William of Archonia: Redemption

by Jarod Meyer

  Julia looked sad, like she wanted to continue to argue, but also knew that Angelica was right Jonas walked up beside them suddenly.

  “Good morning, Angelica. Miss...” he said, motioning towards Julia.

  “Hello, Jonas. This is my cousin, Julia,” Angelica said, slightly startled

  “How do you do, miss? Jonas, at your service,” he replied in his very old fashioned manner.

  Angelica noticed that he was walking normally now, with no trace of a limp, crutch, or cast. “Jonas your leg!”

  “I daresay it is as good as when the creators saw fit to give it to me,” he said, flashing a brilliantly white smile.

  “I’m so glad that you will be able to make the swim.”

  “And what was this I was hearing about you not being able to accompany us?” he asked, eyebrows raised.

  “Jonas, I am too new to this world. I could never swim that far. I tried last night and the weight above the water nearly drowned me.”

  Jonas laughed out loud. It almost sounded mocking, but his smile told her it was in good fun.

  “Oh, young Angelica, you do not have to swim alone. Your lovely cousin here offered to assist you. And how could I not lend you my aid when you so graciously came to mine own?”

  “Uh… for the record, I am married,” Julia said, flashing a silver band on her finger.

  Jonas didn’t seem to take notice, but looked between them as if waiting for a response.

  His straightforwardness took her aback, and at first she couldn’t respond. When she finally unscrambled the words in her head all she came up with was, “Ok.”

  “Then it is settled. Julia will help you with the first stretch. I will help you with the second stretch, and hmmm, I think someone might be able to help you with the last part,” he said, pointing towards the crowd still gathering.

  Angelica noticed Trisha right away. Her arms were no longer bandaged. Angelica hadn’t changed the dressing for a week, but it looked like they weren’t necessary any longer. The woman outstretched her arms. Angelica could see faint scars, but other than that should see any other indications the woman was ever burned. Such a wound should have left a person disfigured for the rest of their life.

  She embraced Trisha warmly, who acted as if Angelica was a long lost sister.

  “I never got to thank you. They always seemed to have me doped up on that good wine,” Trisha said.

  “There is no need to thank me. I was just sorry that we didn’t have the proper equipment on hand. I thought it was atrocious that they didn’t send us a healer along.”

  “Well, whether you want my thanks or not, you have it. And I am a very strong swimmer. I have made the trip to this wayshrine three times before.”

  “I really don’t want to put anyone at risk,” Angelica said.

  “Oh, Angie just shut up and take the help,” Julia said rolling her eyes.

  A smile broke out across Angelica’s face and she nodded. Trisha and Jonas cheered and the little group made their way into the crowd to watch the ceremony.

  A man, known simply as priest, shushed the crowd. He wore a simple dark brown robe, tied with braided hemp rope. He had shaved his head, which set him apart from almost everyone else in Archonia. There was, after all, almost no baldness here. The crowd quieted as he began to speak.

  “Children of the Creators, You have come many leagues, seeking the discovery of self. Whether through the mind, the body, or both you have been tested already in many ways,” he said, his voice higher in pitch than Angelica expected.

  His words struck Angelica. Perhaps her trials were on the road. Perhaps she had already been faced with her lesson.

  “Whatever you have discovered, know that it is for you, and you alone. Each of you is unique, made from an entirely different mold, and shaped by different hands. No matter how much you try to be alike in social culture…you…are…all…different!”

  Small murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd. Angelica looked at her friends, who stood quietly and listened.

  “At the same time, each of us shares a fundamentally identical feature. We are all human. Whether it be the color of our skin and eyes, or the shape and size of our body. We were all human. And as humans, we were bound to water upon the mortal plane - a nourishing substance that made up a majority of our flesh. Though life giving, it could also be treacherous. In accordance with the Creqouatl, I wish you all a safe journey through the waters. When we all meet upon the other shore we will celebrate what we have learned. Thank you my friends,” he said, finishing with a humble bow.

