The following morning and afternoon were given over to physical training in the Temple of the Wave. Brother Yuri had disappeared, but a series of reserved, similarly clad monks and nuns appeared throughout the day, guiding them through basic unarmed fighting techniques, or what they called “stilling.”

“This allows you to quiet your mind, center yourself, recover . . . and even learn spells,” one of the nuns, or Sisters of the Wave, told them. She had led them to the center of the courtyard garden and instructed them to sit, close their eyes, and meditate (something Connor saw as a colossal waste of their time). He heard the buzzing of the insects, he smelled the sweet jasmine of the bushes, and he was aware that his clothes itched terribly.

“This helps me do what?” the half-elf asked after an interminably long time, earning an exasperated sigh from the sister followed by a small gesture allowing them to get up.

“It is time for lunch anyway, and then Brother Jekan has you for more sparring. After that, you will return to me before you sleep,” the sister announced.

“Brother Yuri?” Olanna asked. “Where is he today?”

The sister paused and frowned slightly before inclining her head, as if she deemed that it was a reasonable question.

“Brother Yuri is out in the city today. There is much alarm and chaos with gangs roaming, looking for elves. There is also talk of war in the council. Yuri is seeing what he can learn and also attempting to ease the tensions,” she said before dismissing them.

Ease the tensions, Connor thought as he picked himself up. Part of him felt like this was all nothing more than a game.

But played with real people, he reminded himself. One where you could die for real.

How strange it was for a made-up character like Brother Yuri to take it on himself to be a peace ambassador. The revelation left Connor feeling vaguely ashamed somehow.

Is all this chaos because of me? he wondered.

The rest of their afternoon went quickly and resulted in a fresh batch of bruises, but also some successes, before the sister had them for their “focusing” once more.

This time, as night descended over the gardens and the sounds of the city about them appeared to be far away, Connor felt something a little different. His head lightened and his heart cleared a little. Like his mind was a clear stream of refreshing mountain water.

He had learned a new skill.

Focus:

The ability to harness mental power and apply it the task at hand, making it faster, more powerful, and / or more effective.

Basic Level – Reduce time to learn spells by 25%. Increase strength of spells by 25%. Novice Level – Reduce time to learn spells by 50%. Increase strength of spells by 50%. Advanced Level – Increase strength of spells by 75%. Expert Level – Increase strength of spells by 100%. Increase Health point recovery rate by 50%. Master Level – Increase strength of spells by 200%. Increase Health point recovery rate by 100%

“Hmm, cool!” Connor thought before returning with the others to the sleeping hall and collapsing on the mats under home-spun blankets.

* * *

“Up!”

Connor awoke to a bang and a fierce whisper. For a moment, he struggled to remember where he was, who he was. He wasn’t in his Tokyo apartment and wasn’t surrounded by the litter of a single-room bachelor apartment—he wasn’t in Tokyo, at all.

And he could breathe, Connor realized as he took in a deep gasp. His breathing was clear. No wheezing from the debilitating asthma that he had been affected by before.

Back in the real world, he immediately thought, but his mind rebelled. He could breathe the soft night air here, laden with the scent of jasmine, wood oils, maybe something bitter like a cook fire. Here, he could feel the scratchy blanket covering him. The hardness of the boards underneath. How was this in any way not real?

“Friends, you need to get!” the voice hissed once more, and Connor blinked away his sleepy thoughts as Dargan groaned. Connor, Dargan and Olanna pushed themselves up and saw the shadowed figure of Brother Yuri, crouching by the screen door. Beyond his shoulder, the temple grounds were silvery gray with predawn light.

“What is it?” growled the dwarf, earning a sharp hiss from Yuri.

Not his usually peaceful demeanor, Connor thought, noting how the brother turned back around to look over his shoulder, listening intently for a moment.

“Do you smell that?” whispered another shadow in the dark, surprising Connor. It was Olanna, who had managed to wake up, get out of her bed roll, and get dressed in her canvas and leathers. She held a long knife in her hand.

“What?” Connor asked instinctively before he noticed what she was talking about. Yes, there was a scent to the air beyond the flowers of the brothers’ garden. The smell of smoke.

