Skye Silver & The Soul of Fire Vol.1
Chapter 7 Welcome To Astral

Kitai turned around and tapped my shoulder to signal me to do the same.

“Skye Silver! Welcome to Astral!”

I turned around to see for myself what Kitai explained about Astral was true, it was beautiful! Not only gorgeous but I had dreams of it. I never knew where I was in the dreams but those questions had now been answered. From where we stood I was able to see far out across the land. I Could see the huge beautifully designed architecture in the plains and the gorgeous water that brushed against the Islands of Astral. I also saw the endless desert whose sand glowed like the grains were golden. I could even see some of the huge caves that looked like they could hold giant monsters. The entire landscape looked futuristic due to the flying automobiles and holographic signs. It was an unforgettable sight.

“Wow, it’s beautiful,” I said.

“Told ya so,” Kitai said smirking.

“I just can’t believe I’m actually here,” I chuckled a little “today was without a doubt the worst day of my life but at least this view makes the moment better.”

“This view makes a lot of things better,” Kitai agreed. “but we have to go.

Kitai took a map of Astral out his pocket and unfolded it.

“We jumped through the portal to the Mountains which means right now we’re in the Northwest,” He said pointing at the mountains on the map.

“The Caves where we need to get are Southeast.” He said as he traced his finger around what seemed to be the coast of the mainland.

“Why can’t we go through the islands?” I asked. “It seems like it would be faster.”

“It would, but the next portal will open in the islands and I’m expecting Assail to be there waiting for us. However, if we go around the islands it will buy us time because he will think we are on our way through there and wait as long as he can until he realizes we went around. By then he’ll just have to guess where we are.”

“Oh, I see!”

“But on the bright side, you’ll get to see a little bit of everything up close while walking the shoreline.”

“Well let’s get to it!” I yelled excitedly. “I’m ready to meet my mom!”

Kitai froze and put on a fake smile with his classic one “ha” laugh.

What was I thinking! I let my excitement of being in Astral and finally near my mother completely neglect the fact that Kitai’s mom had just more than likely died for me.

“Sorry Kitai,” I said with what I’m sure was my saddest face ever.

“It’s alright” he smirked. “I’m sure she’s fine, she’s the strongest woman I know. Hell, she dated the God of Wisdom. I mean, she has to be smarter than Assail at the very least right?”

“Of course,” I agreed. “She was the smartest woman I knew even before I knew she was your mother. She’ll come out of that portal for you.”

Kitai smiled. “Thanks, Skye I’m glad you’re here. no one id rather have than my best friend.”

“I’ll always be here,” I replied with a smile of my own.

“So how about we make our way down this mountain.” He said leaning over the edge of the mountain looking down.

“You don’t expect me to climb down do you?” I asked nervously

“No,” He said laughing and turning back to face me. “this path will lead us to the bottom its the only path to the portal from the bottom of the mountains.”

“Oh good,” I said relieved.

“But walking to the bottom may take all night.” He warned me.

“Ugggghhhhh” I groaned in agony.

We began walking the trail to the bottom of the mountains when Kitai decided it was time to teach me how to harness my power. Being that he was the son of the God of Wisdom and the best Substitute Teacher I’ve ever seen he was naturally a great teacher. The first thing he taught me was how to focus on what they called Prana. He explained it as some internal energy that controls the powers we hold.

In reality, he made me hold a bunch of leaves in my hand until I was able to set them on fire without opening my palm. I’m sure we walked for at least a couple of miles before I was even able to get a spark. I had begun to lose faith, however, when I lose faith I get angry and just as I got angry the leaves sparked into flames in my palm. I opened my hand to asses the damage and what had been a handful of leaves was nothing more than a few pieces floating to the ground with fire on their edges.

“I did it!” I yelled to Kitai who was a few steps ahead of me.

He turned to witness the burning leaves falling to the ground.

“That’s good but can you do it again?” he asked. “Once is a fluke twice is for sure.”

I sighed harshly “Well I’m sure I can now.”

