The Final Lesson, page 6
part #1 of The Final Lesson Series
“Peculiar,” Amiria mumbled. “How much free time did these citizens have on their hands to craft these?” Lancett followed her line of vision. “You can still see the tears rolling down her face.”
“It’s haunting,” Lancett agreed. “We’re the ones that carry their will, and I don’t feel nearly as connected to them.” Amiria examined the metal plating at the center—information on the former Warlord. This woman had been called Anise Kinsley. She was likely the first Warlord bound to the realm that was to become Kinsley.
Leilana allowed her gaze to waver over the shrine furthest from the entrance before opening her grimoire, flipping through the pages and stopping on one entitled the ‘Age of Ruin.’ The people of Paluna seemed to carry each Warlord down a stroke of heritage and expansion. At the start of the line stood the original seven Warlords, chosen merely by fate, carrying out their assigned duty to guard the lands of Adrylis with an open mind and a fractured heart. Those that died to restore the world from a time of desolation and crisis.
And as time went on, they only moved further down that thin red string, the only end goal in sight to keep from falling into oblivion.
She spun the words of the Lasette into the air of her condescending mind. She knew of the ‘Age of Ruin,’ but to a limited degree. The remains of the tale were something to be interpreted over time by those that wished to learn it through experience.
“Ennis Erovina is here too,” Kindall called, which snapped her out of her focused state too easily. “Leilana, you’ve gotta see this! Look, look!” She made her way over to the statue that Kindall stood before, pointing vigorously. Leilana clutched the Lasette to her chest, gaping at the shrine’s monument. High and mighty stood a man, much smaller than those that came before him in size, carrying a trident over his broad shoulders.
“He has your face,” Kindall stated. Leilana almost took offense, thinking that he was specifying that Leilana possessed masculine features, or that Ennis had possessed a femininity to his facial structure that mirrored hers. But after contemplating his words, she realized that he could have meant that they had a displacement about themselves that rivaled one another.
“You mean her passion?” Lancett asked.
“No, I mean that he looks kinda girly.”
…Statement revoked. He was a simpleton after all. Leilana couldn’t help but sigh. Lancett slapped his palm against his face and sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. Amiria was dumbfounded that something so insignificant could slip past the cracks in his mind. Maybe they gave Kindall far more credit than he seemed to be worth.
“What? What’s with your faces? Did you step in something?” Kindall asked. “Do I have something on my face?” Lancett nervously chuckled in response before ushering the two girls off in the direction of the village. Kindall outstretched a hand towards the three, a bit astonished. “H-Hey! Lance! Don’t steal the girls again!”
“I’m not stealing anyone!” Lancett called back, continuing to laugh. “Hurry up or you’re going to be left behind!” Kindall groaned loudly before running after the group.
Within seconds, straw huts and a wholesome display of decorations resembling hanging lanterns besieged their vision. Lancett’s eyes bore into the flames, and he closed his eyes, listening to the slender wood crackling. The afternoon sky was becoming cloaked by a modest auburn shade. Off in the distance, Amiria caught a glimpse of vast silver shrines, unhindered by even the blackest night, and the entire area gave off an emanate glow despite the setting sun. The wind lightly blew through the straw huts, and in the center of the town stood the residence of the leader. It was far larger than the other huts, and dozens of people were standing just outside of it.
Paluna wasn’t absent of people, at least, for women of all shapes and form, many men, and children guided by their parents were forming a crowd. Leilana’s gaze locked on a small girl with pointed ears concealed under a thin hood, the child’s expression fearful and lonesome. The child’s eyes were a shade of cerulean, the irises reflecting a smoky haze as she looked up towards the sunset. Alongside her were two adults with the same features, the woman grabbing the child’s hand to lead her away once she had met Leilana’s stare. That concerned her—was she subconsciously incriminating?
“Nymphs…?” There certainly were some unique people walking through Adrylis.
