The Yuhijian Tales [Ongoing]

 

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Prologue

Do you ever wonder where things disappear to? Like that one sock in the wash? The earring you had just a second ago?
Do you ever wonder about the stories that there are other realms? Another dimension?
Do you ever wonder what those beings would like like? How they would speak, act?
Do you ever wonder why music is the most basic thing in all cultures?
Do you ever wonder why you read?
Do you ever wonder why you write?
Do you ever wonder if, maybe, there was a society that knew all the answers?

Me too.
My name is Teabelle Fawn del Kate. I am from another dimension - not of Earth. We know a lot about you, however. We are not aliens, after all! Silly! If we were aliens, we would probably look very different. We look just like you, really! And over all we are not too different, either! I mean, our eyes are many different colors, and our tears are the color of our eyes, and we can use magic... but that is just advanced, right? Yet we live very simple lives. Nothing electronic. Honestly, those type of items are so dangerous, I have never understood how your kind can survive with all the fires they start! That does not mean, however, that we are like cave people. Do not insult us. We are wiser than any human prophet, this I know! We also do not typically speak with contractions. The children rebel and use this slang once in awhile, but after the age of ten we are all adults. We earn our magic and our purpose. There is much to tell you, but if I tell you everything now, this story will be very short. I want to tell you about my story; the story of the ones left behind in the war. The demon war. They are real, too. Many humans do not believe in them, but demons are very, very real. Some are mindless, and some are brilliant. They are tactical masters, some! I both fear and envy demons. I think the right amount of fear and the right amount of respect makes all relationships balanced. So, let's begin a week before the war. That way, you can understand what life used to be like.

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Chapter 1: Mysterious Fall

January 17th, 1987

I was turning ten soon when my father died suddenly. My people, the Yuhijus, live for a few thousand years; he was only one hundred. Since illness is so rare here, it was a horrible, sudden tragedy - and a large mystery. Nothing like this had happened before. He had not been sick, had not been attacked - they just found him dead in bed that morning. Myself and my two brothers were not allowed to see, but I was able to remember more vividly than most. My special talent was starting to appear. Every Yuhijus' special talent blossoms at the age of ten years. Then, we are allowed to take care of ourselves, make our own decisions. That is also when we choose our personal lifestyle and jobs; careers, as you also call him. Some work in the temples, others the library, and some train to become warriors. But those are just a few of our many "talent lifestyles". There is no need for money here, we do not need it. You see, our air is enriched and our lungs are large, powerful, and sensitive. We have a storage space you would call a stomach. We eat, but the food rests there in our "stomachs" as a back-up. Every two years a volunteer ventures outside of our realm to gather enough food to fill every Yuhijian's storage. Some of us travel to other realms, dimensions, and so on. When we do, we need to eat solid food after two weeks time. We are stable without our air for only a week. Then, for another week, the food we have stored slowly is taken in for nutrients. Then we must eat food like normal humans would. Oh, look at me, rambling again. I have such a bad habit of that.

My brothers and I stood at our window on the second-high floor, where we all shared one bedroom, but each had our own bed. We watched our father be taken away, for his body to be burned as all were when they died, to free their souls from the vessel they were traveling in. I was always intrigued by this, and read much into spirits and souls, especially after the loss of my father. My brothers were more interested in finding out how this had come to be.

