Legon Awakening l-1

by Nicholas Taylor

  “No, you had a seizure,” Iselin said.

  “What’s that?” Sara asked for Sasha.

  “It’s what you’ve been having your whole life. I have sent your information to the head of our medical staff. he says that you have something called epilepsy. it’s a medical problem. You’re not possessed.”

  Sara looked intently at Iselin. “Did Arkin know about it?”

  Iselin looked at Sara. “No, he didn’t. He’s been trying to figure it out for years but he has had limited contact with us, and truth be told, his handlers cared a lot more about their schooling than medical problems. We needed more information. She needed to be around a very learned healer or someone that could send the healer information while it was happening.”

  Iselin placed her hand on Sasha’s chest right below her neck and Sara saw a pink glow from under the hand. Sasha gasped sharply and her eyes widened. Iselin took her hand away. “Better?”

  “Yes, thank you. it should take me a few hours to recover from that. Are you sure it hasn’t…?”

  Iselin laughed. “You two need to remember that I’m a dragon. I have more than enough strength. now take your showers, and trust me, you will feel wonderful afterwards. I will bring you clothes to wear. I am leaving Cat here if you need anything else while I’m gone.”

  Arkin walked down the hall to the approaching Iselin. she looked concerned. “What is it?” he asked

  “Sasha had a seizure. we think its epilepsy. I can explain later. how are Legon and Keither settling in?”

  “They’re fine. Both are still shell shocked with this place. I’m getting them something to wear now. the girls?”

  “They’re fine. I like them both. You did well.”

  “A compliment?”

  She was alongside him now. They turned down a corridor. she placed her arm around his shoulder. “Tell anyone and I’ll eat you.”

  He laughed. She had been this way since they were young. they continued along until they came to a shop that was inside the dome that sold men’s and women’s apparel. They both got what they needed, Iselin picking up four or five dresses for both girls, as well as shoes and everything else needed.

  After that they went back to Iselin’s apartment to get Legon’s ring and Sasha’s necklace. they were important figures now, so certain precautions needed to be taken. For Legon it was a ring with a large amethyst crystal on it. for Sasha, a necklace that was made of platinum and in the center a large tear-shaped crystal that looked like ruby. A smaller ring and necklace for Keither and Sara were there as well. these were for protection. yes, they looked nice, but they were laden with magic. Once on they could only be taken off by the owner. they had wards that protected from many things that an assassin might use, including most poisons. Arkin figured Iselin had made them herself. she was incredibly skilled with magic. She had only been an Ascended for about ten years now, but she had grown in notoriety. her charisma and prodigy-like skills helped her outstrip all of her peers.

  After Legon got dressed, Arkin explained what the ring did and how it worked. Legon didn’t seem to mind the ring at all, and all he wanted to know was if Sasha and the others were getting protection as well. Arkin informed him that that they were, but that he and Sasha were to get the most.

  “We are going to go to the girls’ rooms now and then to get dinner. I suspect that they will test your magic when we get there,” Arkin said.

  “And how do they do that?” Legon asked.

  “There is a crystal you hold; it has a spell to tell them what class you are. be thankful-it used to be you had to demonstrate your power. Now you simply hold a rock.”

  Keither knew that he was now out of place with the others. they were all Venefica. Even Kovos would have been if he still lived, but Keither wasn’t connected when it happened. So he was still just a regular human.

  The clothes they were wearing were comfortable. they felt soft and smooth and they breathed much better than their other clothes. Arkin shooed them out of the door and down the hall. this place was like a maze, and though he knew its size, the lack of windows or other natural light made it seem small to him.

  Arkin led them to a room that was presumably the girls.’ when they entered they saw that it was an exact replica of the one they were in. Building with consistency and precision was rare, but apparently the Elves mastered it. The only difference in the room was that the girls had white furniture and the men had red.