  As soon as the speech ended people began to walk to the water. Most had wrapped linens tightly around their private areas, crafting crude swimwear. Angelica spotted a few younger people wearing their own swimwear, which looked more modern and almost out of place. Angelica, who had resigned herself to not participate, had donned a long, flowing gown of bleached white cotton for the ceremony. She turned to her cousin, hoping for some advice or assistance.

  Julia grabbed her by the hand and marched her over to the garment tent. There she stripped off Angelica’s gown quickly, making her jump with fright and cover herself.

  “Oh relax! They are all probably a mile out in the water already.”

  “What about the people who are packing up the camp?” Angelica snapped.

  “Do not worry about it!”

  She started twirling Angelica at frightening speed, winding strips of linen around her body. She wrapped her breasts so tight that she could hardly breathe. Then she covered her hips, forming a rather tight undergarment.

  “You should be a fashion designer,” Angelica said, sarcastically.

  Julian didn’t respond. Instead, she simply dragged her back out onto the beach where Trisha and Jonas were waiting.

  “Ready?” Julia asked. The two nodded and turned towards the water, where many people were saying silent prayers on the sandy beach, or just wading out through the shallows.

  “A mile out in the water, huh?” Angelica said, throwing her cousin a little attitude. Julia simply shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.

  They stepped into the water as a group and felt the weight.

  “Okay. I can help you the first part of the swim,” said Jonas, breathing heavily under the crushing pull.

  “I will help you along the middle part,” Trisha said.

  “I suppose that means I have to drag your butt the last part,” Julia said with a smirk.

  “Okay, but I am not completely helpless. I can swim too. I will go until I get tired.”

  Soon they were in knee deep water, and Angelica dove headfirst under the cool, refreshing water. It was the perfect temperature, neither too cold nor too warm. While submerged she twisted her body so that she came up on her back and began to kick. The others jumped in too, though not as gracefully. She was clearly the better swimmer, but endurance was all that mattered here.

  Angelica relaxed her body, save her arms and legs, and fell into a comfortable scissor kick. It was a slow stroke, but the easiest to do while keeping her head level with the water. Whenever she tried to lift it up it felt like an invisible hand was forcing it back down again, so naturally she felt at home under the water. Occasionally she would dive and open her eyes. The bottom of the lake was no less spectacular than the rest of Archonia. There were endless reefs, teeming with exotic life forms, just beyond her arm’s reach.

  Angelica felt an urge to linger and explore the aquatic wonders, but knew that it would be wasted energy. Instead, she vowed to herself that she would return one day with more time and practice. Perhaps she could stay under for hours at a time. Who knew?

  When she surfaced she was momentarily blinded by the salt and light in her eyes. When her vision finally cleared she was astonished to find feet resting on the surface of the water next to her. She spotted toes sticking out from under a long, dark robe, and when she looked up she found the priest smiling down at her. She blinked again to confirm she wasn’t seeing things. He strode sw
iftly across the water, as confidently as if he walked on dry land. She craned her neck, straining to watch him until he was out of sight.

  “Did everyone just see that?” she asked

  Laughter spilled out over the water.

  “Yes, Angelica, he has done this many times,” Jonas replied. “Are you getting tired yet?”

  She was getting tired, but she didn’t want to give up yet.

  “How far have we swum? It feels like a couple of miles at least.”

  “Wow, you’re out of shape. We aren’t even out of sight of the shore yet.”

  Angelica made a point to kick towards Julia a little harder than normal, which only caused her cousin to laugh. Jonas was behind her and he swam up very quickly and grabbed both of Angelica’s arms and put them over his shoulders. Before she knew it they were flying through the water.

  She held on for dear life, as the water flowed forcefully around her, trying to pull her free.

  “This is a little fast!” she shrieked, her grip starting to slip almost immediately. He slowed up and allowed her to better position herself.

