The Mirage on the Brink of Oblivion (The Epic of Aravinda Book 3) by Andrew M. Crusoe Page B

which shocked him so much that he promptly collapsed. He paused for a few moments, pressing his eyes shut.
    He felt Asha’s hand on his head. “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, I think so.” He looked up to Asha, who was offering her hand.
    Zahn grabbed it and pulled himself up, noticing a rounded house perched near a cliff overlooking the sea. He took a moment to admire the view, realizing that the cliff’s angle was so extreme that it could not possibly support the house’s weight in the physical world.
    Jyana walked up to them. “Are you both all right? I know skipping can be quite odd the first time.”
    “Yeah, I’m fine.” Zahn looked over to Asha.
    “Not sure I’m the same height as I was before,” she said, “but I feel fine.”
    “Good.” Jyana nodded swiftly and waved them toward the back of the house where a symbol was engraved. “You will stay here until further notice. As I said before, you are both quite lucky. Designed by the Visionaries and built by our finest etheric sculptors, this is one of our best guest accommodations.”
    “Well,” Asha said, “send the Empress our best regards.”
    They reached the symbol, which was a spiral that curved inward before curving outward again, reconnecting again with where it started.
    Jyana turned back to Asha, her expression stiffening. “Only a select few are allowed to contact the Empress, but I can certainly pass your message along to her chief secretary.”
    For a few moments, Jyana’s gaze drifted over to the horizon, and Zahn noticed that a pale, full moon hung low in the distance. Its surface was scarred with deep trenches and craters. He could only guess that this was evidence of the battle Asha had referred to before.
    An idea flashed into Zahn’s mind, and he glanced over to Jyana. “Hey, I think I met a Visionary. Are they huge geometric shapes? Because I think we met one of them on our first adventure. We met her on Aarava and she gave us crucial information on the gate network so we could reach the Amithyan Council. And later she said she was from Tavisi. Have you heard of Vayuna? She’s this huge amber octahedron, usually glows amber.”
    “She was the first,” Jyana said, still looking out onto the horizon. “She worked with the newer models to facilitate peace and harmony across this entire world. Of course, that was before the scourge came.” She looked over to him, suspicion passing over her face. “And you say you met her on a planet named Aarava? Where is that? She’s been missing for some time, and I’m sure the Empress would like to reach her.”
    Zahn furrowed his eyebrows, suddenly feeling as if he revealed too much. “Well, I don’t think she’s there anymore. We ran into her on Vaari, too. She really gets around.”
    “I see.”
    Asha, who had been admiring the view, glided up to them. “So, what ever happened to the Visionaries?”
    Out of nowhere, a ball of light flew up from the grassy ground and into Jyana’s head, and her expression grew cold.
    “I’m sorry. I am needed,” she said. “You can rest here. There are some energy packets inside which will recharge your etheric bodies. They aren’t food or ambrosia, but they’ll allow you to recharge without leaving the Mirage. I will return later,” Jyana pointed to the pale white moon for a moment, “when Rundikha hovers just a bit higher in the sky.” She turned back to them. “I apologize at my haste; I shall return soon. You may enter through this symbol, and please do not leave the sunset suite until I return. Be well.”
    With a bow, Jyana pulsed in brightness, and in the blink of an eye, she flashed away, bolting back down to the resplendent city below.
    “She’s fast,” Zahn turned to Asha, but she was already inside.
    “Hey, you’ve got to come in here,” she said. “It’s pretty cool, like a tiny house.”
    He flew through the symbol, finding himself surrounded by strange, curving objects. The walls curved, too, and there was nothing that