Aeu’s cellar had a presence to it, like a hidden treasure laid out in plain sight. Its open lounge layout had a spinach green, two seated couch shaped like an overgrown Lima bean and two upholstered wingback chairs with white padding framed in metallic gold. The carvings over the top formed creatures he wouldn’t want to meet in the dark. At the peak, both sides converged in triangular building with a secondary attic and its star shaped window. The strongest resonance of aura emanated from the couch, but that chair had swag.

“Can I sit?” he asked Khempal, unsure if it would offend the deceased. The aura emanating from the coach amplified at the suggestion.

She examined the options, then extended a hand. “Yeah. That’s fine, but don’t get too comfortable. There’s something better inside.” She pointed at a bookshelf at the other end.

“Is this style influenced by Earthan culture?” He asked, careful still with each step on his right leg in hopes of calming the buzz.

Jil nodded as she assessed the finessed design. “Yes, the furniture is. More gate travelers came through hundreds of years ago, so it’s an older influence.”

“Could Aeu be from Earth?”

Jil studied the claws, then snapped out of it. “Maybe. Or he likes that style and had it made this way. Though I’ve seen em hanged for less than that.”

“For some furniture?”

“Yeah. Some see the gate travelers as threats to the natural influences of our world. Some see the artistic copying as a spiritual pollution.”

“That’s harsh.”

“Not my opinion, though some in Childockia see it that way.”

Tim took a seat on the coach, resting in its padding like a dream. Tension in his neck seeped into the aura drawing enchantment with the persuasion of a legendary masseuse. It didn’t have to massage his muscles to relieve their fatigue. Everywhere he touched the couch his tension melted. The spinach-colored upholstery faded to expose ripples riding the aura living underneath. Its restorative properties sparkled and popped across the surface and bubbling deep within.

Tonda hopped up on the couch, turned in a circle and planted, resting her jaw on his hand. She purred and her eyelids eased together. Tim let his eyes close as well. Cool relief massaged his eyeballs and he never wanted to leave. Whoa.

The couch’s presence severed in a line beside him, yet he didn’t have to open his eyes to see it.

Aeu’s head parted the seam; his skull had been opened like a snack bowl and its contents scooped clean.

Tim blinked. The vision remained.

Aeu’s full aura form hovered halfway through the strange portal, as though tethered to something inside. He turned to face Tim. Less than a third of the man’s face remained intact. The rest had been stripped free in the ugliest manner possible. The top of his nose and a dangling bit around his eye flapped over to land on his cheek.

“Dude. I’m so sorry.” Tim didn’t know what else to say.

Had the spirit squire’s aura not evoked a plea for help, Tim might have jumped back at the sight. Could be the sight of ghosts was becoming a daily norm. Neither made what was left of his face any less revolting. Where Joe had his beetle friend, Aeu looked like what happens when someone’s drawn and quartered, by a twenty-foot aura amoeba. Slash marks left deep fissures bubbling in yellow slime aura all over the remnant of his torso. Stumps gnawed to the bone marked three of his four appendages. Cradled in his left arm was a rolled and wax sealed parchment stained in a spray of purple aura.

Aeu pointed across the room with his six-inch bone wing. “It’s almost to the aura generator. You must go under the river. Follow the map.”

Tim accepted the rolled paper. Aura remnant soaked through where the spirit clutched it. At its touch, Spirit Memory drew the exact path as seen through Aeu’s eyes: dark sewers haunted by premonitions spawned by the Murphy. Kept in behind the grates or in the shadows to taunt their… prisoner. The tension across Tim’s skin betrayed the Analyze spell stuck like a stab, then ripped off as Aeu splashed into mist.

“Tell Khempal I’m sorry. And S’Trace that we need his—” A vacuum sucked him into a pinprick hole under a button in the couch.

That was it.

Tim stuck his finger in the ridge and tried peeling it back open. “Who’s S’Trace?” He lifted his finger and a small dab of aura left behind.

“Hey.”

That popped him out of his seat. Even though he’d heard her voice, the timing sprang a fight or flight instinct. He had his dagger in hand before fully realizing it was just Jil.

She eyed him with justifiable confusion and concern. “What’s going on? Why’d you poke the couch?”

“Do you know,” he started. Warmth in his thumb and forefinger drew his attention to Aeu’s remnant absorbing into his skin.

