The Inventor from Velothain

The Tellers

Edgar’s heart dropped when he saw Jasper stroll through the door with a Tesco’s bag. To see a man who looked like he came from the Victorian era with a Tesco’s bag would’ve been a reasonably humorous sight had he not been trying to save his sister.
“Uncle Jasper. You’re back!” Edgar yelled in the happiest voice he could muster.
“Hello Edgar, what do you think about lasagne for supper? I would’ve made something, but I’m pretty tired, a man of my age always gets tired on a Friday. I’m not sure what it is.” Jasper rambled.
“Yes, that sounds great. Could I tell you about my new novel idea, I think it’s really exciting?”
“Yes, let me just nip into my study first, I just need to finish a few things off, then I’ll be all ears.
Crap. Edgar hissed.
“No!” Edgar blurted. “I mean, no wait. It’ll be really quick.”
“I know, but there are some paper work on my desk that have been there all week, once I’ve finished, then I’ll listen to your story idea.” Jasper handed Edgar the plastic bag. “Would you mind taking that to the kitchen?”
“Uh sure.”
Edgar watched as Jasper clambered up the stairs.
No. he panicked.
Edgar threw the bag on the countertop and dashed up the stairs, he slipped past to block Uncle Jasper from walking any further.
“Edgar, what’s gotten into you? You seem a little out of it.”
“Yeah, I’m fine, why do you ask?” Edgar said nervously.
“Well, you- “
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
“A what?”
“You look like you need a cup of tea. Let’s go to the kitchen, like right now.” He said desperately.
“Edgar, I don’t know what’s gotten into you but I really need to get to work.” Jasper pushed past Edgar and marched into his study.
“No!”

Edgar followed Jasper as fast as he could. He leapt into the room, he looked around. Not a single sight of his sister.
“What the-“
“Uh, I was just wondering if you’d like me to clean your room, it looks a bit musty.”
“I like it like that. What in the world are you playing at?”
“W-well, I was just looking for…”
“Hey, what’s going on?” Edgar whipped around, to see his sister at the door.
“Florence!”
“Edgar?” Florence raised an eyebrow.
“What are you doing…here?”
“I was just leaving.” Florence turned on her heels and walked away, while Edgar scrambled after her.
“What the hell Flo!” Edgar growled. “I thought you were in there!”
“Oh no, I knew that you weren’t going to be able to keep him away when I heard him walk through the door. So, I managed to escape.”
“Wait, why didn’t you try to let me know? Like, maybe…oh I don’t know…Walk down the stairs!” Edgar screamed. “Now, Uncle Jasper thinks I’m a weirdo.”
“He, doesn’t think you’re a weirdo. Come on, we should go and meet Elysia and Percy.”
Edgar looked down at his hand. The words: It’s not the end of the world, it’s the end of the day. Were still scribbled on it.
Percy was right. Even if Elysia couldn’t get his voice back, maybe there was another way.
“Do you feel bad?”
“Huh?”
“Do you feel bad that Percy won’t get his voice back?”
“Maybe. But its ok, because if it’s meant to happen, it will happen.” Edgar replied, with a brave smile.

******

The twins ran hand in hand, down the corridor. They stopped in front of the doors of the parlour.
“You go on ahead, I’ll be back in a sec. there’s unfinished business I need to tend to.” Without waiting for another word, Florence took off down the hall. She ran to the foyer and into the busy streets of Velothain.
The air smelled like fresh petrol and powder. It was an odd mixture; she noticed the market was still bustling with lots of different people. She was half tempted to have a quick look, but she had a matter to attend to. She knew the quicker she resolved her issue with Kate, the better.
If she remembered rightly, the alleyway was a few paces from the strange trinkets stall. Florence walked down the cobblestone street and into the alleyway. It looked like something out of a fantasy novel or a video game.
She looked to the dilapidated door. She was sure that this was the right place. With a shaky breath, she knocked the door as loud as she could.
The door swung open, in the door frame stood Julian. He looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. His shirt was half untucked and his hair was in a dark mess.
“Julian?” Florence looked at him in worry.
“Florence?” Julian matched her concern, with a hint of worry. “It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has. Is Kate here?”
“I think so, she might be in her quarters. Can I get you a drink? Julia and Joanne have been talking about you non-stop since you left. I think they missed you.” Julian cackled.
“You know, I just might take a drink thanks.” Florence smiled. She followed Julian into the building, she watched as the other tellers sat around the bar, they talked and laughed. It seemed like a secret world inside of Velothain, she looked over at Julian who handed her a glass with a strange red liquid. It glowed slightly and gave of a sickly-sweet smell.
“What’s this?” She asked.
“It’s sweet tonic. Don’t worry, its non-alcoholic. I know that you’re underage.”
Florence took the drink and took a small sip. The taste of strawberry liquorice burst through her mouth.
“That’s really sweet.” Florence said in surprise.
“Of course. It’s one of the most popular drinks in Velothain.” Julian replied, he turned to look at Julia and Joanne who were giggling about something inaudible. “Hey girls!”
Their head snapped to Julian in unison.
“Look who came to see us.”
The girls leapt from their stools and tackled Florence in a tight hug.
“Florence!” Joanne yelled. “It’s been a while, what brings you here?”
“I’m here to see Kate actually, but I thought, I’d join you guys for a drink.”
“That sounds great. Are you coming to join too, Julian?” Julia asked.
“Ok then, I haven’t anything better to do.” Julian said with a shrug.

