After hearing the news about Seb’s death, Jeze remained with the Frostsworn, but her mind was distant. She and the other Proven trained alongside the Carls, which consisted of strength exercises and drills. Jeze moved heavy stones and climbed poles, and the exertions kept her mind from falling into the ever-present pit of despair that loomed beneath her thoughts. The Carls barked orders, and the Proven partnered up to drill combat simulations that involved parries, dodges, counters, and footwork placements.

Jeze was given a break, and she sat against a pole and drank from her waterskin. Ziplocke was off somewhere and she was alone with her thoughts. They crept up like lurking shadows from the recesses of her mind. How did Seb die? Was he murdered because of the report he wrote based on the information she shared? Was she responsible for his death like Raynor’s? This last thought fueled a rage in her. No! It was Drake and the Empire and their stupid lie. Jeze seethed and vowed that she would make them pay. A shadow fell over her, and she looked up with shock to notice that Berserker Orn had approached her.

“You are distracted over your loss,” the thin bearded man observed.

Jeze quickly jumped to her feet and apologized. “Yes, but I will stay focused! I promise,” she said.

Orn shook his head and replied, “Emotions are like fire and water. We need them to survive. If we repress them, we die. But, if we let them overcome us we will be burned and drowned. It is a difficult balance that can not be taught. Only experienced.”

Jeze nodded and gritted her teeth, “I will use this to strengthen me.”

“Good,” the Berserker said and beckoned Jeze to hand over her battle axe.

She complied and Orn took a few measured practice swings emphasizing the rotation of his hips, his shoulder, and his wrist. His movements were precise as if the axe was an extension of his body. He smoothly switched between one handed and two handed grips like the changing of the seasons.

“It is said that the sword is the elegant weapon. I see the beauty in the axe,” Orn said and demonstrated forward and backward swings with fluidity and grace.

The Berserker continued, “The sword’s weight is in the hilt. This allows the blade to quickly maneuver to stab, to slice, and to deflect. With the sword, no movement is final, and with mastery, all attacks can be switched and changed with ease.”

Orn stopped his practice swings and looked at Jeze with his deep, icy blue eyes. She felt that he could see into her soul.

“You fight with the axe and the dagger in the old ways of our people. You move like the Wolf and the Bear,” The Berserker observed and tapped the axe.

“The axe’s weight is in the head. This creates power,” Orn said and demonstrated a slow, precise swing. He explained, “Start with the hip, then the shoulder, then the arm, and finally the wrist. All come together to channel into the axe head. Like with speaking, once you swing the axe, it can not be taken back.”

All Jeze could do was nod. Orn’s presence was all-encompassing, and she strained to catch the meaning behind his words. She recognized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to speak with an Adept-ranked adventurer. She feared if she misspoke, or failed to answer, that he would leave and the lesson and meaning would be lost to her forever.

Orn said, “You can not be careful with the axe like you can with the sword. It requires commitment, and it will punish hesitation. When you learn to control the axe, you will be able to deliver a powerful blow that will bring with it the end to your enemies and glory to you. But, if you let it control you, it will throw off your balance and make you vulnerable to your enemies.”

He completed a pattern of downward chops and upward slices that utilized his full body. Each movement was precise and full of contained power. Orn flipped the axe over to hand the weapon, handle first, back to Jeze.

“The discipline you develop to control the axe will serve you well to control your emotions. You will learn to direct them and not let them throw you off balance. The wise among us understand that everything we do is connected. Be well, Jeze, and may you find your glory!” Orn said with such intensity that Jeze felt a fire grow in her chest.

She returned back to training with a fiery passion, and her dark thoughts were no longer a deep pit, but rather, they became a rugged path with a purpose.

Later

In the afternoon, Jeze had lunch with Irvin in the Hall of Heroes. The older Guild Official nodded his head with a crease of his bushy white eyebrows.

“That is troubling news,” he replied after hearing about Seb’s passing.

“I think it was Drake,” Jeze growled.

Irvin stopped eating and placed a firm hand over Jeze’s hand. “Be careful with what you say. That is a dangerous accusation, and without proof, it can make things harder for you. Much harder.”

Jeze scowled and rage filled her chest. She had words she wanted to express but she recalled Orn’s wisdom, “Like with speaking, once you swing the axe, it can not be taken back.” Jeze realized she needed to heed Irvin’s advice and proceed with caution. Fighting with the axe was about timing in order to deliver the optimal blow. Attacking at the wrong moment could lead to imbalance. Irvin’s face softened upon Jeze’s silence.

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“I will keep an eye on things from my end. I will know if there are any plans for the Guild to assign the Safe Zone Squads with Empire troops. Now, I’m not saying I agree with your theories. But I do think you would be better off with the Frostsworn or even under Lady Kalina’s leadership. The Empire tends to protect their own interests more,” Irvin said.

Jeze smiled. Orn’s words rang true! Just by being silent she didn’t have to argue with Irvin. He willingly offered to aid her. Is this what it meant to achieve the higher ranks? To overcome one’s physical limits in combination with wisdom? Jeze briefly entertained the idea if she would hit Advenuturer rank soon if she kept this up. All from one talk with an Adept.

“Stop daydreaming, knucklehead!” Ziplocke snapped. The Goblin appeared on the bench next to Jeze.