I grabbed a branch full of leaves and ripped them all off in one pull. With a hand full of leaves and the proper motivation of having to do it again, I was sure I could do it again no problem. However, It took me another full hour before I could do it again. This time around I wasn’t angry when I did it. I was calmly walking a couple steps behind Kitai and looking out at Astral.

Kitai turned to face me when he heard the leaves being torched.

“Ready to learn your first attack?” He smiled.

“Finally!” I said.

“Well you kind of just learned it,”

“What do you mean?” I asked confused.

“Skye,” he said laughing “Just make a fist and cock back like you’re about to punch somebody.”

“Oh, I know exactly who I’m going hit,” I said looking at him pulling my fist back.

“Hey watch where you aim that cannon Skye,” He said as he dodged my view.

I looked at my hand and there was a raging flame surrounding my fist. I hadn’t even noticed it appear. and when I opened my hand it vanished into thin air.

“That’s amazing,” I said.

“That’s just the beginning,” Kitai replied.

We continued our route down the mountain with Kitai showing me moves and explaining life on Astral on the way down. He showed me this amazing move that resembled a move done by Raiden on Mortal Kombat but rather than have lightning he had fire of course. It was like a dive in mid-air while spinning. Took me a while to get that move down but it ended up being my favorite of the bunch.

As we continued down the mountain Kitai explained how the Gods had eight children and each had ruled one of the planets in our Solar System. Treasure The Goddess of Nature, Games, and Festivities ruled over Earth. She was responsible for all of the largest festivities and games as well as the planet and its beautiful nature. On the other hand when she was angered planet earth felt the wrath of her powers whether it was a hurricane, tornado, wildfire, earthquake etc.

“So things like Hurricane Katrina was her?” I asked.

“Yea, when humans try to cheat to get ahead in life she doesn’t like it.” He responded. “I’m not sure what was going on in that area of the world at the time but she didn’t like it.”

“Wow” I replied stunned.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the State of California was wiped out soon for their tax rates and cost of living alone.” He joked. “California is the epitome of the rich getting richer and the poor staying poor followed by New York of course, or maybe they’re opposite.”

“Well, what about Las Vegas?” I asked, “With all the gambling, mob ties and human trafficking you would think she would do something devastating to it.”

“On the contrary, I think actually,” he replied. “See it’s not hard to live in Vegas like it is in California and gambling is merely games mostly inspired by the Goddess herself. She enjoys watching mobs, gangs and cartels fight for the small power they can attain. As for human trafficking, my guess would be that it is a mind game and those cheaters of the game who use drugs or take advantage of younger people ultimately get what they deserve.”

“That’s a bold perspective,” I responded.

“Well, when you don’t have all the answers you use your own mind to fill in the blanks.”

We were finally within a short distance from the bottom of the pathway, maybe a mile away. The narrow path we walked had widened. Beautiful views from being high up in the mountains had faded into what looked like an ordinary mountainside. There was one blatant difference in the scenery. I could now see what looked like a small town at the bottom of the mountain. Also, I could smell barbecue smoke floating through the air. It made my stomach growl the moment the scent entered my nostril.

“Please tell me you have Astral money, I’m starving,” I said.

“Awh Astralian Coins.” He replied.

He took a bag out his pocket that resembled a purple Crown Royale bag but it instead had a five-point star stitched in gold. The coins jingled as he wrestled to untie what was now a knot in the strings.

Finally, he untied, opened the bag and reached in to reveal a golden coin. As he flipped the coin through his fingers I could see five-point stars inscribed in the edge of the coin. The heads side was the face of a Demi-God named Trayvon. He was the first the Ruler of the Plains making him the first Ruler of Astral until his death. The tails side was an aerial view of Astral with a five-point star drawn on top of it.

“That’s so dope,” I said I gazed at the piece in awe. “How much is it worth?”

“Picture the Gold coin as a one hundred dollar bill in America. We also have silver coins those would be the twenties and our bronze coins would be the tens. The ones are rocks.” Kitai explained.

“Rocks?” I said sarcastically.

“Not just a rock that you pick up off the ground of course,” He said smiling. “The way humans turn paper into money Demi-Gods use other things such as precious metals and rocks.”

“Oh, I see.” I acknowledged. “Well I’m glad you have a hundred, I’m hungry enough to eat a sheep right now.”

