Chapter 19
After the lecture was completed, Axel was never more excited about having to deal with the duel fallout with Cade than stopping that damn lecture. As Rex left and dismissed the class, none of the other villagers left and waited for the instructor to leave before crowding Axel’s desk. Axel just sat back, waiting for this as he knew that there was no avoiding it. He had three more days of this with them, with the power demonstrations day and two classes on how to fight the crimson entities.
“So, murderer, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be hiding so that bounty hunters don’t make you disappear for what you did to Cade?” A large and loud human villager, who even with Axel’s memory could not place his name but was always trying to toady to Cade, got into Axel’s face, spittle flying as he spoke. “You are so lucky that we would lose our right to a Trial if we did anything here, but watch your back out on the street, murderer.”
Axel felt a roiling surge of anger but forced himself to remain calm. His heart pounded in his chest, and he could feel the heat rising to his face. “You done?” Axel replied in a dull tone. He knew that he would not get through to any of these people. Cade was very popular, and Axel was shunned due to accidents in the past, leaving horrible impressions with likely everyone in the room.
“Yeah, I think we are done as you obviously have nothing to say but likely your lies that Cade of all people would be trying to kill you. What a shit argument that was. No one would ever believe that, and it was only your late father who got you out of the murder charge, then an early release before he died as he should have in that duel.” The large toady finished and led the villagers out. The only bright side was that not all of them had the same look as he did, but Axel could see no friends in that group.
Another villager, a woman with a sneer on her face, added while at the door, “You think you can just waltz in here and pretend like nothing happened? We all know what you did, Axel. You’re a disgrace to the village.”
A third villager, standing slightly behind the others, muttered, “Better watch your back, Thunderstrider. Accidents happen, and no one would miss a murderer like you. Can’t wait for a bounty hunter to find you!”
Axel watched them leave, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. He knew he had to stay focused on his goals, but the hostility from his former village members was a constant reminder of the challenges he faced. He would also need to spend more time and energy avoiding these bounty hunters who now knew at least one location that he could be at.
Axel then left the room and saw Instructor Rex waiting down the hall for him. Axel moved over to Rex when he made a come-hither motion. “So it seems you are having some issues with your classmates. Anything you would need help with? Sapphire asked me to watch out for you, and since she made sure that I had a good home, I am more than willing to help.”
“The only thing I could ask for is maybe to not be in their class in the first place, but that is out the window. The next is to see if I could skip any classes with them and maybe bring up my Trial so they don’t know when it’s happening.” Axel replied in a defeated tone.
“Well, if we had realized your situation, we would have not put you in the same class, but there was nothing yet in the public record about your situation. Something about killing a friend if the voices coming from the room?” Rex asked, and Axel gave him an abbreviated version of the duel. “That’s rough, kid, but all you can do to atone is live and try to lead a good, just life.”
“Well, kid, if you have your power figured out, technically the last three classes are to help people pick their powers by showing them what they can make do with. I can put you down with your choice, and if you are planning to help a non-combatant. With that information, you should not need to deal with them anymore here at the Tower.” Rex suggested.
A feeling of relief washed over Axel, and he then rattled off the power Entity that he wanted to fight. This earned Axel a whistle from Rex. Rex then led Axel to an office and had him fill out forms in triplicate with waivers that he was skipping classes. With that done, Axel was free for the next four days as it would take that long to capture the entity needed for him. Rex also led Axel to a series of corridors to a back exit that the instructors used for people with sensitive backgrounds that could put them in danger.
Feeling his social and mental batteries drained, Axel decided to head back to the Inn and rest. It was also around dinner, and Axel had skipped lunch to make it to the class on time. The trip back involved using several launches, taking an impromptu tour of the city, and a bit of pain to his wallet to make sure he was not followed before returning to the inn. As Axel entered the room he shared with Aria, he found it empty and, while he was a little hungry, decided to just clean up and get some sleep.
As he crashed on the bed, Axel realized that this was the longest stretch of not practicing his weapon skills while not recovering from an injury he had ever had. This caused him to make a mental note to go to a Storm training center and stretch his muscles. He also planned to start picking up some new skills with the hand axe to maybe start working on his more close-in skills while giving him another throwing option. With those thoughts on his mind, Axel drifted off to sleep.
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The next morning arrived as a bit of a shock to Axel. What woke him was the sun in his face and not a knee to the bladder. The next thing that made him wake up was his bladder was now trained to need to go at this time in the morning, and he needed to make a mad scramble to the restroom to empty it. When he arrived back in his room, he had the wits to notice that Aria was in one of the other beds wrapped around a sleeping Lyra.
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Both smelled of alcohol and a strong kind at that, so Axel went to get a pitcher of water. Even with the blessing, the body needed water to help fight off the hangover. Axel had no idea what led to that and fought a bit of jealousy that was trying to peak its ugly head, but he had decided to be the mate with Aria and her kind had their customs. At least it did not look like anything happened, and this may just be two drunk people passing out together. He would have to ask later and see what was happening between them as Aria would tell him.
