By Aidory Gregan
Mr. Sage’s voice reverberated through the woods, bouncing off the trees as if they were sentries spreading a signal out from its source. He always explained that he was just that good at projecting, but there was no way it was just that.
If you asked me, he was totally using his Sage Powers.
But what he didn’t consider was that I could use his very tactic to keep my distance from him. As long as I could determine his location by using his voice, I could avoid his detection indefinitely—
“Ah, there you are. I was w-w-w-wondering where you had r-run off to.”
Impossibly, the next withering tree I passed had a man-shaped shadow extending from its own.
I froze mid-step. “Hi, Mr. Sage. Didja need something?”
“Di-di-did I need something, you say? What a ch-cheeky little girl you are, feigning ignorance as the sun sets.”
Uh oh.
“Nnnn… No! I don’t wanna! You can’t make meee!” I unfroze myself and darted behind the nearest tree.
“Now where are you ru-ru-running off too? Have you . . . . . . still not learned from all those games of hide-and-seek?”
I poked my head out just long enough to respond.
“Bleeeeeeeh!”
“Sometimes I’m b-baffled by your intelligence, and other times, you stick out your tongue like any other twelve-year-old. F-F-Full of surprises, as always.”
I huffed and crossed my arms.
Mr. Sage rested a gentle hand on my head. For some reason, that stupid hand made it impossible to stay upset.
I bet that was his Sage Powers, too.
Mr. Sage smiled. “That’s more like it. Now, let’s be off to be-be-bed, shall we? I’ll even let you . . . . choose which story to read, if you’d like.”
…Wait, he’ll let me choose any story?
“Really?! Yay! I get to choose any story in the whole world!”
I jumped around as my mind raced with all the possibilities.
Mr. Sage laughed softly. “Well, any story I can pro-pro-pro-provide, at least. But since you’ve been such a good girl today, I have a very s-special story I . . . . think you’re old enough to hear. How does that sound?”
A special story? Could this evening get any better?!
I tugged on his sleeve. “A special story…? Do you mean the one where that guy has to stop the world from ending, all while chasing his girlfriend around the country? Or the one where that guy sneaks into bad people’s dreams and beats them up with his friends?!”
Mr. Sage shook his head. “This one is . . much, much longer. It’ll take . . . . . . more than one n-n-night to even get close to finishing. . . . . But it’s very much w-worth it.”
“More than one night?! This one must’ve been forever ago! I bet it started in the Elven Invasion!”
“Even earlier.”
“Even earlier? It is about the First Seraph War?!”
“...Maybe not that early.”
“Then when, when, when?!” I pulled his arm this way and that, and it limply complied with my every whim.
“Hmm… Do you r-r-remember when I told you about the S-S-S-Spire of D-D-Destruction’s awakening? How about I tell you the . . story of the hero who defeated it?”
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes! I want that story, I want that story!”
“Ahaha… And other times still, you . . . . jump around like you . . just turned seven.”
While Mr. Sage was standing there and muttering to himself, I was already on my way. I spun around and waved at him.
“Come on, come on, let’s hurry! I wanna hear everything that happens!”
Mr. Sage shook his head as he practically tiptoed in my direction.
“Now, now. Don’t get too excited or you’ll n-n-never get to sleep. And how do you know it’s am-m-m-m-azing, huh? You don’t even kn-know what it’s about yet.”
“Of course it’s super amazing. You look totally excited, so of course it’s gonna be great! Now let’s go already!”
“...Aha. I look that excited, do I? I s-s-suppose I am . . rather eager to open this box of nostalgia. It . . . . really has been a minute, hasn’t it…?”
“You coming or what?! I’m gonna drag you if you don’t move this instant!”
“Yes. Yes, my girl, I am coming. Now, how f-far back shall I . . begin this tale, I wonder…?”
| Author Notes | Hi there! Thank you so much for reading my novel, and welcome to the first arc of Moonlit Dawn: the Ground Zero Arc. After living in a small village for sixteen years, Jacob Zandi is finally about to set off on a journey across the land of Oshira. Be warned: this is not a story that can be told in a book or two; it covers the entire next chapter of humanity's history following the end of life on Earth. So pull up a chair, throw that popcorn in the microwave, and enjoy! |
By Aidory Gregan
Biology Notes 1/3/21 Jacob Zandi
Chorans
— more species discovered every day (over 800 already!)
— can harness power of various elements
~ 5 so far
~ specific to species, not individuals
— magic? dhyana? connection to elves?? (probably)
— metamorphosis when stressed/in danger
~ also magic??
~ some revert, some don’t
~ instinct or intelligence?
— intellect related to abilities? (seems not)
— abilities maybe connected to dense shakti in Chorus’ atmosphere
As Jacob cautiously raised his head over the barricade of hay bales, his frantic mind raced through everything that was at stake. He knew that if that hadn’t done the trick, then Dylan would never forgive him for the two-minute rest of their lives. But if that makeshift plan actually worked, then this could be the turning point. It would be a scientific breakthrough, and the biological and behavioral implications of such a discovery would change field research forever.
Jacob didn’t know what any of that meant, but Dylan had muttered them under his breath after chewing Jacob out. As terrible as this situation was, the potential implications seemed much too exciting for Dylan to be able to stop his imagination from outrunning his exasperation.
That being said, this was still Jacob’s fault. And it was Jacob’s own harebrained solution that the terrified fifteen-year-old was now banking on.
There really wasn’t any point in just peeking over the hay bale barricade; if he was even remotely visible, it would dive without hesitation and obliterate their last line of defense. Despite that, it gave Jacob the slightest sense of comfort knowing that most of him was not directly exposed to the creature.
And frankly, that little dosage of placebo was the only thing keeping him from a full-on panic attack.
He scanned the grassy area around them, desperately hoping to find nothing out of the ordinary. Their predator may have had the strength to obliterate hay bales with a single dive, but it was light enough to vanish without a sound. That was why visual confirmation was necessary; simply listening for the sound of its retreat would keep them there all day.
“I don’t see it…” Jacob whispered, giving their surroundings a second scan.
“If you’re screwing with me, I will get Serena to end you,” Dylan threatened.
“Why in the world would I lie about that?! If I’m wrong, we’re both gonna need caskets!” Jacob quietly shouted back.
“Alright then. Stand up.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“What’re you so worried about? The coast is clear, isn’t it?”
Jacob pursed his lips. He refused to admit that his knees were still holding him hostage, refusing to straighten no matter what.
“Look, how about we stand at the same time? You can peek your head up just like me and see for yourself… If you’re that worried, that is.”
Dylan glared at him. He slowly rose over the hay bale, muttering under his breath. It was most likely a string of curses should he not have a chance once he was exposed.
“Huh.”
“See? Nothing out there. Toldja it’d work.”
“No, you were telling yourself that it would work, since that ‘solution’ had no scientific basis whatsoever.”
“Well, whatever! The important thing is that it worked and we can go home now.”
The relief that was coursing through Jacob finally convinced his knees to relax. As he stood triumphantly, however, he noticed that Dylan’s face had gone pale.
