Page 38 of Cerulean Truth (Sapere #1)

As the class continued, I couldn’t help but wonder about the challenges they faced, the sacrifices they made, and the secrets they held.

The life of an Offensive was undoubtedly fraught with danger and darkness, but it also seemed to be a life of purpose and power. I felt inexplicably drawn to them.

Walking back from the elevator, I asked Enya a bunch of questions, about Offensives, about Healers, about the Academy and about anything and everything I could remember.

To my surprise she was very patient and answered pretty much all of my questions. But it was her warning that stuck most.

“I warned you about James Walker before,” she reminded me, her tone serious.

“But he’s not the only one you should be wary of.

Offensives once focused primarily on deterrence.

Their missions aimed to gather intelligence and prevent conflicts.

The fact we magi hadn’t seen war in over thousands of years, was directly correlated to the work these Offensives did. ”

She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.

“But,” she continued, “with the Battle of ’59 came a whole new generation of magi and their ideas on what Offensives needed to be. They honed their skills and turned them into what suited them most.”

“So what are they now?” I asked, holding my breath.

Enya fixed me with a steady gaze as she replied, "Lethal."

Day four: The Great Exposure.

"What are you specializing in?" I asked, intrigued, after we exchanged greetings the next day. Having missed the chance to ask personal questions the days before, I was becoming eager to get to know Enya.

She smiled, surprising me with her unexpected expressive demeanor. "The Human World, actually."

This revelation caught me off guard. "Really? How come?"

"Well, with the Great Exposure in the making, it's become a very popular topic. If we are to assimilate with humans, it seems appropriate to be knowledgeable about their world."

I was about to ask for more details when she pre-emptively added, "That's why I volunteered to be your tour guide. I figured, I teach you about our world, and you teach me about yours." She shrugged.

Right, because I had something to teach…

"You know what," she continued, "why don't we go get some coffee, something to eat, some water—there's a beautiful stream up ahead in the garden. Let's see something other than the four palaces you'll walk for the rest of your first cycle anyway."

I smiled gratefully and nodded enthusiastically, especially pleased about the coffee part. There was no way I would survive this world, or any other world, without caffeine.

As we walked outside together, through the gorgeous garden I had entered on my first morning, we arrived at a beautiful patch of grass near a small fountain, emitting a soothing sound as its water flowed into a stream that led to our seats.

Enya settled on a long branch hanging from a large tree, overlooking the water. She took out a bottle and gazed longingly at the stream. I sat down next to her, hanging on to her every word. “Coffee? Water? A sandwich?” she asked.

"All three, if possible," I laughed.

She smiled and held all of it in her hand a few seconds later. Okay, that still blew my mind.

I grabbed the coffee like a dying person, burnt my mouth without caring, washed it down with some water, and ate my sandwich in under three seconds.

I looked at Enya, who was staring at me like I were an animal. I probably looked like one, considering how I had just inhaled three separate food groups.

"I'm sorry, guess my interface to eat is pretty fast too," I said with my mouth full. Enya looked a little disgusted with me, which made me laugh.

"Still hungry?" she asked.

I smiled. “I could eat another sandwich.”

Enya eyed me carefully. “What about a muffin?”

I looked at her, puzzled. "A muffin?"

She nodded and, with a simple gesture, translated one in her hand. The aroma was intoxicating. I took the muffin hesitantly, then bit into it. The flavor exploded in my mouth, unlike anything I'd ever tasted.

"Wow, Enya, this is incredible!"

Enya grinned, clearly pleased with my reaction. "It took me a while to find just the right ingredients, and trust me, you won't find them in any recipe."

I raised a brow, surprised. "You don't simply translate what it tastes like?"

Enya shook her head. "No, I have to know why it tastes like that. All translation comes solely from within, from our own knowledge. That's why our Specialists are the best of the best, because they know more than anyone else."

I nodded slowly, starting to understand. "That's why you have restaurants. Because even if you can conjure up the ingredients, you can only translate the end result if you know how to get it."

“Exactly.”

That actually made a lot of sense.

Watching the flow of the stream, I mused contentedly at the view.

"So," she changed the subject abruptly, "I heard you had to break off all connections to your world to get here?"

My smile vanished.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, "I didn't mean to be insensitive; I only wondered about it."

