The Starlit Wanderer Series – Chapter 6
Words are not to be trifled with. They carry greater power than any magic or sword could ever contain. Words shape lives, countries and even the world. There is no more dangerous act than binding oneself to words. The failure or success in following up on that pact defines the very character of that person.
— A musing from Inugela’s personal journal
Inugela Nyrea hurtled through space, clutching the robes of the dark mage who had just made the mistake of threatening the most important person to him. For that split second, vision warped with blue and green light, wavering like tree branches and twitching like the tendrils of some eldritch evil.
Finally, Inugela lost his grip on Rali’s robes, striking ground with a clatter of his sword against metal. Metal? He trod on pure silvery steel that ran for a few meters before sloping out of sight.
Rali groaned and collected herself, giving Inugela time to understand just where they’d fallen. Something told him this was not where Seraphina was. Open sky panned out before him, revealing the colossal chain link holding him aloft. Just that single link had to be hundreds of meters long, not to mention another six linking into the sky. The topmost chain buried into the base of a broad floating island. Below lay a writhing mass of water–the ocean. Two tall statues, titans, rose from the water and gripped the chain. They silently held the flying island back as if it were going to float away.
This reminded Inugela of an old story about Hophreda’an’s two titan deities. He knew exactly where he was–Unison Chain, the birthplace of many myths and legends.
Taking Coellan’s sword in hand, Inugela focused on his goal: protecting Seraphina. The coastline of Hophreda’an basked in the early evening sun. A distant rising cliff past the shore bore buildings dappled on its top. That town was the place he promised to meet Seraphina. He needed to be there tomorrow evening. Suddenly, all despair and confusion left him, and he knew what needed to be done.
‘You ruined the spell, you filth!’ Rali screamed, clutching her wrist with the strange runic bracelet on it. She tore the stone band off and cast it on the ground with a shriek. ‘You broke the artefact I went through hell for!’
As Rali hurled insults instead of deadly spells, Inugela’s hand found something loose on Coellan’s blade. That lone bracer rattled on the pommel. Funny how that of all things had made it this far. Was it the elvish craftsmanship guiding it to him? It survived his imprisonment, and Rali had tossed it onto the blade when she threw all of his things away. He placed the bracer on his left wrist. It would be better than no armour at all.
‘Are you even listening to me, imbecile?’ Rali snapped her fingers, and sickly green energy danced across her fingertips, resting on her little finger. ‘Do you know how difficult it is to hijack a summoning spell? I’ll never have an opportunity like that again!’ Her eyes strained red, and her composed demeanour shrivelled to a hunched and crooked posture.
Inugela adjusted his tattered shirt, shaking his head at the horrible mage. ‘Look at those eyes.’ Something rose in Inugela’s chest, hot like magma. He lifted his nose at the same spell that killed Coellan. ‘You have the eyes of someone who thinks they’re better than everybody they meet. You tread on the kind and honourable like grass.’ Inugela readied his blade. Rali slung the bolt of green energy, but Inugela slipped out of its path and swiped it away with his weapon. The energy crackled across his sword, fizzling as he flicked the steel.
No more running away from danger—it’s time to fight the problem head-on.
‘Argh!’ Rali readied another spell, but it faded before taking form on her finger. ‘You believe you know what I think? I take what I need and what I want because the world doesn’t play fair. I’m just making the game even.’
‘Is that fair on the lives you took today, or any other day, for that matter?’ Inugela ground his heel into the steel floor and lowered his stance. ‘I don’t say this very often, but you are evil. I was told that everyone is a little morally grey, but I believe that true evil persists on a separate plane from good—they cannot mix. You have stolen, manipulated and murdered. The world’s game had nothing to do with the choices you made.’
Rali curled her fingers like claws, and an icy mist lifted from her skin. Inugela could only hope he would find some way to defeat this mage before she turned him into a block of ice.
