Merketz sits in the lounge and sips on a cup of coffee. Evox fries eggs, plants, and fish on the grill. Unah kneels beside him, seasoning the food.

  Neu enters the lounge. “Merketz, you're awake.” She stands beside Evox. “How is he?”

  Merketz shrugs. “Comfortable.” She nods to Yatzir's suite.

  Evox and Unah grin at one another.

  Neu walks over to the suite and peers inside. Yatzir's head is on Vuhtzev's chest. Netil rests on Vuhtzev's stomach. Vuhtzev's arm is wrapped around Yatzir and the other is on Netil.

  Neu turns to Merketz. “And the others?”

  Merketz lowers her coffee. “Likewise.”

  Neu walks to the opposite suite and pokes her head in. Seol curls at Irāvah’s waist. Irāvah’s hand is on his head.

  Neu nods and returns to Merketz. “About our discussion…”

  Merketz gulps down her coffee and sets the cup to the side. “Has Imartzah returned?”

  Neu bows. “Yes, I will take you to him.”

  Merketz glances at the food. “Save me a plate.”

  Evox nods. “Yes, my lady.”

  Neu leads Merketz through the sauna, then into a dim stairwell. “Mind your step.”

  The stones sweat, moss lines the stairs, and they descend into a blue candlelit chamber. Shelves of scrolls line the walls. Orange and yellow banners hang between them. A circular stone table takes up the center of the room. Several wooden chairs surround it.

  Imartzah sits at a wooden desk, scribbling on a scroll. “Neu, is that you?”

  Merketz smiles at her and gestures for her to leave. Neu bows, then ascends up the stairs. Merketz walks to a shelf and pulls off a scroll. Dust covers her hands. “Any news on the South?”

  Imartzah ribbits and spins around. “Merketz!”

  Merketz opens the scroll, then pulls out a lens and reads it. “Your subordinates tell me that you plan to force his tzirem out.”

  Imartzah stands and moves towards her. “You sound doubtful.”

  Merketz tucks her lens into her pocket, then rolls the scroll and places it on the shelf. “Imazet told me to treat him like any other biluh.” She paces. “He's unremarkable and doesn't have the gift she spoke of.”

  Imartzah’s gaze chases her. “What might that be?”

  Merketz stops by his desk and scans the scroll. “She said he'd have tzirem unlike anything we have seen.” Merketz faces him. “I’ve found no tzirem inside his body, yet you're certain it's there.”

  Imartzah folds his flippers. “Imazet was afraid for him. She acted on impulse and blocked him off from Yeshmetz—”

  Merketz snarls and saunters to a banner. “Yeshmetz was a wicked woman! Yatzir should have no part in her doings.”

  Imartzah sits at the stone table. Merketz eyes him. He gestures for her to take a seat. Merketz huffs and sits across from him.

  Imartzah rests his flippers on the warm, bumpy surface. “You know that she destroyed all of Yeshmetz's research.”

  Merketz adjusts her robe. “With my help.”

  Imartzah tilts his head. “Imazet had many metzih—some of which came true.”

  Merketz purses her lips. “Right.”

  Imartzah pats the table. “She wrote to me about a way to stop the heat.”

  Merketz's eyes flicker. “And she was successful.”

  Imartzah shakes his head. “The heat cannot be killed.”

  Merketz crosses her arms. “I could've told you that, so why are we here?”

  Imartzah brushes his slick skin. “If Yatzir cannot cast, then the heat will take all of us.”

  Merketz wipes dust off the table. “I believe her exact words were that the heat will return when Yatzir learns to cast.”

  Imartzah strokes his whiskers. “Imazet asked me to train him and the heat is already on the rise. His time is coming."

  Merketz taps the table. “Without the ability to channel tzirem, what can we do?” Her nails scrape the stone. “He has the knowledge of four-hundred biluh! Practically a Chitzah in his own right. The bar is there to determine if he has what it takes…and he doesn't.”

  Imartzah slouches in his seat. “You're right.” He sets his flippers in his lap. “Yatzir will not be able to pass the final exam unless he can cast, which is why I'd like to keep him for a few more days.”

