Mind Masters Boxset Read online

  Contents

  Foreword

  Book 1

  CHAPTER ONE The Three Sisters

  CHAPTER TWO The Mind Reader

  CHAPTER THREE The Mind Writer

  CHAPTER FOUR Injustice

  CHAPTER FIVE Not to Worry

  CHAPTER SIX Rotten

  CHAPTER SEVEN Walking in the Dark

  CHAPTER EIGHT The Execution

  CHAPTER NINE Blind

  CHAPTER TEN The Chase

  CHAPTER ELEVEN Puppets

  CHAPTER TWELVE Imprisoned

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN Letters

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN Change of Plans

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Politician

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Second Writer

  Book 2

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Reflection

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Home

  CHAPTER NINETEEN Peter

  CHAPTER TWENTY The Reveal

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Down in Darkness

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Into the Mists

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Noise

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR The Second Act

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE The Great Debate

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Turn of Events

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Election Day

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT The Shadows

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Mistaken

  CHAPTER THIRTY Deception

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Cracked

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO Change

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Light of Day

  Book 3

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Tekrem's Inner War

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Fasriele

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX Crushed

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN Marked

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT Blood

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE Conspiracy

  CHAPTER FORTY Botched

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE The Execution

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO Past

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE Rise up

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR Common Enemy

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE Greystone

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX Sacrifice

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN Hope

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT Death

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE The Evening Flower

  Afterword

  The Mind Masters Trilogy

  by Peng Tiong

  Published by Peng Tiong at Amazon

  Text Copyright © 2014 Peng Tiong

  All Rights Reserved

  Thanks to my parents Siaw Fong Chong and Desmond Tiong for shaping me into who I am and giving me the freedom to explore what I want to be.

  Thanks to Choo Hong Tan, for putting up with me during the trying writing process.

  Special thanks to my teachers Suzanne Felsinger and Claire Jones. You are an inspiration who provided me with the bravery and support necessary to publish this book.

  Book 1:

  Mages of Minds

  CHAPTER ONE

  The Three Sisters

  In the magical land of Canumdor at the small town of Tekrem, there lived three sisters. One was Birth, one was Life, and one was Death. Birth creates. She makes things come to being with a few words and a cheerful smile. Life supports. She gives health and wellbeing and brings happiness to those around her. The last was Death. She gives rest to those who have stayed their purpose, and a graceful end to the old and weary.

  The sisters traveled the lands in harmony, bringing these three necessities to all creatures. While at first they were loved by all, as time flowed, greed overtook the people. They loved Life, and welcomed Birth, but resisted the sister called Death. Death was not unnecessary however, as without death there would not be life nor birth. When people stayed longer than their time, they give disease and hurt others. Birth came less and less, and Life was overworked.

  Death had enough, and decided to confront her sisters- but they would not listen. Life was angry, blinded by her popularity, and Birth sided with Life. Death was shunned by her sisters, but she knew she had to continue her role. Yet with each person she lay to rest, a part of her died with them.

  One day, Death decided she had enough and killed herself. Death died, but she could not- for she was Death- so stayed intact. Her blood drained out and her life flowed with it, but she stayed alive and would not sleep.

  Death grew scared, and cloaked herself in black. She stayed in the shadows and did not let anyone see her. She was sad and terrified, but she did her job- until one day when the people banded together to confront her.

  "Let Death come out," they cried, "she hides in a cloak and preys on the weak!”

  Death would not come out, and she ignored the town. Her sisters, however, infatuated by their fame, thought they would be heroes and hatched a plan to trick her.

  "Death has received your message- and she will be coming to answer for her actions," Life and Birth announced as their sister appeared.

  "Take off your hood, and let us see you," the town leader demanded.

  "I cannot," Death replied. "You do not and will not understand."

  The town leader, angry and frightened, lunged at Death with a sword and stabbed clean through her chest. The town held its breath. Life and Birth watched in shock of what they caused. Death knelt down in pain.

  While the sword had struck its mark, Death felt no pain from the blade. The pain which gripped her came from her heart- a result of the betrayal of her sisters and her town.

  Some people cheered, but their cheer quickly turned to horror as Death looked down and took out the sword with her skeleton hand- the sound of metal grinding against bone. She looked up: eyes showing hatred, anger, and madness. She put out one hand and the town leader knelt down. Death crushed the hand into a fist and the town leader's heart gave out. He died, then and there, much before his time was up.

  Birth cowered as she felt the death around her. Life cried.

  Death started to laugh as the people ran away. They could neither run nor hide- not from Death. Birth watched as Life begged Death to stop.

  Out of the crowd, however, two did not run: a boy who read minds, and a girl who gave thoughts. They watched as those they called leaders broke before them.

  The boy looked into Death, and found only hate. He saw her story and her emotions- and in the same flash saw Life and Birth shamed. Yet from these thoughts, he was still helpless to act. Out of the chaos of the thoughts around him, however, he heard one ring louder than the rest: an old woman by the corner.

  The boy read her mind, and received Guidance. He turned to the girl nearby and spoke to her politely.

