The next morning I awoke to people yelling. I wipe my sleepies and get out of bed.

The harsh flap of a banner was outside my window. I hear some women crying, as I push aside the curtains. I climb onto my old wooden chest and take a look outside on the street.

Couples are murmuring to each other with private words only they knew. Several wives had run up to their husbands. They had taken the bandannas from their hair and wrapped them over their lover's mouth, forbidding them to say what their eyes were screaming. Small whiffs of natural perfume drift over to me from the bandannas across the street. Every woman's bandanna was perfumed, hoping the scents would remind their lover that they were still home waiting, when the war was over. Their true love was heading off to fight. The bandanna was a keepsake between a woman and her man.

“Sadness....I manipulate that energy.” I grip my arm.

I continue to watch as those ready for war, give a final hug and hope before they leave.

A hope that said, this is not the last, as women's arm-sleeves rest tightly around rugged armor.

A hope that said, I will return, as rough faces of men, bury themselves into necks and shoulders.

That poisoned tip of hope that taunts constantly, only to leave many sick without a cure. War wasn't something I liked. I felt guilty for playing my part. I close my window curtains. I stumble clumsily and fall down.

“Oof”

Minutes later I get dressed. I suck in my body to fit easily beneath my corset. The chaffing would stop like they said. I could still feel it rubbing through the body sheet underneath. I put everything on and slide on my boots. The metal latches jingle.

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Without warning, three connected metal rings dance against my thigh, no longer hiding. The string they hung on was attached to my waist. It was part of my Lam Lathi messenger gear.

“Tempest chains….”

If there was one reason Lam Lathi had risen to power, it was because of the tempests. Having a possessor being made this possible. One could force it from their body and use it to possess someone else. It didn't bother me. The invisible beings were my protectors. Three circles composed my metal tempest chain and that meant I had three tempests watching me. The more influential I was, the more I would receive.

I strap on my tribal belt around my corset. It was made with sections I created and gems I would add as I went through life. I even had a special stone for Tejani now. I just had to go to the tailor and get it added on.

“Mmmm”

I had no tribal strength. The tribe I was taken from was a “no-name” tribe. It was called Enani and there weren't many of us. I wish I had a better tribe to name on my belt. I was always envious of the native Lam Lathi girls during training, No one wanted to be friends with the weak. Those days seemed long gone already.

After stretching my back, I hop around my room to the door. Downstairs was the kitchen and Tejnai's wife was sure to be making something for breakfast for us. The smell was greasy and tasty and had drifted upstairs. Tejani didn't eat with us often. He went to work and that left me to talk with his wife as we ate our food pieces.

Sometimes we would talk about my possessor being. Just like the tempests could possess someone and control them, everyone Ryoken person could force their possessor to leave their body and do the same. It took a lot of effort and training and I could barely do it. Sometimes I could do it for a few seconds and enter someone else. It was enough to transfer my memories or force someone to reveal theirs to me. I could even capture a moment in time. Even so, I couldn't control it for very long. My possessor being would merge back into my soul like my nylons being stretched and snapped back on my leg. Lam Lathi tempest's were masters and could do it for days and even weeks with ease. The problem was returning to feed their physical body.

“I want to try before breakfast. Come see.”

I concentrate. I pause and stare. My body becomes tense and I close my eyes. My eyes fill with heavy silver liquid – like tears. I feel my possessor leave my body. With it, was a memory I wish everyone knew....