To say that the silence was heavy was an understatement- Jake could practically cut the tension in the air with a knife. He sat on his heels, legs neatly tucked beneath him, and stared at the cup of tea Auntie had placed in front of him. It was cold now, untouched. She sat just as politely to his right and calmly sipped on her own cup. It was her fourth serving, and she was drinking it down a lot faster than she usually did. There was no savoring of its flavor with each sip. Only irritated slurping of the contents until it was empty. After each sip, she didn’t even set the cup down. It remained cradled in her hands, held out just in front of her. As if setting it down would force her to begin a conversation.

The two sat in the quiet for a long, long time. Auntie never looked at Jake, and Jake never looked up from his still cup. After catching him with the two full buckets of water, water which had seemingly come from nowhere, his Auntie had called him back into the tent and told him to sit. Afterwards- nothing. Not a word. She had ordered him to sit formally and then stepped out of the tent. When she returned a short time later, she began her tea routine. A third cup was placed to Jake’s left, but it was empty. Unfilled as there was no occupant of that seat- yet.

At least Jake knew why they were so quiet and why Auntie hadn’t begun her interrogation of him. She was no fool and after her sister married his father, Auntie learned much about the world of Adventurers. She likely knew quite a bit about magic, or at least had some idea of its existence since there were Magi in the village. When she caught Jake, he doubted he even had to say anything. She had all the evidence she needed; the lack of a watering hole right next to her tent, him being sneaky and giggling to himself after being successful with his spell, his wet hands, and the terror on his face when she had caught him. What was he going to say? He found an oasis in the sand?

Right.

“He’s here.” His Auntie finally muttered as the sound of voices and footsteps echoed into the tent from the flap. Jake let out a sigh and sat up right, fixing his posture. His Auntie finally set down her cup and rose to her feet. The footsteps in the sand were soft and quiet, but there was no doubt that multiple individuals approached the tent. Realizing the procession, Jake, too, stood up. He lifted his head and straightened his shoulder, calm and collected for what was about to come. The tent was pulled open, letting the sun from outside pour into the front of the tent. Through that light, a single man stepped through- old, wrinkled, with skin tanned and leathered by years in the scorching desert.

It was Elder Juul. He was the second oldest man in the village and he was the one people saw the most. Elder Yawa was known to be sickly in his age and only appeared for marriage ceremonies and funerals. Other duties were all being handled by Elder Juul for the time being. Seeing him, Jake tensed up. After his Auntie had made him sit formally and left, he had a feeling the Elder was the one she’d gone to get. He was surprised to see him, though. The fact they took his Auntie’s complaint, or whatever she had said, seriously was a bit tough to believe.

“Elder.” Auntie bowed at the waist, and Jake did the same to avoid getting a hand across his cheek. Elder Juul stepped up to the table and returned the bow. Two guards stood by the entrance of the tent. Jake looked at both of them, but then ignored their presence afterwards.

“Thank you for inviting me into your home. May Salam bless you.” The Elder spoke his normal rhetoric, and Jake’s stomach twisted. He approached the table and smiled at the two of them. “Let us sit and enjoy your tea.” Elder Juul straightened up and smiled as he carefully lowered onto his cushion. His Auntie moved to help the old man, but Elder Juul was more limber than he looked. Jake waited until the man was settled in before he sat down, retaking his formal position. His Auntie, on the other hand, relaxed and sat normally. She didn’t seem to be able to sit formally for a long time anymore. Her age was showing.

“Thank you for taking your time to visit, Elder. I apologize for the inconvenience we have caused you.” Auntie Rayne bowed her head, but Elder Juul quietly waved her off. He motioned for the teacup, and Auntie quickly moved to fill it. He took a quiet moment to taste the liquid, savoring its heat and warmth in his mouth, as well as the delicious flavor it always had. Auntie was an expert when it came to making tea, and her skills were widely sought after. Yet she considered her technique a family secret and never shared her ways. She did share the tea, but never the process.

“I hear your child has shown skill with the Arts.” Elder Juul’s eyes drifted over to Jake, but he remained quiet. Jake’s fingers gripped at his skirt as he and the Elder both looked toward his Auntie.

