by Katie Pottle
Lep nodded and they cut through the natural clouds floating just above the ground between them and the outpost. As they approached, one of the angels unloading the airship noticed the clouds they were kicking up.
“Halt!” He walked over to them with his hand near a pocket on his belt and his wings pitched, ready to take flight.
“Whoa,” Cadin said, taking a step back. “We were just curious what all the commotion was. We've never seen any activity here before.”
The angel eyed them for a moment and relaxed his stance. He turned to call over his shoulder, “It is all clear, just a couple of curious kids.”
Cadin fidgeted a little at being called a kid, which brought the angel's attention back to him. The angel focused on something slightly above Cadin's head, and realization lit his expression. “Oh, so you are the young angel Captain Kade informed us about.” He held out his hand, first to Cadin and then to Lep—shaking firmly. “I'm Jim of the Core, originally from Galen, and that is Cosette of Lance.” He raised his voice as he pointed out the female angel still unloading the cart. She waived and continued her task.
Cadin flinched, as he realized he was not completely suppressing the blue in his Aura. “Oh, ah, I'm Cadin.”
“And I'm Lep. Are you guys stationed here now or something?”
“We are simply doing our routine check of Core facilities. I must get back to my duties.”
“Do you need a hand?” Cadin offered.
“Not allowed,” he shook his head before he turned to go. “Steer clear of the Edge and stay out of trouble.”
“Will do!” Lep said with a mock edge to his words, mimicking the soldier.
“Come on, Lep.” Cadin tugged Lep, leading him back to the trail. “I told you,” he said when they were out of earshot.
“Told me what?”
“The Core is here doing a ‘routine check’ on facilities. Come on.”
“Okay, so ‘routine’ usually implies being more than once a decade. I wonder what they're really doing.”
The first week of school flew by without a hitch, and Cadin was enjoying most of his new classes. He wished Practical Writing was not a required badge, but he couldn't find it in himself to complain when he got to take Beginner Martial Arts before Writing, and Warrior based Cloud-Shifting after lunch.
“Challenge Club?” Cadin asked Sun after he finished his first chapter of his short story—Lynn’s Dragon Ranch.
“Seriously?” Sun asked, looking both perturbed and amused. “The Qualifier announcement!”
“Oh, right!” Cadin’s cheeks flushed. “I haven't been sleeping well lately. Sorry.”
Sun drew her mouth up into the classic half smile that he had grown fond of. “It's okay, Cadin. You always pull your focus together at the most important times—it's one of your strongest warrior qualities.”
“I never thought of that as a warrior quality.”
Sun shrugged. “A lot of people don't. Many don't bother to look past the obvious, such as the size of an angel's muscles, or their speed, agility, or skill with a weapon.” Cadin was nodding—those all made sense to him. “But when you are always the youngest, smallest or one of the only girls surrounded by big muscly guys, you have to believe there is more than just those qualities that will allow you to excel. I figure you out of most people on Glade could empathize with me on that point.” Sun settled into their usual corner in the main gym.
“Are you calling me small?” Cadin asked, puffing out his compact chest. He had gone through a growth spurt over summer, but so had most of the other boys his age, leaving him still dangling on the small end. “I prefer the term, 'lithe'.” He continued some muscle poses with his wiry frame.
Sun broke out laughing and couldn't stop. Gur seemed concerned and jumped from Cadin's shoulder to investigate.
“What are you two doing?” Bart asked with a smile as he and Lep found them.
“I'm impressing Sun with my giant muscles, of course,” he said it with such a straight face that Bart looked worried before Cadin lost it and started laughing.
“Ladies, this is how not to act when representing Glade Warriors at the Games.”
The snide remark with crisp annunciation echoed from behind him. “Hello, Araina.” He worked to hold back the cringe dancing on his lips. The fourth-year team grated on his nerves.
