Skye Silver & The Soul of Fire Vol.1

Finally, we had reached the entrance to the small town at the bottom of the mountains. it was futuristic looking but there were no cars flying around. There was a lot of smoke in the air like there were ten families barbecuing at the same time all on the same street. There weren’t many houses around more like small buildings. As we walked into the town I noticed it was more like a traveling on foot stop. There were motels and restaurants lining the streets as well as a bunch of shops with climbing materials.

“What kind of town is this?” I asked.

“Oh, people just stop here either coming down from high up in the mountains or before they’re about to go up,” Kitai answered.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“I know you guys are hungry so I skipped my last meal so we could all just stop here and eat together,” Benign said.

“Thanks,” Kitai smiled. “I appreciate it.”

“Me too” I agreed “I smelled the smoke on our way down.”

“Yea her stomach could’ve awakened bears out of migration.” Kitai joked.

We walked through the town for a couple blocks with Benign explaining how there were about 15 different barbecue spots that cooked all day and night for travelers which is why the air was so full of smoke. Astralians loved barbecue no matter what was on the grill. They love the smoked taste.

“So what are you guys craving?” Benign asked.

“Good question,” Kitai said. “I haven’t been in Astral in a while and its been even longer since I’ve been near the mountains. I’m not sure what I want.”

“I’ll eat whatever’s good” I added.

“Almost everything is good in Astral” Benign said smiling. “That won’t narrow it down much.”

“Well, what would you recommend?” I asked.

“No matter where we go in Astral I will always recommend chicken first,” he replied. Its like they’re from a rich farm that never kills the parent chickens and the baby chickens are raised like Gods. Best chicken you’ll ever have bar none.”

“That sounds great! we love chicken in America as well.” I replied.

“They have a few good chicken joints in the entire country” Kitai laughed. “You would be disappointed in the good to bad ratio.”

“Awh man that’s lame,” Benign said in a clearly devastated tone. “So Astral probably really is the best country for everything.”

“There is no probably about it, we are the best unless Wakanda from the Black Panther Film is a real place. Only then would we have a little competition.” Kitai smiled.

Little did they know, they were fueling my excitement for being in my new home. I decided to keep calm because I didn’t want to look like a goofball in public but on the inside, I was turning flips for joy. I was finally rid of my evil foster parents and all the people that couldn’t even touch my skin. I was amongst my very own people for the first time since I could remember. It was never wrecking yet comforting at the same time.

“So what do people do here for fun?” I blurted out to cut the awkward silence as we strolled through the town looking for the best chicken joint.

“Well we have our own sports here as well” Benign answered. “I guess it’s like any other country, just more advanced. Our sports will probably be in other countries eventually as well as our entertainment.”

“For example, your boxing and UFC would be our Demi-Gods Clash” Kitai added.

“Yea you guys kicks and punches would be fireballs and wave kicks or your wrestling would be the Mountain Nation trying to tie down the Desert nation,” Benign said. “Not to mention the arena is huge, it’s a small island with a lake surrounded by sand in the center making it look like a donut. One half is mountains the other half is a forest its pretty dope.”

“That sounds intense,” I replied. “but how would that come to America?”

“There are people around the world some people call them mutants, others monsters and of course heroes. They aren’t Demi-Gods but they are blessed with powers.” Kitai explained.

“One guy I heard about can manipulate steel!” Benign said excitedly.

“That sounds like a comic book” I responded.

“Those beloved comic books you guys love in America are based on people with real special abilities. Some may be exaggerated but nonetheless superhuman.” Kitai said. “Hey, just a few hours ago you were technically one of them.”

They were right! I had never thought of comic books that way. The entire time I was just like a few of them I had heard about but I had never actually met one so I had no faith in the stories. I was a mutant no one had known about.

“I could be a superhero,” I thought to myself.

Being in this new land with all of this new information I couldn’t help but be inspired by everything I saw. From the Demi-Gods walking down the streets with hiking bags to the ones that were sitting on their bags with their boots off rubbing their feet. Some of them had recent scars from trying to climb the mountain and you could see the agony in their faces. Other faces were full of determination and bright with good health.