“Yes. Ever since he returned a little while ago he has changed. When he returned from the sands, he mentioned the ravine. Recently, he has been acting strange. He disappears during the day and always comes back to the tent late. My worries were proven correct when I spotted him earlier filling our water buckets using magic.” Auntie held no truths back and spilled everything. Jake clenched his teeth. The discolored white fabric of his skirt crumbled beneath his grip as he squeezed his hands tighter.

“I see,” Elder Juul hummed as he took another sip of his tea. “Jake, is your name- yes, boy?” The Elder addressed Jake, who nodded in response. “You are not in trouble, child. Do not look so tense. Your Auntie has simply raised concern for you, and I am here to help.”

Jake doubted that, but he quietly nodded again as he met the Elder’s gaze. The age man’s cracked and creased cheeks curled as he smiled. Jake’s teeth pressed together even tighter and his fingers clamped more firmly around his clothes. He didn’t feel like the Elder was here to help. Not at all. Usually, a personal trip to one’s home was not done for help.

“Your father was an outsider to our village. A pale man from the north, one who brought strange tales and joy wherever he went. His arrival brought much excitement to this dreary place and many of the other villagers flocked around him and his friends. Your mother was the only one who found him an annoyance, which seemed to draw him to her.” The Elder mused as he swirled the tea in his cup.

“When news spread of their engagement and she disappeared with him to travel for a short time, it was a massive surprise. And when they returned, you were in her arms. Many weren’t prepared for such a sight, but we welcomed you to our family. Your father continued his journey, leaving your mother and you with us. He was never one to settle in one place, and your mother understood that. But he always made it his mission to return with each caravan that came to our village, and he spent as much time as he could with the two of you.” He paused, only so that he could sip from his cup. “Until your mother passed away.”

The Elder’s lips pressed together and his eyes seemed to look off into the distance. Auntie’s expression, too, became solemn. Jake grimaced, but he didn’t look away from the Elder. He knew his father wasn’t one to stop traveling and after his mother died, he came to terms with the fact that his father couldn’t stand the sight of him. Jake was a reminder of their love and of her existence. Seeing him probably hurt his father- but it was all just an excuse. That was the one thing Jake hated about his dad- the fact that he chose to adventure rather than be family.

“When we found that you had no affinity of sahar, many of us thought it a blessing. You would not suffer the same fate as your parents and we believed you could live in peace here in the village. Your Auntie was relieved.” Elder Juul set down his cup and placed his hands on his knees. His eyes turned to Jake again and he smiled. It was thin and light, and his eyes softened. “But it seems this was not to be. You are not E’tun, are you child?”

Jake stared at Elder Juul. For a long moment, he looked into the man’s golden brown eyes, wondering what he should say- if anything. Not finding the right words, he looked to his Auntie. She, too, was staring at him. There was sadness in her gaze. No, was it fear? Jake lowered his head, unsure at first. But, then he nodded.

“I see. What did you find at the ravine?” The Elder asked, his query plain and asking of only the truth. At that moment, he noticed a shift in the corner of the room.

“Choose your words wisely, Child.” Chul chittered into his mind, and Jake nipped onto his lip. What should he say? The Elder was… well… The Elder. If he was caught lying to this man, Jake might be banished from the village.

“I…” Jake wanted to tell the truth. He wanted to say everything. He wanted to mention his fall, his being chased by Chul- how he felt like he was about to die and be eaten. He wanted to speak of the Gate, of the Gods he met. He even wanted to mention the Library, but what would that cause? If he spoke of all these things, would they believe him?

The Village believed in only one faith- they believed in the Sun God, Shalam. She was the omnipotent Goddess who looked over the sands and brought prosperity, rain, and protected the Villages from harm. Truly, she was a kind Goddess. However, when Jake met with the Gods- there was no Shalam. There was no Sun Goddess who blessed him. Instead, the Gods were all of different races and sizes. It was a bit of a culture shock but something Jake was not surprised to discover. From the stories of his father, there were dozens of different races scattered around the massive world. The desert wasn’t all there was to see.

“I found a crystal, and when I touched it- it shined and I felt hot all over. When I woke up, I was back in the desert and I could do magic.” Jake pieced together something that could at least be felt like truth, even though it was nowhere near what actually happened. The Elder stared at him in silence, before finally letting out a soft hum.

