The time limit passed and everyone had to split off into the groups of two they formed, me and Akiyon formed our own. Lord Justice glanced over the thirty six groups beneath him from his podium and began to talk.
"Your first event in this year's exam shall be intuition and survival, an important aspect for a warrior to have in battle. Intuition will help you ask the right questions and answer those questions, that might lead to the key components for completing your mission. It will help you tell who's your enemy and who's your friend on a mission, a warrior doesn't simply rely on the notion that you are with allies. This world is dark and it's even darker for Creeds, keep that in mind all the time even after you've joined our ranks." His last sentence shook most of the participants, whatever blissful and pure hope they had about the Creed were instantly crushed. Some knew this beforehand, maybe by personnel inside the Creed or by hearsay but it is becoming more apparent to the world that the Creed isn't what it used to be. "Just yesterday we put one of our own brothers to sleep, he had abandoned his intuition and challenged a stronger enemy. This cost him his life and the Creed a heartache, may he rest in peace."
His eyes fell on me and I already knew he was talking about Nam, but quickly returned his attention to the crowd in front of him.
"Your first mission will be to find one out of twelve trinkets placed throughout the Profundus forest and hold on to it for two days. Return it here at first dawn on the third, those teams that bring back a trinket on the third day will be able to move on to the next stage. The rest will leave after failing to qualify, there's only one rule to this test—no killing."
Murmurs and talks amongst the contender erupted in the coliseum.
"Twelve."
"No rules, just no killing."
"There are thirty six groups here."
I see now the intuition part of this test is finding the trinkets and the survival part is keeping the trinket away from other teams that don't have one.
"Trust no one, fight with your partner and don't lose to anyone, your warrior pride won't stand for it. The annual Creed exam begins now!" As he said this, black liquid flowed from his and into the grounds we were standing on. The black substance covered and swallowed many of the participants. "Crude Oil Artem: Krude placement."
He said as he bowed on his podium, looking me straight in the eyes. His message was clearly conveyed to me, 'Don't lose'.
After being enveloped by the black oil I opened my eyes to falling from the sky into what I think is the Profundus forest. To my side Akiyon held out his hand to stop me from doing anything and I proceeded to sheathe my sword. I eagerly awaited whatever artem Akiyon would use to stop our descent. Was he going to sprout a giant tree like he did earlier? No, maybe something entirely different, well whatever he was going to do he better do if fast because the forest floor was looking rather close. I could only wait and see what my partner had up his sleeve, we finally fell into the trees. We were caught at the canopy level by vines that were hanging there, and we gracefully made it to the bottom. The vines that caught us simply moved as if they were snakes and constricted all four of my appendages as they laid me to the ground. Akiyon simply thanked and talked to the vines as if they were people, and that's not the worst part. The vines seemed to understand him as they swayed side to side and as Akiyon waved goodbye to the plants, and in turn the vines waved at him and returned to the position we disturbed. What did I just witness? Did Akiyon just talk to plants and did those plants understand him? Does this mean plants have intelligence? Does this mean they can talk and only Akiyon can understand them? So many questions are filling my mind as my companion just casually stares at me as if he didn't just do something insane right before my eyes.
"Wow Akiyon I guess any forest must be safe space for you huh!?"
"Mmh!? What do you mean, Titen?"
"I mean you can talk with plants and plant life moves autonomously just to keep you safe."
"Autono-mounsly?"
My partner was clearly confused, probably by my speech. Well I do hear that country bumpkins or those that live far from cities and nobility don't see any need to educate their children in high vocabulary.
"What I meant was that you didn't even chant and the plants came to our rescue."
"Oh you mean Harpner, Krea and Svine? I saw them from the sky as we were falling and they said they would catch us. So there wasn't any need to do anything, there is a lot of dust here for some reason?"
Who or what am I standing next to right now? The protagonist of this world, because there is no way he just told me the names of vines right now. Wow! I don't know what more surprising is the fact that he could see from that high and communicate with plants while falling from the sky or he can just talk to plants.
"Really that's because I didn't breath in the dust of landing Akiyon do you have any tracking skills?"
"Yes! My Ark animal senses allow me to borrow the senses of one of the six senses of the animals that live in the Ark."
"So you can find the trinket we are looking for right now with those senses?"
"Yes in a forest I can find whatever I want too."
