First Light, page 16
The party really started to liven up when Dannon finally faded away from sobriety. “And another thing, Rune. How, in Chaos’s name, do you move like that?”
Rune tried to focus on his friend, but could not really seem to decide which of the two he was supposed to look at.
“You sure you’re classless? Moves like that…you sure you ain’t an Enhancer like my brother?”
“Yup,” Rune stated with an exaggerated pop. “Never been able to manifest Aura except this one incident when I was a kid. Bandits tried to raid the village. I saw a flash of purple light erupt from my hands during the attack and passed out. When I woke up, I was back in my room, nary a clue of what happened.”
“Well, that’s helpful,” Teryn complained. “A flash of purple light from your hand? That could be anything. A Pulser, Shielder, whatever. At least we know your dad’s Volari blood isn’t doin’ shit.” It was hard to make out what she was saying, but everyone, even Jeruul, seemed to get the gist, especially when Teryn was pointing in the general position of her own eyes. Rune, even in his own stupor, felt bad for Jeruul. Poor soul was the only one of the four who could hold his liquor.
While the group continued to party and enjoy a hearty meal, an acquaintance of theirs approached. Karl had a big smile on his face and a mug full of ale. Despite always dressing as though he was homeless, with his tattered cloak and disheveled clothes, he was clearly drinking one of the finer offerings in the place.
Rune eventually learned that while he might not look it, Karl was likely the wealthiest man in Hilden, thanks to the riches he had earned when he was still active within the Vanguard. Karl was simply a unique individual who rarely spent money on himself unless it was liquor for imbibing or food for choking down.
“Well, well, well, my young friends! It looks like my hunch was right! You make a great team! Thanks for getting those tusks for me, by the way.” Karl laughed while gesturing with his cup, causing its contents to splash about the table. “Rune, my boy, how’s the headache treating you?”
Rune had been seeing Karl after every job and any days that his headache plagued him. Since Ven had left, Rune had been struck by regular migraines and dizzy spells. Jacob suggested he visit Karl since the church’s cleric could not figure out what the problem was. Of course, the church worker could have just lied about not being able to help. Crucidian acolytes rarely interacted positively with the rest of the town, but they were especially abrasive to the Vanguard.
When Rune had finally visited Karl, he was shocked to learn the man not only practiced minimalism to an excessive degree, but he also used his spare time to learn about medicinal herbs and had settled in as the town apothecary. One thing was for sure: the man knew his stuff. Every visit to him left Rune without a headache for at least a day or sometimes two. It would always return, but any amount of relief was welcome, and it was a lot better than the nothing that would happen when he tried visiting the church.
“Not too bad!” Rune answered happily. “No headache for the last three days! Though I suspect I will have a pretty big one tomorrow!”
The party laughed together and joined the rest of the patrons in singing along to the drinking song that had begun. Rune thought he caught a flash of worry cross Karl’s face, but it vanished faster than it appeared, leaving him to wonder if he saw anything at all.
In truth, Rune hated his condition. There were times he thought he should give up on being a Vanguard warrior. Having a debilitating headache after every other mission made him feel inferior and like a dead weight to the party. This was despite his party-mates claiming otherwise. Even during the lightened atmosphere, these thoughts resurfaced. His face seemed to show what he was thinking because Teryn moved from her spot across from him to his side. She stumbled awkwardly, trying to drunkenly maneuver a chair around the table, but she made it.
She threw one arm around his neck and smiled broadly. “Don’t look like that! If I know you, you’re still worried about holding us back. Let me just say: you aren’t, and you won’t. So, drink up, relax, and have fun.” She brought her mug to his. “To friends!”
Rune felt his face warm. He returned her smile. “To friends.”
They both drank down what remained in their cups before asking for refills. Huh, she's actually kind of nice…
Jacob
“So why is it you don’t want me to use the Awakening Crystal?” Jacob asked his old friend. “Mona took the delivery quest to bring it all the way here so we can finally have a working one. I’m sure that Rune would be ecstatic to use it and solve his personal mystery.”