  Iselin walked into the room from the bedroom to their left, followed by Sara and Sasha. Both looked completely different. their dresses were similar to Iselin’s; Sara’s was silver with a silver necklace that looked like a diamond but that he knew was a crystal. His heart raced a bit as she smiled at him, but Sasha, who had always been the prettiest girl in town, looked amazing. Her dress was red, and he realized that both dresses matched the color of the magic of their owners. there was a giant tear-shaped ruby-like crystal hanging on her neck and she wore shiny red lipstick. Sara’s lips were red too. They seemed a little unsure of their steps.

  Sara caught his eye and mouthed “Fancy shoes.” He knew what she meant. women in the large cities would sometimes wear shoes that elevated in the back. it was supposed to look better, but this was his first time seeing anyone wear them. Salmont had dirt streets, so shoes were purely functional, but large cities and apparently dragon domes had hard floors that were even, so fancy shoes it was.

  Legon spoke. “Wow, you guys look amazing.”

  “Thanks. I feel out of place,” Sasha said, looking down at herself.

  “We’re hot, what are you talking about ‘out of place’?” Sara said jovially.

  Iselin laughed. “So I did well then?”

  “Very,” Keither said. but wait, he didn’t actually say it, did he?

  “Thanks, Keither. So does this mean you’re going to ask me on a date?” Sara poked.

  “Sara!” Sasha scowled at her friend. “Thank you, Keither. That was a very sweet thing to say.”

  Keither felt all of the blood from his body rushing to his face. Legon mercifully saved him.

  “Iselin, I hear there is some test I am to take?”

  “Yes. All of you, in fact. Even Keither and Arkin.”

  “Why me? We know I’m a two,” Arkin protested.

  “But we don’t. If Sasha and Sara can now use magic, Legon’s transformation may have affected you as well, and Keither. Even if it hasn’t presented yet.”

  “So what do we need to do?” Keither asked.

  “Just hold this.” Iselin said.

  She handed Keither a clear crystal. it was cold and that was it.

  “Ok. You’re not a Venefica. No surprise. Arkin.” Iselin moved on.

  Arkin took it and the crystal lit up. he was still a class two. Sara took it; a class one. Sasha took it and it lit up.

  “Class two…” Iselin looked at the crystal again. “That’s not right. We need a new one; this is broken.”

  She knelt down to a bag and took another one out and gave it to Sasha, and again it looked the same.

  “What is it?” Legon asked.

  “Let’s test you first; then I will try and explain.” Iselin looked confused and worried. Legon took it and it lit up bright. She smiled and looked close at it.

  “Class five biologic or healing, as most humans say, with the potential to ascend. once again, no surprise, though the biologic is rare.”

  “What? I’m going to be a dragon?” Legon said.

  “No, I said ‘the potential to ascend.’ The whole dragon thing is up to life. It’s like when you changed into an Elf-it may or may not happen depending on how good you get with magic and how strong the spells are you use.” She turned back to Sasha. “But you, dear, you’re the confusing one.”

  “Why am I confusing? It lit up like it did for Arkin. Doesn’t that mean I’m a two?” Sasha asked.

  Iselin answered, “You’re a two, but the thing is that no one under a class four has a minor, as they are called. No one in hi
story under a four has had one. They don’t have a natural tendency to any of the forms of magic, be it Elemental, Biological or Energent. Legon here is a biological, which isn’t a shock considering what he has done with all of you, and I am an Energent.”

  “I don’t get it,” Sasha said.

  Iselin paused and spoke as if she didn’t entirely believe what she was saying. “You are a class two elemental. You have a minor.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Discovery

  “We plot and scheme, putting all our energy into a task, doing our best to ensure our foe’s demise. However, in the end we always create our greatest adversary. What is it that makes us do such a thing? We never do it intentionally; perhaps this is what keeps the world in balance…”

  — The Exiled Captain (Author Unknown)

  Legon woke up wrapped in silky sheets that felt incredible. He thought back on their first night here two weeks ago. After they had met up with the girls and Sasha found out that she was “special,” as Iselin had put it, they went to the dining hall where he was introduced to more people than he had ever met at one time-all Elves just as attractive as Iselin and Mantic. Well, maybe not as attractive as Iselin.

