by Eric Vall
“Good.” Arwyn clapped her hands. “Let’s get the two of you outside.”
I put my hands up, dagger still clutched to my palm. “Hold on.”
Arwyn stopped, and Varleth eyed me carefully as I put my hands down again.
“I have questions,” I stated simply, and Arwyn laughed lightly as she leaned back against the edge of the table.
“Go on then,” she insisted.
I took a deep breath and prattled each question out one by one. “Why make a weapon from essence? What’s its purpose? Why does it glow when I touch the blade?”
As I asked each one, Arwyn’s smile grew wider. I wasn’t sure what that meant. Maybe it was better if I hadn’t asked anything and just taken what she’d given me at face value with a smile and a thank you, but I had to know what kind of weapon I was dealing with.
“We made a weapon from essence only after we discovered we could mold its properties,” Arwyn explained. “I told you once that we were able to purify it. Our theory is that rhin is able to take on different properties based on the intents it senses in the user.”
“You mean it has a consciousness?” Varleth asked from beside me. His eyes were wide and troubled. I couldn’t blame him. The essence was a constant presence in his sword-wielding.
“Not in the same way as you or I,” Arwyn went on. “The essence that surrounds your sword is black, as is the essence in the rift because the intent is to destroy. However, if I intended to heal using the essence, its color would change to white.”
I looked to Varleth, who still seemed perturbed, though significantly less so, then back to Arwyn. “That doesn’t really answer the question.”
“I’m getting there.” Arwyn smiled. “Making a weapon that was imbued and forged from essence seemed like the most natural way to progress the war against the monsters. From everything we have done to test it thus far, it has proven to be a successful, valuable resource. We’re always learning something new to do with it, but we’re always working towards the common goal of surviving.”
I nodded. That was as good of an answer as any, I supposed.
“The purpose is exactly as it’s intended,” she continued, “though in the future, as we discover other ways to mix and mutate the essence and create new resources, such as rhin, we’re hoping that we’re able to imbue more elements and properties to create magical weapons that rival the best of blacksmiths.”
I didn’t want to put a damper on Arwyn’s enthusiasm, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about the military making their own weapons from essence. I felt like there was some amount of danger in creating something that could be potentially too powerful, and then man would have no one to blame but themselves for the destruction of their fellow man. Maybe I was only thinking that way because we had lost Liam, but it still didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t bring it up, though, at least, not right now. There were other things at hand, and I was certain that this wouldn’t be the first time I came here to receive some super awesome weapon.
“As for why the blade glows when you touch it,” Arwyn shrugged, “I don’t know. That was the first time I had ever seen it react that way, though because of the color, I would be willing to bet it has something to do with you being a summoner.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “What makes you think that?”
“The color blue represents all summoners in the Academy.” Arwyn finally stood upright as she paced and flicked her hand around. “Because the essence is black at its base, and you represent that color of blue, perhaps it mixed the two together and somehow created the color we saw.”
I bit my tongue on that one as well. That seemed a little farfetched, but I guessed it wasn’t the worst explanation. There was more to all of this testing of essence, or rhin, as Arwyn was calling it now, that I hadn’t taken into consideration.
“Now,” she turned and clapped her hands again, “let’s test out these weapons, shall we?”
I glanced to Varleth, who wore a smirk as he shrugged. “I guess we don’t have a choice. Lead the way.”
Without another word, Varleth led Arwyn and I out to the warehouses where summoners usually had their field practice. I figured that made the most sense. It was closer than the normal field training area, and the arena was off-limits due to the Magicae Nito.
Poppy followed us as well with a number of scroll and quills though she didn’t say anything as she skittered along behind us. She reminded me of an absent-minded butterfly as she trailed behind, fast-moving, but never really kept a straight line because she was easily distracted by anything that moved more than an inch. It was kind of cute, honestly, but it made me question how she didn’t get so bored being cooped up in a room with Arwyn and laboring over books and lab results all day.
