The Buried Symbol (The Ruins of Issalia Book 1)

by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

  Anger began boiling inside of Brock. He closed his eyes, imagining Corbin sneaking into the changing room and making deep cuts into the staff. He felt the heat of that anger and of an angry energy around him. He absorbed that energy, drawing it in until he felt like he would burst. Opening his eyes, he poured the frantic energy into the rune and it began to glow hot red.

  “Whoa! Look at that!” Benny exclaimed.

  A wave of exhaustion washed over Brock. The rune pulsed, slowly dissipating until it looked like a normal engraving.

  Benny smiled. “Can I try it again?”

  Brock shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  Standing beside the pole, Benny showed a hopeful smile. The past six tries had yielded nothing except a lot of grunting.

  Benny took a breath, and pushed down on the pole. The huge stone block launched into the air. The solid steel pole screamed a high-pitched tone as it vibrated, causing Benny to let go. He fell onto his rear, rubbing his hands as he watched the stone block land on the low slopes of the nearby mountain, over a hundred feet away.

  Benny began to laugh, slapping his leg in glee.

  Bending down, Brock asked, “Are you okay, Benny?”

  Nodding, Benny scrambled to his feet.

  “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.” Benny rubbed his hands together in excitement. “Let’s do it again.”

  CHAPTER 84

  Spring rains started the next day. The remaining snow in the valley melted steadily although the surrounding peaks remained white as the rain turned to snow at the higher elevation. After three weeks of steady rain, the sky cleared, and the sun began to dry away the pools of water that had formed.

  The experiment with Chaos had provided interesting information on how long the Chaos-induced effect lasted. The enhanced power of the lever had held steady for a time before a rapid decline. By the time two hours had passed, it had returned to just a solid metal pole. After their successful and slightly scary experiment, Brock convinced Benny that they needed to learn more before somebody got hurt or killed. Disappointed, Benny shifted his focus back to his new invention.

  Brock divided his free time between translating the book and spending it with Ashland. He preferred the latter, but much of her time was occupied by tasks set by Master Varius. When the rains relented, the two were able to leave the Academy for a night in Fallbrandt. It was a pleasant diversion that not only allowed him to see Tipper, but also enabled him to share a bed with Ashland for the first time in months. The couple relished every moment, not returning to the Academy until sunset the next evening.

  In the weeks after the Arena Championship, Corbin changed. The usual boastful persona that had pervaded was now withdrawn. Even in Hierarchist class, where he presided as prelate of their imaginary government, Corbin was quiet and brooding. Brock assumed that it was related to the lisp that Corbin had developed after losing the tip of his tongue, though nobody dared to tease him. To Brock’s surprise, he began to feel sorry for Corbin.

  When the weather was dry, their Paladin class moved outdoors four days a week. While they still spent time on tactics and fitness training, their wooden melee weapons were replaced by ranged weapons. They were taught how to use the short bow, longbow, and crossbow. After spending two weeks introducing basic bow techniques, Budakis had them each select one that they were to master. Brock opted for the short bow, but when Budakis announced the Marksman Tournament coming in late spring, Brock had low expectations. He couldn’t seem to grasp the nuances of the weapon.

  While the bulk of the class practiced at the range, each day Budakis would send a group of fifteen students to spend time with Master Herron, the horse master. On those days, Brock learned the basics of horsemanship, from caring for the animal to how to ride one. He found that he could barely sit for two days after his first day of riding. Within three weeks, the soreness became little more than an annoyance.

  In Ecclesiastics, the focus on divining finally ended when Varius introduced the next talent they were to develop.

  “We are now three quarters of the way through your novice year. I’m sure you feel that this class has been moving slowly, focusing too long on only a few concepts. That feeling is understandable. However, I cannot stress enough how valuable healing is to the Empire and to its citizens. If the extra effort spent on developing the skill produces just one more healer per year, it’s worth it.”

