by Wolfe Locke
“It appears that you have made a decision.” Said the demon leader. “I would know the names of you three. You three who have brought together your peers.”
“My name is Mathias Avras, Gold Ranker.” Said the cadet. “Of the Ayras Clan.” I had seen him around before, but I had never known the other boy’s name: the Ayras were a clan similar to the Valdanes and they thought themselves our rivals..
“I am Markus Tarval. Current heir to the Kingdom.”
“I am Tristan Valdanes. Of the Valdanes Clan and servant of the Kingdom.”
“You know our names.” Said Mathias. “We would know yours as well.”
“Well, you already know Tokoth. He has become very interested in the three of you.” Replied the calm voice as the demon with the axes stood silently with a small grin on his face.”
“My other companion is Migral. He is not quite as civilized as Tokoth or myself.” The demon continued as the wolf headed demon sniffed, drool leaking out of its mouth.
“And I am Vozrun. The leader of the triumvirate and Grand Majesty of the Hollow.” The demon curtsied and a feeling of revulsion washed over me.
“Well then, Vozrun, “said Mathias. “Are you and your companions prepared to make the blood oath?”
In response, Vozrun smiled. “Wise. This is good. You lot continue to prove your worth. If only I had made the oath, then my companions would have been free to initiate the attack at any time.”
“I am young, but even a child knows this.” Replied Mathias with an arrogance I was sure he didn’t feel. “Now, the oath.”
In unison, the three demons raised their hands to their mouths and bit down until blood pooled in their palms. Then, Tokoth and Migral raised their hands above Vozrun’s, allowing their blood to flow together and mix.
“We three, Tokoth, Migral, and Vozrun, the rulers of the Hollow, swear by this blood oath. Should the cadets of this academy pass the challenges set before them by us, we will halt the invasion of their world and seal the portal, accepting as cost those of our choosing as vassals. But, if they should fail, the armies of the Hollow realm will show no mercy, and we will take this world and turn it to ashes.”
As Vozrun spoke, she inscribed a circle in the grass using the blood of the three demons. Then, she began to carve into the ground a series of deep and intricate runes.
The cadets felt the power of the demons coalesces, fueling the oath. The seal gave one white hot glow, burning it into the grass, and then went dark. A permanent mark as proof for what was promised.
“It is done.” Said Vozrun. “Soon you will prove if you are worthy of this mercy, we have shown you.”
Just like that, the fate of the entire world came to rest in the hands of me and my fellow cadets, and a lingering sense of unease lingered, letting me know there was more to this than even I could imagine. Time slowed and once again, the mark on my arm flashed.
♄ Saturn’s Crest ♄
An oath has been made with the Triumvirate. Creatures of great power beyond anything this world has known, but you must not give in. Continue to accumulate power and you may become strong enough to challenge them. Before the challenges are all finished, you must grow strong enough to resist them to avoid the fate that will befall you and the other cadets.
Chapter 10: The Foresworn Oath
* * *
All of us gathered cadets watched as the blood oath was made and when it was done, Mathias broke the silence first.
“Alright then.” Said Mathias. “Let’s start these challenges.”
“Not so quickly bound one,” replied Vozrun with a sardonic smile.
Instantly the three of us were on edge and ready to fight.
“We had a deal.” I protested. What should we have expected? They’re monsters, after all.
“We still do. But we did not specify a time for the challenges to start. You are not yet ready. As of yet, your training has been pitiful. Your elders were unable to match us in battle. What hope do you have as you are? More training is needed. Otherwise there is no hope for you to overcome the challenges we have set.” Vozrun explained.
“So what?” asked Markus. “If we don’t have a chance, then why give us one in the first place? I don’t understand this game you’re playing.”
“Does an insect need to know why you do the things you do? We have our reasons. You do not have a chance as you are now. But that will change. We will mold you.” Vozrun promised
Just then, Vozrun raised a hand and snapped her fingers.
From the open gate, several other beings began to come forth. “What is this?” asked Mathias, raising his blade. “How? The gate is sealed and you told us that you would halt the invasion.”
“This is no invasion. These are simply my retainers,” Replied Vozrun. “As I said, you all are not yet ready to face our challengers. The ones who taught you are dead, and even if they were not, they would not be able to adequately prepare you for what is to come. So, the rest of your training falls on our shoulders.”
“What?” asked Mathias. “You? Train us?”
“Why would you train us to defeat your challenges?” I repeated, not understanding at all. “Why?”
“We are not training you to defeat us. Even with our tutelage that would be impossible, the gap between us is insurmountable. But we have other designs for you. Should you prove worthy, you may serve us, and your world will be spared. To do that, you will need more training than you currently have.”
The new monsters from the portal gathered in a line in front of the cadets. They were completely different from the monsters we had fought earlier on the field. Each of these new monsters wielded a blade of dark onyx and wore a layer of plated armor. They more closely resembled humans than the trio of demons. Still, they were not human. Beneath the visors of their helmets was an empty darkness, except for the empty space where eyes should be. All that shown through was a burning gaze.
