The Second Stranger

Lotrick kept about three paces in front of me while we walked back home.

“Now remember, keep pretending you’re Fern, at least for the rest of the day. If my Mother finds out you aren’t him and have taken over his body, she will kill you.” Lotrick tapped his chin and gave a polite nod to an older couple that walked past us.

“I can do that, but what about your dad?” I asked

“He isn’t nearly as bad as Mother. He cares for Fern.”

I felt my heart beat faster. Fern was happy to hear that.

“Is there anything else I need to be aware of? What do I do when we get home? What does Fern normally do?”

“Relax, Erik.” Lotrick stopped and waited for more people to pass by us. A large bull-like beastman shuffled around us, pulling a handcart loaded up with clams. The smell of the sea grounded me in the strange city. “Leave everything to me. I won’t let Fern get hurt.”

“Yeah, but what about me? What do I need to prepare before we leave?” I prodded.

“I said, leave everything to me. Do all people from your world worry so much?” He didn’t wait for my response and kept walking down the cobblestone street.

“I just like to be prepared for all outcomes,” I mumbled to myself as I hefted the bag on my shoulder and caught up with him.

I couldn’t help feeling that something was wrong. The article was burning a hole in my pocket. I wanted to be alone, to read more about Noah. The article was brief, and I didn’t have time to read it before Lotrick had barked at me to follow. It was him, right? The picture on the paper looked like him, only…older.

Walking back through Corello, I realized just how often people here used magic. Every few steps, someone would raise their hands, fingers twisting and dancing in intricate patterns. Sparks of energy would flicker between their digits before manifesting into various magical effects. From kids to adults and the elderly, everyone in Corello used magic.

A street vendor caught my eye, his hands weaving through the air as flames danced above skewers of meat. The aroma of sizzling spices and melting fat filled my nostrils, making my mouth water. Nearby, a family posed in front of a grand fountain with a sculpture of a man with a snake-like body. Water poured out of each fingertip of the statue. A man in a flowing black-and-white robe hunched behind what looked like an early adaption of a camera. His fingers twitched, and a burst of white dust erupted from his hands, bursting into smaller blasts, following an invisible thread to the camera. A large print of the photo fell from the bottom of the device.

Further down, a group of women were sitting on a balcony. They looked at Lotrick and gave a polite wave and smile that disappeared when they looked at me. The women were sitting several feet apart and were weaving fabric seemingly from nothing. Like the rest of Corello performing magic, they extended their hands. A deep red blanket wove itself together between the women, as their fingers guided the red threads.

—How does any of this work? I said to Fern, in awe of all that was going on around me.

—‘What, magic? It’s laughable that you think I could just sit here and explain to you the intricacies behind it so easily. It would take hours to explain everything.’ Fern said.

—So, you don’t know. Got it.

—‘I didn’t say that!’ Fern protested. ‘It’s just that it makes me mad talking about the thing I want most when I can never have it.’

—I get that, sorry.

It must have been incredibly isolating, being such an outlier. Fern had no actual connection within his community or his family. Being a Voidblood isolated him from one of this world’s greatest gifts.

—It was more of a rhetorical question, anyway. I’m sure I’ll figure it out eventually. I said, breaking the silence.

—‘Why do you want to figure it out, anyway? You can never use it.’ Fern was confused, and his confusion was giving me a headache.

—Just because I can’t use it or experience it myself, I still want to learn all there is about it. It could help me…us, in the future. Like it has to, right? I am sure some form of magic got us stuck in this two minds one body situation. Plus, as a bonus, magic seems so cool, you know? Yeah, I am pissed we can’t use it, but it is so amazing to even witness. I scratched my head, thinking I may have rambled on too much.

—‘That makes sense. It will probably help you find your brother, too,’ Fern said. To my surprise, he didn’t disagree with my ramblings.

The cobblestone streets beneath my feet hummed with faint energy as if the very ground was vibrating with magic. The source of the vibrations came from a street cleaner up ahead. A man wearing baggy pants that clung to his ankles was standing on a small stepladder and held out his hands spraying clean water across the street. He expertly twisted his hands, so that the water avoided every passerby.

—Even simple jobs like this use magic…where exactly are the other Voidbloods, and what do they do?

—‘Most of the time, Voidbloods are just enslaved by their own families. It’s too costly to buy one since magic is cheaper and easier to use. I got lucky; my father allowed me to work in the forge even when he could do it by himself with magic. The only Voidbloods I know of in the city that don’t work for their family, are shoveling dung out by the docks.’

