by Marc Mulero
Wudon appeared on his conjured ramp decked in black proctor robes, half of his face drained of its color. He stared incredulously at the awful scene before him. Children dead, soldiers patrolling their herded crowds, the living forever traumatized, for what? He began his limp to end the madness - the halls illuminating once more as vines unfurled around Kor windows. The most mysterious man in Vinsánce had to be the one to return its light.
Eres used the small whiff of wind left in his impeller to clear the gap between the third-floor ledge and Wudon’s ramp. He touched down hard, nearly losing his balance on the narrow target, but stiffened once he touched ground.
“Don’t give yourself up, Wudon. The Silent War needs you,” Eres pleaded.
Wudon scoffed. “You know nothing of it.”
“I know that losing you will be a terrible victory for Seren Night.” His amber eyes trembled in desperation.
“You Ways are so brazen. This act isn’t what gains a victory for the other side, boy. It was the discovery of my existence, here, that is more detrimental than you know. They will wonder why I am so close to Dolseir… the birth place of espers. They will know Agden is close. And you…” each hobbled step acted as emphasis on his words, “just like your father, make dangerous choices. If they find out who you are… the sole heir to Agden’s esper… we are lost. And here you present yourself to stop me, for an entire audience of terrorists to witness. Foolish boy – the whole point of my being here was so you could be safe. Now step aside before I toss you.”
Eres stared at Wudon as he passed, dumbfounded.
“You’re in the thick of it now.”
Wudon made a show of his surrender by branching out his ramp lavishly – a distraction, so Eres could head the other way without questions.
Once Wudon’s arms were locked behind his back by an elaborate contraption, commands were shouted by all of Kovella’s Quittance. Orderly, hastily, they exited Kor Vinsánce as promised. KQ soldiers waiting on the other side of Decalus’ defenses about-faced with the rest of their people, past the open Kor grounds before blending in with the surrounding forests, just minutes before Faction forces dropped in to aid them.
It was bedlam again, but a different kind. Students were breaking down at the sight of Curatives wheeling away the injured and the dead. Proctors were solemn. Eres watched one of them caress a fallen child, who couldn’t have been older than a year-three at Kor. He stuffed the ornate blade in his belt and found his way back to section three, where Windel and their crew were deliberating.
Faction rescue teams rushed past, decked in deep red Glite. As solemn as the mood was, Eres was selfishly grateful. He and his crush were still alive, and on speaking terms. Dark thoughts of what it meant to let go of their greatest chess piece, Wudon, was overshadowed by his own confusion. More questions, always more questions than answers. Why did Kovella’s Quittance take such a drastic risk to obtain the Dark esper. Or was it Wudon himself that was more important? His thoughts were now flooded. What did it matter if he was heir to an esper? He’d witnessed Seren murder and steal them all the same. It was Agden who mattered, and if he was in danger, he had to warn his ooma.
All of his thinking abruptly ceased when Windel crashed into him in a loving hug. She squeezed tight, and it was as if that sole action gave Eres unlimited energy. He could fight the entirety of any rebellion in this moment. So quickly it reversed, though, when she broke free. She smiled at him genuinely, before turning to squeeze Crow just as tightly.
Rival eyes locked.
“You two saved my life. I cannot thank either of you enough.” She looked back and forth, and then resumed the appropriate solemnness that the mood begged.
Proctor Ren turned back to the students in front of him. “C’mon, let’s get out of this cramped warzone. Open air would do us all good right now.”
Chapter 15
Farewell
Eres and the crew surrounding him strolled slowly out of Vinsánce’s Elite Wing doors, onto the neatly landscaped grounds, away from war… or so they hoped. It was difficult to imagine the place as anything but mystical and calming, like every other day, but this one had been stained. Heads turned one way to follow their classmates rushing by them, and the other to see students swathed with comforting blankets looking to the floor in sorrow. All were letting the earlier invasion settle in, on their own terms, recounting their own horrors. No one ever expected Kor to look like this - victims rolled upon stretchers into pearly white pods so the Curatives could work, or escorted somberly into deep black shells with dark covers draped over them – those who perished. Some even waited at the entrance door in looming dread, in fear of finding someone they shared class with no longer breathing. Eres saw no one he knew at first, in either color, but eventually, one stretcher rolled past that made him weak.
