Jake’s POV

“JAKE!” I was startled awake. I looked around, but no one was there.

“Hello?” I called out, no one answered. “Suma?” I asked, activating our private connection.

“Jake! Thank the dragons, I have been trying over and over again to summon you, but it wasn’t working.” Suma shouted.

“You have?”

“Yes, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I was asleep, or no… I was having one of those vision/dream things again.”

“I am going to try summoning you again.” Suma said.

“Wait!” I shouted and dove off my bed to get some trousers. Luckily, I had fallen asleep too tired to take off my pajama shirt, but I still needed shoes and stuff. I had just enough time to put my hands on my trousers and a pair of shoes before disappearing. When I reappeared, I was in an uncomfortable position, my arms and legs splayed out, each one connected to some separate article of clothing.

“Oh, sorry. I suppose I should have waited a tad longer.” Suma apologized. Well, at least I was already wearing socks, a shirt, and trousers. I stood up, collected the strewn about clothes, and got dressed.

“It’s fine.” I said.

“So, what was the vision about this time?” A voice from behind me asked. I turned and saw Lieutenant Datahu.

“Oh, Lieutenant. I didn’t see you.” I said.

“She was able to secure the memory delve faster than expected, that is why I was trying to summon you.” Suma explained.

“Yes, the major wants you to be battle ready as soon as possible, so he pushed the request through for me.” The Lieutenant said.

“Oh good. Please tell him I said thanks.”

“You will be able to tell him yourself. He is going to be present during the delve.”

“He is?” Suma asked.

“He wants to make sure his investment pays off.”

(That’s a nice way of putting it.) I thought to myself. I may not be the smartest guy around, but even I knew why he wanted to come.

“So, who will be performing the delve? Is it one of the base’s staff members?” Suma asked.

“No, actually I was told it was going to be one of the major’s advisors who specializes in Memory Magic.”

“What about everything you said about proper procedures and following protocol when we first asked you?” I asked.

“The privilege of the highest is that they can glide the farthest.” The Lieutenant said. Suma’s feathers ruffled a bit, and her sparkle dimmed for a second. I guess she wasn’t happy to hear that for some reason.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her over our private connection.

“I dislike the idea of one of the major’s closest ally’s going through your memories.” She said worried.

“Why?”

“I am concerned about what else they will be looking for while they are inside of our minds.”

“Is there anything we can do?” I asked.

“No, one way or another, someone will have to perform the delve, and they will most likely report what they find to the major for him to do with as he pleases. I dislike the reality of this situation, but we need the delve, so there is nothing we can do.” Suma sounded dejected, but didn’t suggest calling off the delve.

“I can’t say I’m in love with the idea of someone poking around inside my head, but I’m also getting kinda tired of hallucinating someone else’s life.”

“As am I.” She replied.

“Do you two have the ability to communicate without speaking aloud?” Lieutenant Datahu asked, snapping us out of our private conversation.

“Oh… uh, yeah.”

“Should I be insulted, or impressed?” She asked.

“We were discussing our thought about the delve being performed by one of the major’s advisors.” Suma explained.

“Well, I get the feeling you will not have much luck trying to find someone else to do it.” The Lieutenant said.

“Meaning…?”

“Meaning he wants inside my head, and he’ll throw his weight around to make sure it happens.” I said.

“I see…”

“You are probably right. The Major is a good man, but he did not reach such a high perch by letting opportunities fly past him.” The Lieutenant said. The conversation probably would have continued, but the sounds of flapping stopped us. Seconds later, the Major, and three others, landed on vines nearby.

The set up for the delve was the same as it was back when I was interviewed after killing the wyvern last year. One Neame to cast the delving spell, one to ask the questions, and one to monitor my well-being. They were only doing me at the moment, instead of doing both of us at the same time. I guess they only had one of those ‘Memory Seekers’ available.

“Sentinel, please lay down.” The Major said as a bed of vines formed about at knee height.

“Am I going to be put to sleep? They didn’t do that last time.” I said lying down.

