ONE

… Cahti

I awoke to confusion.

I blinked. Where was I? I searched my mind, trying to make sense of the world around me. There was nothing, my mind was empty.  Panic rushed in to fill the vacant space. Panic- I’d felt that before. Something brushed the edge of my consciousness, something familiar.

The memories came flooding back, overwhelming my addled mind. Like a wave of water surging against a building, cresting to enormous height before finally crushing the structure beneath it. Just like it came after every rebirth. Only this was the largest wave yet.

Memories of a Thousand Lives. No, I thought, Not a thousand. Not quite. That was even more disturbing. As the chilling realization hit me, I wished for the emptiness of mind I’d been so distraught over mere seconds ago.

I only had one life left.

I went back to the Establishment. It was the only place I could think to go. The Magicians there wouldn’t turn me out, I was the one who created them.

The Establishment was hidden underground, the entrance concealed in a rock. I barely had to search my memory for the pectahlz, as I used it often to enter this way. Pectahlz were geometric patterns that arranged power to perform a specific action. Only Magicians could form pectahlz. The more intricate and detailed the pectahlz, the more powerful effect it had. Exactness was required- even the smallest mistake could produce a much different outcome than expected.

I finished sketching the pectahlz in the air, tapping it gently to ignite it. The pectahlz glowed, humming with power. I positioned it over the entrance, then shoved it violently forwards. While intricacy played a role in a pectahlz’s power, so did the force of the caster. And I was the best.

The rock covering the entrance shuddered as it rose, revealing a sloping corridor into the Establishment.

A stunned Enforcer scrambled to his feet. He must’ve been new. I grinned- the power of my pectahlz must have shaken the whole Establishment.

“We did not expect you back so soon,” the Enforcer stammered.

“Lead me to the Chamber,” I commanded. I didn’t have time for this.

“Of course, Honored ONE.” The Enforcer bowed quickly, then started down the hallway. He glanced at me a few times before speaking. “Did you do it?” he asked excitedly. “I mean, did you defeat Aeshen?”

Anger bubbled up inside me. “What do you think,” I snarled.  Couldn’t he tell? Didn’t he know I’d failed, again? He must. That was why he was asking, to rub salt in my wound. He only wanted to hurt me further.

The Enforcer, to his credit, looked ashamed at the sudden outburst his question had caused. “I’m sorry, Honored ONE, I only meant-”

I hit the sputtering Enforcer with a pectahlz. A single glowing line sliced across his neck, neatly removing his head and effectively silencing his voice. Theoretically, a straight-lined pectahlz was the weakest form. But with enough force, it became a very useful tool.

I marched into the Chamber, flinging the doors wide. The Council of Magicians sat inside. “Cahti, Honored ONE,” said Yuun, the 2nd Head Magician, bowing slightly. “What brings you here today?”

“I need a new apprentice,” I said. “One of the fresh ones- no prior training.” Maybe if I trained one myself, they wouldn’t be so lacking in skill.

“Of course,” Yuun said. “There is a very promising recruit- taken just this morning.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “And your last apprentice? What has become of him?”

“Dead,” I spat. “He betrayed me to Aeshen, so when I found out I disposed of him accordingly.” Yuun nodded, frowning slightly.

My apprentices always died. Even if one somehow managed to survive the battle with Aeshen, I always killed them immediately after I rebirthed. As far as the Magicians knew, I was immortal and couldn’t die. They didn’t know about the limited lives I held.

“Oh yes,” I said, “Speaking of things to dispose of, there is an Enforcer in the front hall.” I waved to the youngest Council member- I didn’t know her name- she wasn’t of much consequence. “You, go take care of it.” The Council member nodded and hurried off, face pale.

“Is there anything else you require?” Yuun asked.

“No.”

“Very well then, I will lead you to the apprentice.”