Page 103 of All That Has Flown Beyond
Finn cut through the ropes tying one of his arms. It hung limply as it was released, the crawling burn of recirculating blood buzzing through it.
Kaiyo gritted his teeth. He had to concentrate.
He twisted his arm gently under Finn’s watchful eyes.
“Okay. That’s enough,” Finn said. Kaiyo touched Finn’s arm lightly, looking into his eyes.
“Thank you,” he said sincerely. Finn nodded.
Kaiyo focused. He didn’t need his Ousía for this, only his will. The kanji on his skin had a power of its own. It trembled awake and stretched its limbs, unsticking itself from Kaiyo’s skin. At Kaiyo’s urging, it walked towards Finn and sank into his dark flesh.
Kaiyo schooled his features. His heart was pounding, head dizzy with exhaustion and relief. He sat docilely as he was retied to the chair.
Kaiyo closed his eyes as Finn left. Alone again.
This time, however, he had work to do.
**********
Dreams, Kaiyo knew, had a power of their own. They were a curious mix of senses and Ousía, trapped in the land of sleep. You could delve into them if you knew the way. Become aware and control what happened. Leave them, if you so wished.
It was dark. Kaiyo didn’t have the energy to imagine more. It was dark and quiet and still. Kaiyo waited.
He could feel the figure approach. Answering his call.
“Kaiyo?” it said in Isla’s voice.
Kaiyo was so tired. He was slipping away.
“Find me,” he whispered, drawing the lines of a single kanji in the air.
He disappeared.
**********
Kaiyo was pieces of himself. He was severed in half. His aching body. His draining Ousía.
There were noises outside. He opened his eyes. The same white walls. The same wooden door.
He blinked blearily. This was where he was going to die?
The door opened again. Finn, probably. Who else would it be?
There was movement around him and then—
Kaiyo gasped, eyes flying open. It was weak and depleted, but there it was. His Ousía. He could feel it again.
“Oh, God,” he moaned. His limbs were being reattached. He was being given back his soul, just in time to carry it with him to the Nunn.
“Kaiyo. Kaiyo!”
Kaiyo’s eyes opened. Ahmik. Of course. Of course, it was Ahmik.
Kaiyo wished he could have given a more climatic ending. A final battle. A final push. But life wasn’t like that. It was a series of small struggles you either won or you lost. All that mattered was always getting up again.
But Kaiyo was tired.
He was so, so tired.
