The Prime Elementals were the first recorded life and predate the time to the best of any records. That is not to say they were the first, even among themselves they retain a certainty that they came from somewhere or somewhen before they first awoke in the void that would become our reality. The eight of them complete a delicate balance that forms the basis of everything and as a result are tied to reality in ways we don’t fully understand but the balance the create means they are largely unable to exploit those connections at will and are limited to their immediate environment.
It should not be assumed that their limitations weaken them. As someone that has learned from one of the Primes and fought against their family I can saw with sincerity that they each holds a remarkable well of power they can draw from and have had longer than any other soul in existence to learn how to manipulate it. Further they have staved off the melancholy and detachment that so often drives the oldest of souls to sever their connection to the cycle by indulging in hobbies. The Prime Elemental of Ice is adept at creating constructs of varied natures, His sister the Prime Elemental of Wood can bring life to the most barren and inhospitable of climates, Fire is possesed of the heart of a scholar and has read and written more books than one can count often under assumed names, Water is a healer by nature and has learned to even treat maladies of the soul in fact many healers have learned methods she created, each of them has similarly excelled in there chosen fields and contributed to realities collective knowledge in was even the Akashic archive may not know.
If you find yourself confronted by one it’s advised you treat them with respect. While many on the High Council and among it’s retainers will say they won the war for power the truth is they quit the battle for fear of what would happen if it continued. Should you encounter them I urge respect as they are a fearsome foe when motivated to act and once roused to anger, well there is a reason their personal army is called the Nightmares of War and even they are merciful compared to what the Primes can do when pushed to anger.
~First Seat Horlet, “On the Elementals”
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There was a gust of wind and a soft thumping sound and I turned to see Synbel taking the last few steps to burn off the momentum of landing as he settled his wings in place.
“Commander Kerion has arrived; He should be here-”
There was a sudden burst of heat and I turned to see the hedge maze Marisa had created crumble in a burst of flame. Drystan paused as he was lifting a soldier by his ankle and unceremoniously dropped the man as he turned to face the training ground entrance.
“I’m disappointed Ice Father, you promised I’d get to train recruits with real potential and yet I see them being demolished with nothing more than basic body enhancement.” Kerion strolled through the fluttering ash and nodded at Drystan. “Cousin.” Kerion was dressed in unadorned chainmail and had pulled his scarlet and blond hair back into a tight braid that hung from the base of his skull to his waist. I heaved a sigh as I felt Marisa’s aura disappear beside me and appear behind him at the same time, Kerion started to turn just as her fist crashed into his spine and launched him across the arena leaving a crater in the wall below the platform I was on. There was a low whistle from John at the sight.
“It seems to me, Kerion, that you think because we were polite in requesting your assistance you can take liberties. Make no mistake, it was only a courtesy. We could have asked your queen for aid and she would have ordered you here, or invoked my husband’s authority as a prime elemental and compelled either of you. We asked because we both value free will.” There was a burst of grey ash in the air and she appeared next to where he had only just begun to pull himself from the crater in the wall and a delicate looking Jian sword with a guard shaped like an open book appeared pinning him to the wall like a butterfly on display. “But if you EVER show such disrespect to us or another instructor, I will personally deliver your flayed and living body to the torture chambers of the Queen of Night and inform Cassandra that she has free reign to use you for her test.” I cleared my throat loudly and Marisa’s eyes snapped up to look at me.
“I appreciate the display dear, but we still need him to do a job. Besides we want the men to admire their leaders, not piss themselves at the thought of angering us.” I said through the bond and looked to the side at John who was staring at his daughter with his mouth gaping like a fish. “As I said last night, she doesn’t need me to protect her.” There was the sound of something heavy falling and Kerion coughed weakly splattering blood on the ash covered ground in front of him as Marisa withdrew her sword and it slowly melted into itself and up her arms to form a pair of weighted gloves.
“I never thought I’d find my own daughter intimidating.” John noted in a mutter almost too low to hear.
“That was just physical ability. I wasn’t lying or exaggerating when I said she’s a goddess now, give it time and you’ll be at the same level.” I whispered before raising my voice to a more conversational tone. “If you had exercised some patience or read the briefing you were sent Kerion you would have known the recruits are from a world with only the minimum level of energy to support life, and that they haven’t gone through their first trial yet.” I jumped down the natural bend of my knees helping to absorb most of the impact from landing as I twitched my tail back and forth to steady my balance and looked at the soldiers who were staring in mute awe at Marisa. “Davina? Would you be so kinda as to patch him up, he won’t be any good with that hole in his lungs and I’d rather not explain to Kenaz’s daughter why we killed her general.”
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Davina hurried over and after a moment to examine the wound shoved her hand in and pulled it out with a few bits of meat and tissue hanging from her talons. Kerion let out a deafening scream of pain as the edges started to visibly knit together. She gave an exasperated sigh and punched him across the jaw with a heavy thud.
