Geo

“Are we there yet?” complained the small boy, for the fifth time now, as he follows me through my mage’s Moon Meadow; a garden which blooms at night.

     “Nearly, child.” I answered, glancing back at him.

      He was younger than the others; seeing only four winters and a spring, I’d say. His eyes are swollen and damp from crying. As expected. He did just witness the massacre of his village. Including his parents, elementals who tried to fight back. My mage received their distress call after the raid had already begun. By the time she dispatched me, it was too late. The invaders were already gone. The devastation they left behind infuriated me. I wanted to hunt them down and destroy them in return. But my mage sensed this boy’s magical aura and instructed me to lead him here instead. I found him hiding in the hollow trunk of a tree on the outskirts of his village, encased in a mud cocoon. The sole survivor.

      So, here I am… A noble F’lagon. Descendent of a prestigious lineage of feline-dragon hybrids. My velveteen fur is the color of charcoal. The placoid shaped scales covering my paws, belly, and patches of my face shimmer like tiny ebony mirrors. My dense claws and spired horns appear as if cut directly from the Obsidian Mountains. And my shadowy feathered wings invoke jealousy among ravens and crows alike. In contrast, my eyes reflect the moon herself with a drop of ink in their centers. I’m a warrior. And I have been reduced to fetching foundlings for my mage like a common canine! Soul-bound to obey her command as her fated familiar.

     My tail swished with my irritation as I think back to the day my mage declined a promotion to the grand rank of General Commander in the Queen’s army. Opting instead, to oversee a secret operation; rescuing and securing orphaned or lost youths of any race or species to give them a second chance to thrive in a safe place where they can grow to understand their own selves and each other without the influence of outside prejudice and hate.

     Something gripped the puff on the end of my tail. I looked back to see the boy yawning and rubbing his eyes ferociously. I nudged his cheek with the tip of my nose and settled onto the grass. Motioning to my back, I tell him, “Rest.”

     With some effort, he climbed up, snuggled his head into the pillow of fur at my nape, and wrapped his trembling arms around my neck. “Thank you, kitty.” he whispered before falling asleep. His purity reminds me of the reason why my mage took on this assignment and the reason why I want to fight.

      As his breathing slowed, I crossed under a canopy of Wisteria. The amethyst and cerulean petals practically glow against the night sky. As if they were stars come down for a closer look. It’s peaceful. Unscarred by the chaos all around. Largely due to the stone statues scattered among the blooms. My mage imbued them with rich complex wards. Each strategically placed to compliment the others and create multiple layers of protection. Some create a veil that shows a cumbersome landscape to those who bode ill will. The ones just inside the veil confuse travelers who have come that far, but were not invited, and redirect them through a maze of paths. Others, still, have the ability to become animated when called upon by allies. Likewise, the flowers are saturated with my mage’s magic too. Each with its own purpose as well. For example, the Lamb’s Ear lining the path I’m walking can heal minor wounds. But the delicately sweet scented Jasmines behind it produce a dewy poison when they're threatened. The yellow Primrose and pink Four O’clocks are the Magpies of the meadow. They see and hear everything that happens. They share their gossip with the pollinators that frequent them, who, in turn, inform my mage. The inner ring of the meadow, which I’m entering now is composed of a grove of Magnolia trees standing up to eight feet tall, mingled with Tuberoses half their height. This is the last line of defense. When necessary, they can fuse together to create a massive blockade. My mage truly is extraordinary!

     “Nebulus.” greeted my mage as I broke from the tree line. “The boy…” It’s hard to believe this woman once led successful deadly campaigns when she shows this compassion and genuine concern.

        I turned so she could see my passenger. “Sleeping, Quintessa.” I assured. Relief washed over a young face that has carried the burdens of exploited cruelty since her own childhood. Her accomplishments over the years have not been achieved by will, but through necessity. She lifted the boy gently from my shoulders and carried him herself.

        “Rhum.” she said. “That’s his name.” She petted the back of his head. “That’s what his mother called him in her last moments. And said that his talent will bring peace.” She was somber. Quintessa has heard the last request of many a soldier. Though it never gets easier for her.

