Lumen and the Missing Majesta: Lumen

By EJ Wozniak

Book 3 of the exciting Lumen series! A missing Majesta, new worlds, a talking cat, Lumen's family, and so much more to unpack in this third volume!

• Language: English
• Publisher: EJ Wozniak
• Release date: Jan 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201525972

Book preview

Chapter 1 - No More Secrets

O kay, explain again why we aren’t running to the doctor’s office right this minute? Alice asked shrilly. She ambled over to the stationary phone on the kitchen wall, picked it up, and began dialing.

Lumen took a deep breath and closed his heavy eyelids over his sharp green eyes. His prickly mustache itched his upper lip.

Mom, please, just listen to me. Do I sound crazy? Lumen asked as calmly as he could.

That’s precisely what someone who had lost their mind would ask! Alice continued dialing frantically.

Mom... Lumen grabbed a hold of Alice’s arm. Alice set down the phone.

I realize this sounds absurd. Trust me, I know... Lumen thought back to his first encounter with Janis, the talking cat that wore a red vest, red fingerless gloves, and goggles atop his head. He figured he should keep that to himself at that moment.

"But this is real. Realer than anything I’ve been a part of. Alec, Lucy, Chester, Yu..."

I thought his name was Lester? Alice interjected. Lumen ignored that question.

We are all a part of it. They are all what we call Eauge, sort of like water benders...

Alice placed her hand up with her lips puckered as if she ate something very sour.

Are you telling me Alec is in on this farce? Does he think this is amusing?

Think what’s funny?

Your illness! I always liked Alec, but this crosses the line. He knows how tough this was in the past! Alice fumed and looked a mess. Her brown hair knotted up in a sloppy bun, her makeup at least two days old, and her nurse uniform stunk of a musty coat closet. She had just gotten off of a quadruple shift. Lumen then recognized that it wasn’t the best time to drop a bomb like this one. He should have known the blowback would be immense.

Mom, come here... Lumen said gently with his arms out, signaling for a hug.

Alice walked over, tears in her eyes, and sank into Lumen’s chest. Lumen couldn’t recall when he had become a good deal taller than his mother, but her head comfortably laid on his boney chest. Lumen waved his right arm and opened a window with the lights. He pulled the window to him and Alice and right through them. It took Alice about a whole minute before she realized they stood in the center of the Paxum. To her, it wasn’t the Paxum, it was just a figment of her imagination, an illusion because of her delirium from her forty hour work bender. She rose from the sweet embrace of her only child and looked around the circular quarry. Gazing, she blankly stared at the snow-covered forest and how it blended seamlessly into the rolling, sandy dunes, and how that blended smoothly into the cloud covered region of the Paxum, not much to see in there, and how those clouds seemed to just barely peck the luscious and wonderfully green forest, and how that forest fused back with the icy tundra. The expression on her face confessed that she was mesmerized by this work of art Allister had created, just as Lumen was when he first saw it.

Lumen, hun...

Alice reached and missed Lumen’s arm twice without taking her gaze off the surroundings. The Paxum was silent and empty aside from the two. It was summer break and Lumen wanted to introduce his mom to the world he devoted considerable time to. He would be even more engrossed in the approaching school year and didn’t want her to worry. He wasn’t certain this would make her worry less.

Whilst in her gaze, some lights gathered, flashed, and opened a window. Mrs. Wexler stepped through carrying a woven basket filled to the brim with whistleberries, leafy greens, damp barks, and other items to produce more juices for her shop.

Oh, hello Lumen! How are ya today?

Hi, Mrs. Wexler. Just great, Lumen said with a perverse smile, How are you?

Mrs. Wexler scuttled over in her pink heels. The pink bow in her hair was as pink as ever and her thick, black-rimmed glasses had a little pink bow on the right corner to match.

And who is this lovely young lady? Mrs. Wexler asked, looking at the bewildered Alice.

This is my mom, Alice, Lumen said, peering at his mom with wide eyes.

Mom, this is Mrs. Wexler. She runs the Juice Shop down in the Genaqua...

Gena what... is all Alice could muster to say.

The Genaqua. It’s where the Eauge students learn.

It was hushed among the three of them for a few moments as Alice continued to gawk.

First time here, isn’t it? Mrs. Wexler asked, glancing at Alice with a smile. Alice didn’t answer.

I, uh, I just told her about all of this. All of this is new to her. The lights, the water bending, everything... Lumen sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

Oh, honey, why’d you wait so long? Mrs. Wexler asked with a nervous grin as she shifted in place.