‘I’m not some villain bent on destroying the world, I just want access to every corner of it! I wish to study this world. Doing difficult things is necessary to achieve a greater good.
‘And what good have you achieved so far?’ Inugela asked. When he received no answer, he slid his blade over the bracer. Something itched on his skin beneath the bracer–strange. ‘Enough. Do not come at me with your reasons and justifications. I am not here to listen to evil rationalise itself. I will fight for righteousness and honour, upholding the values you snuffed out by killing Coellan. I will carry his legacy, and this blade will not hurt an innocent, unlike your magic. I will fulfil my promise to the one I love, and meet her with my head held high, knowing that my journey did good for myself and the world. Now, perish at the hand of a fate you designed for yourself, dark mage.’
Rali cast her spell, sending waves of white mist toward Inugela. She cackled, loosing frost across his skin that caused his joints to lock up, teeth to chatter and skin to prickle with painful jabs. Determined not to fall, Inugela pushed through the icy storm, placing his free hand on his chest. He kept his blade held out toward the mage, but did not charge. He stepped slowly as he released a warm light onto himself–healing magic.
This act alone gave him a small victory. Rali snarled at the sight of him walking through her deadly spell. Today, mage, I will be your justice. He covered his face as he closed in on her. His battle-cry fuelled his attack, but before he could land a blow, she dropped her spell and stumbled backwards. The tip of the blade nicked her shoulder. Inugela thrust his blade at her again, breaking free of the frost covering his skin.
Rali fell to the floor, desperately avoiding another blow. The mage made several gestures with her hands and slid backwards, like an invisible force dragged her away. She rose into the air, flying freely. Her sly smile returned.
‘Cheat,’ Inugela muttered as he cast his own magic. Focusing on protection, he crafted a small plate of spectral armour, which he placed on his chest to cover his heart. With some defence ready, he charged.
Rali, face distorted with panic, formed white lightning bolts. She loosed them from her fingertips and sent them barreling through the air.
Inugela sidestepped, letting the bolts fly by. The blast stung his skin in some places, but his magical armour absorbed most of it. When the bolt fizzled out, Inugela slid beneath the levitating mage. Without a second wasted, he called upon a well of power deep within. He summoned the same great thorny vines that had once stopped Coellan from hurting his friends and used them to grab hold of Rali’s feet. He leapt back and smiled as the dark mage hit the steel floor. The vines bound her as he placed his palm on the flat of his blade.
‘Ensnare my foe.’ Bright green magic surrounded his blade. He swiped it across Rali’s shoulder. Though the cut must have hurt, the vines that sprouted from the wound would cause far more damage. They wrapped around her, threading through one another and completely covering any sign of the mage.
Inugela planted the tip of his blade into the vine, bowing his head and saying, ‘Enjoy nature’s coffin.’ He pulled his blade free and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, no more screaming and no more deadly spells.
His spectral armour plate vanished, turning into tiny wisps of energy that fluttered away into the ether. He planted more healing magic into himself, uncertain of what to do next. Should he wait until the magic’s end and then just roll her into the ocean? No, she still had the orchid–he would have to find it, then push her into the ocean.
Inugela’s legs buckled beneath him. His magical and physical strength were running out, and he still had to find a way down several hundred meters of chain and statue. After surviving that, he needed to cross a small strip of ocean. Finally, a complete day’s journey to the town awaited.
Staring into his reflection in his new blade, he muttered to himself, ‘I must honour my promise, no matter what.’
Something moved.
A crackling noise echoed through the open air, drawing Inugela’s gaze to the cocoon of vines. The scent of sulphur stung Inugela’s nose. He had seconds to react as the vines exploded with bright orange flames. The fiery burst threw Inugela to the floor, sending him sliding toward the chain’s edge. He scrambled onto his front in time for a pair of feet to land in front of him.
Burns marked Rali’s hands, clothes and hair, yet fury blazed in her eyes. It was difficult to tell whether she was angry at Inugela or if she had burned herself with her own spell.
