Legon Restoration

by Taylor, Nicholas

  She smiled and gave an uncomfortable laugh. "It's not using it that worries me, it's being worthy of the honor to use it that does. It's a lot of pressure, ya know?"

  Edling's expression changed, there was a light in his eyes. "That's it!" he said.

  "That's what?"

  He spoke in a rush, "You have not been able to use your full power yet, have you?" She indicated that she hadn't. "Oh, why didn't we see this before? You are putting too much pressure on yourself don't you see? How could you use your full power if you think the only time you can is when the White Dragon is giving you his anger?"

  "I'm not sure I follow..." she said.

  "We have been trying to get you to go full power when fighting; you aren't a fighter, you have always been hesitant to fight even with magic. If you are going to see that you are capable of going full power, it can't be with combat, or at least not at first."

  Edling pulled her out of their apartment and past a confused Iselin. "Wait, aren't we supposed to train?" Iselin called after them.

  Sasha could only manage a helpless look, she had no idea what Edling had in mind and he was keeping his thoughts closed off to her.

  "Welcome to married life!" Iselin yelled.

  Edling pulled Sasha into a giant store room in the Palace’s basement. In front of her was a musty old sheet of burlap over something that looked to be thirty feet high. Edling pulled the fabric to reveal a crystal.

  "Whoa, this is huge...is it a dome crystal?" she asked.

  "What gave it away?" he asked.

  "Its size and shape, dome crystals are tall and rectangular, but other than that I don't know much about them, just that they are really powerful. Are you going to open up your mind now?"

  "That I'm not. OK, this thing has been dead for years; most people don't even know that there is a crystals in the Palace basement. I want you to power it up, not a lot of power just enough to activate it with a small charge. Any class five can do it but I think it could be a good object for you to practice on," he said in a rush.

  "O-K," she said still royally confused, "whatever you say..."

  She reached out with her mind and found the crystal. Every crystal had a minimum threshold of power that it needed in it before it could do anything. This crystal was empty. She pushed with her power and to her surprise she felt resistance. She pushed harder and still the crystal didn't seem to respond. Finally frustrated, she pushed as hard as she could, Sasha was a master of crystals and wasn't going to let this one get the best of her. As she pushed something in her mind clicked. The magical power she was holding on to exploded in her, suddenly she found herself full of energy. The crystal in front of her flashed red and started to accept energy.

  Sasha backed away releasing her power, though she could feel it just under the surface in her mind. She turned to Edling who was bouncing on the balls of his feet and looked to a slack jawed Iselin in the doorway.

  "You found your power," Iselin said.

  "I wha?" Sasha said.

  Edling explained, "I'm sorry but I lied to you, only Ascended have the strength to activate a crystal of this size, you did it!"

  "Wait, what? You lied to me?" she said trying to sound annoyed but he looked so happy she couldn't quite put the menace in her voice that she wanted.

  "How did you do that Edling?" Iselin asked.

  "I realized that Sasha couldn't use her full abilities because her head and distaste for fighting was getting in the way. But with a crystal...she doesn't see them as a threat, and I told her that a class five could activate it so..." Edling explained.

  "So you tricked me," Sasha said, and then felt inside herself. Now that she had done it on her own once without the White Dragon’s anger she knew she would never have a problem again. "You’re forgiven" she said to her husband. Then she turned to Iselin, "Come on let’s train!"

  * * * * *

  Iselin followed Sasha out of the storage room. She was having a bit of a hard time keeping up with her; Sasha was excited about being able to use her full abilities.

  "Where do you want to train today?" Iselin asked.

  "The training arena by the bay," she said.

  Iselin was surprised by Sasha's choice. The inside of the bay arena was entirely water. It was designed to help Ascended learn to use the element of water in combat and then also to train them how to fight under water. Iselin continued to follow Sasha without commenting on her choice of venue. If she wants to get soaked what business is it of mine? she thought.

