Merketz taps her foot. “You want me to help you do what exactly?” Her silver eyes send a chill up Yatzir's spine.

  Seol leaps onto a desk. “Take us to Lagoon Niruchah!” He licks his paw, then wipes behind his ear. “The healers might unblock Yatzir's tzirem.”

  Merketz hums, then pulls out a lens and scans Yatzir's body. “Tzirem isn't blockable.” She lowers the lens. “Tziremach are born with the ability to harness tzirem in the environment.”

  Yatzir presses on the stone in his pocket. “Revah said that casting a rem means changing something inside ourselves.”

  Merketz raises a brow. “Oh?” She stares down at Yatzir. “You cannot change what you don't have. I don't detect traces of tzirem flowing through your body. In any case, it's highly unlikely you're experiencing a block.”

  Seol’s ears twitch. “Does that mean you won't help us?”

  Yatzir lowers his head and tears form on his eyelashes.

  Merketz purses her lips. “Didn't say that.” She tilts Yatzir's chin up. “But a trip to Niruchah wouldn't hurt.” Her eyes flicker. “Perhaps this retreat can teach all of us a valuable lesson.” She chuckles. “It's not every day one gets to wander outside of the village!”

  Yatzir rubs his eyes. “Can we bring our friend?”

  Merketz snorts and waves her hand. “That silly little girl?” She walks to her desk. “Sure! Drag her along. Maybe the healers can get the stick out of her behind.” Merketz writes on a scroll. “Meet me out front when you're ready.”

  Seol jumps off the desk and scampers toward the door. “Come on!”

  They run to the courtyard where Irāvah hangs upside-down on the willow tree and Vuhtzev whispers to his tome on the other side.

  Seol paws at Irāvah's hands. "We're going on a retreat!"

  She grabs his paw, then he bites her. "A retreat?" She winces and withdraws. "Where?"

  Seol swats at her. “A lagoon!”

  Irāvah pokes the pad of his paw. “To do what? Catch some fish?”

  Seol's tail sweeps the ground. “It's to help Yatzir with his tzirem.”

  Irāvah picks Seol up and dangles him. “Sounds boring!”

  Seol licks her nose. “Did I mention it's a spa?”

  Irāvah drops him, then falls from the branch. She rubs her head. “Next time, lead with that.”

  Vuhtzev eyes Yatzir, then his gaze drops and he looks away.

  Yatzir walks over to him. "You can come with us.”

  Vuhtzev flips a page. “Aren't we supposed to be preparing for finals?”

  Yatzir leans against the tree. “We’ve got time!” He stares at the inscriptions in Vuhtzev's tome. “Besides, you might learn something while you're there.”

  Vuhtzev’s grip tightens on his tome. “Like what?”

  Yatzir shrugs. “I don't know. Healing?”

  Vuhtzev opens his mouth, then touches his chin. “I don't have any Uchremit.” He stares at the pond. “Maybe I could learn a rem or two.”

  Yatzir smiles. “So you'll come?”

  Vuhtzev huffs, then closes his tome. “I guess it wouldn't hurt to tag along.”

  Merketz waits at the Yarbil's entrance with a smooth grey stone carriage. The body is adorned with blue gems and silver curtains. The floor and seats are padded with purple cushions. All four of them can fit inside and the front has a perch for Merketz to sit on.

  Merketz nods. “Good, you're all here.” She eyes Vuhtzev. “And you brought a new friend.” Her silver eyes linger on him, then she turns toward the carriage and raises a hand. The carriage hovers off the ground.

  The squad piles inside and Merketz climbs on the perch. She glances back. “I expect you all to be on your best behavior.” Her eyes lock on Irāvah. “Including you, troublemaker.”

  Irāvah slouches in her seat and crosses her arms. “Whatever.”

  Merketz waves her hand causing the carriage to move forward. She rests her hands in her lap and looks toward the iron gate, making the carriage turn. As they leave the Yarbil’s grounds, they pass a large pond where Netil pokes his head out of the water.

  Yatzir smiles. “Wait!” He jumps out of the carriage, then runs to Netil and scoops him up.

  Merketz raises her hand to halt the carriage. “Plan on making turtle soup?”

  Yatzir mumbles, then stuffs Netil into his blue blazer and climbs back in.

  The fog has cleared and Yavima becomes vibrant with an array of colorful houses. Irāvah’s house sits at the top of a hill, overlooking the village. Its dark green color blends with the grass and its round walls make it look like a giant marble. Seol’s house floats above the village with a long wooden staircase leading up to a bright orange fish. Round windows imitate eyes and wooden planks mirror scales. Pink curtains flap between long sticks, giving off the appearance of fins. Yatzir’s house sits at the end of the lane with a ratty brown porch, faded white trim, and patchy blue walls.

  Vuhtzev’s eyes dart left and right. “This place is…unexpected.”

  Irāvah props her dirty feet on the seat. “That’s one word for it!”

  Seol meows, then crawls into her lap and she strokes his back.