“Why do you think they never contacted me?” I asked.

“Well, I believe the comic books are just peoples exaggerated imagination of something they may have seen,” Kitai answered. “Besides would you have gone with them?

“I don’t know, maybe?” I answered unsure because I was aware of my outcast personality.

Benign held in what I was sure was about to be a laugh to my response.

“Skye your mother sent over several guys to watch over you in school and you denied them all, some in some harsh ways.” Kitai said.

“Like who? I don’t remember,” I exclaimed.

“Well my friend Ozark said a couple years back he sat with you at a lunch table and said hello and you threw your tray in his face.” Benign described.

“That was in the 9th grade and he had just walked up to every girl in the lunch room! I saw him, I wasn’t going to be one of his high school flings.”

“He walked up to some of the girls,” Kitai corrected. “and he was asking them if they saw you because he didn’t pay attention to his brief and forgot how you looked all he knew was your name and that your skin glowed like “shiny bronze” according to him. If you weren’t eating in the darkest corner of the lunch room he may have spotted you before asking.”

“Oh.”

I was lost for words. I rejected everyone my mother had sent to protect me. However, she never gave up and that spoke tons for her character. She went as far as to risk her own friend and friends son to protect me and her friend Ms. Cruise paid the ultimate price. It may sound horrible on the surface but I would rather have friends willing to die for my children more than anything in the world.

This entire trip had been an emotional roller coaster for me. It was finally time for a smooth landing or so I thought.

“There it is!” Benign yelped as he pointed towards a sign.

The sign read “The Golden Chicken” and had a Gold chicken drinking what seemed to be a glass of beer with ice in it.

“Is it a bar?” I asked. “I’m only 16.”

“No” Kitai laughed. “Its one of the popular chicken joints in the Mountain region. The other regions don’t have it but of course, they have other things.”

“Then why is the chicken drinking beer?”

Benign laughed hysterically as I stood confused.

“We don’t drink beer here,” Kitai said. “Our drinks do something else.”

“Something else like what?” I asked.

“Oh, you’ll see,” Benign said mischievously.

We approached and entered The Golden Chicken. It wasn’t very full at the time we entered. There was no greeter but instead three stacks of what looked like iPods. The labels above them read Booth, Table, Bar. Kitai grabbed one of the devices from the Booth stack and proceeded through the restaurant to a booth in the back corner. All of the booths were to the left of the restaurant with the tables in the center and a long bar stretching across the right side of the restaurant. There was music playing but I had never heard the song. I was sure the genre was pop nonetheless. The overall vibe of the establishment was pleasant.

When we reached our booth Kitai Slid in with his back to the wall facing the door and I sat opposite him. Benign sat next to me.

“I know what I’m getting” Benign said smiling.

“Then you’ll order last.” Kitai and I chuckled in sync.

“What is that?” I asked Kitai as he scrolled through the iPod lookalike.

“Its the menu.” He replied turning the screen to me. “Just press your order number, add whatever you want in it and it goes directly to the back where they prepare it.”

“That’s so dope!” I replied.

“I already set the booth number so they know which one to bring the food to so all you have to do is order,” Kitai explained. “Rather than paying waiters they just hire more cooks and the cooks even bring the food to you so if there are any complaints you speak directly with the chef whom prepared and brought it to you.”

“That would save some waiters from the wrath of attitudes in America,” I said. “and chefs would have to do their best every time, that’s genius!”

“The best part is that if you don’t like what they served which you will, they’ll take it back and redo it no questions asked. The chefs take pride in their work so if its wrong they want to get it right before the next customer comes in.” Benign added.

Kitai handed me the menu and I began scrolling through the meal list. they had every kind of chicken you could imagine Barbecued, Fried, baked. From wings to things, flats and drumsticks. They even had a menu for full chickens as well as live if you enjoyed making your own. Of course, they had a famous chicken sandwich and some secret dipping sauce as well.