  The food had been incredible as well, and he was amazed to find out that the Elves had figured out how to get plants to grow meat-like fruit. When he heard this he was hesitant to try it; he was a butcher, after all. He knew meat. Still, he wasn’t able to find anything wrong with it. Not the chicken, beef, pork, or any of the other “meats” that he tried. The others had contented themselves with one portion of food, but apparently his enlarged appetite had nothing to do with being Elven. They ate the same amounts as humans did. Iselin said that the human men in the area would sometimes have eating contests, and that he could be the first Elf to join. he said that he might just do that. Looking back on it now, he wasn’t sure if she had meant it as a compliment.

  During dinner Mantic had come in and said that he had been ratified and was now the head of a great Elven house, a thought that made even his hunger go away. Iselin showed them many of the dome’s marvels, including an area where you could swim indoors, and a small pool of heated water that you just sat in, soaking. it felt wonderful.

  They hadn’t been able to figure out why Sasha had a minor, but to him magic was still new enough that it didn’t affect him. Iselin got along great with all of them despite Sasha’s constant attempts to set them up together. They had also met the dragon that was in charge of the military here. His name was Sydin. he was also loyal to house Evindass, making Legon his commander. Still, he wouldn’t be questioning Sydin any time soon. all of the Elven dragons that they’d seen were bright, vibrant colors, most assigned here in part because of that. The Elves wanted humanity to see a brighter, nicer side to the dragon, but Sydin was here because house Evindass was currently in charge of this dome.

  Dragons and warriors from all over the Elven Empire were here, but the great houses took turns being in charge of a dome. the Elven government worked as a cohesive unit and Legon wasn’t sure what was meant by being in charge.

  His thoughts drifted back to Sydin, who was not brightly colored but was soot black, though soot didn’t glitter and have a slight glow about it. Sydin was also a class seven and over six thousand years old, but Legon didn’t see him that way. He was friendly and fiercely loyal to his house and respected the fact that Legon needed to be raised outside of the Elven Empire. He had insisted on hearing about his and Sasha’s lives in detail. he was proud of Legon and insisted that if he had known the extent of Sasha’s hardship he would have flown on Salmont and burned it to the ground. This had taken them both off guard. Elves were normally reserved and didn’t just make hasty and unwise decisions, but they could tell there was more to this declaration than what they could see. Neither could figure out why Sydin would have been willing to risk his life to save Sasha from being ostracized.

  Legon pushed these thoughts from his mind. today was going to be… different. today their old friend Barnin would be returning to the Precipice. He hadn’t seen Barnin in close to a year and a half, and he wondered what kind of greeting he would get. would Barnin be mad at Legon for getting Kovos killed?

  He got up and walked in to the shower. this was his favorite of the Elven inventions. He ran his hand along the ridge, turning the water on, and then placed his hand in the spot that made the water right below scalding. he breathed in deeply. When he was done he got dressed and walked into the living space. Keither was sitting on one of the couches reading a book. Dragon domes didn’t have too much in the way of libraries but they still had one bigger than in Salmont, so Keither had taken to reading everything that he could get his hands on.

  “Morning. What are you reading?” Legon asked.

  “Hey. it’s a history of the Mahann,” Keither responded.

  “That sounds fascinating at this time of the morning.”

  “Oh, it is! I’m reading about…”

  Legon stopped him. “I was being sarcastic.”

  “Fine, suit yourself.” Keither put down the book at looked at Legon. “I’m nervous about seeing Barnin again. why do you think that is?”

  “There’s a lot that we have to explain-both him and us. but I feel apprehensive too. We’re walking into the unknown on this one.”

  Legon opened the constant connection that Sasha and he had, asking if she and Sara were ready for them to come by. “The girls are ready. Let’s get breakfast and see what happens.”

