Noki shot up from the soft bed of the infirmary room. It wasn’t much larger than his own room, in fact it looked a bit smaller. There was a white limestone floor to match the ceiling, blue sheets on the bed and a chair directly across him, where Baira sat.
“What happened?” Noki groggily asked as he placed a head to his forehead. The sleeve of a white robe dropped down from his wrist, surprising him. “When did my clothes change?”
Baira stared at Noki as if she could see right through him. “You answer me first. Did you take a scourbeast kulda inside of you?”
Noki thought back to his encounter with the scorpion scourbeast; how he remembered seeing its core but then woke up with it being gone. “I-I’m not sure. I think I saw it, but when I woke up it was gone.”
“Woke up?” Baira mouthed to herself before speaking aloud, “you fell asleep?” Noki gave her an affirmative nod. “Ok, you need to tell me everything.” Noki did just that. He told her about how he found a pit full of chimeras and scourbeasts, how it looked like some kind of tournament, and how he took the beast’s core. “You should be dead.”
“Yeah, I kinda feel like that,” he replied, touching the middle of his chest, “it feels like a tree was rammed through me. Hey by the way, what happened to my clothes? I definitely wasn’t wearing these before.”
“Noki, I need you to focus.” Baira’s expression was unnaturally serious. “ You have an Earthen Soul now, so that means you can circulate your Tera. I need you to do it now.”
“Hey wait, I answered your questions, now you answer mine. What happened at the Divination Ceremony? “
“I can answer that.” Noki and Baira looked at the door as Kolo Amani crossed the threshold. She looked as if she hadn’t slept in a week–which for a Iron Body Soul wouldn’t hinder her at all–and had on the same outfit as the day of the ceremony. “ After the scourbeasts and chimera’s attacked, I protected Baira while she ascended, congratulations on that by the way Bairy, while you decided to help the guards.”
“I remember that,” Noki said, “ but there was a huge scourbeast and I-” Amani gestured for him to stop.
“Baira, give us the room,” Amani said while fixated on Noki.
“Amani, you said I’d have more time.”
“Well, that was before. Go get your things and wait at the front of the village.”
“Amani-”
An overwhelming sensation of power flooded the room. It took Noki a moment to realize it was coming from Amani. His newly awakened senses urged him not to move, lest he wind up dead. He spared a glance to Baira and saw her wince, but otherwise remained unaffected. “This must be her Tera, but how is she doing that with just Tera alone?”
“I’m not asking you. Go, now.”
Baira glared at her sister, but then looked apologetically at Noki. “I…” her eyes began to water but she didn’t let her tears fall. “I’m sorry Noki. I tried but…” Baira ran to him and hugged him as if it would be her last opportunity to. She whispered something in his ear before letting go and leaving the room.
“You wanted to know what happened?” Amani finally said, “ you took on the tigerbull and you won.”
“I did?” Noki was still processing what Baira said to him.
“Broke its horn and ran it through its head, after it speared you through the chest.”
“What?” This made Noki jump out of bed, revealing his baggy white pants and bare feet. “ That’s not possible. If I was hit with that things horns, I’d be-”
“Dead? Yes that’s what I thought too,” Amani said, “ until I saw your body healing itself.” Amani appeared directly in front of Noki and placed a palm to his midsection. “I can still fee the residual Tera there, it’s distinctly that of a scourbeast. It’s similar to the Tera coming from her.” She lowered her hand to his belly button; right where the kulda is located. “Did you know that you have another core attached to yours?”
Noki jerked back from her hand. “Did you look inside me while I was out?”
“Hardly, you’ve been walking around with it unshrouded for everyone to see.” A look on Noki’s face told Amani that he had no idea what she was talking about. “Wow, you really don’t know anything about Divine Artistry do you? You haven’t been shielding your Tera at all, anyone with a decent enough Divine Sight can see through you.”
“So that’s why Baira asked about the beast core.” “Wait, why did Baira leave? And why is she getting her things?”
Amani’s expression darkened. “Baira is returning with me to Golden Oasis. She’ll be completing her training there for the next three years.” Golden Oasis was home to the Monsari Family, located three hundred miles south of Queen’s Embrace. It wasn’t uncommon for vassal families to send their kids to one of the academies to learn the basics before returning home, but Baira never mentioned any intent of returning to Golden Oasis.
“How long until she has to leave?”
“We set out tomorrow morning.”
“That’s sudden,” Noki thought to himself, “but if she has to go back, I can go with her.” Baira had mentioned in the past that Golden Oasis had a ton of teachers that would instruct non-family members, albeit for a fee; he was sure that Baira wouldn’t mind giving him the talons for it. Still, it didn’t explain why she was about to cry. “Well I feel better, I’ll gather my things and join you guys.”
