Irnik announced that their training would start and stood still, looking at his students.
But his students…They were blank.
“Uhh…What are we supposed to do now?” Felmer asked, confused.
‘Oh yeah…I…had to tell that…’ Irnik realised.
“Are you an actor or a captain?” Efkil followed.
“How much do you know about the Block System?” Irnik asked, ignoring Efkil.
“We have learned about the first three blocks,” Zendaya replied, yawning.
“So you all have learned the basics. But it was only in books. So, first we will learn and master Block 1. You can never reach Block 2 and 3 if you haven’t mastered the basics.”
“And how are we going to learn that? Swinging swords?” Anderson asked, gaining confidence slowly.
“No…Of course not…” Irnik raised his index finger. “First, you need to learn what your magic type is. And that can only be learned when your heart and mind are in sync.”
“And…” Zendaya was interrupted by Irnik.
“I know you will ask, ‘How?’ Have patience; I will tell you. That’s what I am here for…” Irnik took off his long coat, folded it and placed it softly on the ground.
“Everyone…Now sit down…” The captain ordered and sat down on the grass. He looked at his students, and they looked back. “Is there a complex puzzle regarding the basic action of sitting?”
“No…” Felmer answered slowly.
“Then sit down…Just sit the way you are comfortable…” Irnik shot back, a bit irritated.
‘Who am I teaching? fourteen-year-olds or four-year-olds?’ Irnik sighed.
After the squad had sat down peacefully and seemed comfortable, Irnik began instructing them.
“The things I will tell you are information which you have to swallow. So listen carefully…” Irnik took a deep breath. “Everything around us, whether living or non-living, emits a degree of magic. Some emit a lot, and some scarcely. Now the thing is, those emissions can be interpreted as magical waves, invisible to the naked eye. You understand?”
“Yes, sir…” The squad replied in unison.
“Good…So, the first step to mastering magic is understanding and detecting those waves. And before you again ask, ‘How?’ I will tell you that perceiving those waves isn’t a piece of cake.”
The squad looked at each other and then at their teacher.
“So, we will begin with perceiving those waves…”
“Why do we need to do such a hassle? Why not learn fast and simple like others?” Efkil objected, interrupting Irnik.
“Because I don’t want you to run into your mother’s lap at the first sight of blood…” Irnik answered, irritated and serious.
Efkil gulped and refrained from asking more silly questions.
“The first thing is to calm your body and thoughts, and remain focused.”
“So the first thing is to calm the brain?” Felmer asked like a diligent student.
“Correct, Felmer…”
“As you all are beginners, I would advise you to close your eyes. This way you reduce your chances of losing focus. After that, forget thinking random things and calm yourself completely. Then…” Irnik paused.
“Then?” Zendaya asked, sleepy as before.
“Then trust the process…”
“I will fall asleep if I close my eyes…” Zendaya muttered.
The squad followed the instructions and closed their eyes. They sat still, trying to reject random thoughts. But it proved to be challenging.
Zendaya focused hard and tried not to fall asleep. All she could see was the darkness one sees with eyes closed. Felmer was in the same state, though his focus was better than Zendaya’s.
After five minutes of darkness, a small thread appeared, white, thin, delicate.
‘It’s so thin…Wave from the grass?’ Felmer thought, but as soon as he did, he felt the thread vanishing. ‘No, I must remain focused…’
They maintained this state for another two minutes when suddenly, they lost it all.
“Ugh! It’s so hard!” Efkil blurted out.
Felmer opened his eyes and looked at Efkil, eyes burning with rage.
“Can’t you shut up for once? All I hear is you barking all the time…” Zendaya shouted, her sleep completely gone.
“Now…Calm down. And yes, Efkil, control your tongue…” Irnik tried to calm everyone. “Did you two make some progress?”
“I saw a small thread…” Felmer responded.
“Same for me…” Zendaya answered.
“Well done… And you, Anderson.” Irnik pointed at Anderson, who was quietly watching them all.
“No progress for me…” He moved his head sideways.
