The Emerging Part I: Dream
CHAPTER IV

Vaiqon looks at the obstacle course he has now twice constructed. He looks around and notices Hawk and Boar have yet to make it back to the city’s center. He smiles at those passing by, especially little ones with awe in their eyes when passing the structures of the obstacle course.

Vaiqon feels a familiar presence behind him. He smiles brightly as he turns and sees Teqqc striding toward him. He watches as she walks with gusto towards him, the years having nearly no effect on the woman. Her muscles still taut, her face still flawless. The only sign of her age is her silver hair.

His smile falters as he recognizes anguish upon her face. His heart falls having seen that look many times on many others’ faces. Before she can utter a hello, Vaiqon asks, “What has happened?”

Teqqc evades the question, smiles, and says, “Oh, no hello and hug for your oldest friend?”

“You are not my oldest, I believe Vulcan has that position filled. You do not look a day over fifty years,” Vaiqon says with a twinkle in his eye.

Teqqc smiles and laughs, hitting Vaiqon on his shoulder. “Oh, Vaiqon, you always know how to make me smile, even in the cruelest of times.”

Vaiqon smiles and waits for Teqqc to compose herself enough to enlighten him of her withheld knowledge.

Teqqc looks at Vaiqon and then past him. She observes the obstacle course awaiting contenders. She smiles, “Seeking a new class, Vaiqon?”

He nods, “It has been ten long years since the Injhihato has had a new class and I am proud to say I already have two pupils to conquer the course.”

She nods approvingly, “You always were one to break patterns.”

“Perhaps.”

She stares into his eyes. His old, wise eyes. She shakes involuntarily and says, “Vaiqon, I have disturbing news.”

Vaiqon’s smile fades instantly, “Yes?”

“There have been two murders in two days in two different cities. All scholars. All had their throats slit in their offices of their libraries.”

Vaiqon cannot believe his ears. “What?!”

“You heard me, Vaiqon. There has been a murder in each of the cities of Veqxon and Scarlitis. You know better than I do how unlikely this is.”

“I do, and I am very concerned. Do you have any leads of whom it might be conducting these murders?”

“None. None whatsoever. And it is driving me mad! I have never had such a cold case before!”

“Teqqc, relax, my friend,” Vaiqon says as he pulls her in for warm embrace. She breaks away. She twitches suddenly. She remains as still as a statue. Her gaze becomes glassy as if she has transported her mind to another place entirely.

Her gaze becomes steel once again and stares at Vaiqon.

Before she can speak, Vaiqon says, “There has just been another, has there not?”

Teqqc can only nod. Silence echoes between them for a moment before she says, “Yes. A trusted contact of mine in Eais has just told me and sent me a mental image of the decapitated body.”

Before Vaiqon can prepare himself, Teqqc sends the mental image to him through telepathy and Vaiqon sees a body coated in its own blood with its head not a foot from the base of the neck. A pool of still, dark, crimson blood glares at him through Teqqc’s memory.

Vaiqon breaks the contact with Teqqc’s mind. He looks at his friend with sympathy as he sees tears welling in her eyes. He embraces her, but not for long before she breaks away and smiles.

“The Oqoponh’s duties are not always easy,” she says before flashing away in a brilliant white light.

Vaiqon tries to rid himself of the mental image of the body but cannot. He feels the presence of three young ones approaching from behind him and turns to see Hawk, Boar, and another boy their age walking in a pack.