by Aaron Oster
The look was a big change from the wild shoulder-length tangle he’d been sporting until now. At first, he hadn’t been so sure about cutting so much, but after just a couple of days, he’d grow used to it and found that he even preferred it this way.
“So, does this mean you’ll take her on?”
This question came from Shul. Morgan had requested a meeting with the two of them to discuss the end of Grace’s trial period.
“If she passes her final test today, then yes, I’ll be taking her along with me when I leave,” Morgan said.
“And what is this final test?” Shul asked, the trepidation back in his voice.
“I’m going to take her to face her fears,” Morgan replied simply. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, there’s something I’d like to discuss with Katherine in private.”
Shul let out a long sigh, then rose. He couldn’t help calling out to Morgan one last time before he left.
“I really hope she passes. She seems so much happier since you’ve begun training her.”
“I know,” Morgan replied. “If it’s of any consolation, I hope she passes as well.”
Shul gave him a final nod before closing the door behind him.
“So,” Katherine said, a hint of sadness tinging her voice. “You’re leaving already.”
“I’ve stayed here long enough,” Morgan replied. “The war is almost upon us, and I’ll need to have the gauntlets re-forged if I am to succeed.”
“How much longer do you think we have?”
“I can’t say,” he answered. “Could be as long as two months or as little as a week. All I know is that the barrier is falling, and the enemy is sneaking through. Have you found any of them yet?”
“Unfortunately not,” Katherine replied with a sigh. “I’ve been forced to keep Garrison Blue on standby in case the Pinnacle Beast comes closer to the city, so I don’t exactly have my best men on it.”
“Then perhaps it’s time to alert the other Kingdoms and bring them in to help,” he suggested.
“The problem with that is that I still don’t know if I can trust the South or West. Sure, they agreed to join us, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t planning a double-cross. We might be stronger than we were before the war with the Pinnacle King, but our forces are still severely weakened compared to theirs.”
“How about this?” he suggested. “Alert Herald and Le’vine for now, and when I return, I’ll personally meet with the rulers of the two Kingdoms to see if they’re being honest or not.”
Katherine gave him a weak smile at that.
“That would be very helpful indeed. How long do you think you’ll be gone, though?”
“If all goes well, then hopefully no longer than ten days.”
“And if they don’t?”
Morgan shrugged.
“Let’s just hope they do.”
“Will you stay with me tonight?” she asked. “Since you’re leaving tomorrow and all.”
“We can have dinner if you’d like, but I would prefer to sleep in my own bed.”
The Queen of the North sighed before nodding.
“I’ll take what I can get. Do you really think Grace has a chance of passing?”
“I really hope so,” Morgan replied.
Though he wouldn’t admit as much out loud, he’d been growing quite fond of her, and it would be a shame to have to leave her behind. The girl just brought with her an aura of excitement and wonder at every new thing he had to teach her. It was something he’d lacked for quite some time and it made him feel oddly happy to have someone to teach.
“Anything in particular you’d like to eat tonight?” Katherine asked, moving the subject back to their dinner.
Morgan gave her a rueful grin.
“I’ll leave that decision up to you. You always have great taste in food.”
***
“Today is your final day before the trial period is over and I decide whether you will continue learning under me or if you’re not ready.”
Grace nodded, feeling her heart flutter a bit as Morgan delivered his speech. The two of them were standing in their usual training grounds. Though he had yet to tell her to start running, she wondered if she’d done well enough to pass. She nervously reached up, tucking a stray lock of her brown hair, now streaked with blue, behind an ear.
She’d read up on one of the styles in her own East Kingdom, one that was only just now catching on. It was a style that involved dying several streaks of color into one’s hair to give it an aesthetically pleasing and unique look. She’d liked the idea so much that she’d tried it out almost immediately.
Using her favorite color, blue, she’d worked carefully, getting shade and area just right. It had taken well over two hours for the coloring alone, and when she was finished, she was very pleased with the results. She’d coupled this with a style that had her make a single small braid on the side of her head, leaving the rest loose and curled. The hot metal rod had helped immensely with keeping her hair in the right shape and had saved her a whole lot of time.
The result had her face framed beautifully, the blue streaks bringing out the blue in her eyes. Best of all, it was a very functional style as well, as it kept the hair out of her eyes when she was fighting or training. To say that she was happy with Morgan’s gift would have been an understatement. She’d always loved hair, even as a little girl. She didn’t know why, but no matter how dirty, hungry, or tired she was, she always took the time to care for her hair.
“What exactly do I have to do to prove myself?” she asked as Morgan paused.
The past week had been focused on learning to use her skills more effectively, learning to use basic combinations while moving, and how to blend her skills along with her fighting style. Morgan had also been teaching her about the history of supermages, their origins, and what she could expect when she eventually became one.
Her attributes had seen a noticeable increase as well, making her movements far less clunky and abrupt. Of course, she still had a lot to learn, as Morgan repeatedly told her, so she wasn’t getting ahead of herself just yet. Still, she thought she’d done as good of a job as she could, given their time frame.