There are several reasons, none of which seem valid enough at this point.

Well, good luck, hun. Bring her down to the shop for a juice on me. That’s if she breaks out of this trance anytime soon, Mrs. Wexler said with a charming toothless smile and waded away with her basket of juicing goods. Lumen watched her all the way to the cabin elevator in the wintery section of the Paxum. He looked at his mother and rubbed his eyes. Exhaustion. He had been at it for almost two hours with his mother. For an hour, they argued about leaving for the emergency room and Lumen had to explain he wasn’t sick over and over. He even conjured a few ice cubes from thin air in front of his mother, and she pretended to not see. Then for a half an hour Alice cried and Lumen consoled her, trying to tell her that I am okay, mom, I promise, and Alice responded through her sobs and weariness that you’re not, but I love you so much, and that she just wants the best life for him. Then Alice paced around the house for half an hour, threatening to make calls to doctors and psychiatrists. Lumen had enough and decided taking her to Bonumalus was the best idea. Lumen thought putting this world in her face would be enough to convince his mother that it was real. He couldn’t trick her into seeing things that weren’t real.

Not unless I was a crazy good magician... I guess I kind of am a magician...

Lumen let Alice gaze for a couple more minutes before trying to speak to her again.

Mom...

Alice watched a tree sprout in the Liros section grow to about eighty feet high in five seconds and then answered Lumen.

Yes, dear?

Mom, do you believe me now?

Alice shook her head.

Maybe I have lost it. I must have been checked into the hospital at work. I knew two sleepless nights would lead to something like this. Lumen has to be so worried... Alice said, seemingly to herself.

Mom, I’m right here...

No, no, no... this just isn’t right, Alice answered, still unaware Lumen was right there.

You know what, I want you to meet someone, Lumen said. He flashed open a window, Alice watching in wonderment. Lumen was unaware she’d be able to see the lights. He had to talk to Allister about that. Lumen grabbed Alice’s clammy hand and pulled her through the window.

They landed in the warmth of Allister’s cabin. The fire was lit as usual under the aged oak mantel, cooking ursa meat. A game of chess had ended, the black king cornered by the white queen. The aroma was of a home cooked meal and pine tree, a smell that always made Lumen smile. Standing in the study area was a lankier older gentleman, wearing a long green trench coat with lots of pockets, black pants with brown beat up boots, long salt and pepper hair that was becoming more salty as the days went on, and old-beat up goggles with a brown leather strap atop his head. The man was gazing at a new sketch on his wall, the hooded figure Lumen met last year at the Battle of the Unknown. That’s what the Bonumalus papers called it anyhow. Lumen’s father seemed to take up a lot of Allister’s thoughts in those days, as many of his newer drawings focused on him. Lumen didn’t even think about telling Alice about his father. Lumen was certain she did not know he was connected to this world. Luckily, from what Lumen could see, none of the drawings had the man’s face. No one had seen the man since that battle.

Hey, Al, how’s it going?

Allister turned and saw Lumen with his mother. Allister’s eyebrows lifted with worry, then softened, and his narrow lips curved to the smile that made Lumen’s gut warm.

Lumen, my boy, good to see you, as always. And who is this lovely young lady accompanying you today?

Lumen knew Allister knew that this lovely young lady was his mom. Allister left his study and walked over to Alice.

Hello, I am Allister Alvetande. You can call me Allister, or Al, or just A, whatever works for you, Allister said with a welcoming grin. He held his hand out for Alice to shake. Alice looked at, as if to make certain it would not sting her, then gingerly shook it. She cleared her throat and spoke.

I’m Alice, Lumen’s mother, Alice answered with a vacant expression on her pale face.

Nice to meet you. Lumen is one of our Eauge students here. He has been a brilliant student and mentor of our practices. You should be proud of this young man. He has a bright future, wonderfully bright indeed.

Alice looked at Allister, then at Lumen, her mouth open in disbelief. She smacked her lips together to wet her cottonmouth.

Who are you again? she asked Allister.

Allister. I am the head of the Eauge.

And what the heck is an oosh?

"An Eauge is a water bender, a manipulator of weather patterns that involve water on Earth."

And where precisely is this? Where are we now?

Specifically, we are at my home outside of Entropolis. This world is named Bonumalus.

Did you say you control the weather?

Yes.

How so?

Allister walked over to his coffee table and gave the same demonstration he gave Lumen when they first met.

