Chapter 27

The Question

The weeks slowly flowed into months, as initially daunting schedules slowly became the standard. Everyone fell into a routine, even Lykan. Though Lykan spent most of his time focusing on gaining everything he could during his time at the school. When he was not in classes with Telka translating, he was either practicing in the yard or reading in the Library. He made it a point not to get too attached to too many people. His reason for not wanting to get too close to people, well, that simple, he still felt a giant hole in his heart from where Octavia once held the dearest spot.

Now it seemed he would be forced to repeat the process with Telka, spending six years with the fantastic Elf only to have to leave her. Even now, he could hear the call of adventure pulling at him. It was subtle but still ever-present on his mind. In his mind, he was a Wanderer, though he nor anyone else at the school truly understood what that meant. He understood that part of it was to move on with his life.

He could satiate himself with the fact that he needed to stay due to his binding contract. He intuited that breaking an oath-bound contract like the one he had sworn to would be tantamount to lowering his Class status toward a vagabond. Right now, his Class ranking was still neutral, meaning that he could grow up or down. It hit him that his actions to this point hadn’t been much in the eyes of the Gods, that all his good deeds to this point amounted to a few Skill increases and nothing more. This want to improve his Class, to gain an honorific title was a big portion of why he stayed. He learned such changes or titles to one’s Class were possible. The sword saint was an example of this as his very Class showed his prestige.

He realized that he only had his Class for a month. That his greatest claim to his Class was freeing eleven people and walking them to safety, work that was over in less than four days in all. Even now, he could say he was here for Telka, but he understood his position here was a reward for all his hard effort to this point. Whether it was Fate or Chance, a lot of factors had to go right in order for Lykan to be here on a one-for-one contract. He realized that with Telka’s Intelligence, she would easily master the common dialect of Sidhertha in no time, especially with her language immersion. This was partly why he pursued the Protectorate path, so he could continue to be by Telka’s side. This wasn’t due to any prolonged feelings for Telka, but rather he felt comfortable being by her side. Being needed.

In a way, he realized that he had left Octavia’s side. Someone, the Great Forest Spirit, had bound to him for over close to five years. Then once that was open, there was a gaping hole in his heart. He realized he had to leave but couldn’t. At least his heart couldn’t let go, not fully. So he set off for adventure and found the first person who reminded him of Octavia. While their appearances were almost polar opposites of each other, their position and need for him to be around made him feel accepted. Like he had found his place in his life.

Only once he realized why he felt the need to be near Telka that he realized that he had been selfish. He wasn’t learning nor truly improving himself. He was falling back into the same patterns of life and expecting to grow. While such actions had been okay when he was a kid and waiting for his class to arrive. He didn’t want this to be who he was as an adult.

His heart only had a spot for one person. While he would never be able to see that person again, he knew it would be wrong to try to fill that void with a Telka shaped object. Part of this was that he understood that he and Telka weren’t deeply compatible, at least not in the way he was with Octavia. He realized that in his mind, he would always be comparing the two, which was not healthy for any true relationship.

As soon as he came to this realization, his thoughts were interrupted by a pleasant voice that, up until a few minutes prior, Lykan had delighted in hearing.

“You are still practicing?” Telka asked.

Indeed Lykan was practicing. His Skills of Focus, Meditation, Quick Step, and Swordsmanship all reached new heights during his near-constant training. He found that he could now go deep into thought while practicing his sword forms.

The world he was in slowly broke away as he found himself in the wide-open courtyard with Telka.

“Oh, sorry, did I miss something?” Lykan asked. Sweat beading down his forehead as he now realized just how thoroughly he had been pushing his mind and body.

Telka wasn’t the only one who had been watching, as many people had taken to staring at Lykan as he went through his sword forms. A few girls chuckled to themselves in the corners and alcoves as they watched. While a few of the magical officers glowered at him from their own practice areas.

“No. We are done with classes for the day, but I wondered if you had any plans for the annual dancing festival?” Telka asked in Sidherthan Common.

She was getting the hang of the language, but sometimes her word choices were off, like this time.

Lykan cocked his head as he tried to understand what she meant. Then a dawning of realization hit him.

“You mean the military ball?” Lykan asked as realization dawned in his mind.

This was the premier ball held for the Magi Corps. Every officer who was single and not currently engaged in an active battle on the front line was forced to attend. Additionally, all students were also encouraged to attend. This was a way to both meet future leaders while also encouraging people to form lasting relationships.

