The Keepers of Azera ( Book 1 of the Keepers Trilogy)

Chapter 4

The rest of the week passes by uneventfully.

By the way, I feel like I should explain how our week is set up. There's only five days, and I'll translate their names. The first day of the week is Rajadaz, or Religion Day, where no one works or does much really except attend a four hour sermon, then go home and pray. We don't eat anything except a small cracker and drink a glass of water. Usually the next day we have a huge breakfast, and we're used to it anyways. Then the next three days for working adults are just Veredaz, or "Work Day," but for those still in school it's Henydaz, or Study Day, where we study what we've learned the previous week, do our homework, and practice our training. Then there's Leizdaz, Learning Day, where we tend classes just like schools on your planet-History, Science, Literature and Mathematics, mostly. And the last day of work is Gremdaz, Training Day which, for Keepers, is the day where they focus on developing their powers, but for regular students at the Academies, they train for their job outside of school. For instance, if a student wants to go into the Medical field, they study medicines and remedies. Those who want to go into the Military, they learn combat... you get the idea. The last day of the week is Sandaz, Rest Day, which is pretty much like the human Saturday.

It's Religion Day. I'm at the sermon, where the preacher talks about the Elder Gods and their contribution to this planet. Unlike your God and myths, these five gods and goddesses were actually real people who did form the society on this planet. Literature has warped them into divine figures, but we know exactly what happened. But we do think that there is a place after death, where the Elders all live now.

One moment I'm sitting on the bench, sandwiched between James and Astrid, trying-and not entirely succeeding-to stay awake. The next second, I'm standing in a battlefield. Wind blows the sand and dry dirt around as guns fire, soldiers shout, and people die. I'm just outside the line of fire. As I watch, a Keeper summons a storm and a lightning bolt strikes the enemy, frying several people. I can't see who they're fighting for, but it's too gruesome to watch. I spin around, a cold wind blowing through my hair. The scent of blood and salt is in the air. I'm on a beach. I don't know when this is happening, or where.

Several people charge past me, firing their weapons. I dart out of the way, but they don't notice me. I don't exist here. This has already happened, and I'm just a spectator of the past.

I shut my eyes tight, hoping to block out the fight. I sink to the ground, bury my face in my arms. Then it's over. The scent of the ocean is gone. So is the sounds of the fight. I open my eyes slowly.

I'm back at the sermon. My head is resting on James' shoulder. Both him and Astrid are watching me with wide eyes. I lift my head. They both can tell that I just had a vivid flashback. Rarely does this happen. Usually it's like watching a movie, but on occasion, it's almost like I'm transported to the past. 

An hour later, we filter back to our dorms. We say our prayers, eat our little food, and fall asleep. I don't tell him about the flashback until he brings it up during our large breakfast in the small dining hall. I'm picking at my eggs when James turns to me. "What happened yesterday?" he asks.

"What do you mean?"

James sighs. "It was scary. It happened so quickly that I didn't even notice. One second you were wide awake and attentive, then without warning, you were on my shoulder, shaking like mad and sort of...flickering. What happened? Was it one of those flashbacks?"

I shudder and nod. It's obvious when I'm having one of those flashbacks, because not only does it come suddenly, my body starts jumping about a half-second into the future repeatedly, which makes me look like I'm flickering, as James put it.

"What was it about?" James asks.

I take a deep breath. "It was a war. I think it was that war." I point at the ceiling. "And I was on a beach. I saw the enemy, James, but I couldn't see who they were fighting for. They didn't look quite Azeran, but they didn't not look like us, either."

"Human?" James guesses. "But I don't think that they've advanced enough to travel as far as Azera."

I shrug. "Maybe. But I could smell the salt, the blood, it felt like I was in there, too, like any second a stray bullet would hit me, and I could die..." I'm breathing heavily. "James, it felt so real..."

James rests a hand on my shoulder. "Calm down. You're hyperventilating. It's over, you hear? It's not going to affect you."

I open my mouth to say something, but he barrels on. "I get it. It was freaky, it was scary. But it's over and done with. Come on. We need to go downstairs, to the learning floor. You have a lot of homework to do, yeah?"