"Lee," my elder brother, Hamuel, spoke quietly. "Do you think someone could have poisoned him?" I saw Lee's eyes widen, but his voice was stable as he asked, "Who on Juom would poison him?" For the record, "Juom" is the name of our realm. We're a small society. Hamuel never took his eyes off the men that had come to gather our father, but he continued talking all the same. "I don't know. But why else would father just drop dead like that?" I was quiet as the two started debating, resting my arms on the windowsill and watching silently. Papa, I thought to myself. I will miss you. I wonder, even now, if he heard that last message. Finally, Lee stepped away from the window and went to climb up on his bed, taking a yellow book and starting to read from it. Hamuel turned around and scowled. "How can you go back to reading so easily?!" He demanded to know. I finally tore my gaze from the window to see my two brothers. Hamuel was older; he was eleven. He had his purpose, his item, and his talent. Lee and I were jealous. Hamuel looked just like me; brown hair (though his was a bit longer) and fuchsia eyes. Lee had golden hair and blue eyes; he looked more like our father. Perhaps that was why Hamuel was so mad that he could just brush the sudden death off so easily. "Well, dwelling on the 'why' and 'how' won't revive him." My younger brother defended softly, carefully. Hamuel had a quick temper, so everyone tried to keep on his good side. "There's always resurrection," I cut in, and my brothers gave me that look of "are you insane?" and Lee quickly said, "You're too interested in souls, Teabelle. Your heart will be taken by the darkness if you keep dwelling in such matters." I smiled and tilted my head. "Only the weak lose their hearts, Lee!" I said confidently. Hamuel snorted. "Yeah, like you fit into the category of a strong-hearted Yuhijian." I was standing straight, fury in my eyes. "Hey! I have more drive and heart than you!" I challenged. Hamuel scowled and stepped up to me; he stood three or four inches taller than me, and to be honest, I was a little scared whenever I saw his bright eyes darken. You never knew what he would do next. His heart was the one everyone feared being lost. His was not weak, no, but it was angry and bitter for no reason. Or at least, no reason Lee and I had ever been informed of. "Do you, now?" He said from between gritting teeth. "Let's see you use your magic and make something stronger than me." I stomped my foot like the child I was. "You know I can't use my magic yet! That's not my fault!" I couldn't decide when I was born, no matter how much I wished to be the oldest of my family. Well, besides my parents. Still, I wanted desperately to be able to intimidate my brothers like Hamuel could. Not because I wanted to be feared, but because I wanted respect. I would soon learn, though, that fear and respect go hand-in-hand. Back then, I did not know that basic rule.

"Kids?" The door to our room opened, and a woman walked inside a few paces. Her brunette hair was long and curly - no, wavy. It looked like a graceful wave. Her eyes of bright fuchsia looked at me and Hamuel. This was our mother, and we had just been caught almost fighting. Again. "Teabelle and Hamuel Forr!" Middle names. Only Yuhijians ten and older have middle names, because they pick them themselves. It is a tradition similar to humans changing their first names, or their last names when they married. Hamuel quickly backed away from me, looking away from our mother. "I'm so-"
"I am," our mother strongly reinforced. All children had the typical habit of slang, but the adults tried to nip that habit in the bud. We were a wise, respected community and species; children were allowed to play around now and then, but Hamuel was eleven. He by now knew well the right way to speak. Although I must admit I am still guilty of using contractions every now and then.
"I am," Hamuel corrected himself, "sorry, mother. Teabelle was going on about resurrection and her 'remarkably powerful heart'," he said it while rolling his eyes, "that can never be tainted." Our mother looked at me with worried eyes. Resurrection was a forbidden magic and practice. She knew of my 'unhealthy' interest and was trying everything to get me to let it go, so Hamuel's behavior was forgotten in favor of my own. "Teabelle, my dear," my mother kneeled on one knee in front of me, her small hand with red painted nails on my left shoulder. "Your heart is strong, that is true, but never underestimate the Forbidden Practices. Our realm has almost been destroyed by them before. I do not want you to be hurt in body or spirit by dwelling on these subjects. Please, promise me you will stop trying to find a way to learn about these things." Her voice, so very close to cracking from the sadness of losing our father, had me doing something unusual. I lied. "Never again, dear mother." I smiled sadly. In three days time, I would again be reading up on the subject behind her back. She smiled knowingly, for I had never lied before, and stood. "Thank you. Now Hamuel Forr," I saw my older brother glare at the ground, for he dared not turn such a look upon our mother. "You need to leave your sister to her own devices. You are a powerful mage, my son, but you disrespect us all by throwing your weight around!" She scolded strongly. I smirked a bit to myself, and glanced over to see Lee was doing the same. We shared a quick glance and nodded to each other. Turning to Lee next, our mother walked over and sat down on the end of his bed. Now it was myself and Hamuel who were rolling our eyes. Lee was the youngest, so of course he was spoiled. "What are you reading?" She asked with interest. Lee turned the book around to show her. It was a Fire Practice book. I blinked in surprise. Fire was a magic very hard to control! He was only eight. Did he really think he could even understand the terms used in that book yet? I saw the same questions arise in my mother's nervous smile. "You best study very hard to understand all it will take to become a Fire Practice, my son." He smiled confidently. "I will, dear mother!" With all of us addressed, our mother took her leave, leaving our door open so she could hear if we became rowdy again.

