by Andrew Ly
Matt frowned. “I expected a better reaction than this. What’s wrong? Are you still mad about what Garreth said? Forget him. He’s just bitter about everything.”
Nick nodded across the room to Daniel whom he had been watching for some time. He was sitting by himself, wrapped head to toe in bandages. Being hospitalized was bad, but having virtually everyone shun him for losing was such a pathetic sight to behold. Every member of the Garrison was at the knight initiation and they all saw what had happened, but no one came by to ask how he was doing or bother to help him when struggled to carry his lunch tray. No one offered to sign one of his various casts. Not a single person cared. They all just went about their business, passing him by as if he didn’t exist at all.
“Some warm welcome,” Nick muttered.
“You mean that Daniel kid?” Matt asked. “You know, if you put the two of you together, you look sort of similar, like he could be your long-lost cousin.”
“Doubtful.”
It was true that he had the same sad slouch Nick had the first couple of years as a soldier. Other than that, no way he bore any similarities to the bright-eyed apprentice. He may have had Matt as a support system through all the rough times, but there was no way this light hazing could compare to the constant rejection Nick had to endure for years.
Daniel was the new guy; he was the transfer. This was normal and after a few months, it would eventually stop. However, as far as he knew Daniel was also the youngest apprentice in the Garrison history, which meant he was currently resented by all other envious older knights who deemed they were cheated out of the position. Earlier Nick saw him wave at Paul, only to be rebuffed and earn the jeering laughter of the other knights. If a fellow apprentice like Paul and his goons seemed to despise him, it was more than likely because he didn’t consider Daniel an equal for his crushing defeat at the trials. Strength was the only way to become popular among warriors, and he had pretty much ruined his chances the day he lost.
Worst of all though: Nick knew that he was the cause of Daniel’s misfortune. It was his lack of control that put Daniel on a stretcher and alienated him from his peers. Knowing this, how could he be excited to go into war when he could potentially be dangerous among his own soldiers? He couldn’t control his crazy rage when he became Agrian.
“I should go talk to him,” Nick said. “I mean, after all I did I should at least attempt to make things right.”
“You did set back the Garrison budget by blowing him through a wall, but trying to patch things up is going to be social suicide,” Matt warned. “He’s an apprentice who not only publically lost, but lost to a demon. Get it? His reputation is as good as gone. None of the other knights will ever accept him now. Everyone already sees you as an outcast. Do you really want to jump into the deep end by adopting that kid?”
“My reputation never stopped you from being my friend.” Nick stood up. “Now are you going to come with me, or not?”
Matt grinned. “You know, I think Peter got the wrong guy. You’re way too soft to be a blood lusted demon. Fine, let’s bring the welcome wagon to the little guy.” They moved their trays a couple tables over next to the sad-eyed knight.
“It’s good to see you’re doing much better, Daniel.” Nick took on of the many empty seats next to the boy. He was rewrapping the loose bandages around his arm. Somehow he still retained the goofy smile on his puffy face even after being so battered.
“I must look better than I feel.” Daniel’s mouth drooped sadly. “For an apprentice to lose, especially during the knight trials, is just embarrassing. Maybe Lucius was wrong to have chosen me.”
“I say look at the positives. Doesn’t it make you feel better knowing Nick here was actually part demon?” Matt sat on his other side. “And not just any demon, but the Prince of Rage! I mean, getting the stuffing knocked out of you by a demon that high on the food chain is what would have happened to anybody.”
“It didn’t happen to Paul,” Daniel said.
“To be fair, Paul’s been an apprentice for a long time. Gabriel’s worked him hard too, making sure he would be the best. So far he’s proven to be the best fighter here aside from archangels,” Matt said.
“That’s true…” Daniel’s face brightened a little. “But it wouldn’t hurt as much if the whole Garrison didn’t seem to hate me.”
“Get used to it. It’ll only get worse if you let them get to you,” Nick said. “If anyone causes you any trouble, you can always count on me or Matt. And to be honest, you were a great challenge during my trial. I mean, you had to be in order to unleash Agrian right?”
