changing future: book 1 through time

Cloud jumping can be fun in both an activity and a prank.

More than half a year had passed since FrostLight and Katherine had last seen each other and spent the day together. It was now well into summer- almost autumn, though there was still some lingering snow around (although most were now just a pile of mud and slush, no good to play around with unless mud-pies were to your fancy.) Since springs and summers in Santoff Claussen were generally quite cold as well, being in the northern regions of Russian tundra. Katherine had, by now, compiled a list of books she was going to use to teach the spectral boy how to read. Most of which were stories that she herself had written down. 

North, during his short time there in Santoff Claussen had quickly become a village favourite. It also helped the fact that he had taken quite an interest in mechanics and magic, having started his tutelage of the magical craft under the careful guidance of Ombric. Currently, the larger than life Russian man had taken on a project to combine both the machinery of the villagers and Ombric’s ancient magic to create something new, something exciting. 

That day, North had asked for the children to bring him items that held significance to them and their parents. He was going to put these "treasures" as he had called them, in a wooden box that would then be placed inside of the metal man that North had created, telling them that by doing so, they were ensuring that the Djinni (the metal man of North's creation) would recognise them. 

Katherine didn't quite know what to give North. She didn't have a favourite pebble, or comb, or penny. She didn't want to give up her shoe nor her precious books. She had thought about it for a while before coming up with a brilliant idea as she hastily yet carefully started to scribble on a piece of paper as the children started to scramble about to get the items North had requested they bring. 

Once all the items were placed in the box, Katherine approached North, holding out a piece of paper and on it were the drawings of two people. One the ex-Cossack recognised as himself- he looked grand, noble, heroic even! He wondered if that was how the little girl saw him. But then his eyes landed on the second figure. The figure of a glowing boy, his face lit up with a smile, his spear held aloft. He radiated a sense of fun and yet a protectiveness that promised safety. 

"Will the Djinni know us from this?" Katherine asked, fidgeting with her sleeve. 

North blinked, his gaze shifting between the girl and the drawing before realising that she was waiting for an answer to her question. "It'll recognize the portrait and know whose hand has made it." He confirmed, smiling at the young girl. "But I do wonder, who is other boy in the image?" 

Katherine smiled and shrugged dismissively. "I haven't asked for his name yet. Ombric says when he is ready he will tell us, but he is my friend and I wanted the Djinni to know him too." She explained, hoping North would not dismiss it as some kind of fantasy like how some of the adults in the village had done so far.

To her surprise, North let out a booming laugh that seemed to shake the room. "Of course! Of course! Boy of light deserves to have a place with the people the Djinni would recognise!" He beamed, gently placing the drawing on top of the pile of items inside the box. 

"You're not going to dismiss him?" Katherine wondered, her eyes wide in awe. 

"Of course not, Kathy. For if not been for boy, I would not be here today!" North explained, carefully placing the box within the Djinni's chest before covering it up with the last chest plate. 

"Is it finished?" Fog asked, trying to peer around the gathered children. 

"Soon enough!" Came North's reply. He looked down at his creation, a man made out of metal that came in the many metallic colours from silver to gold with undertones of darker metals such as gunmetal and iron. It didn't take North long to bring his mechanical creation to life with a simple twisting of the key above its heart.