The Name of Secrets

"Do you think we should tell the elf woman, I mean she does rank as leader of the camp." Janette asked, lifting a brow as she and Dimyri made themselves comfortable by the fire.

Dimyri shrugged her shoulders. "I'll tell Alma when she wakes up, at this time of day most if not everyone is sleeping. So keep your voice low."

Janette shook her head as the Nekomata stared down at the blank display of the parted book on her friends lap, her brow digging closer as she felt a cold breeze tickle her nerves. "Uhm, Magic Book? Tell us about Raz's past."

"His past? Don't you think we should ask for th-"

"The weakpoints to the tower, you're right." Dimyri cleared her throat. "Magic Book, could you tell us the weakpoints to the place where Perdilius is?"

Both Nekomata and human leaned forward, waiting for the ink to form into coherent words.

That's a vague request, be more specific. Don't call me magic book, I don't call you Cat Girl or Female Human.

"Sassy, then what do we call you? It never bothered you before when I was little." Janette asked.

You may refer to me as Vardare.

"Vardare?" Dimyri repeated out loud. "So it has self awareness."

"Just full of surprises," Janette said, clearing her throat. "Vardare, help us by showing the entrance points to the building."

In due time, the words scrambled and mixed together, stirring into a dark ball of ink before dispersing into a wider shape, taking form into sharp lines and impressive details. Both girls gasped as they witnessed the image of the tower from an outside view painted and drawn as if by a supernatural artist of such and in such a short time!

"I hadn't realized it could create images all on its own!" Janette said, her state of awe slowly forming into a frown. "Does that mean you could have made a map for me to follow instead of writing directions to this place?"

Dimyri leaned in, her eyes drawn to the image held before them. "It looks so real."

"Looks like one of Mom's old paintings." The girls jumped in surprise, the book bouncing off the grass floor and closing up on its own. Glancing above, they found an elf boy swinging upside down by his legs crossed around a firm nearly a dozen feet up high. Displaying a skilled set of acrobatics, he dropped down catching a vine in hand, swinging toward a lower branch, sliding down the shaft and jumping down landing between the girls after flipping once in midair. Bending down, he scooped up the book and sat where the girls were on the log, flipping the pages until he found the image of the tower.

Janette glanced back up where he was, seemingly baffled. "That's rather peculiar. Do you often snoop around on trees?"

"I wasn't snooping, I was clearing my head when I heard you two below." He answered in a matter-of-fact tone. "Yea, this is the tower. Nice drawing, it captures the creepy atmosphere surrounding it well. Spot on really!"

"Keep your voice down, you might wake up someone." Dimyri looked around, wondering who else may be nearby.

"No one is awake besides your friend, the hero. I saw him and Zimi heading back into their tent to rest. Everyone else is asleep or in their tents."

"You guys don't have any guards in case someone attacks at night?" Janette asked.

Spi'Reto's eyes settled on her as he calmly stated, "I am the guard. What's the meaning of this here, you two are looking into making plans without Mother? She'll be upset."

Dimyri folded her arms. "We'll share anything of importance to her first thing in the morning, you're free to see for yourself what this book has. Maybe ask it a question or two."

"Last time I asked, I didn't like the response. Maybe too much knowledge can be its own detriment."

"Oh shut up." Janette waved him off, leaning over his shoulder. "Let's just look over the damn thing and find something."

All three members quietly scanned the image of the tower, looking around to find any openings to no avail.

"The only opening is at the top." Dimyri mentioned. "The top plus the front doors."

"Anyone ask for any weak points, hidden or secret entrance, a cracked wall or anything?" Spi'Reto asked.

"Well, you just asked but I don't see any changes... " Janette replied, touching a finger to her chin. Her eyes lit up. "Do you think Raz doesn't know of any weakpoints?"

"Or there are none." Spi'Reto included. "It can definitely be that the tower was well built over the centuries its been around."

"The fact is both are possibilities we should take in." Dimyri sighed. "But it looks like maybe Raz's mind won't be as much help as I would like."

"A pity." The elf muttered, leaning his head back against his folded arms.

"There is one thing," Dimyri hunched closer to Vardare. "Can you tell us about Raz's past, his relationship with his father and how he got this way?"

"His past? Why should that matter?"

"Shh." Janette pressed a finger to her lips, silencing the young elf. "I'm a tad bit curious about this myself."

Spi'Reto raised his brow as the ink on the pages moved into a spiral pattern before settling in to form a new sentence.

There was a little boy who was born rather coy.

A son to a preacher and a teacher, whom felt safe within their faith.

His father believed power could be held within a flower.

The mother fell to sin, allowing darkness to corrupt within.

Driving the father into madness, leaving the son a product of sin.

Beneath the father's eyes lay emptiness inside

The kind of which gave rise to hate and disgrace.

For the boy without a mother whom desired his father's love

Like father like son, held a faith that was misplaced.

"A faith that was misplaced... why the poem?" Dimyri asked as Vardare responded.

I'm tired, I wanted to have a little fun before I rest.

"Vardare, you can't be tired now!" Janette groaned, "Leaving a cryptic riddle like that, ugh!"

"A boy without a mother." Dimyri repeated to herself as Janette folded the book. "That was interesting. I think we should take the book's example and get some rest ourselves. You as well, Reto."

Spi'Reto nodded, strecthing his arm. "I'll get some rest with the boy, keep one eye on him to make sure he doesn't try anything funny. What? No chance we're leaving an elemental alone."

"Of course. And Janette, you get some rest too. Tomorrow starts a new day for all of us." Dimyri stood up with a determined look on her face. "The day we fight back!"