Jiran sat in the woods, he had run out to the training area earlier that morning. It was becoming more of a challenge to find a quiet area to practice over the last week.
Each time he tried to use the backyard of the manor, he was beset upon by an eager Olive and Cameron. The two children were voracious consumers of Jiran’s knowledge.
Today, he was focused on his mana body. Pushing mana through the stubborn process of recharging his aura was a chore he wouldn't wish on anyone. His stomach roiled in displeasure as vertigo assaulted his senses.
Once his aura was full to bursting, Jiran moved to his next task.
He focused on the image he wanted for pressure.
Layers of gasses created the atmosphere. That air was held against the surface of Madra by gravity. The weight pressing down upon the surface was the air pressure that all her inhabitants struggled within.
Jiran’s body was no different, it struggled, trapped between the competing forces of ground and pressure. Within himself, between each layer of skin, muscle, tissue, organs, liquids and bones the pressure varied.
With the image complete, Jiran flexed his mana body. The object he focused upon was a tiny pebble in front of him, resting peacefully in the dirt. He used the most gentle nudge, attempting to scoop up the pebble. It flattened to dust in an instant.
Sighing, he tried again and then again. For long hours Jiran destroyed, adjusted his image, pulverized, and adjusted again. Pebbles, stones, roots, bushes, nothing in sight was spared from his bumbling annihilation.
After his third round of recharging his mana body, he decided to do something else for a while. Whatever trick he needed to lower the force of his aura so it could accomplish delicate tasks, he was missing it completely.
As he switched to working on his spider net molding, Lenton appeared before him. His usual manner of displacing existence with himself, was just as jarring as always.
Jiran jerked in surprise, despite his calm meditative state.
Have I ever seen him take even a single step? He just loves to zip all over the place. Probably thinks he’s so cool.
Jiran suppressed his jealousy before greeting Lenton.
“Good morning, master.”
“Yes, yes, come along Jiran, I’m sure you won’t want to miss this.”
“As you say.”
After receiving consent, Lenton reached out a bony hand and gripped Jiran’s shoulder with far more strength than those thin fingers appeared to hold.
A fraction of a second later, Jiran was standing in an open field. He could see the manor far in the distance.
So it’s not instant. I wasn’t able to begin sensing how the teleport functions before it was over. If it was true teleportation, distance would have no bearing on the time it takes to travel.
Olive, Cameron, and Dommell were all present in the field. Each of their faces held several conflicting emotions. Before Jiran could make any headway sorting through their expressions, Olive and Cameron approached him.
“Good morning, Jiran,” Olive said, while Cameron gave him a deep respectful nod.
“Good morning, Olive, Cameron. Did something happen? Why are we out here?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? We are leaving today. Senior Feylon has brought our escort from Cruex.”
Olive’s face contorted into a grimace, she wrung her hands and shifted her weight as she looked at the ground.
Jiran opened his mouth to speak but was stopped as Olive suddenly threw her arms around him in a hug.
“Thank you for everything, Jiran. Please don’t die before we meet again. Because the next time I see you, I’m going to be stronger than you and force you to be my friend. So you better not forget about me or I’ll be really mad and kick your butt!”
With her rapid-fire speech coming to a close, she released him and took off running back to where Dommell was standing. She stood facing away from Jiran, furiously wiping tears from her eyes.
Cameron and Jiran shared an uncomfortable look before the large boy held out his hand.
“Thank you for the lessons and helping me protect them, Jiran. Hopefully our paths will cross again.”
“Stay safe, Cameron.”
With a firm handshake the boys parted and Cameron trotted over to stand silently behind Olive.
Moments later, he felt something unusual in the air. The ambient Density that moved against his skin began convulsing chaotically, almost like a Densoon wave. There were, however, slight but noticeable patterns in the movements of the Density.
Jiran looked questioningly up at Lenton, hoping for an answer out of the man. Unsurprisingly, he was ignored.
He noticed movement and looked to see the three children all kneel on the ground, with both knees planted and feet tucked under their behinds. Their backs were straight, hands balled into fists, and knuckles pressed firmly to the dirt.
The movement of the Density in the air continued to escalate until Jiran could feel his teeth vibrate. The fluctuations were so powerful, it felt like the very air was splitting apart. Through his mana body, Jiran could tell no actual harm was being done to his body. That knowledge did nothing to quell his discomfort.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
In a moment of inspiration, Jiran realized the others knew what was coming and had prepared in advance. Deciding prudence would serve him well, he mimicked their kneeling posture.
He was shocked when the vibrations immediately ceased in the area directly around his body. The relief from the strangely-vibrating energies was palpable. He could still feel them just inches from his skin, through his mana body’s senses.
So they haven’t stopped, they’re just ignoring me now that I’m supplicating? What the hell is going on here?
Several seconds after he had kneeled, two figures appeared in the sky above the group. Jiran instantly recognized Samris. His attention was then pulled against his will to the huge man floating beside his mentor.
The giant of a human made Micah look small and weak. He had short brown hair, a wide jaw and large nose. Every centimeter of his features brimmed with strength and solidarity.
