Rina slammed into the last step of the long, practically vertical hike up the mountain. The sun beat down in a harsh way now that the trees had become more spacious at this elevation. She turned back, hearing Svana slip and stumble, the sound of spilled rocks and loose dirt tumbling far down the incline. Her heart skipped a beat but saw Svana had caught herself. The worrier inside of Rina wanted to reach out and ask if she was alright, to hurry down and help her up the rest of the way. But the mother inside of her remained steady and watched carefully, always ready to be there for help if Svana truly needed it.

Svana was not the same girl she was a thousand miles ago. As she watched Svana tremble and hold on to whatever she could to help herself climb, she saw resilience where there was once uncertainty. A determination had blossomed over the face of fear. Most importantly, her Aura was of a different nature now. It spread far and wide, coating the forest in a soothing layer of presence. It was no longer wild, coming and going, affecting all things around it with reckless abandon. Svana held her body, mind and Aura with renewed intention.

Svana panted harshly, resting at the top. Rina handed her one of the waterskins and the girl drank deeply from it. Rina smiled and leaned against one of the trees, crossing her arms.

“You did well, Svana,” she said. “Not an easy climb at all. You’ve gotten a lot stronger since I first met you.”

“Really?” Svana’s eyes lit up. “I never knew the land climbed this tall… well, I mean, I know about mountains and all that. It’s just strange to actually walk up the side of one. To be this high up.”

“Well,” Rina said, “You’ve seen nothing yet. Come look at this.” She gestured and had Svana follow her across the level of land where the trees were now smaller and their stood closer to the sky. Just over the next ledge would be the other side of Nadi, the Western side. As she pushed aside hanging branches and thick patches of greenery, they arrived at a clearing where the sunlight made the world around them glow. Rina’s eyes adjusted for a moment — the first thing she saw instead of the scenery was Svana’s face of awe and exhilaration. Honestly, Rina was looking forward to this part, to see her glow like the sun at the sight of the West.

Rina looked over and met the lands below and far beyond, reaching out to the distant horizon marked by more mountain peaks. The lands were rising and falling seas of valleys, colored by the pinks of strange discolored trees — the blues of crisp lakes and winding rivers running through towns and villages settled into the dips in hills. And in the center of it all was a circular cut-out of the land, surrounded by stone walls. In the middle of that was a tall temple where the Auran Monks resided, many of them waiting for Rina’s return with the child.

“It’s so beautiful,” Svana said quietly.

Rina looked down and smiled at her, so proud of how far they both have come so that she could see such beautiful lands.

“I think I’m okay with this being home, Rina!” Svana said, looking up at her. “If it’s all this pretty. This is nothing like Gnosh, nothing at all.” She pointed and Rina followed her finger to the walled-in civilization far below. “What’s that place? Is that where we’re going?”

“It sure is,” she said, lowering herself down to sit so they were at more equal levels. “That is Matrun. The city of Aurans. The Gifted. So many people like you and me are there. And there are some who have been looking forward to meeting you.”

“Really?” Svana asked. “There are so many buildings. It’s so huge, how many people are there?”

“A whole lot,” Rina said. She stopped herself from saying more than there was in Gnosh. “Thousands. And there you can go to school. You’ll meet so many kids your age. You’ll have a warm bed and plenty of better meals than what we’ve been living off of lately.” They both laughed. “And you’ll learn how to use your Gift from people much more experienced than myself.”

“You’re a good teacher,” Svana countered with a soft laugh. Then, she groaned, falling back into the grass. “Oh, but it’s still so far away!”

Rina laughed and fell back as well. “I know!” They both allowed themselves a complaint of groans, allowing exhaustion for a while as they enjoyed the soft grass and the shade the trees offered. Such a nice break from how far they’ve gone.

Rina’s ear twitched, however, breaking the peace for a moment. The weight of something snapping some fallen branches alerted her. She turned to the side and rose up, placing her hand around the hilt of her blade in a flash. When she saw what made the noise, gooseflesh rose upon her skin, her eyes falling upon something she couldn’t comprehend.

