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  Zeno paused and then turned her back to the crowd to lean in close to Tiegal so she could talk into her ear.

  “The water is the source of supreme power because it is brought in directly from The Big Hole. I think it is supposed to help intensify the releases! Listen, the music has started. The ceremony is about to begin.” Zeno nudged her and then pushed Tiegal through the gap between the two males in front, so they could get closer to the main event. Loud beats boomed out and the crowd responded in an instant, forming an orderly circle around the pool of water.

  The nervous tension amongst the crowd was palpable. The young males in particular were responding to the sounds, their feet banging on the floor in time to the rhythm of the beats.

  The young male and female in the pool both seemed to be ready for action. They arched their heads back and looked up to the roof of the pyramid.

  “What are they looking up there for?” Tiegal asked Zeno, nodding her head at the male and female who were standing in the pool, staring up at the roof of the pyramid, their eyes both fixed on the point at the top where the four sides of the glass pyramid joined.

  “Wait and see Tiegal. You must be patient. It will all make sense very soon. Watch this couple first and then you will know what to expect when it is your turn,” she answered in a soft tone.

  Tiegal nodded. “Okay, I’ll be quiet.”

  The pyramid walls slowly started to open outwards, filling the room with a cool breeze from above.

  “Look up there Tiegal. The Derados have arrived,” Zeno squeaked, pointing up above their heads. “Our Derados are in that Argyle up there. And there’s Atla’s symbol on the side. Can you see it? Atla must be in there!”

  Tiegal was already looking up. She recognized the whirring sound the Argyles made when they hovered for lengths of time and the one suspended above them was the most prestigious Tandro aircraft she had ever seen. The underside of the barrel-shaped machine was adorned with gem stones that reflected purple and red lights on the glass above and around them.

  “I can’t believe the pyramid can spread outwards like that. Does it open completely?” Tiegal asked.

  Zeno shook her head. “No, not completely, or the energy exchanges could be lost if we became too exposed. I think it has stopped now,” she answered in a quiet voice.

  The sides of the pyramid did appear to have stopped moving further outwards. The three triangles now jutted around the crowd at a four-pointed star above them, swaying back and forth in precarious action as the Argyle’s propellers pushed at the air around them.

  Tiegal shuddered.

  The unmistakable sonorous voice of Atla filled the pyramid:

  “On this day, our millennial Derado Ceremony, I join you. We have an opportunity to generate an unprecedented level of power amongst us in this pyramid today.”

  There was a short pause. The music stopped, replaced with an eerie silence as the significance of Atla’s words were allowed to sink into the crowd around the pool. Everyone stood statue-still, necks arched, as they looked up to the imposing machine above them. Atla’s commanding voice filled the pyramid:

  “Let it commence…First, we deliver Derados for Indramia Langton and Mocodiza Chaponi. Raise your hands to receive them.”

  Without further instruction, they raised their hands above them, reaching out to receive the two oval-shaped boxes as they were lowered down from the base of the Argyle towards their heads, attached to thick, red, ropes.

  Tiegal leaned over to Zeno. "What’s in the boxes?”

  "Their Derados of course! Indramia is in my engineering team. She should have a very nice diamond. Just watch and learn okay!” Zeno sounded frustrated. Tiegal nodded at her friend, turning back to watch Indramia and Mocodiza as they received their boxes.

  Her toes wriggled in her sandals. She felt an overwhelming urge to shake them off and jump into the pool; to let her skin soak in the power of the diamond water.

  Atla’s voice boomed out from above them again.

  “Indramia and Mocodiza, as part of the team who developed the most advanced diamond sensor to date, you have both been granted Derados which contain real coloured diamonds. Open your box. Attach your Derado around your neck. This will be yours for life. You must promise to obey the laws of Tandro and in exchange all desires will be fulfilled.”

  Indramia and Mocodezia did not hesitate. With regimented obedience, they both opened their boxes, took out their collared neck pieces and then pressed the diamond pendants to their chests.

