The Mantis Equilibrium - Book Two - 10. Chapter 10 - Ninyani & the Mystic

“What’s an icewyrm?” Ninyani asked the mystic.

“I’m not actually sure,” he replied to the boy. He was packing his and Theolan’s possessions into their travel bags. “It seems to be some sort of reptile from the mountains that comes down to take children.”

“Oh, you mean a crystal dragon!” Ninyani replied with a smile. He was delighted to know something that the man did not.

The night before, the mystic and Theolan did not ask Ninyani many questions. They sat with him while he ate, and the two men told him about themselves and the four women in the adjoining room. Not long after finishing his food, Ninyani was asleep.

“Crystal dragons are a nuisance in Frostflower,” he explained to the mystic. “We set traps all around the village to protect us from them, but they still eat a couple of kids each year. I can teach people here how to make a trap for them, but someone needs to guard it at all times.”

“Wow,” the mystic responded, surprised by the boy’s knowledge, “how does the trap work?”

“The only thing that can pierce a crystal dragon’s skin,” Ninyani continued, “are the bones of another crystal dragon. We use the ribs to make a trap that drops onto them from the trees. We use their leg bones in dragon-holes; dragon-holes are pits that we dig in the ground with the sharpened bones sticking up. We cover the pit with branches and snow so the crystal dragon doesn’t know it’s about to fall into it.” He then looked like he forgot something. “And we even use the teeth as tips for our spears, and their claws for knives.

“Interesting,” the mystic replied, “I’m not sure that it would be possible to build those traps all around Bluewood, but that is all quite amazing, Ninyani.” He sealed one of the travel bags. “Would you like to tell me more about your village?”

Ninyani nodded. He was getting comfortable with the mystic, and having a full belly made him enthusiastic to share information.

“Frostflower is home to a living god. Bulog came before me, and I was the new god.” Ninyani’s memory of his dead mother came crashing into his mind and the boy fell silent. He shed so many tears for her already that he did not think he possessed any more. “They’re all dead,” he said in a quiet voice. “Everyone is dead. Even my mama is dead,” and the tears did again flow.

Ninyani leaned against the mystic, who hugged the small boy. He comforted him with reassuring words, but they meant nothing to Ninyani in that moment.

The mystic told him everything would be okay, but in light of the boy’s losses, the man knew that the phrase was hollow.

Ninyani sobbed for several minutes.

As he calmed down, he apologized. “I’m sorry.”

The mystic squeezed him. “Not at all, my young friend. Are you okay? Do you want to talk more?”

Ninyani nodded that he did.

“Okay, why don’t you tell me more about…” he paused. “What was it, Ninyani? I’m sorry, I can’t remember the name of the old god.”

“Bulog.”

“Bulog,” the mystic dutifully repeated. “Can you tell me about him?”

Ninyani nodded. “Bulog was the god of dreams. He walked among our sleeping minds, visiting us beyond the realm of the waking world. Our god was an old man when I replaced him.” The boy fell silent again.

“How did you replace him?” the mystic asked.

Ninyani did not respond.

The mystic decided to redirect the conversation. “I think we have a place you can stay, down in the city. I’m sure it’s going to be much different from your home, but there are good people down there. And yes, there are some bad people,” the mystic added, “but the good folks tend to stick together.”

“If our old god was a man,” Ninyani said, his mind still on the previous topic, “does that mean I’m not really a god? That’s what the flying woman said.”

The mystic rubbed the boy’s back and informed him, “You fell asleep early last night, and Ilya told me about your conversation. Have you ever heard of Shifts before she mentioned them to you?” he asked.

Ninyani now shook his head that he did not.

“If I’m not mistaken,” the mystic continued gently, “that is, in fact, what you are. You’re a Shift, just like Ilya. Your village must’ve been so isolated that your people were not aware of the history of Shifts.”

The mystic’s voice took on a tone of wonder as he continued. “Shifts are amazing people who are born with incredible abilities. What you can do with heat and cold is absolutely astonishing!” and he beamed at Ninyani. “You are so very special for being born unique. In Teshon City, you will meet many other Shifts. The folk like you are a minority, but every one of your kind is amazing!” he repeated.