  “Sorry. Hold on tight!” he said.

  Even Julia was keeping the crazy pace. She had seen displays of the strength and speed of an Archonian mind, but it was still breathtaking to behold. They must have been going crazy trying to hold back while she slowly swam. They had easily gone five times the distance in a fraction of the time.

  Jonas was incredibly strong. His skin felt supple and soft, while forming perfectly over his muscles. She tried not to fixate on it, but that was difficult while draped over his shoulders He smelled good, even in the salty water. She could make out the faint musk of pine, and something else, but couldn’t quite put her finger on it. He plowed through the waves in a front crawl. His form didn’t look too bad, except for the fact that he had his head above the water the whole time.

  What must have been ten miles or more passed in a heartbeat. Soon, Trisha swam over and Angelica exchanged places. When Trisha’s arms wrapped around her and began to kick she felt very humbled, but also overcome with happiness. A few good deeds had made her some very loyal friends.

  Angelica wondered if this was the lesson she was meant to learn. It was something fundamental she learned when she was very young. But somehow, a refresher felt like just what she needed.

  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

  The people she helped had not asked for it. She had given it freely. In return, she had not asked for theirs, yet they helped her all the same. Complete strangers that could have simply thanked her and went about their business. She wished so deeply that she had seen more of this on Earth. People in that world were so selfish. Anger was a virus that seemingly plagued the whole population. If someone cut you off in traffic they were automatically a horrible person. If a stranger came up to talk to you it was suspicious.

  The feelings that she’d experienced on the road about the suffering in this world were washed away. Pain was a part of life, but anger and hatred were true suffering. She couldn’t help but feel that finally knew the difference between them.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Sword

  Morning came, and William awoke on a soft bed of grass. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. Angelica was nowhere in sight. She must have gone when he had fallen into his meditative state.

  Jumping to his feet, William began to stretch. He felt a renewed sense of purpose, and not from rage, but from determination.

  Gabe believes in me, Katrina believes in me, and so does Brock, he thought to himself.

  It was time that he started believing in himself. No more feeling sorry. No more despising other people for his misfortunes. He would do this. He would prove to everyone that he belonged in Archonia. That he could become a strong Guardian.

  With otherworldly speed, William ran out of the garden. The sun was already rising on the horizon, which meant that he was late. It wouldn’t stop him, however. He wouldn’t let anyone stop him this time. The garden of Medina was a good distance from Valhalla, so he would have to push his body to the limits.

  As he made his way across the open plains of Archonia he set his eyes on the large castle. It jutted out from the city, seemingly swallowed by its shadow. A horrible thought struck William, and he realized that he had no idea where the Guardian’s barracks was. They had never mentioned it during his training.

  Shoot, he thought. Think!

  Where could it be located? He considered the various places in the castle that he had been. None of those places seemed likely. He had seen most of it. Then it clicked.

  The door with the inscription! The wooden door that stood all alone in that lonely corridor in the Nordic wing. It was perhaps the one place he had yet to explore.

  William didn’t second guess himself. That had to be where it was. He quickened his already fast pace, but then his stomach lurched. What if he couldn’t open it still? He ran into some soldiers on their way out for morning watch, and apologized without looking back, before skidding to a halt in front of the massive, wooden doors. They loomed above him and he suddenly became more than little nervous. The inscription stared back at him, his breathing hard in the quiet corridor.

  William read it out loud, “Only the strong may enter here.”

  Well here goes nothing, he thought, and walked up, giving the doors a push.

  To his amazement the door swung lightly open and standing before him was a sight that filled him with happiness.

  “William!” Katrina shouted jumping at him and wrapping him in a hug.

  Juarez stood watching, his arms crossed, a huge smile spread over his face.