  On cue, the crowd burst into an excitable chant:

  “All laws obeyed, all desires fulfilled. All laws obeyed, all desires fulfilled.”

  “Okay, they are about to release their colours Tiegal. This is where it will get interesting.” Zeno whispered.

  Mocodiza and Indramia, both with serious, but nervous looking expressions, pressed their diamonds in perfect timing with each other. Their mutual actions created an instant release of colourful mists from their Derados; orange from hers and a vibrant blue from his.

  Tiegal watched them in amazement. It looked as though Indramia and Mocodiza had both just liberated their inner desires from their physical beings; as though they had released another person from within them, which was now dancing around them, creating a stunning spectacle of colours, the intensity of their energies submerging their bodies and obscuring the shapes of their figures.

  The chanting continued around the room as murmurs of approval emanated from the pool.

  “Ooh it sounds like Indramia is enjoying herself. You can definitely hear her voice more,” Zeno giggled and winked at Tiegal.

  Hearing Indramia’s obvious pleasure and the release of her colour made Tiegal feel hungry for something she could not place. Once again, she tried to push the image from her dreams away, but to no avail. His face and his smell overwhelmed her.

  “Oh no!”

  The alarming sound of Zenos’ shriek broke her trance, forcing Tiegal to look back to the pool to see what all the commotion was about.

  “Where did all the colour mist go? And why is Indramia sitting down in the pool?”

  Zeno shrugged and pulled on her arm, encouraging her to walk with her over to the pool.

  “I don’t know. I think she just fell backwards! That didn’t take very long and Mocodiza doesn’t look happy. Can you help me lift her up?” Zeno called out.

  Tiegal scurried around to the other side of the distressed looking Indramia and reached out to grab hold of her arm. As soon their skins connected Tiegal jumped back, thrusting her fingers into her mouth to relieve them from the burning sensation she had received on making contact with the girl.

  “Ouch! What did you just do then?” Indramia cried out.

  “Do I know you?” Tiegal asked. The girl smelled familiar, of orange blossom and peonies.

  I know this smell! I have been near this before.

  She recognised the feeling it conjured inside her too – of happy and safe, like Jovil.

  “What did you say your name was?” she asked Indramia, who had now pulled herself off the floor and was pulling the Derado neckpiece away from her skin.

  “I don’t know you at all, but when you touched me just then the diamond in my Derado burnt my skin!” Indramia complained.

  Zeno rolled her eyes at Tiegal. “Oh great! So sorry Indramia. I’m sure it was just the after effect of the release,” Zeno apologised on Tiegal’s behalf.

  Before Tiegal had a chance to offer her apology a group of exasperated looking females, all wearing silver-coloured cloaks, came over to whisk Indramia away. Unable to restrain herself, Tiegal grabbed hold of her wrist to pull her back, accidentally catching her skin on Indramia’s bracelet as she did.

  Indramia winced and turned her head back to face Tiegal. Her eyes flashed with an extraordinary brilliance, reflecting a prism of stars around her beautiful face and caramel tinted hair.

  “I have to go!” Indramia said, nodding at Zeno over Tiegal’s shoulders.

  Zeno w
aved goodbye and then turned back to Tiegal, huffing an exasperated sigh aimed in her direction.

  “Tiegal! Why did you ask what her name was in the middle of all that? I told you her name was Indramia and Atla announced it to the whole pyramid!” Zeno grumbled.

  “Because I think I am connected to her somehow.” Tiegal interrupted in a hush.

  A thousand thoughts rushed through her mind:

  How could her smell remind me so much of Jovil?

  Why did her diamond react to my touch in that way?

  And why did her eyes reflect images of stars when she looked at me?

  “Whatever connection you share with that girl, you really need to clear your mind right now Tiegal. I thought you promised to stay focused today! And, oh great, another distraction for you now. Look who’s just arrived.”

  The sound of the familiar male voice behind her made Tiegal squeal with delight.

  “Rinzal!” she cried out.

