Page 69 of The Gods Order

“What interaction must change for that outcome to happen?” He gestures to Yemi and me, then around the meadow. “If you want silence, Boundaries doesn’t focus on the silence. It focuses on the interaction between sound and the people hearing it. If you want to separate power, you don’t focus on hiding the power. You focus on the interaction between perception and that power.”

Slowly, the pieces settle in my mind.

“We aren’t trying to change the outcome directly,” Yemi murmurs. “We’re trying to change the connection that creates the outcome.”

“Very good, Yemi,” he says and she blesses him with a beaming smile. “So let’s begin with what I consider the easiest to start with. Sound.”

“Why do you consider sound to be the easiest?” Kyzen asks.

“Because it is the broadest. Sound—noises—can be heard any and everywhere. You don’t agree?”

“It’s not that I agree or disagree. Just curious. When I use my power, mostly when I speed time up, sound escapes me. I can’t hear anything. Only see.”

Val hums. “Interesting. I have no doubt that’ll change as you gain more power. Until then, well, once Thayla gets this, the two of you can work together and she can clear that barrier for you so you can hear.”

My eyes widen and I jerk my attention between the two of them. Kyzen’s shock is as clear as mine.

“Wait, what? You really think we’ll be able to do that?” I ask.

“He already merges and uses his power with Amick’s. Why not with yours?”

“How do you know we do that?” Kyzen asks, and I cross my arms as soon as he asks that very good question.

Sheepish features cross his face for a breath of a second before he fixes them and rubs the back of his neck.

“Let’s get on with the exercise,” Meridamus says.

“Yes, good idea.”

Kyzen and I scowl at them but decide to drop it.

I have a pretty good idea of how he knows.

“Yemi, since you’ve already created a sound barrier, would you like to try this first?”

Her gaze flicks to mine, and I nod for her to go ahead.

Val once again grins at her enthusiasm. “Good. I’ll walk you through this step-by-step.”

Yemi squares her shoulders and bounces on her toes.

“Okay,” she mumbles.

“Close your eyes. I want you to focus on the things you hear. Then I want you to narrow your attention to three of the loudest sounds.”

She takes a deep breath, and we fall quiet as she concentrates.

“The wind. The leaves rustling. Critters chirping.”

“Perfect. Your first task is to separate your hearing from the critters.”

Her eyes fly open and she focuses on the tree line as if she can spot each little animal that’s making a peep.

“Just the critters?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. One thing at a time doesn’t seem so bad,” she says.