The Interplanar College, # 9— "Kilik The Seer"
- David Parker
- Oct 3, 2023
- 5 min read
[Short stories. Images generated by hotpot.ai]
Kilik, Sansha, and Destin belonged to the Moslem Bloc, and the world they hailed from, incidentally, was the same as for Greejuss, the crusader. They were each trained in battle, although Kilik was usually held back, regarded as too precious to die by their former war-band of guerillas. Kilik was able to predict when an encounter would be successful against their enemies, usually belonging to the Ethos, the Creational Auspice of Christendom. This rendered them nearly invincible, but there had been contention among many scores of the Bloc whether he should be called a prophet. The only true prophet was Muhammud, most muslims maintained, although many who witnessed the eminence of Kilik contended that he had inherited the Prophet’s gift. But for the purposes of protection, the Students (of their Prophet, and also other wise men), also known in their own language as the Taliban (“students”) settled on calling Kilik a Seer, and at other times, an Oracle. However, even then, they had enemies within the Bloc, most of them not belonging to the Society of Students.
On the homeworld of Greejuss, Sansha, Kilik, and Destin, ethereal powers were commonplace, and to a lesser extent, non-humans with human-like intelligence. Destin was one of these, a ratkin of an arid region. Elemental “bending” was but one of numerous gifts found among both the Ethos and the Moslem Bloc, as well as other factions.
Destin had sworn to use his sword, not his fire-bending ability, when he had heard the screams of a dying
foe that he had burned without restraint. Agonized with guilt, there had been much praying and ministry devoted to Destin, admonishing him to give his whole life to Allah, and to carry on despite his burden. Thus, though an able fire-bender, Destin had sworn on the altar of God that he would only use it to save the life of the righteous, and then only against the proven wicked.
Sansha was a water-bender, and on her homeworld, head-coverings were only taken at the mosques, when praying, serving in battle, or other forms of ministry. They contended that it was also Biblical Law, which often took many of the Ethos by surprise, but these would also quickly scoff at this claim.
Having passed on from their homeworld in one of its many battles, they ascended into the next echelon of their lives to Havenforth, the Interplanar College that stood at the nexus of all worlds. Through an intricate system of pocket dimensions, near infinite intelligent humans (and other species) could attend. Violence and other dangerous abilities were constrained here, but conflict and strife had certainly not disappeared. Moreover, death on the surrounding planes of Havenforth, though quite undesirable, was more like a serious inconvenience than complete oblivion. Pain, likewise, was constrained to mental, except for numerous planes outside of Havenforth.
It was here the three moslems of their Society of Students encountered a famous wizard and his friends. This was not mere coincidence, as Fate was woven into the fabric of the College, such that virtually no one met anyone unless they were meant to.
“Ah, you’ve heard of our young Seer,” said Sansha. Destin and Kilik regarded them silently, but not with hostility.
Fate notwithstanding, Harry and Ron had expedited the process of finding Kilik by enlisting the aid of Styfe, the elvish Ether Tracker, who Harry had met in Interplanar Overlap. She was quite distinct from the type of Magos which the young wizards belonged to, but she had shown interest in Ron’s Fraternity-in-the-making, Pi Eta Nu Chi (PHNX). Perhaps enticed by the chance of being barred from entry, she agreed to track Kilik.
“Well—” said Ron, in danger of faltering under pressure, as it had once been years ago. But by pressuring himself a little at a time, he pushed himself to take the lead. He cleared his throat, then: “We aim to form a society for Magos, a fraternity, but we’re at a loss as to whether to allow females. You know, from joining.”
He seemed content with himself.
“Well, is it a fraternity?” said Sansha.
Ron looked to Harry, and Harry gave him a look and a nod.
“Well, yes.”
Sansha laughed. “Why are you asking us?” “We want to know if it’s a good idea to let women in.” With speed that surprised even his companions, Kilik answered in a placid but firm voice, “Form a sister sorority. If you let women in open-handedly, you will falter.” Ron swallowed. “Y-you don’t know the women. They’ll take it as an insult.”
Harry cleared his throat and said something with his eyes, meaning Ron didn’t necessarily know, but Ron only received a vague sense of caution.
Incidentally, Sansha said, “How do you know?” Ron perspired. “It’s just— well—” he shook his head near-violently, “Now it all depends on them!” “Why not just have a fraternity?” said Sansha.
Ron wanted to say he’d be hated by his friends, but didn’t say it.
“If I remember correctly,” said Harry, “A sister sorority works together with its, um, co-equal brother fraternity.”
“What if we want to make a decision?” said Ron.
“The women can’t make their own decisions?” said Styfe. “Shut up, that’s not what I meant,” said Ron, indignant, “I mean as a group. If we work separately, we won’t be, ah—” “One team?” said Harry. “This does not concern us!” said Destin.
There was an interlude of confusion.
“Quiet.” said Kilik without raising his voice, yet with authority. The gathering listened. “You can’t get something for nothing. I will consult Allah, and you will do something for us.”
“How do you know it’s Allah?” said Harry, with an unusual lack of caution.
The entire gathering was silent, ominously.
“He’s a prophet,” said Sansha, as if scolding, “of course it’s Allah.”
Styfe said nothing.
“What do you want in return?” said Ron anxiously. After waiting a moment for emphasis, Kilik said, “I want you to pray, three times a day, for one year.”
There was a moment of silent lack of comprehension.
“How do you know we’ll do it?” said Styfe. “Allah will know,” he said simply. “Well if it doesn’t work, we’re not doing it,” said Ron.
There was a small, apprehensive pause.
“Which is fair, because then his Vision did not serve,” said Sansha. “Do we have to pray to Allah?” said Ron, with reservations. “Pray to your god,” Kilik said again, simply. After a moment, Ron said, “What if our god is—” Destin said with rage, “—HE SAID PRAY TO YOUR GOD. Do not add to his words!!!”
The Magos were quite alarmed.
But once they thought about it, it didn’t seem too much to ask.
“We’ll use a spell, so we won’t forget,” said Harry. After conferring briefly, Ron said, “Alright, we’ll do it. Now tell us how to make the Nu Chi Fraternity.” “My Vision will serve,” said Kilik, his eyes shimmering.
After he gave them the instructions and the oracle, along with a simple pledge, they set about both making Ron’s vision a reality, and also their usual business.
*-------------------------------------------*
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