“That won’t be possible; you’re scheduled for execution today.”
Noki’s insides twisted and it felt as if the world had stopped. He choked on the words as they left his mouth, “Ex-execution?”
“The village holds you responsible for the attack three days ago and a decision was reached last night.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with the attack! I was the one that warned them in the first place!” Noki had clenched his fists so tightly that a blood vessel would have bursted if not for his Earthen Soul. “ That doesn’t make any sense! Jahn and Mion are the ones responsible.”
“Jahn and Mion weren’t the ones both the guards and myself witnessed using the Tera of a scourbeast.” Amani softened her voice. “Try to understand how it looks: A villager who was a Null suddenly appears right before a horde of chimeras and scourbeasts descend on everyone. Furthermore, guards of the Chief can attest to sensing beast Tera from you and both Mion and Jahn were injured during the attack.”
Noki sat on top of the bed as Amani continued. “ Baira told me about you. You were the only Null in the entire village, had no friends outside of her and lived in a home that was isolated from the rest of the village. It’s not hard to think that someone who was treated the way you were wouldn’t want to get some kind of revenge.”
“I wouldn’t do that!” Noki wanted to say, but that wouldn’t have been completely true. He had often thought about making the village feel exactly how he did; how to make Mion especially know what true helplessness felt like. Some nights, the only thing that brought him any solace were the dreams where he used overwhelming power to make Watercliff kneel in his presence and dole out the same kind of pain and humiliation he had felt.”
“As Kolo of Queen’s Embrace, I can’t help you. The affairs of the villages are that of their own unless they violate an edict from the queen.” Amani saw Noki’s head sink further, “However; as Amani Monsari, I’d be remiss to not impart some sort of knowledge onto someone that earned the friendship of my sister.” Amani reached into her waistband and pulled out a chrome ball the size of a pebble. “Here.”
Noki looked up at the Kolo and saw the object in the palm of her hand. “What’s this supposed to do?”
“Swallow it and you’ll find out.” Noki looked at her hesitantly, “ You’re already scheduled for death, what’s there to worry about from a little pill?”
Unable to see the flaw in her statement, Noki popped the pill in his mouth and swallowed it. “Now what?”
“Now, wait about ten minutes and start circulating your Tera throughout your body. After that, you’re on your own.” Amani gave Noki a smile that he wasn’t sure was to put him at ease or terrify him. “Let’s hope that you’re a quick study,” Amani said after turning towards the door, “I hate to waste treasures on trash.”
Amani left before Noki could ask what she meant, but that was the least of his concerns. “Execution. I finally get some power and now I’m scheduled to die?” He thought of Baira, how sad she looked to him and focused on the last words she told him: ‘Don’t let this get in your way.’
After ten minutes, Noki sat on the stone floor and began circulating his Tera. It felt different this time though he wasn’t sure if it was because he wasn’t in the Red Forest. He imagined his Tera like he did before and did the River Circulation Meditation, but this time there was a chrome liquid inside of his kulda. When his core started to fill up with Tera, the chrome liquid guided all of the Tera through his pathways and directly into the Mind Kulda. A burning pain shot through his head and threatened to break his meditation, but Noki pushed past it like he always had.
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Clouds of green and lavender covered the walls of the infirmary and a hazy figure materialized in front of him. It was Kolo Amani, but she didn’t have her uniform on, or if she did, Noki couldn’t tell since she appeared to be made of the same materials filling the room. “Oh, it looked like it worked. Not bad for a rush job if I must say so myself.”
“Kolo Amani?” Noki’s words came out more like a thought than an actual voice. “What’s going on?”
“No time to explain all that, just think of me as a version of Amani. Now, let’s begin the operation.”
“Operation?”
“Yes. Operation Teach You the Basics and Maybe You Won’t Die. First lesson, Tera Flow Control.”
Baira wondered how many of the guards she could take out as she sat above the crowd of villagers. It had been four hours since she last saw Noki and the execution was happening in ten minutes. With her newly acquired Iron Soul, she could take on a few guards; provided they were Lesser Irons like herself. “All of these people here don’t even know Noki’s name, yet show up in droves to see him die.” Baira started circulating her Tera, only for Amani to grab her shoulder.
“You know better than to do that,” Amani said as she released her grip, “they’ll sense that hostility in your Tera and take that as the will of the Monsari.” Divine Artists of a certain level are able to project their intent through their Tera, and perceive the intent of others. “It’s not like you to lose your cool Bairy.”
“Don’t call me that, not now. Noki is about to be killed and the only reason why I have to sit here is because you told them you were worried what I might do.” The pure look of betrayal and anger on Baira’s face received only a dismissive hand wave from Amani.
