Thick flumes of fog twirled above the ground, lacking any livid ghosts. Clara couldn’t take her eyes off the scimitar. White hot flames hissed, slithering across the runes on the blade like a snake wound around its prey. Her eyes burned from the intensity of the light but she didn’t close them.

She had felt it. A rush of power racing across her veins, pooling around her palm and pouring into the scimitar. It had been terrifying but exhilarating. The fire had roared to life and with one slash, the blade had sliced through the air in a blast of force, flinging the spectres into different directions. They had fled in terror and spite, and she had watched their retreat in cruel satisfaction.

He was in so much pain. They could have killed him.

Her thoughts fanned the flames of fury. The scimitar burned brighter. Giving the hilt a strong squeeze, Clara stubbed out the fire and faced Tamer. He was on his knees, grasping his chest. She extended a hand to aid him but stopped, dropping it to her side. He had told her not to touch him.

“Let me help you,” she said.

“No.” He pushed himself to his feet, his breaths a ragged whisper. “My scimitar?”

Clara placed the sword on his palm. Pain creased his face and the fist on his shirt tightened. She could see the source of Tamer’s agony was his chest. What had the ghosts done to him? Was he bleeding? Had he suffered a heart stroke?

Stubborn fool.

She closed the distance between them and locked her arms around his. She helped him stand up. He took a step forward and exhaled a deep sigh. Clara urged him to keep walking, her anger and bravery replaced by fear and worry. The ghosts were gone but her heart didn’t waver its racing beats. He placed his hand above hers, stopping her.

“I’m all right,” he said, a flint of calmness transforming his pained expression.

 “You’re lying. They hurt your chest.” She twisted her hands to free herself from his grip but he held still. “Show me.”

Tamer slid his scimitar to its sheath with his other hand. “No. The ghosts are gone. I feel fine, Clara.”

She relaxed her hold and stood back.  Flustered, she turned away and began walking in long strides. She didn’t stop to wait for him. If he insisted he was fine then so be it. He caught up with her in seconds, his long legs giving him an unfair advantage.

“I’ll summon the firis once we‘re out of the plains,” he said. “We should make it to Alikaf Forest before nightfall.”

She huffed. “I know you can speak to animals. Perhaps not verbally but you can do it with your mind, can’t you?”

He agreed. “I use telepathy. It’s a type of mind to mind communication.”

Mind to mind! What if he had read her thoughts, especially ones that involved him? Slapping a hand over her gaping jaw, she tried her best to comfort her nerves.

His lips twisted as he noticed her reaction. “Telepathy only works with creatures of lesser intelligence. Sentient beings have mental barriers that are impenetrable.”

Relieved, Clara observed him. Tamer wasn’t cringing anymore and his gait wasn’t stiff. When the ghosts had attacked him, it had pained her to watch him suffer. She had felt powerless, unable to protect the man who had saved her life.

Something else had shaken her. His eyes had lit up to darkest gold but it wasn’t pain that she had seen in them. It was hate and rage. A dark silhouette, snarling and twisting, had flashed over his face as if his skin had become transparent. It had been a trick of the mind. A grotesque illusion she had conjured as a result of her fear.

“I’m fine, Clara. Don’t worry about me,” Tamer said, having noticed her concerned look. “It won’t happen again.”

The fog churned and looped, leaving a cold draught billowing in its wake. Clara crossed her arms over herself to keep out the cold. She felt ridiculous for walking through the foggy plains with no idea where she was heading. The gloomy atmosphere still scared her but with the apparitions gone, it was becoming less frightening with each passing second.

“Why did the ghosts attack you, Tamer? They didn’t touch me or the firis.”

He brushed his fingers over his hair. “I don’t know.”

There were no ghosts on sight so asking them for answers was out of the question. She didn’t think they could speak either. A pang of pity dampened her mood. For all their bitterness and hostility, they were only victims of the destruction that had been caused by the army of Ghilan.

How terrible it must be to suffer an existence such as theirs. They can never rest in peace.

A flare of anger crushed her pity. Their aggression towards Tamer had been obvious and they hadn’t shown any mercy towards him.  

“It’s warmer,” Tamer said. “We must be getting close to the forest.”

She saw glimpses of tall trees in the distance. The fog had thinned and visibility was improving. Feeling enthused, she quickened her pace until they were out of the plains.

“What in the world is this?”

