Chapter 12: I Was Scared

Life without joy is not really living. One of the greatest lessons that I learned was to try and look at each new day with the wonder and the innocence of a child. Even though the unknown can bring dangers that you must be wary of, it can also bring happiness beyond your imagination. The point is that even with prophecy, you can never know for sure what’s going to happen next; that’s what makes living interesting!

Ryan didn't know what ‘Priestess of Light’ meant, but it sounded really cool and important, so he just nodded without asking for an explanation. Plus, he didn't want to look stupid, thinking that everyone else probably knew what it meant.

Auntie Hannah acted so nice after that speech. She even helped Ryan pack his bags with stuff he’d forgotten. Although, he hadn't forgotten that much in his opinion: just underwear, pillows, shoes, dental items; pretty much everything he'd gone without for the past five years. Hannah even had the droids give Ryan a bath, but he didn't mind so much since he figured out that he could bring in the massage droid while he laid in the platinum tub.

Oh, yeah! Right in the sweet spot. By sweet spot, Ryan referred to the little spot on his back that he couldn't reach no matter how hard he tried. The droid’s soft rubber hands did their work so well that if he'd been born a Werecat, he'd be purring.

Before Ryan left the bathroom, he thought he’d try a little experiment with the candle on the shelf. He figured that since he could shoot fire out of his hands and not injure himself, he might be able to touch a flame and not be burned. He was wrong. Ryan boldly put his whole hand into the very large and very hot thermal candle, and just like every five-year-old who has tried it before, he got burned. Ryan yelped out in both pain and embarrassment, and he muttered a few curse words under his breath that he hoped his host didn't hear. When Hannah asked him what happened, he lied and said that he tripped.

As Ryan stepped out of the apartment, with Hannah escorting him, he was surprised to see that the rain had stopped and the sun had come out. No evidence of the night’s previous battle remained, but that’s not what stood out to Ryan. As far as he could remember, on the few occasions that it hadn’t rained in Fernady, the sun had never shown through the clouds, not even once. But today, Ryan saw Fernady City in a whole new light … literally.

Ryan had often wondered if Fernady would look worse if the sun ever shined, but now that he had a good long look, the place didn't seem that bad. A little dirty still, but for some reason, Fernady no longer seemed as foreboding to Ryan today.

Ryan faced Hannah Lioness to say his final goodbyes. “Well, you know me, Auntie Hannah. I’m not one to get choked up easily, or say some sappy goodbye, or do anything sissy. So why don’t we just make it short and sweet, eh?”

As Hannah met his gaze, and she started tearing up, Ryan could hardly help getting a little watery-eyed himself.

Ryan sniffed and wiped his snotty nose, shivering with emotion. “Fine,” he said with his voice breaking into something fairly squeaky. “So I’m not as tough as I act sometimes. What do you want from me? I’m not made of stone you … you-” Ryan buried his head into his arm and cried so hard that he couldn't even finish his sentence. He blubbered like an infant and turned purple at the same time.

Could this day get any more embarrassing? 

Hannah laughed a little even while welling up with tears. “You’ll always have a home with me, Ryan. I want you to remember that,” said Hannah as she started to pull on something from her blouse. “I'll be sending you an Interplanetary Message every chance I can, but if you ever find yourself in danger with no alternative, I want you to take this vial and drink it.” As she spoke, Hannah pulled out a small glass vial with a strange looking liquid inside.

When Hannah gave Ryan the vial, he suddenly felt a surge of some kind of power emanating from the glass cylinder. He studied the strange gem-like substance contained in the vial, but even more curious was that the liquid glowed with a pure white light. Steam seemed to float out of the container, and Ryan could’ve sworn that he saw faces forming out of the mist. It might’ve been creepy, except the scent that the vial leaked gave off a very relaxing smell.

Hmmm! Fairy pine. Wait, how did I know that and why does that seem familiar to me?

Before Ryan had time to think on it, the vial seemed to vanish. Well, not vanish per se. It sank into his hand, almost as if his skin had liquefied as well. Ryan freaked out, clawing and biting at his hand in an attempt to dig the vial out, but Hannah stopped him.

