Chapter 30

Part 1

Gothic punk, a style of clothing I’d admired from a distance whilst in Graewood for ever so long. Had I known it were so laborious to engage with, I’d have had the mind to acquire a set of mage robes in the fashion before leaving home! “An-Anesha…can you move your foot? Please.” Opposite me in the bed of the truck was Fate, vomiting over the side and onto the road every so often.

“Spare me your kvetching.” Arnold’s old vehicle was small, only having two seats in the front, and a putrid back used for hauling objects. The old hunter drove in the front alongside the two girls; meanwhile Fate and I were instructed to sit in the back, unfortunately. The vehicle’s swaying over mud and gravel made lacing my cumbersome footwear tedious. Placing the sole of my boot to his back, I forced Fate away, unable to overcome my aversion to being touched for even a second. “My boot placed against your backside, quite a few would wish to trade places with you in an instant. Should you not be grateful?” Finished lacing one boot, I placed it against Fate and began doing the other. Keeping a distance was vital; not just for my own mental well-being, yet also as to maintain my concentration. The whole time, I was absorbing and internalizing the seed’s mana, focusing on Bramble in the cavern, and as always, sparing a thought to the barrier over Graewood. Never again could I allow that barrier to waver. Due to my temporary lapse in judgement in that swamp, those Magekin passed through the barrier, my perfect barrier!

“Hey, ya’ two!” The old hunter called to the back. “We’re almost at my place! There we can get the guy cleaned up!” We finally reached an actual paved road and the violent rocking subsided, a small grace for my backside. Leaving the woodland, a sign along the roadside was inscribed with ‘Whispering Hills bridge’. A large flowing river separated the noisy human town, ironically named ‘Whispering Hills’, from one situated across what I could only assume was the town’s titular ‘Gold River’. Crossing the bridge that hovered over the body of water, I could sense the numerous beasts aware of our presence as we drove away from the hills.

(Fate is still leaking copious mana. A stronger barrier is needed. It has been some time, however…) Focusing, constructing the imaginary formula in my mind, and unleashing my own mana, I calculated another perfect firmament barrier! Clasping my hands, the nothingness expanded between my palms. Empty space filled with purple mana particles, morphing into a translucent azure orb lined with cycling golden glyphs. (A bit more…the restrictions will match and meet the correct criteria.) I folded the barrier-to-be in on itself, then allowed it to once again expand. (Smaller…smaller…smaller. Recalling so many restrictions is time consuming. I shall reimmerse myself in training to become swifter with such things.) No more than the size of a grape, the completed spell floated at the tip of my index finger. “Fate.” My call was met with another violent hacking vomit. “Face me.”

“K-kay…” He turned, face green and having lost most of its luster, even after transforming. I reached out, aiming for the seed scar on his neck, and without feeling a thing, placed the barrier beyond his skin and around the seed! “Whoa! Wh-what did you just do?!”

“Calm yourself. That barrier will replace the other one around the seed. It shall regulate the mana you’re outputting, since you’ve clearly grown much stronger now. Healing shall proceed as per usual. Simply remain calm so the excessive mana you are currently exuding slows.” He listened attentively, as always. If not for the constant bewilderment in his eyes, I’d have been quite happy with him as an aid. That bewilderment, however, would always lead to him closing the distance between us…ending up in my personal space! “Back!” I planted the sole of my completely laced boot onto his chest and slammed the foolish boy to the other side of the truck bed!

“O-Ok! Geez…”

Part 2

Arnold’s vehicle pulled to a stop and he exited the front alongside the girls. “We’re here.” He unlatched the back, though I leapt over the side to the ground. The old hunter’s home fit him perfectly. A lone two-story dwelling on the outskirts of the quiet Gold River, seated at the peninsula’s tip and forking waterway. “Lu, did ya’ call ya’ father and Rita’s folks?”

“I texted them!” The girl said, holding up her cellular device with a smile.

“I said to call them. Don’t go thinking that everyone reads texts, especially not us old folk. Call him while I help this one inside.” He pulled Fate onto his shoulder, still ailing, still holding on by a thread with that oozing grease rolling down his back. I tried to assist, but again, my hands froze. “Lady, if ya’ going to have another episode, do it over there.” He pointed to a weathered swingset beside his home. I held my tongue.

The old man fumbled with his massive keyring at the entrance. Sorting through more keys than I suspected he had a use for threw the miser into a state of discomfiture. I stepped forward and snatched the ring! “Which one?”

