When it came time for payment, the man heaved from behind the counter a hulking lavender gratia stone. Storn attempted his own offering, making jabs about Cole’s bill racking up. The shopkeeper shook the stone, demanding more. Cole stepped forward, and made his payment. It was easier than he thought, but no less painful. He left the shop in tears soon afterwards, though the now jubilant shopkeeper chased after them, offering more clothes and another gratia stone to fill.
Despite Storn’s prodding, Cole wouldn’t give more than a grunt in response during the rest of their stroll through the markets. His mood only worsened as he had to pay at two more Passion stones. By the time they left he had a leather rucksack full of basic sundries. He stuffed his new clothes as well as Alvani’s scarf into the bag, not wanting to wear them until after he had cleaned himself.
Storn invited Cole to join him for a walk around The Sill so he could show him around, but Cole declined. He left Storn at the markets, walking to the barracks by himself. Thanks to the cypher he knew the way, and the day was coming to a close anyway. He could hear music thumping from the arts district as he wound through the towering trees. As morose as he was, he couldn’t help but feel a slight lightening of his heart as the sound tickled his ears. He didn’t want to be cheered up however, so he trudged on, the heavy straps of the rucksack now digging painfully into his shoulders.
After an hour, Cole arrived at the barracks, which turned out to be a grid of stout trees grouped far away from the rest of The Sill. Evenly spaced doors spiraled up the exterior of the trunks, and bark walkways connected the trees on the upper levels. As Storn had said, there was a glowing mushroom lit for him near the top of his tree. Physically and mentally exhausted, he climbed his way up to his room. The door appeared to be the same flowing-solid variety of his cabin’s. He pushed his way in, popping through the other side and dropping his dagger, pommel smashing on his toe. He didn’t know any swears in Aenerian yet, but he did hear a few familiar curse words fly from his mouth. The room was absolutely dark. Still hopping, he threw a hand out to balance himself. His fingers bumped into a rubbery mushroom, casting his room in a pale cerulean glow. Once the pain subsided, he picked up his dagger and found a few more blue bells and flicked them on.
The room was bigger than he’d expected. Carved from the interior of the tree, its floors and walls displayed the polished grain of a cherry colored wood that flowed in waving patterns. The furniture looked oddly small compared with the high ceilings. Someone must have shrunk everything for him. He set his rucksack down on a stumpy desk, which seemed to have been shrunk a bit too much. The bed looked to be appropriately sized though, and there was a standing locker for him to store his things in.
After unpacking his meager belongings, he explored a second room cut into the back. It looked as if this was the place for hygiene; there was a squat toilet and a basin with faucets. There was no place for him to shower, however, which was what he really wanted. He tried the faucets but no water came out. He noticed small, clear gratia stones sunken into the knobs. Begrudgingly, he walked back to the main room and found a larger stone embedded into the wall. As he suspected, the room required payment for its appliances to function. Cole bared his teeth and readied himself to watch Joshy die once again. After his sobbing subsided, he returned to the sink. The stones now glowed with soft white light. There was also a shining green ring on the floor, with a matching one on the ceiling directly above. Curious, he stepped inside the circle. A disk of electric-green light descended slowly from the top ring. Even more curious now, Cole stood still and waited for the light to pass over him. He held his breath and shut his eyes tightly as the light touched his head and raked over his face. Green light burned into his eyes as it passed over them. The light felt abrasive, yet satisfying, as if it were lightly scratching every itch he didn’t know he had. He laughed involuntarily as the light passed over his stomach and down his legs. When he felt it pass over his toes he looked down to see that he was completely naked. There was a mass of brown muck around his feet. He bent down to inspect the substance, but was immediately assaulted by the worst thing he had ever smelled. The light had somehow taken everything off of his body. He slapped his fingers on his scalp to make sure the light hadn’t shaved him too. His hair felt thick and smooth, and the rest of his body felt a bit raw. Overall he felt cleaner than if he had just run naked through a car wash.