And lastly we have the Aeris, they control the air. Allister spun his finger in a circle and created a small tornado on the chess board, knocking over a couple of pawns. Lumen looked at Alice, who stood there, nodding, opened her mouth to speak, and then fell backward onto the floor. She had fainted. Lumen went to grab her, but Allister had hauled her up into the air and she levitated.

She needs rest. I could see it on her face the moment she arrived. Alec can sleep in the den if need be.

Allister guided Alice’s levitating body through the den into Alec’s room and onto his bed. He tucked her in and closed the door, leaving it open just a crack.

Well then, that didn’t go to plan, Lumen said with a sigh as his shoulders slumped. Allister chuckled.

Ay, my boy, it looks like you need to work on those communication skills. And you shouldn’t have told her when she was so fatigued. Where is Wrigley?

Back at the house.

Bring him here. It will help to have something else familiar when she wakes up.

Lumen nodded in agreement, opened a window, poked his head through, and yelled for Wrigley. A moment later, Wrigley jumped through with a piece of clothing in his mouth.

Hey, drop it! Lumen yelled at Wrigley. Wrigley’s ears went back, dropped the garment, and scampered under Allister’s desk with his tail tucked. Lumen picked up the garment, which turned out to be a pair of his boxers that had his favorite cartoon show name printed in big neon green letters on the backside.

The Conspirators!

Lumen blushed and threw the boxers into the fire. Allister didn’t seem to take notice as he mosied over to greet Wrigley. Lumen regretted throwing the undies into the fire. They were his favorite pair.

So, Lumen, how has your break been treating you?

Lumen shifted, trying to forget about the boxers, and thought about his break.

What have I done?

Sofia moved back to town, but Lumen had only seen her twice, by accident, at the local donut shop. He panicked and shoved an entire donut in his mouth, speaking gibberish to explain why he couldn’t stay as he scurried out of the shop. The other time, she seemed to not even acknowledge his existence, glancing straight through him. She seemed to be upset ever since Lumen had bailed on her. He didn’t intentionally bail on her. His father introduced himself and Lumen forgot she was in town.

What else happened?

He and his mom went on a trip to his grandmother’s house. All he could recall was how bad his grandmother’s breath smelled and the stubble on her upper lip that scraped the side of his cheeks when she planted kisses on him every time they said hello and goodbye.

Anything else?

Blake and his friends could somehow egg Lumen’s house three nights in a row. Alice tasked Lumen with scraping, gross, rotten-smelling eggs from the house that had baked in the sultry morning sun. He threw up once and also had a gag attack; a moment where he couldn’t stop gagging from the horrid smell. He would have thrown up if there were anything in his stomach. On the third morning, he had learned to wear a mask. This was something he needed help with.

Need to talk to Alec... and Lucy. They’ll be able to help...

Lumen? Allister asked. Lumen stood staring at the ground.

Uh, not much, just hung out... Lumen said.

Taking it easy is the best thing to do at times. You won’t always get free time, especially not once you have graduated and begin working, Allister said. Lumen thought of Proteus and of joining him on the peripheries of the Ghost Forest, and beamed.

Anyway, it’s good that you are here. I wished to speak with you before the new school year began.

Lumen got nervous. He wasn’t certain what it was about, but had some ideas.

Maybe he wants to speak about my dad finally. He has said little about him since the Battle of the Unknown. Or maybe he is going to bring up the fact that I brought my mom here... Is that against the law? Oh no...

I want to talk to you about learning about one of the other elements, Allister said.

Lumen was least of all expecting that. Lumen had asked several times about learning about the other three elements, but Allister continuously pushed back.

Terrific! What will we start with? When?

Lumen was sure Allister would say Aeris, since Lumen had already been inadvertently using Aeris moves periodically. It only made sense to begin there.

"I want you to learn about the Ignous," Allister said.

The response nearly floored Lumen. His mouth hung open in disbelief, and he wasn’t sure what to say. Not only had he performed no fire bending, not even by accident, he was the least interested in it. He was no fan of Naz, the Ignous Mngwa optum, and thought Aiden, the Ignous caste leader, was extraordinarily obnoxious.

Wait, what? Is all Lumen could ask after a moment of silence.

I would like you to learn of the Ignous, their history, their ways, and maybe some essential skills.

No, I heard what you said.

"Why’d you say ‘what’ then?"

It’s something people say.

When you don’t hear something said.

Well, yeah.

So that’s why I repeated myself.

I get that, but it’s also used when you don’t understand.

That is confusing.

Yeah, I know, our expressions, and the English language in general, are very confusing.

