by CK Dawn
“As soon as you pick out a helmet.” Her idol replied.
“Black with a pink mirrored shield?” the hunter in training asked eagerly.
“Of course,” Lourdie said looking sideways at her apprentice. She was obviously waiting for the bigger question that she knew was coming.
“And when do I get to drive it?” Abbey said with her trademark devious smirk.
“Don’t push your luck, little one,” Lourdie said wrapping her arm around her apprentice’s neck in a mock choke hold.
“Okay, fine. I’ll settle for a ride and a Star Wars extravaganza this Saturday. Deal?”
“Deal.”
A senior aide locked the gym doors to keep out any prying dociles as Professor Kapoi put a virtual backpack on under his blazer and started his class.
“Krimvigos. Krimvigars. The names given to us by the darter elders, the Vaelosh a’Rue. The names of the creatures, the beasts that roam the Netherworld and invade our home. So call them what you will,” Professor Kapoi said as he paced in front of his class. “Krims. Shadowskins. Netherwalkers, but know that they are always dangerous and they are always deadly no matter what form they take. This exercise is meant to demonstrate the difference in let’s say, what an archivist sees versus a trained hunter when they get up close and personal with a netherwalker.” He searched the room for a guardian with no hunter training whatsoever, “Samantha, come closer, within the netherwalker’s grasp, and describe what you see and feel to the class.”
The shy archivist apprentice stepped forward. She instantly let out a euphoric sigh as she breached the shadowskin’s snare. Tendrils of smoke stretched out and curled in on themselves like snakes tasting the air. The creature dangled its lure like a Venus flytrap.
“I see a young blond girl, a docile, she’s mesmerized by something,” Samantha said focusing all her attention on what the simulated girl was looking at. ”It’s a figure cloaked in darkness. He looks young, like eighteen or so, but he’s very pale and cold, so cold. Like he has a shadow looming over him. I get the sense that he’s dangerous. But the longer I stand here the more confused I’m getting. I know I should get away from him, but I can’t make myself leave. He’s so beau--”
“Ok, Samantha, thank you.” Professor Kapoi took her by the elbow and gently pulled her out of the radius of the conjured shadowskin.
Samantha shook the fog from her mind and looked a little embarrassed, “Sorry, Vampire Diaries was on last night.”
“No, no, it’s good. It’s an excellent example of how the krims use our minds to manipulate reality. The illusion, its shadow skin, is tailor made to each individual victim. So our minds can make it anything. That’s where the danger lies, within ourselves.” Professor Kapoi interpreted the girl’s vision and created a rendition of what Samantha saw for the class. Choosing someone with a little hunter training next he continued. “Malcolm, step into the snare, describe Samantha’s vision to the class. What do you see and feel, is it different?”
Malcolm took a deep breath, opened his senses like Kapoi had taught him, and stepped forward, “Yes, something’s different. I see the docile, but I only see a ghostly image of a boy dressed in black. I see the shadow looming over him more clearly. It feels more real than the boy. He seems like a projection he wants me to see, a decoy. And the girl seems enraptured, like she’s in some sort of blissful trance. I feel it too, but I think I have the strength to still pull away.”
“Excellent,” Kapoi searched the room again, this time he chose one of his senior hunter aides. “Everyone get closer, within the snare’s radius and concentrate on Jonathan’s voice, on what’s real. Jonathan describe what you see to the class.”
As Jonathan described the reality of what the shadowskin was doing to his human prey and to them, Kapoi changed the image of the projected netherwalker’s shadow skin to its true nature. The young guardians with no hunter training gasped. The krimvigar slowly morphed out of its benign shadow form into its slick black panther-like attack form.
Kapoi froze the image and spoke to the group, “The benign form looks like a simple shadow on a wall, in a dark corner-- basically wherever you would expect a shadow. Maybe a darker shadow than what should be there, but a shadow plain and simple.” He turned to point at the image, “Now when they detect you, and they will, the shadowskins take on their defensive form. Like this krimvigar,” Kapoi added a touch of levity to the lesson with some hunter humor, “Mcfrosty Tooth here who looks like a big, predatory cat.”
