Even though delayed by Ilia's slow movements, Chanon reached the deck in a matter of minutes. Once aboard, a glance was enough to discern the expressions of each of the crew members. As expected, Amir was already recounting his adventure. He stood in the center of the small choir of young Infinites, one of his arms resting naturally on Ilia's shoulders, who in turn looked bewildered. A little further away, Chanaia watched everything with her arms crossed. An expression of measured tolerance was on his sister's face. Chanaia might admire Amir's physique and courage, but more often than not, the boy's easygoing nature drove her crazy. Suppressing a smile, Chanon calmly secured the water ski in its place and then headed back to the circle of young Infinites. The large ship had begun to move the moment he set foot on the ladder.
When Chanon caught up with Amir, he was narrating the part about the whipping. So he took the pleasure of interrupting him: "Everyone, meet Ilia." Recognizing his voice, the group immediately made way for Chanon with respect. He sensed the pale girl's gaze fixed on him, so he reciprocated her look as he continued speaking. "We'll make the introductions quickly so you can get some food and rest."
The word "food" made Ilia's stomach churn. She couldn't remember her last decent meal. To be precise, other than the filth they gave out in the mines, she had only managed to see a plate of fruit in the hands of a guard. So Ilia closed her eyes with a slight tremble.
The imposing young man continued speaking while a tall, superb girl approached him with stealthy steps. She had a striking figure; it was as if her silhouette had been drawn to perfection. On the other hand, the stranger's face lacked balance. She had too thin lips and a very narrow, upturned nose.
"You know, Amir, one of our most notable Infinites." Continued Chanon, "Here are Cela, Mak, and Armin, Teo, Zenon, Atalaya, and Keniak."
Ilia didn't think for a moment she would remember all the names, but she followed each one with her gaze, nodding in greeting and trying to take note of anything distinctive.
Teo, Zenon, and Cela had to be siblings, cause they looked so much alike with their dazzling red hair, hazel eyes, and freckled noses.
Mak and Armin were obviously a couple; they were holding hands and drew a lot of attention, since Mak was immense, even taller than the imposing leader named Chanon. Mak was also especially corpulent, while Armin was a petite young woman with coppery blonde hair, who looked at her with open affection.
Ilia couldn't forget Atalaya, simply because the girl couldn't go unnoticed. She was slender and had very long, dark, shiny hair. She was athletic and beautiful, with large, slanted eyes of a dazzling blue hue. The girl's gaze, on the other hand, denoted pride and arrogance.
For his part, the young man named Keniak caught Ilia's attention because of his olive-colored skin tone, similar to her own. His hair, unusually straight and black, was tied back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. In that short time, Ilia noticed how his eyes frequently sought out Atalaya.
After a brief interval, without another word, the group of young people dispersed, busying themselves with various tasks. Then Ilia looked down at her bare feet, feeling tired and not knowing what to say, much less what to do.
"And this one," Her rescuer said suddenly, making her jump in surprise, "is Chanaia, second-in-command of our squadron and boatswain of the Seeker. She'll be in your charge for the next few months."
With that, the tall, pert-nosed girl smiled solemnly as she approached, the perfect lines of her body undulating in an attractive gait. She came very close to Ilia and spoke to her in a husky, unfeminine voice that exuded frankness:
"It's good to have you with us, Ilia. Welcome aboard. Now, please come with me. I think you deserve a relaxing bath and a good rest."
Then, before turning around, seeming to remember something, the tall young woman turned as if to speak to her. However, her first words seemed as if spoken to herself:
"Most likely, he didn't introduce himself. This gentleman here." She said, carelessly pointing at the tall, black-eyed young man: "He's our leader, Chanon. You're already under his despotic command, Ilia." The playfulness in her eyes belied her assertion, but her words earned her a serious look from the leader. Without saying anything, he walked gracefully toward a booth, followed closely by Amir.