  Varius surveyed the room before continuing. “Of course, the other talent we’ve covered thus far is divining. Though far more common, it also has value and is worth spending a couple months to develop.”

  Pausing, she smiled. “I will now introduce a third ability that can manifest through Order: prophecy.”

  She glided down the aisle as she spoke. “Prophecy is an ability relating to the prediction of future events. It can appear in various forms. The most common form is often perceived as simple intuition. It’s when a warning in the back of your mind causes you to react to something about to happen, even before it occurs.”

  She smiled. “I realize that this is a complex concept, so let me give you an example. Someone who has a strong connection with Order might enter a room but stop suddenly, not knowing why. A second later, the chandelier above falls to the floor right where the person would have been if he or she hadn’t stopped. In this case, the subtle ability in prophecy becomes a sort of additional sense, catching the smallest glimpse into their own immediate future.”

  “You may wonder how this is possible. How could one see into the future? To understand, you need think of Order as a force that exists not only in the present, but also in the past and in the future. I’ve explained that Order is within all living things as the life force that binds us. While we only experience time in this moment, always moving forward in a linear fashion, the Order existing within you has existed throughout your whole past and extends into your future, stretching forward like a thread through time. When connected to that force of Order, you may be able to extend that connection out just a bit into the future, giving you a glimpse of what is coming.”

  “There are two key items to note. First, it’s far easier to see into your own future than the future of others, because it’s tied to you. Second, the near future is much easier to determine than a more distant future. Your thread of Order extending in the past has been defined and is singular, but your future is an array of possibilities, fanning out wide from the present. The closer you are to now, the less variability there is to your future and the easier it is to foretell.”

  “There is also a far more rare manifestation of prophecy. This is true prophecy, where a person will experience a vision of some critical event in the future, possibly a distant future. In this form of prophecy, one must connect to the more broad force of Order that exists in all living things. How this occurs is unknown, though many theories exist. In all documented cases throughout history, though there are few, this type of prophecy has served as a warning used to guide and prepare for some critical event.”

  “You won’t find this in any books, for it is only handed down verbally.” She paused, scanning the room. “Without a doubt, mankind would not have defeated the Banished Horde if the Ministry hadn’t followed the guidance of such a prophecy. Ignoring that prophecy would have resulted in our utter defeat and in the extermination of mankind.”

  The class was silent, considering the message she was sending.

  “Now that you understand the basic concepts, it’s time to begin some exercises designed to develop your skill in prophecy.”

  She turned and waved Ashland over. The girl handed a stack of cards to Varius, who held one of the cards up.

  “These cards each have a common rune marked on them. With them, you will be asked to perform a simple task. Your partner will stand behind you, flipping a card up to face your back. Your job is to call out the rune on the card just before you spin around to see what it is.”

  She surveyed the room. “I see the looks on your faces. Yes, this is li
ke a trick street performers might use to impress an unknowing crowd. The secret is that it’s not a trick. They cannot read minds, and they don’t have a mirror. This is something made possible by a close connection to their own force of Order. Through it, they can see a moment into the future, much like glancing around a corner just before you walk around the bend. They see what’s on the card in their mind, then spin to see the same image with their eyes, a moment later.” Varius smiled. “It’s quite simple.”

  She began handing cards to tables on one side of the room. Ashland followed, handing cards to tables on the other side. As she passed him, Brock whispered to her.

  “Will you be my partner?”

  She smiled, giving a small nod.

  With the cards distributed, Varius called for everyone to find a partner. Brock wasted no time seeking out Ashland. Seeing them together, Varius raised an eyebrow, but made no objection.

  Brock shuffled his cards. “I’m assuming you’ve tried this before.”

  Ashland sighed. “Yes. I’m not good at it. Healing and divining come fairly easy. Prophecy has eluded me thus far.”

  He smiled. “Yeah, but this time you have my support. Love conquers all. Right?”

  She smiled back. “Right.”