The air, in a six meter sphere around the man, shifted constantly. As if tiny black holes appeared then vanished inside that space, causing light to bend in strange turbulent patterns.
An instinctive dread filled Jiran the moment his eyes landed on the flying disaster. The gap in their existences was so vast that every cell in his body screamed in desperation to flee. Yet he could not move a muscle, he was held fast in the kneeling position he had assumed.
Jiran understood in an instant that this monster in human flesh could snuff out the life of everyone within a hundred kilometers with a thought. Each wave of power rolling off of him was enough to kill, but the man was clearly controlling it to keep them all safe.
Lenton broke the silence.
“My emperor, it is good to see you in such fine health.”
“Filibree, I was not expecting to see you. Don’t tell me you came out of retirement just to save these children?”
“Of course not, my liege.”
Lenton did not speak further, the emperor’s stoic expression turned to one of annoyance before he shifted his gaze to the other occupants of the area. One by one he examined the children.
Much to his horror, the gaze that settled on Jiran lasted several seconds longer than the others.
Jiran felt like the weight of a mountain was pressing down on him. The eyes that bore into him pierced his heart and soul, tearing out all of his secrets and bringing them into the light.
At least that’s what it felt like, until the excruciating moment passed. When the man’s eyes moved away, Jiran’s breath released involuntarily. Sweat dripped down his spine and forehead. Not an ounce of killing intent had been behind that gaze, yet Jiran felt close to death all the same.
The man at the pinnacle of their entire race spoke again.
“Interesting, but I suppose whatever you’re up to these days is not my concern. Thank you for securing my daughter, old friend.”
In a flash of light, they were gone. Jiran felt conflicting emotions roll through him as the intense pressure of the emperor’s presence vanished.
Olive is the daughter of that monster? Intense! How do you even capture the child of someone like that? Whoever that organization is, Silence or whatever, they are not messing around. Now it makes sense why they didn’t want to hurt Olive. So what was the point of capturing her in the first place?
Doesn’t matter, I’m just happy to be alive. As fun as it was to make some friends, I kinda hope I never see any of them again.
That giga-chad is way too intimidating!
Jiran realized he was still kneeling. He stood up and turned to Lenton, only to find the man no longer there. Samris floated down to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Jiran, it is good to see you again.”
The sincerity in Samris’s voice caused an emotional avalanche to rush through Jiran’s body. This man had supported him when he was at his lowest, pulled him out of despair and given him another chance at life.
With barely restrained tears, he responded.
“I missed you too, my lord.”
“We have much to discuss, let us convene in my study.”
Reality flipped as Samris brought him to the manor. Lenton was waiting for them in the study, already sitting comfortably, sipping some tea. The wards activated and Jiran took his usual seat, waiting patiently for one of his mentors to begin the conversation.
Lenton spoke first.
“Jiran, this town is no longer safe for you. Emperor Dominus, coming here in person, guarantees that spies and information brokers will be investigating everyone in the province before the moon is out.
“As to where we go, I’ll leave that decision to you and Sammy.”
Immediately after speaking, Lenton took out a book from somewhere in his robes and began poking through it. His choppy motions as he turned the pages of his book gave Jiran the impression he was impatiently awaiting the end of the conversation.
“It is likely you will not be returning here for quite some time, Jiran. While it should be safe for us here after a year has passed, I always intended to enroll you in the Cruex Academy upon your fifteenth season.
“Before joining the army, you must accrue a certain amount of prestige. Or you will be forced to begin your service as a trooper. A death sentence for even the strongest of us.
Furthermore, finding allies you can trust is imperative. The bonds you will forge at the academy may be the difference that keeps you alive during your service.”
As Samris spoke, Jiran's perception sunk into his stomach. His body heat rose as panic began to grip him.
I might never come back to Feylon. That's what he's trying to tell me.
If each year on Madra is equivalent to seven on earth, I'll be gone for seven years. Then join the academy until my military service begins, which will last another two Madra years.
I won't see this place again for at least twenty-one years!? My family, Niya, Micah, mom and dad. I might never see any of them again.
Jiran didn't hear what Samris said next. He could tell the man was speaking but it was like trying to listen through a tunnel a kilometer long. All he perceived were echoes on the wind.
Darkness seeped into the edges of his vision, slowly working its way toward the center of his sight.
Jiran was roused from his state of despair by a slap across his cheek. It was gentle by the standards of Samris or Lenton. His head reeled back at the blow. The dark overtaking his sight vanished as he took a deep breath.
As the shock cleared, he could once again hear Samris speaking.
"Jiran, your uncle should be returning in the next few days. We shall remain only long enough for you to say your goodbyes.
"I suggest you spend the time until then with your cousin. The fond memories of our families can pull us through the toughest of times. Go, make those memories now and cherish them.
"As for our first destination, I believe we should head southwest along the shores of the Muranth, to the Deserts of Mashraha. The beasts in that direction will prove an excellent challenge for you.
"You are dismissed. Go and be with your family. After your uncle arrives, I shall come to fetch you."
"Yes, my lord."