Clara stood in the midst of colossal giants of trees scattered across a rich expanse of grass. Their coarse trunks were swollen enough to fit at least fifty people. Long branches coated in lichen tangled like a fisherman’s net and red leaves sparkled with moisture. Crystal ores twinkled in the light, standing in wave-like formations around the roots of the trees.

Tamer broke a piece of the amethyst crystal and pocketed it. “Solidified aether. It’s rich in magical energy. You should take some of it.”

She picked a shard and examined it. “What do I do with it?”

He gathered more of the sparkling substance. “You’re Naaji’s successor, Clara. That means you have the affinity for magic. I saw you use it when you wielded my blade.”

She remembered the heady rush of energy that had warmed her blood in anticipation. She had thought it had been the sword’s power and not hers. Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t know how I did it.”

He smiled. “Pure white light sizzling with power. It was amazing.”

A blush filled her cheeks. Her hands twitched so she kept herself busy by taking more crystals from the ores and stuffing them into her bag.

“Solidified aether is mainly used for alchemical experiments and magic rituals,” he said. “It can also be used as a source of light, a fuel for mechanical devices and engines, an augmentation for armour and weapons and on rare occasions, a cauterizer for wounds if it’s in powder form.”

She furrowed her brow in thought. “How do I use it?”

“I will tell you what Eryx taught us when we were young. One way to use it is to engrave a symbol on the crystal. It can be done with a mind invocation but as a mageling, you would have to physically draw it. To use its power, you must picture with your mind exactly what the symbol entails.”

Tamer took out a knife from his belt and drew a sun with a horizontal line crossed over it. With the second shard, he made a cloud with two diagonal lines etched above it.

“That’s a Blast symbol,” he said, giving her the first shard. “When you throw it, it emits a loud noise that stuns everyone in the vicinity because the noise disrupts the functioning of the ear.” He gave her the second one with the cloud. “And this one contains the Smog symbol. It temporarily blinds the victims for several seconds by releasing a layer of black smog. Both are effective in creating a diversion.”

“Are these symbols standard?”

“Yes. In order to use them, you would need to memorize them. There are hundreds of symbols, each one distinct from the other.”

“Hundreds? Why so many?”

He shrugged. “My interest lies in swords, milady.”

Clara eyed the Smog symbol, cynical that such a little shard would have the power to affect visibility. She pocketed the two crystals and slung her bag over her shoulder. Once they were settled in a temporary camp, she would try to practice with the stones. Tamer had walked several paces away and she hurried to catch up.

“Why isn’t anyone mining these?” she asked, pointing at the frozen waves of solidified aether, all spread out around the forest in clusters. “You mentioned several uses. I would imagine mages would want to get a hold of them.”

Tamer thrust his hands to his pockets. “The king’s orders.”

“The king?” she asked. She was under the impression Aurion would have a unique kind of leadership, one which was different from the ones on Earth. “What’s the king like? Is he kind?”

Tamer stopped in his tracks and she bumped into his back with a startled yelp. Taking a step back, Clara rubbed her forehead.

“Sorry. Did I hurt you?” he asked, whirling to face her.

“No, I’m fine. It was just an accident.”

A lost look marred his features. Clara waited for an answer, her curiosity piqued. Seconds passed but Tamer remained silent. She needed to know. Perhaps the king could order his men to find the attackers and help them protect the seals.

Don’t be ridiculous. No one would believe you. Not even the king.

She sighed. Tamer and the Great Scribe had told her the dark history of Aurion had been forgotten. Afreet’s reign had been horrifying for sure but the events had occurred ten thousand years ago and it would not be unlikely for people to forget. Even if the survivors had passed their warnings to the future generations, the message would have been distorted over time and it would have become nothing but a tale. A bedtime story. A lost legend. Eventually, the truth would have been discarded.

“The king is as any leader would be. Powerful and imposing. His words are the law,” Tamer said, drawing her out of her musings.

His voice had a sharp edge to it, as if peppered with bitterness. She looked at Tamer’s face but all she could see was an emotionless mask, lacking any hint.

“Another reason is that everyone is afraid of crossing the Plains of Yurei. They believe the ghosts would haunt them if they were to step a foot in their domain. Foolish, if you ask me, but it has kept people from mining the aether.”

Clara pursed her lips. “Then why did you take us through this path? They were right to fear the ghosts. Look at what the ghosts did to you!”

The impassive mask cracked and a small smile settled on his face. “You’re still worried about me...”

He picked up a stray curl of her hair, his fingers brushing against her jaw, and twirled it between his thumb and forefinger. His masculine scent drifted to her nose and her heart fluttered as electric tingles ran along the side of her face to her neck. In a movement so gentle, he drew back his hand.

