Page 16 of The Light Within

“Right. Incredibly kind of you to help me. Shall we? I do actually need to sleep at some point.”

Elliot gestured down the valley to where a quiet, darkened Auri lay waiting for them. Usually a sea of twinkling lights after sunset, not even the lumenmote lanterns cast their orange glow tonight. The only source of light came from the red glowing barrier, now fully intact.

As they half walked, half slipped down the hill, Elliot sighed before asking, “What’s the plan, then? Can I let you through the barrier and wait outside?”

“Now where would the fun be in that? But yes, part one involves you getting us through the barrier.”

“I figured that was why I’m here.”

“Hey! Breaking and entering should never be a solo expedition. If you weren’t here, I’d have nobody to send around the corner ahead of me.”

A firm shove from Elliot had Julien flying down the grassy bank, almost tripping on a rock as he laughed, the warmth of it combatting the chilled air. When they approached the red barrier, Julien sobered. He reached out his hand, allowing the light to cast dark crimson hues on his skin. It was so tempting to touch it, even knowing full well it would jolt his body with a burst of electricity, while repelling him backwards several metres to land on his ass. It had been one of the first projects Julien had worked on years ago as a MEET intern. His colleagues had taken it in turns to test its efficiency. Tech guys really know a good time when they see one.

From the chest pocket of his uniform, Elliot removed the small, golden coinesque object the gendarmerie carried in lieu of plastic badges. He pressed it against the nearest metal pole that created the framework for the fence. The shimmery red light that passed between it and the next pole flickered, then faded, allowing them to pass through.

Walking through a deserted Auri in the daytime had been strange, but wandering through it at nighttime was downright eerie. The lack of any light, bar fleeting glimpses of moonlight, put Julien on edge, and a palpable chill shot down his spine. Julien reached for Elliot’s arm to still him before rummaging in Elliot’s pocket.

Elliot cocked his head to one side. “What?”

Julien’s thumb passed over the cool metal of his lighter. He brought it out, flicking his thumb over the spark wheel to produce a small flamethat danced gently in the mild breeze. Now he had the light source—lumenmotessource—that he needed. Slowly, so as to not extinguish the flame, he drew upon the motes. There weren’t many, as the flame was tiny, but Julien’s best talent—aside from the one he didn’t like to think about—back when he’d channelled, had always been amplifying the innate power of motes more than anyone else his age could.

Soon, a large glowing ball of light hovered a few centimetres above his palm. He raised it above their heads before walking on, its light casting upon Elliot’s face to reveal his slow grin.

“You little shit. Always were a show-off.” Elliot shoved his chest. “You’re going to constantly show me up again now, aren’t you, just like when we were kids?”

Julien brought one shoulder up in an exaggerated shrug. “You can’t fight pure talent, baby.”

The snort that Elliot produced echoed loudly off the tunnel created by the stone brick walls of Caelum Hall and the Echelon Quarters. Julien raised a finger to his lips. “Shh.”

“Where are we even going, anyway?”

“Eleanor’s office.”

Elliot stopped so abruptly, Julien banged into his shoulder.

“You’re joking,” Elliot snapped, but his calculating eyes made it clear that he knew Julien wasn’t. “You’re really buying AP’s bullshit? Why would Eleanor want to hurt Béatrice? And what do you think you’re going to find in there, some sort of evil-mastermind cork board with photos and maps and string?”

Julien marched ahead in reply.

“And besides, her office is in Ivory Tower. The other side of the crack!”

Spinning on his heels, Julien continued to walk backwards. “Good thing you bragged earlier about being able to ‘jump over itblindfolded’ then.”

If the look on his face was anything to go by, Elliot didnotfind him funny.

The fissure was hard to spot with limited light. If Julien hadn’t been there a handful of hours ago, he might have stumbled right into it, to his imminent death. As Elliot neared it, he reached out to slow him, approaching it with the reverence he felt it deserved, after his little moment with it earlier.

“We can definitely jump it,” insisted Elliot.

“With a little help,oui.”

Julien took a few steps back, sending the lumenmote ball floating high above the crack. After bouncing on his knees for a few beats, he sprinted forward, launching himself into the air while channelling the wisps of windmotes the breeze offered to create a tremendous current of air that propelled him across the gaping crevice, and then some.

Landing with a side roll, and a flourish mainly for Elliot’s amusement, a smile spread across Julien’s face as he looked up at the night sky. It was as close as you could get to flying, using windmotes in that way. It had been so long since he’d done it. His current adrenaline-fuelled rush was accentuated by the elation his muscles tingled with, relishing the pleasure of channelling again.

A thud sounded, followed by a hand reaching for his. “Having fun?” Elliot asked, as he stood straight and smoothed his clothes.

A handful of twists and turns down cobblestone paths later, they stood facing the Nexus Towers, two symmetrical structures built using deep obsidian stone, silver threads of marble slithering through them like veins.

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