"Well then friend show me."
"Okay Titen!" He turned around from me and appeared again with his hands covering his eyes, he removed both of his palms and shouted "Tah dah!" What I saw was really surprising, his green and yellow irises were replaced with black ones. The white in his eyes had turned into a dark golden orange, and his eyebrows were now higher.
"And this is?"
He gasped. "You are not afraid of me?" He asked me after his initial shock, in quite an out of sorts kind of way.
"Why would I be afraid of you?"
"Well I used 'Owl Eyes' in front of Angola and she was shocked."
"I'm not Angola, though I would be lying if I said you didn't astonish me. What did you say your eyes were?"
"The eyes of the Flammulated Oasis Owl, it is a desert owl that can see tiny things like rodents even from way up in the sky. It said it is really good at seeing reflective things as well, like shiny metals and bald people as well as…"
"Oases in the desert."
"Yes you've seen one?"
"No, I only read about them in books. The Great Ark Forest's eyes, the desert Flammulated Oasis Owl. The books describe it as a beast and sovereign of the skies."
"I wouldn't call Arianrhod and Gwydion sovereigns of the skies, more like sleepers of land."
"You know two Oasis Owls?"
"Nope! I know an entire parliament of owls, one of them was my teacher."
"That is special, Akiyon, I've always wanted to meet an Oasis Owl."
"Well after the exam would you like to come and meet them in the Ark." Akiyon said to me as his gaze was focused on the ground as we walked through the floral.
"It would be an honour, I can't wait." I lied knowing very well that the Creed would never allow that, but he doesn't know. "What are you looking for on the ground?"
"Lord Justice said that the thing we are looking for is a trinket, which means it was hidden by people. So I'm looking for footprints and something shiny."
"Indeed he did say that, I don't think using only sight to find the trinket will do us any good." I stopped in my tracks and Akiyon did the same, and turned to me. "If we are tracking people then wouldn't your nose be more useful, hopefully the person who planted the trinket scent is on the trinket even now. Is your senses up to the task?"
"Yes, I taste air like a Wood anaconda and can smell and track anything like a Kiwi."
"Well I can leave the tracking to you then, whoever placed the trinket in this forest must have left a trackable scent for you."
Akiyon led the way through the greenery. We spoke about his time outside the Ark forest, mostly his time in Fuse and his life in the Great Ark Forest. He told me how Captineus Dakila took him out for ice cream and that it was the first time ever eating something so cold and tasty and creamy. He even told me that he bumped into someone causing him to drop his ice cream, but the man was kind and offered to buy him another cone.
The more he talked the more I realised that he and I grew up in similar circumstances, sheltered from the world because of our affinities. The only time we could explore it was under surveillance and a leash, it can't be helped. I'm the only means to kill my family and Akiyon is the guardian of the most important forest in the world. Akiyon came to a halt, I guess we found something with his animal senses.
The eye of the Oasis Owl, the Shroom Kiwi's sense of smell, the Jubatus Bat's hearing, the taste of the Wood Anaconda and the sensitivity of the Catshark. All impressive abilities in my opinion, this guy is special, one might even say he is the destined one of this world. That's amazing and daming at the same time, because this world is plagued and he is soon to be its beacon. Akiyon will be the centre of the world's attention and its war. A responsibility his naive self will gladly accept and a responsibility the world won't mind placing on his shoulders, afterall a hero is needed. He will eventually come to find out that war isn't a game and bear the burden of all those that he'll fail to save his own heart. The world won't care much about that, they want their hero to end this war; no matter what the cost to himself. Akiyon picked up something and shouted it to me, it was a silver bracelet. That's not a trinket, I don't know much about finances but I'm sure that bracelet alone could buy a horse or two. I guess the Creed has a lot of money, that could explain why bejewelled objects like these are used in hide and seek.
"We found it, Titen!"
"Yes you did, now we can hold onto it for two whole days."
"Okay." As he agreed the bracelet was consumed by his staff, I could only watch in bewilderment. "You want to go for a swim?"
"Lead the way." I gestured to him and he led the way.
"Um Titen, does this place feel weird to you?" he asked in a serious tone
"It is, isn't it." I answered.
"I don't know if it feels like there is something bad in the forest. Even the air is different, something I noticed the moment we landed."
