The city of Xayall stood on a low hill in the centre of a wide, shallow valley, surrounded by an immense forest with lush, green trees that rippled gracefully in the mid-afternoon breeze. Its sandstone walls shone lustrously in the brilliant sunlight, the many spires and grand archways creating an image that complemented the forest surrounding them. On top of the firm bastions archers and sentries took turns lounging in the sun while the others kept guard. A wide, glistening moat hugged the bank below the city, fed by a river to the Southeast.

Proud bridges arched over the river from the trees to the three gates of the city; every passenger on their stony backs could not help but be impressed by the city’s commanding, inspiring presence.

At the city’s heart stood the Tor, a stone tower rising high above the city walls, dominating the other buildings and dwarfing even the oldest of the trees in the forest. The building’s gentle taper held it boldly against the hue of the sky, the sentinel of the surrounding lands. At its peak were two gold and white wing-like spires gently reaching into the sky, as if part of a huge bird readying itself to take flight. The city below was made in the same light stone as if it were the tower’s nest, with smaller spires and flat-topped buildings echoing the central structure’s design.

Within the Tor’s outer defensive walls lay its gardens. The brilliant flowers and gleaming trees presented themselves to the clean air, filling the proud building with the gentle sound of their rustling leaves.

In these gardens, in the centre of a large grass circle, stood a figure. The young vixen with brilliant orange-red fur clutched a short metal rod, at the end of which was a spearhead of blue-green crystal that shimmered gently in the sunlight. The crystal was laid in intricate veins that wrapped their way down the rod’s handle, pulsing with a faint glow where she held it.

Faria Phiraco was seventeen, with a light frame and a gentle face. Given her short muzzle, her height and her ears she looked a lot like a fennec fox– from her mother’s side of the family, she was told. The rest of her bold markings, her black ears, hands and feet, were like her father’s.

She let out a deep breath, the strong sunlight uncomfortably warm on her Imperial jacket of deep blue, black and gold. The coat flared out below the waist; over her shoulders was a black shoulder cape that reached down to the small of her back, held in place by a wide blue strap reaching over her shoulders. The turned-back sleeves displayed her elegant, gentle arms, on which she was wearing black fingerless, palm-less gloves reaching to just below her elbow, with channels of gold braid running down them. On her legs was a short black robe, and below this, over her knees to the top of her feet were black gaiters, fastened at the back with gold buttons.

Her deep, cobalt-blue eyes examined the staff, taking in all the details on its surface, beautifully crafted in crystal and silver. And this was only a practice rod, nowhere near as elaborate as her father’s.

Almost camouflaged in his green and grey armour, her bodyguard, an ocelot called Bayer, watched from the shadow of the nearest tree as she began her resonance practice. This was an important routine for Faria. If she fell behind she could lose her affinity with the crystals she commanded. She would train for hours every day honing her skills, and even longer when her father was away, never entirely confident that she would be able to follow in his footsteps. He’d always said she was gifted, potentially better than he was, but she hadn’t truly believed in herself despite it being second nature.

She insisted that nobody was to watch her train, so she would always move into the gardens to be away from prying eyes. The resonance shared by her and her father was unknown to most of Xayall. It could prove dangerous if people knew of their abilities. But more than that, it distracted her if people saw her mistakes.

Faria raised the staff in her right hand and held it aloft, tightening her grip. The crystal veins swam with a flowing, organic light, spreading to the smooth, sharp blade of the head. Light streamed from the point and, mist, drawn from the air, began condensing around the rod’s tip. As more water was sucked in it formed large, erratically pulsating spheres of the clear liquid. When she shifted the position of her fingers along the haft, one sphere shot from the staff and burst a few feet away, showering the grass with a spray of water. Quickly grabbing the haft in her left hand, she twirled it round and in moments the remaining water solidified into ice. Her coat whirling around her, she spun round and aimed the icy ball at the nearest tree. With a deft movement of her hands, the rod shone and a burst of wind erupted behind the sphere, punching it through the air in a spiralled blast.

Something was wrong.

Bayer drew his sword just in time, slicing through the ice ball with ease. She stopped, clutching the staff to her chest with a fearful look in her eyes.

“Bayer!” she cried. “Are you all right?”

The ocelot sheathed his sword, smiling wryly. “I’m fine, Your Highness. You should be proud of your aim.”

She ran to him. “Not if it’s going to hit you!”

