Moud Adel's Blog: Thoughts, stories, and other stuff
July 20, 2021
Glass Memory Is Finally Out
Glass Memory is Book 2 of the Illicitum series is the story of Orantine and her quest to infiltrate the faction of Delphia where everyone can see the future.
Like Book one this story is a standalone. This means it can be read on its own, as a prequel or within its series order.
However, the events of this book, like Twelve Jackals sets up the main story for the entire series which really begins with Book three, Ascension Trials.
BlurbCan one spy infiltrate a faction where everyone sees the future?
Orantine has everything, a happy family, a genetically enhanced body, and a dream job that labels her as the faction’s greatest spy. When she receives a mission to investigate a faction where everyone sees the future—a job no one has succeeded in finishing before—she must lose everything.
Orantine and her scientist husband formulate a plan that will allow her to manipulate the enemy. Its first step is for Orantine to lose all memory of her last five years. To succeed, she must complete her mission and find the way back to her real life.
Can Orantine do what no spy has ever done? Or will her choices doom the rest of her life?
OrantineIn her early twenties, Orantine bellieves herself to be the greatest spy of her faction. She is happy with a husband that loves her and daugher that fulfills her life. Yet, Orantine finds it hard to pass on a challenge that puts her own abilities to the test.
She is a master at using the six seeds on her body which allows her to manipulate her own organs at will.
She loves chicken, especially when its grilled and with a pinch of lemon on top.
She prefers to be called Oran, but only those she loves can use the name.
Orantine is a dreamer, but that can be her worst quality sometimes.
BodyaOrantine’s husband is a leading scientist in the government’s main invention facilities. His favorite part of his job is taking old inventions and building them a new with a design that fit the time and blends with the Lunardis seeds.
He loves Oran more than he loves his job, but is afraid of her spy work, though he would never admit that to her. Still, he trusts that his own wife is capable of the impossible.
Boday is calm, quiet, and a fan of simplicity. He is a little maniac when it comes to being clean and having everything organized but not to an unsufferable level.
MatsoMatso is Orantine’s target, but his ability to see the future makes him the most dangerous opoonent Orantine ever faced.
He is an enigma that Oran needs to discover.
The CoverThanks to Christina P. Myrvold, the cover of Glass Memory displays Orantine on the roof top of a Delphian building.
Delphia is a faction with skyscrappers that pierce the clouds. People there live only on the rooftops and are banned from going to the ground.
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April 3, 2021
Twelve Jackals Chapter Three
Rakamai and his sister walked through the streets of Kala, wind blowing Retan’s curly hair behind her hips and sliding over her brother’s bald head while causing their wide garments to flap. Below their feet, grains of sand danced through their toes and the narrow holes their movements created between their feet, and the flip-flops they wore to protect their soles against an untamed ground. Rakamai glanced at every Kalangou he saw, studying the merchants as they set their goods on simple wooden tables, the children in white thobes on their way to school, and the guards patrolling the streets with spears in their hands. Whenever his eyes met any of his citizens’, Rakamai gave a little nod that he quickly received in return.
The sun slowly ascended with no clouds to block its light, enlarging the shadow of the red temple centering the village little by little, bringing shade all the way to the western wall surrounding Kala’s main village. Once the brother and sister reached the entrance of the temple, the two guards manning it lifted their spears and moved to the side, bowing as their two leaders stepped inside.
Rakamai and his sister made their way through the narrow corridors centering a clear lake of Kala’s holy water. On each side, six statues almost as high as the temple walls stood in the middle of the lake, each representing a once upon a time great warrior of the faction. They passed through the temple’s second gate into a large court, the size of their bodies appearing insignificant in comparison to the red-stoned walls. After walking through a series of narrow passages, they reached a room with the faction’s symbol painted on the ground, five uncomplete squares, each inside the other, and all cradling two circles with a triangle at their center and a round eye at the heart of the design.
Two men were already inside the room when Rakamai and Retan arrived. Their thobes were identical in shape and color to Retan’s, their heads bald like Rakamai’s, and their skin dark, though not as much as the siblings’.
“Rani,” Retan said with a smile, greeting the man to her right. At five-feet-one-inch, he stood half a foot shorter than her and a full foot below the other two men. “I didn’t know you would be back today.” She tapped both his shoulders twice.
Rani returned her smile. “I have some news to report.”
“Danger?” Rakamai asked, his facial expression turning uncomfortable.
Rani shook his head.
“Then we have time for greetings.” Rakamai walked up to Rani and tapped his shoulders the same way Retan did. “It’s good to see you again, my friend. How do you feel?”
“Missing the quietness and clear sky of our desert, but otherwise alright.”
“As usual,” Retan said with a chuckle, “you still take every chance to get out of your duty.”
“What can I say? I prefer it here.” He winked at her.
“I appreciate your sacrifice,” Rakamai said, “but you are our best spy.”
“Plus, you are the shortest among our people,” the other man added, his grin a little wide.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Rani asked, his voice slightly raised.
“It means no one can be a better spy than you. This tiny body of yours helps you to fit everywhere and hide easier than the rest of us.”
Rani turned to Retan and Rakamai. “I would like it to be acknowledged that Rasd just admitted I’m better than him at something.”
“I didn’t hear anything,” Retan quickly replied, her hand atop her mouth, covering her laugh.
Rani turned to Rakamai with pleading eyes.
“Don’t look at me,” Rakamai said. “I want no part in this.”
Rani exhaled loudly and returned to Rasd, “It doesn’t matter. You know what you just said.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Rasd quickly added, tilting his head and looking at the stone ceiling as if inspecting its lack of details.
“Alright, alright, let’s get back to business then.” Rakamai pivoted toward Rasd. “Any movement at the borders?”
Rasd shook his head. “Night patrols had nothing to report. Another quiet day.”
“Except that they didn’t see me come in,” Rani said, meeting Rasd’s eyes. “Perhaps you are not as good a master of war as you claim to be.”
“Who said your return was worthy of reporting?”
“Ouch.” Rani put his hand on his heart. “This one stings, my friend.”
Rakamai clapped twice. “Can we please keep it professional for a minute?”
“Apologies, Master,” Rasd and Rani replied in unison as they bowed.
“Seriously!”
The two men laughed and apologized again, promising to stop their banter after claiming not seeing one another for several months to be their excuse. Rakamai didn’t believe it, knowing that this was how they always behaved with one another, but he chose not to comment lest he reignite their sallies.
“What news of the East?” Rakamai asked now that everyone looked serious again.
Rani inhaled deeply. “A couple of weeks ago, I received information about a group of scientists from the faction of Lunar heading north.”