“Hmph. The one with an eagle head.” I flipped through what had to be nearly one hundred keys until I happened upon a bronze eagle head, and as stated, it was the front door’s key.

I unlocked it and let him by. “You are welcome!” No thanks! Truly, Arnold was a rude and irksome curmudgeon, though I knew far worse in Graewood. The other girl, Lu, spoke on the phone with someone. Rita clung to her side, seemingly well acquainted. The child suddenly turned, flashing a bright smile!

Rita left Lu’s side and ran to mine. “Miss Anesha, are you ok? You look sad.”

“Sad?! Me?! Perish the thought, child! I am merely engaged in deep thought.” Not untrue. My thoughts were both with Fate and Bramble, as well as the barriers I’d erected. For things such as barriers and seals, one must always spare a thought to its existence and the formula in mind with which they were constructed.

“Hmm…nah. You also look kind of sad.” Again, she pointed in my face, that Lu! “Sorry! Right! Sorry!” The uncouth child realized her mistake and quickly retracted her finger.

“Ridiculous! Human children have so little respect.” Had I done such things; my master would have swept my feet from beneath me with a swift kick!

“Human? Lady, you look pretty human to me. Also, I’m no kid, I turn 14 next month!”

“14, hmph! When I was your age—”

“Y’all going to stand out there in the cold or what?” Arnold cut me off! The rude old man, I was in the middle of reminiscing! With hindsight, recalling those days of old would likely have further soured my already bad mood. Both girls entered Arnold’s dwelling, leaving me alone to ponder our next move.

(The Seer spoke of four Magekin north of this location however, they split off into separate groups. Should they be moving south west…) Focusing my senses, I recalled a formula and pushed my mana into constructing the magical radar map in my grasp. (Extending it to the maximum, I’m able to encompass the entirety of Gold River and Whispering Hills, a smidgen into the hills themselves, and anything beyond that becomes fuzzy. My skills as a magic hunter are lacking, at best. Master would be disappointed, but unsurprised.) Faded lights danced across the record shaped mana radar, all weak signatures. The only one of any significance was Bramble, still drawing the seed’s mana. (There isn't much to be done outside of that. I shall meditate and internalize mana for when we do engage in battle again.) With admitted reluctance, I left the breezy summer evening behind and entered Arnold’s dwelling.

Both girls waited in the front, trying in vain to subdue the static of the old man’s boxed television unit. Lu’s enthusiastic slaps to the machine’s side offered little in the way of fixing it. The old man’s front room was filled with many trinkets, from arrowheads, to woven quilts, and handmade bows, to self-stitched boots. One such gorgeous quilt dressed the back of the couch Rita sat upon, which the young girl was fascinated by. ‘At odds’ was a way to describe the room with the home owner. Despite the old hunter’s disposition, the warm lighting and abundance of pictures placed lovingly on a dresser beside the staircase, a homey air was breathed into the front. Three of the images showed a much younger Arnold; beside him, a wife, long black hair, beautifully soft eyes, and soothing smile. As I tracked the pictures, it was clear, they’d had a child, one looking like the old hunter, with dark hair instead of his grayed mane. As the couple grew older, the old man’s frown never seemed to disappear, yet neither did his insistence on hugging his wife and son.

Suddenly, a warm sensation planted itself against my stocking! I looked down to see Rita picking at my tights! With all the restraint possibly mustered, I simply stepped away and didn’t launch her across the room with a kick. “You dress really cool, Miss Anesha!”

“…” Maybe the child wasn’t all bad.

“Kind of weird though. Like, 2000s middle America, mall goth! Haha!” Lu, however, was aggravating and unlikable.

“What’s a goth?” Innocence on full display, I educated the child.

“A goth is one who has an appreciation for darker clothing, emulating the ideas of witchcraft and Magekin from days long gone.” Rita listened with eyes sparkling full of intrigue, clearly engaged. Something about the child faithfully clinging to my every word was satisfying.

“Kin? You mean mage, right? I know about mages, they cast magic and stuff, fighting monsters and dragons!” Again, Lu ignorantly interjected.

“Mage, yes that is what you all refer to us—them as sometimes.” I corrected. “Yet, I assure you, Magekin is the proper term. I’d urge you to remember it!” Offering knowledge to the bothersome child was a kindness she’d hopefully appreciate.

“Hmm…I’ve never heard Magekin before. Pretty sure, it’s mage, lady.” That smug little smirk! I’d have smacked her, if not for my unbridled self-control.

