Obsidian Sky (4 page)

Not to mention the Elders claimed that if anyone came up with a purpose that benefited everyone, that individual would be able to use their wish as they saw fit upon the end of their fifth year. Much better than being told what to use it on.

The Field of Visions was a meadow, ten square miles in length. At first no one understood how incredible this unsuspecting field was, but within a week, the grassy field became a hot spot. Once someone stepped onto the grass, they gained the ability to play like never before. They could practice the abilities they might have gained through previously used wishes, all to their heart’s content. Any damage done to the earth or sky was immediately reset, as if it were all a big game.

Others, who had yet to use their wishes, were somehow given the ability to act as if they had. If one was considering using a wish on gaining the ability to fly, all they had to do was think it, and suddenly, they would soar high, as long as they didn’t go beyond the Field of Vision’s borders (in which they would then revert back to their original, powerless form). Creating castles out of thin air, experimenting on what it would feel like to embody a creature they had seen in a textbook, learning what if felt like to rip moisture from the sky and expand it into a waterfall – there was hardly a moment when the Field of Visions was empty during the day. This was the ultimate playground.

Aidan frequented the Field often, practicing his Fire Arts and stretching their limits. Some days he would just cast fire into the air until he was exhausted, meditating on the depths of his stamina. It was only then that he realized that, even with a power gained through Yen, there were still limits to one’s use of it. What the particulars of this revelation would mean – he wasn’t yet sure.

Other days, he would see how much area he could set ablaze, or if he could cause damage to the ground beneath him faster than it could reset. To the villagers it looked like he was constantly taking out his anger on the world in one fiery manner or another, but for him, it was simple therapy. Here, he didn’t have to worry about harming anything. He could just destroy to his heart’s content. There were no repercussions.

Though on this particular hazy morning, playing in the Field of Visions would have just that. Aidan had begun experimenting with how high he could raise the temperature of his body when he noticed a woman approaching from his right. Though he hoped it was his imagination manifesting her into existence, he knew he had no skill in holographic imaging, even in the Field.

There was just no way he could get every feature right. Her dark brown skin, her strong and confident stride. Her affinity for plaid shirts and dark blue cotton jeans. Her intense, serpent-like eyes and full, pursed lips. She had coarse, short hair that barely touched the bottom of her neck, and her shoes were always worn and tired, yet somehow they never ripped or broke down – symbolic of the very woman who placed her calloused soles within them. She was the only adult that Aidan respected unconditionally, and he suspected that there may not ever be another.

“I’m not surprised to find you here,” she said, her thick accent dominating the air. Aidan let his body temperature revert back to normal and turned to face her. She examined him from head to toe and shook her head. “Relax. I’m not here to scold.”

“You’ve scolded me before, Bailey.”

“Because I thought you were strong enough to take it.”

“I am.”

“Then you won’t mind if I say a few words to you now.” A corner of Bailey’s mouth raised as she waved him forward. “Come walk with me. We have some things to discuss.”

“I have an appointment with the Discipline Squad,” Aidan said.

“Yes, and you’re a few minutes late by my assessment. Don’t worry. I’ve already taken care of your problems. Just come.”

Aidan raised his eyebrows in surprise and obeyed, trying to keep up with her stride, her long legs taking only one step for each of his two. She walked like she was marching, as if she were heading to the next battle. He could only imagine how she slept.

“You covered for me?” Aidan asked as she led them back to the village center, no doubt heading to the far west where the brewing shop and the dining commons building were located. She had often told him that food was the most important catalyst for a smooth conversation. Whether that was true or not was still yet to be seen. She was the type of person that strove to improve herself on a daily basis, but made little progress, regardless of her good intentions.

She lived in the North End of Lowsunn, where many of the adults lived, yet her business primarily resided in the South, with many of the youth whom she mentored. Depending on what her kids needed, she would have to go back and forth between the North and South, retrieving notes, sensitive information on allergies, and things of that nature. There was nothing odd about this.

What was strange was that instead of running straight down the middle of the village, she would jog along the diamond shaped perimeter, corners and all. Aidan had asked her why. Why in the world would she do that when it wasn’t required? When no one asked her to? When no one cared. All she could say was that it was cheating to make your own way, and maybe if Aidan was more conscientious of order, he would understand. Like many adults, she had her established quirks, and so he let that particular conversation slide. He only hoped that if he was dying at one end of the village and she was at the other, she would ignore order that one time.

After they had walked from the East to the North to the West, where their destination remained, she began craning her neck forward, examining the small and empty round tops outside of Zorin’s Brewing Shop for a respite. There were already twenty villagers sitting in various spots, giving their orders to the few waiters and waitresses that were employed there.

Zorin was no fool. Having no desire to fight for his life in the outside world, he had immediately used all three of his wishes to establish his legacy in Lowsunn. The first, gave him his power – the ability to concoct elaborate potions that gave the consumer temporary abilities. Although they only lasted a few minutes at most, they were absolutely essential for the scouting missions, giving the adventurers superhuman strength, speed, new abilities, or even invincibility when they needed it most. They not only were awe-inspiring concoctions, but they also had a pleasant, sweet taste as well, making their consumption recreational on top of practical.

His second wish was to ensure that no one in all of Obsidian could replicate his power.

And the third – was for a permanent residence, right smack in Lowsunn, before it was rebuilt by the current Elders. He said he felt a good vibe coming from that area.

The Elders couldn’t refuse the man, even before they met his jolly disposition and oversized beehive of a beard. They said that he was the real reason the shields were erected – so no other outsider could wish for permanent residence again, though Aidan knew that couldn’t be true.