“So what?” Rasd asked. “Lunar and Delphia are allies. It’s normal for their people to travel between the two factions.”
“Not really.” Rani shook his head. “It’s true they are allies, but it’s not like tourism is open between the two places. Plus, we are not talking about ordinary people. I had to know more.” Rani paused, and as every eye fell on him, he continued. “I followed the Lunardis until they met with a few Delphians in the small forest outside their capital, and I didn’t like what I saw there.”
“What?” Retan asked, her eyes wide.
“They were installing some sort of device in a small tunnel outside the city.” Rani lowered his head and lowered his voice. “It looked like Lunar’s laser cannons, and—”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Rakamai interrupted. “Lunar places their cannons on the top of their buildings or high pillars. Even if they gave their technology to Delphia, why would they put one in the ground?”
“My thoughts exactly, and therefore I thought I needed to report it. Lunar doesn’t give Delphia their technology. Instead, they build them machines that Delphian scientists design. This is the first time I’ve actually seen Lunardis technology inside Delphia.”
“This could be dangerous indeed,” Rasd said, scratching the back of his neck. “What you’re saying means that they are not just giving them daily life technology, but they are also arming them, and it looks like their cannons have even advanced beyond our knowledge.”
Retan crossed her arms over her chest. “Actually, that is the part that worries me. Lunar technology is advancing too fast. Soon, our magic won’t be enough to keep up with them.”
“Exactly,” Rani said. “This is why I keep telling you that we need a science division. We can’t continue to live in the dark ages while the world around us evolves at a rapid rate.”
“And how do you suggest we do that?” Rasd asked. “Would you like me to pull my soldiers from their gate training or border patrol to build a few luxurious tools?”
“Technology is not just about luxury. It can protect us. Plus, I didn’t say you need to pull all your soldiers, but a small group would do. We use our magic only to train or fight. If we divert the powers of five or six men, this village could become a heaven on its own.”
Rasd’s tone grew sharper. “All who live inside our walls have the power of gate magic, and even though their mastery differs, nearly everyone can transform their homes and entire lives into that so-called heaven. No one would stop them if they chose to open a gate and conjure an entire house with Lunar’s sleek designs and built-for-comfort machinery, but they don’t. Instead, they count on those cowards who abandoned our ways and the practice of magic to build them basic instruments. Why do you think that is?”
Rani muttered something under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Because of the price we pay for our magic,” Rani shouted.
“Exactly. Every minute we spend using magic is a minute taken away from our lives, a hundred heartbeats vanishing into thin air.” He moved closer to Rani. “Our people use their magic only to get stronger or fight the enemy, nothing more. Don’t let your time undercover take away your identity.”
“Don’t talk to me like I don’t understand our way of life. I grew up here, and I prefer our style over theirs.” Rani paused, taking a deep breath before speaking in a calmer tone. “All I’m saying is that a few of our people use their magic to conjure weapons similar to theirs, and then we can all stop practicing—”
“That will only put us in defense mode,” Rasd argued with a shake of his head. “Then what will you do when they have better weapons? Lunardis have the power of their seeds. It makes them geniuses. This scientific and technological idiocy comes easy to them, and they will always be years ahead of everyone else.” Grunting, Rasd added, “I can’t believe I’m explaining this to our master spy.”
“Enough! Now is not the time to discuss our way of life,” Rakamai shouted. The two men lowered their heads and moved away from one another as their leader started to pace the room while holding his wrist behind his back. “If Lunar and Delphia are fortifying their factions, then we need to anticipate a potential attack.”
“But why would they strike?” Retan asked. “The war has been over for a decade, and we haven’t been interacting with any of the other factions since. We have no quarrel with either of them.”
“For now, but let’s be realistic. They will never stop trying to go after our magic.”
“I don’t think anybody cares anymore,” Rani threw in.
Rasd walked to Rani and put his fist on the latter’s chest. “You need to be more careful with your words, my friend. Your belittling of our home is going to make me like you less.”
“I live around those people. It’s my job to know how they think, and I’m only stating what I see, friend.” Rani sighed. “The world is evolving, Rasd. Sooner or later, we will have to do the same.”
“Your absence from the faction is making you weaker,” Rasd said, shaking his head and turning to Rakamai. “I will get my men to do more shifts and double the border patrols.”
Rakamai nodded. “It’s a good strategy to keep in mind, but let’s not jump to conclusions. We will sleep on it and decide on a plan the next time we meet.” He shifted his gaze between all three before focusing on Retan. “Follow me,” he said to her and started toward the exit of the temple.
Twelve Jackals Chapter Two
Rakamai sat on an old wooden chair that matched the round table opposite him, both in its rustic color and lack of artistic design. He rested his elbows on the table causing it to shake a little, so he leaned his weight toward one side to stabilize it.
Tora, his wife, glanced at him through the corners of her eyes while pulling on a curtain. “We need new furniture. We’ve upgraded nothing in the house since our wedding,” she said to Rakamai, still struggling to pull the gray curtain open, her bronze skin glowing as the rays of the sun crashed against it.
While everything in the couple’s home appeared bleak, that wasn’t how Rakamai felt. The nearly unrecognizable yellow paint peeled away in large chunks revealing the mudbricks forming the walls, while the wooden frame holding the construction steady bulged at two corners of the ceiling. Behind Rakamai, two identical couches with old frames and worn-out handmade cushions sat face to face, filling the small living room. An open kitchen took over the wall in front of him with a mudbrick sink and a rusty water pump. Yet, none of that mattered because a simple smile from his wife or a loud laugh from his son was enough to brighten his days.
Tora stepped out of the house for a moment then returned with a pile of wood, which she carried to a large metal stove next to the sink. She shoved the pieces through a hole in the side, and soon fire came out the top. She then picked a teapot and pumped some water into it before placing the pot on the fire.
“You didn’t answer me,” she said, turning to her husband.
Rakamai met her gaze and tried to force a smile on his face but failed. “I will approve a raise for us next month. You can do whatever you want with it.”
Tora sighed and removed three pottery cups from a shelf above the stove. She added a single teaspoon of honey in each cup, then carried them to the table, placing the first two opposite empty chairs on both sides of Rakamai.
Once she put the third in front of her husband, she planted a kiss on his cheek. “Don’t approve anything,” she said. “I know it bothers you.”
Rakamai lifted her hand and kissed it. “I’m sorry, love. I want you to be happy, but—”
“I know. Our people come first.” She leaned in and kissed his forehead.