Before Jacob could ask his friend what had gotten into him, Dylan grabbed Jacob by the shirt and violently jerked him to the side. Despite pulling with all of his might, Dylan was only barely able to throw Jacob off balance. Nonetheless, as Jacob fell away from the hay bale, his vision exploded into yellow and brown. Those colors organized themselves into countless strands.
Jacob reflexively threw his arms over his face, spitting out the hay that infiltrated his mouth. His face scrunched up as a pungent, earthy odor filled the air.
Wait, where is Dylan…?
Unlike Jacob, Dylan wasn’t built for endurance, and he had put all of his strength into trying to move Jacob out of harm’s way. That also meant he didn’t have a chance to protect himself from the explosion!
Jacob’s priorities cleared in an instant, and every thought but one fell away: He had to make sure Dylan was safe.
He moved his arms away from his face and used them to push off of the ground, throwing himself blindly in the direction Dylan was most likely to be. Sure enough, he felt his friend’s ever-present windbreaker and the warmth of its owner underneath. Jacob wrapped his arms around his friend and began to roll away from the chaos. He heard a high-pitched crowing from what was once a proud hay bale, and imagined the infuriated creature trying to locate its prey through the dust cloud it had recklessly kicked up.
Jacob tried to block out the horrifying thought of being exposed to this creature once again, and continued to put all of his strength into getting him and Dylan as far from the threat as possible.
Then, the crowing stopped.
Before Jacob had a chance to question the sudden development, he felt something slash his arm. He released Dylan and rolled to a stop, bringing his hand to the wound. He winced as he ran his fingers along it, but it didn’t seem to be bleeding much.
Jacob looked in the direction he had been rolling. Sure enough, the avian menace had once again leapt into the sky, preparing for another dive. In the position he was in, there was no way he’d be able to dodge the attack in time.
The creature dove at a blinding speed, sinking its beak into its prey’s flesh. But it wasn’t the head it had struck, or even the torso.
Biting back tears as his arm erupted with pain, Jacob curled his free hand into a fist and swung it at the creature with all of his strength. His hammer strike landed cleanly, and he felt the feathery body of his assailant depress before being knocked away like a volleyball. The pain in his arm spiked as the creature’s beak was torn out, and his vision began to blur. But there wasn’t time to cry. Not yet.
As proud as he was of his strength, Jacob knew that his foe was far more durable than that. And from the position he was in, he was barely even able to put in enough force to knock it away.
Sure enough, it was already recovering, though its talons slipped a bit as they bore the weight of the creature. There was a fiery look in its eyes; it was impossible for Jacob to tell if that was excitement or fury.
From the way it leapt at him with talons spread wide, Jacob concluded that the answer was, in fact, both.
— — —
You’re an idiot, and you’ve got brains you can’t do anything with! How do either of you expect to survive outside Icesprout?!”
Somehow, being lectured by a peer who was a full two inches shorter than Jacob only made it more shameful. Then again, to anyone who knew Serena Bergson, that height difference meant nothing.
Dylan shrugged. “Look, I was only in that situation because of this moron’s antics. How is it my fault that I couldn’t get out of somebody else’s—”
“No excuses, Dylan! Especially not bad ones!”
“...nngh.”
“You wanna be a field researcher, don’t you?”
“...nnnngh.”
“Are you telling me you’ll be the type of Fielder who sees someone in danger and just looks the other way?”
“...nnnnnnghhh.”
“Didn’t think so. And what about you? Got anything to say for yourself, Jacob?”
“...”
“... Well?”
“... I’m just gonna be straight here. I was buying time for someone to notice the commotion. On that note, thank you for noticing the commotion.”
Serena covered her face with her palm.
“And what, exactly, would you have done if you were waiting in vain?”
“Well, whoever came across my body… would know I didn’t go down without a fight,” Jacob concluded with a cool grin.
A strange sound escaped Serena’s throat, and she spun around quickly. Jacob looked over at Dylan, who was trying his hardest to keep a straight face.
Jacob sighed.
I thought it was a cool line, anyways…
Still facing away from the boys, Serena cleared her throat.
“A-ny-ways, it’s a good thing I showed up when I did, huh? Y’all better be grateful.”
“Grateful…? I mean, sure, I’m grateful for the good luck of someone being nearby, but it’s not like you did anything particulaaaauggh!” Dylan crumpled to the ground, clutching his calf.
Serena huffed as she lowered her foot to the ground. “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. Mind speaking up?”
Dylan shook his head slowly, his cry of pain melting into a poorly concealed whine.
“Ah, there you all are! I’ve been looking everywhere ever since Serena bolted off all of a sudden,” a voice called out.
The trio’s faces brightened immediately at the familiar voice, and Dylan even tried standing up before collapsing once more.
Jacob ran past Serena and up to the middle-aged man in a lab coat.
“Doc! Oh man, am I glad to see you! For a second there, I thought we were gonners!”
Dr. Spruce gave a warm, tired smile. “Yes, that must have been quite the experience. It’s a good thing Serena showed up when she did, don’t you agree?”
“Yeah, seriously! Dylan wasn’t going to be any help, that’s for sure.”
“Excuse me? Who’s the reason you didn’t take that thing’s dive head on to begin with?”
“Excuse me? Who’s the one who’s still on the ground after getting kicked by a fourteen-year-old girl?”
“Excu—” Dylan began, but went quiet as he saw Serena calmly walk over to Jacob.
Jacob, who stared at her like a deer in headlights, didn’t see Dr. Spruce back away slowly.
The last thing Jacob remembered was Serena’s forgiving smile.
— — —
Dr. Spruce buried his chin in his hand, leaning into his desk. His eyes were gazing far beyond the confines of his laboratory, tapping into the interconnected world of human knowledge as he tried to make sense of Jacob’s story.
Jacob eyed him expectantly. Even if his plan had ended in abject failure, surely Dr. Spruce of all people could wring some new knowledge out of the incident.
“Hm… And you’re sure it was bluestone?”
“Absolutely. I may not spend every moment in a textbook like you-know-who, but I know my berries.”
“I know you do. But still…”
“I know it sounds weird, and I can’t really say why I even tried it, but… I dunno…”
Dr. Spruce chuckled. “No, no. Don’t misunderstand; I’m not harping on you for doing something thoughtless. Most scientific advancements are born from the seemingly insane. But still, why did bluestone…?”
He sighed, standing up with a grunt.
“Well, sitting here and running in circles won’t solve anything. There are a few things I’d like to look into, so why don’t you head on home? You’ve got a big day tomorrow, don’t you? It’d be a shame if you had to limp your way through it,” he finished with a small grin.
Jacob laughed, glancing down at his calf.
“I still don’t get how someone that skinny can kick that hard,” Jacob said.
This time it was Dr. Spruce’s turn to laugh.
“Don’t confuse power with strength, my boy. What some lack in muscle, they make up for with technique. That, and a bit of anatomical knowledge, of course.”
“You’ve got that right, Doc,” Jacob laughed.
“How’s your arm?”
“Oh yeah, that.” Jacob looked at the bandage that protected his freshly-stitched forearm. “Still stings like a mother. Pain pills are a godsend, but the doc said it wasn’t too deep. Good thing I’m right-handed, huh?”
“Aha. I’ll say. Well, I’m glad to hear you’re doing alright. That was very dangerous, even if it was better than the alternative. A plamakly’s aggressiveness more than makes up for its stature.”