“Child, Lu, was it? I suspect that you are lacking in an understanding of how the English language is formed, lo, worry not. I shall gift you a short lesson! Kin, when added behind something such as a ‘mage’ defers to them as one of their ilk and genus.”

“…Yeah, I know that. I’m actually really good at English, lady. I suck at math, but you know, whatever. Math isn’t important!”

“Pubescent brat, I am telling you…” Again, that smug smirk! In times such as that, my master would always discipline me in an obvious way. “Punishment!” With a quick, and light, strike to the top of her head, I believe my point was made!

“Ow! What the hell?!” Honestly, I wasn’t too sure that hit did much to the bountifully fuzzy locks adorning her head. “That’s rude! Take this!” She swung at me! Which I dodged, easily.

“Oh my, how violent! A child, such as yourself, shouldn’t mistake their own teddy bear like qualities for that of a beast!” I flashed back an intentional smugness.

“That feels racist, somehow.” She sulked.

“Cut all that out!” Arnold reentered the front room, cleaning his hands. “The boy’s in the back. He’s already bandaged up, and the wound’s clean.” With crunching knees, Arnold walked by and took a seat on the couch, letting loose a massive sigh. “Lu, ya’ dad called me. He’ll be here soon. Rita’s dad said he’s a bit further out, so she’ll wait with us.”

“…Did dad seem…mad?” Tangible worry in her tone, I left the three to their discussion in favor of speaking with Fate.

He laid across the kitchen table, back well cleaned and wound dressed. He looked over, and smiled, the idiot seemed fine. “Hey, Anesha. Sorry about—”

“No. No apologies, you fool. I understand your intentions, and saw the folly within allowing my affliction to impede my actions. With that said, you did put your life in danger whilst protecting Rita and myself. We shall simply call it a failure on both of our ends.” I couldn’t simply admit to him making the right decision and me making a foolish, flustered, mistake. That’d have shown weakness, obvious as it was for me, others were not allowed to bear witness to it.

“What’s the plan now? You did something to the barrier…or inscription on the seed, right?”

“It is a barrier, a perfect one. As before, I can regulate the mana. Updating it as I did will allow me more control, is all.”

“Right? I don’t exactly get it, but if you say so…” The way his eyes bounced back and forth; Fate all but begged for further elaboration.

A sigh, a deep one. “Barriers act similarly to wards; a prescribed set of rules prevent entry via a mana powered magical force field. The ladder through mental manipulation, the former through creating and warping space. My barriers…are different from the average barrier. They’re referred to as ‘Firmament’ barriers, impregnable to anyone or anything I choose so long as I am able to adjust the calculations of the barrier accordingly. The fact that I alone am able to create them…has brought me much strife.” And of course, drumming up my past successfully soured my mood. Fate, however, was elated, attempting to scurry off the table to his bag and retrieve his notebook. “I have no words.”

“Hey.” Arnold peeked his head into the room. “Going to take Lu outside and talk with her old man. Since she won’t stop asking…watch Rita for me.” The codger basically shoved the small girl into my side, before I could respond or react, he’d left!

“That…” I stifled curses in front of the child, taking deep breaths instead. Feeling as if spiders had burrowed into my skin for the last few hours from all of the touching, a moment, or several, was required to collect myself! I quickly made space between us, to her disappointment.

“Why do you keep doing that?!” Sulking. Truly a child, having so little rearing.

“That is not of your concern.” Rita’s cheeks puffed out as she crossed her arms in a childish yet subdued tantrum.

“Don’t worry, Rita. Anesha doesn’t like anyone touching her. It’s kind of her thing.” Fate tried to console the child.

“Hmph! I don’t care! I’m trying to be nice!” She turned her back to us, and by then I was done with massaging a child’s ego.

“Do what you will, child. I’ve little patience for…” A chill swept the room; Fate noticed it as well.

All tension melted from Rita’s arms and she simply walked to the other side of the kitchen and flung open a cabinet! The girl stepped behind the open door, obscuring her face, and spoke… “Fate Isley, Anesha Kyteler, we speak once more.” That voice so deep it rattled my bones, the Seer spoke. “We are Seer.”
“We know.” Conversing with the primal being again, I’d not heard of one interacting with that creature twice. “Why are you here?”

Concealing it’s face still, the Seer still bothered to robotically curtsy. “We simply wish to further establish our goodwill, as it seems you are to become a rather important figure in history.”

“If all turns out as planned, yes?”