As Tora straightened, another kicked the main entrance open. A woman in her mid-thirties strode in, a wide grin filling her face. Her light blue dress fell to her ankles, its width masking her curves. A simple pattern decorated both the edges of her long sleeves and her wide collar. Her obsidian skin matched that of Rakamai, and so did her sloped nose and full lips. Her cheeks, however, were fuller with small dimples at the center.
“Take it easy on the door, Retan, or you will have to fix it yourself,” Tora said, walking to the now boiling water.
“Sure thing.” Retan closed the door in slow motion, its squeal prompting Rakamai to roll his eyes and turn to her.
“Seriously? What are you? A child?”
Retan chuckled while pushing the door at an even slower pace. “Is this how you talk to your older sister?”
“Officially, I’m your elder.”
She gave him a morose look and slammed the door shut. “Not in here.”
Tora poured the hot water into the cups. “How the two of you are the leaders of our faction is beyond me.”
Rakamai shrugged. “She is not the leader of anything, and it’s for good reasons. Trust me.”
Retan knuckled the back of Rakamai’s head and darted her gaze around, ignoring her brother’s words. “Where’s my nephew?”
Tora put the pot at the center of the table and took a seat next to her husband. “He stayed out all night again, but I made him promise to come home before his father left for work.”
“Man, this kid trains so hard. He’s going to embarrass all of us when he’s older.”
“It’s better for him. The faster he masters the gates, the less training he needs after his awakening.”
“I agree with your logic, Tora, but he is a child. This path we follow takes everything away from us. You can’t deny him his childhood too.”
“We’re not denying him anything,” Rakamai quickly added.
With Rakamai’s last word, the young boy pushed the door open and limped his way into the house, dirt covering both his turban and beige thobe that fell two inches short of his ankles.
Tora jumped off her seat and ran to the boy, lifting his thobe and checking his legs for injuries before cleaning some sand off his dark-colored cheeks.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
The corners of the kid’s almond-shaped eyes lifted, and he nodded.
“Rondai,” Retan said, her tone sharp while standing by the dining table, “come here.”
The boy ran to her, and she lifted him into her arms. “Oh my, you have become so heavy. Soon I will have to open a gate just so I can carry you.”
Rondai laughed as Tora took him from his aunt’s arms and put him down. “Go into the bathroom,” she said. “I will pick fresh clothes and come to help you shower.”
Rondai ran up a narrow staircase by the side of the open kitchen while Tora followed him with slow steps. As the latter disappeared up the stairs, Retan sat opposite the third cup of tea and took a sip.
“You’re awfully quiet today. What’s wrong?” she asked.
Rakamai cradled his cup, connecting the edges of his fingers, “We need to do something, Retan.”
“About what?”
He glanced at his deteriorating house. “About all of this. If the leader of the faction can’t even have a proper home, how does everyone else live?”
“The same way they always did. We are Kalangous. Quality of life has never been of interest to us. Only a few would live long enough to enjoy it anyway. What we are good at is getting stronger.”
“Well… Maybe we should change how we view the world and focus on living for once.”
Retan gulped the rest of her tea in one shot, pushed back her chair, and rose to her feet. “Such discussion should take place in the temple, not here.” She headed toward the stairs and called for Rondai, who came running toward her, naked and dripping water. Retan stopped him before he reached the last step. She put her palm on his chest, so he doesn’t jump on her then kneeled to match his height.
Tora threw down a towel from upstairs that Retan snatched out of the air by lifting her other hand. She wrapped it around Rondai and began drying his body.
“You’re too old for this behavior,” she said. “You shouldn’t be running around the house naked.”
“I was going to get dressed, but you called for me. I didn’t want you to leave before…” Rondai’s face turned a little red.
“Before what?”
“I wanted to ask you for a birthday gift.”
“Birthday?” Her eyes widened. “Has it already been a year since your last one?”
“Yes, I will become nine in one week.”
“Okay, okay.” She ruffled his hair. “Go get dressed, and I will wait to hear what you want.”
Rondai ran up the stairs, his bare feet bounding on the wooden steps as he pivoted to avoid his mother, who was on her way down.
Retan sighed. “Despite how much I love him, I can’t stand how he always reminds me that time moves faster than we think.” She returned to the dining table with Tora by her side.
The latter collected the empty cups and carried them to the sink while Retan returned to her chair. She opened her mouth to say something, but the sound of Rondai’s feet as he skipped several steps before leaping to the ground grabbed her attention. The boy was now wearing a thobe identical to his father’s, right down to its light green color and wide V-neck. He climbed the chair next to Retan’s and portrayed a wide smile that put his perfect teeth on display.
With a smile, Retan shook her head and pinched his cheek. “Stop pretending to be cute and tell me about that gift you want.”
The child lowered to one knee while still on the chair and clasped his hands together while raising them to his chin. “Aunt Retan, would you please be my master?”
Almost simultaneously, the three adults in the room cracked a loud laugh.
Rondai frowned. “I’m not joking.”
Retan was the first to stop laughing. She took a deep breath to pull her serious expression back on her face.
“What do you say?” Rondai asked.
“Don’t you already have a master?”
“I do, but he said I’m ready to pass the exam for the first gate.”
“Did he?” Rakamai asked while surprise took over the faces of both Tora and Retan.
“Are you sure this is what he said?” Tora asked.
“Yes. I will take the exam the morning of my birthday.”
Retan put her hands on the boy’s arms. “Listen to me. You can ask for any toy you want for your birthday, but mastering the gates is not something to joke about.”
Rondai’s grin widened as he raised his right hand to the level of his chest. He folded four fingers and straightened his thumb before using it to paint an imaginary number one over the location of his heart. Right after, and while Rondai raised an open palm over the teapot, Tora jumped to her feet and half-circled the table toward her son. The pot floated toward his hand but instantly fell back in place when Tora grabbed his wrist and pulled it back. She folded his four fingers and held his thumb straight before pushing it toward his chest.
“Close the gate,” she shouted.
Rondai’s facial features downturned as he painted another imaginary image of the same number in the same location.
“What did I tell you?” she shouted again, pushing his hand to his side.
The kid lowered his head. “You said never to use magic unless it was for training.”
“And was that training?”
His eyes grew watery, and his voice broke. “I just wanted to convince Master Retan to take me as a student.”
“Tora,” Rakamai broke in, and when she looked at him, he slowly blinked and gave her a slight nod. Tora sighed and kissed Rondai’s forehead before walking back to her seat.
Retan took her nephew’s hand. “You will make a great master one day, but you need to listen to your mother. We learn magic for the sake of our faction, not for fun, and you must abide by its rules.”
Rondai nodded, his head still low. “Will you teach me then?”
“Maybe one day, but you don’t need a new master just yet. You have to stay with your schoolteacher until you open the third gate. When you get there, we can talk. But for now, I will get you any other gift you want.”
