My Story

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• Disclaimer

  This is a WIP novel-esque story I'm writing. It uses cherokee language for the ancient language. Any pronunciation for non-english words is fairly phonetic except
  A=Ah like stall
  E=Ay like play
  I=Ee like see
  O=Oh like blow
  U=Oo like shoe
  V=Uh like hut
  
  Each vowel sound marks a syllable group
  
  Any questions can be sent to me directly and I will do my best to answer them. Use the Critiques/Comments section for any ideas.

• Jera's Journey

  PRELUDE

  I stood scared, alone, and shaking on a dark, foreboding hill. Around me the storm raged, pelting me with its cold rain as the lightning cracked the air. As I looked around, a tall figure in a dark cloak came nearer and nearer to me. His eyes glowed with a unsettling aura and he seemed to float across the ground. I braced myself, preparing for the inevitable death that was soon to happen. I knew I couldn't fight him, and I knew he would kill me. As the hooded figure came up to me, he slowed, raising his hand up. His hand was pale and bony, as if all between the air and his bones was his thin layer of pasty skin. He grabbed the top of his hood and pulled it down, slowly revealing his face. CRASH!

  CHAPTER 1

  
  Jera started awake. He'd had that strange dream again, but was awoken by a loud crash. He hurriedly stood, looking around for the source of the sound. He darted over to the window, to see a large tree branch had fallen in his yard. He knew his dad would have him out there cleaning it up. He shook his head and sat back on the bed. Jera knew he wouldn't fall back asleep after that dream, tonight was the fifth time he'd had it, and he never could fall back asleep after. As he sat he tried to recall everything from the dream. All he could remember was the cold rain and storm. He knew there was more, but he could never recall what happened on the hill. He placed his head in his hands and rubbed his temples.
  
  He knew school would start in just a few hours, and he should probably go to sleep, but he was wide awake now. He looked outside and the storm was clearing up, he saw the sun rising, and realized it was even earlier than he thought. He changed out of his pajamas and into his daily clothes, and headed down the hall the the kitchen. His mother was already up, preparing a small breakfast for the family. Their small home housed Jera, his parents, Garn and Kera, and his two sisters, Licara and Kelan. Being the only boy, Jera had his own room. His family wasn't overly poor, but definitely struggled to get by. His family's financial status made Jera's social life difficult. He was the richest in his neighborhood, so all the other kids thought he was a snob, but he was the poorest at his school, since all the kids in the neighborhood stayed home to help around their houses. That paired with his slender lanky body made him the outcast, not to many friends and no real social interaction with anyone his age. His only saving grace was his piercing emerald eyes, though no one ever could see them through his long dusty brown hair.
  
  Jera sat down to eat his breakfast, as his mother turned and smiled at him. “Glad to see you up early,” she said with a happy sarcasm, “now you can go down to the shop and pick up the grain you were supposed to get yesterday.” Jera cringed at the request, he hated going to the store. Old Man Giaro always kept him, talking his ear off about ancient myths and legends. He sighed and quickly ate his oats, grabbing his sack and the handful of coins his mom gave him, and headed out to the shops.
  
  As he stepped out of the doorway, the bright morning sun blinded him briefly. He stepped into the streets and joined the morning crowd. The town he lived in was a bright village, on the boundary of Goldwyn forest and the towering Mt. Carassus. The ancient legends claim that dwarves and trolls lived in Mt. Carassus, and would kill anyone who tried to climb them. The forest wasn't much better, housing vicious goblins and xenophobic elves who killed trespassers on sight. Jera didn't put much faith in these legends, but that didn't mean he dared to journey outside the town either.
  
  He rounded the corner, just another couple buildings till Giaro's shop. As he approached, Jera's stomach dropped. Standing between him and the shop was Thanato and Thebio, two bulky twins with a reputation for trouble. They were identical, dark brown hair, flat faces with hefty slightly overweight bodies. They both always wore the same off white tunics, tide at the waist with some frayed rope. The twins had always been after Jera, being from his neighborhood. They thought he was a spoiled brat who looked down on them. Because of this, they went out of their way to torture Jera, beating on him and getting him into as much trouble as possible. Last week, while bringing back a large urn of water from the well, Thebio ran and smacked the urn with their fathers forge hammer, breaking the bottom and making the urn useless. When Jera got home, his parent's refused to believe him, telling him to stop blaming the local boys for his accident. Thanato's and Thebio's father worked for his dad at the local blacksmith, so they always were perfect angels for them. He'd been sent to bed without supper that night, and had his hands bruised with a strong leather strip, leftover from binding a hilt. Today was no different. When the devious duo saw Jera walking towards them, the smiled and stepped forward.
  
