Trial, Rayon and Teacher

Chapter 7

Part 1 - Trial

“Is Iris home?” I hear a girl’s voice at the door.

“Yes sweetie, the boy is sleeping on the couch. I’ll get him for you, love,” an older woman answers.

Rubbing my heavy eyelids, I yawn sitting up. The woman enters the living room.

“Siri is here for you, sleepyhead. Go on, don’t make her wait,” she tells me, her tone soft but strict.

I drag myself to the entry, still not fully awake. As I get to the door, the girl hastily grabs my hand.

“Come on, Iris!” she says, pulling me out the door.

I wake up from my dream and open my eyes. Elda sits beside me, Dima on her other side. They are both looking at me, their eyes full of worry. We are on our knees in a row, their hands behind their back, apparently so are mine, bound. I lift my head. There is a woman sitting right in front of us. Tall and slender, orange hair almost as long as her body. Beautiful clear skin and tiny features, earrings dangling from her ears.

Rayon stands beside her, posture straight, gaze fixed on the air.

We are surrounded by Danar on all sides throughout the large hall, with us in its center.

Murmurs rise from the crowd, and their glances weigh on my shoulders. My confusion grows with their discussions.

“I, Avon, will now preside over this discussion regarding the Avi’s fates. As well as to discuss Rayon's choice to hide their appearance from the rest of us. If anyone wants to speak, raise your voice,” Avon's calm and light voice carries through the hall's echo.

An elder Danar man rises from the crowd and shouts:
“Why should we treat them any differently from the rest? We must dispose of them!”

A Danar woman stands and continues:
“I agree! Rayon also deserves punishment! He does not have the right to decide without the people!”

They mutter and shout, most agreeing, expressing their worry.

“Silence please,” Avon says, calm but firm. The whole room goes quiet.

“I wish to speak, my people,” Rayon suddenly says, his gaze still fixed ahead.

“Yes, Rayon, go ahead,” Avon replies.

“Neither I nor my men intended to decide the Avi’s fates alone. I hid them only to avoid alarming our people.”

“Why didn’t you kill them?” someone asks loudly from the crowd.

“Because they are children,” Rayon answers.

The crowd rumbles, angry shouts of disagreement echo through the hall.

I look at Elda’s and Dima’s nervous, confused faces. Frustration grows in me; I want to shout out our innocence. But before I can, Rayon’s voice booms:
“I wish to speak!” Rayon's powerful, deep voice bounces off the walls.

With everyone quiet, Rayon continues:
“These children do not deserve death. They are powerful, noble warriors. After escaping our bindings, they saved our own from Mir slavers, at the risk of their own lives. The woman who was saved is here. I wish for her to speak.”

The beautiful Danar woman stands, her arm wrapped in a fiber bandage.

“It’s true! My children and I ran from the slavers, but got caught. These Avi children appeared and attacked the Mirs. Grabbing us to escape. They almost died, especially one of the boys.”

The crowd now mutters in confusion. Rayon once again speaks loudly:
“My men and I arrived too late. Without these Avi children, the woman and her children would have been taken. I saved one of the Avi boys from death. So if you decide to kill these innocent children, I ask you: kill me as well, to save my honor.”

Discussion and mixed tones spread through the room. The hall grows quieter. Sweat runs down my body and my head spins. I feel so powerless, knowing that there is nothing I can do. Knowing he is our only hope, I glance up at Rayon.
He doesn't look at me, but I think I see a light smile on his face.
Maybe I should speak after all. I can't let Rayon stand up for us alone.

But I don’t get the chance, since Avon speaks first:
“If this is true, I think we need to reconsider. How could we kill the saviors of a mother and her children? Kill one of our most noble warriors? Does anyone disagree?”

The Danar are quiet; nobody stands to speak.

“Then it is decided. The Avi will live. And Rayon, I think we all expect you to keep them in check among our people,” Avon stands, giving the verdict.

“I serve the people with honor!” Rayon says, holding his hand on his chest, stoically.

Part 2 - Rayon

Gulping down the food, we are sitting at the dinner table in Rayon's home. Fresh fruits and vegetables on the table, some meat. Elda and Dima are eating like animals… I try to keep my manners in check, but hunger gets the better of me. This is the first time eating proper food in this world. I almost cry with joy. Rayon puts another basket of fruit down on the table, then sits across from us. The first time I’ve ever seen him smile—and with his usual intimidation, it’s almost creepy. Elda stares him down and asks with her mouth full:
“Bwhaat?”

