The dinner was long, and a rousing success, culminating in a delicious cheesecake that Eric had made personally. The other Nexians sang his and Will’s praises as they scarfed down the multiple cakes with enthusiasm. Even the formal Earth Nexians had trouble maintaining their indifferent expressions as they ate the rich, creamy desert.
“Wish you’d joined the Air Nexus,” Kiera Lawrence, grinning at Eric. “Though I remember saying something similar to Will, back in the day when he was still a newbie.”
Will let out a booming laugh from one of the head tables, having overheard Kiera’s comment. “Charlisa still holds a grudge against you for that, you know. She didn’t like that you tried to convince me to base my Nexus in Australia.”
“I didn’t put my full effort into it,” Kiera replied. “Quite apart from not wanting to anger your wife, I knew you’d never leave your home.”
“Even Cameron misses this place,” Jose joined into the conversation. “The amount of time he spends complaining about not having your cooking nearly drives us insane, Will.”
Will grinned, shaking his head slightly. “Well, I’ve told Dad many times that he’s more than welcome to come visit whenever he wants. I’m always wiling to cook him a meal for raising me.”
Eric glanced around then, confused. He made the mistake of looking to Megan for an answer, but caught it quickly. “Our Alpha’s father doesn’t live in Alaska?”
“Didn’t you know?” Jose asked, turning to face him. “Cameron Andrews is a member of the Water Nexus. He is our Alpha’s companion.”
“He’s Rachel Smith’s boyfriend?” Eric asked, flabbergasted. “How did that happen?”
“Boyfriend isn’t exactly a term my Alpha uses,” Jose replied. “She has many companions. Her heart is quite large, you know. She has room for many.”
The way he said it seemed to hint at the fact that he spoke from experience. Eric thought of asking if he was one of these “companions”, but thought better of it. However, Megan spoke up, answering the question he’d refrained from voicing.
“Jose is one of them,” she explained. “Felix and Olivia are their children.”
It wasn’t unheard of for two Nexians to have a child, of course. Previously, it had been thought impossible. But Felix and Olivia’s births had proven them wrong. They’d also proven that children born to a Nexian woman were unique. They grew incredibly fast, reaching adulthood in just under two years. There were only three in existence that was known, of course, including Will’s son Edward, named for the first Alpha of the Fire Nexus and his grandfather.
Second-generation Nexians, it seemed, were able to grasp the elements of their parents with prodigious talent. It was an unfounded rumor with no verifiable source, but Eric had seen the evidence of it for himself. Edward, though just six years old in reality, already had the body of a grown man in his mid-twenties, and had frightening power and control over his lightning powers. He’d even inherited his mother’s ability to continue to use fire, though not nearly as reliably as a Fire Nexian.
“I sent my father to Rachel when I heard that Togai was a major threat,” Will spoke up. He didn’t have to raise his voice much for it to carry across the dining hall. “I thought he’d return quickly, but he found his new home there with Rachel and her children, so he decided to move there officially. Now he’s a member of the Water Nexus.”
“He’s quite good,” Jose said. “He doesn’t train quite as vehemently as the rest of us, but he’s got a bit of his son’s talent.”
Eric lifted his mug of coffee in reply to Jose’s praise of his father, but didn’t comment further. So instead, Jose continued to address Eric. “There are many bonds between the Nexuses, young Eric. It helps us to build lasting connections.”
As he said it, his eyes seemed to glance in Megan’s direction. “Just as you’ve already discovered, it’s quite easy to get along with those of other Nexuses.”
So he’d been aware of their meeting, even if they’d trailed behind the others. The level of attention he payed to those under his care might have been born of a desire to protect them and ensure their safety, but it hammered home an entirely different point to Eric. One that he thought only he was aware of. If a Lieutenant was aware of their short meeting, how hard would it be for them to discover the secret mission that five of their number now had?
“It’s quite alright,” Jose said, clearly misreading the tension on his face. “We encourage it, in fact. It is one of the purposes of these joint training sessions. We want our members to form these bonds.”
“It’s a matter of survival,” Eric replied, nodding his head in agreement. “We are much stronger together, and much weaker separated.”