—I see, so yeah. Not a glorious life, I said. I dropped the conversation, feeling like any more talk about Voidbloods would depress Fern and myself.

Lotrick looked back at me as we crossed a small bridge into the neighborhood where he and Fern lived. He noticed my gawking at all the magic being performed around me and let out a laugh.

“It’s quite a shame, your predicament,” He said, waving to a few more adults that passed by us. He must have been quite the well-known prodigy if all these adults treated him with such respect.

“What do you mean?” I said, catching up to walk side by side with him.

“Given the chance and adventure of a lifetime, you came from a world without magic, and what happens? The spirits decide to place you into the body of a Voidblood.”

“I wouldn’t call this a chance of a lifetime. I was trying to go after my brother. If anything, I did this to myself following him.”

“So, you regret your decision.” Lotrick shot me a glance, and raised eyebrows.

“Not at all. I’m going to find him. Eventually,” I grumbled. We walked in silence for the rest of the walk.

The bustling streets of Corello gradually gave way to quieter neighborhoods. We rounded the corner and Fern’s voice whispered to me.

—‘That’s home,’ He said.

Their house was larger than all others around it. Standing three stories tall, Fern’s home dwarfed their neighbors. Sandstone made up most of the building with purple and green stripes that coated the edges of the home. I looked up and saw that Fern’s mom was changing out their roof tarp. Zola had unfurled a bright teal tarp and was attaching it to spikes on each corner of the large rectangular building. I looked around and saw other people on their rooftops doing the same, all replacing the previous day’s colored tarp with a new different-colored tarp.

—Odd culture here, I thought.

As we approached, I noticed a figure on the front steps of Fern’s home. Lotrick had told me on our way here that his name was Dario, their father. Fern and Lotrick’s dad sat hunched over, fiddling with something in his hands. As we drew closer, I saw he was sharpening a long dagger.

Dario looked up. “Welcome back, boys,” he called out.

Lotrick brushed past with a curt “Hello, Father,” his mind preoccupied with other matters as he disappeared into the house.

Dario’s gaze lingered on me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’re looking strong these days, Fern. Been doing superb work in the forge.”

I felt a surge of pride that wasn’t my own. Fern’s emotions bubbled up. My chest felt lifted and my heartbeat increased. Then, a sharp pit in my stomach stirred. I experienced Ferns’s bittersweet emotions all at once.

“Remember this?” Dario held out the dagger he’d been working on. The blade caught the light, revealing intricate patterns that reminded me of Damascus steel. The metal shimmered and shifted, almost alive, under my gaze.

—‘It’s Lightcutter. The blade father, Lotrick, and I forged a month ago. Together with wyrmsteel and magic. Their magic, of course,’ Fern said.

“Of course, I remember. It’s Lightcutter, our family blade.” I said to Fern’s father. This man seemed gentle, nicer than Fern’s mom. He and Fern forged a bond working together. Dario truly loved his son. It made me feel guilty. I didn’t want him to find out that his son was not in control of his own body. We would leave Fern’s house after tonight, and Dario may never see his son again. The least I could do was give him a fond memory before that.

Dario chuckled to himself, “Family blade, eh? I like the sound of that. But how about you carry it, son? It’s finally all done. Look, look how the wyrmsteel dances for us.” he held the dagger up to my eye level and tilted it back and forth. Just like Damascus blades on earth, the steel had ripples in the metal.

“It’s beautiful,” I nodded. I may have not forged it personally, but I could certainly appreciate the craftsmanship the three had put into it.

Dario handed the blade to me, and pulled out a slim leather sheath with a corded string attached to it.

“Here you go, son. Keep this hidden from your mother.” He put the necklace sheath around my neck and I slid the dagger into it, clasping it shut. “Keep it safe and take care of it, and it will do the same for you.”

—So, your life isn’t all bad. Your dad seems kind and your brother, too. Behind all his pompous attitude, I whispered to Fern in my mind.

—‘…Right,’ he replied.

As I admired the intricate craftsmanship of the dagger, a shrill voice shattered the moment.

“Fern! Why are you still out here? Get inside now!” Zola’s harsh tone cut through the air like a whip. She appeared in the doorway like a phantom. In the air behind her, the previous day’s colored tarp floated. Her hands were outstretched. I flinched involuntarily, my body reacting before my mind could process her sudden terrifying presence. Dario’s face fell, his earlier warmth replaced by a weary resignation.

“Zola, please,” Dario started, his voice soft but firm. “We were just-”

“Silence!” Zola snapped, rounding on him. “Have you forgotten? We’re hosting dinner for the families of the CA inductees tonight. Get ready, now!”

