Strangely Familiar

"Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack." - Sun Tzu

“It is imperative more than ever,” he spoke in a soft but urgent tone, “for you to conceal your powers.”

His anger flared up high igniting his surroundings as the news reached his ears. Shaurya Lomhani was ready to shatter the Mansion to pieces even if it means to have his powers exhausted in the process, he wouldn’t have budged if only it hadn’t cost him her trust. The unbidden certitude they have been collectively working on in a language not entirely comprehended by most yet encompasses and encourages them both at the same time.

His pale skin was slightly purple reflecting his lack of sleep. He calls it chasing time that mortals express insomnia.

Working tirelessly, with an average of eight hours of sleep per three days, he assumed this time he should turn the tables in his favor for his return was long overdue. He did not expect such spectacular foolishness on the part of mortals. His anger and resentment were back in full force, clawing at his chest ready to rupture anything he came in contact with. A feeling that was deeply buried within him was suddenly brought out in the open. The threat hanging on his every movement and the vulnerability derived from the hidden fact, that was so generously ignored by himself despite his undeniably powerful abilities, he still cannot access all his magic.

The tension lingering in the atmosphere was attenuated by the sound of birds chirping and singing around them, welcoming the arrival of the monsoon. It was mildly relaxing for both parties but the magnitude of the scenario wouldn’t just cease because the rain decided to make its presence known.

“If the magic lurking in the walls as much as whiff your essence,” he struggled with his words, changing its path, “don’t let it catch you.”

Ayaan was present with them for the first time. He was standing at the door guarding, with one leg inside the Opal and one outside while the other two were standing at a round table. No one can do this job better than him. He knew that. He had been helping his royal Highness for centuries now, defending the potential mage from the wrath of the portrait’s dark magic. Although he admitted to himself his carelessness and tardiness despite his undiluted accuracy in measuring the situation, he couldn’t save the Sachem herself from getting exposed. No matter the guilt, his pride would never let him confess to her.

“You did a brilliant job, my friend,” Shaurya praised him, “Well done!”

“It has been the most unfortunate turn of events, your Highness.” Ayaan bowed his head down at him. “This was the last resort. But even though they know my identity now. I promise I shall not fail you.”

He nodded. “Why would they go for such drastic measures?”

“They think you are possessing me,” Naina responded with confidence. “There may have been incidences that strongly support it.”

“Indulge me.”

Sharuya looked up from the table that displayed the entire map of the Mansion, outlining the walls of the castle contaminated by dark magic that is now activated in full force. It was a moving image signaling dark forces as they were attempting to penetrate its way through.

“I may have spoken something out of the blue when Sammy and I were near the west wing. We tried to break in.”

“Did you?” He was amused, a light note to his tensed mind and state, caressing him like pleasant summer air. “Always the rebellious streak.”

Naina hummed diverting her gaze the other way, resting her head side-ways peacefully against the wall.

“What else?”

“Then there was this time when I saw a ray of light - red light but it disappeared as soon a sit appeared.” She paused looking over at Ayaan who was holding a straight face, his eyes reflecting his inner sincerity that she had never seen before. She escaped his horizon and her vision got back to its source. “Was it you?”

Shaurya shook his head. “You would have known if it was me.”

Her eyes furrowed deeply at his words and thoughts started to juggle inside her head making room before she relinquished them completely as he held his hand signaling to cease her efforts.

“It was you, Akira. It was your magic trying to guide you. You have a healing core. It extends even to those you wish to cure or mean no harm. It was your magic trying to warn your brother in the same way as it was trying to bring you to me.”

“But-”

He interrupted her again. “The longer you took to set it free, the more uncontrollable it got from within. Suppressing something as delicate as this can expose you to risks ranging from mild headaches to brain damage.”

For a moment, she was too horrified to utter a word. Did her adoptive mother not know the severity of the situation she would bring upon her daughter when she had her magic blocked?

“My magic got me into trouble,” Naina murmured unbelievably, her voice despairingly low. She looked at Ayaan in silent apology, “And eventually you.”

Ayaan looked at His Majesty who further urged him to speak his mind. “You shouldn’t blame it. It was imprisoned for years and only attempted to break free. Be thankful, you are still alive. Besides, if you still wish to hold someone responsible, blame the person who trapped it thus making it a prisoner of your mind.”

Naina didn’t feel any better. She ducked her head down in guilt. “And who would that be? My adoptive mother can’t perform magic.”

“No, but she can easily access the ingredients to restraint one’s ability and trammel its growth just like Mr. Rahil Kazmi did.” Ayaan countered easily.

Gently and carefully, his body moved on his own accord - like he has absolutely zero control over it. Shaurya reached out his one hand and put his gloved finger under the side of her chip to raise her face. His attempts were unconsciously driven until she was staring right at him. His face was assorted with various expressions, none of them dominating the other.