“Anything?” Rondai’s smile returned and his eyes widened.
Retan paused before uttering the word “Yes.”
“I want to change my name,” he said.
“Really?” She chuckled while Rakamai and Tora leaned closer, their eyes focused on their son. “What do you want your new name to be?” Retan asked.
“Katin,” he answered quickly. “I want to be a great master, and I should have a great name like the founder of our faction.”
Retan ruffled his hair again before pulling his head to her and hugging his face to her chest. “What’s with you and asking for the impossible today?”
“It’s not impossible,” Rondai said with a muffled voice before Retan released him. “I know a kid in my class who changed his name. Why can’t I do it?”
“Because,” Rakamai started, “you are a Pureblood. Your name has to start with the letter R.”
“Mother’s name doesn’t start with an R.”
Rakamai and Retan turned their gazes to Tora but said nothing, allowing Tora to respond. “No, it doesn’t,” she said, “because I’m not. But your father is a Pureblood, and that makes you one too. You are a descendant of Katin himself. His blood runs in your veins.”
Rakamai tried to speak, but Tora raised her hand, forcing him to stay silent as she continued. “One day, you will be on the council, and maybe you will lead our people like your father, but until this day comes, you have to follow the rules like every other Kalangou, and that means your name stays the same.”
Rondai crossed his hand over his chest and frowned. “Then I don’t want to be a Pureblood,” he said as he jumped off the chair before running upstairs.
“I’m afraid this boy will grow a lot faster than we expected,” Rakamai said, a large smile on his face.
Retan chuckled as she rose from her chair. “Looks like I have to find him a real gift this time. The age of toys is over.” She started toward the door before turning back to her brother. “Are we going?”
Rakamai rose to his feet and leaned toward his wife, kissing her lips. “I will see you soon, love,” he said and followed Retan.
Twelve Jackals Chapter One
Mandie’s heart raced in rhythm with her feet as she soared across the open desert. Every exhale of breath grew louder with each sweeping stride she took as sweat mixed with the blood trailing down her cheek. She was the fastest among the palace warriors; only her shadow could keep up with her.
When she saw the Forbidden Palace in the distance, she pushed on the power of her legs with everything she had. Fatigue fought to take over her mind and force her to collapse, but Mandie refused to surrender to her physical limitations.
“Open the gate!” she shouted the moment her eyes could detail the iron port. “Open the gate!” she repeated, her voice struggling against a lack of oxygen to make itself heard.
The gate opened, its progression slow, but with a quick pivot, she slid through the small gap between the moving doors without hindering her pace.
The sound of her feet slapping against the stone passage leading to the main hall echoed through the quiet palace. When she reached the end of the passage—her destination met—she grabbed hold of the edge of a wall while taking deep breaths to regulate her heartbeat.
With no time to spare, seconds later, she hurried toward the throne at the other end of the hall, her leg muscles weakening as each determined step became more of a limp.
“Why did you abandon your post?”
Mandie stopped the moment she heard the voice of her leader, and she lowered her head. “Forgive me, Kalita.” A tear escaped to slide down Mandie’s cheek but was quickly lost in her gathered sweat. “I know I have failed you.”
Aira, an Illicitum, came from the western passage and rushed toward Mandie. Her long golden hair flapped above her pale bare shoulders before swinging around her almond-shaped green eyes as she came to a halt.
“Don’t worry about that now.” Aira pulled a napkin from her pocket and, with a gentle hand, began to clean the mixture of sweat and blood from Mandie’s face. “Your wound isn’t serious. It will heal in no time, but you need to rest before your body fails you.”
Mandie lowered her gaze and nodded. “I need to tell you what happened first—”
“Don’t worry about it.” Aira brought her small nose and thin lips to Mandie’s ear and whispered, “Now that we’re both here, I can see what you will say in my future. I know everything you want to report, or did you forget that this is my power?” She smiled and patted Mandie’s back. “Go now. I will speak to Kalita.”
***
Kalita tapped the edge of her wooden throne as she watched Mandie drag her feet from the room before turning her head toward Aira. “Why did you tell her to leave when I didn’t give the order?”
“The girl is exhausted. Her transportation pod malfunctioned, and she had to run back to the palace.”
Sighing, Kalita lifted her sharp chin. “I’m tired of reminding you that I’m the Umholi, and when I’m present, only I give orders. It’s been two centuries, yet you keep repeating the same mistake.”
“I’m not disobeying you. It’s just—”
“Enough,” Kalita interrupted. “I have no intention of discussing this subject again. You will find a way around it as usual. Now, tell me what happened.”
Aira smiled but quickly returned her expression to a serious one when she saw how Kalita’s wide eyes fell on her. “Rakamai is preparing to fight an Averetti tribe.”
“On his own?” Kalita lifted her brows.
“Yes. He’s waiting for them outside the Fantastic Forest now.”
Kalita closed her eyes and stroked her chin. “Maybe it’s for the best,” she said in a near whisper before opening her eyes again. “With him out of the picture, it will be easier to end the war.”
“It’s sad to say this about Rakamai, but I agree with you.” Aira sighed. “If he dies, there will be no one left to hold a grudge, and with the rest of the Kalangous’ council dead, we can restore the peace without delay. However, I fear that his defeat is not yet certain.”
Kalita’s eyes bulged. “Are you saying he has a chance to win against an entire tribe?”
“Yes. The chance is there, but it will depend on his decisions. For now, I can see both scenarios playing out in my mind. But if you want, we can make sure either possibility happens. All we need to do is give whomever we want to win a little nudge.”
Kalita rested her chin on her hand. “I would like to see if Rakamai has enough power to defeat an entire tribe. But if he succeeds, we should kill him ourselves.”
“Wouldn’t that be against our protocol? Technically, he isn’t the one who started the war.”
“Yes, it would be, but we need a win right now.” Kalita brought her hand to her bracelet and fidgeted with the lotus-shaped pendant. “It took years to end the last war, and we lost a lot of support as a result. If we don’t end this one quickly, they might question our ability to keep the peace.”
Aira took a step closer to Kalita. “Don’t be hard on yourself. That war involved all four factions. Yet, we did end it. They know where true power lies.” The Illicitum looked into her leader’s eyes. “I know you’re afraid they would find unity in pain and decide they no longer need us, but what Rakamai is doing, and the Averettis did before him, proves that these factions will forever be enemies to one another.”
“I disagree.” That declaration came from Rhett, who came into the hall with a steady stride. He rubbed his bald head with his large hand. “We have to prepare for every scenario. The four factions may be enemies today, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be friends tomorrow. If they unite against us, we will die.”
