Page 29 of Cerulean Truth (Sapere #1)

THIRTEEN

EMMA

Panicking, Stephen and I exchanged a quick, worried glance, realizing we were trapped in a desert with more than a few very motivated Gliders hot on our heels.

With adrenaline surging through my veins, I knew we had to make a decision and make it fast.

Stephen, still holding on to my arm, whispered urgently, "Emma, focus! We need to get out of here. I’ll translate the gate to Cyclos for us, but you have to project your energy when you go through it or you’ll get stuck. Do you understand?"

My head felt like it was on the brink of explosion. His voice seemed distant, and I struggled to concentrate on his orders.

There was no wind, no clouds in sight, just the scorching heat of the day, and I felt like a piece of butter on a hot plate. I started to smell like it too. Did magi even use deodorant? I really hoped they did.

For god’s sakes, would you focus? I reprimanded myself, hating the nervous rambling I couldn’t even keep out of my mind.

In the midst of my frantic thoughts, Stephen's hands began to move with a practiced grace. He muttered something under his breath, after which his bright white haze, I’d come to recognize as his translation, veiled him for less than a second.

Instantly, a massive gate materialized before my eyes. It was an awe-inspiring sight, a gold shimmering gate, adorned with intricate designs, generating an aura of ancient power. Above the gate, the words “Sapere Aude” were boldly emblazoned in a radiant, ethereal script.

My thoughts swirling, I recalled some of my rusty Latin, enough to recognize that “Sapere Aude” meant “dare to know” or “dare to seek knowledge.”

Stephen's voice cut through my daze, strained but urgent. "Emma, you need to translate your way out of here, now!"

Right. Translating.

My heart raced as I turned around, spotting the hooded attackers now but a few steps behind us. Hysteria threatened to overwhelm me, but I channeled the paralyzing fear, desperately attempting to recreate whatever energy I had experienced in that horrid bathroom at the bar.

Well…no time like the present.

As the adrenaline kicked into higher gear, I began to feel it—the energy I had experienced before, re-emerging, coursing through my entire body.

“Yes," I heard Stephen whisper from behind me, confirming I was doing it. I intensified my focus, homing in on the power I knew resided within me.

“Go now!” Stephen urged me. I took in a big gasp of air, closed my eyes, and boldly stepped forward through the gate.

As I crossed the threshold of the massive gate, a weird sensation overcame me, one that defied my ability to put it into words. I was very aware of the fact I was crossing a boundary into another dimension, entering a realm, uncharted by human footsteps.

I instantly felt it, a protective bubble wrapping itself around me. Out of the blue, it seemed as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of the air. My hands instinctively clutched my throat, agitation gripping me.

In the blink of an eye, Stephen seized my hand, and in that instant, my panic dissipated and I felt safer than I had ever felt before. It was the same familiar sensation, one I had come to recognize every time I was with him or with James, a feeling of being home.

“Breathe through it,” he said in a calm, reassuring voice. “Simply inhale the air, close your eyes, and repeat to yourself, I am breathing easily.”

I followed his guidance, but my lungs still ached, making each intake of air a painful struggle. "Don't panic," he continued, "you've never learned how to respire in the Metasphere, but as a maga, it will come to you naturally. Keep breathing through it."

Gradually, as I focused on my respiration and the calming presence of Stephen, I began to regain control. I looked at him, bewildered and still catching my breath from the ordeal. "What the hell just happened? Who were they? What did they want?"

Stephen's gaze was heavy with regret. "Emma, I'm so sorry. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, but I had no choice…it was the only way to get you through the gate…”

My jaw dropped. What?

Stephen nodded, his expression grave. “There was never a real threat.

It was all an illusion, a setup, designed to ensure you'd fear for your life when stepping through the gate.

.. James told me he believed you could only translate when your life was in danger, and if you don't project while passing through that gate, you get stuck in limbo or worse, you die. "

My mind reeled with shock and anger. "Are you telling me, you faked the entire accident? The chase? The portals? Even the whole death-eater lookalikes were fake?"

He nodded, remorse in his eyes. "Yes, and I apologize for it. But it was a necessary step in safeguarding you, Emma. I hope you can forgive me the deception."

I shook my head, wondering what kind of world I had stumbled into if such endeavors were deemed normal.

Raising my head, I initially wanted to give him an earful, but as I took in my new surroundings for the first time, I was left utterly speechless.