The boy’s brow was furrowed, like the words were difficult for him to accept. “I’m not a god?” he asked.

“I don’t think so, my young friend,” the mystic replied gently. “I believe you’re part of that small group of people who just happened to be lucky enough to have been born with those god-like gifts. That actually leads me nicely to the subject of my daughter, Lahari.” He looked towards the door to the adjoining room, even though only Dozi was currently in it. “I know that you were very surprised to learn that the person you saw last night was actually a girl, my little girl, my little moth,” he added in a voice full of adoration. “I know that when you saw her, she frightened you, and for that, I’m very sorry.”

The mystic smiled at the boy. “However,” he continued with a grin, “Lahari is also in the fact a Shift, like you and Ilya, but her powers caused her body to change. She used to look like any other little girl. Her hair was red; there were freckles on her cheeks. Then she changed, and I know you may have thought she was frightening, but I think that my daughter is absolutely beautiful.” The mystic’s eyes were sparkling as he gushed about Lahari.

Dozi appeared at the door to the adjoining room. “I’ve got most of our stuff packed, will you be ready to leave soon?” She did not wait for his reply. “I want to go down and find the others now and get them back here so we can leave as soon as possible. We’ve already lost half of the day.”

“Ninyani and I will finish packing Theolan and my things while you find the others.” He turned back to the boy as Dozi left the rooms. “I’m so sorry that you’ve lost so much, everything,” the mystic said in a gentle voice. “I know life will be very different, but will you come with us to Teshon City? There’s nothing for you here in Bluewood, and I don’t think you can go back home. I’m sorry,” he said again.

The boy looked so small and frail. He was skinny and short, but the mystic knew that he was leaving childhood behind. The man felt sad for Ninyani, aside from the incalculable losses he suffered, he was also abandoning the sweetness and innocence of youth. The mystic wondered what kind of person the boy would grow into.

“Please come with us,” he reiterated.

Ninyani simply whispered, “Okay.”

The mystic gave him a squeeze and said, “Let’s finish up.”

Inside, he was disappointed to be leaving already. All he saw was the inn, but then he looked at Ninyani.

“You know,” the mystic said with an expression of realization spreading across his face, “I think the whole purpose of us coming up here on this trip was to find you, Ninyani,” and he did not feel so bad about leaving. He could not help but smile at the boy.

“Now, why don’t you tell me a little bit more about yourself,” the mystic recommended. “Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do? Do you sing? Dance? Are you an artist or a musician?”

The boy perked up at one of the words.

The mystic noticed and repeated himself. “Dance? Do you like to dance?”

Ninyani’s eyes were wide and sparkling, but he shook his head no.

“You don’t like to dance?” the mystic asked.

Ninyani blushed and replied, “I’m not allowed to dance.”

“What do you mean that you’re not allowed to dance?” The mystic scratched his chin.

“Boys don’t dance in Frostflower. Only women and girls dance.” Ninyani’s voice became quieter, as he added, “I liked when they danced, and I wanted to dance with them.”

The mystics grinned at the boy. “Oh-ho, I see,” he said with a chuckle. “Girls! You like girls! And that’s totally fine; you can like whomever you want to like.”

“Their dancing is so pretty!”

The mystic was glad to have the boy talking about something with such enthusiasm, and he continued. “Do you like watching the girls dance?”

“I wanted to dance!” Ninyani declared.

“Well, let me tell you,” the mystic said with a broad grin, “in Teshon City, anyone and everyone can dance! If you want to dance, I will find you someone who can teach those skills to you. In Teshon City,” the mystic continued in a dramatic tone, “you can dance in the streets, dance on the rooftops, dance in the markets, and dance all through the neighborhood where we live. I, for one, cannot wait to see you dance!”

The door to the adjoining suite opened. Theolan entered and joined his husband and Ninyani.

The four women stayed in the other room to pack.

