Green Eyes

“What the heck?” Andrew suddenly stopped short. He was walking up to the second level of the Temple on the massive limestone stairs that ran around the outside of the ziggurat. Suddenly hovering in front of him was a juicy, ripe orange.

“Go on, take it,” a feminine voice called to him from above. “I got it for you.”

Looking up, Andrew saw Selene floating a couple of feet above him. She was sitting cross-legged in the air, teetering every few seconds or so. Her eyes were screwed shut and sweat was beaded on her brow.

“Why don’t you come back down to earth?” Andrew advised as he tentatively reached out and plucked the fruit from the air.

“Can’t,” Selene shook her head. “Got to stay up here just a little bit longer.”

Deciding that he had nothing better to do, Andrew stood and watched her levitate, prepared to catch in case she lost concentration. Selene managed to stay aloft for another couple of minutes, dropping a few inches here and there as her concentration slipped before regaining altitude. Finally she opened her eyes and exhaled momentarily before gently descending lightly down to earth.

“What was that about?” the Malchian Navi questioned Selene as he held her up.

“Huh?” Selene’s green eyes were glassy as she sucked in several deep breaths. “Oh, that,” she came back to reality. “That was homework from Johann. He wanted me to stretch my telekinesis so he wanted me to learn how to use my TK to fly. His assignment was for me to hold myself aloft for ten minutes straight for starters.”

“Looks hard,” Andrew observed offering Selene a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her face.

“It is,” Selene confirmed. “It’s a lot like working out. You push yourself and you get stronger with your powers,” she explained before looking sheepishly at Andrew. “But of course you already know that. Eat your orange.”

Andrew looked at it suspiciously. “Yeah, I was wondering about that,” he examined it. “It isn’t the right season for oranges.”

“I grew it myself,” Selene announced proudly. “I used my powers to grow it from our trees. Don’t be so suspicious; it’s good. Besides, I know that oranges are your favorite food.” “How’d you know that?” Andrew asked in surprise.

Selene tapped her head. “Sorry, but I read your mind,” she apologized. “I was practicing telepathy.”

Andrew narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her. “What did you see?” he demanded.

“Nothing past oranges, I swear,” she defensively held up her hands. “Hey, I’ve got to practice and it seemed innocent enough. Eat your orange; it’s good, I promise.”

“Okay,” Andrew acquiesced, peeling the orange and taking a bit of the first slice. His green eyes instantly lit up. “This is fantastic!” he exclaimed.

“Really?” Selene’s face broke into a broad grin. “I was worried that it might taste like an apple, which I know you hate.”

“I thought you said your mind reading extended only as far as oranges,” Andrew regarded her with a raised eyebrow.

“Well…” Selene’s face began to glow red. “It was limited to fruits. Sorry but it was for practice.”

“I’m just messing with you,” Andrew’s bronzed face relaxed into a smile. “Thanks.”

“No problem, or at least not much of one,” Selene amended. “This Navi stuff is harder than it looks.”

“I’ve been doing this for 15 years, Maria for about 10, and Johann for a couple of centuries; you’ve been doing it for barely six months so of course it looks easy for us,” Andrew told her. “To be honest, I’m kind of envious of you. You’re getting this stuff a lot faster than I did.”

“I have a good teacher,” Selene grinned.

“You’re a good student,” Andrew returned the compliment.

“You should tell Jared that,” Selene’s face soured.

“Maybe I will, if I can find him,” Andrew told her.

“Are you looking for him?” Selene queried.

“Know where he is?”

“No,” the blond Navi shook her head. “I’ve hardly seen him or Mara since we got here. I guess they’ve been exploring the ruins.”

“That’s a work of a lifetime,” Andrew commented. “There’s so much to see here. I poke around every once in a while, when I have a chance which isn’t often. Speaking of Jared, what’s your relationship with him?”

“What do you mean?” Selene asked, scrunching her eyebrows together.

“Well,” Andrew started awkwardly, “you two have spent a lot of time together over the last few months and, well, you know…”

Selene squinted at him for a moment. “Oh,” she finally caught on, “you’re wondering if we’re a couple or something?”

“Yeah,” Andrew nodded.

“Goodness no,” Selene shuddered. “I mean, he’s attractive, in a rough and roguish way, not to mention brave and wise,” she quickly amended. “But he’s far too old for me. I mean, he remembers me when I was a baby. That’d be just weird.”

“He remembers when you were a baby?” Andrew gave her a curious look.

“Yeah,” Selene confirmed. “He and his sister lived in the palace at Jermelek where I was born. They knew my parents. In fact, he and Mara were high ranking officers in the king’s personal guard.”

“Really?” Andrew’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Well, it seems they didn’t do a very good job.”

