Infinite Magic

1. A New Day-3

This guard was short and had a huge beard, looking something like a gnome to her. He glanced at the note and nodded abruptly before marching off.

“Thank you!” she piped. The other guard took the rear, and the three of them strolled through the evening city. The air was still warm, and people went about their work as if the time of day didn’t matter. She supposed it didn’t when your home was shattered and you had nowhere to sleep.

It was a decently long walk to Ekaja’s neighborhood, and Kinza was pleasantly surprised to see how full of life it was. The last time she had been here was with Zaid and Khalil when they were looking for Ekaja. But this entire neighborhood had been deserted, and they only found destroyed homes and shattered doors. Now people congregated at their neighbors’ doors, chatting about this or that, yelling at their children, and smiling for the first time in days.

Kinza took the little staircase that wound up in-between two buildings. Ekaja’s home sat on top of the stacks of little houses overlooking the city. Before she reached the top, Kinza could hear a cacophony of voices. The door was open, so she nervously peeked inside.

“Hello?” she said, looking around.

She was met with nearly ten faces that beamed at the sight of her. “Kinza!” they shouted, clearly already laughing due to some joke.

Ekaja came up to her and pulled her into a hug. Kinza, I’m glad you got my note, she said into her mind. Kinza was slowly getting used to the voiceless speech that the Anunnaki used. Many of them spoke aloud for her benefit, but the majority of the citizens still spoke telepathically.

Kinza, I’m glad you got my note, Me too, Kinza replied. I wasn’t sure what time dinner was, so I left right away.

Me too, I wasn’t sure what time dinner was, so I left right away.It’s perfect! Ekaja said and ushered her into the room. Ekaja’s home consisted of only one main room and a few bedrooms at the back of the house, making Kinza’s gifted home look like a palace. But it was clear this place was filled with love by the decorations that adorned the walls, the well-worn books on the shelves, and painted shutters on the window that sat open to let the evening breeze in.

It’s perfect! Kinza was starting to recognize a few faces, including Aisha’s, the secret double assassin that helped her escape after Tahir’s men had tried to kill her. Kinza also recognized Tiamat, Ekaja’s friend with the invisibility trick. Kinza waved to Aisha and sat down next to Tiamat.

There was food spread out on a low table that made Kinza’s mouth water from the smell alone. Spiced meats, seasoned vegetables, and fresh fruit took up every inch of space. The group welcomed Kinza, and they all laughed and joked over the course of the meal. It almost felt like just a group of friends having an easy meal on a beautiful night in their easy lives. Almost like the city wasn’t broken around them, and they weren’t a hidden species with magical powers, and Kinza wasn’t the heir to a throne she hadn’t known existed. The thought of dealing with that last part had the food turning in her stomach.

Did I tell you what Berati said last night when she came home? one of the women said conspiratorially. Kinza thought her name was Imit.

Did I tell you what Berati said last night when she came home?No, tell us! the others said.

No, tell us! She was sent to work on the southern wall, you know, near the quarries? She said that the other side of the barrier flickered! Imit exclaimed.

She was sent to work on the southern wall, you know, near the quarries? She said that the other side of the barrier flickered! The women seemed shocked, and some covered their mouths with their hands.

Aisha nodded. I saw it myself, but near the lower east quarter. It looked like it rippled almost just yesterday afternoon.

I saw it myself, but near the lower east quarter. It looked like it rippled almost just yesterday afternoon.Many of the women spoke in hushed whispers for a minute about what it could mean.

Ach! said a woman whose name Kinza didn’t know. She was by far the oldest in the group and somehow also the feistiest. You all know exactly why it does that. That’s why she’s here, remember? she said, jabbing a finger at Kinza.

Ach! You all know exactly why it does that. That’s why here, remember? Me? Kinza squawked.

Me? Ekaja said. Yes, dear. Keeping the barrier up is a tenuous business at best. Not everyone knows this, but the barrier has not been doing well for a while. Amir used to talk about it, she said, looking down at her hands in her lap. Kinza remembered hearing the brutal story of what happened to Zaid’s older brother before he died.

