Into the Storm

Tomita awoke from his fitful sleep. His body was already building a tolerance to etherdrop. He didn’t want to drink to the point of drunkenness anymore, so he was only taking measured sips throughout the day and right before sleeping. Whereas six weeks ago that was enough, and he would be able to sleep through the night without dreaming, now his dreams were restless, chaotic, and melancholy. Images of his father’s fists and his ex-wife’s distant, blank stares mixed in with screams and a repetitive loop of him falling seventy stories. Every morning, just as his body was striking the pavement, he would wake, still in the hut.

That morning, it shook him more than usual. Something in his heart wasn’t right, but he didn’t want to deal with it. Beyond that, something in Izhari’s heart wasn’t right. When he sat up, he saw she was already in the windowsill, letting her small body capture the precious bits of hazy sunlight that were piercing through the fog. Her presence was somber and pensive. The wetness around her eyes told Tomita that she had been crying.

“Manager? What’s wrong?” he asked in a raspy voice as sleep shook itself from his throat.

“Tomita, I have to ask something of you…” she said quietly.

Tomita gingerly sat onto his feet and placed his palms on his knees to listen intently.

“Ask,” he responded.

Izhari inhaled slowly, and Tomita felt the dread grow in his chest, but knew it was from her.

“I… I… we… I need us to continue on…” was all she could say, but Tomita understood.

“The Shores of Time? You’re ready?” he asked.

“I know you already agreed, but I need you to understand. It is more dangerous than anything you’ve seen so far besides your first day. That will be every day. Memory hunters scan every realm for outliers who don’t have crowns. Maji are extinct, except for me, and anyone who learns about me immediately tries to kill or capture me. And you’re just a hume. This could very much end tragically for both of us…” she explained.

Tomita felt a sense of wonder for his master as she spoke.

“And yet, you tried to do it on your own,” he answered.

She sighed and nodded.

“My manager knew that danger and still tried to venture out by herself. That is incredibly brave and noble. I will be honored to support you as your familiar. However I can, I will assist and protect you,” said Tomita.

Izhari smiled in appreciation but scoffed quietly and shook her head.

“It wasn’t brave or noble. It was normal. I’ve been alone for my entire life,” she replied.

Tomita stood and approached her. Even though they had not even known one another for two months, he felt a bond with her that he was beginning to believe went beyond her summoning. His hand found her shoulder and rested gently on its edge.

“But you’re not alone anymore. I will do my best for you,” he said.

Izhari’s tears returned, and her paw slowly rose to rest on his hand. She nodded in acceptance and took a deep breath.

“Then, we leave today,” she said as she opened her glowing eyes.

“I will begin packing immediately,” said Tomita as he helped Izhari stand.

Izhari felt a lightening of strain in her heart as she stood and felt the calluses of his hands. His palm was smooth and firm. As he turned from her, she realized she had begun to recognize his scent. Beyond the smells of the world that were intermingling with him, his scent gave her the sensation of ancient trees along a forgotten promenade. His clothes rustled against themselves as he walked, and he breathed through his nose more often than his mouth. If he spoke for more than a few minutes at a time, his voice would wear out and begin to have a pleasantly roughened scratch in its bass.

Beyond being her familiar, he was becoming familiar to her.

Now, in the face of setting out on her perilous journey, she felt less desperate than she had for the years prior and allowed herself to take a moment to appreciate the ability to formulate a plan.

Having already started this journey once, she had general remembrances of paths to take and ones to avoid—the most significant challenge; she did not know how to reach the Shores of Time. With the great breaking of the world sending all realms into new directions and spaces, it was impossible to use traditional routes to navigate. It was almost as though Tomita was reading her thoughts when he spoke up from the book wall.

“If everything is separated and turned into floating islands now, is it worth bringing a map book?” he asked.

“Bring one just in case. We might be able to use it for reference or at least get our bearings in new realms.”

“Good point. Okay, I’ll add that to the pile.”

“Pile?” Izhari asked.

“Yep! I’m bringing a few options for us. We can continue reading at night when we are in safe spaces. I’ll bring some magic tomes for your training, a few history tomes, and a map tome. They’ll fit in the cart,” said Tomita.

