“I stood there in silence wondering what sort of violence had entered the day. Unsure of myself I had to temper myself. I could not look weak before the fray.” - Tye Lancaster

You know I’m not one to complain about things. I’ve a solid life even though my father is a menace he always seems to steer us into an end. Whether it be profitable or enlightening by measure of weight or by metaphysical space we had always come out alive and able. My trust in him was that he could take me into a burning home and the exit might not appear near. I would still find a way to clear. 

Insanity, really, that I, not we, followed that ogre and his mechanings. But, we did, so we went and would go anywhere with the firm belief that no matter the circumstances we’d make it out. So obsessed with diving deeper into the secrets that lay buried or hidden, maybe even defended. We’d gone across the globe in search of his perfect pitch. His place to stake a lifetime on. A plot of land so remote and so secluded it could not be found by the modern man.

My father, Money, had found this place. An ocean oasis’s island escaped and we built a grand hotel. He’d keep the most elite of occupants. No law held him, he governed himself and so he was able to accept the wealth of any who sought his luxury resort reprise. I just lost interest with the type of business he kept by his side. Men and women of ill gotten wealth and hands dirty by the grasping of power.  Warlords and pirates and thieves and scalavants. 

“It’s all money to me.” He would say when I complained about it. “Let them spend their wealth and give it to me.”

We left him there and took that plane in our escape as things collapsed as they always did…

So here I am now in a new world and I’m a fucking girl… 

I can’t understand what I’ve done to deserve this?! I didn’t choose to be born. I am not my father, I'm only his son. 

Tye sighs loudly in annoyance. Earning him a glare from Locke sitting not far from him in the guest room of their new summoner’s estate. A place they’ve found themselves within more often than not for the last dozen hours. Even with the events by the water earlier and the celebrations going on outside. They are kept on a shelf tucked away. It almost feels like a cage. 

Looking around there is Locke sitting in an Indian position on the ground. Crossed legs. Feigning meditation. As if the man could stop thinking long enough to meditate correctly. 

Then there was Brent beyond him. Relaxed against the wall, his back to us. Shielding away what Tye imagine’s is the last charge of his phone battery and video gaming. Lucky bastard, I wish I'd put my phone in my pocket. 

Finally on the other side of the room is Corin. Female form still, standing by the wall knocking her head on it in rhythm. I’d call it crazy but as bored and annoyed as I am now I can’t pretend like I don’t want to do the same…

“This sucks… aren’t we supposed to be the hero’s that slayed the monster? Why are we locked away like some kind of animal?” Tye complains

“Because I imagine that’s exactly how they see us.” Corin confirms. “The original summoner’s summons were wolves I hear. So they think we’re animalistic by nature.”

“I mean, we talk and are clearly smarter than them.” Tye replies

“Clearly, they do not know how dumb they are.” Locke interjects. 

This gets a laugh from everyone in the room. For just a moment the weight of everything is gone but I’m just moment it’s all back again. 

“I feel like we are prisoners.”

“Because we are.” Corin replies

“Don’t be that dramatic. I’m sure they are just being cautious or something” Tye replies

“No. She is right.” Locke confirms. “We are prisoners of this Nora. She has control over us. She can make us do anything. We are trapped.”

“What do you even mean though?” Tye tries to refute the truth of it. Determined to resist as long as possible. 

“You’ve seen it. If she says the word we have to follow. Remember when she made us heel? When she makes an order I can’t stop myself from following it. You either can you?” Locke chides

“Yeah, well, I was unaware of the challenge then. Next time I might be able to resist it.” 

“Yeah, the mighty Tye…” Locke mocks as he opens his eyes to glare at Tye “you know I heard you scream before and it sounds almost the same.”

“Hey, what are you trying to say?” Tye stands up taking a step closer to Locke. 

“I’m saying, your female scream sounded a lot like your male scream.” Locke replied. 

“Oh yeah? Funny.” Tye spits back looking around to see a chuckling Corin and an unmoved Brent.

Tye can feel the vein on his forehead throb at this. What’s the deal with Locke right now? Why does he gotta be such a dick right now?

“Ya know, if it’s all the same I bet you’d still lose to me now like always mister apex of combat.” Tye says as she draws a line before her with her foot. “I bet you’re as weak as ever.”

“Guys do we really gotta do this right now?” Corin interrupts.

“I don’t know Locke, do we?” Tye entices crouching a little as if inviting. 

“What? fight each other while locked in a room because they think we’re nothing more than animals?” Locke replies. 

“Who cares what they think. They probably haven’t even discovered gravity yet. I’m not gonna lose sleep over them judging me poorly.” 

