Chapter 66 - Embracing the Unknown

“It’s getting late,” Skyle whispered softly, looking down at his baby sister’s sleeping face.

“This is the first time in a long while that I’ve seen her with such a peaceful face. Can we let her sleep a little longer?” Reik whispered back.

Skyle looked down guiltily at his baby sister. The serious lines of her face had softened into an angelic visage of innocence. It set something fierce and hot loose inside Skyle’s chest, and he struggled for a moment against the urge to brush back a stray lock of sunkissed hair from her pale cheeks.

Looking back up to Reik, Skyle nodded and carefully leaned his back against the tree. For the next few minutes, both sons of the Farrow family sat shoulder by shoulder in silence, watching the gentle swaying of the tree above.

That is, until a soft, snoring sound broke the peaceful moment.

Both Skyle and Reik stared speechless, not daring to believe their ears. However, after a few moments, Kassandra Farrow, the little Empress of the Farrow clan, parted her plump little lips. In between her perfect pearly teeth, another soft, barely audible snore broke the silence in the garden for the second time.

Reik covered his mouth with both hands to choke back his giggles, while Skyle’s chest rumbled with barely contained laughter. Alas, such a rare spectacle did not repeat itself for a third time.

Kass had barely begun her third snoring breath, when abruptly her eyes flew wide open and her tiny hands flew to her lips. She stared in horror at Skyle as though she didn’t dare believe her ears.

Skyle pretended like he was watching the trees above while tilting his ear to one side. Then he looked down at the little fox tangled in his arms and furrowed his brow theatrically.

“Did you hear that, Kass? I thought I heard someone snoring,” Skyle asked idly.

Kass vigorously shook her head back and forth.

“What? Really? I could swear I heard the sound of someone snoring,” Skyle insisted, then looked sideways at his baby brother. “Hey Reik, is it just me going crazy or did you hear a snoring sound?”

Reik giggled while doing his best not to laugh out loud. “Don’t mix me up in your stuff, big bro. You’re always the one that gets the worst end of the bargain in the end. I’m very happy with no claw marks all over my face, thank you very much.”

Skyle did his best imitation of Fatty’s saintly martyr look. “Well, sometimes you have to make some sacrifices to find the truth.”

Turning back to his sister, Skyle’s eyebrows flew up in his forehead. “Kass, baby girl, did you happen to hear a snoring sound? You couldn’t have missed it, it was like the roaring of a thousand bears who had been sleeping all winter long, or a whole forest being chopped down by an army of- Owww!”

Rubbing at his ribs, Skyle still couldn’t wipe the silly grin off his face.

“You bully, get off me, I’m not talking to you ever again!” Kass pouted, which really didn’t help her case at all, as it made her look even more lovely still. “I said, get off you big brute!”

In a rare act of defiance, Skyle refused to obey and clung on tighter instead. He used his fingers to tickle his baby sister’s ribs instead.

It must be said in Kass’ behalf that she put up a very valiant fight. Still, this particular little kitty could never bear to truly bare her claws against this big bully. So in the end, a breathless little girl with a face as red as an apple finally called for an unconditional cease of hostilities.

Skyle was proud of himself. Any other person would not have been able to recognize his foe’s surrender for what it was. After all, amidst all the giggling and breathless pleas for him to stop already, there were a pair of crystal sapphire eyes that promised bloody revenge as soon as the tables were turned.

Skyle trusted his baby sister though, and so with a final flurry of fiendish tickling, Skyle finally relented and let Kass back on her feet.

She swayed woozily on her feet for a moment before finally steadying herself. Then she glared furiously at Skyle while hurriedly straightening her robes. Skyle didn’t have the heart to tell her that she could forget about getting all the wrinkles and mud off her clothes now.

Instead, he looked up and saw that they were already late and should make haste to return. He would not want his mother to worry. Worse yet, he certainly wouldn’t want his father to come fetch them. Kendric Farrow would be all smiles and wouldn’t utter a single scolding word. However, Skyle knew with blind certainty that his father would find a way to make him pay for it.

He always did.

So, after Kass was satisfied with what little could be salvaged of her usually cool and aloof appearance, they set off towards the Aegis Arch.

