“You want to curse me?” Dick asked incredulously. “Again?”

Vomero, Emery, and I looked back and forth at each other, searching for the right words to explain our theory. After a day or so of investigation with Vomero and some coordination with Emery, a plan to relieve Dick of his Lycan issue had emerged.

We sat in the common room of our ship. Since my body was recovered enough to leave, Dick brought the vessel to Hidden Springs to pick me up. It was docked in the vast loading bay he and I had visited via teleporter the first time we arrived at the Everwyld compound.

Although the Everwylds had offered to let us stay as long as we needed, it seemed too risky to remain in one place for long. If our enemies found us, we didn’t want the Everwylds getting caught up in our mess. Furthermore, it just wasn’t very convenient. Teleportation only worked one way since there was no permanent platform in the city. Getting back required transportation that took the better part of a day.

Our crew gathered in the common room of the ship; even Cash and Ryuuk had finally returned. Light perched on Dick’s shoulders where he sat on the sunken, curved couch in the center of the room.

Vomero was the first to address Dick’s outburst of disbelief. “It’s more like we want to finish cursing you, actually.”

“That doesn’t make it sound any better,” Cash noted.

“You’re damn right it doesn’t!” Dick exclaimed, nearly unseating Light from his shoulders. “Besides, we spent days looking for traces of that old Lycan ritual together, Vomero; we never found anything. Now, you’re saying you’ve found something and instead of using it to undo things, you want to make them worse?”

“No, I haven’t found the ritual, and, also I just want to point out one very important fact you’re missing while jumping to conclusions and shouting at people,” Vomero defended.

“What’s that?” Dick asked wearily.

“Technically, this was all Skye’s idea.”

There was a small eruption of mixed reactions from the group, from amusement to consternation and everywhere in between. I rubbed a weary hand over my face. Maybe I wasn’t as rested up as I initially thought. Then again, having a group discussion with this bunch would exhaust anyone.

“You know, if you’re going to throw me under the bus, you could at least let me do the explaining,” I grumbled. “Your bedside manner could really use some work, Vomero.”

“I don’t have a bedside mann—” he started to retort, but seemed to realize he was only proving my point and stopped speaking.

“Anyway...” I said pointedly moving on. “We didn’t find Volungus’ original ritual that cursed the Lanarians. But Vomero says all the digging you guys did on the subject seems to confirm our theories of exactly how the curse worked.”

“I’m just trying to refresh my memory here on the matter,” Cash interrupted. “We said the curse was actually genetic and the ritual was meant to suppress the mindless murder machine tendencies that come with all that raw animalistic power, right?”

“That’s the gist of it,” I confirmed. “But Vomero and Dick’s research uncovered a passage describing the ritual. It’s all very vague, certainly not enough to reconstruct the ritual from, but it has this interesting description in it...”

I nodded to Vomero, who activated the auto reader on his data pad.

Their transformation complete, the Lunarians’ bodies appeared unrecognizable, their humanoid forms replaced with those belonging to monstrous beasts. Then, a loud clap of thunder erupted as if from the very Aether itself, like steel colliding with stone, as the ritual circle bound each Lunarian in its newly formed body. Their commitment to Volungus sealed their souls for eternity.

“Umm...I’m not signing my soul away to a wolf god,” Dick said resolutely, “Or anyone for that matter.”

“It’s the wording that is interesting,” I said, brushing away his concerns. “It said the ritual circle bound each person in their new Lycan form. It also uses the term sealed their souls.”

Vomero joined in to help explain.

“Skye’s theory is that the feral Lycan nature tries to subvert the host’s consciousness, their soul, essentially, if you believe in such things,” he said.

“I believe,” Dick said, for the first time in the conversation sounding somber. “Especially, considering it’s my soul we’re talking about. I can feel the struggle happening, like a battle for dominance or a predator waiting to devour my mind if it only got the chance.”

He looked up after speaking to glance around the room. Everyone sat silently, giving him time to compose himself.