“The Celestial Arcanum…I still can’t believe we are sending Lotrick there,” Dario mumbled and stood. His shoulders slumped, but he gave me a small smile and an apologetic nod before turning into the house.

Zola’s gaze burned into me. “Well? What are you waiting for? To your room!”

Not wanting to risk any further punishment, I quickly made my way inside, down to the forge, through the small crawlspace, and into Fern’s room. My heart raced and my shoulders were tense. I felt like I had escaped a predator. The pain from Zola’s strings flickered in my mind. Phantom pains haunted my body. I sat on the small cot in the closet-like room and took a deep breath.

—‘That was close,’ Fern’s voice said. ‘Mother’s temper has gotten worse the closer we get to Lotrick leaving. I don’t know what she will do without her golden child.’

—She really hates you just because you can’t use magic? You’re her firstborn son, I asked Fern.

—‘You still don’t understand…it’s a burden on the family, and a blemish on her name,’ Fern said. ‘She was fortunate with Lotrick. He is incredibly gifted and can use three elements at a high level. That’s recovered her soured reputation from when the city learned I was a Voidblood.’

—It’s not private? Do they tell everyone?

—‘When there is a 1% chance of a monster and a waste in their eyes, the law is that everyone needs to know. That’s why they put the brand on us too.’ Fern said.

I looked down at the tattoo across my sternum and frowned.

—At least there’s that place. If we trust your brother. A chance for Voidbloods. Our only chance. For us, for my brother and yours, we will go there.

I pulled the paper out from my pocket and glanced at the advertisement, calling for Voidbloods to the Academy of Ash. I flipped over the paper and looked at what really interested me. My eyes immediately drawn back to the familiar face. Noah. He looked... older. The headline read: “Noah Starbringer returns from a five-year expedition.”

—Starbringer? I blinked, confused. That wasn’t our last name. My eyes darted across the article, absorbing details that made less and less sense.

“… Noah Starbringer, the powerful mage who appeared on Stylos six years ago, has returned from a five-year voyage around the world. He is the first Mageblood to accomplish such a feat, and will teach a special class on the expedition at the Royal Magic School, Celestial Arcanum,” I muttered.

—Six years ago? But that was impossible. We’d just argued in the park this morning. How could he have been here for six years? How? I followed him so quickly after?

My breath quickened as I continued reading. “The Cinders of Ash, who escorted Starbringer and Princelord Anya on the expedition, suffered the loss of several thousand members. The surviving members will return to Ash and train new recruits. Starbringer has announced he will train new Magebloods to bring on a future expedition. The Master Mageblood expects a new voyage to happen in four years.” My head twisted inside itself. This had to be some sort of joke. Or fate playing with my life.

The Cinders of Ash, the magic school, Celestial Arcanum, Lotrick leaving tomorrow, and Fern and I leaving before that. Pieces were coming together too perfect.

—‘Wait, Celestial Arcanum, that’s where Lotrick and Rosie will go to tomorrow!’ Fern shouted.

—Exactly. This works out too well. I don’t think I will meet Noah yet, but at least now I know he’s alive. He is here; he is safe and is seemingly some big shot Mageblood. Somehow, it’s been six years for him. It sucks, and I don’t understand how time moved so quickly, but I can’t do anything about that. However, if this article is true, he worked with the Cinders of Ash during this…voyage. Maybe one of them can tell me more about him when we get to the Academy.

—‘Maybe Lotrick can help too? He will be at that magic school while we are at the academy,’ Fern said.

—Maybe he will. This still doesn’t feel right. Someone is directing this. Just as I-we are about to be shipped out for military enslavement, we learn about this? I call bullshit on this being just a coincidence.

—‘Maybe the fates are helping us?’ Fern said innocently.

—Maybe. I said. My palms dripped with sweat. My heart pumped, and I wanted to get moving now. Nerves and adrenaline pumped through my blood.

—‘You should sleep. We may not get a good chance to rest after tonight. Who knows how long it will take to go all the way to Ash?’

I sighed and nodded to the teenager in my head. Before we slept, Fern helped me gather all the things I could grab and pack them into a small sack for our journey. These included a second pair of crudely sewn socks, a bundle of dried jerky meat, and a small canteen of water that we had filled from the quench tank in the forge. Afterwards, I climbed into the cot and closed my eyes. I heard Zola’s dinner guests arrive, and eventually, it sounded like a parade was above me. I practiced clearing my mind; I had to sleep to be prepared for what was to come.