“Yeah… I gotta say, though, I kinda like ’em for that. They know they aren’t the biggest bads around, but they’ve got the spirit to wrestle with the best of ’em! How can you not find that badass?”
Dr. Spruce smiled. “It certainly reminds me of someone. Someone who would do well to spend the day resting up so he can enjoy himself to the fullest tomorrow.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Fine, I’ll lie in my bed and waste my day away. I’ll see you later, Doc!”
Jacob darted out of the lab. Now that Dr. Spruce was alone, he didn’t bother fighting the bittersweet agony that welled up.
Jacob’s all grown up now, isn’t he? And not a moment too soon.
By Aidory Gregan
History Notes 21/8/20 Jacob Zandi
Russia
— leading nation in interstellar exploration
— UNIF main location
~ no wonder they had so much sway in the end
— Russian language
~ used to be commonplace
~ characters of city names & such
~ chorans’ names also Russian based??
Jacob decided to exhaust the energy he knew he’d end up wrestling with for the rest of the day by sprint-hobbling to his house. It was surprisingly fun, trying to optimize speed while keeping as much weight off of his left leg as possible. By the time Jacob made it home, he was proudly out of breath.
His mother was far less proud.
“Owowow, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! It’s not like a little hobble-run will kill me!”
“Ugh! You know that you should be taking it easy! And don’t call it a ‘hobble-run’; it sounds even worse! Now you go to your room and rest, and if I see you so much as approach the front door, I will ground you for the next decade!”
Clutching his ear, Jacob retreated to his room. As soon as he closed the door, he pounced on his bed and buried his face in his fluffiest pillow.
“Mmnaaarghhh! It’s not like I broke my leg or anything! There’s a line between worrying about your kid and yelling at them for getting a scratch! I mean, this is a little more than a scratch, but… That’s not the point!”
The phoenix plushie lying next to him didn’t respond, but Jacob could tell from the look in its eyes that it agreed with him.
“You’d think by now she’d be desensitized to me coming home with cuts and bruises, but nooo. She acts like I’ve never gotten hurt before!”
The phoenix plushie vigorously agreed silently.
“I bet if Dad were around, he’d be on my side…”
The phoenix plushie looked a little sad.
“... I mean, he would, right…?”
Jacob rolled over onto his back. There were plastic stars plastered all over the ceiling that glowed when it got dark. For now, though, they were just yellowish-white decagons.
Well, that’s what Dylan liked to call them, but Jacob still didn’t get what exactly a “decagon” was.
“Hey, Flamix.”
The phoenix plushie listened quietly.
“Do you think I’ll make a good Fielder?”
He could feel its comforting nod.
“I sure hope so. Even if I’m not all that smart, I’m real good at picking out the right berries. Like those bluestones. And I’m quick on my feet, too. Stronger than Dylan or Serena, though that’s not saying much. It’s okay if I’m not so good at the rest, then, right?”
The phoenix plushie was silent.
Jacob sighed.
“Yeah, I guess you can’t say, either, huh? Not like you’ve ever been out in the field.”
He continued to stare at the yellowish-white plastic decagons.
At some point, he drifted off to sleep. When he woke up, there was a hot bowl of soup and a plate of salad on his desk, and the stars were glowing.
— — —
Jacob woke up well before his alarm the next morning. He grinned when he realized that he’d even beaten the sun, and changed out of his pajamas with a level of clumsy excitement that was reserved for but one day of the year.
Donning his favorite outfit that blended comfort with agility, Jacob rushed out the door before immediately returning to grab his wallet.
Practically tripping down the stairs, Jacob paused for a moment at the kitchen. He shook his head, and leapt out the door into the brisk morning. There was no time of the day that better personified the village’s namesake than the brief period of time between the night’s end and daybreak. The energy felt electric, as if the village—no, the world—was trapped in an ethereal spell where Jacob alone existed. Though his skin tingled in the cold, the shivers that ran up his spine had been there long before he’d made it outside.
Jacob ran down the dirt paths that divided the village into humble sectors, counting each house he passed. By the time he passed the fifth house, the eastern border of the village was in sight. He slowed to a fast walk, taking a moment to admire the serenity of the forest that continued past the east gate. Then, he spun on a dime to face house number six. He hopped over to the front door, raised his fist, then paused.
Jacob recalled the last time he had banged on Dylan’s door before the sun had come up. He had learned that day that people who honed their mind over their body had their own brand of “scary.”
A voice that called out from the path interrupted Jacob’s thinking and potentially saved his life.
Jacob turned around and waved.
Serena hobbled up to him, barely identifiable underneath all those sweaters.
Despite that, her teeth still clattered as she spoke.
“Heya. Up bright ’n early, aren’t you? Or could it be that you couldn’t even get to sleep in the first place?” she said.
“Believe it or not, I slept like a log! I’m just over here wondering what you’re doing up so early.”
For some reason, Serena’s cheeks reddened. She spun around quickly, tilting her head towards the cloudy sky.
“Oh, nothing really, haha… Just out for a morning stroll, y’know?”
“That’s an awful lot of layers for someone going on a stroll.” “Like you’d know anything about being cold! Who goes out into this weather wearing a shirt and shorts?!”
The two of them laughed.
Then, Serena pointed towards the forest.
“Hey, check it out.”
Jacob looked over, and felt his breath catch in his throat.
Though the treeline was still dark, the edge of the canopy lit up with a soft, radiant glow. The sky above it was brightening as well, slowly spreading across the sky. Though the culprit was still hidden behind the trees, its warmth was already beginning to wash over the humble village.
Still gazing out at the first hints of daybreak, Serena spoke.
“How is it? Your first sunrise as a Junior Fielder.”
Jacob was too caught up in the moment to answer. He wasn’t technically one yet, but Prof. Spruce had promised him that he would take Jacob in as a Junior Fielder the day he turned sixteen. So to Jacob, this morning was the true start of his life.
It was the same sunrise he’d seen thousands of times already, but this was the first time in his life he had to squint through tears to see it.
Finally… I can finally do my part and discover the secrets that this planet is hiding from us. I can help so many people…
Jacob smiled. “It’s the first of many. Breathtaking as it may be, this view is nothing compared to the sights we’ll see from here on.”
Serena’s shoulder’s shook, and Jacob could barely make out her snickers.
Wait, that too?! I thought for sure that was a cool line…
Serena twirled around and faced him, eyes brimming with anticipation.
“Today’s the day, Jacob. Let’s go out there and change the world!”
“Man, you two are way too loud. You know that humans are supposed to get their morning energy from sunlight, right? You can’t even see the dang thing yet.” Dylan yawned as he stepped out of the house, still wearing his pajamas.
Taking one look at his bedhead, Serena broke into laughter.
Jacob shook his head. “You seriously expect me to not be excited? Today of all days? Now I know you know me better than that!”
“Unfortunately, you are correct. But just because I know something to be true doesn’t mean I can’t wish it weren’t.”
“Party pooper.”
“Flower brain.”
“Will you two just stop, already? Come on, we gotta have as much fun with each other while we still can! Hurry up and change, Dylan; we’re heading for the hills as soon as Jacob tells his mom.”