“Haha! Oh nothing, just happy to see hungry children eat,” he laughs and answers.

“We are not kids!” she protests, swallowing without chewing.

“Elda!” both Dima and I scold her, also with our mouths full.

“Of course! My mistake. As I’ve already said, you deserve to be called warriors,” Rayon says, a little too loud. He grabs all our hands and squeezes them hard in his big palms, and continues:
“My people are part of me. There is nothing I can say or do to ever repay you. Still, I say thank you. And please, eat.”

After releasing our hands, he’s back to looking at us from across the table with a smile.
I smile back, and we all go back to eating.

Stuffed, we are sitting on the floor of Rayon's home while he is cleaning the table. Finally we could rest. This home had a soothing atmosphere. Wooden walls, floor and roof. Natural light through big windows. Open to the outside with no door. Fine fiber carpets. Beautiful wooden furniture, carved each in its unique way. Cooking equipment lined the shelves.

I lean my head back, enjoying the moment of peace.
“So… I remember my name now, I think.” I tell them, as I’m thinking about the dream I had.

“Really?!” the siblings say in sync, popping up close to my face.

“Mhm,” I mumble, not expecting their excitement.

“What is it?” Dima asks.
Both of them almost look nervous. Rayon is listening from the kitchen.

“Iris,” I answer.

“But… aren't you a boy?” Elda asks, looking surprised.

“I am a boy!” I answer defensively, like it wasn't the first time.

“Mm, alright,” Dima says and sits back.

“I think it’s a fine name, haha!” Rayon laughs from the kitchen.

I expected a different reaction, but Dima speaks and interrupts my grumpy mood:
“Nice to meet you, Iris,” he says with a smile. Elda smiles too.

Rayon takes us to see the city and I walk beside him. The siblings run around like ants, screaming in awe. It is truly amazing. A whole city at the top of giant trees. Not just treehouses, proper homes, built sturdy with sophisticated technique. The fabrics are made with extraordinary detail, making clothes and furniture out of fiber. Clay is used to make pots and tools.

As we walk, Rayon is teaching me about their culture. How they use their powers to control almost all living things in the jungle. They can split vines into thin threads, control wood into practically any form. They have schools where they teach children about their society's rules, and how they decide those rules together. Later in life, they decide what direction they want to go. Builder, potmaker, farmer, warrior. Apparently farming is seen as a dangerous job, since they often have to go down to the ground's soil. The warriors follow them to ensure their safety. Hunting is also a warrior's responsibility. Rayon says that they only hunt when there is imbalance in the animal kingdom, or when a dangerous beast appears.

Elda is checking out an old Danar’s food stall. As she tries to touch the vegetables, the man whips her hand lightly with a vine. I look up at Rayon, laughing, I ask him:

“That thing you talked about, how you were part of the jungle, and that’s why you could hide your presence from us, can you teach me?”

“I can’t. Only the Danar can do it, unlike an Avi, like yourself,” he answers, in a stricter tone.

I hesitate to tell him, since I don’t really understand it myself. But something tells me I can learn from this man.

“I think I already did. That’s how I broke out of your wooden bindings, I think,” I say back to convince him.

He crosses his arms and closes his eyes like he’s considering it.

“Hm,” he lets out, in thought.

One final push. I ask:
“You wanted to repay us, right?”

He looks back at me, and laughs.

Part 3 - Teacher

After hours of trying, sweat runs down my forehead as I keep my eyes sternly closed. I hold my hand on the thick tree, trying to draw its power. Nothing.

“Ugh,” I let out.
I turn to Rayon, who is watching me.

“I’m sorry…” I apologize to him, not able to look him in the eyes.

“Haha!” he suddenly laughs, too loud…

“Well! I’ve decided to believe you. I don’t go back on my word,” Rayon says.

He continues:
“It’s only a matter of time; let’s get some rest!”

As he turns away, Dima and Elda come walking.

“Did you do it yet, Iris?” Dima asks.

“No…” I answer back in disappointment.

Elda walks up to me, carrying the spear that Rayon had kept for her. She slaps my back hard, then walks back with Rayon. I think she tried to encourage me.

