[Chapter 19 part 1] Dawn - Flying lesson

------------------------------—

Dawn left the Inner Palace with an intensifying sense of doom. It was early morning, not that you’d know it by the thousands of roaring braziers. Lily’s Obsidian Cavern… ‘Inner Palace’ only applied to the complex where they lived. Kate calls the surroundings the ‘Empty City’. The endless stone apartment buildings were arranged in a grid. She was traveling the pathways connecting the upper stories.

What a nasty surprise that was. She recalled Astra’s shocking proposal yesterday.

…

“Dawn, get to bed right after your match. Tomorrow I’m teaching you to fly.”

“What?” Color drained from her face. Is this a joke?

“Your fear is a crippling weakness. I’m sure you realize this.”

Dawn grimaced, “I know. But why flying?”

“It’s the same principle as learning swimming to overcome a fear of drowning. Although it might be disagreeable, your shortcoming will be remedied.” Astra glared. “This would’ve been simpler at Earth’s End.”

“Sorry…” There’d been nothing she could say.

“Soul, you come too. I might as well teach you both.” Astra approached the window and pointed. “We’ll meet there.”

…

‘Learn to fly’, Dawn despaired. She’d dreaded a reaction along these lines. Her mother’s ‘solutions’ were brutal. I remembered how she ‘taught’ Silver summoning. It hadn’t worked out well.

I tried so hard to prevent this. She’d been managing too, even with all the curve balls. When Astra made the ground vanish, that was horrifying. She’d spent the entire time ‘holding’ the transparent ice with telekinesis to reassure herself it was there. Then there was Simon’s detour. The trip had been almost pleasant before they sailed off the continent. Since he saved the others, I’ll forgive him. It was the warping which did her in. When they’d plunged down, her mind had gone blank. I screamed, didn’t I? God, how mortifying…

Dawn glanced around to distracted herself. The apartments are designed to be lived in. They’d checked inside yesterday to find them laid out sensibly. With plumbing and power, they’d be perfectly comfortable.

Kate had explained the reason behind this eery metropolis. During the Dark Age, the area around the Isle had been a safe heaven for refugees. Lily had hollowed out this space in anticipation of the next one. Should the worst come to pass, hundreds of thousands would make their homes here.

Soul was waiting for her. Early as usual. The building was fourteen stories high, outside her comfort zone. Still, I appreciate Astra picking a shorter one. What she valued less was the extra company. Her other siblings had gathered atop an adjacent skyrise. Concentrating, she overheard they’d brought snacks. Really!

She sighed. I was doomed the instant I was exposed. She spotted Astra gliding towards them on icy wings. They’re majestic. It was her first time seeing them. Which isn’t surprising. Her mother maintained it was always preferable to travel by ground for the traction and faster acceleration. Why bother flying when a jump will do?

Without wasting a beat, Astra began describing how to materialize the intricate appendages and integrate them into their armor. Ice constructs with moving parts were generally challenging, and these particularly so. Strong, thin, and flexible isn’t a combination they possessed naturally. Astra supervised as they grew two giant ‘arms’ and a short ‘tail’. Filling them with glistening feathers, Dawn examined her work. They’re splendid, but I shudder at what I’m to do with them.

Astra had them start again from scratch, and, remarkably, Soul kept pace. Must be related to his special status. Their mother then taught them to extend, retract, and otherwise manipulate their new extremities. This part is cool. The fun ended when Astra launched into the principles of flight.

“Alright, now jump off.” Astra finished. This isn’t how you cure a fear of heights! Dawn wanted to scream, but knew it’d be futile. Worse, it’d backfire. Never underestimate her ruthlessness. She stared down hopelessly.

Soul volunteered to go first. She didn’t object. Take all the time in the world. Unfortunately, he soon leaped. The result was slower than falling and concluded in a loud impact with the stone floor.

“I’m alright.” He shouted. A normal human would’ve died from that. Fortunately, martial arts fortified their bodies.

Astra moved behind her, and she knew she was next. I don’t want to. She hadn’t psychologically accepted the fact that hurling herself from a building was necessary. Her mind raced for an escape.

“Do you require assistance?” Her mother whispered softly.

No, I don’t, she thought. At least, not from you. Dawn understood she’d be tossed off if she didn’t act before Soul’s return. Ironically, this helped her muster her determination. Damn it!

Extending her wings, she stepped forwards. Time stood still as she stared transfixed at the approaching ground. After an eternity, she mercifully hit the bedrock. Only then did her mind gradually function. I was slowed enough to avoid injury…

“That was pathetic.” a voice boomed from above, “You have a minute to get back here, or we switch to a higher building.” Merciless. She couldn’t even drag her feet. There’s only one silver lining. She wasn’t sure why, but her siblings had departed earlier.

