Everyone gathered at Jack’s home in the early morning. They were all wearing traveling clothes per Connor’s request. His grandparents, Jenny, Kara and Mark along with Sarah’s parents followed the two of them into the forest. Jillian tried contacting Amber and Ben for the wedding, but couldn’t reach them.
They led everyone through the forest and only had to take a break once for Jenny and Rhoda to catch their breath. Mark walked and talked by Connor with ease through the trails as Kara did the same on Sarah’s side. Neither Mark nor Kara showed the slightest bit of fatigue and Connor knew his sister could go another three hours at this pace before breaking a sweat, but the old Mark and this new one were a complete one-eighty from each other. It was a remarkable change.
Four hours later they arrived at the intended destination.
Kara’s brutal criticism came through for them yet again. “What is so significant about this place compared to that clearing we passed thirty minutes ago? At least that place had a fallen tree to sit on.”
“Kara, this is the exact spot where Connor tracked and rescued me the night I was lost.” Sarah explained nicely and it shut Kara right up.
Everyone looked at the scenery for a moment until Jack started the ceremony. “Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to…” Sarah and Connor held hands while Jack did the service. The only thing that changed in the nuptials was “Till deaths do you part” to “As long as you live.” No one thought anything of its significance except for them and her parents. Sarah made a similar ring of steel for him and slid it on his ring finger. When they sealed their existences with a kiss everyone’s congratulatory uproar was still unexpected.
Mark spoke to Connor first. “Hey congrats, Buddy. And good luck in your future. It looks like you might need it.”
“Thanks Mark and you too, but with my sister.” He whispered in his ear and Mark flushed. Then he punched Connor in his left shoulder.
After everything calmed down they guided their families back home. A massive feast at Jack’s home awaited their return, which filled everyone including all four present Balancers.
That evening when everyone left to go home Sarah and Connor did the same. They consummated their marriage several times more than usual.
Thursday morning in bed Connor said when she woke up “I think Wife, that I should start training with Jack today.” When he said wife it woke Sarah up completely. Her heart and body hummed pleasurably at just the sound of that new word. After three hundred years of being single, that one word chimed through her repeatedly.
“Husband, I agree.” And he smiled at her, feeling the same sensation she did because of their bond.
As they put on clothes, Connor walked away and had Tool strapped to his hip. As they headed through the woods Connor thought “Are you going to train with me or just watch?”
“Can’t I do both?” Sarah asked casually.
“I don’t see any reason not to.”
They knocked and her mother answered the door wearing a deep red, almost brown tight blouse while revealing how underhandedly developed she is. “Well isn’t it the newly married couple. How is the honeymoon going?”
“Good morning to you too, Jillian.” Connor said with playful respect.
“What can we do for you this morning?”
“Can I request some training, if you’re not too busy?” He said gently.
“Well of course.” She turned around and yelled in the house in an excited voice “Jack, you up yet!?”
“I am now…” He walked out of the bathroom as steam from the shower followed him. Her father wore only brown jeans and a thin sheen of water. “Good morning you two.” Turning his sights to Jillian he asked “What’s with all the racket so early this morning? It’s barely eight.”
“My Love, they want to train with us.” She replied with a dangerous smile.
“Really?” A smile crept on his face. He looked at Connor. “Ready to lose?”
“Bring all you have, old man.” Connor’s challenging side surfaced.
Her father’s smile became a grin. “Boy, this OLD man is going to show you just how little you know.” Jack’s eyes drifted down to Connor’s hip. “I see you brought the famous Tool with you. I will be right back with my old companion.” Jack turned around and walked back into the house.
“I was afraid of this.” Jillian shook her head in defeat.
“Mother, what were you afraid of?”
“You’ll see soon enough.” And she didn’t have to wait long.
Jack walked out of the room with something long, heavy and wrapped in a red silk cloth. “I haven’t released you in one hundred years, old friend.” He started unwrapping the cloth off the object.
