“We were training, remember? Even you hardly got any face time over the past few months.”
“True, but I’m just surprised that you’re so casual about it. I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“I thought you didn’t like her like that,” Achan replied, raising an eyebrow.
“People change,” James said firmly. “Feelings change. And I think I’ve fallen for her too.”
“You think? You think, James?” Achan scoffed. “C’mon. Seriously. A few months ago when you didn’t know she was the Princess, you practically called her ugly and implied that there was no way she could be royalty. Remember?”
“I was a child then.”
“And a few months have changed that?”
“A few months have changed everything. If you would have told me a year ago that by now I would be a warrior with supernatural abilities, helping to save the village from forest creatures and giants while making my way through the Sentinel Academy, I would have laughed in your face. But it did happen. And I did try to keep my feelings for Catherine at bay. I know what I said about her, and I’ll never forget it. Perhaps I’m still atoning for those words. But I can’t deny what I feel for her either. I’ve tried, Achan. Trust me. I know that you’re the better boyfriend, husband and future King. And out of respect for you, I’ve kept silent. But I can’t hold my peace any longer.”
“So what are you saying?” Achan asked calmly, studying James’ expression.
“I understand you want to wait until the mission is over, but we don’t even know if we’re going to survive. And I can’t wait that long. I can’t…watch her die out there without having told her the truth. So you have a week, my friend. Tell her how you feel, spend time with her, all that. Because after that time is up, if she hasn’t reciprocated your love, I’m taking a shot.”
“We have a job to do, James,” Achan said in a serious manner. “You’re forcing me to pursue a relationship, but by doing so I could be jeopardizing the salvation of the entire world. Do you realize what you’re saying?”
“To me, she is the world,” James said boldly. “I can’t imagine existence without her. Even if she didn’t feel what I do, every second I get to spend with her, makes me forget all the horrible things going on around us. I understand the logic of what you’re saying, but I just can’t follow it. When I say that I’m going on this mission to protect her, I mean just that. If she dies, I could care less if it’s a success.”
“You shouldn’t say such things.”
“I believe in our journey because she does,” James said truthfully. “That’s it. The only reason I even became a Sage was because I was giving up my life for her. And that’s the only reason I’m going with you now. What I can’t comprehend is why you don’t feel the same.”
Achan studied his friend’s eyes, and for the first time, saw the anguish he was going through. James was in love. It coated every syllable he uttered. Only because they were such good friends did he was allow him the opportunity to court Catherine first. But how could he try to…date her…under such conditions?
“Okay, James,” Achan said finally. “I’ll speed things up. Thank you for being such a good friend.”
“You’re welcome, Sage,” James tried to smile as Achan patted him on the shoulder.
“Now, let’s really get going. I’m sure we’re late.”
James followed Achan through the maze, never questioning his friend’s direction. And he had no mind to. All he could think about was what Achan had said. He was hoping that his friend would secede, miraculously say that he had fallen out of love with the Princess and would rather pursue his Sage training instead, but he had been wrong. Achan still loved her…and he too was fighting an internal battle. Of course he wanted a relationship with Catherine but considering the mission ahead of them, and how much it meant to her, he wasn’t willing to interfere.
“Am I really that selfish?” James thought as they ran to their mentor. Could he really not hold back and just do the job he was ordered to carry out? Was Catherine being with him all he could think about? What if he was so enveloped in emotion for her that he made a mistake during the mission? His focus so divided that couldn’t see an enemy approaching? What if his feelings ended in her demise?
He refused the thought and looked up at his friend, running in front of him. Achan was still the better man, through and through. And though James wasn’t willing to give up a future with his Katie, he couldn’t deny that his focus had to shift a little more in the other direction. So during the week he gave Achan, he decided to devote himself entirely to his Sage training. No matter how much he preferred spending time with Catherine, if he didn’t prepare, he might not be strong enough to shield her from the dangers ahead…
“You’re late,” Arimus said in a troubled mood as the two boys arrived.
“Sorry, Arimus,” Achan said. “We lost track of time. There…was a lot to talk about.”
“How’s Catherine?”
“Well. She’s preparing for her speech tonight.”
“That’s good,” he said, looking to the ground. “I hope she wasn’t too angry with my words.”
“As a wise man once told me,” James said. “Just apologize and all will be forgiven.”
“Those weren’t my exact words.”
“It’s what I heard at the time,” James laughed. “Arimus, you know I had listening problems.”
“How true,” Arimus smiled warmly as he straightened up. “Gentlemen, I called the two of you here to complete your formal training. There is still a lot to show you about the path of a Sage, but with the situation before us, it is not yet certain how much time we’ll have in the field. Scarlet, Kyran, Chloe and I may have to devote our full attention to the task at hand.”
“We understand,”Achan said. “Failure is not an option.”
“Not unless we all plan to reside in Oblivion one day,” Arimus sighed. “And make no mistake, I want you at full attention for the entire journey. It will be difficult, exhausting, and draining. I don’t know who we will fight or how long we may have to run. But our mission will be a success. Even at the cost of our lives, our souls, and Paradise itself. Look to the sky.”
They obeyed and Arimus continued speaking.
