Rise of the Young: Warriors are not made; they are forged (The Ascended Book 2)

by Bygott, Hugo C.

  “I have. And he’s lost every time,” said Abel.

  “That might not always be the case,” said Eclipse.

  “I’m very sure it won’t.” Abel folded his arms once more and leaned back against the chair.

  “Why do we always have to fight?” asked Athena, suddenly. “I mean, we can do so much more with our gifts. Why does everyone only consider fighting?”

  “It’s—” began Eclipse.

  “Because the User society is built upon fear and strength,” said Abel, cutting her off.

  “No, that’s what you’re made to believe. We can change things if we try,” retorted Athena.

  “Unlikely,” Abel said, flatly.

  Athena’s cheeks turned red. “And what do you know? You’re just the same as the others who love to fight. You even fight Kry to see who’s stronger. There were people a long time ago who fought back against the Shadow Government to try and create a better world.”

  “I’m not the same,” said Abel. “You don’t know me.”

  “I’ve seen enough to know,” replied Athena. “You remain quiet in class because you’re too scared to do anything.”

  Abel narrowed his eyes. “Is that what you think?”

  “It is,” snapped Athena.

  “That’s enough. We’re on the same team, remember?” said Eclipse, trying to break up the sudden animosity between them.

  Athena sighed and looked away.

  “Sexual tension?” joked Thrace.

  Inessa slapped Thrace’s arm.

  “Excuse me?” said Athena, her face reddening.

  Thrace placated her with his hands and smiled. “Just trying to ease the mood.”

  Athena huffed and leaned back against her seat. “Not in a million years,” she said under hear breath.

  Thrace almost choked on his laughter. “Sorry Abel, maybe she’s interested in Kry. He is an Ascended after all.”

  Inessa punched him in the arm this time. “Shut up, Thrace.”

  Abel looked uncomfortable; his face was distorted in confusion.

  “I’m not interested in anyone!” said Athena, her arms now crossed against her chest.

  Eclipse slammed Kuro on the table. Everyone jumped, except Abel who still looked perplexed by Thrace’s comments. “Glad I have your attention,” she said with intensity.

  Thrace lowered his eyes.

  Eclipse kept Kuro in front of her. “As I was saying before we became side-tracked,” she scowled at Thrace, “Kry is an Ascended, and we don’t know why or how. Before we came to this university, we fought against the Shadow Government.” Eclipse then told the story of everything that had happened to them—from her time in Japan to the fight against Dominus and Bellum. She left no detail go untold as she recounted the tragedies of their loved ones and the sacrifices that were made. She continued to talk for some time about Rush, her mother, and Kry’s headaches. By the time she had told everything, there were several faces of disbelief.

  Thrace leaned forward. “Are you serious?”

  “I am,” said Eclipse. She hoped she had made the right decision to tell them everything.

  “We’re telling you this because we trust you. Kry needs our help. He’s our friend, and I consider him family,” said Whisper.

  “He is family, and now the whole university knows. If this gets out, the Shadow Government will send agents for him,” said Eclipse.

  “I don’t think so,” said Abel.

  Everyone turned to him.

  “What do you mean?” asked Eclipse.

  “It’s common knowledge that this university is sponsored by the Shadow Government and receives funding from them, but President Katar, as well as the majority of the professors, are not keen on their interference. They’ll not communicate with the Shadow Government about this,” said Abel.

  “Then what will happen?” added Whisper.

  “That I don’t know. The professors will decide Kry’s fate,” said Abel.

  “I hope it’s true that the Shadow Government won’t be alerted here. We came here to become stronger, so we could fight back, just like Alana and Konrad had done in the User Civil War,” said Eclipse.

  Athena pulled out a notepad and began writing. “I can’t believe all this new information. That they never died and were Kry’s parents is simply incredible.”

  “I’m still shocked that your mother was a Blade. Now, I understand how you fight so well,” said Inessa.

