Into the Dark (The Conjurors) (13 page)

    Seconds later she felt her feet gently touch land. The bubble around her vanished and she stared straight into Cyrus’ shining blue eyes. She realized that she was still clutching the sword she had found in the launch chamber, and she immediately dropped it and threw her arms around him. He lifted her off the ground and twirled her around in a circle.

    “Took you long enough!”

    Valerie laughed in joy and relief. It felt so good to finally hug Cyrus and to have her feet firmly planted on solid ground. Up close, she realized that he was a good five inches taller than she was. In person, he seemed older, less like the kid that she had pictured playing with when he was her imaginary friend years ago. Somehow it hadn’t hit her that he had grown up, like she had, until she saw him in person.

    Cyrus finally released her from his warm, tight hug, and she stepped back.

    “You’re bleeding!”

    Valerie looked down and saw that the slash Venu had given her with his knife. “I’m fine. It’s nothing, just a shallow cut. The bleeding has already stopped.”

    “What could have happened in the 45 minutes since I saw you last?”

Before she could respond, a unicorn, pure white with a silver horn, stepped out from the trees. The unicorn met her gaze and nodded.

    Cyrus followed her gaze. “Valerie, meet Azra. She’s the only one other than me who knows you’re here. Azra is one of the founders of this place, and she’s been around longer than anyone. And now she’s sort of like, um, what you would think of as the Globe’s president.”

    Valerie’s eyes widened, and she felt nervous. What was the proper way to show a unicorn respect? Especially a unicorn who was president of a magical world? Azra’s eyes twinkled kindly, and Valerie felt, rather than heard, her lyrical voice in her mind.
Welcome to the Globe, Valerie. I’m so happy to finally meet you.

    Valerie sent a pleading glance toward Cyrus, silently asking him to help her to say the right thing. Cyrus burst out laughing. “Relax, Val! She’s cool.”

    “It’s a, um, pleasure to meet you, Azra.”

   
If it’s my title that’s worrying you, I’m nothing like a president, really. I’m an advisor of sorts. And I do hope you’ll think of me as a friend.

Valerie smiled and felt herself relax. Azra’s calm, warm presence made her feel like she was someone who could be trusted. For the first time since she landed, Valerie took in her surroundings. They were sitting in a small, grassy valley surrounded by a forest.

“Now tell me what happened to you!” Cyrus demanded.

Azra noticed Valerie’s wound for the first time, and her gentle eyes filled with concern.
Allow me to call a healer right away.

“I’m okay, I promise,” Valerie replied, and then turned to Cyrus. “I’ll tell you everything, but first, let Thai know I’m safe and find out what happened to Chisisi.”

“But Val…oh, fine,” Cyrus said, unable to hide his impatience. “Don’t say anything interesting until I get back!”

Valerie watched as Cyrus sat down and concentrated. The air around him shimmered, but he didn’t disappear. She knelt beside him and waited in silence so as not to break his concentration. Nervously, she stroked the grass, which felt like velvet under her fingers, and watched Azra’s iridescent mane ripple in the gentle breeze. After a few minutes, the shimmer around him disappeared and his eyes popped open.

“Thai found Chisisi. He’s going to be okay,” Cyrus said. Valerie felt the tension in her body begin to dissolve. “Thai said if any more venom had gotten into his bloodstream, he might not have made it. But luckily Chisisi knew what he was doing and went straight to the hospital. He’ll make a full recovery within the week.”

“I’m going to visit him as soon as you teach me how to do that mental projection thing. Now, what about Thai?”

“He’s going to stay at the hospital until Chisisi’s fully recovered to make sure that Venu isn’t coming back. Then he’s heading back to Vietnam one last time before he goes to South America,” Cyrus said. “Anyway, enough about Thai. I want to hear what happened to you.”

Valerie launched into her tale, recounting it as if it was an adventure she was telling the kids at the hospital, describing her encounter with Venu and Sanguina with zest. Azra and Cyrus listened raptly, their eyes lighting up at the exciting parts.

When she finished, Valerie sat down beside Cyrus with a happy sigh. But one thing troubled her. “Did I do something wrong when I activated the launch chamber? It looked like I broke the room.”

    Azra responded thoughtfully.
It was a very ancient portal, Valerie. It was never meant to last this long. I think that perhaps the magic held on this long because it was your fate to take this trip. If it weren’t for you, the launch chamber would have crumbled long ago.

    Valerie shook her head in disbelief. How could it possibly be that she, Valerie Diaz, was the reason that the powerful monument had survived for thousands of years? It had to be a coincidence that it crumbled after her trip. She wasn’t that important.

She was recalled to reality when Cyrus asked, “Where did you get that sword, Val? Did you make a pit stop at the Milky Way for one last souvenir?”

    Valerie had forgotten all about the mysterious sword she found in the launch chamber.  She picked it up and turned it over in her hands, examining it in the Globe’s bright sunlight. “I found this in the chamber right before I took off. It was stabbed into the stone floor, like the story of King Arthur. I had to take a closer look. Do you know where it came from? Was it supposed to be there?”

    Azra came closer, her mane brushing the blade as she examined it curiously. Then her eyes widened.
That is a very famous sword – the Edge of Pathos. I have no idea how it came to be in the chamber. But I knew its last owner. She disappeared years and years ago. She was…a friend.