*****

“Wait, so you actually did it?” Florence asked, though hiccups of laughter.
“Of course, and boy, was he pissed.” Julian leaned back in chair, cockily.
“So, what did she say after that?” Julia asked, clearly hooked on the story.
“She just walked away, she couldn’t bear to be humiliated, even if she did deserve it.”
“Remind me, what she did again?” Florence asked.
“Oh, she left a dirty towel on the floor.”
“Yes, I can see that was a strong relationship”
“Well, it doesn’t matter, she moved to Highcliff. She decided that cities weren’t her thing.”
“Where’s Highcliff?” Asked Florence.
“Oh, it’s in another country. It’s made up of the kingdom and a tribe. The ironic thing is that they both hate each other with a burning passion.” Julia said.
“Is that the tribe, you’re from?”
“Florence, sweetie. There are more tribes than the Marish Tribe. For the record, I’d rather rub Destruxide over my face, than have to stay in that place for five minutes.” Julia sneered.
“Why is the Marish tribe so awful?” Florence asked.
“Those guys are obsessed with only two things: Strength and repopulation. The tribe has two types of people, the reproducers and the fighters.”
“What’s so bad about that?”
“Reproducers are born to create more people in the tribe. They’re forbidden to even lift a weapon whereas, the fighters have to defend their tribe. They’re forbidden to fall in love in anyway.”
“Again, what’s so awful about that? It’s their own home and their own traditions. We have nothing to do with it, so why should we judge?”
Julia pinched the bridge of her nose. “Listen, I’m not judging them exclusively, heaven knows that I hate Highcliff just as much. Those spineless, stuck-up, entitled losers don’t have a clue what the world is like outside of their rich kingdom, but I’d like to live my life where I can fall in love and protect that person.”
“She gets a little heated sometimes.” Joanne whispered, “Just wait for her to cool down.”
“Forgive me.” Julia took a deep breath. “I’m not used to being challenged. You’d better go and find Kate. She normally goes out at this time.”
“She’s down the corridor and first door to your left.” Julian chimed in.
“Thanks, I’ll see you around at some point then.”
“Yes, we’d like that.” Joanne smiled.
And with that, Florence jumped from her seat and began to walk down the corridor, it looked like the inn that had been described to her in the early morning session of Dungeons and Dragons. The fresh smell of wood and alcohol twisted in and out of her nose. Upon the walls were many different paintings and portraits, some were of middle-aged men, some were of young women and some were of children. Then, at the end of the corridor was a brightly coloured painting of Julian. He was sitting at the edge of the bar with a big smile of his face, a huge change to what she was used to seeing. She studied the painting, for other details.
“Florence!” Kate said in surprise.
“Oh, hey Kate, did I catch you at the wrong time?”
“No, actually I was about to go out, but if you’re here to see me specifically then I don’t mind changing my plans.”
“Listen, I just wanted to say, I’m sorry for the other day. I was just annoyed that you thought I wasn’t capable of standing up for myself, which Is not true by the way. But someone needs to protect Edgar, I mean we may be twins but I’m older by four seconds and goodness knows that he’s not very good at conflict so its always me that has to jump in.”
“Alright, I get it.” Kate laughed. “You know what you’re doing and your brother is a wuss.”
“Yeah, pretty much.” Florence nodded.
“Why don’t you come in, I think you and I need to have a talk.” Kate said, guided Florence into her apartment.
“Wait, why? What’s going on?”
“You’ll see.”