  “Ey Jera,” Thanato called snarkly, “hows tha urn doin. I aint surprised ya dropped it, bein such a weak clumsy booklearner.”
  
  “Yeah, ya booklearner, ya gotta be more careful with shit.” Thebio said, laughing to himself. Jera just kept walking past, hoping they would ignore him today, standing in the middle of the morning rush. He was wrong. Thanato stepped in front of him and shoved a strong finger into Jera's chest.
  
  “Ey, I'm talkin to ya, ya booklearnin son of a bitch.” Thanato said, towering over Jera, his broad shoulders casting a shadow nearly eclipsing the sky.
  
  “Yea, don't they teach you no manners in that there fancy school of yers.” sneered Thebio as he stepped beside his brother, the two boys cornering Jera.
  
  “Look, I don't want trouble, I just need to get grain from the shop, then head home.” Jera said, trying, without prevail, to squeeze past the two oafs. As he stepped forward, Thanato jabbed his finger into Jera's chest again, this time knocking him back, causing him to stumble.
  
  “Listen here, ya booklearnin shit, my brother and me is tired of you thinkin you is better than us, just because you got some fancy books and money.” Thanato said, stepping closer, pushing Jera back again.
  
  Jera stumbled back and fell, the coins in his pocket falling onto the ground. The two brothers leaned over Jera, pulling their fists back, ready to give him the thrashing of his life. Jera cringed, bracing himself for the pain.
  
  Several seconds passed and nothing happened. Jera opened his eyes to see both boys frozen above him. Sliding out of harms way, Jera looked around confused. Suddenly both boys crashed to the ground, their fists landing a few inches lower than they had expected. Disrupted by the confusion, the boys didn't notice Jera grab his coins and dart deftly into the shop.
  
  
  

  CHAPTER 2

  
  The inside of the shop was musty and dim, a light haze of dust filled the air. Jera walked the aisles, searching for some grain, hoping to find it easily. Unfortunately the grain was in the back and he had to ask Old Man Giaro for help. Jera found the grey haired man sitting in the corner of the store, lost in his books.
  
  “Giaro.” said Jera. The old man didn't even shift. “Giaro!” shouted Jera.
  
  The old man started and looked up. “Ah Jera, glad to see you got through those boys alright.” Giaro said with a smirk.
  
  Jera looked at him quizzically. “How did you know about that.” Jera said, confused even more.
  
  “Well I saw you walk up and get confronted by those boys. Later I saw you under those boys and they were stuck in mid air. After that, I came back here to read up on something.”
  
  “Wait, you saw me get jumped by those boys and didn't think to help me.” Jera said, a little angry, but still heavily confused.
  
  “Woah, calm down, you think this old man could have done anything against those ruffians. No, I've known for a while that you could handle it. It was just a matter of time until you unlocked it.”
  
  “Unlocked what” Jera said, his mind failing to grasp all of this.
  
  “The aleyesu dagasi, you showed conrol of it just then. I had to brush up on my mythology, its a fairly unheard of power.” Giaro finished, his golden eyes twinkling softyle, as Jera was shifting and thinking.
  
  “Look old man, I don't have time for your superstition.” Jera said, refusing to believe such nonsense.
  
  He threw the old man the coins and grabbed the two sacks of grain, heading home quickly. His head was swimming with the story Old Man Giaro told him. He hurried home, carrying the two sacks on his shoulders as he ran. He though about what the old man said. He shook his head. Just silly superstition, fairy tales that got taken too seriously.
  
  He got home and lowered the grain onto the flooor in the kitchen. He knew he didn't have much time till school started, so he darted out the door. He already had 2 tardies, getting a 3rd would get him suspended. Suspension meant no safe haven from the trouble twins. He doubled his efforts, running as fast as he could so he wouldn't be late. As he sprinted, he failed to notice the world around him seemed to be frozen.
  
  He darted into his classroom just as the yard guard chimed the bell. He sat next to Sid, his childhood friend. Sid turned to him and looked surprised.
  
  “When did you get in?” said the tiny blonde boy in the seat next to him.
  
  “What do you mean, I just walked in a few seconds ago.” Jera said, dismissing his friends inattentivness.
  
  “I swear I just turned around and saw your seat empty.” Sid said, shaking his head.
  