Whump! Suddenly, there was a distant bang from outside their compound, deep in the city somewhere. Connor strained his eyes to look, and he thought he could see the dark sky lighten a little.

“What is it? What’s going on?” Connor whispered, rolling out of bed, hurriedly grabbing his clothes. For a moment, he was intently conscious that he was only in his tunic and small clothes in front of Olanna, but the elf did not appear to notice. She was more concerned with what was going on outside. He grabbed his things, his weapons, and slid his toughened jerkin on over his chest.

“There is evil at work in the city tonight,” Brother Yuri whispered. “Can you not feel it?” He murmured the last, his eyes scanning the tiled rooftops of the Temple of the Wave.

“No, I can’t,” Dargan muttered, but Connor wasn’t so sure. Maybe he was more aware of the tension in this room and the threat emanating from Brother Yuri himself than any psychic sense that he might have, but he wasn’t going to argue with the monk either.

Thud.

Brother Yuri’s form twitched a little and then went deadly quiet as he peered intently at the rooftop opposite.

“There!” he whispered as Connor and the others scrambled to look.

At first, all Connor could make out was the slightly lighter darkness of the tiles on the roof, the protrusion of chimney pots, and then—

Crunch-crackle . . .

The sound focused their attention on a dark shape that emerged, moving from the far side of the roof toward them. It moved—scampering?—along the roof ridge quickly. For a split-second, the shape was silhouetted against the lighter night sky, and Connor saw a form that wasn’t quite human and not quite . . . anything else he recognized.

Fear clutched at his heart. The figure was vaguely humanoid but dressed in dark leathers or furs. It moved in quick, furtive bursts but had now stopped to raise its head and sniff at the sky.

The creature had a snout like a dog or a fox or a . . . rat?

Connor shuddered. “What is that!?”

“Shh!” Brother Yuri murmured, but it was already too late. The creature on the roof opposite them had already turned toward where they stood and appeared to be looking directly at them.

“Beastlings!” Brother Yuri spat.

Connor saw the creature spring into action, sliding down the tiled roof toward the central courtyard in a flash, moving so fast that his eyes could not keep up.

“Whatlings?” he heard himself say, but already Brother Yuri was up and and springing forward. The half-elf could have sworn that he saw a blue light beginning to curl from his fists as he moved.

“Get up! Move!” Dargan shouted, always the first be ready for a fight. The dwarf bounded after the monk, and Connor and Olanna joined them soon after.

Beastlings? Connor’s mind was racing. He had never heard of them but didn’t have time to wonder more as he crashed through the sweet-scented flowers and delicate gardens of the Brothers of the Wave, following the swift steps of Brother Yuri in front. The dark shape of the building around them rose on all sides, and the ornamental trees and bushes obscured their view until—

Phooom!

There was a sudden blossom of bright orange-and-green energy as something exploded. Brightness filled Connor’s eyes, and he was thrown backward as flames tore apart the bushes.

Beastling attacks Connor with FlamePot for 20 Health points damage.

Connor screamed in agony as he was thrown to the ground. He thrashed and rolled, spluttering, coughing, and burning. There were gobbets of glowing, green ichor sticking to his shoulders and arms, burning his skin and clothes. He panicked, swiping his arm across the floor—but the flames remained.

Fire from FlamePot continues burning, causing 7 Health points of damage.

Connor opened his mouth scream, but it filled with super-heated, acrid smoke. Instead of yelling for help, he started hacking and coughing instead.

“Connor! I’m with you.” Someone was suddenly at his side, grabbing him and pulling him backward.

Fire from FlamePot continues burning, causing 7 Health points of damage.

Connor half fell, was half shoved into a pool of water he half remembered seeing as they traversed the temple’s inner courtyard.

“Ugh?” He spluttered and flailed as surer hands dunked him fully into the water then pulled him back. Something was wrapped around his arm and shoulder—a cloak, he realized—and then the pain was suddenly gone.

“Now fight!” his savior said, and Connor realized that it was Olanna who had rescued him. The sounds of the battle returned.