Daniel scratched his face. “Thanks Nick, you’re a really cool guy. You know, what I can’t understand is why everyone seems to hate you. Even before they found out you were a demon, they never liked you. No offense, of course.”
Matt glanced at Nick. “That’s actually a long story, and I don’t think it needs to be said, but let’s just say he’s been through his fair share of problems.”
“It wouldn’t interest you anyway,” Nick said.
Daniel nodded, but winced at the pain of moving his head so quickly.
Suddenly static crackled from a loud speaker. Bartholomew’s voice boomed through the microphones requesting the presence of Nick, Matt, Daniel, and Paul to the briefing room. They cut their lunch short and walked to the room. Paul was already there, waiting silently as he pretended not to see them walk inside. Nick and the others took a seat in their usual spots just as Lucius approached the stand with a manila folder in his hand.
“Do any of these people look familiar?” Lucius was quick to get down to business. He pulled several photographs from the folder and slid it towards them. They gathered around the pictures like a campfire, examining and scrutinizing every detail. “We sent a member of the Justice Unit sent out there for reconnaissance a few weeks ago. It was taken two hours ago around the wreckage at Fyria.” Lucius threw the bloody stub of a finger on the table. “This is all that’s left of him.”
Daniel took one glance before he turned away in disgust. Everyone else stared on in stunned silence.
Nick picked up the picture and took a good long look at the faces. Wait. He recognized a burly man with a very closely shaven head and a broad chest. He wasn’t wearing much clothing, appearing only to have on a tight, black sleeveless shirt to accent his physique and matching pants.
“That’s Astaroth. He’s hiding in his human form, but it’s definitely him,” Nick said.
“Good eye, but take a closer look. What can you tell me about the man next to him?” Lucius said.
Beside Astaroth was another large man in a lab coat and an eye patch. He had a thick beard and slicked-back hair. Judging only by looks, he appeared to be a composite image of all the stereotypical mad scientists portrayed in films.
“I don’t know…” Nick frowned, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen that man before in my life. Who is he?”
“That, my friend is Doctor Numerous, and the root of all our trouble. He’s the one who betrayed us to the remaining Crowned Princes during the Second Coming,” Lucius said.
Nick focused on the image, memorizing the face of the man responsible for his transformation. “A lot has changed since his departure, and it turns out he has much bigger plans for Fyria than we ever imagined.”
“Doctor Numerous…Wait, that sounds familiar.” Matt rubbed his chin in thought. “Which Garrison is he from? Coros?”
“No, Doctor Numerous was part of the Garrison in Fyria up until he fell from grace,” Paul said. “He was an alchemist who made a very worthwhile contribution when he pioneered the famous, Light Prison. But that is the extent of my knowledge.”
“You all may have heard stories, but I knew that man back when his name was Frank Barrett.” Daniel’s his face looked ages older when he got serious. He stared blankly into space with an intensity Nick had not known he was capable of showing. “Yes, he was a brilliant alchemist and scholar, as well as the first person to master the
art of trapping demons in beams of light. But behind his achievements was a terribly troubled man. No one knows why, but his craving for knowledge eventually turned his sights onto the study of demons. He became corrupted by his lust for power and got into contact with Ozarael himself. Before he could be executed for his crimes, he escaped and has been in hiding with demons ever since. It is because he was allowed to live that everything has taken a turn for the worse.”
“This is the reason we believe Fyria is under siege,” Peter said. “However, what we do not know is why he would come out of hiding now. As a single entity, Doctor Numerous is just a nuisance compared to his superiors.”
“Speaking of the Crowned Princes, why would they try to recruit Doctor Numerous? He’s human. They would slit their own throats before ever trusting a human,” Nick said.
“Desperation creates opportunity. Even the Crowned Princes needed help at the time and he was the one to give them information. Interestingly enough, his strength had also been sufficient to secure a position as one of the Crowned Princes’s Infernals. He’s rising through their ranks meteorically,” Gabriel said.
