“We have already talked about this, haven’t we?” asked Seth curiously.
“You’re a smart man, Seth, but is brain power one of your three spikes?”
“Unfortunately it’s not, but let’s not stray from the reason I am here,” he frowned, forcing the conversation to speed up.
“You can have Blade and the young boy that you pinned to the door.”
Seth twisted his body to look at the man who had led him down to the room.
“No, not him,” chuckled the man, watching Seth’s face tighten.
“This man is much more talented with his sword.” A man walked out of the dark corner. The masked man was shorter than Seth, but his muscular shoulders were much wider.
“The boy will only be a hindrance.” He wasn’t fast or strong and he had an over-confident attitude that did not suit Seth’s needs.
“He is young but very useful.”
“Oh, very well,” Seth agreed.
The man pulled out a large document from one of the drawers in his desk. “Project Eight” was in scripted on the front.
“Give this to your master,” said the man, passing it to one of his guards, who then handed it to Seth. He accepted the document with interest.
“It would be wise for you not to give in to your curiosity,” said the ringleader.
“I understand,” replied Seth, stashing the folder in his inner pocket. Without further preamble, Seth disappeared.
The basement melted away and he immediately appeared on the front of the doorstep. The young boy, who was still stuck to the door, jumped, half-falling in the process.
“You better let me go,” he spat, trying to reach out for him.
Seth pulled the metal from around his arms and he slumped to the ground.
“Next time you shouldn’t be in such a rush to open that mouth of yours,” he enlightened him.
He spun on the spot and began walking up the street, getting ready to teleport back to the villa. At that second, a fireball whizzed past Seth’s head, smashing into the brick wall beside him, passing so closely that he could feel the heat against his cheek. Seth twisted around only to see the metal door slam behind the boy.
“Damn that boy,” he hissed, looking down at the still flaming ball now rolling on the ground. He nodded his head with a small smile and disappeared, once again making his way to the villa.
Chapter 15
Challengers 'Break
It was blisteringly hot. The humming of the cicadas was like a lullaby as Max drifted off to sleep. The shade of the building protected him from getting burned as he lay on the grass outside the school. The last day of classes had dragged on and Max had grown sick of listening to the exciting chatter about the Elites challenge. The day was an endless chain of shaking every student’s hand and it seemed it wasn’t just Max, Chris finding the sudden stardom just as hard.
Max would have preferred waking up to an empty school, no one around to bombard him with questions about how he had pulled off the first Assessment. He rolled over to his back from his side, shaking the tingling out of his arm. He opened his eyes and flinched with surprise.
“Didn’t mean to startle you,” said Hilary as she drew close. He allowed her to break his comfort as she eased down onto his chest.
“Must have dozed off,” replied Max embracing her firmly.
“How are you and Chris doing? You haven’t talked to him in a while, have you?” asked Hilary, worried.
“Once he gets over his attitude then maybe,” Max replied with an uninterested shrug.
“You two need to stop being stubborn and help each other. He has already gone to New Zealand to train. I’m guessing the next Assessment will have something to do with team work.”
“Could you give me a clue?” he said, stroking her hair.
She closed her eyes, feeling the rise and fall of his chest. She crunched up with pleasure as he gently stroked her neck.
“Stop it,” she smiled. “You know you can’t seduce me.”
“I already have,” he winked.
Her grin grew at his cheekiness.
“The Elite tests are different. They pull the Assessments out of order and they get randomly chosen,” she explained.
“And who decides that? The Ministry?”
“Correct,” she replied.
“Is the Minister a good man?” he asked.
She hesitated for a moment, trying to choose the right words.
“He is a man of many talents, but his mind is clouded.”
He focused on the man for a second, trying to picture him in his head. He was sure he had seen him on the front of the newspaper.
“Clouded how? he questioned.
“You should be worried about your training, not the acts of the Minister,” she replied, staring up to catch his glance.
“The acts of all of us will define a true future,” he said, closing his eyes.
She withdrew from the conversation, drawing close as she too closed her eyes and rested upon Max.
It was the end of the day and only a few students remained. Max rushed his meal and retreated behind his closed door. After a good sleep and a long lie-in, it was well after midday when Max woke. He tore back the curtains with purpose, looking out at the cloudless sky. The weather here was so much warmer than that at Sherwood.
“Why are you still here?” Jimmy questioned as he barged in without knocking and took a seat next to Maximus on the bed.
“It’s Stuart’s fault; he said he would be busy until four,” he replied.
“When you see him make sure you tell him he still owes me,” Jimmy complained.
“Will do.”
The afternoon rolled by and he found it to be a pleasant day. Max hadn’t planned on training at all today, leaving his body to rest. The Challengers’ break was designed to give the recruit Elites time to recover before starting the second Assessment. Most students used the break for training and preparation. For Max the break was an opportunity to discover. To branch out from the rules of the school that bound him to this Earth.