  Merketz stares at him. “I cannot be gone from the Yarbil for too long. His friends have coursework they need to complete before finals. Yatzir will not do well being here on his own.”

  Imartzah leans forward. “Who do you suggest we keep with him?”

  Merketz rubs her chin. “His friends are a very close group. They rely on each other in different ways. He's grown very close to one in particular.”

  Imartzah chuckles and shakes his head. “Vuhtzev would be a distraction!”

  Merketz nods. “I suppose he would.” She glances around the chamber. “I'd recommend letting his friends choose who stays. They know him better than us. Whoever he needs to help him take the next step will remain.”

  Imartzah bows with a smile. “Excellent idea!”

  Unah rings a small silver bell. “Breakfast!”

  Vuhtzev's eyes shoot open, his heart pounds, and he looks at the top of Yatzir's head. His hand shakes as he moves it along Yatzir's back. Yatzir murmurs and rolls away. Vuhtzev sets Netil on the floor, then hugs Yatzir. “Time to wake up.”

  Yatzir grumbles and curls into a ball.

  Vuhtzev props himself on his elbow and thumbs Yatzir's shoulder. “Big day, huh?”

  Yatzir pulls the sheet over his head.

  Vuhtzev smiles and stands up. He puts on his robe, then walks around the bed and lifts Yatzir. Yatzir mumbles with his eyes partially closed. Vuhtzev carries him into the lounge.

  Evox and Unah bow.

  Vuhtzev sits on a cushion, placing Yatzir between his legs. “Are you hungry?”

  Yatzir rubs his eyes. “I could eat.”

  Evox plates their food and Unah brings it to them.

  Yatzir bites into a plant and hums. Vuhtzev slurps on an egg. Evox goes to the other suite, then stares at Irāvah and Seol.

  He rings a bell. “Breakfast!”

  Irāvah sits up and wipes the drool from her mouth. “Already?”

  Seol grumbles and covers his head.

  Irāvah shakes him. “Get up or I'll make you wear clothes.”

  Seol leaps out of her bed, collapses on the floor, and scampers into the lounge.

  Irāvah puts on a thin yellow robe, adjusts her bonnet, and joins the others.

  Unah opens a drawer beneath the grill, then pulls out a copper kettle. “Coffee? Tea?”

  Irāvah raises a hand. “Coffee!”

  Unah places a mortar and pestle on the grill, then pours a bag of beans into it and grinds them down. She places the ground coffee beans into a silk pouch, then drops them in the pot and fills it with water from a spout beside the grill.

  Evox scans the group. “After you eat, we’ll show you around Niruchah, then you'll have a meeting with Imartzah and share a feast with one of our guests tonight.”

  Irāvah taps her plate. “What guest?”

  Evox smiles. “She’s your neighbor from Arketva and a regular at our lagoon.”

  Vuhtzev polishes off his plate. “You're talking about Shatzev?”

  Evox tilts his head. “How did you know?”

  Vuhtzev sets his plate aside. “I met her yesterday.”

  Evox laughs and claps his hands. “Wonderful!”

  Seol glares at Vuhtzev. Irāvah holds a fish up to him. Seol snatches it from her hand and stuffs it into his mouth.

  Unah collects their plates and Yatzir's bedsheet.

  Evox guides them around Niruchah. They move through the sauna, then into an area where Uchimach massage guests. There's a public lounge where guests chat on green cushions with a grill at the center and a bar where they can order drinks. Then, they go to a blue healing chamber where Uchimach tend to afflictions and ailments. They use a combination of tzirem and medicine. Finally, they arrive at a green room with shallow saltwater pools where guests practice zortzih in.

  Imartzah and Merketz greet the group. Everyone bows, then Imartzah approaches Yatzir. “Are you ready to begin?”

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Yatzir gulps and stares at the pools. Vuhtzev nudges him. Yatzir nods, then follows Imartzah to a pool.

  Imartzah gestures. “Disrobe before you enter.”

  Yatzir removes his robe and passes it to Evox. He enters the water, then is forced to lie flat. Imartzah steadies his head. “Deep breaths.”

