Rongo trudged up the stairs in the dorm tower. Two of his foster siblings, Belryam and Cazerilo, were racing each other up. He didn’t have the energy too. They knew to leave him alone.
All his siblings and cousins weren’t related by blood. They understood how hard it would be to adjust to a new family. They didn’t press him too hard, didn’t force him to participate in things, didn’t expect him to like them at once. But they included him just enough to not make him feel unwanted.
“You’ll never catch me,” Cazerilo taunted as he spread his wings to fly. “I’ve won every time, and today won’t be an exception.”
He was a Faergo, the mischief-making sibling on wings. He shape-shifted nearly every day, loved the joke of tricking people. He had dark hair so messy any barber would have given up at the sight of it, with large eyes that shone with all sorts of wicked trickery ideas.
Belryam was the opposite of him. She was empathetic, understanding and tried to make everyone feel good about themselves, whereas Cazerilo teased mercilessly. She was Irian, so everything about her was translucent, yet shining with many colors like a reflective disk.
“I’ll be winning, you’ll see,” She replied. Her tentacles extended and slithered to the top step and pulled her up.
“No fair,” Cazerilo whined as she smirked at him.
Belryam pointedly ignored him and checked the room number. “So here’s where we drop you off, Rongo. See you in the morning!”
She pulled him in a quick side-hug before grabbing her cousin’s shoulder and dragging him up the stairs to find their rooms. Though Rongo wasn’t a touchy person, it surprised him to know that he appreciated the hug – no one had done that to me before.
He slipped off the armband and held it in front of the door. It clicked open at once. Rongo stepped in.
There were two beds on either side of the room. The furthest wall was actually a window. There were also two desks, two wardrobes, two chest of drawers and two side tables. A couple of shelves were there too. His stuff were there too, on the right side.
Sitting down on his bed, he vaguely wondered when his roommate would come. Outside, he could hear someone talking, but there was only one voice. Then the door opened with a click.
The first thing he registered was the Rewlian pouncing into the room. Its quills were raised, growling with a hint of threat. Rongo grabbed his dagger and raised it instinctively.
“Calm down,” said a voice, belonging to the other boy entering the room. He looked as threatening as the Rewlian, contrasting to his mischievous grin. While Rongo beat him in age, the other beat him in height; he was really, really tall.
He walked over and grabbed the chain on the Rewlian, pulling it back. It turned its head and snapped at him, jaws clacking. He frowned and snapped his fingers and it reluctantly sat down.
“Sorry, she’s been misbehaving since we came here,” he apologised. “Did you bring up any meat?”
“Yes,” he muttered. He wasn’t really hungry at that time, so he’d packed it.
“Can you give it to me?” He requested. Bewildered, Rongo pulled the packet out from his pocket and handed it to him. With a deft motion, he threw it at the animal, which snapped it up in a quick bite.
“Hope you don’t mind terribly,” The other repeated, indicating the ‘she’ was the Rewlian, which had calmed. “Oh, and I’m Luke.”
“Rongo,” he said, barely loud enough to hear.
Feeling foolish and unsure where this conversation was going, Luke sat down on his bed. “Didn’t see you at lunch.”
“I prefer eating alone,” Rongo finally said after a pause. Not true, actually. He’d been sitting with his foster family.
“See you in the morning?” Rongo said abruptly. He didn’t wait for an answer; he just clicked the switch off and rolled over.
“Sure,” Luke replied. He obviously didn’t know what to make of him. Rongo closed his eyes and ignored everything.
He hoped he’d drift of soon. Sleep was his only sanctuary; he wouldn’t feel anything, wouldn’t think anything. No guilt, no longing, no regret.
Maybe another time he would get to know his roommate better. But not now. Now, he wanted silence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luke stepped to the window. At night, with the lights of the city in the distance, it was really nice to look at. Tsalor had curled up and fallen asleep next to the bed already.
He couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Sometimes, he could also feel the horrible sensation of when he was breaking apart, void sucking him in. Probably just imagining it. Forget it.
He glanced at his pile of stuff. A bell rang in his mind. Something he was supposed to do when he arrived at the base. The parcel.
Hurriedly, he kneeled down and began to ferret around. He found it at last, buried under some books. Time to open it.
