Nuyani awoke in an eternal night as the dark blue sky was not littered with stars or the familiar moons but, swirling glowing fogs in varying shapes and sizes. In place of the countless stars she knew, were coursing veins of light leading into endless distances or connecting to the fogs on occasion. The witch began to breathe heavily as her head darted from one side to another looking for some form of ground. Her breathing grew rapid as she hugged her body. Her eyes bulged as she quivered. No sense of cold or chill assaulted her.

  “W-where is this,” Nuyani said finding an echo trailing her voice.

  “Be calm, my child,” Nuyani’s voice echoed in her mind once more. Only this time each syllable matched with a pulse coursing toward her. This brought her attention to the dull hum traveling through the void.

  “P-please. Tell me. Am I dead?” Nuyani asked.

  “Far from it, my dear,” her borrowed voice continued. “This is the realm of magic or govtif ved edria.”

  “What?” Nuyani questioned trying to regain her bearings in the strange place.

  “More to learn in due time, my child. But first, we must free you from this domain.”

  “How did I get here? Who are you?” Nuyani said as she looked toward the source of waves rippling through the void toward one of the closer swirling fogs.

  “I am the one you have prayed to. I am you’re Lord Kelvert.” Nuyani froze for a moment. “I’ve brought you and the boy to safety from that beast.”

  “Beast…” Nuyani repeated in a whisper as a flash of claws, fangs and bleeding gums rose reminding her that she was defending Cuganwa and was soon to be killed if not for the black lines engulfing her sight. “Wait! What happened to the animal? Where are the others? A-and Cuga…?” Nuyani then grunted as her rising emotions stirred her strain core. Pain racked her body as every tired muscle ached and her stomach twisted forcing Nuyani to dry heave.

  “Please remain calm or it will be difficult for you to leave. You have learned to use my gift well, child. Since the night of the banshees’ arrival, you’ve grown.”

  “Your gift?” Nuyani repeated as the distraction did little to stifle the pain. The swirling fog she watched then bulged toward her. The ripples traveled toward her matching the soft hum until the portion of the light grew nearly encompassing.

  “I had to use the strength of you and Cuganwa to bring you through. Unfortunately, with your core so fatigued and his completely new, I could only bring one of you completely through the void. Please, allow me to guide you, my child.”

  ‘By the Great Lord’s shine…’ Nuyani thought as the milk-white, glowing fog filled her vision. She strained as the sudden waves interacted with her core bringing more pain.

  Nuyani struggled to stay awake as her fingers curled digging into her arms. Pulses burst from the ethereal drum knocking away the surrounding hum as the black lines poured from the periphery and into the center before widening once more. When the pain subsided, Nuyani found herself kneeling on the floor staring out into the desert.

  She fell forward propping herself up by shivering arms, her breath grew laborious. ‘I’m back, Nuyani thought as her sporadic core reacted to the soft pulses emitting from behind her. Nuyani turned to see Cuganwa lying unconscious on the stone floor.

  “Other child,” Nuyani whispered. “He’s here too.” Nuyani realized the truth. Their Lord truly came.

  “There’re two more. I’m related to them both,” Nuyani said as she shuttered. “I…They live because you protect us.” Several pulses rang through the area at Nuyani’s flank. Fatigue wrapped her body and Nuyani let an arm collapse as she swung around to sit. She looked toward the tunnel entrance only to see the faint glow of a blue light showing in the shadows. Before the witch could do anything, her vision became blurred, and her remaining strength failed before she fell unconscious.

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  Winds howled through the curling cliff face. Cuganwa winced as the small specks of dirt pelted his face stirring him. Waking up, he found himself lying on the ground feeling stiff as he realized he was lying on top of stone. His eyes open as the memory of the witch and an enormous blade-jaw returned. Sitting up, he looked about only to find a rising night sky over the wide expanse of the drylands toward the east and a twisting ceiling of stone from the cliffs perched atop of a single stone pillar.

  “Where…Where am I?” Cuganwa wondered. A gust of wind rasped as it cut around the stone wall calling Cuganwa’s attention. The boy ran toward the corner. His heart pounded away as he saw the orange light glow against the cliff. ‘No.’ When he reached the end of the path, his gaze fell over the endless sands trailing into the horizon and the sun setting “I-I’m at the demon gate. But, how?” Cuganwa stepped back and turned, ready to run for the east, run for home. He never gathered speed as his foot kicked something heavy yet, giving way. The boy looked down finding another body lying on the ground. His eyes widened as he looked at the leather-wrapped limbs and tattered runner’s attire.

