It took four different vans to transport the arrivals to Nexus Hill, the new home of the Thunder Nexus. It was a short trip, given that it was all along one road, but the time seemed to drag on so that hours seemed to have passed by the time the driver of the van Nick was in turned left off the highway and began climbing the hill. In the time of the first Fire Nexus, this road looped around the entirety of the Nexus Hill, visiting each of the buildings before ending at Constitution Park, the wide area that sat between the most important buildings of the university.
Now, of course, this road took a more straight course, though it still weaved quite a bit to combat the steep slope of the hill. It passed only the buildings that housed the Nexian quarters, the guest quarters, and the visitor’s center before reaching the summit, which featured a large parking lot, the mess hall, and the wide training grounds.
As intended, Eric’s van, carrying the mix of Thunder and Fire Nexians, was the first to reach the top. The driver pulled smoothly into the back of the parking lot, sharing a quick look with Kenta, who sat in the front seat. “Show time, eh Kenta?”
Kenta nodded gravely in agreement. “It has been a long time since we last hosted a training session. You staying to watch?”
The driver, a man who Eric didn’t know personally but had seen around the hill quite a lot, nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! I wouldn’t miss it for anything!”
He and Kenta shared a laugh as the others stepped out of the van. They moved across the training grounds to stand beside their respective Alphas, taking their positions just as the three vans carrying their visitors came into view at the top of the hill. It struck Eric suddenly that the drivers of the other vans must have controlled their speed specifically to allow the Thunder and Fire Nexuses time to form into their welcoming group. Whether it was to impress the visitors or put on a show of power, he couldn’t tell. Either way, it had a marked effect on those who were arriving for the first time.
He liked to think that the Thunder Nexus struck an imposing figure with their positions of stiff attention, but their numbers were dwarfed by the Fire Nexus, which boasted nearly twenty members now. Together, they outnumbered the visitors of Water, Earth, and Air. Nick, Megan, and many of the other new Nexians froze momentarily at the sight, glancing toward their lieutenants for some guidance. Grimr seemed unfazed, but that was due more to his nature than his experience with the Nexus powers.
Kiera Lawrence, who was the first Lieutenant to step out of a van, showed no sign of concern at the gathered Nexians facing her. In fact, she grinned widely as she saw it. She turned to make a quiet comment to Nick, who nodded in reply, though it was obvious he was holding back a grin. Laughing, Kiera approached with a casual sort of grace.
“You sure love your presentations Will,” she said, quickening pace in the last few feet to embrace the Thunder Nexus Alpha. “You’re gonna give the younger members a heart attack.”
“It’s always worth the risk,” Will replied, hugging her back. “It’s good to show the unity of two Nexuses. I hope Kenta didn’t give you a hard time.”
“As if he would!” She laughed again. “He was too focused on making a good impression on the newbies.”
Kenta gave her a sidelong glance. “First impressions are important, Kiera-san.”
“Maybe to you,” she said, finally letting Eric go and moving over to shake hands with Michael. “Tough as always, you old bastard.”
“That’s how I was made,” Michael replied, a grin spreading across his face. “Not everyone can be a free spirit like you.”
Eric glanced back at the visiting Nexians now as their lieutenants caught up to make their greetings. The sight of their leaders getting along with the Thunder and Fire Nexuses seemed to have put them at ease after that first shocking sight. He thought he could understand the reason for putting on this show of force, because nobody could deny that that was the purpose of the two Nexuses standing together. In addition to building peace between the five Nexuses, it was also his Alpha’s job to make sure that his own group remained strong, and that the others knew it.
“Well, you must all be tired after long flights,” Will said warmly. “Let’s go into the mess hall and relax. I’ve made a feast for you all.”
“You even went through the trouble of cooking?” Kiera asked, though she didn’t sound surprised. “Man, you are a good host. I agree, let’s go eat! Come on, Jose!”
Putting one arm around the neck of the Water Nexus Lieutenant, she followed Will and Michael up the steps to the mess hall. The Water and Air Nexuses seemed to join smoothly in pursuit of their leaders. Huang Jiang, the Lieutenant of the Earth Nexus, maintained a more formal demeanor, gracefully gesturing his Nexus to take up the rear. They all followed dutifully, matching their leader in attitude. Grimr along hung back.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Oh, great,” Eric said under his breath. “Here we go.”
He saw Grimr give him a quick head jerk, indicating that he should linger a bit more. Jerik and Megan got the same covert signal, and stopped in their tracks, though Jerik did take one more step, grabbing the arm of Nick from the Air Nexus, pulling him out of his group.
“What are you doing?” Eric asked him in a low hiss. “Grimr wants to talk to us about the mission. We can’t include strangers.”
“Nick isn’t a stranger,” Jerik replied, also keeping his voice low. Only when the other Nexians were in the mess hall did he raise his voice slightly so that Grimr could hear. “Grimr, this is my friend Nicholas King. He was one of the people I met in Menora.”
“Nick is just fine,” the young man replied, pulling his arm free from Jerik and turning to survey Grimr. “Is he a Menoran?”
“I am not from that world,” Grimr answered before Jerik could speak. “I am from Ahya.”
“You two are as well, I assume?” Nick asked, gesturing at Eric and Megan.
“Yes,” Megan agreed, “But we were born on Earth. We got summoned to Ahya, just like you got summoned to Menora.”
“Huh,” Nick said simply. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that there’s an entire other world. If Menora exists, it tracks that there’s at least one more.”