“Well, I already told you this won’t be a piece of cake. So remain patient…Patience is the art of nature…”
…
In a hidden building in Falvaria.
The district commander of Vanguard 8, Yuri Altis, entered the room, followed by Roosevelt. He sat on a sofa on the far side of the room and signalled Roosevelt to sit beside him. Roosevelt followed the orders and sat near Yuri on the same sofa.
“Based on your information, I am trusting you just as Commander Allaisi Oscar did”
“May I ask why we are here?” Roosevelt asked respectfully.
“A meeting with the intelligence head of the Eclipse, Lady Equinox…”
‘A direct meeting with the Equinox!? What makes him think she will tell us the truth?’ Roosevelt wondered, confused. ‘Moreover, won’t she question why we attacked the Cerfisians in the first place?’
“You will not speak unless you are allowed to…” The district commander ordered, adjusting his coat and badge.
“Yes, sir…” Roosevelt stiffened.
A few minutes passed, and then the door opened. First, two Falvarian soldiers entered the room and stood behind the district commander’s sofa, each carrying a rifle.
Then two masked men in robes entered the room, followed by a woman wearing an iron mask that covered the lower half of her face.
The men were in simple clothes, but the woman’s clothes had elegant lunar designs. She slowly stepped into the room, judging each Falvarian present.
‘Commander Yuri…’ She thought, looking at the district commander. ‘And who’s that? A lieutenant?’ She keenly observed the lieutenant.
Commander Yuri stood and walked towards the lady.
“Welcome, Lady Equinox…” He extended his hand.
“Thank you, Commander,” Equinox replied, smiling, though it remained hidden due to her mask.
“Please sit…” The commander said, pointing at the nearby sofa.
Equinox nodded and sat on the sofa, legs crossed, and hands on her right knee.
“I know you must be wondering why there is a lieutenant here…” Yuri looked at Roosevelt. Then he turned his head towards Equinox. “He is the soldier who witnessed the creature I mentioned in the letter.”
‘Hmm…So he is the survivor…’ She stared deep into the eyes of Roosevelt.
“Mind introducing yourselves?” She asked Roosevelt.
“I am a lieutenant in the Assassin Battalion of Vanguard 8. An archer.”
“What were you doing when you encountered the creature?”
“I was on a mission…” Roosevelt replied confidently.
“Alone?” Equinox asked, surprised. “An archer sent for a solo mission? When did the Vanguard 8 become so dumb and bad at strategy?” She asked, looking at Yuri.
“Certain conditions require certain actions. This was one of those conditions…” Yuri replied, trying to hide the truth.
“Hmm…Certain conditions…” Equinox raised an eyebrow, suspiciously looking at Yuri.
‘Do you think I will buy such a clear lie?” She said to herself.
“What do you want?”
“We want nothing…We are just informing you what our soldier discovered. Such a dangerous thing appeared, and Russin-Solvo hid the information.”
“Why do you care when your soldier is alive?”
“Falvaria is showing its goodwill by revealing what Russin-Solvo hid,” Yuri replied, agitated. “I am sure you already know everything…”
“So?” Equinox tilted her head to the right.
“Falvaria would like to know what happened…”
“But I wouldn’t like to tell anything. You shouldn’t pry into matters that don’t involve you.”
‘She isn’t going to buy any of it…’ Roosevelt thought and closed his eyes.
He opened his eyes and was left paralysed. He wasn’t in the room with Yuri and Equinox. He was standing in a vast pool of water. He looked above and saw the moon, very close and shining brightly. It felt like the moon was alive, staring into the secrets hidden in his mind.
As he stared at the moon, he felt like losing his mind. Suddenly, a throbbing pain struck his brain, and he fell to one knee.
‘What is this? What is happening?’ Roosevelt thought, scared.
He felt the water shake below him, and instantly the water rose to a very high level. Roosevelt was submerged in it. He struggled hard to swim, but he couldn’t move at all. It felt like something was binding him with invisible ropes.