“It’s okay, moron. There’s nothing to worry about, so calm down.” Hannah spoke in a soothing voice as she held Ryan’s mouth, but she was obviously a little freaked herself by his behavior. “I knew you would never remember to keep it, because … well, no offense, but you’re kind of an imbecile. So I had an old phasing friend of mine put a psionic spell on the vial so that it would hide itself inside your body until you need it most. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe.”

            Ryan wasn't convinced. “Uh-huh. And just what is this ‘perfectly safe’ substance that you have just literally shot into my arm like a druggy.”

            Hannah shrugged uncomfortably, hiding things as usual. “Let’s just say, that it will be better if you find out for yourself when the time comes.”

            Ryan knew that pressing her would be a waste of time, so instead he just complained softly, “I’m not a ... uh … that word you called me. I’m not that.”

            Hannah frowned in confusion. “Imbecile?”

            Ryan nodded indignantly. “Yeah, that word, IMBESAIL … I’m not that word.”

            Hannah shook slightly, putting a hand to her mouth as a tiny squeak escaped her lips, and then she completely choked up with laughter. Ryan tried to look annoyed, but instead he found himself joining in with her. Hannah laughed so hard that she held her sides before the merriment passed. Seeing that there was nothing left to say, Hannah hugged Ryan tenderly. It felt good to have someone who cared about him again. It didn’t erase the scars of his past, but somehow, it made life that much brighter.

“Do you remember your promise, Ryan Uruks?”

            Ryan replied without hesitation. “There’s no way in heck that I could ever forget it!”

            Hannah smiled satisfactorily before saying, “Then give’em hell, moron!”

            That was the first time Ryan had heard Hannah curse. She sounded both fierce and intimidating, like she'd once been very proficient at the art.

Ryan replied, “I intend to, ma’am!”

            “Good! Now when you get to the Ministry, be looking for a package from me. I left something special for you.”

            “Auntie Hannah! You’ve done too much for me already,” said Ryan, feeling a little smothered. “What with the underwear, the baths, and the weird mystical liquid stuff that just vanished into my arm. As much as I love getting stuff, and trust me I really do, I can’t accept anything else from you.”

            “Don’t worry about it, moron. This is just a little something from my youth when I was a young anarchist like you. I don’t have time for her at the Monastery, so you’d be doing me a favor by spending time with her. Trust me, you don’t want to pass this up.”

            Ryan frowned suspiciously. “This isn’t something that’s gonna, you know, melt into my body like the other thing, right?”

            Hannah held her hands up innocently, though her eyes glinted with a mischievous light. “I promise that there’s almost nothing out of the ordinary about this thing. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what it is until you see her. Just try not to drool when you do see her. You’ll find out what I mean.”

            Ryan knew he'd fail to get anything else out of her, so he said. “Well, I guess it’s time to go.”

            A familiar female voice suddenly spoke behind Ryan, “Well, it’s about bloody time!”

            Ryan nearly leapt out of his skin, screaming as he instinctively turned to swat away the newcomer. Years of living on the streets had made Ryan a bit paranoid, especially of anyone behind him, so his flight or fight response was particularly acute. Yet despite his quick response, he still somehow ended up on the ground all the same.

Ryan stared up at Éclair as she hovered over him. She moved so quickly and precisely, that Ryan had to think hard to remember everything she did. He vaguely remembered her punching him in the nose as she blocked his arm, then she kicked out one of his knees, and swept him off his feet with her other leg. But it all had happened so fast that he barely even recalled the incident.

As he lay on the ground, Éclair gasped and dusted him off, as if that would help the pain that permeated throughout his shattered body. “I’m so, so sorry, Ryan!”

Not as sorry as I feel, sister. Why does she always end up hitting me?

“It’s just that you turned around so fast, you kind of startled me. I guess I’m just a little bit on edge because I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

            Ryan barely managed to gasp out, “Why,” but it sounded more like, “NYAGH!”

