The sky laid like purple, velvet cloth stretched from the setting horizon to the empty blackness of the moonless night. The darkness encroached over a solitary figure atop a ledge that craned over an expansive mountain range. The constant wind shifted his loose, black clothes against his motionless body while his ebony eyes glistened in concentration. He combed his black hair out of his eyes with tense fingers as he struggled to make sense of the chaos within him.
After a lifetime of seeing her in his visions, he almost touched her. The girl in the Other World. Dark statues blocked his way, but she reached her hand for his through the throng before everything faded away. Usually he only watched her when she appeared. Sometimes she would notice him too, but he couldn’t hear anything she said or respond to the things she did. But now…
Heavy boots crunched against the leaves and pebbles littering the ground. A tall, young man wearing similar clothes approached. His brown eyes shined with youthful energy, but also held a depth of wisdom. Despite his young age, gray streaked his brown hair.
“It has been a few days since anyone has seen you. To think I would find you here, Hekai.”
“Steffen,” Hekai greeted.
“You have not visited this place in a long time. Not since before you were a Plebe in training to become a Shehen,” he said, his tone light.
Hekai remained silent. His eyes didn’t leave the immense landscape before him and yet saw none of it. The girl’s bewildered expression, reaching hand and clear bright eyes obscured everything.
“Has something happened?” Steffen asked.
Hekai nodded.
“The Schism?” Steffen asked, his voice strained with caution.
“Intact, but…” Hekai stopped short. His body tensed and agitation clawed his throat. “The Schism is getting weaker and I don’t know why.”
“How long do we have till there is a breach?” Steffen asked, his fists balling tight.
“I don’t know” Hekai shook his head. “I’m going to have to investigate further.”
Steffen thought for a moment. “I can clear your patrol schedule. Donogan will be happy to take your shifts now that he has increased his rank enough for patrolling.”
“Ah, yes. The coveted ranks of the Shehen Order,” Hekai said, his voice flat. “Don’t we all strive ever so high.”
“To protect the balance of the separate Realms of this continent, we all must strive higher.” Steffen cocked his head. “Is there something else that is bothering you?”
Hekai shrugged and turned to leave. “Make sure you watch Donogan. He takes any opportunity to get his knives wet.”
“Yes, he is very eager.” Steffen stepped in front of him. “Hekai?”
He sighed. “There are things I wish they taught me. At least then I’d know why.”
“Why what?” Steffen’s eyes squinted in concern.
Hekai hesitated. “Why I see her so much,” he said as he began to pace, crunching gravel and dead leaves.
“See who?” Steffen crossed his arms.
“I don’t know,” Hekai said as he ruffled his shaggy hair and continued to pace. “She’s beyond the Schism in a world I can’t begin to describe.”
“I had no idea anything lived beyond the Schism.” Steffen rubbed his chin in thought. “How often do you see her?”
“Every time I meditate to check the Schism,” Hekai said. “And even before.”
“Before what?”
Hekai sighed. “Before the war.”
Steffen stepped back in surprise as the wind shifted cold off the mountain peaks as the encroaching night took hold.
Hekai turned to face his companion. “She used to appear to me when I would play by the Seirei Tree in Asai. That’s how they knew I had the Sight at such a young age.”
“What is she?”
“I wasn’t told, but the Forbearer called her a Maiden of some kind.” Hekai squinted in memory. “He considered training my Sight early, until…” The dark memories of that time started to take hold. Hekai shook his head to keep them at bay once again.
“That was out of your control,” Steffen said. “You have done well with developing your Sight with the little knowledge you have.”
“Yes, I’ve done well even though an army came and slaughtered my entire clan before I was old enough to receive training,” Hekai said, throwing up his hands in frustration. “And now, if I can’t find out why it’s weakening, she may be in dang…er.” Hekai turned away and cleared his throat.
Steffen raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me you are not concerning yourself with someone who may not even exist?”
“She exists,” Hekai defended. “The life she lives is real enough.”
“You know our laws,” Steffen warned. “No loyalty above the order.”
“Does this even count? She’s there, I’m here. End of story.” Hekai kicked the loose brush with his foot. “Not like I can do anything about any of it anyways.”
“Your ability is the only reason the Elders spared your life after what you did,” Steffen said.
“I know that!” Hekai growled.
“Do not give the elders grounds to doubt you.” Steffen said. “If they do, there is no telling how they will decide your fate.”
Hekai turned back to the scene of the mountain peaks, crossing his arms.
Steffen sighed. “I only say these things because I care about what happens to you, little brother.”
“Adopted brother,” Hekai corrected.
“Brother, none-the-less.” Steffen took a few steps towards Hekai, but hesitated. “Keep me apprised of the Schism’s situation.”
“Not like I have a choice.”
“Yes, well…We all know who is at fault for that,” Steffen said as he left.
Hekai balled his fists, but then released them. I hate it when he’s right.
He sighed and rubbed his temples. “I need to get this solved soon, or…” The words died in his throat. She could be put in danger. He paced the edge of the cliff. “But how?”
An image, almost forgotten, came to mind. A young girl peeking from behind the sacred tree from his homeland and reaching for him to play with her. The image changed and the same girl reached for him again, though almost grown now. Her eyes focused on him. Her clear bright eyes… too dark for green, but too light for brown. The Seirei…
“That can’t be the answer,” Hekai said, ruffling his hair. The Sacred Seirei Trees were not of this world. But they had a connection with the Schism that separated the two planes. There’s one here on the mountain. Messing with it, even for information, was… It’s crazy, it’s pure insanity.
A smile spread. “It might actually work.”