“A crystal which gave you power over your sahar. I see.” He mumbled before sipping more tea. Jake could hear the sarcasm, the doubt, but the Elder didn’t prod. Even his Auntie seemed to doubt him. Well, Jake had told her a little about his Ravine trip. So to hear of a completely different story certainly would bring questions to her mind.

“Either way, it seems you have a gift.” The Elder set down his cup and then looked over his shoulder. “Bring it in!” He called. From outside the tent, a young-looking woman, dressed in a dazzling white robe with a thin veil over her face, stepped inside carrying a familiar object- an Assessor. Jake felt a drop of sweat slide down his back.

“We would like your permission to test your sahar once more.” The woman passed the Elder the Assessor, who then placed it onto the center of the table. It looked different from the slab Yir had Jake use in the Library, but there was no mistaking what it was. The stone object was a thin square with the same rune carved into its center. A spot for an individual’s hand was etched into the middle of the sigil, and the material looked as though it was carved from marble.

The quality of the slab was different, though. It was a fake marble. He should have expected such. There was no way the village could afford to buy a bunch of real marble Assessor slabs. They were far too poor for that. But, that could be to Jake’s advantage. The Assessor used in the Library practically sucked Jake’s mana out. He had no control of it and couldn’t stop the feeling of the flow. Now that he had some idea of how to control his mana- there was a chance he could fake the Assessment. His eyes flicked over to where Chul was nestled, but the Arachkin said nothing. His yellow eyes only watched from the corner of the tent, waiting for the result of the meeting.

“Okay,” Jake said. He was going to have to bet everything on his ability to control his mana. Otherwise, he doubted he would get off so easily. If it came to light he could do more than any other mage in this village- there was no way he’d get the opportunity to leave. They would likely try everything in their power to bind him to this place. His plans of growing up to be an adventurer would vanish.

“Wonderful!” The Elder smiled and then pushed the Assessor over to Jake. “Please- place your hand in the center.” The young woman stepped away from the table finally, and Jake moved a bit closer so he could easily reach out to the object.

Before he touched the smooth stone, though, he closed his eyes. Jake slowed his breathing, steadied his mind, and let himself plunge into his inner consciousness. His mana flow came to the forefront, and he eased himself into the pool of it. He pushed much of it out of his body, coiling it into his mana-tail to limit how much the Assessor could potentially pull on. Then, he began to withdraw as much as he could away from the hand he would extend to the slab. All that was left was but a minor fraction of what he had available. Feeling as though his preparation was enough, he tilted forward ever so slightly and placed his hand onto the slab.

Almost instantly, he felt the slab yank on the mana in his hand. Jake immediately pulled back, fighting the stream of mana the slab was trying to take. He sense the heat and doused it. In his mind, he focused only on rain. On flowing water. On the buckets. On the pool of liquid in the Library he left behind. He whispered the word, “Aquarus” over and over in his head, allowing only that feeling to seep into his hand. The slab felt wet to the touch. Even as it tried to draw out the other elements, Jake fought the flow with everything he had. It was exhausting.

“Interesting…” The Elder whispered to his left, cutting into his concentration. Jake’s jaw tightened and locked. He felt tired, and his muscles ached as he struggled to contain what the slab was trying to pull from him.

His mana flow quaked from the tug-of-war and he nearly slipped. But just before the slab’s power caused a break in his concentration, he pushed more mana into his mana-tail and tried to cut the flow into his arm. With one last gasp, the slab tried to draw out his Wind Affinity. Jake’s mind twisted into the familiar feeling of a breeze and he felt his grip slip. His hand popped off the slab and the connection suddenly was cut. The mana was not and since the Assessor was in the process of manipulating that mana, Jake’s control over it was lost. The mana turned to wind and a strong gust blew outwards.

The slab was pushed away, sliding across the table. The teacups were knocked over, as was the pot. Jake’s eyes opened at the loud clattering. His Auntie had moved away, and the Elder was holding his cup to keep it from spilling over. Jake breathed heavily, his lungs burning as he released the choking of his own mana. It poured back into his body and he once more felt normal as the flow returned to its original state. His mana-tail swished smoothly at his back and his wet hand felt cold as it dried off.

