Chapter 2

Kreuzan’s Job Shop

The Engineering City of Verith in the Province of Rork

Myles was a yellow-band meaning that he had to wear a yellow cloth band on or over his right sleeve when he was out in public. Mr. Habe let him stop by his locker on their way out to put it on. He seemed to already know about it, so Miss Kreuzan had probably told him. The yellow-band meant that an immediate family member was in a profession that used the aether-space. In Myles’ case, that had been his father. He had been a soldier. The aether-space was a three-dimensional space that is uniquely tied to an individual. With proper use, users are capable of anything from inhuman strength to throwing balls of fire. The aether-space is the only thing that allows the provincial army to fight the more dangerous monsters that roam freely outside of every town and city.

One consequence of this power is that it does not go away when a soldier retires or deserts. Due to incidents involving ex-soldiers turning to a life of banditry—or worse—all retired soldiers and other individuals capable of using the aether-space are required to wear red bands around their arms when in public. Red bands are both a warning to the people around you and a badge of honor to be worn with pride. Yellow bands are worn by immediate family members for similar reasons.

Myles’ father was a soldier up until six years ago when he had been killed in the last battle of what everyone had started calling the railway war. Myles was only ten at the time. For the next four years, his mother had been sure to turn the yellow band Myles wore everywhere into a reminder of what he was never allowed to be.

Myles wrapped the band around the outside of his jacket, pinning it there with practiced ease. As he walked back to the entrance, Mr. Habe gave him an excited smile.

“After you!”

Myles pushed out the door and into the blizzard, turning around slightly to start following Mr. Habe.

Mr. Habe gave a quick shudder. “Its cold outside even for Verith in the winter.”

Myles gave a polite laugh. Everyone in Verith liked to complain about the winters even though almost nobody had ever left the city to compare them to anywhere else in the province.

Mr. Habe glanced at the band around Myles’ arm. “Are you sure you aren’t interested in being a soldier? You know I’m actually looking for a talented soldier too.”

Myles gave a polite denial. He had not actually been that against the idea of becoming a soldier even after his dad died. Myles knew that it was what his dad would have wanted. His mother though had been completely against the idea.

Just as they were about to round the corner of the shop, Myles heard an ominous growl come from behind him. He turned in alarm. Two monsters tore around the opposite side of the job shop. Myles’ eyes widened. The things were not uncommon monsters, Myles had seen a few of them from the city walls, but no monster ever got into the city.

They looked like dogs mixed with boars and boasted a pair of sharp horns mirrored by a pair of tusks. The two monsters were quick. Myles began to look for a building he could take shelter in. It was then that he heard a crashing behind him. Mr. Habe who had been lagging behind had fallen over himself in a hurry to get away from the monsters. The first monster’s vision narrowed as it took in the easy kill. Myles found himself flying shoulder first into the monster. The thing’s horn just barely scraped his back as he hit it. The monster was sent flying by the weight into the side of the job shop. The second monster barreled down on Myles as he was thrown backwards onto Mr. Habe. Myles knew instinctively that he couldn’t move in time to avoid its charge. Before he impaled by its horns, it went flying after the other one into the wall with a force that was hard enough to kill them both. Myles was somewhat astounded that the wall held up.

“Sorry about that are you alright?”

Myles sat up to find a man in uniform standing by his side, his hand outstretched. Myles took his hand shakily as he realized he was pinning Mr. Habe to the ground.

“I think we are fine. I took a few scrapes across my back, but that’s it.”

The man let out a deep breath. “It’s a good thing that ogren aren’t poisonous then. If it had been a veskel you would be on your way to an early grave.”

Mr. Habe stood up with a flourish and a bow. “There is a reason I told you to go with the ogren you know that.”

Myles frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Mr. Habe smiled gently. “I told you I am looking for a soldier too. The person I need has to have the potential to be both an aether engineer and a soldier.”

“You mean this was just another test!” Myles felt fury rising in his chest. He had just risked his life to save this man. The soldier must have released the monster before running around the corner. Myles took a longer look at the man. He wore a red armband, so he must have been an ex-soldier.

Mr. Habe glanced at the man. “He passed right? I am afraid I spent most of the test laying on my own face.”

The ex-soldier gave a brief chuckle. “Yeah, he passed. I had to save him in the end, but you were just checking to see if he would willingly choose to fight, right?”

“Yeah. The client wanted the candidate to be willing to put their own life in danger to save someone.”

Myles felt his eyebrows raise at that. He had passed the test? It didn’t matter anyway though. “I admire the Veridian company’s work, but I can’t trust anybody who goes this far for an interview.”

“The client isn’t actually the Veridian family this time. While I do work with them a bit, I’m actually looking for a candidate for a rather unique academy.”

Myles swept the snow off his coat where he had fallen. “I don’t care who your client is. I’m declining the offer. I’m going home.”

Myles felt a tug on his arm. “Just take the flyer. Its hard to find someone who meets my client’s criteria. If you change your mind, meet me at the railway station tomorrow at noon.”

Myles took the flyer and shoved it into his pocket as he walked away.

Despite what he said it was still too early to go home. Besides, he had an errand to run. He had planned to do it after work but seeing as he had been given the rest of the day off, he figured now was as good a time as any.

The Deprios church was a fifteen-minute walk from the job shop. All the children in Verith were given their compulsory education at one of the churches of Deprios. Up until a year ago, Myles had been one of those children too. On the last day of the work week, he always stopped by. While he had been a student there, he had made a deal with the priest. If he helped set up for the weekend sermon, then the priest would give him the old copy of his newspaper.

When Myles walked in, Father Oswald was still teaching. Myles waited around for about half an hour before they all left. When they finally did, Myles watched as Father Oswald slumped gently back into his chair before he approached him.

“The kids weren’t being too tough on you, were they?”

Father Oswald hopped out of his chair with a smile. “Myles! I wasn’t expecting you for a while yet! How has work been going?”

Myles chatted idly about his week, avoiding any mention of the events of the afternoon. “Would you like help setting up for the weekend again?”

Father Oswald set Myles to arranging the chairs for the service. The church had been having to use all the chairs for their sermons lately. That meant moving the chairs from all the classrooms. As he toiled, Father Oswald came over to tease him. “This week was exciting. The Astro company just released a new product you know!”

Myles moved to cover his ears. “Please don’t spoil the best part of my week.”

Father Oswald gave a good-natured laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so interested in aether engineering. If I had the money, I would have sent you to an academy myself.”

The old priest actually had tried to raise enough money to do that a few years ago. Myles changed his mind and decided to tell Father Oswald about the offer he had been given. The old man would have been upset if he only heard about the offer after the fact. Besides, Myles needed someone to talk to about it.

After hearing the story, the priest had only one thing to say. “You should do it.”

“But Father! You know I made a death vow to never become a soldier. If I were to break that I would be dishonoring my mother!”

“No, if you remember my teachings, a death vow is a single truth. The death vow is made to honor the one wish the deceased made to Deprios for you. I told you this before, but I do not believe that is the wish your mother made for you.” Father Oswald put a hand on Myles’ shoulder. “Your mother was stronger than you give her credit for. I’m sure she wanted you to follow your dream more than she hoped for you to not become a soldier.”