The Realms of Ethair (15 page)

“
You found me,” he said.

“
So I have,” Karina replied,
disbelievingly. The vision she had of him was accurate, not one jot
of difference to the actual.

“Sight?”

She nodded, sitting beside him.

“
It’s easy to find someone you know with
that ability. Focus your other senses on me and tell me what you
find,” he encouraged. “I’ll take care of the energy
cycle.”

Karina
concentrated on the density and frequency of his energy
field. It was finer in density and vibration than her human
friends. His aura emitted a distinct smell and the same warmth she
had felt two years ago.

She described what she had discovered to
him.

“I smell like tea leaves?” Arturion’s brows
shot up.

“
Yes. There’s no tea set up in here. So,
the only logical explanation is it’s coming from you.” Karina
wrinkled her nose. “I thought you knew.”

“I can’t smell my scent.”

“Everyone tells me you have acute
senses.”

“My theory is I’ve grown accustomed to my
scent that my nose barely registers it.”

“Oh.”

“Would you mind my sleeping here for half an
hour?”

“
Of course not.” Karina examined her
friend. Arturion had grown out his hair again. He looked older.
There were stubbles on his chin and shadows under his eyes which
she hadn’t noticed before. “Are they piling you with
work?”

“The Council? No. My job is not that
demanding.”

“
Is it someone in my – in the third
dimension?” she asked. “No. Don’t answer that.” Karina felt a tinge
of loss whenever she thought of home. It was still a sore subject
for them both.

“I’m sorry.”

“
Don’t be. I’m not blaming you. I miss Aly
and the others, but that doesn’t mean it’s your fault. The ones to
blame here are the Zertans.” Arturion gave her a dubious look. How
could she convince him from self-persecution? Karina sighed. “Arty,
if you badly want to make it up to me, just follow through with
your promise that you’ll always be my friend.”

“Alright.”

“Pinkie swear.” She held out her little
finger to him.

“You’re like a child.” Arturion smiled. He
crooked his finger in hers.

“Now that that’s settled, I’ll leave you to
your nap. I’ll make sure Kala doesn’t disturb you.”

Karina
practiced identifying objects and animals using her psychic
abilities until she heard the knock at the entrance. The door swung
open and the scent of lemons reached her nostrils.

Kala stepped in with two baskets. One was
overflowing with gifts from Forest Folk and creatures, the other
containing their lunch.

“
Good morning,” Kala said in her usual
happy mood. “How was
Form 3
?”

“
The same.” Karina displayed the purplish
color at her hip.

“
Nasty.” The girl grimaced. “Fortunately, I
have just what you need.” She uncorked a bottle of green creamy
salve and generously applied it to Karina’s hip and shoulder. She
continued spreading the ointment to wounds and bruises. “I am
surprised the Elders have not objected to Reno’s teaching methods,”
Kala commented.

“Kala.”

“Hmm?”

“Is it possible for your people to look older
overnight?”

“Our real age shows when we are very tired or
ill. Why do you ask?” The apprentice stoppered the bottle.

“
Arty looks about thirty today. Usually, he
looks about my age.”

“It is a side effect.” Kala’s eyes were
downcast. “Merkaba take its toll on a human’s physical body. A
large amount of energy is consumed during each transport. It is
unusual for a person to travel between worlds alternately in a
short span of days.”

Karina
counted the number of times Arturion used Merkaba ever
since Reno replaced him as her instructor six weeks ago. She would
have run to the archives and demanded why Arturion had hidden this
from her, but Kala’s hand firmly held her arm.

“He is asleep, yes? Let him recover a little
of his strength before you confront him. Even so, Arturion is as
stubborn as a mule. You will have better luck in praying for the
mountain to move from your path than convince him to stop this
silliness.”

Kala pulled her into the kitchen and handed
her the plates and utensils to be laid out on the table.

“What are you suggesting?”

“
First, we eat.” The girl opened the basket
and set out two clay pots. Steam drifted up as the covers were
lifted. Karina’s stomach grumbled as the smell of food assaulted
her. “A full stomach will allow us to think more clearly, do you
not agree?” Kala’s eyes twinkled.

Karina
was in no mood to protest. She was starving and Arturion
was probably fast asleep. He wouldn’t leave without saying
goodbye.

The average number of times Merkaba is used in a
month was one to two at the most. To go beyond the norm
was allowed only when the
situation called for immediate attention. Arturion couldn’t stay
away from Merleina. Karina was far too important to his people, the
Devatas, and him. He had readily agreed to the plan to visit her
weekly to ensure that her energies are balanced. Sara had given him
a
pálon
to keep
the fatigue of travel at bay.

The
pálon’s
reservoir of energy contained in the tube had been depleted
two weeks ago. His foster grandmother would be furious with him
when she learns of it. He had not the time and energy to replenish
the device.

There are three ways to refill a
pálon
. One,
expose its positive pole under direct sunlight for seven full days
and the negative under moonlight for five nights. Arturion had
tried refilling the apparatus the first week and only succeeded by
half.

Two, visit the Ohm Order responsible for
energy production and one of the departments in quality control of
energy-consuming devices. They would surely ask questions. Out of
well-meaning intent, one of the members will make inquiries with
the Gate Keepers. Sola would manage to cover for him only to a
certain extent. Eventually, it would reach the Council.

Three, buy a spare
pálon
from the trading center in Tari at the northwest
and risk being seen by his fellow Keepers. It would taint the
Commander’s reputation for having one of his members relying on
such a device.

In the end, Arturion gave in to his
biological needs. The moment his head touched the pillow he shut
down.

