"You should be pleased to know that those who would act against our plans have been left unaware of the situation. For the Inquisitor."
-Private Message I, by Chancellor Gustine
Avos blinked the sleep from his eyes as he opened them, seeing that he now found himself in a tiny room with only an open window to gauge where he was. From the outside noise, Avos guessed it was sometime midday in downtown Alandriel. Although it took some time to get up, Avos made his way to the window to look out. It was there he saw the familiar putrid streets of lower Alandriel and where he recognised the house he was staying at; Igo's.
Even though Avos could see no obvious injuries on his body, he could still feel the pain in his chest where Ender's attack hit him. Considering that the battle's wounds were gone, Avos assumed it was Cynthia's work.
Putting on some clothes, Avos shambled downstairs from his room, saying hello to servants who were working away and walking through the corridors upstairs. When he descended into the living room, he found Igo sitting on a couch by the fireplace with Cynthia pacing around the room. As soon as Cynthia noticed him, she briskly walked up to Avos and slapped him with enough force to knock an elephant unconscious. Still reeling from the pain, Avos didn't have time to respond before Cynthia put her arms around him for a hug.
"It's good to see you well, Avos. Sorry for the slap."
"N-no, it's fine..." Avos squealed, his cheek burning in agony. "But why am I here and-"
"And not the Guild infirmary?" Igo said, finishing his sentence. "For some reason, Cynthia suddenly had a lot to do and didn't have time to deal with you, or rather, wasn't even allowed to go near you. So, you were left with a group of nurses who for some reason all were known to report solely to the Inquisitor. You're lucky they didn't just kill you outright and actually tried to make it look natural.
"By the time I got to you and when Cynthia sneaked out on the pretence of a break to get to you, you were deathly pale. You should have seen the bedsheets. Or actually, maybe you shouldn't have. Either way, the only place we could treat you without Guild politics getting in the way was here. It's not the cleanest place but it got you healed without any convenient interruptions by injured people suddenly popping up out of nowhere."
"I can't believe you actually attended the competition!" Cynthia erupted after Igo finally finished. "You're lucky you're not dead right now! You should have known better and cancelled it after the recent incident with Lucan. Ellis is trying to get all who are allied with the Rogue dead right now. And that includes you!"
"Really? I would have never known." Avos mocked, sheepishly scratching a bit of stubble that had grown recently on his chin.
"Don't mess with me now, Avos." Cynthia said in an unusually calm tone. If Avos tried to mess with her now, he truly would be dead. Knowing her, his body would probably be painted across an out-of-the-way alley.
"Fine, fine. I was winning it too but got too cocky. Should have realised that cold-blooded twig was plotting something to spring at me at the right time."
"Nevermind that now. Go back upstairs and get some rest. You need it." Igo smiled, turning towards Avos, attempting to sway someone who knew was weak against the warm requests of the elderly, even if the age was partly feigned.
"No. Igo I should probably get out of your hair so as not to attract attention. Anyway I need to go back to Midnight to train-"
"Like hell you are!" Cynthia shouted, pushing him back onto the stairs. "With your injuries, you'll be lucky to leave this house in a week, on top of all the damages your arts do to your body. So, if I see you walk down these stairs without a good excuse, I'm gonna make sure to finish the job Ender started. Go!"
Knowing better not to test her any further, Avos sprinted back to his room, scared of what would happen if he turned around. Avos could only hope that Gulliver would be able to train Daniel, even if it meant not doing anything practical with him for a while.
* * *
Daniel felt strange when he woke up the following morning. It was not the familiar bedroom or smell of old wood that greeted him but the confides of a tiny cot that barely fit him. Most of all though, the fishy smell of river water overwhelmed most of his senses when he got up. It seemed he still wasn't used to it yet. The clothes already in his bedroom wardrobe fitted Daniel quite well so even though he seemingly didn't bring anything with him to Midnight, he lucked out.
By the time Daniel walked downstairs the sun was fairly high in the sky. Just as Daniel was about to make his way into the main shop area, a whiff of something caught his nose. Trailing it, Daniel followed the stairs up again until he reached a small dining room and kitchen. Four plates were set out on the table, wooden cutlery accompanying them.