“This is already eventful,” Lancett stated, looking over the town for himself. “I always believed that nymphs were bound to the forests or groves or mountains, based on legends. But they’re walking around Paluna like there’s nothing to it.”
“Well, there’s still a lot that we don’t really know about anything outside of school,” Amiria stated, “The laws must vary depending on where the residents, um… reside.”
“Do you think it’s better that we try asking around?” Lancett inquired. “Surely, they must know that students will be dropping in from time to time for their examinations.”
Before Amiria could muster up a response, she was suddenly seized by a larger man, binding her arms behind her back. She was quick to let out a shrill high-pitched note, causing the man’s ears to burst and for him to release his grip on her, blood seeping down the side of his face. He was yelling and cursing, the white noise ringing as he tread back, clutching his wound. She covered her mouth with both hands, stepping back towards Lancett, shielding her by wrapping his arms around her, asking her to confirm that she was all right. Amiria didn’t reply, gripping to his sleeves with both hands as a form of comfort. Leilana was flipping through the pages of her grimoire, the book now hovering several feet above her at the ready.
“Hey, what’s your problem?!” Lancett bellowed.
“We come here in peace!” Kindall hissed, taking hold of his rapier, extending it out in front of the three in a protective manner. The rage of his burning mind replicated into his sharp, polished blade becoming streaked in a thin sheet of ice. “Don’t wanna be in pieces just for trying to rest for the night!”
“Arcana and Maesters,” one of the men mumbled, “Rare are they to find out here…”
“But they aren’t Warlords,” another spoke, “So, they aren’t of much use. They aren’t magically inclined enough to be able to guide us.”
“Hey, we may not be Warlords, but that doesn’t make us useless!” Lancett countered, “We are on a pilgrimage to become Warlords! And from what we have seen, this town supports our cause too!”
“W-We don’t want to be of any harm to your country,” Amiria piped up, her hands folded in front of her to quell any lingering anxiety that she possessed. “If you want us to leave here, then we’re more than happy!”
“They attacked you, and you reacted to it,” Leilana reminded Amiria, “I doubt that they’ll let you go in peace now that we’ve been put on a pedestal of devastation.”
“Well, do we run?” Amiria asked in a hushed tone, noticing the villagers of Paluna drawing nearer to them, trying to condense them in one area and surround them. The fury mounted between them all seemed to be progressing over time, even more so now that they were talking amongst themselves. It was making her nervous and a bit queasy.
“That will put us in greater danger,” Lancett stated, taking up his sword as he took a step back, one arm still wrapped around Amiria. “We could always fight our way out of this and hope for the best.”
“But that’s inhumane,” Leilana interjected, the haze around her grimoire began to illuminate in a broader manner before dropping back into her hands once more. “As easy as it could be for us, we can’t go around picking fights with random people.”
“They may hold the key to ending this war in Linmus! They say that they need more magic to restore the kingdom!”
“Magic…?” Kindall breathed, taking in the words of those around him rather than the overshadowed statements of his comrades. “Wait, war?”
Lancett gripped the hilt of his blade with more force. “We’ve no other choice-”
“Halt.” The thunderous voice expurgated through the wrath of the citizens of Paluna, and from the crowd stepped a man with shoulder-length graying hair and a beard littered with strands of the same color. In his hands, he carried a staff. Leilana eyed the prayer beads wrapped around the crystal jewel, hanging to the ground.
“M-Master Kosmin,” one of the villagers whispered. Many began to bow in the man’s presence, dropping all the negative emotions that had once swelled and prepared to burst.
“That was unexpected,” Kindall settled with, relinquishing his weapon to rest in the sheath on his back. Leilana was still flipping through her grimoire, unable to let her guard down for even a moment in case that these people decided to turn against the grain of dignity that they had for this man.
“These children are not Warlords, indeed, but they are to be treated with respect. They are guests in this town.” Some of the people in the crowd began to converse with one another, all with some sense of confliction. Lancett watched them scour and writhe in their confusion over their leader’s words, an almost amused expression on his face.
