Nuyani and Cuganwa were already lying down in bedrolls in separate stone huts. With Kelvert acting as an anchor for the well of edria, his bright glow made it harder for either of them to sleep on the high shelf. Nuyani decided to stay away from Cuganwa still accustomed to living alone for so long. Nuyani laid awake in the hut pressed against the stone wall opposite of the entrance with both eyes open. Her thrum was ringing stronger than ever for any threat around her.

  ‘I am a child of the Great Lord. I’m not a demon. I deserve to live,’ Nuyani told herself. She looked at her hands wondering about all the powers and abilities she could use with the Great Lord’s gift. His edria made her stronger than normal. ‘What am I going to fight with this gift? Will the others still attack?’ Worry continued to boil in her mind as the thoughts of the villagers turning on her, and even Lord Kelvert came to mind. She doubted his power until he proved to her with memories only she would have. How would others believe them? Who would believe a floating blue flame held off the sandstorms long ago. ‘I am not a demon…,’ she repeated trying to keep her thoughts at bay as sleep eluded her.

  Nuyani’s mind instead drifted to the demon lands wondering what dangers lied in such a place. She thought of the walls of the shadow that battered the Great Lord, the streams of darkness that decimated his being, and the black wisps that lied even within his structure. The world of blue was strange. Her mind spun with the knowledge she was given. Life contained both edria and prutosa. There were creatures called unflom and Kelvert was a haflaj. The parallels wracked her mind.

  ‘If we traveled in the world of edria, can we do the same for prutosa,’ she wondered. Nuyani thought of the possibilities. In seeing Kelvert’s memory, she was a construct of pulses in sequence with the others. Thinking of the feelings the spirits gave her, she wondered what she would look like. Her first thoughts came to the image of another howler. She frowned at the thought. Nuyani then thought of the young girl and To’anu. Both wore the marks of their death. She wondered if she could do this living if it would be much of the same.

  Curiosity rose in her as she then prayed to Kelvert, releasing her thoughts in concentrated waves toward the wisp, ‘Lord Kelvert?’

  “Yes, Nuyani?” the wisp said in her voice with a gentle tone and echo.

  ‘I know there is a world for edria but, does that mean there is also one for prutosa, and can one become a spirit without dying?’

  There was a pause. “Why yes,” the flame answered in an elated tone. “But, is this to see your mother?” A sense of concern and worry hung in the words.

  Nuyani’s eyes widened. ‘I didn’t think to ask, Great Lord. But could I, as a spirit?’

  Another pause. “There are risks to the other side, Nuyani.”

  “I do understand, Great Lord but, please. I wish to see her. I want to see what I can do.’

  “Nuyani, this is not like the world of edria. The strength you carry will be of your own will and mind. There is little edria can do on that side.” Kelvert’s borrowed voice grew stern.

  ‘Please, Lord Kelvert. I merely wish to see her just before things grow even more dangerous. In case I…’ Nuyani paused realizing she showed fear despite even their deity showing faith in imparting his power to the land.

  “I understand your fear, Nuyani. But, this is a place I can do little to aid you in.” Nuyani eyes opened wide, “I can take you there but, even more so than ever, you will have to protect yourself.”

  ‘Please.’

  “Very well.”

  Before Nuyani could utter another word, she felt a strong thrum course through the area. The waves then condensed within her senses. A strange space became blocked to her thrum as it continued to radiate through the area. Seconds later, a small glowing orb no larger than her stomach passed through the wall. Nuyani blinked as she sat up from her bedroll.

  “Let’s consider this a lesson then. You must learn to control your spirit. But first, let us free your soul.”

  She blinked twice before asking, “What do I do?”

  “Lie down and rest.” Nuyani did as she was told. Her brow rose as she watched a sphere of light hover over her. “This will hurt.”

