Haleh, the girl from my talent development class, stands on the stage, ready to spar with Adib. They smile flirtatiously at each other, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I don't understand why Prof. is having them spar. It won't be a real fight. Adib will go easy on Haleh, even though he really doesn't need to, Haleh will beat him mercilessly, and then they'll bicker for the rest of class because of the outcome.
I watch on, slightly bored as they take their stances. Though I'm over the fight already, the rest of the class seems to hold their breath in anticipation. Haleh is the first to make a move, and the breaths are released. So predictable. She stomps and thrusts her hands forwards at Adib. A wall of flame flies at his face but he nimbly dances out of the way, a teasing smile resting on his impish features.
He continues to duck and roll as Haleh throws burning hot obstacles his way. He hops off the stage and thrusts a hand in his pocket. He produces a handful of seeds and dumps them in one of the bowls of water out in the audience. He tips it over, and I leap out of the way, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire of the battle. I narrowly miss getting torched by one of Haleh's blasts.
I glance over at Adib. He's done stalling. The waterlogged seeds on the floor have tripled in size, and they're rapidly growing. Little sprouts burst from the top of each, and Adib raises his hands to the sky. The plants surge up with them, and then forward as he pushes his arms towards Haleh.
Her eyes widen in panic at the incoming tangle of vines and summons a shield of fire to protect herself. The plants wither and dry as they meet the flames, some of them catching fire, and sparks fly that ignite a carpet on the floor. I'm the only one that seems to notice the small fire; everyone else is enraptured by the epic duel between Haleh and Adib.
I turn to one of the remaining bowls of water and concentrate. It's just a small fire, Kiana. You can do it.
I lift a hand, and the water submits to my will, rising out of the bowl. My hand wavers, and so does the water, but I don't lose the connection. I move it over to the little fire and sever my connection, successfully dousing the flame. I open my eyes and release a small breath that I didn't realize I was holding.
I look around, and everyone in the class is staring at me. I was so focused on my one small task that I hadn't realized I had gathered an audience. Haleh and Adib have halted their fight and stare at me with jaws agape. A slow smile spreads across Adib's face, and he begins to clap slowly.
"Kiana, Kiana, Kiana," he starts. Others join him, and soon the entire class is cheering. I look over to Prof., and he's cheering too.
"You did it, Kiana! You finally did it!" he whoops. I'm hoisted up above the shoulders of my peers and lifted up and down.
"Kiana, Kiana, Kiana," they chant in celebration, and I find myself singing with them happily.
"Kiana. Kiana. Kiana!" somebody shouts. It's louder than all the other voices shouting my name, and it drowns them out. It isn't a happy voice. It sounds annoyed, angry even.
My eyes fly open. Ali is shaking my shoulder, his face right up next to mine as he shouts my name. I cringe away from him at the same time he jumps away.
"You're awake," he says, coolly. "About time." I shake my head.
"Sorry. I was just having the most fantastic dream." Ali doesn't respond. It's probably because he doesn't care. He stares at me expectantly.
"Aren't you going to get up?" he asks. "I don't have all day." He's been tutoring me for two weeks, and he's still impersonal and cold. I roll my eyes.
"If you'll get out so I can change my clothes." Ali doesn't respond and walks out of the hut, moodily pushing aside the curtain that I've hung over the door.
I stand and lift my shirt, peeking down. I definitely don't have a six pack yet, but my muscles have started to gain some definition, and my arms and legs have started to tone up too. I'm still sore from my training sessions yesterday, but the pain is worth the reward. I've been here in Visya for a couple of weeks, but my newfound strength is about the only improvement I've seen.
I do like the talent development class, but I would like it a lot better if I could just "unlock my full potential," as Prof. would say. But I haven't, and that's why I'm up before the birds every morning with Ali, playing catch-up just so that I can be on the same level as the other students.
All the other students have found what they're good at. They can do these incredible things, and I'm still stuck with the power to make mud pies. When I got here, I didn't think that there was anything wrong with my abilities, but everyone keeps hinting that my limit is not just moving dirt around. I've been experimenting with water, but I just can't seem to "unlock" anything.
It really feels stupid, staring at the glassy surface of the immobile water for hours on end. It mocks me. I've tried different stances. I've tried getting into different mindsets. I've even tried different facial expressions. Nothing works.