“Proctor Vasa,” he said loudly enough to make Windel turn.
Five Curatives gathered around the unmistakable proctor. The weapons hauled alongside her in a small, open case confirmed the truth of it. The Glite once covering her torso was deactivated, hardened stomach exposed which was spotted with deep purple welts that surely came from a barrage of bullets. Eres sighed heavily with relief when he noticed her chest rising and falling. He couldn’t imagine the onslaught it took to take her down, but the heroine was alive, and that’s all that mattered.
“Don’t worry, kids. I see no mortal wounds. It would take a lot more than a few ambitious Eplons to snuff her out,” Ren commended. “If only we were all as prepared and powerful as she…”
They all inspected the area for more notable fates.
Weapons Master Sturn was seen guiding out a crowd of students. His stave was still in hand, showing that he was not yet convinced that the fighting was over. His bald head was half covered in ash, and his face showed a nasty wound across it like a large cat had slashed him.
Windel looked down at her oobs and smiled brightly before sharing the message. “Mun is alright. He’s with one of the crowds being led out of the Elite Wing.”
“Great news.” Eres nodded before changing direction.
The rest of them furrowed their brows and pivoted to keep him hidden.
He beelined to the Swul standing tall outside of a white med pod.
“Nuganzia, glad you’re alright.”
Crow couldn’t hold back his disdain for the woman who so publicly humiliated him, so he kept his mouth shut.
Zia spat on the floor. “An army of Eplons couldn’t kill a proper Swul.”
“Of course,” Eres placated her. “Who are you waiting for?”
“Teros. He broke his arm.” She waved her hand like the injury was less than a paper cut. “I don’t even know why the Curatives insist, truly. We can fix it ourselves.”
The four of them exchanged looks before Eres spoke again.
“Just a precaution, I’m sure. Thank you again, for saving me in the underground.”
Zia came down from her egotistical high ground, made eye contact with Eres, and nodded her approval. “You wield a blade well, Eres. I see our duels have not been in vain.”
Windel’s eyebrows rose as she cleared her throat. “Maybe it was my quick reflexes that sharpened him,” she jested.
Everyone chuckled lowly, even Zia found some humor in it, until all eyes were pulled upward to Vindom Decalus descending high from the Practical Wing, being guided down by his Reach. Vine and branch lowered him gently to the surface, where he was greeted most hastily. Many eyes were on him as he gave orders to Faction forces. Where to search, what to secure, who to investigate. The origins of Joodah Roe would be a hot topic of conversation for the time coming. Eres was sure of it.
That’s when Eres dipped his head, thinking of how terribly off his internal compass was - trusting the wrong people and betraying the good ones. So easy it was for others to play him like a fiddle. But at least he was aware and could admit it. Maybe that was worth something. Maybe in time he could learn to not be so gullible. Was he so off that others could
see the target on his back from miles away, see that even though he was erudite in books, he was sorely lacking in social intelligence? Was that the way of things? If it was, it hurt. Because then this all could’ve been avoided had he been a better judge of character, if only he could see past the giant spy’s charm.
“Did you guys like Joodah Roe, or was it that painfully obvious that something was off?” Eres needed to know.
Alfonze patted Eres on the back comfortingly. “He was a good student, and beloved by those around him. It was impossible to know.”
Windel agreed. “I never spoke with him, but it was clear that everyone liked him. Very popular boy.”
Crow sneered. “Of course something was off. One conversation with him told me so.”
“Well, you’re off too, so I guess it would be easier for you to tell,” Eres shot back.
Crow pivoted so he was peering down on Eres, who was just inches from his face. “Want to go again, Obrun?”
Mustae, that’s right. Eres ran a finger down his face, feeling the smoothness of his dull green mark that was exposed. I need to get home.