"Fire Practice?" Hamuel said as soon as our mother was out of earshot. "Are you crazy? It takes incredible focus and calm to control fire!" I smirked and looked away. "Oh, so that's why you don't use any fire spells!" I did not look, but I could feel his glare. Lee chuckled softly. He was a gentle boy, so I will admit, I was surprised he was trying for such a dangerous style as well. But it was not my place to tell him how to live his life. Not for a few more days, at least. When I was an adult, my input would finally be heard by all ears. I was so excited for that day, the day when Teabelle del Kate finally became someone; not just Goki del Kate's daughter. I did eventually bring myself to side with Lee, however. "You can do it though, little brother. You've got the best attitude out of anyone in this family. If anyone can control fire spells enough to make it their Practice, it will be you!" Lee smiled brightly at my encouragement, and I felt a bit proud to have made him smile that way. "It's useless," Hamuel said with a careless wave of his hand, leaving the room altogether. I was quickly up on Lee's bed, peering at the text of the book. "Wow!" I exclaimed at the sight of the index. "That's a lot of spells and tricks!" Lee nodded, smiling fondly. "Yeah. I can't wait until I get my magic. I am going to study this so that I can start with a bit of a head start." I nodded my approval. "Smart, Lee. I should be doing that too, but I'm lazy." I giggled. Lee looked at me seriously and said, "No, you're just too lost in resurrection." I rubbed the back of my neck with a nervous smile. "I, uh..."
"That's all you spend time on." Lee said, since my "sentence" was going nowhere. "If you studied, you'd be better than Hamuel." I looked at my brother with peaked interest. "You really think so?" I asked quietly. Blue met fuchsia, and a smile was added. "Yes." That day, that moment, that is still my fondest memory of Lee. My brother put faith in me. My little brother believed in me. I didn't know that would also become my greatest regret and most frequently reoccurring nightmare.

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Chapter 2: Day to Day

January 17th, 1987.
   Time: 17:51

It was getting late when Lee and Hamuel, after the short parting ceremony we held in the main hall of our home for our father, decided to finally go to bed. I wasn't tired, however. Politely I blew out the candles in the room and made my way over to the two-pane glass window with a windowsill seat. I sat down on my knees and rested my arms, staring out at the countless stars. The darkness they fought off was trying harder that night, harder than ever before, to beat and destroy the stars. My sorrows were sinking in. My father was dead. I couldn't even begin to think about going to sleep. Most probably would have, just to wish and pray they would wake up and it had all been a dream, but I was gifted from birth with a keen sense of reality that was really more of a curse. I played dumb all the time to make my mother smile, but when something was wrong, I always knew. Apparently my mother was already gripping reality as well. I saw her outside, just outside the door, with her head bowed and hands clasped together. Praying I realized. "Oh, mother..." I whispered softly, so as to not wake my brothers. "I wish I knew how to help you. I wish... I wish that you would allow me to practice, so he can be returned..." Stupid promise I had made. I rested my head down on my arms, closing my fuchsia eyes that lacked their usual glimmer. "O' High Priestess, please help my mother to get through this. Or at least give her a night of peaceful sleep to help her steady." I whispered into the night. "Please." I added after a moment. I leaned forward slightly so my forehead was touching the cool glass of the window. "Goodnight." I don't know who I was saying it to, really, but I prayed that night that whoever it was heard me. The High Priestess was like our god, but not exactly. She was, to us, an angel who had created this realm for us to spare us hatred and criticism that was so common on Earth with God's "okay". Perhaps I was talking to God that last time. I was too young to really know the difference yet.