There were nods and grunts of agreement from the most senior of the Nexians. Eric frowned slightly. “What are you trying to survive, though? The last threat you faced was nearly six years ago, and the Nexus Charter makes it clear what happens to those that threaten the Nexuses.”
“Just because we’re at peace doesn’t meant that there are no enemies,” James Fenn replied. Beside him, a member of the Fire Nexus Eric didn’t know that well nodded vehemently. “They might not be out there now, but our history has made it clear that the world will strike against the Nexuses when given the chance.”
An uncomfortable silence settled over the hall at these words, and Eric noticed that the dour mood was the most concentrated among the members of the Earth Nexus. Only then did Eric remember that conflict between and against the Nexuses had caused a lot of damage for the older face. The former Alphas of two different Nexuses, for instance, and many others had been claimed because of this violence. Eric remembered as much from his history lessons.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Turning slightly in his seat, he glanced toward the wall across from the kitchen. There were a long list of names painted there. They’d meant nothing to him when he first read them, but he’d since learned that they were all Nexians killed in the first Nexus War and the fight against Togai. Will had been the one that put an end to him, he remembered. Well, Eric and his wife.
“I’m sorry,” he said, lowering his face. “I didn’t think about it.”
Kiera’s smile was warm and reassuring as she leaned across the table to pick up another slice of cheesecake. “Don’t worry about it, kiddo. You’re still new. You’ll pick it up as you go along.”
Her smile was an infectious one, he thought, and not for the first time. He couldn’t help grinning in reply. No wonder Charlisa had been so jealous of her, he thought. The thought made him look around again, but the seat to Eric’s right was vacant. James noticed him looking, and shook his head.
“The Lieutenant said she was tired and went to bed early,” he explained. “She’s got the first class tomorrow, after all. She wanted her rest.”
“Shame,” Kiera commented. “I was looking forward to seeing her. But I can wait until tomorrow.”
The dinner broke up after that, and most of the people made their way to bed quickly, looking tired after a day of travel and the party. Will excused himself shortly after sharing words with the lieutenants of the other Nexuses, and left the party followed by Michael Reeves. James showed their visitors to the nearby guest buildings where their rooms were ready, and most of them departed. A few hang around, either not tired enough for bed yet, or talking to friends they’d made in other Nexuses.
It didn’t escape his attention that of the remaining members, Grimr, Megan, and Jerik were talking quietly at a table removed far from the others. Nick was making his way over as well, so Eric pushed himself off of his chair and approached. Grimr looked up as he came closer, nodding in quiet greeting.
“I’m sure you noticed Jose’s comment,” Megan said, standing to embrace Eric. He could tell she’d been wanting to hug him since their arrival, but had refrained in an attempt not to seem too familiar. “Grimr just pointed it out.”
The Ancient nodded, his expression grave. “It does give me some measure of concern, but I suspect it will be easy to handle.”
“Not everyone is as observant as Jose though,” Megan added. “He’s a special case. He’s a sage, after all.”
“Like a Wiccan or something?” Jerik asked, letting out a snort of laughter. “That stuff should have died out a long time ago.”
“Not like a Wiccan,” Megan retorted. “He and his brother are from Malaysia. They’re a very spiritual people.”
“His brother?” Grimr asked, his tone critical.
“John, but everyone calls him Creed. They have different last names, but the same mother. He’s from the Clearwater family.”
That name clearly meant nothing to the rest of them, so she went on to explain further. “Their family has a rich history as wise men and sages? Rumored to have mystical sight?”
Eric and Jerik shrugged, almost in unison. Even when they’d lived on Earth, they hadn’t taken much interest in myths and legends. Obscure stories from far away nations had no chance of reaching them. Even in Ahya, Eric wasn’t as familiar with the history of the world as he should have been, but it didn’t interest him much. If it wasn’t something that could directly benefit him or pose him harm, he showed little interest.
“I’m less interested in rumors about his family,” Jerik commented. “Than in the fact that he might have a special ability. I overheard some of the Water Nexians talking about it. What can he do?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” Megan admitted slowly. “It’s nto talked about that often, even at home, but apparently he can heat up his blood and make himself a lot stronger.”