“It’s not your fault. You live in a world that isn’t supporting your existence.” His finger struck out and nudged against her cheek in a light prod. Naina suddenly felt blood rushing in her skull and it became visibly hard to keep her eyes open.

“Anything else that happened?”

She tried to recall but couldn’t think of any. Her attention was occupied by his fingers holding her cheek to think any further. Whisking the feeling away, she tried to anchor her thoughts.

Her eyes squeezed hard. “I don’t think so. I think it all started after Tia and Sammy found Ayaan moving in through the door of the west wing one night.”

Ayaan eyes flicker sharply over hers at the reference as if he was openly annoyed by the fact that she still believed those mortals over him.

Shaurya understood the lingering tension and came to the rescue. “I can assure you Akira, that did not happen. Ayaan would never risk exposing himself.”

“Wait,” Naina looked over his leaning form at Ayaan who was still scowling at her. “If it wasn’t you and it wasn’t me, then who was it?”

Shaurya smirked at her innocuous curiousness. It has been centuries since he found someone like her. There have been many before her wanting to do his bidding willingly to gain his favor and companionship. He may have indulged himself from time to time if only to feel more poignant emotions of passion, anger, and hate. He needed to keep them alive just as much as he needed to defend every mage.

But the presence of a certain healer in his life was causing a whirlwind of emotions that he assumed no longer existed. It was staggering and he wasn’t sure how to handle it.

“Why don’t you tell me, dear Akira,” he said in between his steps as he walked back to the table, scrutinizing once again. “Gather your magic to clear your mind and you will get your answer.”

Naina wanted to scowl but Ayaan’s gaze was penetrating right through her. It was as if he was impliedly saying, ‘One wrong expression and you’ll be punished.’ Speaking against Royalty in this world must be a criminal offense.

Shaking her head, she resumed in a calm voice. “Do you know who this person is?”

“I do,” he muttered too engrossed in his reading to spare a glance at her.

“Well, why don’t you tell me?”

“Things would become so easy if people told each other everything,” he commented, pausing briefly, wondering over the meaning of his own words. “or perhaps, more complex.”

“Any reason you are speaking in riddles?”

“Derive your conclusion,” he sauntered around the table, his gaze hooked at the walls. “Ask your magic to reveal it to you. You need to rely on your judgment now more than ever.”

Naina puffed her cheeks out in annoyance but did as she was told. Her magic started winding around her mind and the surface of her head. It felt like she was traveling back in time, only she was rooted in the same spot when the atmosphere around her started to fade. The elements started to dissolve and a new vision claimed her mind.

She was standing in the garden right outside the entrance of the West Wing. At a distance, she saw her brother and Tia hiding behind the tree trying to sneak up on someone. The silhouette appeared in her vision and she strained her eyes to look at the person. It was hooded, veiling half of the face.

“Let me in.”

She had to cover her mouth from screaming at the voice. The face revealed itself a second later as the hood was taken off. Naina had to hold the pillar to support herself from falling. She wanted to follow the person inside but the vision soon faded and she was brought back to the present time.

She coughed loudly as her lungs squeezed suddenly due to lack of air supply. She breathed hard to normalize herself. A pair of hand-held her straight and helped her sit on the chair while she digested whatever she had just witnessed.

“Did you see that too?”

Her voice was a bare whisper.

Shaurya nodded, taking in her discomfort. “Nothing gets by me in this Mansion, Akira. Are you feeling all right?”

For a moment, Naina wondered if he was testing her loyalty when he asked her details about the past events. She supposed she couldn’t inculpate him entirely for substantiating her alliance. Having suffered and been marked indelibly for a long time shadowed by incessant hours of being locked by a disturbing curse, she would develop trust issues as well.

“How is this possible?” Her voice wavered, shaking slightly.

“Your adoptive mother is very smart even without magic. She escaped the circle of truth without revealing the entire truth. Magic does not take deception lightly. It takes revenge in the coldest way possible.”

Naina was listening quietly. She had this creeping sensation that the worst was yet to come. Holding her breath, she tried her best to get hold of herself. “Remember when I said, in my world the price of freedom is sacrifice.”

She nodded, horror gripping her almost causing a paralyzing effect.

“She didn’t hesitate in making one.”

“My Dad?” Her lips moved but no voice escaped her mouth. She was too ossified to even move a muscle.

“Is transported to another dimension.” He was holding her cold hands in his, squeezing softly in reassurance though he knew it was futile.

“Can we bring him back?” Naina asked hopefully.

He shook his head, searching into her eyes as her hope started to diminish again. He took both her hands in his and answered carefully. “Mortals can’t travel dimensions, Akira. When they leave, they leave for good.”

“So he’s gone.”