Professor Kapoi let the conjured beast snarl and turn its attention on the class before he continued, “This is why Marcus is so adamant that all guardians get hunting training. You have to know what you’re looking at. At this range, it can and will invade your mind and plant seeds of illusion and deception. You can’t afford to let a shadowskin manipulate you. If you do, you’re dead.” Professor Kapoi’s panther began to move again. It snarled with its frosty breath. Slick black skin rippled with power as ice dripped from its saber tooth fangs. The creature lunged towards its captive audience and vanished into thin air. The image was so real, the very young guardians ducked as the creature dissipated.
“The King’s Court has the best engineers working on replicating a hunter’s relics so all guardians have the ability to banish netherwalkers if they have to. Shadowskins rely on their stealth to feed, and we are their only real threat on this world.” Their professor seemed to be remembering his time in the military, “Together we are stronger. No guardian should be left defenseless against these monsters. Through mental training, all of you have the ability to withstand the illusions and until all guardians can create orbs, we practice. Guardians, team up! I want one senior hunter in each group of novices.”
Abbey stood facing Malcolm and her group as Lourdie threw each apprentice hunter a small dense luminous indigo orb. The master hunter had the most focused control over her relics Abbey had ever seen. Each delvir she threw was the same size and thickness as the last. Lourdie was also the only guardian in history able to create two orbs at once with a single word whispered against her relics. Abbey knew that was the real reason behind them going to Porthleven.
Lourdie tossed Abbey an orb. She rolled it in her hands, partly demonstrating for Malcolm and the others, partly fascinated herself. It felt more solid than the orbs Abbey usually created, stronger, denser. It would probably stay submissive for hours.
Professor Kapoi instructed the senior hunters to let the other guardians touch the orbs, then when comfortable to try tossing it back and forth. Abbey gently tossed the orb to Malcolm when he was ready. The kid was pretty good at catching one handed. Their professor also instructed the senior hunters to focus on creating this type of orb for a later class when they would actually be throwing their own orb to a novice. “Make it strong and unbreakable.”
Abbey caught a glimpse of the warm smile Lourdie gave Kapoi as he remembered how the orb he threw Malcolm had injured his novice apprentice during her last trial.
Her professor smiled back at Lourdie.
Abbey wondered why the two weren’t dating. Kapoi is so super hot! Despite his constant flirting, Lourdie insisted that he was like an older brother to her. Hmm, well in that case, maybe when I’m older Kapoi and I...
“Abbey?” Professor Kapoi said, stunning her out of her daydream. “Next week? Care to take up the role of a novice in the virtual chamber and show the class what they are up against?”
“Yes, of course. Sorry for spacing.”
“Good, and no worries. Thank you. Class dismissed.” Professor Kapoi talked over the students shuffling about, “Don’t forget class meets at The Vaughan tomorrow. Wear your street clothes!”
Abbey hung around the gym after novice training. Professor Kapoi’s first year hunter class was up next, her chemistry class had been cancelled, and she felt like being a little nostalgic. The senior hunter grabbed her backpack and took a seat high in the bleachers. She spun her relics around her thumbs with nervous energy and excitement for the
freshmen. The newly initiated young hunters were going to try and use their relics for the very first time today. The day could be counted on as one of Abbey’s favorite days of the year. One year ago today, she had met the woman who had given her a concrete foothold in the new world that had been revealed to her. Abbey drew her knees up to her chest, hugging herself. One year ago today, she had met, Lourdes Reese.
