Seth
Seth reached what he guessed was the infirmary just as Mike was being released. The infirmary was a moderate sized circular building with hallway coming off the cardinal points leading to four tall towers that glowed with the same light as the city. The roof was domed and battlements ringed the circular portion of the building giving it the look of and English king's crown. The entrances were located at each of the towers but the main entrance was at the west facing tower.
When Seth arrived he found Mike chatting happily with the nurses that were escorting him. The nurses like most of the people Seth had seen so far were about his age and they wore white nurses gowns that had a patch on the right shoulder it was a white cross that had multiple light rays coming off of it and it was surrounded by a white aura. As Seth approached Mike turned to him and smiled.
Well if it isn't Seth the man who put me in here." Mike announced as Seth walked up.
"My mother sent me, she uh told me you would show me around and to where I will be living." Seth told him.
"So Katie told me," he replied. "Well then we should probably get going there's a lot to see and little time to see it if you hope to get any rest before tomorrow." "What's happening tomorrow?" Seth asked. Mike studied Seth with a look that was somewhere between pity and amusement.
"Well for starters you'll start your training here." "Now no more talk it's time to get going."
Mike turned to go and Seth followed him. Mike's injuries didn't seem to bother him at all as they walked into the outer edges of the city. As they entered Mike pointed to a good sized circular building that looked suspiciously like an old Roman Colosseum. It was massive, giant white marble pillars and arches it was a most beautiful sight and it towered over most of the city with the exception of the keep. "That is the training arena. It's where we train the new recruits like yourself. It's also where we host events such as The Gem Games."
"And what are the gem games?" Seth asked.
"Oh it's basically a collection of activities in which players participate in physical challenges." "So kind of like the Olympic games?"
"Right."
"Tomorrow you will report to that Colosseum to start your training."
"When?" Seth inquired.
"At approximately 6:00 am. Oh and I wouldn't be late if I was you."
"Okay so my mother told me that you would be showing me where I will be living from now on." Mike chuckled.
"Right, you probably want to get some sleep before tomorrow."
"That would be nice. It's... It's been a rather long day."
"Well not for you it hasn't because you spent most of it sleeping and it's actually been two days you just don't remember most of the today because you were unconscious and all."
"Oh well that's good to know." Seth couldn't tell if Mike was being sarcastic or serious but he decided it didn't matter.
"I still would like to just rest because honestly this is still a lot to take in and I haven't had time to process it all." Mike nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand," He said at last. "Well in that case I'll show you to your new home. But tomorrow you're going to get the full tour." Seth smiled he was beginning to like Mike.
"I'll looking forward to it," Seth told him.
"After your first day of training of course."
"Of Course."
With that they began up a trek to a line of houses that was on the western edge of the city. Seth couldn't help but marvel at the architecture of the city. Curved, and carved arches and spires. Many parks dotted the city and statues of figures Seth didn't know were common. The houses alone had such gracefulness to them that Seth was sure is fifth grade Archeology teacher would've swooned at the sight.
"So Mike," Seth began just start talking. He didn't want to think about his normal life right now. That would just make it even more clearer to him that he would likely never see that place again.
"What advice can you give me about the training tomorrow?" Seth asked. Mike shrugged as they approached a two story house complete with a balcony leading out over the street. The house had yellow colored siding and a thatched roof. Those were two things you didn't usually see in a house. There wasn't much of a yard but there was a wraparound porch complete with wooden reclining chairs. It was a decent enough house the only difference it had was that it was two stories where the houses around it were only one story. It gave a sense of simplicity and normalcy that Seth found comforting despite his very abnormal situation.
Mike didn't answer his question until they had arrived on the front steps of the house.
"The only advice I can give you is to be prepared," He stated. Seth sighed at the advice.
"Is that the only advice you can give me or is it the only advice you want to give me so that you can preserve a surprise." Mike smiled his eyes telling Seth all he needed to know.
"You catch on quick Newbie, I think you're going to fit in fine here," Mike said winking.
"Now if you don't mind I need to get myself to bed as well." Seth nodded his farewell and watched as Mike turned and left him standing on the front porch of his new home. Seth walked to the door and found it unlocked. He took a deep breath, turning the door knob as he pushed open the door. When Seth walked in he found that the lights were already on and he could smell food being cooked in the kitchen. At first he feared he had walked into the wrong house but the a voice called out,
"Seth honey is that you?" It was his mom. As she came around the corner he noticed she had changed her cloths. She was wearing skinny jeans and boots. She wore a white T-shirt under a brown leather vest. She looked strangely normal. Usually he almost never saw her out of her usual khaki pants, white button up and black over coat. The attire of the business woman that was his mother, But now she looked as if she was more interested in going on a walk through a forest then sit at a business table.
"What?" his mom asked. It took Seth a moment to realize he was staring at her.
"Oh nothing mom I'm just not used to you looking like that."
"What do you mean like that?" She inquired a smile clearly tugging at her lips. Of course Seth couldn't tell that she was joking so instead he changed the subject.
"So what are you cooking mom? whatever it is it smells good." Seth said as he began walking toward the kitchen.
