23. Kal: The Swamp (I)

  Kal’s days at school quickly became something he genuinely looked forward to.

  Being ahead of everyone else turned the entire school experience into a welcoming one.

  He continued to shock Mrs. Keller and his classmates, rapidly advancing until he was already studying the curriculum meant for the nine-year-olds – and it was still too easy for him.

  Barely a month into the school year, Mrs. Keller had already informed Elara that Kal would be jumping grades next year – straight into the 9 to 12 years-olds class.

  After hearing that, Kal attempted to play dumb – purposefully answering everything wrong – hoping it would change her mind. But his attempts were painfully obvious, and no one was convinced. He was still scheduled to skip grades by the end of the school year.

  At home, his parents seemed to have reconciled, much to Kal’s relief. After their explosive argument that night, Kal had feared the worst. For days afterward, it seemed like Reinar was avoiding them entirely – immersing himself in work on the fields, clearly distancing himself from the family. But eventually, he returned. He apologized sincerely, and Elara welcomed him back without resentment – or at least, that was how it appeared on the surface. Kal couldn’t always hear what they were talking about in their room at night.

  His magic lessons with Azmira also progressed well, and he’d finally mastered his first Cognition Thread in Emotion Magic. Complete control over the second Thread was already within reach too. Additionally, he had also practiced his other magic types – all except Rhythm Magic, as Azmira had no idea how it functioned, and Terenhill lacked any resources they could study.

  She still treated him like a kid, though.

  Today, Azmira decided she wanted to show Kal the full extent of her three Cognition Threads in Water Magic. For that, she needed a large body of water. Kal couldn’t tell if she was so insistent on this demonstration to teach him something new or simply because she was frustrated by his rapid progress. Kal couldn’t care less as long as they spent more time together alone.

  Either way, she approached Elara to get permission.

  “Mrs. Varren, when I arrived, I couldn’t help but notice that dense, misty forest on the outskirts of the village – way beyond your fields. It looked like the kind of place that might hide a swamp or marshland within.” She began carefully. “I’d like to take Kal there tomorrow for magic practice, if you don’t mind, of course.”

  “Oh,” Elara froze briefly, clearly startled. “I’m afraid the Evermire Swamp if off-limits to anyone. It’s just far too…scary. Especially for children.”

  Kal’s mind immediately raced to the foggy forest he had seen from a distance since he was a child. Obviously, he never had a reason to ask his parents about it. And they had never let him wander too far so he could reach it. Now, he was getting curious.

  “Dangerous?” Azmira raised her eyebrow skeptically. She was convinced Terenhill was just the most boring village ever – perhaps secretly housing the greatest mage in Stulan’s history, but still painfully dull, nonetheless. Elara’s reaction almost gave her hope.

  “Yes,” Elara nodded, her face twisting in discomfort, “You see, the Evermire Swamp used to be tamed with monsters many years ago. It was a central point for adventurers on countless quests – or at least that’s what our grandparents always told us. Then one day, a legendary warrior named Thomelin Veerskut arrived, cleared the Evermire, and from that day forward, the monsters simply ceased respawning.”

  Kal felt goosebumps prickle his skin.

  ‘If there’s magic, of course there are monsters in this world too!’ He thought, his anxiety filled with excitement. ‘Monsters and legendary heroes!’

  “Thomelin Veerskut?! THE Thomelin Veerskut?!” Azmira exclaimed, her eyes widening. “You’re telling me Thomelin Veerskut actually passed through here?”

  Elara smiled faintly at her excitement, but Lucas’ sudden cry drew her attention to his crib. “One moment.”

  She returned moments later, gently rocking Lucas in her arms, soothing him back to sleep.

  Then she continued softly, as if reciting from memory. “Again, it’s just what our grandparents used to say:

  “On a night with three bright stars came Thomelin the Brave, the silver blade of legends, He stepped lightly through shadows, alone and fearless, his sword swinging through the fog of the Evermire. For four days and nights he battled, blade against darkness itself – the spawns of Delexius, until silence fell upon the swamp, and the monsters were driven away to never return.”