“Infernals?” Matt said.
“Do you kids even pay attention to the lectures we give you?” Lucius sighed.
Matt shrugged. “Must have slipped our minds.”
“The Infernals, better known as the Infernal Four, are comprised of four demon generals who serve directly below the Crowned Princes. The members include: War, Pestilence, Famine, and Death. Only four can exist at any given time, which means Doctor Numerous had to have taken his position by force. By doing so, he has gained one of their unique and extraordinary demonic powers, though the extent of their powers is still unknown,” Lucius said.
“Where do we come in?” Paul asked. “Member of the Infernal Four or not, I will bring his head back on a silver platter.”
“Settle down, son. The archangels and I have decided it would be more beneficial to our cause if we can successfully capture Numerous. Having his knowledge would better serve us if he was alive,” Peter said.
Paul folded his arms in disgust. “Mercy for a traitor? He deserves nothing less than death. We’re too soft on our enemies and we forgive them too easily.”
Gabriel threw him a warning glance. “If everything works in your favor, you’ll get the chance to administer it, Paul. But our Supreme Commander is right. If we have a chance to prevent anyone else from getting hurt, we should take it. It won’t be as glorious, but having one of their Infernals as a captive would give us a good insight on their goals.”
Paul bowed apologetically. “Excuse my indiscretion, Gabriel. My apologies Supreme Commander, I was out of line.” He turned to leave.
Nick shook his head; the guy was as bloodthirsty as a demon. Yet he was an archangel in training while Nick was the one with the monster vying for sole ownership of his very soul.
“I’m guessing this will be my next assignment,” Nick said.
“I thought you already heard. Usually news travels quickly around here, especially the bad kind,” Gabriel said. “We’ll be charging in full-force with both the Brave and Justice Units. This means you and Matt will be with us when we attack the settlements the demons have in Fyria.”
“They’ve already formed settlements?” Matt asked.
“We have to make that assumption,” Gabriel said. “Numerous would not have made such a bold move in that territory if he wasn’t willing to stay for the long haul.”
“We know Numerous well enough to know how he thinks and operates. He’s methodical. And that means he’s going to be there a while, searching for any remains of research they had in their Garrison. Then they’re most likely going to turn it into a demon stronghold. A single Garrison is more or less designed to be impregnable, and is heavily armed to defend against any land, sea, or air based assault. Numerous will not give up this footing without a fight,” Lucius said.
“Fortunately there is still some time before this happens, but the idea is still the same. We need to move quickly before it’s too late,” Peter said.
“The problem is the guy’s been spotted all around the world, and that means that he’s being guided by at least one of the Princes,” Gabriel said, “And if they somehow manage to take Fyria and disrupt the delicate balance we have among the Garrisons, then everything will fall into chaos.”
“Got it.” Nick stood up from his seat. “Are we done here?”
“Yes, you both may leave,” Peter said with a wave of his hand. Nick and Matt bowed and left.
Nick stomped out of the briefing room in a hurry, but was stopped abruptly as Matt grabbed his shoulder. “Hey man, what’s going on? And what’s with the hot and cold routine? You’re getting me a little worried.” The hallways were running rampant with soldiers out of training or on their way to their respective missions.
“Nothing.”
“It’s Doctor Numerous, isn’t it?” Matt said. “Don’t tell me he’s got you all riled up. I don’t want you to do anything stupid because you’re mad at the traitor.”
“Nothing. I’m the Inferno Bearer, right? I’m some omnipotent warrior reincarnated in order to fulfill the prophecy. I’m supposed to be all these great things, this salvation for the world, but it just doesn’t matter to me.” Nick hated to admit this out loud, but it was true and it had been boiling inside him for some time now.
“Why not? You know, you’ve been acting a little strange since that day we spent in Hyperion,” Matt said. “Don’t tell me you let Garreth get to you?”