‘Die, whelp.’ She sparked another flame down her arm. It spiralled across her fingertip and inches from Inugela.
The fire exploded, throwing Inugela back and into the open air. Fantastic, airborne again. Inugela’s thoughts clouded over from the pain scorching his skin, and not to mention the metal ground that rocked his bones. Something cracked with an unholy snap. His vision swayed, blurring and doubling over until he found his focus. The damage had been done, however, and he struggled to move his head. He realised he had fallen down a whole chain link, the one held by the giant statue.
Rali floated, cackling and drawing Inugela’s old sword.
Is this how it happens?
She landed gently, with a crooked smile.
‘If only you’d revealed yourself in the ruins, you’d have died a much quicker death. Ah, but here we are.’ Rali plunged the blade into Inugela’s leg. He scarcely felt any pain, as his consciousness faded with a flutter of his eyes. ‘Oh dear.’ Rali flicked his blood from the weapon.
Inugela reached for Coellan’s sword, but couldn’t find it. All he had to defend himself was that stupid metal bracer that wasn’t even really his.
I guess this is it. I die today without telling her how I feel.
‘Here it is, yer honourable defeat,’ Rali said as she held the blade over him. ‘Is it still honourable when you’re impaled by yer own weapon? Ah, well.’ She dangled the weapon a little longer, her bloodied eyes relishing the moment. ‘I think I will pay that special person of yours a visit, but only to give ‘er a gift.’ Rali leaned in close, speaking in a hushed tone. ‘Can you guess what it is?’
Inugela refused to respond. Would punching her right now do any good?
‘It’ll be yer body.’ Rali giggled like a child and then plunged the blade toward Inugela’s chest.
‘No.’ Inugela swiped his arm in front of the blow, blocking it with the bracer. When the bracer struck steel, a burst of bright blue energy enveloped them. A tingling sensation ran through Inugela, jolting his limp body awake. He kicked Rali back with his one good leg and thrust himself to his feet.
‘Ugh! You’re such a pain!’ Rali traced a symbol in the air like a bird. ‘Die, screaming in flames!’ She tried to cast a spell, but nothing happened. ‘What?’ She tried again, then with a different spell, but nothing happened. ‘Then you’ll die by my greatest weapon!’ She held out a small gem-studded box, but again, nothing happened.
Even Inugela felt he had no magic left, or perhaps something suppressed it. Finally finding Coellan’s blade, he held it out shakily. Frustration and determination filled his thoughts. No magic meant he couldn’t heal or protect himself, but he felt confident that he could swing a sword better than Rali.
‘Show me,’ he began, ‘how you fight without tricks.’ He aimed the point at Rali’s neck.
‘So you had an anti-magic artefact snuck away all this time?’ Rali clutched Inugela’s old blade between both hands, tossing its sheath aside. ‘How sly of you.’
Inugela shrugged–until she said that, he’d had no clue what was going on. He’d never even realised that anti-magic was the correct wording for it. Never mind that—the effect probably didn’t last forever.
He lunged forward, thrusting his blade at Rali’s gut. She twisted her weapon and threw his strike aside, giving her a chance to make her own attack. She brought the weapon down on his chest, but again, he blocked it with his bracer. All at once, he slid the bracer down her blade to grab her wrist and struck her with his sword. Finally, he made contact and drew a cut across her side.
‘You!’ Rali cried. She grasped the wound, but couldn’t stop the crimson flow from splattering across the metal floor. Her snarl twisted, eyes desperate and wide.
Stumbling on his cut leg, Inugela had to be patient with his next move. Would she run? Would she attack again? What should I do? Patience wouldn’t win a fight with a magical time bomb. He charged with an almighty swing, but she leapt away. Rali responded with her own attack, jabbing her blade toward his face. Inugela replied by deflecting the blade upwards and then, finally, he sank his blade into her gut.
