A Rising Tide

by Ross Buzzell

  “He’s coming to.”

  Ja’sanfur’s voice echoes groggily in Konner’s ears, warmth surrounds his body in a cozy embrace as his eyes open. Everything is a blur for a moment but Konner gradually blinks it all into focus. A room with white walls, floor and ceiling surrounds him; brightly illuminated. Konner looks down at himself to see he is in white robes. Movement catches Konner’s attention. He looks up to see the face of his mother, Shey Lorian, a strong woman with long raven locks cascading in loose, lazy curls down her shoulders. The sight of her son opening his eyes brings a soft smile to her fair lips. With a look of worry in her soft green eyes, she looks up, behind Konner and speaks to an unseen figure.

  “He looks much better now!”

  Konner turns to see his father, the High King, a man whose body is that of an old man but his eyes show his true youth, his white hair is held back and a dragon scaled cloak falls over his shoulders, flowing to the ground, mostly covering the armor which he wears, the Lorian family crest glowing an azure blue beneath it. Konner looks back at his mother; he leans forward and throws his arms around her. Shey gently places her arms around her son in a comforting embrace.

  “I’m sorry mother. I shouldn’t have touched Starfall, none of this would have happened!”

  “It is not your fault Konner!”

  The unmistakable voice of Ti’Zellor rings out. Konner slowly releases his mother and turns to face his general. Ti’Zellor standing next to Ja’Sanfur, both near the High King. Ti’Zellor turns his attention to Konner’s father who begins to speak. His voice but a shell of the commanding boom it once held still drew any listener in.

  “My son broke a law. Not even we, the house of Lorian, are above the law. You did the right thing my general.”

  Ti’Zellor bows slightly as he begins to speak once more. Konner could see the anticipation ripple through his face with the slightest muscle movement.

  “My king, it was I who sentenced him to the Training Grounds, but it behooves you to know that it was my brother, Do’Zellor, who placed him in trials that he was not ready for.”

  This catches both the High King and the Queen’s attention. Shey Lorian looks over at Ja’Sanfur, worry and perplexity plague her face.

  “What does he mean that he was not ready for?”

  Shey slowly stands up, her white garments draped eloquently on her body, slits revealing her shoulders close half way down her arms.

  “I am ashamed to report that Do’Zellor summoned Spinara, three of them, for the first wave. They were hard light holograms so we could deactivate them at any time we needed. While most cadets do not face Spinara until they are fifteen, we felt that Konner could handle them so we let that play out.”

  The King looks at his son with pride; a smile slowly forms on his withered face.

  “The Lorians have always been resilient. It is no surprise that Konner was able to hold his own. He has advanced quickly and that is by no short means thanks to your training Ja’Sanfur.”

  The general nods in acceptance of her king’s complement. Ti’Zellor chimes in and continues.

  “It was not until half way through that we realized that the second wave, Nelaka, were not hard light holograms but rather the real thing. We tried to shut it down but by the time we could, something rather spectacular happened.”

  The High King’s attention goes right back to his general. Shey Lorian moves over to her husband and stands between he and Konner. Placing a gentle hand across Konner’s shoulder, Ti looks down at it for a moment before turning his attention back to the report of his time in the Training Grounds. Shey opens her mouth, her voice fraught with worry:

  “What?”

  “He drained, for the first time; he pulled energy into himself to win the battle. The curious thing about it is that he did not drain from the lights or even our night sun. No, my king, my queen he drained from the Nelaka themselves, amplified their power and used it in his favor somehow.”

  Ja’Sanfur chimes in on Ti’Zellor’s statement.

  “I have never seen anything like it in all my time training our soldiers my lord; it is a very rare, very spectacular gift.”

  The King nods in understanding; Konner notes that he shows hardly any response to the news. Throughout all of known Boronian history only a select few had ever been able to drain directly from living things. Some had discovered the ability using conduits but to ‘drain.’ To absorb the radioactive energy from another living being naturally was heard of once every ten or so generations. The king looks down at his son, a glint of worry in his eyes; he speaks as if reminiscing on an agonizing time in his life.

  “I am well aware of the powers of draining; we will keep an eye on it.”

  The High King is on the verge of dismissing them when Shey speaks out once more; her voice now soft and filled with intrigue.

  “What of the last wave? What was sent against him that was strong enough to break his bones?”

  Ti’Zellor and Ja’Sanfur both look at each other, uneasily. Ti’Zellor takes a deep breath as he clearly musters the courage to confess to the High King.

  “The Draronian Battle Master your highness. My brother unleashed our graduate test. But instead of the battle being with Sal’Der, my brother and Ja’Sanfur, he had the Battle Master substitute Sal’Der with a Titan. Not just any Titan, a Berserker class Titan. Had it not been for luck and the fact that your son moves faster than anything I have ever seen. I fear Ja’Sanfur and I would not have reached him in time.”

  The High King showed interest in the fact that the Battle Master was used, and a Titan was mentioned as the third being Konner fought. The Queen slowly sits down in shock and the High King’s calm demeanor rapidly changes to one of anger.