“Aww, do I gotta?”
“Shush, Jacob! You know how much she worries! Especially with that injury.”
“It doesn’t even hurt anymore, you know.”
“Just go!”
At Serena’s command, Jacob dragged his heels as he made his way back home. The excitement of the day quickly took over, however, and he found himself running just as quickly as when he’d left.
Five houses later, Jacob walked up to his front door. He reached for the door handle, then froze.
I swear I heard someone whisper something just now. What in the world…?
Jacob looked around, but nobody was nearby.
Just as he concluded that his anticipation was manifesting in hallucinations, he heard it again. It was an older woman’s voice.
Jacob strained his ears.
“Don’t…”
The voice seemed to be coming from the side of the house. As Jacob walked over, it became louder. Despite that, the voice was faint; a strong breeze could whisk it away, far and forever out of Jacob’s reach.
… Why did Jacob’s chest tighten at the thought?
“Don’t… go…”
Right before he rounded the corner, the woman’s words made Jacob stop. He didn’t recognize the voice, but it felt so familiar. It was strained and pleading, yet comforting.
Jacob’s feet were rooted to the spot. The thought of seeing someone he wanted to meet so badly terrified him.
Wait, why do I want to meet her? I don’t even know her.
Despite that, he couldn’t find the strength to confront her.
Instead, he responded.
“I… I have to go. I can’t stay cooped up in this village my whole life.”
“Please…”
“I’ve wanted this all my life. I’m not just going to give it all up. There are people out there who need me. Who needs someone.”
“Be happy… Stay here… You don’t… need to… suffer…”
It sounded like she was putting all of their strength into forming a simple sentence.
“I’m sorry. Whoever you are, I’m sorry, but I can’t. I can’t just wrap myself up in my blanket and forget about all those people.”
There was a moment of silence.
For some reason, it felt like an eternity to Jacob.
Then, the woman spoke again, her voice drowning in pain.
“I… lo…”
Jacob’s eyes widened, but the voice trailed off. He finally found the courage to turn the corner of his own house.
But there was nothing out of place, just a lone patch of grass that refused to surrender to its fate.
By Aidory Gregan
Biology Notes 14/2/19 Jacob Zandi
Fauna
— chorans
~ animals, but not?
~ intelligence unclear
— elves
~ not native to Chorus, almost none live here either
~ shakti control beyond dhyana
~ REAL magic?!?!
“Just don’t go out too far, alright? The last thing we need is for you kids to get in trouble with those soldiers.”
“Yeah, yeah, got it. And what do you mean, ‘kids’?! I’m basically an adult now.”
Although he made light of her warning, Jacob knew that his mom was right. The soldiers only ever held a conversation long enough to explain that they were just doing a “Field Op.” They never met anyone’s eyes, and the way they moved felt… stiff. There was no telling what they would do if a bunch of rowdy teenagers started to bother them.
Jacob grabbed his backpack that he’d stocked the night before. As he approached the door, his mom called out to him.
“Oh, and Jacob.”
“Yeah?”
“Happy birthday, young man.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Jacob didn’t bother hiding his smile as he headed out. This day was already everything he’d hoped for, and it hadn’t even begun yet. The air was much warmer as he ran down the path once again, though the cold, dry breeze that wafted through the village did sting his nostrils a bit.
Somehow, by the time Jacob made it to their meet-up spot, Dylan was already changed and ready to go. He refused to tell Jacob his secret, no matter how much he was pestered as they headed out. Before they could reach the usual spot, however, Jacob stopped.
“Nope. Don’t hear a thing,” Dylan said with a shrug.
Jacob turned to Serena, who shook her head.
“I’m telling you, it’s like a whimper or something. Here, just come on!”
Jacob suddenly changed direction and headed in the direction of the sound he’d heard. He could hear Dylan and Serena slowly follow behind. They were pretty far back, but that was fine. Whatever was making that sound was clearly in need of help. But as he drew closer, the sound didn’t grow louder; if anything, it petered in and out.
As Jacob peaked another small hill, he hastily swiveled his head around. Even though the rolling hills were barren of any large shrubbery or trees, the uneven ground could easily conceal a small creature that was lying low. There were bluestone bushes around him, but there didn’t seem to be anything hiding within them.
Then, he saw them.
Four trudna were circling a feathery red ball of some sort at the base of the hill. Jacob ran through the list of chorans that lived around Icesprout, but then it clicked.
The pack of small canines seemed ready to pounce at any moment.
Trudma don’t kill their prey without making a big scene. Since there’s no blood around them…
If it was alive, he had to save it.
But that was much easier said than done.
Charging down there heroically would be the easiest way to join the plamakly as their next meal. He could wait for Dylan and Serena, but who knew how long it would take for the trudma’s hunger to overcome their caution? Even if they made it in time, would they be able to come up with an idea, either? Trudma were cautious, but not easily frightened. There was little chance that three teenage humans waving their arms as they charged down a hill would shake them.
What other options are there? And how much time do I even have to plan like this?
If only the plamakly had had enough strength to bury itself in these bushes, at least it would have bought some time as the trudma tried to dig it out.
Wait... These bushes…?
Jacob’s eyes widened, and he dropped to his knees, feeling around the dense brush. Even if he couldn’t see any, surely there must be some in the dirt…
His fingers brushed against what felt like a smooth rock.
He grabbed the object firmly and tore his hand out of the bushes. His hand was scratched up and bleeding, but he grit his teeth and tried his best to focus on the life that was in danger before him.
Jacob pulled his arm back. It was shaking.
If I miss, I won’t be able to save that plamakly. And worse, those trudma will be all over me.
He shook his head frantically.
Damn it! You already decided that not doing anything would be much worse! Just stop thinking, and throw!
Jacob screamed at the top of his lungs, flinging the bluestone with every ounce of strength he had. The trudma’s heads snapped towards the screaming 16-year-old, and they broke into a run. At the same time, the bluestone hit the ground not far from the plamakly. The wounded creature’s head perked up.
Jacob’s attention shifted to the pack of predators that were charging up the hill. Knowing full-well that running would be futile, he did what seemed to be the least useless move he had.
Still roaring, Jacob pounced at the oncoming beasts.
They seemed to falter for a moment.
Jacob curled into a ball and began rolling down the hill. He couldn’t tell which way was up, let alone discern where the trudma were. But that mystery didn’t last long.
Pain shot through his shoulder as he felt fangs bite through his shirt. Another jaw closed around his boot. Lying flat on his face, it was all Jacob could do to stay curled up.
Though he’d been biting back tears at his scratched-up hand just a moment ago, he couldn’t even feel those scratches anymore. It wasn’t all that surprising; the fangs of these beasts were strong enough to shatter any kind of stone. So instead of a sharp, searing agony of flesh being ripped from bone, Jacob was overwhelmed by a brutal, dull pain not unlike being bludgeoned to death by stones.
Trudma didn’t kill without making a big scene, after all.
Through the intense growling and panting, Jacob heard a yelp.
The tiniest release of pressure on his back flooded him with hope.
Another yelp, and the jaw clamped around his right forearm let go. Then, the last two trudma released him. The air smelled like fresh charcoal.