“Back, fiends!” shouted a clear voice, which Connor realized was Brother Yuri. There was a sudden flash of blue light from between the bushes and a shriek as a smaller, dark shape was lifted up and thrown through the nearest set of temple doors. Brother Yuri followed, leaping after the beast.

“There’s more of them coming. Get up and fight!” Olanna shouted, already turning and racing across the garden to snatch up her short bow.

“Sckrrrargh!” A creature burst through the undergrowth, snarling and baring teeth as well as two long, serrated daggers. The creature was barely as tall as Connor’s shoulder, and it was hunched over as well, making it appear smaller. It wore a close-fitting dark, almost black leather cuirass and leggings, but from its claws, neck, and across its face, mottled, stubbled fur was visible. The Beastling had a face that looked like a cross between a dog and a rat, with sharp eyes and animal ears at the back of its head and a long snout that was filled with long, yellowing teeth.

Olanna had already snatched up her bow, but a Beastling darted forward, swiping a hand through the air. One of its daggers flashed through the air, striking Olanna before she could lose an arrow.

The elf screamed in pain, falling backward, and Connor could see the sudden spurt of blood.

No!

Connor realized he hadn’t even retrieved his weapons yet from where he had fallen, but launched himself at the Beastling, nonetheless.

Name: Beastling

Level: 2

Size: Medium

Health: 20 / 20

Vitality: 18/22

Agility: 15

Charisma: 2

Intelligence: 8

Stamina: 11

Strength: 8

Wisdom: 5

Anger filled the half-elf, and he grabbed at the monster, seeking to grab its wrists, but the creature was fast, dodging and ducking backward in a flashes of movement that Connor could barely follow.

I should have spent more time training! The thought came to the half-elf unbidden and nearly unnerved him.

There was a sudden flash of steel as the blade moved between them.

Beastling attacks Connor with Dagger for 12 Health points damage.

Connor hissed as he felt the pain explode across his ribs in a white line of fire. He didn’t look down. He didn’t want to look down. How could he have ever thought this was just a game?

As his life flashed before his eyes, time itself seemed to slow. He saw the Beastling drawing its blade back, the creature’s maw opened in a victorious screech.

Now!

Connor moved, not fleeing or dodging—but forward, and slammed the bare palm of his hand into the creature’s snout.

Connor attacks Beastling with Hand causing 5 Health points damage. Hit to snout stuns Beastling.

It was a lucky strike more than any skill in hand-to-hand combat. Maybe it was the fact that the Beastling hadn’t expected him to simply press forwards with his attack or the fact that the creature’s nose was its most sensitive part. Whatever the reason was, the Beastling dropped its knife as it whimpered and staggered backward, clutching at its snout.

Connor saw his chance, he scoopped up the Beastling’s knife and leaped forward.

Connor attacks Beastling with Knife for 6 Health points damage. Knife delivers critical hit to heart increasing damage by 200%. Total damage: 18 Health points.

Connor plunged the knife into the Beastling’s chest and leapt back, out of the way of the swiping claws, as it collapsed backward.

Beastling has been killed.

You have been awarded 200 Experience Points for slaying Beastling.

“Skreeeargh!” There was a screech from Connor’s right as another of the Beastlings burst through from the undergrowth toward him, two knives raised.

Thock!

Before Connor could even get a chance to react, one of Olanna’s arrows had embedded itself in the creature’s neck. The beast fell to the ground at the half-elf’s feet, Connor looking down in surprise—and relief.

There was another final-sounding thump not far away, and then the small temple courtyard descended into a wary silence.

“Is it over?” he asked, turning slowly around.

Olanna shrugged, likewise searching the area for more enemies.

“Friends.” A low voice startled them as Brother Yuri appeared, striding toward them with Dargan right behind him. They both blood on their clothes, but Connor’s eyes were focused on the blue glow around Brother Yuri’s fists and, unnervingly, in his eyes. The spectral glow was fading, though, and as it dissipated, the monk looked smaller and somehow far more fragile than before.