Naina felt her voice was suddenly devoid of all emotions. Her adoptive father was a kind soul. His only mistake has been his marriage with his adoptive mother which he paid for with his life. She blinked her tears hard, wiping them from the side of her shoulder.

“It’s more complicated than that.”

He saw she wanted him to continue gripping his hand tightly. “The two dimensions crossed one other many centuries ago. Two different worlds, the world we are supposed to live in and the world your mortal family lives in. It happened when Tempus placed a curse on Aruha’s ancestry line. You see Time is not allowed to do that. It has an extremely vital role but when blinded by the rage of losing Magee who sacrificed herself to prevent magic from its extinction. Time altered its speed, losing an instant which resulted in two dimensions striking one another.”

“I’ve never heard about it.”

“It caused chaos. Mortals thought it was the wrath of nature. The idea was conceptualized as natural disasters happening because of nature’s imbalance and turbulence. The thing is that since the two worlds are still connected, any movement causes disruptions. Have you seen any natural disasters lately?”

Expressions wiped off her face. “It was you?”

“I can’t take the entire credit no matter how much I want to.” He shook his head. “Magical disturbance. Magee was very powerful, Akira.”

Naina sniffed. “I don’t understand. Why did Magee come to this dimension in the first place?”

Shaurya looked the other way, moistening his lips, thought perpetuating in an ever-winding road inside his mind. This was the question he often asked himself. In his opinion, it was foolishness on the part of his family to come aid mortals who did not need help.

“Both Magee and Tempus have the power to cross dimensions. Magee wanted to distribute a segment of her magic in the world you live in. Sometimes, mortals need miracles, Akira. They need magical solutions to their problems. Magic exists in the mortal world too but only in tiny shreds - too subtle to notice.”

Naina felt Shauya hated reliving the time which tore his family apart. “Well, the Tempus curse created a division causing a link between two dimensions. This link can only be severed when magic has returned home. The median links the two worlds together. I should think you have been there.”

She nodded mutely.

“As their only descendant, I took it upon myself to bring every mage back to where they rightfully belong but then Aruha’s nasty plan started to spin and the rest is history.”

“So my dad is in your world.” She reasoned blindly, her panic clouding her common sense. “He is here?”

“Our world, Akira, and no, he couldn’t survive here.”

“Why not?”

“Earth, fire wind, water, and sky are the five necessary elements of your world to ensure the survival of species. In this world, it’s magic.” He explained and got up from his position.

“Are you saying he is as good as dead?”

She felt her anger renewed again, boiling inside her with such intensity that it could burn her alive. “You could have helped him. None of it was his fault.” She shouted.

“I did not think your adoptive mother would treat him like a pig for slaughter. Fear can tempt people into doing cruel things.” He said honestly, his voice still calm as he tried to diffuse her anger. “I am sorry.”

He tried to approach her but stopped mid-way at her changing aura and his whispering meant nothing to her. She could only feel heat energy transferring from one part to the next claiming her entire body and mind, her magic flared to prevent her from having seizures.

“Are you?” Her voice cracked, and despite her will, her distress turned into resentment and traveled in the direction of the only person standing closer to her, the Immortal himself.

She screamed. The magic flooded out of her bloodstream in the form of blinding light trying to fight off anything that came in contact but was discernibly met with another powerful force confronting it in the middle, effectively blocking and challenging her, reflecting true power, confirming the past claims and supporting his ability and unmatchable skills of combat. Her magic voluntarily submitted and eventually merged into it as if recognizing its opponent’s true identity before losing its vigor and bowing down in a manner of respect.

Tears were still staining her cheek as her magic returned to her without any difference. Feeling drained all of a sudden, she fell to the ground, dejected and crestfallen.

“Your magic comes from Magee, Akira. It will not fight me.”

Shaurya clarified the evident confusion growing on her face, finding the distraction easily. And though his expression skirted around sheer displeasure when he regarded her sharply, he leaned over toward her crouched form so slowly that she almost doesn’t deem it as an act of indignation. “I hope you’ll remember that.”

She hiccuped softly, eyebrows furrowed at being reminded of his heritage. She pulled herself away from his line of sight and brought her arms closer to her chest, squeezing her little form on the ground.

“Why was she here?” She asked, after some time though her heart was still palpitating wildly.

“To negotiate.” It was Ayaan who answered. Naina momentarily forgot his presence in the room. “She wanted to make a deal.”

“Well?”

Naina leaned back against the wall again to take much-needed support knowing deep down whatever she is about to hear cannot be good.

Shaurya’s gaze seemed warm at the moment. A mixture of emotions stretched through his eyes, dancing to a strange tune that should have made her heart flutter, only here she sensed it as sympathy - the one feeling she despised with a passion. His hand came up to touch her in a vain attempt to soothe her. His thumb brushed her knuckles for a while before his hands dropped completely leaving a lingering sensation behind.

“She gave you away in return for leaving her and her family alone.”