After the last few bites of the generous lunch, Cal stood up.

  “Well, let’s get going, then?” He asked, an eager smile on his face before moving toward and up the stairs, a hurry in his step.

  Sally and Lucy exchanged a quick look, before nodding at each other and following him.

  “A man run by temperament, I think.” Lucy said, turning to Sally with a smirk. “Must run in the family.”

  Sally could only huff at that.

  11. Experimental – August 1, Year 216

  The lay-out of first floor of the building was similar to that of the ground one. Barring three small, enclosed rooms toward the back of the building, there was nothing separating the interior space. Even the roof had an open design, having a number of wooden shutters partially open to let the heat out without the sun getting in.

  Its interior ‘decoration’ – if it could be called that – was starkly different. Whereas the ground floor was meant for socialization, the first floor was built purely for work, with many similar looking workbenches lining the walls, each equipped with similar tools and with their own green chalkboards. Stowed away in one corner were a number of seats stacked on top of each other, along with five of the green chalkboards. All of it, from the workbenches to the storage, looked clean and unused.

  The center of the room was a different story altogether. In the dead center was a single chair surrounded by tables in a half circle. Behind the chair were a trio of blackboards, while on the tables stood a variety of machines and apparatuses. Some were old and worn, while others were newer. Their forms, and likely their functions differed, with one looking like a large camera, while another was a large, solid black beam with a bunch of needles hanging under it, hovering over pieces of paper. Another was made almost entirely of glass tubing, orbs and other forms filled with a variety of stationary if colorful liquids, while yet another had metal rods sticking in a variety of powdered materials.

  The only thing they had in common was their front faced the chair, ready to record whatever data they could measure.

  When Sally and Lucy arrived upstairs, Cal was already busy, performing a final check on the cogs, belts and gears of the machines and making realignments where necessary.

  “Do you know what brought the Guild to the Circuits in the first place?” Cal asked, switching to the device with rods sticking in a variety of colored dusts. He flicked a switch, pulled a lever and a low hum began to resonate from them.

  “Lake Prior,” Lucy said with confidence.

  “Demons?” Sally questioned.

  “Both are port of the equation – almost literally, but they’re not the full reason.” He went to the machine filled with liquid, which soon began to flow and bubble in response. “Here let me show you.”

  He moved toward one of the three blackboards and began drawing concentric circles with arrows pointing outward from the center. “Some magic, though not all, come from some kind of source, a generator of some kind. It can be an odd element, a type of autonomous ritual or a naturally occurring wellspring, it doesn’t matter. From there, these energies flow outward, trying to equalize across the world until they run op to the same or a similar enough energy of a similar enough density.”

  “Like the winds, with moving from high- to low-pressure areas,” Sally said, nodding.

  Cal looked at her with some surprise, before smiling. “Yes, exactly! But there are many different winds, and some do not ‘blow’ at all.” Cal shook his head and refocused. “But I digress. What complicates these things is that, sometimes, these energies interact with other energies in a way much like an electrical current, flowing from positive to negative.” He drew a second set of concentric circles, erasing parts where they met or making the lines wobble and meld together, arrows scattering in different directions.

  “Not only does this complicate tracking the flow of energy and the equalization process itself, but sometimes they also react with one another, creating something else entirely.” Cal seemed to be in his element and began drawing more circles within sections of the larger circle, arrows pointing inwards and outwards and to each other in a cycle, turning the entire drawing into an incomprehensible piece of art.

  “These can in turn react with other created energies, affecting their flow and equalization, causing even more reactions etcetera, etcetera. It’s a wonderful, unpredictable mess!” He finished bearing a large grin.

  Seeing his audience barely reacting, Cal cleared his throat, flushing slightly.

  “Right, anyway. The Circuit is home to several stable reactions ranging from a dozen to three dozen. Nobody quite knows and it is difficult to measure without knowing their timescales. What we can measure, however, is the flow and type!”

  Cal went to another blackboard and drew three odd looking circles, one in the middle with two smaller ones to either side. It was a crude map of the Grand Circuit. “This is where it gets even more messy. Any currents we measure seem to flow from outside the circuit inward, to three particular locations.”

  He drew arrows from outside to three locations, within, then pointed to one at the top of the central circle, the Red. “Lake Prior,” Cal said. Then he pointed to the center of the Red Circuit. “The center of the Red Wastes.” He moved to the southeast, just outside the Red and below the Green. “And the Cannibal Mountains.”