  Before Jera could respond, the teacher, Mr. Hiana walked in. “Alright class, today we will be continuing our work with the mechanics of clocks.” Though his village didn't have access to much in the way of technology, his school was very advanced, allowing students to study devices that others in the village only heard rumor of. Clocks were one of those devices. Each student had access to a small wooden clock that they had to keep at the school. Jera always had difficulty with these advanced devices. His strong suit was math, but he could never wrap his mind around these advanced sciences. Fortunately he would be working with Sid, who had been obsessed with technology since he could speak. Jera needed to get a good grade in this class, so he could graduate and go to the local academy. There he would be able to use his skills in math to finally get out of this village and make money working for the large city banks he had heard about. Then he would be set, hed have enough money to live wherever he wanted and get his family out of the two bit town they live in. He had high hopes, but first he needed to work on this clock. The assignment was to take these broken clocks, figure out what was wrong, and fix them. It was a pass or fail project. If it works when you are done, you pass, if not, you fail.
  
  “You ready partner” Sid said, his cheery voice shaking Jera from his thoughts. Sid always seemed in a good mood, and was Jera's only real friend. Sid was the son of a newly wealthy man. His father had gone from local farmer to airship mogul, seemingly overnight. Once they had money, Sid registered at the school, since he was no longer needed at the farm. He knew Jera's pain of being an outcast, and was always helping Jera out of trouble at school. Being a tiny frail nerd himself, Sid was at the bottom of the totem until Jera showed up.
  
  “Yeah, lets get through this.” Jera said begrudgingly. The begun working on the clock, and Jera struggled to follow Sids explanation of what was broken. He watched in awe as Sid tweaked a gear, tighten a rope, changed a weight out for another. He sealed up the back and started up the clock. It chimed the hour and started working. Jera smiled at Sid and they walked the clock up to Mr. Hiana. As they did, the class bully, Alexi, stuck his foot out, tripping Sid, causing the clock to plummet to the ground. As it fell, Jera reached for it, diving to the ground beneath the clock.
  
  Jera hit the ground, the clock floating above his head. It's happening again, he thought. As the clock floated above him, Jera looked around, watching the world around him in freeze frame. Alexi stopped in mid laugh, pointing at the falling clock. Sid was about to crash to the floor next to Jera, his hands stretched forward to try and catch himself. The clock was frozen, the hands on it not moving. Jera grabbed the clock, and then positioned himself so he looked natural. As he laid down, time started moving again, the clock safely cradled in his arms.
  
  “Good catch!” Sid said, recovering from his fall. Jera stood up, safely taking the clock to the teachers desk.
  
  “Well done Sid, Jera. You pass.” Mr. Hiana said, “You are dismissed for the rest of class.” With that, Sid and Jera went out to the outdoor patio.
  
  “So what the hell happened in there?” Sid asked, his ocean blue eyes piercing Jera.
  
  “What do you mean?” Jera asked innocently. There was no way Sid saw what happened.
  
  “You were mid dive, and then in the next instant you were cradling the clock on the ground. I watched your dive as I fell, you weren't going to land on your back, much less under the clock.”
  
  “I think you are just confused from your fall.” Jera said, silently kicking himself for not paying attention to how he fell.
  
  “Whatever man, all I know is you seem different today.” With that Sid stood up, pacing the patio like he did most days. While he paced, Jera couldn't help but feel lucky. He didn't want anyone thinking he had powers. He was sure something was going on, but he didn't need another reason to be ostracized. He was deep in thought when Sid yelled “CATCH!”
  
  Jera looked up, just in time to see a stone flying at his face. Once again time froze enough for Jera to dodge it. As time started up again, Jera looked at Sid. “What the hell man?”
  
  Sid smiled and laughed. “I knew it. You have changed. That rock just appeared to go right through you, as if you were not even there.”
  
  Jera cursed. “No way, you are just a bad shot.” Jera lied, knowing Sid had a better arm than most kids in school.
  
  Sid shook his head. “No, that rock was right infront of your face, next thing I know, its gone past and you avoided it. Somethings up, and I want to know what, now.”
  
  “Fine, yes something has happened, but I don't quite know what.” Jera conceded. He went on to explain the event this morning, and then explain what Old Man Giaro had told him.
  
  “Aleyesu Dagasi? Sounds familiar.” Sid nodded, “Yes, I think I read about it in Mythology class.”
  
  Sid reached into his bag and pulled out a leatherbound book. Flipping the pages, Sid pulled Jera over. “See here it is. The Aleyesu Dagasi is a localized time control power that allows the user to adjust himself relative to time in his area. The user is able to act independently of time, meaning he could slow down, speed up, or stop time. It also allows the user to predict the future, albeit vaugely and intermittent.”
  
  Jera shook his head, rubbing his temples as he thought about what Sid was saying. “So you think I have this power, huh?”
  
  “It seems like it, maybe you should go talk to Old Man Giaro and see what he knows.” Sid put his book back and headed towards his next class. “I would get to class soon though, don't want to flunk out in the last week.”
  
