The Faithfuls

Chapter 3: Zeth

Chapter 3: Zeth

We reach the giant tree again within a few minutes. It feels cosier now that I know who lives there. I sit on the circular bed upstairs, with Jinx on the right side of the room collecting water from a fountain. But it wasn’t an ordinary fountain. The water defied gravity, swirling in giant spirals connecting the roof to the floor. She takes some of the water out, but she wasn’t holding it, it was, once again, in a stream floating above her hand. She walks over to me and makes some hand motions. Like troops in battle, the water follows her hands and covers all my cuts and bruises. Within a few minutes, there was no trace that I had fallen out of a tree.

“Do you have a place to stay Zeth?” She asks.

“Not yet,” I reply. “I only got here this morning.”

“Well, my tree is always open for friends, if you want to, you can stay as long as you like.” She sends the water back to the spiral, its blue mixing and swirling upwards. She sits on a hammock made of vines on the left side of the bed, her hair covering her ears so that they’re not even visible. It’s only now that I notice the tattoo on her arm. It’s the same symbol carved into the tree, next to those words that look like they should be on a plaque. It sits on the upper part of her left arm, being the same colour as her hair; blood red. When you look at her as a whole, Jinx is kind of that quirky tomboy next door that is always waiting for an adventure, but, is never in the place to get one.

“So,” I ask, “how did you meet those people from the other dimensions?”

“Well,” she starts, “two years ago, I went on a trip through the dimensions, trying to understand them better. I wasn’t allowed to do that much as a kid. The first place I went to was the Lucenthia Dimension. I met Brandon one day when he was at an training centre. He was throwing lightning spears when someone hit his arm and one of the lightning streaks nearly hit me in the head. He became one of my best friends to this day, over, really, any other of the Faithfuls. He just doesn’t get the concept that not everybody knows the dimensions and their magic exist. I met Muse when I was walking down a street in one of the underwater cities in the Rithen Dimension. He was getting bullied because of his fire aurora. I was one of the only people who accepted him. Then I met Ursa while she was shooting some arrows at a few robbers who had just ransacked her house in the Solar Dimension. I helped her strike them down, and she said we should team up.”She sighs, and continues, adjusting her green tank top. “I got Brandon and Muse, and we became the Faithfuls. People there to help the dimensions in extremely desperate times.”

“So, how old are all of you?” I ask quizzically. “You seem young to be ready for a war.”

I think she was slightly offended by the comment, but she keeps it hidden. “I’m seventeen, Brandon is eighteen and Muse and Ursa are sixteen.” She laughs a little. “Yes, we are four teenagers trying to be ready for a war.”

She’s my age... how can she be alone out here? She’s kind, and obviously doesn’t judge people, I think to myself. I also remember what she said about Brandon. He obviously has confidence, something I don’t have much of.

She lets out a quick gasp. “You should meet them.” She clicks the heels of her brown high top boots together a few times. “Would you... be interested in joining the Faithfuls?”

I consider the offer. I’d have more friends, but I might have to fight a war. Sure, Jinx is an optimist, but it’s going to take more than optimism to get to join what will eventually turn out to be a small army of teenagers.

Obviously, she knows what I’m thinking, so she speaks again. “Look, I know you’re thinking that if we ever get put into action, we might not come back alive. But, you don’t know us. We have all spent at least a few years training to be warriors. I may not be the best fighter, but I sure am good at dodging and healing. If you do this, you won’t regret it, Zeth.” She smiles at me shyly. She really wants me to do it, yet she’s just met me. I guess that must be what happens to a girl who can’t be accepted into society. Every opportunity for a friend she gets, she takes it.

“Who am I kidding... how can I deny an offer like that?” I say. “I’m in.” The next thing that plays on her face is the biggest grin I’ve ever seen.

“You can stay the night if you need to. Tomorrow, you meet the rest of the gang.”