  Before them was the training arena. It was unique in that it was built into the bay; there were no high walls for the space, just towers that held crystals around the perimeter that rose from the water. They both reached out with their minds and activated stop all wards in the arena's crystals. Iselin transformed into her Ascended form and looked down at the tiny Sasha.

  Sasha looked up at her radiant. "OK Ise, don't hold back, I'm not going to. I'm going full power from the word go and I expect the same from you," Sasha said as Iselin saw a flick of ruby as Sasha protected her with a stop all. Iselin did the same and took off.

  She didn't want to go full power against Sasha, the fight would be over before it even started and she didn't want to snub the girl’s enthusiasm. But she couldn't really hide anything from Sasha either, so she was at a loss of what to do.

  Legon's voice interrupted in her head, "Love, if she really can use her full abilities now you are going to need to do everything you can to not lose, and she's an Elemental, in an arena of water."

  What Legon was saying clicked home and Iselin turned to see Sasha about fifty feet away from her. She was glowing red and flying through the air, the flying part didn't faze Iselin, all magic users could use spells to fly, though most couldn't sustain the spell for long. No, that Sasha should be able to fly with ease as a class six. The thing that had Iselin worried was that Sasha's fenna was also glowing which meant the spell she was using to fly wasn't taking up much of her energy...She can use her full abilities! she thought.

  Sasha slashed at the water and Iselin rolled in the air just in time to avoid being hit by a chunk of ice the size of a horse. And she's an elemental! she thought.

  "I told you so," Legon’s voice sounded in her head smug.

  "Shut it, I've never seen her be so aggressive!"

  "Oh about that...I'm giving her a little help on that front, do you mind?" Legon said.

  He was helping Sasha so she could be more aggressive. Iselin thought about being mad but changed her mind. This was the only way Sasha could learn to fight, she needed her brother to give her the strength and confidence in mock combat, in real battle she'd have the White Dragon’s help. Iselin could live with that.

  Iselin stopped in the air as Sasha sailed past her. Sasha turned just in time to raise her fenna up to meet Iselin's tail. There was a flash of crimson from one of Sasha's wards and a crack like thunder, Sasha was sent rocketing through the sky by Iselin's blow. She righted herself and sent more ice at Iselin. Hmm that was a weak attack; I can see Legon is lending her the will to fight but none of his skills. I'm going to have to push her to get her to try something new she thought.

  Iselin sent five bolts of magic at Sasha. Being the small target she was Sasha dodged them all with ease, but in the time it took her to do so Iselin managed to get close to her again. Iselin snapped at her with her teeth sending Sasha retreating, trying to block with her blade. Iselin swiped with her claws and tail completely catching Sasha off guard. Sasha was doing her best on defense but had yet to attack again.

  "This is your weakness Sasha, in combat your size gives you an advantage with long range but makes it impossible for you to attack directly in close quarters," Iselin explained.

  "I can't get an attack off, what should I do?" Sasha asked.

  Iselin took another swipe with her left paw while she thought, "Anything that will separate us, find away to give yourself some room."

  Sasha deftly blocked a few more hits and then to Iselin's surprised Sas
ha came at her swinging her fenna. Iselin moved to block but Sasha didn't connect, instead she used Iselin's movement to move past her and then behind. Iselin spun in the air trying to face Sasha but she couldn't. The small girl was too fast. Iselin heard and felt her wards being tested as Sasha attacked her from behind. Iselin faked a roll and caught Sasha off guard; again she hit her with her tail. This time Sasha didn't tumble through the air but just went sailing back.

  Iselin gritted her teeth and charged Sasha, who responded by flying away from her shooting freezing spells in the water, making columns of ice erupt from the surface. Iselin had to bob and weave to avoid the ice and then finally started using magic to clear a path. You may be a class six but your power isn't limitless she thought, knowing that soon Sasha would start to lose strength.

  Iselin blasted ice from in front of her revealing Sasha. She was launched in the air as she created a wall of ice. Iselin, about to melt the ice, realized that they were at the edge of the arena. She pulled up looking skyward at the tiny girl above her.

