Uda - Exorcist (4)

“It is the symbol of light. It has existed in our realm for as long as we can remember. But it has also been seen during astral travels into other realms of the Dream. They say when it appears, when someone brings it into the realm of dreams where they live, it signals a great change and enlightenment for that realm. It can enlighten you too, if you have the talent. Now, let the circle shine with light. Think about what kind of light suits you best. Sunlight on water, the beams of a full moon... whatever helps you understand the symbol,” she added, narrowing her eyes.

For a while, nothing happened. Uda wondered what would occur if Orfet failed. Would he simply be allowed to settle somewhere with the others? Or would it be something worse?

Suddenly, Lera hissed in anger and reached for her whip. The golden cord glowed faintly, then lashed out like a wild beast, scorching a path into the ground in front of Orfet. He cried out and fell onto his back. Uda stepped forward, and angry shouts erupted beside her. Ya and Vid were glaring at the woman with outrage. Then Uda remembered their earlier decision.

Stay diplomatic, no matter what happens. Fuck, she thought.

She felt the eyes of her companions on her and slowly shook her head.

“Don’t mess with me!” Lera snarled.

She bared her teeth.

“I... I didn’t...” Orfet gasped as the whip recoiled and returned to its original shape. Lera laughed condescendingly.

“‘I didn’t...’” she repeated, her tone sharp with mockery.

Despite the sweetness of her voice, her words cut like knives.

“You’re saying you can’t light a candle? Don’t insult my intelligence. You saw the barrier. I watched your eyes shift toward it when it was mentioned. Someone who can see it should at least radiate an aura while trying to use the circle’s glow. But you, there was nothing. So are you playing games with me?”

The whip lashed out again, slicing the earth beside Orfet before snapping back.

“I... I’ll try again,” Orfet panted.

Uda saw the sweat beading on his forehead and the tension in his neck.

“You will apologize first. I am an Exorcist of the Nightmare Hunters! I risk my life to contain these creatures, and I deserve your respect!” she snapped.

“I’m sorry, Exorcist Lera,” Orfet said, gasping.

Lera twisted her face in displeasure.

“Good. You’re probably still in shock from everything you’ve been through, so I’ll be lenient. The same goes for the rest of you. In our society, it is customary to show respect to those who risk their lives reclaiming the Shaded Lands and eliminating the Possessed before they cause irreparable damage. I know none of you remember the life you lived before entering the Dream, but that excuse will not be accepted a second time. Is that understood?” she asked, surveying the group.

Everyone murmured in agreement, though Uda feared it would not be enough.

To her relief, Lera seemed satisfied and continued. Her voice was calm again, almost sickeningly sweet as she turned back to Orfet.

“All right. Once more. Picture the circle glowing in whatever light feels most natural to you.”

Again, nothing happened. Uda worried that Orfet would refuse, or that he truly couldn’t do it.

Then Lera gasped in delight. A wide smile spread across her face, and her eyes lit up with greedy anticipation. At first, Uda didn’t understand why, until a tall flame shot up from the old candle, then vanished a moment later.

“You see? Just as I said. What’s your name?” Lera asked.

“Orfet,” he replied.

“Well, Orfet, that was impressive. I’ve rarely seen such a bright aura. Fantastic. If you commit yourself, you’ll make an excellent Hunter. Maybe even an Exorcist someday, though it will take time and training,” she said enthusiastically.

“No... I want to take care of my people,” Orfet said, confused.

Lera’s expression froze. For a moment, it looked as though she wanted to slap him, but then she burst out laughing.

“Yes, of course! Let’s take someone with that much potential and put him to work rebuilding some forgotten little village. That’s a perfect use of your abilities. Hilarious.”

To Uda’s surprise, something flickered in Lera’s condescending blue eyes. Was it sadness? It vanished just as quickly as it had appeared, as if it had never been there at all.

“I can promise you, Orfet. The first time you face a Possessed that slips past the shield and takes something from you that you’ll never get back, you’ll see things differently. I understand you want to protect the people who’ve made it this far with you. But believe me, most of them...” She nodded toward Uda and the others without looking at them directly. “...don’t stand a chance. They can’t protect themselves, let alone anyone else.”

