“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know—

  For a second, I was stunned, unable to process what he had just said. Glancing upwards, Cidris guided my index finger toward my lips, shushing me silently. His eyes didn’t even turn in my direction as they darted around the dark trees, silently watching for

  And then, I heard it.

  It wasn’t a real bell— and the sound wasn’t real either. It was more like a one that ate at my mind, while still treating it comfortably. Like something tingling the back of my brain, trying to remind me…

  I breathed an unconscious sigh of relief as I felt like I was being Like a present. Several memories began to flood into my brain as my arms splayed out to the sides, askew.

  Instead of memories, they were more like flashes.

  Hell… what is this?

  During the time before I was born, and even after I had been born, I only really remembered one thing— and that was the voice and feeling of a one whose face I did not remember, one who had been lost to time.

  But now, there was a clear picture in my head.

  Of the girl?

  No.

  But it was

  Someone I had seen… in a dream.

  I had seen him, bumping fists with my unmistakable “older” self, though his face was obscured in the dream the showed to me. He, just like the child who watched over me, had and

  But now, I could see the rest of his face.

  And… a certain

  I wanted to see this person again. I didn’t know why, but the overwhelming crux of brotherhood and nostalgia I had long forgotten began rushing into me like a storm, sending tears rolling down my skin as Cidris simply stared at me with a knowing look.

  Sighing softly, he muttered something under his breath.

  But I didn’t care.

  I only stared at the imaginary person in my memories, who reached towards me, opening his mouth, straining to say something. Focusing all of my will on the image, I prayed and prayed for the gift of voice.

  I had no other desires.

  Even my ties I now shared with my mother, father, Millie, and Sara had briefly distanced from me, replaced by a primitive desire to see and return again. Slowly, the boy’s brilliant iridescent blue eyes stared deep into my soul.

  And finally…

  I almost didn’t hear him, with my heart slamming against my chest.

  …

  No, there’s no use getting lost in my thoughts. Biting my lip so hard I swore blood dribbled from my mouth, I tried not to gasp loudly to catch my breath as I stared Cidris in his unblinking eyes. He was like a statue, one that never moved.

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  And only reacted.

  Then slowly, he took his finger, and traced something above his forehead. The grotesque tendrils of flesh separated to reveal his ‘Mark’ once again as I was instantly slammed against the ground, choking. But I didn’t sense any malicious intent upon me.

  So… this was safe?

  Damnit…

  He reached towards my chest, halting just an inch away from it.

  The air was still, like the aftermath of a breeze.

  The became tighter… more condensed, like a solid. And the slid through the fabric of space, coating my body in an invisible second skin. Feeling my muscles grow more powerful, I could only stop and watch.

  Cidris did not touch me.

  But he knew everything.

  “Amir…” He started gently, eyes softening.

  Well, no shit.

  It had already covered most of my chest.

  I just happened to hide it well.

  “The thing about ‘Mark’... it’s very different from or even ” Pondering for a moment, he left me no time to think about who he had just mentioned. Sara? My mother? They both had Marks without my knowing? But I’d lived under the same roof as them for almost three years!

  How come I hadn’t sensed anything?

  But wait…

  I only knew about Cidris because he had revealed himself to me.

  So maybe it wasn’t that strange…

  “You ‘Mark’ gives you no power apparently, except for allowing you to speak freely. Your growth in intelligence is the only thing I’ve noticed from you… ‘Mark’ isn’t a blessing, or a gift. But it doesn’t harm you…”

  Placing his hand on his chin, Cidris stared at me.

  I briefly felt something amiss in the surrounding air.

  Shifting.

  “Tell me Amir, who exactly gave you that Mark?”

  I knew… that I couldn’t lie to this man.

  So I told the truth— the only one I knew.

  “I… don’t know. He claims to know me, know everything. Everything I In a past life— do past lives exist? No… shit, I have to calm myself. His appearance is kind of like an ”

  Cidris’ face twisted into rage as he stretched his hand out to grab me, though he stopped just inches from my face. Breathing heavily and calming himself, he moved it back, letting it rest at his side.

  “An . But no… that can’t be an Outer. Because there are traces of an Inner on you… dreams. Maelirith of Dreams. An Heir? Shit… You’re a damn Heir.” Stepping backwards, Cidris paused.

  The same words.

  But he didn’t explain.

  And I didn’t have the confidence to ask exactly.

  “What does that mean?” I said instead.

  “It means you’re Cidris said confidently. He no longer spoke with that edgy, whispering, villainous tone in his voice. It was like his mind had cleared, and he now understood everything.

  But I didn’t, damnit!

  Hell, what is wrong with you?!

  TELL ME!

  “Bound to what?” I asked simply.

  “Hmm, how do I put it? The The greatest story, the one of this entire world. Just being Marked means that you are relevant. But you… you aren’t just you’re something more.”

  “... Right.” I seriously doubted what he was saying.

  It sounded much too fluffy.

  I wasn’t going to believe things like this too easily.

  Raising an eyebrow, Cidris chuckled softly.

  “It looks like you don’t understand. What did you ask me? The Parables? Sure, I’ll explain them to you.” Leaving me no time for response, he immediately dove into a lecture, raising his hands. Radiant waves of golden energy wrapped around him like a cloak, obscuring his face from me.

  I watched in awe as a thin smile spread on his face while he lifted a single finger, snapping it, and turning the world dark. Notes of shadow rose from the ground, completely conquering all the golden Am, leaving him enveloped in the complete abyss.

  Again,

  He spoke again, this time louder.

  More hurried.

  “I—” I began to say something, but he quickly cut me off.

  “Don’t speak.”

  So I didn’t. I didn’t even think.

  I only watched.

  Pointing at his forehead, and then my chest, I knew that Cidris was referring to the ‘Mark’. Both my Mark, and his as well. Although they had their differences, they were after all, pretty much the same thing.

  Right?

  ”

  He paused, letting me breathe.

  The way he was speaking was strange.

  Like he was being controlled to say it.

  Like it was but nobody was there to say so.

  “But what if I have no idea? Of who gave me the ‘Mark’? Of who I am?”

  He smiled.

  “That just makes it different from mine.”

  Now circling and pacing around me, he spoke once again.

  ”

  Suddenly, he paused, blinking his eyes.

  “I’m sorry, what was I saying?” He said, looking at me innocently.

  “Um… I reminded him, suspicious of his every move.

  “Yes, right. The Parables… right. They aren’t techniques, or abilities, or magic. They are authority-driven perspectives, individual stories. The Parable of Mind, of Body, and of Soul. Even the gods can be split into these three things.”

  “Once someone has undergone a God’s trial, they can begin walking the Parables. Within each Parable… There are I can’t exactly explain to you now… you need to become a Seeker to learn. Through the Parables and the Acts… hmm, how do I say it?” He scrunched his right eye slightly, like he was thinking.

  Yeah… that wasn’t Cidris.

  Very slightly, I could sense shifts in his voice. His explanation of the Parables was… mediocre at best, but it was But the explanation of Am? Of Yu? He had already explained those, no? The way he spoke… it just be him.

  Just could control someone like this, and why would they do it for ?

  I felt like I understood now, but… there was still training and waiting left.