The Wish of a Broken Heart

To Cadíagor!

“Cara, Amanda, if you will.” Tavi pulls down the projector screen. His parents and cousin jump in surprise.

“Technology from our world. We are a magic suck-hole, so humans, edlíduin, found other ways to progress.” Amanda loads the images from inside Tira’s house as I try to explain the equipment to them. The images start with the picture of her with her real parents. I watch their faces change as the video continues.

Tavi comes over with the book that unlocks her language and another book in her language. They look at the regular book with confusion. He then hands them the language book. Each of them reads it. I watch as their eyes turn white. They seem to speed-read through the tomb.

“Try this one again.” They each look at the original book. Fear and confusion cover their faces.

“It was a bedtime story. It was not supposed to be real.” Fíor sets it down carefully. “Is she really the last?” We all nod.

“Tavi and I have claimed her as our own.”

“The Ash’A Jheili will be called on. There are many who are not doing a thing.” Uldré has fire in his eyes. It hurts on a personal level to hear of an entire people being wiped out. Bad memories might invade his dreams tonight.

“I am doing all I can to hide her tribal marks, but she will soon start changing. When that happens, she will need the protection and support of many nations.” Fraí has never been this serious before. It’s frightening.

“She will have it from the edlíduin.”

“We thank you, cousin.” Tavi clasps Bellis on the shoulder. Bellis clasps his back.

“My honor cousin. We can never allow harm to come to her.” He shakes his head and smiles. “Otherworlders, reincarnation, the long dead living, bedtime stories being real, and legends told in the dark standing before me. We were told never to cross the reveníre. The Ash’A Jheili would take us away and leave no trace.” A dark smile crosses Uldré’s face. It’s unnerving. Nadi smacks him.

“Ow! What did I do?”

“You know what you did.” She turns to Prince Captain Bellis, “You have nothing to fear. Uldré will now be protecting your family.”

“Uh…”

“Don’t you dare. We are protecting our family. These nanú are Ash’A Jheili.” I hide my laughter in Tavi’s chest. He did just say a lot of them had nothing to do.

“Why, that is a wonderful idea, Nadi. Uldré, you will lead a contingency to protect our edlíduin family, especially now that the reveníre will be part of their bloodline.” Uldré is left confused by Fíor’s decree. A contingency I have learned is a leader plus twelve. This doesn’t include untrained spouses or children.

“I think two more couples and the rest should be akika and akoka. We don’t want to seem like we’re taking over.”

“This, this is fantastic! I truly appreciate this. There have been some threats to the crown, thanks to corrupt soldiers. Now we have to play clean-up.” Bellis looks like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

“We will come home, but we have to finish the Ak’hajj to Isilmëmírë.” TáRu says shyly.

“That is good. Our mission is to work our way up and root out corruption. We will be a day or two ahead of you sometimes. We can check for dangers and signal should something be amiss. Also, I would like to please hear the languages of your world, if I may. A sample of these words: I have been isekai'd.” Amanda and I both jump.

“Where did you hear that word!” We both shout at the same time.

“It seems I don’t need a test after all.” He holds his chin a and nods to himself for a few minutes. Tavi settles me while Mum Fíor and Dad Ámathos settle Amanda down. “There is a Mágoi who appeared around ten and a half years ago. Over time, he learned common, but he is considered… unstable.
“He is convinced he is stuck in a ‘game’? He, too, fell from a portal in the sky. He was saved by an air mágoi. If he is from your home, perhaps he can help Cara’s treatment. For all his oddities, he is brilliant. Unfortunately, he stays locked away in the Mágoi city in Epöna.” He chuckles. “He built himself a tower, of all things.”