But as he felt the world spin around him, and felt the smile of her lips forming beneath his kiss, he realized that she too felt his passion for her, and he was suddenly hopeful. As long as Leah was there, the world hadn’t completely lost its shine.
Chapter 5 – What Matters
“Many of the people in this village are living a fantasy,” Bailey said as her class took down notes, excluding Aidan of course. She continued pacing around the front of the room. “This is not to say that you are all better than they. But at least you understand that there is more to this new era than Yen and hopes and dreams and rainbows and raindrops and all that poetic garbage. We bear what others cannot. And that is why it’s imperative that you study these characters as much as possible. The next exam may sound like a game, but what will happen is that I will be pretending to be one of these individuals. Verbally, and in some instances, through demonstration, you must be able to show me how you can handle the situations I throw at you. Fair marks on this test will result in recommendations by me, to the board of Elders, for scout missions. Which I’m sure all of you are looking forward to. We will have our review today, but tomorrow night, I want each of you to meet me in the Field of Visions at 8 p.m., instead of our normal class time. I understand there is a dance tonight?”
The class murmured and nodded as she waited for a reaction.
“Okay, then we will cut today’s session early so that you may prepare for tomorrow and attend the event. Enjoy yourselves if you are going, but remember that there is a test. Now does anyone need me to list off the names again?”
More murmurs.
“Okay, take this down: Gamer, Mage, Jinx, The Immortal – remember that we don’t know his real name, and while there are other immortals out there, we will just refer to him with this designation for now. Let me continue: Orion, Necrosis, General Yen, and the Judge. These are high profile individuals that we know about and I want each of –”
“Excuse me,” the elderly man interrupted.
“Yes, Ticker?” Bailey asked.
“Why the Judge? How can we fight against the being who gave us our Yen in the first place?”
“Just because a man claims to be a god, doesn’t mean he is one. Am I right?” she asked.
“You’re right,” he said. “But…I hardly think that whoever draws him will pass the exam.”
“That’s up to me to decide. Just study what you know about him until tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Does anyone else have any major questions about the people on this list?” The crowd shook their heads and Bailey placed a fist on her hip. “Then class dismissed. Get together and role play a little if you think it will help. Have fun tonight, and be safe. Aidan, can you stay after class for a moment?”
Aidan nodded as the others packed up. Once they left, Bailey motioned for him to rise from his seat.
“When in private, we are equals,Tallawah,” she said as he stood. “There is no need to stay in a seat of submission.”
“What is it you wanted to talk about?” he asked, thinking of the dinner he had with Leah.
“I may need you tonight. The Dance of Yesterday is the biggest event of the year. The Elders all make public appearances and nearly 90% of the population will be in attendance. We’ll have ample opportunity to get some business done.”
“It may be quiet around their homes, but the Elders aren’t stupid. They’ll have guards keeping their most cryptic files protected.”
“Even so, this is a chance we can’t afford to miss.”
“I promised Leah that I would take her,” Aidan said bluntly. “And I don’t want to break my promise.”
“No longer pretending you’re single?”
“We plan on going as a couple.”
“You did hear the part where I said the Elders were going to be there, right? This includes her father. You’ll cause a riot.”
“Or a diversion,” Aidan smiled. Bailey couldn’t help but laugh.
“You say that as if it were your original intention. But, you may actually be on to something. No one would dare miss a spectacle of that magnitude.”
“So I can go to the dance? You and Isaac can handle the espionage?”
“We will,” she said. “But don’t expect this to happen often.”
“Thank you, Bailey.”
“So…going public. That is quite serious. You really care for this girl?”
“I love her,” he said unashamedly. Bailey was taken back in surprise and she put a hand to her chest.
“My, you said that with no hesitation.”
“There’s no reason to have any.”
“I can’t say that I’m not a little jealous. Not of you, of course. Just the relationship that you say you have. I have yet to meet the girl, but I suspect she feels the same.”
“We’re married actually.”
“What? How? When?” Bailey cried out in a mixture of joy, intrigue, and grief.
“Privately, of course.” Aidan laughed at seeing Bailey so off guard. “We had one of the villagers do it. He wasn’t a priest so I don’t know if that makes it legal – I don’t even know how one gets married in this era, to be honest…but we did.”
“Who is the villager?” she asked with concern.
“He died the next day in a scouting mission, so it doesn’t matter.”
“I see.”
“I know it happened fast, but I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”
“I believe you,Tallawah,” Bailey replied. “When you make up your mind about something, it stays there until the bitter end.”
“A trait I picked up from you.”
“Flattery won’t get you any secrets to tomorrow’s exam,” she winked. “You are going to study, aren’t you?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I’m sure I’ve got it handled.”
“Don’t let yourself be overconfident. There will be some twists. And I want you to do well. I also want you to consider going on the missions.”
“Why?” Aidan raised his eyebrow. “I thought I was supposed to keep a low profile.”