When her father sat the cloth on the floor Sarah saw what laid in his hands. It was four feet long and shaped similarly to a baseball bat. It had a handle that could easily fit two and a half hands. The shape of the shaft increased in diameter until it rounded at the top. It was completely smooth from base to top with no spikes, they weren’t required. Weighing at over forty pounds, Sarah instantly knew what it was. It was her father’s ancient steel club.
Jack tested its balance and remembered instantly that he remained adept as its wielder. He walked up to Connor. “This is the same weapon I had from before I became a Balancer myself.” He held it out easily for Connor to take. “This is Haunt.” Connor took out Tool from his belt and offered it to Jack. Before they exchanged gifts Sarah had to ask. “Connor, what are you doing?”
He smiled. “It’s a man thing. How can I explain…?” He looked up trying to formulate a plan. His eyes widened once he found what he was thinking about. “Ah. When a warrior offers his weapon to someone else to test, it is only fair that the other warrior gives the same courtesy.”
“He’s right, Sarah. Not many people extend or even know about this simple courtesy.” Her father stated, backing up Connor’s explanation.
Jack took Tool as Connor effortlessly held Haunt. Connor walked into the back yard and tested its weight. Jack was right on his heels while Jillian and Sarah followed them together.
Connor swung it with one hand in vertical circles to stretch out his extensive muscles. It still makes her shiver when Sarah sees his muscles flex and move. After he finished stretching he said proudly “I see why you call your weapon Haunt. If someone is lucky to survive the initial hit, they will be haunted forever by the damage this thing’s capable of.”
“That’s always been my philosophy. Kill or cripple. Those are the only two options that a person will ever get from me.” Jack felt proud since someone could understand his weapon of choice.
Jack tested Connor’s weapon by shadow fighting. Her father imagined a person in front of him while he slashed with the hatchet and bludgeoned his imaginary opponent with the hammer. “Connor, I see why you call this Tool. It’s because it is so versatile in its simplicity. You can throw it, hammer anything and cut through almost everything. A tool to destroy and build.”
“Correct. Now let’s go somewhere that not so exposed.” And he walked towards the woods, then ran.
Chasing Connor was easy because he didn’t run too fast.
Ten minutes later they stopped in a clearing. He began to explain “Sarah, when I was looking for a place to build our home I found this place first, but as you can clearly see I made the better choice.”
He was right. Grass couldn’t grow, flowing water didn’t cool the area nor did this place hold a natural beauty. It was another natural clearing, but it was almost barren. The ground lay covered with rocks ranging from pebbles to baseballs and weeds sparsely littered the land. The ground was truly rocky and not a good place for a home. Trees surrounded around the expansive clearing and was perfectly isolated. It was open and far from prying eyes. There weren’t any streams, let alone flowers or colorful shrubs. The ground simply held a brown and gray field that begged to be used.
“I figured that we would need a place to do things without fear of getting caught or doing any damage to the a
rea. Just incase we get…overzealous.” Connor said to them all, but looked at Jack with a grin.
“Good thinking!” Her father said loudly. Connor stood about twenty feet away when Jack tossed Tool back and Connor returned the favor. “It’s up to you, Jack. What do you think we should start with?”
“First I believe we need to spar first. It will get our timing more accurate and mistakes will lessen.” Jack held up his club as a reference.
“Ok, but first…” Connor came up to Sarah and kissed her, but it was a quick kiss. “I love you.” He got into position, looking at her father with Tool clutched in his right hand. “What are the rules?”
“No elemental abilities. Only speed, strength, dodging and you need to stop before any critical hits.” Sarah’s father finished explaining the short rules.
Jillian and Sarah sat down under a shade tree before the first match began.
