“It doesn’t for you?”
Rydan shakes his head. “To be honest, I was sort of a prick when I first found out I was illusié. I didn’t want much to do with it. Nothing at all, actually.”
Avery shoots him a sidelong glance. “You have no idea how to use your abilities, do you?”
Rydan laughs. “Think you can you teach me?”
Avery studies him for a moment. “Well, I’m not much of a teacher, but I can show you. You know what they say, experience is the best teacher. Perhaps you’ll pick up on something.”
Rydan extends his hand in gratitude. “Thanks.”
Avery meets his grip. “No problem. Anything in particular you want to know?”
“Well, I haven’t exactly been able to wield my abilities, like at all. I noticed before that if I felt angry or upset, they’d appear almost instantly.”
“You discovered you were illusié on accident, didn’t you?”
Rydan gives a sheepish nod.
“The key to handling our particular ability is to focus on the point of contact.” He raises his hands in the air. “The fire is produced from our fingertips, correct?”
Rydan nods, mimicking Avery’s movement.
“Imagine being able to ignite with just your mind.”
Rydan lifts his gaze. “Is that possible?”
“I’ve seen it firsthand.” His face falls. “I’m not quite there yet, though.”
“I’m sure it takes practice,” Rydan says as he focuses on his own two hands. “I should probably master the basics first.”
“That would be wise.”
“So, I focus on the point of contact—then what?”
Avery snaps out of his daze. “Right. You’ll want to find something that will raise your body temperature. I’ve found it to be the easiest way when you’re first starting out.”
Rydan gives him a blank stare. “I’m not quite sure I understand.”
“You just said that, in the beginning, you could only wield your abilities when you felt angry or upset.”
“Right . . . ”
Avery rises from the crate. “What happens to your body temperature when you get angry or upset?”
“I tend to get flushed, warm—” Rydan stops himself as the pieces come together. “You’re saying I have to recall unpleasant memories in order to use my abilities?”
Avery shrugs, his mouth pulling to the side in a childish smirk. “Or hope that you’re somehow always near a fire or that the sun’s out.” He gestures to the entrance of the galley. “In Lonia, the latter isn’t really a problem, but up north,” he shakes his head, “hate to break it to you, but you’ll be fully dependent on those memories.”
“Sadly, I have enough unpleasant memories to last a lifetime.” Rydan doesn’t realize he’s said it out loud until he catches the grim expression on Avery’s face. “So,” he says, quickly changing the subject, “should we head back up to the deck so I can give it a shot?”
“I’m surprised you’re letting me off that easy.”
Rydan has no idea what he’s referring to until he catches a glimpse of a crumpled up blanket at the far end of the galley. The other illusié. “Now that you mention it, I have to ask.” He motions for Avery to sit again. “What can you tell me about the others you brought here?”
“Right,” he says. “Where to start? Well, they used to be illusié until they were attacked by,” he lowers his voice to a whisper, “the Mallum. Legend has it that when illusié is used in defense of or to attack the Mallum, it absorbs those abilities.”
Oddly enough, this angers Rydan. And here he’d thought he’d be happy to know there actually was a way to rid him of his abilities—but that was before realizing what a selfish fool he’d been, and that the only way to help Arden might be the very thing he despises about himself.
“When I took your friend”—he pauses, recalling the name—“Opal, back here, we had an encounter with the Mallum.” He winces, as if the memory causes him physical pain. “I dodged the attack, hid out here, in the galley. Your friend wasn’t so lucky.”
Rydan’s throat goes dry as he realizes that Avery is talking about Arden, not Opal.
“It’s strange, really. It seemed to be fixated on her—like it was dead-set on getting something from her.”
Rydan knows he should ask for specifics, but the processing of all this information keeps him from doing so.
Avery doesn’t seem to notice his deep state of contemplation. “It’s rumored that there is a way to get those lost illusié abilities back, although no one’s been able to prove it, dare I say even attempt it,” he continues. “There are two freshwater springs, one in Volkharn and one in the Crostan Islands. With the proper provisions, one can immerse themselves in the spring and restore their abilities.”
Rydan leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He studies Avery’s face carefully. “What sort of provisions?”
“That’s just it. Some say you need a mixture of different herbs, others claim elemental magick should be used, and others have interpreted the restoration to involve draconic magic.”
Rydan raises a brow. “Draconic?”
“Working with dragons.”
“So basically, it’s a free-for-all?”
Avery shrugs. “Seems to be. A sure way to tell if your illusié abilities have returned is to go to Orihia.”
“Dare I ask what Orihia is?”
Avery lets out a long sigh. “I didn’t realize this was illusié orientation.”
Rydan feels a faint warmth bloom in his neck. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that when I found out about my abilities, I panicked. I ran away from the very people that could have taught me and helped me.” He bites the inside of his cheek, hoping he hasn’t revealed too much. “I really appreciate the information, Avery.”
A small smile tugs at his lips. “Well then, to answer
your question, Orihia is home to all illusié—and only illusié can access it.”
“And it’s here? In Lonia?”
“Just east of the Thering Forest.” He angles his head, strands of auburn sticking to his temple. “You’ve never been, have you?”
“Afraid not. This is the first I’ve ever heard of it.”
“Well, how about we change that?” He hops forward on one foot and grabs Rydan by the arm, yanking him from his seat, before darting up the steps. Rydan hardly has a chance to process what’s happening when he suddenly bumps into the back of Avery’s head. He clutches the railing to keep from falling backward. He has no idea what’s caused Avery to stop so suddenly—until a familiar voice floats down to him.
“Well, this is an unlikely pairing if I’ve ever seen one.” Vira stands at the top of the deck with her arms crossed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were meeting with Avery?” She looks between the two of them. “I thought you hated each other.”