Chapter 8

  I'm not sure what my parents talked about that night, but the next day, they both walked me to school. Kind of felt like I was going to a funeral or something. Once we got to the school, I started my class that day without any issues. The Threads teacher looked over at me once, but then ignored me for the rest of the day. I did not reach out to him, nor did he reach out to me. I'm not sure if they had ignored his questioning, or if this was the calm before the storm. I really do hope it was the former, although I really did want answers. I have time, though. I'm only five in this life. My lifespan will be close to 200 years. If I can't find answers in that amount of time, then the Emperor was probably the only one with the right amount of time to figure them out.

  Later on, I did overhear some interesting tidbits from the Threads students.

  "Teacher says that we have to feel the Threads before we can Weave them. Supposedly the Spool is full of Threads, we just can't see them, only feel for them." I still found it odd that they only called him Teacher, never a name. I wondered why that was.

  "Yes, but he was asking questions yesterday, after that kid talked to him. Asking if any of us could see them. Wonder what that was about?"

  "I don't know, but I wonder how much easier Weaving would be if you could see the Threads. As of now, it's difficult to make sure you have the right Threads for the Weave you're wanting to make. Like, you have to learn the feel of six different types, that all feel remarkably similar. I wonder if seeing them would allow you to know which Thread was which." Yes, yes it could, but I couldn't pipe up without admitting I could see them.

  "Anyway, I've found one of the Threads has a weight to it, like solid ground might feel."

  "Oh, yes. I've felt that one, I also felt one that felt a little damp, like it was wet from rain or something."

  The conversation continued on as they left my range of hearing, fading into the distance. While I may still be in the crosshairs, it may not be that bad. They hadn't said much more than what the Teacher told me yesterday, though, now I had something to learn. Feeling them. You never know when I may be blind to them, so learning to feel them now would be helpful for the future.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Threads teacher looking at me. He began to glow and move his hands. I watched, fascinated, as about ten or so strands of different colors and lengths Weaved themselves into a Pattern. Once the Pattern was complete, they flared and became a flash of light that quickly dissipated. His eyes never left mine, though, and I swear he looked at me in something akin to awe. Well, I guess that makes denial all that much more difficult.

  He didn't say anything, and turned around and left. I watched him go and prayed that this didn't come back to bite me later. Shrugging my shoulders, I turned back and left school. I didn't tell my parents what had happened, not yet, as I'm not sure what any of it means yet.

  At home, I went up to my room. I sat down and tried to think this through logically. First, I could do something other Weavers can't. I can see Threads. Second, the Teacher didn't know anything about it, and was going to find out more about it. Third, he saw me watching as he Weaved together a simple Pattern. Assumption, he was verifying my ability to see Threads. The question becomes, why? For what purpose was this verification done? He most likely was told something that made him doubt my ability. What that was, and by who, I do not have a clue. So he verified. Now he knows I can do as I said I could. He did not appear to be threatening when he did it, if anything he was in awe of the ability. Conclusion until further evidence suggests itself, he currently means me no harm.

  Should I trust him though? Trusting him means trusting those he trusts with that information. The more who know, the harder it becomes to hide from those who would mean me harm. For now, I would keep as much as I could from him, and others, until such a time that I knew more.

  The rest of the night was spent practicing my meditation and sleeping.

  The next day, I went to school as usual. I ignored the Threads teacher, although he seemed to want to get my attention. I went to my class, had my lunch, and all but ignored everyone around me. I know they thought I was standoffish and aloof, but I wasn't ready to make friends. Not when statistically, very few stay friends when adulthood gets underway. Besides, if I was going to be a Weaver, I would likely rarely be back here once I grew up.

  After school, I went home, ate, got ready for bed, and began my meditation again. I reached out and touched the Spool and brought forth small threads of each type so I could see what they did individually. Solid brought forth sand, or dirt, or stone, something solid usually. Liquid brought forth water, for the most part, but occasionally other liquid types like Mercury. Gaseous moved the air. Space I wasn't sure what did, I think it might need to be used in conjunction with other Threads. Time made time move a little faster or slower. Never a lot, but that could be a power thing. Energy did so much more. It was light, fire, lightning. It was electricity, plasma, power. It seemed to be related to the energy types I remembered from Earth like kinetic or thermal, but also the four fundamental forces. Gravity, Strong and Weak Nuclear Force, and Electromagnetism. I don't know what this meant, but I did know that being able to affect the Nuclear forces alone meant, with enough power and know how, I could create Nuclear energy power plants, or even Atomic Bombs.

  This world isn't ready for that, and I prayed it never would be.