“Despite that,” he continued, “I am not ready to sign my soul over to avoid it.”

I shook my head. “That’s what we’re trying to avoid. I think the ritual in the story did exactly as it says; it bound the person’s soul to their body so that it couldn’t be taken over by the Lycan. It wasn’t, as we initially thought, a way to control the beast. It simply sealed it away and bound the original hosts soul firmly to their shared body.”

“Ok, but knowing all this doesn’t do him any good if you don’t know the ritual,” Cash said.

“Skye asked me to speak to some of the elder druids in our clan,” Emery finally spoke up. “Our clan’s commitment to the dignity and respect of all living creatures naturally draws quite a few druids into our ranks.”

“I wanted their opinion on this passage Vomero found,” I interjected. “Their insight was very enlightening.”

I nodded to Emery to continue her explanation.

“They believe the ritual used was a modified binding ritual. It’s not uncommon for spirits and deities who are bestowing a favor to modify these basic binding rituals and include fealty to themselves in return.”

“I guess they feel like they should get something in return for their trouble,” Dick said, cynically. Emery nodded, then continued.

“So, it’s likely the ritual in the story was a simple, albeit powerful, binding ritual with the commitment thing tacked on. Assuming you don’t need that part, you know the part where you promise your allegiance to Volungus, any binding ritual powerful enough should do.”

“If it’s that easy, why accept the wolf god’s binding ritual instead of doing their own?” Cash asked.

“And why didn’t the original Lycans do it with their offspring?” Dick questioned.

“Maybe it was a package deal with the curse,” Vomero speculated.

“As for the offspring, a ritual strong enough to alter the power of a god probably couldn’t be performed under just any circumstance,” I said. “The type of magic I do with my tattoos involves a powerful type of binding ritual. The initial pact each Zodian makes with their chosen Ecliptic House is a ritual that we typically perform in a sacred place, Ecliptis.”

“I thought it was just a traditional thing,” Dick pointed out.

“Traditions often start for a reason,” I explained. “It takes a place with a deep connection to our deities to power the ritual and ease the transition. In the waters of Ecliptis, the process is painless, a little euphoric even. There are incidents of Zodians being cut off from access to Ecliptis and having to do the ritual elsewhere. It’s a painful process and...”

“And what?” Dick prompted as I hesitated.

“And there’s a chance the person might not survive it.”

Dick leaned back in his seat and nodded in understanding, finally seeing where the conversation was going.

“So, assuming we could find a power source strong enough, you’re saying we could try doing a binding ritual on the Lycan, but it could kill me.”

Stolen novel; please report.

He paused for a moment to consider it, then said, “Ok, let’s do it.”

“Seriously?” Cash mocked. “A couple seconds deliberation and you’re willing to just throw your body and soul at some half-baked ritual and hope for the best?”

“You’re not in my body, okay? It’s only a matter of time before whatever cosmic force acting on my body gets it’s way,” Dick rebutted. “If I have the chance to put some other cosmic force in its way, what choice do I have?”

“Quite a few, actually,” Emery broke in again. “I assume the Lanarians survived the original ritual because they were already in their Lycan form, which we’ve already seen is extremely resilient and hard to kill.”

“Nope, veto,” Dick said. “I’m not letting that thing back out of its cage. Last time cost people their lives. I’m not risking it being someone I actually care about next time.”

His eyes lingered a little longer on me than anyone else, and I squirmed in my seat awkwardly.

“So, that’s why I wanted to talk about this,” I said, clearing my throat, “because there is perhaps a better option. A place with primordial magic we can use to power the ritual but which also contains restorative properties to hopefully help you survive it.”

There was a poignant silence as my words sank in and realization dawned on my companion’s faces.

“Hidden Springs,” Dick said, finally seeing the big picture. “The healing magic we’ve felt here is reminiscent of Light.”