Yes, dear. Keeping the barrier up is a tenuous business at best. Not everyone knows this, but the barrier has not been doing well for a while. Amir used to talk about it, Tenuous? the old woman said. Blech! It’s failing, Ekaja! The barrier has been failing for decades. I’m not surprised it’s starting to collapse now after all the death in the city.

Tenuous? Blech! It’s failing, Ekaja! The barrier has been failing for decades. I’m not surprised it’s starting to collapse now after all the death in the city.The group started chittering at the word “collapse.” Many of them looked scared at the mere mention of it.

Kinza placed a piece of fruit into her mouth and savored the ripeness before swallowing. I did hear a little about that, but what does that have to do with me?

I did hear a little about that, but what does that have to do with me?Ekaja looked like she was about to explain, but the old woman interjected. Hush! All of you. I will tell you newborn babes the story of the barrier. I’m almost old enough to remember. A few women chuckled at that.

Hush! All of you. I will tell you newborn babes the story of the barrier. I’m almost old enough to remember. The old woman settled in and cleared her throat. Thousands of years ago, when Rhapta was still known to humans and open to the world, the current Rhaptan king saw that humans were becoming frightened of the Anunnaki. We all know that fear breeds hatred, and... and you can see where this is going.

Thousands of years ago, when Rhapta was still known to humans and open to the world, the current Rhaptan king saw that humans were becoming frightened of the Anunnaki. We all know that fear breeds hatred, and... and you can see where this is going.The king decided it was time for the Anunnaki to leave the societies of men, so with the magic of the Aurastone and his own will, he raised the barrier over the city—all on his own, with nothing but his love for his people.

The king decided it was time for the Anunnaki to leave the societies of men, so with the magic of the Aurastone and his own will, he raised the barrier over the city—all on his own, with nothing but his love for his people.The women whispered in awe at the king, and the old woman continued.

Over the millennia, the weight of the barrier was passed down from king to king. That was the strength of the Rhaptan monarchy’s lineage. They weren’t just royalty because they were elected; they were stronger. Rhapta thrived for many thousands of years that way, but as we know, over time, people started to get restless, wanting to leave the city.

Over the millennia, the weight of the barrier was passed down from king to king. That was the strength of the Rhaptan monarchy’s lineage. They weren’t just royalty because they were elected; they were . Rhapta thrived for many thousands of years that way, but as we know, over time, people started to get restless, wanting to leave the city.Wait, Kinza said. What about the barrier? There hasn’t been a king in two hundred years, but the barrier is still here.

Wait, What about the barrier? There hasn’t been a king in two hundred years, but the barrier is still here.Shh! the old woman said. I’m getting to that. So, over time people started escaping—becoming ubir—and the population started dwindling, but slowly. Then, two hundred years ago, our old king died, and Prince Malik disappeared into the night, yet the barrier stayed. The Elders took over and quickly tasked their best scholars to study the barrier. After much research, they realized the barrier was held up by psychic energy, or our Auras. Since the monarchy has always had larger Auras, they were able to hold the barrier up alone. But with them gone, a large enough population would be able to do it as well. But the population was still dwindling. Now with that damned Tahir causing all this ruckus and death, the barrier is probably near collapsing!

Shh! I’m getting to that. So, over time people started escaping—becoming ubir—and the population started dwindling, but slowly. Then, two hundred years ago, our old king died, and Prince Malik disappeared into the night, yet the barrier stayed. The Elders took over and quickly tasked their best scholars to study the barrier. After much research, they realized the barrier was held up by psychic energy, or our Auras. Since the monarchy has always had larger Auras, they were able to hold the barrier up alone. But with them gone, a large enough population would be able to do it as well. But the population was still dwindling. Now with that damned Tahir causing all this ruckus and death, the barrier is probably near collapsing!The mood in the room had turned somber, the whispers more hushed as people looked at one another.

What happens if it does collapse? Kinza asked.

What happens if it does collapse? Everyone went silent at that, and not a single voice answered her. What would happen if Rhapta was revealed to the world? Was she supposed to hold the barrier on her own? It had taken every ounce of her being to do what she had done with the Aurastones the other night, and it had only lasted a minute. But hold the entire barrier? Forever?

Kinza spent the rest of the night back in her bed, tossing and turning over the thought. Her dreams were filled with angry humans with torches and pitchforks coming up through the forest and into the city.