Something kept poking my cheek.
"Is he dead?" A female voice asked.
The poking didn't stop.
"His chest is moving up and down," Another voice replied uncertainly. "So I think he's breathing?"
"You're not even sure?" A third voice scoffed.
"How should I know? Brother Kill brought him here." The first female spoke.
"Brother Kill, Arya thinks the newbie is dead!" The second voice called out.
"Hey, wake up!"
I forced my eyes open and met a green, blue, and… blind pair of eyes.
A gasp left me and I scrambled backwards, my heart slamming violently against my ribs.
They were looking at me directly and they were still alive. Who were they?
"You okay, little dude?" The blind one asked.
I opened my mouth to speak but a violent cough seized me instead. My throat burned like I'd swallowed sand.
Even while I coughed, none of them made a move to give me water. They looked at me like I was some exotic creature.
"W… water." I rasped.
Finally, one of them moved. Arya, if I could remember correctly.
But instead of leaving to fetch anything, she raised her hand. A soft blue mist gathered above her palm and then condensed into… water. Clean, floating water. How did she do that?
"Drink." She said, gesturing to her left hand.
I hesitated only a second before leaning forward. My lips parted, and I drank straight from her hand.
My eyes slipped shut as I swallowed greedily, the dryness in my throat easing with every gulp.
"Careful," the other girl muttered. "At this rate, he's going to eat your hand."
Arya ignored her. I syead, she placed her free hand lightly on my head, patting it like it was normal.
"Don't be a stranger, Lora," she said with a smile. "He's one of us."
I choked. Water went down the wrong pipe and I doubled over, wheezing.
"One of who?" I managed between coughs.
"Arya's right."
That voice was familiar.
He stepped into the room with no armour this time.
Killian.
"You're among your own kind now," he said.
I stared at him. "I don't understand."
"Fantastic Children," he replied.
That name meant nothing to me.
Arya wiped her damp hands on a cloth and smiled. "Ever heard of the Old Law?"
I shook my head slowly.
"That makes sense," Belderwon, the blind one said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "They don't exactly texah slaves history."
I winced at his words. He wasn't exactly wrong.
Killian leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on me.
"Then listen carefully," he said and the room fell quietly.
"Long before the king's ruled," he continued. "There was a goddess. Avalora."
My breath caught.
Mother.
"She created twelve children," Arya added softly. "children who would carry on the next order, an order that will replace the Old Law."
"Twelve?" I whispered.
Belderwon nodded. "Twelve children meant to inherit the world."
A bitter laugh left Lora. "The Human kings didn't like that idea. They refused to allow children to rule over them even if they were divine so…."
"..they waged a war," Belderwon finished.
"And they won," Lora said flatly.
I swallowed hard. "What happened to the children?"
No one answered immediately and that scared me more than anything.
"They were scattered across the realms. Some were hunted, captured, sold, and experimened on." Killian said at last.
My stomach twisted in horror.
Killian's gaze sharpened. "Some died and some disappeared… but I found some survivors."
Arya smiled gently. "Like us."
My eyes flickered between Arya, Belderwon, and Lora.
"... and me?" My voice came out smaller than I wanted.
Killian didn't hesitate. "You survived, Ivan."
A sudden, sharp anger rose in my chest. Survived? I spent half my life in solitary, being experimented on daily. I was starved and nearly killed! How could he called that surviving?!
"If you were looking for those kids then where were you?" I demanded, my voice trembling. "All this time… where were you?!"
The room went still.
Arya's smile faded slightly. Belderwon looked away and Lora didn't even speak. Killian, however, held my gaze.
"I didn't know about you," he said simply. "I've been finding them. One by one… before someone else would."
The anger inside me wavered before with finally faded. I guess I shouldn't be angry at him.
Killian took over from him. "All 4 of you are Fantastic Children."
"I am Belderworn, the Wanderer." The blind boy said with a smile.
"I am Arya, the Craftsman." Arya beamed at me.