“Yes.” Disgustingly detached from the situation, the monster. “We will offer first, the information. The four Magekin are not yet aware of your location, nor have they noticed the increased mana from Fate and the seed as of yet.” A small blessing, one I wholly was thankful for. “Now, our request of Fate Isley. As a child, you confide in your father a dream that you’ve never told another, what was it?”

“…” Once again, Fate blushed. Seeing such a cute reaction did elicit a need to torment him, lo’ my boundless self-control was indomitable. “T-That I wanted to be a film maker…since mom gave up on that dream.” How sweet a sentiment.

“Excellent. Now, we have others that require immediate attention. History moves so rarely in such drastic and interesting directions over the course of a century.”

“Wait! Ow!” The fool suddenly stood up, nearly reopening his wounds that the seed was repairing! “I know, Anesha. I’ll lay down, but…I need to know something.”

“If you wish to ask for more, we-”

“Yeah, I only watched Alchemist of Hazzard so I could talk about it with Gabby. Good enough?” I’d not seen Fate so aggressive in some time. “…With Rita, you walked her all the way out to the abandoned factory to meet with us. I’m guessing you scare off most animals and cryptids too, that I can tell just by talking to you. Why didn’t you walk her back, like control her and take her home?”

“…We have many who share our genes, and at the time there was something else more pressing. We needed to know of a politician’s affairs, illicit as they were.” A detestable answer, as expected. I’d assumed as much, yet the narrowing of Fate’s eyes showed he was revolted. “If that is all…” With another curtsy, the presence faded.

“…I don’t like that thing.” We were in agreement.

Part 3

“Kids now a days. Shouldn’t have been out so late, crazy girl.” Exhausted from his evening long adventure, the old hunter finally began to show his age. Aged body slowly hunched over, as he lowered himself back into the couch seat, Arnold’s joints creaked. “Hm?” Rita letting loose a massive yawn drew the man’s attention to us standing in the kitchen doorway. The girl climbed onto the couch too, patting beside herself, as if I’d join her.

“Arnold.” I elected to remain standing. “You seemed unbothered by everything you bore witness to on this night. Why, I ask.”

“Told ya’ before, I’ve seen plenty in my years. That pukwudgie, it’s been stalking the area for a while now. No one laid eyes on it until recently, but we all had a feeling something sinister lived in those hills.” A rotation of the shoulders resounded with a loud pop. The man was truly a bundle of crunching bones, sore muscles, and weathered joints. “Rita, ya’ dad will be here soon. Go wash ya’ face and get ready.” Pouting all the way back to the kitchen, Rita left us. “What about ya’ two?”

“…” Analyzing the situation and reorganizing our plan seemed appropriate. “We shall locate a Gold River inn. Bramble, my familiar, shall take some time to draw in the massive amounts of mana Fate output, and internalize it. Fate, himself, will need to heal, and I’d rather keep a low profile whilst doing so. I ask of you, is there an acceptable inn nearby?”

“Hmm…” The old man thought. “Gold River’s got mostly Indian, don’t think ya’ two would blend in so well.”

“Magekin see humans as humans, race matters very little. Lo, I will concede, that I stand out, regardless. Fate is half Native American; thus the matter shouldn’t be that difficult to ameliorate.”

“Suit yourself.” Rita returned, having washed her hands and face. A pouting face was flashed in my direction, clearly Rita wanted me to know how upset she was with me.

(Fickle children are a bothersome lot. Should one confront them with truths they see as unwelcomed, they will blame you as the cause of such grief.) I hadn’t the time, nor did I wish to, expound upon the details of my condition.

“This…phone…dammit!” Arnold fussed with his phone, quickly growing frustrated beyond a workable level. “Can’t figure this thing out. It’s locked.”

“Is it his phone?” Fate yelled, still laid out across the kitchen table like a slaughtered animal being prepared for a feast. “I can probably help! Anesha, bring it here!” With a shrug, Arnold handed the device off to me. I’d held devices, cellular phones that is, before, and have always disliked the feeling. Maybe due to the amounts of technology in Graewood and surrounding me growing up being minuscule, I was a tad sensitive operating pieces of machinery. The instant the phone was placed into my hand, the warmth of another person disgusted me but the heat radiating from the phone made my palm tingle. As quickly as possible, I gave the phone to Fate. With half his body hanging off the table, he swiped away at the screen. “Do you have a passcode?”

“…Uh…probably my wife’s birthday. Second of February, 58.”

