The closer they got to Santollia City, the less Indenuel slept. The thought of meeting and being trained by the other High Elders, of being confirmed the Warrior, training with the King’s Militia, it was a lot. And now he didn’t have Nathaniel’s trainings at lunch to distract him from it all.

Indenuel tapped his finger relentlessly against the table as he tried to study swordplay from the books in front of him. The anxious energy all around the camp was evident. They would arrive in Santollia City that night. Something everyone else was excited about but him.

Every so often he looked up to see Aaron and Diego sword fighting, but he didn’t join in. He hoped he possessed the mental capacity to stop himself from using corruptive powers on children, but he didn’t dare try. Besides, he doubted Rosa would allow him. He couldn’t help but think how these boys, only a few years younger than himself, were already leagues better than him at the sword.

Adosina approached, smiling. “Hello.”

He stood enough to give a bow. “Would you like to…” He glanced at the small table he sat at. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to sit with him. Almost as though the servants read his thoughts, another small table and chair were brought forward, placing it next to him. It unnerved him how much his every whim was catered to. “Right. Would you like to sit?”

She smiled as she moved her red skirt enough to sit next to him. “Are you excited to enter Santollia City tonight?”

“That is certainly one of the words I would use to describe how I feel,” Indenuel said.

She gave him a soft smile. “You haven’t touched your lunch.” He looked at the plate that was to the side of his books before he brought it closer to him. “You look positively ill. There is no doubt in my mind that you are the Warrior. The High Elders will see that too.”

“Yes, well, their confirmation is what makes me so nervous. For what I must do after.”

“Would it help to talk of other things?” The quiet concern was there in her voice.

“It would.” He chose to ignore proper etiquette and began to stuff his lunch in his mouth. He continued to shovel food into his mouth because it was something he needed to gain energy for whatever would happen tonight.

“If you are to mentally prepare to meet anyone from the city, it will be my mother,” Adosina said with a smile as she watched her nephews fighting. “She is going to take one look at you and invite you to dinner on the spot, in which she will stuff you with so much delicious food you won’t eat for a week.”

Indenuel moved the food in his mouth toward his cheek in order to talk. “I would very much like to meet your mother.”

If she was annoyed by his lack of etiquette, it did not show in her voice or in her tone. “And my mother is just as relentless as my father in getting me married, if not more so. Do not buckle under their pressure.”

Indenuel drained his waterskin and swallowed. “Right. I shall do my best.”

“Despite all this, though, I hope you are not too busy in the city to come visit occasionally,” Adosina said.

“On the contrary, I believe a social visit would be necessary to keep me sane. As long as you’re with me, I’m sure I’ll manage.” He stopped to think about what he said. “I mean, you know… as a … as a friend. Not in…” Heat began to creep up his cheeks. Once again he was in danger of making an ass of himself. “That’s not… I don’t want to imply that-”

“I know,” she said, touching his elbow and smiling. “And if you feel obligated to confirm to me every time that we are, indeed, just friends, I fear it will make you so uncomfortable that you will not wish to be friends much longer.”

Indenuel sighed. “I’m trying. I’m not used to being friends with women.”

“Well thank you for trying. Not a lot of men put forth the effort,” Adosina said. “Or, rather, men often try for a friendship with other goals in mind.”

He smiled as he finished up his lunch. “So hopefully I can compliment your dress? Is that something friends can do without it being awkward?”

She beamed as she held her arms out. “You most certainly can! I love this red color. It’s glorious.” She tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear when a thought crossed her mind. “I’m assuming you don’t know how to dance.” It was such a random question, one he was not expecting in the slightest, which made him give her a curious look. She gave a nervous smile. “I’m certain it is not high on your priority list now. It might be easier to turn other women down once you enter the city.”

“Other… women?” Indenuel asked, trying not to sound frightened.

“After worship services on the Sabbath, the nobility all get together for a luncheon at the palace to break their fast. They have parties afterwards with music and dancing. And I would be a terrible friend if I didn’t warn you earlier. The fact that you are a mysterious man coming to fulfill a prophecy to unite the world has its own allure. It doesn’t help that you’re also tall and handsome.” Adosina shook her head. “You are going to be hounded by all the ladies in court.”

Somehow, among everything else he had to worry about, it was this that finalized how much he wanted to turn around and march right back to Mountain Pass. Or at least go home, gather the children, and find a different town to settle down in.

Martin approached them, smiling. “I am anxious to be home! Let’s pack up early and head out!” He looked positively giddy, ignoring the horrified look that was most definitely on Indenuel’s face. The servants all bowed as he and Adosina got up from their tables so they could quickly pack things away.