"I'm Lora, the Dreamer." Lora gives me a small nod.
"And you…" Killian took my hand and helped me sit up. "... are Ivan, the Riddler."
I took a look at all of them. Arya with her long red hair and ever-smiling face, leaned against the bed. Belderworn stood stiffly with his hands in his pockets, while Lora ran a hand through her white braided hair, one arm folded across her chest.
They each wore knitted tops and breeches. Arya's was blue, Belderson's was white and Lora's was purple. Each outfit bears a symbol of their powers — a blue hammer and chisel, a white wizard staff, and a purple map.
A fit of laughter interrupted my observation and I looked up.
Arya giggled. "Oh. The boys are awake."
"Boys?" My voice still sounded hoarse.
"Yeah." Arya rose to her feet and ran upstairs with Lora.
Balderson helped me up as Killian started before us.
"Who are these… boys?" I asked, still confused.
Belderworn quirked a brow. "Did Kill not tell you?"
"Tell me what?" I asked.
"They're the Northern Army."
"Army?"
****
Despite being blind, Belderwon knew his way around.
When I looked at him for what felt like the hundreth time, he smiled and said : "I'm called the wanderer. I basically know where to go."
When I asked about his sight, he told me he had to give them up. So he wasn't born blind?
The scent of freshly baked bread filled my nostrils and I salivated in no time.
"Come on. I'll show you our table." Belderwon, still helping me walk, led me to a round table where Lora, Arya, and four other gentlemen sat at a round table.
The dining hall was packed with gentlemen, both old and young, in blue pressed uniforms. All of them seemed to mind their businesses as they talked and ate their breakfast. But I guess I broke that spell when Arya called out to me.
"Riddler!" She waved at me with that cheerful smile.
Heads turned and eyes narrowed. They must've been told about who I am.
I cleared my throat and people were already rising from their chairs.
"Tell your friend to keep his mouth, you hear!" A voice sneered.
I ignored it. This wasn't my first rodeo at insults.
"Just let them be, Ivan," Belderson clapped my shoulder before sitting on the bench. "They're jealous."
I nod quietly. They're humans at this table. If I speak, they might get hurt.
"It's alright." The blonde soldier opposite me said out of the blue.
I blinked. "Sorry?"
He smiled. "You can speak to us. Your power won't kill us."
I looked at Arya and Belderworn for confirmation and they nodded.
My eyes went round. "You … you mean you all are immune."
"Yes." he extended his hand. "I'm Rhysand, captain of the first division army."
I took it in a firm shake. "Nice to meet you, Captain Rhysand, but if you don't mind me asking, how are you all immune to my powers?"
He took back his hand and pointed to a wooden necklace around his neck. "Arya made this for all of us.
My gaze dropped to it. It was a repellent like the Oxen-Whirl except this one didn't make people recoil from me. It let them stay.
"I see."
"Don't be such a downer, Ivan. You're with your own kind." Arya said.
I nodded. "Thank you."
"There's still work to do." Killian cut in.
"There's always another one," Lora added, excitement returning to her voice.
"Another?" I asked, confused.
Killian reached into his coat and spilled out a worn map, spreading it across the table.
"Another Fantastic Child." He tapped a location on the map. "I know where to find them."
Arya smiled. "Brother Kill has been traveling the realm, rescuing every Fantastic Child he meets."
"But why?"
"To restore balance to the world, Ivan. A barrier separates our world from the Otherland. It is the duty of the Fantastic Children to make sure the barrier never breaks. Each day, it depletes, we risk chances of the essence of the Otherworld leaking into ours. Only an FC can stop that."
I swallowed hard. "So you want us all to protect the barrier?"
"Yes," Killian smiled, rolling up the map. "And I know just where to find the next FC. You coming, Ivan?"
I looked around the table. No one sneered or glared at me. They smiled in anticipation of my answer.
I didn't understand half of what Killian said but I was about to meet someone like me.
I nodded my head. "I'm in."