Liv had seen it. During the attack, when she was in the glider, she’d watched Meno break away from the other soldiers, positioning himself on the opposite side, close to where the Kryptea stood. She saw him fight against the soldiers, but one moment haunted her: a burst of laser fire should have hit Meno square in the chest. He hadn’t reacted in time, hadn’t moved fast enough, yet the beam didn’t strike him. Instead, it glanced off, bending just above his shoulder. His expression said it all—he’d expected it to hit, too. That moment replayed over and over in her mind, the light bending away from its target. Meno had deflected energy.
“So?” Liv said to Angie, who was examining her with a calm, steady gaze. Paba was watching them both intently in the temple’s atrium, where leaving the walls was now prohibited. “Could he be a Sha-En?” Liv whispered, noting the Kryptea standing in the garden’s corner, leaning against the stone wall with his eyes closed. Though his head was bowed, he made the guards uneasy; they shifted uncomfortably, keeping him in sight. Realizing she’d mentioned the Sha-En—a name that could provoke hostility from his people—Liv leaned in closer to Angie and Paba. “Could he?”
Angie’s eyes shifted to the guards surrounding the room, all helmeted and in full exo-suits after her father's orders. Paba was also looking at Angie with a questioning look, needing an answer from the only person who had been around Sha-En before. She admitted to Liv earlier that she didn't know enough about the Sha-En and that they should speak to Angie about it.
Meno had asked them not to come through in the morning, but rather meet them somewhere with his comms, which Paba noted that he was still terrible at using, stating that he just, ‘didn't like it’. They had taken his word though and had met up in the morning in the apartments, but with the stuffy and stifled atmosphere in the temple, longed for some fresh air.
“Honestly, I dont know,” she said with her usual analytical stare even when answering questions, “Why are you so sure that he is Sha-En?” she carefully added,
“Because they are the only ones that could do something like that, right? They could manipulate energy itself, not just use it as a source of power for tech or abilities. I can never see any threads on him, it’s like he has no power at all, and you said it yourself; He should never be able to fight someone toe-to-toe who has tech, and we saw him win against those soldiers. You have to admit, it fits” she said in hurried, hushed tones. Angie looked at her and Paba,
“Are you putting this in her head?” she said to Paba, but Liv could see that Angie was also thinking it through herself. Paba lifted her hands in the air,
“I dont know anything about this stuff, but you have to admit Angie, he is…different”
“To be honest my Lady, Primer abilities can manifest in a number of ways, you could be a Sha-En with your abilities to see energy, but it doesn't necessarily make him one. I’ll admit” she said ignoring Paba and taking in a breath, “His physical abilities for someone who doesn't have tech are on another level, but he was also trained by a man who was fascinated with the Kryptea, you might not be able to see his energy because he is similar to…”
“That’s not it,” said Liv frustratedly, looking up to the Kryptea who had closed his eyes once more into that near meditative state that he seemed to be acting he was in. She saw his threads, and yes, they were closer to his body than a primer, wrapping tightly around his skin, dark purple, near-black threads that moved slowly around him in his calm state. His control was worse than the other Kryptea, his was more visible, stretching out further from his skin than the others, but he was the most junior she knew. “I can see Kryptea energy, with Meno, the most I have ever seen is like the glimmer or shimmering that you can see above a fire, no threads, no tangible structure,” she said rubbing her fingers together trying to find a way to explain it.
She knew from her lessons with Harold that the Sha-En could manipulate energy itself, shifting it into any form they required as needed. This made them dangerous in the eyes of the Houses, that they could use energy to create whatever they needed. It differed from the usual manipulation that pushed energy into a signature to get a desired result. The signature, whether that be from a person's primer ability or tech, determined the result which was set. The Kryptea were unique in the way that they operated, pushing all of their energy into their bodies, strengthening every cell, making their skin tougher, and their muscles stronger. They appeared differently, but she had also only ever heard of Sha-En abilities, and never seen them. If Meno was a Sha-En, he would be deemed a threat by the Houses. He would be hunted and locked away, or worse.
“So there is something?” said Paba searching for an understanding. Liv shifted uncomfortably knowing that she was not conveying what she had seen with the precision required,
“It’s different”
“Does it matter that much, we know Meno. You aren’t worried about, you know, him being dangerous or anything are you?” said Paba with a worried glance at Angie,
“It matters because the Sha-En are practically hunted down” said Liv in even more hushed tones, “They are criminals and considered dangerous by the Houses, it was terrible what happened to their House, but most people now look back at that as something that prevented a worse situation, even if they don’t say it,” Angie scoffed, but Liv knew that this wasn't because she didn't believe her, but because that was a foolish belief to hold.
“The Eshara and the stories of the Jinn have given them a bad name. The Sha-En weren’t criminals, and the ones that are left are probably just trying to survive” Liv knew that both the Sha-En and the Eshara had been painted with the same brush as both of them had been part of the Masma empire under the god emperor Bel, but where people knew about the Eshara being criminals, the mystery surrounding the Sha-En’s strange use of energy and the fact that they had no formal planet, empire, leader, made people nervous about them. The Jinn was different, if even real. Liv knew that the stories made the Jinn out to be a spectre that brought death and destruction.