Back in the main room Cole dressed himself in silky undergarments and hopped into bed. Laying himself down, he could feel the tree swaying slightly. He was tired, but every time he closed his eyes he found himself back in the cobblestone alley. He focused instead on everything he’d learned so far. Magic held immense intrigue for him. Rage particularly had a certain seductive appeal to it. He held out his hands, imagining them as munisica capable of tearing through metal and rock like a hammer on eggshells. Wisdom also held a deep interest for him. He envisioned himself as a powerful sorcerer shaping the world around him and flying as he did in his dreams. At the moment, Passion had no temptations for him as he was still nauseated from all the Passion stones. He thought about the other uses for Passion, and Goran popped into his mind. It was easier this time to envelop himself in the mind of his furry friend. He sat up in bed, closing his eyes. Goran was not moving at the moment, but resting far away. He felt different. He was certainly the same Goran Cole knew, but somehow he felt more intense. It was as if there was more of him. Keeping his eyes closed, Cole lay back down and maintained the contact. Goran’s dreams of charging through trees and chasing prey flowed into Cole’s mind, keeping the cobblestone alley at bay.
Chapter 15
Contribution
Cole jerked awake as someone kicked his bed. “Get up new blood! Why didn’t you set your timekeeper?”
Cole squinted. Storn had a ball of white light hovering above his head. “I forgot,” he mumbled.
“Well then I guess I’ll forget who I’m supposed to be in charge of when it’s time to eat. Get up and put some clothes on. We’re all waiting for you outside.” Storn popped out the door.
The thought of food made Cole’s stomach ache. He hastily flicked on a few blue bells and dressed himself. His duty uniform was very tough and thick, though form-fitting and flexible in all the right places. He strapped on his boots, relieved that they would require no breaking in. He popped out of the door, worrying if his possessions would be fine in an unlocked room. He had to remind himself that he wasn’t in the tree streets, and his tiny underwear were probably not a big seller around giants. Looking down the spiral ramp he saw the others waiting in the middle of the barracks grounds. The unit sat in a circle facing outwards. He ran down, nearly tripping over a root as he was not used to his new boots. The others had their eyes closed, apparently meditating. Eliza and Deekus sat comfortably on their sides, resting on their elbows as if they were watching a show. As quietly as he could, Cole sat next to Storn, whose breathing was the loudest sound in the quiet spot.
Unsure of what to do, Cole closed his eyes and tried to meditate. He quickly realized he had no idea what the first step was in meditation. Eventually he gave up, focusing on Goran instead, who was once again tearing through the undergrowth. He found the connection deeply satisfying because it was the only aspect of magic he had conscious control over. After what Cole had guessed to be an hour or two, even the connection with Goran had lost its novelty. He opened his eyes, and out of his peripheral vision he saw a grassy cape glide just out of sight. Chiron circled them, quiet as a shadow, his cape now mimicking the grass that poked out from between his bare toes. The others had a look of strained effort on their faces. Chiron bent down and whispered something in Lileth’s ear. Cole watched through squinted eyes as the side of her mouth curled up in a grin.
Chiron circled around and stopped in front of Cole. Cole felt stupid pretending to meditate, so he opened his eyes and gave a polite nod to Chiron, who smiled and beckoned him away from the circle. As quietly as he could, Cole rose and followed, glancing back
at the group. Everyone still wore looks of strained effort. Even Lileth’s stoic demeanor had broken slightly. Cole followed the sweeping cape, which shifted to black soil and tree roots as Chiron stepped off the grass. Cole had the sudden urge to run up his back, just to see if the cape would hold him. Once out of earshot of the others, Chiron stopped and sat at the base of one of the stocky trees. Cole stretched and twisted. His back was sore from sitting for so long.
Chiron’s winged eyebrows knitted together as he surveyed Cole. “I’m happy to see you allowed someone to wash Kreed’s taint from your mind. There very well may have been something nasty taking root. Best to remove the weeds before they choke the whole garden. How was your first day playing with Dark Ones?”