Natural sleep is still the
best
, he thought, still
half-asleep. Arturion’s mind registered the tense atmosphere around
him. It aggravated his more sensitive senses that he came fully
awake. He bolted upright and saw Karina. Her cheeks flushed scarlet
and her eyes glittered. She was definitely the source of restrained
anger.

“
Thirty-six,” Karina said.

Arturion could not make heads nor tails on
what she was referring to. She would have to give him further
details if she wanted an explanation for whatever wrong he has
done.

“Thirty-six Merkabas, Arty.”

So she had made queries from Kala about
the cause of his fatigue. He did not know if this was worse than
Sara’s scolding.

“You need not worry. Sara gave me an
energizer—”

“
Which has emptied four weeks ago,” her
voice rose. “Three if you’re conserving it. Stop lying to me. When
was the last time you used the
pálon
?”

“Two weeks.”

“Two. What were you thinking?” She shoved him
hard. Outbalanced, his elbow hit the table’s edge sharply. “Does
Sara know how many times you come here?”

“No.”

“
If I were her, how many times would I ask
you to be here?”

“Once a week.” Breathing was becoming a
challenge for Arturion. The air was thickening as she threw her
questions at him. He had been caught off guard and his protective
barriers were down when he woke up. His brain was still muddled
with sleep that he had not been able to pull it up.

“Are you trying to kill yourself?” She pushed
him again. Darkness crept at the edges of his vision. He fell back
and remained in that position, making an effort to breathe.

“
Arty?” Karina noticed the length of his
silence. The air lightened considerably. “Arty. Are you alright?”
Her worried face peered at him, her anger forgotten.

Karina
fanned him with her hand.

“I’m sorry. I forgot your kind easily gets
affected by this.”

Arturion propped himself up with his good
elbow.

“And sorry for that.” She pointed at the
injury and grimaced.

“I deserved it.” He rubbed around the tender
spot.

“
Why did you do it?” Karina asked quietly.
“It was stupid. Why do this all for me? We barely know each other
and literally worlds apart.”

“You’re important to all of us.”

“
Right. It’s because I’m a Liyanna,” she
said bitterly. “I’ve been hearing a lot from the trees and the
wind; the way everybody treats me; and the Council, especially. You
don’t receive special attention from the Elders just because you’re
ascending. Sara and Kala hid it from me and I can guess why. I
don’t have to know until I come out of this alive; or, I might
change my mind and think it better to die rather than fulfill their
expectations.”

“Would you rather die?” Arturion
swallowed.

“
Of course not,” her voice was indignant.
“That’s just idiotic.”

“Your position is significant to us but it is
not the primary reason I go through such lengths.”

“
What is it then?” Karina asked
exasperatedly. “How do I make you stop pushing yourself to the
limit? I can’t lose you. You’re all I have, the only one left of my
other life.”

Arturion felt his chest expand. He wondered
at the strange sensation stirring inside him.

“
I cannot bear to lose you, too. Losing
your friendship is enough to tear me apart. Your death would be the
end for me,” he confessed, avoiding her eyes. Her hand came up to
his chin, forcing him to look at her.

“What are you saying?” Her eyes glistened
with unshed tears.

“
I think,” he stated, weighing his next
words. “I think I like you, Karina.” Arturion felt a weight lift
from his chest as he realized the truth for himself.

Her mouth formed into an “o.”

“You like me?” she half-laughed and
half-sobbed.

“
Yes,” he said.

“
If you like me that much, you should know
I don’t like my friends dying because of me, silly.” Karina punched
him lightly on the chest.

At the spur of the moment, Arturion took her
in his arm, tucking her head under his chin. She quieted and
returned his embrace.

“Remember our lesson about the energy
exchange?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“
We can do that by hugging.” He loosened
his hold to look at her. Karina did not meet his gaze, intently
studying the collar of his shirt. “It doesn’t require us to focus
on the energies so it is less taxing than our usual procedure. It
can become,” he searched for an appropriate term, “awkward when
prolonged. You will tell me if it reaches that point?”

Karina
nodded.

“
We can’t risk compromising your
ascension
.”

“
I know. Swear you’ll rest before your
return to the – third dimension.” It was a day of promises for
Arturion. He gladly made his vow and secretly made
another.

“Wouldn’t it be contradictory for you to want
to forget your home world and still keep the connection alive
through me?” he asked.

Karina
still refused to look him in the eye.

“I want to but I can’t let go yet.” She
rubbed her forearm unconsciously. “And it wouldn’t really matter to
me whether you’re my link to my past or not.”

He took her arm and tentatively lifted the
sleeve a fraction. When she didn’t object, he pushed up to the area
which bothered her. A yellow-green spot marred the pale skin.

“Reno should be more careful.” He was annoyed
with his friend.

“
The Elders aren’t complaining.” She looked
up at him with steely determination. “I don’t want special
treatment. I sometimes see him decorated with cuts and bruises when
he comes straight from the training grounds. I like the way that he
treats me like one of his trainees.”

“He should—”

“
Should or shouldn’t. I’m glad of it. Don’t
confront him with this, Arty. Please believe me. He’s holding back
his strength. He could easily snap me like a twig if he
didn’t.”

They stared down each other. A contest of
wills, neither wanted to yield to the other. The beads at the door
parted. Kala swept over them.

“
Good evening, Arturion,” the girl said
sweetly. “I trust all is well again?”

“
Good evening, Kala.” He had not realized
he had slept throughout the day. No wonder Karina had been angry
with him. Arturion brought his gaze to the newcomer and saluted her
in the informal greeting. Kala returned the gesture.

Her right check dimpled when she smiled. The
dimple deepened when she was up to something, as it did now.