“I just don’t want him to be in danger,” she said with a great sigh. Angie smiled at her,
“We will protect him, Livvy” said Paba with a wink, which made Liv chortle,
“He tends to run into anything dangerous as fast as he possibly can,”
“Yeah, he’s an idiot, but he’s our idiot,” she said gripping Liv’s hand, and even Angie seemed to find this a warming gesture.
“Who’s an idiot?” said Meno walking into the room with a guard close behind, guilt flushing her cheeks as she took in the sight of him, his arm in a sling
“You are!” said Paba also bouncing up in jubilation, giving him a big hug, “Angie’s been so worried,” she added with a sniff.
“Paba, he’s injured,” Angie chided.,
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“No really, I’m fine,” he said lifting his arm in the sling while holding Paba with his other arm, “I don’t know how, but feels like new”
“We made sure that you had the best medical tech, and doctors, and my parents made sure that you were a priority when everyone came in. They should have given you medication, and patches to make sure that…”
“Thank you, Liv,” Meno said calmly as she threw all of the words over to him, “I promise you that I am fine,” he said with a broad smile and an understanding look. She felt terrible that he had nearly died trying to protect her. She watched as he shared a look and a nod with Angie, which made Liv smile, it was more than she would have expected. They shared an odd relationship in Liv’s eyes, but they seemed to have a closeness that didn't require words. There was trust between them.
There was a collective sigh of relief having him there, and some more brightness, as he laughed and joked about everything that had happened, somehow putting them at ease. Paba called him an idiot a few more times, and even Angie now had a small smile plastered to her face.
“Honestly, it was crazy, I don’t think that I knew what was happening the whole time” he said
“I could tell,” said Paba, sassily, as though she retained full composure during the entire attack. Liv could still hear the squeals and whimpering from Paba while in the glider. Liv felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest, but occasionally they all noticed Meno glancing over at the Kryptea.
Liv was eventually pulled aside by Efreet, telling her that her parents needed her,
“Making that helmet look good Efreet,” said Paba flirtatiously with a suggestive wink,
“Thanks,” said Efreet confidently, which surprised Liv. Efreet had been so uncomfortable with Paba’s overly forward comments towards him. It seemed that Paba noticed this too, as she furrowed her brow slightly, and then looked a bit sad, like she had realised that her fun was now over. Liv smiled, she realised now that this was more a game for her than genuine interest. She recalled Paba telling her about her ex, Hal when they were at the river cafe. It was probably Paba’s way of keeping distance from people while still engaging with them. It was difficult to know what Paba was actually thinking.
She said her goodbyes to them and saw the Kryptea move away from the wall and make his way over. He had now been added permanently to Liv’s private guard with Efreet, who had taken it well, perhaps a sense of confidence after seeing his competency during the attack. She noticed the other guards in the room now protecting Meno, Angie and Paba shifted uncomfortably as he walked across the atrium. Meno stood up, stood before the Kryptea and looked at the much taller soldier wearing only the beige cloth robes, he stopped at Meno and looked at him questioningly,
“I wanted to say thank you” said the smaller man looking up at him, “And I wanted to ask if it was possible…”
“Meno,” Liv said, suddenly feeling that she had been so stupid to speak about Meno in front of this soldier. He smiled and waved her off,
“Can you train me?” he said after taking a breath and seemingly deciding to blurt it out. The Kryptea looked at him strangely, as though completely taken aback. The red-tanned soldier looked at Olivia, and before she could say anything Meno was facing her with a pleading look,
“Please” It was the look in his eye that made her consider it. The Kryptea was looking at Meno again with curiosity. She could see that Meno was asking genuinely, but she couldn't understand why he would want to do something this…ridiculous, even for him. Angie was still and Paba looked in absolute disbelief now holding onto the pendant that she seemed to hold whenever she was uncomfortable. Liv blinked for a few moments looking at Meno and then looked at the Kryptea knowing that if she ordered it, he would need to do it.
“I will need to be present at all training,” she said and for the strangest second the Kryptea looked as though he softened for a moment, Meno swung to face her and thanked her. She didn't know if it was from the guilt that she felt from him risking his own life for hers, or if it was just his ability to be so, Meno, that she allowed it, but she felt glad when she saw his face fill with joy. He turned to the Kryptea and held his hand out to him,
“I’m Meno,” he said, and Liv remembered that this was the second time that he had tried to introduce himself to the soldier, who looked at his hand and then held out his own,
“I am 6,” he said in a low-toned voice, and Meno smiled wide. Liv saw that both Angie and Paba stood with their mouths open at the interaction. Even Paba who had just moments ago been scowling that Meno would even ask this, now seemed to stand in shock that the Kryptea was acting so…human?
“My Lady,” said Efreet from behind her, and she waved to the group with the Kryptea following her. Efreet held his arm out at the entrance and allowed her to pass through.