“I’ve been getting anxious,” Bailey admitted. “And restless. There has been word that the Elders are beginning to take a closer look at me and what exactly I’ve been doing in the classroom. I may even get a teacher evaluation soon, which as you know, is quite rare. I don’t know why they’ve taken sudden interest, but I’m worried that my senses are getting dull being inside all the time. I’m considering going on some away missions myself. I would love it – if you would come with me.”
“You can handle yourself,” he said.
“There is no one I trust more than you,” she said. “And though I am strong, I think we both realize that we would have been killed out there without each other. The scouting missions may be more confined to specific areas that are rarely as dangerous as the village likes to make it sound, but I would feel better knowing that you were there.”
“I’ll have to think about it. I was just starting to get used to the idea of laying low – enjoying not having to fight. I want be able to relax with Leah, not make her worry about whether I’m coming back alive or not.”
“Then come with me,” she said. “Part of it may be my anxiety, but it will also give us a chance to find out more about what goes on behind the scenes here. We can interview the locals, get their insight and see if there’s any shadiness. The sooner we can confirm that the board of Elders are who they say they are, the sooner we can all relax.”
“Did you ever think that maybe the reason you suspect there’s corruption going on behind the scenes is because you’re afraid of losing control? I don’t mean to insult you – but once you lost your seat, you lost your voting power. You also lost access to a great deal of sensitive information. You’re a strong woman, but even I can’t deny that you like things a certain way. Your way.”
“Because I want to make sure things are done right.”
“This may be true, but that doesn’t mea
n you’re not wrong. The same people who are Elders now are the same ones you were on the board with in the past. Aren’t they trustworthy?”
“To an extent,” she said. “But…Aidan, people change. Beliefs change. One minute, they could think of the world as a land of peace and opportunity. One event happens in their lives, and suddenly, they want our entire race to die. We are ever-evolving, fickle creatures that are trying to balance on the tightrope of light and darkness every day. All it takes is for one little push to knock us off onto one side or the other.”
“But it’s not our job to babysit, or force someone to do what we believe is proper. You’re here to teach us – to prepare us for a cruel world that hands nothing to no one. You’re here to give us the tools and manuals we need to make our own decisions, and our own mistakes. Nothing more.”
“But we must think of the flip side as well. Throughout history, we have trusted those in power to handle their business. To do right by us, the people…and can you tell me how many followed through? Name a couple.”
Aidan paused to think. “I can’t.”
“Neither can I. Usually the ones who strive to serve the people are in small positions of power or are isolated exceptions.”
“So if you were in power, would you follow through? Would you be different?”
“Would you?”
“I would like to think so,” Aidan said.
“And so would I.”
“What if you’re wrong though? What if you uncover nothing and all this does is fracture Lowsunn? Will it be worth it? Knowing that you had a hand in its fall?”
“If everything is as it should be, there should be no reason for a fall.”
Aidan sighed and folded his hands into his sleeves. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in what Bailey was trying to accomplish, it was just that she wasn’t sure herself if there was really anything wrong – she was merely acting upon a hunch. Lowsunn was one of the longest standing communities since Advent, and despite the numerous attempts from the outside world to break into their haven, no one had been able to. With such an army of Yen-possessing individuals at Lowsunn’s disposal, anyone who thought of attacking the village had to think twice.
Was it worth disrupting all of that security just to confirm whether or not the Elders had good intentions? The populace wasn’t stupid. Obviously it was suspicious about how the board got to decide how they should use their personal Yen. But then there was the assumption that it really was for the greater good. After all, wasn’t this the point of having people in charge? To enable them to make the hard decisions that a sole person would struggle to make themselves? Wasn’t this the point of teachers and students? Bosses and employees? Parents and children? So that one could teach the other to make informed, intelligent decisions that would benefit society as a whole?
Still, Bailey had never been wrong when it came to her hunches. They had taught her over the years to trust them far more than people ever had. Perhaps it was better to go along with her instincts until something suspect (if ever) popped up.
“I trust you, Bailey,” Aidan replied after a long pause. “And I hope that you’re right.”
“You’ll see,” she said, her face and body relaxing at the reply. “Now go get ready. Time for you to meet the parents.”
***
Anybody peeking outside their window that night could immediately tell that there was a big event going on in Lowsunn – not that anybody was actually home to do so. The village was attending the dance in droves, walking in mobs across the center of town to head to the grand hall, which was situated in the northeast. The dance of Yesterday was the one event of the year where starry-eyed couples and groups of friends could gather with the sole hope that tonight, out of all nights, would be the moment that they could forget about training and worry only about having fun. The music was blaring from invisible loudspeakers, basking the village in its majestic boom. A mixture of trombones and horns, violins and saxophones, drums and guitars blared into the air. The Lowsunn band, having used their Yen to create visual, musical masterpieces, played passionately and loudly. They created streams of colors that circled up into the air, spiraling into a tighter and tighter tunnel until they finally exploded in the night sky, forming a display of fireworks that rocked anyone who dared to sleep. Nothing could take the village’s eyes off the majestic spectacle…nothing, except for the identity of the woman who was on Aidan’s arm.