It was a person. She imagined it must’ve been. They were tall with sharp, yet empty eyes of grey. Their head was completely bare and the flesh was as silver as steel. A dark cloak was all she wore. Worst of all, beyond that one sound that had caught her attention, Rina couldn’t hear anything else from this person. Rina surged her Aura and couldn’t hear anything that might alert her to further details about their strange visitor, no sword brushing against their leg, no hidden daggers squeaking in their holsters.

But what terrified Rina the most was the lack of a heartbeat. The stranger stared with those dead eyes and Rina slowly got to her feet, trembling, uncertain of what she was facing.

“I wanted you to hear me,” the stranger said, a feminine voice coming from those lips that barely moved. And then, she took a step forward without a single sound. Rina could hear everything around her but nothing coming from her body as she approached, not even the grass beneath where she stepped. “And now we meet.”

Rina drew her blade, making Svana flinch in surprise behind her. “Stay back, Svana,” Rina said gravely. She tightened her grip around the hilt of her blade, ready to face down whatever she had to. Had some creature of Shieldhome followed them? Some bizarre agent of the High Priest? She gritted her teeth, glaring at the woman. The woman stopped and tilted her head at Rina. “Don’t you dare hurt this child,” Rina growled. “Leave her be. I’m giving her a new life and I will kill you if you take another step forward.”

The woman stayed very still and simply stared. Then, she backed away, never averting her eyes, all of it completely silent and fluid. She stopped beside a tree near the entrance to the forest where they had just hiked up. Suddenly, the woman’s expression went dark, her eyes serious and her mouth a frown, so much emotion and expression where there wasn’t a second before.

“Stay back,” the stranger said, keeping her hand before the tree. As if protecting it. “Don’t you dare hurt this. Please just leave it be.”

Rina’s heart raced. Was she being mocked?

In the next moment, the woman went from a scowl to a neutral, expressionless face. “I don’t… feel it. I don’t understand.”

Rina furrowed her brow and backed away, keeping Svana at bay.

“Who are you,” Svana spoke up. “Are you okay?”

“Svana,” Rina hissed.

“But I don’t feel any hatred in her,” Svana said, tugging at Rina’s sleeve. “And… I don’t feel anything in her. Not like how I can feel your emotions, Rina. I don’t feel any emotions in her at all.”

Rina raised an eyebrow and looked back to the silver-skinned woman who stood as still as a statue. “We’re leaving,” Rina said. “Don’t follow us.”

“You cannot kill me,” the woman said, which sent heat into Rina’s face and hands. “But that does not matter as I have no intention of harming either of you. I have no reason to do so.” Her eyes moved down to Svana. “I am no one to answer your question. Klxwtz is how I am identified.” She was silent for a while and Rina didn’t know what to do but to keep her eyes on the woman. “I do not wish to watch anymore. I hold a desire to understand.”

“Good luck with that,” Rina said.

“Thank you,” said Klxwtz, very genuinely. Then, out of nowhere, “Blueberry.” The woman suddenly smiled and let out a soft laugh. “Joyous. That is joy. Surprise. A thrill, perhaps. If you were to threaten the ability for me to do such a thing as that for myself… perhaps I would feel how you feel, Rina Sarsys.”

Rina went bright hot at this creature knowing her name. She knew Svana wasn’t blocking her Aura or anything like that… this was a being that did not hold Aura. And could somehow avoid others’ Aura altogether.

Rina held out a hand in innocence. “Listen, whatever it is you’re going through, we can’t help with it, alright?”

Svana approached the woman much to Rina’s dismay — but a knowing glance from the child held Rina at bay. The silver-skinned woman tilted her head and approached as well.

“I can see your Aura, child,” Klxwtz said. “It is full of so much that I do not understand. I wish to know more.”

Svana stopped just before her. It was only then that Rina noticed the beginning stages of the setting sun. It was still bright but the sun was no longer high in the sky. It now cast longer shadows upon Svana and the stranger. Svana repeated what she had said earlier. “I don’t feel hatred in you,” she said. “I don’t feel anything.” She frowned. “Are you okay?”

The woman looked down. “I do not know how to respond to such a question. I am to simply observe. Report. I’m functioning properly for that purpose..” She paused. “I do not want to observe and report any longer. However, without it I have nothing.”

“You can come with us,” Svana said. “We can help you.”

