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The morning came as Chris, Amanda, and I sit eating in the silent kitchen awaiting Mage Golins news of Zero. Soon food loses it appeal as an eternity seems to pass before the door creaks open. “Zero?” I exclaim my voice cracking. Mage Golin crosses the room and sits as he gives us the news, “Zero is alive but he is very weak.” “Can we go and see him?” Amanda interrupts. Shaking his head Mage Golin answers, “I believe it is best that he rest. He shall come to us when he is ready.” Chris quietly mumbles, “What are we going to do until then?” Hearing his question Mage Golin explains, “Well if you are the two that were chosen to join the quest I would imagine it would be intelligent to spend your time here training. Zero said you have never used the Shards. Maybe Reia could teach you.” Agreeing we finish our breakfast and step outside.
The day was just beginning as the sun slowly rose above the Neocran Ocean to the west. Fishing boats sailing back and forth across the calm waters appeared as shadows against the horizon. North the town of Javole spills out from the base of the mountain on which Mage Golins home stood. Beyond the town forests and fields dotted the landscape as a single road weaved through them leading travelers to Horus. In the distance the Varin Mountains, which encircled Fort Barren and the Badlands, could faintly be seen.
Stepping out to the stone training circle I pulled from my pack the items I had kept this past year, Bishops gauntlet and Liliths bangle. Handing them to Chris and Amanda they begin to examine them. Chris places the silver gauntlet over his arm fastening it. Holding the jewel encrusted bangle Amanda asks, “These were Bishop and Liliths, weren’t they?” Nodding I begin to remember and my eyes well with tears. Amanda comforts me in a hug as I collect myself.
“Now I’m not a trainer. I am proficient with my Shards but they aren’t the same as yours. Each Shard is different, not only are Fire Shards different from Water Shards but each individual Shard is different as well. Every Shard is as unique as the people who control them. I’m going to try to teach you the basics but that is all I can do. It is up to you to learn what works best for you. It will be a lot of work and since the Shard feeds from your energy you will be exhausted each day. If we don’t push ourselves however we won’t be ready for what’s to come.”
Amanda warily speaks, “It sounds like we will be fighting a lot. Is it really that bad out there?” Looking over the horizon with the two of them I begin to explain, “Nosis is in a state of constant war. The Tu’ralota are at war with those who don’t believe the teachings of the Ancients. The Saekoo are a totalitarian people. They believe that those who follow the teachings of the Tu’ralota are holding back the progress of the entire world. Long have the Tu’ralota kept the Saekoo under control but in the past few generations one person we believe has twisted the arm of the Saekoo Dhar, General Tamlo is that man. He uses his influence to keep the prejudice going. It is Tamlo who is responsible for the war and all that has come of it.” Chris sighs before asking, “So as long as we are far from the Badlands we are safe right?” Shaking my head I look to him in reply, “When we are away from the Badlands we still need to be wary of the Saekoo for they are, from time to time, able to sneak past the frontlines and attack us anywhere. There are also many people and groups to watch for.” “People? What people?” Amanda jumps in. “Not everyone believes in what we are doing. Many think that the quest is a waste. Some even see us as nothing more than thieves or vagabonds. There are even those who believe that what we seek doesn’t exist.” Amanda listens quietly before posing, “What exactly are we looking for anyways? Ben never really explained what it is?”
Many years had passed and many miles have been traveled. All the while none of us truly knew the answer to that question. Myths and legends were our guides but no one truly knew what we would find. The truth is that many times even I questioned the reasoning for all our sacrifice, but faith is believing in something when the proof is difficult to see. Faith has been our strength for many years and to let it fail now is something I just could not do. Explaining this to Chris and Amanda I knew it would be much to ask for them to simply believe, but it is all we have.
***
Three days had passed and training seemed to be a word that didn’t explain what the three of us were doing. Chris and Amanda seemed to excel at every task they were given. They surpassed expectations so quickly that they now were my equal in combat. Though my skills are more aimed toward healing and defense I am still a formidable fighter, Amanda and Chris however seem to learn at an exponential rate. No one has ever become so powerful so quickly to my knowledge save one person, Zero. Bishop explained once that only two weeks after finding Zero in the forest outside Viliton Zero had become equally as powerful. The only explanation Bishop had was that before Zero had lost his memory he had been training all his life. Now however knowing that Zero hadn’t lost his memory the only reason I could find is that maybe his people, those from Earth, are naturally powerful. Though Chris and Amanda could rival most who had trained for 5 or 6 years Bishop explained Zero to be equal to a 10th year trainee by this time. Maybe Bishop was a better teacher but regardless humans seem to be naturals at something they have never used or seen.