  Sally could guess the importance of Lake Prior, but the other ones puzzled her. Sure, the Cannibal Mountains and the center of the Red Wastes were things special to the Circuits – being the home of the Cannibals and Hilaynites – but what made them similar to Lake Prior, an enormous magical, mystical lake? And what about the Greysalt and its Hives? The Marshmen of the Green? Lake Dread and Lake Majestic? Any of the Demons? In her eyes, these were much more ‘special’ than the Cannibals or Hilaynites.

  Lucy, however, seemed unfazed. “The Deeds of the Prophet, the Ashes of Dakh Hilayn and the Pit of the Devourer,” Lucy stated.

  “That is one theory, yes, but others seek less… mythical or spiritual sympathetic links to these places. An unknown element, a fossilized Demon; really, anything but the what the people of the Circuits have thought of.”

  Lucy scoffed at that and Sally couldn’t help but agree, despite herself not being particularly religious. She’d believe the Circuit’s inhabitants over any outsider.

  Cal didn’t comment on it. “Now, as I said, all currents flow inwards to these three locations, but never outwards. They are sinks of magical energy with seemingly nothing being returned. As far as the Guilds are concerned, that makes the Circuits unique, hence the interest and the move toward Cardinar.”

  “Okay, interesting lesson and all, but what does that have to do with me?” Sally asked.

  “That is what we’re here to find out.” Cal gave her a grin, before turning to Lucy.

  “Now, you’ve already done a broad test for any connections, correct?” Cal asked and Lucy nodded and hummed in agreement. “And only water gave a positive response?” Again, Lucy nodded and hummed. “Can you re-enact the ritual, but with an even broader set of sympathetic ties?”

  Lucy thought for a second, before asking: “How broad are we talking?”

  “As broad as possible, ideally, but mostly focused of course on things inside the Circuits, but especially around water, ash and obsidian.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Lucy grimaced in distaste. “You want to create a link to those abominations? I doubt that’ll end well.” Sally couldn’t help but agree and copy the grimace, although she doubted Lucy included Lake Prior like she did. Being connected to the Hilaynites, Cannibals and the Lake was not what she was looking forward to.

  Cal shook his head. “No, I expect these sympathies to be rejected. Harshly.”

  Lucy looked intrigued at that and remained silent in thought. Sally was not yet satisfied, however.

  “But why the broadness beside those three? Wouldn’t a more focused test be better?” Sally asked.

  “While I agree with Lucy that those three are the more likely candidates, there are others: the Greysalts, the Demons, the Circuits themselves; it is better to test widely in this case. Besides, it might be that you have nothing to do with any of this at all. A broad test would help us figure out what does.” Cal waved at the whole setup. “I’ve got a bunch of different materials gathered here to test for resonance. We’ll get a reaction, even if it is one from outside our expectations.” Sally could see that Cal didn’t find that likely.

  “Now, shall we begin?” Cal asked, smiling. “Just sit on the chair and Lucy and I will do the rest.”

  But there was one thing – well several things, but all centered around one question. “Why do you think I’m connected at all?”

  Cal blinked, not expecting the question. “What do you mean?”

  “I died and revived, sure. I heal faster, get less tired, feel the heat less and a bunch of other things, all of which I have yet to tell you in your haste,” Cal blushed a bit in shame. Good. “But as soon as I told you about the water connection, about the ritual Lucy did, as soon as you learned I brought you those papers, you began putting this together. Hell, you immediately forgot that your estranged sister, your last living relative, was even here! I just became another one of your- your experiments, or something!”

  Cal blinked in surprise, and Lucy remained silent. Even Sally was caught off guard at her own rant, and calmed herself somewhat. Still, she pushed through.

  “Tell me, brother,” There was enough poison in her voice to contend with the Circuits rivers. “What is my connection to all this?”

  Cal opened and closed his mouth, his expression changing by the second as a mix of emotions ran through him, before settling on a mix of resentment, impatience and guilt. “Can’t it wait? This is my life’s work, the thing I’ve been working on constantly for near a decade! Can’t it just… wait until I know for sure?”

  Sally breathed deeply, an angry flame burning heavy within her, but before she could lay in to him, she felt Lucy put a hand on her shoulder and whisper in her ear.

  “Let’s just get it over with Sally. The sooner we do, the sooner you’ll know.”

  Sally whirled around, pushing the hand off her shoulder.

  “What, do you know what’s going on?” Sally almost yelled in frustration. Am I the only one who doesn’t?!

  Lucy held up her hands in a placating gesture. “No, but I think it best to get this test over and done with,” she said calmly. “If only for your own sake.”