Ilia didn't know how to express her gratitude. She wanted to tell them how very much she appreciated their help. Then, with a slight gesture, Chanaia signaled Ilia to follow her, and she obeyed without hesitation.
The two walked along until they entered a fairly spacious cabin. Ilia's eyes immediately widened as they scanned its interior. Everything there, from the decor to the cleanliness, contrasted sharply with what she was used to seeing. The rooms looked impeccable, and the people around her looked healthy, clean, and strong. For a few seconds, a blazing rage filled her as she remembered all the slaves who had been left in that hell. Something in Ilia's chest sank, and she felt short of breath, while at the same time she concentrated hard on not crying. Oblivious to all the emotions overwhelming her, after closing the door, the young boatswain pointed to a small bathroom.
Timidly, Ilia approached the bathtub, but the other stopped her.
"Please, let me heat the water, it'll be cold now." With that, leaning her graceful body, Chanaia dipped a hand into the liquid inside the tub, and seconds later, the surface of the water released a faint steam. Ilia was stunned; she had no more doubts. These people had... how to put it...? Well, they were gifted with extraordinary abilities.
Apparently, her astonishment had been quite noticeable, because the other laughed loudly and immediately spoke to her:
"Haven't you heard of the Infinites before?" As Ilia shook her head, her companion laughed again. "All right, girl. I'll explain everything in more detail later," Chanaia said. "But for now, get yourself clean and rest. I'll go get you something to eat."
What Ilia most wanted to do was drink water; she felt she could drink a whole pond, but out of shyness, she remained silent. Once alone, she embarrassedly shed her rags and got into the tub. She scrubbed herself until she thought all the dirt was gone. Then she sighed, feeling a pleasant and comfortable sensation; somehow, the liquid surrounding her body transmitted a cool sensation to her throat.
When Ilia considered getting out of the tub, she made a move to stand up; however, once out of the water, the cold bit her without hesitation. Then she realized she had nothing to dry herself with, nothing to wear. So she submerged herself mechanically in the water, completely embarrassed. Then she heard Chanaia clear her throat. She was very stealthy since she had never heard her enter.
"Sorry, I was careless. Here." Saying this, the young woman handed her a plush cloth while arranging a stretchy black suit, the same kind of clothes everyone else wore. The suit was folded on a nearby chair. Seeing Ilia's horrified look, Chanaia smiled.
"You're funny. Don't worry, these suits are a special one size. They fit anybody. From... let's take an example: Armin to Chanon to Mak. Come on. I'll give you some privacy." However, it turned out the piece was loose on Ilia. She was actually very pleased with the fact, as she would have been embarrassed to wear that suit like a second skin. The suit closed with a zipper in the front and came with dark gloves and a short leather vest with pockets in the front. "You are ready. Now try to eat while I untangle your hair." Said Chanaia.
The food was served on a small table that could be folded against the cabin wall.
Ilia didn't wait a second and took the seat Chanaia offered her. Then she saw a bottle of water on the small surface and almost burst into tears. Slowly, she took it in her hands and stared at the clear liquid in bewilderment. That's when she began to cry. Or at least something close to it, because the tears wouldn't escape her eyes.
For her part, Chanaia looked at Ilia in dismay, and without saying a word, she dropped the brush on the table and hugged her softly.
"Schschschsch... don't worry, everything will be okay. You are safe now, Ilia."
After a few minutes, Ilia finally stopped shuddering. After a grateful look, she took a few sips of water. For her part, Chanaia grabbed the brush and began detangling the girl's hair once more, until it was dry. It turned out Ilia had thick locks of hair with a beautiful shade of light brown that extended to her shoulders.
"I want to destroy that place. I... I mean, I want to help them... the slaves." Ilia began without warning.
After a sigh, and while she looked at her proudly, Chanaia placed both hands on her shoulders. For the first time, she looked dead serious:
"We will do it. I have faith in us. The path ahead is difficult, but it is the right thing to do. If you are willing to join our cause."
