Rising Shards

Caeda sighed as she rounded another corner on a busy Litus Empirica street. Normally she’d be happy to have her best friend Clover following her, but today she was meeting with Miss Kathron again, and Clover potentially was getting in the way of that.”

“Just wait a second!” Clover said.

“It’s not some shady business, it’s a major corporation.” Caeda said.

“I didn’t say shady,” Clover said. “And you realize that doesn’t make it sound better, right?”

“They have tons of ties to our school,” Caeda said. “Don’t you trust our school?”

“I do, but...” Clover said.

Caeda reached the front entrance to the Taramin lab. Hopefully, Clover wouldn’t follow her inside. But if she did…

“How about this? How about you sign up,” Caeda said. “See that this place is on the up and up.”

“I don’t need to do that,” Clover said. “I can just…do some more research, and…” She shivered, patting her arms to try and warm herself up more in the wintry air. “Caeda…I’m just worried about you.”

Where was this Clover the last few weeks?

“I’ll talk to you later,” Caeda said. “You can sign up right in the front desk if you want.”

After checking in, Caeda was brought directly to Octa Kathron’s office. She didn’t look up when Caeda approached.

“Here you go, Mrs. Kathron.” Caeda said. She handed her a folder filled with all the papers Octa had asked for.

“It’s ‘Miss.’” Octa said as she paged through the folder. “I’ve been divorced for some time.”

“Hm.” Caeda said.

Caeda tried her budding detective brain to analyze Octa Kathron again. This time, she actually spotted a clue.

“Still wearing the wedding ring?” Caeda asked.

Octa continued to look through the folder. “Not the most impressive, but certainly better than average. Your blood work has been intriguing as well.”

“So I’m in as your mentee?” Caeda asked.

“I never said that.”

“Oh…” Caeda said. “I am prepared to debate you on why I’m actually awesome if you say no.”

“I never said I was rejecting you either, so please save your debates.” Octa said.

Octa started typing on her computer again.

“Do you…need anything of me?” Caeda asked.

“Not particularly,” Octa said. “Do you have any questions for me?”

This could be a good opportunity to learn more about this clearly significant person who would definitely help Caeda also become significant.

There were a few framed photos on the desk. Last time, Caeda wasn’t able to see either of them. “Who are in the pictures there? If it’s not too intrusive to ask.”

“The man is my ex-husband,” Octa said, turning one of the photos around to reveal a man with stringy hair. “The other is my daughter.” She turned the second to show a picture of a young blonde girl.

“Is she your only kid?” Caeda asked.

“Yes.” Octa said.

“Huh…” Caeda said. As Octa turned the photos back, Caeda spotted a strange device on Octa’s wrist. It looked like a power blocker, but of a different sort than the ones they had at Rising Shards. It looked older, more like its shell was made with clay than the sleek metal Caeda’s was built with

“What is that on your wrist?” Caeda asked.

“Oh, this?” Octa asked. “This device keeps me stable. It’s one I built on my own.”

“And stable as in…?” Caeda asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I’m void born,” the woman said. “One of my experiments was with a void storm. So stability is a bit of an issue. But I did manage to find my way back here, though it took some time.”

“Impressive.” Caeda said.

“Thank you.” Octa said.

“So what all kinds of experiments do you do?” Caeda asked, wincing halfway through as the words tumbled out of her mouth haphazardly.

“One of my specialties is retention sprites,” Octa said.

“Ohhh,” Caeda said. “Like making armies in the void.”

“It is easy to make a lot of retention sprites, and creating an army is a popular tactic seen pretty much everywhere worth conquering in the void. But I find it’s a work of art to capture a single person in such great detail, using only your Cani powers.”

“Interesting,” Caeda said. “What do you do with them?”

“In practice, I see them as something akin to spells that can see far. They provide clouded images, sure, but even views through the fog can offer vital intel. I found my way home with them.”

“Wow…” Caeda said. “I don’t think I’ve met anyone that good at making retention sprites. Or anyone that can make them.”

“I would say I’m one of the best,” Octa said. “In fact, I could be a retention sprite right now.”

“Ha…” Caeda said. “A-are you?”

Octa continued typing.

“Oh! Wait! I remember looking this up!” Caeda said. “If you are a retention sprite, you’re supposed to take me to your master if I say the code word…

“Very good.” Octa said. “I wasn’t expecting you to know that.”

“I’m pretty skilled myself.” Caeda said. “Not at your level, obviously.”

“Obviously,” Octa said. “But maybe someday.”

“You think so?” Caeda asked eagerly.

“With the proper training.” Octa said. “The last ones I mentored around your age were only valuable for data collection. But I do sense more potential within you.”

“So could you teach me how to make retention sprites?” Caeda asked.

“Potentially,” Octa said.

One of the lab techs came in with a tray of blood samples. They left them for Octa to observe.

“Are any of those my samples?” Caeda asked.

“No,” Octa said.

Caeda squinted at the labels. Sure enough, she spotted her name on a sticker on one of the vials. “You lie a lot, don’t you ma’am?”

“I never lie.” Octa said coldly.

“Everyone lies sometimes.” Caeda said. “Therefore, it’s a pretty big lie to say you never lie. Which makes me even more certain you lie a lot.”

“What makes you think I’ve been lying?” She didn’t sound angry. Mostly neutral, but a hint of something else in her voice. Something almost…playful? Like she was inviting Caeda to figure out the truth here?

“Not about everything,” Caeda said. “I’d guess about fifty percent of what you said to me is the truth.”

“Because…?”

“You said my blood isn’t there,” Caeda said. “But I see it right there, my name is on one of the labels. You said you’re divorced, but you still have your wedding ring. I’m gonna bet you have more than one kid. The rest…probably true. I’m not sure what your tell is, but I can sense it. Maybe that’s a Cani power of mine…”

Octa nodded. It got so quiet that Caeda could only hear the ticking clock. She expected Octa to kick her out for being so rude.

“That’s all for today.” Octa said.

“Wait…” Caeda said. “For today meaning you want to meet again?”

“There is certainly potential within you.” Octa said.

“Really?”

“I’d like to meet with you weekly,” Octa said.

“I can do that!” Caeda said. “Name the dates and I’ll be there!”

“I’ll have my secretary call you,” Octa said. She offered her hand to Caeda.

“Thank you,” Caeda said as she accepted the handshake.

Octa didn’t smile, but there was a bit of a glimmer in her eye. “I look forward to working with you.”