  Eclipse was humbled by the praise, but she knew she had many weaknesses still. “Not nearly as good as I’d like to be. I’ve much to learn before I can be considered my mother’s equal.”

  “You already fight with great prowess. When I stood by your side in the Cube, I saw your courage and determination. I’m glad we’re friends,” said Akira.

  Eclipse appreciated his words. Akira had fought his own inner battle with Ren, and one which unexpectedly had ended when Ren had revealed the truth about his sister. There was new life in Akira’s eyes, and he had been a battle brother to her inside the Cube.

  “There’s something that you should know,” added Abel. He looked unsure whether to continue.

  “What is it?” asked Eclipse.

  “You’ve revealed much to us, and I sympathize for the loss of your loved ones, but when I looked into Kry’s mind, I found something that you didn’t mention,” said Abel.

  Eclipse was worried. “What did you see, Abel?”

  “You might not like what I’m about to tell you,” said Abel.

  “Whatever it is, Kry’s our friend, no matter what,” said Whisper.

  “Tell us,” said Eclipse.

  “It’s better that I show you,” said Abel. With his two fingers, he began to draw an image in front of him. The energy whisked around as two boys played in a field, laughing under a blue sky.

  “I’ve seen that image before,” said Whisper. “It was back at Bellum when we were confronted by Mary, the User who tried to kill us.”

  Eclipse had heard Kry speak of his dreams before, about the two boys, but the meaning of it all was still unclear.

  Abel ran his fingers in the air. “Look closely,” he urged.

  The two boys ran across the field, but this time there was something else in the image. A dark mist hovered above them. It was so faint that if you did not look closely, you would miss it entirely.

  Thrace pointed at the mist. “What is that?”

  Abel blew the image away. “I don’t know, but I’ve seen it before.”

  Athena was no longer writing notes and was amazed at the image. “You’ve seen the mist before?”

  Abel looked at each of them. “You all have.”

  Eclipse tried to recall if she had ever seen anything like it, and then she realized where. “Professor Zero.”

  “Yes,” said Abel.

  “Yes, there’s a dark mist that floats around Zero sometimes,” said Whisper. “But what is it?”

  “Abel, what does it mean?” asked Eclipse.

  Abel sighed heavily. “I once told Kry to be careful of Zero, because before I came to this university, there was another User who also had a dark mist that occasionally surrounded him. From my experience, it’s not good, and it’s a darkness which if not controlled will change Kry to become someone completely different.”

  Eclipse wished Rush was here. She knew he would be able to handle this, but she was not sure if she could.

  “What happened to the other User who you say had a similar dark mist?” asked Thrace.

  “He disappeared,” said Abel.

  The library was silent as they sat around the table deep in thought.

  Eclipse tightened her grip on Kuro. “Kry hasn’t developed any dark mist, though.”

  “No,” said Abel. “He has, but you haven’t seen it yet. I saw it when I entered his mind. It’s growing, and Kry’s sudden change is not as sudden as you think.”

  Eclipse was angry with herself for not having seen this sooner. She was supposed to help Kry, and he had been fig
hting this alone. She wished she had spoken to him after he had left the Cube, but for some reason, Kry had disappeared as soon as he had left the stadium. She and Whisper had tried to meet with him, but he had already gone.

  “Whisper, where is Kry now?” asked Eclipse.

  “I sensed his presence when I walked past his room,” said Whisper.

  “Good. Tomorrow, we’ll talk to him,” she said.

  “There’s a darkness inside of him, Eclipse. I don’t know how long you have before it completely takes over,” said Abel.

  “I won’t allow that. Kry is strong. I believe he has a purpose in stopping the Shadow Government,” said Eclipse.

  Abel remained quiet, but his face showed his doubt.

  “Having heard all this, it still puzzles me who Kry really is. Even you don’t seem to know,” said Thrace. “He’s an Ascended, but it doesn’t make any sense.”

  “I know that. Everything is still a mystery, but Kry’s powers were locked away by Jaeger—” said Eclipse.