When we entered the warehouse, an odd sense of nostalgia washed over me, similar to how I felt when I took my final written exam with Rori a few days ago. It had been longer than I could recall, at least a month, if not longer, since I had come here to practice with my monsters and teach my friends how to be in better control of their companions.
We stopped when we reached the center of the ring, and Arwyn laid down the rules.
“You know the basics,” she told us. “I want a clean fight, but given that you’re both using new and relatively unpredictable weapons, you can’t be held entirely accountable if you accidentally do more damage than intended.”
I shot a look at the broody wonder that was Varleth. “You hear that? You can stab me and get away with it.” I grinned, and I earned myself a decent chuckle and a smirk in return.
“A dream come true,” he replied with a joking snark to his tone.
“There is no winner,” Arwyn pressed. “Just go until you feel you’ve had enough or until we’ve collected all the data we need.”
I looked at Poppy, who diligently scribbled notes on her parchment, then gave me a quick glance over her circle frame glasses.
“Shall we dance?” I teased Varleth as I bowed and flourished my arm. I could admit, I liked more and more that our relationship had started to extend to beyond squadmates into an actual friendship.
Varleth rolled his eyes and unsheathed the slightly curved sword at his side. Immediately, I could see a strange difference in the rhin. The black color was significantly less so, and held a neutral shade of gray, as though it could sense that there was no malice or ill intent in this duel.
I took the dagger from my belt and noticed that the blade itself glowed a dull bluish-gray as opposed to the dark color from before. I didn’t know what that meant or if the colors really meant anything at all. I simply wanted to focus on the fight and test out whatever it was that Arwyn was looking for.
“On my mark!” Arwyn raised her hand, and Varleth and I took our battle stances.
I still didn’t like my odds fighting with only a single weapon, so I quickly decided to unsheathe my father’s dagger from the other side of my belt. Its handle was rusted, and the blade probably wasn’t all that sharp, but I felt more protected than I was with only the one dagger. I spread my legs apart and shifted until I found a comfortable groove in my position. Varleth closed his eyes in concentration and took a long, steady breath before he took the sword with both hands. We were ready.
“Begin!” Arwyn yelled, and the two of us unleashed our battle cries as we charged at one another. As Varleth brought the blade up over his head to swing it down hard, I crossed the dagger blades. I was able to catch his blade on the downswing, and it became a power struggle until we both finally caved and leapt back.
I panted. No way was I running out of steam after only one block. Varleth seemed to notice, too, but he didn’t seem affected. I wondered if it had to do with his banisher abilities. I shook it off and readied myself as he charged at me again. This time, he held the blade down low, and he yelled as he swung it up.
I flipped backward in time to dodge his attack, but I hadn’t thought of a counter, and he caught me off guard with a quick slice across my middle. I narrowly dodg
ed that as well and leapt backward, but my clothes weren’t so lucky.
Shame. I liked that shirt.
“You know, if you wanted to undress me, you only needed to ask nicely,” I taunted and launched myself into the air. I came down and brought both daggers down over him. Varleth was quick, though, and he was able to block them both as he held his blade up horizontally and kneeled to absorb the impact.
“You’re not really my type,” he retorted, and he swung out his foot. He caught my knee, and I stumbled. The rhin dagger started to glow a bit brighter, and a surge of energy rushed through my body. With the sudden burst, I was able to recover instantly. I smirked and ducked as Varleth swung for my head.
Maybe he saw it in my eyes as I grinned wickedly, but Varleth returned the same look, and we charged again. My daggers clanged one after another against his sword as he blocked each of my blows. I didn’t relent, however. I kept the pressure on him. The longer I kept up my barrage, the more empowered I felt.
The blade glowed a bright blue, one similar in color to the cloak a summoner wears but with a renewed vigor. At the same time, Varleth’s weapon started to take on a red glow, then it quickly reverted back to gray, but darker than it had been before. Did that mean that Varleth was becoming more volatile?
