ILIAS VAN PAYNE
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Before I headed into Tally Hall to take the State Jynxist Exam, the colonel gave me instructions on what to do after.
“We’ll be in an inn called The Green Dragon. Just tell them our names.”
The Capital was a large circular city that spanned just under three hundred and fifty square miles and housed a population of over two million souls. The city was divided into five districts: northern, eastern, western, southern, and central—the Iron Keep was right in the middle of the city, atop a hill. Cutting through the upper half of the northern district was a canal that led into the Mizu River.
That river was a way for fast travel and trade and the reason why the Capital was built here. The river started at Crimson Bay by the Eastern Sea. The estuary was guarded by Port Town, a city specifically built to prevent pirates from going through the river and disrupting the flow of trade. Port Town was under the jurisdiction of Brigadier Czeslaw Clegane—a close childhood friend of Mother and the colonel. The river slithered through the continent and ended in The Mouth in the Northern sea by a town called Norden—whose purpose was the same as Port Town. If I remember correctly, it was under the jurisdiction of a General Louis Armstrong.
The dusty streets of the Capital were rather spacious, with enough space for three wagons to fit. The spaces between the buildings were nonexistent as they were packed tightly to maximize the space within the city walls. The buildings themselves were made of brick and mortar and decorated with window panes and paint—something they lacked back in my day.
I headed in the direction Heloise, Camaro, and his unit went to after they dropped me off at Tally Hall. There were so many inns and taverns in the city that it’d take a decade to sleep at every one. A cobbler noticed I was lost and was kind enough to point me towards The Green Dragon, which was only three blocks away from Tally Hall—in the opposite direction.
No workers were at the front counter when I arrived. They were all busy attending the lunch rush in the tavern that was connected to the inn.
A blunt-faced lady carrying sheets climbed down the stairs, throwing them into a bin. “If you’re looking for a place to eat or spend the night in, Boy, you’ll have to find yourself another place. We’re full.”
“Umm, I’m here with Colonel Camaro.”
“The colonel?” the lady flipped through a book behind the counter. “You must be Iliad.”
“It’s Ilias.”
She grinned. “I’m just making sure it’s really you.” She washed her hands in a bowl of water and dried them off on her apron. “Follow me.”
The lady led me into the tavern, which was filled with the roaring noises of multiple conversations, entertainment from the bard on the inclined stage, and angry shouts from the kitchen. Servers hopped from table to table, making sure patrons were taken care of.
Along the wall farthest from the bard was a table that hosted familiar faces I longed to see. They hadn’t noticed me yet.
Camaro sat at the end of the table with Heloise and Hendrik adjacent while Gama, Rudolf, and Kaiser were in the following seats. The lady pointed to their table and left to continue her work.
“Hello, everyone,” I said, approaching the table.
Camaro was in the middle of drinking water and choked a bit. “Ilias? We’ve been expecting you any day now. How have you been?”
Heloise smiled. “Welcome back.”
Camaro’s unit was more ecstatic at my appearance. They all yelled out, “Ilias!” in unison, bringing the attention of the tavern to our table for a few awkward seconds.
“Will you four keep it down!” the colonel spat before turning to me. “Take a seat. Have you eaten yet?”
Hendrik’s side shifted one seat down, giving me a spot adjacent to the colonel and facing Heloise. “No. We headed straight for the final phase after breakfast and were let go once it was done. It took me a while to find this place too.”
“You made it as far as the final phase. That’s good.” Camaro called out a server and had them prepare me food. “How was the exam? I hope nothing scarred you.”
“Not at all. I know people died, but I was lucky enough not to see them. Other than that, it was actually rather fun. I met a lot of interesting characters.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed your time.” A server came by and handed me a tray of food. “Can I have a mug of beer?”
The server shot an annoyed look. “Is this a joke? You barely look ten.”
“Oh, that’s right. Sorry.”
The colonel guffawed. “I see you took advantage of the bar.”
“It was free, how couldn’t I? My team and the friends we made had to make sure we used every amenity the exam offered.”
Gama jumped up. “What? You had free drinks the entire time?”
“Not just that. Food, plays, massages, and a lot more things. The building we were in was basically its own society.”
The private nodded. “I see. Heloise, may I be your next student?”
The elf finished what she was chewing. “If the reason why you want to become a jynxist is because of that, the answer is no.” She turned to me. “By the way, Ilias, what are your results?”
I produced a piece of rolled-up paper and handed it to the colonel.
He read it aloud. “This official document certifies that the nation of Armestis appoints Ilias Payne with the title of Prince Of Dawn, in the name of King Arthureus Nelbrandt. From now henceforth, they shall be known as Ilias Van Payne.” The colonel handed the paper back to me. “Prince Of Dawn. That’s a good codename.”