I ordered a basket of flats and drumsticks because they were always my favorite of the chicken variety. Kitai ordered a full basket of flats he said the flats had just as much meat but didn’t take as much space which allowed for more in the basket and that the meat was easier to take off the bones. Benign ordered two full baskets of drumsticks. He said he loved the restaurant and planned to snack on the leftovers throughout the trip.

“How long will this trip be?” I inquired.

“Well if we walked the entire way it would equate to about 940 hours or about 39 days,” Kitai answered.

“39 days!” I exclaimed. “We aren’t walking the entire way, are we?”

“No, once we’re out of the mountain region we will enter the Rogue land, hitch a few rides for cheap and be on our way to the entrance of the Cave Region.”

“Rogue land?” Benign said confused. “Why not just go through the islands? It’s a lot safer.”

“Not for us, not right now” Kitai responded. “The guy that…”

Kitai paused for a moment and took a deep sigh.

“I have reason to believe the guy that my mom was fighting will be there waiting for us so we have to go around.”

“What!” Benign said in shock “Why are we running? let’s go get this dude!”

“Because its Assail,” Kitai said.

“Assail, Assail Flee?” Benign asked as he slid from the edge to the back of his seat. “But how? I thought the Plains dealt with him.”

“No,” Kitai said “He escaped with tons of the fruit from the Garden in the plains”

“What!” Benign exclaimed. “Why is no one going after him?”

“I don’t know but when we return that book and tell the Gods who took it they will.” Kitai said. “and that punishment will be worse than what I could do to him so I’ll be happy with it.”

As we awaited our order I noticed a guy sitting at the tables staring at our section every time I turned to his direction. However, when I looked at him he would look down at his menu. This happened a few times until he ultimately stood up and left the establishment without ordering at all. Kitai had noticed him as well.

“He’s probably just shocked to see you,” Kitai said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“That guy that kept staring at you, he may have noticed the glow of your skin. Some people know The Soul of Fire does that but most people don’t.” He explained. “No one has ever seen anyone with that glow besides your mother so if he knows enough about The Soul of Fire he knows you posses part of it.”

“Is that bad?”

“I don’t think so. I didn’t feel the vibe so I’m assuming he’s not a Demi-God which means he can’t really bring much harm to us even if he wanted to.” Kitai explained. “we can actually mask our vibes when we’re in other countries but not in Astral so there is a clear difference between an innocent civilian with no power and a Demi-God. The vibe and the forehead emblems are the two ways to know you’re in the presence of another Demi-God and he didn’t have either.”

“Don’t worry,” Benign assured me. “They may know you have the power but that will make most of them fear you and stay away if anything. This trip will be a breeze.

“Then why did Ms. Cruise send you to assist us on our journey?” I called his bluff.

“Ok, maybe not a breeze but trust most of them won’t attempt a thing,” He reassured me. “and with Kitai and I you have nothing to worry about.”

Benign’s confidence gave me high hopes that we would make it to my mother with little to no trouble even though I knew in the back of my mind Assail would find us eventually. I just hoped he found us after we found my mother.

“He’s right.” Kitai agreed. “See when your mother’s secret relationship was revealed a lot of people were of course infuriated but they would never fight her because they knew her holding the Soul of Fire and actually knowing how to use it was bad news for any opponent. However, they don’t know you’re not an expert with using it yet so most of them won’t try anything.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” I responded.

He was essentially telling me that if the people in the town we were currently in knew I had little experience with my powers most of them would shoot their shot at taking my Soul of Fire i.e. killing me. The thought was terrifying but the thought of returning to my old life in America was even more frightening.

Our food had finally arrived and I was surprised to see that the chicken they served was actually gold. Kitai and Benign insisted that I try the same drink they were having so I agreed. My drink was pink and both of theirs was purple. They explained that the purple was for people with a much higher tolerance for the drink and the pink was for those without. I was so hungry I nearly had a mouthful before the chef was able to put the plate on the table.