“Tye, calm down, we have to figure out how to get out of here and back home.” Corin groans. 

“Why don’t we just wiggle our ears or trot about in a circle and sing some stupid rhyme. Do you have some chalk or candles maybe?” Tye replies sarcastically. 

“Ya know that’s not a bad idea.” Corin replies as she eyes her. “Maybe we can use our abilities to get back. Well, maybe not yours.” 

“Don’t think we can burn our way back home do you?” Tye replies. 

“No, but, can you still control it?” Corin retorts.

Tye looks at her hands.

“Idk, I don’t have any feeling for it right now. Maybe? Should I test it. Burn this place down by accident and you all with it?”

“Us all?” Corin replies. 

“Well I get the feeling it’s not gonna bother me. I’m not so sure it’ll ignore you all though.” 

“That’s interesting. So it has like intentions?” Corin asks

“Yeah, like, idk how to explain it but when the fire was all around me it seemed to have a voice. Like it was talking to me.” Tye replies as she spins herself around in the room. 

“What does fire sound like?” Locke asks. 

“I don’t know, I don’t actually hear voices, it's more of a feeling. I guess. I don’t know, it doesn’t make sense. This is all too weird.” Tye replies

“Super weird.”  Locke confirms. 

“Well, it’s not like I can just create it out of nothing. Ya know? I think it has to be there.” Tye muses to himself outloud for everyone else. Eying the candles that light their room. He had not been paying them much attention before but now he seems to notice a face?

“Holy shit!” He exclaims, “the fire is alive.”

Everyone in the room seems to stir at this statement. Corin eyes are wide gawking at Tye while Locke sits ponderingly glaring at her. His head tilted. Even Brent has shuffled a little and now his eyes lay on Tye. 

“I.. I… I… hello” Tye says as she reaches out and touches one of the lit candles flames. It springs off its wick and scurries about her. Hugging her in random places as she navigates her body.

“Wo wo wo wo wo!" Tye screams as she through her hands outward. Initially meaning to pat the flame out but stoping herself. She tries to stay still as the ember fire runs across her body as it wills. She closes her eyes and takes a deal breath. 

“I’m still not used to this yet.”

“Yeah, me either.” Corin replies. Dumbstruck observing alongside Brent and Locke. Equally so. 

Finally the flame wanders to Tye’s right pointer finger and sits there as if it were the candle. Happily abashed, unaware of anything else in the universe.

Tye brings the flame before her eyes in disbelief. It’s hugging her finger as if it never wants to let go. 

“I think this thing loves me.” Tye says aloud. 

The other three gulp in unison and shake their heads in agreement. Eyes wide open. Astonished by the display. 

“Now that’s really cool” Tye chuckles to herself. 

The flame dances along her fingers as Tye maneuvers her hand. 

“I don’t think anything could be weirder than this.” Tye tells herself. 

“What about your hand?” Tye interjects.

“What hand?” Corin replies.

“…” Brent 

There is a glint of sweat that beads from Locke’s forehead. His eyes are calculating. Everyone has noticed the signs. He’s in deep thought. 

“It felt to me.” Locke replied. As he looks at his hands. “The sword that furry guy threw felt me. Captain, what's his name?”

“When I touched it, I felt something run through me. As if it could consume me. I wanted to vomit. It hurt and burned but I needed to save Tye so I fought through it. I could have died it felt like that. Cold. Like ice but fire at the same time. What I remember most is that it had a pulse.” Locke finishes. Sweat now dripping from his forehead. The memory is obviously very real to him still. 

“Aether is what they called it.” Tye replies. 

“Yeah, Aether. A magic sword I imagine.” Locke confirms as he gulps. 

“Was it really that intense?” Tye asks. 

“Well, yes. It grabbed hold of something in me and when I swung that sword I knew it could only hit what I wanted.” Locke replies. 

“That’s like cheat codes. That’s like Fucking strong. Why aren’t they able to defend themselves?” Tye shoots back.

“I didn’t like it.” Locke firmly states. 

“You didn’t like it?” Corin answers back. 

“It felt like it rejected me. Like it was trying to kill me if it had the opportunity.” Locke confirms. 

“Man, this place sucks. I’m afraid the Fucking drink water it might try to drown me or something!” Tye complains. “Maybe the air I'm breathing might try to suffocate me if I’m not paying attention.”

“Magic is scary.” Corin agrees. They all shake their heads.

“Seriously, if I gotta be afraid of the forks I use to eat food what the hell man?” Tye screams.

“I’m really feeling overwhelmed.” Corin interjects

Obstacle 29. Locke’d Out