“Shut up,” Gama said. “You actually passed? That’s impressive.”
Rudolf counted with his fingers. “Colonel, forgive me if I’m wrong, but you were the youngest to pass at the age of fifteen. Ilias is twelve which means he’s officially the youngest person to pass the exam.”
“That’s right.” Heloise reached over the table and rubbed my head. “If I may ask, how many of you were there and how many passed?”
“Six hundred and ten, and only me and one other passed.”
“I think that’s the most it’s ever been. And only the two of you passing reminds me of the colonel and I’s exam. We were the only two graduates as well. On average, at least eight people pass.”
“Who was your proctor?” Camaro asked.
“A beast person named Ivan.”
“That must be Karma Chameleon. If I recall correctly, he’s the professor of zoology at Fern University.”
Before inquiring me for more details about the exam, they let me finish my meal. By the time a server took away my plate, the tavern was half empty.
I then tried to tell the story of what happened during the exam, but it was as if I didn’t know how to form my thoughts into words.
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Heloise was the first to notice my struggle. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. I want to tell you everything that happened during my exam, but I can’t.”
“Oh,” she giggled. “Remember how you asked the colonel and I to tell you what happened during our exam but we couldn’t? It’s because State Jynxists form a contract to not disclose any of that information.”
“I never shook hands though.”
“Shaking hands aren’t the only way contracts can be formed. In fact, contracts work like promises. One can be placed by offering something like money in exchange for an action. You signed a document when you passed, remember? The contract was formed then.”
“So I can’t share my story?”
“You can, but only to fellow State Jynxists,” Camaro said, shooting a thumb at his unit. “Unfortunately, these guys are here preventing that.”
Officer Kaiser chugged his drink and got up, the rest of the unit following suit. “If you excuse us, Colonel, we’ll leave you three alone to talk. We’re going to go sightseeing.”
“Fine by me. Enjoy yourselves. And don’t get drunk—we leave after breakfast tomorrow.”
With the Camaro Unit gone and most of the tavern empty, I spent half an hour or so retelling the seventy-third State Jynxist exam. The colonel even showed some worry when I talked about Erina’s hometown. He looked like he wanted to do something about the situation.
“What about you two?” I asked. “You can tell me what happened during your exam now. Who was your third teammate for phase one?”
“I don’t remember his name,” Heloise said. “But he was an elf that went by the name ‘Rookie Crusher’. He tried to sabotage, failed, and ended up getting eliminated in the second phase.”
“The Rookie Crusher? That’s Jay Geils.”
“Yes, that’s his name. He’s still trying, huh? Was he annoying?”
“Very. One of my teammates basically went out of his way to get him eliminated in phase one.” I downed the remainder of my drink. “What were your phases?”
Heloise rubbed her chin in thought. “Phase one was a bit complicated. Each party was given their own briefcase and assigned to steal one from another team. Our own briefcase was worth three points, our targets’ were worth another three points, and any other briefcase was worth only one. We needed six points in total to pass.”
“Was it easy stealing your targets’ briefcase?”
“Tracking them was the hardest part, but it was relatively easy to steal from them. What we had to worry about was one of our own. The Rookie Crusher threw our briefcase over the floating island. So we had to go out of our way and steal three random teams' briefcases.”
“What was phase two?”
“It was relatively simple. We were taken to the entrance of a cave and instructed to find the exit.”
“How is that a mental test?” I questioned.
“You would’ve failed that phase just by asking that question. Using your head is the purpose of the second phase. The exit of a cave and an entrance is the same thing. The ones who had figured it out headed inside to trick the rest and doubled back to the entrance.” She nodded. “But I’d have to say that your second phase sounded more fun.”
“What was your final test?”
“We were set loose in an arena and tasked to steal three other participants’ badges.” She giggled. “Do you know what the colonel and I did?”
I shook my head.
Camaro couldn’t hold back his laugh. “We made a truce, knocked everyone out, and stole all their badges. To pass, we needed three badges, but the rules never stated that we couldn’t steal more than one.”
“So that’s why only you two passed.”
Both our exams yielded the same amount of graduates, but it was for two completely different reasons. For starters, we had an extra phase that took out a lot of competition while Thaddeus lowered the guards of the remaining participants during phase two. With Heloise and the colonel’s exam, a lot more people could’ve passed.
We dropped off my luggage upstairs and decided to go sightseeing around the city, stopping by a blacksmith shop first. Camaro paid the blacksmith one gold and seven silver coins and in exchange was given a short bastard sword with a dragon carved on its pommel.