"I want to be part of this," Ilia asserted vehemently: "I want to fight against the regime. I swear it. I will swear loyalty if you want."
It was then that, for the first time, Ilia smiled. And the gesture lit up her face. However gaunt she may have been, Chanaia saw that she had a distinguished beauty with classic, delicate features. Her mouth was tiny and cracked, but she could see that her lips were perfectly shaped. She was not extraordinarily tall, but she was slender, and she moved with unquestionably elegant and discreet gestures. At first sight, Ilia could pass as a teenage boy, but that wasn't the case. Chanaia thought that the girl could be in her twenties. And finally, there were those intense, extraordinary eyes. Yes, Ilia definitely reminded her of Axel. Then the skeletal girl grimaced and, putting her hands to her stomach, after retching, vomited.
Immediately, Ilia sat up; her gaze filled with silent apology. But Chanaia just smiled at her and patted her shoulder gently. Thinking it would be a long night, the Seeker's quartermaster handed the recruit a handkerchief and began to guide her to the galley.
"Don't worry, I'll fix this in a second. Come, I'll make you some tea while I tell you about us and learn a little about you. What do you think?"
A few minutes later, the two were sitting on the food barrels tied to the deck, enjoying the sea breeze. By now, all crew members were resting except for the team monitoring the navigation system and radars while maintaining a course toward The Base.
Ilia had told Chanaia that she remembered nothing before being taken to the mines. She had simply woken up as someone lifted her and put her on a cart; she had been badly injured and helpless. Afterward, in the quarries, she had been exploited, barely able to eat or drink, and forced to work day after day alongside many other slaves.
Chanaia listened in horror; she had never been in the quarries. It was true that she had participated in many difficult missions, but her brother never allowed her near them.
"They call us Infinites," Chanaia said, "because of the diverse actions we can perform, because of the diverse possibilities. Do you understand me? At first, they considered us freaks and hunted us down in secret. They had a theory: supposedly, our brains were more developed and capable of making our bodies obey any command. But soon, more powerful Infinites manifested themselves, managing to influence other people and even foreign elements. For example, I can create fog, and Amir can camouflage himself and other things besides himself."
"Then you can't do the same... things... tricks?"
"The most basic, generally, yes. It's common for most Infinites to master them, but there are weaker Infinites and stronger ones. Some are limited, others have... truly... infinite potential."
Here, given her own words, Chanaia had to laugh. For a few seconds, she watched, amused, as Ilia pondered in silence. It was evident that the young woman's memory had been affected. She seemed too physically fragile, but after talking for a long time, she realized she was mentally sharp. At that moment, seeing Atalaya leave Chanon's cabin, the boatswain comically wrinkled her nose while grimacing with her thin lips.
"For example, Chanon, my brother, is a phenomenon. Many believe him to be the strongest Infinite in the Army."
"You and the leader... are siblings?" Ilia asked, half surprised. The two of them did not look at all similar. "Army?"
"Yes, we're siblings," Shania smiled. "And don't call him leader, Chanon should be fine."
"No one was able to see them in the quarries, and something strange happened with the foreman who attacked me..."
The truth was that Chanon had broken the foreman's attacking hand; this was something that set him apart from the rest of the Infinites. Very few could influence the bodies of others, much less with such devastating effects. However, according to Amir's account, Ilia had manifested her own.
"Indeed, Chanon broke the bones in his hand, but you, Ilia, managed to protect yourself from the whip. And what's more, you managed to see them when no one else was supposed to. We believe you have great potential."
Potential... Ilia pondered the word in her mind with growing enthusiasm. "Really? I don't know if I did all that... really... Yes, I noticed no one else was seeing them..."
Interrupting Ilia, the other young woman gave a brief chuckle before looking at her cordially.
"Don't worry, Ilia, we have instructors who will teach and help you. First, you must regain weight and strength. Then you will have proper training. I can't wait to see what you can do!"
