by B. T. Narro
Afterward, Basen ripped open a portal to the Group One training grounds. He’d gotten so used to this arduous task that now it just felt like lifting something heavy. A great strain, yes, but completely manageable. He wondered if it might be possible one day to make a portal without the boost of energy from an akorell stone.
He tumbled through the portal after Vithos and onto the training grounds. As much as he’d gotten used to creating a portal, going through one was still a problem. He sat on the sand and held his stomach.
There was no crowd of Group One mages to celebrate his return. In fact, not a single person knew he was back or what he’d done. With Yeso dead, and Fatholl’s threat to the rest of Yeso’s Elves, they would no longer be an opponent in this war. Basen smiled through the nausea at being able to deliver this exciting news. Even Penny wouldn’t be able to deny he’d made good use of his time away from training.
First he had to make sure his mother and her escorts had returned safely. “I’m going to see my father,” he told Vithos.
“I’m going to see Terren,” Vithos replied.
With both leaders living near each other, Basen and Vithos could walk in the same direction. Enjoying Vithos’ silent companionship, Basen felt as if he’d made at least one Elven friend, even if all others wanted to kill him.
*****
The lights were out in his father’s house. Basen raised his arm to knock, then stopped himself. News of his return could wait until tomorrow, so as not to disturb Henry’s sleep. He just wanted to make sure his mother was in fact there. Basen walked around to where he knew the bedroom to be of this small house. Being a residence for faculty, it was different than the student houses. It had a large living room that Henry could use as an office or to hold meetings. The bedroom was bigger as well, with a bed that fit two far easier than any of the student beds.
Basen tried to get a glimpse to ensure both his parents were there, but the curtains were drawn. He noticed Vithos hadn’t yet knocked on Terren’s door, so he hurried over.
“I didn’t want to wake them,” Basen explained.
That stopped Vithos from knocking. “You’re right. We shouldn’t wake Terren, too.”
After he and Vithos separated, Basen decided to check on his roommate to make sure that she, Effie, Steffen, the Krepps, and of course his mother were back and safe. Otherwise, Basen wouldn’t be able to sleep.
Fortunately, Annah awoke when he unlocked the front door. She looked suspicious and a bit worried as she peered down the hallway, squinting as she moved her hair out of her face.
“It’s me,” he said, putting light upon himself from his wand.
“Basen!”
They met halfway down the hall and hugged.
“Did everyone make it back safely?” he asked.
“Yes, except some of the Krepps fell.”
“Fell? Did you have to climb part of the mountain?”
“No,” she whispered, her voice carrying pain. “Fell in battle. There were troops at Lake Kayvol, a hundred or so.”
“God’s mercy, I’m sorry! I didn’t think there would be, otherwise I wouldn’t have sent you there.”
“None of us thought anyone would be there, Basen. It’s not your fault. We all knew the plan before we left and assumed we would return without encountering enemies.”
“How many Krepps died?”
“Eight. But they were prepared to die. It was an honor for them. The other Krepps were proud of them, themselves, and us. Your mother…”
“What?”
“She fought in the battle. She mostly stayed with Effie toward the back, but I know she claimed at least one kill.”
“What in god’s world? I can’t even imagine her yelling, so I certainly can’t see her killing someone. Wait, did you say a hundred enemies?”
“Yes. We took them by surprise at night. They didn’t expect us to attack from the east. But soon they overwhelmed us, and the Krepps began to fall quickly. I heard Effie thanking Neeko later for saving her and Juliana’s life. He joined us mid-battle, Basen. He—” She stopped in search of words. “I don’t know how to describe what he does with swords, but it was incredible. I don’t think even Effie knew what he was fully capable of, because she seemed shocked, too.”
Basen held his head, suddenly dizzy. This was too much to take in. “I need to sit down, and we need some light other than from my wand.”
They went to Annah’s room, where he sat in the chair at her desk. She lit her bedside lamp and settled on her mattress, then proceeded to tell him everything.
“Neeko and Shara changed their minds the day after everyone left their cabin. They hurried to catch up but didn’t know the shortest or the safest route to the Academy. Neeko can lift himself with pyforial energy, and that’s eventually how he spotted us.”
“What do you mean?” Basen asked. “Are you saying he can fly?”
“Not exactly. It takes too much out of him to keep himself in the air, so he can’t stay up for long. He carried himself above the trees to look for us often, and as he and Shara caught up, he noticed enemies in our way. He and Shara—my stars.” Annah put her hands over her mouth, then dropped them. “I haven’t asked about your trip yet. Forgive me, I’m not quite awake yet.”
“It’s fine. I’d rather hear about what happened to you first anyway.”
“Did you at least…do what you intended to do?”
“Yeso I did…”
She chuckled, but then swatted her hand at him. “It’s not appropriate to joke about killing!” She stood and came over to hug him once more. “I’m glad you’re safe. So all went well, seriously?”
“Yes…o.”
