I'm new to this whole writing thing, so if you guys see any spelling/grammar issues, or something doesn't sound right, please let me know. Especially since I have multiple perspectives, so if you see anything (including conflicting facts), feel free to comment. Thank you!

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It all started with the recital. I was on the velvet cushion used for questioning, in the middle of the grand reception room. As I waited for my client, I sat Buddha-style and tried to meditate while listening to the buzz of voices inside my head. If you don't already know how difficult it is to meditate while everyone around you is talking loudly and arguing with each other, I don't advise trying it.

Let me explain myself. I am Sedia. To most people in my town, I am known as the One. I can do almost almost anything. If you have information you need to know, I will tell you, so long as it is not someone else's confessed secret. That I can't tell. For that reason, I am a liability to my community. But most importantly, I cannot lie. It was the one of the restrictions from the powers I received as an infant. Most people are musically talented, or gifted with mathematics, or, if you are lucky, you might be blessed with longetivity. But not me. No, I had to be given the all-seeing eye, only given once a millenia, which comes with the added responsibility of not being able to lie. I can dance around the truth, but if you ask the right questions, you can get almost anything out of me.

I was on my cushion, battling with the Voices, trying to wrestle them back into place, when the door creaked open ominously. I heard no further sound, and thought that it had just been the cleaning maid, when a dark shape appeared right in front of me. I immediately knew that this was going to be one of those recitals. Then the light flicked on and the hood descended. Looking up, I was astounded to see a young boyish face grinning down at me. "What are you doing here you little rascal?" I asked, exasperated. "You know you're not allowed to be in here. I have a recital in 5 minutes!"

"But can't I watch? You never let me watch!" he complained.

Readers, meet my brother. Being a redhead fits his personality perfectly. Cheerful to the point of aggravation, with enough energy to give a monkey a heart attack, he can only sit still long enough for you to tell him what adventure he is going on next.

"I cannot let you watch and you know it," I told him, and to forestall further whining, I said "Your job is to watch the gym center when you grow up. If you were to be the leader of the city, I could show you, because you would need to know. But you are not. So you must leave."

"But....."

"No buts. If you need something to do, go play with the other future gym caretakers. Even better, you can go practice on the silicone dummy in the corner of the lobby. When I'm done I'll come find you, and then we can go play one of your strategy games."

"Okay... If I have to." He said, dragging his feet as he walked out of the room. When he got to the door, he suddenly yelled "Hey Sasha! Wait for me!" and dashed out with a grin.

As soon as he was gone, the door swung open again. There, in the doorway, stood a man as tall as my father. (He is very tall for his age) He stood in front of me like a bear. Then I remember. I'm sitting. I ask him to sit down on the other cushion, and yet he remains in the exact same place. I repeat the proposition in several other languages. He finally says something, and, of course, it's in Avandi, with which I spoke to him with originally.

"I understood you the first time," he says. His voice is a deep bass, vibrating around the room and giving me an immediate headache. "I believe I have a meeting with you, although it does not start for another few minutes." He sits, closes his eyes, and does not speak again.

Five minutes pass before the man's eyes open. He looks at me and I answer his unspoken question.

"It's time."