As for the slab- it was two-toned. Blue and White. Water, and Wind. Jake’s teeth clamped together once more and he felt the chill in his hand spread to the rest of his body. While it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be, he still failed to keep the slab at bay. It had bested his control at the end and pulled the Wind affinity out of him. If only Jake had practiced more only on either Wind or Water, he likely wouldn’t have been so surprised by the change.

“Two elements, with your affinity of Wind being exceptionally high.” The Elder picked up the slab and his hands gently grazed over the stone. He smiled at the sight and then turned the slab over to the young woman. She took the slab, bowed her head, and then removed herself from the tent.

“It is true then,” his Auntie finally spoke. The Elder nodded, and Jake’s fists clenched. “How could the initial assessment have been wrong?” She asked.

“It happens, from time to time. When we are children, we never truly notice what the feeling of sahar is within us. It is why the Assessors so easily draw out the power. When we age, those who remain in tune with their sahar have the opportunity to control it and become Magi.” The Elder explained, taking a moment to sip some tea. “But, even those without sahar have been known to come across it later. Whether it be natural, or by some other way.” His eyes flicked over to Jake briefly. Jake didn’t meet that gaze.

“Regardless, it seems the child has potential.” The Elder finished his cup of tea and returned it to the table. Auntie rose to her feet as she began to clean up the mess Jake’s assessment had caused. Jake sat back down, this time on his cushion. Comfortably.

“What does this mean, then?” Jake asked, his eyes staring down at the place where his teacup used to be. It was now on the other side of the table, lying in the sand.

“Nothing.” The Elder chuckled and placed his hands neatly on his knees. His answer was quite a surprise, and Jake recoiled at the abrupt response. “All this means is that you have sahar within you. You are too old for us to make any decision for you, but I can say that it is rare for an individual here to show anything other than an affinity for water or fire. As an Elder to this village, I would certainly like for you to come study with our Mages and become a Magi for us.” The Elder’s smile widened and he seemed to laugh, but it also could have just been a cough.

“However, the choice is up to you. You have power within you. How you use that power is entirely your own decision. Your mother had the potential to become a Magi, but she too turned down the chance as her father was sickly and old. Like you, she did not have a mother to grow up with, so she took the role of caregiver until your grandfather passed on. By then it was too late for her. But you still have that chance, as you are young.”

“He will become a Magi,” Jake’s Auntie answered for him, but the Elder’s smile turned into a toothy grin. He was missing a few teeth.

“Or, you can become an Adventurer like your father.” The option caught Jake off guard, and his Auntie dropped her teapot.

“Elder!” She barked, stunned surprise all over her face, but he held up a hand. Her lips pulled taut as she glared at him.

“Jake, your father was a great man. He brought joy to this place, but he was always an outsider to this village. While you were brought here by your mother, you too came from beyond this village. When we initially assessed your sahar, it was blank. There was no chance of you becoming anything more than a normal person. Thus, we accepted you as one of us. The matter was settled and your parents both agreed for you to grow up and live with us. However, this assessment changes all of that.” The Elder’s smile remained as he leaned forward, closer to the table- and closer to Jake.

“You have the choice to go beyond the desert, to live a life outside of this village. This place is your home, but it doesn’t have to be something holding you back. And that choice is yours.” The Elder reached out and placed his hand softly on Jake’s shoulder.

“Your mother first named you Lyaha. Do you know what that means?” Jake nodded.

“Brave?”

“”Brave” is one meaning to it, yes. But it also has another. There is an old saying the name comes from; thum, madaha unla’ir lyaha so’diar- Onward, march forth brave Warrior.” The Elder’s hand was pulled away and the man rose to his feet. Out of respect, Jake stood up as well.

“Your mother foresaw the potential for you to leave the village, and so she named you after a mighty Warrior from an old story. She wanted you to grow up to be someone strong. Someone who could follow in the footsteps of the man she loved. After seeing the world with your father, she didn’t want you to be chained to this place like everyone else was. When she died, your father asked us to call you ‘Jake’ instead, only because he wished you never would try to be like he was. As he feared what may become of you. But that name, too, symbolizes that you do not belong here. It is a name from the north, from beyond the desert.”

The Elder stepped forward and reached into his robe. He pulled out a small necklace, a dazzling gold rope. It almost seemed to glow in his fingers. The Elder motioned for Jake to come closer, and Jake stepped forward. The Elder released the clasp of the necklace, and then gently wrapped it around Jake’s neck. It seemed a bit big, but Jake would likely grow into it. At the bottom of the chain, a small pink jewel dangled.