  Yatzir looks up at him. “What is this?”

  Imartzah smiles. “This is part of the metzih process.” He holds up a vial. “I have a special substance that I secrete from my skin. I’ll place a drop on your forehead, then you'll experience a metzih.” He pockets the vile. “First, we need to practice the zortzah.”

  Merketz stands beside the others and opens a notepad.

  Imartzah brushes Yatzir's hair, then scoops a handful of water and let's the droplets bounce on Yatzir's forehead. “Close your eyes and find something to focus on. Let me know when you have it.”

  Yatzir does as instructed. “Okay.”

  Imartzah scoops more water. “Where is your mind?”

  Yatzir tilts in the water. “Finals.”

  Imartzah cups the back of Yatzir's head with his flipper. “How do you feel about finals?”

  Yatzir swallows and wiggles his toes. “Scared.”

  Imartzah breathes. “What scares you?”

  Yatzir's face twitches. “That I'll fail again and everyone will make fun of me. I won't get to graduate. Nothing will change.”

  Imartzah hums and drips water over Yatzir. “Tell me where the fear rests in your body.” Imartzah moves to Yatzir's shoulders, then his chest and his abdomen.

  Yatzir flinches. “There!”

  Irāvah yawns and Seol sniffs the pool. Vuhtzev leans forward while Merketz jots down notes.

  Imartzah keeps his flipper over Yatzir's gut. “When you envision failure and rejection, what sensation occurs?

  Yatzir stiffens. “Tightness.”

  Imartzah places his flipper on Yatzir's stomach. “Is your fear of failure greater than your fear of rejection?”

  Yatzir winces.

  Imartzah nods. “Is your fear of failure tied to your tzirem?”

  Yatzir shudders.

  Imartzah removes his hand. “What will it take to let go of this fear?”

  Tears form along Yatzir's lashes. “To… To… To feel accepted.”

  Imartzah looks at Yatzir's friends. “Do you accept Yatzir for his flaws?”

  Seol smiles and nods. “Of course, I do!”

  Vuhtzev squats. “I do.”

  Merketz shoves Irāvah.

  Irāvah sighs and crosses her arms. “No matter what, I'm here for you.”

  Imartzah turns to Yatzir. “Your friends accept you for the way you are. Did you know that?”

  Yatzir sniffles. “I thought I did, but it's nice to hear it.”

  Imartzah smiles and drips water onto Yatzir's forehead. “When you need to hear it again, will you ask them?”

  Yatzir's lips quiver. “Yes.”

  Imartzah waves to the others. “Give us space.”

  They go to their own pools where Uchimach guide them through the same ritual.

  Imartzah grabs his vile. “Now that you know you are surrounded by people who accept you, can we begin your metzih?”

  Yatzir nods.

  Imartzah opens the vial and a drop lands between Yatzir's brows. Yatzir hisses, then sighs. Merketz raises a finger, but stops herself and scribbles on the pad.

  Yatzir floats through darkness. He flexes his muscles. “I feel weightless.”

  Imartzah's voice comes as a distant echo. “Take me to the place where your fear began.”

  Yatzir's eyes shift beneath his eyelids. “I don't see anything.”

  Imartzah watches Yatzir's body. “Imagine there's a thread poking out of the darkness. You can reach for it, then pull and you will find yourself there.”

  Yatzir scans the darkness. “I see it!” A small, black thread curls from an embroidered black wall. Yatzir tugs on it, then falls back.

  Imartzah steadies him as he tips in the water.

  Yatzir twitches. “Something is tickling me.” He stares at a blue moonlit sky. Grass sways around him. “I'm in a field.” He sits up. Blue butterflies land on his arms. He breathes in deep. “It smells sweet here.”

  Imartzah nods. “Is there something important in this place? Do you know where you are?”

  Yatzir's gaze trails along the field. A tree waves in the gentle breeze. He stands and moves through the grass. “This is the border.” His eyes flick to the right. “I was standing with someone.” He looks to the left. “I wasn't supposed to be here.”

  Imartzah strokes his whiskers. “Who were you with?”