“People are really staring,” Leah whispered to him as she leaned into his ear. Aidan snickered and glanced around. They were in the midst of a crowd that was heading towards the dance, but all eyes and contorted necks were straining to take a peek. How the “bad boy” of the village gained the favor of one of the Elder’s daughters was prime gossip, and everyone was trying to overhear details of the scoop.
“Let them stare,” Aidan replied finally, turning his attention to the front. “Unless you’re having second thoughts. This won’t get any easier once your father knows.”
“Don’t I know it,” Leah laughed nervously. “I feel like the music will stop abruptly and people will start fainting.”
“I’m not that ugly,” he winked to her, and she just held his arm tighter. A few low gasps were heard throughout the mob. There was no question over who Leah was with. Aidan was wearing the same robe that he loved so much, and Leah was easily identifiable. Leah was wearing a glittery, elegant gown that matched her hair’s color. The strapless dress held itself up at her shoulders and extended down into a lavish array that was of bridal quality. The only strange addition to her lovely gown was a holster that was strapped to her back and housed an obscure, thin object inside it.
“Maybe they’re gasping because you wouldn’t wear a tux to a formal event.”
“I’m sure that’s what it is,” Aidan said as he noticed someone angrily approaching them from his left.
“Greetings,” the black-haired boy said, his massive fists clenched tightly. “I notice you have Leah on your arm.” A couple of similarly aged villagers, sporting spiked Mohawks, joined their friend. Aidan, Leah, and the intruders stopped walking as the rest of the crowd continued forward, taking silent bets on what would happen next. Aidan smiled, took his arm from Leah, and then wrapped it around her back, hugging her hips tightly and pressing her side up against his. She pursed her lips into a curt smile and then leaned rapturously onto his arm. The black-haired boy grit his teeth.
“Why are you with this hot head?” he asked her. Leah gave no reply. She knew Aidan had enough to say for the both of them.
“She said yes when I asked her out,” Aidan replied, softening his face. “Simple as that.”
“Yeah, right.”
“No, it’s true. It’s not my fault you took forever to do it. Maybe you would have had a chance if you didn’t stay up all night rehearsing your poetry.”
“Be nice,” Leah said, smacking a hand on Aidan’s chest. He nodded and continued.
“But don’t worry. I’m not going to harm her. I don’t hurt women. Just prepubescent boys who claim to be men. You’re not one of those, are you?”
“You think that because you’ve lived out there, you’re tough,” the black-haired boy spat, inching closer to Aidan’s face. “But I’ve seen guys like you before. You never last. Because you’re not strong enough to take it.”
“Take what?” Aidan scoffed. “The rules? The uniformity? The relaxation?”
“The discipline. Your kind always get banished. If it wasn’t for Bailey covering for you, you wouldn’t even be here tonight. I would watch my back from here on out if I were you.”
“Well,” Aidan chuckled. “I have this lovely lady on my arm to watch it for me. Personally, I like to take a more direct approach.” In the next second, Aidan ripped himself from Leah’s embrace and grabbed the black-haired kid’s right hand. His friends started moving forward but Leah had already called forth her obsidian fan, the blades staring each of them in the face. The black-haired kid went to punch Aidan with his fre
e hand when he suddenly stopped. He stared down at his clasped palm, so red it was as if it had been sitting in the midst of a fire. He slowly glanced back up into Aidan’s eyes.
“I wouldn’t move if I were you,” Aidan replied with a steady voice. “One wrong move and I could set you ablaze.”
“You wouldn’t do that. You would be expelled.”
“So would you…technically. What’s your name?”
“Trevor.”
“And how do I know you, Trevor? You look familiar.”
“I used to be in Bailey’s class.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. Didn’t make it past day one.”
“Everyone who isn’t there now didn’t make it past their first day.”
“Good point. But let me ask you something. Do you know what happens next, Trevor?”
“You set me on fire.”
“Is that what you want?”
“No.”
“Good. Because I don’t want to. You see that beautiful woman over there with the bladed fan?”
“Don’t ask stupid questions,” Trevor spat. Aidan raised the intensity of the heat coursing through Trevor’s palm. He winced and squinted his eyes. “Sorry. Sorry. I see her.”
“She’s my wife,” Aidan declared for all in earshot to hear. A few walking past halted for a moment in shock, but then hurried forward, ready to pass along the information. Trevor, however, seemed to gain more of a reason to hit his captor.
“That’s a lie,” he said, his face tightening at the center. “And if it were true, you probably coerced her into it.”
“Afraid not,” Leah laughed. “It’s true.”
“But why?” Trevor asked in disbelief. Aidan took his free hand and pressed it against Trevor’s cheek, guiding his eyes from her back to him.
“It doesn’t matter why. What I want you to understand is that it’s true. There’s nothing you can do to change that. So spread the word to all your buddies and anyone else who’s been lurking in the shadows as a secret admirer. The dream ends tonight. I would rather get this out of the way now than speak to each of you individually. Got the message?”
The Works of Julius St. Clair - 2017 Edition (Includes 3 full novels and more) Page 33