“BOOM!!!” The sound wakes me from my daydream state as I see the results of two large boulders colliding littering the ground meters away. A second later a crack of thunder sounds behind me. Looking I see the burning remnants of an old Lockwood tree slowly becoming ash. Amanda stands in awe of her own power. Stepping beside her I applaud, “That is great. You’re getting so powerful.” Giggling she replies, “Actually I think I’d better work on my aim before using that attack. I was aiming for the stone over there.” Looking to the left I see a small stone atop a tree stump untouched. Chris stands next to us, a boulder twice his size in his hands, “Don’t worry babe. Anything you miss I’ll take care of.” With a grunt he tosses the oversized stone landing it on the stump crushing it beneath the weight. Standing together we roar with laughter when a chuckle is heard from the doorway.
Turning I see Zero leaning in the doorway watching the three of us chuckling along. Running I reach him and wrap my arms tightly around his body as he lets out a groan. Stepping back I apologize before he speaks to Chris now next to me, “You’re still stronger than me, but you’ll never be as good looking.” Chris laughs while Amanda takes a turn hugging Zero. My eyes welling with tears I ask, “How are you feeling?” Smiling he replies, “Aside from a sore leg and some bed cramps I’m pretty good. Mage Golin thinks I can be ready to go tomorrow.”
“It’s about time. I’m done training and I can take any Saekoo that gets in our way.” Chris stands posing cockily. Zero shakes his head and his smile fades, “I wouldn’t be so sure of your self. You’re strong I’ll give you that. But you are still slow and you have no experience in a real fight.” Chris quickly tries to explain, “But still I mean…” Cutting him off Zero continues, “Still nothing. This isn’t a game. You’re playing for keeps here. You can’t just run in headstrong and hope for the best. You have to fight with all you have or you won’t be going home. If anything, Sarens attack on me should show you that you can never let your guard down and expect anything. Even I’m not invincible.” Chris drops his head sadly before Zero cheers him up, “You’ll be fine as long as you watch your back and keep your head on your shoulders. I’ll take care of the big ones.” Chris nods as a small smile of self confidence returns to his face.
“So where are we going?” Amanda finally asks. For days she had asked me yet I was unaware of our next destination as I left the plans to Zero. Taking a breath Zero answers, “Well were going to be heading for Xon.” Amanda chimes in, “That is the capital city right?” Smiling I nod. During our time training I knew that we had to train them not only physically but also in the ways of Nosis. Zero continues, “Our first stop is Horus then we’ll be on our way.” A moment passes before Chris asks, “So how long should it take us to get there?” Zero smiles to me and I remember how he explained that on his world no one liked to travel by foot anywhere, and that Chris would drive everywhere. Zero puts his game face on and replies, “It should only be about 26 days.” Chris almost drops to the floor. As Amanda asks, “Wait do you mean 26 days to Horus or to Xon?” Shaking his head Zero answers, “26 days to Xon. It should only take 3 to 4 to get to Horus. It depends on how long it takes to get our supplies from Javoles market.” Laughing lightly and speaking in a sarcastic tone Chris utters, “And I suppose we have to walk the entire way right? Ha ha.” Smiling Zero replies, “Actually we do.” Chris’ mouth drops in awe as the rest of us laugh out loud.
***
That night we all sat around a burning fire telling stories. I laid in the familiar embrace of Zeros powerful arms and all I could think of was the hundreds of nights Zero and I sat together listening to Bishops stories, or to the sweet sound of Lilith playing her flute lulling us to sleep.
The time seemed to fly by and the days blurred together as we used to travel from town to town. When I remember those times I feel warm but the memories can never fully comfort me before the cold thoughts of the last few nights we spent together creep to the surface. They were quiet, painfully quiet. The silence then was only foreshadowing the days to come.
It was the night before we would have arrived in Malistique. I remember closing my eyes to sleep only to be woken by my own scream; to this day I still carry the scar of the dagger strike on my left shoulder. A Saekoo attack party had snuck up on the 4 of us. Zero, Bishop, and Lilith were already in the heat of battle when I awoke to the searing pain of the Saekoo blade. The battle and the aftermath were a blur of pain and fear, the bits and pieces I know were those told to me by Zero. Ultimately it was the last time we saw Bishop and Lilith. The Malistique officials returned the next day with only the gauntlet and bangle to show for their effort.
Zero explained to me that Bishop and Lilith fought off the Saekoo long enough to let him get me to a healer in Malistique before he heard their cries. Zero holds the heavy burden of his promise to my father but the loss of Bishop and Lilith seems to have been too much for him to handle. He changed that night. Now however with his friends here in Nosis he seems to be the old carefree Zero I knew before. Even if only for tonight at least I know that he isn’t completely lost.
As the night ends Chris, Amanda, and I nod off. Listening over the dull roar of the fading fire I hear Zero practicing on his flute in the distance. I see his silhouette overlooking Javole, the torches burning throughout the town as he stands sentry over the populace.
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