Aira turned her dainty figure toward him. “You keep forgetting we are the peacekeepers. They don’t see us as a threat, but as a necessity.”
“They will see us as such only for as long as they have to follow our rules.” Rhett crossed his arms over his bare, onyx-colored chest. “No matter what our cause, they will always regard us as a form of power that limits their freedom. They need to be reminded of what we can do, all the Kalangous, not just their leader Rakamai. What he’s doing now and what his council did before him proves they don’t fear us anymore. We have to teach them a lesson.”
Aira narrowed her eyes. “Let me guess. You want to be the one who exacts the punishment.”
“Do you have a problem with that?” Rhett asked as he pushed back his wide shoulders and jutted out his muscled chest.
“I do,” Aira spit out as she took a step toward him. “Kala is your old faction, and Rakamai is part of your bloodline. I find it hard to believe you would effectively punish the Kalangous.”
“I left my faction over two centuries ago, and like you, I’m an Illicitum of the palace. I will do whatever it takes to keep the world in check and make sure everyone follows our law or else,” Rhett replied, his voice raised.
“Enough!” Kalita shouted before focusing on Aira. “Rhett will go to witness the fight. If Rakamai succeeds, he will kill him. You, Aira, will stay here to narrate the battle for me. I want to know everything as it happens.”
“How can I narrate the fight? You know I can only see what is in my own future. If I know I’m not going there, then it’s no longer my future.”
Kalita squinted as her black eyes met Aira’s. “After all we have been through together, you must get it that I know what goes on in your head before you think it. I said Rhett will go, and he will go alone. I won’t change my decision. As for your power, we both know that it’s not limited to your own future. Stop these little games you play to pass the time and follow my orders, both of you.”
Kalita and Rhett bowed before the latter left The Forbidden Palace to fulfill his mission.
Twelve Jackals Prologue
Rhett spread his legs wide atop the burning sand, creating a stable base for himself before squatting. With his back straight and knees forming a ninety-degree angle, he brought his fists to his waist and narrowed his eyes.
His gaze focused on his opponent, who barely matched his current height even though she was fully erect. Rhett’s veins popped, appearing more detailed on his arms, neck, and forehead. The sweat glistering over his onyx skin and sliding down his bare muscled chest all the way into the garment he pulled down to his waist reflected a tyrant sun.
“Today, you shall learn to never underestimate your enemy, no matter how weak you think they are,” Rhett said, moving one foot in a quarter circle until it was behind the other while bringing one fist to the level of his chest.
“Martial arts?” Rhett’s opponent smirked. She stood straight, one arm bent behind her back, and with the other, she formed a fist but left her thumb straightened, using it to draw an image of the number one above her chest. “What chance do martial arts have against gate magic?” she asked rhetorically, pushing her arm forward and forming a claw with her fingers.
Rhett’s beige garment started to wrinkle, becoming tighter around his body, and pushing on his skin.
His arms tensed, his muscles popping even more, the detail of each becoming clearer. He grabbed the edges of his garment and split it in half with one move, then pushed it toward the ground.
“Is that the best you can do?” Rhett asked, but before his smile fully reached his face, the fabric came back up, wrapping his nearly naked body, its movement following the girl’s fingers. She was now using both hands, and when she locked her fingers together, threads of the torn garment flew toward one another as the piece of clothing reattached itself and started pushing on Rhett’s body again, squeezing it and blocking the path of blood in his veins.
Rhett pulled the full garment off his body with one pull, tearing it another time before performing a backflip. While his hand touched the ground, he freed the rest of his body from his clothes and performed another backward flip to put distance between himself and the fabric which was now following him.
Rhett began running across the desert, his clothes chasing him while coming back together. His velocity, however, was faster than the girl’s moving arm, who seemed to be struggling with matching his speed while controlling the fabric.
He continued to run in a circular pattern until he was behind the girl who dropped her control of the clothes as she turned to face him. But before she could, Rhett grabbed her from the back. He sat on one knee, one arm wrapped around her neck and the elbow of the other, locking her head in place.
“I told you,” he whispered in her ears, “never underestimate an opponent, no matter—” Rhett dropped his words when he saw someone land on the ground a few feet opposite him. He glanced at the plank of wood flying in the sky before returning his gaze to the new man who stood in a long white tunic, a scarf covering his neck and the bottom half of his face.
“Is everything okay?” Rhett asked, letting go of the girl and rising to his feet.
“Yes, Master Rhett,” the man said, bowing, “but the council requires your presence.”
“Now?”
The man nodded.
Rhett turned to the girl and kneeled again, putting his hand on her head, his voice softening. “Just because your enemy doesn’t have the same magic as you doesn’t mean they are weak. They can still have many tricks up their sleeves.”
The girl lowered her head, her features expressing defeat. Rhett smiled and ruffled her hair. “I liked your idea of controlling my thobe and using it against me, though. You are good at taking advantage of your surroundings.”
“But it wasn’t good enough.” The girl pursed her lips into a fine line. “I was too slow.”
“Controlling objects is no small feat. With practice, you will get a lot faster, and you won’t feel the object’s weight at all.”
“Do you really think so?” She raised her eyebrows, and her face relaxed.
“I know, my dear.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, shall we go?”
The girl frowned again. “But we didn’t finish training. You promised me the whole day.”
“I know, but your father has to work.”
With her frown still on her face, she nodded. Rhett lifted her and carried her, planting a kiss on her cheek before walking to the other man who lowered the flying plank of wood to the ground, and all three climbed on top.
***
Rhett fixed his long beige tunic, which his daughter had put back together, leaving no sign of it having been torn. While adjusting his scarf around his wide shoulders, he walked through the main entrance of the red temple with fast steps, stopping only when he reached the center room where the other four council members had gathered.
They were standing in an imperfect circle, wearing thobes that were nearly identical to his, long tunics that fell just above their ankles. Even their scarfs seemed to match, differing only in color.
“Does your summoning mean we know who it is?” Rhett asked first, the stone walls surrounding him barely lit by a stream of light coming from the main corridor.
“We do,” one of the council members replied as she handed him a letter.
When Rhett noticed how she avoided meeting his eyes, his brows drew together, and he glanced at the other three noticing how they too were looking away.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Just open it,” the same woman said, her dark brown eyes appeared light next to the color of her skin.
Rhett brought his gaze to the folded letter in his hand and opened it. The moment he saw what was inside, his eyes widened, and his head jerked back. “That can’t be right,” he said, looking at the other members, but they continued to avoid eye contact. “Fine. We will send someone else then.” He threw the letter on the ground and turned to make his way toward the exit.