"Maybe you're not used to a different kind of mystic forest."
"Maybe, you're right!" he said cheerfully but I could still sense his worry. If we are in a bad situation right now then we can only hope that the cause comes to us or we find it. I place my money on the former rather than the latter, patience at this moment is everyone's alley. "Do you hear that?"
It was the sound of water, which meant we were here. We made it to a small river that had water that was clear but green due to the algae growing on the bed rock. Akiyon was the first to take off his clothes until he was in his drawers, so I followed suit. The moment Akiyon stepped into the water, the water went from clear green to clear blue. Another ability of his is purifying water. I couldn't help but chuckle at his powers, I wonder what is next? I followed after him and the water was nice and cool but felt unreal for some reason, it felt like my body was heavy in the liquid. My face was splashed with water, distracting me from my curiosity. It was Akiyon grinning bigger than life, I returned the favour and splashed him as well. This went on for a while, it had been a while since I had fun with a boy my age.
Spade POV
After killing that boy in my space I took his spirit weapon, because I knew Augustin would like to have it. It wasn't easy to catch him in my space but since he wasn't at the level of a Legatus or Capitneus I saw no need to involve no one else. If I had originally caught both the Legatus and Dakila I would have immediately teleported them to Reagent Terragon. Those two would have been of interest to him, but not that small fry. He was nothing like Kaya, his speed, reflexes and intuition were subpar at best. After I stopped his mobility with a sand pit, he was nothing more than a fish in a barrel. If he wasn't a noble I would have killed him quickly even though time moves differently in my space, my sadistic self gave him little cuts till death.
I flew in the cloud of sand that I surrounded myself with all the way to Mettallum's capital, Aianmeiden; the headquarters of the Terragon clan. This has been my home for sixteen years after the fall, what a glorious day that was. The Shogun fell and with his loyal houses and dominion and nothing but ashes and rubble by next morning, at the hands of the weapon. The Terragons gave birth to a beautiful state of equality afterwards, one where your social standing was determined by one's strength through the power of the Perditas. Unlike the shell it was, giving power to certain families because of wealth and history of honour was the beginning of chaos. This reform is much needed by the entirety of the world and that boy stands as an obstacle to the true state.
Though I do not believe in superstition, the prophecy of that old hag still lingers in my mind. It's hard to believe that the child could defeat a member of the five at his current state, but that was an impressive attack he used to kill my trap. My sand cloud disappeared as I landed on a metal balcony of the Tungsten Castle. Sixteen years ago this castle was nothing more than your typical stone wall and wooden roof castle, but after the fall Reagent Terragon transformed it.
I made my way through multi-coloured refractory metal lined halls of the castle, the blue colour was the most dominant in the tungsten metal. I was continuously being saluted by the vermin beneath me in rank, most were loyal servants and soldiers of the Terragon clan. I returned a smile at those I recognise and always tease on a daily basis. The rest were that of the old power, the Noburugado clan, the former royal guard. Now they are just spies in these walls that aren't much of a threat to the reagent, another reason they haven't been expunged is because they may serve some use to him in future. They are not needed in my opinion, what value could an ant have to giants. Their loyalty still remained with their nobility masters— fools! I charted all the way to the lab of my lord, two guards were posted in front of it. I came to a halt in between them.
"Is he angry?" I asked.
They looked at each other cautiously and one of them spoke up. "Yes, Venalicium Spade. I would be wary of my words, the reagent was here beforehand."
"I see, so it's Tuesday."
The two guards exhaled deeply, probably accepting that I would never take anything seriously. A persona I held with utmost diligence, but I cared more than I allowed others to know. I took my next steps gently and opened the door gently, I walked into the lab. To my surprise Lord Lyon wasn't mixing any chemicals in his test tubes or something like that. Nope he wouldn't be doing that anytime now, the floor was littered with broken glass and liquid. I manoeuvred my way around the sharp glass to find Lyon sitting in the dark on his chair, this is his angry position, I just turned to the men behind me.
"Leave if you value your life." I said to the two men. They didn't ask any question questions and just did as I told them off, I then proceeded to close the door behind me.
"I thought I told you to only survey the situation." Lyon said from his dark position, you could feel the anger from my position.