“Actually, there’s five that we know of,” Grimr replied. Nick’s eyes widened, but he moved on rather than elaborating. He addressed Jerik next. “But that will be a discussion for another time. Are you sure he can be trusted with this?”
Nick seemed intrigued, rather than insulted, and Jerik answered immediately, with no sign of doubt or misgivings. “He’s more than trustworthy. He has a sharp mind, and he’s a damn good fighter.”
Grimr hummed thoughtfully for a moment, regarding Nick, who lifted his chin slightly in reply to the scrutiny. He didn’t speak in his defense or favor, but met Grimr’s eyes without the slightest sense of unease. Frankly, it impressed Eric, though he suspected that, if he knew exactly who Grimr was, he wouldn’t be quite so confident. Evidently, Grimr was thinking along similar lines.
“You’ll do fine,” he said. “But I can’t trust you if you don’t know everything you need to. So I’ll have to tell you about myself, and why I’m here.”
He gave a short and simple explanation of who he was, how he was created, and what his purpose was in Ahya. Then he explained the secret behind the Nexus powers that only the Alphas knew, and how its presence on Earth was a threat to the balance of all known worlds, including Ahya. He rounded it off by explaining the purpose of their mission, and why it was imperative that they tackle the problem of the Nexuses here and now, to ensure that it couldn’t spread to his world.
“Pushing Naturas back to his world is all I care about,” Grimr said. “If you aid me in that, I’ll reward you. If you stand against me, I will destroy you. I serve the balance, and nothing else. I cannot be swayed, corrupted, or bribed. And I’m already a master at using these powers, so I doubt I can be defeated.”
The implied threat of his last words seemed to miss Nick, who was frowning thoughtfully and absorbing everything Grimr had told him. Eric guessed that, without the personal experience of seeing Ancient magic being used in front of you and without knowing the truth of Grimr’s legend, he couldn’t fully comprehend the danger that the being represented. Or maybe he encountered a similar powerful enemy in Menora, he reasoned. Jerik hadn’t told him everything about his time in that world, so he couldn’t be sure. But even if he knew the full truth about both worlds, he was willing to bet he’d still put his faith in Grimr.
“You’re still ignoring one important thing,” Nick finally said. “It doesn’t matter how good you are at using your power. Alphas are invulnerable and know how to counter their rare weaknesses. Even if you get as strong as a Lieutenant, one of them can still beat you. And there are five of them. They won’t give up their powers for anything.”
“That can be mitigated,” Grimr said confidently. But Nick wasn’t done.
“Also, I won’t act against you, and since Jerik trusts you, I’m inclined to help. I lived most of my life without the Air Nexus powers, so I can survive if they go away. But I’m a stranger. Why would you trust me?”
To Eric’s surprise, the answer seemed to amuse Grimr. He smirked slightly, the first expression he’d shown since arriving in Alaska. “Who says I’ve trusted you?”
“You’ve told me about your identity and your mission,” Nick said bluntly. “How is that not trusting you?”
Grimr’s shoulders lifted in a dismissive shrug. “I’m used to my potential enemies knowing my identity and history. And the Nexuses will know of our mission in due time, so it’s no threat.”
“But-”
“It’s simple,” Eric said, cutting Nick off. “Even without his Ancient magicks, he’s confident he can beat you even if you spread his secret. Grimr’s that powerful.”
Nick glanced at him, then at Megan, pursing his lips. He was probably searching their faces for some sign of doubt that would give away the lie, but there was no lie to give away. They both believed that what Eric said was true. They believed that there was no threat Grimr couldn’t face and defeat.
“Okay,” he said. “I’m not sure what I can do to aid your mission, but I’ll lend you whatever support I’m capable of.”
“All I need is your combat potential,” Grimr replied. “I don’t care for or require anything else. I know Jerik’s mind. If he says you’re strong, you’re strong.”
“Oh, I’m definitely strong,” Nick replied with a slight grin. In anyone else, the words might have been cocky, but he spoke so plainly it was just confidence. “I’ve been a member of the Air Nexus for nearly two years now, and I’m on track to become a Captain years before anyone else. I’m a good fighter.”
“That reminds me,” Jerik replied. “You liked using a sword and shield in Menora. But you don’t have any weapons as a Nexian. How do you fight?”
By way of answer, Nick held his hands out, formed into fists. With a powerful gust of wind, air formed in a thin stream between his clenched hands. Faster than either of them could blink, the stream solidified and spun, forming a long staff of solid white air. He brought the end of it down against the ground, and it made a solid impact. Despite being formed of air, it seemed strong as steel. Eric noted that there was a small dent in the concrete where the staff had hit. That would be a hard strike, even against the strengthened body of a Nexian. It made him miss his swords.
“You don’t have a sniper rifle either,” he guessed, looking at Jerik. “How do you intend to fight?”
Jerik didn’t offer a demonstration. “I have my weapons, don’t worry.”
“We’ll see what we’re all capable of soon,” Grimr replied. “Before the Nexus Games, they’ll test each of us.”
The door to the mess hall opened, and James Fenn poked his head out. “Eric? Everything alright?”
His eyes were locked on the staff of condensed air that Nick was holding, looking mildly concerned. Eric was quick to reassure him. “We’re fine, Captain. Just talking. Turns out we have a lot in common.”
“Alright,” James said, still looking unconvinced. “Will needs your help in the kitchen. He says you’re in charge of dessert.”
“Figured he’d make me work at some point,” Eric replied with a laugh. I’m coming now.”
He turned away from the group, making sure that James could hear what he said last before heading up the stairs. “Nice to meet you three. You should come in. My Alpha’s an amazing chef.”