  Nuyani’s body clenched from the warning as the sphere fired downward leaving a streak of light trailing after. The construct passed through her body piercing her core and removing her soul. Nuyani felt her mind and body rip away from her flesh as it was held on the vibrant grasp of the wisp. Ghostly pain rang through her as if she were being ripped apart. The initial strike surprised Nuyani but, remembering the pain that came from entering the edria world allowed her to resist as she stayed focused on her surroundings. Once more in Kelvert’s hold, she found his abilities boundless as she learned about the world. His visage was suspended in black circles with solid lines that vibrated in conjunction with his thrum. Wisps of blue flames could be seen in the far distance.

  “I…didn’t think it’d be like this,” Nuyani said finding an echo to her voice as she looked at her hands. Her body was made of blue once more but in more detail as the outline of her body danced with thread-thin flames and small distortions to the scenery beyond them like heat waves. She could scarcely see them without staring for a moment. Nuyani looked down at the rest of her body finding the same transparent sphere sitting in place of her stomach and the same size of her core. The iridescent flame within still dancing in all directions.

  “This is your soul and how you see yourself,” Kelvert explained. His voice now rasped once more as it filled the space all around her.

  The sphere started to move as Nuyani looked about seeing rapid black waves rising from a source within another wisp of blue fire concentrated in the middle. “Is that Cuganwa?” Nuyani questioned,

  “Yes, it is,” Kelvert answered. “You’ve grasped the world quite easily, Nuyani. The souls residing in every living being come from the prutosa world but, unlike edria, souls or prajialxalc must stay in a pool or surrounding of prutosa. The edria residing within you is holding that pool to house your prajial. Without some container or way to maintain that collection, the soul would naturally return to the realm. Now let’s focus on the next task.”

  Nuyani furrowed her brow. “What are we doing before we leave?”

  “You must learn to move and return along with defending yourself, my child,” Kelvert answered. “This is still a place that I have little power in. Both you and I would be at a disadvantage.”

  “Yes, Great Lord. What’s first?” Nuyani asked undeterred.

  “First you must learn to control your movement,” Kelvert said. “Then you will learn to separate your mind. This is merely a beginning to the other world. Might be easier to arrive somewhere when you know where to go.”

  The sphere of edria then increased in size as it floated just above Nuyani. “Try to act or use the protusa as you have magic. Though they are opposites, their use is similar,” Kelvert instructed.

  Nuyani said nothing as she merely looked to the opposite side of her confines and tried to control her thrum. As if flexing a familiar muscle, Nuyani was propelled forward yet the feeling was different. To her back it felt as if she were burning something away as she moved. The sensation of heat rose in her but, never hot enough for discomfort as she floated on. Nuyani looked back and found a trail of blue light following behind her. Forgetting she was inside a small space, Nuyani hit the wall of Kelvert’s construct. Small black ripples appeared as the point of contact turned almost transparent and weaker compared to the rest of the dark construct. Once the brief ripples died out, Nuyani felt the wall strengthen in its pulse and pushed her back.

  The witch checked her ghostly form making sure she would not break apart or turn into embers as the howlers had. “What is following me?” Nuyani questioned as she examined her form. Despite gravity eluding her as it had the other form, she felt there was less of her now.

  “Remember, Nuyani, edria comes from a solid state as prutosa jafcelbe (spirit energy) comes from a collection drawn by the soul from the realm of prutosa. One that can also diminish from excess use or outside influences. This is why it is dangerous. Lose too much spirit and your soul will separate and return to its realm where the energy is endless but, your life is gone.” Nuyani remained silent as she repeated the warning in her mind. “Try to control your flight once more.”

  Following Kelvert’s orders, Nuyani moved about in the enclosed space as she practiced her flight. Nuyani spread out her arms as she had seen many birds would and went from the top of the sphere to the bottom and circled the sides. Nuyani could not help but smile as she felt weightless imagining herself flying high seeing the clouds and sun closer than ever. Nuyani then stopped as she looked at the ghostly trail of spirit lingering behind her. Her smile faded as she thought of the howlers. The spirits had come for her making Nuyani wonder how important her gifts truly were if such beings hadn’t come before. Realizing the threat was even more dangerous, Nuyani made sharp turns evading imagined swipes and screams.

  ‘Whatever is out there, I will face it and free you mother,’ Nuyani thought.

