Chapter Nineteen
THE NEXT SEVERAL days were exhausting and routine.
Constant marching with meals on the go and training from setting camp to sundown and often well into the night.
Andra continued to show her sadistic tendencies running me ragged and nicking my hands constantly during our dagger sparring.
Though, that’s more due to my clumsiness with a blade.
A spear flows elegantly; a blade slices like a butcher.
Training with Bellius had become fascinating.
Training the spear was infinitely more enjoyable than daggers or workouts, but it was the strategy and philosophy that captured me.
Philosophy of the mind, but also of civilizations.
Different governments, other civilizations beyond Thetan, opening my mind to a world of possibility that I could never have conceived of in Athos.
One night, I got Bellius on a particularly relevant one for me; power.
“But you see Skion, power is slow. It’s a precarious, tempestuous mistress.
One prone to twist in whichever way the wind blows.
A government or an Archon holds power over those being ruled because of what?
Laws? The military? Sure, those are true; particularly the last one.
But that is only true because it was built that way, over time.
Stone by stone, a system of power was constructed by the people; a defensive wall against the savagery of life and humanity. But it is a jail of our own design.”
There are few topics that get Bellius riled up, and power is one. While I had already unlocked the riddle Lunos set for me, it had set me down a road of curiosity. And of course, Bellius didn’t stop there.
“Don’t get me wrong, despite being slow, that power they wield is real; that belief is real.
And being true power, means it will eventually become corrupt.
All power ends that way; it is the natural cycle.
Don’t give me that look! Even our commander will become corrupted…
eventually. The key, is community. Checks and balances; people to hold you true and accountable.
Friends, family, neighbors. All power corrupts the individual; a community has a chance. ”
That night, I wished Bellius knew I was the Conduit of Lunos.
He knew I was something, but not much more.
If his proposed axiom was true, Lunos and all the divine beings of the upper and lower pantheons would all be corrupt.
If the gods were all corrupt, then what hope do I have? What hope do any of us have?
As if by some special ability, each time Bellius was deep in his rants, Helia would swoop in and steal me away for our training.
And just like those nights, Helia swings by this night, pulling me from another lecture. This time is a more practical discussion with Bellius about the different ways to repel a larger force depending on what your troop composition was.
“The best strategy is to remove the advantage of numbers. Funnel the enemy into tight spaces or at least single points of entry. Better yet, if you have javelins or archers, create blockades and shield walls to chip away at their strength safely. Hey commander!” Bellius turns to me after acknowledging Helia’s approach.
She’s in full armor, helm and shield alongside her blade.
“Looks like you’re in for it tonight! If you survive, tomorrow we’ll cover refreshing your shield walls without risking the formation.
” With a wink, he slaps my shoulder and hurries off.
“Ready? Let’s head to the tree line.” Helia walks off without waiting for my reply.
Our combat training is different than with Andra or Bellius.
They teach the basics; Helia teaches reality.
Every night, we fight in rough terrain and the encroaching tree line shadowed in darkness tells the same story for tonight.
Helia turns at the edge, hand resting easy on her sheathed longsword.
Even in the dark of night, her fully armored presence is imposing.
I stop a few paces in front and double check my armor is set.
I’m still wearing borrowed leathers instead of the typical bronzed armor the band uses and no helm either.
Helia said we’d buy some in Hecalon and that she’d “avoid” my head for now.
The smirk on her face when she said it made me less than confident.
“Same rules as usual. First to score three blows or force the other to yield. As always, try to use your power if you can.”
We had been trying to manifest my abilities in the waking world, but it’s been dismal. Without saying another word, Helia unsheathes her blade and hefts her shield, testing the weight. I see the moon-kissed hint of a smile under her helm. She’s been getting too much enjoyment out of this…
In the blink of an eye, Helia disappears into the trees behind her, immediately reducing the effectiveness of my spear. Not holding back tonight huh? No use waiting though. I enter the trees cautiously, spear pointed out in front, grip loose.
My senses strain attempting to detect the commander—my huntress. A nascent thrill runs along my spine at the thought of Helia hunting me. I shake my head, focusing on the moment. I’d like to avoid adding to my already growing collection of scars.
The snap of a brittle twig is the only warning I receive, glinting metal slicing toward me.
I slap the blade away with a twitch of my spear while dodging out to the side.
Thrusting my right hip forward, my weight shifts, flinging the spear tip toward Helia.
Sparks ignite as spear meets shield, blinding me enough for Helia to disappear back into the trees.
Damn. I thought that was fast enough to catch her.
I’ve yet to land more than a glancing blow on her, often losing within a few minutes of sparring.
Despite training with more lethality than the others, Helia never gave me more than some bruises or shallow cuts.
Still, I’d like to be able to show I’m not completely inept.
“FOCUS!” Helia yells as she slams her shield into my side, throwing me to the ground.
Fuck, that one hurt. “That’s one! You can do better than this!
” I scramble to my feet, snapping my spear back and forth in front of me to ward off Helia’s advance.
No danger to her, but it stops her from gaining ground.
Seeing my desperate but effective defense, Helia swiftly retreats behind the trees, ready to strike from the shadows. Taking a moment, I flex my arm reaffirming it is still attached. The dull ache confirms my suspicion of a bruise on the morrow.
With a yell, Helia charges at me straight on.
I shift backward slightly, spinning the spear in front of me to avoid getting caught in the tree trunks to my sides.
Blows exchange heatedly, my spearhead never gaining purchase.