            Éclair seemed to understand because she responded a little indignantly. “I was watching you, of course. To make sure nothing happened to you.”

            Ryan felt slightly indignant himself as he came to his feet with a few grunts. “Oh, I’m so sorry for the inconvenience, your highness. That must be so annoying for you … kind of like getting punched in the nose and knocked on your ass after someone sneaks up on you for no apparent reason?!”

            Éclair glared like she had when they'd been in the forest together, and he'd just accused her of crying like a little girl, which, to be fair, she did. “Excuse me. If I recall, I saved your life when we first met. And have spent every moment since then tending to your needs.”

            Ryan refused to relent, especially since his pride had just been damaged as well as his buttocks. “Well, jolly good for you, your majesty. Would you like a biscuit for all your hard work? I'd get one for you, except someone just put my back out for turning around too quickly!” Ryan copied her weird accent just to infuriate her further.

            Éclair looked like she wanted to knock him down again, either that or go for a shot at the unmentionables. “You are without a doubt the most crude and unsavory character I have ever had the misfortune of meeting.”

            “Well, you did just knock me on my aaaa-”

            Hannah grabbed Ryan by the ear before he could finish swearing. “One, I might tolerate. But two is pushing it!”

            “Rear-end! I was gonna say rear-end. I swear!”

            Why are women so violent these days?!

            Hannah nodded, releasing his ear after mercilessly pinching it.

            Rubbing his tender lobe, Ryan tried to regain some of his former dignity. “Not that you did it on your own. You just caught me off guard, that’s all. Plus, I let you do it. Shiv-rally, and all that jazz.”

            Ryan immediately regretted what he said as Éclair smiled triumphantly. “Well, which is it, oh indignant one? Did I merely catch you off guard, or did you let me?”

            Ryan flushed. “I don't know! Leave me alone!”

            Éclair lowered her voice to sound more like a boy. “Oh, what's the matter? Did the big, bad boy get his butt kicked by a wittle girl?”

The female fiend! She even mimicked my masculine voice down to the smallest detail, thought Ryan to himself.

            Still trying to retain what little dignity he had left, Ryan simply nodded slowly and said, “Touché, Princess. Touché.” 

Éclair shifted uncomfortably when Ryan called her a princess, but before he could start to think too much on it, Hannah butted in. “Princess Éclair Hamashe! I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you last night!”

What did she say? As soon as the words left Hannah’s mouth, Ryan’s mind went blank, and he couldn’t remember her words clearly. 

Éclair's face paled. “How did you-”

“It’s alright, Princess. Starbeard told me everything before he left,” Hannah said.

Starbeard? thought Ryan. What the heck?

Éclair glanced around as if hoping no one heard. “Please don’t call me by that title. I have renounced my bloodline and have chosen the life of an Elemental. I ask you to respect my privacy in this matter.”

Hannah instinctively began to bow but then stopped herself. “Of course, prin-Lady Éclair. The Monastery will always serve the house of Hamashe no matter what title they may take.” 

Once again, Hannah’s voice became muffled to Ryan's ears as soon as she said that word. House of who? Why can’t I make out what she’s saying?

Something beeped on Éclair's wrist as a blue light flashed incessantly. “Excuse me for a moment. I need to make a report.”

Hannah nodded. “Of course, my lady.”

While Éclair busied herself with her wrist communicator, Hannah gestured to Ryan to speak in private, pulling him away from Éclair's earshot. “You know that girl,” she whispered urgently.

Ryan shook himself awake, still a little dazed by the strange phenomenon that hit him earlier. “Well, yeah … we met her last night, remember?”

“No, you knew her before that.” It was not a question.

Ryan lowered his head. “Yeah, maybe. But apparently, I’m not good enough for her to remember me. Listen … I … I don’t want to talk about it, okay.”

Hannah paused contemplatively, as if considering something important. Instead of explaining herself, which would've been nice for a change, Hannah simply said. “Protect that girl with your life. She’s more essential than you realize.”

“Well, yeah. Apparently, she’s a princess. I kind of figured that part out the day I met her.”