  The rest of school was uneventful. Jera went to all of his classes and was ready to head home. As he got ready to leave, Sid caught up with him. “Jera wait up.” Sid yelled as he ran to Jera's side. “Lets go by Giaro's shop and see what he has to say about today.” Jera shook his head, having hoped Sid had forgotten about earlier.
  
  “Fine we'll go, but I don't want to deal with any long-winded nonsense.” Jera said, heading towards the center of town to Giaros.
  

  CHAPTER 3

  
  As they arrived at Giaros, Jera spotted the twins. “Great, here comes trouble.” he muttered as they sauntered over.
  
  “'Ey Jera, think ya can get away from us by running scared?” Thanato said as he towered over the two boys.
  
  “Ya, think ya smart sneaking off the way ya did?” Thebio laughed, pounding his fist against his open palm. “You and ya friend ain't gonna get away from us tha' easily.”
  
  The twins pulled there fist back ready to swing, but this time, Jera was ready. As time froze, Jera didn't waste any time. He turned the two boys so they would hit eachother. Then pulled Sid back, so they could watch the dimwits hit themselves.
  
  Time started back up and the twins collapsed to the floor, the force of eachothers punch nearly knocking them sensless. Jera smiled and winked at Sid, heading into Giaro's shop. Behind him he could hear the two boys yelling at eachother for hitting them.
  
  “Those guys are as dumb as they are large.” Sid said, chuckling softly. They walked towards the back to find Giaro polishing some urns.
  
  “Giaro!” Jera shouted, needing to get this going quickly. “Giaro I need to talk to you about earlier.”
  
  “Ah Jera, what can I do for you.” the old man said, wiping his hands with the cloth as he turned to the boys.
  
  “Look, I thought about what you said this morning, and I want to know more.” Jera said, hoping that more wasn't too much.
  
  “So, you finally gonna listen to this crazy old man, huh?” Giaro said smiling at Jera.
  
  “We want to know if theres anything about controlling his powers, and if those powers have any negative side effects.” Sid said, getting straight to the point.
  
  “Ah, so this boy knows about our little superstition.” Giaro said, grinning at Sid, “Very well, lets get the book.”
  
  The old man walked over to the bookshelve and pulled down a large, dusty, leatherbound book with a bronze clasp. “Here we are, Igohidv Kanegvnoyvgv, it has all the information you will need. You are welcome to use the back room, just mind the cages, they've got some rare creatures I'd found while I was travelling in my youth.”
  
  The boys took the book to the back and flipped it open. It was filled with intracate pictures and diagrams, each one more complex than the next. Drawings of mythical beasts and ancient buildings covered the pages, text scrawled in as if an afterthought. The beginning of the book was eclectic, but as they progressed it got more regular and ordered. They finally found a chapter titled Aleyesu. They saw drawings of sundials, the sun, and what looked like stars. They tried to read the text, but couldn't fully understand it. Parts seemed to be in a different language. Sid shut the book and looked up at Jera. “Well that wasn't too helpful.” Jera shook his head and picked up the book.
  
  “Hey Giaro, you mind if we borrow this, we need to get home.” Jera shouted to the Old Man.
  
  “No problem boy, just make sure it gets back to me.” With that the boys headed out, parting ways at the town square, each heading to their own homes. Jera walked in to his house, his parent setting the table up for dinner. “Welcome home Jera, we were starting to wonder if you were ok.”
  
  “Sorry guys, I was studying technology after school with Sid.” Jera said, putting his backpack.
  
  They sat down for dinner, and it was relatively uneventful. They talked about school, and work. His sisters had passed their last class for grade school. Next year they would be attending the same school Jera is graduating from. Apparently the twins went and told their dad that Jera had picked on them after school, but Jera's dad dismissed it.
  
  “Hey Licara, isnt your history teacher a linguist?” Jera asked, turning to his sister.
  
  “Yeah, why?” She asked. Jera never showed much interest in his sisters education.
  
  “I need to do research for class, and need some help translating a book I checked out.” Jera said, knowing he'd have to get to the girls school early so that he could get help.
  
  Jera quickly finished his dinner and excused himself, grabbing his bag and heading to his room to study the strange book from Giaro's.
  

  CHAPTER 4

  The wind blew me down, as the trees around me shuddered in the gale. I coul hardly keep my eyes open, the wind seeming to encircle me like a constrictor. I tried my hardest to find my way to shelter, but to no avail. I sat in the clearing, the force of the gusts beating me to submission, as the screech of the wind tore at my sanity. Suddenly the winds calmed, the screams died. I stood, only to see a cloaked figure standing before me. In his hand was an old leatherbound book, sealed shut with a bronze clasp. He reached towards me, handing me the book. His boney hands clasped the book tightly, as if his life depended on it. I reached for it, knowing that I needed to take the book. It touched my hand, and I felt a shock. As I held the book, the hooded figure stepped back into the woods, the wind rushing around him as he vanished. CLANG CLANG CLANG!