Camaro handed the sword to me. “You’re a bit smaller and weaker than Jaime, but you’ll have to do. Could you try it out for her?”
I unsheathed the blade and gazed at its smooth reflection. The hilt was made of goat leather which made it rather comfortable to hold. Its shortness made it lighter as well.
I went up to a watermelon the blacksmith placed on a stump, taking a solid stance before bringing the sword around my head and slicing through the fruit.
“How is it?” the colonel asked.
“It’s lighter than I’d like, but Jaime fights with speed. I’d say it's perfect for her.” I sliced the watermelon into several equal sizes and passed it around for everyone to eat. “Do you really trust Jaime with a sword?”
“Once she finds out you’ve become a State Jynxist, she’ll be devastated that she’ll still be carrying around a wooden sword. It’s about time she had her own real blade.”
“But you had this sword custom-made while I was in the exam. There was no way you would’ve known I’d pass.”
Heloise giggled at my response. “Chariot never doubted you for a second, Ilias.”
I had my own sword when I was eight, so I was in no position to say Jaime was too young. But she’s done a lot of damage with just a wooden sword—specifically in the village’s gardens. I can’t imagine her carrying something that can cause more destruction.
The blacksmith was kind enough to put it in a box with a sling for us to carry around. We spent the rest of the day in the shopping district where Camaro ended up buying loads of things—probably items people back at the village asked him to get. And as congratulations for passing, he instructed me to pick out something I wanted.
“Can I get a sword like the one you got Jaime?”
“This sword took a week to make and I intend to leave the city tomorrow. Also, I’m buying you a gift for passing the State Jynxist Exam, not for becoming a swordsman. You’ll get your own blade once you’ve mastered the sword.”
I’ll get my own sword once I master swordsmanship?
If so, he should make an advanced request to the blacksmith.
“You are still interested in swordsmanship, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Of course I am. I promised to continue learning it after I master jynx, didn’t I?”
“Don’t skimp on learning new spells while you’re learning the sword,” Heloise instructed. “You’ve got more books in your house so use them to study and practice. Lest you forget and let your gates weaken.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
I ended up picking out a leather-bound satchel bag. I already knew I was getting a sword once I master swordsmanship (or rather remaster it), so I went for something that would fit my jynxist side.
Camaro’s unit arrived back at the inn an hour after we did and were forced to quarantine in their room. This was so another Bel Tine incident wouldn’t happen. The colonel said we would have a big village party to celebrate my graduation and that his unit could spend their pent-up alcohol addiction there. They were only allowed to leave their room when the tavern opened up for dinner.
The next morning after breakfast, we gathered our stuff and went to the stables where Tank was being kept. The armoured lizard almost tore down the wooden fence when he saw the colonel.
Time to head home.
“Ilias, can you please turn around,” Heloise asked.
I did. “What for?”
She then placed something on top of my head before gesturing to my reflection on a window. What she had placed on my head was an oversized pointy hat similar to hers. It was a dark brown with an embroidered gold garter that wrapped around the base.
“Look at that, now we’re matching,” she said as she adjusted hers. “This is for passing as my student, the exam, and my farewell gift to you.”
That’s right, she’s not coming back with us.
“Thank you, Teacher. I’ll cherish this well. Write to us often and visit from time to time.”
“And from time to time, he means every couple of years or so. Not decades,” Camaro added.
Heloise chuckled.“Don’t worry. I know and I’ll do both. This is goodbye for now. I know our fates will intersect again.”
I just said goodbye to Thaddeus, Erina, and the rest of the friends I made during the exam. Now I have to do the same to my dear teacher. I guess people come and go in life.
Before I could break into tears, I embraced Heloise, burying my face into her stomach. “I can’t convince you to stay, can’t I?”
“You cannot. I’ve already rented an apartment. Moving on is how we grow. These last six years were ephemeral.”
“No,” I spoke out in a muffled voice, holding back the pools of water about to explode from my eyes. “It was an eternity.”
She stroked my hair gently. “Of course it was.”
Heloise flashed a smile, wiping the lone tear that fell down her cheek before departing.
The silver-haired elf who wanted nothing to do with me when we first met had taught me so much—wisdom, lessons, and an understanding of a power I was mesmerized and afraid of. It was Heloise who taught me to be who I was instead of mulling over who I once was.
As imperfect as she was, I respected her. No matter what, I will always see her as my teacher.
Clutching the hat she gave me in one hand and the wand she gifted me when we first met in the other, I promised not to look away until Teacher disappeared from view. Camaro and the others respected that.
No matter where she was, her teachings will always be with me. In some way, she would always be by my side.
The moment she was really gone, the overwhelming emotions I’d been holding back exploded into tears.