“These are called Dullahan’s, spirits bonded to armor. They will be your instructors. You will find they are experts in the various forms of Swordcraft and of many Sword Techniques. They will take up you’re training and in one week, the challenges will begin.” Vozrun smiled malicious and looked at the cadets before continuing. “You may refer to them as your Cadre. Get used to them.”
“You mean they’re going to stay here, at the academy?” Asked Mathias, somewhat shocked.
“Of course.” Replied Vozrun. “We all are. Did you think we would just leave and not stay to keep an eye on you? We’ve already made an investment in you. That won’t be squandered.”
“I doubt that the other cadets will be to keen on having these things as instructors.” I muttered towards Markus, who nodded his head.
Vozrun turned her head immediately in my direction. The monster had a quizzical expression. “I was not under the impression that we had given you a choice in the matter. You dangerously tread on my patience.”
I locked eyes with the demon leader. It was like staring into a fire pit, but I held that burning gaze as long as I could and leaned on the strength I’d already gained from the mark on my arm.
“One day, you’ll get from me the same look, the same look you just gave me.” I said, suddenly feeling bold.
“What look?” asked Vozrun curiously.
“The look when we prove you wrong. The look when we pass your challenges, the look when I become stronger than the three of you, and then none of this matters.” I replied.
In response, Vozrun smiled and tilted her head back and laughed. “We shall see. You are dismissed. My Dullahans will guide you.”
Chapter 11: The New Normal
* * *
From that moment on, classes at the academy resumed. Though many of the buildings of the academy were suddenly off limits, the Dullahans that the triumvirate had summoned began teaching classes just as the Cadre had done. The trio of demon
s themselves could often be seen prowling the halls, and we cadets had access again to our dorms and living areas, though our movements was extremely restricted.
At first, there were a lot of talks about a surprise uprising to catch the demons off guard, but Markus, Mathias and I were quick to shut them down. We used the little bit of influence we had to effectively become the leaders of all the cadets, even though there were still a few who could have gone over our heads. Even though Markus was only a Silver ranker and I was even lower at Iron, the other cadets looked up to us. More often than not, I heard a few whisperings about it as if it was a natural foregone conclusion. The King’s son and a Valdanes bringing everyone together.
While the classes that the Dullahans taught had the same basic format as the ones from before, the subject matter was completely different. Gone were the days of battle history and basic offensive techniques, battlefield ethics, and leadership styles. The monsters of the Hollow realm cared nothing for that.
Instead, the Dullahans threw advanced techniques at us at a rate that was almost impossible to keep up with, and any who could not keep up were left behind and quickly disappeared after. I couldn’t focus on what became of them. Curiosity has a time. We were taught everything from traps, to combination attacks and artifact weaving. In some instances, some of the Dullahans even taught cadets how to summon monsters to their aid.
The practice had previously been forbidden to all at the academy except for those with special permission, but now, all of us cadets could, and we would take whatever advantages we could. Unfortunately, an attitude for summoning was not a skill I had, and the little skill I gained came with a lot of work.
I myself had been reluctant to learn the skill at first, but at some urging from Markus I gave it a try. Summoning monsters felt wrong. It was not the same as the Lightning Blade. The magic that flowed through me from the Sword Technique felt natural, and the magic from summoning felt alien and cold.
The first time that I summoned a monster was like swimming in ice water. Ironically, the first monster that I managed to summon was a small imp. I was told by my Dullahan instructor that they were considered vermin on the other side within the Hollow Realm, so they were generally easy to summon. Whenever I managed a summon, it felt like a part of me left my body and flew into the little monster.
It was as if a piece of my soul was fueling the summoning. Once the imp was released, that piece came back to me, but it felt different. Darker. Tainted. I promised myself that I would only use the technique if I absolutely needed to.
As much as could be considered normal, things calmed down and rigid structure was enforced. But none of us forgot what these monsters were, or what they had done to the Cadre and our comrades. This was our new normal.
It was a couple of days into the instruction cycle with the monsters, that a Dullahan armed with a Katana similar to mine approached me. It wasn’t something I was looking to happen. Conversation with the Dullahans especially was always uncomfortable and it grated on my nerves. They did not speak like normal people. They had raspy voices that almost seemed to be projected directly into your mind rather than actually heard, and what you heard was still a struggle as if they could barely make out the words in any kind of comprehendible language.
“I have been tasked with instructing you in the art of combination attacks.” Said the Dullahan.
“What do you mean?” I asked thinking the monster had misspoken. “Like combining different styles? That’s not a thing.”
“Yes, and no.” The Dullahan responded “Primarily I will instruct you how to use your Sword Techniques more efficiently.”