Ryan turned to leave, but then Hannah said something even more surprising. “And Ryan, play nice, okay.” Hannah had that knowing, mischievous grin of grown-ups thinking of innuendo. Or at least that's what Ryan figured.

Ryan started to think that maybe he should act more reserved in Éclair’s presence, that is until she looked up from her communicator and said, “Well, come on IMBESAIL! We have a transport to catch and I don’t want to be late.”

It embarrassed Ryan to know that she'd been eavesdropping, especially considering all the times that he broke down and cried. Though, he tried not to let his emotions show so as not to turn purple in front of Éclair again.

At least she doesn’t remember the first time I turned purple in front of her … hopefully.

Before they left, Hannah called out to them. “Just one more thing before you go, Ryan, Éclair. Remember this; the Emperor is not your ally. He may not have been behind the attack last night, but you should be wary of him nonetheless. That goes double for you, Lady Éclair. Starbeard and I will do what we can from our end, but you should try not to draw attention to yourself in the meantime.”

As if I don’t have enough problems. Now, apparently the Emperor is out to get me too. Why the heck is everyone so cryptic all the time? And who the heck names their kid Starbeard? What, was he born with facial hair? Talk about an ugly baby!

            Despite the absurdity of the situation, and the fact that Ryan had no idea what was going on … again … Éclair nodded knowingly and said, “I understand.”

You know something, I really hate it when I don’t know something, but everyone around me seems to know something, but they won’t tell me because they don’t want me to know something. You Know!

As he followed beside Éclair, Ryan desperately tried to think of a topic to save him from the awkward silence perpetuated between them. “So, how did you know that I decided to join the Ministry of Fire?”

            Éclair's face said that she thought the answer obvious, but he was too stupid to figure it out; people often regarded him as such. “The medallions told me, of course. See?” Éclair reached into her blouse just like Hannah did. She then pulled out a medallion similar to his own, only it had two lions instead of one.

Why and how do these women seem to be able to keep all that stuff in there? You'd think it'd be uncomfortable, right? thought Ryan to himself as he turned away bashfully.

“After your speech to Lady Lioness,” began Éclair. “The lion in your medallion came into mine as a signal telling me that you were ready. Look at your medallion and see for yourself.”

            Ryan complied, realizing that his lion was missing. Feeling a little abandoned, Ryan turned to his little lion in Éclair’s medallion and said, “Hey, get back in here, you little traitor!” Ryan’s tiny lion turned around after licking itself and its eyes almost seemed to say, ‘I would eat you if I was bigger!’ The lion then walked out of sight in Éclair’s medallion and instantly appeared in his own.

            Ryan felt a little irked at hearing that Éclair eavesdropped on his conversation with Hannah. “That was a private conversation you know.”

            Éclair's shoulders slumped, almost ashamedly. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. It’s just that the lion in your medallion reacted to your resolve and sent me the conversation as a symbol of your commitment to begin your training at the Ministry of Fire. I didn’t mean to intrude on your privacy.”

It was difficult for Ryan to stay angry at Éclair, so he said nothing further.

However, Éclair refused to leave well enough alone. “I thought what you said was very inspirational. You’re pretty decent at public speaking you know. You might make for quite the politician one of these days.”

            Ryan laughed out loud. “Yeah, and pigs will fly, sister!”

            “Well, actually there is a species in the forbidden galaxy that is rumored to… Oh never, mind,” said Éclair in dismay. “I just hope Leon didn’t have this hard a time when he recruited me.”

            Ryan cringed inwardly. Ever since his encounter with the little prick, Leon, he found himself becoming increasingly agitated, especially when he thought about the way Éclair swooned over the guy.

Stupid Mr. Perfect Elemental Jerk and his beautiful, gorgeous face with no acne or scales … and his slick, dark hair … and his well-toned muscles … and his deep voice that doesn’t break … and his stupid cape that makes him look so cool, which he isn’t. And worst of all, his stinkin’ glasses that make him seem both intellectual and sensitive. Girls go crazy for guys like that. I hate him already!

