There’s an old saying in my hometown: Refuse a loaf of bread, and you’ll beg for half of it. I was about to be offered something I shouldn’t refuse. For the first time in my life, I heeded the elder’s warnings.

I woke up to Raiya’s voice. She was reciting some incantation. Upon noticing I’d woken up, she smiled and stopped the recitation.

“Don’t move,” she said after I attempted to stand up. “You’re still weak.”

“What happened?” I was surprised at my own voice. It was apparent that I was indeed very weak. I tried to remember what had just happened. Then it hit me. I tried to stand once more but the warlock caught me.

“Lie still,” she ordered.

“Utar!” I cried out. “Did he?” I couldn’t finish the question. A sharp pain reminded me of the knife that Agatha stuck in my back and the Priest materializing out of smoke.

“We wouldn’t be having this conversation if he had,” Raiya said. “You’ve saved the day today Zedd.”

Not again with this name!

“What of Agatha?” I asked. I felt rage boiling in my insides at my mention of her name.

“She’s locked up,” Raiya said. “Zedd,” she went on and I winced, “you’ve done me a favor today that I can’t repay. I’m in your debt once more. If the Priest had come, not only will this tree of mine get destroyed, but we’d also have lost an advantage in the upcoming war.”

Again with the war and the plots! I wished they’d just leave me out of it. But I was in no mood to argue, nor was I in the best shape to stand and try to leave on my own. I tried to move my shoulder and groaned. The pain wasn’t as intense as it had been before I lost consciousness.

“I’ve done my best,” Raiya said, wiping her sweaty forehead. “I’ve reattached the muscle tissue and stopped the bleeding. It’s all up to your recovery speed now. You’ll be able to walk, but you can’t use a weapon before you completely recover.”

“How long?” I asked.

“I’d say about a fortnight,” Raiya said.

A Fortnight?!

“What will we do if the Church comes?” I asked

“When the Church comes,” she reiterated. “They’re definitely coming. Whatever Agatha told the Priest, it’s gotten them riled up. I have reports from the east telling me the Church is moving against Arsalan as we speak.”

. “Can’t you do something?” I asked. “Numb the pain or give me some of your magic potions. I can help.”

“I’ve already done something Zedd,” Raiya sternly continued. “How about a thank you for saving your life?”

“Thank you for saving my life,” I said, albeit reluctantly. It’s not like I was ungrateful or anything. I’d just hated myself for not saying so before the reminder.

“Humph!” Raiya mumbled something about being too late and I hated myself even more.

Never forget your manners Zedd – I mean Myles. See? I can’t even think straight now.

“Get some rest,” Raiya said. “Sisha and I have captured Agatha. Utar’s summoning wasn’t complete, and thanks to your warning, we now have her little orb.”

“Does that mean that Utar’s dead?” I said, hopeful.

“That type of summoning, unlike teleportation, doesn’t conjure the real body, just an avatar,” Raiya answered. “He’s still around, unfortunately. If he managed to get here though, even as an avatar, he would cause irreparable damaged before I could dispose of him.

“I’m sure he’s rounding up a team as we speak. They’ll be here. I can’t say when, but I’ve sent for reinforcements.”

“Reinforcements?” I said then muffled a groan, even speaking hurts now.

What is she expecting?

“Sleep, Zedd,” Raiya retorted. “This isn’t your fight anymore. You have what you wanted. I had to open your Conduits to allow your body to heal. Your wounds have closed. With some luck, you’ll recover in less than a fortnight.” She gave me a weak smile then continued.

“I don’t know how you managed to get away from Agatha, and steal the orb in the process. But I’m grateful for that. I spoke to Sisha and decided I’ll teach you about magic. I’ll point you the right way and you’ll have to practice on your own.”

My eyes widened.

“We’ll speak later,” Raiya said as she noticed my eagerness to ask questions. “I have bigger fish to fry now.”