  “Your brother, my general had the Battle Master summon a Berserker Titan?! How was he able to do this! Where is your brother now!SPEAK!”

  The rapid shift in the King’s demeanor throws Konner, Shey and even the battle hardened generals for a loop. Both hesitate for a moment before Ti’Zellor regains his composure.

  “The Battle Master is loyal only to him m’lord. You made it so when you deemed Do’Zellor High General. We subdued Do and took him into custody. He is being held by the royal guard as we speak until you can decide what to do with him.”

  The tension in the room is so palpable that it is near tangible. There is a tense silence that fills the room with deafening quiet. Konner yearns to speak if not to just break the tension but is scared to, in fear of making the situation worse. The young prince lets out a breath of relief as the hiss of a door breaks the tension. A doctor wearing a white robe and a grey cross on his chest enters. The High King turns toward the door and begins to march out. As he reaches the door he looks over his shoulder at Ti’Zellor.

  “Bring him to the royal hall immediately. There his fate will be decided by me and the four kings!”

  The High King’s voice is almost a growl as he turns and storms out. Ti’Zellor and Ja’Sanfur both make their way over to Konner; Ja smiles warmly at him.

  “You did well Konner. There is little more I can teach you. When you return, who knows, you may be teaching others.”

  Ja turns, bows slightly to the queen and leaves the healing room. Ti’Zellor looks down at Konner but speaks to the Queen.

  “He did well; I imagine he will make a great king one day. There were times that he had the chance to quit but he pressed on. If our other leaders had even a tenth of his spirit our world would truly be a paradise. A very impressive feat for a nine year old; you should be proud of him.”

  The Queen smiles at the compliment to her son; she nods and gently rubs her son’s back.

  “I am and thank you for watching out for him.”

  Ti’Zellor bows slightly to her, turning his attention to Konner as he bids his farewell.

  “When you come back I expect to see more of what you have shown this night.”

  Ti’Zellor turns and exits the room passing the doctor who approaches the two holding a
small pad. As she touches the pad’s surface, a hologram projects Konner’s skeletal structure.

  “M’lady, if you notice the healing room has done a remarkable job on your son. The scans show that his ribs are fully healed and there is no bruising or internal damage of any kind. There are some things that you should take a look at but you are free to go home.”

  The doctor attempts to discretely slip a crystal chip to Shey but Konner catches it. Curious as to what it was he knew that if he pressed her he would get nothing. The doctor shuts off the hologram and turns to leave. She disappears around the corner and the door stays open behind her. Konner leans over the edge of the bed. Overwhelmed with the events of the evening, his mind spins to dizzying heights about what was said about him and questions, primarily “Why would Do’Zellor go so far?” With no answer immediately accessible, he does the one thing that he knows will bring him peace. He wraps his arms around his mother’s waist and buries his face into her stomach. He feels his mother’s soft touch on his back as she comforts her son. His eyes begin to burn as his vision blurs with tears, never before had he been so scared or worried. Fear was not something he could show so he hid it deep down until he knew it was safe and being with his mother was always safe.

  Tears begin to stream down the young prince’s face as the stress from the day overflows. Like a dam bursting, all the raw emotion of serious combat slam into the young boy all at once and it was not a sensation he was ready for. He sobs into his mother who slowly kneels down. She holds her son close to her. Burying his face into the crook of her neck; she whispers softly as her heart breaks for her terrified child.

  “Shhh, its ok my son; I’m here now, everything will be ok.”

  Konner looks up to his mother with tear stained cheeks, bloodshot eyes and a bright red face from the tasking chore of crying. The shaking boy tries to steady himself desperately but is unable to as adrenalin begins to course through him once more. Guilt begins to replace the fear as he had wept openly and shown fear. Characteristics taught never to be done by a soldier. Through broken up words and gasping for breath Konner’s voice is shaky as it is sob-laced.

  “I’m sorry mommy. I’m not supposed to…”

  The Queen immediately holds her son close to her once more; her voice is spoken with the gentle caress of an angel, as she continues to comfort her son.

  “You have nothing to apologize for my son. You are but a child and tonight you were thrust into something meant for a man. You deserve this, you’ve earned this, there is honor in this cry. Do not hold back my darling, let it all out.”Having his mother’s blessing, her stating that even a soldier could cry if he had earned it and still maintain his honor, brings a splinter of relief to Konner’s distraught, fear riddled body. His mother sits on the healing room’s bed next to him. Holding him close, she rocks Konner back and forth in her warm embrace. Konner’s sobs echo throughout the room, out the door and down the hallway as he buries himself into his mother’s caring nonjudgmental embrace.

  Chapter 3

  Six years have passed since the Trial Grounds and to this day the now teenaged prince would say that he was glad it happened. It took months for him to move past the trauma of the battle and as he moved through that forest and came out the other side, he was stronger and more resilient than ever. The past six years have been more of the same, training day in and day out for battle and being shipped to baron, harsh planets for survival training. The bond forged between he and his fellow cadets was unbreakable. Today’s exercise is Capture the Flag. Their mission is to move into their opponent’s base, steal their flag and return it safely to their own base without being captured themselves. Konner, Disa’ani and Man’Sanfur volunteered to be the capture team while the other cadets were defenders.