A newly bonded thirteen year old Abigail Thorne stood at the end of the line of first year hunters. She played with her new Rhan’Delvins nervously, pulling them off her thumbs then putting them back on again, getting the feel for them. Naive in her knowledge of relics, Abbey had taken them off before her morning shower, not knowing if they were allowed to get wet or not. She had almost forgotten, once again, to put them back on before heading out the door for her first official day at the academy. Her nerves were so on edge that the old Abigail was begging for a fix. She squashed the thoughts and desires. The old Abigail was gone, dead, and buried along with her mother. She was a guardian in the King’s Court now. There was no room for old addictions, no need. She had a home now, a purpose, a path unto which she would willingly follow forever. The shepherd that found her had shown her a glimpse of what was possible. Abbey had truly found her bliss. The gaunt, scraggly shell of her former life was slowly morphing into a muscled little powerhouse. Still, the shell served as a reminder to others that she had not been born one of them. Many of the other students had all known each other since childhood and most already had mentors. Abbey felt as though she was the outsider that had been thrust upon them. Not many seemed very eager to be any type of tour guide or friend through the strange new world. She was still finding where she fit in. A boy named Malcolm Daniels had been the exception however. He had greeted her warmly in the Vaughan building’s reception area and walked with her to school. They had discussed court history, family bloodlines, and what his role was within the court. She had learned that he was what the guardians called an archivist apprentice. Unfortunately, it meant that he would not be in the first year hunter class that now loomed over her head.
Professor Kapoi started his class. “Close your eyes. Listen to your Rhan’Delvin relics. There is a word unique to you alone. Only that word, spoken by you, can unlock your relics’ power.”
Abbey closed her eyes, but it was unnecessary. The moment her relics had been formed during her gloaming bond they had spoken to her. She and they were one. Years before she had even heard of the King’s Court, a word had whispered to her, sweet and tender, and just out of reach, but always there. When Abbey opened her eyes the most beautiful woman she had ever seen was standing before them.
“Class, if you don’t know, this is guardian Lourdes Reese. We have one of the most talented hunters in the court helping us today, so let’s make the most of it.”
One by one down the line, the first year hunters took turns trying to conjure an orb. One by one students failed to hear their word or their disfigured, barely conjured orbs snapped and hissed. The orbs angrily zapped the unsuspecting freshmen as they imploded. Screeches of shock and yelps of pain filled the gym, followed by gentle reassurances from Kapoi. Abbey closed her eyes and begged the universe, ‘Please don’t let me yelp or pee my pants!’ As Abbey’s turn neared, her heart began to beat faster and faster. Fearing her pending doom, Abbey distracted herself by watching the elite hunter. She was in awe. The woman was a weapon, lean and deadly. Every move had a purpose. Every glance looked for threats. She was a well-honed and perfectly balanced blade and Abbey desperately wanted to join the ranks of this living breathing superhero. She was absolutely inspirational.
Suddenly, it was Abbey’s turn. She closed her eyes and took in a long deep breath. The world became eerily quiet and still. Opening her eyes, she whispered her word against each of her relics and a translucent violet delvir instantly appeared in her hands. She let the orb grow slightly, it was round and perfectly solid. Turning it in her hands, she admired her work. Abbey looked up at guardian Reese. The purple glow of her orb illuminated the elite hunter’s face.
She casually took Abbey’s delvir and examined it, “Most impressive.” Lourdes Reese raised her eyebrow, “Have you been practicing on your own?”
“No. Professor Kapoi told me not to.”
“You seem to be a natural then. Can you do it again just as easily?” the woman asked, tossing the orb back to Abbey.
“Yeah, but what do I do with this one?” Abbey knew by instinct how to make it grow, but not how to get rid of it. They were in a gymnasium not out in the real world.
“You’re an apprentice hunter are you not? Surely you know they are used to banish the big bad wolf.” Reese’s comment had hit Abbey dead center in her sensitive vulnerable spot.
Abbey got defensive, “Well, considering I don’t have a mentor, maybe you could enlighten me, Sensei!” Without the prospect of a mentor, she felt like she was getting picked last for a game of dodgeball.
Reese crossed her arms, turned to Kapoi, and nodded once.