"Yes you did say that my lord, I did all of that and even found out in which coach he was being transported in long before we encountered. I wanted to capture the sister of Kaya, she was also guardian him. She might be of great consequence if left alone, an opportunity my poor soul was not going to let go." I walked over to the small table that contained some whiskey and poured two glasses of the liquor. I proceeded to transport one of the glasses with a sand cloud to Lyon, he just simply smacked the glass away.
"Give me the bottle." I did so, I took the bottle with one hand with the other holding my own glass. I approached Lyon and handed him the bottle and returned to my position, he simply downed the entire bottle like coconut water as did I with my glass. "Father came here today to check if my leash on you had weakened or not."
"Did you tell him it works just fine? Too fine in my opinion." I joked, Lyon didn't take too kindly to that thus I prepared myself for punishment. The moment I closed my mouth a sharp power slash of pure silver chi flew right past me, destroying a good portion of the lab.
"Do you think this a joke Spade, you didn't follow my orders this time– but that of the Reagent!"
"Forgive me my lord, I was only gauging the strength of the enemy, for some reason the security was not as fortitude as I was informed by our informate."
"That is how a trap is supposed to work, misinformation to allies means misinformation to the enemy. They baited you and with Maya there what if she too found out how to prevent your departure like her brother, have you forgotten four years. How you and Agustin lost the shogun, your situation could have changed at the arrival of an Elemento like before goddamnit!" He stood from his chair and shattered the glass empty bottle and drew closer to me. Every time I look at him my heart stops for a moment and then continues its rhythmic motion. His angered expression instantly is replaced by his stoicness as took each step closer to me. With his left hand he gently touched my right cheek. "I've been too soft on you because of you and I are…. No more Spade. I can't protect you from him if he is given the order, and you surely can't protect yourself either. Father summons you, he wants to hear your report personally."
"I understand my lord." I answered back at him, the question still lingering in my mind–was he breaking up with me or was I going to die? "Before I see the reagent I would like to introduce you to the newest member to the clan." I opened my pocket dimension and revealed a man from it. "Meet Orrin the brave, I found him while basking in Fulgur's beautiful moonlight."
I'm sure the moment Orrin was released from my dimension he was really shocked to be greeted by Lord Lyon's massive chi. This was evident by the expression on his face, fear and deep shock was painted all over his frozen body. This is the reaction most expected when beholding a warrior built to kill gods, this is a Terragon–hope you like what you see Orrin. Lyon unsheathed his sword slowly, what a beautiful katana it is with its rainbow illuminated silver–grey metal. The sword looks just as majestic as I first witnessed it with its circular holes and beautiful blue and grey handle. The metal is something I've never seen before with it's multi-coloured hue, iIdon't think it has existed for thousands of years. Modern artisans don't even know what kind of metals were used to make such a sword even with their vast knowledge on artefacts and materials.
"No no…wait you said coming here might be useful to me, Spade…Spade!" His voice was silenced by Master Lyon's sword running through his heart. I grabbed Orrin's body with my sand and threw his body outside through the window. We were four floors above ground so the impact to the ground was audible but drowned out by the bustling of the goons on the castle grounds.
Lyon led the way through the halls of the Tungsten Castle ,as we passed individuals they bowed deeply to me and Lyon. Whether you were loyal or unloyal to the Terragon, you just couldn't ignore their power and the authority they commanded with their presence. We made our way to the throne room door, and the two guards stationed there opened the door for us. We walked into the figure of the reagent sitting on his throne , or that of the missing shogun. His aura eclipsed all those that sat in the same room as him, it was nothing but pure death in the air. His power was in its own league then that of Lyon, it's impossible to think there is another above him.
The closer I drew to the figure sitting on the Tungsten made throne, where four more seats faced its own cardinal direction–my blood curled. The being sitting on the middle seat was anything but human, eyes that looked like they have seen death all too commonly and skin as pale and cold as snow. I kissed the hand presented to me and stepped a few steps back and bowed to the reagent, the dark chi from his Perdita brought goosebumps to the surface of my skin. The circular holes in master Lyons sword represented life and chi but the cutout of this sword is the x mark. The x mark represents the end and death chi, the power to raise the dead or prevent one from death.