He sat on his bed and leaned on the headboard. He tugged at the string. It fell away and he unwrapped the old paper.
A stack of rectangular papers. Letters, every one of them. All yellowed slightly, but the writing still eligible. He picked the topmost one. Excitement flooded him. The name on the top: Alexis Malone.
The parcel contained correspondence between his parents. Trembling slightly, he read them.
Lekronol,
I can’t imagine what possessed you to send me that useless detector. You claimed it would tell me if any portals were opened nearby, but it kept beeping and annoying me.
Anyway, I tried to decipher that book with the code you gave me. I couldn’t figure out much, except that it must be a journal of some sort. I think the previous owner of the house must have been from the Realms and recorded their days there.
It’s been a little lonely here. Helen’s away on vacation at Hawaii, and as she’s the only one that doesn’t think I’ve lost my mind, I haven’t been talking with my family much. Matthew and Irene are celebrating Piper’s birthday; they invited me, but in a way they gave me the cold shoulder. Won’t you come visit soon?
Love,
Alexis
Luke reread the last letter. They weren’t stacked by date; they were randomly stacked. Lekronol obviously wasn’t bothered with arranging them properly.
Yearning to see his family again ached. So many years it had been just him and himself. Retoman and Jiriasa did their best, but they could never, ever replace the hole.
Until he was seven years old, Luke lived in the Realm of Humans. His father then decided to go bring the twins to meet his family in the Realm of Yinvoro. Unfortunately, once he got there, he found out that his family was dead or dying.
Disease was spreading among the Kiantz. Lekronol caught it himself, despite all his precautions. He was going fast. He didn’t have time to tell Alexis, and he had two children to think about.
He came up with a solution in the end.
He sent them to the Realm of Exterion, where Retoman was living. There, he knew, they would be raised by a family that they didn’t have any more. He died shortly thereafter.
Luke restacked the letters and stored them into his desk’s drawer. At least he had something from his parents. He didn’t think much about the letter’s contents about deciphering a code. Probably talking about some artefact Dad picked up – he hoarded a lot of them.
Why did Retoman only give him the parcel now? Why did Jiriasa think he was not ready to have it? He cast around for answers but came up with only one.
They thought I might go and find her, when I was too young. Afraid I would recklessly journey of into the world of the unknown looking for a portal, looking for her.
He was about to shut the lights, go to sleep, when he felt it. Ow. He stuck his hand under his back, looking for what poked him.
Luke held up the device, puzzled. It must have fallen out of the parcel and he didn’t notice. He tapped a fingernail on it. Ah.
So this was how his parents exchanged letters. They were Scanners designed to teleport things to other Realms. His mother must also have one. I can write to her too!
Elation died away. It was broken. Luke scowled – he wouldn’t know how to properly fix such an advanced piece of technology. Oh well. He’d do his best to see what he could do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The thing was cackling, high and loud. “I will rip you to pieces!” it screeched. The ghostly form seemed to enlarge.
He tried to run, get away. It cornered him instead. It was going to kill him.
He knew it, but he couldn’t stop it.
“Tasty….” It rasped. “Give up, and maybe I will make your death quick.”
Laughing insanely, it reached out with those terrible hands….
Luke jolted awake, nearly screaming. He shuddered, heart pounding. All his nerves were on an edge. It was a dream, but it felt so real.
He fell back to the pillow. Seeing the clock, it was midnight. Unable to fall back asleep, he debated about what to do instead.
Should he tell Retoman? No, they wouldn’t know what to do anyway. Besides, what’s to say that I’m just imagining everything? Still, he needed to tell someone.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. It was just a dream, it won’t hurt you.
How do I know that?
The rational and logical parts of Luke didn’t answer. He didn’t have one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Renee carefully watched Luke and Zeke the next morning at breakfast. Something was off. Zeke kept yawning and had dark circled under his eyes, as if he never slept at all. I would think he’s been playing video games late, but Luke too? Too much of a coincidence. Something is definitely up.
While Luke didn’t look that tired, he kept glancing over his shoulder, kept rubbing his face and generally looked brain fogged. His pet, on the other hand, was as energetic as always.