Ryan tried to stop thinking of Leon’s qualities before he made himself depressed with jealousy. Instead, he decided to scope out the competition a little more, and at the same time, see how far the infatuation went. “So, I know that one girl was, like, your sister, or something … but who was that other dude? You know, the one who was a big show-off, and did all those unnecessary feats of athleticism? Leo, I think his name was?”

            Éclair flushed with embarrassment and anger at the same time, if that were possible. “Leon.”

            “Yeah, Gesundheit. So anyway, what’s the deal with that guy? He seemed a little peeved last night.”

            Éclair seemed to grow exceedingly uncomfortable, clearing her throat anxiously. “He’s just a very intense person, alright! He’s been through a lot. More than you can imagine. He is very focused and passionate about his goals, but he is still a fine Elemental and a good person at heart. You just need to take a little time to get to know him.”

            Ryan hesitated at first to ask his next question, but then decided to just go for it and see what happened. “So, you like him, huh?”

            Éclair appeared dumbstruck. “Wha-what … what kind of question is that? You … I … How dare you? Of course not! And even if I did … which I’m not saying I do … that is no business of yours, Grunt!”

            Ryan's felt his heart sink. The damage is greater than I thought. The girl’s clearly bonkers for the guy. Not that I blame her. He’s just the type of guy that girls go crazy for; handsome, powerful, eloquent, complicated. Not like a guy like me who gets the cold stare about every five seconds.

“What the heck is a Grunt?” asked Ryan, latching onto the one thing he could think of to change the subject.

            Éclair glared coldly at Ryan, inaudibly conveying the message, ‘how dare you keep talking to me.’ But instead of voicing her displeasure, she simply sighed. “Grunts are at the bottom of the totem pole on the Elemental food chain. You have just awakened your powers, so you have to start at the lowest rank and make your way up from there.

“Usually children awaken their powers at a much earlier age than you, ten or eleven at the latest, but rarer cases like yours are not unheard of. When we arrive at the Ministry, you'll be assigned an instructor based on compatibility. This instructor will be your master until you have achieved full status as an Elemental. Your instructor will also assign you Elemental tutors closer to your own age to help you train. The areas of Elemency you wish to study are based solely on your preferences.

“Despite what you may think, Elemency is not solely used as a means for combat. It's true that many Elementals focus their time and energy into war, but there are other avenues as well. There are some who use their Elemental prowess for scholarly endeavors: recording the histories, interpreting prophecies, or inventing new psionic techniques.  

“They also serve as esteemed ambassadors who are tasked with maintaining friendly relations with the alien races outside of the Tarrus Empire. These tasks usually fall to the Thinkers in the Mental Division. They are comprised of Mental-Type Elementals, and they are very rare. Probably not your area of expertise as they usually require mature individuals who spend more time thinking than they do talking.”

            “Ouch,” said Ryan snidely.

            Éclair pretended not to hear him as she continued, “There are also the Healers of the Medical Division. They treat wounds in battle, but that's not their only service. They also serve as scientists, using their particular branch to unravel the mysteries of the universe and develop new technologies that are more compatible with Elemental powers. This is my particular area of expertise. One day I hope to achieve equal status in Medical Elemency as my godfather … to be worthy of his legacy.”

            Ryan thought of something that he'd forgotten. “Oh, yeah. What was your godfather’s name again?”

            A brief flash of fear struck across Éclair’s face, but she continued like nothing happened. “And then there are the Observers in the Spiritual division. Espionage and intelligence gathering is their forte. Their particular talent for Elemency makes them ideal spies, and in some instances, assassins. Though I doubt subtlety is your strong point, Ryan Uruks.”

            Ryan scoffed jokingly. “I can be subtle if I want. I just choose not to because it’s more fun.”

            Éclair grinned and said, “Of course! How silly of me to question your abilities ‘oh supreme one.’”

            “Not even a snicker. Tough crowd,” said Ryan to himself, hoping for a laugh.

            At least she’s being sarcastic. Sarcasm might mean she's becoming comfortable around me … either that or she hates me. I’m hoping it’s the first one.