Bailey hummed in delight once she found the exact table she wanted. “Are you hungry?” she asked, pointing at her discovery.

“Not at all,” he replied. A couple of teenagers excitedly took the table with the invisible reservation and Bailey shouted out a Hey to get their attention. She shooed them away and they scurried off. Aidan let Bailey choose her seat first and then he sat across from her, falling into his wicker chair with a heavy sigh. Under the shade of the straw canopy above their heads, her eyes were more intense than ever, and he struggled to remain calm.

“Aidan, how old are you?” she asked. That was not a question he had expected.

“Twenty-one,” he said.

“Do you consider yourself an adult?” she asked, stressing the A in adult as if it were a separate word. He studied her face carefully for clues as to what she was aiming at.

“I do,” he said with a frown. “Why?”

“If you’re an adult, why are you afraid of me?” she asked in concern. “I’m not that frightening, am I?”

“I’ve seen you do some things that could put fear into a person. But I’m not saying that I’m afraid of you.”

“But you know that you shouldn’t ever have to fear me though, right? I may be a little harsh, but it’s never towards you. You’re my sponsor, but also my friend.”

“I realize that.”

“Then can I ask you, as your friend…what are you doing?”

“You’ll have to be more specific.”

“You have two strikes against you. Today would have marked your third, and resulted in your expulsion. Now, if you want to leave, that’s okay, but at least give me some time to further myself before you make that decision. You know how poorly your actions look upon me?”

“I understand.”

“Then you also realize that you’re causing suspicion to fall upon us? That you might be putting all we’ve worked for in jeopardy?”

“I get that,” Aidan said, clenching his fists. Bailey noticed the gesture immediately and glanced down at them.

“Aidan, we’re just talking. Relax.”

“It sounds like you’re making accusations. It sounds like you’re saying that I could care less about what happens to you and Isaac and anyone else who’s working for the Movement.”

“Well, I’m right, aren’t I?” Bailey asked, leaning forward in her chair and placing an arm over the small table. “You’re here in Lowsunn because I asked you to come, and you felt indebted to me. Not because you believed a word I said. Not because you cared. Stop me when I’m wrong, Aidan. You’re barely attending the classes, and I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been spending a lot of time with one of the Elders’ daughters. Please tell me it isn’t true.”

“Rumors aren’t always fact.”

“So you were not seen sleeping in her bedroom the other night?” Bailey asked casually.

“It’s not what you think,” Aidan said, giving her an intense glare.

“It better not be,” she huffed. “The last thing I need is a fling destroying our progress.”

“It’s not a fling,” Aidan said flatly. “If it was, I wouldn’t be trying so hard to keep it a secret.”

“Oh! So there is something going on with the two of you.”

“I don’t see how it’s any of your business.”

“Are you really going to talk to me like that?”

“What?” Aidan snapped. “Don’t like how your own medicine tastes?”

Bailey sat back with a huff and stared at her young protégé with a smile in her eyes. “I enjoy it thoroughly, as a matter of fact. You’re the one who’s getting upset.”

“I’m not getting upset.”

“Emotional then…like a little girl.” Aidan was taken aback and stared at Bailey for a moment. He took a deep breath and then put his arms onto the table, staring deep into Bailey’s eyes.

“Why is it…whenever I start sparring with you, you begin insulting me? Why can’t you just tell me that I’m being –”

“ – ornery,” Bailey said with a smug smile.

“That’s not the word I was going to use.”

“Well, I am your mentor. You have to mind your manners.”

“Why is it you can’t just talk to me like a humin being? Huh?”

“Because it’s impossible to do so when you’re always on the defensive. If you were Isaac, sure. I could sit here, order a drink, and discuss with you in detail what mistakes you’re making – and a great deal of progress would be made. But then again, if you were him, we wouldn’t be sitting here in the first place, would we?”

“You could still try – given our history.”

“History is meaningless if you haven’t learned from it,” she chuckled, putting a finger into the air as a signal for an observant waiter to go and retrieve her usual. “I’ve told you how sensitive our operation is, but you can’t see beyond your own two hands. You don’t see the labor that many of us are putting in, and the overtime that is being thrust upon us due to your actions. You know I’m right. I saw it all over your face the moment I walked up. You know you’ve been bad, but instead of taking the lecture like a good and faithful soldier, you start barking back like you actually have some kind of validity.”

“So what you do you expect me to do? Apologize?”

“I’m a big girl. I don’t need to watch your poor acting performances. Just watch yourself. That’s all I require.”

Aidan sneered and began cracking his knuckles, looking out beyond the tacky tablecloths and into the open where so many were walking to their survival classes or snug cabins. They were all so controlled, so manipulated, and they couldn’t even see it. No, it was worse. They did see it, but they followed through anyways, hoping that those in charge would reward them in the end for their obedience. They lied to themselves and believed that those on top actually cared for their well-being, just because they were of the same organic composition
.
That’
s
what was sickening to watch, and Bailey, who knew him more than anyone, was now asking him to comply and become one of the drones.

“That’s not true,” Bailey said suddenly, placing a calloused hand over Aidan’s. “I would never ask that of you.”

“What are you talking about?” Aidan asked, though he knew Bailey had just opened him up and peered deep inside.

“We’re both actors on a stage
,
Tallawa
h
. Both of us. You may think that I’m tapped into the network - that some part of me believes in the village’s mantra. But I am merely giving a performance. What you fail to remember is that the Elders compose the audience, and they are watching our every word, and our every step, making sure we’re following the script. Don’t let them see through your mask and costume. We need you…I need you.”