“This belonged to your mother. It was blessed by a Priest in the northern lands and was a gift to her by your father. When she passed, she wanted it to be given to you if you ever decided to leave the village.” The Elder placed both hands on Jake’s shoulders and knelt down to be at eye level with the boy.

“Elder Juul…” Jake’s Auntie whispered, but the Elder only looked at Jake with a smile.

“Your mother wished the best for you, and your father wished for you to be safe. Whatever it is you decide, remember that.” The Elder ruffled the boy’s hair and Jake grumbled as he pulled away from the Elder’s grip. The man chuckled and then turned to Jake’s Auntie.

“Thank you for the tea, and I apologize for the disturbance.” He bowed deeply at the waist and then turned to leave the tent. Both Jake and his Auntie bowed as he stepped out, the guards following close behind. Silence returned to the tent. The only noise was the sound of clinking as Auntie Rayne gathered up the teacups and her pot. Jake stared at the flap of the tent, his hands curling into fists.

There was no doubt what he wanted to say right now, what he wanted to declare to his Auntie. Everything he had ever dreamed of was now right in front of him. The Elder had validated his desires, had practically blessed his goal to leave, and had given him full permission to just leave whenever he wanted. While he could stay and also become a Magi, the Elder had practically told him to go on and adventure, to leave the village and explore beyond the sands.

Yet, why couldn’t he speak? Why did he suddenly feel… stuck?

“Auntie…” Jake mumbled, his eyes falling to the sand at his feet. His hands opened and he felt his throat tighten up. “I…”

“Your mother was always a quiet woman,” Auntie suddenly spoke up from behind him. He turned and saw her kneeling beside one of the water buckets, her back to him. She patiently cleaned the teapot and the cups. “She was a bright beaming sun. Always cheerful, always happy, and always excited, but she was quiet. She didn’t talk a whole lot outside of her work and sang a lot to herself.”

“She was beautiful, far more pretty than I was, and she had many suitors. Men from all over the village attempted to earn her favor and even men from the caravans tried their luck with her. But she passed all of them off. If she ever married, it would also mean having to leave our father to take care of her new family- and she could never abandon him. She loved your grandfather deeply and respected him. He wasn’t some special warrior or a great craftsman. He struggled to raise the two of us without Mother around. Every day, he gave it his best.

When he became sick, I was already married and had my own family to take care of, which left my sister as his sole caretaker. She was burdened by it and I could tell she wasn’t exactly happy about it at first, but she was all he had. I left the two of them behind and turned my back on them. When he passed away, I thought your mother would finally be free. I thought she would be happier and might even finally begin her own family.

Instead, she became the opposite. The cheerful smile withered away and she closed herself off. Her beauty remained but she grew thorns. No man dared get close to her anymore and she gave up much of what she cared about.” Auntie seemed to ramble as she cleaned the glasses. When she finished, she simply sat there, talking, and staring at the water.

“Your father’s appearance was a whirlwind, just like the Elder said. It was him and five others. Adventurers who came seeking the Ravine. They were going to challenge its depths and were going to try to conquer whatever was inside of it.” Jake glanced up towards Chul, but the Arachkin said nothing.

“They got drunk, really drunk, the first night, and were spewing that challenge all over the place. My sister finally grew fed up with it and practically attacked your father with harsh words I never thought she even knew. She called him all sorts of obscenities, but ultimately the word that made him flinch was when she called him a liar. He scoffed and splashed her with his beer. He stood then, as though his mind could never be more clear, and shouted- ‘If I return from that place, then I’ll take you as my wife’.” Auntie Rayne paused, laughed, and shook her head.

“It was stupid and childish, and your mother actually slapped him a few times. Both for the beer and because he was acting a fool. She ran them out after they’d paid their tab and said they weren’t allowed back. They left the next morning, heading for the ravine. They were gone for several days. The caravan did wait an extra day for them, but it ultimately left without them. They didn’t return until later. Almost a full week later. When they did, they returned with one less man- an Elf who had joined them from the caravan was missing. All they had left of him was a bow.