  Barnin was a close friend, and surely he had been filled in on what Legon meant to the Elves and the resistance. the question was going to be how he would receive the news that Legon had let Kovos die. Sydin told them that Barnin had moved up quickly in the ranks, mostly due to Arkin’s training, and now he commanded a unit for the cavalry. He was stationed right on the border with the Empire, but Legon wasn’t thinking of it as the Empire so much anymore, but instead as the Iumenta occupied territory. Barnin was bringing two communications from Parkas, Hoelaria’s chief warlord; one for the humans in the area and another for the Elves. This was commonplace, Legon was told, as the humans and Elves were two different countries. there was a lot of tradition between the two powers of the Elves and Iumenta. Many of these originated before the time of the War of Generations but some came about after. it was a fine line both sides walked to avoid open war. It appeared that statecraft was a game of wit, not might. both sides had been plotting for millennia after the war that had claimed seventy percent of the life in Airmelia.

  Iselin joined them for breakfast but Arkin didn’t. he was no longer in charge of them, and as a result was being given different tasks, most of these assigned by Sydin. Iselin could see that they were all tense.

  “You have nothing to fear. Barnin is your friend and supports house Evindass. he knows who you are, Legon. how could he not?”

  “What house do you give your loyalty to?” Sara asked.

  Iselin paused at the question. “Not every Elf claims allegiance to a great house. many may support a Great House or a Lesser House, but many are independent in a sense.”

  “Are you independent?” Sara pressed; she was genuinely curious.

  “Sydin and I are loyal to House Evindass. that is why I am your guide while you are here. if I weren’t loyal to Evindass then Sydin would be your guide.”

  “How many of my house are here?” Legon asked.

  “Two dragons, Sydin and myself, and then 500 units. the other ten dragons are from several houses and a few independents. The same goes for the other 3,500 troops here.”

  “There are 4,000 in this dome?” Keither said with amazement.

  “Yes there are,” Iselin said.

  There wasn’t much talking after that, and Legon contented himself with his eggs.

  Barnin rode up to the Precipice with the two communications in his bag. This wasn’t the first time that Parkas had sent something, but it was never good. Tradition dictated that they send a message to Elves and humans before a ma
jor invasion. in that message there would be terms for surrender and so on. He was feeling uneasy for another reason as well. Rumor held that the Everser Vald, who he knew to be Legon, had reached the dragon dome. When Arkin had helped him leave Salmont and the Iumenta occupied territory, he had told Barnin what Legon might be. Arkin had given him a message for the resistance as well.

  What would his friends think of him now that he was an accomplished warrior and had moved quickly up the ranks? He reached down, stroking the neck of his black mare Poison. The dome was in sight now and he felt better. it was going to be good to catch up with Legon and Kovos. He wanted to talk to Sasha as well. when he left he had found himself feeling concerned for her. at first he thought it was from years of protecting her, but he knew better now. Magic affected people’s minds. A Venefica could nudge you in one direction or another; this was how the Iumenta stayed in control. Dragons infected areas with little notions and beliefs, and even if you didn’t buy in at first, over generations people were slowly swayed to one form of thinking. This was used in battle as well. Dragons helped those who were under them keep their morale high and, more important, helped how you felt after a battle.

  The Iumenta disliked people like Sasha. they influenced people to avoid those with handicaps, thus keeping these people from having kids and tainting their workforce. It was disgusting, but many had to leave the Cona Empire to avoid going into the care. The city of Manton was an excellent example; it had the most people who had fled persecution.

  Manton had been an eye opening experience. he had heard of blind and deaf people before but he had never seen one. Those people couldn’t find work in the Empire, so they were homeless and often taken into the care, never to be seen again. The thing that got him the most was all the kids in Manton. families that had kids with problems were forced to leave. the Iumenta had been sowing beliefs for decades that people with mental problems were evil. He’d felt these feelings. they were subtle, but they were definitely there. he had felt them about Sasha when he lived back home. even though she was kind, he knew she was possessed. Those feelings had assaulted him his whole life like fiery little darts, but not anymore.