  “I have the cards, so you go first. Turn around.” He told her.

  She turned her back toward him. He stared at the back of her neck, past the stray curls hanging from her bun. He felt an urge to kiss that neck, but he resisted. Picking a card, he saw the rune of Artifex Altus. He flipped it so it faced Ashland’s back and waited. He found himself thinking about the rune on the card, expecting her to say it.

  “Artifex Altus,” she said, and then spun to see the card. A small squeal of excitement slipped out before she covered her mouth. She whispered. “It worked. I could see it. I knew what it was!”

  Brock smiled. “I knew you could do it. Now, it’s my turn.”

  He handed the cards to her and reversed direction. He calmed, harmonizing with his source of Order. He cleared his mind and let it fill. Amazingly, it did. “The rune of Laboris,” he said aloud.

  He spun to see that exact card facing him. A grin spread across his face, matching Ashland’s. “That was amazing. It was so clear. I could see it in my head.”

  Ashland nodded. “Let’s try again.”

  CHAPTER 85

  Benny spread the map-sized sheet of paper on the table. On it was a sketch of some crazy looking contraption.

  “This is it, Brock. I’m going to be famous,” Benny said, excited.

  “Okay, but what is it?” Brock asked as he inspected the drawing.

  “This is like a carriage but with only two wheels. It’s smaller and lighter and doesn’t need a horse to pull it. Instead, it uses a crank that is pedaled by your feet.” Benny smiled proudly.

  “Why would this be better than walking?” Brock asked.

  Benny sighed. “See the crank? How it’s smaller than the wheel? Every time your feet rotate this crank around, the big wheel turns a full revolution, which multiplies the result. In addition, wheels roll. They roll, Brock!”

  Brock laughed. “Okay, Okay. What if you tip over?”

  Benny sighed again, pulling a copper from his pocket. “Watch.”

  Benny rolled the coin across the table, continuing until it slowed and tipped over.

  “If you’re moving fast enough, you won’t tip over, like the coin. If you stop, you can always take your feet off the crank pedals and put them on the ground. It’s simple.”

  Brock smiled at Benny’s energy and optimism. “Okay. I believe you. What’s next?”

  Benny smiled. “Why, you guys help me build it. I will be famous, of course. You two will be famous for helping me be famous.”

  Brock laughed at the serious way Benny made the ludicrous statement. “Yes, I’ll help. Cam?”

  Cam replied from the nearby sofa. “Sure. As long as there aren’t any wine casks involved. I’m still recovering from the last one.”

  Benny grinned. “Great. We’ll get started in two days, right after dinner.”

  Brock nodded. “Sounds good, Benny.”

  Satisfied, Benny changed the subject. “What about the translation, Brock? Have you made any progress?”

  Brock shrugged. “Yes and no. I’ve been trying to figure out a new symbol. It’s something that I…had some experience with in the past. But I’m not getting a clear translation.”

  Benny raised an eyebrow. “What have you found so far?”

  “Well, this symbol means something like life or move or maybe alive. I can’t tell for sure.” Brock responded, “But I think that…”

  “Brock.”

  He turned to see Parker standing at the doorway to the lounge.

  “Brock, can I speak with you?”

  Brock nodded. “Excuse me, guys.”

  Once in the hallway, Parker waved him into the room he and Benny shared. Brock stepped inside and turned as Parker closed the door and stepped close to address him.

  “Brock, I apologize for not spending time with you guys since the tower repair.”

  Brock shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, Parker. I know you’re caught up in politics that influence your situation.”

  Parker nodded. “Thanks for understanding.” He paused before continuing, “But that’s not why I pulled you in here. I wanted to warn you.”

  Brock’s brow furrowed. “Warn me? About what?”