As they walked down the cobbled paths of the academy, crowds inevitably began to gather around them once more. This was only made worse when they saw that Kass had a rare half-smile on her face. Why, some even claimed that they had heard her humming not long ago. Nobody believed such ridiculous claims, even though they swore upon their mothers’ name and their father’s honor that it was true.

Skyle resisted an urge to hold his baby sister’s hand. Skyle was used to wild forests and sweeping plains. Being in close proximity to such huge crowds always set his teeth on edge.

He glanced nervously towards Kass and Reik, his hands twitching as though he glimpsed the shadow of a fierce predator lurking behind the simpering smile of every fresh faced student.

While he was busy mentally fending off imagined attackers left and right, he did become separated from his siblings by the crowd. They kept pressing closer and closer towards the campus celebrities and had little regard for Skyle.

Reik noticed first and tried to tug at Kass’ sleeve. However, the little Empress’ dignity had been infringed upon earlier, and it was time for a little payback. She sniffed loudly as she picked up her pace, forcing Reik to follow after her after sending a helpless shake of his head towards Skyle.

That was fine too, Skyle smirked to himself. He had gotten his way with the little minx once, and he would do so again later. For now, he decided he would generously let her have this round.

Such lofty sentiments were rudely interrupted when his shoulder crashed painfully against what felt like a solid boulder. The impact sent him reeling back and off his feet. He landed on his butt with a sharp cry of surprise.

Looking up, he saw a huge shadow looming over him. It was a youth who might give Leon a run for his money in terms of sheer mass. He was a full head and a half taller than Skyle but his shoulders were easily twice as wide. Massive arms thicker around than his own thighs rippled with corded muscle as the bull-necked youth crossed his arms and sneered down at Skyle.

“So, you’re the black sheep of the oh-so-famous Farrow family?” he spat with venomous eyes.

Skyle couldn’t help but sigh.

“Not this again,” Skyle grumbled to himself.

For the most part, the student body of Aegis Academy could be split into two groups. The great majority were devoted followers of his sister. A small, stubborn minority, however, swung to the polar opposite instead. Whether it was from envy, injured pride or a personal vendetta, they nursed a startingly intense hatred in their hearts for all things Farrow.

Of course, it was impossible to strike directly at Kass. Not only was she protected by the highest levels of the academy. She was also undeniably gifted - so much so that to antagonize her now could only bring calamity upon one’s head in a handful of years.

The next best target became Skyle. He was small, young, a loner and most of all, rumored to be a cripple. Any elementalist who could call forth the most basic Spirit Sight would instantly be able to confirm the complete absence of any form of elemental channeling taking place in or around Skyle. In a world where even the lowliest of servants could at least summon some elemental essence to nourish their own bodies, Skyle was truly at the bottom of the pile.

It was a very high stack, and the rich nobility that were also born into a natural affinity with the elements sat at the very top of it. Such as this young man in front of him. His fine clothes identified him as the scion of a wealthy house. His stance and arrogant expression told Skyle he was at the very least a minor noble. The academy emblem glittering with three silver shields upon his chest told Skyle he was a senior initiate mage, and was thus in the same class as Reik and Kass.

He looked to be at least 13, however. This meant his talent, which would be praised as heavenly in the outside world, actually fell at the very bottom rungs amongst the elite student body of Aegis Academy.

The academy system segregated classes by talent and talent alone. Background, gender or race held no sway at all. Skyle knew from conversations with his siblings that the senior Initiate mage class held 17 students this semester ranging from ages 11 to 13.

Kass and Reik were the only nine year olds in the class, and by all indications, they were close to advancing to the Adept classes.

Watching the bitter fury twisting the features of the youth standing before him, Skyle found himself surprised that he could relate, at least on some level, with his helpless frustration. After all, though Aegis Academy held plenty of arrogant, spoiled brats, there were very few lazy or incompetent ones. Strict testing policies ensured that. The few that somehow managed to filter through the cracks were swiftly weeded out.

“So, my siblings crushed your ego when they simply blew by a classroom that has likely trapped you for what, 1 or 2 years? You’re likely one of the oldest students in the class and thus by far the most untalented. You can’t strike at the stars of the class, so you can only take your frustrations out on me, eh?”

Skyle truly could understand that feeling of trying and failing abysmally time and time again. So, though he felt contempt welling up at this bully’s petty vengeance, his motivations were something he knew a little about.

