50. Support Class #2
“I see,” Master Sorrel said, “you are a healer.” He eyed Aeden up and down again.
“Strange, you’re not built like a healer.
” He shook his head before etching some kind of symbol in the ground.
“Let’s use this as our starting point. Although I am sure you are exaggerating the extent of his power.
To draw such power from the Weave so quickly since bonding is not normal.
It takes years of training, it is the very reason you are at this academy, to strengthen your connection and thus your power.
” He drew some lines in the ground that branched off from the symbol he had etched into the dirt.
“This is the Healer sub-class,” he started before tracing his cane down the line he had just drawn.
“Now, Aeden has demonstrated a healing ability, which would fall into the Regenerative line. He can heal injuries, right now that looks like minor wounds. That might well be as far as these powers develop, but what if he could heal larger wounds, broken bones, even fatal strikes before someone was to draw their final breath? Such power needs to be nurtured, but this is just one element to the Healing sub-class.”
He then raised his cane and moved into another branch that he had drawn.
“Then you have Cleansers.” He then drew multiple smaller branches from this point.
“Again, this is a broad term that encompasses more sub-classes within it. Ailments, Poison, Fear, and Freeze are just a few examples of things that can affect a rider on a battlefield. Cleansers will attune their ability to refine what they are naturally drawn to, as it is unlikely they will be able to ease all Ailments. Each is as important as the next. Finally, you have the Revivers. These abilities revolve around the ability to ‘revive’ someone from unconsciousness.” Master Sorrel stopped in his tracks for a moment before bringing his finger to his chin.
“What did I say about Continuous Heal and channelling magic into zones?” He wasn’t speaking directly to the class but rather to himself.
He waved his hand in a playful manner and laughed to himself, solidifying the crazed old man profile he was fitting.
“Well, you will get the gist of things. That is just Healers. There are a whole plethora of abilities and powers beyond what I have explained with each sub-class. The good news is once you get your head around it, you soon learn where certain skills lie. The most important thing right now is to think about what you are going to do with the power that is bestowed on you. Does that make things clearer? ”
Aeden nodded. He had a better understanding, but looking at everyone else’s blank expressions, they were not as confident as he was.
“As for the role of Support on the battlefield, your job is not to run headlong into battle. We ‘support’ from the sidelines, that is where we are most effective. Our powers serve to increase the effectiveness of our comrades in battle. That is our sole purpose.”
Something stirred within Aeden, something that he wasn’t expecting but something that he felt compelled to challenge. The urge to speak out was far too strong. He tried to bite it down, but instead, he started shaking his head in disagreement.
“The Offence class and the Guardians are the ones who will do the fighting,” Master Sorrel continued.
“By channelling our powers into them, we can boost them in ways that can tip a battle in our favour. Our number one rule: do not engage the enemy unless there are no other options. Our time and energy are best served honing our magic to support others.”
Each point that Master Sorrel made felt like walking on hot coals or stepping onto a bed of needles. It made Aeden uncomfortable, frustrated, even angry.
“That’s bullshit!” Aeden spoke without thinking. Harrison practically gasped at the outburst, as did most of his peers.
Master Sorrel was shocked by the outburst, scrunching his eyes as he frowned. “I said you were disruptive, just as your mother. What is it you have taken issue with?” He sounded impatient and not necessarily interested in engaging with Aeden’s outburst .
“I disagree with what you just said, about our roles being from the sidelines, about keeping away from the combat. To me that’s cowardice.
If we’re in the heat of a battle, why can’t we fight?
Why can’t we be just as effective in combat as we are at supporting?
” His voice was raised, his hands forming into tight balls beside him.
“We should be trained to do both, not just the basics but the advanced stuff too. Combat tactics, active combat, things that we need.”
“A valid question, born from naivety to the true nature of battle. The academy made the decision a long time ago that Supports are best honing their powers to do just that, and I agree. Leave the fighting to those better equipped to deal with it.”
Something in Aeden’s head snapped even more, much more than the pent-up frustration about not being trained to fight. He had been sparring with Master Storme, to build up his core strength, and as brutal as they were in some way, he kind of enjoyed those lessons.
“Other than the basics you’ve all been learning, there is no need to waste further time learning to fight when these skills are simply not needed.”
“But they were needed!” Aeden’s voice echoed around the ruined archives.
“They were needed in the Battle of Weir, and they were needed in battles before that. Doesn’t the academy see?
If we were trained to fight, if we could fight, then maybe not as many Supports would have died. Maybe my parents would still be alive.”
“Ah, I see.” Master Sorrel shook his head.
“That is what this is about. The sooner you accept your role in the academy and on the battlefield, the better,” he said with a sigh.
“For now, I think it’s best that you leave this session.
At least until you learn to be less disruptive.
I will take to your words kinder when you have proven yourself to be a master of all Support skills.
” He was dismissive in his tone and turned his back on the entire class, who still stood in formation.
Aeden wanted to scream, at his ignorance, at his disregard, at how wrong the old master was with his thinking. This was exactly what was wrong with the academy, this was what needed to change.
“Come on, I’ll come with you,” Harrison said, putting his hand on Aeden’s shoulder to guide him away. “It’s not worth the fight.”
But to Aeden it was. This was exactly the kind of attitude he wanted to challenge.
He wanted to fight. He could already fight, which was what made his healing ability even more frustrating to him.
Aeden wanted to argue more, the need to get things off his chest abundantly clear, but he was still coherent enough to think better on that.
Instead, he heeded Harrison’s words and turned to leave, following him out of the ruins.