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Letters from the unknown

„Hey Helena. You got a mail." I was distracted from a book at my work place. I was the Chief Healer Master of the city. It was the capital city of the country I lived for long time. The official name was Idelaan, but everybody just called it Keystone as this was the first city which was founded by the ancient tribes together. It was the foundation stone of my folk.

If you ask the neighbour country, we are the Cats. Which is an oversimplification as we are Big Cats indeed but with culture, language, science, arts and everything else. We are walking on four but we are not mindless beasts. We are just like them… except they are two legged creatures called Humans. We call ourselves Lions.

My profession was my life. I became Healer when I was only seven years old. I walked the echelon for ninety years so I earned the title Chief Healer Master. Our titles are simple. If you want to learn the profession Healer, you became a Novice. If you study the basics and you prove you have the ability to understand the Lion body, and after you First Exam you will became an Initiate. Then you will get a Healer Master who will teach you for ten years. If you are good, then you will pass your Second Exam and become a Healer. But you have to practice Healing for decades before you earn the title Healer Master and if you did something extraordinary and not just once, you will become a Chief Healer Master of the Green City. The Green City is the capital city of the Healers. Everybody starts there just like me.

So I was there inside of the room of the Healer Master in the Green Building, which is the Healer's Building, when a Mailman arrived.

“Thank you." I smiled as I took the mail and checked the crest in the wax seal. It was unknown for me.

“Do you know who is this?" I showed him the seal. He was a young guy with huge brown mane and bony body like almost every carrier. They are fast and persistent.

“No I don't. But it came from the border. Maybe a small family?" He guessed then he went out. The crest was a hammer and a star above it. It was odd. As I broke the seal and unfold the paper I started to read it.

Sender: Star Smith, from the city of the Falling Moon

Dear Chief Healer Master of the Keystone,

First, please allow me to refer myself as the Star Smith in the following. Then I would like to introduce you the formula of the cure for well-known and feared Head Fever…

The letter was almost six pages. It was a detailed description how to make the medicine and how to use it on the patients. I was reading with dropped jaw as the Head Fever was a deadly and incurable disease. But this Star Smith somehow managed to find a cure.

***

Ten days later I found out something: Star Smith was a character from an old Novell. The Star Smith lived in the city of the Falling Moon which was a huge flying city among the stars. He made the Star Forge which was a huge workshop and the birth place of many miracles he invented. Yes, the Star Smith was an inventor just like the author of the mail. I did everything he wrote and tested the medicine successfully. It did cure the Head Fever without any side effects. It was the invention of the century.

“Good morning Helena." The mailman arrived and handed over a few mails. It wasn't unusual as he did the same over the years on the same day.

“Good morning Jared. How are you?" I put them on the desk.

“I'm fine as always." He smiled and pulled himself out. Indeed, he was a strong and handsome male Lion. If I were seventy years younger, I may seduce him. But I could have been his mother.

“I hope you will remain a healthy young man." I said then he said goodbye and went out. As I opened the mails one by one after the fifth – which was a mail from my son – I found another with the crest of the hammer and the star.

“Hm… Star Smith." I broke the seal and unfold the paper.

Sender: Star Smith, from the city of the Falling Moon

Dear Chief Healer Master of the Keystone,

In this short mail I would like to teach you how to cure the terrible and deadly Heart Twitch. As you know it's getting more common by the years and I found out how to prevent and in cases it's not an option how to cure without serous side effects. Simple solution for difficult problems is my motto so let me first tell you the ingredients….

It was seven pages with detailed handmade drawings and formulas. I had to admit this Star Smith, whoever it is, a brilliant mind. The entire Green City wasn't able to find cure for the diseases he managed to. How I wish I could speak with him in person!

“Who are you?" I whispered to the mail in my hand then I got an idea.

My best friend is the Chief Magister Master Boros. He is a scientist and a brilliant mind. We became friends as soon as I was relocated to Keystone, we were got here on the same day and we didn't know anybody else. He is ten years older than me and also he is the father of my first child. But despite this we are only friends. He has sparse brown and white mane and white whiskers. His fur is rather greyish than tawny but his eyes got me when I looked at them. They are rare as they are bluish like the sky. My daughter is lucky as she inherited his eyes so she is beautiful like a miracle.