  “Brock only just told us,” Juarez said

  “I can’t believe you actually destroyed the pots. I knew Chang Fei hadn’t given you enough time. So I went to Brock. I knew they could not cut you. I just knew it,” Katrina said, finally releasing him from her bear hug.

  “Thank you, guys, I wouldn’t be here without you,” William said, finally breathing again.

  “No, amigo,” Juarez said, his Spanish accent thick, “It is I who would not be here without you. You were the only person to believe in me. Everyone else has always just overlooked me.”

  William knew exactly how it felt to be overlooked, and ignored. He simply nodded in understanding. Then Katrina grabbed William by the arm.

  “Come on, we are already late. Chang Fei was angry that we waited for you.”

  “Wait,” William said slowly. “Are we forging our armor?

  “Yes, William,” Juarez said chuckling. “Do you think you will be going into battle in those?” he said, gesturing to William’s tattered training garbs.

  “I guess not,” William smirked.

  “Juarez,” Katrina said, “we do not know what we are going to be doing.”

  “What else could we possibly be doing today?” he asked sarcastically.

  “I’m just saying, let’s not get our hopes up,” Katrina said, punching him in the arm.

  They ran down the long entrance hall to the Guardian’s barracks, William looking around in wonder. Massive statues stood between thick pillars. They spanned high overhead. They all wore different armor and weapons, giving them a distinctly unique appearance. William guessed that they had been very powerful Guardians.

  The hall opened into a large circular room with many sofas and chairs. It seemed to be a common area, where people could interact and socialize. Portraits hung on the walls, as did a vast array of weaponry. Brock stood next to Chang Fei in the middle of the room.

  The small Chinese warlord stood motionless, his face as grim as ever. William spotted the two other recruits, Ulifrig and Samuel. They both wore their training robes, but each had a weapon strapped to their back. Samuel had a long, decorative pike with an elaborate blade at the end, while Ulifrig had chosen a massive battle axe that looked like it should take two men to wield.

  William quickly connected the dots, and looked around the room in wonder. He snapped
back to find Brock standing right in front of him. He hadn’t seen or heard approach.

  “Well done, William,” he said, his voice booming. Then he slapped William on the shoulder, flattening him to the ground.

  “Ugh,” he groaned getting up. “Brock, I’m still not as strong as you are. Could you lighten up, please?”

  Brock laughed and said, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Besides, if you wish to be a Guardian, you must be tough.”

  “Ok. I’ll keep working on that,” William said, rubbing his shoulder.

  He noticed that Brock wasn’t wearing armor. Instead, he wore the same robes as the initiates.

  “So, what’s next?” William asked, peering around Brock’s massive body.

  “Now you’re a recruit, but not a Guardian yet. Trials still lie before you. The first of which is selecting a suitable weapon with which to defend your life,” Brock said, waving his arm to the walls. “Pick one.”

  William’s eyes wandered over the wall, his excitement building. He was a grown man, but this felt like a Christmas he had had only dreamed of he had never been able to pick or choose what he wanted before. He’d simply got by on what he needed. His eyes went wide, and an uncharacteristically greedy urge blossomed inside. He wanted all of them. He exchanged glances with his friends. They looked as excited as he did.

  “You can only choose one,” Brock said, smiling like he knew exactly what William was thinking.

  He smiled back, looking at him out of the corner of his eye. Then a glimmer caught his attention. It was a sword, hanging almost inconspicuously amongst the massive assortment of weaponry. It was a human sized claymore that could fit both of his hands on the hilt. Compared to the other weapons however it was small. Many of them were twice the width and length, but they all seemed dull to William.

  Katrina deftly jumped into the air with a grace befitting her petite size, and gripped the wall high above. She grabbed a large, golden bow and descended to the ground.

  William watched her play with it. There was no quiver, or arrows, and William wondered how and where she would get some, but his question was answered straight away. When she drew back the string a blaze of white light flashed brightly and in the notch sat a glowing arrow. She relaxed the string, and the arrow disappeared.