“No, but it will be easier for us this way, and less dangerous.”

“Less dangerous?”

“Well, if you do lose consciousness, you could fall. Also, this situation is rather… unique. Memory delves have never been used in this way before.” He said.

(Please don’t fry my brain.) I thought to myself.

“Alright, I am ready.” The Neame who had cast the magic circle around me, and who was going to be doing the delve for us, said.

“Yeah, me too.” I said.

“Then… let’s begin.”

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Suma’s POV

“Sentinel, I want you to think about the first time you saw this ‘Figure in flame’.” The Neame in charge of guiding Jake through the questions said. The Major, Lieutenant Datahu, and myself, were all perched near Jake, watching the delve.

“I was at… that church.” Jake said.

“Church?” The interviewer asked.

“I think it was called a sanctum or something. Suma and I were about to form our bonding ritual thing, and he came out of nowhere and demanded she give me a new name.” Jake explained.

“Ah yes, you mean the Grand Sanctum of Zach-Ahshem. Did he do anything else besides demanding a name?”

“No, after that he left.” Jake said. The interviewer looked over to the other two Neame, they each nodded and he continued the questions.

“And when was your next encounter?”

“A month or two later, I think. He was able to catch me in-between being summoned.”

“Can you explain what you mean?”

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“Suma summoned me so that we could name my weapons, but he interrupted it and pulled me somewhere.” Jake said.

“Where? Do you know?”

“It felt like a dream… I was floating in a void, and there was this light. I went to it, and it was him.”

“What did he do this time?” The interviewer asked.

“He… threatened me, and told me we were friends. He really didn’t make any sense that time, or any time.”

“I don’t know one mage in the modern era capable of interrupting a summoning.” The Major whispered to the Lieutenant.

“That’s probably because none exist anymore, and haven’t in several hundred years.” She answered.

“Did you see the being again after that?” The interviewer asked Jake, not minding the Major and Lieutenant’s conversation.

“Yes.”

“When?”

“He interrupted a summons again, but going the other way this time. Suma was sending me back home. We had been exploring a cave during a training exercise for training camp. It was too small for me, so she sent me back.”

“And what did he do this time?”

“He said… I was standing on his head.”

“Do you know what he meant?”

“We never figured it out.” Jake said. The Major looked nervous, and interrupted the delve with a question of his own.

“What exactly did he say?” The Major sounded upset, concerned even. I thought maybe it had to do with military matters, but the Lieutenant looked as confused and surprised by his sudden outburst as the interviewer was.

“Um, I don’t remember exactly. Just that I was standing on his head, and that I had never been closer, and then he suddenly said I was far away.” The Major did not look satisfied with Jake’s answer, but he did not ask any follow-ups.

“About how many more times did you meet the figure after that?” The interviewer asked.

“A few more.” Jake said.

“And do any of them stand out to you?”

“Yeah. There was only one time where he actually did anything to me. That’s when all this hallucination stuff started.”

“Okay, let’s go ahead and move to that instance. What can you tell me about what happened?”

“It started off like any of the other ones. He said things that didn’t make any sense, then said I was getting stronger.” Jake said.

“What made this time different then? Did he hurt you somehow?”

“Yeah. He did something, and my head felt like it was going to explode.”

“AHH!” One of the assistants started to scream. She collapsed to the floor and the other two quickly flew over to her. Jake sat up and watched.

“What happened? Are you okay?” The interviewer asked.

“It… it suddenly… it felt like I was watching thousands of memories all playing out at the same time.” The assistant answered weakly.

“Yeah, that’s what it felt like it to me the first time too.” Jake said.

“We had theorized that the figure had implanted memories into Jake, and that is what has been causing all of this.” I said.

“Memory Magic being used to forcibly push memories into someone’s mind? I have heard of things like that before, but it fell out of practice over two hundred years ago.” Lieutenant Datahu whispered. The Major nodded his head.

“So, does that mean we need to stop?” I asked.