The girls gaped at Cadin like he was a blue cloud worm that had just sprouted wings. Araina, the leader, narrowed her precisely shaped eyebrows. “Do you really want to wait until the end of the school year to pay up on our bet? I mean, you obviously are unsuitable to earn a qualifying spot as immature second-years.” Her mouth twisted into a fake smile, making her beautiful features take on a shade of evil. “So, if you would rather forfeit our earlier bet, I am willing to take a settlement fee of one beto now.” Her minions laughed from behind her.
“I am good with our original terms, thanks,” Cadin said, remembering his first encounter with the dark-haired fiend masked as a beautiful older student.
Her laugh rang through the gym, drawing curious glances. “You maintain that a second-year group will actually qualify this year?”
Cadin did not hesitate. “I do. And I will be accepting our original wager of three betos after the Qualifiers.” Gasps ensued from onlookers. Three betos was a steep bet.
“Easiest money I will have ever made,” Araina said with a sneer before disappearing into the crowd.
“What does she have against second years?” Lep asked.
It was Bart who spoke up, though he kept his voice low. “She tried to qualify for the Academic Games last year and failed. She threw a big fit in front of everyone after the Final Qualifier. I think it would be a big blow to her ego if a younger team was able to accomplish what she could not.”
“Still, she shouldn't treat us like we're nothing,” Cadin remarked.
Headmaster Tripharian took to the stage and the room quieted. “Welcome Warrior Path students! If you are here for Guardian Path announcements, you are one hour early. Now, congratulations to everyone here for being eligible for the Warrior Path Qualifiers.” He got a twinkle in his eye and continued. “And now we get to the fun part—the Team Qualifiers for the Calvarian Games!” Cheers erupted, and Cadin felt elated to be a part of the excitement. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Master Sanjen whispering urgently to Instructor Kade. They both exited, and nobody but Cadin seemed to notice the leader of the entire Military faction of the Core had been present.
“Did you see Master Sanjen?” Cadin asked.
“What, where?” Lep stood on his toes and circled his head like an owl.
“He left with Instructor Kade.”
“So, free homeroom period?” Lep sounded casual but he kept glancing at Cadin.
“I'm fine,” Cadin lied. His stomach flipped every time he saw Master Sanjen, and flashes of falling toward Earth played over and over. He felt relieved when Headmaster Tripharian started to talk again.
“There are five Qualifiers throughout the school year and to earn a spot in the Summer Games, your team must place first, second, or third in at least three. Each Qualifier is based on a skillset typically the strength of an Aura color in the Calvarian Cloud System. Red, green, yellow, blue and white. You will not know the order in which the Qualifiers will be held, so be prepared for all of them. I can tell you white is the last Qualifier and will represent all colors; all team members must have your wings and have placed in at least two previous Qualifiers in order to compete in the final round.” He let the excited whispers erupt for a few moments before continuing. “Your first Qualifier will be held in two weeks in Yi Field. Good luck to all of you!”
They ate lunch and went back to their homeroom, the Dragon's Den, where most of their class relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the hour as Instructor Kade was gone. No one seemed to mind his absence aside from Cadin, Sun and Lep.
“It could have been just trivial Core stuff,” Lep put out there.
“I don't think Master Sanj
en would come all the way to Glade to tell Instructor Kade about trivial stuff,” Cadin said heavily.
“Yeah, you're right. I wonder if it had anything to do with why they were restocking the old outpost.”
“What are you talking about?” Sun asked.
They told her about their encounter with the two Core angels near the edge.
“Hmmm,” Sun said, scrunching her face. “It sounds as though the Core is trying to keep ahead of Tiberius.” She whispered his name, not wanting fellow students to hear her. Though it seemed unlikely to Cadin than any of them would recognize the name anyway.
“It is possible, though it could be an entirely different matter too,” Cadin said. “The Core is not the most forthcoming about their activities.”
The cloud-walls of the class vibrated—signaling the end of the period.