Two netherwalkers appeared directly in front of Abbey. She knew they were only conjured images and Professor Kapoi wouldn’t have them attack, but her heart raced anyway. She instinctually let the delvir grow larger and larger and encased one of the creatures. She held the orb steady until the creature disappeared with it. Quickly whispering her word against her relics again, she created another orb. A wave of pure exhaustion hit her like a thousand pound boulder sitting on her chest. Concentration seemed impossible. For a moment she lost sight of her task. Merely trying to breathe was taking all her effort. She squeezed her eyes shut then opened them. Trying to shake it off, trying to focus, she let the orb grow larger and larger just like before, but this time she started to feel lightheaded and nauseous. Before she fainted, Abbey focused intently and surrounded the netherwalker in the orb’s purple sphere. As the second orb banished its target, Abbey bent over to grab her knees to keep herself from falling down. She refused to drop to her knees however, denying anyone the satisfaction of watching her collapse. Living on the streets had taught her how to be strong, how to survive. She would prove she belonged, that she was one of them. She was not going back to the streets, ever. The exercise of power had drained her completely and the room began to close in around her swaying like a ship at sea. The edges of her vision faded to black. Total darkness would soon follow, but she focused all her strength on one more task, one more target.
Abbey stared the elite hunter down. “Now that I’m warmed up,” breathless, but ready for a battle of wits and wills, the young warrior stood upright barely wavering, “What else you got?”
The class erupted in applause and whispers. They had never seen such a show of power from a first year before let alone a neophyte. It should have taken months to be able to harness that much power and strength.
Guardian Reese merely smirked and joined professor Kapoi for a private conversation. Reese stared directly at the exhausted Abbey as she spoke to the professor. The master hunter then crossed her arms and slowly turned her glare to Professor Kapoi.
Worried that she was too disrespectful, Abbey feared she would be kicked out of the academy on her very first day. She was terrified she might get removed from the court entirely, the best thing that had ever happened to her in her life. Banished to a prison with no name, on an uncharted volcanic island, underground, tortured, like she never existed. The thirteen year old's imagination ran wild with horror after horror, that weren’t true, but her mind ran wild nonetheless.
The master hunter walked right past Abbey as she went to leave the classroom, “Buckle up, Buttercup. I’ll see you soon.” With the smirk still adorning her face, Lourdes Reese winked at Abbey and left, leaving the naive first year to imagine the worst.
Abbey watched her mentor walking down the line of new first year hunters. A few barely conjured orbs hissed, popped, and snapped. One student had to sit down before he fainted, even before taking a turn. Another, that had been able to create an orb for mere milliseconds, was a
lso sitting down, drained from the use of such raw power. The new batch of hunters looked so young and bewildered and yet willing and eager to succeed. Some fidgeted awkwardly with the relics decorating their fingers, wrists, and necks. Their Rhan’Delvins stood out like gold and silver garlands. Others shied away from their foreign bobbles afraid they might break. Their discomfort was palpable. Yet, so was the feeling of anticipation and hope. Abbey wondered if she had looked that naive and out of sorts before her relics had faded into the background, simply becoming a part of her appearance, part of her.
Last year, Lourdie had become her lifeline into a world of hope, promise, and wonder. No longer was Abbey a lost girl trying to stay afloat in a vast frigid ocean. A guardian in the form of Lourdes Reese had swooped her up out of the cold water and claimed her as a sister guardian, as her own. Abbey learned later that the elite guardian hadn’t taken on an apprentice in over two years, but on that fateful day, she had. Abbey didn’t know if she could ever repay her mentor for all she had done for her, but she would never stop trying.
Abbey couldn’t help but smile warmly at her mentor and friend as she walked down the line of terrified freshmen. Lourdie looked up at her apprentice sitting in the bleachers, possibly remembering the day they first met as well. She returned Abbey’s warm smile with one of her own and winked. Abbey’s breath caught in her throat. It was the same smile she had given Abbey the day they met. She had mistaken it then for arrogance or superiority, but it wasn’t any of that. The look was one of pride and admiration. Lourdie had been proud of the scruffy little outsider that had dared to talk back to a superior.
Lourdie’s smile faded and she snapped her head to the doors. Abbey’s senses began to stir just before Professor Kapoi started telling the young hunters to stop practicing with their relics. Someone opened the gym’s outer doors, triggering an alarm that sounded just like a coach’s whistle. The first years quickly split into two teams and pretended to play a game of dodgeball. Kapoi silently unlocked the inner doors. Abbey could hear the intruder’s footsteps as they walked down the hall. A docile stopped right outside their doors. Then a guardian’s quickened footsteps followed.