Cole shrugged. “Harder than I expected. I fell from a tree and got hurt pretty bad. Lileth saved me again. She seemed really upset about it.”
Chiron brought his fingertips together, tapping them in a quick pattern. “Yes, I heard about your little tumble. I hoped that Lileth would have embraced her talent, but Passion is an emotional thing, and defies reason by its very nature. Once one allows an emotion license to burn unchecked, even the wisest become blind with it.” Chiron squinted with sudden concentration. Behind them Valen burst into a fit of laughter.
Cole thought about Valen kicking him from the tree, wondering what had prompted the attack. Part of him wanted to tell Chiron about the attempted murder, but another part also felt like this was his problem. After dealing with the rude shopkeeper, Cole was curious if this problem was bigger than just between him and Valen. “Chiron, Master Chiron-”
“Chiron is fine, Cole. Titles are unnecessary as long as there is mutual respect between both parties.” Chiron’s storm grey hair fell over his shoulders as he gave Cole a little bow.
Cole felt himself blush. “Okay then, Chiron. Back on Earth, we have something called racism. Certain groups of humans don’t like others because they look different or speak a different language. It’s like the color of your skin makes you a lesser being. It gets really ugly. Still is in some places. Is racism a thing here on Aeneria?”
A morose shadow fell over Chiron. “I am familiar with the conventions of racism, bigotry, and prejudice. I’m ashamed to admit they are all very real things on Aeneria. Some like to think we are better than people of the local planets; after all we are the crowning amalgamation of each planet we pass by. We are a mixed breed of every intelligent race, and the best parts of each reside in us. Unfortunately, with the good qualities come the less savory facets. Prejudice is universal and stems from a Fear of the unknown. We are not immune to it. You wear the guise of Underkin. Their very name sets them below all. I assure you it would be no better if we were open about you being human. This will be another challenge for you to face. I suggest you give everyone reason to respect you. Educate them, and show them that you are not as unfamiliar as they Fear.”
Cole kicked at a clump of grass. “I’m used to people not liking me for no good reason. I’ll deal with it. I’m not sure I’ll survive all the training though. The first day almost killed me. What are we supposed to be doing right now anyway?” He waved his hand, indicating the rest of his unit in the circle.
Chiron’s eyes remained on Cole. “Before my lessons, we clear our minds of all thoughts and emotions so we can look at the universe with an open and objective perspective. The others are attempting to empty their minds while I assault them with my own. It is a mental dance of Wisdom and Passion.”
Cole’s jaw swung ajar. He looked from the circle back to Chiron. “Is that what they’re doing? I can’t clear my mind in a quiet room, let alone while locked in some kind of mental battle. How can you juggle them all at the same time?”
“I’ve had a very good teacher.” Chiron flashed a wink before squinting in deep focus.
Cole looked back to the unit as they rolled in the grass, overcome with laughter. Deekus’s hands glowed with lavender light as he howled and beat his fist against the ground. A flowering plant sprouted from the soil with each blow. The laughter stopped abruptly as the group hissed in unison, scolding themselves before settling back into a meditative state.
Cole found himself suddenly elated, as if he caught a whiff of their jubilation. Concern quickly replaced his joy. If overwhelming someone’s mind with good things was possible, surely the not-so-good things were also possible.
“Each of us started where you are now,” Chiron said in a gentle tone. “You have already shown some aptitude with our magic. Keep an open mind and keep trying. I must admit I am envious of you. You are about to grow in ways you cannot yet comprehend. It has been ages since I have done any growing. Come, it’s time for us to leave the barracks and begin the lesson.”
Chiron raised a sparkling emerald finger as a fleet of sun lily leaves descended from the canopy. Without a word the unit rose from their circle and mounted the leaves.