Before I fell asleep, I couldn’t help but think that this was all some sort of joke or dream. All the pain was real. I felt all the beatings that Zola gave me. The nightmarish experience through the portal haunted my mind. I saw magic right before my eyes. I could breathe in the new air and smell the fresh smells of the world around me. Everything felt real, so I couldn’t say it was a dream. But some things seemed too strange for reality.

My sudden extreme speed and strength since joining with Fern’s body, for one thing. Two sets of brothers, separated, but given a chance to reunite in four years? Noah teaching at the magic school just as Lotrick is going there. Noah’s companions were returning to Ash. The same place we were going. The older siblings separating from their younger sibling? Everything felt too…coincidental. Regardless, I need to be prepared for the worst. Worrying about this right now is only going to make the journey worse.

Hours passed. The guests had left, and we hadn’t slept a bit. I couldn’t fall asleep and neither could Fern. Although we didn’t talk, I could feel his presence restless in my mind. He was muttering about how dangerous the journey to Ash was going to be. I could tell he felt nervous.

Before I could say any encouraging words to Fern, the world exploded into chaos.

The door to the forge burst open. Bright light strings ripped apart the wooden crawlspace and grabbed my ankles. They pulled my legs out from the cot and dragged me across the stone floor, causing me to hit my head hard. Zola was stumbling around the room, and her magical strings held me midair. Her eyes were wild and unfocused, reeking of alcohol. The acrid smell burned my nostrils, and I recoiled, but it was useless. The strings held me in place. My new strength and speed from earlier were completely useless against it.

“You!” she snarled, her words slurring together. “You useless piece of trash!”

Before I could say anything, golden threads of magic wrapped around my neck. They burned against my skin. I struggled, panic rising in my chest, helpless.

“Mom, please!” I heard myself cry out, Fern’s voice mingling with my own in our shared terror.

She didn’t listen. With a vicious yank, she slammed me against the wall, sending a shock wave of pain through my shoulder. I gritted my teeth, trying to brace myself for whatever was coming.

The heat hit me next. Zola had lifted me above the coals in the furnace bed. Most of them still glowed, a dull, angry red hot from a day’s work with Dario. My eyes widened as I realized her intent.

“No, no, no,” I begged, struggling harder against the magical bonds. I reached down, stretching my arm towards the forge.

Zola’s face contorted with rage. “The Windhorns?” she shrieked. “You hit the Windhorn’s child?”

She lowered me over the hot coals and turned me over like I was a roasting chicken. I could feel the heat radiating against my face, sweat beading on my skin. It was getting hard to see. Still, I reached further to the furnace, grabbing what I had been aiming for.

“If you weren’t born so useless,” she spat, “I wouldn’t have to be a monster!”

The magic released, and I fell. Then the pain hit. White-hot agony seared the front of my body. Inside, Fern screamed in pain. I screamed too, the sound tearing from my throat. Furiously, I rolled off the bed of hot coals still gripping the red hot glowing tongs. With a heavy thud, I fell to the floor. I leaned up. Seared skin peeled off my face, and tears fell into those fresh wounds. Zola was stumbling towards me, but she wasn’t seeing clearly. I gritted my teeth, flung back my hand, holding the hot tongs and threw them hard.

The heavy metal slammed against her head. She stumbled backwards, but she did not fall. She tilted her heard in a horrifying way and lifted her hands. Golden threads shot out and grabbed my body. I gasped as they burned my skin.

—‘Make it stop!’ Fern’s voice echoed, raw with pain.

Zola screamed and lifted her arms. Again and again, she threw me against the room walls, her screams mixing with my own. The blunt pain knocking into my body caused the world to go dizzy.

Just as darkness crept into the edges of my vision, a familiar voice cut through the chaos.

“Zola, stop!”

The assault paused. I lay there, gasping, every breath sending waves of agony through my burned body. Through tear-blurred eyes, I saw Dario rush into the forge.

What happened next was a blur of motion and shouted words. After a loud thud, Zola suddenly passed out and ended up draped over Dario’s shoulder, his chest heaving.

He set Zola down near the entrance to the forge and rushed to my side, his hands hovering over my burned flesh, unsure where to touch. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice low. “I’m so sorry for all of this. For everything she’s done.”

I tried to speak, but only a pained whimper escaped my lips.

Dario shook his head. “Any explanation I could give... it wouldn’t make sense. It never made sense to me, but what could I do? Now, I can do something.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “Lotrick found a way. We are leaving now.”

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled newspaper. The same ad from the paper I had in my own back pocket. The call for Voidbloods to be sent to Ash.