I jog out of my cabin and pass Ali, fully dressed and ready for the long day ahead of me. We run through the courtyard and I nod to Nasrin who shuffles sleepily along towards the dining pavilion, a steaming mug of coffee in hand. We speed pass shops that are opening up and staff that wander around as they prepare for the day, but no other trainees are out and about. They're probably sleeping. As they should be.
We finish our run at the most secluded lookout in the entire village. It's a large stone gazebo on a cliff that overlooks the entire valley. I might not love training with Ali, but seeing the sun rise over the ethereal valley is a surreal experience that I wouldn't trade my lost sleep for- or anything for that matter.
Ali sips water as he soaks in the view. It doesn't even look like he's even broken a sweat, but I spit into the bushes and wheeze, my hands on my knees. I know. How classy, but I was super out of shape before I got here. I sit down and cross my legs. Ali takes the spot opposite me. I know the routine. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
I start the daily grind. Meditation isn't easy, but I do my best to concentrate on my connection with the earth. I focus on the peace of the morning and the calm of the sleeping mountain. I try to listen to what it's all telling me, but Ali interrupts the silence. He clears his throat, and my eyes flutter open. "Yes, Ali?" I ask patiently. I honestly would prefer to get our session over with rather than have a conversation, but I figure that I may as well hear him out. It's not often that he bothers to actually speak to me. A pained expression crosses his face, and I wonder if he's going to hurl.
"You know that these sessions are optional, right? You don't actually have to be here."
I raise an eyebrow. "Okay?"
Ali seems slightly startled at my response. "You want to be here?"
I breathe out a bitter laugh. "I think you're wrong. I do have to be here." I close my eyes and take a stressed breath. "I'm so behind all of the other students in my class. I need to do everything in my power to get myself to that same level."
Ali looks as if he might be frowning, but I can't completely tell if he's in contemplation or if he's just wearing his neutral expression.
"It's just that you've been very kind to me over the last couple of weeks."
A small smile makes its way onto my face. "And?"
Ali slams his eyes shut and furrows his eyebrows as if this is painful for him. "I just don't understand why," he forces out. The way he announces the statement is choppy and awkward. "Everyone around here avoids me. Haven't you gotten the memo?"
"Well," I begin, "I have been tempted to smack you a couple of times, but I've never considered dropping our training, even with the warnings I've received about you."
I didn't know it was possible, but Ali's frown deepens. "I still don't get it, Kiana. Even if you have no problems with me, aren't you Muslim? I'm not. You're not really supposed to be alone with me, are you?"
I roll my eyes. "No, I'm not really supposed to be alone with you unless it's out of necessity, but these lessons are necessary."
Ali's expression remains blank, and I feel myself getting more irked.
I throw my hands in the air. "Come on, Ali! Are you trying to get rid of me?"
He shakes his head. "So, you don't really want to be here?"
"Dude, don't you get it? We're friends!"
Ali doesn't elude understanding to my implication.
I almost groan. "We're friends... out of necessity." I wink not-so-subtly, and I swear that I see a shadow of a smile on Ali's face.
"Fine," he surrenders, and I nod. I close my eyes when Ali pipes up one more time. "Thank you," he murmurs.
I relax, content. I try to regain my focus on the task at hand, but I can't shake the giddy smile from my face. I've finally made an impression on this place.
Oh, well. Another day without tapping into my powers won't hurt anybody.
...
I've come to enjoy Mina's cooking. It isn't the worst I've had, despite everyone saying that she's completely incompetent. I wander over to her station for lunch, and she greets me with her usual bright smile. I ignore the stares on my back as I approach. I've pretty much gotten use to them by now.
I haven't eaten the food from any other cook here in the village. From what I've gathered by watching the other servers around here, they don't serve their food with a smile like Mina does.
"Hi, Kiana," she greets, her warm brown eyes sparkling. She offers me a giant bowl of my favorite comfort food, mac and cheese, and I moan appreciatively.
"Thank you, Mina." I accept the food, and she floats over from behind the counter. She wraps me in a light hug. Mina is about the only person here that I really resonate with. I haven't even made any other friends here yet besides Ali and Nasrin. I don't think they count though, seeing as neither of them seem to like me all that much.
I search around the room full of chatting diners and lean over to Mina. "You know, I made a new friend today." Mina cocks an eyebrow.
"Really? Who?" I raise my eyebrows as well, hoping to add dramatic effect.
"Ali," I say.
Mina screws up her face. "Really?" she asks incredulously. I nod.
"How?" she asks suspiciously, and I laugh.
"I have no idea."