“Once we leave Allay, all that will be above our heads is the ether. You realize what this means if one of us should be killed in battle…”
“We automatically go to Oblivion,” James said monotonously.
“Yes,” Arimus said, looking to the sky himself. “Which is why you must be careful, young ones. My aim is to ensure we all return home in good health.”
“I would like that,” Achan smirked. “And to ensure it, we’ll continue our training while we’re on the road.”
“Good to hear it,” Arimus replied. “Now, over the course of our time together, I’ve prepared you solely for hand to hand combat, but as you’ve heard, the eidolon has many more tactical uses. I’m sure you both know of Dominic’s support ability, Lock.”
“Yes,” the two said.
“Then you also know that every Sage’s eidolon comes with three abilities separate from its enhancement of your senses. An attack, a defense, and a support. Would you like to see mine?”
“YES!” they said in enthusiastic unison. Arimus smiled.
“I thought as much. Stand back.”
It was the first time they would get to see Arimus’ eidolon. Even with constant pestering he refused to give in, but now they would get their wish. Now they would finally get to see a true Sage’s eidolon revealed.
“Here it goes,” Arimus said as he placed an open fist to his chest. And when he pulled it back, the light hit them.
It was so subtle, that it immediately caught them off guard. Whenever Achan and James unleashed their full eidolons, a fantastic light show emerged with it. But Arimus barely gave off the glow of a firefly. It only spoke further volumes of how they were still amateurs.
Arimus grabbed the hilt sticking out of his chest and pulled ou
t the sword quickly. And they stood in amazement at what they saw. They had seen Dominic’s eidolon of course, and each other’s. All of them looked like swords with only slight variations, but Arimus’ resembled more of a giant shuriken, with a hollow circle in the middle for him to grab. The “hilt” that they saw earlier was merely one of the “sword’s” extensions. Like a ninja throwing star, each of the four extensions had a rubber hilt which then jutted out into a sharp blade, glowing a cool, oasis blue. Arimus held the awkward looking construct with ease, and flipped it over and over to show how easy it was to use in battle.
“Each of the eidolons are an extension of us,” Arimus explained. “It would do you well to study yours in depth. Only then can you discover your eidolon’s innate powers. I will now explain mine. I trust you won’t reveal its secrets to anyone.”
“No way,” James said as Arimus smiled.
“Then pay attention. James. Please take out your eidolon and try to attack me.”
James obeyed with glee, ripping the eidolon from his side like a whip. Arimus didn’t squint under its light, and when James was sure he had a concrete hold on his blade, he lunged forward. Arimus held out his shuriken eidolon and from the four blades came a mighty wind, engulfing Arimus in a small tornado within a matter of seconds. James reached his teacher and swung downward, but the winds just bounced his arm away, with such velocity that it nearly broke his wrist in the process. Achan decided to join in and tried piercing Arimus with his standard sword, but half-way through his swing, the sword was wretched from his hand and thrown across the courtyard. Arimus never moved during the display of his wind control. James was about to speak when the miniature tornado died down and Arimus cocked back his arm, the shuriken still in hand. And when he did so, wind once again erupted from the four blades, but instead of protecting Arimus this time, it shot in an arch over their heads and to the fallen standard sword, lying idly in the gravel. The winds picked it up as if it had hands and then charged towards James like it was trying to joust. James met the sword with his own eidolon, but at the last second, the wind changed course, taking the sword with it over James’ head and then zig-zagging through the air until it rested by James’ throat.
James refused to move as Achan saw his opportunity to strike his teacher with his own eidolon. With his weapon in hand, he carefully positioned himself in front of Arimus waiting for the wind to defend him, but Arimus was still concentrating on James. Achan smiled and swung in an upward diagonal arch, but at the last second, his vision was struck with sharp gusts of wind, as if someone had taken sandpaper and rubbed them vigorously over his eyes. He cried out and halted his assault. Arimus in turn reached forward with his left arm, grabbed the hilt of Achan’s eidolon and plunged it deep within his student’s chest. It didn’t hurt. But Achan got the message. If it was the enemy’s weapon Arimus had used, he would be gravely injured, or worse.
Arimus smiled warmly and then dropped his arms. The winds died, the standard sword dropped from James’ throat, and Arimus released his grip on Achan’s eidolon. The two protégés brushed themselves off and prepared to hear the rest of the lesson. In no time at all, he had humbled them profoundly.
“Three abilities,” Arimus said, raising his fingers. “My defense, I revealed first. A type of wind shield, going at speeds so fast that it makes it very difficult to break through. Imagine if I had been attacking while the shield protected me.”
James gulped. It was a scary thought.
“My second was my attack. The winds are then at my discretion. Able to control it with my mind, I can use it to push, to pick up, to punch, pretty much anything a human being can do, giving me a ‘extra man,’ as I like to call it, fighting by my side. And the third, is what Achan experienced. Now, for attack and defense abilities, they have to be used voluntarily, but the support is not. A support ability kicks in whether the user is focused or not. You can use it to your will, but if you’re not paying attention, it activates anyways. My support blinds the nearest threat, attacking their eyes violently. I’ve found that it only targets one foe at a time, but still, it can be invaluable in a pinch.”
