by Andrew Rowe
I gestured at the sword on his hip. “Is that the reason you’re so dangerous? I don’t see you draw the sword very often. One of the Six Sacred Swords, I’m guessing?”
“Not quite, but you’re not far off.” He shook his head. “Anyway, the weapon is a part of it, but it’s useless on its own. Hand it to an ordinary swordsman and they’d just kill themselves with it.”
He tapped a hand against his chest. “Much of my strength comes from practicing magic in ways that permanently reinforce my body. It’s a very slow process. I use things like strength and resilience spells until my body acclimates to them and improves.
“You’re already working on that yourself — practicing that Haste spell is going to make you faster and faster, as your body acclimates to it. Another portion is learning techniques that are designed for single combat against opponents that are stronger than I am. We’re training you for that, too.”
“But I’m sure a lot of people train like that.”
“Sure.” Keras nodded. “To some degree, at least. I’m sure you’ve noticed that training your Haste spell is a painful and frustrating process. Many are going to abandon that, unless they have perception spells to make it easier, like you talked about wanting. Sometimes the most frustrating training methods bear the most fruit.”
That made sense. “But that can’t be enough to catch up to someone like Saffron. If what you’re saying is true, he could just drain a single Sunstone’s mana and it’d be more power than I’ve earned in my life.”
“Fortunately, I don’t think their mana absorption is one hundred percent efficient. But your point remains true. There are two other reasons I’m as powerful as I am. One, is that I’m constantly looking for shortcuts to make myself more powerful. Some of them work better than others.
“That flask of magic water you gave Sera? It might have backfired, but that’s the type of idea that I’ve made use of a dozen times. Some of them have taken me out of commission for a while. Others have nearly killed me. But I’ve survived to this point, and I’m stronger for it.”
Keras shook his head. “Don’t take that as encouragement to go that route, though. I have another reason why I’m as strong as I am, and it’s a part of the reason I can afford to experiment.”
“You’re not human,” I guessed. “You’re...what, a God Beast? Or something like it?”
“I suppose that’s not a bad comparison, although I’m not sure I like it. I’m...well, it’s a bit complicated. Didn’t even find out myself until I was an adult. That made for something of a confusing childhood.”
“I’d imagine.”
“Anyway, I have advantages and disadvantages because of it. In terms of sheer combat ability, it’s mostly advantages. It’s the other parts of life that I have more trouble with.” He gazed away, distant and contemplative.
I let him think for a while.
But not too long.
Being incapacitated and in terrible pain was extremely boring. “Your shortcuts. Would any of them work for me?”
“Not sure. Most of the ones I’ve used are directly related to what I am. A human wouldn’t survive them. Maybe one of the crystals at the elemental temples...” He shook his head. “I don’t think you’re ready for that yet.” Keras folded his arms, sitting down next to me. “You might have been on the right track with the mana water.”
I nodded weakly. “I’d been planning to study it further, and similar things like enhancement elixirs. But that still seems so slow.”
I expected him to give me a speech about how slow, incremental growth was the safe way to go. That was, after all, the same kind of lecture I got from everyone else. That I had to pay my dues, train for years, and eventually maybe — just maybe — I’d be good enough.
Or, perhaps he’d give me a lecture about how power wasn’t what was important, and that I needed to grow as a person and learn to be responsible and avoid conflict.
Or maybe he’d tell me that I had a pair of support attunements, and that I should never have been trying to fight someone directly at all. That it was complete folly for an Enchanter to try to be a front-line combatant.
Instead, he said, “Yeah, I wouldn’t have the patience for that approach after a fight with someone like Saffron, either. Okay. Let’s think of something.”
“...Really?”
“Sure. You think I want you to feel helpless? Accept your weakness? That’s no way to live. I might not have an instant solution, but I’ll try to help you figure something out. Don’t get your hopes up about us finding something that’s going to make you as strong as Saffron, of course. But there are ways to win battles without being as strong as your opponent.”
“Of course, but I can’t expect to do that reliably. If Elora hadn’t teleported me out of that area, I’d have been at Saffron’s mercy. And it’s not like that was an isolated incident. I’m routinely running into enemies that are too powerful to fight directly.”
“So...don’t, then.”
I gave him a skeptical look. “What am I supposed to do, tell them to spare me so I can train for a year and give them a better fight later?”
“You’d be surprised at how well that can work, but no, that’s not what I meant.” Keras waved a hand dismissively. “I mean that you seem to be fixating on how to win in a one on one fight without any sort of situational advantages. That isn’t playing to your strengths.”
I tried not to feel offended by that. “Is this where you tell me that I’m an Enchanter, and I should be focused on making items for fighters, not trying to fight?”
“That isn’t what I was suggesting in the slightest.” He raised a hand to adjust his mask. “The strength I’m talking about is your flexibility. You’re extremely creative in how you make use of the items and abilities at your disposal. I’ve been trying to teach you my style of fighting, but I don’t think that’s what suits you. You already have your own.”