  Unlike previous strategies used by other teams that used the rocky, jagged surface of the pillar, Konner pieced together a plan to scale the jagged cliff face of the monolith on which the game takes place. The massive crystalline spire juts into the sky so high that it peeks through the cloud banks. Disa’ani and Man’Sanfur follow Konner’s lead; they use the clouds for cover as they make the tedious climb around the cliff face. The young prince keeps his eyes sharp and his senses attuned to all that is around him. He is wearing a single, skin tight suit whose color matches that of the rock and whose texture seems to change with the ever changing surface of the rock face as well. Man’Sanfur calls out to Konner who is a few meters above him:

  “Have you heard anything as to who we are up against?”

  Konner hears his friends question but elects to remain silent as he concentrates on his climb. Disa’ani chimes in from below Man’Sanfur:

  “Jil’Thorin is in command of the Zeta Squad Cadets. So unless we got lucky it’s her.”

  “Jil’Thorin, really? She’s undefeated in all of the training games and strategy conferences.”

  Their voices echo up the side of the monolith and into the grey clouds around them. Konner chimes in to shut up both of his chatting friends.

  “The reason she is undefeated is because she is singular in her thought. She knows what she wants and gets it. Maybe if you two were a little bit more like her we would be at the top by now.”

  Man’Sanfur lets out a laugh as Disa’ani scoffs sarcastically.

  “Oh captain my captain; it was you who suggested that we take this route. I was all for the ground assault.”

  Konner plants his booted foot into a strong hold. He gives the crystalline spire a firm kick to ensure that it is stable; he looks up. The cliffs edge is no more than ten meters from him.

  “They are expecting that. This gives us the element of surprise.”

  The young soldier bends his knees. He allows his body to drift from the cliff’s jagged edge as he tightens his grip. With a single, powerful, lunge forward Konner launches himself up the rock face. He soars over the whole ten meters before landing on the cliffs edge. He turns and looks down at his friends with a laugh.

  “Come on guys. You have got to keep up!”

  Konner yells to his other cadets standing on the edge of the massive crystalline cliff face. He looks down at his friends as they climb the cliff beneath him. Man’Sanfur and Disa’ani both catch up to where Konner leapt from. Man’Sanfur uses the same footing to launch himself toward Konner. The large raven haired Boronian lands next to Konner, standing a head taller than Konner the two look down at the struggling Disa’ani. His grunts echo up the cliff face as he moves into position to get his footing.

  “If they didn’t hear us before, they probably do now.”

  Konner quips comically causing his large friend to laugh. Disa’ani looks up at them and mutters loud enough for them both to hear:

  “Showoffs!”

  Disa’ani leaps from the same foothold with significantly less force than Konner. Noticing Disa’ani will not make the leap, Konner leans over the cliff face. He bends down and extends his arm forward. He catches Disa’ani by the wrist. Man’Sanfur drops to his knees and wraps his massive hand around Konner’s ankle as the prince slides off the cliffs edge. Jerking to a stop jars Konner a little, feeling Man’Sanfurs’ hand around his ankle and having a tight hold of Disa’ani, he looks up at the teams’ brute:

  “I got him. Pull us up.”

  Man’Sanfur hardly strains himself as he stands up, arm outstretched. He lifts both of his friends up over the cliff’s edge. As Konner’s head passes the cliff Man’Sanfur continues to lift them until Disa’ani’s feet are on the ground. Disa’ani releases Konner as he is back on solid ground, Man’Sanfur grabs Konner’s wrist and drops his foot. This causes the prince to flip around as his lower body drops to the ground. Man’Sanfur gently lowers Konner to the crystalline stone floor as well. Konner nods at his friend in thanks as the brink of the clouds spill over the top of the monolith, pouring a thick, dark fog onto the game.

  “Thank you Man’Sanfur.”

  Konner said:

  “Are you ok Disa’ani?”

  “The only th
ing hurt is my pride.”

  he answered. The other two laugh at Disa’ani’s rebuttal. Konner gives his pal a hard pat on the shoulder.

  “Don’t worry; we will be sure to tell the girls that you made the jump.”

  Konner notes that all three of their tactical body suits had shifted to match the grey fog; Konner peers through the thick mist and begins to walk forward, giving orders to his team:

  “We are getting close. Man’Sanfur you scout ahead and wait for us at the southeast corner of the compound. Disa’ani you get my six, make sure we are not flanked. Move out!”

  Man’Sanfur nods and turns to the dense fog:

  “On it!”

  With a single, powerful and very silent leap, he disappears into the mist leaving only the slightest hint of a trail in the clouds. Disa’ani positions himself behind Konner and begins to walk backward as they make their way over the jagged, uneven terrane. Curiosity finally overcomes Disa’ani and he whispers to his friend:

  “Why do you always send Man’Sanfur ahead to scout. Why don’t you ever use me?”

  Konner notes the tone of wounded pride at the idea of not being selected to scout. Konner silently glides down a forty five degree angle slate of rock and crouches behind a boulder, Disa’ani follows. Konner responds to the question: