by Isu Yin
She finished changing, left her folded clothes on the vanity stool, and returned to the main hall to meet with Fortis and Hero.
Fortis turned first, arms folded. “Lady Fate, I’ll be overseeing your training to ensure there aren’t any mishaps.” His focus narrowed onto Hero. “There will be no weapons or elements. This is purely training so all of your actions must contribute to her education. If any of these rules are broken, I will step in and return the offense.”
Hero’s expression was still except for a split second when his lips pressed tightly together either in disapproval or distaste. His hands opened and closed at his sides.
Fate checked him again, and understood better this time—he wasn’t concealing anger or distaste, but a smile.
You may have your fists, Prince Hero, but I have a clear mind against your volatile one.
The training session moved to the sparring hall just beyond the entry way. Fortis stood at a distance, concentrating on the space between Hero and Fate.
Hero tilted his head. “Have you ever taken a hit?”
“Not a real one,” she said.
He blinked hard, parted his lips, and silence befell him. Even the air around him seemed to ask: What does that mean?
After a visible analytical process, he twitched and continued. “The first thing you need to learn is evasion, but before that, you need to learn to take a hit.”
“Pardon?” She questioned his sanity for a moment. No one had ever suggested such a thing to her, nor had she ever read of it occurring.
Fortis shrugged and nodded.
“Let’s assume you intend to face someone like Mortis,” Hero said. “However absurd it may seem, let’s assume it’s the case. Fighting someone stronger than you is pointless and often fatal, so you need to learn how to survive. You’re not like me or anyone else here, you’re an entertainer. You’re not going to learn to fight any one of us in a mere turn.”
“You know, you usually don’t talk this much. I liked it better that way.”
He displayed what appeared to have been a real smile. At any rate, it wasn’t his ‘U’ smile. “First rule: don’t insult the person training you.”
She caught Fortis grimace out of the corner of her eye, but by the time she looked forward again, Hero’s fist had stricken her across the jaw and darkness caved in around her.
Fate groaned and sighed as the space above her spun into place. She had spent more time being unconscious since she first met Hero than ever before.
The ceiling overhead exuded colorful light, and peculiar orbs floated by her line of sight. She spotted the spinning wheel off to the side.
The masked boy leaned over her then disappeared again.
In a haze of warbled voices, she distinguished him speaking to the red-haired man.
“Master, she is back.”
“Who’s back?”
“Not Mistress.”
The red-haired man chuckled, and they leaned over Fate. “Greetings, Not Mistress. Or shall I call you Fate?”
She rubbed her jaw and forced herself upright. “How do you know my name?”
“I know everyone’s name.”
The bright light in the room glinted into her eyes when she tried to look at the masked boy. “Then, is his name Leoht?”
“My, my, is that why you’re here?”
“I’m here because....” A list of terrible names for Hero ran through her mind. “Never mind, it’s not important. By any chance, could Mistress be the Spinner, Fati?”
The red-haired man chuckled again and tenderly pressed a hand to his mouth, perhaps in a display of courtesy—not that it stopped him from laughing. “Oh yes, Leoht is very fond of her. You resemble her, so I suppose he can’t help but make the mistake.”
“She’s older like me?”
“No, but that doesn’t matter, does it? When you wish to see someone, you’ll see them everywhere.”
She glanced at Leoht. His head was turned her way, so she could only guess he was sensing her. She leaned close, studying the mask for openings. “Leoht, can you see?”
The red-haired man leaned against his hand. “I didn’t mean that he can see you. It’s important to consider his perspective. He can’t easily perceive the difference between you and Fati. Spiritual blinding crosses a physical boundary. Therefore, even his spirit can’t see you clearly. The mask itself merely serves to show that he has been blinded. It’s not a regular seal, so removing it wouldn’t cure him.”
She reached out and touched the mask. “Why? For what was he punished?”
“That’s something only he can answer. I’ve no right to tell you.”
She turned back to Leoht. “Please tell me why they’ve done this to you.” She clung desperately to the idea that understanding Leoht’s situation might clear up her current predicament. If she could uncover the reason for his blinding, it might clarify whether or not the Tainted deserved punishment.
Before he could answer, the vision dissipated around her—the spinning wheel dispersed into colored smoke, then the scrolls, and the red-haired man. She swiped her hand to reach Leoht, but only grasped wisps of her dispelling vision. All the elements of the vibrant world dissolved like ink in water.
“No, not yet. Not yet.”
“Leoht!” Fate shot up, her lungs releasing a painful gasp. The room spun gradually back into place until she could see the sparring hall.
Hero stared wide-eyed, exhaling. “Huh?”
“Sorry... I was having a weird dream.”
“I’d say.” His fingers brushed against her jaw. “I guess I hit you too hard.”
She slapped away his hand then sat back, bewildered by her own reaction. “Sorry, I don’t know why—”
“That’s a good reaction to give someone who just struck you.” He returned to his position, unfazed. “I’ve decided to take a gentler approach. You’ll learn faster if we can keep you conscious. Try to get up. Let’s work on basic evasion. I’ll tell you what to avoid.”
