“Whisper? When did you get your voice back?” asked Rush with surprise.
Whisper hugged them both with joy. “Geminae,” he said. “It’s a long story.”
“Incredible. So much has happened here. I think we should sit down and discuss what to do. Where’s Kry?” asked Rush.
Rhea looked on with anticipation.
“He isn’t here. Kry never came,” replied Eclipse with a heavy heart.
“Where is he?” Rhea was worried.
“We don’t know. He helped us escape. All we do know is that he’s with Zero,” said Eclipse.
“Zero? Who’s that?” asked Rush with grave concern.
Yujin brought extra blankets and water. “There are many things to discuss. It’s going to be a long night.”
****
During the next hour, Rush and Rhea were told about all the events that had happened. Whisper had told them about Geminae, his voice returning, and Kry’s sudden change. Rush also told them of his own adventure: his hunt for Geminae, how he was captured by Bellum, and everything leading up to how he ended up on one of those machines.
“I’ve never heard of Professor Zero in all my travels. How long had he been teaching here?” asked Rush.
“He was an unusual professor. He joined a few months before you contacted me about sending Kry to train here,” said Yujin.
Rush was troubled. “Where did he come from? I find it strange that he appeared out of nowhere.”
“According to Katar, Zero had a perfect background with an unnatural ability to control the elements,” said Yujin. “He and Katar often disagreed, and Zero, although exceptionally gifted, made our meetings difficult.”
“I’d like to meet him myself,” said Rush. “It’s not often that I don’t know who someone is.”
Eclipse had thought Zero’s teaching methods were too aggressive, but it was more than that; it was as if Zero enjoyed the pain he inflicted on the students. She still remembered how Zero had pushed Kry to exhaustion. Her thoughts trailed off, and she noticed Rhea staring across toward a group of students sitting nearby.
“Why does she keep staring at me?” asked Rhea.
Eclipse followed her gaze and saw Athena watching them. “You don’t notice anything about her?”
Rhea shook her head. “No, should I?”
“She looks like you,” added Rush. “Very subtle differences, but I can see a resemblance. Maybe she’s a long-lost sister.”
“I don’t think she looks like me at all,” said Rhea. “Did she and Kry have something?”
Eclipse was surprised by the sudden question. She looked to Whisper who turned away wanting to avoid the question. “Hmm, no, not really. I mean they became close, but nothing happened.”
Rhea lowered her eyes.
“Kry was devastated when he thought you’d died. He blamed himself and always thought of you. He treated himself harshly about what had happened,” said Eclipse.
“I can’t imagine. I miss him,” said Rhea.
“He missed you, too,” said Whisper. “If he were here, he would return to his old self. I just know it.”
“Has he changed that much?” asked Rhea. “I can’t imagine Kry being anything other than a caring man who only wants to help others.”
“A lot has happened to him. And the mystery behind his headaches still drives him. He’s confused and lost. He lost his link to reality. Maybe, if he sees you again, he’d get it back,” said Eclipse.
Rhea looked over Eclipse’s shoulder. Michael sat alone. “If Michael couldn’t get through to him, I don’t see how I can.”
“Michael wasn’t himself, and the most important difference was that Kry thought you were dead. I think you have a good shot at getting through to him,” said Eclipse.
“I think so, too,” added Whisper.
Eclipsed noticed that Rush was troubled. “What is it, Rush?”
“I have to know, how did President Katar die?” asked Rush. “He was a powerful User. I can’t imagine Katar being taken down so easily.”
Yujin had sadness in his eyes. “He was killed by a Blade; Makai was his name.”
Rush looked at Yujin with confusion. “No, that’s not possible.”
“It was Kry who told us,” said Eclipse.
Rush shook his head. “No, it’s impossible.”
“Why?” asked Yujin.
“Because Makai has been working against the Blades for some time. He’s working with me and has been passing me information,” said Rush. “He wouldn’t kill Katar. They were even friends in secret.”
Silence descended upon them.
“Then who killed President Katar?” Eclipse’s voice was filled with doubt.
Everyone had worried expressions as the cold air blew across the mountaintop. Suddenly, Eclipse felt a tingle as someone entered her mind. The energy was overwhelming. She stood up with amazement.
“Eclipse?” said Rush.
Everyone looked at her. Eclipse could feel Kry’s energy, but she could not see him. She looked all around, peering into the darkness.
“Eclipse, what’s wrong?” asked Rhea.
The outside world was turned off. Eclipse could only hear the beats of her heart, and then her mind was filled with a bright white light.
“I don’t have much time to talk,” said Kry.
“Kry? Where are you?” she asked.
“All you need to know is that I’m safe. I came to let you know that I’ll not be joining you or the others.”
“What do you mean? Kry, stop this nonsense and tell me where you are. We’re all worried. You’re not making any sense. I know you haven’t been yourself, but your friends are here. We’ll help each other.”