“Thank you, Efreet”
“You are most welcome”
Meno watched as Liv left with Efreet and the Kryptea as they left the Atrium. There were only two guards left in the atrium and Meno decided that their apartments would be a better place to have this conversation. He beckoned them to follow him and they did it without hesitation as he led the way,
“What are you thinking?” said Paba in a hushed tone following him, “A Kryptea? I know that you’re an idiot, and I accept that Meno, but a Kryptea?”
“I’ve never heard one speak,” said Angie with a smile of disbelief walking behind them.
“I’ll explain everything, but in the rooms,” he said, not wanting to offer anything else with the guards around, especially with what he needed to discuss with them. They quickly made their way into the apartments and thanked the guards as they waited outside, with Paba occasionally bursting out with a scoff and ‘A Kryptea?’
“What is it?” said Angie with concern as Meno turned after closing the door.
“I had a visitor last night,” he said, trying to prepare himself for what he was about to say. They both looked at him strangely, “Worrec showed up as you left last night,” he said waiting to see their expressions and he could have anticipated exactly what they had done. Paba threw her hands into the air and spun around, Angie turned her head to the side and looked at him in utter confusion,
“A Krypytea, and Worrec. Meno, you're killing me”
“Worrec, as in from Gol, Worrec?” said Angie watching Meno very carefully.
“Yes,” he said holding his one hand up but also lifting the arm in the sling, as it felt completely fine now, “I know, I know, it’s all very strange, he kind of explained it, but not quite prop…”
“He gave you a whole lot of bullshit and acted like it was a perfectly reasonable explanation,” said Paba nodding,
“Ah, yeah”
“You said that he wasn’t wearing a suit on Gol, did he bring the disease here?” said Angie,
“No, he said that that isn't a problem”
“I thought you said he was dead?” she said, and Meno could see that she was trying to recall everything that he and Paba had told her about him,
“I…also asked that, and he said that he’s more complicated than that, but honestly that just seemed like Worrec speak for ‘I'm never going to explain that’, and he reminded me that he actually never said he was going to die. He said that this is a different version of the one that was on Gol”
“Honestly, he’s the fucking worst,” said Paba with a deep sigh, “What do you mean different version?” Angie blinked at Meno trying to understand what he was saying.
“It wasn't a hallucination” he said to Angie thinking that she may wonder, she shook her head and held up her hand expressing that she wasn't thinking that. “I don’t really know what’s happening, and he didn't really explain it, and his tattoos were different” Meno said shaking his head, his head still plagued by questions around him,
“What did he want?” said Angie flatly but with full focus, Meno took a moment before answering, looking between the two, now wondering if they would even believe him,
“He said that Yeley is going to fall and that the reason that he sent us was to get Liv out” There was a strange silence that fell in the room, it wasn't an acceptance of what they had just heard, but almost as though they somehow already knew this, like they had some understanding that this was, of course, the reason that they were here. It was like they were now remembering something that they had been asked to do previously, and it had just slipped their minds.
“He’s such an asshole,” said Paba wiping her hand over her eyes. Meno just kept looking at the two of them, Angie seemed to be deep in thought, “Let me guess, he didn't give you a plan, just said, do this ridiculously dangerous thing, it will be fine, I promise” she said in a mocking deep voice.
“Angie?” Meno said carefully as she wasn't moving just thinking,
“What does he look like?” she said raising her head,
“Ah, tall, blonde-ish, well built, the first time I saw him he had tattoos on the left side of his neck and chest, this time he had the tattoos on the right-hand side,” Meno said, and then Angie immediately looked at Paba as though she should answer now, Paba was slightly taken aback but answered,
“Ah, yeah, pretty tall, blonde hair, wore it long, but I didn't see any tattoos on his neck when I first met him, didn't look the second time” she said looking at Angie questioningly, “Do you know him?”
“No,” said Angie distractedly after a moment, “Um, I’ve heard of primers that can split themselves, be in two places at once, he could do something like that I suppose, maybe create mirror images of himself or…” she fell back into thought, “What does he want us to do?”
“Angie?” Paba said questioningly,
“Stay close to Liv, he says that there are others here to get Liv out, but he doesn't know where they are, we…”
“Typical” interjected Paba,
“Yeah, kind of” agreed Meno, “He told me that he doesn't know how it’s going to happen and that the Traes aren't going to leave, so we need to protect Liv. I think he meant during the Sun’s Rising Festival. He didn't say it, but he made it sound like it’s all going to happen then and to be honest, that’s what everyone is thinking right? He said that we needed to be ready, that’s why I asked the Kryptea to help train me, so we could be better prepared. If I could learn anything from him, it would…you know” Again the room fell into silence, and Meno felt strange guilt come over him, as though he had dragged these two in with him, that it was because of him, they were being asked to risk their lives, to be thrown into a difficult situation with everything on the line for the sake of someone that they had just met in Liv.
“Well, we should have expected it actually” said Paba looking at the two of them, with a level of acceptance that Meno had not expected. Angie nodded and looked at Meno,
“We have the Prelude Gala tomorrow, yeah that’s the dinner” she clarified for Meno as he looked at her with a stunned look. “I guess we should be on full alert from now on,” she said to Meno’s surprise, and Paba sat next to Angie, looking up at him,
“So, what’s the plan?”