In the morning, after restocking her supplies, Jessica exited the town and walked north toward the wilderness. She had studied the map during the evening. There were a few scattered villages, showing the final frontier of civilization. She would have to travel from one to the other, hoping to pick up the trail. Her legs were sore and her back complained as she left the town. Slowly, the feeling faded as her muscles warmed up. On the way, she often stopped, closed her eyes, tilted her head, and listened. She could feel her senses opening to magic. It tingled a bit and made her a bit dizzy, almost as if she were tipsy. It was peculiar, but not uncomfortable. I don’t sense any magic. They’re probably still far away. Or they avoid using their power. Looking at the map, she spotted the big turn of the road. Her fingers traced the way on the map to the pictures of a few houses. The next village is close. She listened to the mist and felt a slow pulse of magic coming from that direction, like a humming breeze. A shiver ran down her back. Relief or just the effect of the power, she wasn’t sure. Hope made her heart beat fast. Setting a brisk pace to investigate the magical disturbance, she ignored her hurting feet. Gareth, hold on, I’m coming!

  A wooden palisade encircled the village, more a landmark than a protection. She entered by the main door. There was no guard. The streets were hardened dirt. A few chickens searched in vain for lost food. The houses were crumbly, half-hay and half-wood buildings. She opened herself to magic and gasped. Her head buzzed as she heard a glow calling her. Just a bit further… After this house… She turned around the corner and froze. There was just a ragged child, playing with a scrawny dog. He would throw the stick, and the dog would retrieve it.

  She coughed lightly to announce her presence. The boy looked at her, surprised. They held each other's interrogating gaze for a while. Then the boy squinted, and she heard a voice in her head. Hello? Eyes wide, she exclaimed, “You’re a telepath!” The kid gaped in return, “You can hear me?” They both smiled at the same time. The rare blooming smile from feeling truly seen. She walked forward, sat on the dirt, her back against the building, and took some food out of her bag. “Hungry?” she said. The boy sat beside her and said, “I’m famished.” Then he pointed at the dog, “Can he get some food too?” Jessica smiled, “Of course.”

  During the meal, no one spoke a word. The food did its best to ward off starvation, if only for a moment. Jessica felt a lump in her throat and her eyes stung; she didn’t dare to speak, and she didn’t need to. The boy was eager to talk. “You’re the first human that can hear me. Usually, it’s only animals that do. Well, sort of, I don’t know what they say, but we understand each other's feelings.” Jessica nodded and smiled. “You’re a whisperer. Your kind is rare nowadays. I think there aren't a lot of settlements left,” she said, moving her hand in a specific direction. “There is one toward the west.” The child looked at her in wonder. “There are others like me?”

  The woman smiled, “That’s what I read, at least.” The young man petted his dog pensively. He asked in a small voice, “Can you take me there?” The scholar looked at the boy, then scanned the village, taking in the suffocating misery that surrounded her. She shook her head in helplessness. Then she looked at the boy again. Since she arrived, no one had looked at them. She almost asked, “Where is your family?” Then she realized she knew the answer. Hardening her heart, she finally replied, “I can’t now. I’m looking for a friend. He needs help.” She smiled at him, “I sensed your magic and thought you might be him.” The boy sucked on his teeth, “Your friend, is he the tall muscle guy or the thin funny one?”

  Jessica’s heart quickened at those words. They had been here. Fearing the moment could fly away like a butterfly, she softly said. “Yes, it’s them. The big one, was he hurt?” The boy winced as he remembered. “He came to me to give me food. He played with the dog for a while. I saw his eye. All black, lines spreading under the skin, like the branches of a dead tree.” He shivered, “I asked about it, and he said not to worry. He still had one that worked. Then he laughed. I didn’t find it funny. He gave me a coin.” The boy discreetly showed his treasure before tucking it inside his shirt.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Do you know which way they went?” The boy nodded and pointed in the direction. She got up and brushed her pants. The child got up and grabbed her hand. “Will you come pick me up after you find him?” Jessica forced herself to hold his gaze. The wave of pain and hope, strengthened by the child's telepathic ability, made her dizzy. “I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll try.” She squeezed the hand and asked to release the tension, “What’s your name?” The child's gaze didn’t waver as he answered, “I don’t have one, everyone calls me 'Boy'.” Then he let go of the hand and added in a whisper, “When they speak to me at all.”

  Boy looked at his pet and told him, “Say goodbye, Dog, she is leaving.” The dog looked at the woman and barked once. “Woof!” Turning away, Boy said, “He said, thank you for the food.”

  As she walked away, Boy sat on the ground, head in his hands. Dog came nuzzling him. The whisperer opened his arms, and they hugged each other in quiet comfort.

  Jessica walked away from the village in the direction shown. She didn’t look back. Silent tears streaked her cheeks. Only when the settlement was out of sight did she allow herself to stop. After taking a few shuddering breaths, she closed her eyes and practiced the controlled breathing she had learned at the College. Soon, the tension and emotions faded in the background. Not completely gone, but no longer overwhelming. She couldn’t help but chuckle as she remembered one of Gareth's comments to the Grandmaster. “You guys here learn how to breathe, very impressive.” Then she grew pensive. She had never seen the Grandmaster mad or annoyed, but the patience he had shown over the years for Gareth was puzzling. Shaking the thought away, she took the map and pointed her finger at her location. “There are two villages they could have gone to,” she muttered.

  Again, a choice, success, or failure depended on it. Her lips pinched, she threw a small rock away in frustration. Sharp echoes slowly died until silence claimed the land again. She gave in to the silence, letting her senses drift. A faint glow was calling. Like a faraway beacon of magic showing her the way. Her legs were wobbly, so she sat down. She felt a breeze calling her name. She listened, trying to pinpoint its origin. A feeling of bliss crept under her skin, and soon she forgot who she was.

  Time ceased to matter. The voice was still there, but others joined in. She felt the low hum of rocks, the shrill sparks of birds, the soothing presence of trees. This time, she cried tears of joy. Her body was growing weak, and she laid her palm on the earth for balance. Her consciousness was sucked into the ground. Then fear froze her. A massive presence was woven into a magical current flowing under the earth. And it was watching her. She felt like something was drawing her toward the current. Panicking, she tried to resist and go back to her body. Then the presence spoke. What are you doing here? You’re not a healer. You’re not a fighter. The words echoed in her soul, and she knew her answer would decide if she would live or die. I’m looking for a fighter, he is wounded, and I want to save him. The presence grew thoughtful. I can help this fighter, bring him to me. Jessica knew she couldn’t tell the truth, she would never come back here. So she told a truth. I would do anything to save him. The presence seemed satisfied and withdrew, the pull she felt toward the magic eased. She set her hands on her knees and focused on the outside world again. Things were clearer, she could filter out the humming noise of nature and feel a bright call ahead.

  She opened her eyes. The village is far away, and yet I can feel magic. That’s them, without a doubt. With renewed energy, she walked forward, her detection senses locked on the signal.

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