  “About Corbin,” Parker said. “For some reason, he’s hated you since his first day here. But since…since the Arena Championship, he’s gotten worse. It used to be almost amusing, as if you were just a pawn he would attempt to manipulate. Now, it’s as if he’s possessed or something. He mentions things he wants to do to you. Bad things. I’m not the only one in the group who is freaked out. It’s scary, Brock. He isn’t right in the head. I’m afraid he’ll do something. Something horrible.”

  Brock nodded. “Thanks for letting me know, Parker. I’ll be sure to be careful.”

  Parker let out a sigh. “I hope there’s nothing to worry about, but I’m afraid that isn’t the case. I thought that I should let you know. You’ve always been a friend to me. In fact, you’ve been great to everyone anytime I’ve been around you. Who knows, maybe that’s why Corbin hates you. Issal knows he hasn’t treated others well at all.”

  He put his hand on Parker’s shoulder. “Thanks again, Parker. You take care, too. If Corbin is becoming dangerous, you may want to keep a distance.”

  Parker nodded, pulling the door open. “Take care, Brock. Watch your back.”

  CHAPTER 86

  “Okay. This is good,” Benny said, stopping at the side of the road.

  Brock and Cameron stopped pushing the contraption, holding it upright on the narrow road that wrapped around the Girls’ Wing.

  Benny smiled. “For the moment of truth. Get on and give it a try,” he said, looking at Brock.

  “Me? Why me?” Brock asked.

  Benny pointed at Cam. “Well, he certainly isn’t going to fit on it. We didn’t make it for giants. As for me, I need to observe. Plus, you’re more athletic and will likely fare better than me.”

  “Benny, this is your invention. You should have the honor of the first ride,” Brock replied.

  Benny shook his head. “It may have been my idea, but it wouldn’t exist without your help. You and Cam have spent just as much time building it as I have. No, Brock. I think you deserve the honor of the first ride.”

  Brock rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll test your crazy invention. But if I get injured, you have to run and find a healer.”

  With Cam holding it upright, Brock swung a leg over the top pipe and sat on the wooden seat.

  Benny stepped opposite of where Cam stood. “Now put your feet on the crank pedals and hold onto the cross-bar; it will allow you to turn. When I count to three, Cam and I will start pushing. You try to keep it from tipping over, and we’ll let go once it’s rolling. When we let go, turn the crank
hard to keep going.”

  Brock nodded and Benny counted down. “Three, two, one, go!”

  As they began pushing, Brock’s feet began to rotate with the pedals. The faster they pushed, the faster his feet rotated. The thing wiggled and shook as he tried to keep his balance. When he rounded the corner toward the front lawn, Benny and Cameron let go.

  He turned the crank, pumping his legs and gaining speed. Thrilled, he began to laugh. He heard Benny yell something from behind. As the slope increased, he went faster.

  The road took a sharp bend up ahead. Realizing he was moving too fast, he attempted to slow but the wheel attached to the crank had too much momentum. He took his feet off the pedals, holding them up as the thing sped toward the bend. Without a way to slow or stop, he didn’t know what to do.

  “I can’t stop!” He shouted as he sped off the road onto the lawn.

  His rear bounced violently on the wooden seat, his teeth chattering from the vibration. He was heading toward a clump of trees, their branches filled with newly budded leaves. Leaning to one side, he turned the front wheel just enough to avoid a big tree. However, he flew off the seat when the wheels bounced over a large root near the trunk. He landed hard on the seat, and one hand slipped off the crossbar. The front wheel turned sharp, grabbing the turf violently. While the contraption stopped, Brock’s momentum did not. He was launched into the air, over the crossbar. The world spun as he rotated, landing on his lower back and rolling forward another rotation.

  Brock lay on his back as he stared up at the scattered clouds in the pale blue sky. Long strands of grass surrounded him, tickling his cheeks in the light breeze. He heard the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching

  Cam soon appeared in his field of vision, stopping to look down at him. “Are you okay, Brock? Should I go get a healer?”

  “How do I let Benny talk me into this stuff?” Brock replied, lifting one arm. “Help me up.”