The sword in her hand fell, sliding off the side of the great chain. It hurtled downwards, vanishing under the foamy white surface of the ocean. Farewell, old companion of mine.
Tightening his grip on Coellan’s blade, Inugela drew closer to Rali. ‘Be still.’ He held his blade as a threat and reached into the pockets of her robes, drawing out the glass-pressed flower. Shaking his head, he slid it down his own shirt, then grabbed Rali by the collar.
‘What?’ Rali spat blood onto his face. ‘Go on, do it.’ She ground her bloody teeth together with a grim smile.
‘You and I both know that isn’t how this ends.’ Inugela loosened his grip and slowly drew his blade out of her stomach, letting her fall to her knees. Her eyes swam. Lip quivering, Rali Wyndesnar faced her death with fear choking any chance at a last word.
A cracking noise broke the air.
The bracer fell to the floor, splitting into two perfect halves. As that happened, a sensation returned to Inugela like fresh water to a desert–magic. He placed a hand on Rali and sighed. He weighed up his options. I’m in poor condition, so maybe I should save this last bit of healing magic for myself? No, there wouldn’t be any honour in that.
Kneeling to meet Rali’s eyes, Inugela placed his hand on the bloody wound in her stomach. He took a deep breath, then gave her the very last ounce of his healing magic.
‘It’s only enough to stop you dying, but it’s all I have.’ Inugela searched her for any sign of change in her disposition, but she still stared into the void. He moved away from. The distant mainland awaited him. ‘Not long now, Seraphina.’
A whirring noise hammered from somewhere above. Some distance away, a large floating object followed the length of the chain. A great boat hovered—long and sleek, but with no sails. A rescue!
‘Over here!’ Inugela cried. The ship turned its prow toward them. Relieved, he turned to pick up Rali. She had already stood. She stared through him as if she didn’t know him, clutching her healing wound.
‘This Seraphina, are they your lover or something?’
‘Not quite lover,’ Inugela said with heat rushing to his cheeks. ‘But she’s incredibly special.’
‘During The Ever-Advancing Era, there will come a man and woman, beloved of each other, from a distant land. The power they bring with them will alter Hophreda’an’s very core, recreating a paradise like that of The Days of Jubilation.’ Rali’s teeth chattered, rattling as if the words themselves threatened her life.
Inugela just stared at her with eyebrows raised. ‘What?’
Rali shrugged. ‘Some priest of Asmallen kook wrote it in a book once.’
‘You’re not saying it’s me–’
‘No.’ Rali rolled her eyes. ‘Of course it isn’t you.’ She bared her fangs. ‘You won’t be alive to fulfil any prophecy!’ She drew a small box from her pocket, studded with tiny gemstones. It released a black orb, whirring into the air. Its surface was simply nothing–a void in space. Clasping her hands together, Rali seemingly willed the orb forward, and it sped through the air towards Inugela.
Ah, this won’t end well for either of us. Inugela swung his ducalvicus and focused on it. He imagined forming the same barrier that Coellan summoned. The weapon released a blinding wall of light. Its barrier caught the tiny black orb, but already, the weapon’s magic waned.
‘What!?’ Rali cried. She floated into the air, thrusting her palms outward. The orb pressed deeper into the shield, but Inugela was ready. ‘Why aren’t you dying? No magic can stop this weapon!’
‘That is because…’ He gritted his teeth, pushing the orb back and widening his stance. ‘Ducalvicus steel follows a few different rules from other materials. Also…’ Inugela lifted his free hand and allowed magic to course from his palm. ‘I can do other things when the barrier is up.’ He clenched his fist, calling upon the last of his offensive magic.
The atmosphere shifted, and light fell from above. Sky and cloud blurred, pure magic warping all vision. A great beam of white energy struck Rali, encompassing her behind its veil. The spell’s loud whirrs muffled her cries.
‘I gave you a fair chance,’ Inugela muttered, averting his eyes from his own magical spell.