The sun illuminated the exterior of his house beautifully. The natural clouds swirled around the base of the hardened clouds that made up the exterior wall. He redirected a couple of vines making their way up the convex wall toward the large door that could accommodate winged adults. School had been good, but Cadin was looking forward to just crashing on the couch—which he never made it to.
In the entranceway stood Master Sanjen—head Warrior Angel of the Core and longtime friend of his dad. His green Aura pulsed as he turned around from talking to Tal to greet Cadin.
“Hello again, Cadin,” Master Sanjen said, holding out his calloused hand. He had a deep voice, short dark hair with light streaks and cleaver eyes. Eyes that Cadin knew missed very little. “I see you have done well with your Aura submission.”
“Oh, yes—I haven’t had any problems keeping it green lately.” Cadin knew that Master Sanjen was one of the most powerful angels in the entire Calvarian System; however, he had always seemed approachable the two or so times Cadin had spoken with him.
“That is excellent. It is one of the reasons for my visit.”
“Why don’t we all sit down so we can talk?” Tal suggested. His shoulders were tense, and his words were clipped.
“Okay,” Cadin said as he wandered to the dining room and set Gur down in his rock nest. “Hi, mom.” Sara was in the kitchen chopping up a mysterious looking meat. Cadin cringed, guessing she was attempting to get creative with her cooking again.
“Hi, Cadin. Let me get this seared and then I will join you.”
Cadin sat down and looked up expectantly.
Master Sanjen flexed his wings before starting.
“Cadin, it is important for you to keep a low profile in the upcoming months.”
His heart-rate picked up, and his breathing quickened. Gur perked his head up and let a low gurrr rumble in his chest as he ran over to perch on Cadin’s shoulder.
“Tiberius found out I’m alive, didn’t he? He is coming after me again.”
“Yes and no,” Master Sanjen said bluntly.
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I,” Tal said, shifting his shoulders.
“We believe that Tiberius has found out that you survived the fall.” Something dropped in the kitchen and his mom rushed over to stand behind him.
“What?!” Sara said.
“Let me finish.” Master Sanjen’s eyes became hard. Cadin guessed he wasn’t used to being interrupted. “We also believe word of your Aura change has reached him. Either way—it is unlikely that the Tlalocs will make another move for you…at least anytime soon.”
“Why do you say that?” Tal asked.
“Two reasons. The first is that Tiberius does not dwell on failed attempts. He does not go back to acquire something or someone lost to him, which makes him and the Tlalocs difficult to catch. The second reason is that we know for certain the Tlalocs are focused on something else right now—something that I can not divulge the specifics of.”
“If that is true, then why would you come here to check on my Aura submission?” Cadin felt like something was not quite right.
“We have information that some Tlalocs will likely be visiting Glade sometime soon, and I don’t want you to be a temptation for them.”
And there it was!
“Then we should go somewhere else until it is safe,” Tal said.
“It is not just Glade, Talvarian. The Tlalocs are after something and they are searching all of the cloud-lands for it. The Core has…plans set in place that will help our entire cause against the Tlalocs—I just wanted to warn you that some of these plans involve Glade.”
Nothing more was said about it—at least not in front of Cadin, before he had to go to bed. It wasn’t for Cadin’s lack of trying. He had even offered to help with the Tlalocs—much to his parent’s displeasure. Master Sanjen just shook his head and repeated the conclusion from the year before. Cadin was not ready for the Core, though the upcoming Warrior Path Games offered him a chance to prove himself and earn what he hoped was at least a sliver of consideration as someone who could help.
School was a blur over the next couple of days. Keeping up with Level 2 classes was more difficult than Cadin had anticipated. The burden of knowing the Tlalocs might be lurking around made it even harder to focus.
“At least this time the Core seems to know what is going on and is planning for it,” Sun said as they headed down the hall toward their last class of the day.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Cadin said, perking up. “That is a significant difference from, well last year.”
“You just have to keep your Aura green and your head low while the Core sorts things out,” Lep said.