The chicken was unlike anything I had ever eaten. It was like the Gods had their very own personal farms and raised chicken specifically to serve us. The secret sauce was so delicious I couldn’t think of a good enough analogy to explain it. It’s one of those you find at a restaurant and want to immediately go to the grocery store so you can stock it in your own pantry.

At one point I was so busy stuffing my face with chicken I hadn’t noticed how many more people had entered the establishment. It had gone from nearly empty to just shy of full within the time that we were there.

Quick question. Have you ever felt someone’s eyes looking at you and turned around to catch someone actually looking at you? Well, that day I experienced that times one hundred.

While we were eating I could feel several eyes peering over at me and those were just the ones I was unable to see. There were a few people I could see peeking over to us while whispering and pointing in our direction. I wanted to brush it off as what they had told me earlier about how no one would attempt anything. However after a certain amount of eyes are on you even the calmest can fall victim to paranoia.

By the time we finished our food the entire establishment was full from wall to wall and most of the eyes were on us. I also noticed the guy that was staring at me earlier had returned with a couple friends.

“Leave the drinks and let’s get out of here,” Kitai said.

Benign looked confused. “What do you mean, the drinks are one of the best things here?”

“Just trust me, we need to go.”

“Is it that guy?” I asked.

“Not specifically but this restaurant should not have filled up that fast when the streets were just empty and the vibes in this room are scattered, I’m not sure who is what.”

“I see.” I acknowledged his frustration and garnered my own.

“Do you think they’re here to fight or observe?” Benign asked.

“I’m not sure, but I also don’t want to sit here like a sitting duck to find out” Kitai answered.

“I agree,” I said.

As we stood out of the booth to make our exit you could hear the chairs at the tables shifting from people watching us as we walked through to the front door. The closer we got to the doors the more chatter and whispers you could hear behind us. Finally, we made it out the front door and continued on our way through the small town.

We didn’t make it far before I was able to hear a gang of footsteps trailing behind us. I didn’t want to turn around and I was sure Kitai was aware that there was someone following us. We walked for a few blocks and the footsteps grew louder behind us like they were closing in. Kitai then turned down an Alley and instructed us to run to the other end. We all ran to the other end of the alley and hid on the other end of the buildings. We peeked down the alley until we spotted the group turning down it as well.

“What should we do?” Benign asked. “It’s too many to fight.”

“Not if they’re weak,” Kitai said.

“How do we know if they’re weak?” I inquired.

“Oh, I have a way of finding that out,” Kitai smirked and looked at Benign.

“You’re not thinking of doing what I think you’re thinking,” Benign said smiling.

“Only if you still know how to do it,” Kitai replied.

“Oh of course!”

“Whats going on?” I asked.

“Just watch this,” Benign said smiling.

Kitai and Benign walked back into the alley towards the mob that was following us.

“You guys looking for somebody?” Kitai asked the mob.

“Where’d the girl go!” one of them yelled out.

“Sorry fellas but she’s only 16 why don’t you find someone your own age.” Kitai shot back.

“Why don’t you stay out our way.” One of the others shouted.

“My pleasure its too hot over there for me anyway,” Kitai responded.

His response was so confusing I had to take a peek for myself to see what was happening. When I peered down the alley the mob of men looked as confused as I did. They were sure they would blow past Kitai and Benign and come to get me with no problem. Some of them had wind swirling around their fist so fast it was visible and others had chains and pipes. It was like an angry mob in America mixed with some scattered angry Demi-Gods.

However, Kitai like me is the actual child of an actual God which makes him naturally a much stronger and smarter Demi-God than the ones in Astral that were blessed with the powers of a Demi-God. Basically meaning these guys had no idea what they were in for.

“Whats that even mean?” one of the men shouted.

“you know, I’m actually glad you asked,” Kitai responded.

Just as he finished speaking he swung his arm back like he was about to throw a baseball pitch. He spotted me peeking in on the action and winked at me with a smile. As he swung his arm back forward towards the mob fire began blasting out of his hand like that of a flamethrower.

