Eli was speaking, but it felt as if there were a boulder weighing down on my chest.
And then, one day, I no longer heard her voice. She must have figured out I wasn't really looking so she just sat there, staring.
When I finally channelled my thoughts together, I glanced over at her.
'I've made my decision. Now... it's time to act on it.'
Eli sported a cocky grin, but it was laced with some nervous apprehension. She had a faint scowl on her face, clearly forcing a smile.
"Rayan…" she called.
I turned to her and said, "Hit me."
She breathed in, then exhaled deeply; her breath expelled with a sigh.
"I do'nt know where you were from, but in this country... not listening to people while they talk is considered bad manners."
'I was too focused on something to even give it a second thought. I should apologize.'
It was said in sincerity, with a tinge of regret as I added
"Sorry. It just slipped my mind. I had family on my mind."
The moment I brought up my family, the frown on her face disappeared. Sadness washed over her expression. She pitied me.
"What were you saying?"
Eli softened as she looked at me and then added,
"Right… I remember now. I was talking about marks. Marks matter a lot in this world. Have you ever seen geese in our courtyard before the lockdown started they used to hang out near the fountain and try to get into buildings all the time, but what I mean is…" she stumbled.
I helped her out.
"A starting point?"
She nodded.
"Yeah. That points the way to the first marks. No, they reveal to you the end of the path that you are permitted to tread. Your highest possible tier will be based on the mark you get Then, if you are just degenerate enough and combine that with a little blood sweat and tears. You may even climb one rank above your ceiling. I did, actually — my bad."
She paused before adding,
"Oh, and also that marks only follow you to the first rank. Once you advance, they disappear."
She made me realise this when listening to her felt as if I was hearing those same things that the cave man said.
'I know this already.'
I wanted to raise my hand and say it—but I bit my tongue.
Eli went on,
"Mark types are grouped by shared ranks to reduce confusion and bias. Just like creatures have ranks."
My curiosity was sparked.
'That... by rank, and by my rank, could it have a different name?'
In the air, Eli lifted her pointer finger and traced invisible lines.
"Exactly. All titles are unique to mages but we use universal grades. From weakest to strongest is: Named, Ascended, Mythic, Extinct. You are currently in the Ranked stage because you still bear your mark. When you go through that, as horrible as that is to go through… {Awakened} is where you will move onto."
Hearing that made me curious.
"Why is Awakened second…. and Designated third? Not to mention… Hadn't it been renamed something like Enhanced or Advanced by now?"
She gave me the concerned look and began to speak in a whisper.
"Because once you get marked means after every rank, you have to give a trial." That initiation trial happens in your mind. And you fall asleep and meet it in your dream. If you pass it… you awaken. That's why it's called Awakened. But… those who fail…"
She trailed off. When I saw her face and the pain on it, I began to say something to comfort her. I was about to when a sharp gust of wind blew through the forest, sending the gilunus petals nearby flickering into gold.
They floated along beside us, graceful but tinged with sorrow.
I gazed at the falling petals and then to her.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Then I saw her face change from one of sadness to almost laughing.
She smiled gently.
"Yes… very beautiful."
Our conversation had paused, but I found myself wanting to continue it.
'I think… I can tell her. I don't know why, but something inside me says I can trust her.'
Eli was still watching the drifting petals, quietly taking in their beauty. Seeing her like that, I didn't want to break the moment, so I held my words back.
But then, unexpectedly, she spoke.
"Marks… they're not a sentence. They're an opportunity."
***
There was a pause. Silence settled between us. It was a silence, alright; but not the blanket clatter of heavy silences. It felt… freeing. As if something deeply hidden within was gradually being unleashed.
'Marks... aren't sentences. They're opportunities. Perhaps… Perhaps I was meant to find myself here. Perhaps that was the purpose of this road; to lead me back to my family.'
I took a deep slow breath and finally spit out what was building in my chest.
"Will you teach me… how to walk this way?"
I was too eager for my question; it spilled out of me quicker than I had anticipated. Eli turned around, surprise on her face because she must have surely thought that was the end of the conversation then nodded.
"I will… But first…" She glanced up at the sky, "We have to get out of this forest."
I followed her gaze. We looked up and saw only an innocent blue sky, but I heard. The flapping of wings.
A flight of birds flew by, hovering over the treetops.
At first, it didn't bother me much. After all, birds weren´t that rare. But then it hit me.
'Wait... birds?'
Without even bothering to think, I leapt.
Eli looked at me in surprise.
"Are you… alright?"
I tossed my head back to the air, chuckling and shouting
"Am I alright?" I repeated her words. "I'm better than alright! I'm amazing!"
Taking my dagger, I ran to the water.
She looked at me more innocently, but she also stood up to walk.
'Finally. Finally! This is what I've been waiting for!'
I had no idea what awaited me through the river, and when I arrived it there was no hesitation. I jumped right in, chill be damned.
As soon as I encountered the river, I activated my Sephir of Forest Terror and sent myself to delve deep in the water for fish.
Now that the Thornals were gone, nature was reclaiming the forest. There was no danger — the monsters lay dead.
I was beginning to focus while wading in the pool. Come on… there has to be something.
To my left—I sensed it.
'There! Lunch. Finally, some meat.'
I lunged.
A moment later I triumphantly pulled out my first fish of the day, Smiling, I held the fish high in the air and said:
"MEAT!"
It dried my throat to a husk but I didn't care. I just wanted to yell and laugh forever.
I heard a chuckle come from somewhere behind me. I turned toward the sound.
It was Eli.
"Like an overexcited child," she laughed. "Like a kid who rediscovered his lost toy."
My face got red, flustered with embarrassment. I quickly turned my head in embarrassment.
Eli noticed and quickly said,
"Sorry! Sorry, I wasn't trying to ridicule you. I really didn't."
I still could not make myself look at her but she stepped forward and said quietly,
"Come on. Let me make it up to you."
She went to the bank of the river and stepped in, barefoot. It was up to three or four inches on her ankles.
She then knelt down and placed her hand in the water, saying something too quiet for me to hear. She mouthed the words, but I couldn't hear anything.
And then the river seemed to churn—turbulently. The surface rippled and swirled. All of a sudden, myriad fish leaped out of the water and hit both shores.
I stood stock still, my eyes bugged out, my jaw much the same.
Eli smiled sweetly, tilted her head sprightly to one side and rested her hands on the small of her back.
"So… do you forgive me?"