Ayela picked up another package their driver was delivering, reminiscing over the trip and everything that happened before. She spent the majority of their journey reading, despite everyone begging for her attention. She explained that it was nothing against them; it was just how she liked to spend her down-time. They entertained themselves with conversation, the hauler’s built-in television, and occasional games on their phones. Everyone kept silent about their plans while they were around any sort of devices. There was a notable fear that the government was listening with each passing moment.

  When they made it to Cassum, they were even more tight-lipped. There was no indication to who they could trust except for those they knew, and there wasn’t the protection of the sanctuary town for them to take refuge under either. Here, they were on the field. They were every bit as exposed as they wished they weren’t, and no matter what they did, it certainly felt like all eyes were on them.

  Or at least, all eyes were on her.

  She carried a heavier secret than the others; she was a dancer. A divine logician. It didn’t help that she was so blatantly Songrivan that no one would question it when they looked at her; crimson locks, violet eyes, and the freckled, pale skin of a blood elf. To some, she was an exotic beauty that they had no hesitation objectifying. It made her want to wear baggier clothes and hide her figure from their ravenous gazes.

  To others, she was a mutation in the reman race, a blight to all remankind. That made her want to do the opposite; to show a little more and prove them wrong. To prove to them that the beauty of the redheaded Songrivans of the Sovereignty was nothing to be ashamed of. It was a confusing place to be in, and it made her all-too aware of herself and her reality. If she let it, she would be a prisoner to society. She longed to fade into the background and be invisible to their sight. For some reason, though, R?k saw fit to make her stand out all-the-more.

  “That’s the last of it,” Thillan said, emerging from the store. There were plenty of packages, boxes and pallets still in the trailer, but it was meant for another location.

  “Yea, it certainly looks like it,” their driver answered with a smirk. “It was fun, ladies and gents, but a girl’s gotta make her runs. Stick to the shadows, ye huddled foes.”

  “And in the shadows, they secrets be known,” Kamille said with a smile as she took her friend’s hand and pulled her in for a hug. “Stay safe out there.”

  “You too, Kamille. You still got friends in Shustur. Don’t forget it.”

  Then the driver made her way to the cab and climbed into the driver’s seat. As the truck started to move, they all waved goodbye and waited for her to disappear in the distance. “Alright, everyone,” Asher began. “Let’s head to hotel. We’re a not that far away, so we should be there in no time.”

  “Actually, there’s a bakery I wanted to stop by before heading to the hotel. I hope you don’t mind,” Ayela lied. Her meeting with the stranger from Shamol hadn’t left her mind since that night.

  “You’re a bit of a nutter, wanting to haul all of this to a bloody bakery then go to the hotel,” Thillan complained.

  “No, that’s fine. You can go there yourself, just meet us at the hotel in an hour,” Asher agreed. Ayela sighed, relieved.

  “Thanks. I appreciate it,” she said. “I’ll catch up with you guys.”

  “Don’t be gone too long,” Kamille called out as Ayela diverged from the group. She waved back at them before getting lost in the thickening crowds.

  Cassum was a bustling town with more people than it seemed to have room for. It made sense, of course; it was a border town to the hold of D’Vnora. It was one of the most decrepit cities in the nation, and there were still plenty of people who couldn’t even afford to get through the front gates. Oftentimes, they ended up in Cassum as a permanent resident, with or without a home.

  Unlike Shamol, the people here were desperate and afraid of the wilds. Paranoia often influenced daily life in this town, and they behaved as such. People regularly treated everyone around them as though they were trying to pick a fight. It was often rather frightening.

  She was used to environments like this, though. She learned to keep her head low and her hood up when needed. The crowds were louder than in Shamol, and there were too many cars driving around. Some people walked their pets, which added an additional layer of stress. Every gaze from a passerby made her uncomfortable, and the smells that wafted by her nose were horrendous. It took time for her to get used to it, but when she arrived at the bakery, the smell of freshly baked bread replaced the town’s stink quickly.

  Making sure no one else was following her, she vanished in the alley behind the bakery as she was directed. Initially, there was no one there, and she was about to walk away in frustration until she heard someone clear their throat from the other side of the dumpster and trash bags piled all around.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Ayela turned and was faced with a woman about her height with bright, light-purple eyes and black locks cut into a shoulder length bob. Her pale complexion was easy to look at, and despite her poor clothes, she looked as though she kept herself clean and kept. Immediately, she felt she could trust this girl. There was something about her that put her mind at ease.

  “Hello, Ayela,” she said with a soft and gentle voice. “My name’s Kacyn. I’m a Songrivan like you.”

  That much was clear. Her accent was thick Songrivan, like the natives of Northton that she probably hailed from. “An Ebony elf,” Ayela declared, examining her from head to toe. “It’s even harder to find one of you here than it is my kind.”

