Edgefall Chapter 3: The Next Day.
"Aunt Ashley... When is Mom coming back?"
"Andrew..." Crouching down slowly until she was at the little boy's level. "We already talked about this. She won't be able to come back until... she finishes her work."
"But... I miss her." The words came out broken, accompanied by tears sliding down his cheeks. "I miss my mom. I want my mom..."
"I know, little one." Wrapping the child in a deep hug, pressing him against her chest. "Believe me, I understand... But Mom is very busy right now."
"Does she not love me anymore? Is that why she doesn't come to see me?"
"Don't ever say that. She loves you..." Ashley squeezed her eyes shut, shedding a single, silent tear as she clenched her fists at her sides. "She loves you..."
Andrew woke up with a start, gasping for air as if he had been submerged underwater.
Sweat poured from his pores, soaking the fabric of his shirt while his eyes, wide and frantic, searched for something familiar in the dark of the night. Dizziness still assaulted him mercilessly, blurring his vision and making his surroundings spin. The night wind hit his dark skin, making the hairs on his arms stand up and bringing with it the scent of pine.
As soon as the throbbing pain in his temples subsided, he tried to move his hands. A dry, metallic clank echoed through the grove. He found his wrists bound, and the rest of his body firmly chained to a massive stone. He pulled hard, but the steel didn't yield.
"You're awake."
Elian emerged from the shadows, his wooden wand gripped tightly in his right hand. His posture was tense, defensive.
"I thought you wouldn't open your eyes," the boy added.
Andrew let his head drop back against the stone, exhaling a sigh heavy with frustration and fatigue.
"And I thought you were going to let me die."
"No... I'm not like that."
"This is because I don't have a magical aura, right?"
"It's more than that," Isil interrupted. He approached slowly from the flank, his yellow eyes glowing in the dark like two tiny lanterns. "It's because you shouldn't even exist."
Andrew blinked, trying to focus on the animal that had just spoken to him, but the headache throbbed again.
"Who did you steal the Kianku from, 'Andrew Nova'?" the sorcerer demanded to know, taking a step forward.
"Is this about the vegetables? I was hungry. I'm sorry, but I was seriously starving."
"It's not that..." Elian pressed his lips together. "Yes, you ruined my day a bit with that. But you're not tied up just because of my garden."
"Look, kid," he sighed. "I don't have time for this. I have things to do. Free me."
"Things to do? Like what? What could a human like you possibly do in a place like this?"
Andrew stopped forcing the shackles. He lowered his gaze for a second, feeling a strange and familiar pressure beginning to build behind his forehead. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the freezing forest air.
"You know what?" he muttered, lifting his face and slowly opening his right eye. "Shut up."
The glow was instantaneous. An almost spectral brilliance, of an unnatural and deep hue, was released from within his pupil. The thick iron chains imprisoning him creaked violently, and in seconds, the metal fell away. The metal crumbled as if it were old clay.
Elian reacted purely on instinct. He raised his wand to chest level, gathering energy at the tip at a dizzying speed.
"Ice!" he commanded with a firm voice.
A cluster of frost and condensed water formed in the air, creating a frozen projectile that shot toward the human. The cold air swept the grass in its wake, leaving a trail of white frost.
"Shut up..." Andrew repeated, extending a hand forward.
That was enough for the mass of ice to disintegrate in the air, melting into a harmless drizzle that soaked the ground without putting up a fight.
"Isil!" the young sorcerer shouted.
"On it!"
The feline made an agile leap, levitating unnaturally above them both. In mid-air, his anatomy changed drastically. From his back sprouted two small draconic wings, membranous and dark, which beat forcefully, kicking up dust. Small, sharp horns tore through the skin of his forehead. He opened his jaws and exhaled a blast of scorching fire.
The heat hit Andrew's face. He threw himself to the side, feeling how the fire left a burning smell lingering in the air. He rolled across the damp earth and got up on his knees.
"Shut up!" he exclaimed for the third time, cutting the flare clean off in a fraction of a second, suffocating the fire.
The animal and his master retreated in unison, preparing a new synchronized offensive. Taking advantage of the brief confusion, Andrew quickened his pace, trying to slip away into the thicket of the trees to get lost among the shadows of the grove. He didn't want to fight; he just wanted to flee.
New frost was born from the tip of the boy's wand, expanding like a white cobweb across the green ground. Before the human could take a third step, the pure ice crept up his boots, solidifying into a frigid block that anchored him to the ground.
The cold bit his ankles through the leather. He opened his mouth to utter his command once more, but Isil landed on him, digging his claws into his shoulders, and grabbed his jaw with one of his front paws, clamping it shut with supernatural force that prevented him from articulating a word.
The prisoner's right eye glowed with a sickly, desperate glare. He looked everywhere, searching for an escape route.
The feline swiped at him. The scratches on his cheek burned like fire. With a muffled grunt of rage, the young man yanked his body backward with all the strength left in his legs. The ice imprisoning his boots cracked and finally shattered into pieces.
A new flash of light burst from Elian's wand. An invisible force struck the human dead in the center of his chest, launching him through the air until his back slammed against the very same stone he had just escaped from.