A Spirit Memory played out of Aeu retrieving Hurs’ Encyclopedia: Vol. 1: Ordinary Aura Spells from his bookshelf. Inside lay a blue glass vial identified as a “hiyer potion.” The ornate vessel was the size of his pinky. A sealed top kept the glowing white liquid safely inside while it sat in a velvet cloth lined compartment cut into the interior pages. Aeu’s ghost held the vial up as though to signify it as the first step and Tim to make a mental note. He put it back inside, closed the book, and reached into the slot opened by its removal. Pressing the indented circle at the back unhooked the latch behind the bookshelf. Aeu slid the book back into its slot, stepped into the dark hallway and pulled the bookshelf closed by a rope nailed to the wood. In the pitch black, Aeu counted eighteen steps from entrance to the sound pool doorway.

Tim started for the bookshelf as the Spirit Memory showed Aeu drawing a pattern on the wall to release the spell trap to access his sound pool.

He stopped at the bookshelf, retrieved the Book of Spells and spotted the small hole in the wood where he could press the latch.

It clicked and the bookshelf sprung free, gentle and heavy as he pulled it open.

“How did you know that? And where’d you get that?” Jil pointed at his map.

“Aeu gave it to me.”

“What? He’s not dea… oh.”

“Yeah. Just like Papa P. And Joe. Travis. Except he, I think, just delivered an invitation straight from the Murph himself.”

Neither Jil nor Khempal were tracking. “You think he’s part of the Murphy now?” Khempal asked.

“In a way, or just a chew toy given enough leash to serve a second purpose.”

“To give you a map.”

“And to check me out.”

“No.” When Tim didn’t deny it, she glanced away and sighed. “No.”

Tim was curious what she had spinning in that mind of hers. “I’d still like to follow.”

A glint of excitement flashed in her eye. “Yeah?”

“They may have laid out the red carpet, but I want to play on his memories a little more before I say absolutely not. Is there a way to communicate with my ghosts by tonight?”

“We are doing this tonight?” Jil asked, starting toward the library. Inside the opening was a dark hallway. Aeu chose to close it behind him and enter in pitch black to tune his aura vision and calm his mind prior to entering the pool.

Dryfu flew in and landed on Jil’s arm.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Hello,” she said.

“Glad you could make it. Where you been?”

Dryfu heaved to catch his breath. “Hello. I’m strained from last night and this morning’s work helping Chris fertilize his new plants inside the castle. We could use more Danger Sense out there. I went to their camp sight and there were tracks I don’t think were there last night.”

“They have scouts back already?” Tim asked.

“Think so,” Dryfu heaved. “But I’m here now. Let’s take care of business while we can. What’d I miss?”

Tim caught him up on the Aeu encounter and asked him if he’d heard of S’Trace.

“S’Trace is an aura beast hunter in the line of Zahalci.” He cleared his throat. “Some say he perished following in his great great grandfather’s footsteps. That was a long time ago. Maybe he’s not dead?”

“An aura hunter sounds helpful,” Tim said as he pulled the Hurs Encyclopedia from the shelf. The secret compartment and blue vial were just as he’d seen them in Aeu’s memory. Tim put both in his pouch and reached for the button to unlock the shelf door. “I’ll ask about borrowing this if we see Aeu again.”

“What’s that?” Jil asked.

“Hiyer? I don’t know beyond the name.” His scan revealed a strong aura within. “Aurthecary of some kind. Aeu’s vision showed me how to get it before going to the sound pool. If we go full in on my plan, then yes, we raid tonight.”

Inside the dark hallway, Tim took his first step of eighteen, matching the stride of Aeu and his long legs. The squire had been trained as a Farar knight but chose the aura path to fill a need in their city. And because he loved his aura training.

“What’s on your mind? Do you know where the sound pool is?” she asked and pulled a rope to bring the bookshelf in and close behind them. Pitch black engulfed the hallway. Tim embraced the silence and the calm it gave his spirit, just like Aeu did.

“Yeah. Aeu’s memory is showing me.”

Tonda purred and stroked past his knee. A hollow ache responded to her touch as a cool touch spread into the pain.

“Wait till you get to the sound pool.”

Tim continued counting his steps. The hall had a passive hum he suspected to be aura energy. Tied to the trap, potentially. “If we took our time, the Murphy might prepare additional steps to stifle our advance. If we go now, and bring the ghosts, it will be too tempted to strike.”