     January 18th, 1987.
     Time: 05:52

Dear mother made us breakfast the next morning, a forced smile on her face all the while. I forgot to mention; on certain occasions we eat food for pleasure. Like a holiday, or a ceremony, or something like this, like my father's death. Our gift of food this time around was salad with slices of raw chicken and an old recipe of dressing that our grandmother had created from scratch. We sometimes drink tea as well, as a tasteful way to pass our free time. Oh, and the raw chicken? That is normal. We never cook our food in such a way, just prepare it. Our bodies are able to digest raw food without getting sick. Different make-up, I guess. I was silent all morning, and now was poking at my food absently with my silver, metal spork, not really hungry. This was, of course, a red flag to my mother. I had always jumped and done back-flips for the chance at food and its splendid taste, so within minutes she was looking up from her own food and asking, "Teabelle, my dear? Are you okay?" I lifted my own head slightly but didn't speak, so she put down her utensil and stood up, walking around the round table to stand by my side. She put her hands on her knees and leaned down to my level. "Daughter?" She asked again. "I'm fine, dear mother." I assured. It was not a lie. I was all right, just a bit sad. But that was to be expected. "Thoughtful?" I heard her ask, and I turned to meet her fuchsia eyes with my own that mirrored hers. We held the same amount of sorrow and concern in our eyes, it was like staring at myself. I wondered, but never asked, if she felt the same way. "Yes." I responded. "About?" She pressed, clearly wanting to get down to the point. "Many things." I said, trying to worm my way out of the conversation. "Resurrection?" Hamuel suggested loudly from my left. Lee, mother, and myself all turned fierce glares upon him. He scoffed and slammed down his spork. "It's the most likely!" He shouted. Hamuel shouted a lot, he loved to be heard. Especially since he was an adult now; he was just swimming in pride that he had freedom of speech and the rights of the other adults. "My son!" Our mother began to scold. Her soft, gentle, and slightly saddened voice was hard to be taken as intimidating. She really sounded more shocked, or perhaps disappointed. "You - we - will no longer speak of that or any restricted practices from here on!" Hamuel slammed his hands down on the glass table and stood up, storming out of the house, into the streets, his food unfinished. Lee slowly went back to quietly eating. He hardly ever spoke when things got down to the nitty-gritty. He did not like arguing, so he tried to just disappear when someone was fighting. I honestly thought his first power would be the ability to disappear from view. It was silly, but I wonder if he would have actually been gifted with or practiced to learn such an ability. You see, when we turn ten, we are not only adults that can finally use magic, but we are given our three "basic" abilities that were meant for us. We don't have to learn them, we just know how to use them, but they merely were bottled up until we reached the age of ten years old. I never quite understood why, but never questioned it. I would probably know soon enough. My birthday wasn't too far away. My mother sighed softly, but she knew she couldn't control Hamuel anymore, so she simply took her seat again and continued eating. I started eating as well, if not only to make my dear mother feel better. I always worried about my brother when he wandered off, but he always came back safely. But there would come a day he would return hurt. Or perhaps a day he wouldn't return at all. I do not know why I felt that way, but it was a lingering fear. Hamuel was quite powerful, there was no reason to be concerned for him, but... "Sister?" I looked up when I heard Lee speak, meeting his gaze. He said quietly, "Are you okay? Really?" He asked, before taking a bite of his food. I nodded. "Yes," I assured for what felt like the hundredth time. "I really am." Our mother finished her plate and stood, taking the dish to the counter and setting it down. "Please children, prepare yourselves for your classes. I know yesterday was difficult, but we can not let ourselves fall out of habit." As she spoke she was heading upstairs, likely to get changed for her own classes. Adult or child, everyone here, despite the peaceful city this was, always had something they could be doing. The children were forced to go to classes, adults without children were strongly encouraged to go to classes, but mothers and fathers were not forced to take any classes. Our mother was a restless woman, however, and she liked to busy herself. She took classes the same hours as us so we were always out at the same time to meet each other.

Lee and I gobbled up what was left of our food and quickly went upstairs. I opened the closet and pulled the drawers open on the ground level, searching for a nice dress that wouldn't restrict my movements. Lee grabbed a gray t-shirt and black slacks, wrapping around his neck that same black and white bandanna he loved so much. Father had given it to him, so I smiled sadly when I saw him put it on. He caught me watching and looked nervous. "Do you think I shouldn't?" He asked quietly. I shook my head and smiled. "Death father would be sad if you never wore it again just because of this." I told him, and he smiled a bit. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He agreed. I changed into a flowing pink and red-flowered dress, pulling on a red beanie hat just for style. I turned to Lee in a playful pose and he chuckled softly. "You look weird as usual, dear sister." He said, and I laughed softly. It was probably the first time I had laughed since yesterday afternoon, when I usually laughed, or at least giggled, every half hour. I usually was cracking jokes, or just found something simple funny, but it had been too tense before. It helped that Hamuel was not there to truly criticize me; Lee was only playing around, but my older brother would have meant it in a spiteful way. As myself and Lee entered the living room to meet up with our mother, I couldn't help but wonder again why Hamuel seemed to hate me so. I understood his desire to mold Lee into a less shy boy, though I liked Lee the way he was, but why was I looked down on? I didn't have much time to think on it today. As we all started towards the class building, our mother seemed slightly lost in thought, but she was aware enough not to bump into anyone. I saw Lee watching her as well, but we didn't say anything. Our parents had been together for three hundred years before the three of us were born, so it was no wonder the loss hit her the hardest. We went inside, and all three of us went our separate ways. We shared some classes, or at least Lee and I did since children and adult classes were separated, but the first three were very different. The first class was typically reading, writing, and comprehension.

