by Jarod Meyer
William jumped to the side to avoid a jab from a large spear, and transformed his weapon into a chain and wrapped it around the spear, taking control of it, and its holder. He landed a high kick to his trainer’s face, and sent him flying across the ground. Finally, Gungnir snapped back into a blade, allowing him to parry blows from Alacron, who attacked with enthusiasm and vigor.
Sweat dripped from his face as he staved off the attacks of the veteran Guardian.
“Well done, young one,” Alacron praised.
William nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. His hair had now grown out several inches, and did little to keep the sweat from his eyes.
“Do not forget that you possess other weapons in your arsenal,” Alacron said. “I have yet to see you project a single time today in training.”
It was true, William had become so focused on honing his skills with a blade that he had completely forgotten that he was still fairly inept at projecting.
“Your assignment for this evening will be to project at least twenty times,” Alacron said.
It had already been a long day. They still had morning drills with Chang Fei, and then studies. After that they worked with their trainers until evening, when they were supposed to have some free time before meditation. William’s mind felt stretched, but he nodded.
“Okay I will,” he said, sighing.
Everyone began to disperse, but Juarez, and Katrina stayed behind.
“We thought we would practice with you, Amigo,” Juarez said.
“I’d welcome the company,” he responded, sheathing his sword across his back.
“Your trainer is a really tough on you,” Katrina said.
“Your trainer just knows that you can’t hack it, Kat,” William snapped back with a smirk.
“What did you just call me!?” she shouted, flying at him. William deftly dodged her attack, and sent her face first into the short cropped grass of the training ground.
“I kind of like that. Kat,” William said, egging her on a little more.
She got up quickly, her face creased with a scowl. “Whatever you say, tainted one.” Her scowl morphed to a lopsided grin.
The group walked to the firing range, where there were still some pots standing from the day’s training. Katrina took a piece of broken pot and flung it into the air. Juarez extended his palm, and a ball of light shot out, striking the fragment, and turning it do dust.
“Quit showing off, Juarez. We get enough of that when Katrina laps us every morning in drill,” William said, just as another fragment of pot hit him in the back of the head.
He didn’t turn. He enjoyed picking on Katrina. She was tough enough to handle it, and she knew he was only joking. His friends continued their game of skeet, while William turned towards the hill and focused. He lifted his palm, and aimed it towards his target.
After a couple of hours he managed to blast apart three pots, and put a few small craters in the hillside. William glanced up across the training field at the Bell tower, which stood like a spike in the sky. Underneath the massive warning bell there was a clock face that looked very peculiar with ten hours instead of twelve, and five large lines indicating the tenth hour in every rotation. It was the forty eighth hour in the day, and the light was fading quickly. William was so exhausted, but he kept pushing himself.
Katrina and Juarez rooted him on for a while, but even they ended up saying goodnight. He stood alone in the dark, trying to find the will to project. He kept telling himself that he didn’t need to get angry to accomplish his task. Then an idea hit him. Alacron said that he needed to project twenty times. The manner in which he projected was not discussed, and William turned north and began to sprint. He remembered exactly how he had gotten there, and soon came upon the Garden of Medina.
He slowed to a normal pace once he passed the threshold. The luscious greenery hit him like a splash of water on a hot day, and he smelled all the flowers and plants. He breathed a sigh of relief. There was something very relaxing about this place. He looked around for a patch of dirt that was perhaps untouched, and found a small meadow about half a mile into the treeline.
William sat down, which felt like bliss. He had been on his feet almost the entire day, and the human part of his mind made the pain very real. He breathed out and relaxed for a moment, then sat cross legged and looked around. He had all sorts of inspiration, but he didn’t immediately know how to complete his task.
He wanted to create something with his projections, instead of destroying. He started simply, just as he did the first night he had visited the garden. He held out his upturned hand, and pushed his energy forth. It was delicate and responded to his slightest urge. It bubbled out of his palm, forming a vapor, before transforming into a ball with his mind.
He molded it again into a long strand, like piano wire. He strained his mind to change its shape. It felt oddly similar to the way his sword changed shape, and the vapor began to get clearer. As it did the picture in William’s mind became real, and he was left holding a rose. It wasn’t soft, like a real rose, but very hard. Upon closer inspection, William found that it felt like it was made out of plastic or wood. He snapped it in half like a twig, and tossed it aside.
Great artists have to start somewhere, I guess.
“That wasn’t too bad,” a voice said.
William shot up so fast that he left the ground, and turned quickly to find Angelica. He let out his breath.
“Are you stalking me?” he asked with a joking grin.
“Excuse me, William, but I have been coming here every night since my very first day in Archonia,” she said with a touch of attitude.
“Oh. Sorry. You just startled me,” William said, easing back against the tree. “It’s been like a month since I’ve seen you. Where have you been?” he asked as she sat down next to him.
“I’ve been on pilgrimage with friends,” she said, putting her hand in the air and watching an insect land on it. William nodded his head in approval.
“That sounds like a good fit for you,” he said trying to focus on projecting again.