She’d asked them about it, obviously, but Luke rebuffed her questions, changing the subject. Zeke mumbled something about playing Mario Kart.
For the hundredth time, she watched as Luke looked over his shoulder once again. This time, he got a shock so bad he tipped over his plate to the floor, much to Tsalor’s delight.
“Blades! Sorry about that,” a musical, lilting voice said. A ghostly figure was standing behind Luke, holding a tray. She bent down to help him clear up.
Another girl stood beside her, unmoving. She had a thoughtful scowl, her skin was jade-colored, emerald eyes. Her hair was a living clump of plants, oval leaves the colour of mint.
Luke and the girl straightened up. He put his tray back on the table with a clatter. “Please don’t sneak up on me like that.”
“Sorry,” she said again. She had long, dark blue hair, red markings on her arms with semi-transparent skin. Her eyes were endless pools of gold, with no pupils. Where her joints were supposed to be, there weren’t any.
The other girl nudged her, jutting her chin at them.
“Right,” She said, with some embarrassment. “Feel free to say no, but can we sit here? Everywhere else is full.”
Not quite true. Renee still could see some tables with empty places; why did she lie?
“You could sit there,” Zeke pointed out. “Or anywhere, really. It’s not really full.”
Velias slapped Zeke’s arm. “Sit. My apologies, he hasn’t got any manners, nor has he been here long.”
Both of them sat down, Renee scooting over to make room. “Thanks,” the only talking one said. “I’m Jynhue, and this is Farionze.”
Zeke still looked bemused. “Did I do anything wrong?”
“Shut it,” Luke hissed at him. Jynhue looked embarrassed. “No, it’s fine.”
Renee had no idea what Luke and Velias knew. “Normally, I’d take Velias side, but what’s going on?”
Jynhue let fall her curtain of hair, covering her face. “I thought everyone knew.”
“Don’t tell if you don’t want,” Velias assured.
“It’s okay,” Jynhue said wistfully, though looking like she’d rather let Zeke and Renee stay ignorant. “You’ve never heard of mass-murderer Sykari Han’kront?”
“No,” Zeke replied the same time Renee said, “Yes.”
“He’s…” Jynhue collected herself. “He’s my father. Currently in prison for the slaughter of the entire family of the Spirula Chief, along for the killing of ten innocents when he was escaping.”
Renee used to be a big fan of murder-mystery stories. She had an entire collection of them. But now coming to Exterion, her perspective changed. She didn’t want to know any more deaths or crime.
“I didn’t know,” Zek said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
“No sympathy please,” Jynhue held up her hands. “I never knew him. I’m better off without him.”
Another sad story. Everyone she knew seemed to have gone through enough trauma to last a lifetime. Mass murderer father, refugee family, and based on what Luke had omitted, deaths.
Exterion really is an appropriate name. The Realm of Misery and the Exiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mackenzie hated to admit it. She was lost.
Unfortunately, her friends (Oh fine, people she could tolerate long enough to hang out with) were in another class so she was on her own. In an unfamiliar place, where she had no idea who was who. I’d hate to admit I’m lost, but I am. Naturally, she was relieved when someone asked. Mackenzie turned around.
“Excuse me, but are you in Professor Donovan’s class?”
“Yes,” She replied. Because she was in a bad mood, she added, “Is it your business?”
“I make it my business,” The other returned briskly.
She had an armband marking her as a second-year, but she didn’t look older than Mackenzie. She was a Tridigena, with spiky white hair tied into two ponytails, gold eyes full of sadness and one sassy mouth. Mackenzie respected that.
“So, I’m Cazire, and I’ll be taking you to the class,” she said with a commanding air.
“Am I supposed to be taking orders from you?” She shot back, but followed Cazire through twisty halls with lots of interesting doors.
Cazire. Why did the name sound familiar? Oh, right. She’s the crazy villain’s daughter.
She was a second-year, but she was only thirteen like us. Apparently, she had started training at age twelve. Mackenzie recalled that she was the school messenger, always running errands for teachers and students.
Not only that, she was the daughter of Cavlan Hon Vallin, well-known criminal. She’d killed many people and pulled off many daring exploits. Like that Sykari man, but a hundred times worse.