  
  Alexi awoke with a start. “Wake up Alexi.” yelled his mother, banging her spoon against a brass pot, “You are gonna be late again.” Alexi stood up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. His memory of the dream was fading already. He distinctly remembered the book though. It was massive, and quite impressive. He wondered if it meant anything. He was shaken away from his thoughts by his mother yelling down the hall. “Come get your breakfast before it gets cold.”
  
  Alexi stepped in front of his mirror, his golden flecked eyes shining in the sunlight. He always liked his strong body, not to bulky, but still muscular. He quickly clothed with a linen tunic and leather pants. His dark brown hair was combed into place with a brass comb. down the hall to the dining room. He sat and started eating the bland healthy breakfast that his mother always force on him. He chewed on while thinking about yesterday. He had tripped that nerdy boy while he was carrying up his clock, but his partner, that poor blacksmith boy, somehow caught it. He could have sworn the kid was gonna land smack on his face and miss the clock, but somehow he turned on his back and caught it perfectly. It was like he just adjusted in mid air instantly. Alexi still couldn't figure out how he did it, but he would figure it out.
  
  Alexi got up and darted out the door, rushing down the street to get to class on time. Although he lived only a few hundred feet away, Alexi was almost always late. His father had donated a large sum of cash to build the new library before he passed, so they often turned a blind eye. That didn't mean he should abuse it, and his mother constantly was on his case about it. She knew that he wouldn't be able to get away with it at the academy, and if he wanted to do anything in life, thats where he was heading.
  
  Alexi arrived at school just on time, barely squeezing in the door before Mr. Hiana entered. Two seats behind him was that blacksmith boy. Alexi had to get paired up with him to try and figure out what happened yesterday. It wouldn't be easy, but he would pull the information out of him any way he could.
  

  CHAPTER 5

  
  Jera woke up that morning ready to take on the world. He got up extra early and headed straight down the hall. His mom had just finished breakfast, and was on her way to get him when he entered the kitchen. She was startled. “Up early two days in a row,” She chuckled. Got something important to do?”
  
  “Gotta go by and see Mr. Liaclo about that project I'm doing.” Jera said, gobbling up what little food he could quickly. He then darted out the door and headed to the youth school. He nearly got lost on the way, but found his way after doubling back to the main road. After a breif talk with the guard to find his way around, Jera walked down the hall into Mr. Liaclo's class. Before him sat a large dark man. His eyes were a dark brown, and his hair coal black. He was very tan, tanner than the farmers. “Mr. Liaclo, you may not know me, but I'm Jera, Licarla and Kelan's brother.”
  
  “Ah, Jera, your sisters talk a great deal about you.” Mr. Liaclo said cheerfully. “What can I do for you?”
  
  “Well I have this project that I need to do some research for, but the book I have isnt fully in Common Tongue” Jera said.
  
  “Well you've come to a good source. I've studied many different languages” Mr. Liaclo said as they pulled up chairs to check out the book.
  
  Jera pulled the large book out of his sack, undoing the large bronze clasp and opened it up to where he had marked it for the aleyesu dagasi. He looked over at Mr. Liaclo as he read the page.
  
  “What did you say you were researching again, Jera.” Mr. Liaclo said, leaning back and looking at Jera concerned.
  
  “I'm researching ancient myths and magics for my Mythology class. I need to understand this for my report.” Jera said, innocently.
  
  “You are getting into some ancient magics with this thing, Jera, just promise you will be careful.” Mr. Liaclo sighed as he pulled out some paper from his desk. “I will write out some translations for these couple pages, but remember, its half in Common and half in the language of those long since dead, so it wont translate easy.” With that, they begun translating. Each word was written, then next to it was scrawled a few different definitions, trying to closely compare it to Common Tongue. As they finished up the chapter, Jera stood, knowing he needed to head back to his school.
  
  “Thanks Mr. Liaclo, you really helped me out.” Jera said as he picked up his book and headed out the door. With this new information he knew he could figure out more about this new power he had. He hurried out the school yard and ran the couple hundred feet to class, arriving well before the bell rang so he could catch up with Sid and tell him the good news.
  

  CHAPTER 6

  
  Jera got into the class room and sat down next to Sid. He had so much to tell Sid about, and he didn't want to waste any time. He quickly handed the paper with the translations to Sid. "Look over that sheet" Jera said in a hushed voice. "After school we will check out the myth." With that, Jera turned to see Alexi stagger into the class, looking a little winded. He squeezed into his chair just before Mr. Hiana opened the door.
  
