CHAPTER 17 – PROTECTOR OF THE WAY

"There is no such thing as right or wrong. Nobody is perfect. Sometimes, we will have to do uneasy, even questionable deeds in the name of the greater good. What is defined here as 'greater good' is this Order's overall goal to promote enlightenment, increase happiness, and reduce misery on the absolute scale of our perceived reality. Sometimes, this means difficult choices.

Yet, do take note on the goal order: if you can, always, always prioritize positive growth in the shared consciousness of the Universe. Reduction should be used only as a last resort."

– Grandmaster Magus Dei, in address to the Radiant Order

The present, Ilsorin, last bastion of the Order of the Radiant Knights

Airo ran along the arctic ramparts. He steadily made his way to the top of the mountain, toward the stone keep, where the stronghold's training grounds were located. He had chosen the scenic route deliberately, in desire to experience what was to ascend Ilsorin on one's own, and to dwell on the sudden proposition he had been given.

His presence had been requested for 'team training'. The notion felt absurd to him, as he still wasn't comfortable to be around others, despite his recent changes. So coordinated maneuvers were out of the question. As for sparring, he easily outclassed all Knights, except the dragons and possibly Lylana. Again, a meaningless loss of time. Yet deep down, he actually looked forward to the idea of sparring. He hadn't had much opportunity to be directly involved in combat since his re-awakening, except during Dragon Retreat's fall and the recruitment of Captain Riley's company, and his warrior's spirit thirsted for battle.

The stone walkways carried him upward, passing over steep slopes and jutting peaks. The walkways branched into scores of directions, each leading to an open area – landing zones, external fortifications, simple overlook terraces – or to entrances of the main stronghold. The path to the top looped across the mountain, cutting into sheer cliffs, or hanging above perilous crags, the rough rock tamed into a gentle servant, reinforced with crystal and composite metamaterials, or bypassed entirely by bridges made of hard light. Battlements were built everywhere, their massive bulk providing secure cover, enhanced by the protective canopy of shields emitters mounted on thick pillars.

Airo's hands and face tingled, and he quickened the pace, bounding up the huge stairways and broad walkways. He had shed his armor, and was dressed in a plain, comfortable uniform to fight in during training. He had taken a shields belt to protect against the cold, yet even with the assistance of advanced technology, the freezing weather still bit at his exposed skin. Airo focused on running, applying the meditative practices ingrained in him so long ago at the Starspire Academy. He tuned out everything around, until the whole world narrowed down to his breathing, moving body and the path ahead.

At last, he reached the training grounds. He checked the chronometer. Forty minutes. Excellent time. He ascended the central stone stairway, and a scene of bustling activity revealed before him.

The entire Order was here. A climate-controlling field had been raised over the training grounds, and the Radiant Knights had all taken off their red-gold armors, wearing simple freeflowing garments instead. They had gathered in one impressive crowd to train in a collective manner, executing joint maneuvers against Æther illusions, sparring with each other, or did basic exercises in unison. Dragons flew above the training grounds, testing their mettle, and spewed firebreath in blasts of hypercharged plasma.

Airo paused momentarily at the foot of the training grounds, stunned and impressed by the amazing displays despite himself. The sight of a sky filled with dragons made his mind churn with black memories. He suppressed those dark images, willing himself to focus on the bright, child-like wonder the spectacle before him brought, reminding himself for whom he tried to change. Regaining his composure, he fell into step and walked onto the training grounds.

On all sides Radiant Knights busily went through their motions with disciplined determination. At one of the grounds, Stamat led a group of forty Knights through series of martial katas and Æther-channeling exercises. At another area, sectioned off into individual micro-raised platforms by the smart variforming surfaces, Lylana sparred with the Emaerel twins. The huge Scorchlander woman moved in a blur despite her enormous size, and the lithe twins constantly danced around her, avoiding her lightning-fast attacks and trying to land strikes of their own. Airo exchanged curt nods with the twins when they noticed him, moving further into the training grounds. He passed by another sparring platform, where Kiana and Zuckeroff were engaged in a duel, both dressed in their Sol Force uniforms. They fought with staves, an unusual choice of weapon for a contemporary soldier, and the astrior was clearly outclassed.

"No, it's not fair!" Zuckeroff complained, narrowly dodging a swishing swipe to his head. "You promised the second round to be with weapons, but I thought you meant knives!"