Connor crouched in his battle, springing position. With Tool in hand, he rushed forth and closed the distance instantly. Jack stood ready and swung at Connor’s head the moment the rush began. As Connor ducked the first blow Sarah’s father kept spinning with the weight of Haunt. Just before Connor could get his first hit in Sarah felt the faintest of breezes caress her just before her father back-kicked Connor square in the center of his chest. Connor flew back ten feet from the one blow. Jack’s spin stopped and he leaned lazily on his weapon, in one fluid motion. He said “That was a good dodge, Kid.”
Connor sat up with a smile on his face, which surprised everyone, especially her father. “I knew I didn’t make a mistake! I can learn a lot from you.” He stood up and dusted himself off like he didn’t have any damage and upon closer inspection he had somehow managed to come out unscathed. “If I didn’t jump back when I did, that kick would have easily cracked several ribs.”
“Well I am here to teach you.” Jack picked up Haunt and rested it on his right shoulder. “Come!”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Connor sprinted at Jack in the exact same way. Haunt swung at his head again, Connor ducked, and dropped Tool to now fight unarmed. Jack back-kicked again at Connor’s chest, but he dodged the foot this time. He spun on the ball of his left foot and tried using his other leg to sweep Jack’s legs out from under him. Her silver haired father jumped in the air and swung the metal club midair at Connor’s ribs. Connor rolled away, missing the impact of the weapon by only inches. Jack landed flatly on both feet.
Connor stood up again without any injuries and continued breathing evenly. “That one was close.” He smiled as Jack kicked Connor’s weapon back into his hand. Sarah’s father had a smile on and looked to be enjoying the sparring session as well. “Again!”
Connor rushed her father again and did the same steps, but this time he pushed too hard. As Jack’s weapon swept down at his ribs, Connor flipped himself backwards on the ground and stood. As the weapon swung into a vertical circle, Connor kicked the weapon out of her father’s hand in midair. The weapon flew away from the two combatants and Jack’s body inverted and approached the ground, head first. Before he made an impact with the ground Connor grabbed him with both hands and stood him upright without a moment’s hesitation. “Are you ok?” Connor asked as the two men stood eye to eye.
“Son, you are the first person to disarm me in close to five hundred years.” Jack started laughing. “That was a terrific move.”
“Maybe, but it was only because being a Balancer saved me. If I was normal, my head would have been taken clean off in the first round.” Her man admitted humbly.
“A win is a win. Balancer or not, you have much potential.”
“Connor!” Jillian shouted next to Sarah. “Don’t let him fool you too. He is learning how you move to better find leverage against you.”
“You wouldn’t be a good warrior if you didn’t always learn. No two battles are ever fought the same.” Connor stated and Jack started to chuckle.
“Connor, I wanted to ask why you dropped your weapon?” Sarah asked a good question because all eyes turned to him.
“Because I needed my hands free for hand to hand grappling. You never know if you lose your weapon and all you might have left are your fists.” Then he entered her mind. “I was trying to get your dad in a chokehold, but he was turned the wrong way so I had only one option; disarm.”
“Lucky for you, your mind and body move quicker.”
“You’re telling me. I still feel the wind from the pressure of Jack’s attack.” He rubbed the top of his head while smiling.
Jack and Connor sparred with weapons and fifteen minutes later they called a stalemate.
Her father told Connor “Next we do another technique called Sonar.” His expression became confused. Sarah stood up and walked over to Connor. “Father, may I do this with him as well?”
“I don’t see why we all can’t do it all together.” Jack said and Jillian joined the party. They all sat down in a loose circle, facing each other in the shade. Jack looked at Connor because he needed more explanation than the rest of them. “Sonar is slightly different from trying to read someone’s mind Connor. As you delve into someone’s mind, you try to read and process their consciousness in your mind. Even if you speak different languages once you enter their mind yours will begin to see how they associate words with images. It is the quickest way for us to learn a language without spending weeks or months trying to listen and learn.
“Sonar isn’t as easy, but is more reliable than any skill I have in my arsenal. When you read a mind you can only focus on a small number of people at any given time, but with our sonar you can see all of your surroundings in your mind better than processing everything with your eyes.