  Yatzir tenses and jerks. “I don't… I can't remember…” He gasps.

  A woman stands in front of him with long blue hair chasing the wind. She smiles and holds out her arms. Yatzir's mouth hangs open. “Mom?”

  Imartzah glances at Merketz. She flips the page, then writes in the pad.

  Yatzir runs to his mother. “Mom!”

  The moon swallows the sky. Grass clings to his legs. He stumbles toward her. “It's me, mom!”

  The woman's eyes glow a deep blue and she laughs.

  Yatzir lunges into her. His arms slap around her back. He cries into her neck.

  Imazet strokes his hair. “My, my little butterfly…”

  Yatzir shakes and sniffs her. “Where did you go? Why did you leave me?”

  Imazet's hair coils around Yatzir's waist. She giggles as her nails dig into his skin. Yatzir winces and strains against her grip. Imazet growls and licks his ear. “Still in your cocoon.”

  Yatzir pushes at her shoulders. “Let go of me!”

  Imartzah taps Yatzir's cheek. “Yatzir? Yatzir, can you hear me?”

  A red streak cuts the moon in half, then fire forms in the distance. Imazet's hair tightens around Yatzir, choking him. She breathes down his chest. “Don't worry… You'll emerge soon.” Her eyes shift to red.

  Yatzir gags, clawing at his neck, and squirming in her grasp. “Mom… Stop!”

  Heat filters through the air. Butterflies drop at his sides. Imazet catches fire, scorching his skin. Her voice crackles in his ears. “Clock's ticking.”

  Yatzir's eyes shoot open. His throat rattles with a scream as he sits up in the pool. Imartzah rubs his back. Yatzir barfs and salt clings to his tongue. He scrambles out of the water.

  Imartzah chases him. “Yatzir, take a breath. You're safe. You're safe here.”

  Yatzir's heart pounds in his ears. He grips his stomach. “What was that?” His legs tremble. “That wasn't a metzih!”

  Evox brings Yatzir a glass of water and a fresh robe.

  Yatzir's hands shake around the cup as Imartzah closes the robe around him. Yatzir glances at the other pools. “Where is everyone?”

  Imartzah smiles and rubs his shoulders. “Your friends waited as long as they could, but you hadn't finished your metzih. I sent them to the dining hall for supper.”

  Yatzir gulps down the water. “How long was I in there?”

  Imartzah takes the glass and passes it to Evox. “Quite some time.” He tilts Yatzir's chin up. “I tried to reach you, but you fell in too deep.”

  Yatzir tugs the robe closed. “I saw my mother… She strangled me… And there was this…heat.”

  Imartzah leans in. “This heat, what did it do?”

  Yatzir shuts his eyes and cringes. “It consumed everything—even her!”

  Imartzah bows his head. “Yes, it's as I predicted.” He steps back. “Your metzih is the same as Imazet's.”

  Yatzir stares at him. “What?”

  Imartzah folds his flippers behind his back and paces. “Imazet saw the heat do as you described. She believed she'd found a way to stop it from taking over.” He strokes his whiskers. “This is a lot to take in.”

  Yatzir ties his robe. “What is the heat?”

  Imartzah pauses, his eyes shift across the tiles. “The heat is… It's a being that erases people.”

  Yatzir swallows. “My mother stopped it?”

  Imartzah nods. “Temporarily, but it's returning. Faster than before.”

  Yatzir shakes his head. “What does that have to do with me?”

  Imartzah smiles and pats Yatzir on the back. “We can discuss this more later. For now, go and be with your friends. They're eager to see you.”

  Yatzir huffs and follows Evox.

  They enter the dining hall where Yatzir's friends sit around a glossy, long, brown table. Irāvah gnaws on the scaled leg of a creature. Seol works on a mountain of small fish. Vuhtzev picks at his plate. An Ogre sits at the end, towering over a large fish head. Mavah holds Netil in her arms and bows to Yatzir.

  Neu marches towards Evox. “What took you so long?”

  Evox shrugs. “Can't rush progress.”