In answer, Morgan held out a hand, which she took reluctantly. The world vanished in a blur of motion and color, and she felt the familiar feeling of nausea begin to assault her. She hadn’t thrown up in two whole days when traveling this way, but it was not a fun experience, no matter how many times they did it.
The world came back into focus and she stumbled, only Morgan’s grip on her hand keeping her standing. She felt bile threatening to creep up her throat and fought it down with an effort of will.
“Where are…?” she began to ask, stopping as she noticed the heat.
Grace felt her heart rate spike alarmingly as she looked around, noting the tall sandstone cliff and the open cavern entrance standing before them. The memories came back in a rush, all focused on the curled horn mere inches from her eye. Her body began trembling, and her breathing sped up.
“This is your final test,” Morgan said, gesturing to the Beast Zone entrance. “Go in there and kill the same beast that almost killed you the last time you were here.”
“Won’t…won’t you come with me?” she asked, hating herself for the tremor in her voice.
She couldn’t hide it. She was terrified. Terrified to go in there. Terrified to face that beast. And if Morgan wasn’t even going to be there, then there was no safety net. If she screwed up, she’d be dead for real. She took an involuntary step back, eyes wide and sweat breaking out across her brow and lower back. She wasn’t ready and she didn’t have enough experience.
She felt a strong hand on her shoulder and looked up, her fearful eyes meeting Morgan’s. His gaze was steady, his grip was strong and comforting, and for the first time, Grace viewed him in a new light. One that had little to do with her daydreams or fantasies, and one grounded far more in reality. She viewed him as the man she’d gotten to know over the past we
ek.
He was strong, capable, fearless, and most of all, comforting. Had this not been the case, she didn’t think she could ever have uttered the next words that came out of her mouth.
“Morgan, I’m afraid.”
The words came out as no more than a whisper, and she could feel tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. Morgan’s grip on her shoulder tightened just a little more, and he gave her a soft smile.
“It’s okay to be afraid. Fear will keep you on your toes and ensure that you aren’t careless. Fear will keep you alive, but only so long as you control it, and not the other way around.”
Grace nodded slowly, feeling her racing heart start to calm down under Morgan’s sure gaze and strong, comforting grip. He reminded her of her father, always there, always protecting her, and always around when she needed him the most.
Well, maybe not exactly like a father, she thought as he stepped back. Maybe more like a mentor or older brother.
Morgan moved out of the way then, leaving the entrance to the Beast Zone unobstructed, and Grace was forced to steady herself once again. She would not fail, and no matter how afraid she was, she wasn’t going to allow it to dictate how she led her life. It all boiled down to what she feared more: the beast waiting in there for her or being left behind when Morgan left for this mysterious new continent across the sea.
Her fists tightened at her sides and she squared her shoulders. Then, without a backward glance, she marched forward, heading into the Beast Zone to face her fears.
***
Morgan waited until he felt Grace leave the tunnel and enter the Beast Zone proper, before drifting up off the ground and following her in.
“I thought you said you were going to leave her in there alone,” the small drake on his shoulder commented.
“Well, I couldn’t exactly have her thinking she had backup,” Morgan said in reply. “That would defeat the whole purpose of the test.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you’re just a big softie,” Lumia teased.
“Maybe,” Morgan answered with a shrug. “I trust her to fight this battle alone, so unless I’m sure she’s about to die, she’ll never even know I was watching.”
22
Grace could practically feel her heart trying to free itself from her chest as she entered the Beast Zone. It was a strange sensation, seeing as one of her cores, mainly the blue one containing mana, now served in its place. Still, that was the last thing on her mind as she took a quick look around to ensure there were no beasts within the range of her vision.
Despite her resolve, now that Morgan was no longer with her, she could feel the terror set in once again. Her palms were sweaty, and moisture was beading by her hairline, as well as her back. She forced herself to be calm, taking several long and deep breaths. This was a trick Morgan had shown her to center oneself before a fight.
The deep breaths flooded her lungs with oxygen, effectively slowing her heart rate and soothing the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She stood there for almost a full minute, just breathing before she made her first move.
Echolocation was a skill that she’d initially dismissed as useless, along with her other mage skill. However, after a week with Morgan, she now knew better. Reaching for her blue core, Grace activated the skill, then clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
The soundwaves, visible only to her, echoed outward, washing over the landscape and returning seconds later with information about its composition and layout. It was a functional skill for scouting, though, at her rank, it had a limited range and was still relatively weak. As she turned her head twenty degrees and clicked once again, she was very happy that Morgan had insisted she learn to use it.
Several more clicks and the landscape in a twenty-yard radius was perfectly mapped in her head. That was another function of the skill she couldn’t really explain. As soon as the soundwaves returned, they formed themselves into a sort of mental map of the area. They didn’t show great detail, but rather a general outline of inclines and dips, as well as any obstacles in her way. She hadn’t found a single beast in her first pass, which meant the area was clear.