  Sally glared at Lucy for a moment, before deflating with a sigh. “Fine. Fine!” She threw her hand up in the air and moved toward the chair. “Let’s get this over with then.”

  Lucy gave her a small smile and Cal a brittle one. “Good. Sally, please sit on the chair. Lucy, I have some water over here and then you can do the ritual. I’ll be standing by the machines to monitor any effects.”

  Everyone moved into position. “Alright Lucy, whenever you’re ready.”

  Lucy nodded and held uncorked the flask of water she’d gotten from Cal. Sally cupped her hand, ready to catch the drops.

  “With thy blessing, Saint Prior.” A noise came from one of the machines, but Sally did not pay any attention to anything but the water. It turned a deeper blue and heaver, much like the previous time Lucy had done this.

  “Through thy rite, Prophet Ante. To thy ward, Unknown Angel. From thy earth, Great Mountains. With thy guidance, Black Roads. Through thy blood, Great Carnality. In thy spite, Foul Demons.” There was no change at any of these sentences, beside some added weight to the water.

  “In thy hunger, Devourer.” The water blackened, and she felt a slight gnawing in the back of her eyes as she looked at it. Machines began beeping and clattering.

  “In thy fire, Ashtree.” A slight burning sensation came from the water, but not enough to be painful. A scratching and a hum increasing in intensity came from all sides.

  “By thy will, Water Spirits. Reveal the instrument, pluck their strings, unveil what is hidden and let their destiny echo for all to see.” There was a moment of silence in the room. None of the machines made noise and no-one spoke.

  Sally stared at the water. Dark, heavy and burning, it weighed on her mind, body and soul infinitely more than the first ritual had done. There was only one thought that rang through her mind as she looked at it: I really don’t want to drink this.

  But she’d never been a coward, nor particularly bright, and so drink it she did.

  A cacophony of noise and light exploded. Whether it was from the machines or within her own head, Sally couldn’t tell, but streams of vaporous liquid danced throughout the room, bathing it in all colors. Metal screamed like torn glass, like the death-cry of the Half-Knight’s horse Lucy and her had fought but days prior. Papers rustled like leaves and the wooden floorboards and tables creaked like a tree snapping in half, accompanied by a bird singing of never-ending fire.

  All of it weighed on Sally heavier than a mountain. It tried to tear at her with hooks that slipped off as soon as it touched her. A heat that seemed forever on the edge of burning her, but never quite reaching. She couldn’t see the room anymore, could hear no voice of her brother and her friend, nor even feel the chair underneath her. There was only noise across all senses.

  Then, after an indeterminate amount of time, it all fell away to the sight of Lucy kneeling in front of her, green eyes filled with worry holding her hand.

  “Here, drink something,” Lucy said, handing her the glass of water on the ground beside her.

  Sally nearly dropped the glass as she flinched at its touch. Looking at the water, she saw nothing odd in the water, no color, no fire, no biting. It was clear and cold.

  Sally gulped it down at once.

  “What happened?” Sally asked, voice rough.

  “Well, not much to be honest, outside of you collapsing. The machines did their work, I suppose, cause Cal has been busy gathering paper sheets and writing things down, but for the rest…” Lucy shrugged.

  “There was no noise, or weird colors going around or anything?” Sally asked.

  “The machines hummed and glowed a bit I suppose, but I doubt it was anything like your experience,” Lucy replied, looking worried. Lucy lifted her free hand first to Sally’s neck for a moment, then to her forehead – the hand feeling strangely cool and comfortable, Sally felt – before dropping it by her side again after a few seconds. “Are you alright? Want some more water? You seem almost feverish, though I don’t feel anything odd,” Lucy asked, taking the glass.

  “I’ll be fine, just… a bit tired, I guess,” Sally replied. Lucy nodded and kept holding Sally’s hand, rubbing the back of it with her thumb.

  “Where’s Cal?” Sally asked, not seeing him anywhere. “How long have I been out?” He wouldn’t just leave her here, right?

  “It’s been three hours, give or take. As soon as we figured you were stable, I told him I would stay here so he could find some answers,” Lucy replied.

  Three hours… It certainly hadn’t felt that long, and yet simultaneously much longer. The experience had lodged itself into her mind like a memory both distant and recent, stuck in between and unable to be processed correctly.

  Thankfully, though the experience remained stuck, the emotions surrounding it lessened over time. Lucy got up twice to get her another glass of water – despite her insistence she didn’t need it – and after somewhere between a quarter to half an hour, she felt more or less fine. Good enough to seek Cal out, at least.