She staggered to her feet, glancing around for a better understanding of his sudden change.
Fortis had vanished from the scene, most likely due to her blackout.
Is it okay to practice without a safeguard?
“I’d like you to try hitting me,” Hero stated.
“You’re not going to hit me back, are you?”
“It’s not worth it. If you don’t learn to fight I won’t enjoy it. It’s like fighting a child. Where’s the fun in that? So, hit me as hard as you can, because I won’t let you do it again.”
She pulled back her right hand, swung her shoulders, and her fist cut through the air—slowly, ever so slowly—towards Hero’s face.
The impact caused him to involuntarily chuckle and then, as much as he tried to hold it back, burst into laughter. “Aren’t you left-handed? Why are you striking with your right hand?”
“How did you know?”
“Abyssus told me when we met.”
She held back her urge to kick him. “My right hand is stronger.”
“Is it? Then we have a lot of practice ahead of us. Let’s talk about falling. If you fell, what would you do first?”
“I suppose I’d protect my head. It depends on how I fall.”
“That’s good. What would you do first if I walked over and shoved you?”
She envisioned the attack as best as possible, and put out her hands.
“Try not to use your hands. If you land wrong you can break a wrist or collarbone. Broken fingers and nerve damage are particularly irritating, like an itch you can’t scratch.”
“So what should I do?”
He partially threw her while supporting her weight in a suspended fall. “If you’re falling like this, try and turn onto your back. It’s better not to impact more sensitive areas. You were right to say that you should protect your head, but let’s try and train you to fall with precision. Can you jump or slide or roll with confidence?”
“Wha—what? No! Why would I learn any of this
at a brothel?”
He kept a fixed smile. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s not like you planned on overthrowing the Empire.”
She initially took offense to his remark, considering he so snidely labeled her a helpless opponent, but the words looped around in her head, and she reevaluated it after realizing he might really assist her in restoring the Empire. He certainly possessed the strength and wisdom to teach her.
His grip released and she hit the floor, hands first. “No hands.” He knelt down, placing his hands out flat in the air. “When it comes to rolling, try positioning yourself like this. If you get used to moving this way, you’ll learn to try it in other ways.” He rolled swiftly back into a kneeling position. “If you’re afraid, try rocking into it. Don’t overthink it.”
Once she recovered, she rocked once or twice, inhaling and exhaling. She performed her first roll with her eyes closed. It flew by in a flash, and caused an awkward spinning in her head. At the end, she opened her eyes to see Hero smiling.
“Good, let’s pull out the mats. It should be easier if you feel safe.”
The air left her lungs. “I’m glad you said that. It’s terrifying to think that I could crack open my head on this marble.”
He’s really teaching me... but will this be enough to change his mind?
She was starting to see why Abyssus found it so easy to talk with Hero. The princes had a similar sarcastic manner of speaking. She asked herself if they were always so alike, or if Abyssus had somehow influenced Hero.
A person will always lead well and charm others in situations where they have the upper hand.
In the brothel, my sisters and I could enchant even the most stubborn men. We survived by captivating clients and encouraging them to spend money, which we needed to stay off the streets. Though that was true, Hero’s survivalist mentality surpassed that of anyone I had met. He wasn’t just trained, he was paranoid, or should I say, reasonably cautious. I didn’t fully comprehend his predicament then, and judged him too quickly.
Now, I understand that no one expected him to survive. The people around us believed I would give up and turn him over to the Council.
Every day, I thank Grim that I was level-headed and wise enough to make my own decisions.
Hero and I were as different as black and white, but in many ways, it provided an advantage for me. No matter how skeptical or keen his senses, some depths he simply could not reach or perceive. He was simply too detached to foresee how emotions played their role.
Hero dragged an enormous blue mat into the sparring hall and spread it evenly across the floor. “This is softer, but it’s nothing like real terrain. The key is to get comfortable enough to move quickly from harm, no matter where you are.”
“May I ask you a question?” Fate stepped onto the mat, testing the surface with her foot.
“You’ve been asking them all morning, so why stop now?”
His retorts affected her less and less each time he spoke. “When you were with Mortis you did some kind of sideways spin. How did you do that?”
He leapt and executed one of the spins. “That?”
“Yeah!”
“For time’s sake, let’s call it aerial evasion. The answer is: trial and error. I’ve been training since I was able to walk. Don’t expect to spontaneously master these abilities.”
“What should I do if I have to face someone? Like you said, I don’t have much strength, but I don’t want to be a burden either. Next time someone is in danger, I won’t stand back and watch. I can’t.”
“Then you will die. I suggest you stay out of harm’s way. When you’re around, others will feel obligated to protect you, but no one can really focus on two things at once.”
Fate’s heart grew so heavy her feet felt like lead. “That’s what you say, but didn’t I save your life?”
