In my opinion, the pantheon is the greatest work of art in this world. Not only because of the excitement of its mere existence, but also because of its composition, which allows for countless interpretations about how the entities came to exist, why they disappeared and where they went.
In my opinion, one of the most interesting aspects is the way each entity represents one of the feelings or phases of life in this world, and yet the most important feeling does not have a representative among the entities listed by countless poets and scholars.
The one entity never personified in this world: Love.
The feeling that is impossible to describe before feeling it. The sensation capable of causing unparalleled joy and unparalleled pain.
If my opinion is worth anything to you, consider what I say: Love is not an entity because it is the only sensation impossible to describe and it is not possible to personify such feeling in an “image”, since it would have a different appearance to each person seeing it. Some may say that the same could be said about peace, pain, and many other sensations, to what I say: Ask a mother if she can accept the concept of peace that is brought to her by a third party, and then ask the same mother if she is able to accept another's view of love for their offspring. Ask her if the other person's concept perfectly describes the love she feels for her children.
At that moment you will see, in the mother's confused gaze, the impossible complexity of a feeling that cannot be seen with the eyes, described by the tongue or embodied by an entity.
A feeling that can only be felt with all of your heart.
Aeronn V. R. Thewnes – Small Thoughts
*
At each day lived in this new planet, Arthur learned different concepts about the way of thinking and living in this world. Simple concepts from planet Earth, such as the value of life itself, for example, materialized in an absolutely different way in this place where wars, hunger and many other basic things were even farther from ending than on his home planet.
Not to mention the never-ending impact of the lack of technology and the existence of magic as some kind of substitute for all-purposes, whether it's for lighting, creating heat or moving products.
From the ground up, this society was nothing like anything he had ever seen and he knew he had not even finished scratching the surface of this world.
Ogres, orcs, nymphs and lupines did not encapsulate the number of creatures he could encounter. And, although exciting, such prospects were, at the same time, frightening.
-That's why I need to arrange some things. – After a few minutes talking to Galaaz, Arthur finally seems to get to the reason why he took the wolf to the door of his room. - I still don’t know if I can do this with Rinlia, but, with you, I believe it is the right time.
-What are you talking about? - The wolf is aware of the presence of someone behind the bedroom door, waiting for them.
-Galaaz, you're smarter than that. – Arthur shakes his head. – You know that I need allies. And I need those allies to be able to see each other face to face. You know I've been looking for someone these past few days. She is behind this door. – The boy takes a deep breath. - I was afraid to do this because you could turn me over to the authorities and she would be exposed. But she explained to me some things about the promise you made and I will use the privilege you gave me to ask you not to betray my trust, ok?
Arthur opens the door and they slowly enter the room.
The house is empty, except for the three individuals in that room.
Arthur closes the door.
-Galaaz, this is Akemi. Akemi, this is Galaaz. If you two want to help me, I hope you don't attack each other and, if possible, I want you to be friends.
Despite knowing that this moment would come, the wolf is unable to let his guard down. His back arches and his fangs are exposed. He can feel the magic shift in the environment.
Such magic, by the way, presented itself in all its forms at that moment. While Galaaz himself emitted energy unconsciously and in small amounts, Arthur was more like a neutral, almost invisible presence. Akemi, on the other hand, was similar to a black hole. Although inactive, looking at the incorporeal, the lupine realized her potential. The way that, if she wanted to, she could attack and leave him close to death with just a small effort.
-Galaaz, please calm down. - Arthur asks, standing next to the girl with black hair. – We need to work together.
Though unconsciously threatening, Akemi has a sympathetic smile on her face. She anticipated the wolf's fear and was prepared to defend herself.
-It's a pleasure to meet you again, in better conditions this time. – She says and her voice surprises the wolf. – I hope we can be allies from now on.
Galaaz' mind has difficulties accepting the situation. As much as he tried to reason, his instincts still screamed. All of his fur stands up. All the history of the world seems to tell him that this is not a good idea.
But he took an oath. And she didn't attack him.
Galaaz sighs. The image of Arthur, beside the girl, makes it easier to decide.
