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Chapter 11
(Emily’s Point of View)
When Kyan breaks my mental connection with Ivy, I open my eyes to a room full of floating stars.
“Why does my head hurt like this?” I ask, rubbing my temples with the tips of my fingers.
“Without the help of the hologram interface,” he says, “the connection has to be stronger.” He sits on the bed beside me. “Did you have any idea Ivy had geomancer abilities?”
“No.” I let my hands fall into my lap. “I had no idea. Jack never showed magical powers, so I just presumed Ivy wouldn’t inherit any either.”
“She’ll need to be trained, of course. We can’t have a rogue geomancer running around blowing things up when she becomes too emotional.”
“I need you to go into Earth 104. Ivy should have your guidance as her powers emerge. We can’t afford to have her disrupting the trials.”
“Oh,” Kyan draws out the word before standing. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I can’t physically enter that particular sphere.”
“And why not?” I demand to know.
He rubs the back of his neck. “Well, this is somewhat embarrassing, but I’m afraid she won’t let me inside.”
“She?” I’m more confused than ever. “Are you talking about Ivy?”
“No. I . . . ah . . . well,” Kyan’s eyes look everywhere except in my direction, “I did a little experiment with Earth 104. I gave it a sentient AI.”
“Is that uncommon? I’m afraid I don’t know much about how you geomancers make the spheres.”
“Normally, we install an AI system, but I’m the only one who has ever programmed a sphere AI to learn from those it takes care of.”
“Was there a reason you made this one sentient?”
Kyan lifts his shoulder, look slightly abashed. “Curiosity? I don’t know. I wanted to see if the AI would develop empathy for those inside. If it did, it might make the trials easier to conquer.”
“So, the AI is controlling the trials?”
“In this particular case, yes, and from what I can gather, it isn’t allowing anyone to teleport into the world. Not now that the trials have started.”
I sigh in disappointment. “Then we’ll simply have to wait, but I want you to be the one who teaches Ivy how to use her powers when all of this is over.”
“Why would you trust me to instruct your granddaughter? I’m the man who drugged you and stole Earth 104 right out of your grasp.”
“Because I know you’re not one of my father’s lackeys. It’s as simple as that.”
Kyan bows to me at the waist. “I would consider it an honor to teach her, Your Grace.”
“Good, now that that’s settled, I need you to keep watch over the sphere until the trials are over. Let me know if Ivy needs my help again. Don’t hesitate to find me if she does.”
“I will guard it with my life.”
His promise sounds genuine and that’s good enough for me.
“Can you get out of the castle unnoticed?” I ask.
“I will leave the way I came in. No one will see me.”
“Then be on your way. I have things to do tonight. My mother believes I’m getting some beauty sleep for my wedding tomorrow, so this is the perfect time to go handle some business she doesn’t need to know about. Contact me when the trials are over.”
“I most certainly will.” Kyan tucks the sphere in a large pocket of his coat’s inner lining and heads out the door.