  Ignoring all rules of etiquette for such a solemn occasion she threw her arms around him, almost knocking him into the ceremony pool just as a group of older males, each wearing tight-fitting black uniforms, instructed them to move away from the sacred diamond water.

  Rinzal steered her over to where Zeno was staring at them, her eyes flashing with fury at them both.

  “Honestly! This is embarrassing,” Zeno said.

  “I know, sorry Zeno, I didn’t mean to make such a grand entrance. And Tiegal! When are you going to learn not to display such physical affection in public? Atla is observing from up there for goodness sake!” Rinzal shook his head at her. “And also, you really need to turn off those thoughts of yours. I could hear you loud and clear when I entered the pyramid just now.”

  “Never mind that. What are you doing here Rinzal? I thought you were at the Town Hall for your Release Day?” Tiegal demanded.

  She glanced at him first, and then at Zeno, before glaring at them both:

  “Were you both in on this?”

  Zeno shrugged. “I knew nothing about it.”

  “All I know is that I have been matched with someone with an unusual energy. Now, let me guess who that is?” Rinzal chuckled raising his eyebrows in Tiegal’s direction.

  Tiegal gasped in surprise. Of all the Tandroans, across all the islands, and her match for her Release Day was Rinzal!

  This has to be Jovil’s work. What a superstar.

  She silently thanked her adopted “father”, vaguely aware of how Zeno and Rinzal frowned at her at the same time she did.

  “Stop listening to me you two! It makes sense in my head. It’s not meant to be understood by anyone else! That’s why I didn’t verbalise it,” she complained, with a sigh of irritation.

  Zeno put her hands on her hips, clearly frustrated by this unexpected turn of events.

  “You think Jovil did this?” she asked.

  “I think it’s highly likely that he…” Tiegal started but the whirring sound from the Argyle as the machine hovered above them interrupted her mid-sentence. They all looked up to the top of the pyramid as Atla’s voice filled the room again:

  “The second Derado initiation today is to be between Tiegal Eureka and Rinzal Udansty. Take your positions in the ceremony pool.”

  Tiegal started to shake. She didn’t feel ready for this just yet but there was nothing she could do to pull it back, no way to press the pause button she so wanted to.

  “Go on Tiegal, you’ll be fine,” encouraged Zeno, giving her a gentle push on her lower back to urge her in the direction of the pool. “You can’t keep Atla waiting.”

  Tiegal shook her head, let out the breath she had been holding in, lifted up her cape and stepped into the pool. The temperature of the water made her flinch. It was almost glacial.

  She looked over to see Rinzal step into the pool from the other side. He didn’t even flinch as his skin met with the frigid water. Fixing her eyes on his, she matched his stare. The room quickly became silent, the crowd watching on; at least a hundred pairs of flashing curious eyes.

  A brief moment of tranquility followed, quickly interrupted by the return of Atla’s voice, now impatient and instructive:

  “Tiegal Eureka, you have proven to be an interesting addition to both the teaching and elephant camps. Your energy has continued to be utilized in the work amongst the farmers in this area.”

  Tiegal looked down at her feet.

  An interesting addition to the elephant camp!

  It sounded so pathetic in comparison to developing innovative diamond sensors and robotics like the previous couple.

  “For this, you have been awarded a natural pink diamond to match your unusual colour energy,” Atla continued.

  She couldn’t believe it! This had to be the best day ever. No one in the teaching or the elephant camps had come close to being granted a Derado with a real diamond in it. Her whole body buzzed with excitement. She glanced back to Rinzal who appeared to be in a trance as he fixed his gaze on her.

  Hardly able to breathe she watched as he moved closer to her, only about an inch, but enough that she could see the pulsations of his brilliant pupils.

  I can’t believe it’s you and me here, like this!

  She channelled her thoughts to him, willing him to respond with a friendly smile. To her surprise, Rinzal looked at her in a strange way – with a deep intensity and determination.

  Play this properly Tiegal.

  His voice, in her head, sounded frustrated, or perhaps fearful. It was difficult to determine and did little to settle her nerves.