  Class started with standard role call and a brief lecture. Then Mr. Hiana asked everyone to pair up. As Jera turned to Sid, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
  
  "You are pairing up with me today, smithy" Alexi said, towering over the seated Jera.
  
  "Um, why would you want to work with me?" Jera said, confused.
  
  "He's my partner Alexi, now shove off!" Sid exclaimed, not wanting to have to pair with anyone else in the room
  
  "Really, doesn't look like it to me, seems like I got to him first, now piss off runt" Alexi sneered as he pulled a chair up to Jera's desk.
  
  Great, Jera thought as Alexi sat down, why me. They started working and Jera soon found that Alexi wasn't just a bully, but he was pretty bright too. They finished their work 2nd, Sid having finished quickly and gone outside to sit, and headed outside themselves. Jera hoped Alexi would part ways with Jera after that, but he followed him right down the steps.
  
  "So you gonna tell me what happened yesterday, or do I have to beat it out of you." Alexi said as they reached the patio.
  
  "Yesterday? What are you talking about?" Jera said, a small bit of deja-vu creeping into his subconscious.
  
  "I saw you yesterday, you dove for that clock, and miraculously caught it." Alexi proclaimed annoyed.
  
  "Just lucky I guess" Jera said, hastening his pace to Sid.
  
  "Don't give me that shit, that wasn't luck, that was a miracle and a half" Alexi scoffed.
  
  Jera sat up on the wall next to Sid, trying to ignore Alexi's questioning, when suddenly he saw Alexi's fist in Sid's face. Jera knew if he saved Sid his secret would be out, but he couldn't leave Sid in that situation. So he moved Sid to the side, allowing Alexis fist to pass him by just a hair.
  
  "HAH, I knew something was up." Alexi shouted as he pulled back his hand.
  
  Sid noticed to and looked at Jera with concern.
  
  "Alright fine, we will tell you, but if you tell anyone, I don't think I need to explain what will happen" Jera said in defeat.
  
  With that Jera pulled out the book and started to open it. Alexi watched in awe, recognizing the book from his dream. They turned to the page marked Aleyesu and started translating as best they could. It took about 2 hours, but they didn't have any classes, so they pressed on. As they finished up, Jera was amazed. If what this book said is true, the Jera not only can freeze time, but he can manipulate it entirely. Sid's jaw had been dropping lower and lower, amazed by every new fact they learned. Even Alexi was impressed by what this book had told them, even though he kept a cool exterior.
  
  "Amazing, do you know what this means" Sid said, his mind abound with wonder.
  
  "It means that all that superstitious nonsense old man Giaro was constantly spouting may actually carry some truth." Jera said, figuring out what to do next.
  
  "It is pretty cool, but why do you have this power?" Alexi asked, one step ahead of the others.
  
  "I don't know, but I think I know who might." Jera said, scooping up the book as he hopped off the wall and heading towards town.
  

  CHAPTER 7

  
  The three boys ran into town, heading straight for Giaro's shop. As they rounded the corner, they once again spotted the trouble twins. They walked towards Jera as he approached the shop, blocking his way once again.
  
  "Ey, Jera!" Shouted Thanato "I knew we'd find ya 'round here soon."
  
  "Look guys, I don't have the time to deal with you today" Jera said, trying to step past them. Thebio pushed him down to the ground as Alexi and Sid rounded the corner.
  
  "Ya spoiled brat, I'm gonna make it so ya motha don't recognize ya." Thebio said, fist pulled back.
  
  "I wouldn't do that if I were you" Alexi said standing over the thugs. Sid stood behind him a few feet, holding a sling shot loaded with a small rock.
  
  Thebio stood up and stared at Alexi. "And what are ya gonna do if I don't." he said ready to fight. Alexi pulled his fist back and caught Thebio in the sternum, knocking the wind out of him and sending him back a few feet. Thanato glared at Alexi and swung at his head. Alexi ducked and swept Thanatos feet from under him. While Alexi took down Thanatos, Thebio charged at him. Sid shot him with a well aimed shot between the eyes. With both boys incapacitated, they darted into the store to find old man Giaro.
  

  CHAPTER 8

  
  As the three boys entered the shop, they saw a familiar face.
  
  "Dad?" Sid said, surprised to see his father in the town.
  
  "Ah Sid, I needed to come pick up supplies, figured I'd support local business." Mr. Southland said, laughing jovially. Sid's father was a large barrel chest man who towered over those around him. He ha a deep red mustache and beard and always seemed to be laughing. After building the first airship in town, he created a travel company. He built several landing pads and airships, though the town was more often used as a layover or refueling station. He had traveled many distant lands, and was known to be a bit of a thrill seeker.
  