The sounds that followed were of pure chaos: snarling and screeching, yelping and scuffling. The air got hotter and hotter, and the stench of something burning grew stronger. Jacob craned his neck, trying to reach the sleeve of his jacket. Once he felt the soft fabric, he nuzzled against it to wipe his tears. The scene around him slowly came into focus.
The plamakly that was curled up just minutes ago was now darting about, leaping into the sky and dive bombing at the trudma, who were trying to follow its movements. Two of the trudma were collapsed.
Once this battle’s over, I’ll need to get Dr. Spruce here as soon as possible to take them in.
The plamakly clawed at one of the trudma’s faces, and it stumbled back with a cry. Before the avian creature could land, however, the other trudma snatched it out of the air. The plamakly cried out as the beast’s jaw began to crush its small, feathery body.
Jacob tried to get up, but his muscles cramped and he fell back to the dirt.
Then, a leg came flying out of nowhere. The roundhouse kick sent the trudma stumbling out of sight with a yelp. A pair of hands materialized out of the edge of Jacob’s vision, catching the wounded bird. At the same time, Jacob felt hands feeling all over him.
“How is he?!”
“I don’t see any wounds, nor does he feel particularly squishy… I think he’s all right. Hey, Jacob, you dead?”
“Not yet… Took you guys long enough… Almost thought y’all got bored and went home without me…”
“Oh shut it,” Dylan replied with a chuckle. “When have we ever left a member of the squad behind? You of all people should know that… Anyways, can you stand? I think you’re a bit out of my weight range.”
“Yeah, ha-ha—” Jacob’s attempt at laughter was cut off as coughs rocked his body.
“Well, I guess that answers that. Serena, how are things looking?”
“This little guy’s in pretty bad shape, but at least the trudma are backing off. Well, the two that are still standing, at least.”
“Can you help me get this lug on his feet?”
“Yeah, gimme a second.”
“Get… Dr. Spruce,” Jacob croaked. “Those trudma need help…”
Dylan shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Those things just tried to kill you. The least we can do is let them take care of themselves.”
“Shut up, and get him already. Besides, there’s no way you two can carry me back. Small arms.” Jacob managed a shaky grin.
“Just let Serena hear you say that.” Dylan turned around and raised his voice. “Hey, Serena! Think you can get the good doc over here? Jacob says he’s too lazy to walk on his own, and I am not dragging him back.”
“Right! I’ll take this guy to the lab while I’m at it!” Serena spun around and sprinted towards the village.
Jacob let out a deep breath, looking up at the cloudless sky. For as hectic as things had been a moment ago, the only evidence that remained of the struggle was the throbbing pain in his body and the faint odor of burnt fur.
With relief coursing through him, Jacob’s muscles relaxed, and another wave of pain shot through him.
Dylan noticed his face grow pale.
“H-Hey, what’s up?! You actually injured or something?! Hey!”
“Man…”
“Yeah…?”
“Mom’s gonna be pissed.”
— — —
To Jacob’s surprise, he was only grounded for three years.
That night, however, he heard the rest of his mom’s frustrations when Dr. Spruce came over to visit. Even the floor of his bedroom trembled before his mother’s wrath. Jacob couldn’t make out anything specific; he could barely even keep his eyes open. All he could tell was that his mother was beside herself with fury, and Dr. Spruce was as collected and soft spoken as ever.
Eventually, the house went quiet. The front door never opened, though.
Jacob’s curiosity finally overtook his caution, and he slipped out of bed. His heart was pounding as he sneaked to the door and twisted the knob. He opened the door as carefully as he could, terrified that his mom could appear at any moment and double his sentence.
But she didn’t appear, and the door was cracked just wide enough for him to slide through. He forced his sore muscles to squeeze into the hallway, and crawled over to the top of the stairs. Quieting his breathing as much as he could manage, Jacob strained his ears.
“… can’t even manage this much…”
“… just fine, Isla. You’re too hard on…”
“… not even his… all this time… just don’t know.”
“He’s all grown up now… up to him…”
“… don’t get why you… much better than…”
“… told me… all you can do. Let him go.”
His mom was sobbing. In all his life, Jacob had never once heard his mom break down like that. A heavy, twisted feeling was building in his gut.
The only thing he knew for certain was that this conversation wasn’t for him.
Jacob retreated to his room. He didn’t really get why, but it felt like everything he’d known had been shaken at its foundation. But his curiosity at what his mom and Dr. Spruce had been discussing was overshadowed by a wave of guilt.
When he’d been walked home and his mom had answered the door, she’d almost fainted on the spot. Even after they’d done vitals and determined that all Jacob needed was food and rest, his mom didn’t reprimand him. The rest of the day, she just had this defeated look about her that broke Jacob’s heart.
Jacob closed his bedroom door behind him. His hands were shaking.
Was I wrong to go and help that plamakly? How could helping someone in danger be wrong? Maybe I just wasn’t the right person to help, but… I couldn’t have just done nothing…
Jacob forced his tender legs to carry him to his bed, and he collapsed on the soft mattress. He breathed in the smell of his childhood, and felt exhaustion roll through his body once more. He extended a shaky hand, holding Flamix close.
After that, Jacob lost all sense of time. He drifted from dreams to reality with no clear line between them. At one point that night, however, he heard the creaking of his bedroom door. Soft footsteps approached, and the gentlest of lips kissed his cheek. He felt the mattress shift as someone sat down.
Then, for the second time that night, his mother cried.
By Aidory Gregan
Advanced Science Notes 18/3/23 Jacob Zandi
Shakti: energy that permeates all living things & atmosphere & ground i guess
— discovered by British (1859)
— lifeblood of the universe (sorta) (ask Dylan)
— can be concentrated and funneled into magic-like utilities
~ art of channeling shakti: dhyanna
~ practitioners of dhyanna: biku
— chorans channel it too (no tomes needed!)
Jacob’s legs were a bit shaky the next morning, but he was energized and ready to take on whatever the day had in store for him. The pain he’d heard in his mother’s voice lingered in his mind as he made his way downstairs. Nobody was in the living room or kitchen, which meant his mother was either asleep or out.
Jacob’s gut twisted as he realized the former probably hadn’t happened all night.
He’d never once doubted how strong his mother was, but Jacob was starting to wonder if that strength only allowed her to worry more.
After throwing together some butter and toast, Jacob made for the front door. When he reached out to the doorknob, however, he paused.
Surely she wasn’t serious about my grounding, right...?
The doorknob began twisting on its own, and Jacob stumbled back. As it opened, Jacob saw a face on his mother he’d never seen before. But it quickly changed into a weak smile, and she hastily stepped past him. She walked into the kitchen, and Jacob followed. His mouth opened several times, but no words came out. When she put the grocery bag on the counter, the familiar soft crunch of the paper bag snapped him out of his funk.
His mother smiled as Jacob came over and began taking out the groceries. It didn’t seem to quite reach her eyes.
“You know something, Jacob? For the past six years, I’ve never once had the chance to utter a word before you were in the kitchen, helping me put away the groceries. Imagine that! A ten-year-old, dropping whatever he’s doing to help with chores. Dylan’s mom always tells me how well-behaved you are, but its always felt a bit off to me.