  Cugawna lied awake in his bedroll. He felt the thrum of Kelvert course through the cavern. He turned, wondering if there was any threat but paused. Nuyani was still and nothing else accompanied the sudden thrum.

  ‘I’m just anxious,’ the boy thought as he sat up.

  Looking at his hands, his thoughts trailing back to the day’s events. From aiding another hunting party to learning their lord was alive but, weakened and the witch they all feared was his sister. Cuganwa ran his fingers through his hair slowly letting the gnarled strands spring into place. The soft hum of Kelvert and the well seemed to soothe him as his thoughts weighed on his shoulders.

  ‘There must be more I can do,’ the boy thought as he focused on Nuyani’s constructs. With walls of light and guided healing, Cuganwa thought those two were the most important to practice. Taking a deep breath, Cuganwa focused on his core. He could feel the soft hum rising from the ethereal drum at rest. Continuing to concentrate, the boy felt the vibrations grow stronger and faster. Keeping his head clear, Cuganwa envisioned his hands glowing once more. Following his will, the waves grew rapid coursing through his arms until they reached his hands. Light began to appear in the boy’s palms. He smiled. The same patterns that repeated were similar to Kelvert’s when he guided the boy to heal Nuyani. The waves were rapid but, not all were uniform as nearly every third or fourth wave was larger than the others. His thoughts were cut short as he winced. Cuganwa felt a creak in his leg finding the bedroll thinner in some areas than others.

  With a curious grin in place, the boy pressed his hands onto his leg. The vibrations passing from his hands into the limb numbed the creak. After waiting a few seconds, he lifted his leg and tested his knee. The pain was gone.

  A wider grin appeared on his face, ‘I can’t tell if it's healed but, that is much better.”

  Cuganwa placed his foot on the ground and looked at the wall in Nuyani’s general direction. From her story, she had created an orb of light as the shorter people had. Cuganwa placed a hand on his core trying to remember the spirit’s waves that brushed against the ethereal wall.

  'Can I remember?” the boy thought as he held up his hand once more and concentrated on the vibrations.

  Each wave was strong and uniform as they coursed into his hand. The power collected into a single thrum as a small white sphere of light appeared before his hand. It grew larger by the second until it reached the full span of his hand. Strain then reached his hand as the muscles tightened. Cuganwa winced as his body was forced to release the orb. The edria projectile fired forth like a pitched stone and struck the wall. Small particles of dust rose. Loud crumbling echoed through the cavern. Cuganwa rose to his feet wondering if his attack would collapse the stone hut. The home proved sturdy as he waited for the dust to clear. Cuganwa stayed silent for a moment wondering if Nuyani would wake to the sudden noise. Yet, no reply came.

  A wide smile now rose on his face. ‘Good. I have an attack,’ the boy thought. ‘Now for that wall,’ Cuganwa thought. Repeating the same feed into a single thrum, orange light appeared in his palm and slowly took the shape of a squared wall as it grew. The wall of light was transparent with an orange tint as it remained suspended above the ground. Cuganwa looked at the wall admiring his work as he breathed heavily.

  ‘Great. I can just think of them and…’ the boy looked down and lowered his hand letting the construct disappear. ‘No. She was faster. It was almost an instant,’ Cuganwa recalled. Nuyani’s constructs appeared several paces away before the worms. His brow furrowed as he thought of the strange creatures bursting from the charge-horn. ‘Wonder how many animals those things are infesting now,’ Cuganwa thought. ‘Doesn’t matter. We’ll have to deal with that later.’ Cuganwa tried to focus his core once more but, winced. His muscles contracted under the growing strain. Taking a deep breath, he blocked out the pain and tried to create another barrier.

  “Excellent work,” Kelvert said as Nuyani flew about. “I believe you have a grasp of this state. Now to learn how to free yourself and return.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Great Lord, why wasn’t that first?” Nuyani questioned.

  “You would not know what to free, dear child, or how to return,” Kelvert answered her. “I’ll take you back to your body. Through the contact of the sphere and her core, she could feel a deadening chill from her body as the thrum was weaker even compared to the first time she used it. The sphere’s pulses grew stronger at the top as it compressed downward injecting Nuyani’s soul back into her core. A moment later, she awoke with a painful chill making every joint ache.