  "Well have you seen Mr. Giaro" Sid asked ready to get down to business.
  
  "Yeah, hes in the back grabbing some coal for my engines. He should be out shortly." Mr. Southland said, looking over the boys. "You all here to pick up stuff for your parents?"
  
  "No, we need to talk to Mr. Giaro about something he mentioned the other day." Jera said, hoping to talk to Mr. Giaro as soon as possible.
  
  "Here you are Mr. Southland. 3 barrels of coal." Mr. Giaro said, dragging a trolley behind him with 3 large barrels.
  
  "Thank you Mr. Giaro, how much do I owe ya" Mr. Southland said, scooping up the three barrels onto his shoulders with ease.
  
  "Nothing today, your last client dropped off a large sum of gold to pay for your travel expenses" Mr. Giaro said, smiling as he waved away the mans coins.
  
  "Ah, well I'll have to thank him next time he flies through. Always a good man" Mr. Southland said as he headed out. "Oh Sid, be home by sundown tonight, we have guests." With that the massive man walked out the door, heading towards the airship docks.
  
  "So what can I do for you boys?" Mr. Giaro asked pleasantly.
  
  "We read the book you gave us, with some help translating it, and we wonder if you know why I have this power" Jera said, getting right to the point.
  
  Old man Giaro smiled and walked over to the counter. He tapped the wall a few times then grabbed an item off the shelf. It was a small obsidian idol. It looked older than Giaro, hell older than the town even. It had a small inscription on the bottom as well. it read Adonvdo Ulagu.
  
  "This is a carved statue of the original wielder of the aleyesu dagasi. They called him the Adonvdo Ulagu." Giaro said, handing the statue to Jera, "It means Spirit leader. He brought great prosperity and power to his people. He created the powers."
  
  "Powers?" Jera interrupted, "As in more than one. What other powers are there?"
  
  "They are called the Galiquogi Edoa or the 7 Gifts." Mr. Giaro said calmly. "Some of the gifts appear to the new wielder upon the death of the former. Others are guarded and must be won through a feat of heroism or strength."
  
  "Well, what type of powers are there?" Sid inquired, amazed at all they were learning.
  
  "I'm not sure, I do know that one of the powers is corrupt." Mr. Giaro said, turning to put the statue away.
  
  "What do you mean, corrupted?" Alexi said, concern showing through his calm demeanor.
  
  "There is a power that allows the user to copy himself, each copy able to attack the same as himself, but are destroyed by a strong attack." Mr. Giaro said, sitting on his stool. "The wielder of this power is in a distant land. He uses his power to defeat armies and fall kings."
  
  "Why have we never heard of him?" Sid said, feeling he would know something like this.
  
  "Because he seems so mythic, that people just think its legend. Twin assassins or some kind of team of similarly dressed warriors. I know he is who he is, because I've studied the myths." Mr. Giaro said, leaning down and pulling a small satchel from under the counter. "In this satchel is 7 stones. Each one glows when the wielder of its power is nearby."
  
  Giaro pulls out a small obsidian stone, glowing purple. "This is the stone of the Aleyesu Dagasi. It glows purple." He said, then glanced down at the satchel. pulling out quartz stone that was glowing yellow, he looked confused.
  
  "What power does that stone represent." Sid said nervously.
  
  "This is the stone of Adawehi Dikata or angel eyes. This power allows the user to use true sight. This means he can see real time, and not the time manipulated by aleyesu dagasi. It also means the user can see the real wielder of the cloning power, instead of the clones."
  
  "If its glowing, doesn't that mean the wielder is nearby?" Alexi said, looking around the shop for someone else.
  
  "Yes it does. The question is, who." Mr. Giaro says, moving the stone around in his hand.
  
  At that moment, they heard a loud explosion and saw smoke rising from the northern hill. "Shit, that's where Dad's airships are." Sid said running out the door. Throwing the stones in the satchel, the boys ran after him, not noticing the quartz stone had stopped glowing.
  

  CHAPTER 9

  
  On the distance, two billows of smoke rose from the hilltops. One of billows came from the main blimp platform. the other from the warehouse. The warehouse was where imports and exports were stored. The boys ran up the road to the warehouse and saw it burning and the roof had fallen in. Just up the hill, the platform was in a similar state. Mr. Southland was running with large barrels of water, putting out the fire as fast as he could. The boys joined in, helping out. Jera decided it was time to speed this up. He stopped time and looked around. The flames frozen in time were so surreal, Jera took in the intensity of the stillness. He shook himself back to reality and grabbed a few buckets of water. He ran through, dousing everything he could. upon restarting time, the fires went out instantly. Everyone looked around startled. Sid looked up at Jera and smiled, noting he had changed positions again. Alexi was confused, but quickly understood. Mr. Southland, however, shook his head in amazement, looking all over for a reason for the sudden extinguishing.
  
