Salaam, the second largest city in The Astran Empire, was Souki's destination.
The intention was to have the Bellmen teleport her over, but for some undisclosed reason they could not send her through. She hid her disappointment of not getting to experience such travel. Instead she had to use more primitive means of transportation.
For which her appointed bellman, stated that it was the first time he would get to use this method in over a year.
Not the words of confidence she was looking for, but she could make do with what she had.
What she had was subterranean train like vehicle that they referred to as the Beem.
It was a sleek, silver needle shaped vessel structured similar to the sea serpents of children's books. A slender frame with just enough width of paired seating a narrow walkway in between. At its point sat a bellman responsible for both powering and steering, with a row for passengers at his very back.
She watched on as the bellmen put on earmuffs, she glanced around for her pair. He signalled that she didn't need it.
She quickly accepted the response and went back watching as he readied the transport. The bellman placed his hands against two Iké-sensitive levers, and allowed his energy to seep in; as the machine to hummed to life.
A low hum that was just strong enough that she could feel her teeth rattle as the core roared to life. It then slowly turned and slipped into the lower levels of the city's Temple.
As the Beem set off towards the Salaam, Souki could not help but wonder what this new step in her life had in store. For one the only time she had left Rému was to attend the trial, and that was more recent than she felt comfortable enough to admit.
In attempt to comfort herself, she pressed her forehead against the reinforced glass, allowing the vibrations to rattle her ear bones; a strangely calming sensation.
For the first hour, she let herself believe in the magic of it.
After all, she was the girl from the canal island, the daughter without a father, set on rising toward a future that life did not mean for her to have. Yet following her out of her home was this feeling of uneasiness.
Not anxiety, she had felt that for the first time today, this was something else.
Something unassuring.
"First time on the Beem?" a voice remarked.
Souki turned shocked that there was another person here with her, as she remembered entering alone.
Sitting behind her was a Temple Priest.
Though there were no age restrictions for Astran priesthood, they would typically be a lot less intimidating than the man at the back of the Beem. In addition his robes were slightly disheveled, unlike the prestine upkeep of the usual priests.
"Yes," Souki said, her voice echoing in the cabin, even though the man's did not, "first time in another city actually. Kind of hoping it's like Rému."
The Priest eyes dropped to her chest. An action that caused her recoil to be almost immediate.
"Nothing is ever like Rému," he said his tone suddenly morbid as though he mourned the memories of what had existed, "Salaam's population fully believes in Astra's cause, you can sense it in everything. Our people are comparatively liberal."
Souki scoffed then threw her attention out at the tunnel walls as they zipped by, "if it's half as peaceful then I'll take it."
"Peace is a byproduct of stability," the Priest droned, his fingers dancing over a ledger. "And stability requires a consistent current, and that current, as with all progress... requires sacrifice."
Souki tried to ignore the man as it seemed to be evolving into nothing more than a babbler.
"This... life," he began after realising that she paid him no mind, "is not the one someone as talented as you are is meant to have. You are more."
Unfortunately he had regained her interest. She swept around to see that he was now sitting in the same row as her.
"The Shiear of Salaam has a very specific set of requirements for the city's defense. Most, initiates, tend to burn out within a year because their spiritual energy is too thin. But you? You don't only have high quality Iké, you can constantly create a ton of it. I imagine you can power a whole city with it."
The words hung in the air as she recalled Jabaani saying the exact same. However, it sounded far less like a compliment now than it did before.
Souki felt the first stirring of a hollow ache in her chest. She looked back at the glass. The changes in the walls colour and the narrowing of the tunnel, seemed to mark the way to Salaam.
Perhaps this was not the time to be optimistic.
Maybe the option to panic existed with reason.
Jabaani's talk of "family" suddenly felt like the sweet-smelling perfume her mother used to wear to mask the scent of cheap ale. It was a pleasant lie to keep the product from struggling in the crate.
"What happens," Souki asked, her voice trembling, "when you burn out?"
The Priest sighed as he reclined.
"Information that I don't have the clearance to obtain."
He didn't answer the question.
He didn't have to.
To distract herself from the sudden urge to scream, Souki turned her attention to the back of the Beem.
Completely empty, her only company being the silent Bellman at the tip.
The priest allowed a throaty chuckle, "I see you choose flight."
Souki sprung to her feet, "I'm going to die."
"Oh by Astra no," the priest brushed it off, "this is something much, much worse than that."
She rushed forward and threw a hand at the bellman operating the Beem. Strangely her grasp flew straight through him and his body dissolved to dust. If she had decided to panic before, this sent her stress into over drive.
"How do I get out of this?"
"You're a smart girl, soon you'll realise that escape..." He paused to chuckle, "escape is never going to happen."
Souki jolted awake, only to realise that she was no longer on the Beem. Instead she was being suspended, held in place by an invisible force.
Quickly taking in her surroundings she found that she floated in a cylindrical glass chamber. Save for her it was completely empty, left afloat in a vacuum.
All of which was so distracting that she completely ignored her own nakedness. That realisation of course, was what ultimately lead to her seeing that the priest from the train was standing there smiling at her.
Except now, hung over his shoulders was the embroided coat reserved for Shiears.
This was the Shiear of Salaam this was Vanqis.
"Morning, initiate," he grinned, "you and I are going to hate each other."