Proctor Ren separated them while looking around hesitantly, making sure no one noticed the slight commotion. “The goal is to quietly remove ourselves from Kor so we can get Eres far away from here.” He spoke as if he could read Eres’ mind.
While they moved on, Eres gave into Crow’s assurance, more curious than mad. “Fine. How was it so easy to tell something was off?”
Crow held up a hand as if it was blatantly obvious. “The short conversation we had awkwardly shifted to questions of Umboro legacy after I refused to share pleasantries with him. That’s how he gets into your weak minds, disarming you because you have no guard.”
“Pfft… a guard, huh? That’s what you call it? Now it makes sense why you’re such a joy to be around.” Windel rolled her eyes.
“When I go home, mommy and daddy aren’t running up to hug me.” His crystal eyes scolded Windel while a fake smile mocked her. “You wouldn’t last a day where I come from.”
“You’re missing the point of this tragedy, Crow,” Proctor Ren cut in. “Regardless of upbringing, tough or not, Kor Vinsánce was always intended to be a cohort of independent, trusting children coming of age with a sense of comradery. We lost that today, by this insurgence, and it will stain our standard for ages to come. It will subvert all that we’ve been working toward. One of my vows when I ceased my travels to join this community was to foster such ideals. It’s a damn shame.”
“Then today’s blood is on all of your naïve hands.” Crow scowled.
“It isn’t naïve to see the good in people,” Windel retorted.
“Tell that to the parents coming to see the black tombs.” Crow pointed his boney finger at the dead bodies littering the ground.
Eres couldn’t help but retreat back into his own mind, shamefully, for he was at the center of this atrocity, whether he ignored it or not.
If my fata and ooma had only sent me sooner, maybe I would’ve learned how to interact better, how to be keen to deception.
Windel suddenly kissed Eres on his exposed cheek. “Don’t take this to heart… you couldn’t have known he was a spy.”
“Maybe if things were different, I could have,” Eres spoke solemnly.
“Then you wouldn’t be you, Eres. You wouldn’t be the person that I…”
She was interrupted by Proctor Hundul pointing scornfully ten feet ahead, straight toward Eres.
The four of them stiffened as two crimson Glite-covered Faction rangers went forward to inspect her claim.
“Damn Generations proctors… at a time like this.” Ren cursed under his breath and stepped in front of Eres to shield him.
“I saw the mark from a mile away!” Hundul proclaimed as she approached, acting as though she could do no wrong. “Someone as deceptive as this surely could be in on the siege of Kor Vinsánce. You’ve been seen with Joodah on many occasions, who whispers tell is at the heart of all of this. How could you hurt us?”
“That’s preposterous, Evalas. Let him be. He defended our Kor valiantly, and has surely been through enough. There are a thousand witnesses!” Ren shouted as one of the rangers respectfully restrained him.
Hundul’s auburn robes flowed elegantly in the gentle breeze. “Be that as it may, even if that claim is verified, at the very least Eres has betrayed vis proctors and vis peers. Immediate expulsion is vis future.” Her eyes shifted down to the student she detested before shaking her head. “I’m so disappointed in you, Eres.”
Another Generations proctor stepped beside Evalas Hundul, stringy grey hair and a powdered face just as scornful as hers. “There is no place for you here, at Kor, traitor. We will get to the bottom of your vile treachery. Malice, jealousy, blind ignorance… whatever your motivator, we will find out why you would lead Kovella’s Quittance straight into our beloved house!”
Windel latched onto Eres so hard that his arm was going numb. “Please don’t… I just got you back.”
Crow despised Eres for more reasons than one – inexperienced, Reachless, favored, naïve… but there was one redeeming factor in his mind: a test he’d felt any outsider should go through, a brutal, endless hazing. Eres passed it. Endured it… for an entire year. He earned his place. That’s when Crow’s jaw tightened as he defiantly stepped in front of his rival.
“Eres is one of us!” he proclaimed with finality.
Both Eres and Windel couldn’t believe their ears.
Two more rangers approached now, but Crow’s forearms flexed and his fists clenched, drawing up roots to keep the decorated Faction forces in place.