“The noise really wasn’t necessary, it’s not like I was regrowing his spine. Just had to dig out the stone shards in there.” I shook my head at the behavior.
“Right, as you all know by now our medics are effective if a bit unorthodox. I was going to give you a chance to pick another opponent from your instructors but I believe my wife just aptly demonstrated how wide a gap there is between you and everyone here. While Davina and Exzo put you back together as they finish with each of you, you’ll be tossed into your next lesson. How you get out is up to you but I strongly suggest you quickly learn separate your thoughts or it will become more unpleasant as time passes.” A few quickly stood up to demonstrate they were fit, between Kerion’s example and memories of Davina’s healing from yesterday they were heavily motivated to ignore all but the most significant injuries. I gestured to my side and a slit of light appeared before expanding to a broad door way of shimmering blue light.
“This is commonly called a doorway, step through and you appear at a corresponding designated location, think of it as something like an artificial wormhole for you sci-fi nuts. DO NOT try experimenting with them please, even Exzo can’t reassemble you if your turned into spaghetti. Those with aptitude will be trained to set them up at the appropriate time so don’t rush it. I repeat again that you’re going to need to learn to control your thoughts to finish this, until then you’re going to discover a new definition of hell.” I gave a slight nod and a dozen members of the First Tactical lead by Drystan and Synbel rushed in and began grabbing the standing soldiers and throwing them through the doorway. It didn’t take long before agonized screaming started coming back through the doorway. The training space Ferith would be uncomfortable in the best of times, the ground had been littered with small spikes and the temperature changed rapidly. The real challenge though was the increased density and responsiveness of the area’s natural energy coupled with a subtle suggestion of regret. A perfect cocktail to conjure anyone’s inner demons.
Earth’s energy had been so thin and diminished for millennia that most of its inhabitants never had to learn to control their metaphysical reactions. Sure, if you made enough people mad at you the negativity could cause some bad luck, but for the rest of the universe that kind of thing was fatal to the recipient if they couldn’t defend themselves. Even a stray thought could leave an undefended person dead, and given the way my personal defenses had been buzzing since the introduction yesterday most of them already wanted me dead. Shame I was going to have to disappoint them, they number of people that had wanted me dead over the years could populate a galaxy. Of course, the baptism I’d mentioned was more that just forcing them to learn to divorce their thoughts from their power. I was also going to have to play a role in making sure they could move more than just a small bit of it. Marisa wrapped my arm in hers and broadcast reassurance through our bond.
“You don’t have to do this alone. There’s nothing in there I haven’t faced, and nothing up here you haven’t already shared.” She tapped my forehead gently with the last comment and I found myself smiling on reflex.
“Maybe, but I don’t know what’s in those men’s minds and I can’t ask others to expose their minds to another. You know my rules with things like this-”
“Yes. You won’t ask others to do what you’re not willing or able to yourself, and you would risk your body and mind for any of us. I’m not asking love, we both know I can go where ever you are.” I shook my head and sighed.
“Fine, we best get going before they are to overwhelmed though.” I looked up at Marriam still on the viewing platform and John where he stood a few steps away pointedly ignoring his daughter hanging on me. “Khan? Please see to the Misolten’s, maybe introduce them to your new friends.” The massive tiger shimmered into sight beside me with a reproving look.
“I’m not your bat man or servant, and I am quite enjoying playing with the cubs now their parents aren’t afraid of me. Is it too much to be allowed to enjoy some peace before the fighting starts?”
“No brother, it’s not. If anything I wish I could join you, but duty calls and I need someone to make sure Marisa’s family is safe while I answer that call. The First is otherwise engaged and even the ones here have important task to finish. Davina and Exzo are still preparing to teach medicine to the recruits, Drystan is doing ground work for a earthworks training field, Synbel is monitoring the eyes still on Earth, Sunrunner and his lance are managing the town and the Sweep Patrols are pretty much useless unless you want someone killed or brutalized.” Khan gave a snort at the list and finally relented.
“Sir John, Lady Marriam if you would please? I will carry you to town,” I smiled at the mental image of the two clinging to his fur as he ran full speed through the snow and nodded at John as me and Marisa turned towards the doorway that was still open on the field and watched as Drystan threw a panicked looking recruit through it.
“That’s the last of them commander. You sure you don’t want one of us to do this?”
“You know my rules, never ask of others what I won’t do myself. Besides I’ve done and had done to me even more than the rest of you. These men need to adapt to their new reality fast and the more brutal their baptism the better. You know what they will face, would you spare me at the risk of weakening them?” He sighed and shook his head.
“We could take turns, a few memories at a time will amount to the same.”
“You know it won’t, the formation will weaken every time the eye is changed. No. I can do this, Marisa is already risking herself to be at my side for it.” I pressed my fist to my heart and nodded. “I will see you in a few days. Make sure Kerion is settled when I come back, if he makes a fuss tell him I will personally ensure the next lesson is slow.” I stepped towards the doorway again before impulsively turning to lift up Marisa and kiss her before carrying her through the doorway.