She turned on her heels and stormed out of the room. I was left alone in the darkness. It was night already, I had just noticed. How long have I been asleep? Not long, I figured, or Raiya would’ve mentioned it.

I felt a slight tingle in my brain. Someone was attempting to contact me. I concentrated on that tingle then felt, not heard, a voice echoing in my brain.

“Hey kid!” It was Sisha. I recognized the whispers. “Thanks for the warning, glad you’re alive.”

The connection was cut short and I was left wondering if I’d suspected those two for nothing.

No.

They still had their own hidden agendas and secret plots. I was better off alone. Raiya had opened my Conduits. I had to find a way to get on my feet and get out of here, before the Church arrives.

It was high time I learned how to use magic too. I needed to develop that ability I gained. I tried to move but an unbearable in my shoulder urged me to lie down again. I groaned and let my head sink into the pillow. It hurt, swinging a sword with this injury is impossible.

Raiya said the opened Conduits could help me heal faster. How do I do that? I hoped she’d come back already and start teaching me. She must be busy getting information out of Agatha now. I shuddered to think of what the warlock would do to her. But then I remembered what I suffered thanks to her. She deserved it.

I fell asleep thinking of the Herbologist. I hoped Raiya would leave the finishing blow to me. That Herbologist had wronged me in every possible way…

***

Dreams again…

I was inside a cave now. I was pacing around a small fire I’d built earlier that day. It was nighttime and I was expecting someone. I was exhausted, probably from riding for three days without rest. I didn’t realize I’d been gnawing on my fingernails. But the observing part of me in the dream saw the things I ignored back then due to anxiety. There was a nasty gash by my left thigh, but it didn’t hinder my movement so I didn’t bother cleaning it.

I heard footsteps at the edge of the cave and I drew Namyra, my sword. I hid in a crevice by the cave and waited, holding the sword before my eyes. The sword also needed cleaning. There were still some patches of blood that began clotting on it. I was pressed for time though. I couldn’t afford the luxury to rest, eat or take care of my own hygiene, let alone my sword.

The footsteps intensified then I heard a familiar voice. “Abrath the wonderful,” the voice said.

I unsheathed the sword and came out of hiding. It was the secret passphrase Sam and I agreed on. He stood before me, holding a bundle in his arms. He was out of breath. Dark circles started forming underneath his eyes.

“What’s the situation in there?” I asked.

“He’s in the city,” Sam replied. “This is all I could smuggle out for you.”

He handed me the bundle which contained some bread and dried fish. I realized I was starving and started devouring the food without much munching.

“You look terrible,” Sam said, carefully observing me.

“You think?” I replied. “I thought I looked like a knight in shining armor!”

“There’s no need to vent your anger at me brother,” Sam apologetically said. “I’ve arranged for your family’s escape. They’ll come out the western tunnel by dawn.”

“Western tunnel?!” I exclaimed. “That’s too dangerous. They can’t cross the entire city without being captured by guards.”

“Not everybody agrees with the Church brother,” Sam replied. “Viraldo’s arranged an escort for them. Remember Alistair, that young hunter who’s been trying to recruit us into the Three Headed Dragon?”

I remembered the bloke. “What’d you get the hunters involved for?” I snapped, bits of bread flew off my mouth.

“I didn’t,” Sam replied, still sounding apologetic. “He volunteered to help, said he owed your father his life.”

“Well fuck me sideways!” I almost lost it! “Next thing I know, the damn Chancellor’s involved in sneaking my family out.”

“Myles,” Sam was on the verge of dropping to his knees and begging me to calm down. “You haven’t slept in days. You’re on edge, I know that. But we’re doing all we can to get them out. Utar’s vicious. He’s got the entire city guard under his command now.”

I stood and got closer to my best friend. Rage was building up inside of me. My eyes spoke of fury and despair. My nose was pulled higher, causing fat wrinkles to meet the already fat creases between my eyebrows. I knew I was being rude to Sam, but I couldn’t help it.