“Don’t get me wrong, of course I appreciate it. I think being so ready to help out is a wonderful thing. But I also can’t help but wonder if it’s a little sad, too.”
She stopped what she was doing and looked into Jacob’s eyes.
“There’s nothing wrong with helping others, but what happens when you hurt yourself to do it? Don’t you think you ought to consider yourself, too?”
Jacob couldn’t meet her gaze.
“Mom.”
“Yeah?”
“... I want to become a Fielder.”
“I know, my dear.”
“I want to explore this crazy world and learn as much as I can about it, and use what I learn to help people out. I agree that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to help others. And I know getting myself hurt hurts people, too. I don’t want that.”
“I know you don’t. You’re the gentlest person in the world.”
“But that’s exactly what I can’t stand. I know that most people aren’t like me. That’s why I want to go out there and find the people that need help, but aren’t getting it because of all the people who just do nothing.”
His mother didn’t respond. Instead, she walked over and embraced him. Her face was buried in his chest. How many years ago did he outgrow her, only to realize it now?
No, it wasn’t all that surprising.
Even now, Jacob looked up to her. This amazing woman, who raised him from infancy all by herself, who taught him how warm it felt to give. She was the incredible one.
All he’d done was follow in her footsteps, and try to be half as amazing as her.
“Mom.”
“…”
“I’m sixteen now. I’m an adult, just like you. So I’m gonna leave this village I’ve spent my whole life in, and share the warmth you’ve given me with as many people as I can.”
Her silence was excruciating. Jacob couldn’t even begin to imagine how his mother must have felt.
Nor the strength she must have possessed to do what she did next.
Slowly, she nodded.
And let go.
Though her eyes were red, the smile she wore finally seemed to reach them.
— — —
Jacob filled his backpack with as many things as he could, only to take it all out and start from scratch. How many times had he packed this backpack full of everything he thought he may need, only to end up forgetting things in his excitement? Dylan and Serena would make fun of him for lugging around a backpack that never had what they needed, and he’d laugh it off while swearing he’d remember to pack it next time.
How long would it be until they went back to those silly antics?
Would they ever go back to those days?
Jacob shook his head. It didn’t matter if those days were behind him; this was the life he’d been dreaming of. The coming days would be so much fun, maybe he wouldn’t even have time to miss running around Icesprout Village, finding chorans who needed saving or just making up some wild adventure. This was the beginning of his journey, no, his real life. He had to leave with his chin up!
"Alrighty, then. That should just about do it.”
Jacob admired his self-restraint; not only was his backpack not bursting at the seams, but there was even room to spare just in case he wanted to grab snacks at the shop before he headed out.
“Efficient and forward-thinking. Already showing the makings of a fine Fielder, I see,” Jacob remarked in his best Dr. Spruce impression.
A knock at the front door took Jacob’s attention off his handiwork. He practically fell down the stairs, and when he opened the door, Serena seemed just as excited.
She patted her backpack. It was half as full as his.
“You ready, or what?”
Jacob was always proud of his ability to climb and descend the stairs at a breakneck pace, but he blew all his previous records out of the water as he raced to grab his backpack. He stepped outside, and took one last look at what had been his home for the sixteen long years. Then he closed the door, chatting excitedly with Serena as they made their way to the western gate.
The line of trees that always stood so threateningly at the western border of Icesprout now seemed to beckon Jacob closer. The shadows beyond them, which had seemed like an unwelcoming world of darkness before, now called out to him with mysteries waiting to be solved.
“Hey, Serena.”
“What’s up?”
“If you find any badass ruins, I’d better be the first you tell.”
“Haha! Long as you promise not to disturb the site.”
“Hmph. Fine, I promise I’ll try not to disturb any sites you come across.”
“Yeah, nice try.”
“Well aren’t you two just itching to get going? And here I thought you’d be so sad to leave us all behind. I think I might cry.”
The two young adventurers turned around and waved to their friend, who was still in his pajamas.
“Hey, you’re the one who decided to stay,” Serena said.
“It’s not too late to change your mind. I know how fast you can get changed,” Jacob added with a grin.
Dylan laughed as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Nah, I’m good. I got shit to take care of, and I can’t really do that when my hands are full with seeing the world. But you two go out and have fun, yeah? Youth ain’t worth jack if you don’t enjoy yourself, you know.”
Serena shook her head. “There you go, acting all wise. But if you’re happy here, it’s not like we’d wanna drag you against your will or anything.”
“Yeah, and don’t worry; we’ll have your share of fun while we’re out there, too!”
“Why does that only worry me.” Dylan shook his head as he laughed.
Jacob and Serena laughed, too. Serena looked past Dylan.
“Oh boy, here comes the crowd. Guess we’d better put on our bravest faces, huh?”
“What, so you’re nervous after all?” Dylan asked.
“Can’t you tell? I’m terrified!”
Dylan smiled. He looked relieved, though Jacob couldn’t quite tell why.
So instead of trying to figure it out, he wrapped his arm around Serena’s shoulders, almost knocking her over in the process.
“C’mon, Serena. Let’s see everyone off with the biggest smiles they’ve ever seen!”
For just a moment, Serena’s bravado left her face. She looked vulnerable, scared even. But then she closed her eyes, and smiled.
“Yeah, let’s.”
It was like the whole village had come out to see the adventurers off. There was even a face Jacob didn’t recognize.
Huh, and here I thought there wasn’t a soul in town I didn’t know.
Dr. Spruce emerged from the crowd and stood before them. Though he wore his usual gentle, weary smile, there was a spark of pride deep in his eyes.
“Looks like that distant day isn’t so distant anymore, is it? Feels like just last week I was teaching you all about the biology of a ledola.”
“Yeah. But now I’m gonna go out there and learn things that you might not even know about! Maybe when I come visit, I can teach you a thing or two!”
Dr. Spruce laughed. “I look forward to it, Junior Fielder Zandi. Miss Joshi.”
“Sir?”
Dr. Spruce rested a hand on her shoulder. There was a look in his eyes that Jacob couldn’t quite identify.
“Be careful out there. You know how many people there are that will do whatever they can to get to you. Once you’re in that forest, I can no longer protect you.”
Something flashed in her eyes, but then she glanced over at Jacob. She put her hand on Dr. Spruce’s and smiled.
“I’ll be alright. I’m strong now, so I can take care of myself.”
“I… I see.”
“Thank you for everything, Dr. Spruce.”
“No, thank you, child. And be safe.”
Dr. Spruce stepped back. Dylan’s mother walked over, and the two adults nodded briefly as they passed each other. She looked up at Jacob, and it dawned on him that there likely wasn’t a woman left in the village he hadn’t outgrown.
“You’ve grown so much. Both of you.”
Serena laughed. “Take care of Dylan while we’re gone, Mrs. Menzel. You know how much trouble he can get into, and we won’t be around to get him out of it anymore.”
Jacob nodded sagely, but then furrowed his brows.
“Wait, isn’t it us who gets him into trouble?”
Mrs. Menzel laughed heartily.
“It’ll be much quieter around here without you two, there’s no doubt about that. And remember that you both are always more than welcome to drop by and have some cheesecake,” she finished with a smirk.
Jacob swallowed the saliva building up in his mouth.
“Oh, and Jacob.”