It was silent again for a moment. Allister stood, staring at a particularly dark colored drawing he had finished of the hooded man, Lumen’s father. Allister’s right hand raked his beard with his left hand and his right hung at his side with some sort of treat for Wrigley to nibble on. Wrigley was out from under the desk, his black ears perked back up and his tan, fluffy tail back up, licking the treat in Allister’s hand. The fire was crackling and the smell of the ursa seemed to have intensified.

Lumen cleared his throat.

I’ll rephrase my question then. Why Ignous? Shouldn’t I start with Aeris? I already feel comfortable with some of those moves. The auraclip is already something I can do, and that’s an advanced move!

No, I want you to begin with the Ignous. It will be an enjoyable challenge for you. I have already spoken with Aiden. You will join some of their classes, as well as study with Naz, Brigid as well.

It perplexed Lumen why. Not only was he learning about the element he had the least interest in, he would spend time with two people, Naz and Aiden, he loathed.

At least I’ll be able to get to know Brigid a little more...

If you do any Ignous studying or training outside of the Paxum, I require it done on Oppidum, Allister said, still staring at the picture of Lumen’s father.

What?

I said that if you do any studying...

No, I mean ‘what’ as in I don’t understand.

Ah, you should just say that. Don’t worry about the reason for now. I would like it done on Oppidum.

Lumen shook his head in bewilderment.

"But isn’t it crazy over there? Ever since the Battle of the Unknown and the Majesta going missing..."

It is fine within the city, Allister said.

It fell silent in the cabin again. Lumen didn’t agree, but he didn’t want to argue with Allister. He was sure Allister had his reasons, but he didn’t always understand them. Lumen sighed and changed the subject.

What is the status of all that stuff?

"The missing Majesta? Not much development. She remains missing. As you can imagine, the other eleven Majestas are having a tough time holding it together. There are a couple of holes in the ozone above the Arctic. Training a Majesta takes twelve years to complete. The Aeris have been struggling to train up a new one. It is an unending process."

That was some history he wanted to learn about. The Aeris history. The Majesta position taking twelve years to train for. It sounded very interesting to Lumen.

Not stupid fire...

What about him? Lumen asked, nodding at the painting Allister had been gazing at.

Nothing new at this point. He was, and still is, a master of the lights. He could stay hidden for as long as he’d like... Allister said with a bit of deflation in his voice.

What was the point of the complete debacle last year, then? Lumen asked.

To make it known, he’s here. To scare the Bonumilians. I’m certain a good number have pledged their allegiance to him in silence. He is building up his allies. There have been some small-scale attacks here and on Earth, letting us know they are still out there. The Imperiums do their best to keep that kind of news from spreading, Allister said. Lumen couldn’t imagine what they had done on Earth. Massive fires, an unexpected hurricane, massive tornadoes, a major earthquake? He wasn’t certain what an attack on Earth meant.

What about Pare? Has he been found?

I’m sure Jax is keeping him safe. Pare did him a tremendous service. He deceived us all. I’m sure he is protected wherever he may be. Good news is that the election for his replacement is coming up. So, at least the board will have a complete staff once again,

Why don’t you go on the board? Lumen asked.

It’s not something I’m interested in. I enjoy being in the field, being hands on. I think I am of much better value here, Allister said.

Lumen agreed. He couldn’t imagine Allister sitting in an office all day long, discussing items he did not care for or concur with. It didn’t suit him.

Do you know who is running? I’ve seen a few fliers around Entropolis, but haven’t paid attention.

Oh Lumen, you should always pay attention to things like this. You need to know what is happening in our world. Who is running it, who makes the rules, what they believe in, and so on. That’s how people like Maldeus come to power. He was formerly on the board, elected on the very ideas he preached during his attacks. It was the lack of attention from the public that got that man elected. He said nice things, things the people wanted to hear, but his plan of action wasn’t right, and an attentive ear would have caught that, Allister said.

Lumen nodded, almost feeling bad for asking the question. He thought Lucy ought to know and wanted to discuss it with her.

Well, how do the elections even work? Do we vote?

Absolutely. The Eauge folk go to the Gnarus Pond, meditate in it, and the pond gathers the answers there. The other three castes have similar voting systems. Afterwards, regardless of who wins, all four castes will celebrate the new board member with a festival. Board members are appointed for life, so it is a rare event you are going to witness, Allister said.

Lumen was stuck on the Gnarus Pond aspect of the whole thing.

How does a pond know? Do we drop a scrap of paper with our votes into it? Do we tell it? How does the pond tell everyone else?