“Utar had slaughtered my men and is now targeting my family,” I said. My voice echoed in the empty cave. “I swore I’d have his head, even if it’s the last thing I do!”

“I understand,” Sam said.

“Understand?! How could you?” I retorted. A mocking smile automatically appeared on my face. “Have you ever had your entire squad slaughtered before your eyes?”

“No, but – “

“Or better yet,” I let out a nervous laugh then went on, “have you been promised that your family was next? Ordered to run in order to save them?”

“Myles, please!” Sam said, glancing down at my right hand.

I was clutching my sword tightly. Did he think I’d attack him?

“How will you get them out of sight after they leave the tunnel?” I asked.

“I was hoping you’d take care of that,” Sam replied. “We’ll get them out for you and – “

“That’s as good as surrendering to Utar!” I yelled. “Are you saying I should surrender?”

“No, but – “

“We have the upper hand since Utar doesn’t know where my parents live. We’re lucky the Chancellor never cares about the people in the slums. But as soon as word gets out, and you can be damn sure it will, they’ll be missing heads!”

***

“Calm down!” A voice said.

“What?” I shot back. I looked around and realized I was no longer in the cave. I was in that empty space, where everything was white. My voice had no echo. I could barely hear myself speak. It felt as though my ears were clogged by something.

“Fear controlled you,” the kind voice spoke again, clearer and louder. I recognized it this time. “You acted rashly and got your family killed in the process.”

“How would you have done it?” I asked. “And where are we?”

“We’re in a world created for the champions’ training,” the voice replied.

“Champion?” I asked.

“Champions” the voice reiterated. “Lord Minsec has chosen you to fight on his behalf during the upcoming Holi Wars,” the voice replied.

“What? Why?”

“You think so little of yourself Stalwart,” the voice said.

“That’s not true,” I retorted. “I think little of you, of all you people and strange voices that always want something from me.”

“Like you wanted your friend Sam to save your family for you?” The voice retorted.

“That’s different!” I objected.

“How?” The voice said.

“For starters, he was my friend. We knew each other since we were children. I don’t know you. I don’t even know what you look like!”

“Humans…” the voice said. “Your obsession with appearance is beyond me…”

I heard a sound akin to waves smashing at the foot of a cliff. Then out of nowhere –funny I should say that since I was in the middle of nowhere – a man appeared. He had a long white beard and a bald, shiny head. He looked serene, like the benevolent grandfather who’d always be there to advise you in your most difficult times.

“How’s that?” he said, “you know what I look like now.”

I stared long enough to make the situation quite awkward.

“Hurry up and make your mind,” the old man said. “We haven’t got much time.”

“What’s your name?” I said.

A long sigh and a look of extreme exasperation later, the man replied. “My name is too long to be remembered. You can call me Dif!”

“Dif?”

“Yes, that’s the first syllable in my name,” the old man said. “Can we get to business now?”

“Why’d you wait until now to show yourself?”

“Because your Conduits were clogged, the warlock has taken care of that.”

“How can you exist here without her knowing?”

“She’s a grain of sand to my Lord’s eyes, Stalwart. Can we get to serious matters now?”

“Wh-“ My mouth slammed shut before I could ask the next question. I felt my teeth clatter and my head vibrated. The pain was real. This wasn’t a dream.

“I don’t have time for this,” Dif said. “Your training has to begin now if we’re to get you ready to compete in the Wars. Your conduits have opened, which means that the energy from the Fragment will soon collide with yours. You have to control that.”

I shook my head. Muffled groans and sounds exited through my nostrils.

Dif raised a questioning eyebrow then my mouth was opened again. “What if I refuse to cooperate?” I said.

“We don’t have just one champion,” Dif said. “We have many candidates and we choose the most appropriate one for the task. If you refuse to cooperate, I’ll take that Fragment out of you and gift it to someone else.”

“Then do it,” I challenged. I didn’t believe a word this grandpa said.

“You’ll die in the process,” the man retorted.

