What Will Be | Book 2 | Chapter 24

Author's Note: Thank you all for your continued support! It means the world to me. I sat down to edit Ch. 24 this afternoon before scheduling the post and it felt wrong to me, so I smashed out new version of it. In general, I am happier with this version, but it is probably still a little rough around the edges. I need to come back to it in a week or so and tidy it up.

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“Far to the South, past the lands beyond this one, and just beyond the Crystal Reef, is the Isle of Temenun,” The Speaker said, a solemn air falling around her. “There are few today who saw Temenun as it once was. There are thousands who remember it all the same.” 

The Speaker’s expression sunk, somewhat, as if weighed down by a thought. “Great change never comes without a cost. There are many who would condemn the events that turned Temenun into the paradise it is today. Many of those same people cheered when violence destroyed families and lives to reshape their own country.” 

“One might ask why people will endlessly justify their own actions while treating the similar acts of others as anathema.” She refocused her attention on me. “You came here seeking perspective, so on this, I will offer you mine: people struggle to accept that which is different to themselves, that which is other.” 

She smiled, softly.

“It is what makes Temenun so special, and why I hope to earn my place there.” She lingered on her longing for a long moment, eyes unfocused and elsewhere before she gently shook herself back to the present. “That is not the story, though, and after hearing it you will be free to come to your own conclusions.” 

I remained quiet. Attentive. Her perspective was one I was unfortunately familiar with. I suspected most people had experience with something similar, wherein the things that made them different were framed as wrong. Even so, I was going to reserve judgement; I didn’t want to accidentally endorse the ‘bites the heads off of kittens’ cultists - or something equally monstrous - in the name of blanket acceptance. 

At the end of the day, everyone has their lines, I suppose. What matters is what we can live with. I was no saint. I doubted anyone actually was, not really. 

“Once, their name was Amaru. It was one of the first two names, but Amaru was the core, the seed of what was to come, so we call Amaru the first. Amaru was a young man, with a young man’s life. Amaru worked hard, usually. Sometimes Amaru got angry. Sometimes Amaru got sad. At a glance, there was nothing spectacular about Amaru.” The Speaker’s tone shifted away from solemn as she addressed me directly. “Amaru was just a regular person, like me, or like you, or like everyone, even those who wish to insist otherwise.” 

“So Amaru was a victim of circumstance, then?” The emphasis on how mundane Amaru was felt like a deliberate choice, but I wasn’t about to point that out - not before the end of the story, at least.

“As we all are,” The Speaker agreed. “Amaru was special precisely because he was not special. Amaru had a young wife. Amaru had friends. Amaru had enemies. Amaru also had Chek, whom he loved most of all, whose feathers came in every colour and whose song could stir a thousand hearts a thousand times.” 

The Speaker must have noticed the look of growing suspicion on my face

“That is correct,” she said. “Like you, Amaru had the Taming Skill. That much is known. As to whether or not it was Amaru’s Core Skill, and the details of Amaru’s Build in general… that, I do not know. It is not shared with the children, not until they earn their place.” Again, The Speaker’s expression was touched by longing. 

“What happened to Amaru?” 

“Tragedy.” She sighed. “Beyond the beaches where the sand is white, past the shallows where the fish are caught, there is The Depths. You could compare them to The Forest that lurks on your horizon, though many would consider that an unfair comparison, for unlike The Forest, none dare venture into The Depths. They might sail above them, but even that is often considered a foolish endeavour, one for only those with bravery to spare and a lack of common sense.” 

“It is rare, but sometimes a creature from The Depths will crawl from the murk, looking to feed. Worse, is when the especially big things come, not for themselves, but for their young.” I gulped, at that, my mind conjuring images of kaijus and their sometimes smaller - but always just as deadly - spawn. It was one thing to confront such creatures in the realm of fiction and blockbuster cinema, but I had yet to consider the aquatic implications of my new world’s dynamic on an aquatic ecosystem. It was a case of the out of sight blessedly being out of mind. 

Ignorance is indeed bliss. I didn’t dwell on the implications, though. There was more story to be heard. 

“During one such Breach, Chek was killed. The exact manner of the death has not been shared, except that it was at the hands of a Young Tuganya. Many were lost that day, and among the sea of broken hearts, Amaru’s loss was considered by many to be lesser. They did not truly understand the Tamer Bond, the depths of the connection shared between the two. In losing Chek, it was like-” 

“Like a part of you dies. A piece of your soul.” My fingers twitched. I’d almost reached for Fudge even though he was outside. Through our own Bond, I felt a tinge of concern at the change in my mood, and I had to reassure him that all was well. The mere thought of losing Fudge was harrowing. Truly, I could empathise. 

The Speaker nodded. 

“Exactly.” 

“What happened next?” 

“Amaru was distraught. Broken. Over time, many grew tired of Amaru. Where others could move on with their lives, despite their grief, Amaru remained the shell of a person.” 

Okay, NOW, I can empathise. There was something deeply uncomfortable about someone speaking with such pity about a situation that veered uncomfortably close to my own - to refer to it as a great tragedy. Because, obviously, I was aware that my situation wasn’t ideal but there was a certain romantic nobility to it, beneath the selfish fear that- 

And that’s enough of that. I- shit, she’s still talking. 

“Sorry, can you repeat that last part? I was lost in thought for a moment.” 

The Speaker studied me for a beat, giving no sign that my lapse of concentration annoyed her. 