He leant back against the tree. “It didn’t hit me. Anyone watching you less closely, unknowing of your abilities, would have been stopped in their tracks.”

She shook her ears indignantly. “I’m not just doing this for self-defence. I need to understand the resonance to help people. I mean… we shouldn’t need to fight, should we? The border disputes never get that bad…”

Bayer lowered his sleek frame into a sitting position, nestling between two roots of the tree. His russet eyes, alight and piercing, kept a vigilant watch on the young Empress. In the few years he’d been guarding the Phiraco family he’d grown a great respect for their power and humility, and took pride in protecting them. “If you’ll pardon my saying so, Your Highness, it would be naïve to think you would never have to fight someone at least once in your life. And since your life is so important, it is imperative that you survive anything you face.”

She accepted silently, although more concerned for those around her than herself. Now mindful of where Bayer had positioned himself, she returned to the circle to start again. She shuffled awkwardly in her clothes, trying to squeeze some of the heat from the fabric. The blue redingote of the Xayall reigning family with heavy braids and intricate patterning was not practical wear, especially for resonance training, but in her father’s absence she had to keep up appearances. And she wanted to look her best for when he returned. For all their cumbersome embellishments, she did like the Imperial robes.

She pointed the rod at the ground, a little less elegantly than she had done before, and with the glowing crystals coaxed a patch of grass to grow to the height of her waist. With a sweep of the point across the ground she created mounds of soil, plucking it from under the surface as if it were attached to an invisible thread.

She paused for a second, surveying the mess she’d created. Thinking guiltily of the work the gardeners faced, she held her staff to the monstrous molehills and angled it down, slowly pushing the soil underground again. The oversized grass stood defiantly before her, however. Swapping to her other hand, she took the edge of the spearhead and ran it along the grass blades. The crystal, sharpened to a razor sharp blade, sliced effortlessly through the leaves that then fluttered to the ground.

Her hands tingled. She pumped her fingers to try and alleviate the irritating sensation, but unfortunately it was a near-permanent side effect of having an affinity with the crystals. It worsened when she practiced. Her father’s staff was far larger, double-ended, and contained a greater amount of crystal– she felt sick just thinking about the amount of energy it would take to use properly, and the pain they both would receive from it.

The crystal’s pulse faded to a soft glow. She watched it distantly, wondering after her father’s health and the history of resonance, how they both came to wield it.

Millennia ago a huge meteor had stuck Eeres’ moon, casting a thunderous storm of debris towards the planet. As the splintered fragments pierced the atmosphere they twisted and melted in the heat, transforming into thousands of glowing crystals that rained over the lands of Eeres.

Over time these were discovered to contain an organic energy that if used correctly could sympathise, or ‘resonate’, with materials and forces around them: such as light, metals, water, rock, wind, and electricity. This was the phenomenon known as resonance. Occasionally a person was born with the ability to change the crystals’ shape and the way the energy flowed through them; those who had this power were known as ‘resonators’, such as Faria and her father.

Bayer rose to his feet. Someone was approaching from the Tor. A sprightly meerkat attendant came to a quick halt and bowed graciously to Faria.

“Your Imperial Highness, The Emperor is approaching the city.”

Her face lit up with a wide, excited grin. She looked eagerly to Bayer, who smiled and gestured to the attendant to lead them away.

Faria found it difficult not to race ahead. She wasn’t allowed to meet him by the carriages- for her own safety, she was told. Instead she was taken to one of the stately rooms higher up in the Tor. No attempts had been made on either of their lives yet, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t going to happen, and her father was deeply concerned about her safety, far more so than his own.

The attendant led her into a large room midway up the Tor, lavishly decorated in tapestries and huge detailed maps of the region, where Xayall officials met to discuss running the sovereign. The far end of the room opened out to a sprawling balcony, presenting a panoramic view of the city and the forests beyond to the north. She strode outside and leant on the stone rail, watching the gates for signs of her father’s carriage. Bayer stood at the balcony threshold, resting his hands on the pommel of his sword.

Faria sighed and let herself disappear in the view, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. The city was beautiful in the sunlight. She enjoyed looking out over the landscapes and watching people wander around the streets. The best view was to the east, though. There you could see part of the striking, jagged mountain range that ran past the sovereign’s borders. She wanted to be taken there one day, along with many other places she’d heard about. Her father was always evasive about letting her out of the city, and whenever she was it was under close guard. She couldn’t always see why, though she surmised it might be to do with her resonance.