Vomero nodded, breaking in. “It’s probably Ancient in nature. Even though we can’t pinpoint the source, it’s still easy to identify the similarities between Light’s energy and what permeates Hidden Springs. There’s both a luminescent aspect and a healing aspect. The chamber that Skye has been recovering in seems to have a bigger concentration of the healing properties intrinsic to Light’s brand of Ancient power, where as the main chamber the Everwylds inhabit seems to have more of the luminescent properties.”

“That explains the nightly light show,” Dick remarked. “But is it strong enough? And will this consume that magic like Light did with the scepter, leaving the Everwylds without a source to power their Springs? I already told you, I’m not willing to sacrifice an entire civilization to cure myself.”

I’d spent the greater part of the last two days meditating in the chamber, which the Everwylds creatively dubbed “The Falls.” I knew that in order for Dick to agree to the plan, we’d need solid assurance that it wouldn’t hurt the Everwylds’ home. So, I’d left the research and druid talks to Vomero and Emery and spent time connecting to the magic undercurrent flowing through The Falls.

It had taken hours and hours of deep meditation and focus to truly understand the nature of the magic flowing around me, but what I sensed was startling. The magic was ancient, but not nearly as old as the Zodian magic flowing through my body. By comparison, it was quite youthful. It also had another familiar quality I had felt before.

After the arrest and subsequent execution of my parents, Ascella had taken me to a Zodian burial site. It was a standard Zodian practice of grieving to offer the deceased’s energy back into the cosmos. When examined closely, the magic of Hidden Springs had a similar quality. It was the essence of magical energy slowly fading over time, like a remnant from the ashes of great magical beings long passed.

After a little more concentration, I was able to connect with that residual energy. It wasn’t exactly a vision, more of an impression. It told a tale of a powerful Ancient being grieving a loss so deep, its tears wet the desert sands. Something about its intrinsic nature would not be denied, however, and from the depth of its sadness, a spring of light and life arose and created a vast and beautiful oasis out of dust and stone.

The details seemed a blur, but I had the sense that whatever created this magical place never left and yet no longer remained.

“I think...” Putting my impressions into a coherent explanation seemed impossible. I struggled to do the best I could. “I think there’s nothing we could do to change the state of magic at Hidden Springs. Its source isn’t a tangible magical relic like the scepter. The magic doesn’t just fuel the caves with water, it’s part of their makeup. The entire cavern system is the source of magic.”

I looked to Emery, wanting to convey with a look that I was not betraying a trust but needing to explain. “The type of magic that created Hidden Springs will fade on its own eventually. It was created by a powerful magical event, and as time passes, that magic will fade naturally.”

“Well that’s a measure of comfort,” Vomero pointed out. “Light can’t eat an entire cavern system...can he?”

The little creature scowled at Vomero, sticking out his tongue.

“What powerful event could have created something as miraculous as paradise in a desert?” Emery wondered.

There was a thoughtful silence as my companions pondered the question and I avoided eye contact with everyone in the room. It didn’t work.

“You know, don’t you, Skye?” Dick said, becoming annoyingly good at reading my moods.

“I don’t know,” I said, defensively. “Not for sure. I have a theory, intuition really, but a very strong one.”

“What aren’t you wanting to tell us?” Vomero asked with a hint of indignation, as if the thought of having data withheld from him was an affront to his intellect.

I looked cautiously at Dick and Vomero, then up to Light. He was still perched on Dick’s shoulders but his mischievous, teasing attitude had suddenly evaporated. Instead, he buried his head in Dick’s thick hair as if trying to hide his face.

Could he read my mind? If he already knew what I was thinking, there seemed no point in trying to skirt around it.

“I think Light’s mother died here.”

* * *

“Tell me again why you think Hidden Springs is powered by Light's deceased mother?”

An hour or so later, Dick, Vomero, Emery and I were standing by one of the waterfall-fed pools at The Falls. Light had needed some time after all the revelations and explanations to be alone. The little Ancient was currently tucked under a small waterfall, letting the water wash over him as he sulked. None of us could blame him, so we let him have his moment alone.

It also gave us a chance to speak candidly without worrying about the little one’s feelings or Dick turning into a Lycan. The ambient magic of the caverns seemed to have a similar suppressive effect on his curse.