The urge he felt seemed constant. A continuous climb, step by step, to reach new heights. It was apparent that his set of stairs was endless. He finally approached the masters’ level of the dojo.
He gazed at the detail of the level. The wooden floor had been varnished and polished to a high standard, making Max tread carefully. He followed the wall railing to the main area of the masters’ level. Once there, his breath was taken away by the sight of the statue of Philo. This had been Max’s favourite God. The power he held dear was gifted from Philo’s very hands.
The Elementrix’s founder had a stern look and armour covered his battle-worn body.
‘Crafted of the great Philo. To understand the fear that grips you is to conquer it. Bind your body and mind and surpass anyone who stands in your way. Live with the idea that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Every battle fought is with pride and honour. Seize the courage and determination to strive for the glory that awaits, and become the chosen one.’
“Inspirational,” Max muttered. His eyes roved down the statue and were drawn to the hilt of the sword, grasped with both hands, the tip resting on the ground. The gold glistened in the light from the tall windows. The pose was different from that of the poster in the history classroom; he was no longer kneeling; rather standing as tall as a tower. Max felt intimidated at first, reading over the quote again to justify the man before him. He did not look like an angry or greedy man. Rather someone who would lose a limb to protect someone he barely knew. His sense of intimidation was replaced with respect, and he thought he could see a resemblance between Philo and himself.
“Back when I was your age, I lived by this quote,” said Alexander, surprising Maximus.
“It’s a good quote isn’t it?” Max replied.
“Don’t get me wrong, I still live by it, but what long nights I used to sit here as a youth, trying to decipher what this really meant,” said Alex, slipping into his
memories.
“Did you figure it out in the end?”
Alex looked towards Max, asking himself the question. “I tried to adopt the quote into my way of living. I trained day and night and when I couldn’t move my body I would sit here and pray.”
“For what?” Max replied, curious.
“Hope,” Alex said, walking towards his office. Max followed, walking right behind the Head Master and taking a seat before his desk. He could instantly sense something strange. He couldn’t put a finger on it as he looked around the room, but then his eyes widened. A golden scroll had been put on display in the office. The golden scroll lay in a glass case and was surrounded by many more, but the others seemed lesser somehow in the golden reflection.
“What type of scroll is this?” Max asked.
Alexander could see the life in the boy, as he leaned his forehead against the glass case, eyes wide.
“It is an ancient scroll, one of great importance,” he answered, drawing Max fully into the story with just a sentence.
“Before we go into detail about the scroll, first enlighten me on how you are finding the Assessments.” Alexander questioned.
Max stopped scrutinising the scrolls lining the shelves of the office. He turned his attention to the question, answering automatically. “They’re fine,” he replied, taking a seat.
Alexander ignored the lethargic response, pulling his attention back to the main attraction.
“The golden scroll, do you know what it is?” he questioned, watching as Max’s eyes once again widened at the sight. He gave a nod of his head and his grip on the chair’s armrests tightened.
“It is supposed to be a prophecy, one of great importance. Passed down from Philo himself,” he continued.
“What does it mean?”
“No one knows.” Alexander could remember countless hours trying to open it and decipher its true meaning.
“Please. Open it,” Max replied.
Alex approached the cabinet and opened the door. He picked up the scroll with great care and placed it down before Max.
“No person or power has been able to. This scroll is not for me, nor anyone else before me who has tried to open it. This ancient scroll may lead to a better future, a future not shadowed by fear.”
The Head Master’s voice faded into the background as Max focused on the scroll. His vision narrowed and the middle seal began to glow. Low whispers swept the room as Max tensed in his seat. The Head Master continued to talk as if nothing unusual was happening. Max could see his mouth moving, but couldn’t hear the words.
The whispering voices grew louder and Max watched his hand stretching out for the scroll. He took hold of the scroll, its golden glow intensifying at his touch, and all at once the voices were silenced. Lightning bounced around the office and the air in the room grew heavy. It was as if the gravity had doubled, driving the Head Master and Max to their knees. The room continued to spark as both men knelt helplessly.
“Stop,” Alex managed to say, mustering all his energy. Max could feel the scroll disappear from his hands as it transferred its energy to his left shoulder, tattooing its mark.
As soon as the mark darkened gravity returned to normal, releasing both men. Max was panting, attempting to inhale as much air as he could. It was five minutes before the Head Master regained his senses, grabbing Max by the shoulder and fixing him with wide eyes.
“Where is the scroll?” he questioned.
“I don’t know.”
“What just happened?” he half-shouted, looking into Max’s blank face.
At that moment, Dozer charged through the office door.
“What was that?” he yelled, shooting a look from Alexander to Max.
“I can’t explain it,” said Alex, at a loss for words.
“Did you feel it?” asked Max.
“The whole school did! Every single person was forced to the ground.”
The room fell silent as all three men contemplated the situation.
“It was the scroll,” said Max, searching for an answer.
Dozer glanced at the glass case and then angrily began walking towards Max.