*******

The inside of Kate’s room was the complete opposite to the rooms outside. It had a homey, seaside feel to it. It looked like the place that she and Edgar went to as children with their grandparents.
“Can I get you a cup of tea?” Kate asked, moving to the kitchen.
“No thanks, I just had half a pint of sweet tonic.”
“Suit yourself.” Kate sat on one of the armchairs. She gestured to the armchair next to her.
“You know, I’m starting to feel like I’m in the head teacher’s office, after slapping Tommy Smith in the face.”
“I guarantee you Florence, you’re not in trouble.”
Florence sat next to Kate, without breaking eye contact.
“I heard Edgar wanted to get Percy’s voice back. Well actually I saw everything. It turns out that despite the fact she created him, Elysia cannot fix him.”
“Then why didn’t you do something about that? You’re capable of that, aren’t you?”
“Let me finish. I have an idea.”
“And that is?”
“I have a feeling that you might be able to change the story, what if Edgar was able to fix Percy, wouldn’t that be romantic?”
“You did this yourself, didn’t you?” Florence arched an eyebrow. “Kate! Why would you play around with people’s lives like that? This isn’t about Edgar; this is about Percy.”
“No harm done. If it turns out that you don’t have the abilities, then everything will go back to normal.”
“No, its not ‘No harm done’. What if it turns out that I am able to change the future? Edgar will think he was able to do it, but that wouldn’t be the case because I tampered with everything.”
Kate giggled.  “Honestly Florence, you’re so naïve. That’s how it goes. We decide what people are successful at in Velothain. Elysia is an inventor because she needed to make a friend and she needed to have enough money to keep the house she resides in. if she didn’t, she wouldn’t be able to protect the gate between worlds. Edgar needs to fix Percy’s voice box because Percy needs a voice and Edgar desperately needs to connect with Percy.”
“Wait what?” Florence looked at Kate with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
“Have you heard of the saying ‘Everything happens for a reason’?”
“Yes, but I don’t see how that has anything to do with anything.”
“We are the very reason that people say that.”
“But I’ve heard that in my world, are you telling me that there are tellers there?”
“Tell me, have you seen a person that no one else seems to notice?” Kate asked as if she knew the answer already.
“Well yes.”
“You’ve just answered your question.”
“But I don’t understand.” Florence’s eyebrows tilted up in worry.
“You don’t need to. Just remember that we do this for good, and good only.”
Florence nodded and smiled.
“Now, you know what to do.” Kate stood up and grabbed Florence’s wrist. “Let’s go and help your brother.”

******

“Edgar! Edgar!” Florence called, racing into the parlour. She threw the doors open, Elysia, Edgar and Percy stopped their conversation and turned to look at Florence.
“Ah Florence, how nice to see you.” Elysia put her glass down.
“I uh, have an idea to get Percy’s voice back.” Florence started to smile awkwardly.
“Guys, Percy’s voice can wait. Right now, the most important thing is to stop the Zyisnikins. His voice can wait.”
“What do you think, Percy?” Florence asked.
Percy shrugged. He gave them a hopeful look.
“See? I bet he really wants it back.” Florence said to Elysia. “Please! Elysia.”
“Florence.”
“Please, pretty please? I promise we can go back to hunting the Zyisnikins.”
“Fine.” Elysia sighed. “But we’re going straight back to the matter at hand after. Deal?”
“Deal.”
The four of them travelled down the hall and into the lab. Elysia cleared the table, she threw her things to floor with one quick brush of her hand.
“Edgar.” Florence turned to her brother.
“Oh God.” Edgar muttered.
“You’re going to make Percy’s new voice box.”
“Wait, what?” Edgar and Elysia yelled in unison, Percy seemed to share the same facial expression.
“But I have no knowledge in science whatsoever. I can’t make a voice box.”
“That’s what you think. Inventors are always the most imaginative, they can see things in a different way.” Florence explained.
“But-“
“Just give it a try.”
Edgar huffed. “Okay, but if I break something, it’s your fault.”
“Alright, alright.”
So that’s exactly what Edgar did. For almost the entire evening, he worked non-stop to create Percy’s new voice. He and Elysia waited in the parlour while Florence sat outside the lab.
Picture a future where Edgar succeeds. Came a voice that sounded much like Kate’s. She looked behind her, not a single person was in sight.”
Imagine the moment when Edgar finishes the voice.
Florence took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and pictured the moment when Edgar stands victorious. She imagined the impact that would make on Percy.
How much longer was it going to take? She knocked the back of her head against the wall a few times. It was completely unbearable, and was she even able to do something like this? Was she even that good that? Edgar was the writer out of the two of them.
Then the moment arrived.
“I did it! Florence, I did it!” Edgar burst out of the room, he was covered in oil and paint.
“Edgar that’s brilliant!” Florence Brought Edgar into a hug.
“I’m going to go and find Percy.” Edgar dashed down the hall.
Had she actually just done that? Had she actually managed to change the future? She was a teller. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. Florence could do anything she wanted, if she wanted, she could make her out world or decide what college she’d go to.
But then everything changed.
Florence leaned against the wall. “Am I a teller now?” Her eyes flickered around; she was a teller. She could change any future she decided, she could help whatever lives she saw fit, but something was wrong
We’re supposed to go unnoticed.
She remembered what Kate said, the first time they met. Was that the same fate that Florence was doomed to face?