Initially, it didn’t reach the mob due to the distance and they were unfazed by his showing of power. However, when Benign stood beside him he inhaled sharply and began to blow the fire directly into the crowd forcing the angry mob to scatter back down the alley. Whatever direction Kitai turned his flaming arm Kitai blew. They burned the backs of buildings, trash bins, and metal stairwells. The fire burned so intensely it almost looked like the buildings were backdrafting the fire.

When the coast was clear Benign stopped blowing and Kitai’s fire simmered. I was running up to them to thank them but before I could speak Kitai was pointing me in the other direction with a nervous look in his eyes. I turned around to see one of the goons coming directly at me with a knife flying full speed ahead of him.

I Immediately threw up my X arms to repel the knife. When the knife went flying in the opposite direction the goon behind it noticed my flaming shield and stopped running towards me. When I released the X and looked him in his eyes I could see his fear. He had never seen anything like what I had just done. He began running in the opposite direction when I decided it was the perfect time to try an attack on him. I know that may sound evil but if I was going to have to fight like Ms. Cruise said, I wanted to get experience actually attacking as well as defending. I balled my fist and the flame appeared I then swung my arm in an underarm pitching motion and when I opened my palm a fireball came flying out in his direction. It wasn’t very huge but it nonetheless made its mark making contact with his back and he wailed to the top of his lungs but kept running until he was out of the alley.

I turned to face Kitai and Benign and they were both smiling. Benign began slow clapping and holding in a laugh.

“I’m actually impressed, despite whatever Benign is thinking right now.” Kitai said.

Benign released his laugh “Man that was funny!” He said as they began walking towards me.

“Thank you, guys. That was amazing!” I said.

“You don’t have to thank me,” Benign said smiling.

“That makes two of us even if it’s for different reasons,” Kitai said glaring at Benign.

Benign noticed his glare and purposely looked away smiling and holding in another laugh.

We quickly left the town and continued our journey to assure our safety from that mob of mountain Demi-Gods.

It wasn’t too long before I could feel the change in air and temperature. We were nearing a body of water which made it windy and cooler. Benign offered me his jacket as we continued the walk toward the body of water and the temperature decreased more. I only accepted it to be kind to his gesture but I have the Soul of Fire in me and Kitai has the power to manipulate fire. The jacket was best for him but he didn’t seem to mind.

We eventually came upon another town that seemed much more friendly and lively as there were a lot of cars flying around and people strolling about. The lights to all the signs were working and shining bright advertising each store. It was definitely a city for the social type.

“We can catch a ride to the shore in this city,” Kitai said.

“Whats at the shore?” I asked.

“The shoreline runs around the islands and connects all of the other regions,” Benign answered.

“So if we walk parallel to the shoreline it will lead us to the Cave Region.”

“Exactly,” Kitai said.

We entered the town and walked on what seemed like a busy New York street. Just as soon as Kitai raised his hand one of the flying cars came floating down to us. The door opened on its own and we all climbed in. The back seat of the car was similar to a limo there were a couple of seats on both sides facing each other and we weren’t able to see the driver. The interior was all white and the remote control of the car looked like a tablet. It controlled the lights, music, temperature, and windows.

“To the Mountains-Island beach please,” Kitai said.

The car began to elevate into the air and I stared out the window in amazement.

I’m not sure who the driver was but I was sure he was in a rush because he drove faster than the guys in a stolen car on cops.

We flew through the city in what seemed like an instant and were finally on our way to the shore. For most of the ride, I gazed out the window to sightsee everything from Mountains to people walking below. The people all had their own styles. some had their obvious signature look like Kitai and his Bandanna’s. It was inspiring to see so many different styles being freely shown. It was like your clothes didn’t matter as long as they were clean.

We flew through several towns before we finally arrived at the shoreline. “Mountains-Island Beach” a huge floating digital sign read. The car came to a halt and lowered to the ground at a sidewalk not far behind the sign.