  “Wooow.” Azmira and Kal said almost in unison, exchanging an excited glance.

  Elara smiled faintly. “I’m surprised I still remember it so clearly.”

  Kal’s excitement came from further realizing he was now living inside the fantasy worlds he used to read about so often when he was alive on Earth.

  Azmira’s excitement came from discovering that Terenhill wasn’t nearly as boring as she’d assumed. Yet something still didn’t quite make sense to her…

  “But Mrs. Varren, I don’t understand,” she began. “If Thomelin the Hero dealt with all the monsters in the swamp, why did you say it was scary and off-limits?”

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  Elara’s expressions soured noticeably. “The hero certainly rid the Evermire of its monstrous inhabitants, but…something else remained.”

  “Something else?” Azmira echoed, puzzled.

  Elara nodded gravely. “Though there seems to be no physical danger anymore, the few villagers who’ve ventured near the swamp claim they hear noises – strange whispers and murmurs that come from nowhere and everywhere at once. No one had ever been able to figure out where these voices originate, but it’s enough to make a person go mad, and to keep everyone away.”

  ***

  “Wait!” Kal called after Azmira as she headed toward the swamp the day after his mother had shared its spooky history.

  Azmira spun around sharply. “Kal, go home. You heard your mother – it’s too scary.”

  “Then why are you going?” Kal shot her a questioning glance.

  Azmira’s eyes darted everywhere except toward him. “It’s because…” She shook her head, her gaze finally settling on Kal. “It’s none of your business, really. Just hurry home. We’ll continue our training tomorrow.”

  Kal felt irritated at her response. He knew she still thought of him as a kid but hearing her dismiss of him so directly still hurt.

  “What if something happens to you?” He asked, hoping she’d see the sense in bringing along an ally.

  “Nothing’s going to happen to me.” She replied, rolling her eyes dismissively. “There’s nothing actually dangerous there.”

  “Then why can’t I come?”

  Azmira froze momentarily, clearly struggling to find a good answer. Kal seized on the hesitation to press further.

  “See? No real reason to keep me behind.”

  Azmira shook her head. “Oh no, Kal. I can’t take any risks.”

  “But you just said – “

  “I know what I said. But…” Azmira sighed heavily before continuing. “Listen, I’m not the awesomely amazing mage you think I am. I tend to make…mistakes here and there. And I don’t want to risk making one that could harm you. So please, turn around and go home. I’ll be fine.”

  She turned abruptly and continued toward the misty forest.

  Kal stood there, stunned by her moment of sincerity. It was the first time she’d spoken to him without treating him entirely like a child.

  Exactly because of that, he wasn’t about to let her wander alone inside this scary-looking swamp.

  Sleeves rolled up, and his lyroca strapped to his back, Kal quietly followed Azmira straight into the Evermire Swamp.

  ***

  Kal moved silently, following Azmira deeper into the swamp, careful to remain unnoticed. Every few steps, he paused behind a moss-covered tree, hiding behind their wide trunks until Azmira walked far enough ahead. His heartbeat raced whenever she glanced around, forcing him to hold his breath and pray she wouldn’t notice him.

  The swamp itself had this unique – and eerie – feeling about it. As if it was alive.

  The mist spread everywhere, becoming thicker the deeper they entered. The air was stale, strangely sweet, as if the scent of flora perfume overpowered the smell of decay. Some strange glowing fungi and other plants dotted the fallen logs and the mossy ground, casting bright colorful lights that could be seen through the thick fog. With each step, the muddy earth beneath Kal’s boots gripped him, sucking him backward as if refusing to let him take a single step forward.

  Then he heard them – the whispers.

  They were quiet at first – just distant murmurs. But soon, they grew louder, clearer, each distinctly different and seemingly disconnected from the others.

  “Help me…” whispered a woman’s voice, her tone desperate. “I’m scared…”

  “Turn back. Leave!” Warned a man’s voice.