"I'm cooking your favorite, soup and mushroom," she replied. Seth just nodded he was already heading into the kitchen at a brisk pace. Seth sat down at the table and His mother fixed him some food. As he tore into the food before him Seth's mom looked at him with sad eyes.
"I'm really sorry Seth," she said with a voice that made Seth twinge.
"About what mom?" he asked setting down his spoon.
"I'm sorry you having to be in this world and the demons, all of it." His mom was now close to tears.
"It's okay mom it's not your fault if I really do have these powers then coming here was going to happen eventually right?" His mom nodded
"Then I'm glad that I have a place where I can learn how to use them. Besides I'd much rather have learned about my powers now than on down the road when I accidentally blew some into a grease spot." Seth shoveled in the rest of his food then sat back and sighed completely content.
"Seth, I want you to understand that you will be going out onto battlefields and killing, yes killing. Even though what you're killing are demons you will see others fighting beside you die as well... You need to be prepared to watch someone you know die," his mom counseled.
"Yeah already got a taste of that in school with Joseph," he replied. His mom flinched visibly.
"Yeah I know." Seth got up from the table.
"Well I need to go to bed and get some sleep for tomorrow, so good night."
"Wait before you go I left a present for you on your bed, I think you'll realize you're going to need it. Just remember never go out anywhere without it or you might find yourself in trouble."
Seth just nodded and turned to go then stopped. " That reminds me which one is my room again?" His mom laughed,
"I thought you might need to know that it's actually right down the hall on the right."
"Oh okay thank you." Seth walked out of the kitchen into what was probably the living room. The living room was the area one would walk in as they entered the house. It had a nice polished wood floor with three kinds of furniture set around a central fireplace that was twice the size of any fireplace Seth had ever seen. It was burning quite brightly giving a warm yellow flickering light to the whole room. The fireplace was made out of some kind of granite with steel grating in front and concrete in the back. Above a wooden mantle sat several picture and an ancient looking sword. The sword was amazing. The blade was made of some kind of blue metal that glowed faintly. The hilt was made of the same white metal Seth had seen many times now. But it was chastised in gold with a large depression in the middle of the hand guard as if something was missing from the sword. All and all the sword was probably three feet long but the blade itself was at least two and a half feet long. Seth let his gaze fall away from the sword to the rest of the room. The couch looked very comfortable but Seth couldn't tell what it was made of nor did he care at the moment.
To the right of the living room in between the kitchen and the living room sat the hall way there were three door in the hallway two on the left and one on the right, which of course was his room. On the other side of the living room was the stairs that led up to the second floor. For a moment Seth played with the idea of going up there and seeing what was up there but a moment later he decided against it because he needed to get to bed. Of lighting there was just that glow that had seemed to cover the entire city.
Seth went into the hallway and down to his room. It had been a day to remember that's for sure. Seth had figured out that if he didn't think about it too much the absurdness of it all didn't bother him that much...
Seth entered his room and immediately saw that it was the exact same as the room he had been staying in at the castle save for a small door leading to an even smaller bathroom and a closet that seemed well extravagant. Needless to say it was filled with weapons. Dozens of different swords lined the walls and there were also spears and shields and even a few firearms, which type or model Seth didn't know and he really didn't care. Seth saw that as his mom had said there was indeed a long slender box sitting at the foot of his king sized bed. It was a wooden case with a hand written note on it. Seth walked over to the bed and picked up the note. He read it as he unfolded it.
"Hey my boy you'll need one of these soon so I took the liberty of getting one specially made for you. (open before reading further)." Seth reached over and undid the latches on the case and opened the lid. Inside was an all-white Japanese Katana saber. It was approximately four feet long in all so Seth could use it as a cane easily. The handle was wrapped in a white leather grip that made diamond shaped grooves in the grip. The pummel was nothing special, it was just a cap made of white metal and chastised in gold, as was the guard. Seth took hold of the hilt and unsheathed the weapon in one swift move. He held up the blade before him and couldn't help but smile. The blade was made of the same white metal he kept seeing. Right then Seth made a mental note to find out what the metal was and what it was called. Seth couldn't help but stare at the way light rolled along the blade like a tidal wave. Seth looked back at the note.
"Pretty cool huh? The blacksmiths did a great job on it. The blades name is Sonfang because just like the Sun it's most beautiful at dusk and like a fang it will sink into the darkness and silence it forever. See most agents don't really need to carry swords but we do as reminder that we can't rely on our powers for everything. You take good care of this blade for it is your lifeline in this world. Don't ever leave the house without it. But you should be fine. Take care of yourself honey and stay safe. –Your incredibly overprotective Mom."
Seth stared at the sword for a moment turning it every which way in the light.
"Sonfang," he muttered to himself. "Hmm not bad." Then Seth sheathed Sonfang. Inside was also a sword belt that went nicely with the blade. Seth leaned Sonfang against his bedside table then he stood up and took a deep breath trying to go over and absorb everything that had happened so far. And he could agree on one thing. This was his new reality and there was no getting out of it. Seth took another deep breath determined he said to himself, "I can do this. I can make this work; I'll just treat it like another move to a new if exotic place." Seth smiled at his own joke, "Exotic is putting it lightly." Then with that thought in mind Seth crawled under his new cotton sheets and when directly to sleep.