***
Aiden was suddenly struck with the realization that he knew nothing about this man with whom he was now walking. He felt strangely safe with him, but he didn't really know him. Aiden tightened the straps from his duffel around his shoulders and carried on down the sidewalk.
"My boy, I know this is not easy for you," Vodin began. "Menlir--who you've not had the pleasure of meeting--is the local D'Tari guardian, and he will keep an eye out for your mother."
Aiden nodded, his mind still racing.
"She's safe, and you'll be safe as well."
Aiden followed Vodin down the sweltering sidewalk past the rows of old apartment complexes. The streets seemed alive today, and the traffic almost deafening. The humidity crept into Aiden's clothing and he already regretted putting on his sweatshirt.
"Are you sure you don't have a car?" Aiden asked the older man as they stopped at a crosswalk and waited for the lights to change.
"Agnecs, as a whole, don't really use motor vehicles," Vodin said, looking back at Aiden.
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "How do you guys get around?"
The traffic had stopped and Aiden and Vodin began crossing the street. Aiden saw the heat visibly rising off of the waiting cars and trucks just across from them. He imagined the machines as angry monsters waiting to charge him with hot breath rising from flared nostrils, and the thought reminded him of his younger days. He looked forward again and realized Vodin was several steps ahead of him. He ran to catch up, noticing that Vodin hadn't answered his question.
"We have our ways," Vodin finally responded as they neared the sidewalk. "Walking is of course, always the best for you."
"Sure," Aiden said, nearly yelling over the road noise. "But, what if you need to be somewhere fast?"
The two of them carried on past another row of tall apartment buildings, followed by a gas station and a convenience store. Along these buildings, Aiden could see the occasional tarped window and cracking brick. Everything seemed to be in poor shape. The noise and wind of the traffic hounded them with each step.
"Well, Aiden, this is part of the reason I'm bringing you this way today," Vodin said, glancing at Aiden with a smile. "Sessions at the Guild don't begin for at least two weeks, but I feel that you are in need of some additional tutelage."
Without another word, Vodin led Aiden down the next alley between a warehouse and an office building. Aiden stopped for a moment before he followed the man into the shadows. A sadness spread over him. He thought of his mother. He wondered what good could ever come of going down that alley with someone he'd just met.
"Aiden?" Vodin asked, taking in the boy's sudden change in mood.
"Yeah, I... I think I'm going to stay here," Aiden said, his voice cracking.
"I understand your concern, Aiden, but have I given you any reason to distrust me?"
"No," Aiden said, shrugging.
"Here's my proposition," Vodin began with a glint in his eye. "Just listen to what I have to say, and if it doesn't feel right, you can go right back to your apartment and you have permission to forget everything about this."
"Seems fair I guess."
Vodin relaxed himself up against the old wall of the warehouse and fanned himself with his hand. Aiden stepped into the shadows, keeping his distance, but glad to be out of the heat. It was much quieter in the alley, and Aiden felt as though he could finally think straight.
"I see there's no beating around the bush with you, is there?" Vodin said with a slight chuckle. "As I said, Aiden, I feel the need to spend some extra time teaching you things you've not had the chance to learn. Things about the Agnec world. I am not some kidnapper here to take you to places unknown..."
It was the honest tone in Vodin's voice that relaxed Aiden. He leaned against the wall of the office building and sighed, unsure of all the feelings racing inside of him.
"It is never easy leaving home," Vodin said. "I left my country at an early age, and then I left home after home after home. But as I said before, at the Guild, I can help you find your way. I know the angst of a wandering mind; a mind and spirit with talent and nowhere to spend it. You're so much like myself at your age."
Aiden looked up, only to see Vodin staring off as if living out a lifetime of memories.
"And," Vodin continued. "Who knows? You might just discover a new home."
Aiden remembered the moment in the alley behind his apartment building, watching Vodin place the runes on the walls... He couldn't help but smile.
"Okay," said Aiden, stepping closer until he was across from the man. "Then I'm ready."
Vodin stood up straight again, his eyes alive with adventure. "Alright then," he said, clapping his hands in excitement. "First thing's first: I'll be taking you into the Agnec Underground. Feel free to ask questions at any time."
Vodin reached out and began writing runes in the air. The runic word floated only for a moment, then he swiped at it, wafting it directly onto the concrete floor of the alleyway. Just as Aiden had seen before, the runes affixed themselves to the surface and turned dark.
"This is called runecasting," Vodin explained. "A fundamental part of the D'Tari way. And there are many, many different kinds of ways to write and cast runes."
Vodin knelt down with a groan and traced the outline of the rune. He got to his feet and backed away in a sudden jolt. The runes glowed, followed by a shaking of the concrete. Aiden also stepped back. A square block of concrete, roughly four feet long and wide, lowered itself down into the ground with a rumble. The result was an open passageway, lit by blue bioluminescent mushrooms.
"So, really," Aiden began, now trying to look down into the passage. "It's magic."
Vodin laughed. "Technically, I suppose," he said, taking the first step down into the passageway. "What Amblers call magic, we might as well call science. But the D'Tari powers we call properties. It's a more specific kind of science that involves the arts as well."
Aiden's heart pounded as he followed Vodin down a concrete slope into the passage. The floor was earthy and the interior dark, despite the glowing mushrooms that were intentionally planted along the wall of the corridor. The brightest point of light was the torch perched on a wooden hook just inside the passage. The air was surprisingly cool, and not musty as Aiden would have expected.
Along the wall next to the passage's opening, there were several markings. They were different than the runes Aiden had already seen, but they still resembled letters of some kind. Vodin studied one of the words briefly, then traced the lettering with his finger. Aiden jumped back, surprised to see the concrete block sliding itself back into place above them, sealing the passage shut.
"As you've probably noticed," Vodin began, seeing Aiden's awed expression. "We did not just now create this passage. I simply unlocked a sealed passage with a special rune. And these special words here," Vodin pointed to the markings on the wall. "Resealed it. It's really not so magical. Quite ordinary if you ask me."
Vodin took the torch down from its place on the wall and began walking along a dim path painted in blue light. Aiden followed closely behind, taking in the sights. The earthy sensation under his shoes had suddenly begun to feel like stones, and a myriad of foreign symbols decorated the walls.
"Stay close to me," Vodin said, his tone serious. "Once we leave this passage, it is important that you do as I say."
"Okay..." Aiden said, unsure how to feel about the warning. "Why? What's beyond the passage?"
Vodin stopped and faced Aiden, the torchlight dancing and flickering across his sincere eyes. "I'd imagine a good number of things; people and creatures that you're probably not used to seeing. Don't be alarmed, and stay close."
"Creatures?" Aiden said, his heart leaping.
Vodin led Aiden further down the corridor. The path began to slope until they reached an empty stone wall. Vodin held the torch close to the left-hand side of the wall, shining the light across some more of the mysterious letters and symbols.
"In we go," V
odin said, tracing the letters with his finger. "Stay alert, and always feel free to ask questions."
A Note From the Author
Thank you for reading my story as well as previewing the full-length novel. I hope that you'll tell your friends and get yourself a copy of demiGod : Part I and II.
To stay updated on my stories and my own exploits, feel free to check out my website: https://expositionoftheinner.weebly.com, or find me on my Facebook page (just search for JA Laflin).
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-JA Laflin
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