They laughed together this time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Although his arm felt fine in the morning, Basen still needed an excuse to go to the medical building instead of to class where he would have to face Penny. Effie didn’t know he was back yet, so their instructor wouldn’t know, either. He hoped for Effie’s sake that Penny was only angry with him and not at her for leaving the Academy.
Basen slept through breakfast hours, then awoke to eat the last of the bread and cheese Vithos had taken from the pantry in Tenred castle. Then, while all mages, warriors, psychics, and chemists were training, he made his way to the medical building to surprise the person he most wanted to see.
He kept the bandage on his arm, and when he arrived, the first healer who noticed him asked about it.
“It’s fine,” Basen told the man. “I’m here to see Alabell Kerr. Do you know where she is?”
“That way.” The healer pointed down one of the three hallways branching out from the entrance.
Basen was shocked to find her trying to communicate with a Krepp. They were huddled over drawings of Krepps with injuries. Pointing at one of the drawings, then at her arm, the Krepp seemed to be attempting to explain how to treat a wound.
“Bandage?” Alabell asked, pointing at the rolls of cloth beside them.
“No,” the Krepp uttered. “Blood…errr…” She seemed to be thinking as she searched for the word.
“A lot of blood?”
“No. Blood good. Blood free.”
“I don’t understand? Why is blood good and free?”
Basen happily eavesdropped as he stood in the doorway.
“No. Good is free. Free!”
“Oh, free is Kreppen for good?”
“Yes, human.”
Alabell frowned. “That might get confusing.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“What nothing?”
Alabell shook her palms. “Don’t worry about it.” She pointed at the image of a Kreppen arm with a long cut. “Why is blood good?” Then she lowered her voice. “Dra lu…um…blu free?”
Basen held in a laugh. It was an amazing attempt at Kreppen, sounding akin to the female Krepps Basen had heard. But that didn’t stop the guttural sound from being hilarious coming from a dainty woman like Alabell.
/> “Blood heals. Human blood no heal?”
“No,” Alabell said with some surprise. “So…blu free…let bleed, then dry and bandage?”
“Yes, human. Good.”
Alabell took a breath as if exhausted already. Basen couldn’t imagine spending all day like this, but Alabell was already pointing at the next image of an arrow in a Krepp’s stomach.
Basen cleared his throat before she had a chance to ask about it. She turned and gasped.
“You’re back!”
She didn’t seem to notice his bandage yet as he opened his arms and she walked into them for a hug. It had been wonderful to return, but it didn’t compare to this feeling of holding her close. This was where he belonged, with her. She was the kindest person he knew, and he strived to be a better man whenever he thought of her drive to assist others.
“Hug,” the female Krepp commented, probably to practice her common tongue.
But something felt different in the way Alabell hugged him back. She seemed reserved, not squeezing as tightly or putting her head on his shoulder as she had in the past.
“Yes, hug,” Alabell confirmed.
“Love,” the Krepp commented.
A heavy silence followed. Alabell and Basen parted.
“Will you excuse us?” she asked the Krepp, then gestured toward the door with a polite turn of her hand.
“Yes. I will…execute you.” The Krepp promptly left.
“I sure hope not,” Basen teased.
Alabell chuckled. “That Krepp keeps calling me ‘human,’ did you hear?”
“Yes.”
“Is it just in my mind, or does she say it as if I’m a child?”
“You probably don’t want my theory.”
“Oh, I do.”
“I think she knows common tongue perfectly and she just enjoys creating disorder.”
Alabell laughed loudly. Her mouth had a way of opening wide first before a sound came out that Basen found adorable.
“I can imagine that very well,” Alabell said, then pointed at his bandaged arm. “Let me see.”
He unwrapped the bandage to show her his long wound. She didn’t do more than blink at the unsightly gash.
“Looks to be healing nicely. You got this early yesterday I assume?”
“Yes. Fatholl cut me with a poisoned dagger, but it wasn’t lethal. My arm swelled to about the size of my leg.”
“Ah, yellow poison. He intended to scare you.”
“You are smart. Yellow poison—that’s the name of it? Doesn’t sound very original.”
She took a quick sip of water, looking tired even though the day had just begun. “No, but that’s what most chemists call it. Sit and tell me everything.” She took a seat on the nearby medical bed but pointed at a chair facing her for him. He would’ve preferred the spot beside her, but something still seemed off about her demeanor. Perhaps she was angry with him, after all.
“I heard about your plan from your father,” she said. “You don’t need to explain it. The plan was risky but a good one. I’m glad to see you back here with just a cut on your arm.”
He gave her a quick summary of his events starting with his trip to Tenred castle. He’d lost track of the days he was away, though it felt like a month. As he told his story, it was almost impossible to keep his eyes from roaming up and down Alabell. She had grown more beautiful to him in their time apart. Her piercing eyes were mesmerizing, and her generous curves made his blood run hot.
But she appeared somewhat indifferent as she listened, wearing a small smile that could only be described as polite.
“That’s incredible,” she said when he was done. “Truly incredible. We can really expect the Elves to leave. I’m proud of you.”
While her words were sweet, there was barely any emotion attached to them.
“Uh, thank you.”