  Neu's brow twitches, then she smiles at Yatzir and guides him to a seat beside Vuhtzev.

  Shatzev stands, her eyes wide, and mouth open. She blinks, then moves around the table. “Bogenach!” She kneels. “It's an honor to dine with you tonight.”

  Yatzir bows. “Hello.”

  Shatzev beats her chest. “I am Shatzev, Bortzach of Arketva, and friend of your mother.”

  Yatzir’s lips strain into a smile. “Nice to meet you.”

  Shatzev rises and shakes her head. “You look just like her.”

  Yatzir lowers his head. “I know.”

  Shatzev gestures to the table. “Please, feast.”

  Neu pulls out Yatzir's chair, he sits down, and she lays a cloth on his lap. Evox pours him wine and Unah massages his shoulders. Shatzev returns to her seat.

  Yatzir glances at Vuhtzev who hasn't touched his food. Vuhtzev smiles and reaches over to rub Yatzir's hand. Seol crushes a fish between his teeth, clawing at the table. Irāvah pats him on the head.

  Merketz enters the dining hall with Imartzah, then sits next to Yatzir. Evox rushes to her side with a bottle of wine and a glass. Neu whispers in her ear, then bows to the group and leaves.

  Imartzah stands at the end of the table. “Welcome again, my friends. Tonight we are joined by the Bogenach, heir to our nation's highest position, the Bognunrach, and our greatest ally, the Bortzach of Arketva, Shatzev.” He raises his flippers. “Yatzir has completed his first metzih! A round of applause!”

  Irāvah winks at Yatzir. “‘Bout time!”

  Seol waves a fish. “Nice job!”

  Vuhtzev ruffles Yatzir's hair. “Knew you could do it.”

  Shatzev raises a chalice. “Seit!”

  Merketz swirls her wine and nods to him. “Congratulations, Bogenach.”

  Yatzir's nails dig into his thighs and he bows. “Thank you for believing in me.”

  Imartzah croaks and waves his flippers. “As you enjoy the offerings of the lagoon, I'd like to share the story of how Niruchah was formed.”

  Mavah dims the lights and Evox piles food onto Yatzir's plate.

  A blue spotlight shines on Imartzah. “Five-hundred years ago, an Ogre approached me in the forest of Doem.” He nods to Shatzev. “She had heard of my mastery in the art of Uchremit and sought its exploits. Still young in her ways, I saw great potential in her ability to lead. I served as her advisor for many years until she came to me with blueprints for an uchdar.”

  Yatzir thumbs at a fish.

  Imartzah looks at each of them. “My dear friend wanted to dedicate a facility to me. Although, we disagreed on its placement! I later found the perfect spot to begin construction.” He gestures to the dome. “This is the room we shared our first meal in. Days later, we soaked in the sauna and designed rooms for all manner of creatures to stay in.”

  Vuhtzev nudges Yatzir. “Eat something.”

  Yatzir nods and takes a small bite out of a fish.

  Imartzah smiles wide. “Without the brilliance of the Bortzach, and my seftzih, we would not be here today. Unfortunately, the Yarbil was biased against my friend and forbade them from ever stepping foot again in the North. Yet, the late Bognunrach trusted my judgement and granted the Ogres a place in the North.”

  Irāvah's eyes close and Seol punches her shoulder. Merketz glares at them, then faces Imartzah.

  Imartzah bows. “Shatzev, my oldest friend, I thank you for never losing hope in the Yarbil.” He nods to Merketz. “And, my beautiful Chitzah, I thank you for your cooperation over the years.”

  Merketz winks at him and kicks her leg out from beneath her robe.

  Imartzah croaks and turns his attention back to the group. “As you sit here tonight, remember to express niah to your neighbors and spread nirah to your friends.” He bows again, then sits at the end of the table.

  Mavah turns up the lights. Neu appears, carrying a platter of insects, and places it in front of Imartzah. Evox pours Imartzah a glass of water.

  Merketz grins at Imartzah and taps the table. “Nice speech!”

  Imartzah takes her hand. “Thank you, my dear.”

  Bognunrach...(Diplomat) Leader of careful planning for the people