“Let’s see…2258…no. 221958…good! Got it! Oh, you have the temperature control linked here?” Suddenly, humming rung from another part of the home! A warm breeze began permeating the halls, and exuded from the floor vents. “Wow, you’ve got a lot of stuff on here. Is most of this house run by your smartphone?”

“My wife handles that. She’s off working.” The home looked normal to my untrained eyes; however, it seemed Fate was thoroughly impressed.

“Hey, a call is coming in! Says…Caleb Dove.”

“Oh!” Rita shot up! “That’s dad!” She bolted toward the door, flinging it open with enthusiasm and running out into the night!

“Guess he’s here. Ya’ comin’?” It would seem I was invited to join them.

“For what purpose? You said it best I remain undercover, as an outsider.”

“Yeah, but if I tell him ya’ were the one who found Rita, folks will probably be thankful and won’t bug ya’ as much.”

“Fine.” I followed behind the old man, slow as he was, leaving Fate inside on the table.

Outside, Rita was already being embraced by a large Native American man with his long black hair pulled into a bun, and pantlegs caked in mud. He stroked the girl’s head lovingly, as he took deep breaths to calm down. “Alright, Caleb, don’t embarrass ya’self in front of the girl.” Arnold finally cracked what looked like a smile, yet the curling of his lips couldn’t overcome the waves of wrinkles around his old mouth. “You owe this lady here a thank you.”

“Huh? She’s the one you mentioned over the phone, right? You’re not from around here, are you?” A clear and simple observation.

“No. I’m from…north of here. I am Anesha, it is a pleasure.”

“She and her friend helped me chase off that monster.”

“The pukwedgie, right?”

“Pukwudgie, boy! Come on, now.” His smile flipped, correcting Caleb.
“We need to talk to the authorities about it. I know they didn’t want to get involved when we called about Rita before, but now—”

“Now what? Aren’t the cops busy already? One I was talking with just said that there have been a bunch of weird sightings all over, even some other stuff out here.”

“What do you think we should do, Arnold?”

“No idea. Just expect the worse, pray for the best, and prepare for both. Go on home though, pretty sure Rita’s tired.” A hefty yawn and rubbing of her eyes added to Arnold’s assertion.

“Right. Well, Anesha, thank you. I couldn’t be more thankful! If there’s any way for me to help you, please let us know.” I considered asking for lodging, but it occurred to me that we may have already stumbled onto a more secure place.

“We’ll be in touch. I bid you a good evening.” With that, the conversation ended. Caleb, Rita’s father, lifted her in his arms and carried the sleeping girl into his truck, then drove off. “Arnold, I have a request.”

“…To stay in my place?” He said, sour and bitter.

“Certainly, I would choose a place with higher standards; one befitting my stature and grace in most cases. However, there is something within me that gives pause to the idea of moving Fate. He, foolhardy and tougher than he appears, can be quite the sensitive type when involving those who he deems, noncombatants.”

“…Anyone ever tell you that you talk a lot?”

“No. No one has ever been so rude.”

“Let me be the first. You talk a lot. In fact, too much.”

“How dar—” As was becoming a pattern with the old codger, he began walking off and ignoring me! “Wait!” I chased behind him.

“Hey, kid!” Wandering into the kitchen Arnold opened his fridge and pulled out several assorted meats, vegetables, cheeses, and broths. “If you’re going to stay here, may as well cook something nice.”

“Excuse me?!” All of the items were forced into my arms!

“Huh? We’re staying here?” The reason I was even putting up with all such nonsense, asked. “Thank goodness! I was starting to worry about our travel funds, and staying outside while I heal up would probably suck.” Fate chuckling, regardless of the awkwardness, I met with a glare and he understood how upset I was growing. “I-I’ll cook! Anesha, don’t worry, I got it!”

“No!” I replied, shutting him down in favor of him focusing on healing. “This old fool wishes for me to cook him a meal? Then I shall! It will be one to my standard, healthier than he’s likely had in his hundred plus years of scratching his rear with a stick.”

“Looking forward to it, Anesha.” Finally using my name, Arnold mocked me! That long evening was slowly coming to a close. Our mission was in jeopardy, but not to a level of impossibility. With Fate needing to heal, I believed it best we take our time, regroup, and prepare for the hardest fight we’d come to face by then. At no point did I have the slightest inkling of how truly difficult the upcoming days would be. There would be scars left from just those few days that’d be etched physically, mentally, and emotionally into the two of us, and ones that’d be healed from years long past.

End of chapter 30