The Island With No Parallel

Step Into Caorfi (part 1)

Fernando, Yunara, and Manuel went about preparing everything to be able to leave. In no time Manuel's carriage was pulled around, fully packed with everything Fernando thought necessary for them to bring, along with food for the journey and even extra clothes for Yunara. Since Yunara was a Naiad and could control water, Fernando suggested that she always carry a flask of water to be able to fight with, since she could make more use of water than a sword. He also made sure the bag she always carried with her held all of the items given to her by the Unseeables, as well as a silver bell for calling the them. Yunara's shield she would always carry with her.

When Fernando gave it to her, he said, "I spent all night translating the uses of that shield." he winked. "It's blade-like edges aren't it's only surprise. If you need to use it, tap on the bear on the front, and see what happens."

As they started getting in the carriage, Fernando stopped Manuel and said in english for Yunara's sake, "Don't forget this." he held out for him a large sack.

"What?"

"It's the seeing powder. I packed a good amount. The Unseeables should be able to help you should you run out. It wears off in a day, so be sure to use it every morning."

"Oh. Yes, of course," Manuel said, taking the powder and loading it with the rest of their things.

They decided it would have to be Manuel that drove the carriage from this point on. They couldn't ask any Spanish human to drive them to Seville so they could parallel to Ecencia. The farewell was short. Manuel and Yunara started on their way to Seville, with Lorenn in the carriage.

Yunara looked out the window, watching as the safety of Fernando's masia became smaller in the distance. She wondered if she'd ever see him again.

"What is paralleling?" Manuel asked all of a sudden, his eyes on the road as he lead them away.

"What?" Yunara leaned forward to hear him better from outside the carriage.

"My father mentioned it in his book. It... takes you to this world, Caorfi?"

"Yes. It's an ancient practice that as far as I know, humans are incapable of. But it appears that as the Unseeables created the parallel points, they can also give the ability to parallel."

"But how does it work, exactly?"

Yunara tried to find words to describe it. "The parallel points are portals, between my world and yours. If you know where to find them, you can use them to travel, and the journey is called paralleling."

"And that's how you showed up at my masia?"

"Yes."

Manuel paused, his demeanor much stiffer than it was before, Yunara noticed with chagrin. "This Francis Stretton... who is he?"

"He's the reason I'm here," she said, her mind flashing back to being under the King and Queen's bloody bed while Renen summoned those two monsters. Nexa and Pitrious. A moment that would always bring Yunara pain. The moment of losing it all. All because of Francis Stretton, pulling Renen along on a string like a puppeteer. She had to pull her mind from the memory to keep going. "He's a monster worse than the ones he summons," she said grimly.

"Tell me about him," Manuel asked, flicking his reins.

"In Ecencia there is-- was," she corrected herself painfully. "a King and Queen. King Edward and Queen Norea Silcrest. They had two children, Renen and Cadri. Renen is the one in line for the throne. Everyone always knew that King Edward's brother, Francis Stretton was jealous of brother's rule, and has been a long time member of the Aracs. It seems that he's convinced his nephew to help him take over the Ecencian throne. During the takeover, Princess Cadri was kidnapped and the King and Queen were killed by Dark Ones."