The Language Of The Trees/ An Evalyce Novel [#NaNoWriMo16]

Chapter 4: Awakening

Tribeca, Northern Argoth, 10000 ft above the Aeryth Ocean, Year of the Owl's Hunt, 1726 CE

    Rage filled me at hearing Elaine’s words. My body felt afire as it burned through me. How dare she? After all we had just been through, after all the good we had done, how dare she call my behaviour disgraceful? How dare she drag my father’s name into this, to insinuate that I had dishonoured him?

    Everything went white as the rage stole my vision, and blood thundered in my ears. I was barely aware of Ari, though I felt his hands on my shoulders. I heard him yell to Myles to get everyone back, but it was as if from a great distance. He pulled me closer, wrapping me in a hug and lowering me to the ground. The burning was getting worse, threatening to consume me. Chaos in the mind, thunder in the blood.

    “Mai? Mai, I need you to focus.”

    Ari’s voice sounded slightly frantic. I tried to do as he asked, but it was so hard. My vision went from white to red and a crushing pressure began to build, adding to the fire within.

    “Mai, fight it. Focus on me. I need you to focus. Let me help you.”

    He hugged me tighter and I became aware of his lesser warmth, of his heartbeat, of the contours of the ever-present, ever-hidden pendant he wore. When next Ari spoke, his voice was clearer, closer.

    “Good, good,” he murmured. “That’s it. Focus on me. Open your eyes now, Mai. Open your eyes.”

    I opened my eyes and found myself in a small room full of tech. A chair sat before a huge comm screen. Below the screen, a bank of panels blinked muted hues of blue and purple. Along one wall there were hexagonal panels like a honeycomb, each with a small data port in the middle.

    “Where… where am I?”

    “This is my interface with the Grid, Mai.”

    I turned to find Ari standing before another bank of honeycomb panels. He bowed slightly, brows furrowed.

    “I don’t understand.” I was starting to feel sick and the burning had reached an intolerable level. “What’s happening to me? How did I get here?”

    “We’re in my mind, Mai. Our physical forms are still where they last were.” Ari stepped closer. “You’ve Sparked. We need to get it under control or you’ll die from it.”

    “Sparked?” I couldn’t have Sparked. I was far too old. I rubbed my arms and whimpered as the fire in my blood grew fiercer. Ari caught me as I stumbled forward, and helped me to the floor.

    “Kas, Mai. Let me help. You need to learn to control it and you don’t have the luxury of learning like the fledglings. I’m afraid you are stuck Sharing with me.”

    I looked up to see a gentle smirk on his face, one that didn’t reach his eyes. In his eyes I saw worry, and I saw fear. I nodded. I didn’t know what ‘sharing’ meant, but if it made the pain go away, I was willing to do it.

    “Don’t be afraid, Mai. Know that I would never harm you.” Ari put his hands to my face. His touch was cool against my burning skin. I squeaked as thin tendrils of metal flowed from the back of his hands, entering my face, and places along the side and back of my head. There was no pain, but I could feel the foreign presence like some deep itch. I closed my eyes. After a moment, the itch went away and my head felt heavy and full. Understanding slowly filled me, creeping through like a rising sun, bringing with it a chill wind that extinguished the inner fires and I realized that with the Sharing Ari had given me all of his knowledge and skills, garnered over the years. I hung limp, suspended only by Ari’s hands, and the metal conduits.