“They have that here” He laughed.

“Ughh, not for real” I laughed along.

He stuffed the bag back into his pocket and we continued our journey down the path. About twenty minutes later we were finally coming to the beginning of the path. It had gone from just enough for two people side by side to wide enough for several people side by side.

Through all of the madness that had happened that day I somehow still managed to conjure up some excitement. I was scared for the journey but excited about the experience. “Even if I die here it was worth a shot.” I thought to myself.

Just as we were exiting the pathway and on our way to enter the nearest town there was a loud swooshing sound that flew directly through the center Kitai & I. Kitai grabbed my arm and told me to follow him.

We ran to nearby bushes and crouched down behind them hiding. Kitai looked like he was listening for the sound again. I made sure to keep quiet and not move so that he could hear and possibly detect where it was coming from.

Then it came again. This time it flew through the bushes we were hiding behind and struck a tree directly in front of us. I squinted my eyes to see what had been a bunch of leaves simply falling to the ground. Confused I looked back to Kitai And he was now standing pulling back a bow and arrow made of water. He shot the water arrow and I could hear it splash nearby.

“Lay down,” Kitai instructed me.

Just as I laid down on my back and blinked an arrow made of simply leaves flew directly over me. Kitai shot his water arrow once more but this time the splash sounded different and a voice followed it. Kitai then laughed and proceeded to stand up.

“Come on,” He said as he reached his hand out to pick me up.

“Whats going on?” I asked.

We walked around the bushes we were hiding behind to see a guy standing behind a bush across the pathway. His clothes were soaked

“Even off guard you’ll never beat me,” Kitai said as the guy approached.

He had a small tornado imprinted on his forehead like Ms. Cruise’s flame and Antonio’s raindrop. A Hollywood smile across his face he had the perfect white teeth. He was light skinned and had a nose ring. He also had tattoos on his arms from what I could see but he was definitely physically fit without a doubt.

“I was trying not to hit your friend,” he said smiling.

“Whatever floats your boat or replaces your lost remote.” Kitai laughed. “That’s Andre 3000 from America.”

The guy laughed along with Kitai as I stood by not understanding the joke.

“Wait so this is her!” He asked

“Yea,” Kitai acknowledged. “Skye this is my friend Benign Star but he’s more like a brother.”

“Nice to meet you Skye,” He said as he held his hand out smiling.

“Likewise,” I said.

I couldn’t help but stare into his eyes, they were hazel. When I shook his hand it was both firm as well as diffident.

“How did you know we’d be here?” Kitai asked.

“Your mother contacted me and asked me to make my way to the mountains portal because you might miss the caves portal. Where is she anyway?” Benign asked.

Kitai took a deep sigh and grinded his teeth. His eyes filled with water and Benign was immediately aware of what had happened. He hugged Kitai tightly, the way a family member that understood your pain would.

“I’m sure she’s amongst the greatest Demi-Gods,” Benign said as they released their braces. “She’s the best woman I knew without a doubt.”

“And I second that!” I agreed.

“Thanks, guys” Kitai smiled. “Let’s get home.”

We all began walking toward the small town at the bottom of the mountains.

“Hey you might want to put that book in my book bag,” Benign said as we began walking.

“That’s true” Kitai agreed reaching out for the book. “Don’t want anybody here seeing us with it.”

Benign turned away from us as Kitai opened his backpack and deposited the book.

I could tell Kitai and Benign were close but I wasn’t sure how well they knew each other. It was clear they were from different regions Kitai of the Caves and Benign of the Mountains but how could two guys with a clear difference in age be so close coming from regions so far apart. I didn’t want to look at them two awkwardly when they were so close so I decided to ask.

“How did you guys meet?” I asked.

Kitai looked caught off guard like it was a question he didn’t expect to come so quickly.

“Well, Kitai and Ms. Cruise actually found me on the shoreline as a baby.”

I jerked my head back in shock and awe. That was even lower than the last thing I was expecting to hear. I was flabbergasted and it was written all over my face.

“They took me in and looked after me. Raised me to be who I am today.” He smiled.