Indenuel did his best to smile before she disappeared into her own carriage and the horrified look returned to his face as he climbed into his own. Tolomon followed behind, and once again Indenuel forgot he was there.

He sat on the bench as the carriage began to move, feeling the weight of everything begin to press down on him. They rode in silence, and Indenuel didn’t do much except stare at a portion of the carriage, trying to wrap his mind around everything. Honestly, it was the first time anyone had called him handsome. He hated that he liked it, and more importantly, hated how excited he was at the thought that he might be married one day. But that was far, far in the future. He never thought it would happen, and now it was happening somehow all at once. Adosina seemed to think he’d have a pick of whatever woman he wanted, and that somehow felt worse.

They headed to Santollia City where he would be declared the Warrior. Honestly, he’d be far more surprised if the High Elders didn’t declare him as the Warrior. And then… he would train to fulfill the prophecy. Stop the war. Bring peace. Somehow fit in with the highest social class.

Choose a wife.

Tolomon broke the silence. “Indenuel? Are you alright?”

“Fine,” he said too quickly and an octave or two higher than normal. “Absolutely fine. Why do you ask?”

The look Tolomon gave was almost brotherly in nature, mostly teasing with an undercurrent of concern. “I know what another human being looks like right before they faint. You are a few steps away from it.”

Indenuel began fanning himself with the books he was supposed to be reading from as he became aware of how little air the carriage possessed. “I’m… just…” He didn’t bother finishing. He closed his eyes and let out a breath. The sun began to descend toward the horizon. Someone shouted that they could see the wall through the trees surrounding Santollia City. They had another few miles yet.

He leaned forward, covered his head in his hands, sucking in air.

“All the way between your knees,” Tolomon said, pushing his head down.

“I hate this,” he said through gritted teeth as he stared at the floor of the carriage. “I want it to be already done.”

“What to already be done?” Tolomon asked.

“Everything. The High Elders to proclaim me as the Warrior. For me to already have the sword skills needed,” Indenuel said.

Tolomon chuckled. “You might as well want the war to already be over too.”

“Yes. That too.” His breathing got easier, but he remained staring at the floor. “Life after the war should already be here.” He eased back up and took the water skin from Tolomon. He drank enough to wet his dry mouth and took a steadying breath. “This may be a stupid question, but do Graduates fight in the war? Or are you just bodyguards for the upper class?”

“If we don’t have an assignment, we are sent to where we are needed in the war,” Tolomon said.

“Nathaniel said you’re the best,” Indenuel said.

“You are the Warrior. They are only going to send the best.”

Tolomon acted as though the High Elders already proclaimed him to be the Warrior. He was strangely touched by it. “Did you have an assignment before this?”

“Once I had proven my skills on the battlefield, I rotate through the Kings Court, often guarding the King and Queen themselves,” Tolomon said.

The fresh, warm air came in through the carriage. Indenuel saw the wall of the city through the sparse trees and felt lightheaded all over again. He needed to keep the conversation going to relieve his mind from the nerves he felt. “What do you think of the war?”

Tolomon raised an eyebrow. “War in general? This war?”

“This one, mainly. I mean, you’ve fought in it, then you’ve gone to protect the people who deal with the politics of it. What do you think?”

Tolomon said nothing for a moment, studying Indenuel’s face. “The war needs to end, that’s what I think. Preferably with us as the victors.”

“And Kiam? What do you think about them?” Indenuel asked.

“I try not to.”

“Why not?”

Tolomon let out a tiny sigh. “Because I’ve been asked to kill them.”

Indenuel frowned. “Shouldn’t we try to reach out in compassion?”

“That time has passed.” Indenuel couldn’t help but feel confused, and it must have been clear on his face, because Tolomon continued. “Have you ever had someone track you down and beat you up? And has your reaction ever been to try and be more compassionate? Or has it been to build up your strength to make sure they never get the opportunity to do that again?”

Indenuel winced before looking away. He was reminded of Lucia, who had promised him if they were just nicer to the townspeople, they would stop. But they never did. They continued to bully him because in their minds, not only was he a child of a witch, but he’d never be strong enough to fight back. He could have fought back, and often had, secretly, with the corruptive powers. However, no one knew it was him, so they continued to bully him. He wanted to prove he was just as strong, if not stronger than everyone in the village, but Lucia stopped him. Over and over she warned him that to be discovered meant his death. The four powers would be dangerous for him and everyone around him. But that clearly never happened. He had been discovered and about to be proclaimed the most powerful person in the world.