“Svana,” Rina said quickly. “She cannot follow us.”

Svana whirled around and glared at Rina. “You said I can help people,” she said angrily. “You said my Aura will be important to help others someday. Why are you now telling me I can’t?”

Rina paused, knowing there was something dangerous about this woman. But she also knew that living every day with fear of others for Svana’s safety was not ideal.

“Do not worry,” the woman said, making Svana and Rina look back at her. “I do not intend to follow you both to Matrun. I just… wanted to speak. For once.”

Svana walked closer to the woman and held out her hand.

“What is it, child?” The woman looked down at her.

Svana gestured for her, reaching out.

The woman stared with cold eyes. Those eyes looked up at Rina and Rina reeled back, shocked by the gesture of permission. With hesitation, Rina nodded, placing trust in Svana’s emotions.

Svana was terrified and confused, but the woman took her hand. This woman existing with no emotion made her heart hurt. She had to reach out and try and find something. However, the moment their hands grasped one another, Svana’s entire body went cold. The hands were freezing and tough, though they held a smoothness to them. Svana felt tears come to her and she looked up at the woman. “You don’t have an Aura at all, do you?” Svana asked.

“I do not,” the woman said simply. “Many things do not. Not anymore.”

Svana tensed and let go of her, closing her eyes. Not anymore?

Rina sighed, moved by Svana’s devotion to kindness but knew it was time to move forward. Much to her delight this woman, as if reading her mind, offered the same thing aloud.

“It is perhaps best you return to your guardian and continue on your way,” the woman said. “I apologize for taking up your time with my illogical mutterings.”

Svana hurried back to Rina and took her hand, feeling the surge of life and emotion once more. It felt so much nicer. But such a privilege of having that wasn’t lost on her. She looked back at the Aura-less woman and felt immense sadness in her heart. It had never dawned on her before the reality of a lack of Aura in some beings. She figured that perhaps everyone and everything had it… they just didn’t look deep enough or, at least, she just wasn’t skilled enough to find it. If it was true, that some people and things didn’t have Aura and once used to, if there were others like this woman who felt nothing within her, she would find a way to heal that in them.

Rina and Svana continued on their way down the other side of the mountain range. Rina held herself wary, although she couldn’t sense any sound from that woman, she checked behind her frequently to make sure they weren’t followed or in any danger.

“Rina,” Svana said, “What was wrong with that woman?”

“I don’t know,” Rina said.

“Lots of people don’t have Aura, right? But they aren’t like her, right?”

“That’s right,” Rina said simply. But her mind was working hard to understand. Plenty of people didn’t hold an Aura like the Gifted… but unless it was some Alchemical trickery, they were never immune from another’s Aura. Not to mention being practically lifeless on the inside, if what Svana felt was true.

“Rina, why doesn’t everyone have an Aura?”

Rina breathed slowly, reminding herself not to get agitated with Svana for her questions. She thought about her response, knowing there was a historical answer. Was Svana ready for that? Probably not. The reasons and culprits were clear… the methods were not entirely so. She caught up to Svana who trudged in front of her and touched her shoulder for her to stop. Svana looked up at her and Rina crouched down.

“Svana, there are many things you will learn in good time. You are a kid packed full of curiosity,” she smiled and rubbed her hair, making Svana fidget and push her away, laughing. “But it’s true — not many people have Gifts or Aura any longer. There used to be many. In fact, many people claim that all of Nadi was full of Aura. Not only in people but in the trees, in all plantlife and animals.”

“Really? You mean even this forest used to have Aura?”

“That’s what is told by many Auran historians. It’s a lot of information that… you aren’t ready to hear just yet. But you’ll learn soon.”

“Why not?” Svana furrowed her brow. “Why aren’t I ready? You know and you won’t tell me!”

“Svana, a part of growing up is having to accept not having answers in the immediate present.”

Svana stomped her foot and Rina raised an eyebrow. “That’s not fair.” She crossed her arms and looked away. “But fine.”

Rina smiled. “Do you want some bread?”

“I guess so.”

Rina laughed to herself, and reached into her pouch for a hunk of bread. “I’m glad you’re deciding to eat at the very least.”