Eni was stirring a pot of soup over a large fire pit of sorts, where the smell was coming from. Of what Daniel could see, various vegetables bobbed up and down in the soup, which was for the most part a translucent colour. By Eni's side was a compartment set further back into the wall, with a fish on a spit set in it. Heavy smoke billowed from the compartment, some of it not rising up into the connected chimney above but leaving into the room, overwhelming it with rich smells.
"Ah, Daniel, breakfast won't be for another hour or so I'd say so you might want to join Anya outside. If you don't mind, keep an eye on her too since she'll probably be playing with the other kids. Havie's outside helping some of his friends in town if you want to get him." Eni said, speaking from over her shoulder.
"I see. I'll be back in a bit then, ma'am." Daniel replied before going back downstairs, secretly wishing that he would have stayed in there a bit longer to savour the smells. When Daniel exited the shop, the chill riverside air cleansed his senses almost immediately. Unlike the other day, the river was calm and the violent torrents and splashes of yesterday's were almost non-existent. Taking a short walk to the edge of the river, Daniel sat down on the wet grass beside its edge, staring into its depths. It was deceivingly deep, Daniel found, unable to see the bottom even only a few breadths from the river edge; but what else would have Daniel expected from a river that originates from the darkness of the forest of Gearmön.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
With more time on his hands than he has had in what felt like forever, Daniel could finally let himself rest and his mind wander. He still didn't dare to try and remember the events that transpired around three weeks ago now, in fear that he would break down again. Even so, nothing could relieve Daniel's nerves about what his future would be like. One moment, Daniel had gained closure on his father's death and accepted it. In another, Daniel resolved to still continue his enrolment in the Academy, taking interest in actually becoming a Guild member rather than being one just to get closer to where his father disappeared to. Then in another moment, he was happier than he had ever been in his life, two good friends by his side: Nyn and the one he doesn't dare to remember the name of, lest the memories come back again. Finally, in the most recent moment, all of that was torn away, leaving nothing. And Daniel was reduced to a husk of a person, yet again.
In this moment, however, Daniel had no idea what he was supposed to be doing in Midnight. For he didn't believe that he was sent away here just for his own safety, otherwise he would be sent to somewhere further away than this town. At least the fraeru he was staying with seemed nice. How Lanyon or Igo knew them, Daniel couldn't fathom. Either way, he was safe. Perhaps even eventually happy.
Despite that, Daniel couldn't help but feel like this was all a farce. Something to lead him into a false sense of security, before they did something terrible to him. Daniel knew that way of thinking was preposterous but he couldn't shake that sensation no matter what he tried to make himself believe. Should he try and run away then? No. Daniel would be caught within days. And on the off chance he wasn't, Daniel would either die a starved and dehydrated corpse somewhere in the wilderness, or he would be caught by those who wanted him dead in Alandriel, and those cursed memories would play out once more. This time, in reality.
It was then, in that moment of realisation, that Daniel realised what he was so afraid of. The possibility that if he ever wanted something again, he would be betrayed and left all alone, because who would want someone who whines and moans and pesters and cries in their lives? That's right, no one would.
"Daniel, I presume?" someone asked from behind. Turning around, Daniel laid his eyes upon someone with a striking resemblance to Connor. "Yes, I must be right. Ah! I suppose this will be our first time meeting each other. Well then, my name is Gulliver, Gull to my friends."
As soon as Daniel processed who this man was, he leapt from the grass he once sat at, almost falling into the river behind him. Gulliver. Platinum rank three, The Longshot. If it wasn't for Gulliver moving behind Daniel so quickly it seemed like he had disappeared and reappeared to catch him, he would have surely fell in.
"Ah- um... th-thanks." Daniel stammered, stuck in between absolute shock and relief.
"I won't have you dying on me now, Daniel, especially after I just met you." Gulliver said, gently guiding Daniel further away from the stream. "Now then, we can't dilly dally around here, we've got some training to do."