  “Jaeger?” interrupted Athena.

  “Yes, Jaeger was the one who placed a lock on Kry’s mind which apparently was why he had such severe headaches. They were suppressing his power,” said Eclipse.

  “Some time ago, Kry and I were studying in the library. He found some new books which I hadn’t seen before, but the book he was most interested in was written by Jaeger,” said Athena.

  Whisper was stunned. “Jaeger wrote a book?”

  “He wrote many. He was an accomplished User of the highest rank, the First Seeker, and revered by the Shadow Government for his techniques and ideas,” said Athena. “Actually, looking back on it, Kry began to act strangely as soon as he’d read it. I remember now; he rushed out of the library.”

  “Where’s the book now?” asked Eclipse.

  Athena shook her head. “I don’t know where he found them, but I have read almost every book here. Even now, I have yet to find those books he brought me that day.”

  “What was it called? We have to find it. There may be something that can help us understand why Kry suddenly changed,” said Eclipse.

  “It was called ‘Unlocking & Locking the Mind,’” said Athena.

  Eclipse left her seat and began to search the stacks of books on the shelves. The others did likewise as everyone searched the library. Only Abel remained at the table watching them.

  After some time, everyone had returned to the table without success.

  “There are just too many books here. It’ll take forever,” said Eclipse.

  Athena was agitated. “Typical,” she said, looking at Abel. “Aren’t you going to help? Are you afraid that Kry will eventually beat you?”

  Eclipse was surprised by how blunt Athena was.

  Abel raised his eyebrows at Athena. “You seem to have the wrong impression of me.”

  Athena placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. “I think I have the right impression of you. Kry needs your help, and all you can do is sit there on your mighty throne.”

  Abel looked at his seat. “I see no throne.”

  Everyone seemed to be uncomfortable as Athena only grew angrier.

  “I hope Kry beats you silly next time you fight,” said Athena.

  Abel held back a smile. “If that happens, then I’ll be sure to let you know.”

  Athena frowned. “Why do you love to fight so much?”

  “I don’t,” he said. “I hate it. There was a time when I might have enjoyed it, but that time is long past.”

  Athena studied him. “Please help us then. Kry needs our help.”

  Abel looked at her and then to each of them around the table.

  “You’re the most skilled User among us, Abel. If you know of a way to find the book, then please help us,” said Eclipse.

  Finally, Abel stood up and closed his eyes. “I will find your book.”

  With great focus, Abel used his energy to search the library, concentrating on the title of the book. Almost immediately, a glowing beacon appeared from the corner of his mind. He reopened his eyes. “This way.”

  They followed Abel to the far end of the library and stopped in front of a set of bookshelves.

  “I’ve already looked here,” said Inessa.

  Abel closed his eyes once more and placed his hand on a navy-colored book. He reopened his eyes, pulled the book out and pressed a button at the back of the shelf. The bookshelf opened up, revealing another bookshelf behind it.

  “I heard that the professors had a secret shelf, but I never believed it. This must be where Kry found the book!” said Athena. She looked at Abel with sudden admiration.

  Abel scanned the shelf and pulled out a single book bound with red leather. He then passed the book to Eclipse.

  “Thank you, Abel,” said Eclipse. She ran her fingers over the author’s initials: ‘J.M.’

  “The information in a book can be deadlier than any weapon,” warned Abel.

  The book was soft in Eclipse’s hand. She wasted no time and returned with the others to the table. They gathered around her with curiosity.

  Eclipse opened the book and scanned the pages. “Somebody has underlined dozens of passages.”

  “It has to be Kry,” asserted Athena.

  Eclipse flicked to the next page. Her heart sank as she read the underlined sections.

  This is done, first, by stripping them of their personality.

  Some would even say it was a darkness within them.

  We strip them of their memories.

  “And Jaeger wrote this book?” asked Eclipse.

  “Yes. Jaeger Mattius,” replied Athena.

  “Kry must have returned to read this book on more than one occasion. What else do you remember when he first read this, Athena?” pressed Eclipse.