“If a support ability activates regardless of our choice,” Achan spoke. “Then how come we don’t know ours yet?”
“Simple. You haven’t had to use your eidolons in dangerous situations. Think about it. Terrs didn’t pose you any threat. And none of you faced Alexander or Keel.”
“That brings up something we’ve been wondering about,” James asked. “What happened to them?”
“Executed,” Arimus said flatly. “Achan and Chloe saw to it.”
“It’s true,” Achan said solemnly. “After Catherine defeated them, we took them to the forest. Chloe carried out the duty.”
James couldn’t believe that Chloe could carry out such an order, but if she truly was the strongest of them all, there had to be a lot of things she was able to perform easily.
“That’s another thing,” James said. “How did Catherine defeat them? If I recall, as long as the stone is in her, her eidolon is suppressed.”
“That’s correct,” Arimus said. “She used the stone of Allay.”
“She activated it?” James said in shock. “What happened?”
“We were going to discuss it at the meeting, but my emotions got the best of me…she and Dominic encountered the two here in the courtyard. Dominic engaged them but was quickly overwhelmed. When Catherine saw his plight and the danger that the recruits, the school and her Kingdom was about to be in, the stone activated. She used its power to overcome Keel in one blow.”
“How does that work exactly? The stone?”
“She uses her life force,” Arimus sighed. “The greater the power, the more of her life she exhausts. Say she had fifty more years until her natural death. If she uses a year, for whatever purpose, her life expectancy drops to forty-nine.”
James didn’t know what to say. It was a ridiculous notion. Her life? Every time the stone was used? How much had she used to knock a giant like Keel unconscious? Weeks? Months? Years? What if they encountered an impossible situation in the field? Would she sacrifice her all to ensure the safety of the mission?
Yes.
She would.
There was no doubt. She would do anything for her people and her Kingdom. But what good would a relationship with her be in the end if she only had a couple years left? Or a month? What would it all have been for? This was unacceptable. Now he truly had to train harder. As much as he was able, he was going to ensure Catherine would not only be protected, but never be in a situation that she would have to use the stone. Not until they gathered all five and destroyed them all…
James clenched his fists in rage. Suddenly he felt more disgust for Dominic than before. What was he doing? He was a Sage, wasn’t he? It didn’t matter that he was still in training; he had his eidolon far longer than both him and Achan combined. And he couldn’t even do his duty in protecting the Princess. Catherine had to intervene personally…what kind of a warrior was that?
“It’s a horrible situation…but if we do our job,” Arimus said, echoing his thoughts, “she won’t have to use the stone. And her years will be long and prosperous…which brings me to my last point…a Sage is beyond an eidolon and three abilities. There is no limit to our power. It is only we who decide to go no further. With training and dedication, you can even surpass Chloe in no time at all. If only you focus, and devote yourself to this way. I once told you that there is more to the bright light than an activation of our Sage powers. This is true. It is like a transformation countdown. As long as that light remains, we are able to activate more and more of our power. Transforming our limbs, our entire body, activating new abilities. It would do you well to get a lesson from Chloe sometime. But if you take no other advice from me, take this: Do not be afraid to reach for the stars.”
James and Achan nodded, both wondering to what level they would reach before their journey was over.
“Class dismissed,” Arimus said. �
��You have about two hours before the speech. Do whatever you must before then.”
James and Achan turned to each other. There was so much to be done.
“What are you going to do in this time?” Achan asked his friend.
“I’ll see you at the speech,” James replied. “I have business to take care of in the village.”
“Okay,” he said, leaving James to his thoughts. Achan headed back toward the Academy while James walked past Arimus and out the courtyard doors. Standing in the silence, he tried not to think of the conflict ahead. He dwelled only on the present.
“A Sage doesn’t need a stagecoach,” he said, unsheathing his eidolon as soon as he was outside. Holding it behind him, he closed his eyes, and began running, using his enhanced senses to guide the way. He began running faster when he thought of Catherine using the stone, Achan training on his own and Arimus’ powerful abilities. He ran as fast as he could, determined to waste every ounce of energy within him. He was ready to bring himself to the brink of exhaustion, so that he could heal, and do it all over again. His training would start now. Before the battles would be underway…
It took him a half hour to reach the village at full speed. Not too bad. Of course, he was completely exhausted now and the eidolon was beginning to weigh him on him, but he refused for his body to rest. He would get plenty of that tonight.
He didn’t have to worry about anyone being afraid of him once he entered the village outskirts. Most of it was in shambles, so many of the villagers had taken refuge in the meadow, the very place they had once avoided out of fear.
He didn’t want to go to the meadow, but it was the only place he could find Leidy and Jennings. Sheathing his eidolon reluctantly, he made his way there and tried not to dwell on the sight. Tents, blankets and makeshift wooden shelters, roofed with straw and tree branches were scattered throughout. Scared and shaken, the villagers clung to each other and spoke in whispers. James wished he had brought a cloak to conceal his identity, but at this point, he wasn’t sure if it would cause more harm than good anyways.
The Dark Kingdom (Sage Trilogy, Book 2) Page 6