“You did what?!” Atunis demanded, entirely forgetting his task in the storeroom, along with all else. “And after what happened last time? How could you still be foolish enough to meddle with this sort of thing? You are old enough to understand that actions have consequences, Eione!”
The young woman narrowed her eyes and scowled bitterly at her brother. “I did not come here to be judged. If you’re going to act like this, I should just leave things as they are.” She looked away from him with a snap of her head.
Atunis glared at the girl, shaking his head for a moment and taking a deep breath. He sighed resignedly. “You know we cannot do that. Now, where is it?”
“The eastern woods, near the cliff’s edge,” Eione replied quietly, folding her arms across her chest. “At least, that’s where it was when I left.”
“We need to hurry,” Atunis replied, furrowing his brow. “We should probably armed...or something.” He paused again, frowning pensively. “You should stay here. I will take care of it myself.”
“No,” Eione stated firmly, nearly cutting him off. “You need me and you know that. I don’t need you to be protective right now!”
A long pause. “Fine. Let’s go, then,” he replied with deep resignation.
***
The sound of Iris’ bird population grew louder and more varied as the siblings ventured deeper into the forest. The canopy overhead cast a pleasant shade as the two trekked in silence.
After several minutes, Atunis broke this silence with a deep sigh. Eione glanced at him and tensely muttered, “We’re getting close.”
Atunis noticed that the birdsongs had faded significantly, giving the forest around them an eerie, empty feeling. The pair slowed to a stop, standing for a few moments among the quiet trees. In the silence, Atunis found himself once more becoming keenly aware of his mood. Eione’s problem made him nervous, certainly. And yet, the terror that had gripped him for the past few weeks had waned significantly. What was it about being in actual danger that was so much easier to deal with? He frowned pensively.
“I hear something,” Eione replied, narrowing her eyes.
Atunis swallowed as he listened intently to the sounds of the forest. She was right. A rustling sound could be heard several yards ahead.
“I just need it distracted long enough for me to work a spell,” Eione said, taking a deep breath.
“How big is this thing, exactly?”
Eione tapped her chin. “Big enough to be...problematic. Maybe.”
Atunis furrowed his brow. “That is disturbingly vague.”
Eione shrugged. “You’ll understand when you see it.” She paused and fidgeted for a moment. “You know, I’m actually quite proud of it. I just…” She frowned. “I would get in trouble if anyone actually saw it. And it’s difficult to control.”
Atunis sighed, furrowing his brow. “You shouldn’t be proud of something like this, Eione.” He turned her to him and looked her in the eye. “You can be proud of the fact you’re smart and skilled, but you don’t need to prove those things by using dark magic!”
Eione frowned, pulling away from him. “I didn’t do this to prove anything! Unlike you, I’m quite secure in my knowledge of my own capabilities. I did this because I wanted to. I wanted to see what would happen! I was curious! Not every action you disagree with is done as the result of some emotional damage. Sometimes people are just different than you and want different things!” She sighed, throwing her hands up. “Surely you can understand that if I put it simply enough.”
Atunis frowned, standing quietly for a few moments, unable to think of a good retort. “We should formulate a plan.”
Eione rolled her eyes again. “Maybe just try and keep its eyes on you while I work from a few yards away. I’ll try and work quickly.”
Atunis sighed. “I suppose that’ll have to do until I actually see what we’re dealing with.”
Eione began walking slowly in the direction of the rustling they had heard. Atunis deliberately overtook her, standing in front protectively. There was silence for a few moments as the pair halted on Atunis’ mark. There was the sound of a branch snapping, and Atunis’ vision faded to black.
***
Above, a clear sky glittered with bright stars, and the only sound was that of the water lapping against the side of the small vessel Atunis laid in. He felt a soft, warm presence beside him, and a deep sense of contentment. His heart swelled with love and gratitude, though he did not know for what. He sighed, simply gazing upwards.
***
Atunis blinked, bleary eyed, his head pounding as he gazed up at Iris’ familiar canopy. It was a few more seconds before the ringing in his ears gave way to the sounds of a struggle nearby.
“Come on! Get up, you oaf!”
A flash of light overtook Atunis’ vision for a moment, and with it most of the pain in his head had cleared. He looked over at Eione. “Did you just heal m…”
His words trailed off as he saw what his sister was trying to keep off of her. His jaw dropped.
The abominable creature was about the size of a small horse, hexapedal, and covered on most of its body with thick, wiry hair similar to that which would be seen on an insect, though this beast’s limbs ended in six sharp, cloven hooves. Its back was covered in what looked like a tough, smooth shell that grew up and over the head of the animal, culminating in a jagged beetle’s horn. From beneath it beered out two eerie yellow eyes with rectangular pupils, similar to those a goat would bear, and from there, its long snout extended down to where two long, white fangs protruded from the creature’s mouth.