“I’m sorry you didn’t get to see anything, my love,” Theolan said, as he kissed his husband. “Dozi has already told us what’s going on, and that we need to go.”

“We are already packing,” the mystic replied with a smile. Hoping to keep the boy in a positive state of mind, he added, “Theolan, Ninyani is interested in taking dance lessons when we get back to the city. We need to find someone to teach him.”

Theolan’s face broke into a wide smile. “That sounds marvelous! Do you dance?” he asked the boy.

He shook his head no again.

“No?! Neither do I!” Theolan declared. He sounded delighted. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to dance. Shall we take dancing lessons together?”

Ninyani looked like he was about to burst into tears of joy.

Theolan stuck one leg out to the side and wiggled his hips.

Ninyani and the mystic giggled together at his performance.

“Turns out boys aren’t supposed to dance in the village where Ninyani grew up,” the mystic said to his husband, “but he’s always enjoyed seeing others dance. It will be our mission this week to find him a dance instructor!”

“Not allowed to dance?!” Theolan scoffed. “All the more reason to dance!” He put a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

Ninyani looked up at him and smiled.

“Hi, mystic,” said Tchama, as she walked into the room. “What do you think of my new scarf?” She spun around.

He scrutinized the frilly pink and yellow material draped around her neck and smiled. “Why, it is quite lovely, my dear! A perfect selection.” He looked over at Ninyani and noticed that the boy’s eyes were again wide and focused. He was staring at the scarf.

“That’s Tchama,” the mystic reminded him.

Ninyani ignored the man. “It’s so pretty!” he exclaimed in a squeaky voice. “I…” he started. “It’s just so pretty. I love it!”

Tchama looked between the mystic and his husband, and then back at the boy again. “Do you want it?” she offered. “You can have it, if you really like it.”

Ninyani’s eyes were like saucers, as if he was seeing the most beautiful thing in the world.

Tchama removed the scarf and extended it towards him.

“But that’s a girl’s clothes. I’m not supposed to wear girl clothes.”

Ilya entered the room and joined the conversation. “You can wear absolutely anything you want with us.” She turned to Tchama. “That is so sweet of you to give it to him.” Then Ilya smiled at Ninyani. “Go ahead, take it. You’re allowed to feel pretty.”

The boy reached out a tentative hand, and he let out a quiet gasp, as Tchama handed him the scarf. “Wow,” he whispered.

“Say thank you,” the mystic urged with a grin.

Ninyani looked up at Ilya. She was a tall woman with broad shoulders and muscular arms. “Thank you,” he said to her.

Ilya snorted a laugh. “I think he meant, to Tchama.”

Ninyani shook his head, turned to Tchama, and repeated himself. “Thank you.”

She reached out and helped him drape it around his neck.

Dozi then joined them. “Almost ready to go?” she asked in a serious tone.

“Almost,” the mystic responded, “and it turns out,” he added, “our little Ninyani here knows several methods of dealing with Bluewood’s icewyrm problem. There doesn’t happen to be an icewyrm skeleton lying around somewhere, is there?”

Dozi looked confused. “I always thought those things were indestructible. You can kill them?”

“Only with their own bones, apparently,” the mystic informed her.

“Helpful, but also unhelpful.” Dozi shrugged.

Lahari called out from the other room. “Ada!” and her father joined her. She pulled him over to the side and whispered, “Someone clocked me at the market.”

“What do you mean?” he asked in concern. “Someone realized that you’re a Bio-Shift?”

“I didn’t notice that my scarf slipped off part of my cheek,” she explained, “and one of the vendors asked me what was wrong with my skin. So I’m with Dozi, and I’d also be happy to leave immediately. There’s something about this village that’s even less welcoming than some of the areas in Teshon City. It was a mistake coming here.”

Her father nodded. “I think we came here for the boy,” he replied. “As much as I don’t want to immediately make the three-day journey back down right after arriving, I think we were just supposed to find him, to find him and leave. We’ve already packed,” he added.

Dozi stuck her head into the room and said, “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”✪