She held the short staff against the light, letting the rays play through the crystal, observing them pensively.

Most people considered stories of resonators to be fanciful at best, relegated to myths and popular heroic legends. She knew of no other aside from herself and her father, although there had to be more, if for no other reason than the number of different known crystal types. The most versatile were the blue-green ones found inside Aidan’s staff. These were apparently the most common, and also the hardest for one person to control.

Since most people had no understanding of using crystal for elemental manipulation, they were often used as jewels. Faria had seen a number used on ceremonial hats, which always amused her. She knew a little about the different crystals and their properties, but also that their potential was virtually limitless.

Her father warned her of the dangers of being a resonator when she was very young. Due to the alien nature of their abilities and common superstitions, if discovered resonators could be stalked by bounty hunters and overzealous scholars, or shunned by communities as a freak or witch, if not forced into self-imposed exile out of fear for the lives of others. It was a grievously misunderstood power.

As such, it was unknown how many resonators existed. With the crystals’ rarity, it was unlikely for any resonator to come across the type of crystal they could use. They had a number of symptoms relating to their resonance, though, making them at least a little easier to identify. Aside from the constant tingling sensation in their hands (often misinterpreted as physical damage or an illness), particular resonance abilities also affected the colour of their eyes. Neither Faria nor her father’s eye colours were natural as such, both reflective of the crystals they could control.

Her father had been born with resonance, and had married into the Xayall reigning family when it was revealed that the Empress Kaya Phiraco, Faria’s mother, also had a degree of resonance inherited from her ancestors. When Faria was born they’d said that her resonance potential was in excess of anything either of them had ever seen. Nothing had come to pass so far where she’d had to utilise her skills in anything other than training (although she had been prepared for more serious events), but the strength of her power could work both in her favour and heavily against her.

In the distance, the northern city gates rumbled open. Through them, a carriage moved briskly towards the Tor. Faria smiled, her tail flicking excitedly from side to side.

The cart rattled into the walled plaza in front of the Tor and slowed to a halt by the eminent archway. No sooner had it stopped than a footman pulled open the door with a flourish and bowed respectfully to the Emperor within. Aidan stepped outside, looking weary, his staff glinting in the light. The footman closed the carriage door and lifted the chest containing His Imperial Majesty’s belongings, then handed it to another attendant. A third moved to Aidan’s side and led him up the stairway.

Ascending the Tor became harder for the weakened fox every time. The thought that someday he would lose the strength to get out of bed plagued him constantly. There was still so much left to do. Currently, knowing that Faria was upstairs waiting drove him steadily forwards. He rested just by the entrance of the room to regain the breath rasping out from his throat. The attendant watched with concern, but Aidan had dismissed the need for a doctor. He shakily waved the attendant away, and dutifully, albeit reluctantly, he left. Aidan reached into his shirt and took hold of the crystal pendant around his neck. A soft blue light blossomed under the material. Within a few seconds he was able to breathe normally again and the paleness in his skin subsided.

Faria noticed him immediately as he pushed through the veil. She leapt towards him and flung her arms around his waist, burying her head in his chest.

“Father!” she cried happily. Aidan smiled, but was finding it difficult to keep upright. He held his arms on her shoulders.

“It’s good to see you, Faria,” he sighed, a deep sense of relief in his voice. Bayer bowed respectfully and left, keen to preserve their privacy. “I missed you.”

She pulled away to see her father’s face, and the eyes that looked at her with all the love in the world. She smiled. “I’m glad you’re back. I was worried you’d become sick again.”

He smiled back, a hint of pain creeping into his face. “I was all right. How were you?”

She took his hand and led him onto the balcony. She gestured to the view over the city with wide arms. A flock of birds took flight from the easternmost wall and flew across the sky. “Things have been fine. It’s been really beautiful here...” she sighed. He leant on the parapet, saying nothing but agreeing all the same.

“But nothing’s really happened,” she continued, looking at the rod she was holding. “I’ve been practicing again.”

“You’ll wear yourself out if you train too much,” he said, still looking out over the city. It occurred to him that while he didn’t want her training excessively, if he was correct in his assumptions then she’d soon have more than a resonance burnout to deal with.

He clutched his own staff tightly. She stood next to him, watching with concern. “How was the Senate meeting?” she asked quietly.