  Shuttering under the sensation, Nuyani then asked, “Why am I so cold?”

  “Your soul was absent, child,” Kelvert reminded her. “With it gone, the body is essentially dying.” The woman’s eyes widened. “No need to be frightened. The answer to this dilemma will be prutosa yodseij, to spirit walk, Nuyani.”

  “Spirit walk?” she repeated.

  “Taking a copy of your conscience and moving as we had in the edria world,” Kelvert explained. His tone then grew concerned. “This is still dangerous, Nuyani. Your soul may be safe once you’ve learned but, the spirit controls your mind. If something were to happen to it, you could be broken or never wake if the control of your conscience is taken. It’s merely too vulnerable. Are you certain?”

  “Yes,” Nuyani declared not letting a single moment rise for hesitation.

  “Good. Your will is strong as well,” Kelvert stated. “Now try to turn the thrum inward.” Nuyani blinked scarcely remembering what she had done to do so. The core naturally radiated outward. Remember that the core, the energy moves as you will to try to release a thrum inward and see the shape of your prutosa and prajial.”

  Nuyani glanced down at her hands wondering how to do so. Though the pulses coursed through her, he felt as if she were asked to swim backward while facing forward, and your back to the sky. Nuyani then looked at her hands as an idea rose in her head. Every discovery she had, Nuyani felt out as she went along. Pressing her palms together Nuyani sent a thrum coursing through her left and letting it pass into her right. She let the wave rush forth, meeting her core and trying to let it pass through. For a moment, the boundary was passed as she felt the familiar slosh and swirl of life as she felt from those around her. A smile crept on her face but faded as she started to concentrate further. Sending a short pattern of waves coursing through one arm and entering the other, the pulses reached her core passing further with each ring.

  ‘I think I have it,’ Nuyani thought as she concentrated on the next thrum, this time sending the wave inward. Her mind envisioning a sphere barrier condensing within her. The opposing forces resisted one another but, Nuyani could feel the ebb and flow of her spirit. The twists, turns and shifting currents were sudden yet familiar.

  “Do you feel it?” Kelvert asked her.

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “Good. You will need to see the portions of your prutosa surrounding your soul to prutosa yodseij,” Kelvert explained. “Just like before but, to remove a portion and control it with your conscience.” Nuyani froze for a moment thinking of what the wisp had told her. She was to draw from her own spirit and control it. It seemed difficult for her just to see her own soul. To pull sections apart from it seemed daunting. “Give it a try.”

  Nuyani took a deep breath, her mind dwelling on the thrum traveling through her. Thinking how she was able to send the wave, Nuyani sent one of the waves through her core trying to sever a portion of prutosa. Nuyani grunted as her edria struck her soul. The collision nearly caused her to blackout. Her body swayed forward before tilting back. Kelvert’s sphere changed in shape and sailed behind her propping up her back.

  “No. No, child,” Kelvert said. “You are to draw from the energy not to separate it.”

  Nuyani heard him even in her sudden stupor. “Draw from it? What do you mean?” she questioned.

  “Hmm. Perhaps it was too early for you to try this,” Kelvert concluded as he removed the sphere from her back.

  Nuyani sat up on her own as she looked down at her bedroll. ‘I wasn’t supposed to take some of the spirit out?’ she thought.

  “Think of how I return your soul,” Kelvert started. “It is not in scooping it out but, to eject it from your core.”

  Nuyani looked forward, partially understanding what the wisp had meant. With another try, she concentrated on the thrum pushing more waves into her core focusing on one side of the condensed sphere to remove some of her spirit. As she pressed on, she could feel some of her spirit flowing from the ethereal confines. ‘I think I have it,’ Nuyani thought as she continued. She could feel her mind segmenting under the separation as the thrum lessened.

  “You are doing well, child,” Kelvert started. “If you continued to imagine something different to control it. Another name for your prutosa is a prajial poljiad, your soul shadow.”