“We can’t send someone else. They chose you,” another council member called out, his voice calm, age wrinkles visible on his forehead.
Rhett exhaled loudly and turned back. “I don’t care who the Umholi chose. We can nominate whoever we want. It’s our right.”
“He wasn’t talking about the Umholi,” the woman who spoke earlier said. “You were with us when we prepared the magic letter, and you sent it yourself. Whatever name it revealed to the Umholi came directly from the gods.”
Rhett walked closer to her, their gaze meeting, though his had more fire in it. “I am a council member. My job is to watch over our faction, not join the Illicitums.”
“Lead them,” another member corrected, his voice soft.
“We don’t know that yet,” the oldest member argued. “He has to go through a qualifying round to determine whether he would be the new Umholi or one of the Illicitums.”
“Yes, but with his power, there’s no doubt that—”
“You’re talking as if I agreed to go already,” Rhett interrupted, his tone becoming sharper.
“You will go.” The elder, whose voice remained calm, walked toward Rhett with a straightened pose.
“You can’t force me. I’m part of this council too.”
“Perhaps. But you are the youngest, and it hasn’t even been a year since you joined us. I’m sure we can outvote you.”
“Come on, Rigs. I have a family. I can’t just leave them and go to live in the Forbidden Palace.”
“This is your duty.”
“No, it’s not. My allegiance is to my faction. I swore to take care of our people, to serve Kala, not to look over the entire continent.”
The councilwoman put her hand on Rhett’s back. “You can help us a lot by being there.”
“Right.” Rhett chuckled. “Like the Kalangou, they already have, did for us. You are delusional, Raya. They wash people’s minds in this palace.”
“This is different. Times have changed, and we are not the same people we were over two centuries ago.”
“What are you even complaining about?” Rigs asked, his voice becoming louder. “Being an Illicitum is the dream. They will teach you even stronger magic, and you will live to pass two hundred and fifty. You will see how our world evolves long after we are gone.”
“I don’t care about any of that. I’d rather be weak than live long past my children.”
“This is—”
“I understand,” Raya interrupted, positioning her body between Rigs and Rhett while facing the latter. “You care about your family. But think of what you can do as an Illicitum. Your job will be to keep the peace between us and the other factions. You can give them a chance to live a happy life, and not only will you see your children grow old, but you will live long enough to see multiple generations of your own bloodline. I would do anything to get a chance like that.”
Rhett closed his eyes and took a step back, his lips pinched while he thought. She is right, he told himself. I can make sure that my kids would have peace and won’t need to pay for their magic with their lives.
“Alright,” he said, meeting Raya’s eyes. “I will do it, but in return, you must promise me that my family will be well looked after.”
“Of course, they will be. They will have an amazing life and receive the best training. I promise.”
Rhett nodded.
***
Standing atop the fifty-foot-high stone wall surrounding his faction, Rhett crossed his hands and rested them atop the edge while leaning forward. He was looking at the sandy streets of his home village and how they wrapped themselves around the simple mudbrick houses of Kala. The rays of a young sun were soft on his skin and not bright enough to bring his shadow forth. He sighed heavily, watching the few people who needed to start working at first light traipse through the natural roads.
When Rhett heard fast footsteps atop the wall, he pushed against the stone and straightened, turning toward his daughter, who came running at him. He lowered to his knees, and when she jumped on him, he took her in his arms, lifting her and placing her on the stone railing. The girl’s back faced the village, her eyes meeting her father’s.
“Are we going to train today?” she asked, her grin wide.
Rhett shook his head.
The girl frowned. “But mother said to meet you here and that we will spend the morning together.”
“We will.”
“Then why don’t we train? My first gate exam is in less than a week.”
Rhett kissed her forehead. “You will ace it, Ruby. I have no doubt about that. You know everything about first gate magic already.”
The corners of Ruby’s lips lifted. “Really!”
“Yes, but that’s not why I wanted to spend the morning with you.”
The girl’s eyes widened, her black pupils reflecting happiness and curiosity. The rising light of an aging sun behind her created a halo around her dark-skinned body.
Rhett continued. “You know that I’m on the council, and my job is to take care of everyone in our faction, right?”
Ruby nodded.
“Well… To do that even better, I have to take a job that will take me away from Kala.”
“For how long?”
Rhett lowered his head, his gaze falling to his feet. Ruby put her palm on his cheek, and he raised his head again, meeting her eyes.
“I’m eleven now, Father, and about to be a gate one master. You can tell me.”
Rhett lifted her hands and enveloped them with his own. “I won’t come back. I have to move to the Forbidden Palace and look after the entire continent, not just our people.”
Ruby’s expressions froze for a moment, tears on the edges of her eyes, but she quickly replaced them with an awkward smile. “It’s your duty, Father. You always said that we should never abandon our duty.”
A tear escaped Rhett’s eyes as he leaned forward, kissing his daughter’s forehead and wrapping his arms around her until he could stop his own tears. Wiping them away, he readjusted his stand and looked at Ruby.
“Alright,” he started, forcing a smile. “One last all-inclusive lesson.”
Ruby’s body shook a little as she smiled and clapped twice, giving her father all her attention.
Rhett continued. “While the first gate of magic gives you power over objects, the second will allow you to control the elements, but don’t let that scare you. Think about the elements the same way you feel the objects surrounding you, and you will learn quickly. Learn as much as you can about the first two gates before moving to the third and fourth. Those gates are like the first two, but instead of controlling what is already there, you will be able to conjure either objects or elements, depending on the gate you use. So, the better you are at the first two, the faster it will be to master the other ones.”
Rhett smiled at how Ruby focused on his every word and brushed her hair with his hand. “The fifth gate will give you control over your inner energy. To master it, you need to be in touch with your emotions. When you are learning this gate, don’t be afraid to listen to your gut, even if it sometimes tells you strange things. Do not fear your feelings, and never suppress them. It will only make your life harder. When you turn twenty, you will learn about the awakening and the price we all must pay for our magic. Don’t let that scare you but be aware of it. Learn how to listen to your body and every single beat of your heart. And then there’s a secret.”
Rhett turned left and right as if making sure no one was around. When his gaze returned to Ruby, he put one finger on his mouth and spoke in a hushed tone. “There are two more gates that nobody knows about. If you want to learn them, you must get strong enough to be on the council. Only they can teach you.” Rhett’s eyes grew watery again as he realized he had nothing else to tell his daughter about gate magic, even if he could remain to teach her a lot more.
Ruby’s tears flowed down her face in reaction, and Rhett carried her while she rested her head on his shoulder, her lips nearing his neck.