  "FLAMMA!" Sasha yelled sending a torrent of scarlet flames at Iselin.

  Iselin opened her maw and breathed a bright pink jet of fire. The two magical flames met in the air and Iselin pushed against Sasha, Iselin was not going to be out muscled by a hundred and twenty pound girl. All of a sudden Iselin felt no resistance as Sasha's spell stopped. To Iselin's right, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sasha jump next to her swinging her fenna. "Ignotis-aurium!" Sasha said.

  Too late, Iselin couldn't avoid Sasha's most powerful attack, the spell hit the base of her neck and Iselin felt her own protective wards shatter. Her vision flashed crimson as Sasha's block all ward saved Iselin from what would have been certain death in a real fight.

  The fight now over, Iselin hovered in the air looking at a gawking Sasha. "I defeated you." Sasha said. "I don't even feel that tired!" she added.

  Iselin scowled. "We all keep forgetting you are a class six in an Elf’s body, you have less area to guard and to move...it should be no surprise that you have more endurance then the rest of us, your body isn't taxing your power like a regular Ascended," Iselin said shaking her head.

  Iselin could tell the moment Legon weakened his connection with Sasha, her bravado faded and she looked concerned. "I'm sorry Ise, are you OK? It was really mean of me to try and get you to run into the side of the arena like that, and thank you for helping me so much."

  Iselin laughed, "Only you would apologize for exceeding your teachers expectations, come on little coward, that's enough for today let’s go home."

  Sasha floated over to rest on Iselin's shoulders and they flew back to the Palace.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tooth and Claw

  "There's a thrill to battle, testing one’s self against an unknown adversary that can bring some to joy; while to others it brings near crippling fear."

  -The Exiled Captain (Author Unknown)

  Legon glided in the air with Iselin and Opes on either side of him. On his back were Sasha and Emma. The day had come for them to leave Seeon and return to the war. They flew towards a Carrier named the Actuaries, she was new and this was her maiden voyage.

  As he made his approach Sasha's mind spoke to his, "What is so funny?" she asked.

  "Do you remember the first time I tried to land on a Carrier?"

  She laughed, "Yes I do, that was amusing."

  This time as Legon came in close to the ship he slowed and easily landed in the opening in the Carrier’s hull. Each dragon’s hanger opened to the sea allowing them to fly directly in, or conversely fly out. He heard the soft thuds of Iselin’s and Opes' wings as they too landed in their own respective hangers. Once inside Sasha jumped from his back and Legon used magic to lower Emma to the hanger floor.

  "Are you going to stay in that form the entire time?" Emma asked him.

  "Yes, Ascending takes energy, in this form I'm more able to handle any emergencies that come up," Legon explained.

  "Un Prosa," one in front said. "Welcome aboard. We are within a few weeks of reaching the rest of the fleet, please let me know if there is anything that you need while aboard," the Elf who Legon knew to be the Captain said.

  "Thank you, Captain. So what do you think of her?" Legon asked indicating the ship. He saw Sasha perk up a bit. The Actuaries was fitted with Sasha's new crystal technology and Legon knew she was bursting to find out what the Captain thought.

  The Captain looked over at Sasha, his green eyes twinkling and Legon thought he saw the hint of a smile. "Thus far Sir, she has been a dream come true, she is fast and about as nimble as a Carrier can be and as far as her magical capabilities go, she is everything that I could have ever have asked for in a ship. I will with hold the rest of my judgment until when she is tested in battle, but I dare say that House Insa has much to be jealous of," he said.

  Legon saw Sasha beam at the praise. Legon suspected that the Captain was right, House Insa controlled the largest, most advanced and powerful Navy of all the Great Houses and it was they that commanded the Pawdin Naval action in the current war. If the Actuaries were half of what Sasha and the ship’s team of designers promised, House Insa would be jealous indeed.

  After the Captain left, Emma frowned. "I didn't think there was any rivalry amongst the Houses," she said.