They were quiet, solemn, and defeated. Whatever they had seen in the ravine certainly had them shook up. Your father was in low spirits and didn’t say a word when he returned to the beer tent. Your mother approached them and ordered them to leave, but they just sat there. Your father asked for six drinks. Six. Even though there were only five of them.

Your mother, no fool to death, understood. She brought them seven. One for each of the survivors, one for the Elf, and one for herself. It was quite a surprise, but it was something that brought a smile to their faces. That night, they all partied and got wasted together. The remorse in their eyes turned into a celebration and just for one night, I saw the smile return to my sister’s face.

The adventurers and your father spent the next month here, waiting for the next caravan to come through. They helped with daily tasks, drank themselves to the edge of death, and your father constantly approached my sister. She kept him at arm’s length, but it was clear. He was determined to fulfill his bet with her and she wasn’t exactly one to keep fighting such a persistent man. She put up a front to everyone, but I and the other girls could see it clear as day- she was far happier with him around than she was before.

When the day came for them to leave, your father asked her one last time to go with them. She initially refused and tried to give him an excuse, but the excuse she had was brittle. He tried every angle up until the very last minute when the caravan could wait no longer. She had a home here, and while she wasn’t exactly happy- this was her whole world. But, I and the other girls wouldn’t let such a binding place hold her back. We packed her things without her knowing and put them all into the caravan’s carts with the other adventurers. When she returned to her tent and saw nothing left, that’s when we practically shooed her off.

I didn’t like him much. His attitude, his looks, his language. I didn’t like how he always seemed to be off in his own world or looking beyond where he was to somewhere better. I didn’t like his friends and how they all seemed to glow in their own sphere. It made my own life seem too bleak and mundane… but the way your mother lit up whenever your father approached her, I couldn’t get in the way of that love.”

Auntie finally stopped talking and sat for a few moments in silence. She stood up and turned to look at Jake. He could feel tears in his eyes as she walked over to him. The woman who had cared for him also looked as though she was on the brink of tears, which was likely why she knelt down and pulled him into one of the tightest hugs he had ever felt. Her embrace was warm and soft, but so tight.

“She loved you two so much. When she came back with you in her arms, she was the happiest woman in the world. She always talked of how she was going to raise you to be great like your father, of how she wanted you to go off and see the world as she did. She never wanted you to be bound to this village like she had been. Up until the moment she closed her eyes, she wanted that for you.” Auntie trembled as she held him, and Jake couldn’t help but hug her tight. She pulled away from him after a long while, her arms still draped around his shoulders. Her cheeks were wet.

“I was always scared that you might leave and never come back, like your father. I always feared that something would come to hurt you if you decided to leave. I wanted to hold you here and keep you safe from the world because I was always so afraid. But I can’t do that anymore. It’s not what your mother would want for you, and that little necklace is proof of that.” Auntie leaned her head forward, placing her forehead against his. Jake shivered and stared into her soft eyes.

“I love you like a son, Lyaha, but you are not mine. You are hers. And I want you to be happy. Above everything else- that is all I ever wish for you to be. Okay?”

“Yes, Auntie.” Jake nodded. Auntie pulled him into another embrace and held him tightly once more.

“No matter what you choose to do, know that this place will always be a home for you to come back to.” She placed her lips onto the top of his head and kissed him softly. It was a soft kiss, one he hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

“Yes, Auntie.” Jake could say nothing else and he remained there, quiet in her arms until she decided to let go of him. She gave him one last look full of sadness before she carefully returned to her feet.

“Now, how about something to eat, yes?” She smiled softly and looked at him. She wiped at the edges of her eyes and hummed at him.

“Okay.” He wiped off his face as well and nodded.

In the corner of the room, seemingly forgotten by the two as they began to prepare lunch- Chul watched Jake and his Auntie in silence. After a few moments, he receded to the top of the tent and withdrew himself into the shadows. He slipped out of the tent and moved a short distance away into a crevice between a rocky outcropping. He nestled himself into the space and let himself rest out of the sun, and out of view. For a few moments, he too let himself reminisce.

“Look after your sisters- would you?”

“Come back here! You know that’s dangerous!”

“You are bigger than them. You need to be more gentle.”

“Run! Hurry! The Humans are here!”

Chul curled up and for the first time in a long while, he felt a bit cold.