I sat quietly on my seat, which was a lush pink cushion, in a class with forty-nine other children about my age, and listened intently to all the information they had to give us. After an hour, we were each given a book to read that had questions in the back we had to answer at home before returning it the next day. We do not have a grade system like your schools on Earth; we could take these classes out entire lives if we needed to, so there was really no need to worry. There was no way to hold a child back, for once they turned ten they didn't have to even come to classes anymore in the first place. Unless by the High Priestess' word, we just passed on and went on with our lives. I always tries my best, though. Comprehension class was my favorite, next to physical training. I loved to use the bow and arrow. So when our first class ended, I clutched my book to my chest and walked down the corridors to reach the glass doors that opened to the archery room. I was a bit late because I had asked a few questions of the teacher, but I wasn't too late. I set down my book by the door and rushed inside, grabbed the bow designated for me by size and weight, and picked up an arrow. In a row of fifteen students, we each pulled back our arrows, and all at once loosed our arrows upon command. Five out of the fifteen missed the target; I was not one of them. I smiled as I stared at my shot, which had hit the target perfectly. "Very good, Teabelle del Kate!" I heard the male teacher smile, and I grinned proudly back at him. In classes, by the way, everyone is called by their full name so there is never a misunderstanding. I, like others that did well, was then given my usual younger classmate to practice beside. If you were more skilled than someone, it was the most basic rule that you acted kindly and shared your knowledge to help them succeed. Some people don't like the help and refuse it, but the girl I was helping loved to be helped. She was a small girl, seven years old with dark blue hair. She was deaf, but it never slowed her down. Her brilliant golden-yellow eyes were always very focused, and even though she knew only a few words, she knew sign language, and was always happy to 'speak' her mind. That day she was wearing a black t-shirt and gray slacks, much more prepared for the more physical classes she took. I helped her hold the bow correctly, righted the arrow, and used sign language to tell her what to do differently. In comprehension class I had request extra time for sign language just for that girl. It had only been for a few weeks at the time, so I was still not too good with it, but at least we usually figured each other out. I only know her last name was Yulei; her first name escapes me still. When our class was over I left the room, heading towards magic preparation. I got about five feet down the hall before I heard fast footsteps and turned to see the little girl, Yulei, running to me. I stopped to let her catch up and signed, "What is wrong?" She held out my book from comprehension class that I had forgotten, and I embraced her in a hug, then signed 'thank you' at least three times. I would have been devastated if I had left it. She signed to make sure I kept a better eye on it, and I nodded my assurance that I would. We parted ways, and I looked back once to see the back of her straight dark blue hair. I wonder if we'll ever meet outside of class? I wondered to myself. She would be a great friend, she was already displaying the signs. I smiled to myself at the thought of her as my friend. I considered turning back to go after her, but I did not want to skip my next class. I was just about to turn ten, just about to get my powers, so it was important to myself personally and my overall existence that I learned the basics in preparation, including calm and control.