  “Blood elves and Ebony elves hail from the same ancestors, Ayela. It’s only natural we’re drawn to one another when we’re in foreign lands… Especially when both of us are divine logicians,” Kacyn revealed. Suddenly, all other sounds were muffled, and her body went numb. All she could see in her increasing tunnel vision was Kacyn.

  Another divine logician?

  “W-What do you mean? You’re saying you’re a divine logician too?” Ayela stammered.

  “I do… Though, we’re not entirely the same. You’re a dancer – one of the strongest of our kind. I’m a farseer.”

  “Farseer?”

  “That’s right,” Kacyn confirmed. “My variant of divine logic is called Vision. You have Space-time. There’s a trove of information about our kind in the libraries of Northton… And despite the war, news travels fast around the globe.”

  Ayela felt floored. She felt as though she’d been lied to her whole life. “Wait, you mean to tell me there’s been someone like me this whole time, and I never knew it?!”

  “The empire has lied to you most of all, Ayela. The Sovereignty is home to many divine logicians, though none as powerful as you… Dancers are among the rarest born. Only one is known in our country; Prince Kudaj of the royal family. Many of us seek to restore the order of the Yglsora… Some even want the Uri’Kai variant to return…”

  “…Is that why you’re here?” Ayela guessed. Kacyn’s eyes lit up at her question, and a smile tugged at her the corners of her mouth.

  “Can you read minds too? Is there no limit to the power of the dancers?” She asked excitedly.

  “No, but it only makes sense… But how can I trust you? Accents are easy to replicate, and the empire can certainly use makeup and surgery to imitate an Ebony elf.”

  Kacyn smirked. She looked into Ayela’s eyes with an intensity, and she started to notice her new friend’s eyes glowing. “I see the facets of your tired spirit rippling and radiating like a flower waiting to blossom with love. I see the pain of your childhood and your life keeping that budding spirit sealed tight, waiting for the right trigger to open its overflow of emotion… I see your abandonment at the orphanage, your youth and adolescence spent in dojos and dance halls to hone your divine logic and channel your mighty power, your heart yearning for the love of your late lovers, and your questions about your heritage… I also see a closer connection to your god than you yourself even see-”

  “No offense, but these are past events that, with enough research, anyone can find-”

  “-I see the spirit of R?k enveloped around you like the wings of a white bird, marking one who has been touched by Hashem.” Kacyn finished. Ayela felt the blood drain from her face at the mention of the name… It was a name for R?k she’d received in meditation. It was years ago, before she’d ever met Rhaja, or her boyfriend prior to Rhaja. She never shared that name with anyone. She was confident no one would know what it meant, but here was someone she’d never met before telling her the name like it were a common fact that everyone was aware of.

  Ayela was convinced.

  “…You want to revive the Uri’Kai?” She finally asked after moments of silence.

  “Yes and no… I want to start something from its ashes. You and I, we can start anew. We can use a name from the earliest settlers of this country; The Tribes of Enthedrill,” Kacyn answered excitedly. “You know the names of the tribes?”

  “Of course; Majjai, Emira, Siphon, Sa’Alah, Xadokk, Ki’Tsun, and Tsana. Seven tribes that fought off the machines of the thousand-year blight. Siphon and Sa’Alah helped establish Songriveii before returning to Enthedrill, and Majjai founded the city of Bavylune,” Ayela answered, reciting her history lessons.

  “That’s right… Let’s revive the Uri’Kai through the Tribes of Enthedrill. You and I will start with the two main tribes. You can take the name of Majjai, and I will take the name Emira. Together, we can revive the order and keep the peace of thaerv like they did so long ago,” Kacyn pleaded. She was clearly unable to contain her excitement, and Ayela found it adorable.

  There was truth in what she was saying, though; the Uri’Kai had been gone for too long, and they had the means of restoring the dead order. It was right within their grasp. She believed in the cause Kacyn presented, and wanted to grow in her abilities with others who were like her.

  But there were other things that needed to come first.

  The congregation came to mind.

  The banning of Korism came to mind.

  The Towl?lites came to mind.

  Most importantly, her friends came to mind.

  “You don’t need to say anything; I saw it all. Your mission, your friends, and the things you’re up against… If you are Majjai, you are going to be our leader. As such, I will follow your lead,” Kacyn declared. Ayela hesitated, but before she could speak, her new friend read her mind again. “I know they won’t trust me at first. That’s okay. Just introduce me and protect me, and they will warm up to me. I need you to keep the Tribes a secret between us, though. This must be the greatest of secrets… Please…”

  Ayela took a deep breath. “Alright, Kacyn. I trust you. I’ll keep this just between us. When the time is right, you and I will start to look for other divine logicians and accept them into the Tribes,” she agreed. Kacyn squealed and embraced Ayela. With a smile on her face, she followed her friend back to the others…

  And Ayela struggled to figure out a way to explain everything to them…