“When we fought and I kicked you in the chest, I couldn’t see you. I knew you’re exact position even in my blind spot. Using this ability in any combat situation will help you to survive. I used my sonar to feel your exact position. When you are able to use it, you will be able to see everything from the birds in the sky to the bugs that burrow beneath the earth. You could be completely blindfolded and still be able to maneuver and see your surroundings without hindrance after you can master this ability.
“Everyone look around our surroundings and then close your eyes.” Jack began teaching. They all obeyed his every word. “Good. Now in your mind picture what you catalogued in your mind’s eye.” Sarah clearly pictured all of the shrubs, trees, dirt, rocks and sky. “Now picture your mind sending out a single invisible burst of energy. Don’t use your elemental manipulation at all; just energy.” Her father’s tone deepened. “Let me demonstrate.” Sarah opened her eyes and so did Connor. Jillian didn’t because she already knew how to do this.
Jack opened his eyes and stood up. “Here I go.” The most subtle of breezes caressed her, but only for an instant.
Connor stood up and touched his chest. “You were right about that being difficult to detect. But I did remember the same feeling several times during the fight. Hmm…” Connor began processing this new information.
“Alright. Sarah, you try.” Jack urged while he smiled happily.
Sarah did every step her father said to do. In her mind she felt power rushing into her head and continued to build. When it felt uncomfortable she released the power and it expanded like an invisible sphere. As the sphere grew like the speed of light, everything that the bubble passed instantly became etched into her mind. Everything in her mind became colored in black or white, but it was worth it. Everything became overly vivid before her, to her front, behind her back and above and below where she stood. Every leaf, bug, bird, reptile, mammal and twig stood firmly there in her mind. Not only that, but it looked like a perfect ultrasound. Sarah saw inside every object and person as well, except for herself. The sonar didn’t take much power, which was a good thing to know. It is so magnificent that she never dreamed this would be possible. “That is so…”
“Nifty?” Jack asked, trying to help with finding the right word.
“That’s as good of word as any
.”
“My turn.” Jillian said, standing up. And Sarah felt the same feeling that came from her father. A gentle breeze kissed her body again.
“Let me try something.” Connor said calmly.
“Try? Connor what are you up to?” Jack eyed him suspiciously.
“I’m not sure I will be able to explain it. It’s just a feeling that’s telling me to try.” Connor looked at Sarah, smiled, and then closed his eyes.
As his eyes finally shut Sarah felt a surge of power emanating from Connor. The power continued to build until she could actually see the fine, dry dust swirl around him. Jillian, Jack and Sarah stepped away from him instinctively. Together they kept edging back until they were fifteen yards away.
A quick burst of energy emanated from Connor and instead of a single burst they all felt the energy pulsating at a rapid interval deep within their chest like the bass of a stereo. When Connor opened his eyes they all gasped.
His body stayed completely motionless, but his eyes were literally glowing. His normal hazel eyes became a solid ray of white light and it almost looked like two brilliant flashlights. The continuous pulses continued and it dawned on Sarah that the pulsations didn’t come from his head like her father described, but emanated directly from his eyes. This continued for a minute before Sarah asked “Connor, what are you in the world are you doing?”
“I’m seeing anything and everything. Sarah you have to try this…” His eyes zeroed on her and for some reason she has never felt so exposed before. And moments later he turned off the flow and his hazel eyes returned back to normal.
“Connor, what did you just do?” Jillian asked defensively.
“The best way I could explain it would be that instead of one singular blast, I could do multiple pings in quick succession to make it like a moving movie instead of a standing picture. I just felt like I was capable of doing it.” He looked at Sarah again and his gaze and smile made her heart beat quickly again.
Sarah brushed her mind against his. “Connor, could you show me how to do that mental Movie thing?” He nodded and gave the details.
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