  "There isn't," Iselin answered. "When we say jealous, we mean that the way you would be if a friend made a better cake then you did, you're not really upset but rather looking forward to getting the recipe."

  Legon stopped paying attention to Iselin's and Emma's conversation and looked out the opening of the hanger to the wide open space of the ocean before him. The ship moved up and down with the waves and he found it to be relaxing. He closed his eyes just listening to the sound of the water and the low buzz of conversation behind him. He closed his mind to all but Iselin's emotions. His mind was clear except for the sounds and smells of the ship and sea.

  * * * * *

  Tom found himself checking behind his back more and more lately. Stacy hadn’t talked about the possibility of a mole after tom brought it up, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t an issue. While Tom was just the member of the cell in Salez, he’d taken care of staffing some of the others across the land. All, including Salez, were running into problems. They weren’t big problems just yet, but small ones. In some cities it was as if the government knew what the resistance was going to do before the resistance did. Luckily there had only been a few casualties from what Tom could tell so far.

  As far as Salez went, Tom was finding that he had the hardest time with propaganda campaigns. He could feel the Iumenta Ascended working the people’s emotions over. He’d found that his group’s continued tactic of creating chaos by murdering key people wasn’t affecting people as much as it should.

  Tom looked up to the sky feeling his mind being pushed on by the Iumenta above. He dropped his mental defenses, feeling waves of calm wash over him. There was no reason to be worried, there was no war…he brought his defenses back up. Again he was racked with worry. A few people on the street paused as the dragon flew overhead, some even looked around. They’re starting to feel the influence.

  He caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. Same one as earlier he thought. Whoever his tail was obviously wasn’t overly skilled. Tom kept on walking. He wasn’t doing anything right now; when he needed to work he’d lose the tail easy enough.

  He made his way back to the shop. Inside Brian and Seth sat behind the counter, staring off into space.

  “What’s going on with you two?” Tom asked.

  Seth shook himself, “Bleedin Ascended, isn’t it?”

  “Aren’t you blocking them?” Tom asked wondering why Seth would allow himself to be influenced.

  Brian snorted, “Tom, you can’t be telling me you don’t see what’s going on out there, can ya?”

  He just raised a brow.

  Seth spoke, “See, I was out last night, ya know, up on the roofs doing some recon
. Anyway, some Ascended came over head. It didn’t seem to care much about me, but on the street I saw the people’s steps pickup a bit. So, I let down my defenses some. Sure enough, I felt pretty dang happy and safe. A few people looked around wondering what gave and that’s when I saw them.”

  “Who?” Tom asked.

  Seth winked, “A couple Iumenta, they were watching the people.”

  “So?”

  Brian spoke, “Come on Tom, think about it. What would they be able to see?”

  Tom was about to say he didn’t know and then it hit him. People who were noticing the touch of an Ascended would look around in confusion, people who didn’t know would pickup their pace and look happier. But those who were blocking the Ascended…

  “They are looking for people trained to block Venefica…” Tom said stunned.

  “That’s what we think. That’s why we have been leaving our mental defenses down; it helps us to blend in better. You may want to do the same,” Brian said and looked at the door as a customer walked in.

  * * * * *

  Laura closed the book she was reading. On the couch opposite her was Rachel, they were in the Palace library. Rachel looked up at her and a small smile touched her face.

  "You like it here don't you?" Laura asked referring to the library.

  Rachel put down whatever she was reading. "Yes I do, it's not just the quiet of the place but everything about it." She motioned to the book cases that towered above them, "This room is quiet not for lack of company but because nothing in the room speaks with sound," she said.

  "I'm not following," Laura said.

  "The books, even when I am the only person in here I don't feel alone, I have the books for company. I know it's an odd sort of thing to say, but that's how I see this place. Anyway, when I'm in here I don't really feel threatened or sad; I can pick a volume off one of the shelves and be taken to a different place, a different life. There is no war or death or suffering."

  "What do you like to read?" Laura asked intrigued by the girl’s point of view.