“Garreth was right! We’re just lapdogs anyway, and the worst part is, I’m a lapdog that has no future. Anything and everything I’ll ever want will always be out of my reach. Do you know how unfair that is? We’re stuck in this rat hole of a Garrison for the rest of our lives and the only thing I can do is serve people who hate me until I drop dead! And now they’re scared of me? All of them think I’m a damn psycho! So explain to me why I should even care?”
“You’re forgetting the cardinal rule of our job, bud. Glory or fame is second to the safety of the people. Creating a world that is safer for the generations of tomorrow is the reason any of us stay on board. That’s the reason we take the lectures and the punishments. That’s the only reason that matters. Now tell me the truth, something else is bothering you, isn’t it?”
As usual Matt saw right through him, through the shallow veil of irritation was the true reason. Something else had been bothering him. It was because of a conversation he had in Hyperion that he had finally seen the truth. After getting chastised for their failure to finish such a simple task of enlisting the esteemed Garreth Graves’ help, Nick had become despondent. He was shaken to his core, and it greatly diminished his drive. Deep down inside it all had to do with her.
“You’re right. It’s something I’ve been thinking about ever since we left Hyperion,” Nick said.
“What is it?” Matt asked.
“When Garreth was talking about how badly he was treated, it got me thinking about what my stake was for the Garrison. I’m not exactly loved around here and if it wasn’t for my powers I’d be disposable. I mean, if someone like Garreth was tossed aside like that, what chance do I have? I can’t give up everything to be left with nothing to show for it,” Nick said.
“Nothing left to show for it? Don’t you know that—” Matt stopped, finally understanding what was truly at stake. “—It’s not about Garreth at all. It’s about your life without her, isn’t it?”
Nick nodded.
“Her? And here I thought you weren’t interested in girls,” Paul said.
They turned to see him coming around the corner looking as smug as ever. How long had he been standing there? “Garreth blames his failure on others when in fact he was just too prideful to admit I was the better candidate. He couldn’t stand Gabriel choosing me. It was absolutely humiliating for him. If I were a loser I would feel the same way.”
“Don’t you have an assignment to get to, Paul? Or an appoin
tment to kiss Gabriel’s butt?” Matt said.
Paul was clearly not amused. “No. Unlike you buffoons, I’m privileged to the most confidential secrets of the Garrison. I’m on the way to do my own reconnaissance.”
“You’re going to Fyria—alone?” Nick asked, skeptically.
“I would if Gabriel gave me permission. I’m not scared of Doctor Numerous, even if everyone else seems to be. He’s lucky I’m not hunting because if I did happen to cross him, you can be sure I would be the last knight he’d ever see,” Paul said.
“Were you in the same meeting as us? You couldn’t kill him if you wanted to because they want him for questioning. Those were direct orders from the Supreme Commander,” Nick said.
Paul smirked. “Look at the demon boy trying to sound official. Maybe it would be best if you didn’t lecture me, Nicholas. The last time you ran your mouth I had to put you in the dirt where you belong, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again.” Paul tapped the polished hilt of his broadsword. “Now run along little girls, class is starting soon. I’m sure you don’t want to be late.” He laughed snidely as he walked away.
“As much as I want to punch that guy in the face, I have to admit that would probably be the only shot I’d get in. Damn him and his combat skills,” Matt said.
“You’re talking to the guy who was his personal punching bag. I’d like to tear his head off one day.” Nick felt his face heat with anger.
“Relax. He’s the Garrison golden boy. Of course they’ll let him get away with practically murder.” Matt looked at his watch. “But that doesn’t work for us. It looks like we’re going to be late for training no matter how fast we run. I’d rather ditch than get Bart’s wrath. You know how mad he gets when people interrupt his lessons halfway.”
“I’m really not in the mood to listen to lecture today anyway,” Nick agreed. Bartholomew’s lessons were always so tense because everyone was always so intimidated by him. “Right now I’m being pulled back and forth.”