“It is done,” the brother said. “The Beastlings have been defeated.” He paused in the small clearing as he stood over the two bodies that Connor and Olanna had felled. Connor saw the brother’s eyes was grim.

“If these creatures are out, then the news could be dire indeed,” he said.

When he was met by questioning faces, Yuri sighed. “There are very few Beastlings in our world. Almost none, in fact, but occasionally, a small party manages to break through the Gate between the UnderWorld—the Second Realm—and our world. At least, that’s always how it has been before . . .”

“The Gate?” Connor breathed. “You mean . . . these Beastlings have come from through the Gate?”

Yuri nodded. “Yes. Usually, they are only roaming bands led by a Beastling shaman, one powerful enough to break the wards and seals between the realms, but . . .” The monk held his head up as if sniffing the air.

“This is different, and I don’t like it,” the monk said abruptly. “Just yesterday, we discovered that the First Gate had been opened . . .” His eyes slid to Connor and where the invisible Ring of Tantor was still encircled around his forearm.

“And now, the creatures of the UnderWorld are finding their way through,” Brother Yuri finished. “If we’re lucky, this was just a singular scouting party and none will return to let others now the gate is open.”

“And if we are not lucky?” Dargan muttered.

Brother Yuri’s eyes were dark.

“Then I fear that this is just the start of a realm-to-realm war.”

* * *

When the following day finally dawned, they were met with grim news. Union City appeared to be descending into chaos. Word reached the Temple of the Wave of Beastling attacks dotted across the city—as well as another explosion and fire—this time at the adventurers’ tavern called the King’s Head.

“Where we were supposed to be staying,” Connor said quietly to Olanna, confirming what he had suspected—that Mae-tsu and her criminal gang were behind both the attack on the Pettigrew Express and the tavern. There were also more reports of “elvish” attacks against parties of adventurers outside of the city—bands of white-haired and black-clad assassins who killed without mercy and who appeared to be ransacking caravans and groups of travelers.

“And that will be the Fey.” Olanna nodded. “Also looking for us.” Her eyes darted to Connor. “Looking for your arm, that is.”

Connor grimaced, and even though the shining gold band had faded, he laced up his cuffs a little tighter. They were still holed up in the Temple of the Wave, while the rest of the city was quickly falling to paranoia and despair at word of the various attacks—and word of the Sleeper King, who had nearly destroyed SkyBridge Outpost.

An air of fear and expectant horror was settling over Union City, and Connor knew that it wouldn’t be long until it broke.

Annwn is coming, he kept on thinking, recalling Finbar’s words. Annwn is coming to take over, and they’re already here . . .

Not that Connor, Olanna, and Dargan had much time to spend worrying, as once again they were hit, struck, and generally beaten by the monks of the temple—all in the name of training.

“Ow! Hey!” Connor said as another open palm slapped his face. Brother Yuri himself stepped back with a grin on his face.

“Keep your mind on your exercises, then! Stop thinking about rumors and panic and start blocking!” the Brother of the Wave said, once again darting forward with nothing in his hands but open air.

Brother Yuri attacks Connor with Hand Ax. Block failed; no damage done.

Slap!

There was another sharp, ringing sound as the brother’s hand met the other side of his face this time, after feinting to one side and then appearing on the other to deliver a stinging clap. Connor had tried to use his hands to parry, but it appeared as though all he could do was paddle at the air while Brother Yuri slapped ten bales out of him.

The only bright side was that the attacks, while painful, didn’t cause any measurable damage.

Slap!

“Use your forearms and the crook of your wrist! Remember your blocks!” Brother Yuri said, lightly stepping back to perform another quick demonstration for his benefit.

“Here. Up and out, see?” Brother Yuri moved his hands and arms with precise, deliberate movements. He did the same gesture on the other side of his body with his other arm, then mirrored the gesture downward, down and away from his chest on one side, and down and away on the other side as well.

“You know, I am much better with an ax,” Connor said as he ran through the exercises, feeling vaguely ridiculous.

“Again! Faster!” Brother Yuri demanded of him and of all of them. Dargan and Olanna stood with Connor in the small courtyard garden, each with their own trainer performing the same moves again and again, fast as they were able.