“Isn’t it funny? We died, and it feels like we just picked up and kept on going,” Angelica said.
William snapped out of his trance, and looked at her.
“Yeah. I guess you’re right. Personally I like this place a lot better. Don’t have to worry about food, rent, or owning a car. It’s like freedom,” he said.
“It is still lonely though,” Angelica replied turning away.
“Lonely? There are like a billion people living in the city. Haven’t you met any friends at the university?” he asked.
“That is not what I meant, William,” she said, shaking her head.
William had to think for a second, and then it hit him like Brock’s massive hammer, and his stomach lurched. He forced himself to be calm.
“Nobody special back on Earth?” he inquired, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
Angelica did respond, so William went back to trying to create a rose again. He must have looked funny in his concentration, because Angelica laughed.
“You need to be more delicate. Imagine what the flower looks like, but also imagine how it feels. The way it smells. How light and delicate it is,” she said, holding her hands out. As she did a light bluish light issued forth from her palms, and after a moment she was holding a red rose, shining brilliantly in the starlight. William caught himself staring into Angelica’s eyes again, and dropped his gaze quickly to his hands.
She giggled, and turned. His face flushed hot, and he held both his hands up again, cupping them like he was holding something fragile. Angelica rolled over, laughing at this, and William got annoyed.
“What is so funny?” he asked.
“Oh nothing, you big strong warrior,” she said mockingly. William grabbed her rose and crushed it in his iron grip, before and tossing it away.
They talked the rest of the night. Angelica helped William finish his assignment, and by morning they had
created a whole meadow full of different colored roses. They all smelled like something different too.
Angelica said goodbye to William when she had to leave for class, and he made his way back to the Guardian’s barracks. He walked through the giant wooden doors, and down into the common area of the barracks, nearly running into Brock. The big man had his arms crossed, and a grimace on his face.
“You’re late, recruit,” he growled.
Chapter Fourteen
The Forge
William tried to swallow, but his mouth was dry.
“What am I late for?” he asked, trying hard to think of anything that he had this morning besides drill.
A smile broke across Brock’s large face.
“You’re late for the most important task yet. Today you will be forging your armor!”
William tried to return the smile, but he was exhausted. He hadn’t meditated in over a day. William followed Brock the rest of the way down the hall where the new recruits all stood in fresh linens, and ready for drill. Chang Fei stood at the head of the group.
“As you know the next step in becoming a Guardian is to forge armor,” Chang Fei said evenly.
“Why do we need armor?” William asked, raising his arm and falling into line with the others.
Samuel and Ulifrig snickered.
“Ok,” William responded irritably, staring back at the two “for those of us who have only been in Archonia for a couple of months. Why do we need this armor?”
Brock walked over next to Chang Fei. He noticed that the large man was only wearing sparring linens as well. He couldn’t remember ever seeing the large man out of his armor before.
The big man smiled, and said, “Hit me.”
William looked at him wildly. “What? Why?”
“Just hit me, little brother,” Brock repeated, puffing his chest out. “Right here,” he said, pointing to his broad pectoral region.
William looked to the others, who all watched with great interest.
“You asked for it,” William said, dropping into a fighting stance.
He took a deep, steadying breath for courage, and then charged, slamming Brock in the chest with all his might.
The big man grunted and stumbled back, rubbing his chest.
“Well there, young one, you’re getting a bit stronger. You might be as strong as me someday,” Brock grunted with a grin.
William smirked, feeling some satisfaction that he had actually moved Brock’s massive body.
“Ok so what was the point of...?” William tried to ask, but before he could finish, there was a flash of light and wind swept outward from his large friend’s body.
Massive plates materialized, locking to his body. William’s eyes grew wide. Brock now stood clad head to toe in his usual armor with thick plates made of steel, and leather all brown, and silver.
“Now. Hit me again,” Brock said, his eyes narrowing.
William scrunched his face in determination. He tightened his stance once more. This time he focused all his energy.
It is just metal, he thought. Mind over matter. The laws of physics as I knew them no longer apply.
With a roar, William charged. Brock didn’t flinch, and William threw his fist into the large bald man with everything that he had.
William howled in agony, punctuated by a sickening crack and a wave of pain that shot through his arm. He might as well have just hit a brick wall. His knuckles were broken and crimson blood flowed down his arm. The other initiates burst into laughter as William clutched at his ruined arm, forcing hot tears back. He knew he broke knuckles, but he probably also broke his hand too. He couldn’t move his fingers either. Brock wrapped a large hand around William’s forearm as he fell to his knees, gasping in pain. A blinding light surrounded his hand and wrist, warmth seeping into his skin and muscles, spreading up his arm. The pain subsided, when the light died away, and the blood disappeared.
William looked up at Brock and winced, “…so, that’s why I need armor.”
Brock grabbed him by the other hand and lifted him bodily off the ground.
“Your armor is not just metal and buckles. It is a projection hardened by your mind, and you make it as strong as you will it to be,” Chang Fei said, addressing everyone.