“Yes, Mrs. Menzel?”
“I’m sorry. I tried to contact Chris to get him over here, but... He picked a terrible time to get busy all of a sudden,” she said with an exasperated smile.
“It’s no trouble, Mrs. Menzel. I’m sure Uncle Chris has his hands full with research and stuff. Besides, we’ll be seeing him in the next town over, so it’s not like he won’t be able to see us off!”
“You truly have grown in the blink of an eye. You resemble your father more and more by the day.”
“Mrs. Menzel…?”
Suddenly, Mrs. Menzel’s composure broke, and she started sobbing. Dr. Spruce came up and walked her back to the crowd. Among them, Jacob saw his mother giving them her most convincing smile. The shop owner that loved to sneak Jacob snacks when his employees weren’t looking grinned proudly as he crossed his massive arms. The old lady that always yelled at them to slow down before they fell and hurt themselves looked like she might pass out from worry. The married couple that never once had kids in all these years had tears in their eyes, as if it were their own children leaving.
It felt like Jacob could bask in this warmth forever.
But he knew that it was for that exact reason that he had to get going.
This is what you’ve been waiting your whole life for. Finally, your life is your own, and there won’t be any more cushions to catch you whenever you fall. Finally, your life can begin.
Jacob took one last look at the only world he’d known, and glanced over at Serena.
To his surprise, tears were streaming down her cheeks.
Jacob carefully navigated his hand over to her wrist and squeezed gently.
“Ready?”
Serena wiped her tears away.
“Yeah.”
They turned around and faced the forest. It seemed to go on forever, beckoning the young adventurers to try and unmask its secrets. But beware, it warned, for the hungry eyes of predators fill this forest. No secret is free of cost, and the further you stretch your hand into that darkness, the more exposed it will be. So advance, it said, and carve your future into the world.
— — —
They’ll be alright. We raised them to the very best of our ability.”
Isla tried to wipe away her tears, but gave up with a helpless laugh.
“I know we did. And I know they will. But I won’t stop worrying.”
“That’s for the best, I’m sure.”
“And what about you, Kerry? Surely you’re just as worried, if not more.”
“Haha. You never fail to see right through me. Perhaps an increased sensitivity from your time around the elves?”
“This is a woman’s intuition; no more, no less. Besides, after all these years, I think I know you better than any woman but one.”
“I’ll drink to that.”
“… How is she, by the way?”
“More stressed than the two of us combined, no doubt. But I’ll make it up to her.”
“So you really are leaving, then?”
“You know I have to.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I’m sorry. This has been like a dream for me, living out all these years in peace and quiet. But you know that I can’t live like that forever. My mind will rot.”
“Yes… I know. On the bright side, Mirai will be elated.”
“She sure will… Elated, and very upset with me.”
“Well, who wouldn’t? You left her for fifteen years. People don’t just do that.”
“How I wish you were right. But it’s not like I had a choice. And I don’t have a choice now, either.”
“‘For the sake of the world,’ right?”
“You should know a thing or two about that, Your Highness.”
“Oh, stop that.”
“It seems I’m not the only one who’s been neglecting my partner.”
“You really are the worst, Kerry. I hope you know that.”
“Haha. Yeah. I know.”
By Aidory Gregan
Political Notes 24/9/22 Jacob Zandi
UNIF: United Nations Interstellar Federation
—Space Liners, Destroyers, & Corvette
— UNIS Lifehold = cyborgs
— UNID Dawnbreaker = first to Chorus
— UNID Reclaimer = Director Jason Keyes
— UNIS Skyshield = Mom’s ship!
— UNIC Reaper = still not sure
~should prob ask Mr. Darnay before test…
The thin canopy above filtered the midday sunlight, creating unpredictable, irregular splotches of light along the path Jacob and Serena traveled. The tiny spotlights directed the young adults’ attention every which way; a novushka’s tripwire-like web that weaved its way between the trees, a ledula scavenging for nuts and promptly plopping them in its cheeks, a miraculous patch of flowers that had found a reliable spot of sunlight to call their home.
Jacob bounced from scene to scene, recounting all the things he’d learned in school about each one before his attention was stolen by the next. Serena, on the other hand, didn’t stray from the path like he did, but nodded along with his hasty explanations.
“But, man, is it relieving or what? Here I thought we’d be fighting for our lives as we were chased out of the forest by a zveer or some other huge choran. To think we were terrified all these years for nothing.”
Serena laughed. “Yeah, they got us pretty good with those tales, huh.”
“Remember the guy who tried starting a fire while setting up camp?”
“Yeah, I think I’d rather just freeze to death!”
They laughed heartily, sharing in each other’s excitement. Walking so casually through what was once forbidden land felt surreal.
“How far is it to Volkov, anyways?”
Serena raised her watch. The screen lit up, and over a dozen icons popped up. She tapped on the map icon, and the screen changed to a small red triangle in the center of a large green blob.
Serena furrowed her brows.
“Maybe if I zoom out… Ah, there we go! Wow, this forest is way smaller than I thought.”
“Here, let me check… Oh hey, you’re right. We’ll be in Volkov before it gets dark.”
“You excited?”
“You think?! Uncle Chris always vanished into this forest whenever he left, and now I finally get to see where he went. You’ve gotta be excited, too. For someone like you, being trapped in Icesprout all your life must’ve been brutal.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, that’s right…” Serena began laughing awkwardly. Jacob was confused by her reaction, but she changed the subject before he had a chance to inquire. “So once we do get to Volkov, I guess that’s where we’ll split up, huh?”
Jacob hadn’t considered that. Of course, it only made sense that their journeys would diverge after they left the forest, but he’d been so caught up in his excitement that it hadn’t really sunk in.
Or maybe he’d just been keeping the thought out of his mind.
Jacob shook his head. They’d cross that bridge when they got there, so Jacob redirected the question.
“So what’s your plan, then? Once we get to Volkov, I mean.”
Serena looked off into the forest.
“Honestly? I’m not entirely sure. I think I’ll just get a feel of the city, and maybe ask a few locals what it’s like to live there. Maybe learn a thing or two about how it was built.”
“Yeah, that sounds like you.”
“And you’re gonna go see Chris?”
“Yeah. I decided a long time ago that I wanted his stamp before anybody else’s. It’d feel wrong to do it any other way.”
“Plus he’s the closest.” Serena grinned.
“Plus he’s the closest,” Jacob admitted.
As a Junior Fielder, Jacob’s mission was to go around the island nation of Oshira and get stamps of approval from the resident experts in choran research. These six expert Fielders were scattered across the nation, and all had their own criteria for considering a JF worthy of their stamp. Some focused on knowledge tests, while others wanted to see a JF demonstrate survival skills and adaptability.
For those who hailed from Central Oshira, Christopher Menzel was an excellent first milestone on that journey.
Before long, the terrain began to slope downwards as the path snaked around thickets and steep ledges. The sound of rushing water mixed into the gentle ambience of the forest. Serena had to constantly remind Jacob to slow down before he slipped and injured himself, to which he reluctantly complied before forgetting about it and getting caught up in some other discovery. At one point, Jacob brought up the idea of following one of the streams down to the river that fed into the ocean, but Serena wasted no time shutting down the idea.