“I can continue.” The assistant, who had gotten back up, answered.

“This is what we came to do.” The Major said.

“Alright then…” The interviewer said hesitantly, and looked at his assistant after going back to his perch. “Sentinel, I want you to focus on one of the memories that were placed into you.”

“Which one?” Jake asked.

“You mentioned you had already seen some of them play out. Try focusing on one of those.”

“The first time it happened, I was buying food at the store. I saw a Neame named Ambos, and I thought I was a guy named Zachariah.”

“Ambos…? And Zachariah you said? Can you tell me anything about them?” The interviewer asked surprised. I couldn’t blame him; everyone knows the name Ambos. We live in the country of Ambos after all.

“Um… Ambos likes raisins, and Zachariah was very sarcastic. Beyond that, not much. I know Zachariah killed a lot of Neame in the war, and in some pretty violent ways apparently. I also know he was a familiar to Ambos, just like I am to Suma.”

“Was he a Viking?” The Lieutenant asked.

“He may have been. He was the same species at least, but you can’t tell just by looking.” Jake answered.

“No?” The Major asked.

“Could you tell what nation a Neame was just by the color of their feathers?” Jake asked, sounding a tad annoyed.

The Major looked at the Lieutenant for a moment, then answered, “I suppose that is a fair point.”

“But you could tell he was the same species, right?” The Lieutenant asked.

“Yes, that I could tell.”

“Anyway Sentinel,” the interviewer interrupted. “A Viking familiar with a master named Ambos. This cannot be a coincidence.”

“It is true.” I said. “I had a suspicion from the beginning, but this does confirm it.”

“I’d really appreciate if you guys started speaking in complete thoughts; thanks.” Jake complained.

“Sentinel, do you not know of Ambos?” The Major asked.

“Um, a little. Only what Suma has told me though. He was like some kind of hero mage, who may or may not have slayed the Death Dragon. That Ambos?”

“Yes, most likely.”

“So… we think I have the hero’s familiar’s memories in my head?” Jake asked.

“Sentinel, when someone implants their memories into another person in the way that this ‘Figure of Flame’ did, it doesn’t just put their memories into them. Their thoughts, emotions, worries, even their desires. It puts a piece of them into you as well.” The Lieutenant said.

“What do you mean?” I asked. Memory Magic… has never been my specialty, so I was fairly lost as well.

“There were thousands of memories overlapping with one another, and then he actually believed himself to be Zachariah. That isn’t just Memory Magic. This is more like Soul Magic.” The assistant said.

“Sentinel, I think that figure of flame put a piece of himself into you.” The interviewer said.

“But they were Zachariah’s memories?” Jake said, still confused.

The Lieutenant nodded her head. “Yes. Which probably means that the figure was Zachariah himself.”

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Lieutenant Datahu’s POV

An unwelcome revelation, that’s how I would describe it. Not just for Suma and her familiar, Sentinel, but for the Kingdom of Ambos as a whole. Zachariah, an actual Viking, and the familiar of the mage who founded our country, still lives. Not only that though, but he has somehow transcended his mortality and gained unknown powers that allow him to cast spells that should have been unavailable to him. He was a Chaos Mage, but by implanting his memories, and even a portion of his own soul, he has demonstrated the ability to use both Order and Chaos Magic alike.

“What is your assessment, Datahu?” The Major asked me. We were perched in his private quarters, talking about Sentinel, and the newly revealed Zachariah. It was night, so we had a fire spell active to see. It didn’t illuminate the whole room, but we could see each other well enough. An added bonus was that the fire kept the night’s cold air at bay as well.

“On which, sir?” I asked.

“Either… both.”

“Regarding this… Zachariah, I don’t know enough yet. From what I do know, I would say it doesn’t make sense.”

“Agreed. How can someone use both Order and Chaos Magic? It should be impossible. Even among the dragons using both in a single individual was seen as impossible.” He said agitated.

“At least according to the stories anyway.” I pointed out.

“What are you suggesting?”