  The word rang as clear as her pulse. Envisioning her body moving like a responding shadow, her conscience shifted transferring from her body to the smaller segment. ‘This is…odd,’ Nuyani thought as the sense of warmth filled her almost making up all she could feel. Now in a prutosa form, her edria resembled waving shadows speeding by. Nuyani pressed harder severing her conscious fragment from the rest of her body. There she looked at her material form, a near statue of darkness with darker waves rising from the center.

  “Now for the dangerous part,” Kelvert said as his spirit came forth. “Fly with me and do not linger anywhere without me beside you.”

  “Yes, Great Lord,” Nuyani replied before the two shot of toward the southwest. Cuganwa did not see the ethereal form of prutosa Nuyani conjured. Her form merely showed her general blue flame no heavier than a bead on his core as he continued to practice. She smiled as they passed through the sandy area below her. A world of flickering blues contained in solid shadows shaped the surrounding area. Looking to the earth, she could see solid pieces of blue beneath the sands moving about. None of them flickered or danced like her form did. A sense of dread hung over her. Though countless, their grouping was sparse.

  “Nuyani,” Kelvert called. She looked forward, finding the wisp just ahead by a few feet. His voice distorted in the new realm holding the same rasp and echo but, distant and wavering in strength. With the call of her name came a flow of energy coursing toward her and parting harmlessly around her.

  “Yes, Lord Kelvert?” Nuyani answered.

  “That is what we face, child,” Nuyani looked down to the sands once more. Those creatures are mere copies of the foe we face, a false devourer.”

  “False?” Nuyani answered.

  “Your need to eat and feast to grow stronger is a feat ruled by another god. A trait to aid life in many needs. But, there are pretenders to this role and others.”

  “Why are unflom trying to take the role of a god? What is the point?”

  “The power to survive.” Kelvert’s tone remained plain as he relayed the answer. “I have told you before that the gods, wodcojxalc, seek power along with the titans, angels, and demons. This is for our survival.”

  “Then, am I a copy for you?” Nuyani grew worried wondering if his gift was a mere ploy.

  “No. Why ask me such a thing, Nuyani? I am here to help and nurture. My nature is to fight such a thing but, that does not mean my wits are so lucid to risk other lives just to grow stronger.”

  “Sorry,” Nuyani looked away trying to find better words as she felt a sense of fear. Despite the deity’s presence, finding out her gift had a purpose was hard to acknowledge from her decade alone in the drylands. “You still carry fear of me, Nuyani?”

  “Yes. And questions. After all this time, why hasn’t the devourer used the animals like it did before?”

  “Look below.” Nuyani did as she was told. She did not realize how swift their flight was as clusters of souls sat amongst solid magic pieces came and went. With a sudden glimpse, she could see that the spirits were not solid forms as the others outside the areas. “Even in this land, life thrives. Possibly the reason its focus is not on us entirely.”

  “Other life. Animals?” Nuyani questioned. The clustered shapes molded together.

  “I wonder.” His tone was light. “A tale for another time. Look Nuyani.”

  Ahead of the two spirits was a swirling vortex of blue, like a tornado rising into the sky. Its bottom was fixed to a strange area rounded like a platform yet standing as a single column going into the earth.

  “By his shi…” Nuyani stopped as she found her choice of words awkward beside Kelvert. As they approached, Nuyani saw the countless faces of the people and animals stuck in the vortex. Even in an incorporeal form, she could feel a chill run down her spine. Most of the faces wore morose, pained, or sorrowful expressions.

  Nuyani and Kelvert stopped at the edge of a ravine. Looking down, there was no end to the rising column. Bringing a hand to her chest, the woman recalled the sense of her mother’s spirit when she touched her cheek. The warm memories of the familiar currents lead Nuyani to her presence.

  “Follow your senses,” Kelvert urged.

  Nuyani did instinct, she felt the familiar warmth coursing toward her guiding her amongst the other currents of prajial and prutosa. ‘Mother, please be alright,’ Nuyani thought. She sailed forth and passed through the spinning wall of soul. Before her, Nuyani could feel the fleeting waves of spirit gushing from the others. Her brow furrowed as she witnessed souls flying about and colliding with others gathered in a gout of blue flame from a crack in the surface.