Orfet hesitated, clearly torn.

“I’ll watch over them while you’re gone,” Ya said suddenly.

Uda turned and saw her clenching her fists.

“If this really helps fight those monsters and protect everyone else, then maybe that’s better than wasting away with us somewhere,” she added.

“She’s right. We can manage,” Weet said firmly.

“Wasted potential eats you alive,” Vid said. “If you stay and realize too late that you should’ve gone, it might tear you apart.”

“We still know nothing about this Dream,” added a man whose name Uda didn’t even know. “What if you miss something great just because you stayed?”

That was when it struck her: she didn’t know the names of most of the people she had risked her life for.

How many of their names will I never learn?

Orfet looked around the group, his body trembling slightly.

“I’ll come back if I can,” he said at last.

Then he stood straighter, met Lera’s eyes, and said clearly, “Exorcist Lera, I will join you.”

He stood tall, almost a head taller than the Exorcist, yet  seemed smaller than her.

“That was never up for debate,” Lera said flatly, as if the answer had been obvious from the beginning. “Okay, fine. There’s still one more thing. Aspirant Kelwin, bring the pouch.”

Kelwin stomped over to old Lac and retrieved a small sack, then carried it back with a twisted expression.

“What is it?” Orfet asked, taking a step back.

“Put your hand in,” Lera instructed, a faint smile curling her lips.

“But...” Orfet started to object, though the moment Lera raised her eyebrows and toyed with the whip at her side, he fell silent.

He bit his lip and stepped forward cautiously. Uda noticed his legs were still trembling. Orfet slowly lifted his arm and reached toward the pouch that Kelwin now held open. The young man gave him a crooked grin, which made Uda uneasy all over again.

Orfet swallowed hard, then slipped his hand inside.

A moment later, he cried out and jerked his hand back. Uda didn’t see any visible injury, but she heard him curse under his breath.

“Very good. Exactly what I was hoping for,” Lera said, clearly pleased.

“You can wait in the tent or stay here, whichever you prefer. If others with a talent for Lucidity are found, you’ll travel together to the training facility in the Fal Woods and begin your preparation to become a Hunter. I hope you turn out to be someone special. Maybe even an Exorcist like me. We need talent,” she said, gesturing toward a nearby tent set apart from the others.

“You can say your goodbyes later, if you really want to,” she added with a roll of her eyes as she noticed Orfet’s glance back toward Uda and the others.

Orfet chose to stay. Uda noticed some of the soldiers nearby were now looking at him with clear respect.

“Who’s next?” Lera asked, glancing around the group with a sigh.

Ya stepped forward. Lera completed her test quickly and dismissed her. Vid and two other men followed, but none of them managed to light the candle. None reacted strongly to the pouch either, except to describe a faint tingling.

“Not everyone can have talent,” Lera said bitterly.

Her mood worsened with each failure.

“You,” she continued, pointing at Vid. “Get examined. That scar should be healed. Nightmares can leave dangerous marks. We wouldn’t want it driving you mad.”

She looked over the rest of the group.

“That goes for the rest of you who haven’t been tested yet. Once we are done, get to a healer!”

Her eyes lingered briefly on Uda and then moved to several others who were still injured. The good mood brought on by Orfet’s flame had now fully left her.

“You there. Come forward,” she said impatiently, waving in Nia’s direction.

Nia looked like a cornered animal. She moved with hesitation, stumbling over nearly every step. The Exorcist finally looked at her with mocking contempt.

“Come on now...”

She broke off abruptly. Her face went pale. Her eyes widened. Something wild and frantic stirred within her.

“KELWIN, INITIATE CONTAINMENT MEASURES! SHE’S POSSESSED!” she screamed, clapping her hands.

White threads burst forth from her fingers and wrapped around Nia. She screamed, thrown to the ground. She writhed in agony, unable to use her legs or dig her fingers into the dirt. The burning threads continued to bind her, drawing tighter with each passing second.