“Lira, there are still a few things I do not understand about Magic and nanites,” Elurra said as soon as she walked into the queen’s chambers the following day.
“Ask away, then.”
The queen was lounging on one of the bean cushions beside her table. Elurra sank into the form-fitting chair beside her. She was starting to appreciate the lack of hard seating in Tipet.
“Why do I have visions?”
“I suspect there are multiple reasons for your dreams. I have no way to prove this, but I think one is the temporal rifts in Lur Alava are more prevalent. The boundaries between worlds in the North have always been weaker than in the South. My Kutsal Stone is bigger than Sheni’s or yours for that reason. It takes more power to open a rift here, which is why my father timed the Demon feedings with the moons. Zavier once told me where we are in our orbit made it easier to form rifts, although I never quite understood what he meant. As a child, you were exposed to more time radiation from the other side.”
“Time radiation?”
“Yes. Time in Yamoi is different. An event a year from now is only a few days away in Yamoian time. It took me a long time to completely understand the concept, but Zavier tried to make it easier for me. He told me it was like reading a book. In Incari, you would read every word to get to the next chapter, whereas in Yamoi, they simply turn the pages and skip ahead. According to Zavier, it has only been a few years since the Great War for them, but it has been a thousand years for us. Therefore, if their time is leaking through, things happening in our future may have already happened in Yamoi. You might be able to get glimpses of those future events. Does that make sense?”
Elurra thought about it for a moment, then nodded.
“Obviously, you are also part Guardian. You are drawn to the rifts and the rifts to you. Part of you does not belong on Incari. Additionally, your nanites have a communication field. They are always transmitting and picking up information. With all these things combined, I suspect you garner images from the future, especially from other people with strong nanite connections. Other descendants are always broadcasting their thoughts and memories unknowingly, as many are unaware of their lineage. The data has nowhere to go, but your nanites seem to enjoy collecting it when you are asleep. Your subconscious mind works together with your nanites. As a result, you see images, loose thoughts, and stories from the rift based on people you know, like your parents, Terrin, and Nitiri. Understand?”
Elurra stared at her blankly for a few seconds before nodding slowly.
I dream about the future and past because people think too loudly? That seems a bit far-fetched. Even if it was a past event, why was her story so clear, and why now, after so many years? Plus, it was like someone was watching them. It was not Zavier’s or Lira’s point of view. It was from another perspective, Elurra thought critically.
She played with the idea of mentioning her doubts, but she didn’t see the point. Lira didn’t know the answer; she was just hypothesizing. Elurra mentally shrugged and tucked her questions away. Lira seemed satisfied with her answer and moved on.
“Today, I will teach you some interesting things your nanites are programmed to do. As someone born with them, you have some abilities that I, and anyone else not born with Prath lineage, do not. For example, you can tell who has nanites in their blood. Knowing who can use Magic can be an extremely important asset.”
“How?”
“You are also born with the knowledge of how to use your nanites,” Lira continued, ignoring Elurra’s question. “You can speak the Prath language; you just may not understand what you are saying. The commands are ingrained into you. You just need to know what you want to accomplish, and the command will come to you. Your nanites can be controlled through your thoughts. They are a part of you. Guardians do not have to say anything to give a command, and neither do you. Only those who are not born with nanites need to say commands out loud because the nanites do not always recognize their internal voice.”
“Why did Zavier say commands out loud, then?”
Lira looked away bashfully. “That was for my benefit. It was not easy for me to learn commands, so I asked him to speak them aloud. After years of doing it, he got used to it.”
Elurra decided it was best to change the subject. “How do I come up with a command on my own?”
“You only have to think of the word in our language. The command will come to you. They call it a scan, so just say ‘scan on’ in Prath.”
Elurra closed her eyes.
“To transport many is Ťo nobi maş. To scan is—” The command appeared in her thoughts, as if she’d known it her entire life. “Contė ńai!”[i]
When she opened her eyes, lines ran around the edge of her vision with markings for distance measurement. The sudden difference made her jump. The space looked like someone had tried to desaturate the room to black and white but gave up halfway through. The most obvious difference was Lira. She was glowing dimly, like a dying fire. Different symbols floated around her, fluctuating as she breathed and moved.
“This lets you know if someone has nanites in them. Those who glow have them. Look at your arm.”
Elurra did and was astounded to find it was as bright as a live flame.
“I am guessing you are much brighter than I am?”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
She nodded again.
“Not many people have a recent Guardian bloodline. In fact, Terrin, Raeya, and you are the only ones who should shine so brightly, unless there are any other recent Guardian encounters I do not know about. Anyone else with Guardian’s blood will look more like me. Nanites thrive with more Guardian biology in their host. People who were not born with nanites, or have passed the blood down since the war, cannot produce them as effectively, and the nanites have a harder time connecting with Magic and the brain. This is where ‘weak Magic’ comes from.”
There was a sharp rap on the door, and one of the queen’s guards yelled a few muffled words. Elurra didn’t understand what he was saying, but Lira nodded.
“I have to leave for a meeting, but by breakfast I want a list of all the Prath descendants in the castle,” Lira told her as she stood.
Elurra left the center tower with Lira and her guards and parted with them once they crossed the bridge to the inner circle. She was alone in the hallway with nowhere to go. All color was muted, and even the sunlight looked a little gray. Out of nowhere, a glowing figure bolted around the corner and knocked her over. Elurra’s startled cry mingled with Raeya’s squeal as they both crashed to the ground. Elurra groaned as the sound of running feet grew closer, and Raeya’s governess appeared.