  Children’s laughter echoed in the distance too, unsettling Kal even further.

  He froze, a chill running down his spine as he understood what Elara had warned them about. Then, suddenly, he heard a voice so familiar it pierced him to his core.

  “Kal? Kal, sweetie…?”

  He turned sharply, eyes wide with disbelief. He hadn’t heard it in years, but there was no mistaking it. It was her voice – his mother’s. Not Elara’s, but his original mother from Earth.

  It was gentle and trembling with emotion.

  It called out again. “Kal, please, I’m right here. Please, come to me. I’ve missed you so much!”

  "Mom..." He whispered.

  His heart pounded rapidly in his chest, the sound of her voice waking something within him. Tears rushed down his cheeks as he took a few steps toward the sound, desperation clouding his mind.

  But he recovered quickly.

  ‘No,’ he reminded himself sharply. ‘I was there. You and Dad died. This is a trick. Just like in all those stories I read.’

  Clenching his fists, and taking a few deep breaths, he gradually regained control over himself and stepped away.

  Yet, as clarity returned, he suddenly realized – Azmira was nowhere to be seen. He had completely lost track of her. One look away was enough for the fog to hide her from him.

  “Fuck…” Kal whispered, breaking into a run toward the place he’d last seen her.

  His foot suddenly caught on a twisted root hidden beneath the fog-covered ground. Kal stumbled forward, arms flailing as he crashed face-first into the thick, cold mud. His breath escaped in a sharp gasp, panic enveloping him.

  Immediately, he scrambled to his knees, frantically checking the lyroca strapped to his back. He sighed deeply, relief washing over him as he found it undamaged.

  He, on the other hand, looked like a mess.

  Mud was dripping from Kal’s face and hands, and he was bleeding from his knee – nothing too serious, just a superficial bruise, but still, it hurt like hell.

  Kal swallowed hard, rising to his feet, quickly deciding to retreat and head back home before he got lost even deeper in the swamp. After all, he reasoned, he must still be near the Evermire’s outskirts.

  But as he turned around, he felt dread seizing him again. The fog had grown so dense that he couldn’t see even a few steps in any direction, let alone recognize the path he’d come from. His breathing suddenly grew rapid as anxiety threatened to crush him under its weight.

  And the voices? They only grew louder, pressing from all sides, speaking and overlapping each other, echoing chaotically.

  “Stop it…” Kal pleaded softly, pressing his muddy palms over his ears. “Please…”

  He could feel his sanity starting to slip under their relentless barrage in his ears. Desperately – or rather instinctively – he reached for his lyroca, pulling it from his back and gripping it tightly. Fingers trembling, he began playing, gently at first, then louder, drowning out their voices with music of his own creation.

  For a moment, the whispers ceased entirely.

  ‘Did it work?’ He wondered.

  Kal released a shaky breath, relieved – but the silence lasted for only a second.

  Then, suddenly, the whispers returned, louder and more vicious than ever. This time, they erupted into a mocking laughter, echoing cruelly around him.

  Kal didn’t stop playing, but doubts crept into his mind.

  ‘Are they…laughing at my playing?’

  His heartbeat thundered in his ears, threatening to tear his eardrums – until a single voice, deep and resonant, broke through the chaotic laughter from directly ahead of him.

  “ENOUGH!”

  The laughter vanished instantly, and Kal raised his head, staring wide-eyed as a massive figure emerged slowly through the fog. It was a towering creature, easily three times Reinar’s height, its entire body resembling a tree, covered in rough bark, lined with moss-filled cracks. Vines hung from its shoulders, resembling strands of hair. And it had eyes…actual eyes. They shone light green as they watched Kal intently.

  Each step the creature took caused the earth beneath it to tremble.

  It stopped just before Kal, gazing down with what felt like curiosity.

  “Hello, Kalvin Clark,” It greeted, the voice deep and echoing around them. “My name is Ukreus. Welcome to my humble abode.”