Excerpt from novel Spirit of Onyx (teaser: not yet published) -- sequel to Immortal Essence 

Summertime usually meant hot and dry days in Trinn compared to what Ion was used to in his homeland of Erisland, where humidity softened his skin into comfort. The east facing windows lit up the kitchen with the warm morning sunlight, and in a few more hours, the sun would pierce the skin. At the moment, the wooden table felt soothing against Ion's forearms and cheek. The distant chatter of Cleomé’s silvery voice echoed in Ion’s mind even though she sat right in front of him, across the table. After a few minutes, he realized he wasn't paying attention and he had to sit up to know what she had been saying. 

“It feels like yesterday was a long time ago,” said Ion with a distant voice. “It almost feels like a dream.” 

“If you’re wondering if you and Adeline kissed, you did,” Cleomé said after swallowing the bite of the soft looking muffin she held in her left hand. She then shot Ion a sideways smirk.

The sight of muffins on the table caught Ion’s eye and his expression changed from drowsy to lively. 

“Where did those come from?” he asked her. 

Cleomé's eyes went from the muffins to staring at Ion in silence for a few seconds before answering.

“Remember, I am a morning person,” she said proudly. “I went for a walk around dawn, and saw a bakery around the corner was open. These taste almost as good as Mrs. Spinnaker’s.” 

“I’ll be the judge of that,” said Ion incredulously, reaching over the table to pick up some muffins.

After plunging an entire muffin in his mouth, Ion smiled and gave Cleomé a look of agreement. 

“Yup, right up there with Mrs. Spinnaker’s muffins.” 

They both kept eating in silence, knowing they had a significant mission to start. The conversation was inevitable, but they had been talking around it.

“I wonder how she and Maggie are doing,” Cleomé sighed. “And Shippa, I mean, aside from this whole mess.” 

“Shippa is doing well,” said a deep voice, interrupting their thoughts. 

Oakum walked into the kitchen dressed as informally as them. 

“Oh, Master Striata, it is so strange seeing an academy Master not in their uniform… or a nice attire,” Cleomé said a bit shocked. 

“Not a morning person either, huh?” Ion asked and nodded. “He’s on my team.” Ion let out a short laugh. 

“Usually, I am,” Oakum responded. “I think my body demanded sleep after these past few days. Also, please forgive my appearance, but I woke up and just wanted to come talk to you both immediately—get straight to the point.” 

Oakum’s tired brown eyes drifted toward the muffins and stared at them for quite some time without saying anything. 

“Would you like one, Master Striata?” Cleomé offered. 

“I appreciate it, but no thank you, Cleomé. You will need them for the road. Good thinking on your part, young lady.” 

“Oh, I didn’t do it for—” 

“Let’s talk timeline and strategies,” Oakum interrupted and sat across from them at the table. 

The muffins were moved aside, and Oakum went into detail, describing each step they needed to take with his hands, outlining his words as actions on the table. 

“Last night, I told you about an entity that might be able to help us counter the powers of Immortal Essence. Well, aside from the research I was doing with Zadur, I was also conducting other research for this exact purpose. I did not know what was going to happen with Immortal Essence and Zadur, but I knew I had to be prepared. I knew Zadur would also ask questions if he knew what I was doing, so I disguised these as side investigations on the effects of Immortal Essence on different tribes in the Mountains of Ethedan. 

“I was able to conceal the true nature of the Spirit of Onyx for so long, mainly because I did not know what it could do. The little I did find, I hid it from Zadur successfully, telling him it was information we had found before and discarding it immediately after committing it to memory. The moment I had time to myself was when I would write in my research journals. 

“Unfortunately, I do not have my journals with me, as I did not expect to need them right away, but, like I said, because I was constantly working on that, I remember the important details.” 

“Is this not something you could come do with us?” asked Cleomé. “Do you really need us? It’s not that I am not willing, I am simply curious why it’s always us.” 

“That is a valid feeling, Cleomé,” he responded. “I cannot just abandon my post, even after Zadur is no longer in charge. In fact, especially because of that. I will be expected to be there. Also, I must go address this Ràhia situation and try to understand how she was able to obtain Immortal Essence, if indeed she did.” 

Ion and Cleomé inhaled slowly and deeply at the sound of Ràhia and Immortal Essence being mentioned together. 

“I must learn all I can by being next to her, which is why timing is very important,” Oakum continued. “The moment we are done planning your mission, I will have to return to Fiormeld, immediately.” 

“Understood,” Ion said, with part of him lost in thought. 

He shook his head back to concentration. “So, this Spirit of Onyx…” 

“Right,” Oakum went on. “You are going back up the mountains, but this time, north of Fiormeld, not Trinn. It is cold, very cold, in fact, even in the summertime, you will need to be properly covered. Make sure to stop by a shop to get warm clothes before you head out.” 

Oakum used his right index finger to outline paths on the wooden table, describing the roads out of Trinn and toward Fiormeld. 

“Instead of heading all the way, you will exit off a small town called Iplune, it is hallway toward Fiormeld. 

He talked to them like adults in a research team, not like students of Essence. His wording was precise, concise, and he expected them to understand each step right away. The focus of his eyes on them every time he glanced up from the table was a clear sign of what he was expecting of their comprehension. 

Finally, after about an hour of explaining the operation, he took a deep breath and put his hands on his lap. 

“Any questions?” he asked them.