Elegant blades were drawn immediately in response. Crow was talented, true, but rangers were a different type of authority – experienced in all sorts of peculiar dealings. And a boy with an affinity for manipulating nature was one of them. The armored ninjas readied to slice themselves free and detain two rather than one, but Crow twisted his fists, slowly, intensely, like he was grinding nuts to powder in his grip, making the vines pull tighter around them.
“No!” Ren shouted, realizing that the cause was lost. “Not like this.” His voice lowered in an attempt to reason with Crow. “Another way, another time. Not now.”
Even at his lowest low, even knowing that he was about to be hauled away from everything that he loved, Eres felt good, like he belonged. Windel clutching him tight, Alfonze reasoning on his behalf, and even Crow coming to his defense - it all warmed his heart. His actions spoke the truth of it… Eres had earned his home. He could be at peace, no matter what happened next.
With tension rising to its peak as Ren tried desperately to reason with Crow, Eres diffused it all with a lax hand on his rival’s shoulder.
“It’s alright. Enough blood was spilt today,” Eres reasoned.
Crow, face straight and chin held high, looked into Eres’ eyes and understood that this wasn’t the way to win. And after a tense few seconds, he begrudgingly relaxed his Reach, allowing the rangers to rush the Dawn and restrain him more forcefully than they might’ve if his friends had allowed him to go quietly.
Windel had tears in her eyes as she reluctantly let go of Eres’ arm. He looked back to assure her it would be alright, but really, he was just taking one more mental snapshot of the beautiful girl he’d fallen for before being hauled away.
“This isn’t over, Eres. We’ll get you out of this, somehow!” Ren shouted at him.
But it was over, for being a Dawn within Kor was sacrilege, and punishment was in order.
Eres was escorted away forcefully by four Faction rangers with arms restrained behind his back, he could do nothing but cycle through the traumas of the day and the mistakes of yesterday. To see Joodah’s giant body covered in Kovella’s Glite armor was the biggest shock of his life, even more so than discovering that he was a Dawn. He finally understood what his father and ooma were trying to do – protect him from a situation like this. In all of the stories he’d ever read in his favorite c
hair, all of the twists and turns, he could never have been prepared for this. Joodah. His “friend.” The giant that looked after him, made him feel comfortable, safe, but for what? The sole purpose of deception… of course. How could he be so stupid? Eres was used for his knowledge. It was as simple as that.
He sighed as he brought himself back to the present, where his captors led him up the hill that he’d traveled every day to and from Kor. The tight knot of not knowing where his next steps would lead made him reflective – the times he learned how to hop, the fear of coming back after Meeting Day, how much he’d learned, how much he was going to lose. Then he looked up to the intricate foreign Glite armor wrapped tightly around these rangers and wondered, was he going to another land? Was this the last time he was going to be in Ombes? Would he ever see these people again?
“Where are we going?” Eres eyed the bag that he’d dropped prior to the siege on Vinsánce, and considered whether he should ask one of the rangers to grab it for him.
One of the two in front turned to Eres, his sleek mask fully visible – mouth covered like a ninja, shimmering Glite slicked back at his temples and over the top of his head. Two black sabers with Crule gauges hung at either side of his belt. They looked like state-of-the-art assassins in truth, which would’ve given Kovella’s Quittance a run for their money had they arrived sooner.
“We’re taking a shider back to Gul’Dabe. There’s political and military sanctuary there – a Faction headquarters. You’ll be interrogated, which for the record, I don’t think is necessary. Your name came up more than once back on Kor grounds. You’re a hero, kid.”
Eres fought to hold back a smile. A hero, he thought. “And after that?”
“Far away to Elesion, Dagos mainland, where you’ll be tossed in with the others. Tough luck, kid, being born a Dawn and all. I feel for ya.”
Eres’ face fell like a sad puppy. Then he looked to his belongings clipped to the back of the other ranger’s belt – his impeller and the runic scimitar that Herim had trusted to him. “What about those, can I have my stuff back?”