“Perhaps we were wrong, or perhaps the truth was lost to time. The dragons have been gone for centuries, and the Death Dragon has been gone even longer. Over time, stories get retold, twisted, even forgotten.”

“So, our history may not have happened like we believed… it is possible.” He said softly and nodded his head. “Do you have any theories?”

“None, sir.”

“What of Sentinel? The fight against him went well for you. Do you have an assessment of him?”

“I do.”

“I would like to hear it.”

“In my opinion, Sentinel may be the most dangerous threat this world has faced in a thousand years.”

“Really? But you won the fight?” He sounded surprised. In reality, he was the one who actually requested the fight. When Sentinel first arrived at the base, the Major told me to find an opportunity to have a bout with him. He wanted to know how strong he was, and if he could be defeated.

“I did win, but I believe that was mere circumstance, or luck.” I said.

“How so?”

“A bout is not an effective method of judging an opponent’s strengths. Sentinel was bound by several rules and regulations that prevented him from utilizing his most dangerous spells.”

“As were you.” The Major pointed out.

“Yes, but I also have decades of experience and was raised from birth to be a mage. Sentinel had none of that.”

“So you are saying you think in a real fight, he could beat you?” The Major asked.

“I am saying that I would pray to the dragons that Sentinel would not want to fight me.”

“Why?”

“Because I would never even see him.”

“You are referring to the events of the entrance exam?” During the exam, Sentinel had used a spell he had seen only once, and with such force that it nearly killed everyone present, despite it being a long-range spell, which are typically weaker.

“I am, but not only that. During our fight, Sentinel launched several attacks at me, one of which was a purple ball of flames.”

“Yes, I saw. It was… well, it was harrowing. Like watching a bad dream suddenly become reality, or the monster in a child’s tale take form in front of me.”

“That was one of the most powerful attacks that has ever been directed at me. It took everything I had to redirect it. After that, flying caused me incredible pain. I tore several muscles in my wings, and was forced to fight from the ground until I was able to cast a healing spell.” I explained.

“Was it truly that strong?”

“I am fully convinced that if it had connected with me, I would have died. The same is true for all of Sentinel’s attacks during our bout. Even an attack generated by a simple rune knocked me out of the air as if I were nothing. For him, it was a simple bout, but I was fighting to stay alive.”

“I will be sure to have a talk with Sentinel. He was supposed to be holding back during that bout.” The Major said, sounding a bit upset.

“He was holding back, sir. The spells he used were all scaled down versions of spells I have seen him use several times during training. And according to reports from several of his squad members from his tenure at boot camp, he has produced spells even larger than the ones he has displayed here.”

“So you believe you would lose to his overwhelming strength?”

“I do, but if it were an up-close fight, I believe I would stand a chance. However, as previously stated, I doubt I would get that opportunity.”

“His long-ranged attacks.” The Major said.

“His specialty.” I said. “But not his only attribute.”

“His Chaos Magic.” The Major said with his concern showing clearly.

“And his physical strength. I landed several solid attacks to his back. I held back of course, but even with that I would have still expected to have seen more damage.”

“Those metal garments of his truly are formidable.”

“And I can only imagine how much they weigh. Yet he is able to move around surprisingly quickly while wearing them.” I said.

“I had heard that he was quite slow.” The Major said.

“His traveling speed is atrocious, but his combat movement speed is a bit faster. He is still rather sluggish, but I wonder how much faster he would be if he were not wearing those garments?”

“And all of this is why you believe him to be so dangerous?”

“The ability to deal massive attacks from beyond our striking range, a constitution able to withstand the attacks of an average mage, and access to magic so dangerous that it is illegal in almost every country on Atmosia; yes sir, Sentinel is dangerous.”

“What is your recommendation, Datahu?” The Major asked.

“We take advantage of his one weakness.”

“Which is?”

“His master, Suma. Sentinel will continue to follow the orders of his master, so as long as we maintain a good relationship with her, Sentinel will remain our ally.”