A look of sudden comprehension dawned on Jerik’s face, but when Eric looked at him, he waved a dismissive hand. “Just had a realization about my own training. Something I hadn’t quite figured out.”
“It seems,” Grimr jumped in, driving them back to the original line of conversation, “That the Nexus powers haven’t been fully realized as of yet. New applications are discovered at least once a year. A talented recruit will show off a new side of the power, and knowledge progresses further.”
Megan nodded in agreement. It was Eric that asked the obvious question. “A new side of the power? Like what?”
Megan gave him a look he knew all too well from their time in Ahya. It told him that he was missing a connection so obvious that it was right in front of his eyes. “Like how your Alpha created the power of lightning when everyone thought it was impossible.”
“Or Felix and Olivia,” Grimr added. “Megan told me of how they discovered the ability to make ice.”
“They can’t really make ice,” Megan corrected. “They can lower the temperature of the water they control so that it freezes.”
“Jerik has created a similar thing out of fire,” Grimr said. “Show him.”
At once, Jerik lifted his right hand and summoned a small flame on his palm. As they watched, it became thin and burned more intensely, until it closely resembled the output of a plasma cutter. The flame burned bright blue. “Apparently, I’m only the second Fire Nexian in history that could make blue fire. The first one, a woman named Angel, had the the hottest fire out of anyone in the Nexus.”
“There is also the ability to warp steel from the Earth Nexus and the power of flight from my Nexus,” Nick put in. “Even my staff is considered different, but it’s still simple wind.”
“You can fly?” Jerik asked, looking round at Nick in surprise. Nick lifted off the ground by a few inches, and Jerik let out a laugh. “That’s a surprise. I suppose it make sense, but I thought you’d have to use the wind.”
“I had to at the beginning,” Nick admitted. “But eventually I learned how to do it with minimal wind power.”
“Even I’ve started to discover a new power that can be gleaned from my own abilities,” Grimr said. He lifted one of his small hands, displaying a handful of silvery dust. He clenched his fist and concentrated for a moment, then opened it again to reveal a small flower. “It seems that the powers of Earth and Nature are one and the same in this world. By mastering Earth, I’ve gained control over nature.”
“Go figure,” Eric said with a laugh. “Of course the God of Nature would figure that out.”
“I’m sorry,” Nick interrupted, looking between Eric and Grimr. “Did you just say God of Nature? You’re a God?”
“It’s a long story,” Eric said quickly, not letting the tangent go too far. “And it’s the least of his abilities, I assure you.”
“That reminds me,” Megan said suddenly. “How much of your powers transferred with you when you came to Earth, Grimr?”
Grimr hesitated for a long moment before replying. Curiously, he glanced at Nick before he did so. “Almost none, I’m afraid. I still have the strength of my body, mind, and soul, but I cannot use Ancient Magicks while I am here.”
That came as an unwelcome shock to Eric, but Megan didn’t look surprised. “I thought so. Samuel said that without the Mother’s life force to draw upon, you couldn’t use your magic. But you still have your trait, right?”
Grimr nodded. “But I’ll solve the conundrum for you now. I can’t see how using it will benefit us. No, it’s these new powers that we’ll have to rely on. They’re the key. By mastering them, we stand the best chance of ridding this world of them and sending their source back to where he belongs.”
“Still no sign of Naturas, I take it?” Eric asked. He remembered the name from their last meeting in Ahya.
Grimr shook his head. “If he’s here, he’s remaining very well-hidden. I cannot even sense his presence.”
“So for now, we just focus on growing stronger?” Megan asked. When Grimr nodded again, she continued. “Then we should take this joint training seriously. According to Rachel, Nexians get a lot stronger with the lessons they learn here.”
“That’s the impression I got as well,” Eric agreed. “Edward’s been to a few, and he’s really strong.”
“I’ve certainly learned quite a bit from the three or four I’ve been to,” Nick said. “If you want to take on the Nexuses, you’ll need more training.”
“It’s settled then,” Eric said, standing up once more. If they didn’t end the conversation soon, they’d draw too much attention. “Starting tomorrow, we’ll train as hard as we can.”
“Yes,” Grimr said, though he added one more line. “And we’ll make our move at the Nexus Games.”