  “That is how it remains in control,” Kelvert stated. Nuyani ignored the cluster as she looked to the spirits.

  Though in different forms, she recognized her mother’s soul amongst the others as a different soul struck her.

  “Mother!” Nuyani screamed. Huloat’s visage appeared as she looked up. A sense of dread rose in her eyes as weathered wrinkles appeared on her face far too deep to reflect her true age. Nuyani’s body surged as the flickering edges danced rapidly. Nuyani flew toward them, her spirit became a self-contained tide. The fleeting spirits turned to stop her revealing their forms as howlers. Nuyani did not care as she barreled through them and collided with the flame knocking the souls free. Men, women, children, and animals all flew desperately in different directions.

  “Nuyani?” Huloat rasped. As the life returned to her eyes her withered form returned to resemble her forties.

  Nuyani embraced her mother. “Mother, I have come to free you.”

  The woman blinked as her mind returned to the situation at hand. “No. Nuyani, I am bound to this place I cannot…”

  “Lord Kelvert is here with us. We can find a way,” Nuyani interrupted. The tornado of souls began to spin faster.

  Huloat’s eyes widened as if filled with life once more as she looked at the floating blue star. Her visage grew stronger, less transparent. The current of her spirit was reinforced as she looked to their lord. A sense of wonder and hope was expressed in her weathered eyes.

  The woman then turned back to Nuyani. “Nuyani listen. I can’t go. There is…” Huloat started.

  “Mother, please. I can carry you,” Nuyani begged her eyes creasing.

  Huloat placed a hand on her cheek trying to calm Nuyani. “A storm comes today. Warn the others, my love,” her mother said.

  Before Nuyani could press the matter, a rushing current rose from beneath them calling her attention. The howlers started to return and converged on their intruders.

  “Nuyani. Protect them. May his shine guide you,” the woman said as she smiled at Kelvert.

  “We must leave at once,” Kelvert urged.

  Before the witch could say another word, before the howlers could grab Nuyani, before the gout of flame returned, Huloat’s jaw descended far below her collar bone. The woman’s eyes sunk in becoming eerie voids of darkness centered with an iridescent glint. The wrinkles of her face grew deep and monstrous. Nuyani felt her heart sink as her mother’s visage was contorted to a howler’s and a surge of her presence made Nuyani’s visage quiver. The woman then howled as a banshee releasing an expanded wall of spirit toward Nuyani. A blue wave raced forth and swept the witch away. Nuyani twisted and turned as if in rapids through the air hurled back toward the wisp.

  Nuyani righted herself only to see the gout return consuming her mother’s visage. It was then reduced to her soul. The other specters returned rounding up many of the souls that fled. The vortex around them spun faster with the countless souls becoming a massive blur.

  “We must leave, Nuyani” Kelvert called out before his spirit flew forth to surround her, drawing her current to twist and turn as his did, yet never mixing. As a swirling cloud of energy Kelvert rushed toward the spinning wall. His own flow was barely powerful enough to push through slowing only a small section of the vortex compared to the others.

  ‘No,” Nuyani thought as her sight was mixed between rapids of light blue moving in different directions and the details of the large column and swirling souls.

  “This is not the time, Nuyani. When you are stronger. Do as she says and save the others first,” Kelvert pressed. Nuyani found herself reassembling on the other side of the ravine as the vortex became a single piece varying in off-balanced bulges and gradients of blue.

  “Why have her bound?” Nuyani questioned.

  “No time to explain,” Kelvert fired back. “We must…”

  Before the wisp could utter another word, a chorus of screams rang from the vortex. Nuyani raised her arms defensively as a blue wave rose and crossed the ravine. On contact, both Nuyani and Kelvert were ripped apart in the blast. Nuyani then awoke back in her own body. Sweat trailed from her brow as she looked about to find a dark room. Nuyani rose to her feet lowering herself just to ensure she would not hit the ceiling.

  ‘Lord Kelvert?’ Nuyani prayed, sending the ethereal waves toward the front.