The doors I approached this time were wooden with golden engravings. I grabbed the golden handle and struggled - but managed - to pull it open. I walked inside and sat down near the front, where most of the kids knew to leave for me. If I was not in the front, I had a habit of getting snappy. I did not want to miss a thing, so of course I wanted to be closer to the teacher. I set down my book in my lap as I sat on a plush green pillow that served as our chairs, watching intently as the blonde woman in a grey and white gown displayed how to concentrate a ball of energy. I narrowed my eyes, trying to see what she was doing. I saw wisps of grey and pink, then suddenly the sphere appeared as a stable object, and I let a soft "wow" slip past my lips. I raised my hand quickly, and the woman's soft voice asked, "yes?" I lowered my hand and said, "What are energy spheres used for?" She smiled widely. "A good question." She said, sitting on her desk, holding out the sphere for us all to see. "Young ones. This is our most basic form of defense. When you focus your energy to create an energy sphere, it can then easily be morphed into blasts, a make-shift sword, or you can explode it and send an enemy flying a distance to give yourself a moment to prepare yourself for the next move." She said, looking down to me. "Do you understand?" I nodded. "Yes!" A girl behind me muttered about how eager I was, but I ignored her. I was eager, and I didn't care what they thought. The rest of the class went on without a word spoken, except from the teacher, who demonstrated a few things for us. She had ice abilities, so she had a tendency to make everything sparkle, and she sometimes did it on purpose to make us giggle. I always smiled, but found it pretty rather than amusing. An hour and a half passed, and the well-dressed woman said, "Now go on, everyone!" She shooed us off. "Those of you eight and nine, make sure you visit the Familiar's Room. Your friends are waiting." I smiled, walking towards her. She looked down at me and crossed her arms, looking interested in whatever I had to say. Her eyes were golden, and her long, curled hair was white, pink at the tips. Her long nails were painted pink. I had not noticed these things before, but now that I was up close to her all the little details came rushing in. "Um, Ms. Kinju," I began nervously, tapping my comprehension book. "I was just wondering... do you have a familiar?" She hummed thoughtfully, a beautiful, melodic sound, and looked up at the dull colored roof. "No, no I do not, darling." She called everyone darling. "Why not?" I asked. She smiled and said, "Because I have yet to be chosen by the one I chose." I tilted my head in confusion. "What?" That had not made any sense to me. She got comfortable there on her desk's edge and said, "You see, Teabelle del Kate, familiars are beings that choose us. They know best who they belong with, who needs their help and guidance in life. I tried to choose one my first day when I turned ten, but he rejected me and bit my finger." I made a face as I winced. "Why did he do that?" I asked worriedly. "Will mine bite me too?" Ms. Kinju laughed softly. "Only if you upset him or her! You see," she said 'you see' a lot, "I tried to force him to be my familiar. He was a small crow. I liked his appearance and his temperament, but he knew he was destined for someone else. I continued to pry, so eventually he gave me a good bite to make sure I got the message." She explained, holding out her hands. "Your familiar was a being created especially for you. Even before you were born, they are born, so they can learn about life and stabilize their personalities, this way, they know what their strengths are. Then, each familiar gets a certain urge within to go to someone. They do not know who. That is where the staff here come into play. They're welcome in and all searching familiars are give the view of the children that will soon become old enough to have a familiar, or on some occasions adults who haven't found theirs yet."
"Like you?" I asked boldly after her explanation. She nodded, crossing her legs and leaning back on her palms. "Yes. Like me. I occasionally go to the room and stand off in a corner. Sometimes your familiars come to you, other times you need to search for them. They are the opposites of you; your weak areas are where they are strong. They complete you." She said with a longing sigh at the end. For a moment we were both still and silent, then I stepped closer and asked, "Do you feel incomplete?" She looked at me with sorrow in her eyes. "Go to your class now, darling. Your familiar may be waiting, and if you do not give him or her time to get to know you, you will only have to wait longer and longer." I nodded slowly and turned to leave. As I reached the opened doors I stopped and looked back, seeing Ms. Kinju with her head hanging, golden eyes closed. She must have felt so empty without a familiar.

I did not speak up, but I wish I had. I wish I had wished her luck in finding hers. But I just left her to wallow in her sorrows all alone, and went to the Familiar's Room. The doors of glass were left open, so I simply walked inside. There were shelves where cats slept, beds where dogs lay, and perches for the birds. I even saw a small make-shift pool where there were frogs and snakes. Oddly, the snakes never tried to eat the frogs. I know now that the familiars can speak to each other, just like they can speak to their partner once they've made their bond to each other. Some familiars old and powerful enough could speak to anyone mentally, but unless you are bonded with your familiar it is extremely hard to use telepathy. It is a tough, advanced practice. I had no interest in it. I wanted it to be special; just me and my familiar. I looked around carefully as I searched the room. Many other kids, and a few adults, were here as well. Some familiars came daily, others weekly. They had their own lives, just like us, but life without a familiar or partner is a lonely one. I walked past the cats, and none of them even opened their eyes. The dogs didn't lift an ear. The frogs dove underwater, and the snakes coiled like they were going to strike out at me. I ended up backing out of the room, feeling attacked. I look inside again though before I left, at the variety of birds. None were looking at me. I felt utterly alone, rejected, and hated. With my head hanging, I went on to the last of my classes. My last class was a special one. I had a private teacher. I was friends with the woman he was in love with, so to keep on both of their good side's he eagerly taught me as well. Perhaps I should have felt insulted, but as I left the Class Building and raced towards his house, I realized I did not care if I was being used; I was learning how to use a sword, and that was all that mattered to me at the time. I had always loved the graceful moves of the swordsmen, how their every strike flowed, how the sparks flew when the metal clashed - It was such a rush just to see! Unfortunately, I was still using wooden swords. Lucky me.

