The Summoner & The Rare

Jiya frowned when she saw Alex revert to his cat state.

Why? She thought.

Disguise, she heard him. She realized that he was smiling as his whiskers bobbed slowly. She almost imagined that Cheshire grin that was enough to knock the breath out of her lungs.

Pick me up. I want to sleep; Alex wagged his tail.

Who has the job of protecting me? Jiya rolled her eyes. Nevertheless, she picked him up and walked towards the living room, across the main bedroom. Her Mom was busy on the phone. She turned towards them, sensing their presence and hung up her phone.

"Oh my!" she gasped as she fondled Alex's head, "You really can fake it!"

"Yesh!" His funny cat accent was back.

Jiya shook her head and sighed, "How do we leave?"

Outside, she could hear the familiar honk of the school bus and felt her heart sink. As if sensing her grief, Alex nuzzled her arms. She smiled faintly.

Put me down; Alex thought.

Jiya let go and Alex took off from her arms. Within moments he was back in his native state.

"When do we leave?" Jiya asked impatiently, tapping her foot and crossed her arms.

"Sit down on the sofa", Alex nodded at the single sofa near the door.

Jiya sighed impatiently and sat down. Then, she looked up at Alex, "Now what?"

"Close your eyes", he said as he stuffed his right hand in one of his cloak pockets, seemingly rummaging around something, "Where is your smell bottle?"

"Huh?" Jiya frowned with confusion, "Inside the box. It's in my bag."

"Close your eyes", he repeated as he fished out the small book he was reading earlier.

"Fine", she huffed and closed her eyes.

The next moment, she felt Alex's palm around her left one. Warmth spread through her body as she relaxed. On her right palm, she felt the coolness of the smell bottle. It was relaxing.

"Open your eyes", Alex called out to her.

Jiya slowly opened her eyes. She believed that they had teleported into the Institute of Smellcraft and Sniffing! But, when she opened her eyes, she was dumbstruck. A scenic landscape stretched in front of her eyes. But she was alone.

"Alex?" she called out in desperation, "Where are you?"

"I am where you are", his voice came in her head, slow and relaxed.

"Why can't I see you?" she felt panic course through her body.

"Relax", he picked up a soothing tone, "Your body is still here on the sofa. Your soul is out there somewhere. Describe what you see."

"Huh?" Her head was filled with confusion. Her body was on the sofa? Her soul is somewhere else? What's going on?

"Describe what you see", Alex repeated in her mind.

"Oh?" Jiya came back from trance, "I see a stone path ahead of me. The stones are carved with various creatures."

"Good. Go on", he echoed.

"The path ends in a shrine-like structure. And all around, there is a vast stretch of sea. The sun is glowing in the distance."

"Great", he had a sense of admiration in his voice, "The place is called 'The Summoner'. Walk ahead to the shrine."

"Okay", Jiya nodded to herself as she clutched the Smell Bottle tightly in her palm.

One step, two steps, three steps… and within moments, she was standing under the shrine. She twirled around as her dress ruffled with the sea breeze.

"I am here", she whispered as if afraid that someone would think she was speaking to the air.

"Good", Alex said, "Now uncork the Smell Bottle."

Jiya nodded again and uncorked the bottle. The dancing lights inside it escaped and began twirling around the center of the huge dome.

"What do you see?" Alex asked in her mind.

"The lights had escaped and they are swirling around the dome now."

"Good. Let them be for a few moments. If anything happens, just tell me."

"Okay", she nodded.

She kept her focus as the lights danced around in a circle. Very soon, something began to take form. She squinted.

"Something is taking shape", She whispered.

"Hold on", he echoed.

Jiya held her breath as the form became clear and vivid. She opened her eyes wide with surprise. A mirror! A tiny round mirror with an intricately carved frame was hanging in the air. She could see her reflection.

"It's a mirror", she murmured, "It's about the size of a locket."

"Take it", he instructed telepathically.

"How do I take it?" Jiya asked with a pout.

"Raise your hands. It will come to you."

"Okay", she said, as she raised her hands. The tiny mirror slowly began its descending journey. Within moments, it was resting in one of her palms. She squinted at it intensely.

"Now what?" she asked.

"Go back to where you were after you opened your eyes", He said.

"Okay", Jiya said as she started her walk back to the beginning of the stone path.

"I am here", she said as she stood there, waiting for him to respond.

"Now close your eyes", he echoed.

Jiya took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She felt the ground collapse under her feet and then, she was floating in the air. She wanted to open her eyes to see if it were real. But she dared not to. Very soon, she felt her eyes burning. She frowned with discomfort. She slowly opened her eyes.

She was greeted with the sight of Alex and her Mom smiling at her warmly. She opened her right palm and extended it towards Alex. There was the tiny mirror, sitting in her palm.

"Well done", he said as he took it from her palm. Then, he slipped it through a golden necklace. He leaned forward and put it around her neck.

"Here we go", he said with a smile.

"What now?" Mom asked the question for her.

"Now", he said as his eyes flicked between Jiya and her Mom, "We leave."

Jiya looked up at her Mom who smiled back. She stood up and hugged her Mom. Then, she touched the tiny mirror.

"Where are we going?"

"Ask the mirror", Alex replied.

"Huh?" Jiya frowned with confusion, "How do I ask it?"

"Tap the glass", he nodded in the mirror.

Jiya tapped the mirror. The mirror flickered as the reflection changed. It revealed a city.

"The city of 'The Rare'", he nodded with a knowing smile.

"The Rare?" Jiya asked.

"You are one of 'The Rare'. So, your equipment will be rare too. We read about the city in books, but I will get to see it because of you", Alex smiled.

"Me?" Jiya raised her eyebrows, "You have never been there?"

"Nope", he smiled, "We shall leave."