“But Master! They are Arcana and Maesters, not worthy of standing among their ancestors just yet! There is so much that they have yet to comprehend!”
“That is no manner of yours. All Warlords start in similar positions before growing to become more proficient in the skills that they have been granted.”
At that moment, the young girl that Leilana had kept her attention on earlier stepped forward from the crowd, making her way towards Kosmin. Wordlessly, she glanced up at him before removing her hood, revealing her pointed ears and shoulder length wavy curls, every strand out of place, yet styled with peculiar intent.
The girl looked to the crowd. “Master is correct. Harming children that only seek to achieve their goals is shameful. I wonder just how far you all are prepared to handle yourselves. Would the fates be pleased with the idealism that you have shown today?”
“Yino, please don’t strike fear into the people,” Kosmin stated, tapping the girl on the head with his gentle fist, causing the child to reach up her hands and shield her now exposed skull. She grinned playfully at Kosmin before pushing his hands away as he tried to strike again. Amiria grew pleased at the sudden change of pace, smiling tenderly at the two. “You, girl.”
“Y-Yes?!” Amiria jumped at the sudden address, his eyes glaring into hers. There was no sense of malice or anger behind his gesture, however, which eased her progressively.
“Your power levels are astounding,” Kosmin stated, “I’ve never heard of someone that uses their voice to control their magical energy.”
“She did kind of blow out someone’s eardrums with that scream of hers,” Kindall admitted, “So she’s got skill if nothing else.”
Only then did Amiria realize her actions, her eyes widening. “I did do that! I-I’m sorry!” She lowered herself into a bow, her hair slipping out of its bun, curling over her left shoulder. “I didn’t mean to react in that manner.” She considered the crowd behind her and allowed her attention to shift to them. “I’m also sorry about accidentally hurting that man, h-he startled me!”
“You don’t need to apologize, Amiria,” Lancett told her, “You were defending yourself. You thought he was going to hurt you, and you had a right to that.”
Contrary to his words, Amiria still bowed to the crowd of people. “I know that it was an act of defense, but please, I ask forgiveness.”
Leilana peered into the crowd as well, watching their once tranquil expressions in the presence of Kosmin and Yino revert to a state of misunderstanding. Their noses could have turned up in approval and still she would not have gained any momentum. But Amiria seemed to thrive on the kindness of others—even if it wasn’t being shown in front of her.
“This is no place for talking,” Kosmin called, “Come, join us at our shrine.”
Amiria’s eyes traced over the crowd once more at his words, and behind their calm demeanors, she could sense overwhelming anguish and frustration. Her gaze locked on the man she had harmed. He was talking with his family, all the while holding his little girl in his arms, kissing her cheeks and nose affectionately and assuring her that he was fine. The woman at his side was clinging to his arm, fighting tears, and the teenage boy next to her had been rubbing her back to ease her mind.
Warlords have the trouble of connecting humanity and magic as one. It is easy to lose yourself in your lust for power and understanding.
Becoming a Warlord meant ample responsibility. It also meant that in a search for a greater strength, that people could become hurt or corrupted by madness. Everyone on the path to greatness had a chance to be consumed by that immensity or could even become lost to time.
Leilana rested a hand on the girl’s shoulder, causing her to look up, straightening her back. “Come on, Amiria. It’s better that we don’t stick around. Trying to apologize is going to be lost on them.”
Amiria interlocked her fingers with Leilana’s, her eyes averted to the ground, a light shade of pink blanketing her features. Leilana found herself staring at the right side of the girl’s face, clearing her throat. She supposed that she didn’t mind the gesture—Amiria was always going to Kindall for comfort. Maybe she was just switching things up.
They followed Yino and Kosmin, hand in hand the entire time, Kindall and Lancett a few feet ahead of them whispering and joking. What about, Leilana didn’t bother to decipher.