  Athena saw the concern in her eyes. “I don’t know. There’s nothing else in particular apart from this book.”

  “Think!” said Eclipse, abruptly.

  Athena was surprised by her reaction. She tried to think back to that day when Kry had found the book and what they had discussed. Her face lit up.

  “What is it?” asked Eclipse.

  Athena ignored her and turned to Abel. “Draw the image again,” she said with urgency.

  Abel looked at her oddly.

  “Now!” demanded Athena.

  Abel brought forth the energy from his finger and drew the image of the two boys once more.

  Athena placed her face close to the image and looked back and forth. She then quickly ran off and returned with another book: ‘The User Civil War.’

  Abel dispersed the image as Athena searched through the pages.

  “Here,” said Athena, her finger pointing to the open page.

  There was a picture of two boys on the page.

  “Kry asked me about Jaeger, and I told him Jaeger was once a loyal servant of the Shadow Government until the disagreement among them in the User Civil War. The disagreement was about these two boys,” said Athena. “It all makes sense.”

  Eclipse read the page. It recorded the story of the uncertainty about the origin of the two boys and how the members of the Shadow Government disagreed regarding their fate.

  “I see it, too,” said Abel.

  Thrace looked at each of them with profound shock. “Do you really think…?”

  “Yes,” said Athena. “Kry is one of those boys!”

  Eclipse recalled Rush’s earlier conversations and now understood that Rush had known the truth also.

  “But it says they were killed,” said Whisper.

  “Kry is proof that at least one didn’t, and Jaeger must have placed the lock on Kry’s mind soon after for some unknown purpose. I’m confident that this is the truth, and I believe Kry came to the same conclusion when we spoke that day. It explains why he left so suddenly. He must be confused, lost…” Athena’s words trailed off in sadness.

  Eclipse closed the book. “You’re right. Kry’s power and his strange dreams of the two boys lead us to this possibilit
y. He could be one of them, and if it’s true, then the Shadow Government wanted him dead from the very beginning. Whatever Jaeger’s reasoning, he’s at the center of all this.”

  “We have to let Kry know we support him. Whatever the darkness is, we can help him now we know,” said Whisper.

  “It might not be that easy. Kry’s darkness has already taken shape. We saw that firsthand in the Cube,” said Abel.

  “We have to try!” said Whisper.

  “If Kry is one of the boys, then who is the other?” asked Thrace.

  “Either dead or he’s like Kry with his memories locked,” said Athena.

  Eclipse needed to speak with Rush. Where was he? “For now, we go back, get some rest, and continue with our lessons as if nothing has happened. Whisper and I will speak with Kry the first chance we get.”

  “I can’t believe that Kry could be one of those boys,” said Inessa.

  “It’s a mystery. Even their origins are unexplained in the history books,” said Athena. “Even with this information, it doesn’t explain who Kry really is, and…”

  Eclipse was impressed with how Athena had put the pieces together, but maybe it was too good. “And what?”

  Athena looked unsure.

  “Go ahead. We need to understand everything,” said Eclipse.

  “In the books, the boys have no origin. There are only rumors of their existence, but you stated that he was the son of Alana and Konrad. This wasn’t recorded in any books that I’ve read, and they only had one son, right?”

  Eclipse could see where she was going.

  “For Kry to be one of those boys, then it’s hard to believe that he could’ve been their son unless there’s something missing,” said Athena.

  “Julia and David were his parents!” protested Whisper.

  “I don’t mean anything by it. These are just my conclusions,” said Athena.

  Eclipse touched Whisper’s shoulder. She knew how much Kry’s parents meant to Whisper when they took him in. She never had a chance to meet them, but they had been good friends with her mother. She hoped Athena was wrong.

  “Thank you, Athena. There’s a lot to think about,” said Eclipse. She could see that Whisper was still upset about the doubt surrounding Kry’s parents.

  “It’s getting late, and we have classes early tomorrow,” said Thrace.