Page 7

seven

Luka

L uka bit into the cashew fruit chewing slowly, it had been two days since he and his parents went to Kirnon. Two days since he hadn’t seen Morai, why was it so hard to see someone living next to you? He sighed, staring at the teleportation platform, a device the people of the mage tower built after years of research. The platform was round with three prongs that looked like jagged daggers sprouting from the edges of the platform to meet at the top. The top held a large mana stone that when charged by putting in coordinates of where one wanted to go, you would be teleported there. This would be his first time using it; he, like most others, never used it because of the high cost. He sighed again.

“Sigh one more time and I’ll give you something to sigh about.” Luka looked down at his mother. She had her arms folded across her chest, the bracelet he and his siblings had given her for her birthday catching the sunlight. His mother wasn’t petite like Morai’s, but since he’d grown taller than her, he always felt like she was smaller than she seemed.

“Did you know Morai was planning on leaving?” he asked. While they were rivals, his mother made it a point to know everything that was going on in that family.

“No, she did a good job hiding it. I can’t believe she’s planning on leaving the nest first.” Sophia, who’d been staring at the teleportation platform, turned to him, her eyes burning with determination. Luka shuffled his feet; he didn't like that look.

“You know what you must do, don’t you?”

“Huh, no, not really.”

“What do you mean not really?” She reached up to pull at his ear, but since he was too tall for her she settled with smacking him on the chest.

“This is an opportunity to move out before she does. Remember we must be first in everything.”

“So you don’t mind me leaving?”

“Of course I do, but I cannot let the Stonehearts win again.” Luka sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. He was really getting tired of all this competition.

“It is a draw, remember neither of us got the job done.” His mother scowled at him, but returned her attention to staring at the platform. Luka furrowed his brow, his attention going back to the platform. What if he got the peacock feather first and then made it back to Linden before Morai did? He could get the money before she did, and stop her from leaving. Luka shook himself, no, he wouldn’t do that. If she wanted to leave, he’d let her. It’s not like he had a say in it to begin with. He sighed again, getting a withering look from his mother. Luka grinned at her.

“You do realize,” he said, grabbing her hand and placing the cashew nut in it, “that I can’t just leave being the first born and all.” His mother stared at the nut in her hand. Knowing her, she’d put it on a shelf along with all the other memorabilia that her children had given her through the years. She frowned up at him.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Brother.” Luka turned just in time to be engulfed by his hunk of a brother. His younger brother, Tanen, looked nothing like a younger brother should. While Luka was lean and muscular, Tanen was built like a tank. Probably why he became a tanker, someone who specialized in defense on a team.

“What are you doing here?” Luka asked, taking in gulps of air when Tanen released him.

“Didn’t the headmage tell you? I’m coming with you.”

“What?” both Sophia and Luka said in unison.

“Well, Fida and I…and Neoni,” Tanen said beaming.

“I thought it best if a party was formed instead of just the two of you,” Kirnon said coming up to them. He wore a long white robe with gold trimmings on the edges, the sleeves of the robes were just as long. He smiled at Luka, before turning to Sophia.

“I hope you do not mind, Sophia.”

“Um, well, as long as they come back safe.” A worried look crossed her face before it disappeared.

“I cannot believe you’re coming, too.” Luka turned to find Morai, Opheila, Fida, and Neoni. Morai glanced at him before quickly turning away.

“Since no one has been to the Dark Flower forest, it’s only right as a member of the information guild to come along,” Neoni was saying as she unsuccessfully jammed a number of scrolls into her already bulging bag.

“Take this,” Kirnon said, giving Luka a bag; he took it with a frown. It was light like there was nothing in it.

“It’s a dimension bag, I have put a cut of meats in there for the dragons, and some mana stones that’d help you cross the field of flowers. Oh, and a map,” Kirnon explained. Luka frowned wondering how Kirnon knew there would be a field of flowers to cross.

“How do you…” Luka started.

“You have a dimension bag?” Morai asked, moving closer to Luka to inspect it. Luka tensed at her closeness. The bag was probably made by the research institute of magic, hence, why it was so rare and expensive to get.

“Why do we need meats?” Luka asked.

“For the dragons; it would appease them while you ask for the peacock feathers.”

“Ask?” both Luka and Morai said at the same time, they glanced at each other then away. Kirnon raised a brow.

“I would rather you do not try to steal it,” he said.

“What would be the point of going then?” Morai asked, Luka silently agreed. With a sigh, Kirnon said, “Do what you like. If we’re all here, shall we?” He walked towards the platform leaving everyone to say goodbye one last time before following him. Luka made to follow when Sophia pulled him into a hug.

“You come back safe, okay? I can’t believe your father couldn’t make it.” Luka smiled, hugging her back. His father was always busy at the guild, and was quite disappointed he couldn’t leave to say goodbye.

“I will, Mother, and tell Father I understand.” She nodded, letting him go. He was the last one to get on the platform.

“Remember, this only takes you to the city of Krandol, you’ll have to go the rest of the way on your own,” Kirnon said, holding a mana stone. Tapping on it, the stone produced what looked like a holographic screen that Kirnon rapidly tapped on, putting in the coordinates. The mana stone in the center of the platform began to glow a golden glow that intensified until Luka had to close his eyes. It felt like he was snuggled up in a warm blanket, then a surge of vertigo hit him as he was pulled into the mana stone.