Beyond the Thorns: A Novel

I look at myself in the foggy mirror, steam clinging to it because of the previously ended shower. What the hell happened? I could have ruined a night’s worth of work for everyone…

My mind reviews recent events.

“Oh, gather 'round, good folk, and hear, a tale of the wild frontier. Where dragons soar and rivers bend,” I sang casually as I strummed the respected music. People’s ears perked up in interest as the lively tune started.

“Raise your mugs and sing along, for in this inn, we all belong. With every note, we share our tales, in every chord, our spirit sails.” I continue to sing as some of the patrons tap to the beat, young couples get up and move to start dancing. I have that effect on people, that way of getting everyone so energetic. As I think that my pride swells inside my chest.

“Raise your mugs and sing along, for in this inn, we all belong.” I belt out with a bright smile towards some of the house, my hair swishing with the movement.

“In laughter, tears, and songs anew, together, there's nothing we can't do!” I close my eyes and shout out the words, I feel a rush of air brush outward. I lower and raise my head quickly before looking out at the audience, the couples are now askew on the ground, all looking injured in some foreign way, faces looking towards me. But not of curiosity and pleasure, faces of fear and concern. I glance towards the bartender and he clears his throat, signaling through his eyes to wrap it up. I quickly wave the guest bard on stage and hand him the lute with a pat, he awkwardly accepts it as I leave.

“... For in this inn, we all belong- come on!” The bard livens the house as I meet up with Eldric, the innkeeper.

“Hey Pops, can you tell me what happened? I don’t think those dancing couples were getting that down with the music.” I ask in a low whisper.

“Uhm,” he coughs, “ well Jyra*… When you finished that bridge there, a ring of- Adonas** knows what came offa’ ya’ and knocked some to the floor and others into a fit of fear. I mean, I didn’t expect to see a young child alive in the Belduar Wastes, let alone from the Labs area, but ya’ never told me about if you had an abnormality like what the Labs research.”

“That’s ‘cause I thought I didn’t have an ‘abnormality’, I mean… why else would the Labs discard an infant like that, unless they assumed I was dead.” I look down shamefully, how did that even happen?

I collect myself as the fog on the mirror was clear enough to only slightly blur my bare chest, what if that happened again? And the people weren’t so lucky. What if I killed someone next time? I could ruin the Inn’s entire career… I fret constantly as I slip on the fresh outfit that compliments my purple-ish maroon hair nicely. At least that’s what a patron said once, I tie my large mass of hair into a low ponytail as per my usual look.

I sigh and slip into the back of the bar to work for the rest of the night.

一☉一

I awake from a dream that slips away from me the more I wake up. Remembering the previous night hit me like a sack of potatoes. The question is, how do I fix this problem. My mind swirls as I walk down to behind the bar once more to work in the kitchen, wondering if I should take my usual place on stage or not.

“Oh, hey Eld. ‘You trying to sneak some mead again?” I click my tongue twice, “tsk, tsk. To think the owner of our establishment is trying to bankrupt us, quite astonishing.” I joke, waving a chiding finger about.

“Now, now, I would never do such a thing and you know it.” -I roll my eyes at the statement as he looks up-, “I actually would like to speak with you about last night if that’s okay.” Eldric looks at me with slightly worried eyes.

“Yeah, I was thinking about that and I believe that I should go off on my own until I either find a ‘supernatural ability suppressor’ or learn how to control this new ability of mine. Plus I don’t want you to lose Yoliho because you were ‘housing a dangerous person’ or something like that.” I essentially blurt without a thought.

“No need to do that now is there? I don’t want you going off all alone just because of a strange new ability. Maybe you could use it for your performances once you get it in control. What I was saying was you should practice controlling it out in the wastes or something and we can get a part-timer to work your part in the meantime-” Eldric starts ranting.

“And what if it suddenly bursts out like that again and the people around aren’t so lucky. What if I kill someone? Then I will definitely get sent to a Lab and only Adonas has an idea of what goes on in there. Either that or the last thing I see is the bars of my cell. So realistically speaking, it’s only rational for me to just leave until I get this new thing figured out.” I cut off his ranting to start a rant of my own.

Eldric sighs, “You have me at a loss kid, fine. Never thought of you as the intellectual type…” He mutters the last part.

“Thought of me as what?” I ask with a jab.

“Nothing of importance, don’t you need to serve up the orders?” Eldric counters.

“Thought of me as nothing of importance?!” I gasp overdramatically, “me, your bestselling bard is nothing of importance to you? I’m offended!” I overdramatize my statement further with my motions.

“I never said that Jyra,” he shakes his head with a slowly growing grin, his salt-and-pepper beard helping simulate what I failed to see. “Now go on and serve our patrons and I might give you a bonus for today,” Eldric signaled for me to go on. As a little kid hurries to finish chores for a treat, I bound over to the bartender to serve up dishes.