“Eh! I wish I could help in some way. I don’t like feeling so helpless.”
“I don’t really know what we could do—I mean besides focus on school and becoming better warriors.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Are you guys up for a team practice at Mist today after school?” Sun asked.
“I can't,” Cadin replied as he grabbed everything he needed for Warrior-based Cloud-shifting class. “I am going to Town Hall to meet up with Master Emilio today.”
“I thought you were done with your community service,” Lep said as they started walking down the hall. “You know, a rehabilitated criminal and all of that.”
“Criminal, really?” Cadin smiled. They all knew that Lep broke into Glade Palace with them—he just didn't get caught. “Actually, I am done with my community service, but I am going to continue my apprenticeship and learn to use my gins.”
“Seems like a big waste of time for such little rocks.” Lep said.
“Master Emilio says gins are superior weapons; I just have to take the time to learn how to use them. And this time I get school credit for the apprenticeship.”
“Nice. Well, have fun with the Town Hall weirdo and playing with your rocks!” Lep yelled as they diverged to their different classes.
CHAPTER THREE
Gin Apprenticeship
“Hello, young Cadin.” Master Emilio was sitting at his desk, hands folded over each other. This worried Cadin a bit, as his demeanor seemed too...normal. He was used to flying plants, or crazy chattering.
“Hello, sir.”
Master Emilio's sky colored eyes narrowed, making him quite uncomfortable. Now that is more like it, Cadin thought and smiled.
“Am I amusing you?” He sat back but did not release his gaze.
Cadin was about to utter an automatic no, sir, but thought about the old, powerful and zany Gin Master in front of him. “Yes, very much.”
Master Emilio's eyebrow twitched at his answer and Cadin thought he saw the slightest smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “Well, sit down, so we can get started.”
Cadin sat and extended his arm to the desk, allowing Gur to use it as a bridge. Gur briefly explored the items on the desk before laying down, draping his head and claw over the edge.
“He is a good dragon,” Master Emilio remarked. Cadin was taken aback by the soft note, and simply nodded. “There has been much that has happened since we started this ve
nture together. How is your shoulder healing?”
Cadin flinched, remembering the sickening sound of tearing muscle and crushing bone as Bruce tore him from Glade to hand him over to Tiberius. He fell, nearly to Earth—if he hadn't been able to cloud-shift while falling...he didn't really want to think about the rest. The experience had helped in his decision to become a Warrior Angel, and healers had been working with him all summer to fix his mangled arm.
“It's doing much better, though I don't yet have full range of motion and it still aches when the fog rolls in.”
Master Emilio nodded, though he looked slightly sad. “I'm sorry that I wasn't able to be there for you. I should have been better prepared—or at the very least helped you to be better prepared.” Cadin was moved, but did not have time to respond as Master Emilio continued. “A failure that I do not wish to reoccur—which brings me to our next topic—your apprenticeship and what it holds for you this year. In addition to training with your gins, we will also keep up the exercises with Aura suppression—though it looks as though you are doing quite well.” His cloudy blue eyes stared just above Cadin’s head. Have you had any problems keeping the blue suppressed at school?”
“No, not at school, but once after school. I think I was a little drained.”
“Hmm. We must work on some exercises to help your sustainability. But first—on to your gins. Last semester you became competent at basic cloud-shifting, yes?”
“I guess you could put it that way.” Cadin felt like he was being a bit undersold.
“Would you state it differently?” Master Emilio cocked his head to the side, his white hair shifting.
Careful, Cadin thought to himself as he remembered who he was talking to. Though Master Emilio acted crazy around others, Cadin knew it was just a front he put on so as not to be bothered. In reality, Master Emilio was one of the greatest living cloud shifters in the System. “No, sir.”
“Alright, then. This year we can utilize those skills for more than just connecting to natural clouds. Your will learn more about the specific energy of cloud plants, animals and even some inanimate objects such as gins, and use your own Aura energy to shift them.”