The beach was beautiful the water glistened like there were diamonds floating across the ocean. The sand glowed like grains of gold. We could see the outline of some of the Islands but they were too far to truly describe. There was a lot of people at the beach like I imagined Florida beaches would be on a hot summer day and there was a dock for boats near where we were dropped off. It would have been where we caught a boat to go through the islands but to buy time from Assail we decided to go around it.

We strolled on the sidewalk lining the sand to begin our journey around the shoreline. We were lucky no one at the beach was paying attention to us or we may have had to fight again. However, we made it past the beach without a heap.

As we were making distance away from the beach and began to lose sight of the people Kitai thought it would be a good idea that we walk in the sand near the water rather than the sidewalk that had now become the side of a street for cars only. Benign and I obliged and the moment we got near the water Kitai turned to us and Raised his hands.

When he raised his hands the water in the ocean behind him shot up like two arms behind him.

“Umm, Kitai what are you doing?” I asked nervously.

“Assail is a master of all 4 Natural elements Air, Water, Fire, and Ground. This is only two of them.” Kitai said as he launched his arms forward towards us the water arms mimicked and came rushing directly at Benign and I.

Benign cracked a smile and simply dove out of the target landing area which is where he was standing and I threw up my X. The shield stopped the water however it completely extinguished my shield and Kitai was standing directly in front of me with his enflamed fist one inch away from my nose. My eyes widened but my pupils narrowed on his fist. Im sure my face was hilarious but it was pure shock.

“I said this is two of them,” Kitai said with a stern look as he dropped his fist. “I did that to show you that your shield is good but it has weak spots so you can’t always rely on it.”

“As for you Benign, you were supposed to dodge then block. I didn’t see a block.”

Benign’s smile of achievement faded into a frown of defeat.

“I want to be close to the water so Skye can work on her powers against water attacks as well since they are the most devastating to her own power.” Kitai explained, “and I can channel more water and more power if I’m closer to the water.”

“Oh, I see!” Benign said. “Don’t expect him to go easy on you. You saw what he did to me and you don’t want to walk the shoreline in wet clothes.” He smiled.

“Well hopefully she won’t have to there’s actually something she can do to heat her body until it dries her clothes,” Kitai said.

“What?” Benign responded. “I didn’t know you guys could do that. That would be perfect for the people trying to climb that mountain.”

“That’s why the powers are so hard to get one by one because each one you get makes another one a little bit easier,” Kitai said. “How great would it be to go searching for one of the sand bowls in the desert with the power to pull water out of thin air.”

“Is that why you went for the Sacred waterfall first?” Benign asked. “You’re going to go to that desert aren’t you.”

Kitai shy’d away from answering.

“How is it you can risk your life twice yet I can’t attend the Games once?” Benign exclaimed.

“Because I’m grown and you aren’t” Kitai responded.

“That’s still not fair,” he mumbled.

“I’ll tell you what,” Kitai said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been home and you say you’ve been training so when we get back to the caves ill spar you. If you win I’ll let you enter those games next year. If I win you wait two years until you’re 18. Deal?”

“Oh, that’s a bet,” Benign said excitedly.

We continued down the shore and Kitai taught me defenses to his water and fire attacks as well as Benign’s Air attacks. It was here that I learned I had the power to make water evaporate around me. This was a power from the Soul of Fire rather than simply having the Fire Manipulation power.

We trained and walked for hours against the shore. The sun had come down again and I was finally ready to ask the famous “are we there yet?” question but Benign beat me to it.

“Are we there yet?” Benign asked jokingly.

“No seriously guys I’m really tired,” I said.

I hadn’t noticed until now but the walking and fighting was finally wearing down on me. I hadn’t been to sleep since the night before school and here I was in another country 2 nights later with no sleep in-between.

“Actually we are,” Kitai replied.

“What? whoever thought that would’ve worked.” Benign said giggling.

“Where are we exactly?” I asked.

Kitai pointed to what looked like a small motel.

“We can rest there tonight the Border to Rouge Land is on the other side of that motel,” Kitai explained.

“Oh thank goodness!” I said. “I need a shower and a bed ASAP!”