“That’s gambling with black die,” Jil said. “If it catches even one wraith, it might be too much for us to withstand.”

“I know. And I’m not done planning. I just don’t see us being able to wait.”

“I agree,” Dryfu said. “The Cartel camp was waiting for help before they barged in. Word will spread that the aura ranger is here. I know Tim has a shared connection with those who died here, so if we’re going after revenge, we may have to do it before more threats arrive. Threats that want this castle as much as we do.”

“Also,” Tim said, “these tunnels are full of nasty creatures.”

“I saw,” Dryfu said and landed on Tim’s shoulder.

“If we can get all of our spirit friends up to snuff by the time we raid,” Tim said, “I’ll be curious how best to use them.”

“It’s doubtful they found a nixstone in their troubles last night,” Dryfu said. “Whatever they had before is what they’ll have to fight for us. Wraiths can feed on aura creatures the same way they can feed on them, so it’ll be a battle of dominance.”

“And wit,” Tim said. “The Murphy has time and planning on its side, so we’ll have to find what it hasn’t expected. If we can’t figure that out by tonight, I’ll settle for leaving or waiting, but I want to try for tonight as though that’s our only option.”

“I know we are on the clock for the hunt and the cartel’s reinforcements,” Jil said. “And I get not wanting to give the Murphy more time to prepare, but we may need more time too. Gregor and the Krows could show up any day now, especially after the fireworks last night.”

“The biggest gap I see is I think Aeu is a prisoner, but the Murphy wanted him to seem like a friend desperate for help.”

“How did you conclude that?” Khempal asked.

“He told me how to find it. Once he told me about S’Trace, he was sucked back in. That wasn’t part of the message. Now I’m pulling on that thread.” He stopped at the door and turned the handle in sync with Aeu’s vision. Cool breeze wisped past his face. He cast Aura Light into his palm.

It lit a circular room with a vaulted ceiling, reflecting off the green gem at its peak. Light beamed down into the pool of water and flashed electric purple across its bubbling surface.

“Welcome to Aeu’s Chamber,” Khempal said. “You must have seen a vision to gain access. If he wants you to find S’Trace, that’ll take you to him.”

“Where?” Tim and Jil asked simultaneously.

“My hunch is if S’Trace is still alive, he’s after a big one. It’ll be on another realm.”

“Oh, well, in that case,” Tim said, wide smile.

Jil took his arm. “Okay. I’m coming.”

“No,” Dryfu said, flying in front of her. “He’s not strong enough.”

“What?” Tim asked. Aghast.

Dryfu was not playing. Those alien eyes could spear a Terminator to the wall. “Don’t make me call naked Arnold on your ass. Save your strength for summoning Indi. Jil, buttercup, you’re sitting this one out.”

“Buttercup?”

“Sorry. I was on a roll. And frankly, I’m tired. Maybe a bit unenthused about being backed into an aura bubble even I’m not sure he can handle, but I’m his guide, so here we go.”

Tonda hugged against his leg, shaking. He rubbed her head. “Is it safe for her?” he asked Dryfu.

“Your familiars are able to cross through as well.”

Tim squeezed Jil’s hand. “It’s okay. Take care of yourself and our base while I”m gone, please.”

“Sure, let me go fluff your pillow and dream of your heroic return.” She squeezed back with a different kind of tone, the same he saw in her eyes. Come back.

“See you soon.”

She let go and turned away before she lost her composure.

“I will. With heroism and bells on.”

She didn’t say anything, nor did her steps halt on their echoing path back into the chill pad.

“You’ll do great,” Khempal said. “Thank you.”

Tim smiled and patted the impatient Tonda’s head. “Alright girl.”

Tonda leapt.

Khempal scrambled back.

The splash caught Tim’s breath.

Tim bolted to his feet, off balance from the waist down. Somehow he’d entered the water already. Daylight blinded him. He sent a hand to the water to stop his fall.

A hand clasped around his arm. “It’s okay,” the strong man said.

Tim saw his aura reflect that peace and caution before his eyes fully adjusted to the daylight.

“I’m S’Trace. A Krow.” The sun’s bright reflection eased to show S’trace’s Asian toned complexion and black Samurai styled hair bun. His dark gray and maroon lined robe was soaked from chest down. Wide pupils and an electric energy in his gaze signaled the rush to get to Tim had an elusive purpose.