Anyway, I encourage you to do your due diligence on the two seekers. Both are inops, which is the way I think it should be anyhow. Impartial to any one caste, Allister said matter-of-factly.

What about Mick? He was a great Aeris, wasn’t he? Lumen challenged.

Right, he still is a great Aeris. But, he is objective as one could be for board activity. Plus, he is head of the wind department, which only makes sense. Now, if we discuss rugby, he is as one-sided as it could be, Allister said with a hearty laugh. Lumen hadn’t heard that from Allister in some time.

When are the elections again?

Next week, my boy, Allister said, recovering from his laugh, wiping tears from his eyes.

Well then, why don’t you enjoy the rest of your break. I’ll let you know when your mom is going to wake. Wrigley and I will hang around here. Lucy and Yu are over in Entropolis, I believe. They said something about getting aqua bombs, Allister said as he took a seat at his desk, grunting on the way down. Lumen smiled, nodded, and popped open a window.

Don’t give the old man trouble, Wrig. I’ll be back soon, Lumen said. Wrigley wagged his tail in response and sat at Allister’s feet. As Lumen stepped through the window, Allister yelled, Hey! Who are you calling old?

Chapter 2 - Old Bones

Lumen found Entropolis to be bustling, as expected. There were street vendors all about, all wearing the typical Eauge outfit of wolf gray cloth fastened with thick criss-crossing string, and large boots. Lumen watched a meat seller yell at a seedling vendor, one who appeared to be from the Liros caste.

What are you doing here, anyway? Aren’t there enough dingbats on Arborurb who want your little seeds? You’re distracting people who need meat! Protein! The good stuff! A large, bald Eauge man declared that appeared to have left over lunch stuck in his mangled red beard. His face and beard were just about the same color.

I have every right to sell here. It’s not my fault your sales tactics are, well, crummy, to say the slightest. Maybe if you didn’t howl so much, the Liros vendor replied. She was quaint and looked harmless in her flower made blouse, but she seemed to have shut up the man as he looked to the ground and reflected on his tactics.

Lumen continued walking into Entropolis to find Aqua Bombs. He strolled by a few classmates who offered him odd looks and appeared to whisper something as he walked by. Ever since last year’s ordeal, word had got around that Lumen was face to face with the man responsible for the Battle of the Unknown and came out unscathed. The rumors why were usually humorous.

I heard Lumen was an Omnis and scared the man into hiding.

Someone told me that Lumen summoned the dead and pushed back the hooded man. The board was pleased he did but ordered him to never again just because of the risks of raising the dead. He could have started a zombie apocalypse!

I heard Lumen was so afraid that he soiled himself, sending the hooded man into a gagging fest from the smell, and he ended up running back to wherever he came from.

My friend’s friend’s sister said she saw Lumen ride in on a giant bird-like creature, almost like a pterodactyl, and saved everyone. No one knows where the bird came from. It was thought to be extinct.

I heard it was Lumen’s father, which is why he spared him.

Well, most of the rumors were amusing to Lumen. Though that last one had gained no traction, the word was out there. Allister and Proteus told Lumen to keep that to himself, dispel it when he could. Tell everyone that he didn’t come face to face with the hooded man who was his father. Of course, Lumen didn’t limit it to himself. He told all of his close friends the moment he could, what it was like to be face to face, how he should feel about his father being culpable for so much pain and suffering. Lumen told them, hoping to receive advice, not to boast or to tell a tale of how he survived a face-to-face encounter with this evil man. He needed reassurance because of the fact he was related to this man, that it didn’t mean he was destined for the same fate. For most of his life, he had no care in the world about not knowing who his dad was or where he went. His mom covered her bases and did an excellent job, in Lumen’s opinion. But now that he knew, it was something that regularly kept Lumen up at night, deep in thought. Why wouldn’t he have stayed with his mom? How did his mom meet him? How could he have abandoned them? How could he have betrayed Allister and joined Maldeus’ cause? They were questions he was aching to ask, but knew that time wasn’t right. Allister, Proteus, and Janis met regularly to discuss Jax’s whereabouts, his potential plans, his army. The board of Imperium had been hushed about the whole situation. One of their own had been a considerable aid to the hooded man, and his whereabouts were unknown. The board even suspected that someone else had been corrupted, bringing in Aiden and Janis for questioning, wishing there was something that could explain Pare’s betrayal. But their search led to the public’s questioning of their leadership.

How could they not know one of their one was serving the enemy?

How could the board not be able to locate this man? Weren’t they the masters of travel? All they can manage are the lights?

So instead, the board announced an election to divert the Bonumilians’