So the real person holding him back the whole time was Lucia, for reasons he still didn’t understand.

“We’d all like to think we’re full of compassion and mercy until the first enemy soldier comes at us with a sword, ready to kill. You learn to fight back. You kill, or you be killed. The Kiam will rule the world, or we will.”

Indenuel gave a small nod.

“The gate is approaching!” a driver yelled.

He glanced out the window again to see the wall. The carriage stopped and Martin was already walking past, talking to the guards. A few guards searched the carriages before waving them on in. Martin patted Indenuel’s carriage door, his face beaming with delight as he opened it and climbed inside. “Adosina and Rosa will return home with most of the other carriages, but we will make our way to the Cathedral.”

“Are you sure? You haven’t seen your family in well over a year,” Indenuel said.

“I know. But this should not take much time at all! It is an historic event! Let’s go!” Martin said.

The gates opened and Indenuel heard a huge cry, far louder than anything he had heard in the towns. He peeked out the window to see the most people he had ever seen in his entire life. The streets were crowded, people shouting for joy and screaming in delight. All for him.

He shrunk back from the window, though he still couldn’t help but stare at the towering buildings. He thought two story buildings were the highest a person could go, but he passed buildings that had a fourth, sometimes even a fifth level, and he was mesmerized by them. How could buildings get so high? There were people in them, leaning out the windows, waving their handkerchiefs, and all he could think of was the fear for their safety. That was really, really high up.

The carriage slowed down. There were so many people clogging the streets. Fear crept back into Indenuel’s chest. There were a ton of people, more people than he could ever hope to get to know.

“Ah, I haven’t seen the city so alive since the peace treaty of the Four Nations was signed. This is a beautiful sight,” Martin said as he waved out the window.

Indenuel should wave too, act like the fearless Warrior everyone expected, but he couldn’t. Instead, he worked on trying not to vomit.

The carriage slowed to a crawl as they inched through the city. Martin, happy, cheerful, charismatic, waved at the people, laughed with their joy, and made sure the energy of the entire city continued to grow. Indenuel stared at nothing, willing it to already be over as Tolomon kept an eye on him and the people who got far too close to the carriage.

The carriage stopped and Martin beamed at Indenuel. “We’re here at the Cathedral! Come on, my boy!”

He leapt out of the carriage before Indenuel realized what he meant. Indenuel took a deep breath then let it out before he followed Tolomon out. There were stone steps leading up to the Cathedral, and the noise was almost to a fever pitch. Indenuel followed Martin up the steps when he raised his gaze. He saw the Cathedral, and his steps slowed until he came to a stop. He couldn’t help himself. He had no idea a building could be a work of art itself. There was a spire at each corner of the cathedral stretching far above the city, to what looked like heaven itself. The Cathedral was the largest Indenuel had ever seen, able to swallow the entire town of Tavi. He thought five stories was tall, but the Cathedral stretched far higher than those buildings, almost peering over the city like a mother hen, scratching the heavens themselves. Indenuel saw circular windows on the front of the Cathedral, and he couldn’t help but marvel. He thought all windows were square. How did one even begin to create circular windows?

“Coming?” Martin asked. Indenuel tore his gaze from the Cathedral to look at Martin, who was smiling. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?”

Indenuel couldn’t speak. He looked again at the Cathedral, taking it in, its height, the stone, the archways, the statues somehow carved into the building. All of it was a marvel. He forced his legs to move up the stone steps, still admiring the Cathedral, aware the people were cheering all around him. He again tore his gaze from the Cathedral and saw the people at the bottom of the stone steps being held back by guards. He saw them, the people, the joy on their faces, the tears in their eyes, all looking at him. Him, the one to bring peace after a long, tiresome war. He gave them a wave, and they all seemed to wave back. It was such a weird feeling.

Martin opened the door and Indenuel walked in. Again, he was distracted as he walked inside. The worship hall was filled with light from the setting sun, and the stone seemed to shine beneath them. There was a quiet energy about the place, and when the guards closed the door, the cheers and joy from outside seemed far quieter.

There were hundreds of pews. The congregation size was something he simply could not comprehend. Well over a thousand people could comfortably fit in this worship hall. Maybe even two thousand. He stared at the four seats at the front of the Cathedral. They almost looked like thrones made of bronze. Almost, because the larger seat behind them was definitely a throne. It was raised up so everyone could see it, made of pure gold.

“For when the Savior returns,” Martin said, noticing where Indenuel’s gaze had turned to. He was still speechless. “Come, my boy. The other High Elders are waiting for us in our meditation room.”