As it turns out, the majority of the pulses I tracked ended up converging with someone making use of his or her Talents. I had suspected as much, but it’s still good for this research to have confirmation.

Nothingness filled him. Samos found himself in a void, deep in the far reaches of his inner self where time did not exist. Only the power existed in this place, the white lines appearing one by one and forming the shape of his body. One after another, he strengthened them individually. The exercise came easy to him now, moving from one line to the other in a fluent motion.

There were over two hundred of them, but in no more than a minute, he had gone over them all and the cycle repeated itself. It was a tiring exercise that had no real function in a fight, but it was the most optimal way to gain complete control over every little aspect of the Enhancement process. Once the battle began, an Enhancer had to be able to reach every single part of his body in an instant.

It did not take long for exhaustion to slow the tempo he had been keeping up and when another cycle was completed, Samos opened his eyes. The void shattered as sunlight blinded him for a moment, his eyes adjusting to the sudden change. He was welcomed by the sight of trees, bushes and other greenery.

Surprisingly, despite the dry environment of the city and the surrounding lands, the gardens of the royal palace stood in a lush green. The royal gardens of Sandos were open to the public during the day and from his meditation spot beneath a large oak, he could see several families, couples and playful children enjoy the small oasis in an otherwise dusty city.

Three weeks now they had enjoyed the hospitality of queen Saliha. Not that there reason for staying was enjoyable, but Samos did not complain despite the circumstances. For three years he had been travelling around Odera, not staying anywhere longer than a week. This was a time of luxury for him. And of training.

He stretched out his arms cracking his shoulder blades and stood up. Besides the people walking around in the garden, he was alone. On the Windweaver, there had always been a teacher nearby giving instructions. Now however, Ralph seemed to be content with letting him do the meditation exercises on his own. A sign of trust Samos much appreciated.

He followed the path across the green grass and made for the dining hall. Just as he entered, the midday bell rang and food was being brought into the hall from inside the kitchen. Content with his impeccable timing, he sat down at one of the tables and filled his plate.

Whilst stuffing his mouth with bread, he saw Yara enter the hall from the corner of his eye and his stomach made the now familiar jump. Master Yoren had been teaching the Sealers in training from Ters and Sandos the past few weeks, not wasting any time while delayed from their journey.

If Samos had made progress on his Enhancement training, Yara had done even more so with Sealing. Together with the two other Dovra’Sha that had been discovered here in Sandos, Faye and Otwin, she had been mastering the exercises given to her in no time.

As he reached for another piece of bread, it suddenly flew out of the bowl and slipped between his fingers. It lurched to the side, where it ended in Yara’s outstretched hand. He rolled his eyes at her.

“Finish what’s in that big mouth of yours first, you glutton.” She grinned, taking a bite from the piece she had pulled.

Samos swallowed down the last bit. “If you’re goal is to impress me,” he said as she sat down opposite him, “it’s not working.” Actually, it was working, but no need for Yara to know that.

She shrugged. “Master Yoren told me to practice as often as I could, so that’s what I’m doing.” She held up the last piece of the bread, ready for another bite.

In an instant, Samos held up his hand towards her and put a Push seal on the bread, twisting it out of her fingers and into her eye. He winded as she gave a cry of surprise.

“Sorry, that was supposed to go somewhere else.”

She rubbed her eye and regarded him scornfully. “I bet. Idiot.” The wrinkles in her cheek betraying a suppressed smile. “That was fast though, you’re getting better.”

His stomach made another jump at the compliment. “Thanks. I think my Enhancement meditation is helping a lot when it comes to focusing power.”

Yara nodded. “Master Yoren told me that as Dovra’Sha, using the power will come a lot easier to us because we get to use more aspects of it.”

Something nudged in Samos’ memory. “Talking about the different aspects, have you been able to repair Ralph’s blade?” Ever since their fight, Ralph’s blade had not been repaired yet. It was not the sword he used for serious combat, but he wished it repaired nonetheless. It was a task he had set aside for Yara’s training.

“You should really start calling him by his proper name, Samos.” She remarked. “And no, the metal breaks after one or two good swings when I try to heal it.”

“Which is amazing progress seeing as the first time you weren’t even able to put back a small chip of metal.”

Yara sighed. “I know. Maybe I’m expecting too much of myself.”

“Nothing wrong with a little self-imposed pressure to perform.”

She laughed and they ate in silence for a while, the hall filling up with other students and residents of the palace. They were soon joined by Eder, Faye and Otwin. The five of them had become close friends during their stay in the palace and their training.

With a sudden start, Samos came to the realization that they were the first real friends in the three years since his awakening. True, he considered Ralph and Rey friends, but this was different. These were people in the same position as him, people he could talk to in a way he could not with Ralph.

The conversation jumped from one subject to the other. Their training, the rumours doing their rounds in the palace, events going on in the city… Eventually though, as conversations always went these days, the topic of the siege on Eresath came about.

“Three weeks now we’ve been staying here in Sandos. Three weeks without news,” Eder began. “All we know is that Eresath is under siege and all communication has been cut off. Do we have any idea what’s going to happen next?”

Otwin shook his head. “What do you expect us to tell, Eder? We know as much, or as little, as you do. Son Aëron and the queen are no doubt working on this with their advisors. All we can do is wait.”

“I just wish they’d share more information with us. We’re supposed to become one of them, aren’t we?” Eder complained.

Faye snickered. “How many weeks since the Testing, Eder? Five weeks, six at the most? It takes years to become a full Talented.”

