One Journal

 

“The last entry is dated a week before his disappearance”

“Go on, let me hear it.”

The day was an overcast one, unusual for this side of the growing cycle. Even just in the past two days it has rained quite a bit, and our efforts by the pond edge are mired for now. Work was canceled today again while we wait for things to dry out, so I went for a walk out in the groves to get some fresh air and relaxation. I must admit that time got away from me and I returned a good half hour past when I intended. Not unusual in itself, as I often lose myself in thought while out in nature.

I entered the city again and got some lunch before heading to my afternoon philosophy class. Class was unimpressive, but stimulating enough I suppose. It was on the way back home that the interesting thing happened. As I walked back to my apartment building a flash of reddish-orange light appeared for a split second in my periphery. I quickly checked in its direction, but found that it had disappeared, and my mind was quickly forming an impression that I had only imagined it. Or perhaps a light or the setting sun had reflected for an instant off some shiny surface, but no, upon inspection no such reflecting object could be seen either. In the place where I had seen the light was only a corner of the city wall. I turned the corner onto my street and still there was no sign of anything potentially bright-colored. It was as if a red squirrel had just darted behind this corner and, characteristic of squirrels, was watching me from somewhere cleverly out of sight. There are no squirrels in the city though.

I returned home, thinking less of the earlier trick of the light. As I sat at my table after finishing dinner however, I was struck by another odd visual sensation. The whole world around my seemed to darken and increase in vividness, as if the contrast between light and shadow had warped. A darkness seemed ready to envelop my vision, but it was not accompanied by the typical feeling of faintness. I mentally held my ground and the whole experience passed in under a minute.

These sights today I assume are nothing more than visual quirks, and I would perhaps be better off seeking an eye-doctor, but something in me wonders what interpretation the mystics would have. Unless these sights persist in a concerning way, I may have to pursue my curiosity in the coming days..

The scholar finished reading and looked up at the other. Lucan's eyes betrayed a meaningful look for only a split second before becoming impassive again. “And how long now has he been missing?”

“Heln has not reported for his last three shifts, or to any of the classes he would normally take between them. All attempts at contacting him have elicited no response, and his friends have reportedly not seen him either. On this the fourth day, we became especially concerned. His name has also not been found in any shuttle manifests for the past week, so if he left the city that way he would have been in disguise.”

Lucan met his gaze evenly. “We must find him, or any trace we can. Send word to the outposts and the shuttle stations to report anything they might know, and Davai- could you stay a minute? As the rest of the small council gave their bows and filed out, Lucan drew to the House-Sage's side. “Davai, I want you to secure the city in all ways, can you do that for me? Not just the usual attention to the physical barriers, but something else.” Davai caught the gleam of his eyes in the darkening room as he continued. “I want this place to truly be a sanctuary, should anything drastic happen in the greater world. I want to know the inhabitants of these walls are surrounded by the best sort of protection energies we can muster. I know you are up to this challenge.” Davai gave a short bow as he replied. “I would be honored maester. It will take some time and effort to gather the proper materials, but it can be done easily enough, and we will all sleep the better for it.”

With that assurance, Davai left the Head Sage's office to go and make the evening rounds, and Lucan was left alone with the journal. He gazed at Heln's writing, still relatively fresh on the page, and wondered what was going through the man's mind right now, wherever he might be.