“Princess Raeya! I told you not to run through the castle!” Alani panted as she came to a stop.
Raeya picked herself off the ground and dusted off her gown.
“But walking is so slow!” she complained.
“Exactly! You do not knock others over if you walk. I am dreadfully sorry, Princess Elurra.”
Elurra rubbed her head gently and winced when she found a lump forming.
“You are not at fault, Governess Alani. You, on the other hand, should watch where you are going. You may injure someone if you keep acting so rashly,” Elurra scolded.
“I am sorry, sister. I did not see you there.”
Elurra suddenly remembered she was technically scolding a girl two years older than her. The thought made her feel like there was a rock lodged in her stomach.
“It is fun to act childish occasionally, but make sure you are aware of the people around you. Never try to grow up too fast, though.”
“I will be a child forever,” Raeya told her with an impish grin.
Elurra smiled back. “Governess Alani, take some time off. I can watch Raeya for a few hours.”
“Princess Elurra, I do not think I can simply—”
“Do you mean you want to play hide and seek with me?” Raeya perked up.
Elurra laughed. “Sure, Raeya, I would love to.” She turned back to the governess. “Is that alright? I can bring her by your chambers before dinner.”
Alani looked uncertain, but after a second of contemplation, the older woman sighed and raised her hands in surrender.
“Who am I to stop a royal game of hide and seek?”
Raeya squealed in delight and grabbed Elurra’s hand.
“Come on! I know the best places in the palace to play.”
°◌°○●○°♣°○●○°◌°
“Ready or not, here I come!”
Elurra heard Raeya scream from her counting place. She grinned, knowing there was no way the little girl counted to fifty so fast.
Raeya sure is a lot slyer than Terrin ever was.
A fleeting memory of childhood Terrin bashfully rubbing the back of his head popped into her mind, and she grinned. She heard Raeya’s footsteps along the path, so she peeked between the leaves protecting her hiding spot. All she could see were Raeya’s ankles as she passed by, humming. Elurra grinned mischievously.
She is never going to find me here.
Raeya abruptly turned around, and her glowing face filled Elurra’s vision.
“Found you!”
Elurra crawled out, thoroughly disappointed.
“How did you do that?”
“I could sense you.”
Elurra’s eyebrows drew together.
“You could sense me?”
“You are very…noisy. You do not guard yourself like Mother does. You have very strong emotions and loud thoughts.”
Elurra took an involuntary step back.
“You can hear my thoughts?”
Raeya nodded.
“Can you not hear mine? Mother said you could.”
“How?”
“Close your eyes and focus on me.”
Elurra was skeptical, but she obeyed the little girl’s command.
“See?”
Elurra jumped when Raeya’s voice echoed in her mind.
“How did you do that?”
“Just pretend you are talking straight to me with your thoughts, and your nanites will do the rest. Closing your eyes helps you focus,” Raeya thought, her blue eyes sparkling.
“Can you hear me?” Elurra replied in her mind.
The little girl giggled.
“You do not have to shout.”
“Sorry,” Elurra thought, flushing.
They both laughed.
“Mother banned me from using telepathy with the other nobles, so it is nice to have someone else to talk to.”
It was disturbing how good Raeya was at communicating with her mind. Obviously, she wasn’t as clueless as she let on.
“What do you mean, I act clueless?”
“I cannot hear anything you are thinking unless you direct it at me. Why is that?” Elurra asked, unsettled that her personal thoughts had been broadcasted.
The little girl crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue.
“Only if you tell me why you called me clueless.”
Elurra studied Raeya carefully. She was much more open than Terrin and Lira.
“Clueless was not a good term to use. Innocent fits more accurately, but you know what I am talking about.”
As Elurra looked into the younger girl’s eyes, her mind seemed to open before her. She could sense her hidden thoughts, like a smooth sphere with no openings. Elurra located a crack in Raeya’s defenses. With her newfound ability, she peered through the crevice. Internal dialogue washed over her, mostly comprised of confident assurances Elurra wasn’t skilled enough to see her thoughts. Images flooded next, followed by feelings.
“You are a lot smarter than anyone knows you are. I bet your mother is the only one who understands exactly what you are capable of.”
Raeya’s eyes widened, and she clapped her hands over her head.
“Get out!” she screamed, sounding scared.
A door appeared in Elurra’s mind, and it slammed in her face.
“That is what you meant?” Elurra asked. “You imagine there is a barrier between you and the world to keep your mind closed off, right?”
Raeya glared at her, and Elurra felt her prodding her mental fortifications for retaliation, but Elurra built a wall and hid them from the little girl. Raeya hmphed and looked at Elurra critically.
“Mother told me I was very good at building mind blocks. How did you penetrate them?”
She still seemed angry, but there was a grudging respect in her tone.
“I am good at understanding people.”
“Why do you keep thinking about my brother when he was my age?”
“I miss our childhood.” Before the little girl could pry, Elurra asked, “Can you read everyone’s mind?”
“Only those who have the ability to use Magic.” A mischievous twinkle gleamed in her eye. “Do you want to practice hearing people’s thoughts?”
“Do you mean spy on random people?”
Raeya nodded eagerly. Elurra was about to say no, but she realized it might be a good idea, if only to complete the assignment Lira gave her. Before she could answer, the bell tower tolled six times.
Raeya groaned.
“Sorry, Raeya, but I promised Governess Alani I would get you back by dinner time. I guess that means no spying, but if we walk by someone on the way there…”
Raeya perked up, grabbed Elurra’s hand, and dragged her toward her governess’s room as she happily chatted about all the funny things she had overheard people thinking.