Skipping the cooking part of breakfast in bed, Axel ordered them a large serving of eggs and fried meat along with his breakfast, then left it in the room for the smell to wake them up. Having nothing else to do with the room occupied by drunks and not feeling like going to the library, Axel asked the innkeeper if there was a Storm training center nearby.
The innkeeper, a middle-aged man with a friendly demeanor, nodded. “Yes, there’s one not too far from here. It opens to the public in about an hour after the morning student class is done. Just head down the main street, take a left at the second intersection, and you’ll see it on your right.”
“Thanks,” Axel replied, appreciating the clear directions. He decided to take a walk around the area to pass the time and get a feel for the neighborhood. Before leaving, he gathered his gear and left a note to Aria, who still had not woken up, telling her where he was going.
The streets were already bustling with activity as vendors set up their stalls and people hurried to their morning destinations. The air was filled with the scent of fresh bread and merchants hawking their wares to the passersby. Axel took in the sights and sounds, feeling a sense of calm despite the tension from the previous day, buying a fruit to munch on while he made his walk.
When the hour was up, Axel made his way to the Storm training center. The building was impressive, with tall stone walls and large windows that let in plenty of light. The entrance was adorned with the emblem of the Storm, and what chapter number they were.
Inside, the training center was spacious and well-equipped. There were various training areas, each designed for different types of combat and physical conditioning. Axel felt a surge of excitement as he looked around, eager to stretch his muscles and get back into his training routine. He could almost feel a layer of rust on his muscles and joints from the lack of use.
He approached the front desk, where a young woman greeted him with a smile. “Welcome to the Storm training center. How can I help you today?”
“I’d like to use the training facilities,” Axel replied. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper workout.”
“Of course,” she said, handing him a form to fill out. “Just fill this out, and you’ll be all set. The fee for a day pass is two silver unless you are looking for any specialized training. If so, then you will need to see the Stormlord to help you as I don’t recognize you as a regular.”
Axel filled out the form and paid the fee but politely refused the extra training, then headed to the locker room to change into his combat gear, as his father always beat into his head that you trained in what you fought in. As he stepped into the training area, he felt a sense of anticipation. He planned to start with some basic exercises to warm up, then move on to practicing his weapon skills. He also wanted to work on his close-in skills with the hand axe, giving him another throwing option.
Axel finished the basic and advanced drills in about an hour only for Aria to arrive looking a little green but joining him in working out. She kissed him on the cheek and began her drills to then move to the acrobatic training area. Axel would never admit to dropping a heavy weight on his foot, breaking a few bones when he noticed Aria’s movements. Limping and hoping what the reading from his journal date was right and it was mostly bruising with a small fracture that would heal by tonight, Axel began going through the axe drills his father had tried to teach him.
Finding that he still sucked with them as he did in the past, Axel stopped when he was getting nowhere after about thirty minutes. Axel knew he just was bad with any weapon but his halberd for a long time but hoped that with time he would find talent with anything else. They still worked as a good throwing weapon, but he would always get jammed up with anything but the most bare basic of moves. To move on from his frustration with hand-axe fighting, Axel worked on his hand-to-hand combat, which at least was at a level of skill that he was not feeling embarrassed by practicing in public.
Aria tried several times to drag him to one of the dueling areas to practice, but after how effortlessly she demolished him, Axel’s pride made him call that to a stop, only after bringing out the halberd for a few rounds to regain some confidence.
On the way home, Axel asked about why she and Lyra were drunk together and if he should expect Aria to be now spending her nights with Lyra.
“Aria does not think Lyra is in a good place for that right now with how she was betrayed and thinks Axel is sounding put off,” Aria explained. “Aria will be with Axel now and forever. You are Aria’s and Aria is yours. If Aria thinks that adding Lyra to her flock will help her heal, Aria will first ask Axel if he is fine with it before ever letting anything happen.”
Aria then took Axel’s hand and led him to her favorite places to shop or eat in this part of the city. Aria, knowing Axel seemed to be worried about something, asked why he went to bed so early yesterday as Aria planned to get him drunk also.
“Met some of the villagers in the Intro class and things were tense. They think I murdered Cade and confronted me about it. Things are fine as Instructor Rex helped me expedite my trial and skip the other three classes as I had my power plan ready. Speaking of, don’t you have remedial training to complete?” Axel said.
“Aria proved yesterday that she has a handle on the powers of Aero,” Aria started with pride. “With her hero’s training and help, Aria was ahead of the curve, allowing a pass with flying colors. Now all Aria needs to do is talk to Lyra and help her get set up with a Trial with you and get her away from those nasty people who can’t seem to judge good from bad,” Aria explained while buying a fruit and began to toss it up and down in the air.
Axel gave her his trial date and number so Lyra could schedule to match him so that they could take the trial together. With that done, Axel was feeling much better and split from Aria to return to the library and keep on his research. Time waited on no man, and the more he prepared, the better he would be. It was time to research his foe and maybe on the likely foes that Lyra would choose from to make a plan.