World of Io

6. Scrolls and Confusion

“Idiots!” Vito exclaimed, pissed that they hadn't listened when he was so sure, but also appalled and very shocked over the violence. Then realization hit him once again. It had happened. It had actually happened: his vision had come true. Something wasn’t entirely right, however. There was one difference, one very important one. They were still standing. He held that straw, that feeble straw, and hoped that he still could be considered a normal person: a person who didn’t see things before they happened.

He looked up at the others and at that exact moment he could see their heads turn towards him. Each one with an expression of disbelief written across their face, but also fear, fear of death. Yes, the Destroyer was close, even Vito could feel him. He could feel him approaching rapidly, the rage almost tangible in the air, then relief as the Destroyer faded away, cheated of his reapings.

“Did you feel that?” he asked to no one in particular.  He looked up and saw the two fighters staring at each other again, apparently not dead, either of them. Thank Io!

“Who are you?” the woman said, turning her head towards him again.  She was breathtaking in a way, and looked deceivingly soft even if she was clad in black leather that was cut for a man rather than for a woman. Her appearance almost scared him as much as her fighting skills. He didn't know what to make of her.

“I don’t know...” he answered, because he didn't. He was lost, completely lost. In that moment he didn't know himself. 

“You saved my life,” she said, blinking repeatedly with thick lashes that framed a pair of large golden eyes, as if she didn't believe it herself. Vito couldn’t take in what she was saying. He was shaking, shaking from within, completely ripped open, no ground beneath his feet. Did he really see that scene before it happened, or was he just fooling himself? Who was he?

“Why were you fighting?” he asked. He felt absolutely confused about everything, but perhaps they could answer this, answer something.

They didn’t, and he recognized that it would be futile to ask for more. They were not going to talk about it. Their postures and expressions told him that quite clearly.

“…and why are you not dead? I saw you stab each other!”

“No we didn’t, we stopped...” Her words were said in a strange manner, and he could how the two fighters shared confused glances. He realized that they probably would have stabbed each other if not for him. Now it seemed as if they wondered why his words had stopped them from finalizing their attempts. At least he wasn't the only strange one here... 

“What did the Magisters want with you?” Villain asked, apparently determined to act as though nothing had happened. Vito was glad for the question. Glad that he could say something normal.

“They wanted to know who I was, where I came from and why I wasn’t registered. However, they were more concerned with my eye color. They wanted to know why they are white. Then they accused me of witch craft. Standard procedure I guess...”

“You’re not registered? ...but you’re a human?” the woman asked, failing to hide her reaction this time. She was surprised, which perhaps wasn’t so strange. Every Human was supposed to have papers. What made her reaction interesting, was that his lack of papers apparently surprised her more than his white eyes...which was a welcome break from the usual reaction he received. 

“I’ve grown up with Nei'gaians," he answered and he saw her take a closer look at him, as if he had become someone else, someone to look into a little deeper, as if she was trying to solve the puzzle he was presenting her.

“Where is Annie?” he continued, not really as comfortable with the subject as he thought he was, at least not under the woman's inspection.

“I’ll take you to her, then the two of us should be on our way if you want to introduce me to that Gaian. I don’t have any more time to waste!" Villain spat out impatiently. As an afterthought he added, "The Magisters won't forget this, and don’t let this brittle, momentary peace in these lands lure you into thinking that men are not beasts: you will be killed on sight.”