  Vuhtzev taps his tome. “The spa you mentioned, where is it?”

  Seol yawns and rests on Irāvah’s thighs. “Beneath Lagoon Niruchah.”

  Irāvah tilts her head. “So how do we get in?”

  Merketz leans back. “We’ll have to swim.”

  Irāvah cocks her head. “I’m exhausted thinking about it!”

  The colorful buildings disappear and the air becomes rancid. Garbage scatters across the ground. Houses are replaced by filthy tents. Merchant stalls are held up by sticks and yield rotten produce.

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  Yatzir stiffens and covers his nose.

  The people’s clothes are tattered, flies circle their heads, and their eyes are sullen.

  Irāvah’s face twitches and she shuts her eyes. “Hate this part of town.”

  Vuhtzev pulls his blazer over his nose, then opens his tome. “Didnt have to deal with this back home.”

  Children kick rocks with their bare feet as sewage overflows from the gutters. They pause to watch the carriage pass. Some rush over with handfuls of fake jewels and beg for charity.

  Yatzir squeezes Netil. “How can anyone live like this?”

  Irāvah swats a fly from her face. “Don’t make eye contact with’em! They’ll try to steal your soul.”

  Yatzir’s gut clenches and his eyes remain locked on their small, dirty faces.

  Irāvah peers at Vuhtzev. "Do they have spas in the South?"

  Vuhtzev breathes through his mouth. "None beneath a lagoon."

  Seol’s tail pats Irāvah’s thigh and he purrs.

  Women sit on twine mats with babies slung over their shoulders. They wave cheap fabric and shout discounted rates for the group. Children chase the carriage, then stop at the last of the tents and watch the group abandon them.

  Yatzir wipes his eyes and looks between trees where men dig holes. They heave bodies in, then bury them and stare at Yatzir with a scowl.

  Yatzir opens his mouth, then looks away.

  Merketz eyes the men and swallows. “Yavima wasn’t always this trashy.” She glances at the group. “Yatzir might remember from when he was younger how small our village was before the tzirak came.”

  Vuhtzev raises a brow. “Why’d they come here? Etirvet never let a tzirak in!”

  Merketz shakes her head. “Pursuit of a better life perhaps…or they wished to harness tzirem for themselves.” She scoffs and smiles at them. “I forgot to make a wish.”

  Vuhtzev tilts his head. “A wish?”

  Irāvah twists one of her dreads. “It’s a thing we’re told to do when we leave home.”

  Merketz glances at her. “And what is your wish, Irāvah?”

  Irāvah props her foot on Vuhtzev’s knee and wiggles her toes. "I wish for a footrub."

  Vuhtzev scrunches his nose and knocks her foot off. “I wish for better rem.”

  Seol lifts his head with his eyes closed. “I wish for a basket of fish.”

  Vuhtzev snickers, then looks at Yatzir. Irāvah peeks at him from the side of her eye. Merketz turns her ear towards him.

  Yatzir swallows. “I…” He scans their faces. “I wish…” His throat tightens. “I wish this carriage would go faster.”

  They laugh at him, then Merketz jolts. “Look at that!” She points to a distant structure which reflects sunlight. The carriage slows. “That is the city of Arketva.”

  Yatzir leans in his seat. “It’s massive!”

  Irāvah squints. “What’s it made of?”

  Seol adjusts against Irāvah’s thighs. “Some kind of metal.”

  Merketz smiles and nods. “Arketva was constructed by the Ogres using our land's metal deposits.”

  Vuhtzev rubs his chin. “Etirvet had a deal with the Ogres.” He eyes Merketz. “What kind of deal did the Yarbil make?”

  Merketz faces forward and the carriage picks up speed. “None of your concern!” She clears her throat. “You must never go there.”

  Irāvah purses her lips. “Why not?”

  Merketz stares at the city and the carriage swerves. She returns her gaze to the road. “It’s forbidden.”

  Irāvah bumps Yatzir’s arm and winks. Yatzir forces a smile, then peers down at Netil. Vuhtzev flips through his tome. Seol breathes deeply and his body goes limp.

  The sun rises through the sky and a cool breeze graces the carriage. Birds sing on top of trees, elk tussle in the leaves, and tiny creatures hop through the foliage. Yatzir brushes Netil’s beak with his finger. Irāvah’s head rests on Yatzir's shoulder and she snores.

  Vuhtzev shuts his tome, then stares at Yatzir and swallows. “About your mother…”

  Yatzir tenses and his fingers tremble.

  Vuhtzev leans in. “When will I get to see her?”

  Yatzir flinches. “What?”

  Vuhtzev smiles. “I haven't seen her since I was little. It'd be nice to catch up.”

  Merketz lowers her head. Her eyes narrow and her jaw clenches. She winces, then grips her stomach.

  Yatzir hugs Netil. “Imazet… My mother has been gone a long time.”

  Vuhtzev brows furrow. “She's not in Yavima?”

  Yatzir bites the inside of his cheek.. “Uh-uh.”