He walked to the opposite edge of the wall. “Look,” he said, pointing at the open desert. “I will be just behind this field of sand, and once you learn the third gate, you will be able to reach me in half a day or less. You can come visit me whenever you want.”
“Okay,” the girl said.
He then took off the necklace with a heart-shaped pendant around her neck. “If you don’t mind, I would like to keep this, so you can always be by my side.”
She nodded but kept her head down.
Rhett lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “Promise me one thing, though.”
“Anything for you, Father.”
“Take care of your little sisters. Make sure they are strong too.”
“I will,” Ruby said, and Rhett kissed her forehead one more time before shifting his gaze back to the desert, thinking about what awaited him at the Forbidden Palace.
January 9, 2021
Twelve Jackals Cover Art
ILLICITUM SERIES
Book One
Earth GuardiansSCI-Fantasy for the Travelers at Heart
Read the Series [image error] Twelve Jackals Cover Art [image error]Front and back cover art for book one of my upcoming series: Illicitum
Artist: Christina P.Myrvold
For centuries, residents of Kala had to endure the pain of their magic to protect their world from the constant attacks of their neighboring factions. Their leader, Rakamai, wants his people to have a quiet life, a taste of happiness. He is about to do what none before him did, go into the forest of his enemies and offer them a truce, but even peace comes with a price.
BEHIND THE COVERWhen Christina and I started talking about what we could do with the cover, we spoke for multiple sessions about Rakamai’s state of mind and what would drive him to choose the path he took. Rakamai is not a weak leader; He is the strongest in a powerful faction. Rakamai is not above violence; he fought in multiple wars without hesitation. But then, their was Rakamai the father, the man who wants to spend time with his wife. He wants everyone to be happy and have the life they deserve and he does that by being hopeful and dreaming of a future that includes everyone. That’s why he is looking at the sun, a representation of his goals. His weapon in his hand because he is ready to do whatever it takes for his people. Yet, the path to his dreams is not easy. Like the bloodied Jackal tracks he leaves behind, he is bound to use his magical creatures to carve his way into the future.
ART INSPIRATIONFor the art style we had to look at multiple source but one artist had more influence than everyone else. The origins of Kala and the entire continent of Mastoperia are far beyond magical. In a sense, they are larger than life itself. This why we used the artist: Peter Mohrbacher and his project Angelarium as an inspiration for both the style and color palette. In Particular, these two pieces of art…
With the first being the Angel of Truth, and the second being the Angel of Shadow, Rakamai’s existence was always bound to be connected to them.
October 30, 2020
Kala’s Gate Magic
Kala’s Gate Magic came to existence after Katin (The founder of the faction) stumbled upon the sacred pool during his travels in the western desert of Mastoperia. Katin swam in the pool, thinking it was another hot spring in the middle of the desert. When he fell a sleep next to the water source, he saw the guards of the gates in his dream that night and every night for the following two years where they taught him about their magic and how to access it. Katin will go on to become the strongest user of Gate Magic, and will teach it to his descendants, creating a faction of powerful masters.
AboutKalangous draw power from an alternate realm known as the Gates of Magic. Children of Kala are baptized on their 2nd birthday by drinking holy water from the sacred pool, which in turn unlocks their ability to access the Gates of Magic. However, access to the alternate realm alone doesn’t give them power. Kalangous must train hard to open each of the magical gates and use their unique ability.
In total, their are ten Magic gates, numbered from 1 to 10, each gives the user a different power. Users cannot learn to open a new gate until they master the one before.
Only the first five gates are known to the public. Gates six and seven are kept hidden by the council of Kala. Knowledge of the last three gates was lost overtime. and the current generation of Kalangous don’t know of their existence.
The AwakeningBaptized Kalangous children experience The Awakening at the age of twenty, at the exact moment of their birth. When the Awakening starts, their eyes turn completely black before they start to experience a level of pain in their veins that gradually rises to excruciating levels when it reaches their heart. That’s when they start to feel their hearts literally break in half. Kalangous must dip their body in the Sacred pool within a full day after the Awakening begins. If they don’t, they die. If they do, the seal of magic is printed on the inside of their hearts as the holy water puts it back together. And from that moment forward, they start paying the price for their magic.
Using the MagicTo access any of the gates, users must form a fist with their hand, leaving only their thumb straightened, and using it to draw an imaginary number of the corresponding gate above their chest.Users can only access one gate at a time with limited exceptions for the higher gates.A 30 minutes interval or what is known as 3000 heartbeats is required between the opening of one gate and another. Meaning, a user can open a gate and use it for 30 minutes or more then close it to open a different gate instantly, or would have to wait for the allotted time to pass if they were to close the gate they were using before the 30 minutes are over, even if they were going to reopen the same gate. The Price of Gate MagicGate Magic affects its users in two different ways; the first is more vague, and with a strong well and a few simple techniques, it can be put under control. The second, however, is clear and will always happen. Both effects come in place after the Awakening.
The first effect: While drawing power from the gates has no effect on a user’s physical abilities, it still takes a toll on their emotions. The gates will heighten the emotions of those who use them. As a result, Kalangous are usually tense people and can easily take everything to the extreme. They fall in love quickly and with intensity. they feel the pulse of every moment and its importance, and they see the world through a unique lens. However, the gates favor dark emotions and will sometimes drive their anger and fear among other feelings to mind crippling levels. Heightened emotions will reach their peek either after using the gates for an extended period of time (more than the user usually does) or when the user experiences a sudden change of inner feelings. This sudden pulse of emotions can be controlled by taking a long nap and using breathing techniques to calm the person down. Kalangous are also advised to find a way that helps them understand the regular stream of their emotions so they can tell the difference between their normal and troubled states.The second effect: When the seal of magic appears on a user’s heart at the awakening, it gains control over their heartbeat. From that point forward, every time a master opens any of the gates, they lose 3000 heartbeats of their lives (An equivalent of 30 minutes) whether they used the power of the gate for one minute or half an hour. If they were to use the gate for more than half an hour, they will lose an extra 100 beats for every minute of usage. This means that a user will on average lose the exact same time they spent using the magic from their lives. As a result, the average life span in Kala falls between 50 and 60 years of age while it goes up to a 100 in other factions. The Gates of Magic Gate OneGuard: Hagor
The First gate gives its user the ability to manipulate any object in their surrounding. A simple wave of the hand while the user is thinking about what they want to do is enough to control the object.
Mastery over this gate, like all gates happens gradually and by passing through check points. First, the user learns how to manipulate the movement of one object, then multiple at the same time, passing by breaking something apart to the molecule level that it appears as if it disappeared, and to the point of being able to put a shattered object back together even without prior knowledge of its original shape.
