him blankly.

“Ya know, that’s where all the folks are. Out there tryin’ to lure it out of the forest.”

Her heart sank.

“Mogshi, please, may I leave?” she repeated.

“Ah, go on, then. Thought at least one of us would be smart enough to know we won’t ever catch a magic beast, but go on ahead.” Mogshi pushed the gate open and Aleia pulled herself through and ran toward the forest, where she found the whole village crowded around, talking amongst themselves, all soaking wet but not seeming to care. Ravishi spotted Aleia and called out for her.

“What’s going on? Where’s Valhiki?” Aleia asked.

“Good morning, Ms. Ma’am.” Ravishi nodded, “you must’ve been right scared seeing the whole village up and gone this mornin’.” He chuckled lightly, “well, Bim came out here to grab him some berries as he usually does before headin’ out to go fishin’, and spotted a rabbit glowing like a fire bug. Came runnin’ back into the village shoutin’ and hollerin’ about it. One thing led to another and everyone came lookin’, wantin’ to see what the fuss was about. Thought he was out of his darn mind until I seen it for myself. Been a long time since nothin’ magical came from this forest. Why, I think even before I was born, in fact. Anywho, they are in there tryin’ to catch the thing. Been a long time now, so we are thinkin’ it’s probably time to go on-“

“I’ve got it! I’ve caught it!”

Ravishi and Aleia turned toward the forest where the crowd gathered to catch a glimpse at the glowing rabbit. Aleia spotted the dim green glow from within the crowd and heard a high pitch squeal.

“Ghillie!”

Aleia pushed through the crowd, shoving the curious orcs out of the way, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not get any closer to the green glow.

“What is that thing!” One orc cried,

“It’s a magic beast! Ne’lyrna has blessed us!” said another.

“We can cook it up and see if it gives us magic too!”

And to that, the crowd clapped.

“Stop! Stop!” Aleia yelled, but no one listened.

“It’s mine, you idiots! I was the one to capture it!” An orc screamed, “I’ll be the one to eat it!”

“Please! Let me through! Ghillie!”

The green glow radiated from the center of the crowd where Aleia could not reach. She fell into the damp sand, the rain drenching her completely.

“Enough!”

The voice was booming. Strong and powerful. Kog’lik.

The crowd turned and looked at him.

“Kog’lik, there you are! You must see it. A magical beast has been caught!” an orc said excitedly.

“Let me see it.” He said, his voice more stern than Aleia has ever heard.

From the center grew the green light, until finally, Derim stepped from the crowd, Ghillie’s long ears trapped tightly in his grasp. He was limp, and his light dim.

Kog’lik looked down at Aleia, then to the rabbit.

“Call for him.”

Without hesitation, through a cracked voice, Aleia called him.

“Ghil- Ghillie. C- come.”

The rabbit opened its eyes and immediately began to squirm in the orcs grasp.

“Release it.” Kog’lik demanded.

“But I caught it! It’s mine!” Derim argued.

“I said release it!” Kog’lik yelled.

Derim opened his fist and Ghillie fell to the sand and sprinted into Aleia’s arms. She hugged him tightly, giving him small kisses on his damp head.

“Are you okay, buddy?” She asked.

He squeaked softly.

“Why didn’t you hide? Why’d you let them see you?”

“It was my fault, Aleia.” Kog’lik said.

Aleia looked up at Kog’lik, the rain now reduced to a light drizzle.

“I followed you one morning and saw you release him into the forest. I wanted to see what it was and found him. I befriended him.”

Aleia looked down at Ghillie, who’s ears fell guiltily.

“I told him the orcs were not bad. That he could trust us. That is why he didn’t hide. I told him he didn’t have to.”

“I don’t understand.” Aleia said, “you knew about Ghillie?”

Kog’lik nodded.

“Wait, Miss Honored Guest has a magical beast as a pet?” Mogshi screamed, standing behind Kog’lik.

The crowd muttered to themselves and looked concerned at Aleia.

Kog’lik looked around uneasily and pulled Aleia to her feet.

“We must talk. In private.”

Quickly, Kog’lik, Aleia and Ghillie walked from the questioning crowd, ignoring their calls of worry and wonder, pushed their way into the village gate and walked silently until they entered Bunshida’s dwelling.

“The day you arrived” Kog’lik said, wasting no time, “I was at the gate. You asked to enter. I turned you away.”

Kog’lik spoke quickly, “you used a great power. Almost killed a man. My father intercepted it, and directed it back into you.”

Aleia stood silently, Ghillie snuggled close to her.

“I...I can’t explain it all here. Father said I must not tell anyone about it, but we know.”

Aleia shivered as the cold finally soaked into her body. Her hood lay damp upon her head.

“You know?”

Kog’lik nodded.

“That you have magic.”