“When I was meditating,” I explained, “it was almost like I could sense the history of this place. It’s a graveyard for sure. Ancient for sure. Similar to Light most definitely. It wasn’t like a vision I could see, but a sense of knowing.”

“Magic has memory,” Emery said. “My grandmother used to say that all the time. Maybe that’s what you were tapping into.”

I nodded. I had already shared with them all I had discerned during my meditation. Explaining how it was in my head proved more difficult.

“Maybe my mind just took what it knew and what it was learning and put everything together,” I mused. “I think the Ancient who died birthing these springs was mourning the loss of a child. It just...feels... like Light is that child.”

“It explains why his nature seems so similar to the essences flowing through this place,” Vomero concurred.

“The Springs were formed eons ago,” Emery pointed out. “From what you’ve said, Light is barely a few months old. The timing seems off. Not to mention, he seems very much alive. Why would this Ancient be mourning for him?”

Vomero shrugged. “That would be hard to speculate, but Light was some type of cosmic energy-egg before Dick came along and incubated him. Maybe the egg was in stasis for a long time? I’ve seen it happen among the reptilian races. Maybe time is irrelevant? Maybe Skye is misinterpreting what she felt.”

I glanced at Dick. He was staring intently toward the waterfall Light was sulking beneath, listening quietly to our conversation.

“What are you thinking, Dick?” I prodded. He had been unusually quiet for some time.

He turned to glance at me briefly before refocusing on the distant end of the cavern. “The more I learn about Light’s people, the more terrified I become.” His voice was low and serious.

“Terrified of Light?” I asked, doubtfully. I couldn’t imagine the little tyke hurting a dust mote, much less any of us.

“Terrified for Light,” Dick clarified. “Let’s not forget that Matthew was sent by someone to retrieve that egg. We know of two other Ancients besides Light: Fate, or the one the Kalo-Mahoians called Maluna, and now this Ancient you say is possibly Light’s predecessor. One of those beings left a spare magical item powerful enough to hold up an entire planet’s worth of islands just lying around. The other was powerful enough to birth an entire magical ecosystem out of dry, dead rocks as it died.”

He let those words sink in before continuing.

“Imagine how powerful these Ancients were in their prime. I assume there aren’t any left around or we would have heard of them. Then there’s Light.”

I nodded. “He’s quite possibly the last of an unfathomably powerful race,” I added, understanding the depth of his concern. As much as Dick liked to bluster about not being Light’s “father”, he clearly felt a strong sense of affection and responsibility toward the little Ancient.

“The potential residing in that child will attract the attention of similarly powerful people, all wanting to claim it for themselves,” Emery observed.

“And how am I supposed to keep him safe from that kind of threat?” Dick finished.

“Not you,” I emphasized. “We. And so far, Light's been saving us more than the other way around. So, maybe give him a little credit. He’s young, yes, but he also destroyed a planet saving someone he loved. And that was just on his first day. He needs guidance and a place to belong for now. As his power grows, the real challenge is making sure he becomes the kind of super being who will wield it with wisdom and compassion.”

“As for me and my people,” Emery said. “His life is sacred to us, even if it weren’t related to the very life force that has given my people life and prosperity for eons. We would offer him anything we have and more.”

I didn’t doubt Emery’s sincerity, and I desperately hoped that proved to be the case for all Everwylds. But what would happen if they decided Light was the key to saving their dying civilization? I hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Vomero nodded his agreement. “We have a responsibility to keep that kind of power out of the wrong hands,” he said, profoundly. “Also...”

He paused as if reluctant to utter his next statement. Emery, Dick and I all looked at him curiously.

Vomero shrugged sheepishly. “He...shares his snacks with me...sometimes...”

I grinned as our logic-driven technomancer struggled to admit one mischievous, magical child had wheedled its way into his cold-blooded, reptilian heart.

Emery smiled knowingly at Vomero as she placed a mollifying had on his shoulder.

“...snacks are important...”