He drowned deeper and deeper into the water until, suddenly, he was back in the room. His breathing was heavy as cold sweat ran down his face. Shivering, he took out a handkerchief from one of his pockets and wiped the sweat.
He looked here and there and saw Equinox staring at him. Her expression hadn’t changed once. She took a deep breath and then stood up.
“I will only say thank you for your cooperation…” She went for the door, then stopped and looked back. “Before I go, I would like to say one thing.
“Sure…” Yuri replied calmly.
“Stop disturbing the Cerfisians…” She said, opened the door, and left, followed by her two guards.
“Huh? How did she?” Yuri was dumbfounded.
“What??” Roosevelt grabbed his head.
‘Did she do what I saw? Did she attack my memories? But how? Do such powers exist?’ Roosevelt’s fear only increased.
“Send a message to the capital…The king will decide what to do…” Yuri ordered one of the guards, furious.
…
Evening, in the markets of Maska.
Felmer walked through the market, massaging his forehead, followed by Anderson, Zendaya, and a guard.
“It was more tiring than I thought…” Felmer yawned.
“Yeah…It wouldn’t have been this hard if Efkil had shut his mouth…” Zendaya replied, rubbing her eyes.
“I can’t disagree at all…After the first disruption, I only had a faint visual of the thread…” Felmer looked at Zendaya.
“You had a faint visual…I lost all my focus…” Zendaya smirked.
“Well, for me, I think I sensed a thread, but it didn’t appear at all…” Anderson commented. “I think I should pursue studies alone…
“Don’t worry…This isn’t an exam. We are training. Take your time…” Felmer assured Anderson, smiling.
“Yeah…” Anderson mumbled.
The trio and the guard walked for a few minutes and then stopped in front of a stall selling sandwiches. Anderson and Zendaya bought one sandwich each, and Felmer bought two, one for himself and one for the guard.
“Here…” Felmer said, handing the sandwich to the guard.
“There was no need, sir…” The guard replied, smiling.
“It’s okay…It’s just a sandwich.” Felmer insisted.
The guard smiled and took the sandwich.
Irfika, alongside Melfer, walked in the lively market, observing every stall.
“Hmm…Interesting place. There are a lot of things here…” Irfika whispered. “You want something?” Irfika asked Melfer.
“Huh? Buy something? Hmm…What should I?”
“Well, you have to tell me. What do you want?”
“Hmm…A sword fit for my age so I can practice with you.” Melfer replied, smiling.
“What?” Irfika said softly, surprised.
“A…Sword…”
“I understand the sword…But practising with me…Are you serious?”
“Yes, I am serious. You forgot your promise?”
“Training is the best word for it…” Irfika nodded. “Fine…I will buy you one.”
The duo walked further through the bustling market and arrived at a weapons store. Irfika entered the shop, Melfer right behind him.
“Hello, sir! What can I do for you?” The shopkeeper asked politely.
“Show me some swords which are sturdy but lightweight.”
“Normal or Lakis?”
“Lakis ones…” Irfika nodded.
The shopkeeper smiled and walked to the storeroom.
“Lakis? What’s that?” Melfer asked, curious.
“A stone used to craft magical weapons. It doesn’t give special properties or anything, but you can manifest them with your magic.”
“Oh…”
Shortly, the shopkeeper arrived and placed four swords on a table.
“These are top quality and lightweight, just as you requested.” The shopkeeper said, clasping his hands.
“Hmm…” Irfika keenly observed the four swords. “Which one do you want?” Irfika asked and looked at Melfer.
Melfer’s eyes were stuck on a sword: a white and light golden hilt, thin gold coloured thread patterns on the blade, and a sheath of the same design.
He picked up the sword and looked at it in awe.
“This one?” Irfika asked.
“Yes…” Melfer replied immediately.
“Great choice! Give it to me. I will pack it…” The shopkeeper said happily.
After paying the price, Irfika and Melfer left the shop.
“When can we start training?” Melfer asked, his face blooming with happiness.
“Whenever you are ready…”
“Tomorrow!” Melfer said cheerfully.
“Sure…” Irfika smiling.
Chapter discussion