The light faded, leaving behind the charred body of Rali. She crumpled, falling off the chain and into the ocean. Its writhing surface swallowed her with a slap. The black orb fell to the floor, like a harmless glass ball. Inugela released the light shield from his sword. He searched the waves for any sign of the dark mage, but she did not surface again. His hands stung, burned a little, but still alive like the rest of him.
‘Runce was right–a firm resolve really makes you unstoppable.’
The airship hovered beside him. Inugela’s mind buzzed louder than its engine, pushing him away from reality. The shock of it all made him a spectator of his own actions.
‘Sir are you alright?’ asked one voice.
‘She called herself Rali Wyndesnar?’ said another.
‘Soldiers, search these waters. We need to find her!’
✬ ✬ ✬
Inugela sipped a fine cup of herbal tea, seated at the front of a lovely little restaurant overlooking the distant eastern coast. Above the sea’s surface, a large island floated, shackled to the world by a gigantic chain—Unison Chain. Inugela had finally made it to the city of Fr’ri. Not only that, but he met someone he’d long promised to reunite with.
‘So you’re tryin’ t’ tell me you defeated an international murderer?’ asked a mauve-skinned firbolg woman.
‘Yes!’ Inugela cried. ‘When are you going to believe me, Olive?’ He sipped his tea once again.
‘I do, I do, but it’s just insane. I didn’t think ye had it in ye.’ Olive waved a small biscuit in his face. ‘Yer a wonder t’ behold, Inu, you really are.’
Inugela placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head politely.
‘How are yer wounds?’ Olive gestured to Inugela’s leg, bound in wraps that peeked through his tattered trousers.
‘They’ve healed well. I’ll leave the bandages on until tonight, just to be sure.’ Inugela crossed his injured leg over the other, then grimaced. ‘My back wound, however, is here to stay. I couldn’t heal it before it became infected. That’s the end of my perfect skin routine.’
‘Aw, shame,’ Olive cooed. ‘Poor Inu has a scar after fighting mages and ancient soldiers.’
Inugela rolled his eyes. He graciously decided not to reply with some choice words.
‘Seriously, though, it’s hardly been a day ‘n’ yer practically all better.’ Olive averted her eyes from his. ‘You adventurer types are unbelievable.’
Inugela shrugged, his mind drifting elsewhere. His gaze settled on the leg of the table, spying a tiny image of a heart carved into its wooden surface. Someone must have once had an excellent date in this same spot. A tension squeezed his stomach. His hands turned clammy, and his brow beaded with sweat. He clasped a napkin from the table and dabbed it all away.
‘Not t’ mention that ye go through all that, and haven’t a single coin t’ show fer it. Yer lucky I’m payin’ fer this.’ Olive tapped the table with an open palm.
Like a stage actor on cue, a set of footsteps marched down the street and loomed over them. The figure had aqua-coloured fiber armour, with a few pieces of hardened steel on its chest plate. They appeared to be a rather tall blue humanoid, with a bald head and a tattoo of a small compass below their ear.
‘Good day, sir and madam.’ The Hophreda’anian soldier saluted them with an open palm across their side. ‘I’m delivering a reward to an Inugela Nyrea.’ They gestured to Inugela. ‘And was told by the Lady Mayor to thank the Radiant Vanguards on ‘er behalf for their help with another crisis.’ The soldier held out a small bag that jingled with coins.
‘Oh no.’ Inugela pushed the bag away. ‘Firstly, there’s no proof I actually dealt with this criminal. Secondly, how in the world did you find me?’
‘Firstly,’ the soldier began, ‘there were eyewitness accounts of your fight with the mage upon one of our ships’ approach. Secondly, you’re the only fella in town who looks like he tattooed the night sky on his skin.’ The soldier briefly glanced about, then leaned in close. ‘It’s actually your skin tone, innit? Like, you’re not just an elderkin, like me, who painted their skin or somefin?’