The four trailed closely behind the leaders of Paluna along the beaten path leading up to the shrine. Lancett found himself gawking at Yino in particular—the girl appeared to be much younger than any of them, and yet she was standing at Kosmin’s side as an equal. Maybe she was his daughter or some other relative based on her traits. She was a nymph, or at least in relation to one, which included features that Kosmin seemed to lack due to his more human adept. Still, she seemed capable enough to care for this town; her aura spoke it so.
Along the way, Amiria freed her hand from Leilana’s, stopping to restore some dying flowers to life, using the water from her canteen to quench their thirst. Leilana looked on with wonder, curious as to how she could give up supplies that she was limited to, all to save a few plants. Then again, Amiria carried a sense of generosity that went unmatched by anyone she had known despite their short time together. There was little chance that she herself could ever hold such an impact over trivial and seemingly unnecessary actions.
“Where are we going?” Kindall piped up, “I mean, the shrines are up here, but what exactly are we doing? What do you want with us?”
“I am a landmark in your pilgrimage,” Kosmin stated, pressing his staff into the ground with every step that he took, using it as a leverage for his movement. “You are the first group to arrive today. I figure that after coming all of this way, it will be good for you to learn more about what is to come.”
Yino looked back to the group, grinning. “Master Kosmin specializes in reading tarot cards, something that he uses alongside communicating with the fates.”
“Oh!” Amiria beamed. “I’ve always wanted to have a tarot card reading! There are so many endless possibilities behind them.”
“What are tarot cards?” Lancett asked.
“Cards that spin the future,” Kindall replied, waving his right index finger in a circular motion. “But I’m sure that you’ll see it in more detail soon.”
Kosmin wiped some dust from the metallic doors, and Yino wrinkled her nose as if to brush it away before sneezing. Kosmin smirked down at the girl and patted her head. She pouted, turning away from him. The four followed in line with the Warlord and apprentice to discover a single room shaped in a circular motion, a six-pointed emblem in the center of the floor and several unlit lanterns hovering aimlessly without magical aid. Off to the right of the entrance were a vast accumulation of documents and books set up on a shelf. But what seemed to overpower the sight of the room was not the sensation of mystical energy, rather the soil that ravaged the entire area.
“I take it that no one has used this place for some time?” Lancett concluded, wiping a myriad of dust from the wall with his index finger.
“No, not necessarily. Paluna rarely has unknowledgeable visitors dropping by.” Kosmin spun his staff once, an essence of flames hovering over the dim candles inside of the lanterns. One by one, illumination besieged the room.
“You might want to cover your noses and eyes for this next part,” Yino warned, plugging her nose and shutting her eyes. “It’s gonna get messy.” Amiria and Leilana didn’t hesitate to obey, but Kindall and Lancett stole a passing glance at each other before doing the same.
Kosmin nodded at the progress before a spiraling whirlwind emerged from his staff, gathering all the dust at once from the walls and windows, propelling it to the floor. Once he had achieved this, he retrieved a broom hidden behind a curtain, sweeping the contents outside.
“That’s useful,” Lancett mumbled, brushing some dust from his blazer.
“But annoying,” Leilana pointed out, dusting off her skirt as well.
“You think that’s bad, imagine what his house is like,” Yino piped up while gathering the remains of the unclaimed mess. “Trying to talk him into cleaning before all of the dust builds up the way that it did here is a pain. And it never works out.”
Kosmin gave a hearty laugh. “Oh, come now, you know that it is more fun this way!”
“Senile old man,” Yino scoffed.
Once the cleaning had come to an end, Kosmin had the four teenagers take a seat around the condensed space, gathering his pack of tarot cards.
“There is much that you will need to know about yourselves before you are going to be able to establish yourself as Warlords in the future. I am here to give you an idea of what you can expect from yourself as you begin your journey. But I warn you, you may not like your results. However, in light of what you receive, know that there is a way to overcome the obstacles hindering that potential line. You can always change what the future has in store for you, bit by bit. The smallest action towards brightening yourself begins with that single step.” After shuffling the cards, he set the deck down in front of him. “Now, who would like to go first?”