“It was a fluke. Darkness is a gathering of negative energy—the worse you feel, the stronger you’ll be. If Abyssus hadn’t already died, you wouldn’t have managed to gather the strength to stop Mortis. Elements are only useful if you understand how to use them.”
“How do you know that?”
He sat down on the mats and tossed back his head, sighing. “I’ve read the Teachings of Grim. It’s frustrating that you don’t understand your own physical state.”
“You can read the Language of Ages? Why?”
“I don’t know. It comes naturally. Do you want to focus on training or not?”
“It’s just... I’m having these strange dreams... or visions. They seem related to the Ancient scriptures, but I can’t read them.” She realized she spoke the truth too easily, but it was too late to stop the words.
He’s tainted! What am I doing?
“Visions? Ah, that’s why you shouted ‘Leoht’?”
“Yes, there’s a boy there who wears a black mask with no place to see from. There’s also a man, like the Creator in the Story of Night and Day. I was going to ask Leoht why he was punished, but I stirred from my sleep.”
“Why don’t you read a translation of the story?”
“You have one?”
“Chi does. I suppose I could ask her for it... if you ask nicely.”
“Must you be so impudent? I’m doing this for your sake.” She tried using the truth to test his reactions, to see if she could coerce him with it. To some degree, it swayed him, just not enough to take the edge from his gaze. “I might not be strong like you, or trained, but neither am I tainted. You must know as well as I do that you’re walking a fine line between life and death. If you take a step too close, you’re going to be killed.”
He feigned laughter. “Is that a threat?”
A blur of silver and a flash of light cut through Fate’s line of sight as he pressed a switch blade against her throat. Warm blood trickled down her neck.
“You aren’t Abyssus, so don’t think for a moment that you’re in safe hands.”
Fate blinked once and pushed the blade away from her neck. “That wasn’t a threat, just a fact.” She prattled, unsure of what she was really saying. This technique often worked in her favor, so she continued, still wanting to provoke an emotional response. “You’re like a puppet in the game of life, and let me tell you again—I am fate. If anyone chooses who lives and dies, it’s me.”
He tilted his head at her, but his thoughts remained concealed behind his still gaze. One way or another, he was certainly perplexed by her reaction. “You’re—”
“Hero!” Fortis called over the staircase. “Time for your studies.”
Hero returned his switchblade to a strap on his leg and walked back to the staircase, glancing at Fate from a distance. He passed by Fortis without a word and disappeared upstairs.
Fortis offered Fate his hand. “Are you all right? I was watching everything.”
Fate nodded and wiped the blood from her neck. “Yeah, but I need to talk to you.”
“Okay, but why don’t we pay a visit to the brothel? Kyou and Chi should be there.”
“Chi? She’s here again?”
“She came to check on Hero. Firmus has been visiting the Capital for recovery, so she worried that the situation might have worsened on our side. Usually, we have more wheels set into motion, but we’re losing pieces left and right.”
“Then I’d like to speak with everyone.” Mention of Firmus brought back the pain of Abyssus’ death. Fortis was right: all of the remaining components were falling apart. “Let’s hurry and meet with the others,” she said. “We need to move along before we’re completely incapacitated.”
If anything good had happened since the death of Abyssus, it was that the major players of the Rebellion had gathered. Fate could find them at the brothel since it was considered separate from the twin palaces. Neither king had control over Fortuna’s property.
Fortis and Fate discovered the others arguing in the hearth room.
Chi jumped up from the table and hovered around Fate. “I heard you have joined us.”
Fate only kn
ew two Caeles, but they both had a habit of leaning uncomfortably close to intimidate her. “I was technically a part of the Rebellion already.”
“Chi, back up,” Fortis said. “Hero just pressed a knife against her throat. I think she could use some space to breathe.”
“He what?” Chi withdrew quickly. “I apologize. I did not mean to suffocate you.”
Fortis rested a hand on Fate’s shoulder. “She wanted to speak with us, so let’s calm down and listen.”
Fortuna patted the mats. “Come sit with us.”
Everyone in the room sat around the low table, pushing aside empty bottles of alcohol, or collecting what was left to suck them dry.
“I spent the morning with Hero,” Fate said. “I tried many different approaches until he snapped. He’s too volatile. I don’t think he trusts anyone.”
Fortis corrected her. “He trusts Chi because she’s never around. Kyou spends too much time with Fortuna and me.”
Kyou agreed. “Yeah, he’s skeptical of me.”
Fortuna took a shot of liquor. “Hero lives by the idea that it’s okay to do bad things for good reasons—the ends justify the mean—a common principle with the Tainted. He could be an incredible asset, or another lost piece on a massive chessboard.”
Fate had stepped up to fulfill her role at a young age, before she knew anything about the game she was playing. Although she used to be a pawn, now she took a greater position on the board.
But where is Hero on this board?
She scrutinized every person in the room. “You’re all keeping something from me, I know it. Hero’s important because he carries the title of Capital successor, right? But he can be replaced. So this is about something else, but what is it? This isn’t just about Elaine or his title. Why are all of you so desperate?”