         “He’s presented already?” I asked from her side as we entered the fortress that we and twelve children call home. Thirteen, now.

          She nodded. “His aura is strong already. His parents did well nurturing it thus far. Now, its up to us.” Quintessa laid him on a feather mattress and covered him. “We mustn’t let their sacrifice be unjustified Nebulus.” Determination laced each word.

         Rhum slept until late morning. When he woke, he was greeted by Ceres, an Oxyn who had been one of the first children here. She was saved from slave traders. Oxyn are naturally strong, but usually timid, making them perfect construction laborers or carriage jockeys. Ceres was strong, but not timid. Not anymore. She commanded the very air she breathed. She was clever too. Even though she wasn’t the oldest, she was often left in charge of the others when Quintessa and I were away.

       “I’m Ceres. Welcome to Vernal Kapel! Let’s go meet the others.” She pulled Rhum from the bed and led him through a series of corridors to the kitchen where lunch was being prepared. “That’s Xenith and that’s Zebulum.” she declared, pointing to the pair deliberating at the prep table. “They’re brothers. And Alchemists.”

       “With a specialty in transforming foods!” they exclaimed, in sync, looking up at them. They wore thick leather straps on their heads that held something clear in front of their eyes, making them much larger than usual. Which kind of scared Rhum.

       Ceres patted his shoulders. “Next.” she declared. This continued until everyone had been introduced. Diantha and Desoto were honing their archery and blade skills with targets and sparring in the courtyard. One is an Elf. The other is a Faun. Walzdorf, Illius, and Uma, a Shifter, a Cyclops, and a Nymph, the three youngest before Rhum’s arrival, were playing a game in the trees while taking a break from studying. Amaru, a troll, was taking care of the livestock. Mule and Bleu, a Fairy and Griffin, were practicing various flight patterns from the rooftop. And Gesso, a Gargoyle was in the library, reading. By the time they finished, the brothers signaled that lunch was ready.

       “Grub time!” Ceres announced.

        Quintessa and I were the last to the dining room. She smiled as she watched the children playfully chattering with one another. Rhum was among them and was dared to show his talent. Quintessa clapped her hands once. The sound, like thunder, echoed in the room and provoked silence. “We eat first. Then, if he wants to, we can have a demonstration.” Everyone did as she asked. While they ate she announced that there would be a guest this afternoon. A Centaur who had helped rescue most of these children. They cheered. Food eaten, and plates cleared, everyone went outside in time to greet Soya who had just arrived.

       Rhum hid shyly beside me. Once Soya greeted everyone else, he approached us and attempted to coax Rhum forward. “Who is our brave new friend?”

       Quintessa knelt beside Rhum. “It’s okay if you feel overwhelmed right now. This is all new to you. Soya is one of my closest friends. He saved Nebulus and I when we were younger." Rhum’s eyes widened with admiration and he stepped out in front of me.

      “Nice to meet you, young Elemental.” Soya greeted. Rhum stared. “Have you found your talent?”

        Rhum looked at me. I nudged his round belly with my nose, and he stroked my brow. Without a word, he walked a distance away from the group, stopped, and turned around. Everyone watched quietly. When Rhum looked at me again, his eyes glowed gold. The earth beneath him rumbled. A wall raised before him, then shattered. The pieces suspended in the air started swirling around him. Then settled into five piles. When the last piece had landed, his eyes stopped glowing and he dropped to his knees. I was beside him before he could fall over. Rhum smiled at me.

       “Good kitty.” he whispered before he fainted. When I looked up, I realized why everyone was still quiet. The boy had sifted the earth and separated all the minerals within in. Before me was a pile of fine soil, one of clay chunks, one of rocks and pebbles, one of metallic nuggets, and a small one of raw gemstones.

       “He’s a Geo.” Quintessa admired. Soya nodded, surprised.

        “He’ll be as strong as you, someday.” he said. Quintessa agreed. “The possibilities of this talent are limitless.”

        “His mother was right.” Quintessa admitted. Soya looked at her. She looked up at him. “He’ll be a vital part of restoring peace to this world.”