  "Please send her somewhere far, far away,” the boy said. “Beyond the rivers and the trees into the lands which lie empty. Let her find peace there, and go only where death is needed.”

  The girl nodded and closed her eyes tight. Death found her anger lessen, but it still lingered like the hole in her chest. She contained her rage for just enough time as she turned to the children. The boy smiled respectfully, but Death only looked down as she walked out of the lands.

  Death was never heard of again, and the people rejoiced. In time, the town would learn the truth, and they would later forget how life once was. It would become commonplace for everyone to be scared of death, even if they were young, healthy, and good of heart.

  Death walked the lonely road she was told, even when her bones ached and past when she thought she could walk no more. After many months she reached the empty lands beyond. She collapsed and she wept.

  Death wept for many months, nothing else to do in the land of emptiness. One day, however, she saw a bird fly overhead. It dropped a small red frog it had been carrying. Death caught the frog as it fell- but the altitude was great and the frog was badly injured. Death did the only thing she knew how to do- and pushed out with her power to give rest to
the frog in her hand.

  The frog, however, struggled against Death- its tiny heart thumped wildly as it battled against the great unknown. It wanted to survive, to live on.

  “Your time has come,” Death reassured. “You need not be afraid.”

  The frog calmed, and welcomed Death. She let go of her power, and put the frog into her chest. It limped slowly into the crack in her bones, and died.

  In the emptiness of the plains around her, Death felt a patter within her. While most may say the frog was dead, she knew better. Nothing truly died, they just have new beginnings. She smiled for the first time in many years, and sat with her friend- alone but together.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The Mind Reader

  The bag, for your life.

  Pit watched on the rooftops nearby, reading what was happening below. He breathed in the cool night air and brushed his hair aside. He crouched to prevent his clothes from flapping in the wind. They were spotted with dirt and mud but that was barely visible against the dark blue fabric. Pit frowned, and unconsciously felt for his scar. It was all that remained from a deep cut to his left cheek.

  Pit realized that he was picking at the old wound again. He stopped and grabbed for his bo-staff strapped to his back. Pit carried nothing else. He would make too much sound otherwise.

  “The bag, for your life.” A bandit held a sword to a gentleman below- caught in the dark alley.

  Take it, take it all. Please, I have a family.

  Pit nodded. Smart man. Give him what he wants.

  “Take it, take it all. Please, I have a family.” The gentleman held out a purse of coins and the bandit snatched it out of his hand.

  The bandit took a moment to look into the purse, and a look of amazement was clearly visible on his face. Wow, this is a fortune! I wonder if he is keeping more from me…

  Pit jumped down, sliding the bo-staff out in the same motion. He pushed it up to parry the bandit’s sword. A clang sounded as the rusted blade met Pit’s magic reinforced wooden staff. It held.

  “Go,” Pit whispered to the man.

  The bandit, recovering from his surprise, slashed twice at Pit. His blade was enchanted with speed and flexibility- but Pit could predict his movements. Pit blocked twice again with his staff, then kicked the bandit. The bandit staggered backwards. Pit swept with his staff, tripping the bandit- then quickly hit his sword away and pinned him down, holding the point of his staff to the bandit’s neck.

  “The bag,” Pit said.

  The bandit growled then put out a hand to summon his sword back.

  Pit scoffed, then hit hard against the side of the bandit’s temple with one end of his staff. The bandit was knocked unconscious before his sword even moved, and Pit picked up the purse.

  Will he give it back? Pit turned towards the direction of this thought, and threw the bag at the gentleman.

  “Could have jumped in earlier, you know! He could have killed me!” The man took his bag and ran away- boosting his escape with speed enchantments. The thief who stole thoughts.

  Pit flinched as he heard what the man was thinking. He was feared, not revered. What was he doing, pretending to be a hero anyway. If only they knew of what he had done or what he could do. They would not only call him a thief. Pit sighed.

  Pit walked down the dark alley alone but with his staff. As he turned the corner, he saw that the man earlier had dropped a coin in his escape.

  “Well, lucky me. Reward money.” Pit smiled.

  Pit did not head straight to where he usually would be at this time of the night, but instead paid a visit to the chief of guards. While most of what he did was not strictly within the law, he did try to do right by it when he could.

  “Chief Giles.” Pit walked through the door.

  “Pit.” The chief of guards shook his head. “Don’t tell me you…”

  “He was going to kill the man.” Pit interrupted. “I was around- what do you want me to do?”

  The chief of guards got out his notebook. “Alright, Pit. What did he look like?”

  “It’s the same one from three days ago.”

  The chief of guards scribbled in his book and put it away again. “Great. Thanks, kid- but word of advice, stay away from all of this, and let us handle it. You could get hurt.”

  “Hey- I’m on your side here. I just want to help where I can.”

  “You’re a good kid, Pit.” The chief sighed. “Go get some rest.”

  Pit nodded, then left for his usual night hangout. It took him a while before he reached the bar.