“No, I can’t continue as I am. The Blades came and did what they wanted. I’m tired of the Shadow Government having everything go their way. I’m going to bring them to their knees,” said Kry.
“We want the same thing. We all want to take them down. We can do it, together. You helped save many of us today. Please, just come here. Tell me where you are,” said Eclipse.
“I’ve learned all that I can here. I have to go my own path now. I’ve been lost for so long, with no hope that I’d find the answers I need, but finally I know what has to be done. Once, you asked me where I went after class. I went to take private classes with Professor Zero. He’s helped me grow so much. With his help, I can reach my full potential. I’m going to go with him. He’s going to continuing teaching me, and I believe this is the choice I need to make. The Shadow Government is after me. If I’m away from you and the others, then none of you will be in danger. Everything that happened and everyone that died was because of me. Too many people have died already.”
“No! Kry, don’t do this. You can’t just walk away from us. It wasn’t your fault. No matter what, they’ll continue to hunt us all now. Zero alone can’t protect you, and there’s something not right about him. I don’t think you can trust him,” said Eclipse.
Kry paused before speaking. “I’ve made my choice. Tell the others I’m safe.”
“No, you have to listen! It’s about Katar. Makai didn’t kill him.”
Kry’s presence lingered in her mind—an emotional speck of light that drifted between certainty and confusion.
“Goodbye, Eclipse,” said Kry.
“Kry! Rhea’s alive!” She screamed in her mind, but Kry was no longer there. All that was left was an empty void and a sadness that soon began to fill her heart. Tears fell down her face as she looked back at the group.
“Eclipse? What happened?” asked Rush.
She could hardly see them with her tear-filled eyes. “Kry just contacted me with his mind.”
Rhea beamed with joy but soon understood that Eclipse’s tears were not of happiness.
“He’s not coming back.” Eclipse struggled to speak. She was breathing heavily.
Rhea turned and slowly walked off into the darkness; she already knew the answer.
“Where is he?” asked Rush.
Eclipse wiped her face. She saw Whisper looking at her with his green eyes and felt an even deeper pain. “He’s gone. He left with Zero.”
Rush turned to Dr. Rhodes. “Can you fix that?” he said, pointing to the damaged Purifier.
“I can, but I need materials and time. Why?” asked Dr. Rhodes.
“Good, because we have to find Jaeger as soon as possible,” said Rush.
****
In the distance, he could sense them on the top of the mountain. He had masked his presence well. He knew Eclipse would try to go after him. He could not allow that. They would be safer with him gone.
“Did you say your goodbyes?” asked Zero.
Kry continued looking into the darkness. “I said what I could.”
The sounds of a helicopter came from behind him.
“It looks like our transport has arrived.” Zero guided the helicopter to land safely on their mountain peak.
Kry watched him carefully. Could he trust Zero? The uncertainty about Katar’s death lingered with him, and now Eclipse had told him that Makai did not kill Katar. But how could she know that? After all, he had seen Makai standing over Katar’s dead body.
The helicopter doors opened. “Allow me to introduce you to my associates. This is Carlyle,” said Zero.
A muscular man with a well-fitted suit greeted him. “I’ve heard much about you, Kry. It’s a pleasure.”
Behind Carlyle, a beautiful woman with golden hair appeared at the helicopter door.
“And this is his daughter, Kaya. They will be your new family and support you in our new destination,” said Zero.
Kaya smiled. “I look forward to working with you.” She offered her hand and helped Kry into the helicopter.
The rotor blades began to spin, and the helicopter soon rose above the mountain and into the darkness. And Kry, once more, said a silent goodbye to those who had been his friends.
Words from the Author
I want to say a big thank you for reading this book. I hope you enjoyed Rise of the Young and are in eager anticipation for the next book in the series. You can find a preview of book three (First Seeker) on my website: hcbygott.com. A prologue chapter is available for free and it provides a hint at where the story is heading. I aim to complete book three for a publication in 2017. Future updates, other works, and information can also be found at my website.
If you have any feedback or ideas you would like to share with me for the other books in the series, I would be happy to hear of them. The easiest way to get in touch with me is through my email address: [email protected], or through my twitter account: @HCBygott. Beta readers are also very helpful, and if you would like to be a future beta reader for the next book, please do get in touch.
If you enjoyed the first two books, it would also mean a great deal to me if you could leave a review. Reviews help the series grow and allow it to reach more readers.
Once more, I would like to say thank you for choosing and reading my book.
Hugo C. Bygott
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hugo C. Bygott grew up in Cambridge, England. His love for reading came when he picked up his first fantasy epic, ‘Magician’ by Raymond E. Feist, followed by Robert Jordan’s ‘Wheel of Time’ series. He has traveled the world and for the last few years lived in Tokyo, Japan. The Ascended books are the first he has written.
Rise of the Young: Warriors are not made; they are forged (The Ascended Book 2) Page 54