Atunis stared at the thing for a few moments before feeling an unfamiliar rush of bravery. He quickly stood up to intervene, but quickly realized this had been a questionable idea. In startled response to Atunis’ rapid gesture, the beast stood on its hind set of legs and screeched loudly, the shell on its back splitting into two sets of large wings that buzzed wildly, whipping up the air around them and prompting a united scream from both of the siblings. Atunis grabbed Eione by the arm and began backing them both away slowly.
“Sorry! I’m sorry! We’re sorry!” he urged, raising his hands in a defensive gesture, attempting to calm the beast.
Eione squeezed Atunis’ shoulder. “Keep it looking at you,” she quietly uttered in his ear before backing away into the trees.
Atunis took a deep breath, giving Eione a disdainful frown. “Fine.” He began approaching the creature, hoping to draw its gaze away from her. “Yes! Over here!” He circled in an arc in front of the beast as Eione moved farther off in the opposite direction, finding a spot behind a nearby tree to work her magic. She reached into her satchel and removed a small pouch. She began reciting an incantation as Atunis narrowed his eyes, locking them with the creature’s eerie gaze. He briefly wondered why he wasn’t more afraid, but quickly dismissed the thought as he focused on his task, watching as the creature lowered back onto its other four legs and began aggressively rearing its head towards Atunis. He jumped back, careful not to lose the creature’s attention or inadvertently startle it again. It began scraping the ground with one of its front hooves, as if it were getting ready to charge. Atunis’ heart jumped into his throat as he got ready to leap out of the way, but before he could, the creature suddenly dropped to the ground, unmoving. After a few moments of silence, he felt it was safe enough to approach the creature. He looked down at the animal, empathy and sadness welling up inside of him.
Seeing that her magic had worked, Eione slowly revealed herself once again. She sighed as she looked upon the creature. She glanced up at Atunis, but quickly looked away as she caught his gaze. He turned his eyes on her, his brow furrowed.
“What are you going to do with it?” he asked.
“I have a plan,” she replied quietly, folding her arms across her chest. “I was going to leave it with someone who could bring it to a temple for...healing. There...is no reason it needs to stay this way.”
Atunis nodded. “Good.”
***
Atunis leaned against one of the pillars outside the reliquary, rubbing his thumb over the medallion he had found earlier in the storeroom. Running his finger over the pattern was soothing in an odd way, though he found he didn’t really feel the need to be comforted at that moment. He sighed contently as he looked up, seeing his father approach.
“Where did you run off to before?” the man asked, his brow furrowed with concern. “I was worried when you weren’t here before, but one of the girls said she saw you go into the woods with Eione. Do you feel any better?”
Atunis smiled and nodded. “Yes. I think I’m alright, actually. She...just wanted to lecture me about some interesting fern she found in the woods. You know how she can be with that sort of thing.”
Isra smiled in relief and nodded. “Indeed.”
Atunis hesitated for a moment, then held up the medallion. “I found this in the storeroom earlier. I wanted to ask you about it.”
Isra’s eyebrows perked. “That was in the storeroom? Esia,” he incanted, taking the disc from Atunis and holding it securely in his hands, as if it were very special to him. He looked at it intently. “Do you know what this is?”
Atunis raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued by his father’s reaction. He shook his head. “I’ve never seen it. I just know it’s enchanted, somehow,” he replied.
Isra nodded. “This has been in my family for generations,” he replied, seeming to avoid touching the etching on the front. He furrowed his brow. “The enchantment is Salican. It’s designed to transfer emotions and rudimentary thoughts,” he replied. “Did you touch the design?”
Atunis nodded, furrowing his brow and remembering the odd vision he had while passed out, and the rush of confidence that followed it. “Yes. Did that activate the magic?”
“Yes,” Isra replied with a smile. “And if you ever do it again, you should attempt to meditate or sleep while under its effects. It can evoke simple visions if you clear your mind sufficiently.”
Atunis chuckled lightly and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll remember that. I do know that it made me feel...better. Than before.”
“That is not surprising,” Isra replied, slipping the medallion into the pocket of his robe. “I am glad it helped you. I should caution you, however, that it isn’t really intended for...medicinal use,” he explained. “This magic evokes specific emotions of a particular place and time,” he replied. “With use too frequent, one can become consumed by a need to return to a place and time that does not exist any longer.”
Atunis’ eyebrows perked. “I see…” He nodded in understanding before looking at his father curiously. “Do you know where it came from? Originally, I mean.”
Isra shook his head and sighed. “That knowledge has been lost to time, unfortunately. I wish I knew.” He chuckled, a hint of disappointment evident in his gaze. “There is a certain point in my, or our, lineage, where it has proven impossible to find what lies before,” he replied. “It is quite the mystery, and even with all the resources I have had at my disposal, I have made little headway. Perhaps you will do a better job of solving the mystery someday.” He smiled. “For now, I should put this somewhere safe.”
Atunis smiled back at his father as the man began heading back towards the seminary. As he gazed off into the distance, he spotted his sister glancing cautiously over her shoulder as she seemed to sneak back towards the forest path, carrying her satchel and a large tome.
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