He fell to the ground, exhausted, kicking up a cloud of dust. The air left his lungs. He tried to get up, resting his trembling hands on the dirt, but his arms gave out.
The solaris advanced until he was just a few steps away, aiming right at his face.
"Stay there... I won't repeat myself."
Andrew's chest rose and fell violently as he tried to catch his breath.
"And what are you going to do, kid? Kill me?" he exhaled, feeling the glow in his right eye lose intensity, slowly shutting down until it returned to normal. "You're not going to kill me... I don't see that in your eyes."
"You know nothing about me." Gripping his wand's hilt tighter. "You're just a human."
"And my heart pumps blood just like yours..." A drop of that red fluid slid down his scratched cheek. "Just stop pretending. You said it yourself a moment ago. You're not like that."
"Nova, am I correct?" Isil intervened, descending smoothly to perch on his companion's shoulder, having already hidden his wings and horns. "We don't have to keep fighting. Our intention was never to end your life... We just want to understand what you really are."
"Tell that to the frozen ground..." he muttered, slowly settling against the base of the rock. "What do you want from me?"
"We want to talk," the sorcerer stated. "It's either that, or we turn you over to the authorities as a thief."
Andrew let out a heavy, resigned sigh, letting his shoulders drop.
"My name is Andrew Nova, 18 years old, human. That's all you're going to get out of me."
"You're in no position to be funny, human," the sorcerer warned him.
"And as I recall, I saved your life from those wolves a little while ago."
"That's not..."
"That's beside the point? Fine... Then answer this." He propped himself up on his elbows, staring at them intently. "If I'm so dangerous and you hate me so much, what are you waiting for to turn me in? Or is it too stupid? 'Mr. Police Officer, there's a human on my farm'."
Elian wrinkled his forehead, genuinely confused.
"I don't know what a police officer is, but I'm not going to let you mock us anymore."
Isil leaned toward his owner's ear.
"Elian," the feline whispered. "He's scared. Defensive. I'll handle this." With an elegant leap, he hopped down from the shoulder and walked at a slow pace until he was in front of the other young man. "Would you prefer to talk to me, Nova?"
"As long as you promise not to scratch my face anymore, fine by me."
"I apologize for that."
"No problem. I'll survive..."
"Andrew... you have to be completely honest with us. Who did you steal the Kianku from? Where exactly do you come from? Are you some kind of dark elf with a strange mutation?"
The boy straightened up, resting his back completely against the cold stone.
"I already told you before... I was just born like this. And I come from Earth. Planet Earth."
"And you..."
"No. I'm not a dark elf."
The feline observed him for a few seconds, evaluating his body language.
"I understand," Isil ruled. "I believe you."
"Not true. You don't believe me at all."
"To be fair, you can't blame me either."
"I know..."
"Andrew... If it's true that you were just born like this, that you're human and that you come from that place called Earth... Are there more like you out there?"
The question seemed to shatter the night air, cutting through the atmosphere sharper than the ice from the previous attacks. Elian took a couple of steps back on pure reflex, raising his wand again, ready to conjure a defense at the mere thought of an invasion.
"No. Not that I know of, no... it's just me."
"That you know of?" The sorcerer raised an eyebrow, making no effort to hide his distrust.
"Yes... just me."
Elian let out a long sigh, lowering the carved wood a bit, though not entirely pointing it away. The tension in his shoulders seemed to have lessened a fraction.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Relax... there isn't a secret army looking for me. It's just me, freezing and starving to death."
"Then just answer our main question... How is it that you have a Kianku inside you?"
"I don't know." Ignoring the fact that he was still being held at wand-point, he rested his hands on his knees and forced himself to stand up. "I swear to you, I don't know."
"Elian," Isil spoke, looking at his companion. "I believe him... He's not lying."
"He attacked us, Isil. He broke my magical chains as if they were paper."
"Look at him closely. He is lost, scared, and has no one to help him in this world. A human with his characteristics won't survive two days out there without drawing the attention of the wrong people."
"Hey... do I really look that bad?" Andrew interrupted.
"Human, I remind you that you are still in no position to be funny. Weren't you taught manners as a child?"
"Weren't you taught how to use your brain?"
"Enough," the cat roared, placing himself right between the two males, the fur on his back standing on end. "Please. We are not enemies."
Andrew crossed his arms, feeling the ache in his chest, but nodded slowly.
"You're right, talking cat... I'm not his enemy."
Silence settled among the three of them, dense, though less hostile. The wind blew again, rustling the dry leaves around them.
"So..." The young mage finally lowered his arm, although he kept his eyes fixed on the outsider. "Do we have a deal?"
"Deal?" Andrew reached into his coat pocket, pulling out some old bandages stained with dried blood. "What kind of deal?"
"A fair one. Listen closely. I won't turn you over to the town guards, nor will I freeze you in a block of ice to throw you into the nearest river. In exchange, I want you to help me earn a hundred coros. Do you accept?"
"Coros?"
"That is what gold coins are called in this region," Isil clarified.
"Money... fine. I understand that. I accept." He took a step forward, extending his right hand toward the boy. "Shake on it. We have a deal."