“Better than serving some Lord I never met,” I said, still not believing.

“How about this,” Dif said. “I’ll help you get out from the upcoming invasion. In return you promise to at least participate in the first task.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s better if I show you,” the man said. He waved his hand and the whiteness around us dissipated.

We were standing in the middle of a camp. Tents, at least two dozen, were erected in a clearing inside some woods. I saw pine trees, that was probably somewhere north.

“The Church is using fixed portals to travel,” the man said. “They’re now in the Republic of Kasmur, north of Aslanor. You are in Sayang, the eastern province of Aslanor in case you didn’t know. They’d be here in a month if they ride. But they’ll be teleporting through another portal by dawn. They’ll be here tomorrow at noon.”

“Well, I can’t fight!” I said.

“And you shouldn’t,” Dif replied. “These men are after the bones. They’ll destroy the tree you’re in to get to their goal. Imagine what would happen if he finds you around.” Dif motioned with his chin toward a man in the crowd.

“Utar!” I swore. The Priest had become my nightmare, my nemesis.

“If I go along with your plan,” I said. “Will I become strong enough to kill him?”

“It will take years of practice and diligence,” Dif replied. “But I don’t think that’s an issue for the Priest. I’m sure he’ll still be around. He’s a resilient old man, almost a hundred.”

“A hundred? How can a man live that long and remain strong?”

“Clueless,” Dif shook his head then sighed. “Utar’s the weakest of the bunch, just so you know,” he went on. “There are others, older, that look as though they were twenty.”

“I’ve seen it in Eva’s memories,” I mumbled.

“With my help and your talent, I’m sure you’ll grow strong enough to take part in the Holi Wars in four months.”

“If I live that long!” I scoffed.

“Do you want to live, Stalwart?”

“I want my vengeance,” I replied.

“Are you willing to do what it takes to have it?”

“By that,” I said, “you mean follow your instructions and participate in the Holi Wars?”

“Survive the Undertaking, then participate in the War and survive it,” Dif reiterated.

“What happens if I lose?” I asked.

“You die.”

“And if I win?”

“You gain strength and legendary weapons. You’ll be strong enough to challenge the Church.”

“Utar?”

“Perhaps,” Def said. “It’s too early to say.”

“When do we start?” I asked.

The man waved his hand and whiteness welcomed us again. “After you recover your strength,” he said.

“That won’t happen soon,” I protested. “Raiya said I needed two weeks.”

“That’s because she doesn’t know you have a Fragment,” Dif retorted.

“How will that Fragment of yours help?” I asked.

“It’s yours now, unless you die or do something to upset me. The Fragment is an additional source of the energy called Essence. I’ll teach you how you can harvest it from your surroundings and store it in the Fragment,” Dif said. “You’ll use it to heal yourself then. But before that, you’ll have to merge its energy with yours.”

“And that will be faster than letting my body do the work?”

“If you’re smart enough, and I believe you are, you should be able to swing a sword come sunrise,” the old man said.

“What do I do?” I asked.

“It usually takes about three months to master the basics of this method,” Dif said. “But as the old saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. I’ll give you the general directives. If you want to survive, you’ll have to find your own way.”

“What happened to helping me getting out of this?” I asked.

“You ask too many questions and you’ve upset me. Let this be your first lesson. Lord Minsec wouldn’t approve of arrogant champions. Do it on your own, and if you survive then you’ll be considered worthy to undertake the first task.”

Way to turn things around, sly old man! I didn’t have a choice though.

“Let’s begin!” I said.

“I’ll transfer my knowledge of Fragment Assimilation and energy harvesting to you. Upon waking up, make sure you go over everything before you start practicing.”

I nodded.

The old man vanished from sight and I felt as though I was falling through an endless hole. I woke up with a start. My shoulder reminded me to stay still, but the knowledge my brain had just received kept me from doing so. It kept pouring in as if a dam had just been opened and water bust through. It was a lot to handle.