That's the human he swore loyalty to. A debt of life.
An oath that cannot be broken.
-I hope we can be allies too.
*
Thiago opens and closes his fists, in an effort to repress the anxiety that invades his chest.
“I can't show nervousness. In fact, I can't show anything, or I'll get in his way.”
He concentrates, taking a deep breath with each blow from Bernard's cudgel. Fiandel's military leader doesn't even seem to notice him, too busy shredding the bones of the prisoner's left leg in the dungeons of the kingdom.
- Are you ready to talk now? – Bernard's deep voice scares Thiago, even if he is not the one being interrogated.
Bernard was dressed for the occasion. He wore no shirt and his leather pants and shoes had no protection purposes. In fact, he seemed to purposely let blood from the prisoners' wounds bathe his chest, arms and legs.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
"One of them is already dead." Thiago thinks, glancing at a pale-skinned warrior with skinny limbs. He was one of the soldiers who had been brought in for questioning thanks to information gathered by Bernard and a little help from Thiago, who had identified the two prisoners in furtive conversations at various times when army authorities were not watching them.
And now here he was, watching the "interrogation" for the last hours. With every moment Bernard became more aggressive, less concerned with the damage of each blow.
And, although his cooperation was undeniable, it was hard for Thiago to understand why Bernard had brought him to watch. Maybe to scare him? Or was it to make him understand the consequences of his attitudes?
-Come on, open your mouth before I break your other leg. Or your head. – Bernard’s voice, though not a scream, sounds loud inside the windowless room. He is like a superhuman figure demanding explanations from a worm.
-I already told you... – The prisoner speaks through his recently broken teeth. – I… I have no idea who gave the order.
-But you got the gold, didn't you? You received a fat reward and became careless. You thought you were above the ranks and that no one in the lower ranks would try to identify you. What gave you so much confidence? What is the rank of the one who hired you?
-I don't know... I just know it's someone important.
-I already know that, your useless piece of garbage. - He bangs the prisoner’s head with the club, venting his frustration for the hours spent on this task. - Be more specific! Who hired you? Who planned everything?
-I... I don't know...
-That is a lie! – Bernard spits on the floor between them. - You must have at least met an intermediary who made the payment to plant false evidence in my room. Someone who wanted to link me to a conspiracy that doesn't exist. For what? To weaken my position or Yvanna's position? To create distrust in whose hearts? Njalmar’s or Connor’s? And for what? To weaken the royal family or to weaken the kingdom? Come on! Answer me!
But it would be impossible to demand answers from the prisoner. His head hung over his chest and he exhaled after losing a lot of blood from his wounds.
Bernard sighs and remains silent for several minutes.
Thiago makes an effort not to show any emotion. Not when he realizes both prisoners are dead, not when he notices Bernard washing blood from his arms and face with water from a bucket.
-Let's go. I’m finished here. – The warrior announces to the soldier after putting on a shirt and discarding the weapon in front of the bodies. – They really didn't know anything else.
-Then why-
-Because I wanted them to admit that they received the order. Because I needed to know for sure that you had gotten the information I needed and had brought in the pawns who carried out someone's orders.
-Is that why you brought me?
-It's one of the reasons. - Bernard passes through the door, leaning over to pass through the entrance and turning to the guards posted outside: - Clean up this mess. Dispose of the bodies, but do not put their deaths in the reports. If anyone looks for them, bring the news directly to me. Got it?
-Yes sir.
He turns back to Thiago.
-You were very helpful this time. I'm busy for the rest of the day, but I'll call you sometime for a drink. We have business to take care of.
-Yes sir.
-Don't worry, Thiago. You did well. The kingdom is closer to staying safe thanks to your help. – Bernard waves. – I won't forget that.
Thiago instinctively looks at the cell door and, inwardly, is grateful to Fate for placing him on this side of the door.
*
Arthur arrived at the usual open space he used for his training with Guinevere. He carried the usual concerns about his own physical condition. This time, however, the fear was intensified by the previous break granted by the warrior, who wanted to see him in the best of his physical condition so that she could change his training.