“I’m just looking out for you, after all if you weren’t near me I think Jahn and Mion might follow through with their earlier plan, don’t you think?” Amani made sure to infuse her words with her intent so that only the person she wanted to hear her could; it was one of the techniques she had learned as a Kolo.
“Ah, Kolo Amani, do you mind if I sit next to you?” Jahn stood at the edge of the viewing booth, wearing the ceremonial clothing of the Head Chief.
“Of course, Head Chief Jahn,” Amani replied, “ this is where the Chief sits, is it not?” Amani waited for Jahn to sit on the throne of stone before continuing. “By the way, how is your brother doing?”
“He is still unconscious, the physicians aren’t sure as to when he will awaken.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Amani said, “though it could have been worse. Thank the heavens you were there to assist him, I couldn’t imagine how he would have fared otherwise.”
Baira suddenly understood why her sister seemed so flippant about Noki’s impending execution. The casual way in which she spoke to Jahn was the same way she’d speak to their parents and siblings whenever she figured a way to get what she wanted; the only question was what had she wanted?
Jahn looked less than amused at her statement. “There was a particularly powerful scourbeast amongst the others. It took myself and three other guards to subdue the beast, and that was after it had fought my brother.” He said the last part as if he were using brother only as a way to categorize their relationship.
“Yes, which is why it was fortunate for Bain that you were there.” Amani gave Jahn a warm smile and the interim Head Chief relaxed in his seat. Amani turned to the stadium and spoke. “It’s amazing how much of the damage had already been repaired, just in time for the execution no less.”
“Yes,” Jahn said, “ I had the guards and instructors work tirelessly to not only repair the stadium, but the stone barrier around the village too. We cannot have another repeat of the Divination Ceremony.”
Baira started to do her breathing without the circulation of her Tera; it was more to regulate her emotions than prepare for a fight. The man responsible for Noki’s predicament was only a few feet from her, and he was acting as if nothing had happened. If she didn’t control herself, her intent would slip out and ruin everything. Baira returned to her patented calm and collected self. “I appreciate the extra security, Head Chief Jahn. If we had those precautions in place a few days ago, everything would have gone flawlessly.”
“Don’t worry, Baira, after today we won’t be under threat of an attack like that ever again.” Jahn infused his lungs with Tera and spoke, amplifying the sound of his voice. “Guards, bring the prisoner out.”
Within moments, four guards escorted a handcuffed Noki to the center of the arena. It wasn’t the same stage of the Divination Ceremony, the stone work was crude and there was nothing adorning the walls or ground; it was just a raised brown plateau with a makeshift walkway. The crowd booed Noki and called for his death, but Noki had his eyes closed and seemed totally at peace. Two guards stood in front of him and the other two stood at the edge of the plateau where the walkway was.
“Villager Noki,” Jahn said, “you have been found guilty of unleashing a horde of scourbeasts and chimeras onto the village. Furthermore, due to said actions, both my brother and nephew sustained injuries. You are also found guilty of Chimeric Transfusion.” The blood of a chimera is saturated with enough beast Tera to temporarily grant one the strength of a chimera, but also the Tera of one too. It’s forbidden to ingest uncooked chimera meat in public areas since a pack of chimeras may sense the Tera and be drawn to it.
The crowd erupted with sounds of fury, questioning how dare a Null bring harm to their leader and his son. Baira glanced at Amani, but the Kolo looked at the stage with a look on her face that was both aloof and anticipatory.
“Luckily,” Jahn continued,” Mion made a full recovery by ascending to Iron Soul, but my brother is still in critical condition. For your transgressions against both the Okari Family and Watercliff itself, you will die by the blade.” Jahn raised his right hand in the air and dropped it down, signaling the four guards to unsheath blades that appeared out of nowhere.
“Materialization? So they must have storehouses” Baira weighed her options; she could stay put and allow for whatever plan Amani had to play out, or she could circulate her Tera fast enough to do a Tera burst and rush down there. With her current body, it’d be close, but she’d be just fast enough to move before the guards could react.
“I never did tell you what I thought about your friend,” Amani said, snapping Baira out of her thoughts.
“What? Now you want to give your opinion?”
“I do,” Amani said, “ I think he has absolutely no technique to speak off and has little to no knowledge on how to use the gifts he’s acquired. In fact, as he currently stands, he’s trash that wouldn’t be able to beat even our youngest foundlings.”
The four guards infused their executioner blades with their Fire Aspect, causing them to take on a charred appearance.
“But, he was able to kill a scourbeast that was using Earth Aspect; and I find that to be interesting.”