“My...own fighting style?”
“Sure. I trained for years to learn conventional fighting styles, just like you have. Sparring with dueling teachers, military training, that sort of thing. I was never a terrible swordsman, but I wasn’t exceptional, either. And being average was never acceptable. To excel, I had to learn to do what other people couldn’t do. And I’ve already seen you doing some of that — I just think you need to embrace it.”
Keras was right.
I’d been trying to copy the general approach to combat from other people my entire life. My father, Tristan, everyone who had ever trained me had ideas on how to approach combat. Many of these came from long years of training and tradition.
But those fighting styles were built for Guardians, or Shapers, or Elementalists. Not for Enchanters or Arbiters.
Even when I was training with Keras himself, I was focused on how I could use my own skills to make approximations of his, rather than developing something that suited me.
“You’re right. I have a combination of attunements that virtually no one else does. I’ve barely bothered to think about how I can do something unique with that.”
Keras grinned. “Now you’re getting it. What can you do that I can’t?”
I tapped my shield sigil. “Make mana threads. I can use them to connect to my sword and manipulate its aura.”
“That’s excellent, but that’s still finding a way to copy one of my techniques. You should still be doing things like that, but I think you can do more than just that. What’s something you can do with that, or otherwise, that I can’t do at all?”
I took a moment to ponder that. “I can attach a thread to my shield sigil so that I can recharge it in the middle of a fight.”
“Good. What else?”
I considered that. “I figured out that I can attach threads to other people’s sigils and recharge them, too.”
“Excellent, that’s much better. What else?”
“...Maybe learn to make solid mana threads, eventually? I can make solid mana crystals, so...”
�
�That’s an excellent answer. I can see a number of applications for it. What else?”
“Give me a minute to think.”
“Take your time. You’re not going to make a new fighting style overnight.”
***
I remembered talking to Keras for a bit, strategizing. Then the pain got worse, and the exhaustion overwhelmed me.
I don’t even remember making my way to my bedroom, but I must have eventually.
When I opened my eyes later, I saw a familiar figure looming over me. Not Keras, this time.
“Morning, darling. You gave me quite the scare.” Sheridan Theas was sitting over me, their hands on my...shirtless...chest.
I took just a moment to panic, trying to sit up.
They put a firm hand on my shoulder and pushed me back down. “Not so suddenly, Corin. I’m still working on you.”
Working?...
Oh.
I managed to suppress my panic, settling back down.
I was in an unfamiliar bed, but my pants were on, and I was starting to recall what had just happened. “Right. Working. Injuries. That’s why I’m...”
Sheridan laughed. “What, did you think I was taking advantage? How scandalous. I’d kill me for that, even if Derek or Keras didn’t get to it first. Don’t worry, Corin. You’re safe. I’m just mending your ribs.”
I gave Sheridan a slow nod. “Uh, thanks. I’m sorry, I just...”
Sheridan shook their head. “Don’t worry about it in the slightest. I probably should have given you some warning. I was just trying to hold you down so you didn’t move and make your injuries worse. You were tossing and turning quite a bit in your sleep. Nightmares, I think.”
I gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry. I...get those kind of a lot.”
“Maybe we can find something for that later. In the meantime, though, just try to relax a bit while I finish this up?”
“Thanks...” More of my memory was returning. “Derek? Elora? Are they...?”
“Derek is recovering, but he’ll be in rough shape for a while. I treated him first, though, so he’s stable. My sister, unfortunately, is also alive. That’s one winter wish that I’ll have to work on a little harder.” Sheridan chuckled.
“You hate your sister that much?”
“Oh, no, dear. I love my sister. I just prefer to love her from as far away as possible. And the grave would, of course, be the most distant option.” Sheridan rolled their eyes. “Anyway, don’t pay any mind to my jousting with Elora. It’s a form of affection.”
I nodded. Even that slight movement sent a new surge of pain through my chest.
I could understand what Sheridan meant. Sera and I did quite a bit of teasing each other, even if it wasn’t quite as extreme as what Sheridan was talking about.
“And Saffron?”
“That monster never came back, but we’ve relocated to my house for the time being. There was too much of a risk that Saffron would send someone to that place, even if he didn’t come himself.”
That made me feel somewhat better, at least. “Is Keras still with us?”
“Oh, that one has been watching you like a paternal phoenix, dear. Right now, I think he’s pacing outside. I can get him when I’m done with this, if you’d like.”
“Thanks. Has anyone told Sera that I’m safe?”
Sheridan shook their head. “No, but I do know a Wayfarer nearby. We can send a message later. You should stay here for a while, at least for a few days.”
I frowned at that. “I’d like to go check on where Saffron first arrived. Some of those people he hurt might still be alive.”
“Elora’s people? Didn’t they abduct you just a bit?”
“Sure, but that doesn’t mean I want to leave them to die out there. If Saffron went back...”