  Vuhtzev clutches his tome. “Where is she?”

  Yatzir stares at him. His pulse quickens and his chest tightens. He opens his mouth, then—

  The carriage comes to a halt and Merketz climbs off her perch. “We’re here.”

  Yatzir shakes Irāvah. “Hey.”

  Her eyelids flutter, then she sits up. “Did we make it?”

  Seol stretches on her lap. “Finally!”

  They exit the carriage, then it settles on the ground. Trees tower overhead and bright flora dances in the wind. They scan the still lagoon.

  Irāvah crosses her arms and shifts her weight. “Great, it's empty!”

  Merketz walks to the edge of the lagoon and looks down. “Not quite.”

  At the bottom of the lagoon, a giant glass bubble connects to small pods and is illuminated by orange and yellow hues. In the foggy water, Yatzir sees a long creature swim by. He clings to Netil and steps back.

  Irāvah scratches her head. “Do we swim now?”

  Merketz hums, then scans their surroundings. She spots a large toad sitting in the shade. “We come from the Yarbil and wish to enter Niruchah.”

  The toad croaks, then hops into the lagoon and swims toward the bubble. Vuhtzev stares at Yatzir with a serious expression. Yatzir glances his way, but remains silent. Seol sniffs the air and Irāvah pulls out her pipe.

  Two people emerge from the lagoon. A woman in a yellow robe and a man in an orange robe. They bow at the group's feet.

  The woman's hair matches the color of the dirt. “Welcome friends of the Yarbil. My name is Neu, Uchach of the Lagoon, and your host.”

  The man's yellow hair curls on the ground. “And my name is Evox, Uchimach of Niruchah, your personal assistant.”

  Merketz bows. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice.”

  The couple rises, then bows again and holds wide smiles.

  Neu nods to Merketz. “It's our pleasure to serve members of the Yarbil.” She turns. “As for your visit, you will receive our most generous offerings, which include private rooms and your own lounge.”

  Yatzir tugs on his collar. “Isn't that excessive?”

  Evox laughs and shakes his head. “Not at all, Bogenach! We served the last two Bognunrach and will attend to your every need. Our goal is to soothe you however we can.”

  Irāvah places a hand on her hip. “What are we standing around for?”

  Neu bows. “I apologize for the inconvenience, but you will not be able to enter Niruchah without applying our Zohavit.” She pulls a round jar from her pocket. “Made from the plants that grow at the bottom of the lagoon, this special blend will allow you to hold your breath for an extended period of time.”

  Evox pulls out a jar and pops the lid off. “Notice the smell of algae and salt.” He hands it to Vuhtzev. “When applied, it leaves behind an icy trail, then turns warm and protects you from the low temperatures of the lagoon.”

  Vuhtzev sniffs the mixture, then hums and scoops a glob onto his fingers. He passes the jar to Yatzir, but Evox reaches out. “Please, apply the Zohavit generously. You’ll need to cover both your arms, legs, and face.”

  Vuhtzev removes his blazer, then rolls up the sleeves of his button-up and his pantlegs. Yatzir’s eyes linger on Vuhtzev’s hairy limbs. His eyes follow the movement of Vuhtzev’s hands, watching them rub the goo into his skin.

  Neu holds Merketz’s robe and smiles while Merketz applies the Zovahit. Merketz shivers. “What a strange solvent!” She passes the jar to Irāvah.

  Irāvah glances between Neu and the jar. “I rub this all over?”

  Neu nods. “That’s correct.”

  Irāvah shrugs, then tugs off her uniform and tosses it on the ground. She is left in a sleeveless shirt and loose shorts. Her fingers drive into the jar.

  Merketz rolls her eyes.

  Vuhtzev gives the jar to Yatzir. “Your turn.”

  Yatzir pulls Netil out of his blazer, then sets his blazer down and places Netil on top. He struggles with the buttons on his cuffs.

  Vuhtzev leans over. “Allow me.” He gently unclasps the buttons and rolls up Yatzir’s sleeves.

  Yatzir hides his face in his shoulder while Irāvah makes kissy lips at them. Once Vuhtzev is finished, Yatzir sniffs the mixture and jerks. “It smells crispy.” He scoops out a glob and rubs it on his forearm. “Wow!”

  Irāvah smears the Zovahit onto Seol's fur.

  Neu strains a smile. "It must be applied directly to your skin.” She looks at Seol. “You'll have to morph."

  Seol leaps out of Irāvah's hands. "If you insist." He morphs back into a human.

  Yatzir covers his eyes.

  Irāvah smacks Seol’s head. "Where are your clothes?"

  Seol runs behind Yatzir. "I don't need them!"

  Yatzir moves away. “Get off me, you pervert!”

  Vuhtzev crosses his arms and snickers.

  Merketz steps forward and her glare sends a shiver down all of their spines. "Apply the ointment—or I will."

  Seol gulps, then lathers himself and runs from Irāvah as she bats at him.

  Seol...Thoughtform