A spike of confusion and hope shot through Baira. Amani always had things to occupy her interest, but seldomly did she herself find things to be interesting; on the rare occasion that she did, nothing in all of the Embrace could stop her from attaining what drew her eye. “If Amani is truly interested in Noki, then she must have done something, but wha-” Amani looked at Baira and she could feel her sister using her Divine Sight on her…scanning her kulda. Immediately, Baira understood and used her own Sight, but on Noki. Sure enough, she saw a white hot glowing core and a silver chain containing all of Noki’s Tera; but nothing on his second core.
When known Divine Artists are imprisoned, the handcuffs are infused with Tera one ascension rank higher than the prisoner and strengthened by Earth Aspect; making it impossible for them to break. This only works if they can suppress all of the Tera an Artist possess, meaning for Noki, he still had access to another core, the one he had shrouded. “Of course,” Baira thought, “if the guards thought it was due to Chimeric Transfusion, then there wouldn’t be any need to look too closely at his kulda.”
As the guards brough their blades down, Noki opened his eyes and dropped his shroud. He still had residual beast Tera on his body, from the wound he suffered, and stored it in his second kulda. He circulated the beast Tera into his arms, extended them so that the blades in front of him slammed into his cuffs, and narrowly avoided the two swipes from behind. With his remaining beast Tera, he grabbed onto the cracked shackles and tore them off, throwing them onto the ground.
Everyone from the guards to Jahn were stunned into silence. “Don’t let him escape!” Jahn finally said, with enough Tera in his voice to shake the booth. The guards rebounded from the surprise and moved to kill Noki, but Noki was prepared. He used a basic application of Tera and covered himself in a pure white light. Then, in one motion, he sprinted past the guards behind him, being careful to dodge the edge of their charred blades, and bolted for the exit. In a matter of seconds, Noki was out of sight and the guards were a half a step too slow.
Baira could sense his Tera and knew he was running to the lake. If he reached the tunnel, he would be able to escape, she was sure of it. Noki had only shown her a few of the paths but she knew one of them led to an underground tunnel that ran through the Red Forest. Baira looked back to Amani and saw satisfaction on her face.
“Well,” Amani said, “ if there will be no execution, then I’ll be preparing for my leave. I wish you well in your pursuit of the villager…Noki was it?”
Jahn looked as if someone had just stolen a spirit gem from him. “That boy was not permitted to learn any Arts, and yet he knew how to shroud and encase himself in Tera…only a few hours after you visited him, Kolo Amani.”
“Oh?” Amani’s gaze met Jahn’s, “ I do hope you’re not suggesting that I abused my position as a Kolo and somehow instructed him? That’d be as preposterous as a member of a vassal family planning a coup.” Vassal families aren’t allowed to attack or harm each other directly as any weakening of their power could emboldened the enemies of Queen’s Embrace. The penalty for weakening ones own family was a fate said to be worse than death.
Jahn and Amani held each other’s gaze for an extra moment, before Jahn gave an uneasy smile. “Of course not, I wouldn’t dare think of it, Kolo Amani.”
“I didn’t think you did, you’re just in shock is all.” Amani grabbed Baira as she stood up, “ Now, it’s time for Baira and I to retire to our quarters. We have a long day ahead of us.”
“By your leave,” Jahn said before also standing, “ I must gather a hunting party for the fugitive.” As acting Chief, Jahn couldn’t leave the village, especially after an attack occurring so recently. “Please, have a safe journey to Golden Oasis.”
Amani gave him a bow and left the booth with Baira. Once they were clear of Jahn and any other guard, Amani’s face turned sour. “ That smug bastard, he knew we were going back home. He must have spies in Golden Oasis too, damn him.”
“Never mind that,” Baira said, “ we have to help Noki!”
“We can’t be seen assisting him, you know that Bairy.” Amani took off running with Baira only a step behind. “ I don’t think I have to tell you that we have to leave the village also.”
“Of course we do. If Jahn knows where we are heading, he won’t let us get there alive. I’m still worried about Noki.”
“Well, I was only able to teach him the basics but he does know Golden Oasis is east of the Embrace so he’ll probably head there. With any luck, we’ll get to him before Jahn and his people do.”
Baira hated that Noki was getting caught up in her family's affairs, and hated it more that his chances of being a Delver just went out the window; he would be marked as a fugitive and thus be ineligible of being one.
“Don’t worry too much,” Amani said as if she could read Baira’s mind, “ as long as we’re alive, we have a chance, isn't that right?” Amani turned back and smiled at her sister, “ Now quit dragging your feet, I’m getting tired of holding back for you.”
Baira grimaced but flooded her body with Tera and the two of them ran for the village entrance.