  Lucy guided her to her brother, who seemed to have entered one of the closed-off rooms on the far end of the floor. She’d thought it would be small room meant for Guild members to rest on their stop here, but apparently it was an office. The desk faced a window looking out over the backyard and the cityscape and mountains beyond, while bookcases occupied the right wall furthest from the door. Cal was busy, papers scattered about and Cal’s hands in constant motion between them, catching and devouring their contents before dumping their remains like a predator amongst prey.

  At the sound of them entering, Cal twisted his chair and faced them.

  “Ah, Sally! You’re up! Thank the gods, I was starting to get worried!” Cal said cheerfully, but there was something off about it. The relief might be genuine, but there was something nervous in his eyes, a tenseness in his posture and a nervousness in his hands.

  Sally’s stomach turned, instinct informing her where this was headed.

  Her sharp eyes met his nervous ones and asked: “Now will you tell me what’s going on?” Quiet filled the room for a moment, Caldwell stewing in his own sweat.

  “I’m sorry Sally, really. I-I-” Cal stuttered.

  “You’re sorry?” She asked in angry disbelief.

  “I can’t, Sally. I’m sorry, really, but I literally cannot tell you.” Cal shook his head, guilt and frustration clear in his voice

  “The fuck, Cal?!” She shouted, anger flaring up once more. “You really not going to tell me anything?” A pleading note had entered her voice. “After all this?”

  Cal remained silent.

  Sally re-narrowed his eyes. “You knew, didn’t you? You knew from the start you couldn’t tell me anything,” She accused.

  Cal remained silent.

  “You know what, fuck this. Fuck you! I came here looking for family, looking for help, and you do this to me?” Fury warred with depression in her heart and mind.

  “Sally-” Cal started, standing from his chair and moving to explain, but she’d had enough. Her fire was doused and the depression and wrath had solidified in a cold anger.

  “You know what? Mom was right about you,” A hateful sneer occupied her face as she picked up her bag and went to the stairs. “You really don’t give a shit about family, do you?” Cal flinched at that.

  It was a lie, Sally knew. Cal might be obsessed with magic and that research of his, but the reunion earlier had been honest, a genuine relief of finding family still alive. But she didn’t care, she just wanted him to hurt the same way she was.

  She stormed off, out the office and down the stairs. Yaling startled and gave her a concerned look as she stomped through the door and left the building, seeking someplace quiet.

  X

  Sally sat at the edge of the cliff Lovesse was built on, just outside the city gates. It had a nice view of the caravan grounds, although there was less of a hustle and bustle than the morning they arrived. The sun was high in the sky and the heat had likely become too, although it was cooling down now ever so slowly.

  Of course, as a result of her ‘blessings’, Sally felt little of it besides the feeling that, deep down, that she really should.

  She heard steps coming from behind, closing in. “Are you alright?” Lucy asked.

  “I don’t even know where half of that came from,” Sally said honestly. Even before Cal revealed that he wouldn’t, couldn’t share anything, she’d felt on edge. And the explosion of emotion, though merited, was still worse than it should’ve been.

  “It was just so… demeaning, dismissing me like that for his precious research,” She spat.

  “And you didn’t do the same to him?” Lucy asked, gaze piercing. Though the words were accusing, her tone was not unkind.

  “What do you mean?” Sally replied, carefully keeping her tone neutral. No need to blow up at her as well.

  “Did you come to your brother to reunite? Or to get answers for your own problems?” Lucy asked in return.

  The questions shocked Sally, and she struggled to form a reply.

  Lucy settled down beside her, gazing out over the cliff at the caravan grounds. “The way you talked about him on the way here was always a mix of ‘finding answers’ and reuniting with the family you thought lost.” Lucy continued. “The way I see it, both of your pasts weigh heavily on you, and it cannot help but guide every interaction you had.”

  Sally mulled it over. “So, what, I should just… make up with him or something? Forgive and forget and move on?” Despite it likely being the correct thing to do, the words still tasted like ash.

  Lucy shook her head. “That is up to you. If you want to, and if you can, then go ahead.” She turned her gaze back, staring into Sally’s eyes. “But if you can’t, well… as long as you’re both alive, there is always another chance.” Then, Lucy gave her a small smile. “And I don’t see you dying anytime soon.”

  Sally snorted involuntarily, her mood lightening somewhat. She stood up and held her hand out to Lucy. “Want to go down to the market, buy some things and get out of here?”

  Lucy grabbed her hand and Sally pulled her up.

  Lucy beamed at her, happy at either the change in mood or in topic. “Let’s. Lake Dread awaits!”