  “No,” the boy whispered. His body quivered. The person’s face was turned away. He stepped quietly around the figure until he came into view of Nuyani’s face. “No.” Cuganwa’s heart sunk as he sat on the ground. The stories of the witch taking people away to their deaths ran through his mind. His heartbeat was in his ears as he placed both hands on his head. “By the Great Lord, what happened? Why am I here?”

  The boy looked down at Nuyani. Studying her face looking for the deception to her reason for saving him, then taking him away. ‘Y-you’re the threat. You’re the reason things are going wrong.” The boy declared. He looked to his tool sash seeing that he still had both his stone and ivory knife. Removing the stone knife as he looked at her face. The woman did not stir. Cuganwa gripped the blade in both hands as they shook. “I have to. You’re dangerous. Deyunca warned…” the boy paused as he remembered the hunter. He betrayed the village just to try and kill the witch by nearly killing another. The night before, he was almost certain the man would’ve tried to kill him if not for Lamoy.

  “Great Lord, guide me with your light,” Cuganwa thought back to the elders and his father who warned only to take a life if you are in danger. Taking a deep breath, the shaking lessened as he let the blade drop to the ground. “I am still here. I am still breathing. Why? Why did I get taken? Why’d she save me?” He narrowed his eyes at her remembering the beast. Looking to the drylands, the blade-jaw was nowhere to be found. “Did she save me, again?”

  “That is one way to see it,” the boy’s voice echoed in his mind. Cuganwa retrieved the knife and rose to his feet. He held his arms out wide trying to keep a comfortable space to defend.

  “Wh-whuh?” The boy questioned. A strange hum rose from his stomach as palpations passed through the air and struck something deeper beneath the skin. He placed his hand on his stomach thinking his stomach was turning once more only to find the soft beat soothing his nerves. Cuganwa lowered the blade as he studied the pulses. They were striking from his flank. The boy turned slightly finding the source of the strike turning against his stomach as well. When the pulses reached the front of his body, he looked up.

  Before the opening to a tunnel, a blue flame floated a meter above the ground. Its light flickering in all directions reminding the boy of a star. Its light danced in the boy’s eyes as he gawked at the fire loosening his grip on the blade.

  “Are you a trick from her?” the boy questioned. The hum rising from within him seemed to know that there was little influence coming from the witch.

  “I’m merely a guide, child,” the boy’s voice echoed.

  “What do you mea…” Cuganwa stopped. More waves of energy rose from the direction of the flame. His mind came to the memory of the pressure rising in his stomach when the charge-horn was approaching and the temporary relief to his stomach before the blade-jaw arrived.

  “I’ve tried to reach you, child but my call was not strong enough. Yet, you are here. Thanks to her.”

  “Who…” the boy started. He paused wondering if the answer was true. His heart started to race. Another vision then came to the boy. A light looking more like a star above the earth even as day rose. Walls of its light poured through the land blocking a sandstorm as people waited. “Lord Kelvert?”

  “Yes, my child.”

  Releasing a deep breath, the boy looked at the wisp. “What is happening?”

  “I am guiding my strongest to saving the village.” The boy blinked several times as he reeled back.

  “Your strongest?’ Cuganwa questioned.

  “That’s right. Those who bear my gifts and receive my call. It was hard to reach you but, you’ve arrived.” Cuganwa froze. His thoughts were read by the flame. The witch lied unconscious.

  “I will tell you more but first, come to safety. We must heal, Nuyani, and prepare for the storms.” The wisp then flew inside the cave, its light fading into the darkness.

  Cuganwa looked down at the unconscious woman back to the tunnel. Tightening his fists, he sheathed his knife and moved to Nuyani’s side. Rolling her over, the boy looked at her face. All his life she was the demon to be feared. She scared everyone yet, now she lied vulnerable to the threats. Injured from some ordeal appearing as human as anyone else.

  “Under your glow, I am protected. Under your glow, I will protect. I will aid my kin. I will aid my home. As day ends, I follow the will of your gleam even through night.” Cuganwa recited the morning prayer under his breath as he lifted Nuyani’s head, laced his arms underneath hers and grabbed both of his wrists, and moved her to safety.