Izhari found herself touched by his logic.

“I will keep an inventory of supplies and food as well, so we never get too low on essentials,” he added.

“If we are ever completely out of food and desperate, I should be able to conjure some, but I cannot continuously drain myself doing that, so we will need to be cautious,” Izhari stated.

“Roger,” Tomita replied.

“Where does that word come from, by the way?” asked Izhari.

Tomita paused mid-pack.

“I… I have no idea. Hm,” he laughed to himself.

Izhari soaked his laugh in as she pondered the difference of this journey versus when she last set out months ago. There was no laughing that time. His carefree neutrality was a welcome distraction, even if it was forced. Most of all, Izhari found herself appreciating his kindness. He was sarcastic and dry, but he was honest and gentle towards her. Now, looking ahead towards the peril that awaited, she was surprised to find herself grateful for his softness instead of cursing it and desiring a beast.

Tomita tucked his shirt into his trousers as he always had and wiped a cloth over his feet to clean them before putting on his boots. Habit led him to pull on his suit jacket before pulling the cloak over everything. Looking down, he couldn’t help but admire the ridiculousness of his visage. Still, it was all he had, so it would do.

“Still better than a necktie,” he murmured to himself.

An hour later, they were packed. Inventory was carefully and meticulously arranged several times before Tomita decided on the most efficient stacking order. Once he was satisfied, Izhari joined him.

Once more, she was in her full attire, equipped with a handful of vials, strange instrumentations, her staff, a blue headscarf, and a deep blue band around her arm. Tomita noticed her color had returned, and her face was healthier. Even beneath the glowing scars, her eyes showed more signs of life and focus. She was ready. When she reached the cart, they set off without a word. Izhari never looked back at the hut. Tomita did, for one final memory, just in case. Moments later, the path turned down the hill, and the treeline blocked it from view. Tomita said goodbye to the tiny haven and reset his mind to the task ahead.

“I trust you, manager,” he said.

“I… I trust you as well. I truly do, Tomita,” Izhari replied.

“I will give you autonomy to make decisions and strategies on your own. I trust your planning and perspective. You have already proven yourself, so I have faith in you. But if I tell you to run. Run. If I tell you to hide. Hide. I will only tell you to do something if it is of absolute necessity,” she added.

“Understood. Please know I will do the same. This is not my world, so I trust your judgement and intuition. But if I challenge you, please know I am only doing it because I feel it to be certain,” said Tomita.

“Rogger,” she replied.

Soon, they were past the stream and across the field of ruins. Up ahead was the teleportation crystal.

“I am taking us to the last spot I reached before the memory hunters found me. It’s not going to be pleasant. Ready yourself,” said Izhari as they neared the crystal.

“What’s the spot?” asked Tomita.

“The Eversquall. A never-ending storm that divides the smaller, lifeless islands like mine from the realm of larger, more populated islands. I believe it exists to keep that division. It’s almost impossible to cross for a regular person. I will shield us,” Izhari said as she inhaled one final time.

“I’m with you, Izhari,” said Tomita as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

Izhari nodded and touched the stone.

“Wind and rain that destroy all. I have been and wish to return. Take us to The Eversquall.”

With that, they vanished and left the safety of the island. A moment later, they were in the new realm and were greeted by a storm more powerful than any typhoon Tomita had ever experienced. Rain struck Tomita like knives being hurled at his skin. The gusts almost blew Izhari and the cart over. Tomita could not help but let out a shout of shock as he grabbed the cart and Izhari.

Izhari immediately threw her hands out, and a small barrier formed around them, shielding them from the onslaught of howling wind and piercing rain. Black and green clouds screamed above and below them. Before them, a single stone bridge stretched across the void, barely wider than a two-lane road. It floated in the middle of the chaos, spanning out into the storm until it vanished. Tomita could not help but feel a flicker of doubt as he looked at their path. Still, Izhari was there before him, shielding the two of them. There was no going back now, and he had to protect this brave being.

“Stay close to me!” she screamed over the torrent.

Their journey had begun.