‘It’s real, I swear.’ Inugela smiled, shaking his head.
The soldier dropped the money ungracefully onto the dining table. The perp might not ‘ave been captured, but she’s permanently taken care of. Many folks across the world will be incredibly grateful for what you did. Thanks again, ‘ave a lovely day.’ The soldier spun on their heel and strolled off, even as Inugela tried to call them back and protest against the money.
‘Ugh.’ Inugela looked at the hefty little bag. A guilty part of him wanted to snatch it up and see how much he’d received.
‘I’ll take it if you won’t,’ Olive said with her hands already closing in on the bag.
Inugela grimaced, not sure what to do.
‘Inu,’ Olive said with a stern tone.
‘Mm?’
‘As I recall you tellin’ me about ten minutes ago, ye lost nearly everything to that horrid mage. Don’t ye think you could use the money right about now?’ Olive pulled the ties on the bag, and though Inugela didn’t look inside, the golden glow reflecting on Olive’s face said it all. He thought about the terrible state of his clothing, lack of any armour, and many other missing goods, then nodded slowly.
‘I just don’t like being selfish, though.’ He wound his thumbs together, sighing.
‘Lookin’ after yerself and accepting what ye’ve earned ain’t selfishness, Inu. In a way, yer carrying yer own weight, so no one else has t’ worry about ya. Get me?’ Olive’s head cocked to the side.
‘You’re right.’ Inugela slapped his own cheek lightly. ‘I need to be ready for the sake of the Vanguards.’
Olive stood upright, shaking the bag before him. ‘Now, how about we get ye some new gear? With this money, you can pick up somethin’ real nice.’
Inugela finished his tea, then finally accepted the bag from Olive.
‘Right then.’ Olive clapped her hands together. ‘Let’s get ye ready fer yer big date tonight!’
‘Oh dear.’ Inugela fell back into his seat. ‘It’s tonight.’ That familiar tension welled in his stomach. His legs weakened, and he lost any motivation to walk around town.
‘Ugh, come on, Inu.’ Olive’s head hung. ‘Ye can’t be loosin’ yer nerve now.’
‘But… I’m just not sur–’
‘Don’t give me that.’ Olive snatched up Inugela’s wrist and yanked him to his feet. ‘You need t’ stop worrying. Let’s just go on a shopping spree. It’ll all work out.’
‘Sure, if that’s what you think.’
Olive rolled her eyes. ‘Just let me do all the talking. You take it easy and tell me what you like. Just think about what you need right now.’
With that, the shopping trip began. Olive certainly could talk her way across town.
‘Let’s get a new bag to start.’
‘How’re these fer nice boots?’
‘Can we get this tailored to his size?’
‘Thank you! We really appreciate this. He’ll be back tomorrow to pick that up, but he’ll have the rest right now.’
It didn’t take long for that bag of gold pieces to turn into a pocket’s worth.
✬ ✬ ✬
Evening arrived. The sun cast its last glow across the coastline beyond Fr’ri, Unison Chain reflecting its orange light like specks of ember. Inugela stood in a simple inn room, buttoning up a blue shirt behind a small folding screen. His hands fumbled for the last button, but his fingers couldn’t grasp it, shaking as if it were a cold winter’s night. He heaved a large breath, but still couldn’t relax.
‘Are you alright?’ Olive called from the other side.
‘No, I’m good.’
‘That’s a lie.’
‘What!?’
‘Inu.’
‘Alright, I’m nervous again.’ Inugela’s eyes followed the floral patterns on the back of the screen, tracing tracks between them in his head. ‘I’m scared that so much could go wrong. What if she realised on her own journey that she doesn’t want to be with me anymore? Or worse, what if I look at her and decide I don’t think we’re right? I’ll just be an awful monster of a person.’
‘Inu.’