“I led us through here because it’s the shortest route to Ibisa Mountains and because no one would suspect we’d cross the plains. If there is more than just that one attacker, and I suspect there is, then they’d expect us to pick a more favoured route,” he said. “What happened in the plains was unanticipated.”

She frowned even as she saw logic in his reasoning. They walked further into the forest until the plains were behind them, hidden by rows of gigantic trees. The sound of bubbling water filled her ears and she searched through the thickets of bushes with her eyes until she saw the river gushing along muddy banks. Blue flowers floated on the water and red leaves speckled the shore.

When Tamer placed two fingers to his mouth, a loud whistle rang in the air, drowning out the sounds of running water. Clara stilled and watched the forest. Her ears perked as she heard hooves trouncing on the ground, approaching them. She spotted the firis hiding behind a tree.

“Welcome back, friend.” Tamer beckoned the creature.

The firis trotted to him, sniffing at his outstretched hand. It lowered its head and gave a shy neigh.

“What is it saying?” Clara asked.

He stroked the side of its head, taking caution not to prod at its horns. “It’s feeling guilty for abandoning us.”

She smiled. Clara wished she could hear it speaking.  Approaching their mount, she patted its flank, her fingertips slipping across the smooth fur. She understood why the firis had left them. Clara had been as terrified of the ghosts as the creature had been and if Tamer hadn’t been by her side, she would have run away, screaming like a barmy girl.

The sky turned inky and the sun retired amidst thick tufts of clouds. The forest reclined in a stunning purple glow as crystal upon crystal lit up to challenge the darkness. Mouth agape, Clara stared at the ores of solidified aether, ensnared by their charm. She touched the tip of a crystal and let out a cry of wonder as it shone on her palm.

“Beautiful,” she said. “Absolutely beautiful.”

Tamer surveyed the glowing aether and shifted his attention to the shard in her hand. His eyes shot upwards, lingering on her face. Nervous, she bit her lower lip. His gaze followed the movement, the amber traces darkening in a swirl of black.

“We’ll camp here.” He eased his backpack to the ground and took a step back, widening the distance between them. “Tomorrow, we’ll get the seal.”

She found a spot near a cluster of aether and rested her head against a tree. A low growl emanated from her belly and a groan escaped her mouth. Taking out bread from her bag, she took small bites. This would be her last meal until they replenished their food supplies.

I should have eaten in smaller proportions, she thought, feeling a pinch of regret as she dusted her palms.

“Here, eat.” Tamer broke off a large part of his bread and gave it to her.

She shook her head. She couldn’t take it. It would be selfish of her to accept the bread while he stayed hungry.

“You need it to keep your strength. Take it.”

“Thank you but I’m fine, Tamer.”

Before he could protest, she rolled on her pallet and lay on her side. Clara faked a yawn and curled in a fetal position.

“Rest well, Clara,” Tamer said from the other side of the camp.

 “Good night, Tamer.”

With that, she closed her eyes and coerced her mind to yield to the inescapable clutches of slumber.

----------

Something tugged at her hair, yanking her from the sweet whispers of sleep. Clara tossed in her cot and snuggled under the soft quilt. The flapping of wings droned on her ear and the scent of metal clung to her nose. A grumble left her lips as she fluttered her eyes open.

Black buttony eyes blinked at her. An overgrown insect the size of a palm had sat on her face, screaming in high-pitched chirps. She yelped in terror and flicked it aside. Sitting up, she grabbed a twig from the ground and threw it at the offending bug. It dodged her attack, deftly swinging to the side. She rose to her feet as it flew away and hid behind Tamer’s head, peeping at her.

“What is it?” Tamer tied the lace on his boot, seemingly calm.

She pointed a finger at the little critter. “It almost bit my face!”

“It was trying to wake you up.”

“What? It sat on my nose!”

Deep laughter rumbled from his throat. His shoulders shook and the fierceness of his features smoothened. Clara’s own fright melted as she observed him, the sound of his laughter pleasing her ears.

“It wouldn’t bite you unless I order it. This isn’t an insect,” he replied.

She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. Tamer crushed a piece of solidified aether and fed the bug.

“Look at it.” He sent the little thing flying towards her.

Clara scowled as it hovered close to her. The bug had an oval-shaped body with a tiny head. Six short legs moved underneath its body. On either side of its wings were dark stripes. Narrowing her eyes, she tried to touch it but it flew back.