Then, the Dullahan did something that truly surprised me. Though in hindsight, I should have been prepared.
The Dullahan lifted its Katana and without utterly a word, activated the Lightning Blade. A streak of energy surged forth from the very air around and surged into the Dullahan’s blade as electric sparks danced on the edges.
“That’s impossible.” I muttered “Only those of the Valdanes clan know how to do a silent cast of the Lightning Blade, much less even use the technique.”
“There are no secrets that are safe from the Hollow realm.” Responded the Dullahan. “Now, watch.”
The Dullahan dismissed the Swordcraft technique and then the energy from the blade. The monster than began an exercise, slashing its blade through the air. Then, during a downward slash of the Katana, the Dullahan used the Lightning Blade again and then dismissed it after.
“Keeping the ability active for a long period drains your reserves of power over time. However, using it in combination with other attacks and in short bursts means that you will preserve your power for the moments when it is needed most. That, and it is an effective way to take your opponents off guard. Your flesh is still weak, but with time, you will find this method is superior.” The Dullahan commented.
I had never thought of using the ability in such a way before, mostly because of the damage it inflected on the body, but with the way I’d strengthen myself with the mark on my arm, and now that I saw it in action, I cursed myself for not seeing the logic behind it. I practiced with the Dullahan until I was able to summon and dismiss the Lightning Blade at a moment’s notice.
That was not the only useful piece of Swordcraft that I was taught. I was also instructed in the use of the Shadow Blade technique. Using this ability, I drew nearby shadows, including my own, toward my blade. The result was an enchantment of darkness that left the blade of my Katana completely black, and tendrils of dark smoke streamed off of it. This ability changed the composition of my blade entirely when I used the technique. It was no longer solid. It did not have an edge, and it could not be used to block strikes.
At first, I was confused. “What is the benefit of this ability? It makes my sword useless.”
“Just because your sword lacks substance does not mean it’s useless.” Said my Dullahan instructor in response. Then, to prove a point, the monster summoned forth a harpy.
“Here, use the Shadow Blade on this summon and slice through its wing.” The Dullahan commanded.
The harpy just hovered there in the air. I knew from my experience with summoning monsters that it would do so until it was given an order. Is that what we are to the triumvirate? Something to be used without choice until no use remains?
Part of me hesitated to attack the harpy since it wasn’t attacking me. But another part of me remembered that it was a monster. If I did not slay it, then it could be sent off to kill someone on the front lines or someone completely innocent. To take out the monster was the preferred option.
“Shadow Blade!” I called out as I held up my Katana. The surrounding shadows flowed toward me and the silver of my blade grew blade black and darkened. The process took no time at all. Then slashed forward through the harpy’s wing as my blade moved in a smokey haze. The incorporeal blade met no resistance. It simply passed through the wing. But as I watched, that wing began to go dark until it too resembled a shadow. Within moments, the harpy collapsed into nothingness.
“There are benefits to this technique, as you can see. No armor or blade beside another like it can block it. Using the Shadow Blade also allows you to use another Swordcraft ability in conjunction. It is called Shadow Fall. Allow me to demonstrate.” The Dullahan said.
“Shadow Blade.” The Dullahans said more for my benefit than anything to accent its point as the blade went dark when the shadows flowed to it.
“Shadow Fall,” The Dullahan continued, building on the earlier technique.
The Dullahan pointed its blade toward a piece of floor a few feet away. I watched as a piece of shadow separated from the blade and went to the spot where the blade was pointing. The Dullahan turned the handle of its weapon, and In the next instant, the Dullahan was there.
I could hardly believe it.
It just teleported right in front of my eyes.
“Shadow Fall is a powerful technique, but remember. It can only be used while the Shadow Blade is active. As you can probably guess, using two Swordcraft techniques simultaneously will drain your magic reserves quickly. Use both techniques sparingly until your power reserves become stronger.”
Under the circumstances, I was learning more now than I ever had at the academy. I knew that these beings, while not directly responsible, were operating under the instruction of those who had killed my former teachers and who also wanted to destroy the world. But another part of me was soaring with all of the new techniques that I had learned so far. I felt powerful.
It's ok to learn from them. It will be even better when I use what they have taught me to beat their challenges and send them away.
Over the next few days, I allowed myself to become consumed by my lessons. I would still talk to Markus and Mathias and some of the other cadets, but they were busy with their training as well. They had all agreed that under the circumstances, it would be better to launch themselves into their training full force.
Even if they were being instructed by the enemy, they were at least learning techniques that they never had before. They were getting better. The rest of the cadets were as well. At least, those who were able to keep up.
By the time that the week was almost up, only the cadets who could keep pace and who were quick to learn remained. Most of the Bronze rankers had been weeded out. Only a few rose to the challenge and persevered.
Those that could not keep up were stripped of their weapons by the triumvirate. Early on, I had gone to Vozrun to inquire about what would be done with the cadets.