  Responding to his gaze, she willed her pupils to match the action of his, knowing this was the correct precursor to their exchange; an acknowledgement that they were ready to immerse themselves within each other’s deepest parts.

  “Rinzal Udansty, you too have shown a dedication to teaching. A record number of kimberlings have requested a seat on your learning deck. You have shown you have a gift for conveying the wonders of our origins and the great promise for our futures; an ability that carries great power. I thus grant you a yellow diamond.”

  This news did not seem to have an effect on Rinzal, who had kept his eyes locked on Tiegal’s throughout Atla’s commendation of him.

  Since when did you become such a supporter of Atla’s robot regime?

  Rinzal shook his head at her in a way she knew was meant to silence her. Frustrated, she gave a little stamp with her right food, sending ripples across the water in the space between them. Rinzal sighed at her, cocking his head upwards to urge her to pay attention to the box making its way down to her.

  As soon as it was close enough, she reached up to release the box from its hook and watched as the red rope it had been attached to retreated back up to the Argyle above. Excited now, she removed her Derado from the box, wasting no time to ponder the beauty of her diamond, and pressed it to her chest as she had seen Indramia do before.

  The effect was instant. As soon as she placed the Derado around her neck and pressed her precious stone in time with Rinzal she felt a release from within her that made her whole body convulse, followed by a rush of warmth that flooded up and down her legs and arms.

  Swirls of pink mist danced around her face and an identical cloud of vibrant yellow mist surrounded Rinzal. The entire experience had already exceeded her expectations.

  The music may have been beating, the crowds may have been watching, but she couldn’t tell. All she could allow herself to focus on was trying to gain some control over the heat building up inside of her, as it became stronger with every breath she took. It was a liberating sensation, coming from somewhere deep inside; a place she had not been aware existed. It made her knees feel wobbly and unsteady. Her mind was no longer fully in control of her body. She realised it was a feeling that was equally pleasing and unnerving.

  Rinzal’s eye-light flickered at her amidst his yellow cloud. They nodded at each other. Tiegal squeezed her fingers into the palms of her hands, bracing herself as Rinzal’s yellow mist moved towards
her pink energy cloud and their connection was made.

  Oh…what is this? This sensation…

  The impact of their energies mixing was so forceful it knocked her body backwards. At least that was what she assumed had happened. An electric shock reaction, perhaps? At first, she wondered if she had fallen out of the diamond water pool, as Indramia had done before her. It was hard to tell, everything was so blurry, making it impossible for her to make sense of her surroundings since she could no longer see her own body.

  A rushing, vibrating sound resonated up and down and around her. A part of her wanted to scream. Yet another part of her wanted to lie back and enjoy this strange feeling; to embrace this floating sensation. It wasn’t painful, it was the opposite. It felt as if she were being transformed in some way, like she was in her chrysalis, soon to emerge into her new, more elevated state.

  Where these thoughts came from, she had no idea. None of this was happening the way it had been described to her – her first Derado exchange – but it was better than she had expected.

  A fleeting vision of Rinzal flashed in front of her and she wondered if he was also transforming into something higher than before. This thought made her smile - at least in her head, she was not sure could feel the nerves and muscles around her face anymore.

  Yet something told her that Rinzal would be pleased with how their energies were exchanging together. That was assuming they were still exchanging with each other; if she was even still with him in the pyramid?

  It didn’t feel as though she were still there, since the atmosphere had changed from the heaviness of before; a lighter air now, one that was instantly easier to breathe.

  Blinking, she scanned her surroundings, allowing the immediate sense of joy to engulf her.

  “Zeno? Are you here?” she heard herself cry out whilst swallowing down a surge of excitement – at the possibility of what could have just occurred.

  Her hands jolted out in front of her, as though someone else was in charge of her bodily reactions; a remote control that she did not have hold of. She tried to move forward but she quickly realised she was trapped in a statue-like paralysis. The only part she had control of her were her fingers, which she wriggled around frantically in the space in front of her, trying to break through this strange, pink, glowing, substance that surrounded her.