Chapter twelve: Preparations for War

John’s body was racked with pain as he hobbled back into the mess hall. After doing some basic drills he had spent the majority of the day being hit by the nameless instructor. In the name of training the instructor, maybe Linny, had used John as a stress reliever. After a couple hours of getting beaten John made a massive miste. Sir, What’s your’ name?” Apparently this question was taboo, because things quickly went downhill. The instructor didn’t answer, but his attacks became far more fierce, and the blows became heavier with each swing. By the time the sun set the pain had soaked into John’s bones, he couldn’t even tell when he was being hit.

John collapsed next to Damean who was wearing a basic mage robe. “Looks like you had fun today.”

John only moaned in response. The mess hall was practically empty at this time of night, so Damean went and got John some simple food from the kitchen. Some light returned to John’s eyes as he propped himself up and began to eat. “Thanks Damean, I think I hit a nerve with that instructor. Do you know his name?”

“No, no one does, he’s know as the nameless instructor. It’s sort of a game to guess what his name is, my money is on Fred, but no one’s brave enough to actually ask him.”

“Well apparently I’m the bravest person here.”

“Or the stupidest.” Damean had a smirk on his face as he continued. “By what I hear though you should be going straight to group training. I saw part of your sparring match, and you are far better than most. Although that may not be a good thing right now.” A dark look appeared on Damean’s face as he began to whisper. “They began to evacuate the villages closer the the Dark Trench, a clear sign of trouble. Depending on how bad it gets we may end up seeing some serious action.”

John spent a few seconds thinking before he swallowed. “Damean you’ll probably hear about this soon enough, but everybody is probably gonna see action. I was at the Dark Trench not too long ago, so I happened to find out about it.” John thought back to the dream he had seen early this morning. His blood turned cold as he remembered the razor sharp teeth gnawing on burnt bones. “It’s more than just war, a goblin flood.”

Damean’s face turned pale as a look of uncertainty flashed through his eyes. “Are you sure? They did a investigation just a few days ago, and came up with nothing.”

“One hundred percent, and the scariest part is that it almost went unnoticed.”

Damean’s face scrunched up as he thought carefully over what John had said. “Goblin’s aren’t capable of such subterfuge? Do you know who’s manipulating them?” At this point the conversation was barely a whisper.

John shook his head. “No, but we’re starting with the advantage. By the time they get here the defense should be ready.”

After John finished eating Damean introduced him to the manager of the Men’s barracks, who showed John to his room. John was left speechless. His own room? Wasn’t this military training? “I guess money really can buy anything.”

John decided to read from his dad’s book before he went to bed. He still had a ways to go before he could start the second part of the breathing technique, so he quickly found the first blank page. As John stared at the page words slowly began to appear, “Remember not the loss, but what was given. A will of steel is more important than the mightiest sword, but having both would be better. Sorrow and joy go hand in hand. To be able to smile in the face of death is an incredible luck. The stars are uncountable. Blue is blue.” John shook his head as the words became complete gibberish. He thought over the first few sentences, trying to discern if they had any actual purpose for him.They sounded deep, but were simply too vague.

John gave up on the book as he sat on his bed, preparing to practice his breathing technique. John had a flash of hesitation before he suppressed the memory from the morning. “I’ll just have to stay awake this time.” Before john knew it, he had drifted off again.

John saw a baker and his wife sitting down to eat. As the women ate her stomach grew, and she was suddenly holding a baby girl. The baker waived towards his wife and child as he grabbed his sword and walked to the door. The scene changed, John’s uncle stood on top of a mountain of goblin corpses as lightning shot off of his body. More goblins climbed up the pile to be slaughtered. The shadows in the surroundings turned into a giant black robed figure with the stench of death. A smile adorned the old man’s face, showing the joy of a man who had succeeded in life. A tear rolled down one eye as the shadow reached forward. “Goodbye John.”

John’s eyes shot opened as tears flowed out, like a leak that couldn’t be fixed. “Why am I having these dreams?”John pulled out his father’s book and firmly asked it this question before opening it. As John opened the book the page was immediately filled with words. “I’m truly sorry for your’ loss John. Your uncle was a good man who died an honourable death. These dreams are a side effect from the breathing technique. Your’ dreams have always had power, but as the energy in your body shifts you will see more and more vision. These may be random, dealing with the future, past, present, here, or there. As you progress they will tend to have more relevance towards you. Remember them, you never know what might be important.”

John was confused for a minute. The book was actually addressing him? More importantly if what it said was true then that meant his uncle was dead. The words he read before the dream suddenly rang back in his mind, making far more sense. The look on John’s face hardened, as he began the breathing technique once more. A will of steel that wielded the mightiest sword. John was truly all alone now, but it wouldn’t stay that way. John had decided that he wouldn’t lose anyone every again, as another sleepless night began.

Some place in the Murus kingdom a baker kissed his wife goodbye. “Don’t worry honey. I’ll kill a thousand goblins and be back before the end of the blue sun, so keep the ovens burning while I’m gone.”

“You better be. I won’t forgive you if you take too long. Please take care of my father while. I want you both back.” Tears rolled down the face of the mother daughter duo, as their eyes turned red from sorrow.

“You think this young fella is gonna be protecting me? Don’t you worry Madeline I’ll bring your big and stupid ox back.”

“And I’ll make sure your father doesn’t keel over. I mean who would want to take in their mother in-law right after marriage?”

The older of the two women gave the lad a dirty look. “Enough stalling the both of ya. Ya got a long journey to the capital.”

Madeline watched her husband and father ride off with the rest of the men from the village, just as the morning sun began to rise. She headed in as her stomach began to feel sick.