  The Bleeding Dolphin had a simple but thick wooden door. It had a large protruding dolphin to the front, broken due to age. Inside, a formerly prestigious bar featured old, tattered decor and creaky furniture. It was filled by loyal customers who did not mind the condition within. One of the customers- probably drunk- stood in the middle as if he spilled his drink everywhere. Everyone else engaged in conversation.

  “Oh, no no no. Pit- you can’t keep coming here and drinking for free. I know life’s tough- and you’ve had it tougher than anyone, but still. You’re barely fifteen for crying out loud.”

  “Thanks for the drinks before, Bann.” Pit smiled. “This should cover those, and then some.” He slipped a coin towards the bartender. “Another blocker, please.”

  Bann opened his eyes wide, smiled, then held out a hand, as if expecting the coin to float towards him. He stopped when it did not, and instead pulled the coin himself. The coin shot through the air and landed with a pat on his palm.

  “Sorry, Pit. I keep forgetting that you can’t…” Bann filled a glass with some thick golden liquid. “Anyways here you are.” He floated the drink towards Pit.

  Pit downed the whole glass quickly, feeling for his powers. He was cursed with the ability to read minds since birth. Although everyone could perform thought-glancing to some extent, his was different. He read thoughts constantly. Even those thoughts which should have been impossible to read, and even deep thoughts if he concentrated. To make things worse, he never had the ability to perform simple magics like everyone else either. That made him an outcast.

  Feeling better?

  “Feeling better?” Bann asked.

  “Nope.” Pit sighed. “But then I have developed quite a tolerance to blockers. It will take a while.”

  Pit relaxed as he let the thoughts of the crowd flow through him. He knew better than to resist or try to process them. He just regarded them as noise. It was not hard for Pit to read minds, the effort rather lay in trying to pick out what he needed. For now, he tried to ignore them.

  Lovely weather, my dear.

  What’s that load of fat doing here?

  I hope she doesn’t find out!

  That cheating bastard!

  I wish I was a cat.

  He’ll be dead within the hour.

  I seem to have dropped my drink.

  Pit breathed deeply and tried harder to ignore the voices, the screams, the anxiety.

  Where did she get such an expensive coat?

  She’ll never guess where I got this coat.

  Was there a girl over here? I don’t remember.

  Enjoy your last breaths, bartender.

  Pit straightened, suddenly alert. “Enjoy your last breaths? Does he mean Bann?”

  Pit looked discreetly towards two gentlemen at the corner of the tavern, and focused that way.

  Oh, you’re really in trouble this time. She means it. He should have known better than try to cheat Ma. Nobody cheats HER. You’ll be dead before the morning. She’s calling her big guns, even the…

  Pit cursed, feeling the effects of the blocker now. The voices died down to a hush, then all was quiet. He usually loved those moments- numb to the world, but this time Pit was concerned.

  “Bann.” Pit motioned for the barkeeper. “It worked.” He kept his thoughts still and calm, so simple magics could not read his mind.

  Bann laughed heartily. “Then why the long face?”

  “Bann, tho
se men are here to kill you.” Pit spoke softly then motioned to the gentlemen.

  Bann looked over, and his expression darkened. He glanced to the back, then regained his composure. “Don’t you worry about me Pit. I’ll be fine.”

  “Bann, what did you do?” Pit asked.

  “I was in a tight spot, and borrowed some money.” Bann glanced away. “But I’ll have enough to pay them back. Especially with your owings settled. I can handle them.”

  “Bann. Listen to me. They are going to kill you- it didn’t sound like a threat. They don’t care whether they get their money, they’ve already decided.”

  “Pit, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I know these guys. They’ll want the money, and I will stay in tonight to give it to them. By next week, they won’t have a reason to come back.”

  “Just for tonight, leave for a while- come back tomorrow morning…”

  “Pit.” Bann slammed the table. “Please.”

  Pit jumped. The bar hushed for a few moments as eyes turned to the commotion. Pit met Bann’s eyes and saw the resolve within. He did not know why the bartender was so stubborn tonight, but Pit would not convince him. “I hope you’re right.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  The Mind Writer

  “Again.”

  Metal clanged against metal as Cei swung a dagger against her adversary. She hit hard, but was no match for her opponent’s strength. She had only been training for a year.

  “Reckless,” Dian scrutinized her through experienced eyes.

  Cei breathed heavily, eying the other dagger. When it came again, Cei dodged to the side. She used her blade to parry her opponent and rush in. Cei head-butted Dian and stumbled backwards.

  Dian winched with a surprised expression. “Nicely done. That’s enough for today. You’re doing well.”

  Cei had to get stronger. She could not remember why. She looked with determination past the mess which was her hair. Mudmah kept telling her to cut it, but she liked it long. Usually, the pony-tail she used kept it behind her. Anyways- it was easier to remain inconspicuous with long hair.

  Cei dusted herself down, trying to keep her clothes clean. They were more colorful and stylish than those which Dian or any of the others had on. She insisted on wearing what she liked when sparring. That way, she could get used to fighting whenever she needed to. She hated their dark uniform anyways. Cei personally thought it would be more subtle to wear bright colors and blend into the crowd, rather than dark clothing. Then again, her job was a little different from the others.