Chapter 14

“The magic I have taught you is powerful and should be used with care. Now that the monsters are no more, you must learn to live with this magic, and with each other.”

The Guardian’s Instructions, penned by Rigel Knotsworth, year 1002

Interview

The monitor turned on right in the middle of the broadcast.

Kimberly was sitting on a sofa wearing a red, knee-length dress, and was right in the middle of her response. “…us a minority. Keep in mind that we make up a third of the population; over one hundred million people. It’s a minority, true, but we’re a large minority.”

The screen cut to Nancy Hill, a middle-aged, well-known reporter. “So, tell me honestly,” she said. “What would your Branch do if the Justices won the debate and started cutting down trees? How would you respond?”

Kimberly hesitated, gathering her thoughts. “Well I certainly hope it doesn’t get to that point. But, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“You don’t know?” Nancy gave a disturbed look. “That’s worrisome. A lot of Seculars out there would like to know that, if the law changes, they can cut trees and manufacture the wood without any fear of Arboler mobs, or violent threats, or…”

“No, I don’t think that should be a focus because that’s still if the law changes. I don’t think Seculars should be concerning themselves about how the Arbolers will respond to cutting wood. Instead, they should first ask themselves if what they’re doing is right. If they really think that just because something might be made legal, that does not make it okay to desecrate something that’s so holy and so important to us.”

“Hm.” Nancy let that linger for a moment, and then continued. “Let’s switch gears here. Tell me, what are your thoughts about Oliver Kapur’s mysterious disappearance? Although you two fought each other in court, I understand that you two went to the same law school, you knew each other there, and is it true that you two dated?”

“Whew, that’s a lot to answer at once.” Kimberly licked her lips. “Yes, we knew each other in law school… and his disappearance is very disturbing. We honestly know so little, other than that he was near the Tree of Life when it happened. There are no security cameras in that spot because of its sacred nature, so whoever did it was obviously very skilled. My sincere hope is that he turns up.”

“Is it true that you two dated in law school?” Nancy repeated.

Kimberly stared at the little coffee table between them. “I’ve never told the public this, but yes, we dated for about eight months.”

“Huh.” Nancy leaned forward looking excited, either to learn more or because she hit one of the biggest stories. “How interesting that you two would end up debating each other as opposing Branch Leaders.”

“Yeah. We never expected it.”

“So, what brought you two together? What was it like with him? How did it end? And most importantly… do you still have feelings for him?”

Kimberly smiled up at Nancy. “Oh, wouldn’t you like to know?”

Nancy laughed. “Actually yes! I’m sure all of Salveria would like to know! Especially during these challenging times when everyone is wondering where he is.”

Kimberly stole a glance at the camera, crossed her legs, and smoothed out her dress. “I’ll just say this. Oliver Kapur is a good friend. We obviously disagreed on many points. That’s why we’re opposing Branch Leaders. And I…” She looked right at the camera. “I sincerely hope he returns.”

They were both silent for a moment.

“Well?” Nancy asked. “Details, Kim! Details!”

Kimberly shook her head.

“Oh well...” Nancy said with a chuckle. “Kim, thanks for coming here with us. I wish you the best.”

“Thanks for having me, Nancy.”

Nancy turned to the cameras, smiling. “Up next: five workers are injured when a homemade explosive goes off inside a factory in Cambium that is scheduled to manufacture lumbering tractors. Thousands of protesters, both Arbolers and Seculars alike, march around the Justice Hall in Magen City; a few scuffles have broken out between the two groups, but the police have—”

✽✽✽

Kimberly pressed a button on her drone, turning off the wide monitor, and drooped her head.

“Wow,” Marissa said from across the living room on the other couch. “That was…”

“So embarrassing!” Kimberly said.

Marissa pushed up her glasses. “I was going to say amazing. You did a fantastic job, Kim. You answered the questions perfectly. And that last part… about Oliver…”

Kimberly grunted, squeezing one of the couch pillows to her chest. “How did they find out I dated him? I hoped that would never get out.”

“But Kim, it was captivating. Maybe the Seculars will be more sympathetic towards you and your cause now that they know you and he were once… had once…”

“Dated?”

“Yeah, and if the other Seculars aren’t sympathetic, then at least you can know I am.”

Kimberly pulled her head out of her pillow and stared up at her best friend and roommate. Marissa Brown was one of the few Seculars who supported the Arboler cause. She had curly blonde hair, dimples on both cheeks, and a smile that warmed the room. At the moment, she and Kimberly were both dressed comfortably in their pajamas, eating ice cream.

"Thanks, Marissa," Kimberly said. "It's just... been hard lately. I've been really stressed."

"Of course you're stressed," Marissa said. "That's why you're here with me, eating ice cream."

"Right, which was a great idea." She dug her spoon into her ice cream for another bite. They ate in silence for a moment, enjoying the savor.

"You miss him, don't you?" Marissa asked.

Kimberly paused, spoon in her mouth. "Hm?"

"Oliver... you miss him." She said it as a statement, not a question.

Kimberly didn't respond.

She did miss him. And not just because he had been taken and she might never see him again alive.... but when they spoke in the Capital Grove... she had remembered what it was like to be with him. Old feelings had returned.

And now he was gone. And that made the feelings worse.

Marissa took Kimberly's silence as an answer and smiled to herself while they ate.