Page 37 of Stitches
“Hmm.” Luccite stood back, scrutinizing Levi closely, and raised a hand, which slowly began to form a ball of pure white light above it. “Finally, I’m going to cast a rune on you to test something special. You won’t feel anything other than slight warmth emanating from where the rune hovers.”
“To test my magical affinity?” Levi asked.
“We already know you have magic. A small amount, but some. This is something a little more complex to… understand your soul.”
That caused Levi to sit up straighter. He had relaxed more and more during the exam, occasionally casting Ashmedai timid yet grateful glances, but for the first time, he seemed visibly excited rather than nervous.
Luccite took the ball of light and used it to draw in the air in front of Levi’s chest a vertical line with two shorter lines branching from its top, and then a circle between the branches. It glowed brighter at first and seemed about to change color, then suddenly began to rotate through many colors, one after the other, faster and faster, every color of the rainbow. It even seemed to change shape into different runes, like a circle with a vertical line through it, then a circle with a horizontal line through it, then a jagged line that went down and up and down again. All of it cycled so quickly, it was like the flicker of a candle, until it suddenly vanished—gone in a blink as though snuffed out.
“Huh,” Luccite commented as her arm dropped.
“What does it mean?” Levi asked.
“It may take further investigating,” Luccite said cryptically. “For now, I think it best if I speak with Ash privately.”
The disappointment was clear on Levi’s face. He wanted answers too, but there must be something very daunting about the rune’s reaction if Luccite wanted to talk to Ashmedai alone.
With a solemn nod, Levi got down from the table and replaced his tunic. After he reclaimed the music box, he went to Ashmedai. “I guess I’m still a mystery.”
“One I think we can solve. As for manning a festival booth”—Ashmedai took on a livelier tone, not wanting to completely neglect the ruse they had begun this on—“I think we can agree you can handle just about anything, but I do have something in mind for you if you’re interested. Do you know about Klarent’s booth?”
Levi answered with a wavering, “Y-yes.”
“Would you be willing to perform?”
“M-m-me?” he stuttered more. “With what?”
“Your illusions. You could tell a story with them, or simply give a light show. The crowd’s attention would mostly be on them, not you. What do you say? Only if you feel up to it. You are allowed to say no to me.”
Levi had come so far with beating his shyness, butbeatingone’s proclivities wasn’t always the answer. With Levi though, Ashmedai had seen the way he enjoyed entertaining Kenner and being amongst other people. If it was something Levi wanted, he should be able to work toward it.
Those same thoughts appeared to be swirling through Levi’s mind as he considered the request—did his desires outweigh his fears? When he had his answer, he looked at Ashmedai with a confident smile.
“I think I’d like that.”
“Wonderful. Why don’t you check in with Klarent about a time? Perhaps he and Daedlys will even have some suggestions for how you can use your illusions. I’ll see you soon.”
Levi nodded a farewell to Luccite. “Thank you again for the music box,” he said to Ashmedai, dithering a moment before finally lurching forward and pressing a tender kiss to Ashmedai’s cheek.
He hurried away before Ashmedai could properly respond, but where those lips had touched felt warm, and Ashmedai reached up to feel the spot with his fingers.
Luccite wore her usual sly smile when he turned to her.
“Well?” Ashmedai asked.
“One soul—manybodies.”
“We already knew that.” Ashmedai frowned. “Brax used alchemy to create and animate constructs, in this case many pieces to create a better whole. The mystery iswhyLevi has a soul.”
“You’re not listening.” Luccite shook her head. “He has one soul and many parts, yes—but parts that were all once attached to bodies with souls of their own. The pieces aren’t from replicated constructs, Ash. Levi was made from multiplerealpeople.”
Chapter 5
Ashmedai
Ashmedaidovefromshadowto shadow to traverse the market bustle as quickly as possible. Up the steps and down the path toward the wood, he was a mere blink of movement to anyone who might have seen him.
Levi should still be at Daedlys’s shop—which meant Braxton was alone.