“For me yes,” he retorted. “The four of you won’t take that long if what I’ve been told about Dovra’Sha is true.”

Yara disagreed. “It might be easier for us to learn using the power,” she explained, “but we have so much more to learn that in the end, it doesn’t really matter.”

Eder shrugged. “Nothing matters as long as we’re stuck here.”

Samos nodded. “I overheard Ralph discussing with Master Domer a few days ago. They both agreed the timing of the siege was too much of a coincidence not too be intentional.”

They all looked at him with a surprised look.

He continued. “The Testings. It’s the moment when many Talented are gone from Eresath and the many members of the Order are scattered around the world. Now that all communication with the city is blocked, the many delegations that were out are on their own. This Warbringer, whoever he is, knew that it would be the perfect time to strike.”

“Warbringer,” Yara mused. “Wasn’t that the name those men in Ilsas’ Spring mentioned the night of the attack?”

That drew the attention of the other three. As far as Samos knew, he had never told them of the fight. When the story was told, a silence fell over the table, all of them lost in thought for a moment.

Otwin was the first to break the silence. “They knew who Son Aëron was and where to find him,” he said, “and they wanted to recruit him. This leaves no doubt that the Warbringer is someone who is well known with the workings of the Order.”

Samos nodded. “During the first meeting with the queen and her advisors, they all agreed he should at least be a trained Enhancer, but there was nobody they could think off that could fill that role.”

“Nobody conclusive,” a sudden voice said from behind him and all five jumped up in surprise. They had been so engrossed in their discussion that none had seen Ralph approach their table. “A hefty discussion for a midday meal,” he said, remaining standing. “One maybe better continued another time. Samos. Eder. Come with me, I have something for the two of you.”

He motioned them to follow which they did, curious as to what could be waiting for them. Through the halls they walked towards the training grounds where their sparring matches were always held. They walked back into the sun and onto the dry dirt. At a table that held two wrapped packages, they stopped.

Ralph turned to the two of them. “When someone in Eresath is training to be an Enhancer, they are valued and measured every waking moment. When a student reaches a certain level of competence and control, they are given something they will treasure for the rest of their remaining life. Tell me, Eder, do you know what the Second Swords are?”

Eder nodded and answered hastily, expectation resounding in his voice. “They are retired Enhancers who spent their days in solitude, training and meditating.”

Ralph nodded contently. “They reside in the northern ends of the Owen Heights, just south of Thack. Not only are they some of the most experienced Enhancers in the world, they are also master blacksmiths and are responsible for every single sword used by an Enhancer.

“When we first arrived in Sandos three weeks ago, you two were already the best students I have seen in a while. Your progression had been nothing short but phenomenal in the mere two weeks we spent aboard the Windweaver. That’s why, once we were settled in the palace, I sent a messenger to their forges with details concerning your heights, weight, arm length and other important measurements.

“This morning, the messenger returned carrying these two packages.” He turned to the table, picked up one of the wrapped packages and handed it to Eder. The other he gave to Samos.

Slowly, he unwrapped the cloth and revealed a beautiful looking sheath. It was slightly curved and nearly completely black, with silver linings wrapping around the length. Near the hilt, the silver lines came together and formed the cross-shaped symbol of the order with a circle around it.

He turned the sheath in his left hand and took hold of the wooden hilt with his right. The grip was long enough to be held with both hands, he noticed. Slowly he pulled it out, feeling no resistance at all from the sheath. The guard was round, shaped once again in the symbol of the Order. Slowly, the blade revealed itself.

The metal reflected brightly in the midday sun and Samos noticed it was a single-edged blade, one side dull the other sharp. As the blade completely left the sheath, Samos was amazed by how light the weapon felt in his hand. It was as if he was holding up a feather. He put the sheath on the table, grabbed the hilt with both hands and went through some of the most basic forms.

The two-handed grip was an adjustment to the fighting he had mostly done, but somehow adapting the forms came natural. The slightest change in his grip had an immediate effect on the trajectory of the blade. He moved into more offensive forms, switching them up with defensive ones. The transitions came without hesitation.

“Hey, Samos!” Ralph barked.

Samos turned just in time to see Ralph throw a solid piece of stone at him. Instinctively, he brought up the sword to deflect the stone.

Instead of deflecting though, the weapon cut the stone clean in two and both pieces fell on the ground at his side. Samos inspected the metal but saw no signs of damage.

“The hilt,” Ralph revealed, “is made of makran wood. Not only is it stronger and lighter than any other type of wood, it will also freely draw from you to strengthen the metal. A major benefit of your Sealer powers.”

“It’s…” Samos was unsure of what to say. “It’s a beautiful blade. Thank you.”

Ralph smiled. “It’s no Sacratys, but it’s the next best thing. No other sword expect an Enhancer’s will compare to it. No training for you and Eder this afternoon, Samos. Use this time to get acquainted with your new blade.”

Samos nodded and uttered another thanks. When Ralph had left, he found himself staring at the sword. Eder, who had been going through forms as well, stopped to join him.

“Wonderful, isn’t it?” He asked with a broad smile. His sword was only a tad bit smaller than Samos’, modified to match his height, but looked exactly the same otherwise.

“Wonderful indeed,” he agreed. “I feel as if I can face anyone with this.”

“Same here,” Eder whispered.

For a moment, they were silent.

Then they locked eyes and nodded with a grin. Time to truly test their new blades.