“And finally there are the Beaters in the Physical division,” continued Éclair with her boring speech. “They are gifted with abilities best suited for physical combat. You know the type; the big, tall, and dimwitted kind of men who enjoy pummeling each other into a stupor. I’m sure you’ll get along swimmingly.”

As much as Ryan did enjoy the idea of being part of a rough and tumble group of manly men, he wasn't overjoyed with the way that Éclair had voiced it. “Hey, that’s profiling, sister, and I both resent and resemble those remarks. Besides, you don’t know all that for sure. I could be the intellectual type like you. Or the complicated, sensitive type like your boyfriend, Leo! What do you call them? Oh yeah, Thinkers!”

Éclair spun on him, slightly confused and enraged. “How did-”

“I guessed that pretty boy was part of the Mental Division by the way you swooned when you talked about those guys being mature and scholarly. Fits Mr. Stick-in-the-Mud like a glove.”

Éclair’s anger seemed to give way to her curiosity. “Either that, or there's more to you than meets the eye. You’re more observant than I gave you credit for.”

Ryan liked it when people flattered him. “One of the many awesome qualities you’ll come to find out about me, I’m sure.”

Éclair rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. It wasn’t that impressive, hot shot … just a lucky guess.”

A transport then appeared in front of them. Ryan had assumed they were taking a public transport system, but the vehicle was far too shiny for that. It had pure white steel plating, with the same birdlike qualities and symbols of Éclair’s ship that she arrived in at his colony five years ago. The pictures were an odd assortment of animals and people in different poses. Most prominent of the figures were three dragons that flew above two wolves with a bird of some kind in between them.

As for the ship’s design, it was much smaller than the vessel from five years ago, probably because it was a planetary vehicle not meant to leave the upper atmosphere. The vehicle glowed with a faint, white light that made it shimmer slightly, even in daylight. The glowing reminded Ryan of the strange liquid that Auntie Hannah had given him, the one that suddenly sunk into his wrist.

The vehicle was long enough for someone to live in if they wanted to. Ryan vaguely remembered his father showing him pictures of ancient human vehicles, and he realized that this particular vessel most resembled a limousine. Though he doubted that ancient limos sported mystical designs, birdlike feathers, and a ghostly glow that gave off an other-worldly aura. All in all, a majestic craft befitting royalty.

            “Close your mouth, Ryan,” chided Éclair. “You look like a country hick.”

            “I am a country hick.”

            Suddenly, Ryan sensed something behind them. He turned around, but Éclair was faster. Within seconds, she had a knife that seemed to appear out of thin air pressed to the throat of a poor Weretortoise.

Ryan quickly grabbed Éclair’s hand when he realized their assailant's identity. “Please don’t kill the nice turtle-man! I know him!”

Éclair seemed to want more of an explanation. She had a fiery white light in her eyes that frightened Ryan a little. The air even seemed to get colder as his breath came out in a fog, which was strange considering that the winter cycle wouldn’t start for another few months.

Ryan raised his hands to try to calm the crazed Elemental girl. “I used to work for him,” explained Ryan further in a calm voice. “His name is Mr. Kambrick. He owns an alien tea shop in Fernady. I did chores for him a few times. Please take the knife away from the good man’s … I mean turtle’s … throat.”

Éclair seemed to relax, as she released the turtle man, who rubbed his neck tenderly. Otherwise, he didn't show much reaction to what happened, maybe because he was used to human aggression. As Éclair stepped away, the knife she held disintegrated into mist, and Ryan realized with wonder that it had been made out of ice.

I never knew ice could be so dangerous! 

Éclair spoke in a regretful tone. “I am deeply sorry, sir. I acted rashly and foolishly. I beg your forgiveness. I’d be happy to pay anything you wish in recompense.”

Ryan noted Éclair’s respect and consideration for Mr. Kambrick. Ryan never believed the girl to be prejudiced like other people, but to hear her treat an alien being with such kindness raised his respect for her. 