They both looked at each other for a second before shaking hands, clasping them in a firm grip that sealed the makeshift alliance beneath the starlight.
"Now," pulling the bandages out completely and shaking off the dust accumulated on the fabric. "Can we go to a quieter and less freezing place? Now that we've agreed not to kill each other, I need answers. And a place to sit."
"Same here. Let's head back." Elian holstered the wand in the leather sheath tied to his belt. He walked a few steps toward the undergrowth and picked up the worn fabric satchel that belonged to the outsider. "Here. I assume this is yours."
"Thanks." He took the satchel by the straps. He felt the familiar weight of the objects inside and let out a sigh of relief upon verifying that nothing was missing.
The trio began to walk, making their way toward the house. They advanced by pushing through the trees, whose leafy canopies filtered the pale moonlight. The atmosphere maintained a tense calm. The silence was only broken by the sound of crickets, the crunch of dry leaves, and heavy footsteps on the grass.
Finally, they crossed the threshold of the forest, stepping onto the flat, cultivated land of the farm. The silhouette of a rustic cabin rose before them. Elian, glancing sideways at his strange companions, opened the front door with a soft click.
"Come in," he instructed, stepping into the dark hallway first.
Andrew followed him, closing the door behind him.
"You have a nice house."
"Thanks... I do what I can."
"Do you live all alone in this place?"
"I live with Isil."
"I mean—"
"No. No one else lives here. My family is far away, in Florender, south of Wenston."
"Uh..."
"They are in another city. That's all."
"Got it. Thanks for clarifying. The truth is, I know absolutely nothing about the geography around here."
Elian stopped at the threshold of a more brightly lit room.
"Really? About how long have you been wandering around this town?"
"Uh... is today Monday?"
"Monday? Do you mean the Moon?"
"No. Forget it. Well... I think I've been here for a week, surviving however I can."
"Then you'll have to learn a great deal about this place if you want to stay alive," the young man said, finally entering the kitchen, a spacious room with a large oak table in the center. "Isil, tell the guest the house rules."
"Not to contradict you, young master," the cat replied, nimbly jumping onto the table. "But, since when are there written rules in this house?"
"Ah, well, from right now there are going to be rules."
"No problem," Andrew assured him. "I'll follow your rules."
"Then, don't break anything. By the way... What exactly does 'Edge' mean?"
Andrew blinked, bewildered by the abrupt change of topic.
"What?"
"Edge. That's what the strange book you carry in your satchel is named."
"I..." Unconsciously, he touched the fabric of his bag. He opened it carefully, reached in, and pulled out the hardcover tome, placing it on the table in plain view of both of them. "Yeah, it's called Edge. You understand my language?"
"Your language?" The boy stepped closer, looking at the book's worn cover with curiosity. "The book is written in Solaris. Or at least it was in Solaris when I touched it."
"Alright. I'm going to ignore the violation of my privacy... Now, I need a drink of water."
"Help yourself. The pitcher is right there."
He walked over to the kitchen counter, touching the glass pitcher. He poured himself water into a glass and drank it down with ravenous speed. The coolness slid down his throat, soothing the burn from the fight. He spilled a few drops that ran down his neck and disappeared under the collar of his shirt.
"You really were thirsty," the owner of the house commented, crossing his arms.
"Yeah... a bit." He wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his coat, letting out a long sigh of satisfaction. "Thanks for this. And tell me, going back to the deal, what do you want a hundred coros for? It sounds like a lot of money."
"Because I don't want to be stuck on this farm my whole life." Drawing his wand once again. "My grand dream is to be a respected and useful mage. To achieve that, I have to travel to Arcadia."
"Arcadia... Is that some kind of university or magic school?"
"The best."
"Point taken."
"If I stay here working the land every day, I'll grow old trapped in the same place. I'm not complaining about the farm, but I want to prove my worth."
"Well, good for you, kid. Good luck with that." Andrew poured himself a second glass of water, this time drinking it much more calmly, savoring every sip.
Isil, still sitting on the oak table, kept his piercing yellow eyes watching every movement of both males, analyzing the dynamic that was forming.
"Hey, talking cat."
"My name is Isil, Mr. Nova."
"Sorry. Isil. Since you know so much... What exactly is this thing in my right eye?"
"Are you referring to your Kianku? Sir, you state with absolute certainty that you came into the world with that power, and now you tell me that you have not the slightest knowledge about the nature of your own ability?"
"I'm not someone very cultured in this... well, magic and fantasy stuff."
"I understand your confusion. It is an unusual situation."
The human leaned against the counter, holding the empty glass between his hands.
"So, Isil, enlighten me. What is a Kianku?"
"Mr. Nova. A Kianku... It is not just ordinary magic, not even by the standards of our world. It is something that goes far beyond any spells that Elian or I could conjure."
"Don't get all poetic on me now. What do you mean by 'far beyond'?"
"He means," the young sorcerer spoke up. "That the Kiankus are the weapons of destiny. The ultimate weapons... the ones that were forged to destroy dark magic... and with it Zurthur, the most powerful warlock in history."