***

Chapter 12:

Light Show

***

Thunder rumbled over a chorus of continuous sounds of rain tapping on the roof. It was joined by drops of water falling in a bucket inside the old couple’s shack. Much of the community had retired for the night. There wasn’t anything to do in such weather besides muddy their sandals. The rain made for good sleeping weather for some.

But not everyone.

“..no...” Aiden said softly. He struggled to move under the ropes Rajul wrapped tightly around his body. “...leave me alone...!”

His voice grew louder, snatching Rajul out of his slumber. Wiping sleep from his eyes, the old man carefully weaved around the obstacles in his way and approached Aiden. “Son?” he said. “Are you awake now?”

“..don’t..don’t make me...” Aiden’s eyes opened wide, his crescent-shaped irises highlighted by a bright white light. Peculiar patterns and shapes rotated in the palms of his hands, resonating as bright as his eyes.

The old man backed away, his gaze fixed on Aiden. “R-Raima! Come see this!”

The same patterns on Aiden’s hands appeared one by one around his body. They appeared to be solid as they orbited Aiden like moons. Rajul’s curiosity urged him to reach out and touch one.

He had never seen a Rebirth before.

“NO!” Aiden screamed. The entire house was illuminated and engulfed by blinding light.

***

A flight of stairs carved out of the mountainside extended upwards for several miles. It was the only path to the fishing community below and the only way to lieutenant Alba’s stone estate. Surrounded by towering walls, the estate sprawled across half a dozen acres. With its steep roof and tall windows, the main house sat on three acres. A smaller guest house, recreational area, and a pool made up the rest of the property.

It had all the luxuries he was accustomed to, making his stay in one of the poorest parts of the world a little more tolerable.

The Ahrman oversaw his empire’s interest in the area, the exportation of pangasius. A highly desired fish back home, the pangasius was only found in this part of the world. The empire would pay the fishermen here a small sum for their catch then merchants across Ahrmania would sell it for three times as much.

Draped in the finest night robe, Alba sat back in a high chair reading from the pages of a thick book. His slick blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail that fell lifelessly down his back.

As he turned a page, his room was lit up by a bright light. He jumped out of his seat, leaving his book behind. From his vantage point, he could see much of the community below in the daylight. At night it was obscured by darkness. Tonight it was completely visible thanks to a pulsating light coming from one of the houses.

Blocking the blinding light with one hand, Alba scanned the area in an attempt to pinpoint the origin of the event. Almost as soon as it appeared the light vanished and the community was again under complete darkness.

Hasty knocks rattled his door, but Alba remained at his window staring into the night.

“Lieutenant!” a red-headed Ahrman called from the other side of the door.

“It’s open,” Alba replied.

A man dressed in padded armor threw the door open. “Sir, did you see that light?”

“Yes, I saw it,” Alba said, still gazing out of his window. “Did you see where it came from?”

“From one of the shacks.” The man shrugged. “I’m not sure which.”

“Neither am I.” Alba returned to his chair.

“What do you think it was, sir?”

“I can only imagine.” Alba picked up his book and flipped through the pages searching for where he had left off. “You were there today, were you not? Did anything seem out of place to you?”

“No sir,” the man paused. “Wait, there was one person that didn’t want to let us inside their shack, but I didn’t think anything of it at the time.”

“Hmm.” Alba settled on a page. “Go back to that one and see what they are hiding. Burn them out if they don’t comply.”

“Yes sir.”

“Also, send word to the empire tonight that I may need some assistance.”

Alba reclined in his chair as the man left, shutting the door behind himself. His gaze returned to the window.

What would a Rebirth be doing out here?