Cazire finally stopping at a door. “We’re here. Go in. Unless you’re too chicken,” She said teasingly, leaving after that. With a rude gesture at her, Mackenzie pushed open the door.
The classroom was full of desks, machines and shelves. Nine other people were there, lounging around and chatting loudly. Up front, there was a circular thing that she took to be a projector. No one was sitting there though; Professor Donovan hadn’t arrived yet.
She walked over and sat down near a window. With nothing to do, she observed the other students. Absently, she scratched at her scales.
The one sitting next to her was a quiet one. No one seemed to notice him. He had a white-hair Mohawk, tan skin, black-and-white patterns painted on his face, yellow irises. Animal horns dangled from his ears, which also had piercings. Bone, feather and bead pendants hung from his neck. Unlike everyone else, he wasn’t wearing uniform. He was wearing what might have been traditional Tridigena clothing.
The girl in front of her was a Sedadimertex and human half-blood – Sedadimertex are a race who have more than four limbs. Her black hair was two snaky, long braids and had an easy and relaxed smile. Her bag had the name ‘Renee Coulson’ stitched on.
At the other side of the room, two boys were playing a board game.
One had dark red hair transparent at the ends, beady onyx eyes and white skin. At his forehead, two antennas sprouted out. They were at least seven inches long. ‘Hiljo Montere’ was sewn on the bag.
The other had curly brown hair, eyes of an endless hazel, and he kept flickering between invisibility and visibility. No doubt, he was a Spirulian. His name on the knapsack was ‘Lihayne Ivloke’.
There were four students, laughing together. Jynhue and Farionze, she remembered from lunch, when the others sitting with her turned them away. The boys must be who Harker had been complaining about.
The last person was a girl sketching something on a piece of paper. Her hair was shiny-translucent, reflecting lots of colours. She didn’t have legs, instead there were tentacles the same shiny-translucent as her hair. She had bluish skin, long fingernails and had a quill tucked behind her ear. ‘Badie Zortalac’ was on the bag.
The door opened and someone entered the room. Mackenzie was taken by surprise when it was a she who came in and not a he.
Her leather clothes had fur on the collar, sleeves and the hem. Her white hair was cut short, the ends dyed red. She had a series of complicated patterns painted under her eyes. Dream-catcher like earrings dangled from her ears. Her boots made click-clack noises when she walked.
“Kindly stop talking for a moment,” She said sternly, walking over to the front. She didn’t look like somebody to cross. Everybody went quiet so fast, it was like she had pressed the switch from On to Off.
“Good. My name is Professor Veren Pirelou, and I will be combing your class with mine for the time being, as your professor is currently away. No, I will not be answering questions about what he is doing,” She finished with a pointed look at Hiljo, who lowered his hand disappointedly.
“Now, I’ll be bringing my class here, and I expect you all to not make any noise. Please put your games away too.”
Professor Pirelou strolled out, leaving as fast as she came. Mackenzie saw Lihayne hastily keeping the board game into his bag, shooting a look at Hiljo.
The door opened again and Professor Pirelou led ten other students into the room. They picked random tables and sat down.
The one nearest to her looked really bored. I can relate with that. He leaned back and kept tapping his foot.
He must have come from a really diverse bloodline, because she couldn’t tell what race he was from. He looked like a regular human, except he had weird black circles under his eyes that made him look like a racoon, pointy claws, pricked ears, turquoise hair and black markings snaking around on his arms.
“Can’t believe I’m here,” He muttered, fidgeting.
“You will be taking a few tests before you start any of your classes, to see how much you know. There will be written and physical ones,” Professor Pirelou began, standing in front.
“You will have forty five minutes to finish this period’s test. And would Velias Skilotar kindly wake up?”
Velias sat up straighter and ignored all the snickers. His friend smirked at him.
“There will be no need for talking. If you are finished, sit down and wait.”
“But Ma,” Someone protested from the front. Wait, ‘ma’?
Professor Pirelou silenced him with a look. “No, Julian, you are not allowed to do anything else.”
Papers started materialising on the desks. Mackenzie was so startled that she nearly fell off her chair. She pulled out a pen from her satchel, and scribbled her name on it. This should be easy.
“You may begin.”[Ma1]