Karl chuckled. “He doesn’t need to use the crystal for us to know. I already know what he is. However, it is too soon for him to find out. He’s strong, but he needs time to mature.”
Jacob pinched the bridge of his nose. It was unbelievable to him that Karl would ask him to not use the Awakening Crystal, not just on Rune, but on anyone, until Rune was ready to move on to Jelmoore. No one knew how long it would take for that to happen, which frustrated him. It almost crippled his recruitment efforts since a lot of classless Awakened would move on to Jelmoore for the sole purposes of using their Awakening Crystal. After seeing all the city offered, very few of them came back to Hilden.
“You owe me for this, Karl,” Jacob growled. “Can you at least tell me his Class? After hearing the stories of how he fights and the strange things that happen around him, I am dying to know. He and his friends are doing great work, but the rumors are spreading by the hour. You should know, since you basically live here in the Hall’s bar or other taverns.”
Karl thought for a moment with a hand stroking his gray beard. “Listening to everyone’s stories is quite entertaining, to be honest. So, no, I don’t think I will tell you.”
“Right, ‘cause, why would you make this easy on me?”
Jacob glared at Karl, but ultimately knew he could not force his hand. Karl was possibly the Vanguard’s highest ranked warrior on this side of the Wyverntooth Mountain range, which translated to him having a free pass to do almost anything he wanted. Of course, Jacob could call in a few of the many, many favors that Karl owed him to extract the information. For the sake of their relationship, though, he let his old friend keep his secrets.
“Have you heard anything from Vincent?” Karl asked, changing the subject.
“Not much of anything, really. Things in the kingdom are rough, politically speaking. Our commanders are keeping quiet right now. Well, all except for one. Not a peep from any of the Council either.”
The robed man let out a sharp laugh. “Of course, she wouldn’t shut her trap. Neither does it surprise me that those other bastards want to stay quiet till the last minute. Same for the damnable Council. I’m sure they aren’t resting on their laurels, though. Nyer is a veritable den of vipers. The moment they stop scheming is the moment the Sea of Chaos consumes the world once more.”
“What do you expect them to do? The Vanguard holds loyalty to no nation,” Jacob reminded. Karl, as a high-ranker, was held under higher levels of restriction by the organization as it related to operating within his kingdom of residence. Once a Vanguard busted through the upper ranks, they basically served a global military organization and were bound by its laws. Granted, that military focused on the control over the monster population. At least, on the surface.
Karl laughed sarcastically before he finally answered. “I don’t know…but something.”
Chapter Fifteen
Brick
As the days turned to weeks, the training and education given by the Vanguard Academy provided Brick with ample opportunities for growth. Finally able to use his abilities as an Enhancer increased his drive for improvement. Prior to this point, he had focused on training his body and fists to be as prepared as possible for any of the classes. Were he a Shielder or a Pulser, it would have been harder to incorporate into his current style, but not impossible.
One of his primary focuses of late had been to limit his enhancements. At his current level, the activation of his abilities maximized the part of his body he was trying to strengthen. This resulted in much harder punches, higher jumps, and faster sprints. However, if he always maximized those activations, then it would drain his reserves quickly and leave him helpless in a longer fight.
People who were prepared to end fights quickly with overwhelming power had every right to train that way. Brick, on the other hand, wanted to be ever-prepared for fighting battles, where that was not an option. Being the size he was, his enemies would often assume that was how he fought, but if he proved he could perform just as well or better in drawn out fights, then many enemies would struggle to adapt. Monsters seldom had such advanced thoughts, but Brick was not so simple as to believe he would only ever have to fight monsters. Sometimes the dangers that the Vanguard confronted in the field were caused by people.