“Helena, nice to meet you. What brought you here?" We rubbed cheeks. This was the rite of the close friends among my folk.

“A mystery." I pulled the mails out from my arm-bag. He was possessed in case of mysteries. Which is the main feature of the scientists. His eyes went wide in an instant and despite his age he grabbed the mails and jumped to his table.

“Star Smith?" He mummed. “from Falling Moon?" then he trotted to a huge book shelf and pulled out a worn book.

“I'm sure you are familiar with the tale of the Star Forge." He said.

“I read it decades ago." I nodded

“Sure." He cleared this throat. “Star Smith was a young guy who was born in a distant city among the stars. But as he was talented he became a good smith and an inventor. The children of the stars noticed his brilliant mind and the way he faced with the problems, they dragged him to the City of the Falling Moon where he became the Star Smith." He paused for a minute. “With the resources he got access he invented many miraculous things like the Machine with Heart and he Thinking Box of Wonders. But he also invited the Seventy Names of Death, a creature from fire and iron." He shoved me a picture from the book. It was like a dragon made from flames and swords. “He outgrew the Falling Moon and he got enemies too, they were envy of his knowledge so he had to escape the city." He sighed. “But he was smart and adroit so he stole the resources he will need and he vanished. Years later he built the Star Forge the biggest and most advanced city of the pure knowledge and the inventions he made. It was the city of the miracles itself and the workshop of the wonders." He finished the short version of the tale.

“I understand this but why this person chosen this character? There are heroes and wizards in many novels." I asked but he was ready with the answer.

“Because I think he is the author of the novel. He is Blackmane." He showed me the cover of the book and pointed with a finger to the name.

“What?" I was uncomprehending. “How do you know that?" He laughed and I know he will tell me he just suspect the things but he won't know it until the moment of proof.

“The figure of speeches, the wording... Look at them…. He uses the same formulas everywhere. If this person isn't the author, I will promote you as the Grandmaster Magister of the Bright City." He laughed at me.

“Thank you but I'm fine with my current position. Besides I don't want to be your principal… as I'm already." I laughed with him.

***

I couldn't sleep well for days as I was thinking about the Star Smith. Boros convinced me that the original author sent me the mails. He also said it's the only possible explanation why this person uses the same name and the same way of shaping the sentences. But the ultimate question was still: who he actually?

My little investigation's next step was to figure out where the mails came from. It could give answers for many things but I hit a wall as the letters were came from the other side of the border. So I went to the Captain of the Heavy Forces. She was a hard person as she was ruthless and she liked to kill Humans more than it would be healthy.

“Good day Jara." I welcomed her. Everybody called her Executioner which was a good name according to her blood temperature and the number of Humans and even Lions she killed. She executed the death sentences, she tortured the prisoners for information. She was feared among the Lions just like among the Humans.

“What is the problem?" She went ahead of courtesy issues. She wasn't good at talking.

“I would like to know the sender of these mails. I know they came from the other side of the border…" She cut into my words.

“From the Humans? Give me those." She grabbed the papers and fold them out on the ground, quickly read them. “Star Smith… stupid name." She whispered to herself probably. “Cure?" She looked up at me.

“They worked. It will be a great help for everyone." I admitted.

“What do you know about this person?" She pushed the letters to me, I folded them and took in my arm-bag.

“Boros think he is Blackmane. The author of the book." She looked uncomprehending. “The Star Forge." She shook her head so she did not read that. I wasn't surprised after all. “Doesn't meter. I would like to know where exactly these mails came from. Could you help?"

“Of course I can help. Give me a few days and I will tell you." She nodded then went to a few soldiers shouting at them as they were juggling with helmets. She wasn't pleasant but she was very effective.

***

On the next they Jara found me collecting herbs near the city. I was the Chief Healer Master so I should not have to do it by myself but I did every other day. I found that relaxing so I did not mind.

“Helena." She nodded. “Your mails came from different regions as this Blackmane would be on road to Zalk." I picked up my head.

“Zalk? That city was destroyed by Humans." I recalled from an old memory. It was abandoned for eleven years at least.