“I’m sure that you are a better axman, half-elf. However, there may yet come a time when you have to face your opponents without your weapons. Or a time when you want to capture, not kill.” Brother Yuri flickered a sharp glance at him, and Connor looked away.

Did he know about the young Union soldier?

Yuri clapped his hands and shouted a series of unintelligible words then stepped back. The other monks did the same.

There was a sudden shimmer in the air in front of the elf, half-elf, and dwarf, and a form coalesced in front of each of them, made of ripples of white-and-blue racing wind.

“Zephyrs,” Yuri said. “Our elemental friends and servants, here to see if any of you prove worthy to follow the Path of Balance. Now fight!”

What?! Connor’s mind screamed. The creature of light and wind—one the he could barely see—suddenly darted forward, extending a blue-and white, gleaming arm.

Zephyr attacks Connor for 3 Health points damage

“Ow!” Connor grunted. Around him Olanna and Dargan were similarly blasted by the attacks of the summoned Zephyrs, each blow like a savage storm gust of stinging wind. Attacks that did real damage!

“Parry then! Practice what you were taught!” he heard Brother Yuri calling as the Zephyr suddenly darted forward once again.

Okay, arm up—and—out! Connor remembered, throwing up his forearm and locking his wrist at the same time.

For it to slam through the racing arm of the Zephyr, scattering it to, well, the winds!

“I’m not hurting it!” Connor heard Olanna say.

“Remember your blocks—there are more ways than one to injure an opponent!” Yuri laughed as Connor had to dodge out of the way of the next flying, wind-laced arm and instead bounced back, pushing down and out with his arm to catch the next attack.

You have struck Zephyr for 10 Vitality.

This time, Connor caught the Zephyr’s second arm and smashed through the solidified air with ease, scattering their arm for a moment before it recombined.

The Zephyr spun around in place, dizzying Connor for a moment before it feinted, then struck out as Connor leaned away.

Zephyr attacks Connor for 2 Health points damage

It gets weaker, Connor suddenly thought, as the creature seemed to got weaker every time that he blocked one of its attacks.

With this knowledge, Connor threw himself forward, forgetting the training to just use his blocks. Instead, he threw a roundhouse punch of his own.

That was followed by another of the Temple Brother’s blocks on the next attack, both times, his fists went through the Zephyr’s insubstantial body. On the second, the Zephyr dissipated into nothing but eddying gusts of air.

Zephyr has been defeated.

Hand-to-Hand Combat Skill has increased to Novice Level.

Nearby, it seemed that Olanna had already finishing—and apparently had done far better than he had. She grinned and gave him a high five right as their attention was drawn to a crash and a groan from the dwarf.

“Dwarves are not built for kung fu,” he grumbled, pushing himself back to his feet and dusting himself off.

“Well, perhaps not.” Brother Yuri appeared once more. “And that, sadly, is the best I can teach you in such a short time. Your skills, Master Dwarf, are going to be better served with this in your hands, I fear.”

The temple brother brought forth bundles of blankets and canvas packs, along with their belongings. The first was Dargan’s, with his familiar war hammer atop it, as well as his belt knife and a coil of rope.

“The city council keeps the First Gate locked away, but you can reach it using the water tunnels that run through the rocks beneath us. We need to depart immediately before the council realizes that the gate is open.”

Olanna and Connor agreed, accepting their packs and looking inside.

Backpack

Climbing harness Candles (x3) Flint and strike Basic Rations (x3) Healing Potions (x2) Spare blanket

And, last but not least, were their weapons. Olanna was gifted a shortbow and a regular longsword as well as her belt knife. Connor received a belt knife, a set of three small throwing blades, plus a new hand ax. It was still single-bladed, but the metal and wood were of a much better quality than either of his previous weapons—he really needed to stop losing weapons—and when he bounced it in his hand, he found that it was perfectly balanced.

“That is the best I can give you if you for traveling to the Second Realm and the UnderWorld,” Brother Yuri said.

With a solemn nod, the monk grabbed his own overcoat and lead the way out of the Temple of the Wave.