“What’s got you so angry, gypsy?” I mocked as I caught his sword with one of my daggers and pushed it aside. I stepped with the other dagger, and he snarled under his breath, not once breaking the smirk he still wore.
“Your face,” he replied, and I almost laughed, but he’d said it with such a serious expression that I thought maybe he meant it.
A shockwave pulsed from him as he pushed his blade towards me, and I was knocked flat on my ass. I skidded across the ring and was only able to catch myself inches before it was considered out of bounds, which would have ended the match. I looked up just in time to see him lunge at me straight on, and I rolled to the side. I caught his leg with my father’s dagger, and he hissed as blood seeped through his pant leg.
Varleth swiped at me again, and again sliced my shirt, only this time, he managed a thin cut across my chest. Blood trickled down my chest, and I grimaced.
“You really don’t like this shirt, huh?” I asked, and Varleth swiped at me again, and then again until I was left with no other choice but to fight back. I crossed my daggers and caught his weapon again, only this time, when I pushed his sword away, my own wave of energy pulsed from me, and Varleth tumbled like a leaf in the wind clear out of the ring.
I looked at my hands in shock. I had done that? Or was that the power of the dagger? I couldn’t tell. I sheathed both of my daggers and jogged over to Varleth, who hadn’t even managed to sit up by the time I got over there.
“Varleth!” Arwyn ran over, too, and knelt beside him.
“I’m fine,” he groaned, and he took my hand as I offered to help him up. “That was a ride.”
I laughed and dusted off his shoulders. “I’ll say.”
Varleth turned to Arwyn and continued to smooth out his clothes the best he could now that they had tears and blood all over them. “Are we done here?”
Arwyn looked to Poppy, who nodded vigorously from where she remained standing by the ring and gave her a thumbs up.
“Yes, I’d say so.” Arwyn smiled. “Thank you, gentlemen. You’ve been excellent helpers.”
“I hope so,” I huffed, winded as if that pulse had drained my mana. Maybe it had.
“I want to run more tests after the Magicae Nito has come to a close,” she told us. “I know the both of you are Takers in the next round, so I have every bit of confidence that the two of you will be just fine.”
“As long as Gawain doesn’t get in my way, we’ll be fine.” I scoffed, and Varleth shook his head as he tried to catch his own breath.
“Like I said, the two of you will be fine.” Arwyn reiterated. “Those weapons are for you to keep. Practice with them when you can and take note of everything, how you feel, how it feels, the energy, color…”
“Everything, we get it.” I laughed and turned the dagger over in my hand. Despite my apprehensions, I was curious what kind of power lied within the weapon. For all we knew, the rhin could be the military’s big breakthrough in the war against the monsters.
I tossed the dagger into the air. It did a few flips, and I caught it by the hilt before I sheathed it at my side. It was a nice blade, and once I got the hang of using it, I found I liked it more than the broadsword we would generally use on field practice days.
“Thanks, Ms. Hamner,” I smiled, and Arwyn patted me on the back as she steered the both of us towards the exit of the warehouse.
“Get checked out,” she instructed, and Varleth and I nodded as we made our way back across the field to the main building, new weapons in hand.
Chapter 12
I did feel a little guilty as we walked into the infirmary and saw Meriden hunched over the check-in desk. Her eyes held bags beneath them, and when she looked up at us wearily, I noticed that they were bloodshot, also.
“I thought I told you, boys, I didn’t want to see either of you before your round in the Magicae Nito,” she scoffed and motioned for us to follow.
I opened my mouth to argue that Arwyn had sent us, and it was because of her experiment that we were in this state in the first place, but Varleth elbowed me in the side before I could even get the words formed. When I eyed him, he simply shook his head.
I soon saw why. Meriden moved slowly as though she had trudged through wet cement and was not forced to walk as it dried to her heels. She yawned, and there was a quill tucked behind her ear.
Meriden didn’t want our excuses. She just wanted us to be healthy.
