Hunt for the Sun Children

Chapter 4 - Rise

I stretched on the cold Redbridge steps, warming up my muscles for my early run. It felt like Redbridge was set adrift in an ocean of clouds this morning. Thick banks of fog completely obscured the ruins across the bay.

I was almost ready to take off running when something-or someone-jumped out from behind me.

"Hi jogging partner!" Kiki called, looking far too awake for a Tuesday morning. She jogged cheerily in place, radiating pep, while I fumbled to regain my composure after her ambush.

"Oh, we're partners now?" I asked, not trying remarkably hard to hide my displeasure.

"How many laps do you usually do?"

"Three or four..."

"Let's do it!" Before I could get another word in, she was off, jogging at a brisk pace. I leapt after Kiki and fell in step with her quick strides. With such a fiery start, I expected her to burn out by the second lap, yet somehow she maintained her speed without difficulty.

After the third lap, Kiki was still as vibrant as when we started. The sweat on her face glittered in the sunlight like the rings on her fingers. I watched her hands swinging as she ran, the impractical jewelry flashing. Why was she wearing rings while she trained?

Kiki noticed my stare and I hastily commented, "Sorry, I'm just curious..."

"About what?" she asked.

"Why do you keep them on? While running?" I asked, trying not to waste a single breath. I swallowed a twinge of nausea. Kiki was running faster than my usual pace, and she still wasn't slowing down.

"I like to keep a little bit of Avalaan with me, always." Kiki held up her hand, twisting it so the gemstones sparkled. "Surely you have something similar with you, from Bluffstown?"

I thought of my mother's circlet, the pain of my roommates' resentment still raw, and said nothing. Our conversation dropped off and we continued jogging, but Kiki was not one to let silence linger.

"How's the training going for your branch?"

"Fine, I guess."

"Have you tried casting any other elements?" she asked. For a heartbeat, I forgot to breathe. "Since, you know, most people have at least a bit of ability in other ones."

The blood drained from my flushed cheeks. "Not sure," I staggered. "Haven't tried."

"I wish I could control multiple elements," Kiki said wistfully, "But I barely have fire down." I glanced at her hair, which was fairly gray.

"We'll get better."

"I hear that other things influence the strength of our abilities..." she continued. This was going to be a long run. "You know, like moon cycles, or temperature."

"Crazy."

"Have you ever noticed seasons affecting your casting?"

"Nope."

"Sometimes I think I'm a better caster at night, though I know that sounds crazy. What about you? Are you stronger during the day, or at night?"

"No idea." Fishing for information was one thing, but it was starting to feel like senseless prying. "I just want to run, okay?"

That did the trick. Kiki and I spent the rest of our run exchanging only a few words. Maybe it was the weight of the fog, or maybe it was because the Masquerade ensured that I would be awake well past midnight... whatever the reason, this felt like the beginning of the longest day at Redbridge yet.