Soul satisfied Astra on his third attempt. He then haplessly gave Dawn tips as she repeatedly threw herself from the roof. In a strange way, her mother’s barbaric strategy worked. She eventually went into shock, accepting her inevitable demise. With her fright dulled, she’d improved enough to earn a half-hearted approval.

The torture concluded, Astra gave some final advice on handling high winds and other perilous conditions. Dawn wasn’t in a state to absorb any of it. Soul will remember on my behalf. Her mother then said something which flooded her with relief, “That’s it, you’re on your own from here.”

Thank goodness. If these sessions were a daily occurrence, her heart would give out. Without outside interference, Dawn could now conquer her fears in a sane manner. No procrastinating allowed. She’d give flying another go once rid of her phobia. The wings are beautiful and functional, my favorite combination.

Dawn noticed her mother staring, and her elation evaporated. “Don’t think you can slack off because I’m not around.” Astra informed them that they’d be chucked off the Isle in a few weeks. If they could fly back, they’d pass the test. Deranged logic! Regrettably, Astra left before she could voice her objection. Not that it would’ve changed anything.

“Want to practice tomorrow?” Soul offered. “We can find a shorter building.”

I don’t *WANT* to, Dawn complained. “Sure, sounds fine. Now let’s grab breakfast.” While an empty stomach had been a enlightened decision, hunger was making itself known now.

They returned using what Kate dubbed the ‘middle path’. Every building in the Empty City was connected on the tenth floor, which made for efficient traveling. The ‘sky path’, however, can go to hell. Most rooftops were also linked, offering a scenic route with many ups and downs. There’s also the stone streets, she looked down. Since the exits were above, there was little reason to travel them. Unless you’re being forced off buildings.

“Why did the others take off?” Dawn asked.

“Maybe to check the news.” Soul said sadly. Oh, right… Dawn didn’t fault the others for yesterday. It wasn’t prudence that kept me off the Helix.

Passing a brazier, inspiration struck her, “Fayla, you there?”

“What’s up?” Fayla sprung up.

“You really were…” She’d correctly guessed the flames served as her eyes and ears. Wait, does this mean we’ve no privacy?

“Please tell me you didn’t call out to test my hearing?” Fayla demanded, peeved.

“We were wondering if there were any new developments.” Dawn said quickly.

Fayla nodded, expression softening, “The Laughing Man was busy. Lily wants you in the conference room pronto. The others are already there.”

“What happened?” Soul asked.

Fayla separated from the fire and floated besides them, “A family was murdered in the Undercity. Three generations, a total of ten people. Four were under ten. Each was chopped vertically into two symmetrical pieces.”

“Terrible,” Soul responded. “but what does it have to do with us?”

“Most doppelgangers became serial killers, often developing their own signature methods. One of Ethan’s clones favored splitting his victims perfectly down the middle. Newscasters pounced on this. They’re speculating on why someone has emulated a millennia old ‘modus operandi’.”

“I see.” Soul grimaced. A message ‘written in blood’…

“That’s not all.” Fayla continued, “The Laughing Man broke into Tartarus and freed many of its vilest inmates.”

Enera’s most notorious prison… Commissioned by the Northern Emperor, the facility incarcerated Saints and Immortals. “How many escaped?” She asked.

“The entire East Wing, eleven Saints and two Immortals.” Fayla said. “Beyond that, details are sketchy. In a perverse way, this works out well. The break-in is dominating coverage, crowding out other stories, such as the Isle’s deaths.”

“I’d rather not think that way.” Soul responded. “This’ll make life difficult for mother, won’t it?”

Fayla nodded, “Definitively. She’ll play a central role in hunting the escapees.”

Ideally she’ll be so busy she forgets about that ‘evaluation’. “Could you let Lily know we’ll be there after grabbing a bite to eat?” Dawn said.

“No problem,” The fire sprite dove into a brazier. I wonder what else she’s capable of. It was hard to judge custom creations like Fayla or the Ice Phoenix.

Much in the same way the Rose Palace overlooked the Isle, the Inner Palace loomed over the Empty City. The tenth story there was its ground floor, all entrances high above the streets. This cavern is mean to be flooded with refugees.

Dawn and Soul crossed over to Lily’s ‘Banquet Hall’, a palatial room packed with stone tables. Now, what to chose? Laid out before them was every food imaginable, cooked to perfection. Enough to feed an army. As opposed to Astra’s stockpile of frozen meals, Lily had taken a gourmet approach, assembling an everlasting feast. Complex runes lined the countertops, keeping everything fresh and warm. The strategy limits the need for servants. At any time, night or day, they could walk in and find the dish they desired. I appreciate the utilitarian extravagance. She snatched a selection from the pastry section. They taste straight out of the oven.

Everyone was grimly studying profiles on the wall. The Tartarus prisoners. Seeing them arrive, Lily switched off the display, “Take a seat. You’ve heard the basics, I gather.”

(continued in part 2)