It was quite a walk, even when I was running. When I finally reached the simple home I knew to belong to my next teacher of the day, I stood on the porch trying to catch my breath. The door soon opened, and I smiled up at the man who stood there. He wore the clothes of a mage, black and silver, sleek yet strong material that didn't weight him down. A sword was tied around his waist. His long black hair was tied into a high ponytail with a white ribbon. He shook his head at the sight of my state, sweaty and out of breath. "Teabelle del Kate," he began in his mellow voice. "You do not need to run. If you are a few minutes late I will not refuse to teach you. Stop making yourself so tired before such a physical activity, you are wasting precious energy." I nodded, stepping in as he welcomed me inside. I went out to the backyard where we always practiced, and a moment or so later he came out with a cup of herbal tea and gave the cup to me. "Thank you," I smiled, drinking it quickly. I returned the cup to him when I finished and sat down my book on the patio, cracking my knuckles as he tossed me a wooden sword. my wooden sword. My name had been carved into it, so that I was used to my own sword and how it moved. "Where's-" I began to ask about my usual partner, but he quickly interrupted me. "She could not make it today." He stood beside me and said, "So until I am asked by another, you will train with me alone." I gulped. "Master Zacole, I'm-!"
"I am," he corrected me, and I could not help but roll my eyes. "Master Zacole, I am no match for you." He nodded and said, "True. That is why I am only showing you maneuvers today, and to work on your agility and dexterity." I nodded in understanding. "Yes, Master."

Two hours later, I was standing outside of the Class Building, waiting for my mother and brother to join me at our usual spot on the corner of the street. I should mention, our streets are made for the horses we travel on, not any kind of cars. We much prefer our horse companions. I had finished training with Master Zacole early because it was just he and I, so I rocked back and forth on my feet for about fifteen minutes before Lee and dear mother approached. "How was your day Lee, dear mother?" I asked. Lee nodded, "Quite good." He said. My mother smiled, "Well, well. It was nice to take my mind off what is past and focus on learning something new." We continued to tell each other about our days as we walked back towards our home. Eventually, the subject came to a subject I had just discovered earlier could be very sensitive. "Mother?" She looked down at me with her usual happy smile, and so I continued. "Why do you not have a familiar?" She blinked, going from happy to confused, then happy again. "I am already complete, dear daughter. I have you and your brothers." I smiled a bit and heard Lee mumble that she was making him embarrassed; but it wasn't enough for me. I pressed further. "But after losing father, is not something missing?" My mother froze, and I winced as I realized my mistake. Lee looked at me with worry, then to our mother with the same look. She was still smiling, but her tears gave her away. "Daughter, please do not bring up the matter again." She continued ahead, and me and Lee hung back a moment before following behind. "I really shouldn't have said that." I muttered, and Lee gently nudged my side with his elbow. He smiled reassuringly. "We all make mistakes, dear sister. It is so soon after, I have spoken of him three times this day."
"Really?" I asked, shocked. He nodded and held his comprehension book close to his chest while I held mine at my thighs. "I do look much like him," Lee all but whispered. "And I wonder... do you think it makes mother sad to look at me?" I put a hand on my brother's shoulder and smiled. "Dear brother, you may look like our father, but you are you, and I wouldn't trade you for anything. I know mother wouldn't either." Finally, I was able to make him feel better. "Thanks." He said, before we finally reached our house. While mother went out to the backyard to practice, Lee and I went to our room and started reading our books like the good little students we sometimes could be. We had agreed to do well to make mother feel better. But, really, neither of us needed encouraging. We were eager to learn.

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Chapter 3: Saving a Will-O-the-Wisp

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