Complete mastery over this gate means that the user can use all its power at once. However, the level of mastery differs based on training, stamina, and full understanding of the gate’s power.
Casual mastery is accepted for users to pass to the next gate.
Gate TwoGuard: Latya
The Second gate gives its masters the power to control the elements such as Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and Lightning. Similar to the first gate, a wave of the hand along with one’s thoughts are enough to control the desired element. In order to control an element, it must be present in their surroundings.
Well-trained and high level masters of the gate can sense the presence of elements up to fifty meters in all directions even if they couldn’t see it, while entry level masters can only use their sight to identify an element.
As usual, mastery is gradual with Earth being the first element a user learns how to control, and lightning being the hardest of the elements as it requires speed and precision.
Casual mastery is accepted for users to pass to the next gate.
Gate ThreeGuard: Itala
The Third gate is similar to the first gate in that it gives the user control over objects. However, with this gate, the user can only conjure objects that didn’t exist and not control anything in their surroundings. For example, a master who opens the third gate can see a teapot and conjure one that’s identical to it, controlling their creation in anyway they see fit, but they would never be able to control the original pot with their magic using this gate.
Conjuring objects can extend to anything not elemental related. Yet, the material of the object can make it harder to manifest and control. Wood is the easiest material to conjure and control, with iron being a close second. Therefore, Kalangous use wood as a method of transportation over a long distance because they can easily conjure a plank of wood and sit on it while using their magic to make it fly and lead them to their destination. Voradium metal is the hardest to conjure and requires a genius level of mastery.
Casual mastery is accepted for users to pass to the next gate.
[image error] Gate FourGuard: Aramil
The Fourth gate is also similar to the second one as it gives its masters an elemental power. But it works like the third gate since users cannot control surrounding elements but only conjure them. This means that if a user conjures a ball of fire and then sees a secondary fire source, they will only be able to control their own creation. And while their own conjured fire won’t hurt them even if they wrapped it around their body, the second fire will damage their bodies the way fire normally does.
A master of this gate can manifest the elements in any way they see fit as long as it stays related to their body upon manifestation. They can bring forth an element above their palms or wrap their body or part of it with it. And while the elements will follow the direction of their thoughts, arm control adds more balance and precision, allowing the master to direct attacks with more ease.
Elemental progression works the same way as the second gate with Earth being the easiest to conjure and control, and lightning being the hardest.
Casual mastery is accepted for users to pass to the next gate.
Gate FiveGuard: Shavir
The Fifth gate allows Kalangous to tap into their inner energy and use it at well. While most gates require extensive training, movement, and awareness of one’s surroundings, the fifth is mastered by meditating and reaching into a person’s inner energy. This energy can then be manifested in any shape or form. It can be used as a shield, turned to smoke, or even manipulated as the first gate by transforming the energy to solid, functional objects.
The only limit to what a master can do with their inner energy is their own imagination, with some masters managing to turn it to massive destruction weapons. The amount of energy a user can produce is tied directly to their stamina, resolve, and power. But it can be increased with training.
Complete mastery is required for users to pass to the next gate.
[image error] Gate SixGuard: Davil
The Sixth gate gives access to powerful creatures, human-like figures with Jackal-like heads on black hardened skin. A master can call upon up to 12 Jackals at a time to assist them in battle, and they can control the creatures through a set of commands tied to their hands. They can also choose to give the creatures freedom in battle to act on their own.
Gate Six allows the user to access one more gate at the same time as long as it is lower in rank. Masters can use the other gate they open simultaneously with the sixth, and their Jackals will also be able to use that gate on their own. However, the number of heartbeats required to use the magic doubles when using 2 gates at the same time.
When sixth gate masters die, they become Jackals themselves and can be called upon by a living gate six master. Therefore, the number of Jackals in a master’s reserve is tied directly to the number of dead gate six masters. If there’s more than 12 in the reserve, when a Jackal dies in battle, another will instantly appear, and it will be stronger and with better magic control. However, when a Jackal dies in battle, it can never be used by that master again.
Complete mastery is required for users to pass to the next gate.
Gate SevenGuard: Vola
The Seventh gate can only be opened if the sixth was in use. And even though it’s a different gate and requires practice to be mastered, it doesn’t follow regular gate rules. When accessed, it doesn’t count as an extra gate and has no additional toll on a master’s heartbeat.
This gate gives the user a single power, a chance to escape death. If a user dies with some of their Jackals on the battle field, they have a five minute window to cheat death and come back to life by sacrificing one of their Jackals instead.
However, this will only work as long as there are Jackals around and not with those in the reserve.
Complete mastery is required for users to pass to the next gate.
Gate EightGuard: Zakana
The Eighth gate of magic gives its masters healing powers, allowing them to instantly heal anyone but themselves. To do that, a master needs to open the gate and hold the hand of the person in question while thinking about what they want to heal exactly. This can also work for emotional and psychological damage where the master frees someone’s inner pain and sufferings.
When a master heals someone, they lose even more time from their own life. Each wound and type of pain is translated into a number of heartbeats that the master pays in exchange, with harder wounds demanding more heartbeats.
This is one of the lost gates that the current generation of Kalangous have no idea of its existence.
Casual mastery is enough for users to start learning the following gate.
Gate NineGuard: Fiora
The Ninth gate gives its users psychic powers, allowing its masters to see into someone’s soul and figure out if it was genuinely good or bad. High level masters can also take control of someone’s mind and force them to behave in anyway they see fit, with the victim believing that all their actions are their own.
Controlling another mind instantly triples the number of heartbeats required to use the gate, and the counter keeps rolling as long as the master is in control of someone else.
The gate also gives minor powers such as being able to tell if someone is lying, and knowing the true intentions of those they question. However, this can only work as long as the gate is active.
This gate has also been forgotten for centuries.
Complete mastery is required for users to pass to the next gate.
[image error]
Gate TenGuard: Rayan
The Tenth and final gate gives its masters the ability to free themselves from the price of magic. By using its power, a user can reverse all the heartbeats they lost during their existence, and even go as far as extending their own lives to immortality if they so chose.
For the user to regain their lost beats and/or prolong their life, they must steal the heartbeats of someone else. With mastery over this gate, users can see the destined life for everyone in case of no interruption, and they can steal the entire life or just few years. This is done by cradling a person’s hand and connecting the foreheads while the master steals the number of heartbeats they think of, and they can do it without declaring their intention.
To master this gate a user need only understand their true self and accept both light and darkness within them, knowing who they truly are in their core, and the power is free for them to use if they chose to.
This gate is also forgotten from the memory of Mastoperia’s modern world.