‘No, Olive, nothing you say will help me. This was just a bad idea all along and… and…’
‘Inugela.’ Olive’s voice was much closer to the screen now. ‘I don’t need to say a thing. You’ve already told me how much you learned on your own. Just say what you told me this morning. Then tell me you think this is a bad idea.’
Inugela finally pushed the button through its hole.
‘I…’ He sucked in a sharp breath, then slowly breathed out. ‘My resolve… my decision, is that I cannot find a home in this world on my own. I want to do it with her, supporting her in any way I can. Like me, she disappeared from the world for some time before pursuing the adventure she needed. I’m going to be right by her. When we’re ready, we’ll find a place to stay together. However short our time together may feel, it will always be enough for me.’
Inugela reached into his pocket and drew out a small object, round and wooden. The traditional Nadarian ring fit comfortably in his grip, the feeling of its cool surface soothing those last dwindling worries.
Every moment of his journey pieced itself together—every conversation with new friends, his battles, the long treks, every city, and each thought that once plagued his mind. Everything except that time a strange magic boy messed with him, but that was beside the point. His battle for himself, the loss of his weapon and the wounds he gained all had their places in his journey for a reason, even the bruise on his foot from hiding the ring in his boot for nearly a week. He was grateful for every moment, no matter how dangerous or sad it was.
He had achieved what he originally set out to do some time ago–explore this beautiful world he’d longed for. Now, he’d get to continue that journey with a group of people he loved.
‘Oi, Inu, it’s gettin’ late.’ Olive knocked on the other side of the screen.
‘Of course.’ Finally, Inugela stepped out to reveal his attire for the night. His blue button-up, grey trousers and simple black boots seemed so plain compared to his usual gear. He pushed doubt from ruining this magical night.
The next step is my best.
The future held so many unknowns, but he would enjoy the beauty of every second he had. This once lost man felt might just walk upon the heavens above.
‘Inu, again, she’s probably already waitin’ for ye. And I need to get t’ bed before my big glider race, tomorrow.’ Olive had her arms folded and a raised eyebrow, as if to judge the fey elf.
‘Alright, alright.’ Inugela adjusted a small brown bag at his side, checking that it contained his little bit of reward money, the wooden leonfolk coin and, most importantly, the glass-pressed flower. He glanced across the room at his haversack, Coellan’s blade leaning on its side inside the silver scabbard of Inugela’s old sword. ‘Will it be alright if I pick up my bag and Coellan’s Principle in the morning?’
‘Of course, of course.’ Olive pushed Inugela to the front door, heaving and grunting just to get him to move. He stumbled out the door, then swung around, quickly tucking away a necklace that came loose.
‘Wounds all healed up?’ she asked.
‘They feel good as new.’ Inugela stretched his leg out.
‘Good, yer gonna need to be in top shape for tonight, if ye know what I mean.’ Olive sucked her lips inwards with a giggle, then slammed the door closed.
‘Yeah… wait, no! Olive! Open this door!’ Inugela felt heat rush into his face. ‘That won’t happen on, oh, you know, the first date!’ He banged on the door a few more times, as if it would really drive his point home.
‘Have an incredible evening, Inu. You’ve earned this,’ said a sombre voice on the other side.
Inugela smiled, finally stepping away from the door. ‘Olive, thank you. It’s because of people like you that I’m here.’
Inugela journeyed away from the inn and into the faint night lights of the street. The sky was clear, and though a chilling wind whipped through the street, Inugela hardly felt it. He made for the great cliff overhanging the town, where the upper-class lived. It was the place he’d promised to meet her. As he climbed a metal staircase that wound back and forth across the cliffside, he tried practising lines in hopes it would help him relax.
‘Hello Seraphina, it’s been too long. No, maybe… my lov–no, no.’ He clutched his forehead, trying to calm the noise of his thoughts. ‘I’ve longed to see you again, Phina. No! Don’t use a nickname. It doesn’t even make sense.’ He crested the top of the staircase. A section of the cliff reached out from the rest, looking over the great town of Fr’ri below. ‘Maybe just, hey there–no, no.’ He shook his head, hardly believing the words coming out of his mouth. ‘Just be coo–’
And there she was.