Maybe it would have only taken a less loving mother or a more inattentive father for Skyle to have ended up just like this poor bastard.

Shaking the mud from his legs, Skyle blew a resigned breath through his lips as he stood up.

“Look, I can see where you’re coming from, and I don’t want any trouble. Let’s just forget this whole incident, alright? I was just leaving, anyway.”

The instant Skyle said the words, he knew he had made a critical mistake.

The sneer on the bully’s lips grew more feral as if he smelled blood in the air. He kicked out with his foot and Skyle simply wasn’t ready for the speed of the move. The smaller boy tried to twist away from the blow, but the foot moved with unexpected swiftness. It smashed into his stomach before he could react, and sent him sprawling to the floor while his lungs convulsed for air.

“Trouble? I don’t see any trouble. Do any of you see trouble?” The giant jeered.

Two other boys stepped up from behind him, surrounding Skyle’s sprawled body like wolves stalking wounded prey.

“What trouble, Dalian? I see only a rat that somehow snuck into our illustrious institution,” one of the boys said. He was only slightly smaller but likely the same age as Skyle’s attacker. This meant he easily weighed twice as much as Skyle as well. “How about you Boyd?”

“No trouble at all, Reynaud. Just needs a little clean up, is all.” A shorter, but stockier youth with squinting eyes and a bulbous nose showed a humorless grin.

Skyle shook his head while he struggled to get his breath back.

“Don’t do anything you might regret later. Violence within academy grounds is not allow-” he wheezed past gritted teeth.

“Is not allowed among academy students,” Dalian interrupted, a cruel grin on his face. “Do any of you see a student here, my friends?”

“Nothing but a rat.”

“Filthy street rat.”

Skyle cursed under his breath as he realized he had made a second mistake. It was uncharacteristic of him to be so careless or foolish. He could easily recall his father’s lessons.

“Never show a bully any weakness, son. Fear is the only emotion that will stop a bully, and they only respect strength.”

Weakness is exactly what he had projected when he tried to avoid conflict by showing empathy and an intention to flee.

“Don’t threaten a man when you can’t carry through with it. Not only does it make you seem weak and desperate, it will only serve to increase the man’s hostility toward you.”

Wise words - his father was full of such. It was just unfortunate that his son was too stupid to make good use of them.

Skyle sighed through his nose. What was a little beating here? Just a small blow to his pride. The academy would likely issue some token punishment on the youths, if only to placate Kass. After all, Dalian was right. Skyle was not a student here, and thus technically not protected by the academy’s rules. His father, he knew, wouldn’t raise a big fuss. He always advocated his children fighting their own battles, especially so with Skyle. If not, why would he have wasted all those years of hellish training?

Skyle was more concerned about Kass and Reik’s reaction - particularly Kass. Skyle knew just how fiercely protective his baby sister was toward him. She could rough him up all day, but the moment someone else touched so much as a hair on his head, she would unleash the wrath of the gods upon that poor, hapless soul.

A few bruises here and there were a small price to pay. The milling crowds had long since obscured Kass’ line of sight with Skyle. She might raise a fuss when he didn’t immediately follow after they reached a the Aegis Arch, but by then this whole ordeal would be over.

Still, he reflected in an instant’s calculation, it was better to end this with a few bruises to his face and ego now, than to escalate the whole affair and drag his whole family into a feud against rich children of noble houses he knew nothing about. What he did know for certain was that beating up a few street bullies like Ramsey and his friends was a whole different world from what he faced now.

Not that Skyle thought he could beat them, even if he tried. Not counting the fact that they were older and bigger, they all bore the three silver shield insignia on their chests. They were in the senior Initiate class, meant for Initiate level mages of ranks 7 through 9.

Perhaps if he had a weapon and was willing to strike with deadly force , the surprise might overwhelm them before they could react and cast their spells. However, that was simply not an option. The penalty for a commoner who took the life of a nobleman of the Empire, even if it was unintentional, was death by hanging. An intentional slaying carried far more unpleasant consequences, which Skyle did not even need to dwell upon. Besides, Skyle's guts twisted as he thought of having to take the life of another human being.

"Not again, not so soon after.." Skyle shuddered with the barely repressed memories of Sanctuary.