“Kitai even taught me most of my moves even though he wasn’t from the mountains.” He looked at Kitai. “That actually gives me the advantage over most of the Demi-Gods from the mountains. We may have the same power to manipulate air and wind but our moves and technique are completely different.” He explained.

“Kitai you should look into being a teacher,” I said giggling.

“Never,” he responded “teachers don’t get paid anywhere in the world enough for me. That has to be a passion of yours to make it a career.”

“See what I mean” I said smiling as he had logical reasons for everything making him a great teacher naturally.

“She has a point, you’re a great teacher.” Benign laughs “did he show you the leaf burning trick?”

I lifted my fist and as soon as I tightened it the flame appeared.

“Nice!” Benign said. “but if you have the power to manipulate fire why don’t you have the flame emblem.”

“Because she holds part of the soul of fire and her skin glows instead,” Kitai answered.

Kitai lifted his bandanna revealing that he also had no emblem.

“When I drank the water from the Sacred waterfall my emblem disappeared.”

“So why do you wear the bandannas?” I asked.

Kitai smiled. “It’s my fashion signature. I can make a flame or a raindrop appear at any time which is how I convinced the school to let me wear them. I told them I’d get made fun of.”

“Wait you got to go to school in America?” Benign asked excitedly.

“Yea the moment we left here I enrolled in a school there and met Skye.” He answered.

“That’s crazy,” he replied “was it fun?”

“It was alright” Kitai replied.

“That’s a lie!” I interfered “School sucks in America. You learn the least, the food is awful and the students are annoying.”

Benign had a confused look. “That doesn’t sound like the America I heard of. From what I’ve heard they breed some of the smartest humans in the world, their lunch is like junk food daily, and the students become the greatest athletes in the world.”

“Actually its more in the middle of both” Kitai said. “They have great schools as well as horrible ones academically, The great schools serve decent food while the bad ones serve what should be fed to pigs and there are quality as well as bad students. At the end of the day, it depends on where you are like any other country.”

“Well, that’s discouraging.” Benign said, “I was going to go there after I win in these games.” He smiled.

“You’re entering the games?” I asked.

“Yea of course. I figure if I do it young Ill have a home in the plains forever.”

“Well I understand not wanting to live in the mountains but why not the caves?”

“The Royal Kingdom is in the plains!” He responded “Its rumored to be the most beautiful place in Astral and if you win in the games they have a nice home for your choosing in the Royal Kingdom. not to mention you’re allowed to have visitors so you guys will be able to come as well.”

“That sounds awesome!” I obliged.

“Except the part where he could possibly die in the race for a measly ribbon,” Kitai said.

“Better than risking my life for the powers one by one” Benign struck back. “You could have easily died going to that waterfall.”

“But I didn’t,” Kitai exclaimed. “besides you’re a lot younger than I was when I went for the waterfall. The race is just as hard. You have to train more.”

“I think I’m ready now.”

“Look in two years you’ll be eighteen and even I won’t hold you back from entering but right now is not the time,” Kitai explained. “I’ve seen more of the games than you have, I know what they are capable of making people do and go through.”

“Wait, you’re sixteen too?” I asked purely out of curiosity of course.

“Yea, I am” He flashed his Hollywood smile at me.

“Uggghhhh,” Kitai said as he rolled his eyes and walked a few steps ahead of us.

Despite what you may think I was mainly interested in him because he was the first person of my kind that I met not only in my age bracket but the same age. He was also an outcast to his own kind which was something we shared only he was on the wrong side of Astral and I was in the wrong country. I will admit his appearance didn’t hurt his chances.

as we continued Benign and I got familiar. He told me about their schools and I told him about ours. He was shocked to replace out that segregation had not truly ended as I told him how the inner city and horrible public schools Kitai spoke of were filled with the less fortunate black people that typically got a late start in life due to slavery. It broke his heart to hear that if he attended one of the glorious private schools in America he might be looked down upon because of the color of his skin. He was even more distraught when I told him about how the 45th president spoke and degraded people.

“Wow, I guess America isn’t as great as I Imagined,” Benign said.

“It’s not the worst but its far from the best,” I replied.

“Well, I’ll still visit one day.” He said optimistically.