"Why, just so you'd wipe the floor with me again, gamebrain?" Kiana retorted, swiftly closing the distance. "You should learn not to rely exclusively on your strengths, astro boy!" She twirled her staff with skilled precision and tripped Zuckeroff.

He fell flat on his back, his staff clanking away. "Oof! But I like my strengths! I– Uh, hey Boss!"

Kiana glanced briefly over her shoulder. "Huh, so it's not a trick." She did a double take. "Void damn, I had forgotten you wore anything else besides armor, Commander."

Airo snorted. "And your file never mentioned you being proficient in polearms."

Kiana grinned. "Keeping secrets about myself is fun," she said. "Especially when they turn into nasty surprises for those who try to screw with me."

"Noted," Airo remarked, continuing on his way. "Carry on."

"Uh, Ki, can I spar in power armor for the third round?" he heard Zuckeroff asking behind him.

"Suuure, but I'll use my Conduit powers then."

"Aw..."

Airo headed towards the stone keep which rested squarely between the training grounds. Shouts, grunts, and battle cries echoed around, accompanied by other combative sounds. Every Radiant Knight was here, as Yeoman Cloud was capable of surveiling and running the entire stronghold on its own. As far as Airo could see, only two individuals were conspicuously absent: Magus Dei and Mentoria.

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The stone keep looked old and worn compared to the brilliant, advanced aesthetic of the grounds around it. The keep was shaped like a pagoda, giving it an elegant temple-like appearance. Its were crenelations covered by slated roofs, the edges of each floor spreading like the wings of a dragon, and the top gave the impression of a star rising toward the cosmos. Glawlrhain stood on the stone steps which led to the keep's entrance. He watched Airo approach with his intense amber eyes, his snout tendrils waving gently despite the lack of wind.

"So, you came after all," the small blue-green dragon said when Airo reached the stairway.

"I did, although I do not know what exactly are your intentions."

"It was all in the message," Glawlrhain replied calmly. "Team training. It is time you and your partner to start synchronizing and work together."

"My partner...?" Airo's mind tingled. It couldn't be...

The training master nodded, and pointed a talon beyond Airo's shoulder. "She awaits you on the field over there."

He turned, and saw a vacant area among the teeming grounds. Veralla stood there at its center, her gaze riveted skyward, watching the other dragons, her body language conveying fascinated excitement and, Airo discerned, intense longing.

"Go," Glawlrhain said. "I shall watch from here."

Airo heeded the instruction, not realizing he was obeying a dragon. He approached the designated platform, his legs suddenly feeling heavier. He stood beside Veralla and patted her soft, leathery wing.

"Airo!" she said happily, turning to face him, her expression joyful. "You are here!"

"Yes, I am," he said, surprisingly relieved. For some reason, he felt glad at the prospect of practicing alongside Veralla.

"Oh, then we can begin! Glawlrhain said I am to be sparring with you! It is like fighting, only we are testing each other, not hurting each other."

"Sparring?" Airo repeated.

"Yes! Just like the others are doing so right now!" She turned her brilliant purple eyes back to the sky. "I have fought against illusions many times and sparred with other Knights a few times, but this is different!" She lowered her gaze again, and smiled warmly at him. "This time I shall train with you, as a team! As soulkin! It is... wonderful, yes?" she asked, abruptly hesitant.

"Yes, it is wonderful," Airo calmly replied. He turned off the shields belt. The air within the climate field still felt cold and wintry, but bearable. He met Veralla's eyes and somehow managed a smile of his own. "Let us train then... together."

She rawr–ed happily. "Yay! We must begin with warm-up first! I could skip it, but Glawlrhain says it is very important to do it, especially for humans."

"Yes, true enough," he said and began performing basic katas. In truth, he was already warm from his run up the mountain, yet he felt awkward about the whole situation, and took the opportunity to stall for time.

He watched as Veralla, too, started to move in practiced patterns, noticing how different yet familiar her techniques were. He worked through his routine almost unconsciously, focused instead on her. Her body was still quite irregular, the wings and limbs stunted despite her slight growth, yet her motions were sleek and fluid, articulating well-learned proficiency.

He contemplated how much she had changed him; by saving his life and by offering him company time and time again, even when he hadn't wanted anything but to dwell on his own misery. Gradually, he had started opening up to her. They played computer games together. They shared meals. They talked freely, discussing all kinds of things, yet unlike during their time in Dragon Retreat where he was mostly educating and informing her, now they often spoke as equals – an unique notion given how Veralla had lived for less than a year.