“Yes that is it. Blackmane used pigeons to send the mails and the region marker of the birds was different. Here is the third mail. I broke the seal just to check my theory." She gave me from her arm-bag. She wore heavy armour on her body as she did every time she left the walls of the city. I unfold the letter and read it.

Sender: Star Smith, from the city of the Falling Moon

Dear Chief Healer Master of the Keystone,

This time I would like to introduce my newest technology of monitoring the patient's life signs. It will be a little complicated but I trust your knowledge and wisdom.

The rest of the letter were twenty-nine pages of figures and descriptions of a device which will show the heart rate and the respiratory rate even on unconscious patients. It was the invention of the century if it's really working.

“I can see it's something big." Jara made me aware of my environment.

“It's huge. Goddess it will reform the profession: Healing." I said with feelings. She just nodded.

“We will catch this Blackmane at Zalk. I prepared a squad and I would like you to come." She told me and I drop my jaw.

***

***

I was walking on a dusty road while images went across my head. It was a vision of a device capable of bending time around a person. I shook my head as it wouldn't worth the fatigue and I promised myself I won't mess with the time again. Muffled buzzing sound came from behind, then a small phenomenon flew around my head.

“Sir. Think again, please. We could help you." It was Huginn. She was the thinker. She always had thoughts worth for listen but she was always to worried about me. Well, this was her task anyway.

“I remember you told us we can come with you." Muninn came from the other side, she was the chronicler, she always knew what happened, with whom, where and why. She was my memory.

“I know what I said." I stopped them flashing around me. “But I want to do this alone." I said, then they disappeared with high speed. I know they will be close in case of problems. But I was optimistic. What could go wrong anyway?

***

***

“You know Jara I'm not fifty anymore." I was gasping as we were climbing a big hill on the road to Zalk. It wasn't as easy as it looked as I grew unused to the long tours. We were walking for three days with only short rests.

“Let me help." Ravorth was asking for my bag. He was a Commander which was one step behind Captain but unlike Jara he was nice with old ladies like me.

“Thank you." I was giving him the bag but it was just a symbolic gesture as I did not pack too much thing.

“After this little bump we will see the city… or at least what remained. I hope there will be a few Humans to eat." Jara was shouting back. “Be prepared for fight." She added but as I saw it was unnecessary, the soldiers knew their duty.

“Finally." I sighed when I reached the top.

The city was built from stone and wood but only the stone remained after the attack. Huge statues were in pieces laying across the roads or aloft the roofs. I saw signs of burn and the holes caused by war machines. Homes and lives lost during the war but we are coming back in the hope we will find Blackmane. He is the only hope.

“There, there and there." Jara showed a few good hiding spots and sent forward the scouts. “We will wait till night." She continued and turned to me. “Humans can't see in the dark." She showed me an evil smile.

“Blackmane is a Lion who lived many years among the humans. He must be tired of avoiding them and hiding." Ravorth told us his theory. I was still not understanding why he was chosen a life like that. Why he abandoned us many years ago?

“He must have good information on humans. But I can't figure out why he did not come back earlier." She shook her head.

“Here!" A shout came from far from a scout and we ran to him. I was tired but the excitement filled me with energy. Blackmane could be the saviour of us. I hope he will know the cure for our biggest secret. I hope he can invents something which will stop our unavoidable extinction.

“There is some moving around there. Someone is coming." The scout told us and we looked the mentioned place. A human was walking towards us but he was wearing a cloak. Jara showed her teeth when that human was closer than twenty meters.

“Stop there! How many of you are here?" She asked in high voice after she jumped out from the hiding spot. They were looking at each other's from only a few steps. Jara could jump and kill him within a blink.

“I'm glad you came. I was worried about you did not get the hints in my letters." He pushed the hood back slowly. He was a middle aged man with strange orange eyes and short black hair.

“Who are you?" I stepped out from the hide too. Only one man wouldn't be a problem to our heavily armoured soldiers.

The man got out of the cloak and drop to the ground. I was totally taken aback as his right arm was made from metal under the elbow. It bent and moved like a normal human hand would do. It was amazing to see something like that. He smiled on my surprise then he said: “I am the Star Smith."

To be continued