“I know you’re probably confused, but…”

“Stop, I know…father,” I interrupted. “Lotrick told me earlier, let’s go. Now. I am ready.” I wiped the blood from the corners of my mouth and stood up with Dario’s help. My body ached, but I didn’t feel any broken bones. The worst of the damage was the burns on my face.

Something shifted inside me. I felt a surge of emotion that wasn’t my own. Fern’s presence, which had been silent for so long, suddenly burst forth.

—‘Dad,’ his voice sobbed in my mind. ‘I’m sorry I was such a burden. I’m so sorry.’

It felt wrong to say anything to Fern at that moment. However, my body moved of its own accord. Despite the pain, I reached out, wrapping my arms around Dario. A single tear rolled down my cheek, a physical manifestation from Fern.

Dario nodded, a sad smile on his face, and patted my head. “Gather your things,” he said, helping me to my feet.

I clutched the dagger tied around my neck. It had been impossible for me to grab in the fight just now, but I will always remember Fern’s dad protecting us. I will think of him when I use the dagger in the future. It was more than just a weapon; it was a piece of Fern’s past, a symbol of the bond between father and son.

I quickly grabbed the small bag from the crawlspace room and returned to Dario. He led me outside the house, leaving Zola slumped in the forge. Outside, the two twin moons hung in the air, illuminating the city of Corello in its teal nightly glow. A small figure was waiting for us by the steps.

The figure stepped into the light, and the blond and purple hair of Fern’s brother peaked out from his hood. Lotrick raised his hands, stretching his fingers out in all directions.

A surge of nervousness shot through me. Despite knowing that Lotrick had been trying to help me, a part of me flinched when I saw his hands move like that.

Before I could say anything, a bright light erupted from Lotrick’s outstretched hands. A surge of cooling water covered me. It was wet, but my clothes and hair did not dampen. I felt my skin tighten and saw my dried blood on the tunic I wore vanish. I felt my wounds healing.

Lotrick lowered his hands and coughed. A small trickle of blood fell from the corner of his lips.

“There, don’t say I did nothing for you,” Lotrick smiled. “Now, let’s go. There’s only one wagon going to Ash from Corello, and it leaves in an hour.”

Lotrick walked off down the street, with Dario and me trailing behind.

—He saved us, I said to Fern.

Fern said nothing, but I could almost see him inside my mind. He was smiling.

The dark early morning air was crisp and biting as we stood near the wagon. The wagon had only one other teen in there, covered by a hood and facing away from us. Lotrick, Dario, and I huddled close, our voices barely above whispers as we said our last goodbyes. Dario’s eyes were red-rimmed. He seemed really upset about losing Fern.

—He probably feels like he has no choice. Your mom really did a number on him…and you, I said to Fern.

—‘What will he do when we are both gone, Lotrick and I?’ Fern said, concern in his voice.

“Remember everything I taught you. It’s not just advice for blacksmithin’, it’s advice for life. You listen too, Lotrick. This will be good for you at your school,” Dario murmured, his calloused hand gripping my shoulder. “Keep your hands firm, work harder than anyone else, wake up before the sun rises and sleep when it’s long gone. And... and come back to see me someday.”

I nodded, unable to trust my voice. Fern’s emotions surged within me, a tidal wave of longing that threatened to overwhelm us both. I gave him another hug, and Dario turned away down the street.

Lotrick stepped forward. “Remember our deal,” he said, his voice low and intense, out of Dario’s earshot. “Protect Fern, grow stronger. I will be in contact.”

“How will…” Lotrick walked away before I could ask him to clarify.

A hooded figure approached me, the driver of the cart. He held out his arm, directing me into the wagon. I climbed in and sat down. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

The other kid huddled in the corner. He was around the same size as me, well, Fern. He wore a basic brown tunic like mine and had a small hooded cloak draped over his face. A small bag sat at his feet. In the moonlight, I saw he had dirty blond hair and was shaking. He eyed me like a cornered animal ready to bolt.

I forced a smile on my face, but he turned away.

“Hyah!” The hooded driver had sat in the driver’s seat and whipped the two horses who pulled the wagon. I looked back and saw Dario and Lotrick watch me leave. We rounded a corner, and a pit formed in my stomach. I could feel Fern’s sadness. Although he came from a violent home, it was still familiar. The wagon lurched over the cobblestones and we slowly exited Corello.

The guards at the gate lifted their lanterns and eyed the tattoos on my and the other kid’s chest before waving the hooded driver off. We came to a hill that led out of the large canyon city. I turned around and the distant colorful rooftops of Corello looked nothing more than a patchwork of colors being lit by the rising sun.