Her eyes snap open, focused with intense concentration on the glass. It begins to slide slowly across the table, a jerky, uneven movement that sets the water inside sloshing. Her smile widens.
"I'm doing it!" she exclaims.
Then, her focus seems to waver. Her eyes widen in surprise, and the gentle slide turns into a sudden, uncontrolled surge of movement. The glass shoots across the table with alarming speed, flies off the table, and hits the wall with a sharpcrack. Water splashes onto the polished floor, and clear shards lie scattered.
Umbra stares at the broken glass, her mouth agape. "What… what happened?"
I’m so astonished I sit up. “That’s a very good question, Umbra. I’ve never seen such power in a new Syntrix user! But of course all new Syntrix users I’ve seen were newborns.”
“That’s wild,”Bellatriz says from her scabbard. “We may be starting to understand why someone put a veil around her planet, if this is the Syntrix potential they have there.”
One of the serving robots zooms over and removes the glass in the blink of an eye.
I refill my own glass and put it in front of Umbra. “Try again. This time, see if you can control it. It’s fine if it breaks.”
This time, I focus more.
Ah yes. I can feel her Syntrix thread, her awareness as it reaches out and pushes at the glass. It’s raw, though. It’s spilling all over the place, making the other glasses tremble, as well as the various knives and serving spoons on the table.
“Concentrate only on the glass,” I instruct. “Ignore everything else.”
The glass shakes, spilling water and rattling against the table. Then it slides across the surface, first slow, then fast, still wobbling.
“Reduce the power,” I say softly to not break her concentration. “Keep the focus, but lessen the intensity— oh.”
The glass flies off the table and hits the wall, like the other one. Again the robot is there and cleans.
“What is this?” Umbra asks. “What’s happening? I could never do that before.”
“It’s called Syntrix,” I tell her. “It’s everywhere. Except on Earth. Apparently someone put a barrier around your planet to stop the Syntrix from reaching your planet. With Syntrix, you can do those things.”
She stares at me. “You mean that magic exists everywhere except on Earth?”
I nod. “It’s curious, isn't it? Someone really feared what your people would do with the Syntrix. Bellatriz, I think it’s time for one of your interminate lectures.”
“Well, Ithink it’s time for one of myshort,remarkablyentertainingandwell-phrasedexplanations of basic things in nature,”the sword sniffs. “Ignore the giant tentacle monster, Umbra. Here’s what you need to know. The Syntrix is a fundamental, non-electromagnetic energy field that permeates all matter and space within this universe. Think of it as the underlying architecture of reality, an invisible fabric that connects everything. It is not an active power source in itself, but rather a medium through which certain beings can manipulate reality on a quantum level. These beings are nearly always sentient. Most sentient beings can use the Syntrix, while some need a lot of practice to make it work for them. There, I’m done. Was that interminable, Prince?”
I shrug, still chewing. “Sounded fine to me.”
“Why did someone remove the Syntrix from Earth?” Umbra asks.
“I don’t know,”the AI says cheerfully. “It’s not easy to do. There has to be a good reason. But it’s interesting how far your society has advanced without the use of the Syntrix.”
“Almost to the point of real space travel.” I agree. “Now, eat your meal. It should be nutritious and not toxic for you. Try everything you like the looks of and leave anything you don’t like. Don’t force it.”
Umbra gingerly starts eating, less suspicious than before.
While we eat I explain more about the Syntrix and how to use it.
“It should be practiced every day, if you want it to work right,” I finish. “Most people don’t, and they lose the ability to control it. And there is a side to Syntrix that can be destructive. If you use it for its power only, to attack those who are weaker, to gain power for yourself, or to destroy, it could take over and make you its servant. We call it the Forbidden Arts, and those who use it are shunned. But you don’t have to worry about it.”
“All right,” Umbra says. “It’s nice to know. Meanwhile, is Caret’ax your slave?”
I can’t help laughing at her surprising question. “Caret’ax? A slave? Umbra, I wouldpayto see someone try to enslave him. That would end badly for any nearby planet, I think. No, he’s not a slave. I pay him a very substantial salary.”
“But you use slaves? You said so.”
I look away. “The Empire uses… the appropriate number of slaves.”