She snapped her fingers, and we obediently hopped onto the beds that seemed to be our second home these days. There was certainly less of a click to her step today. It was more of a shuffle, and I found I didn’t much care for the difference in sound. It simply wasn’t Meriden, and it didn’t feel right. In fact, it made the mood somber.
I frowned as I watched her pick up a blue tonic she had used before on Varleth’s wounds. Her hand trembled as she held it, and I thought that she would either drop it or grip it so tightly that it would shatter. Neither outcome was desirable.
“I can help if you want,” I offered, and Meriden must have caught that she was in a state because she stopped as she smiled at me.
“I do appreciate the offer, Mr. Gryff, but I am quite alright,” Meriden insisted and continued to go about business as usual. She moved slowly, but she had her wits about her.
“Show me your leg,” she commanded Varleth, and he pulled his bloodied pant leg over the wound. It looked pretty nasty, but Meriden had a penchant for getting wounds cleaned up easily. She poured the vial over the gash, and Varleth hissed as he sent me a glare from across the hall.
“Oh, stop being a baby,” I teased, and I rightfully earned a middle finger in response.
“We’ll see if you sing the same tune when it comes to your wounds, Mr. Gryff,” Meriden remarked.
“You’re right. I’ll probably end up in worse pain.” I chuckled and grinned, but neither of them had anything else to say.
I sat in relative silence as Meriden finished up with Varleth, who looked good as new, as was usual once she was done treating a patient. He stood and then walked over to my side of the hall.
“See you tomorrow then?” Varleth held out his hand, and I took it once I got over the initial shock that he had initiated a friendly gesture.
“You bet. Let’s kick ass.” I smirked, and Varleth returned it in kind before he thanked Meriden and saw his way out.
“Alright, Mr. Gryff. Your turn.” Meriden scooted across the hall to me and pulled at my now-tattered shirt. “Take this off. You know the drill.”
I removed it and folded it in my lap. As the nurse clinked a few vials together, I saw her smile off-handedly.
“It’s nice to see you in good spirits, given the circumstances,” I commented.
>
Meriden nodded and kept her back to me. “It’s never an easy thing to handle death, especially that of a student, but we go on, and we do what we must to ensure that we are able to keep the world and ourselves safe from future monster invasions.”
I hummed. What Meriden said was true, and people like Arwyn and Poppy, like Meriden, who didn’t sleep in order to keep on the fight, deserved more credit. Who knew how long Arwyn and Poppy had slaved over those weapons? Or how many bodies Meriden cleaned and prepped for them to be sent back to the Maker?
“What will happen to him?” I asked Meriden the same question I’d asked Arwyn the night before. I figured if anyone had a better answer, it would be her.
Meriden’s smile still curled her lips as she gently pushed me onto my back and examined the marks on my chest. They weren’t as deep as the one on Varleth’s leg, but they were still pretty painful.
“He has an older sister and a niece in a little village just outside of Varle,” Meriden explained. “We’ll send him back to them so he can be placed in the family’s lot.”
I sighed in relief. “I’m glad to hear that.” I was comforted now that I knew Liam had somewhere to go.
As Meriden dripped the tonic into the wound and my skin began the healing process, I hissed. Yeah, I had poked fun at Varleth for it, but damn, it sure hurt.
“Did you know him?” she asked after a moment.
I shook my head. “No, ma’am. I’m not even sure that I had even seen him around before yesterday.”
“He was one of the good ones,” she replied with a dreamy tone. “Liam was strong, smart, and did everything for his family. Reminds me a little of you, now that I think about it.”
I looked up at Meriden and settled into the bed as she set to work. “Is that so?”
“You and Liam had similar principles and were both frequent flyers in here. Seems like I’m always patching you boys up,” she joked.
“Someone has to save the world,” I retorted.
“You’re one of the good ones, Mr. Gryff,” she told me as she nodded fondly, “but you’re not indestructible, either.”