Slapped away, deflected by that shield Helia twirls effortlessly across her body.
Even in the middle of this pitched fight, I can’t help but admire her.
Helia is a master of the sword and shield. Her blade whips through the night air striking from impossible angles. Her shield always in motion, never revealing more than small targets here or there. Is that gap an opening or a trap waiting for me to bite?
The flash of pain of her sword raking across my forearm shakes me out of my admiration. Hissing, I retreat from our furious exchange. A bit shallow but damn it stings. Helia pauses, not pressing her clear advantage, as though making sure I’m not in real danger.
As if satisfied, she ominously steps backward, fading into the night like a specter of death. If this was anything but training, that’s exactly what she would be. Anger begins to bubble up from the pit of my stomach. I’m not even trying! I have to be better than this.
Breathing deep, I slow the beat of my heart. The shallow stinging on my arm fades, my mind turning inward, fumbling for that sphere of power. There. It blossoms in my mind’s eye, a blue sun pulsing quietly with energy. Now, to turn it into my need; my reality.
A dull thunk emanates from my right, causing me to spin, power tingling under my skin.
I hear the rock clatter to the ground, as I realize my mistake.
Searing hot pain ripples across my back as Helia’s blade bites into my borrowed armor, slicing it like a scythe through wheat.
The iron tang of blood floods the air, this wound much deeper than the one on my arm.
I face her, leaning against my spear slightly, the pain across my back throbbing, threatening to dislodge my tenuous grasp of power. Slick warmth trickles down my leg.
Helia stands still, weapons falling to the ground. The helmet obscures her face in the night, but the anguish is bright as day. I hold up my hand and the air ripples, surging toward my commander. Helia shoots backward, slamming into one of the trees. A surprised shout of pain rips from her throat.
Pressure surges to my head as the power inside of me fizzles out of existence. My knees crumble under the cost of my power and accumulated blows. Was it always this hard to breathe? A nap sounds nice right about now. I don’t have to worry about breathing. I don’t have to worry about anything.
“SKION!”
Who’s yelling? Wow…that voice is beautiful. No, it’s radiant. I should tell her that. Her? I think I know her.
“Stay with me!”
A rough slap jolts me to the present. Was that really necessary? Helia rips off her helmet, fear misting her eyes. Okay, maybe it was. Urgency drives her, turning me over and ripping the tear in my armor wide with supernatural strength.
Her hand is cool as it lays across the wound on my back. Warm, slick blood pads against the pressure, but not enough for me to care. Darkness creeps at the edges of my vision, until heat sears into my back.
My cry of pain rips from deep inside, pushing further than what I have ever experienced. If I was passing out from blood loss before, I’m about to pass out from pain. The wound in my back knits itself back together, as I feel skin and muscle fusing together in an almost unholy fashion.
As quickly as the pain began, a soothing coolness spreads out from Helia’s hand, leaving only a memory of the pain; one I won’t forget.
“Skion! Are you with me?!” Helia flips me over, armor dangling awkwardly from her tearing it in two. Her green eyes catch the moonlight, revealing the fear and concern.
“That. Fucking. Hurt. Maybe try not to kill me next time?” Exhaustion dims my humor, the smile not quite reaching my eyes. Despite that, Helia’s shoulders immediately relax, eyes closing in relief.
“I’m sorry Skion. I thought real danger would trigger your power.
I didn’t consider about how flimsy this damned armor is.
I…I almost killed you. And before you start, it doesn’t matter that it worked; you almost died.
” Helia’s voice trembles and quivers as she speaks, water welling at the corners of her eyes.
Who is this woman? Where was the confident and in control commander; the bastion of strength?
I shake my head, still cradled by Helia.
She keeps surprising me; as if I could fall any harder for this woman.
“Yeah, about that. How did you”—I gesture awkwardly toward my back—“do all that? Part of being an Aspect?”
Helia props me up causing my head to throb. Groaning, I make to massage my temples only to bleed on Helia from the small wound she scored across my forearm.
“Let’s wrap that for now until you’ve recovered a bit.
Then I’ll take care of it before we head back.
” Helia reaches into a small pouch at her waist and produces clean linen, wrapping it slowly around my arm.
“And to answer your question, yes. Lunos gifted me a few practical abilities. At least, that’s what my memory tells me. ”
I chew on that as I watch Helia bind my arm. There’s still so much I don’t know about her and what being an Aspect really means.
“What’s it been like Helia? You told me you were created years ago to search for me, but not much more.
I can’t imagine any of that or being an Aspect is easy.
” Her calloused hands pause briefly before tying off the bandage and leaning backward.
The sounds of the night float around us; crickets singing their songs, soft wind gently rustling through the branches of the trees.
Helia inhales deeply, gathering her words.
“Imagine being in a crowd of people, everyone walking around and going about their business. Imagine being in the center of it all, the chattering buzz of pointless small talk tickling your ears. Yet, no one can see you. No one can hear you. You’re adrift in this flow of humanity and yet apart, never to fully join in.
Never to be. Never able to truly live. Even the band only sees their commander.
No more, no less; a singular version of the complicated truth.
” The throb of my headache fades in light of her vulnerability, the deep hole of her loneliness.
My own void resonates faintly in the depths of my heart.
“I understand. It’s different for me, but I never felt at home in Athos; never felt like I was a part of the village, the people.
Perhaps this was all meant to be, in more ways than one.
” Helia’s fingers feel divine as I entwine mine with hers.
Regardless of the design Lunos has for both of us, I’ll take this and any moment fate gives us.