Mina's short frame shifts around uncomfortably. "Kiana?" she asks. "Are we friends?"
I shoot her a strange look. "Yes, Mina, I'm pretty sure we are." She relaxes and takes a deep breath. "Good."
I shake my head. I thought it was obvious. "Speaking of which, where is Ali?" I ask, and Mina shrugs unhelpfully. I guess I wouldn't really care either if Ali treated me the way he treats Mina.
"I haven't seen him."
We make our way over to a table, but just as we sit, Nasrin rushes in, looking desperate. She spots me and immediately hurries over. "Nasrin, what's wrong?" Nasrin glances at Mina as if noticing her for the first time.
"I can't tell you here," she hisses. A heavy sense of dread settles over me, and I glance longingly at my untouched mac and cheese.
"I'm sorry, Mina. I have to go," I apologize. Her face falls, and I'm plagued with guilt. However, I'm guessing that from Nasrin's tone, I really don't get a choice here. I don't get to stay. I sprint out of the pavilion and to my cabin, Nasrin right on my heels.
We convene in my room, and Nasrin starts talking, not bothering to sit down or even pause for breath before shooting off. "Anahita has given us our first mission."
My stomach turns. I don't know what Anahita has in mind for me, but I know that I am not anywhere near ready for it. "What? What? No. No, absolutely not. I am so not ready for that, Nasrin!"
"I know, Kiana, but I don't think we have a choice here," she replies, running a stressed hand through her long locks. I swear under my breath.
"Well, what did she have to say?"
Nasrin shrugs and shakes her head. "I don't even know. She was being so vague." The peri looks into my eyes. "She mentioned something about a tree. She said you would know what she meant."
The tree that I dreamed about the night I met Nasrin flashes in my vision. I rise from my chair so abruptly that it topples backwards to the floor. "What? What is it?" Nasrin asks, panicked. I snap my heads towards her as if snapping out of a trance. I swing my finger up and point at her.
"I know that tree. That tree, I dreamed about it."
Nasrin's eyes widen, and she laughs giddily. "That's great, Kiana! Do you know where it is?"
I shake my head helplessly and search my mind for answers. "Are there any trees of significance in Persian mythology?"
Nasrin rolls her lower lip in. "Only one comes to mind, but we can't just go there."
"What's it called?" I press.
"It's called the Gaokerena." I nod, prompting her to continue. "It's in the middle of the Vourukasha, a heavenly sea. I don't think it's real though, and if it is, no mortal has ever visited it."
"So, you're saying that the Gaokerena tree doesn't exist, and we're back to square one," I say dejectedly.
Nasrin nods. "Unless you have any other idea of what Anahita wants from us."
"I don't know, Nasrin. It has to be real. The tree in my dream was in this large body of water, and the whole thing just seemed a bit off-kilter. The tree wasn't rooted in any kind of dirt, just the water. What does the Gaokerena look like?"
"No really knows. Some of the rumors I've heard are a bit crazy."
I resist the urge to spit out a sassy retort. "Maybe could you tell me what they are?" I prompt.
Nasrin bites her lip. "Well, I've heard lots of things. I've heard that it grows a thousand branches every year." Nasrin flicks up a long finger to count of the qualities of the tree as she lists them. "It supposedly carries seeds of every plant in the universe, an elixir for immortality, and grows thousands of other healing plants in its canopy. Those can't all possibly be true though."
"Is there anything else?" I ask.
"That's all that I know."
I groan. "Maybe we just need to finish the day, get some sleep, and mull everything over. We've got a lot to think about. We don't know where this tree is, or if it's even real. Maybe we should leave our game plan for tomorrow," I say, massaging my temples, but Nasrin shakes her head.
"That's not an option."
"Why not?"
"Because Anahita requested that we leave tonight."
...
Nasrin doesn't think that I'll be able to convince Ramin to let us leave. As soon as I mentioned the idea, she shot it down. Apparently, no one is allowed to leave Visya until they're done with their training unless they're just visiting home and escorted by a peri with guardian certification. The only problem is, we aren't planning on going home, and Nasrin isn't certified.
I'm still a little bit lost on the concept. When I asked her about what exactly a being a certified peri means, she got a little bit annoyed. To my understanding, it's some sort of complicated process that the "slave" peri, as Nasrin would call them, have to go through. Part of the errands they have to run are to accompany trainees and make sure that they don't slip any secrets about Visya.
Nasrin keeps trying to convince me that talking to Ramin is a mistake or that I need to at least lie to him about where we're going, but that just feels wrong to me. I'm going to stick to my guts. Honesty is the best policy.
I reach up and knock on Ramin's door. I hear leather creaking and footsteps approaching. My insides flutter. I wanted Nasrin to be here as my security blanket, but she refused to come. She said that she didn't want to see me mess up this mission for the both of us. Drama queen.
The door swings open. A wide grin spreads across Ramin's bushy face as he sees me. "Kiana!" he exclaims. "Come in, come in." He ushers me in and I seat myself in front of his desk. My anxiety already calms at his hospitality.
"What can I do for you?" he inquires once he gets settled.
I offer my most winning smile. "I just have a couple of favors to ask, if you're willing."
Ramin nods. "Certainly."
I wring my hands. "I was wondering if I could take a little trip out of the village."
"And you're aware of the rules around leaving Visya?" I nod in response to his question. "I don't see why it should be a problem, then."
I tap my fingers on the arm of my chair. "It's just that I was wondering if we could tweak those rules a little bit for a special situation?"
The smile falls from Ramin's face. He folds his hands together and tilts his head ever so slightly. "What exactly do you mean?"
The butterflies reignite in my stomach. "Well, I don't know if Nasrin has told you or not, but I'm affiliated with someone powerful who needs some help."
Ramin looks concerned. "What kind of help?"
I laugh nervously. "I'm sorry, that came out wrong. I'm okay, Ramin." How do I put this? I pause to think. "I'm kind of like the peri. I need to run errands for someone."
Ramin releases a heavy sigh. "Well, can you tell me who it is that you're... running errands for?"
I scratch my head. I don't know if I'm even allowed to say. Ramin picks up on my hesitation. "Look, Kiana. I want to help you, but I don't know if I can bend the rules. It doesn't seem fair. If I do it for you, then I'd have to do it for everyone else. Maybe if you could just tell me who it is that you're working for, I can do something."
I shake my head, and Ramin's jaw ticks. "Okay," he says slowly, "Who are you going to get to escort you?"
I gulp. I have the feeling that he's not going to like my answer. I phrase my response like a question. "Nasrin?"
Ramin closes his eyes and chuckles. "Well, now I at least know who you're working for."
I do my best impression of puppy dog eyes. "Please, Ramin," I plead, but he shakes his head.
"There's no way."
"Will you just hear me out?" I start, but Ramin is obviously adamant.
"The answer is no, Kiana. Anahita has always had a problem with the way I run things around here. You're not making yourself look very good right now. You come in here asking if you can run away to do the bidding of someone who doesn't even like me. I try to lead Visya with a clear head and pure heart. You might think that you're doing the right thing, Kiana, but the gods are unpredictable. You might find yourself in hot water if you follow the wrong people."
"Hey," I protest, "that's not really fair. The fact that I'm asking your permission right now shows that I respect you. I don't even know what Anahita wants from me. Why don't you just let me investigate what's going on? If she wants me to go against your values, I'll just come back. She's not the boss of me. I think you're forgetting that I have control of my own actions."
"I really don't want to argue with you about this, Kiana," Ramin says. "You're new here. If I let you go, you might slip up. I really don't want to have to clean up your mistakes. Don't you think that you can wait until you graduate to work for Anahita?"
"I don't know whatever she needed seems pretty time sensitive. Maybe you could just-" I never get to finish my thought. Ramin stands up so quickly that his chair slams into the wall behind him.
"You do not get to tell me what to do!" he booms, his deep command reverberating around the room. He takes a deep breath and smooths his shirt out. "Thank you for visiting, Ms. Ahmadi. You may leave now," he annunciates calmly, pretending as if he didn't just lose his cool.
I feel my lips pucker. I rise. "Thank you for your time, sir," I spit out, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I spin on my heel and storm out of the building. Nasrin waits for me outside of the door. She leans casually against the wall but straightens up when I burst out.
"So, I'm guessing your meeting didn't go well," she taunts, a smirk on her face. I don't humor her with a reply. She relishes in her victory for a silent moment. "So, you get it now, huh?" she asks. I take a second to stop fuming and I turn towards Nasrin, curious.
"Get what?"
"How much of a prick Ramin is," she states as if the answer is obvious.
A wicked grin spreads across my face. "Yep."
"Are we sneaking out of the village tonight?" Nasrin inquires.
I chortle mischievously. "Yes, yes we are."
...
Author's note
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