Chapter 25

False had no idea where he was and was beginning to regret running off blindly. The field he found himself in was a deep blue-green, with odd sprinklings of brightly coloured flowers which reminded him of play Astroturf he'd once seen a group of small children playing with. Everything about the place he was in felt artificial and if he could have worked out how he came to be there, he'd have turned tail and left.

Closing his eyes he took a deep breath in through his nose. Something about the artifice made him wonder if he could trust his senses at all because there was in the air around him a very faint smell. Not like the smell of luscious grass or fragrant meadow, but more like the smell of soft tarmac melting in the heat of a summer's day. But there was something else mixed into it, something completely unfamiliar to him. It felt like he should know what it was, but somehow…

'Wax,' a voice, his voice, sounded close to his right ear.

'What,' he opened his eyes and turned to see his double watching him.

'Melting wax, the type you get in crayons, that's what the other odour is.'

'How did you know that's what I was thinking about?'

'Because False Gleasta, in case you hadn't notice, right now I am you. I know how you think.'

'Hm,' he mused for a moment, 'how did you identify the second smell so easily?'

'I used to melt crayons on the school's radiator when I was a small child. But as Vii Sen seldom see such things I'm not surprised you did not recognise the smell of it.'

'What are you?'

'Power Limitless by Design.'

'Not by birth?'

'No. There would be some who would call me unclassifiable now, but I disagree. I can still be classified, in more than one way, it just depends on how complicated or precise you want to be about it.'

'And before that? I mean, what were you when you were born?'

'Does it really matter False Gleasta?'

'Yes,' he nodded, 'it makes every difference.'

'I disagree,' he made his way around False until he was stood before him, their eyes remaining locked the whole time. 'In fact the last thing I came here to do was argue with you over definitions.'

'Then what did you come here to do?'

'To bring you here,' he smirked. 'Do you like this place False Gleasta?'

False thoughtfully took a step back from his double and glanced around. He couldn't say he found the place particularly appealing, but he didn't want to offend his supposed host by saying so.

'It's… different.'

'Different in a bad way or a good one?'

'I don't know, it's just different.'

'You're right about it being different, but you lied about not knowing your feelings about it. You dislike this place False Gleasta and if you could understand why I'm certain you'd tell me.'

'What makes you so sure?'

'I know what you're thinking, remember?'

For a few moments False fell silent again. His eyes glancing around for something familiar or at least…

'This isn't a place you just wander into False Gleasta,' his double interrupted his train of thoughts. 'This is a place you must know how to get to and lead others too once you're there. No one accidentally finds this place.'

'Meaning I could scream all I want and no one would come running.'

'You assume I want to hurt you,' his double smirked again. 'I did not bring you here for that False Gleasta, I brought you here to… employ your services.'

'What?'

'You are a novice Balancer, are you not?'

'Well I'm supposed to be,' he pulled a face, 'but my training sort of got cancelled when my… father decided to take my mentor prisoner.'

'Well consider yourself fortunate I'm willing to reinstate your training, on the grounds that you take me as your new mentor.'

'You're a Balancer?'

'You sound surprised False Gleasta, do I not seem like one?'

'I don't know, you're… very odd, if you don't mind me saying.'

'I am very odd False Gleasta, in fact it's something I pride myself on.'

'Why do you keep calling me by my full name,' he frowned. 'It seems…'

'Awkward,' his double finished for him. 'That's because I want it to seem so. I may be employing you, but you're not in a position yet where I respect you. Anyone I don't respect does not get the familiarity of first name only.'

'Do many people have your trust?'

'In this situation you're the only one who doesn't.'

'Why don't I have your trust?'

'Because you have no loyalty.'

'That's not true,' False's whole being filled with anger, 'I'm loyal to the Balance.'

'And yet you did as your father commanded.'

'I…'

His double laughed strangely, cutting him off.

'It's alright False Gleasta, I know why you did what you did. But that doesn't mean I can't take it how I wish. You have no loyalty right now and that's why I need you,' his double flick summoned a small, corked test-tube into his hand.

Inside the test-tube was a slimy looking lime green fluid. For a few moments False couldn't help but stare at it almost transfixed, not sure if he should ask what it was or not.

'Lus, the Face of Friendship's heir, is dying,' he tilted the test-tube from side to side. 'Those who surround him now think the only way to help him is to remove his powers, but doing that will only bring his death about more swiftly.'

'I have to stop them,' False turned, surprised at how concerned he felt about Lus.

'There's no need,' his double grabbed hold of his wrist, 'I've already made it impossible for them.'

'Then what do you need me for,' he turned back to face him.

'This,' his double held up the test-tube, 'is the cure. A group of Healer Nymph owned me a favour and were more than happy to prepare this for me. However, as with all Nymph cures when used on non-Nymphs, it has a few, rather interesting side effects.'

'Interesting as in bad?'

'No,' he shook his head, 'just as in interesting. That's why it has to be given to little Lus at just the right time.'

'And what time will that be?'

'Ah, my dear little False Gleasta,' a strange smile stretched across his face, 'that's exactly what I need you for.'