A young woman stood alone in the centre of the cliff outcropping. She was a burst of blazing sunlight that cut the dark with her rays, blinding the stars above and all who dared peer into her light. She looked a little different—her silver hair cut far shorter than last time. The scar on her right temple was entirely unexpected, still bright red—a crack in her golden skin. A bandage floated to the floor, suggesting she had just taken it off. Was it a gesture of some sort? Her choice of clothing had changed as well: black with green trimmings. Inugela suddenly felt underdressed.
Inugela’s knees rocked, but he swallowed every thought that tried to bring him down. This was his moment. He opened his mouth… and nothing. He tried once more before Seraphina could say a word, but he failed.
‘I didn’t think you would come,’ she said. That hit hard. Suddenly, Inugela recognised the eyes of someone who had doubted herself. Seraphina, to some extent, felt exactly how he had felt back in Nadaru.
‘I didn’t think I would make it.’ Inugela’s voice shook as his first words croaked louder than an old oak tree. He steeled himself, trying once more. ‘I–um… I struggled to get here, and it was mostly my fault. I fought some bad people, but the worst of them was myself. I talked myself into and out of coming back. My answer to you became a yes and then suddenly a no, and back again. I threw myself to and fro until I lost sight of myself in all of this.’ His hands shook so much that all feeling left them. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he realised he was staring at the ground, not her. He was falling to pieces in the moment he’d fought for.
Seraphina rocked back on her heel. ‘It’s okay if you need to say no.’
Those words felt the worst. She was being kind to him as he locked himself away again.
‘No, that’s–no, you can’t…’ His heart trembled, missing a beat. Words failed. If he stayed on this path, he would surely leave without telling the truth. ‘I want this to work. I want us to work. I want everything for you, but I just… you are…’
Why is this so hard?
He couldn’t believe the struggle it took to even get his stammering out. This wasn’t right—he’d been through far too much to just fall to pieces in front of the person he’d spent the last two months thinking about. With that thought in mind, he knew only one thing could overcome words. Saying the right things and showing the correct actions were two different things. He had to say I love you without saying it. And so, he made one effort that might ruin it all, or make it all right.
Inugela drew Seraphina close, and he kissed her.
For that moment, the world turned without them. The stars themselves came down to meet them, and they could practically fly amongst the lights. All the magic in the world of Igharias couldn’t compare to the feelings conveyed. It was merely a moment, but that fantastical time under the starlit sky finally meant a brand-new chance to continue forward.
Joy overcame Inugela. When he finally stepped back and saw the look of shock and happiness on Seraphina’s face, he could no longer contain his feelings. For the first time in a long time, Inugela Nyrea transformed. His skin took on a green hue as the starlight on him burned away like darkness in the morning. His hair shifted from a shining silver to a vibrant green, like the leaves of summer trees. Tiny lights floated around his hair—fireflies that lit the dark. Not everything made sense in that moment, but Inugela didn’t want that to change. He didn’t need all the answers right away.
‘This doesn’t, um, normally happen,’ he tried to explain, frantically waving his hands.
Seraphina looked at him with a gentle smile, not concerned about the change on the outside. She pulled him close. ’ It sounds like you have quite a story to tell.’
And there, all things unravelled like a colourful tapestry. Friends exchanged tales and reunited, but that story is for another time.
Words are world-changing, carrying more power than the fires of the deepest mountain or the waves of the roughest sea. However, words can fail or, more accurately, they become too difficult to articulate. Everybody makes promises with words, but it can sometimes take a legion of courage and understanding to realise the actions needed to keep that promise. Everyone’s truth will eventually emerge, or they will wither from self-imposed loneliness. One’s world can feel full and joyous only when they honour all promises, take action, and reveal truth. Realising that truth is what it is to wander amongst the stars.