Grace took off at a light jog, clicking her tongue all the while as she headed for the best vantage she’d discovered — a small rise that would give her the high ground, as well as a better view of the area. The landscape wasn’t all that crowded with trees or grass, but the shifting sands and the beast’s sandy-colored coat were the reason she’d failed to spot it right away the last time.
She could feel her heart pounding as she crested the rise, and she felt it seize up in her chest momentarily as she got a good view of the surrounding landscape. There, standing roughly eighty feet downhill, was not one, but two of the beasts that Morgan had called gazelles. Her heart began to race again as she watched them, eyes locking on their dull, grayish-black horns. One of which had very nearly ended her life the last time she’d been in here.
“Stay strong,” she whispered to herself, fighting down the terror and searching for a projectile of some sort. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was only supposed to face one of them, not two. But, as Morgan had repeated many times to her, there is no sure thing in battle.
Plans always went awry, and the ability to adapt to these changes was just as important, if not more so, than being able to carry out said plan to begin with. As she clutched the small rock, she found herself talking out loud.
“You can do this, Grace,” she said, pulling her arm back. “You’ve trained for this, been through this scenario a hundred times.”
It didn’t help, but Grace hadn’t thought it would. She stayed there, remaining frozen in place for a few long moments, arm cocked back. Then, with a yell, she hurled the stone with all her might. The die had been cast. She had backed herself into a corner with only one way out. She only hoped that she had the strength and fortitude to win.
***
“Hmm, now that was unexpected,” Lumia said as she watched Grace come upon the pair of gazelles.
“Always expect the unexpected, and you will never be caught off guard,” Morgan replied.
They were floating in the air, high above the battleground. From his vantage, Morgan could see not only Grace and the pair of beasts, but the Beast Zone in its entirety. It was true that some Beast Zones, mainly the higher-ranked ones, could stretch for hundreds of miles. This one was not such a zone and only spanned an eight-mile radius.
From his vantage, Morgan could see not only every beast in this area, but the Arc as well. It was a massive, shaggy beast with a pair of gleaming silver-colored horns. He recognized them as magesteel, even from here, and was impressed that such a low-ranked zone would have a beast that grew the rare resource. Perhaps he’d head over there when this was over to collect it. It was a very useful metal and could be woven into cloth quite easily.
“Ah, it looks like the show’s about to start,” Lumia said, drawing his attention back to the reason they were here.
Grace let out a shout, then hurled the stone clutched in her hand with all the power she could muster. Morgan let out a long sigh, burying his face in his hand. He didn’t really have anyone to blame other than himself, but still, to be that far off…
“If she manages to pass, remind me to teach her how to aim.”
The only response he got from the small drake was a snicker.
***
Grace stared in shock as the stone bounced off the sand some fifty yards to the gazelle’s left.
“Are you freaking kidding me?!”
Sure, she knew her aim wasn’t perfect, but to be off by that much?
She didn’t have long to worry about her terrible aim, as her shouting had attracted the attention of both gazelles. She froze as they eyed her, wondering if they’d charge.
As one, they thundered up the slope towards her, kicking up plumes of dust in their wake. For a few seconds, Grace panicked, half-turning to run, before realizing that they were way faster than her.
&nb
sp; “Damn it all!” she yelled, whirling back to face the charging gazelles and thrusting both hands forward.
Air Siren was a skill that sent a focused soundwave out in a cone before her. The problem was that it had a range of only ten feet, and the closer she was, the more damaging the sound became. At ten feet, it would stagger, by five, stun, and at close range, kill.
The gazelles were faster than her, even now. If there were only one of them, she wouldn’t be worried, but the fact that there were two, meant that she’d need to time this correctly for it to work. Additionally, each use of Air Siren cost her 25 MP, so she had about six uses of the skill before she’d have to wait for it to regenerate.
As the gazelles closed within a few feet, Grace felt her heart practically in her throat. She forced herself to keep waiting, holding off until they were both within range. She could hear their snorting breaths as they neared, and she saw one of them lower their heads for a charge. Had she had nerves of steel, Grace would have waited until they were both on top of her for maximum lethality. Seeing as she didn’t, she used the attack as soon as she was sure she’d hit them both.
Grace tensed her muscles and activated the skill, sending a visible blast of sound into the air before her. The skill itself only produced a low, deep sound. As she understood it, Air Siren projected the sound of her flexing muscles, which was why it was necessary to make the movement before using the skill. She was happy it wasn’t loud as one might have expected. That would immediately give her position away, should there be any other beasts nearby.
She screamed, both in fear and anger, as the wave of sound blasted out of her extended hands, slamming into the approaching beasts. The first beast, now just seven feet away, was knocked clean off its feet, hitting the ground and tumbling a few times before coming to a halt. The second beast was only staggered for a second, as though it had run into a wall.
