A Dreamer's Knight

Chapter 19 - Familiar Faces

Mikaen told Jeronem everything that had happened during the test as they walked through the streets and bridges of Muonsol. Jeronem listened patiently until the story was finished before giving his opinion.

"Well, you're either very courageous or very stupid."

Mikaen laughed at the assessment. "Probably the latter."

"Well, what you saw in your exam was a load of durien fodder. I met the Cygros once, and he's younger than you'd expect for the leader of Ircandesta. I can't see him killing off reps either, not without invoking the wrath of the rest of Vinta. Question is, why did you think he'd be trying to kill us?"

"Huh?"

"Everything you saw came from your mind. I just took the test too, remember? Your mind cooked up an evil Cygros capturing and killing reps like the Myssohn sisters."

Mikaen sighed. "I'd like to think that my time in the Knights of the Star has been to my benefit, but I guess it has left me a bit paranoid. Our little encounter with the monks didn't help either."

"I can see your point." Jeronem scratched his cheek, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I've been thinking about the monks too, to be honest. I still can't figure out what that was about."

"Well, maybe the Cygros will know."

A smirk appeared on Jeronem's face. "Or maybe he's the mastermind behind it all."

"Very funny."

As they passed through the shopping arcade, Mikaen asked Jeronem, "How much of what I saw in that test was real? I mean, this place looks pretty much the same."

"The Center of Knowledge keeps a record of memories from anyone who takes an in depth examination for use in future tests, probably to make sure that the information is as up to date as possible. Dad's the one who explained it to me, and you know better than anyone how long-winded he can be."

"What about Teria and Tirinia?" Mikaen asked hesitantly.

A knowing smile crossed Jeronem's face. "Well, Teria's Tirinia's sister, and Tirinia's fresh on your mind, so it's natural for their images to be called up. They've probably tested too by now, probably in Rhyios."

"They've got magical talent?" 

Jeronem shrugged. "I haven't seen them in a few years, not since the last Council. I tried to keep in touch, but you know how it is; you get so busy with your own stuff that you forget."

"Then you were friends?" Mikaen asked.

"Yeah, I guess we all were." Jeronem put his hands behind his head and stared upward. "Teria and Tirinia, the Windstar brothers from Jai Vye, Rydiana and Jek of Muonsol, and Forgetit."

"I didn't say anything," said Mikaen, but Jeronem was already shaking his head.

"That's her name: Forgetit Shae Mschens. She's the daughter of the Guildmaster of Rimstak ... and no, I don't know why that's her name." He shuddered, adding, "Just that she's really sensitive about it."

As they passed a small fast food restaurant, Jeronem stopped and turned to Mikaen. "I'm gonna go get us some breakfast. Wait here a second, okay?"

Jeronem disappeared into the restaurant, a bell on the door ringing as the door closed behind him. With nothing better to do than wait, Mikaen sat on the edge of a large fountain and took in his surroundings.

The shopping arcade was built on a large platform placed higher than the residential areas. As in Mikaen's test, the area looked much like the malls and shopping centers of Earth's Pre-Devastation: a series shops set in lines along the roads, each carrying a unique selection of goods, from the latest clothing styles to top-of-the-line technology. Several large stores caught Mikaen's eye; Zuen Tech Industries seemed to be largely focused on technology while Meridia seemed to carry supplies and equipment for the more magically-inclined. In the middle was Sol-Mart, which seemed to be a more traditional retail store, similar to the one in which Mikaen had lived back in his wild days before joining the Knights of the Star.