A warm breeze whipped through Cole’s hair as they floated above the treetops. He sat on a leaf with Storn, enjoying the view over The Sill and the surrounding shoreline. The rest of the unit skimmed ahead, each riding his or her own leaf and chasing each other like birds. Oberon blazed in the starry sky, a chromatic sentinel watching over them all. Following Storn’s lead, Cole took off his thick cloth top and undershirt, basking in the warm light. He couldn’t help but wonder if he would get a moon-burn from too much exposure. As Chiron had instructed, he took the quiet moment and attempted to clear his mind. He could only hold onto his mental silence for a few seconds before an errant thought distracted him. The fact that he was gliding on a leaf with giant aliens was reason enough to keep his mind racing.
The ocean of greenery gave way to open air as they flew above a bay of clear water dotted with specks of light. The clarity of the water made its depth a mystery. Rocks and plants below were perfectly visible in between passing waves. Cole tried to find the spot where Chiron had dropped him off, but the rocky coast was just a dark blur from such a lofty height. The leaf dropped suddenly as they went over the water. Yelping, Cole threw out his hands, grasping on to Storn’s muscled arm.
Storn laughed over the wind. “Watch yourself new blood. The air is cold above the water. Remember that.”
Cole’s face glowed like a hot pan as he scooted himself away from the edge of the leaf. Cole tried to force his embarrassment out of his head, but his efforts only added frustration to the mix. He gave up on his meditations and decided to enjoy the sights instead, from a safer position this time.
The squadron of leaves scraped to a halt on a winding beach. Unseen creatures squealed from the tree line as they dismounted. Chiron, who apparently didn’t need a leaf to fly, alighted upon the sand with fluid ease. Cole scrambled to his feet with the others, who stripped down to their swimwear. Cole followed suit, laughing inwardly as he thought on how many times he’d been nearly naked on Aeneria.
Unabashed envy replaced his amusement as he gawked at the collective physique of the unit. They were all built like Olympic gymnasts crossed with bodybuilders. Moonlight cast flattering shadows over their lithe forms, showcasing lines of hard muscle and bone. Every single one of them looked like a living weapon, exactly what Roth had described. Cole looked down at his own body, which conversely looked like that of an overgrown, shapeless child. He had lost weight since leaving Earth, and perhaps gained a bit of muscle, but next to his unit he felt like the personification of inadequacy.
Storn may not have been the tallest, but he certainly was the widest, giving him the appearance of a walking boulder. Sitra was similarly built, though she still carried herself with feminine grace. Deekus and Eliza looked like a pair of matching ornate daggers, skinnier than the rest but still quite capable of serving a quick, beautiful death. Valen could have passed for an eight-foot statue of what Greek gods could only aspire to look like. His thin waist was adorned with more abs than Cole could count, and tapered up to broad shoulders lined with striations. He seemed to know how good he looked as he took an unnecessary moment to
stretch, twisting and bending in an incredible display of flexibility. To Cole’s relief, Valen’s showboating held no charm for Lileth, who disrobed and strode barefoot past him towards Chiron. Cole’s ears glowed hot as he followed not too closely behind her, taking in her form from his periphery.
Chiron remained fully robed, addressing the group with his hands crossed behind his back. His cape now looked like a sandy waterfall. “Please, gather around. Your lesson today will be a practical one. I have full confidence that you will all provide an exemplary performance; however, I do beg a bit of caution. I’m looking at you, Sitra.”
The group laughed as Sitra swiped a clawed fist through the air. “Ha! There’s no need to worry about me, Master Chiron. I am the reason for caution! Remember last week’s lesson?”
Chiron smiled politely, bowing his head, “Yes my dear, of course you are. That poor orrix will think twice before tangling with you again. Legend of your savagery will be sung throughout the halls of their hooved ancestors for many cycles I’m sure.”
Sitra crossed her arms, smiling broadly. The others gave her congratulatory slaps on the back while Cole sidestepped out of the way.
“Violence will almost always yield a result,” Chiron continued, silencing the unit. “However, the result may not be what you had intended. Today’s lesson will require you to find a non-violent solution. That does not mean there is no risk. On the contrary, an error today may cost you your life.”
Saving The Dark Side: Book 1: The Devotion Page 24