Each sword has its own cutout that symbolises the swords power, whoever made these swords were no ordinary blacksmith. Some even say it was Metallica the goddess of metal. Lyon also kissed the hand presented and bowed to his father before sitting down on the north eastern throne. I allowed my eyes to wander off to the stands where the strongest of us venalicium seated in the throne room, my eyes fell on the Dextera Venalicium. In attendance was the venalicium of Lyon, Lady Dai and Reagent Kreetess. The venalicium of Lord Reitess and Menetess were not in attendance today; only my brother the Vice venalicium was exempt today. His gaze was nothing short of disappointment as usual, I still wonder why he still expects much from me. I returned my gaze to the reagent and his dark presence in the atmosphere.
"I hear you encountered my grandson?"
"Yes my reagent, I tracked him…"
"Shhh!" The old man silenced with one finger over his mouth. "How strong is he now?"
"Stronger than before." I was taken back by the question and this was evident in my expression but I quickly gained my composure. "Yes my reagent, he was able to destroy a sand trap of mine, and predicted my movement."
"But a measly trap is nothing, did you challenge him more than that?"
"No my reagent, I was summoned–but I did leave him with some playthings."
"Playthings, is what we are calling mongrels these days…? How disappointing Spade." The pale white man said while shaking his head in disapproval with a smile on his face. His grin brought out more fear from me than any angry warrior.
"Forgive me my reagent."
"For what?" He asked coldly.
"Ahh…"
"Do you mean disobeying orders or returning empty handed, no! How about endangering your shogun."
"For all that and failing to gauge his strength."
"Do you wish to correct yourself?"
"Yes, the exam starts two days from now, I will find an opening and challenge him and if he pleases me. I'll return to ask my reagent for further orders."
"I wish to see the axe you plan on giving to Augustin." The reagent said as he held out his hand, I stood and opened my pocket dimension and gifted the axe carefully to the reagent. Isn't it beautiful? "The idea that something so hard and majestic is made from elementium born of one's soul, once materialised into the physical realm it becomes one with the physical realm. If not it would have disappeared as its maker died, and yet here it is in my hand hours after the death of its warrior."
He held and observed the axe and then before I could even react, he cut my torso laterally. The shock wave from that strike sent me backwards to the doors, my torso and lower body a distance from each other began to be connected by sand.
"You're too strong to properly test him… Isamu!" He shouted
I stood once my body completed its healing and returned myself to my kneeling position. Isamy appeared next to me after his name was called, we both knelt at the figure before us.
"Yes, my reagent?" The boy replied.
"You will retrieve Titen after you've defeated him in battle."
"My lord won't he be heavily watched by the Creed, I could make it to his position. Possibly have time for a match but escape in Fulgur is near impossible especially if an Elemento were on the pursuit."
"No need to worry, Spade will ensure your return or he could consider himself dead."
"I understand my reagent."
"I understand my reagent." I said to the reagent 's request but one look at his face I could just tell he was lying. Isamu is not returning.
"Augustin! Catch." The reagent threw the axe to Augustin on the stands and he caught it. The man examined the weapon given to him, a smirk appeared on his face as he stored it. "You're all dismissed."
I stood from my position and was followed by the brown haired boy.
"What does the head of the Mamushippo house plan to do with the shogun to properly test him?" I asked Isamu who was following me through the halls of the Tungsten Castle.
"Test him?" He said in a condescending tone which peaked my interest. "I'm going to kill him."
"Ahh, now that is a properly set goal."
"Follow me Spade!"
"Ohh, you're taking me somewhere."
He ignored me and led the way to the castle grounds, Orrin seemed to have recovered from his initiation and probably explored the grounds.
"Bronze Rocks! We have a mission." As he said that, a group of 5 wearing rose plated armour appeared.
"A mission hehehe! Where?" A tall skinny man spoke excitedly.
"Shut up Kinamura! Lord Mamushippo hasn't explained anything." The woman beside me shouted.
"C'mon Hayake, I'm just excited." He responded very seriously.
"We are going to retrieve the shogun, the reagent 's orders."
"Hehehe I like the sound of that." Kinamura said while he grinned too widely.
"When do we leave?" I asked.
"We leave tonight." Isamu said. "Gather your equipment." The boy turned to me. "Tonight Spade."
"Of course lord Mamushippo." I grinned. Then I walked off on my way to see if Orrin was adjusting to his new power to him by Lyon, well he wasn't dead. I wanted to return to Master Lyon's side but quickly let go of that thought. I fucked up didn't I, a servent approach me on the porch I was sitting on.