Jacob resisted. “Come on, Volkov’s close to the sea anyways, so it’s not like we’ll lose much time!”
“Yeah, and there won’t be any other distractions once we get there. I swear, it’s like you’re trying to be out here when it gets dark.” Serena pressed on, unfazed.
But Jacob wouldn’t give up on it. His curiosity was begging him to keep this little trip going, even if it meant stumbling around in the darkness.
“It’s not like it’ll be that dangerous around here, even if it does get dark. We’re right next to Volkov; there’s bound to be soldiers patrolling, or even a biku or two—”
Jacob’s voice petered out as Serena stopped on a dime.
Her fists were clenched.
“Jacob. You know how I feel about those terms.” Though her voice was barely audible, it was clear that she was speaking through her teeth.
“Serena… I know, but that’s what they’re called. It’s not like I invented them. You’ve gotta get over that eventually; people aren’t gonna stop using them just ’cause you don’t—”
Serena spun around, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Shut up! You know it’s not about that! I don’t care if everyone says it; that doesn’t make it okay!”
Jacob held his hands up. “Okay! Sorry. I know it’s a sore spot for you.”
But Serena just got angrier.
“A sore spot?! Are you kidding me? It’s blatant disrespect to the culture they stole those words from! Shakti is one thing, but ‘biku’? ‘Dhyana’?! The way we oh-so-casually use those words isn’t even close to correct!”
Jacob didn’t know what to say. Dylan had never been foolish enough to use those words in front of Serena, but Jacob was a repeat offender. He just didn’t see why it was such a big deal. So what if “biku” originally referred to monks or whatever? So what if “dhyana” used to mean “meditation”? That culture, and the languages that fostered it, was long gone. All that remained was what the ICAF had brought with them to Chorus. If those words used to be incorrect, they weren’t anymore. That’s just how things were.
Of course, when Jacob originally brought that point up, Serena wasn’t having any of it. That was the angriest he’d ever seen her, before and since.
“... Sorry. Let’s just keep going, okay?”
Serena turned back around, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
Wordlessly, she started walking again. Jacob quietly followed suit.
The forest grew darker as the sun began to disappear behind the mountain range that lined the western edge of Oshira. To the travelers’ relief, the trees finally began to thin out. By the time the last rays of sunlight were swallowed up by the night, they were out of the forest and Gorod Volkov was in sight.
In the outskirts of the city, fences separated the fields of grazing livestock from farmland. Serena had to drag Jacob away from the listless creatures, reminding him that there was no telling what could come out to play in the night. The cityscape grew larger, rising above the wall that surrounded the city. Engraved into a horizontal pillar atop the gate were words in a language that was slowly being lost to time:
гоÑ?од волков
Two guards stood by the gate, basking in the shadow of a watchtower that sprouted up from the wall. As Jacob and Serena approached, the guards trained their eyes on the teenagers. After a moment, however, their stiff expressions relaxed.
“Evening. It’s awful late for children to be wandering about without any guardians. Is there something we can help you with?”
Serena didn’t skip a beat with her response.
“As a matter of fact, you can. If you gents could let us into town, it’d be a huge weight off our shoulders. As you can probably tell, we really don’t have much in terms of camping supplies,” she added with a sheepish grin. “Oh, and we’re not children. My introverted buddy here just turned sixteen, and I’ve been rocking that number for months now.”
The other guard laughed. “Oho, fresh new meat to throw at this hellhole of a planet, eh? Would this happen to be your first stop since leaving home?”
Jacob nodded. “My uncle lives here. Well, not my uncle, per se. He’s my friend’s dad, but he’s basically an uncle to me… I-I mean us! He’s a close friend to my family, so, um…”
The second guard laughed again.
“Easy does it. You don’t gotta convince me of anything. So you got a name for this uncle of yours?”
“Um, yeah. Yeah, his name’s Chris. I mean, Christopher! Christopher Menzel.”
The guards exchanged glances.
The first one looked back at the travelers and smiled.
“Oh, you’re just here for our resident Leader? Should’ve started with that! I take it you both are JFs, then?”
Serena shook her head. “Nah, just this guy. I’m here to uncover as much ancient history as I can!”
“A future historian! Don’t see too many of those, do we, Juuei?”
“No we do not, Mihari. No we do not.”
Serena glanced at Jacob, then past the guards at the city.
“So. We good to go?”
The first guard looked back at her. “O-Oh, yeah, of course. Y’all don’t seem all that suspicious, so just let us take a quick look at your bags and we’ll send you on your way.”
As Jacob was removing his backpack, a thought crossed his mind.
“If you guys don’t mind me asking, has there been a rise in security around here? I’ve never actually been to this city, mind you… But! Um, Uncle Chris always said that this place was super relaxed. I mean, obviously there are walls and such, but, like, y’know…”
The guards’ faces tensed up a bit.
“You kids sure you wanna know?”
Serena nodded. “Of course we do. And we’re not kids, remember? If there’s something dangerous around here, then it’d be real bad for us to just stroll around without a care in the world, right?”
The first guard sighed.
The second guard stretched his shoulders, then leaned in close.
“‘Danger’ isn’t the start of it. One of the nastiest critters around has been spotted in the area. And I don’t mean the critters that crawl up your bed sheets at night or the bigger ones that make car-sized webs. I mean a curse that’s chased us all the way here from Earth.”
Jacob felt his hairs stand on end, and Serena gulped. If these guards were specifying that the danger came from Earth of all places, then that basically narrowed it down to one possibility. The natural predator of humans that were all but wiped out as humanity left them stranded on a dying planet.
Jacob tried to maintain his composure, but his next words escaped his mouth like a puff of smoke. Even he was barely able to hear himself.
“W-W-What are… I mean, why are they…”
The second guard’s jovial attitude was gone. He looked up at the stars that had begun to populate the night sky, and let out a sigh.
“Truth be told, we don’t know shit about what’s really goin’ on. All we know is that one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in human history has begun acting up again. And if that weren’t crazy enough, one of their bigwigs has decided to hole up in the middle of nowhere for some reason. We have enough reliable eyewitness reports of his appearance to treat it as fact, so our commanding officer made the decision to up security around Gorod Volkov. Given this particular city’s logistic position, we can’t have any critters making a mess of things.”
“I…I see,” Jacob said faintly. “So this bad guy’s been spotted somewhere in Volkov, then?” Jacob glanced over at Serena as he finished.
Serena seemed equally concerned by the implication.
The second guard shook his head. “We can’t disclose where exactly the critter’s been spotted, but rest assured. This city’s as safe and welcoming as ever. Besides, y’all must be exhausted after trekking all this way.”
“How did you…?”
The second guard grinned. “Y’all came from the forest, yeah? It shows.” He reached out and took a leaf from atop Jacob’s head, grinning. “It’s not the thickest thicket around, but it’ll definitely take the longer half of a day to get through.”
He nodded at the first guard, who had made his way to the watchtower door. He knocked twice, and the gate began to open itself.
“Now y’all take care. Gorod Volkov’s a great place, just as long as there’s a streetlight over your head.”
Jacob and Serena thanked the guards, took one last look at the distant forest that now seemed so small, and entered the city.
By Aidory Gregan
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