Chanaia's enthusiasm was contagious, and Ilia couldn't help but like her; she was already growing fond of her. They could be good friends, surely.
In the mines, Ilia had made the mistake of getting close to a young man who had helped her in her first days. However, not long after, when they were beginning to grow closer, her friend ended up dead before her eyes. The life of a slave was truly ephemeral. The pain this caused her led Ilia to cut off affectionate ties with anyone. So, in those quarries, Ilia had promised herself never to become attached to anyone. And thinking all of this, Ilia felt like crying once again.
Oblivious to those thoughts, Chanaia continued to explain the current situation. So, Ilia learned that those Infinites, once hunted and used in experiments, rose and formed The Alliance. "A great war ensued, and, of course, the Infinites' rare power wreaked havoc on their opponents. The outcome was easy to predict: a new government was established, with the most powerful Infinite leaders installed at its head. However, power soon corrupted many, and they began to cruelly discriminate against the rest of the people, whom they called: The Apagatus. And well, at this point, some of the Infinites' leaders refused to accept such behavior. However, things kept getting tangled and complicated. At the point that the Infinites were truly divided. These feelings of hatred and revenge on each band were deeply rooted. Certainly, there had been years of constant persecution and deaths while they were practically used as laboratory rats. Entire families had been wiped out. In the end, a group of Infinites began to conspire in a cleansing campaign. They planned to eliminate those less extreme Infinites."
Oh... Ilia kept listening with a demure look. For her part, Chanaia continued: "Thus, the Alliance's elite split with devastating consequences for the group of Infinites who still supported the Apagatus. The Infinites who managed to escape the hunt took refuge outside the major cities. The Infinites' rebel army was born then. Nowadays, they are known as The Army." The Army was headquartered in a secret underground fortress, known to all rebels as The Base. "Ghael, once a high-ranking representative of The Alliance's government, is the main leader. Ilia, currently, our world is ruled by a vicious small circle of Infinites. This powerful minority controls everything, and the rest of the people are being exploited and used to satisfy their whims. The Nobility—the Infinites in power—discriminates against women. Even in the highest circles, the females are demeaned. It so happened that within the Infinites, women were generally less endowed. But when it came to discrimination, the desert dwellers had borne the brunt of it all. And they had been conquered primarily to be enslaved. It's terrible."
Yes, terrible...indeed. Thought Ilia.
"At the moment, the Army is busy expanding its ranks and recruiting new talent," Chanaia continued. "An open offensive against the government as such hasn't begun. However, our cause is already famous. Our members are known as rebels. Several of the Army's incursions have led to smaller, but significant, clashes."
"Will they test me to accept me?" Ilia asked with some uncertainty.
"You'll be fine. You're already part of us," Chanaia assured, but seeing Ilia's anxious face, she added, "Ghael is our uncle. Mine and Chanon's, of course. He's also our savior. And he's a great person. You'll see." Once said this, Chanaia's face drained of color.
"Are you okay?" Ilia said quickly. "I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay. I trust my uncle. You see, our father... he went mad and... Well, he is responsible for our mother's death. It all happened right in front of Chanon... I was younger and don't remember much. But our uncle saved us that day. Uncle Ghael gave us a future and hope."
"Oh... that's... That is terrible... I'm really sorry."
"Oh... Don't worry, it happened a long time ago. I don't even know why I told you such things... But what I mean is, Ghael is trustworthy." Chanaia spoke, obviously uncomfortable. "And you, Ilia? Do you remember your parents?" Saying this, Chanaia faced the dark waves, letting the breeze hit her face. They had been walking, heading slowly toward the bow while Chanaia recounted all the events Ilia was unaware of. Now, faced with the question, Ilia tried to search in her memories, but she only managed to make her head hurt.
"I don't remember..." she said, touching her forehead. "Absolutely nothing."
"I'm sorry. Ilia, you'll be fine." With that, Chanaia took one last look at the black waters they were racing past. Then she told Ilia it was time for them to rest.