Once again, Brick closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He looked within himself and felt the Aura wells within his body. Aura seemed to roil like an angry sea begging for release, held back only by his will. A single thought was all that was needed to allow that energy to run rampant throughout his body, strengthening his bone and muscle. Though difficult, Brick slowly opened the gates, trying to allow only a trickle of the chaotic energy to leak out.
Highly trained warriors could exercise control such as this after several minutes of preparation. Having to spend such a large amount of time to achieve such a result only showed the young man how much further he had to go. Gods, how do they do this? Sweat beaded along his brow, neck, and back. Suddenly, a torrent of Aura burst through his control, throwing open the ‘gates’ Brick had visualized. Before the energy could fill his pathways, Brick closed it off. He was just in time to hear a familiar situation develop.
“What the fuck did you just say to me?” a shrill voice screeched out.
Brick felt a wry smile tease the corner of his mouth. Such incidents had become commonplace as of late. Two students would always end up at odds in the training room, the halls, the classroom… anywhere, really. The perpetrators of such fights were none other than Tayven Nefera and Venraya of Hilden. Those two could not seem to find common ground, no matter what.
“I said that your focus on the bow has weakened your swordplay. While your abilities with the blade are not the worst I have seen, they present a weakness in your fighting style,” Tayven responded. His tone was measured and plain, as if he was trying to provide guidance as a teacher would to a student. Unfortunately, this only increased Venraya’s frustration.
“Asshole, you always have something smart to say to me, don’t you?” Venraya shouted back. Her green eyes were wide with rage while her face reddened. “Since you want to talk about swordplay so much, my friend back home would trounce you in a second. Don’t come talk to me like you’re some sort of sagely sword instructor.”
“While I cannot claim to know the skill of your ‘friend’, I do know that my own skills are not lacking. My father provided me the best…”
Oh, not the response I would have chosen, Tayven, Brick thought, while starting his walk over to them.
“Of course, your father gave you… blah, blah, blah. You nobles and having everything granted to you. I had to teach myself while asking for the occasional tips from local hunters and Vanguard warriors who felt kind enough to give advice or instruction. Not everyone had their skills handed to them in exchange for a few coins. Even the person who taught me refused until I proved myself. I earned my skills, at least.”
The young woman was prone to outbursts when she felt as though she had been wronged. Brick had noticed she had a hard time fitting in. Many other students had avoided her because of her frequent arguments with Tayven. As the young noble had been at the academy prior to the term starting, he had established a presence and position of respect among their peers. To them, Venraya was the one in the wrong in any disagreement between them, even if that was not always the case.
Before Tayven could retort, the woman threw her practice swords onto the weapon rack while storming out of the room. Several dozen eyes silently followed her retreat, brought out of their collective stupor by the slamming of a door. A few moments later, the sounds of weapons smacking shields returned, accompanied by a tired sigh from Tayven.
Brick turned towards his friend with a comforting smile. “Can’t help yourself, can you?”
“She’s impossible.”
“So are you.”
Tayven glanced at him. “What in the names of the gods are you talking about?”
“Tayven, it is not always what you are saying that is the problem, but sometimes it is the delivery that is insulting.” He groaned. “I understand—because I know you—that you were simply trying to educate Miss Venraya on swordsmanship. We all know that her skill with a bow is the best in our class, and I know you are concerned it has created a gap that can be exploited.
“It is true that being a more rounded individual can save one’s life, but there are better ways to say it. Also, falling victim to her frustrations regarding your background was another mistake on your part. Everyone knows you are of nobility. While you did not intend it to come off that way, using your nobility as a weight to the conversation backfired and made you come off as—to be frank—a pompous ass.”
Brick let his words sink in for several moments. Tayven’s eyes drifted around the room as he mulled over the information. Slowly but surely, realization dawned on the young noble. Once he had fully realized the truth behind Brick’s words, Tayven smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. “I’ve been an idiot, haven’t I?”