“Yeah, well I wouldn’t mention it to them,” Selene told him. “Not unless you want your head cut off. It’s still a sore subject.”

“I can imagine,” Andrew acknowledged. “Anyway, I’d love to stay and chat but I’ve got some work to do.”

“Oh really?” Selene inquired. “What is it?”

“I found a piece of black granite lying around,” Andrew confided. “I’m trying to create another sword of Kalashon.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, why?” Selene queried. “I mean the Kalashonian Empire hasn’t been around for a thousand years and isn’t likely to show up anytime soon. At least, not by anyone friendly to us.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Andrew answered with a quick glance up to the top of the ziggurat. “Something tells me that the Empire will come back sooner than you think and that a second sword is needed.”

“What makes you say that?”

“A vision I got in the Creator’s Chamber,” Andrew replied. “It’s hard to explain, but I just know that part of my mission is to create a sword for the Kalashonian Emperor. Since I found the granite last year, I’ve been working to forge it into a sword, which is really hard.”

“I guess it’s not something that I can help you with?” Selene questioned hopefully.

“No,” Andrew shook his head. “It’s a bit beyond your skill I’m afraid and besides, it’s my mission.”

“I guess I’ll see you later then,” Selene said somewhat disappointedly.

“Yeah, I’ll see you at supper,” Andrew promised before bounding up the stairs to his workshop, finishing off the orange as he went and leaving Selene alone.

What he had told her gave her a lot to think about. Andrew had a purpose and a mission, one that was given to him by the Creator himself. Selene had none of that; instead she was training and training but for no particular purpose it seemed. Why was she a Navi? Did she have a mission too?

Selene looked up the ziggurat to the top most level. It was single room with big, open windows and an ever-burning light that was stunningly bright. She’d never been there and had always been given the impression that that particular chamber was off-limits unless you were summoned.

A few minutes later, Selene found herself standing at the edge of her balcony, looking out over the lake. It struck her that after a month of living here, she still didn’t know its name. This had become her favorite spot to read and think. Sociable as she was, Selene was still Kalashonian at heart and thus valued quiet and privacy.

“What’s on your mind?” a deep and wise voice interrupted her reverie. Selene had been so deep in thought that she hadn’t heard the door open.

“Can’t you just read my mind?” she playfully asked Johann. He was her favorite teacher by far. The elder Esthorian had the wisdom of age but retained the joy of youth. He had guided her not just through the struggles of mastering telepathy, telekinesis, and foresight (which gave her the strangest images), but he had also taught her about what it means to be a Navi. And the stories Johann would tell always had her on edge.

“I could,” Johann answered. “But I’ve told you many times that reading the mind of a friend is always rude, especially when probing their deep thoughts. It is better to ask.”

“So you send me to read Maria and Andrew’s minds,” Selene impudently retorted.

“That’s different and you know it,” chided the Esthorian. “I see you’ve inherited your people’s impertinence.”

“If you think I’m bad, Jared and Mara would drive you insane,” Selene commented.

“I don’t doubt it,” chuckled Johann. “But tell me, what is troubling you?”

“I’m not sure why I’m here,” Selene replied, turning her gaze out the window where the water was reflecting the reds and oranges of the setting sun.

“You’re here to train as a Navi,” Johann supplied blandly.

“But to what end?” Selene pressed. “Why did the Creator create me to be a Navi? Surely he had greater purpose than growing oranges and levitating? What is my purpose in being a Navi?”

“Ah, at last,” Johann’s mouth formed a smile. “You have excelled at the physical part of being a Navi, far greater than anyone I’ve ever seen before. Perhaps your harrowing experiences have shaped you to be that. But now you are starting to tap into the spiritual side of being a Navi. Now, my dear, you are asking the right questions.”

“But what are the answers?” Selene inquired. “Questions are great as far as they go, but they aren’t of any use without answers.”

“That is not entirely true,” Johann observed. “Questions force us to think and probe beyond what we know. We don’t always get the answers we want, but we always learn when we ask questions.

“But in this case, you need an answer,” he continued. “You need to know what your mission, or rather your first mission, is.”

“So what is it?” Selene demanded impatiently.

“I cannot tell you that,” Johann shook his head. “Even if I knew, which I don’t, it is not my place to tell you.”

Selene rolled her eyes getting the feeling she’d had this conversation before. “Let’s not start that again,” she moaned. “The last time people told me it wasn’t their place to tell me something, my father ended up dead. Please save us all the trouble and tell me what you know.”

“I’m afraid I know no more than you. But,” Johann held up his hand to cut off Selene’s forming protest, “I know who does and I think it is time you meet him.”

“Meet who?”

“Tomorrow you will meet your maker,” Johann promised.

*******