The desert had vanished, and I found myself standing in paradise.

I was gazing upon the Grand Canyon, but instead of arid landscapes, there was lush greenery as far as the eye could see. The sight before me reminded me of a documentary I'd watched about Norwegian fjords, to which the landscape bore a striking resemblance.

The red-hued rocks harmonized elegantly with the crystal-clear blue waters, and the verdant fields, decorated with vibrant flowers and palm trees, encircling them.

The fjords created an illusion of depth, stretching beyond imagination, offering a panoramic view which seemed to go on for miles on this perfectly clear day.

I had never witnessed such breathtaking splendor.

"Wow," I whispered, utterly thrilled, "this is..." My voice trailed off as I struggled to find the right words.

Stephen nodded with understanding and gently added, "Only the beginning. Welcome to the Second Layer." He smiled, a touch of apology still lingering in his tone.

I arched a brow. “The what?”

"Cyclos is a closed Collective, which means all magi live in one place, secured by natural and, of course, magical protections. This Collective is safeguarded by the Three Layers of protection, formed into concentric circles, shielding Cyclos from unwanted visitors."

"Sounds rather antisocial," I remarked boldly. Quickly, I added, "Sorry, that slipped out. It wasn't my intention to offend."

"You're more correct than you realize," Stephen muttered, but he didn't provide any further explanation.

"Now, the gate we came through can only be opened by using translation. That's the First Layer, and it keeps out all Nemecis," he continued.

"Nemesis? As in enemies?" I asked.

"No, as in NMCs," he smiled, "Non-Magical Creatures. Humans. It keeps out the humans because without magic, you can't translate the gate in the middle of the desert. And even if you happen to stumble upon someone who did, you’d need translation to get through it or you die."

The memory of how he got me through it still stung, but I nodded, grasping the concept. "So, the First Layer is the gate, and it keeps out non-magical people. Got it."

Stephen smiled, and I made an effort to reciprocate, pushing aside my lingering irritation with his weird-ass protective approach.

Stephen explained, "The Second Layer is a little more special; it keeps out magi with 'bad intentions,' which is obviously a broad and rather subjective term."

I furrowed my brow and inquired, "How does it work?"

Stephen beamed with a twinkle in his eyes, eager to demonstrate.

"Let me show you. The fun part of the Second Layer is we get to fly through the fjords toward the Third Layer."

My expression must've betrayed my terror because Stephen's concern was evident. "Are you okay?" he asked.

I whispered in angst, "I don't know how to do that."

"Don't worry," he reassured me. "We'll do it together. You're not afraid of heights, are you?"

I shook my head.

"So, how do we fly? By ourselves?" I asked quickly.

Stephen answered, "This is actually the tricky part. You can't fly through the Second Layer by yourself when entering Cyclos. You have to activate the swings." He pointed to my left to indicate where they were.

"Swings?" I asked with a puzzled expression, turning my attention to the left, where out of nowhere, a dozen swings appeared, hovering but a few feet above ground. Hovering swings! It was absolutely awesome.

"Now, to check if you're 'ill-mannered,' as we diplomatically call it, the swings have a built-in sensor which works somewhat like a mirror.

The technology is quite advanced, based on translation we use for interrogation techniques and the True Bond," Stephen explained proudly.

I suspected he had played quite a role in developing this Second Layer of Protection.

I couldn't help but ask, "The True Bond?"

"Yes, it's our only existing form of telepathy. Nothing to worry about for now. But its magic came in handy when building these sensors. All you have to do is catch a tear from your eye and drop it in here." He opened a small watch-like compartment embedded in the side of one of the swings.

I inquired, "What if I don't feel like crying?"

Stephen responded, "Well, one can tear up without having to cry, but you're right; sometimes, we're in a hurry. Can you grab the small black box I gave you earlier?"

I frowned, having completely forgotten about it. I rummaged through my pockets and located it a moment later. I handed it to Stephen, who produced a small bottle resembling a spray. He sprayed the liquid into his eye, causing him to tear up in a matter of seconds.

"A bottle of magic tears?" I gasped.

"Nope," he replied dryly while wiping the tears from his eyes with his sleeve, "menthol."

I burst into laughter. Who would have thought?

"You'll see, Emma, most of what we use is easily adaptable for humans."

"Why?"