“Are you alright?” Irvin asked.

Jeze nodded and felt like she actually didn’t heed Orn’s full wisdom after all. “Yes, I’m fine. I have a lot on my mind is all,” she replied.

“I’m sorry. I do not know how this will change things. I know the Frostsworn were to report to Lady Kalina, but with you being a part of the Safe Zone Squad, your team may report to Miss Heng,” Irvin said softly.

Jeze sighed deeply and nodded. “Thank you, I best head over now to find out.”

The two finished their lunch and returned to their busy schedules. Activity and preparations buzzed throughout the enormous Guild compound. Merchant stalls were packing up, and Adventurers were getting ready for the trek to Mount Dragon. Irvin had said that the armies were already marching, but they were behind schedule. The chatter Jeze overheard from various Guild officials on her way to the Runic Research Division was that everyone was nervous that they were behind schedule for this upcoming Wandering Spire. The anticipation was that the monster hordes being unleashed would be the most devastating to the surrounding villages and countryside. There was even talk of assigning unbattle-tested Prospects to be stationed throughout the villages and towns of the Ironfist kingdom to aid in curtailing the monster incursions.

Jeze arrived on the Runic Research Division floor and it was cordoned off by guards. They recognized her and allowed her to pass. It was sobering for Jeze to see the normally packed chamber be empty and quiet. With dread, she came upon the area where Seb worked. Scorch marks marred dark stone floors and walls. Val was on her knees and cried hysterically. Through tear-filled eyes, the blonde assistant glared briefly at Jeze before returning to her theatrics. Jeze scowled, even while she cried she felt that Val was being fake.

The other Safe Zone Squad members stood in solemn silence. Jeze realized she never got to know them. She instructed them on the Portal Runes and created Channeling tools alongside them, but she never had long conversations with them. She was always so busy that her work with the Runic Research Division went by quickly before she headed to practice disarming traps, and afterward, she finished her day enchanting armor in the back of Hannah’s tent.

“What happened?” She asked a familiar young adventurer. He had curly dark hair, and Rune tattoos along his arms and neck. Jeze recognized the glyphs as being from the Iron Fist Kingdom. He was on the path to achieve the Iron Body, like Lady Kalina.

“They say that Seb inscribed the incorrect Rune and triggered an explosion. You know more on the patterns than I,” the young man replied.

“What?” Jeze asked. That seemed unlike Seb.

The young adventurer shrugged and answered, “He was working so much. He could have been tired and made a careless mistake. It is a reminder that Rune magic can be dangerous.”

Jeze thought otherwise and scanned the small crowd for Drake and Miss Heng. She found Miss Heng right away, but the dark skinned agent was no where to be seen. What was he up to? She wondered. Ziplocke scampered up onto her shoulder.

“How unfortunate. I liked Seb. I wager he made a very good shocked face upon his death,” the Goblin snickered quietly into Jeze’s ear.

The teenager glared so fiercely at her bonded companion that the Goblin cowed.

“Too soon?” Ziplocke whimpered and climbed down to hide behind her knees.

Miss Heng saw Jeze and nodded. The Amber Guard spoke to the gathered Safe Zone Squad.

“Seb will be missed. He was an extremely valued member of the Guild. But, even he would not want us to waste precious time mourning his passing. There is much work to be done as the Wandering Spire is set to appear in just two weeks. I will be taking over his duties until further notice.”

“What happened?” Jeze asked. She tried her best to keep her voice neutral but couldn’t help that it came out as a demand.

Miss Heng’s dark eyes narrowed before she answered, “That is a good question. Let this be a lesson to everyone. Rune Magic must not be taken lightly. As the Safe Zone Squad, it is imperative that you examine the Rune circles before channeling any of your Will into them. Seb was testing the Channeling tools and made the careless mistake of not inspecting the circle. It cost him his life. It is common for the glyphs to become marred through use. In most cases, this would simply cause the magic to fail. In others, it can cause a dangerous backlash of energies. That is what we believe to have happened to Seb.”

Jeze wanted to shout. Seb was too careful, but she held her words in check. Like the battle axe, one must control one's emotions and commit to them only when the time was right. Jeze heeded Orn’s words of wisdom.

“What do we do now?” Val asked. Her question came out as a near screech.

“You need to keep yourself composed,” Heng growled, and the blonde assistant whimpered for a moment before subsiding.

The Amber guard continued, “I have written everyone’s assignments on this board. We will finish testing the remaining Channeling tools and craft a few more. Once those objectives are met, we will begin packing up and preparing to head out.”

“How will we be assigned?” Jeze asked.

Miss Heng glanced at the teenager and responded, “You all are to report here as usual and check the board to know your assignments. Plans are still being made.”

“I request that I remain with the Frostsworn,” Jeze stated.

“Not everything is about you,” Miss Heng snapped with a glare toward the teenager. “You are all dismissed,” she announced and departed.

Everyone milled about before Val barked, “You all heard her. We have work to do! All of you, get busy!”

“Too bad she didn’t get blown up. The look on that smug face, before she realizes the end is near, would be something I would treasure for all eternity,” Ziplocke snickered.

Jeze glanced at the Goblin and, for once, agreed with his morbid thinking.