* * *
A short time later, they were dashing across the rich plains of Archonia. Chang Fei flew overhead, followed closely by Samuel. Like Juarez, Samuel had some hidden talents. William took note of this for later. The rest of the initiates were on the ground with Brock. Brock insisted on keeping his feet on the ground, with the others. Although William had rarely seen the large man fly, and was starting to wonder if he didn’t like to, or wasn’t good at it.
“Where are we going?” Katrina asked Brock, as they plowed through fields of long, white grass.
“The Greige Forge,” Brock bellowed over the rushing wind.
William didn’t really know what or where that was, but he followed along, sharing in the excitement. The fields were mundane, but the creatures around were simply amazing. He saw herds of beasts grazing. Some looked like horses and others like cattle. But like most things in Archonia, they were much larger than any creatures he’d seen before. They reminded William of the dinosaurs he had been so fond of in his youth. Standing on four legs, they had elongated necks like giraffes, but were covered in what looked to be feathers or fur. It appeared to be very thick, and shimmered silver and white in the sunlight.
With his attention on their surroundings, William followed the others into a large body of water. His feet, which were light as a feather, skimmed right across the surface. A smile spread across his face, and he gave out a hoot. Katrina and Juarez joined in.
Strange aquatic creatures jumped out of the water, following them. This was like something out of a dream. William turned, watching them. They resembled dolphins but had shimmering coats of scales that shined in every color of the rainbow.
It took the group most of the day to travel the vast expanse of Archonia, even running at great speeds. Thirty hours passed in no time. They stopped several times along the way, resting briefly and taking water from crystal clear streams.
The sun began to sink, and as it did the mountains became silhouetted.
“Where do we forge our armor?” William said sprinting in close to Brock.
“At the northern most point in Archonia on the highest peak of the great mountain called Olympus.”
“And that is where this Greige forge is?”
“Indeed little brother. And just you wait. If you think I’m big. You will be dumbfounded by the size of Vulcanus”
William had learned of Vulcanus in his introductory academic courses. He was once a man, like Zeus, whom many mortals believed was more than a man. The Romans had worshipped him as the patron deity of fire and forges. He was one of the first humans to become an Archonian, and helped the Archons teach men the art of molding metal. It was inevitable that men would then use this gift to create weapons to destroy one another.
Finally Chang Fei came to a stop and lightly floated to the ground. He turned and waited, giving everyone time to catch up time William was exhausted from the run, unlike Juarez, who seemed to have a knack for distance running. Brock looked unaffected.
“How many miles have we traveled today?” William asked sucking in air.
“Oh, I think from Valhalla it is around seven thousand kilometers,” Brock said.
Incredible.
The massive mountain loomed overhead, throwing them all in shadow.
Chang Fei motioned to it and said, “Mount Olympus.”
William chuckled when he had first read that the fabled mountain from Greek mythology actually existed here. So many things from history keep popping up, that he wasn’t exactly surprised anymore.
I wonder if Zeus is up there, William thought with amusement.
“You must now climb to the top,” Cheng Fei said, his face severe.
Ulifrig gasped and protested, his Nordic acc
ent thick, “We are exhausted!”
His long blond hair was sopping wet with sweat. William too had been sweating. His short crop of hair was moist and beads of sweat dripped down into his eyes, but to a lesser degree than his Scandinavian counterpart.
“You’re Guardians now, and you will never be tired,” Chang Fei said rigidly, before tossing something at Ulifrig. It hit the blond-haired man, knocking him to the ground. William looked just in time to see something flying at him. He caught it, and staggered back. It was a vest, but it was very heavy. Chang Fei projected, and another flew at.
“These are projections?” William asked.
“Yes,” Brock said. “That is why they feel so heavy. They are made from Chang Fei’s energy. Projections in this world can have any property the creator wants.”
William had just become accustomed to his new found strength, and now it seemed finite again. He slipped on the heavy vest, and felt it tug him towards the ground.
“Climb,” Chang Fei shouted, his words clipped and harsh Then he and Brock took off into the dark sky. The group moaned, complaining to one another, strapping on their vests, and began to climb.
This mountain was not ordinary. William expected a gradual ascension in the foothills, but it rose from the ground at an extreme angle. He and the other initiates walked on their hands and knees up its steep slope. One by one they had all tried taking their vests off, but once on, they had clamped down around their skin. Even Samuel, who had flown most of the way here, was simply too heavy to leave the ground.
The cliff face was covered in scrub and tufts of grass, casting shadows on the rocks. William looked around and spotted caves burrowing into the sheer stone. He exchanged glances with Katrina and Juarez, glancing back at the caves warily. Hours passed, and William’s muscles screamed in protest to the weight of the vest, but he’d gone too far to turn back.
Juarez fell behind the others, and more than once William grabbed him, and pulled him up. Even Samuel and Ulifrig, who had not been very close to the rest of their Guardian recruits, began helping Katrina. Loyalties were forming amongst them. True fellowships the kind he’d gained thanks to the military. Trust the man at your side, and he you.