Sheridan shook their head. “If Saffron went back, there’d be nothing left for us to save. If Saffron didn’t go back to them, though, perhaps some of them may have lived. But it’s been hours at this point, they’d have moved to somewhere else if they were in any condition to do so.”
“I’d still like to make sure they get help, if they’re alive.”
Sheridan shrugged a shoulder. “I’m sure Elora will see to it when she wakes.”
“You don’t seem too concerned.”
Sheridan laughed. “Concerned? About a bunch of people who grabbed a teenager in the middle of an exam to use him for a convoluted scheme? No, Corin, I’m not concerned about the fate of that sort of person. I think it’s sweet that you’re kind enough to care, but if you think any one of those people would have given you the same kind of thought, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not them. Will you look into it for me?”
Sheridan sighed. “Fine. I’ll look into survivors. But only because you’re such a darling. Now, will you do me the kindness of shutting up for a few minutes so I can work?”
“Yes, right. Of course.”
Shutting up was harder than I expected.
This was not due to boredom.
It was because knitting my ribs back together with magic was considerably more painful than I expected.
I considered asking Sheridan to stop, and just relying on the silver phoenix sigil or getting the ring of regeneration back to fix the injuries, but fixing bone damage with regeneration could have taken weeks.
I didn’t have that kind of time.
So, I gritted my teeth through the pain of bones and cartilage knitting in my chest, all the while thinking about a single idea.
I needed to be stronger.
I couldn’t promise myself I’d never lose a fight again. That was absurd, unrealistic in a world with monsters as strong as Saffron.
But I could dedicate myself to making strategies for next time.
Maybe then, I wouldn’t feel so reshing useless.
Chapter XIX – Emergency Preparedness
In spite of my best intentions, I spent the rest of the day in bed. Broken bones weren’t exactly the kind of injury I could shrug off, even with magical healing.
The following day, Sheridan visited again, and I confirmed that they had contacted Sera. That would help ensure Sera didn’t panic and try to launch some kind of rescue mission, at least.
When I was up and walking, the first thing I did was pay a visit to Elora Theas. I wasn’t clear on if we were in her home or Sheridan’s, but either way, she was there.
The guards outside her room gave me some side-eye when I asked to see her.
The guards inside her room were even less thrilled.
Elora dismissed them. “Leave us. He’s no threat to me.”
Not yet, maybe.
Elora was resting in a tremendous canopy bed, sheets pulled up to conceal her lower body. She set a book aside, sitting up to turn toward me. “Cadence. I expected you to come by at some point.” She turned aside and coughed loudly, then raised a hand to her throat. “We may need to make this brief. Talking is still...challenging.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. “Mana scarring?”
She nodded. “That last spell was not a simple thing, even for me.”
“Sheridan is treating you, I assume?”
“If you can call what my sibling does ‘treatment’, yes.” Elora shook her head. “But surely you didn’t come here to inquire about my health.”
“No.” I folded my arms. “You have a way to get me to Tristan. Now would be a good time.”
Elora laughed, then coughed again. She raised a hand in a gesture to wait, continued coughing for a time, and then spoke again. “After what we just went through? You must be joking.”
“Not in the slightest. I’ve been waiting for years to see Tristan again. I could use some real answers. And you were right — there are some questions only he can answer for me.”
“Perhaps. But I can’t help you. Not right now.” She folded her hands.
“I barely survived Saffron. If I’m not mistaken, you didn’t fare much better. I don’t feel like waitin
g.”
Elora sighed. “We can’t always get what we want, darling. Let me be clearer — I can’t help you, even if I wanted to. I’m too weak to teleport anyone right now, and I’d need that skill to get us to Tristan in the spire.”
I gave her a half-nod. That made sense, at least. “How long?”
“Don’t rush. It will only lead to disaster.” Elora paused. “But that’s not the answer you’re looking for. A few weeks, at the least. Maybe months.”
“You hurt yourself that badly?” It wasn’t impossible. I’d seen how long it was taking Sera to recover from mana scars.
“No, it’s not entirely that. There’s the issue of needing a team of Climbers that I can trust. You saw my last team.”
I nodded, putting things together. “The four people you sent to grab me, yourself, and me. That’s six.”
“And now I know that one of those people was a traitor. Michel and Woods are dead. Thomas survived, but he’s still critically injured.”
“Were they actually Valian soldiers?”
Elora shrugged a shoulder. “More or less. They finished their mandatory service and were assigned to my house guard. Legally, they retain their military ranks while in my service. So, not conventional soldiers, but the uniforms were real.”
Right. She’s a member of the Council of Lords. Having soldiers to protect her makes sense. “And abducting a student wasn’t something they had any concerns about?”
“You’re looking at it all wrong. This was never supposed to be a conflict. I signed all the paperwork to have you removed from the test early. You were practically done, anyway. You’ll be given a passing grade. The school chancellor wasn’t pleased, but I told her it was government business. Which it is, although she wouldn’t like the details.”
I leaned up against the nearby wall. “You called it an extraction before. What were you extracting me from? Is there some kind of threat still out in the forest?”