  "What happened? How did all the fires go out?" Mr. Southland asked, frantically looking around.
  
  "No time to explain, we need to get up to the blimp pad." Sid said, running up the hill.
  
  As they arrived they saw a large brass bowl sitting in the middle of a flaming crater. several feet over was another bowl. The platform was on made of stone, so the fire didn't damage the platform much, but it did destroy several crates and other imports that hadn't been transported to the warehouse yet. The blimp parked on the northern side of the platform had taken some damage as well, though it was reparable. The boys and Mr. Southland put out the remaining fires and Sid walked over to the brass bowl.
  
  "It looks like this was filled with some kind of burning fuel that spilled out when it crashed to the ground." Sid said, motioning to the bowls. "Must have been loosely welded together so that it would separate on impact."
  
  "Who would want to burn your warehouse though?" Alexi said, looking around for signs of anyone else.
  
  "Well whoever it was, had to attack from the air." Sid said, looking to the sky.
  
  "Right now, we need to worry about fixing up this blimp and repairing the platform." Mr. Southland said, "We've got the Lord of Riengat coming from the town over the mountains. He was coming to negotiate trade with our village to supply brass at a much cheaper cost than we get it from the southern tribes."
  
  "Well then, whoever attacked, doesn't want this deal to go through." Alexi said, sitting down on one of the burnt crates. Everyone nodded and started cleaning up debris. After several hours the platform was clean and new stones were being put into place. The blimp got patched up and Mr. Southland took the boys on a test flight. They flew around the town a few times, then landed back on the platform. It was getting late, so Jera and Alexi headed back to their houses, ready to pass out after a long day.
  
  The next day, Jera met up with Sid and Alexi to discuss the day before. They all sat at the base of the hill near the blimp platforms. "Dad says that the guards who patrol the area didn't see any sign of a blimp in the air." Sid said, picking up a sandwich from the basket Alexi brought.
  
  "How could they miss a blimp flying through the air, aren't the guards set on regular intervals to keep an eye on the skies." Jera said, recalling a discussion from a few months ago.
  
  "Yeah, and even your power couldn't move a whole blimp across the skyline here." Sid said, concerned.
  
  "So it would have to be faster than a blimp, but what could fly and move that quickly." Alexi said, confused.
  
  "Well the average blimp travels at about 20 Knots, whatever this is would have to be three times as fast at least" Sid stated, thinking.
  
  "60 knots?" Exclaimed a booming voice. Mr. Southland had come down the hill to head into town and over hear their conversation. "Even in my travels, I've never seen a blimp hit a speed faster than 30 knots, and only for a few minutes. That kind of speed would rip the blimps balloon to shreds."
  
  The boys thought, Jera could see the gears turning in Sid's head. "Any ideas super genius?" Jera asked.
  
  "What if they weren't balloons." Sid wondered aloud. Suddenly Sid shot up and ran up the hill. "Dad I've figured it out."
  
  Mr. Southland's eyes lit up and he ran up the hill after his son.
  
  "That's a true nerd family there, huh." Alexi said, laughing as he took a bite of his lunch.
  
  "Yeah, they both have a severe love of technology. I'm amazed Sid hasn't already made some super invention and gotten himself set for life." Jera said, smiling back and his new friend.
  
  Alexi's happy face darkens "Now we need to figure out who would attack the town." he said solemnly.
  
  Jera nodded and rubbed his head. "Well what if its someone from the southern tribes, stopping this trade deal."
  
  "The southern tribes don't have the technology to pull such a stunt, they only have access to airships because of us." Alexi said, shaking his head. "It would have to be someone from the city."
  
  "But the city hardly even knows we exists, much less cares about some minor trade deal." Jera said in confusion.
  
  The boys were discussing when suddenly a violent gust blew down the mountain, they turned in time to see a small airship dart off the pad and down towards the town, faster than they imagined possible. As it neared the center of town, it swerved and shot back up the hill, landing just a few feet infront of them.
  
  The craft was maybe 8 feet tall and 10 feet long, barely large enough to fit a person. The hull was made of metal, with a small glass cockpit in the front. In the pilots seat sat Sid, his smile covering his face almost as much as his goggles. A hatch opened in the front and Sid hopped out, bounding over to the boys. "I did it, I figured it out" he exclaimed excitedly.
  

  Chapter 10