            As for Mr. Kambrick, he eyed Éclair curiously, as if surprised by her apology. “That won’t be necessary, young lady. I know about the business with those Preservers, so I can understand if you kids are a little on edge. Anyways, I only came to relay a message to the boy before he leaves.”

            Kambrick turned to address Ryan. The old turtle always wore a pair of glasses as well as a trimmed business suit, mostly well-fitted and clean. He had to keep it clean because Ryan suspected it to be the only piece of clothing that the old turtle owned. He stood about a head higher than Ryan, but he could stretch his neck out longer if he wanted to. His skin was blue, an odd color for a turtle, but not as odd as his gray shell underneath his suit.

 Kambrick was one of the few people in Fernady that Ryan just couldn't get a proper read on. The man, or turtle, kept to himself and didn’t bother anyone. He was one of the few aliens in Fernady who had managed to build a business for himself, much to the displeasure of the Preservers. While Ryan worked for him, the creature just gave him a list of chores and went about his business. He never made conversation with Ryan or even voiced his complaints to him like so many others had. Ryan neither liked him nor disliked him, he just felt indifferent to him.

Mr. Kambrick stood silently with that same unreadable expression as always. Then, just when the silence started becoming awkward, he spoke. “Listen, son. For years I’ve had to grovel to Shaver Creed and his scum just to keep my business going. I gave them protection money every month so they wouldn't destroy my shop when they came in, and even then they still caused a ruckus every once in a while.

“Sometimes hurting a few good people that I knew, and not all of them were non-humans. I, and many others in the community, saw you stand up to those hoodlums last night. You alone were brave enough to do what all of us together were too afraid to do for years. I wanted you to know that thanks to your efforts, we decided to band together and round up the Preservers that were left. We still got a lot of problems down here, but thanks to you and the Elementals, our sector has a chance to make something of itself. I just wanted to thank you.”

            Ryan didn't know what to say. No one ever thanked him before, least of all strangers who treated him with fear and suspicion for the past five years. “I did have a little help,” Ryan admitted with a shrug.

            Kambrick blinked with his beady, intelligent eyes and said, “Be that as it may, what you did started something, and now the Preservers are gone forever, never to haunt our doors again. Even the other humans are grateful. They suffered just as much from those thugs as anyone else.”

            Mr. Kambrick slowly turned to leave. Being a giant turtle, he didn’t move that fast even if he did talk and stand on two legs. Then he stopped, as if considering saying something that he found to be unpleasant.

Kambrick turned back to Ryan with a strange mix of sympathy and trepidation. “Look, I don’t know why I’m saying this, but I just get the feeling that you need to hear it now before you leave Fernady. You might remember that the people in this sector have always treated you rather unfairly.

“I know that many half-breeds have to endure that sort of thing, but this was for more reasons than just your parentage. I don’t think you remember this, but on the night that you first came to Fernady, the authorities found you on the outskirts of town near the old palace.” He paused, hesitating to speak further. “You were found unconscious lying in the midst of more than two dozen of those vile Black Dragon creatures. Your body was drenched in their blood.”

Ryan's mouth went slack, shocked beyond words. He didn't know what to think or say at such a statement.

“I know it’s too late to apologize for how we treated you,” continued Kambrick. “But I just wanted you to know why I personally have been so standoffish with you, son. The truth is that I was scared. You may not even have been the one who killed all those monstrosities, but sometimes fear makes people, both human and Weretortoise alike, lose their reason. And worse, sometimes that fear turns into hate. We were told by the authorities to keep quiet about it, but now that you’re leaving … well, I just get the feeling that you deserve to know.” The turtle turned his back and slowly … very slowly … walked away.

Éclair brought Ryan out of his bewilderment with a hand on his shoulder from behind. “Come, Ryan. We're exposed here. We need to get you to the Ministry,” she said, her voice quiet and somber.

As Ryan slowly joined Éclair up the ramp of the vessel, even in his condition, he vaguely got the feeling that he forgot something. Then just as the doors closed, he remembered. He’d forgotten all about his pet hawk, Tyrant!