“Fine, do as you will and be quick about it,” Skyle muttered, trying to think of a happy place his mind could escape to while his body paid for his mistakes.

“Hmph, are all of you Farrows such spineless wretches, or is it just you, the cripple of the bunch?” Dalian mocked as he cracked his knuckles in anticipation. “At least beating you bloody ought to be more satisfying than watching that little bitch’s cold indifference when she found the fun little gifts we left for her.”

That last sentence froze his blood cold. Feeling as though his voice were speaking to him from a very far distance away, Skyle grit his teeth and slowly pushed his words out.

“Was it you? You’re the sick bastards who left those cats?”

Dalian shrugged indifferently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Everyone knows that bitch loves cats so much she lives with a whole litter of them in her little farm. It could have been anyone in the whole school, right Reynaud?”

“Right, right,” Reynaud cackled evilly. “Anyone at all.”

Skyle had to take one long, focused breath at this moment. Otherwise, he was afraid he would end up drawn and quartered for the brutal beating and intentional slaying of a noble scum of the Empire.

After so many drills, recalling his father’s lessons was second nature to Skyle, especially during critical times such as these.

Outnumbered? Outmatched? Retreat definitely not an option?

There were several strategies outlined even for such desperate situations. However, Skyle only had eyes for one of them. He recalled the simple, ageless wisdom of an ancient general whose book he had been forced to read by his father.

“When trapped on deadly ground, FIGHT.”

So he would, but on his own terms. He was ready to pay a heavy price, but at least he had to ensure his foe paid a heavier one still.

“So, you want to beat up on an elementless cripple? That ought to show the rest of your classmates. Oh, how brave and powerful you are, wailing on a younger boy with no elemental powers whose legs are thinner than your arms and calling your buddies to help you to boot.” Skyle sat up and sneered up at Dalian, who seemed to be the leader. This time, he didn't make the mistake of standing up. He hoped a nobleman's dumb prejudices about striking a person when he's down would at least offer him a small buffer of vital time while his words took the desired effect.

The expression of superiority on Dalian’s face flickered as Skyle’s words rubbed salt on painful wounds. “You sure have got a mouth on you kid. No matter, you’ll be spitting nothing but blood in a few moments.”

Skyle’s smile was one of mockery as he scoffed. “Ha, and here I thought you nobles were supposed to be some hot shit. Horsecrap, I bet you wouldn’t even dare to face me one-on-one. I can already see how you’re shaking in your boots just from a little farmboy who dares to stand up to you. Only used to bullying little girls, are you?”

The words had their desired effect. Boyd stepped forward while cocking his leg back for a kick when Dalian held up a hand to stop him.

“You think you can manipulate me, rat? I was born from a royal lineage dating back for hundreds of years. I am destined to lord over puny little creatures like you who will never see the summit of power in our glorious Empire. But fine, I’ll play your little games. You think I’m scared of you? I will crush you in my hands like the insignificant bug you are.”

Skyle showed his first genuine smile at this moment.

If Dalian truly wanted to take out his fury on Skyle right here and now, it was a near certainty that he would lose. More importantly, even if by chance he won, he would still be held accountable for his actions. Each broken bone on this despicable nobleman’s body would be another loss for Skyle. It might be supremely satisfying at this moment, but it would bring countless sanctions and restrictions upon a commoner’s family like Skyle’s. The academy might shelter them from the worst of it, but they would only use that to reel Kass even deeper into their clutches.

No, this was unacceptable. Victory or defeat, Skyle had to ensure only he bore the price.

“I will teach you to mess with my baby sister, you ratsack bastard piece of scum,” Skyle snarled in his heart, but his mind was slowly reaching out for that terrifying calmness he had discovered earlier today.

It terrified him, this mysterious void of emotions that he felt dehumanized him somehow. He would definitely need to seek his parents’ wisdom on the subject. He suspected it carried risks that were far greater than even the incredible rewards it bore.

Here and now, however, he simply could not bring himself to care.

“You want to cut me down limb by limb? Fine, but I’ll rip your damn throat out - with my teeth if I must!” Skyle snarled.

The void beckoned, and Skyle answered.

The wave of darkness rose up once more. Skyle spread out his arms and fully embraced it as it crashed down with irresistible force.

Then Skyle was lost, and only a stranger remained upon the vast shores of a desolate land.