"Well," I replied, my voice tinged with sadness, "it's true, and it didn't feel good, but it's not like I had a choice in the matter. I hope to return in a year."

She nodded understandingly. "After the Great Exposure, you mean?" she asked.

I frowned. "I don't know what that is."

She looked at me, and her eyes widened. "Wow, you really don't know anything." She clearly didn't want to be mean about it, but it still stung. I shrugged, feigning indifference, while pushing back the annoying insecure voice telling me I was an ignorant idiot.

"Well, as you know, humans don't know about us.

Our existence is kept secret from them, as it has been for over 3000 years.

We can live among them, but then we have to keep our identities hidden and move after a few years, so they don't figure out we age at will.

But a lot of us are sick of it; many magi feel it's time to come out of the broom closet and expose our true nature to humans, trying to coexist."

“Why?” I asked, a little astonished they would risk such a revelation.

“Well… We all live for at least two cycles, or two hundred years if you prefer. Some of us stay alive for double that time and The Elder, the oldest magus alive, has been around for twenty cycles! That’s a long time to keep yourself and your nature hidden from seven billion people…”

I nodded, the concept slowly sinking in.

"We have been at it for fifteen years, organizing it, getting every maga and magus on board. In light of our history, it’s imperative we get our whole society on board.

Wouldn’t want to live through another Battle like the one of ‘59. So a global consensus is crucial to move forward. However, the Council just informed us some Collectives have encountered resistance, even in light of an already declared consensus.”

She paused.

“I still don't think it will really slow us down. I personally believe we will be able to proceed with the Great Exposure next year, as it is foreseen," she continued. "Which is why you'll find some very 'human' features along the way."

I squinted. "Like key cards?" I asked, remembering my way through the gate of the Universitas.

Enya nodded. "We thought entry to our most important building would be indispensable when living together with Nemecis."

Right . Stephen had referred to humans as NMCs or non-magical creatures as well.

“So you are all getting ready to live together with humans on a daily basis,” I concluded.

Was this the political climate James referred to?

Gradually, her words began to make sense to me, and, more significantly, I understood why James had told me in a year, a lot could change, and maybe I could come out of hiding too.

This was like music to my ears. I felt inexplicably re-energized.

My thoughts raced as I considered the possibility that what she said was true.

In only one year, I could blend my two lives together!

Perhaps it was a less daunting prospect than I had initially believed.

A renewed sense of hope emerged within me, and I broke into a wide grin.

"We should head back," she said, rising to her feet. I was eager to learn more about this world, but it was evident she was growing weary of explaining things to me as to a child. I expressed my gratitude sincerely as I stood up.

On our way back to the Winter Palace, an older man approached us, waving with clear intent to strike up a conversation.

"Miss Thompson!" he called out enthusiastically.

"I'm so glad to finally meet you. My name is Maurice, and I'm a Councilmember for this Collective," he introduced himself, as I stood before him.

"I'm happy to welcome you to our community, and I hope you will soon feel at home. " He seemed nice enough.

"I hear Enya has volunteered to give you the tour of our premises." He nodded amiably toward her.

"Yes," I confirmed. "She has been so kind as to teach me about your very captivating world. I hope I can reciprocate the gesture for her someday."

His demeanor instantly changed, as if my last comment had triggered some realization.

"Yes, of course, Miss Thompson. You are quite right.

I believe you might offer us all a unique perspective on the Human World.

" He paused. "There is, in fact, a reception in a few weeks where some prominent figures from our international community will attend.

I would be honored if you would join as our special guest."

"Uhm, well, sure, yes. I would be delighted," I stammered, taken aback by this sudden invitation.

"Wonderful. I will send someone to pick you up on the twenty-ninth at seven PM at your dorm. Have a nice day, girls," he saluted, created a portal within seconds, and left us standing in the middle of a garden, utterly astonished.

"What the hell..." Enya gasped. "Do you have any idea who that was? What you were invited to?" she asked.

I shook my head no, gazing at her quizzically.

"That was Maurice, as in one of our Leaders! I mean, not really, his wife is our current Leader, but he’s pretty much her stand-in. You getting this invitation is huge! " she exclaimed.

I smiled carefully, not entirely sure about what exactly.