“I see,” she said. “Perhaps I should have given you more time to reflect, given your connection to the story.” Before I could panic, she gestured behind me with her chin, towards the opening of the wagon. I craned my neck and was rewarded by the sight of Fudge’s head. Evidently he’d grown unconvinced by my reassurances and wanted to check on my well being for himself.   

Despite everything, I chuckled. 

“Hey bud. I am fine. Promise.” 

Fudge just looked at me in that way sceptical dogs do. 

“All is well,” The Speaker said, the hint of a smile in her own words. “Your bonded companion may stay.” 

“Thanks,” I said sheepishly. 

“Then I shall continue, unless… Do you require more time?” 

“I am okay.” 

The Speaker just gave a slight nod. 

“Very well. Amaru grew jaded with the world and hateful of himself. Amaru was an outsider, to all but one woman. Amaru’s wife. Vera, the second of the first two names. Vera was desperate to fill the void left in Amaru’s heart. It was in that desperation that she promised to be all that Chek once was.” 

My lips grew thin. 

I don’t like where this is going.

What exactly happened next… no one is entirely sure, only that Amaru took Vera’s words to their extreme conclusion. Locked in each other’s embrace, Amaru reached out to Vera with the same magic that once connected Amaru and Chet. Their shared love, desperation, and - possibly - shared combination of Skills forced something that should not have been.” A change came over The Speaker as she spoke, something close to fervour that stood in strong contrast to the tranquility I’d seen before that point.

“Mind. Soul. Spirit. Where once there were two, instead there was one, the sum greater than its parts.” Her eyes were practically sparkling. “Yet their body remained two.” 

By the System… 

“In the years - generations - that followed, the union of Amaru and Vera gradually gifted more people with the union. A perfect society was born, one free of conflict and confusion, where every person gave themselves fully towards the betterment of the community. No outcasts. No feeling misunderstood. Paradise.” 

It was a fucking hivemind. Some of The Speaker’s earlier words came under new light. I had to be sure. 

“Are you a part of this… union?” 

“I am not. The entity that was once Amaru and Vera, but has since become so much more, is my parent. We are not born with the blessing, for in doing so we would only contribute a body. We gather experiences and, one day, earn a place.” A nostalgic smile crept onto her face at that. 

Something, something, it takes a village, I guess. Coping-humour aside, there was still an element of the situation that wasn’t clear to me. 

“So how does the preaching come into it? I take it you are inviting people to join this union or- actually, do you have a word for it?” 

“You are correct in your deduction,” The Speaker said. “We offer people who are dissatisfied with their lives an alternative. The treaties signed by Temenun and most of the mainland stipulate as such, an alternative to war. Temenun has come to be the most important name. It is the island. It is the people. It is everything. If you come to Temenun, you will become one with it - with one especially notable exception.” She levelled a meaningful look at me, and the implication clicked. 

“Because the magics that birthed Temenun were rooted in Taming, my own bond with Fudge makes me-” I almost said ‘immune’ but caught myself. “I am unable to join Temenum.” 

“Correct, and none from Temunun would dare force the issue by forcibly ending your bond. That would be a true anathema.” She looked visibly angry at the mere thought, before she sighed. “People believe Temunun to be a monster, something inhuman. Temunun is more human than anyone, but they are different, and so we face derision… more than that, though, they fear us. They fear the gift we offer. Only those like me, who have not yet earned their place, may advocate for Temunun here on the mainland. It… is hard, at times.”

“It does not sound easy.” Obviously, there were parts to the story that were being omitted. Important parts, like how exactly Temenun came to inhabit every resident on its island, but I doubted I would get a messy truth even if I asked for one. At the end of the day, The Speaker seemed intent on portraying their situation as a sympathetic one. 

We sat in silence as I took my time digesting the story. 

“This has… given me a lot to think about,” I eventually said. “For the short version, that was still quite informative.” 

The Speaker smiled at that. 

“If nothing else, I am well versed on the history of Temenun. It is a shame you are unable to join us. I think you would be a welcome addition. As it is, I would ask you to return before they close the town gates. Being accused of kidnapping a child would be harmful to our objective.”  

I bet, I thought, focusing more on the first of The Speaker’s sentiments. If such a thing ever got its hands on someone with my old world knowledge then- huh. A rather reckless idea occurred to me.   

“Before I go, I have a question.” 

“You are free to ask.” 

“If I want to visit one day, could I? It seems like a conversation with Temenun would be an insightful one.” 

The Speaker beamed at the request. 

“None may be barred from journeying to Temenun - another of the stipulations in the treaty. If you ever want to visit, you are welcome to. I happen to know that Temenun is welcoming to people with the Taming Skill, even if they can not join us.” 

I smiled.

“Something to consider when I am older, then. Who knows? By then you may have earned your place and Temenun will remember me fondly.” The Speaker seemed adamant in her desires. Unhinged though I might have found them to be at a glance, there was no sense in alienating her cult for no good reason. It wasn’t like I was about to storm an island, creature, whatever that multiple countries seemed wary of offending. 

I exchanged polite farewells with The Speaker and was soon escorted back to the road. Armed with new, terrifying knowledge, I returned to Dorbe. The next step would be asking a local for their understanding of the situation. I knew I’d probably ask Isa.  

I had difficulty sleeping that night. My mind kept circling the idea I had. An idea that would not be actionable until the future, but one that nagged at me all the same. 

I could ask the Hivemind for help.