He stroked his ears back, the tips of which were beginning to grey. “It was… disconcerting. The Dhrakans say they’ve found an artefact from Nazreal, and they wanted to gain access to the city to aid their research.”

She scrunched her nose dismissively. “How would that help them?”

“It could help them a lot, if they found the right thing,” he muttered, staring into the middle-distance. “Faria… I need to go to Skyria. I know—”

“Already?” She tried to hide the protest in her voice. “But... you’ve only just arrived. You should have a few days’ rest, at least. You’ll only make yourself worse if you leave for such a long journey so soon.” She took his arm, her pleading eyes betraying the hidden desperation to keep him close.

He sighed. “I’m sorry, Faria. I have to. We can’t risk Dhraka taking control of what they’ve found.”

She held the rod to her chest. “But… I was hoping you could train me a little more,” she said quietly. “I’m not very good.”

Aidan gave a quiet laugh. “Not very good?”

She turned away bashfully. Before she knew it he’d wrapped his arms around her shoulders and was resting his head on top of hers, swaying her playfully. She almost lost her balance. “So even though you’ve mastered the major elemental effects and can change the physical shape of the crystals and can manipulate solid, compound and granular materials, you’re still not very good? Some people would kill to have the powers and control that you do.”

She folded her arms in a sulk and turned pointedly to the view. He couldn’t help but smile, releasing her, but taking her hand in his.

“So, why do you think you’re not very good, my dear?”

She pretended to ignore him, but accidentally caught his gaze when glancing to him out of the corner of her eye. She threw her arms in an exasperated sigh.

“I don’t feel ready,” she grumbled, pacing. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with this resonance. I’ve kept it a secret, but I can’t go out and help people with it, there’s no-one to fight with it, and without that it’s just a weird ability to keep me from getting bored.”

He chuckled, cracking an understanding smile. He stepped closer to her again, resting his staff on the floor, pinching the haft between his fingers. “These crystals,” he began, sending a flow of energy through the staff that made sparks erupt from the higher end, “while you control and command them, they also react to your instincts. The resonance is a part of you– your mind, your body and your will. They will help protect and move you when you need them, in the ways that you need them to. You can bend them to your will or let your subconscious take control. If you can find a way to control it, there is nothing you cannot do. But…” he hesitated for a moment, a deep feeling of apprehension building in his stomach. “…there will be a time when you will need to defend yourself, and those around you.”

She gave him a quizzical look; the seriousness in his face was worrying her.

“Faria… things may get very dangerous for us both very soon. The Dhrakans are becoming aggressive. They may approach Xayall before long, and in force. You cannot trust them if they enter the gates. If Crawn has found something significant, it may affect the whole of Eeres. I need to find out what they’ve discovered, and destroy it. Skyria’s our only ally in this. There are things from Nazreal that should never have existed. You need to be able to protect yourself, the city… and me.”

“But… Nazreal disappeared, Father. I don’t understand—”

He placed a finger on her nose to quiet her for a moment. He held out his staff to her. “I want you to try this out for me until I get back,” he said, a trusting look in his eyes.

“But… this is yours,” she whispered, feeling the massive latent energy of the crystals without even touching them. The staff, a beautiful construction of gold, silver and the blue crystals, glistened in the sun. “Won’t you need this if it’s getting dangerous?”

He gestured to her training rod. “I can make do with that one. But for the moment I want you to take this for me.”

The crystals glowed appreciatively as she gently ran her fingers down the golden metal. Gently, she took it in her right hand and turned it over in the sun. It felt more balanced than her training rod.

He took the smaller staff from her and tucked it into his belt. “This will be a lot more powerful than you’re used to. It may hurt a little, but if you can use it with no ill effects, then you’ll have finished all the training you need.”

The ornate tool fixed itself in her view, stern and imposing. She didn’t want it. “I…” she croaked. “I don’t want you to leave.”

He pulled her into a warm embrace, feeling the sun’s kind rays flow over them. Moments like this, with her, were worth living for. “You mean more to me than the world, Faria. I want you to be safe wherever I am. I promise I’ll be careful.”

She gave a reluctant grunt into his body. After a short time, he slipped his arms from her and stood up. “I need to get things prepared. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Holding the staff sadly against her chest, she watched him disappear behind the softly flowing curtains.

CONTINUE TO CHAPTER THREE