It was just as Daniel predicted. This new life was too good to be true. 'Training'. There had to be a catch. And now that catch has reared its ugly head. It was just as Gulliver began to walk away, beckoning Daniel to follow that he resolved to make a decision. Daniel stopped in his tracks, attracting the attention of Gulliver who was a few strides in front of him. That choice was:
"No." Daniel said, clenching his fists to try and stop them from shaking. "I- I don't want to... train." By now, Daniel could barely lift his head from where it was stuck staring down at his feet.
"Oh?" Gulliver said. "Now, now we can't have that, could we?"
"I-..." Daniel began to say, his own body screaming at him to just agree or else this man, this god trapped in a mortal's body, would rain down his wrath upon him. "I don't want to train."
A tangible silence penetrated the air after Daniel's decision, Gulliver's curiously sharp gaze turning into one of scrutiny, realisation and then disappointment.
"If Avo was going to train you as was planned, he probably would have punched you into the river right here and now." Gulliver said, his statement sending a shiver down Daniel's spine. "However, I'm not Avos Ashbeck. I'm Gulliver Harris. I'm a little more tolerant than Avo and so, instead of reprimanding you, I praise your courage. Not many are brave enough to say no. Yet, I cannot allow you to say no. For if you don't, the Inquisitor will eventually find you and you won't be able to defend yourself when he kills you. I can already sense the anguish on your face. Why are 'they' deciding this for 'me'. Are they going to hurt me? Do they perhaps have an ulterior motive?
"I don't always agree with my fellow Platinums, especially Avo and Lucan, but you need to get yourself together, Daniel. You may be broken, you may not be physically fit, but your excuses aren't going to stop you from getting killed. So, I'm giving you the choice again. If you want to, you can say no. Avo and Lucan will probably come down on you, yet I will leave you alone. If you say yes, though, you will become stronger and you will eventually move past your faults and learn to accept them. It is only when you can accept yourself for who you are, can you truly heal. After all of that, I then shall ask you; do you want me to train you?"
Daniel's expression, just like Gulliver had predicted, was one crunched up in anguish. All his fears and doubts were laid bare in front of him and then diminished in front of the looming threat of death. For Gulliver had given him the true reason they were doing this. Simple generosity. So that when the time comes, he won't die. Daniel, even back then in the memories he dared not recall, hadn't really thought about death. Since thinking about dying meant giving up.
Death had never bothered Daniel before. A simple person like himself couldn't comprehend the gravity of non-existence when all he had ever known was life, existence. Almost everyone says that they don't want to die. Why? Why do they not want to die? Is it the fear of the unknown that comes after death or is it the notion that they have not done enough in their short life? Daniel didn't fear the unknown after death as he had come face to face with it so many times before in those forbidden memories. Was it the fact he hadn't done much of anything in his life then? No, Daniel was more than content with the life he had lived so far. So what was it then? What fuelled that primal fear? Yes, that's what it was.
Survival.
All that Daniel had ever done after those painful days was to survive. To make himself meek and small to not make those who wish him dead to notice him. And even if they did notice, he would run, and if that didn't work, grovel beneath their feet and beg. Daniel would forsake his pride and self-worth in a heartbeat for survival. Survival was an instinct so deeply instilled upon mankind that it was what enabled them to live this long in the first place. And it was that wish to survive, the wish to prevail that was sourced by the fear of death. Despite that, Daniel had no fear of death, but he had a wish to survive. A wish so potent that Daniel would do everything to fulfil it.
Daniel couldn't explain or sort out his feelings well enough to find what sourced his want for survival if not the fear of death. Yet, he knew that he wanted to survive. And that was good enough for him.
"...n-..." Daniel surprisingly hesitated, still unsure in spite of the surety he had felt mere seconds ago. Even if it spelt pain for the rest of his days, even if it meant he would like a terrible life full of misery, Daniel would survive. Daniel would waver, Daniel would suffer, Daniel would cry and Daniel would retreat back into the husk that he calls himself. Most importantly, Daniel would survive.
Daniel will survive.
Like a fish swims, a bird flies and humanity lives, Daniel survives. It was in that moment, like and unlike every moment before him that he had ever considered, that the answer was never clearer.
"Yes."
"Well then, let's begin your training."