Rina and Svana walked in silence for a long while. Eventually the trail evened out and they had an easy trek through gorgeous woods, sunshine leaking in colors of red and golden light. The warm season was coming to an end as Rina saw the first few hints of changing colors in the leaves. And the lands surrounding Matrun were untouched by the metal violence and alchemical crimes of the rest of Nadi. She took in air and exhaled slowly, in relief, knowing that all was well for the time being.

She looked over at Svana who munched in silence in sustained frustration over the lack of Rina’s solid answer. She was a wonderful girl with a large curiosity about the world around her. Rina smiled and nudged Svana in the shoulder, who didn’t respond at first as she finished the last of her bread. Their boots crunched in the dirt and kicked loose rocks into the heavy foliage beside them. Rina nudged her again, a bit firmer, and Svana looked up, masking her desire to smile with anger.

“Stop it,” Svana said.

Rina poked her in the side, making the laugh burst out of her and Svana shoved back. It was nothing of course, but Rina pretended to stumble off to the side, making them both laugh harder.

“I guess you have gotten stronger,” she said.

“You faked that!” laughed Svana accusingly.

“I would never,” Rina said, acting offended.

As they turned the corner of the forest trail, there was a curious sight which made their laughter fade away into awe. An aqua-blue butterfly, glowing like a torch with otherworldly light, was fluttering in the center of the path. Rina lost her breath at the sight, her mind confused for a moment at what she was actually witnessing. The dark designs of the wings and the size of it told her it was a Nadian Monarch. A rare insect that was believed to be going extinct. But that glow. A trick of the light?

“Wow,” Svana said, the two of them stopping in their tracks. The butterfly approached, slowly and Rina watched it draw nearer. Everything was silent save for a soft breeze through the leaves. It fluttered just before Svana, just in front of her nose, making her go cross-eyed.

Rina watched it happen and couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Svana glanced up at her excitedly before, looking back to the glowing insect and reaching up for it with a shaky finger. Rina felt her heart become warm, uncertain of what such a thing as this meant. The Nadian Monarch’s superstition was that it delivered good luck to whoever it touched. But this… the glow and the color was otherworldly. Nearly divine. The sight made Rina think back on all the unheard of things that had occurred ever since she met Svana — her survival through injuries that should have meant certain death, Svana’s claim of hearing a Goddess speak to her in her mind, the powerful abilities that Svana displayed over the natural world. Perhaps there were truly things at work on Nadi beyond her understanding. Maybe there were blessings for the suffering out there beneath the perceived truths of the world.

The butterfly landed on Svana’s finger for a moment. Then, it fluttered away, down the path.

“Let’s follow it, Rina, come on!”

“Alright,” Rina said quickly, trotting after her.

The butterfly was fast and rounded the corner in the direction they were headed. Svana had stopped at the curve and Rina stopped before reaching her at the next otherworldly sight before them both. Practically an ocean of blue. The opening was filled with what must have been thousands of the glowing Nadian Monarchs. Rina, in all of her years of life, had never seen such a beautiful sight. Unlike her, who had lowered herself down into the grass, hardly able to breathe, Svana had rushed forward, laughing and spinning about among the beautiful small creatures.

“Rina! Rina, it’s like a song!”

Rina wasn’t sure what she meant at first, merely watching her laugh and dance among the magic of the land.

In that moment, the darkness that rose time and time again within her heart melted away. Where there was once blood and dirt staining her hands, she now only felt the soft grass, her skin kissed by the peace and stillness of the world. The butterflies swarmed, filling the space with soft, blue light, surrounding her as they did Svana and Rina couldn’t help but laugh. Her eyes dripped tears as their soft wings tickled her cheeks and their presence filled her with warmth.

And then she heard the sound Svana had mentioned. It was a faint melody that grew with each breath.

For the first time in years she felt as though everything would be okay. The mistakes of her past, the weight she had carried with her, the shame she held for what she had done to hurt and lose the ones she loved, was swept away in the small bodies of magic. Svana looked back at her and offered a large, bright smile full of the hope of the future. Rina met it and stood among the mystery that surrounded them, free from shame, her ears filled with the sounds of butterfly wings, a comforting music, like a song of mercy.