“Wait!” said Alex, drawing Dozer’s attention away from Max. “Send out an urgent message to Master Lee and Danny to meet at the Ministry right now,” he ordered. Dozer’s heart rate spiked at his tone of voice. Something was wrong; he had never received such an order from him in all his time at the school. What had Max done? he questioned as he stormed out of the room.
“Go now, before I change my mind,” whispered Alex, watching as Max quickly left the office.
He looked at the glass case where the golden scroll had been, cursing Max as he dug through the remaining scrolls, seeking an explanation.
* * *
Confused and lonely, Max walked slowly back to his room. He avoided the students who approached him, giving them the cold shoulder as he pushed past. There was only one thing that was going to fix this situation; he had to leave the school for the duration of the break.
He opened the door to his room, entered and slammed it shut, heading in to lie on top of his bed.
His wall had not glowed since the first Assessment, leaving him to question whether it ever would again. He drifted off to sleep, his thoughts on the scroll.
* * *
The next day was no different. He could still feel the heavy weight of what had happened in the Head Master’s office, and there was still no sign of an apology from Chris.
He began walking over to the very edge of the cliff, retreating out of sight.
“Maximus!” someone shouted out. He continued walking, hoping they would not pursue him.
He suddenly felt a hand interlocked with his and his attitude instantly brightened as he caught sight of Hilary’s smile.
“Wow! You look stunning,” he said as she drew closer. Her long dark hair had been curled, twirling its way past shining hair rings that sparkled in the sun. Her long cotton dress screamed summertime, its pale colours radiating sunlight.
“Thanks,” she smiled. She had hoped to run into Max. “Do you know what happened yesterday? I overheard Dozer talking about it, saying the Ministry is investigating it,” she continued.
“I have no idea,” he lied.
Hilary watched Max look away as he replied. She grew anxious that Max had information that she didn’t.
“Are you lying?” she replied sharply, as Max turned back to her.
“No.” He hesitated. “I really thought it had something to do with the next Assessment,” he smirked, hoping she would forget about it.
She did drop the topic and they found a spot to sit at the very edge of the pillar. She cuddled into him as she looked out across the canyon.
“What are you planning on doing for your break?” she asked.
“Truthfully, I want to go home and train,” said Max.
“You train too much. You should be out there having a break.”
Max noticed a change in the wind, now blowing her sweet smell towards him, making him tighten. He didn’t know why she had such an effect on him.
He had no intentions of resting but just shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to reply to her comment.
“Well, make sure you look after yourself,” she beamed.
There was an awkward second where neither Max nor Hilary moved, each waiting for the other to draw close and end the conversation with a hug. Finally, she made the move, hugging him as she whispered her goodbye and quickly departing.
Max returned to his room and lay on his bed. For twenty minutes, he stared at the wall, desperate to decipher its meaning. It was as if the letters and symbols changed every night, releasing yet another story to Max as he slept. A knock at the door shook him back to the here and now.
“It’s open,” he yelled, sitting up against the wall. The door opened with a bang and Stuart barged in, filling the room with his excitement.
“You’re late,” yawned Max.
“Totally not my fault,” Stua
rt replied, dropping a bag of goods that Max had requested into his lap as he took a seat. He began to search for the letters of his name on the wall, now totally oblivious of Maximus.
“What news do you bring?” said Max, drawing Stuart’s attention.
“Let’s see: the NPA are on a man hunt for the killer of two users two nights ago. The Ministry is fighting for a new defensive law to fend off the Dark Lord. And I have been going about my business under-appreciated,” he sighed.
“Do you think the killings have to do with the Dark Lord?” he questioned, eyeballing Stuart as he swung back on his chair.
“I would bet money on it,” he replied. “Not only that, but his henchmen set ablaze a whole village only last week. The death toll has now risen to forty,” Stuart explained.
“Seth.” Max hissed and punched the wall. Sparks erupted, spreading from one side to the other, unnoticed by Max as he pictured the burning village.
“Look!” pointed Stuart, sounding shocked.
Max turned his head to the glowing numbers forming in the centre of the wall. He swung his head from the wall to Stuart.
“Do you see that?” Max questioned.
Stuart had already got out of his seat, walking close to the wall and examining the glow. “Are they co-ordinates?” he questioned.
Max shot up, taking two steps back to get the whole view.
“Dates,” Max answered, drawing closer. The numbers kept changing, rotating in a scramble, making it impossible to see a particular date. His hand stretched out and he blocked the light, feeling a short, warm sensation run through his body.
Stuart grabbed onto Max’s shoulder as the wall teleported them, consuming them as they vanished from the room.
Max opened his eyes to a small dust cloud lifting from his breath. He struggled to rise but his failed attempt left him on the ground. It was hard to tell where he was, confused as he was as to how he had got there. He spotted Stuart close by, lifting his head to observe his body position. His chest continued to rise and fall but he lay still.
“Stuart,” croaked Max. After a moment, he mustered the strength to drag himself through the sand, crawling closer to Stuart and seeing him shake back to life.
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