"Lord Spade, Lord Menza summons you." One Of my brother's personal servants said to me, I took one look at her and a smile crept on our faces. The golden brunette servant was a exiled daughter of a wealthy Terrain noble house, whom I brought over to our side seven years ago
"Really now, what would the strongest Venalicium want with a little old me, haven't I been punished enough today?"
"I do not know my lord? Maybe he wants to scold you for the way you conducted yourself in front of the reagent " She grinned at me deviously causing me to do the same, ohh how I love it when people smile.
"Well then, lead the way, Zam'ake." I said as I stood from my porch and followed the servant to the theatre room. My brother stood on the stage performing and acting, I had forgotten how much he loves the art of stage performances. The maid left and closed the door behind me, I just looked at my brother. He loves his golden cape that he always wears but his clothes were even more eccentric on him. The man I knew growing up never liked fancy robes and suits but here he is in front of me. Adorned in gold silk and cotton and talking in scripture.
"The sword that doesn't break, the sword that doesn't cut are the same.
When a sword breaks it gains character, when a sword doesn't dull it loses character.
These differences are the similarity.
These swords will be used regardless of character.
The warrior will fight till the sword breaks
The smith will sharpen till the sword cuts
The gain and loss make the sword a reminder
A reminder to the warrior and smith.
The body grows stronger and it is unbroken.
The body grows older it is dull
The sword that doesn't break, the sword that doesn't cut are the same.
Why, you ask?
Because the sword will eventually break.
And the sword will eventually break.
The swords represent the beginning and the end." As he said his last sentence he had turned from his sideways position to facing me. I clapped at my brother's performance and drew closer to the stage."
"You always were a talented brother! Brother." I grinned.
"Spade, when will you ever learn your place?" he retorted.
"Ahh…I do a lot of bad things brother, so could you be a little bit specific."
"I'm talking about disobeying the reagent's orders."
"I apologised already and I couldn't help myself, I saw that man's sister and I was like 'I have to have her all to myself'--also I was curious on the loyalty of the boy. You should have seen him, he was an entirely different person from four years ago."
"That's because he is, four years is a long time for a child. Development is required to evolve into the one true warrior that will possess all five Perditas." I took a seat in the front seats in the room.
"So is that why he is sending Isamu?" I looked him in the eyes.
"What the reagent does to fuel his greater plan, is of his concern. You only play a small part in it, remember that."
"You say that as if you don't care what happens to me." I said jokingly.
"You overestimate your value to me little brother, I care only for power just like you."
"You sound like those nobles." I said seriously. "You even dress as fancy, talk as fancy how long before you fully become your enemy, our enemy! The Creed is home to scum like them. That's why I disobey orders, because following them means leaving good prey to waste. Over what? The grand plan." I vented dropping my persona only for a second and then picked it up as if I dropped a mask.
"Your hatred for the enemy is deep, would your mother or father be proud of this bitter man you've grown to be."
"Would they like you, the one that dresses like their murderers?"
"I embrace my enemy to fully understand them, thinking like them, dressing like them, fighting like them and preparing like them. This method will ensure I'll find my enemy's weakness."
"Oh! But brotherI to embrace my enemy." I teased with a grin, my brother just held his temple holding back his frustration from my response.
"Disappear before I do something to you."
"Haha! I'm running, I'm running. Don't harm me." I said this as I joked. Augustin the collector walked on stage to the strongest Venalicium with the axe he received on hand.
"What will you ever do about your brother, Lord Menza?"
"Who said you could listen to us?" Menza replied with a disgusting tone.
"I came here to thank Spade for his gift, I sensed he was here."
"That's not answering my question."
The two men cladded themselves in tattoos that indicate the power of a warrior given strength by a Perditas. The two men's tattoo's differed from each other, indicating that these men were Venalicium from different swords.
"I know I came here to apologise."
Golden sand flowed from the chi emanated by Menza, then with the large portion he created. He struck Augustin down with one attack, who had blocked the attack but still couldn't overcome the raw power of Menza.
"Apology accepted, clear this mess."
Augustin was flung by that one attack that he ended up destroying the stage the strongest uses. He grinned at the damage one attack from his superior could do to him, even after he felt his progress in training was excelling.
"What an attack." He laughed to himself.