First, Tim had other questions. “Where am I?”

“About sixty miles northwest of where your body is, safely enveloped in Aeu’s aura portal.

Tim found his hand pressed to his chest, subconsciously checking and finding his body as solid as ever, if a bit charged by the aura pulsing through the water.

Dryfu hadn’t come with, nor did Tonda or Indi.

“Okay… why? Did Aeu’s message send me here? Are my companions okay?”

“You have a mess—what? Is he alive?” S’trace tracked Tim’s gaze to his empty hands.

A white mist rose from Tim’s forearm where the map had burned a note into his bracer. “Connect the rings. Ryzllia. Help Khempal.”

“The rings,” S’Trace whispered to himself, “Ryzllia?”

Papa Ptolemy had transported to Squire’s Castle by the rings. He’d never mentioned Ryzllia. “Can you get us help? Aeu showed me a map to where it grows in the sewers and tunnels under the castle.”

S’Trace’s eyes flicked this way and that, whispering a language Tim didn’t get along with the word, “ryzllia.” Tim didn’t know what that was all about. The guy was intelligent on the peculiar side. The curved sword on his belt said he was a fighter, but this made him wonder if his brains were his biggest asset. And why Aeu sent Tim here.

Tim let him do his thing, scanning the woods enclosed village. His Fleeing ability told him the hills to his right was the way home, to his friends. A moment’s thought concluded he would never find home if he walked ten thousand years. He was not his body. This was something so sharply different, he felt like a filleted fish, wondering if he could ever go back.

His admiration of the culture in the architecture landed on a black crow’s head carved with wings folded atop the pinnacle of the main building. Dryfu? Can—

A sharp tingle shot up the back of his neck, sizzling into nerves in his scalp, urging him to stop. His connection with Dryfu was gone. “My guide. My familiars. Where are they?” Tim asked.

S’Trace snapped out of it, eyes sharp as a hawk. Or crow. “They’re fine. I just let you in.” S’Trace slapped him so fast Tim only had the deep sting to testify that he’d even moved.

“How’d you—”

“Practice.” He waved a hand and spun so smoothly in the water it didn’t slosh out with any noticeable waves. S’Trace stride forward. “Practice. We will make the most out of your aura tuning. I suspected Aeu would have come himself, but if you’re the one, you’re gonna need a lot of work. Wise choice to gear up with gotr blades. Khempal get those for you?”

Tim’s sloshing strides were amplified by the stunning grace and silence in S’Trace’s. “The short sword was. The dagger was a starter item when I crossed through from Earth.”

“Who was your gatekeeper?”

Tim thought back to the wanderer with the rabbit foot staff, waiting for the name to return to mind. “Sylve.”

“Interesting.” S’Trace paused. A stronger sense of appreciation resonated below the surface of his blank expression.

He dismissed the thought and took a smooth dirt path lined with white rocks as big as coconuts. Flowers grew up along both sides, with firm green stalks and pointed purple stems forming perfect circles at the tops.

“Yeah? How so? I’m new here.”

“I know. You still sound like an Earthan. Need to work on your accent before your trip.” S’Trace emphasized the sharpness in his Asian sounding voice.

“Trip?”

S’Trace turned and swung a stick Tim hadn’t seen. The feathered tip blew an aura infused medicine into his lips. Its frosty tendrils twisted into his tongue like a bitter potion. It spread across the roof of his mouth and tingled into his cheeks.

“There. That will help. Not to sound like me, just less like Earthan.” S’Trace waved his hand and again led the way. “Talk. Practice,” he said, talking to Tim as if he were eight years old.

“Why did you say it was interesting that Sylve was my gatekeeper?”

“He’s taking a gamble giving you that prize. Must have seen more than I do.”

What was this guy’s deal?

S’Trace casually chose the path leading into the woods. They passed a tree trunk carved into a one-eyed toad staring the forest down like it owed him flies.

“Where’re we going?” Tim felt the muscles in his face straining to push the words out differently. If it would help him survive, he’d accept a bit of tightness in his mouth. “Does this go away?”

“We’re going to train. Get your sword ready.”

The patience in his gait made it seem… “I uh, I need to get ba—” the mere mention stung his tongue with instant regret.

“You need to keep along the path I’ve set before you.”

Tim gazed back at the pool and the perfect sheen across the water, as though it hadn’t been disturbed in a generation. What was this place?