He still kept his deepest thoughts to himself, locked away into the darkest corners of his psyche. However, now he felt he had someone who was willing to listen to him, even if he never touched upon his real issues. The burning desire for revenge was still present, and he still felt emptiness engulf him when memories of the past resurfaced unbidden in his mind. Yet he abandoned alcohol in favor of his companionship with Veralla, slowly learning to seek her sweet presence and idealistic demeanor, instead of drowning in rumination or the murky liquids of the bottle. Slowly learning to be normal, and have other feelings besides overwhelming rage and infinite grief.

Slowly learning to be himself again.

He focused on the present, and finished his favorite seven-strike kata. "All right, I am ready," he said.

"Okay!" Veralla said. "Almost done!" She spun rapidly, twisting and coiling in elaborate forms, which seemed difficult to perform with her specific body shape. "There! I am ready, too!" She turned to face him, standing on all fours, bent to one side, right wing and tail held high and poised for strike.

He nodded, raising his arms, one palm facing her and the other the ground, and put his foot slightly forward. "Begin then."

"Wait! Are you not going to use a sword? Or some other weapon? There are sparring versions in the keep."

"No thank you, I am fine such as it is."

"But you do not have claws or teeth! I mean, you have teeth, but they are impractical for combat, and your skin, I am told, is very soft and you can easily be injured and–"

"Veralla, I know what I am doing. I am trained to fight under any circumstance. Now, you can begin sparring whenever you feel like."

"Oh, okay." She hrrr–ed indecisively. "Can you... attack me first? I am more comfortable with defensive techniques than offensive ones."

"All right. Here I come."

The fight began.

He took a step forward, aiming a medium-fast kick at her shoulder. She evaded the blow and lashed with her tail at a downward angle. He easily dodged her strike and tried to hit her with his fist, but her profile was too low. Sidestepping her follow-up lunge, he adjusted stance, feet spreading wide, putting his center of gravity near her level. She reared, swiping claws at him in a simple combo, and he closed in, slapping one strike away and blocking the other. Having made first contact, he kicked again, choosing her hindleg as another non-vital spot. Yet she twisted away, bringing her wing to bear, and buffeted his left side.

He stepped back. It wasn't a solid hit, but it surprised him nonetheless. He readjusted his tactics, taking into account the skill she displayed with all available limbs. They exchanged several more strikes and counterstrikes as he tested her capabilities. She knew what she was doing, but lacked experience.

He decided to press her hard and rushed forward, ducking under her thrust, bringing forth a powerful jab at her chest. She surprised him once more – she leaped over him, tail and wings spread wide for balance, a kick of her own flying toward his back as she was landing behind him. He narrowly parried the blow with an outflung arm; his muscles stiffened from the hard impact with her sturdy hindleg.

He disengaged, and took a second to reevaluate his judgment. He was surprised at the combat aptitude she was demonstrating despite her utter pacifism. If this was all Glawlrhain's work, then the stunted dragon truly deserved his tittle of training master. Airo watched Veralla stalking closer, uncertainty and determination both visible in her amethyst gaze.

Well, she is a dragon, after all.

He squared his shoulders and decided to not hold back himself anymore. He rushed at her anew, using his favorite seven-strike kata to rain a flurry of deadly blows. She was caught off-guard by his sudden assault and he landed several punches, her juvenile scales giving in under the full-force strikes. She growled briefly as she went on the defensive, using mobility to keep out of harm's way. Her low profile was still giving her the advantage, yet he was starting to adapt to the challenge of fighting her thusly. He began to think how to end this match.

In one sudden motion, she stood upright and threw off his momentum. His leg swipe turned into a last-moment roll, barely evading the tail aimed at his hip. He rose to his full height, right on time to perform a series of blocks and dodges as she counterattacked him in a martial style very close to his own, her claws closed into fists. Her reach wasn't great, crippled by her short limbs, yet her footwork was nearly on par with his own. It was a perfectly-timed strategy switch, taking him effort to recover; but her tactical brilliancy was ultimately short-lived as he stifled her advance, and moved to defeat her as they fought in a position more convenient to him.

Something flashed across his mind. The perspective changed, as if he had a sudden out-of-body experience, seeing his own sweat-drenched uniformed self.

Wait near--take blow--kick behind shin...

What???

Airo stumbled, as his senses returned to normal. His strike missed completely, his calf outflung underneath him, his balance utterly removed.

He fell on the ground with a thud.