    Valerie saw the sad expression on Azra’s face, and held the sword out to her. “You should have it to remember her by.”

   
Thank you, that is most kind, but I believe that Pathos was there for a reason. Besides, it somehow looks as if it belongs to you.

    Valerie lifted the sword – Pathos, she’d have to remember that – and took a few practice swings. The hilt fit her hand perfectly, as if it were molded to fit her grasp. “Thank you, Azra.”

   
We’ll find you a sheath for it this week.

Valerie took a deep breath, tasting the sweet air on the Globe. “I’m so glad I’m finally here!” she said, realizing for the first time that it was true. Coming here was the right decision.

    “Not as glad as I am! Can we take her to look around now? There’s so much I want to show you!”

   
Yes, if you’re ready Valerie, we’ll give you the grand tour of our capital city, Silva.

    Valerie’s eyes shone. “I’m very ready.”

    Azra and Cyrus led Valerie through the forest. It was like no woods that Valerie had ever seen, except in storybooks. Leaves of every shade of green imaginable were on the trees, and on some of them, the bark glinted as if it had been brushed with gold paint.

As they walked, Valerie occasionally caught a glimpse of something moving in the woods, but she couldn’t make out what it was. For a moment, she started to worry that they were being surrounded, but Azra’s words softly entered her mind, reassuring her.
It’s the people of the woods. Humans used to call them elves. They don’t like to be bothered often, but they won’t hurt us.
Valerie let out a breath that she didn’t know she’d been holding. “We’re nearly there,” Azra added.

“Where exactly are we, anyway? On the planet, I mean.”

The Globe is split into different countries, much like Earth. Right now we’re in the country of Arden. It’s mainly made up of forests, lakes, and waterfalls, but it is also home to Silva, which is the capital of the Globe.

“That’s where you guys live?”

Yes. And I think you’ll like it here very much. In Arden, there are many wonderful teachers who will help you to explore your powers. Here, there are no rules like those on Earth to suppress the magic inside you. You can be the person you really are, fulfill your true potential.

“I hope I fit in.”

    “You will!” Cyrus exclaimed. “After all, you’re friends with me, so everyone will know you’re cool. But you can’t tell everyone that you’re from Earth. People would ask a lot of questions. Plus we don’t want that Sanguina lady finding out where you are.”

    “Did you ever figure out who she is and what she wants from me?”

    Azra’s eyes were clouded when she answered.
I have a strong suspicion of who Sanguina is. I must make sure before I accuse her. Rest assured, when I know for certain I will tell you.

    Valerie nodded. “But won’t it be obvious that I’m not from the Globe? I mean, I’ve never been around magic before.”

    Cyrus smiled. “No problem. We’ll tell everyone that you’re from Messina. It’s an island in the middle of the ocean. The people there have forbidden the practice of any magic. And they almost never leave their island, so you’re not likely to run into anyone who will ask you hard questions. Also, Messina is where I’m from, so it will make sense that we know each other so well.”

    “You grew up without magic?” Valerie asked, surprised.

    Cyrus looked slightly uncomfortable. “It’s a long story. But yeah, I grew up without any magic, until my parents let me come to Silva for school when I was 10. I’ve lived here ever since.”

    “You must miss them so much,” Valerie said, trying to imagine why anyone would want to leave their family if they were lucky enough to have one.

    “I do, but I visit all the time. It’s just – I don’t fit in there. I love magic too much. It’s so hard to suppress my powers when I’m home for the holidays. But I’ll take you to meet my parents and my sister sometime.”

    “I’d like that.”

“Anyway, Messina is the perfect alibi for you,” Cyrus said, changing the subject. Valerie decided to drop it for now. She had enough to absorb. “Speaking of fitting in, that reminds me, I brought you a charm so you can speak and understand any language. Everyone uses it on the Globe so that we can all communicate with each other. It saves everyone a lot of frustration and confusion.”

    Valerie grinned widely. “No way! Magic can do that? It’s such a brilliant idea.”

    Azra laughed and flicked her tail. Valerie’s breath caught at the beauty of the sound of Azra’s laugh in her mind, like remembering church bells.
Sometimes I take magic for granted after all these years. It’s so refreshing to watch you experience it for the first time.

    Cyrus gave Valerie a candy wrapped in gold foil. “Go ahead and eat it – don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt at all.”

Valerie popped the candy in her mouth. It was sweet, and it made her mouth and throat feel pleasantly warm and tingly. “Well? Is it working?” she asked.

    Azra nodded.
Yes, you’re speaking in the universal language.  It will seem to you like everyone you meet is speaking English. In fact, everyone speaks and hears in the universal language – but they don’t realize it.

    “So the original language fades away? I mean, if I have children, they’ll never hear English spoken?” Something about that seemed sad to Valerie, like one more thing from Earth that she couldn’t hold on to.

The Language guild ensures that no language is ever forgotten. They pride themselves on speaking to everyone in their own original language. If you ever hear them speak English, you’ll be able to feel the difference.

    Valerie was about to ask what a guild was when they stepped out of the woods. Her heart almost stopped beating at the dazzling sight below her. Nestled in a deep, wide valley, Silva glittered.