“Come on, let’s get some food,” Dima says and we head back.

On the way back, a Danar man drops down in front of us. He is muscular and really tall, almost as big as Rayon.
“Rayon, a Krem appeared near the city, farmers reported it attacked them close to the fields. Two of them are injured. We need to leave at once,” the man reports.

“Yes, let us go,” Rayon answers.

“Let me come along!” I say, thinking I could maybe figure out more about my power.

“Me too!” Elda says.

“I guess me too then…” Dima says as he sighs.

Rayon looks at us with a serious gaze. He answers:
“If you can keep up.”

They jump onto branches they grow from the trees and swing on vines. Their movements are fluent. The jungle is like their own limbs. They move extremely fast. If not for their branches, we would not be able to keep up.

“Slow down!” Dima yells from the back. Elda is struggling too. Even with my experience living in the jungle, Rayon is getting further away from me.

“We gotta hurry!” I yell back at the siblings.

They’re out of sight, but I can still sense their presence. They’ve stopped—down on the ground.

“There!” I yell and slide down the tree.

Rayon and the other warrior stand in front of the beast. I gulp as I see it standing bipedal, with nail-like claws. No lips—just disgusting sharp teeth for a mouth. Round eyes with tiny pupils, its stare strikes fear in me.
My heart is pounding as I watch the disgusting creature. Holes instead of a nose, sounding wet as it breathes. A dark green body, slender tail. The skin with slimy scales, only its stomach looks exposed with hide. Standing three meters tall, it’s on the defensive toward us, giving out a hissing snarl.

The Danar warrior looks ready to attack, but Rayon stops him:
“Wait. Let the Avi fight it.”

“What? No, it's too dangerous!” the other Danar warrior says.

Dima and Elda arrive behind me, with their eyes peeled on the beast.
Rayon goes to a large root in the ground and sits.

“I might not be able to save you in the heat of battle. So speak up now if you want out,” Rayon tells us in a calm, strict voice.

We all are tense, but we do not speak.

“Very well,” Rayon says.

Dima runs out to the side, kicking a rock toward it.

“Elda!” he yells to her.

With the beast turning to Dima, she runs forward with her spear. Planting her feet, she hurls it. Protecting itself with its arm, the beast makes the spear bounce off its scales. I’m already sliding close to it. I throw my fist with full force towards its stomach.
I’m too slow. The beast’s big palm flings me away, and I gasp as I hit a tree.

“Iris!” Dima screams after me.

Distracted, the beast's claws are about to slice him in half. Elda tackles one of its thick legs.

“Rah!” she roars, with her veins popping out.

With incredible strength, she lifts the beast, slamming it to the ground.

I get up, sprinting. Already up, the beast throws its razor-sharp claws at me.
I grab both wrists, but it pushes me to the ground; it's too strong.
Elda jumps at it, but gets hit hard in the stomach from its tail and goes flying.
Dima jumps on its neck, and blood gushes from his knuckles as he hammers its head, over and over.
I’m getting overwhelmed; its power is too great. The claws inch closer to my face.

“Rayon!” Dima screams for help.

Rayon doesn’t move, just sits and watches closely.

I hold onto the beast’s wrists for dear life. The ground is crushing me from behind. Blood is filling my mouth from biting down. Its eyes are piercing mine, telling me it will show no mercy.
I can’t die. Not before I learn about this world.
Anger stirs in my chest, my body telling me to fight. I push back with all my might. My ears ring from the pressure. The ground warms my back, the air seeps through my markings. Boiling, in rage, they light up. Power fills my entire being, taking away the pain and any thoughts of death.

I throw the beast’s arms into the ground, digging its claws into the dirt. As its body gets pushed against me, I kick its stomach with all my might.

Going from tense to limp, its body drops to the ground.

“You did it!” Dima says with a heavy breath, crawling over.

I lie on the ground, exhausted. Rayon appears above me.

“So, is that what you meant?” he asks me.

“Yeah, I think so,” I answer, gasping for air.

Dima looks a bit mad, but doesn't say anything.

“We start training tomorrow, all three of you. Come on, we are feasting on Krem tonight,” Rayon says as he walks off.

We stand up, and follow.

For the first time, I feel proud of my power, instead of fearful.