And, at first, it looked like she had forgotten what she wanted to teach him. During the first hours of the day, they trained the usual: Basic battle postures, defense and attack techniques, physical strength and development of magic manipulation.
Although exhausting, the training regimen was familiar to him and he asked no questions, yet he couldn't help but feel disappointed as he realized that the hours passed and nothing new was implemented in the routine.
Until the time the sun started to go down.
Usually, this would be the moment Guinevere would allow him to devote himself to meditation. After battle simulations, it was the time she allowed him to rest his physique and wear out his mind.
That didn't seem to be the case this time. Instead, Galaaz and Thiago arrived – Thiago was happy to participate in a training and forget what he had seen a while ago.
-Starting today, the four of us will meet for a few hours until nightfall, every day. – Guinevere announces, but the only one who receives the announcement as news is Arthur. The others had been informed in advance. - Galaaz and I will use this opportunity to improve our own methods of battle. Thiago will use the opportunity to develop the use of magic in real battles. Rinlia told me that she will advance his theoretical and individual training in their usual training sessions.
-Yes. – The soldier agrees. - She told me about it.
-For the three of us, the training will be done in shifts. We will be divided into two groups. One of the pairs will attack Arthur so he can train his physique and gain some experience in battle. – She turns to Thiago. – We can hurt him, but let's avoid fatal injuries, ok?
The soldier nods, feeling his face get red with the memory of the arena test.
-As for you, Arthur. – She turns to her student. – You will not use physical attacks at any time. Instead, you have my authorization to steal our energy and use magic. I believe we are all prepared to deal with your magic, and if I see you crossing the line, I will use my strength to stop you.
-Understood.
-You'll notice that one of us will be your pair. – She indicates herself, Galaaz and Thiago. – We'll take turns, so your partner will change all the time. Your objective is very simple: While dodging the opponents' attacks, you must use your magic to absorb our energy. We will fight in shifts so that we can recover from it. I believe that, in a training session, the three of us are enough to keep you busy.
-Ok.
-This training will also strengthen us. – She talks to Thiago and Galaaz. - We do not know what will become of the incorporeal in the future, so I want to train the recovery skill of Fiandel soldiers. This training should be a good way to test what works and what doesn't.
-It's kinda dangerous. – Galaaz says. His words, however, don't seem to matter so much to the wolf himself. – But I admit it's an interesting idea.
-Arthur, after absorbing someone's energy, I want you to transfer some energy to your ally.
-What? - The boy frowns, confused.
-You can absorb and release magic, can't you?
-Yes, but I never used it like-
-Never used it like that until now. I've been watching you and realized how much magic escapes from you. I want you to learn to consciously “give away” your energy. It's not impossible. Besides, if you don't do it, you'll fight alone.
-How so?
-Your partner will not be allowed to help you until you are transferring some energy, even in small amounts, to the other person. And if I notice that you're taking energy from your opponents and not transferring it, I'll make sure to give you a few extra bruises.
-That's... - The complaint almost escapes his lips. Guinevere's expression, however, stops him. Arthur sighs. – How do I do that?
-You've been training meditation for the past few days. By now, you should be able to pick your targets with ease, right?
He nods in agreement. She continues.
-What I want is for you to use the same method, but without the need for meditation. And, using the same technique you use to collect energy from a specific target, you must give energy to a specific target. It will be hard at first, but I believe you can do it.
Galaaz smiles without the others noticing it. Guinevere asked him and Thiago to take it slow at first to spare her student. Now, however, she makes every effort to sound unconcerned about Arthur's well-being.
The warrior herself wonders if this is the best way to train him. Forcing knowledge through confrontations could be harmful and she felt she was testing her luck with the number of times she used the method with the boy. To keep such thoughts away, she kept talking.
-That's an important skill, Arthur. I want you to work hard on obtaining it, okay? – She does not wait for an answer. - If you can use your powers to recover the energy of allies and weaken enemies... In a battle this is more than just an advantage. It would be enough to change the course of a war. Do you understand that?
-Yea. – He says, trying hard not to stutter.
-Then, let's start. The day is almost over and we have a lot of work ahead of us.
*
*