A Fossilized Old Bat

Cera woke up at the break of day feeling as though she was being squeezed. She shouted, "Ow!" as she saw Cy sitting on her back.

Before she could respond, he replied, "Time to get up," and turned to go.

She noticed that Perla had already gotten out of bed and left her a change of clothes when she looked over the cot. Cera changed rapidly, muttering obscenities for the purple-haired bastard and thanks for the older girl.

When she realized Cy had been watching her from the doorway, she let out a yell.

"Pervert!" Before she could stop herself, Cera shouted.

After a moment of surprise, Cy's irritated scowl returned. "Flat-chest, as if you have anything to look at."

Cera felt a spark of indignation. She screamed that he take it back as she rushed across the room with her hands balled into fists and her eyes focused.

All Cy could do was roll his eyes. "You're running late. Hurry up.

As he took her to another hut farther down the route, she continued to give him stern stares, her rage unrelenting.

In an unusually kind move, Cy said, "You should probably know before you go in, Carmine's not senile." "He's strange, but he has a reason for everything he asks for."

With her eyes still glaring, she murmured, "T-thanks." Then he went away.

Old books and incense filled Carmine's shack. The air was hot, and Cera's back started to perspire right away. The old man at the cauldron, seeing her approach, slightly weakened the fire.

"You must be Sierra, too."

The elder's captivating charm lost some of its intensity.

"Cera."

Carmine responded, "Yes, I do apologize," but the sparkle in his eyes was anything but contrite. "Will you stand nearer?"

Cera tentatively approached the man while maintaining an arm's distance. He stooped to look at her feet. After a few minutes, Cera's mild perplexity turned into profound perplexity.

“Sir...?”

"Oh, yes, yes." He straightened himself, leaning on a big stick that curiously resembled a cane. Although it appeared that old Carmine had lost his intelligence, Cera recalled Cy's counsel.

"Do you have any questions for me?" Cera posed the question straight. "Like a 'big test' or what?"

"Oh." Carmine's beard, which was chest length, rose slightly as a sly smile lit up his face. "My major test. Are you up for that? It used to make me pretty renowned. I probably still am.

"Yes,..." Cera was at a loss for words.

"All right, let's get started. What is your age?

She was surprised by the unexpected question. "Eleven."

Despite being a year younger than Cy, he has twelve years of experience here. In Sol-Luna astrology, time moves faster here than it does on Terra. He's most likely... well, since time is erratic, calculations are only estimations. He gave her a suspicious glance. "It's best if I don't tell you," He glanced at her once more.

"What is it?" Cera inquired, startled.

The words came quickly: "Cy died on Terra maybe an hour before you did."

Cera had amazing eyes. However, how?

"Space and time are not equal—at least not in this context." He continued to be nonsensical. Frustrated, Cera wrung her hands. "What are you trying to say?"

This is where Cy was born. Originally from Terra, he traveled back in time to his early years. He had a different body on Terra than this one, and you do too. However, don't you still have the original shape? You looked like this on Terra?

Cera nodded in confusion. "That isn't possible. Are you implying that Cy knew he had died on Terra and was living a different life while growing up here?

"I take it that he told you about his memory retention?" Carmine smiled, his expression unsettling. "That's right."

Cera sobbed, "But—but that's so messed up." "That is so awful and screwy."

"What makes him seem like a resentful old man in your opinion?" Carmine spoke in a lighthearted tone. "In fact, Cy might be regarded as one of my contemporaries if we include the years from his previous life in this one."

Cera remained silent, her thoughts still active. This was even worse than science, which had always been her worst subject.

"Now let's talk about you."

Cera was almost reluctant to do so since she was worried about what she would find. The elderly man poked her with his cane when he noticed her hesitation.

He pointed to the pot and said, "Come here, child." Fearing that he may push her in, Cera drew nearer.

Carmine appeared to burst out laughing at the thought of "eating you." "I'm casting a spell of diversion. fundamental military strategies. We, the Ignis Clan, are engaged in a protracted conflict with the crazy witch in the north.

"Isn't that an idiotic notion?" Cera felt compelled to inquire. "Against a witch with a spell?"

She hasn't handled a wand since she was fourteen years old, poor kid. The point, of course, is that she wouldn't recognize a spell if it were cast.

"How does this operate?"

Carmine shrugged, surprised. "I'm not very good at magic, to be honest." To scratch his hairless head, he removed his cap. In my prime, I could get by with a few daggers and a shuriken. I'm more of an assassin type. Astonished, he glanced at the antique text library on his right. Really, I just do as they say. Wishing for the best

"What caused the war?"

Carmine remarked grimly, "Human nature." It was several minutes before he spoke again. The witch had a good upbringing, but she lately took over the Northlands and turned cruelty into her game. Our clan, the oldest and maybe powerful in the world, is her real target. We will fight her to protect our people because she is coming for us. Carefully, he stirred the pot. "That is your responsibility."

"What is it?"

Even if this spell had full potency, which it doesn't, it would only divert the witch's attention for two weeks. That gives us, give or take, a week and a day. Enough time for Cy to teach you the fundamentals of flame fighting—I can tell you're on the right track—and for you to find the right allies. Cera seemed even more alarmed when he gave her a wink.

"Let me clarify this!" Cera found it difficult to speak. Do you want me to aid in your conflict? Me, a recently deceased child?

Carmine shrugged absently at her. "Life is generally valued more by those who have passed away. Additionally, it's a smaller-scale conflict than the ones you read about in your history books. Just fifty individuals per side.

An outburst of rage was on the verge of happening. The final straw was this.

"Goddamn you!" She exploded, her words laced with remorse and rage. "You fossilized old bat, I don't know what century you're from, but child soldiers aren't popular where I come from!"

Carmine replied calmly, "We're not in the world you knew." She should have been alerted by the glitter in his eye, but she didn't know him well enough to recognize the warning signs. "This is Reverie."

"What a nightmare!" Cera completely lost it and screamed. "I—I'm dead as hell! And you turn everything into a terrible joke!

The sage interrupted, his smile gone, "poor child." "You appear to require restraint."

"What—"

Carmine quickly rammed a knee deep into Cera's spine and pinned her arms behind her back at an uncomfortable angle. This was an altogether different level of discomfort if she had considered Cy sitting on her to be unpleasant.

The man gave her another kick while sneering into her ear, "I'll give you some time to... think over your actions." At the proper time, Cy will accompany you to the training grounds. If not, you go to the market with Perla today. I want you to go north with a small group in two days. Anything that would contradict that, and...” He delivered a forceful hit that Cera felt in her bones to punctuate his command.

Then he let her go.