  “I am here, Nuyani,” Kelvert answered. “I must apologize, Nuyani. You were not ready to see her.”

  “What?” Nuyani questioned in an audible whisper mindful that Cuganwa was still present. “Why am I not ready?”

  “If not for Huloat, your mind would’ve been taken by the devourer and you would be imprisoned like the others,” Kelvert explained. Nuyani stopped in her tracks as she stood outside of the hut’s entrance. She leaned with her back against the stone side. “Without knowing any true ways to break free or attack, you would’ve been taken. Your praijal poljiad would be collected and used to draw more from your prajial, keeping you asleep and making you weaker every day until death.”

  Nuyani looked to the floor seeing the contorted visage of her mother that saved her. Nuyani shivered as her thoughts returned to the spirit of the small child in the abandoned village. “W-what happens after death?” she asked. There had to be more to her mistake. Nuyani was certain and wanted to realize an answer.

  “Then your soul either is freed or captured, forced to follow the trail of spirit. Your will and mind can be copied that way,” Kelvert said. His tone remained soft.

  Nuyani sunk to the floor. “Thank you, Great Lord. Thank you, mother.”

  “You can tell her that later. For now, the storm will approach soon if I recall, her words,” Kelvert said.

  Cuganwa then appeared around the side catching Nuyani’s attention as he looked down at her. Sweat fell from his brow as well. “Is there another secret?” Nuyani shook her head as she told him all that transpired in the night. Cuganwa gawked at her. “Things living in the demon lands. That’s not something I thought was possible.”

  Nuyani smirked as she looked to the floor. “I don’t think anyone would. We know too little here.”

  “And the wave, it’s coming from the spirits screaming,” Cuganwa repeated.

  The witch nodded her head. “That’s why it grows stronger each year. Those who die to it are captured and tortured to follow its will.”

  “How will the others believe us if it’s coming tomorrow?” the boy asked. Nuyani shook her head. “Lord Kelvert?”

  “I do not know, child,” the wisp answered. “While there is a way to reach their minds and share the visions, there is little chance with so much fear between your powers and the events that came forth.”

  “Another test of faith,” Nuyani said, her tone spiteful as her lips were drawn into a tight line.

  “There should be a way,” Cuganwa said remaining optimistic. Nuyani hid her annoyance at the comment. “They’re coming tomorrow, right? There has to be a point to this, or they’d wait.”

  Nuyani’s eyes then widened as she looked toward the floating wisp. “I just remembered something. Lord Kelvert, will the howlers come out tonight?”

  “Afterwards,” Kelvert answered. “The blast that took our prutosa spread our conscience apart with little to salvage. I imagine the banshee would face a similar fate if they were to leave first. Tonight, the banshee will remain in wait.”

  Cuganwa smiled. “Can we?”

  Nuyani sighed. “A night to rest,” she said and forced herself to smile. She then looked up at Cuganwa. “Let’s go back to sleep.” Her body seemingly growing heavy.

  Cuganwa looked to her as she turned. “Can we?”

  “We should try,” Nuyani said as she continued and returned to her bedroll. Cuganwa did the same thinking of all the information he was given. His heart raced as he wondered what his father would think of each offspring bearing the Great Lord’s gift.

  ‘I must get him back to the village,’ Nuyani thought. Her mind only danced with the possibility that the hunters would try to kill her. The chances of the boy returning were slim but, it was something better than the life she led all alone. ‘Great Lord, what can I do to stop him from meeting any fate similar to mine, or worse?’ Nuyani wondered, even keeping her thoughts from Kelvert as a sense of shame rose. She noticed Cuganwa was completely willing and able to throw himself into the situation. ‘He’s a little too eager for this. Does he want to prove himself that much?” Nuyani thought of him learning that they were siblings, and her thoughts went to Caluu. ‘Is he worried about her?’ Nuyani’s eyes narrowed. ‘What will you do, Sutama?’ she questioned. Her mind conjured a scene of a looming man standing over the young child with her eyes glowing ember. ‘What will he do?’ she questioned grabbing part of her bedroll in a tight grip. Nuyani then let the thought go as she turned over and went to sleep.