“A little,” Brick replied. “There’s also your physical demeanor. Though it is hard, maybe tone down the noble posture. It makes it seem like you look down your nose at people, regardless of your intentions.”
“Noted. Thank you, Brick.”
Lestreus
“Prince Lestreus, what is your answer?” a balding man asked the red-headed prince.
“Hm? I’m sorry, Father Stephen. I was distracted.” Lestreus bowed as deeply as he could from his seated position behind his desk. The argument with his father a week ago kept playing in his mind on repeat. He had never once been so forceful with anyone, let alone his own father, the king.
“I had asked about the tenants of the church, young prince. I know you are to attend that commoner academy soon and it would do much to settle my nerves to know that you would not be tempted by their relaxed views.” Father Stephen sighed with resignation. “That city is rife with faithless and those that deny the gods to follow their ‘Path’.”
“Yes, um… Man shall strive to move forward and better both himself and his neighbor.”
“That is correct, Prince Lestreus. A holy commandment handed down to us by the Goddess of Innovation. Another was shared by her brother, the God of Honor. That is?”
“I believe it is to face your foes and stand amongst the righteous to defend the weak?”
“That is correct,” Father Stephen confirmed.
Prince Lestreus had spent the majority of his time since his conversation with Archpriest Henner and with his father in the temple attached to the Faradin Knight Academy. His teachers within the church had been hammering into him religious theory and history as if it were the end of days. Of course, he knew that this was at the request of his benefactor, Lord Henner, so Lestreus knew better than to fight against the requisite learning.
A knock at the door appreciatively interrupted Father Stephen’s prelude to the next set of lectures. While the prince understood the importance of it, even he was tiring. Though as studious as one could be, a human only had so much patience. The person who entered was none other than Lord Henner himself. Upon seeing the portly Archpriest, both the prince and Father Stephen stood at attention, each giving a slight bow.
The man chuckled and put up a single hand to motion them to relax. “Father Stephen, I thank you for your time spent with the young prince, but I believe it is time we allow him at least a brief reprieve. Even an impressively intelligent young man like him deserves a break every now and again, yes?”
Father Stephen nodded and bowed before leaving the room quietly. Lestreus turned to the Archpriest and asked, “What brings you here today, sir?”
“I have selected someone to join you on your journey to Jelmoore. I needed a replacement for the head priest of the church there. With that in mind, I figured why not have you two travel together?”
“Of course, Lord Henner. Who will my traveling companion be?” Lestreus found himself extremely curious as to the identity of his new companion. He was also unaware that the clergy in Jelmoore was due for a change. Seeing as that was the case, then Lord Henner was in the right that it only made sense to kill two birds with one stone.
Henner motioned for someone to come into the room. Behind him was a tall, skinny man with a large, bushy black beard and mustache. His head was completely bald and his green eyes glinted with dangerous intelligence. A shiver ran up Lestreus’s spine. “Prince Lestreus, allow me to introduce you to Father Gelroy. He is a loyal member of my inner circle and previously served at the temple in Rosendale. He has a long history of faithfully serving the church.”
“Prince Lestreus, it is an honor to meet you.” The man’s frame and his deep, gravelly voice did not match up in Lestreus’s mind, and something about his presence created a feeling of unease within the prince’s stomach. Henner seemed to be completely unfazed by the situation, but Gelroy noticed the prince’s discomfort and smiled. While the action was innocent, the way his grin failed to reach his eyes only deepened Lestreus’ concern. The shiver from earlier turned into a shudder.
“Regardless,” Henner continued, “Father Gelroy will take post in Jelmoore at the same time you transfer to the Vanguard Academy. They have already passed the period for their mid-term enrollments, but as a prince, your transfer will be accepted automatically. Father Gelroy will also take over your education, both here and while you are in the Vanguard Academy. This will ensure that the church’s promise to your father of educating you is kept. He is a very devout man, so I am sure you two will get along famously!”