“I can give you an ointment that will reduce the chances of a scar on your arm, unless you want one?”
“Who wants a scar?”
“Some of the warriors.”
“Well, I don’t.” The thought of her touching him, even to rub ointment on an injury, was too pleasant to pass up.
“It’s actually a potion Steffen came up with,” Alabell said as she headed toward the hallway. “Stay there and I’ll get it.”
Basen would have to thank Steffen later, and not just for creating something to erase his scar. From what Annah had told Basen, Steffen had been the one to lead the Krepps into battle, fighting with them at the front.
Alabell returned with a silvery liquid on her fingers, her other hand cupped beneath to catch the drops.
“Caregelow?” Basen asked.
“It’s part of the potion.”
As she rubbed his arm gently, he felt goosebumps rise on his other arm as if it were jealous. When she seemed to be done, he took her hand.
“Alabell, I need to tell you something.” Since returning to the Academy, he’d been trying to come up with the right words but hadn’t found them yet. He’d hoped that when he saw her and she smiled at him, the right words would pour out of his mouth. But she had yet to give him one of her true Alabell smiles.
She put her hand on top of his as she showed him a crushing frown. “I have to tell you something as well.” She blushed. “I think you should let me speak first.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
She pulled her hand out of his grasp, and it felt like part of him had left with her.
“I was worried when I heard what you planned to do outside the Academy,” she said. “Each day that passed, the feeling became worse.”
Alabell seemed to have trouble keeping her gaze on Basen’s. He could hear in her tone that this was not out of embarrassment or discomfort but something far worse. She didn’t need to say the rest; Basen already knew. He could see their relationship withering away before him, yet there was nothing he could do to give it life again. His trip had caused a grievous wound that was about to bleed out.
“I missed you,” she continued. “I hoped to hear news each morning, but none came. I started to feel anger toward you, blind rage I couldn’t understand. Until finally, I did.” She paused for what looked to be a painful breath.
I’m sorry. He opened his mouth to say the words but nothing came out.
“I lost friends in the last war,” Alabell said. “And in this one, I lost my family. I think the anger at you comes from my heart trying to protect me. I can do everything in my power to save people from dying, but once they’re dead, I can’t…I don’t know how…” She let her voice trail off as she gave him the longest gaze yet.
It appeared she was searching for something in his eyes, studying him the same way Basen had found himself studying Fatholl. He hadn’t been sure whether the Elf was friend or foe, and now Alabell wasn’t sure whether Basen would bring her happiness or grief.
She stood. “I’m glad you’re back and you’re safe. And I’m so proud of you for what you’ve done. But I…can’t let myself open to you in that way. I got a glimpse of what it would be like to lose you, and I can’t deal with it. I can’t…let myself love you.”
She finally seemed to be finished, awaiting his reply with a lean toward him.
“Well…dammit,” he muttered, then stood as well.
“You’re not mad?”
“I can’t be mad when it makes sense.” He didn’t want her to see how much pain he was in. Her decision had been made, and he didn’t want her to feel miserable for it. But god’s mercy, those words were like a knife in his gut. “I can’t let myself love you.”
Now a hand was reaching up from his stomach and grabbing his throat. But he had to speak. She was waiting.
“I guess I’ll be going.” There was considerable strain in his voice that she had to notice.
“I’m so sorry.” She wiped a tear from one eye, then from the other.
He nodded and chewed on his lip, at a loss for words. After a moment of awkward silence, he left. The inner hand choking hi
s throat was stronger than ever as he stumbled out of the medical building. He went around the corner and knelt, surprised at how weak he felt.
His father had made many rules for Basen, and one was to never cry. He’d learned how to hold in his tears, as he would now. But he’d never learned how to end this debilitating feeling. That one conversation with Alabell had made his life feel pointless.
Stop being a fool, he told himself, though it was his father’s voice in his head. Just keep your head up and do your tasks. Time will heal you.
His sarcastic voice gave reply. Yeah…but time will also bring her into sight again.
He wasn’t sure how he was going to bear it. He’d been an idiot to assume they would end up together. He’d gotten his hopes too high.
The higher you are the worse the fall, and here I have fallen from the clouds.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Basen was thankful when the Redfield bell rang out three times. A meeting at Redfield Stadium might take his mind off Alabell, as well as delay whatever punishment Penny would give him. It wasn’t that he was worried, as a demotion to a lower group number was the worst she could do. He just didn’t want to see anyone right now.
Already close to the center of campus, he arrived to the stadium early and took a spot all the way at the top on the other side of the entrance, hoping none of his friends would notice him.
It took a long while for the stadium to fill with all the new people now at the Academy. They poured in through the wide entrance, most chatting with each other and even smiling. If there had been any strife between the original Academy members and those from Tenred, all signs of it were gone.
Terren entered when the stadium was about full, taking his place in the center to speak with Jack Rose. The last time Basen had seen the master chemist, he and Terren had been worried about Abith’s wishes to become headmaster. But when Abith entered, neither man gave him more than a passing glance. Either they’re not suspicious of him anymore or they’re good at pretending.