Galvanism

Chief Orville’s face is a placid lake, but I can see ripples of shock spreading beneath the surface. 

His deep-set eyes, which must have seen a lifetime of lies, betrayals, and half-truths, are wide with a kind of profound astonishment.

When I finish relaying the full, unvarnished truth, I feel utterly hollowed out. The tale of my life is woven from a volume of despair and miracles. I expect a reaction of fear, disbelief or disgust.

I watch as he visibly processes the impossible. His gaze is fixed on the floor between us, as if he can see the spectral image of my old life laid bare there.

He leans back and rubs his tired eyes with the heel of his hand.

"Another world…" he murmurs, more to himself than to me. 

"I know how it sounds," I say, my voice raspy from talking for so long. "I wouldn’t believe me either."

He’s then quiet again for a long time, and the silence is just as terrifying. 

There's a conflict in his face, I can see it tugging back and forth at the muscles making up his expressions. He stands up from his chair and paces back and forth fiddling with a small carved figure, turning it over and over in his calloused hands.

"My wife," he says finally, his voice dense with an old memory. "She always loved a good story. And she always used to say every story has some element of truth hidden within it." He sets the bird down and looks at me, and for the first time since I met him, his guard is completely down.

I see not a chief or an interrogator, but an old man trying to fit an impossible new piece into the puzzle of his reality.

"And I must say that is the most astonishing story. So the truth within it must be equally as astonishing.” The suspicion in his voice is dampening. 

“I think I’d like to find out for myself how true that story really is.” There is a reluctance in his statement and for once in my life I can’t totally read the emotion that comes along with it.

A knot of anxiety I hadn’t even realized I was holding in my chest finally loosens its grip. I don’t even know what to reply, I didn’t think he would believe me.

"Th…Thank you Chief Orville I…I don’t know what to say?" I botch together a sentence in hopes he excuses my awkwardness.

The light in the Chief’s eyes dims, replaced by a deep, furrowed concern. He looks at me as if I’ve just confessed to not knowing how to breathe. The shift is so sudden it’s startling.

"Well Shikara I’d like you to answer a question of mine. Was there any magic in your world?"

"No not in the way you seem to have it here, but we had plenty of stories involving magic. Our world developed largely around this thing called ‘electricity’. I’m not well educated in how it worked but it was a type of energy that could be harnessed to power lights and other stuff." I try to keep my reply brief, so I can use my limited knowledge of modern civilization as potential leverage.

"Electricity," he repeats, testing the strange word on his tongue."Your lack of knowledge on magic presents both a problem and an opportunity. Shikara, it will be safer for everyone, yourself included, if you are kept close. Where I can see you." There is a tinge of enthusiasm in the Chief’s reply.

"Does that mean… you’d like for me to stay here in the village despite what I just told you?" I say tentatively.

"It means I would be happy to accommodate you as long as you continue to tell me the truth. And as long as you make an effort to learn magic and make yourself a part of this village. Afterall, I need to find out if you are really the person you say you are." A smile finally manifests on the Chief’s face, bringing along a brief chuckle.

Instinctively I chuckle back, I can’t tell if I am actually happy to stay here or if I am just happy to have some security and safety from the brutality I faced yesterday.

"Thank you, Chief Orville, I think I would like to take you up on that offer. I am really sorry I had to lie to you and your people, but as you now know there was a real reason behind it. I hope it goes without saying but could that stay between us?" My face contorts with concern as I allow myself to trust someone for the first time in a long time.

"You’re welcome Shikara, and as you are now my guest you can just call me Orville. I’ll respect your wishes and keep your secret between the two of us. However I must ask that you continue to regale me with stories of your past!" There is an almost boyish wonder in the chief’s words that I almost can’t refuse.

"If that’s the price to pay for my accommodation and education, then so be it." The slight sarcasm oozes from me so naturally. 

Orville lets out a hearty laugh and I join in, it’s nice to feel human again. 

As Orville’s laughter ceases he interjects "Clovis has had many years of practice and training in magic. I think she is probably the best person in the village to be your mentor. She usually gives brief lessons to the kids in the village when they reach a certain age." 

"I’ll introduce you to her properly after our meal. As you may have seen already she can be a little… irregular when it comes to people. I think she’ll need some convincing in order to take you on as an apprentice especially given that you’re not a normal student." Orville’s manner of speech briefly emulates Elara’s when talking about Clovis.

Clearly Clovis has left the same impression on more than just one person.

Orville is quick to prepare our lunch. He serves me a platter of what looks like cheese, dry bread and meat. It’s surprisingly simple for someone of his stature but I’m not one to complain it’s ‘free’ food after all.

Over lunch we go back and forth on what I need to say to Clovis in order to convince her I need her mentorship. Orville says he will try his best as well but unfortunately he can only sway her so much as ultimately she has the autonomy to do what she wants. 

From what I can infer Clovis’s utility to the village makes her pretty much irreplaceable which means Orville’s authority doesn’t hold much influence over her.

Due to this slight bureaucratic oversight we have decided to come up with a plan that should help us convince Clovis. 

I continue to play my part as the nomad but I let slip that I’d actually like to put roots down somewhere. Orville with feign ignorance about my sudden attitude change and will initially try to state that I can’t stay in the village because ‘I’m another mouth to feed and that Roach won’t allow it’.

He thinks this will then prompt Clovis to fight for my freedom of choice to go and stay where I like, he believes this is something Clovis cares about deeply. 

At which point I will then try to tell her that I’ve never had the opportunity to settle down anywhere and that my education has been quite poor, specifically my magic.

Orville thinks this will appeal to her need to save people which in turn will secure me a spot to become her apprentice. 

I don't think people seem to entirely ‘get’ Clovis but if anyone would know her then surely it would be Orville, he’s the Chief of the village afterall. 

Once we are somewhat happy with the plan, we clear the table and set off for Clovis’ house.

An optimism I haven’t felt in a long time starts to brew within me, I struggle to keep it suppressed as now I know I have someone on my side to support me. 

Someone who I think I can trust.