“It’s okay. She won’t hurt you, Mecha,” Tamer said to the little creature.

It squeaked in resistance but let her touch it. She felt the smooth texture of warm metal under her fingertips when she stroked its closed wings.

He’s right. Its body is made of metal and the reddish brown color is either copper or bronze. What is this thing?

The machine bug perched on her palm, growing bold when it realized she wasn’t going to harm it. Clara snorted but didn’t bother flipping it away.

“That’s a biomechabot. Although mechanical in nature, it’s partly organic. Mecha only feeds on pure solidified aether and shuts down in hibernation when she runs out of fuel,” Tamer said.

Her forehead contorted and her eyebrows knitted close together. “Organic? How?”

“Biomechabots exhibit emotions and have psychosocial relationships.” He picked up his backpack and called the firis. “Well, they also reproduce through mating.”

Clara swallowed and scratched her head. Tamer was using hard terms. Terms which she couldn’t understand. Sighing, she shrugged and poked the strange bug. Mecha had been dozing off. With a shrilly grouse, it drifted back to Tamer and rested on his shoulder.

“Where did you get Mecha?”

“She was sleeping in my bag the entire time. I hadn’t fed her for weeks. Solidified aether is quite expensive in the cities.” He adjusted the saddle. “We should leave now.”

Nodding, she packed her things in haste. The sun rose up from the sleeping clouds, the waves of solidified aether growing dim until the purplish glow was extinguished. They rode through Alikaf Forest for hours and as the giant trees became sparse, Clara saw the mountains in the distance, their peaks capped with snow. It wasn’t until midday when the splashing of water became so loud that she couldn’t hear the songs of the birds.

Mist saturated the air and the foliage had reverted back to green shrubbery. Tamer stopped the firis under a tree and told it to wait for them. It chewed off fresh grass and neighed in acknowledgement.

A mass of flowing water tumbled from the rocks, pounding on the riverbed in swift torrents. It fell from a height of about two hundred meters high. Misty aether gyrated in the air and colourful fish glided in the water, far from the waterfall.

Tamer eyed the Wrayth River. “We can’t swim through the waterfall. It's dangerous. We’ll go behind it. Stay close to me and watch your steps.”

Clara took a deep breath as she followed him towards the rocks. She wadded in the cold water. They leant on the rocks to keep their balance and took measured steps when they walked on the narrow strip protruding from the rocks. Relieved, she stepped on a solid platform and bent her shoulders to avoid bumping into an undercut.

“I don’t see any entrance to the passage,” Tamer said, patting the wall of rock behind the massive waterfall.

Her heart sunk. If they couldn’t find the seal, their journey would be in vain. It had to be there. She passed her palms over the rock, trying to feel any cracks or dents. Tamer pushed the wall, knocked and pressed his ear to the surface. No hollow sound was emitted.

“The Great Scribe did warn us the seal may not be here,” he said.

Clara squatted and pushed her fingers on the rock. When her nail slipped into a crack as narrow as a thread, she squealed. “I found something!”

Tamer knelt beside her and together, they traced marks on the wall. A rectangular hole had been sealed by a stone of the same make as the surrounding rock. She sighed with relief. There was a passage after all. Tamer unsheathed a knife and poked at a vertical crack with the tip. He tilted the blade, pushing the stone outwards. She helped him pull it out and within a few minutes of hard work, they stood before an open hole.

“I’ll go first,” He dropped to the floor and crawled in.

When she saw light from inside, Clara took it as a cue to enter. She wriggled through the passage and sneezed when dust particles struck her nostrils. Coughing, she stood up and dusted her clothes. Mecha chirped above her head. She swatted it away.

“There’s a crevice over there.” Tamer pointed at the opening with a piece of solidified aether, the amethyst light casting a strange glow on the walls. “It may lead us to the seal.”

She took out her own crystal and illuminated the cave. The crevice could only fit one person at a time. With tentative movements, she slipped into the opening. There was no light at the end of the inner passage so she couldn’t tell what lay ahead.

A crackling sound ricocheted off the walls. Mecha stirred in the dark.

“What was that?” she asked.

Another crackling sound echoed and a moment later, the ground beneath them trembled.

"Get back!” Tamer yelled.

The ground shook as the crackling noises intensified. Clara pushed her way back but lost her balance. The rough rocks scraped her palms and a lump formed in her throat. Mecha let out frantic shrills and squeezed into her curls, hiding from the horror that played in front of their eyes. The ground quivered and split into pieces, plunging them into the darkness of a waiting abyss.

.