“Yes,” Telka said, blushing as she realized she had made a mistake. She knew she would have gotten it correct in High Elven, but she was trying her best to learn the native tongue.

Seeing that this was all Telka would give him, Lykan asked.

“Well, let me ask you something. Do you wish to go?”

“Yes. I do,” Telka all but bounced with excitement, going back to her native Elven tongue.

Hearing her excitement, Lykan couldn’t help but smile.

“Okay. Well, as your Protectorate, it would be uncouth for you to go without your trusty guard.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you,” Telka said, darting in to hug Lykan. Only to stop herself once she realized just how sweaty he was.

“Haha. It’s okay. I understand you are excited. I also realize that I likely need to bathe,” Lykan said, looking down at his uniform, which was now feeling cold in the crisp night air.

“You are always pushing yourself. But have you improved any since you’ve been here?” Telka asked.

“Quite a bit, actually,” Lykan said as he pulled up his status provided by the Gods and looked.

Name Lykan Vita Race Human Class Wanderer Age 16 Attribute Base Plus Modifier Total Strength (6+6) 12 Awareness (7+6) 13 Mobility (9+6) 15 Intelligence (7+12) 19 Power (6+12) 18 Skill Base Plus Modifier Rating Universal Linguist (Maximum) Spear Mastery (Maximum) Sword Mastery Adept + (Platinum) Expert Quick Step Beginner + (Platinum) Adept Universal Literacy (Maximum) Regeneration (Maximum) Meditation Adept + (Platinum) Expert Focus Adept + (Platinum) Expert

All of his Skills had gone up from his near-constant use since he got here. Better still, he now had not one but two Swordmasters who were helping him improve at different aspects. Sword Saint Altier helped with his actual swordsmanship and footwork. While Shai’jan helped with his Meditation and Focus, both of which required more attention to be implemented properly than he had previously been giving them.

“So you will take me?” Telka asked, once again pulling Lykan’s attention away from his constant pursuit of improvement and toward her.

“Yes, I would be honored,” Lykan said with a formal bow.

Aww.

At that, Lykan’s enhanced senses heard a number of girls awing at the events that were being played out. A quick glance around showed the different girls who had gathered around to watch him practice and now saw his interaction with Telka. Seeing Lykan’s gaze Telka too turned her eyes to watch the girls who just shook their heads in jealousy at her.

The boys had a similar reaction, but mainly toward Lykan.

One large Senior came forward, angrily stomping his feet.

Upon seeing the man coming forward, memories of Ghane came to Lykan’s mind as he now saw in this man the same seeds of jealousy that the other boy had displayed. “So odd,” Lykan muttered to himself.

“What’s odd?” the muscular giant of a man demanded, apparently being close enough to hear Lykan mutter to himself.

Shaking his head, Lykan realized he had let his mind wander again. He was about to go down the mental path of whether this was a case for all Wanderers or if it was just him. Fortunately, before he could get too far down that path, the muscular boy shouted, “I asked you a question, scum.”

Lykan was brought back to the present as the muscular boy began drawing in energy to enhance his muscles. Seeing this, Lykan just smiled and answered.

“Jealousy.”

“What?” The tall boy looked like he had been punched in the face at the comment.

“Jealousy. You asked what I thought was odd. It has to be jealousy that makes rational men do incomprehensibly stupid things. Like augmenting your body with magic to strike at a protectorate that is in close proximity to their charge. Even if you land the blow, and let's say for a fact that you land it. What then? I am forced to defend myself as I assume you are attempting to abduct my charge. Then you get brought up for treason,” Lykan said.

He could handle himself in this fight. Of that, there was no doubt. Telka only now began to understand what Lykan meant by everything, and she too began to look panicked, but not for Lykan.

“Please, sir, don’t start. You won’t stand a chance,” Telka said, her words causing more ire to form in the boy’s angered brain.

“What? You think this pip-squeak can handle with a true officer!” the boy demanded. It was clear that he had the golden tassels over his shoulder denoting his rank.

Lykan just stared at the boy and watched as his muscles contracted, even though he appeared to be trying to calm himself.

“Fine. You are right,” he said, twisting his upper body, only to release the flow of energy he had in his body out to his muscles in an attempt to punch Lykan while he was unaware.

Unfortunately, Lykan had been spending the past few months practicing with the Sword Saint, who often tried to use the very same moves. The Sword Saint, however, learned early on that using magic around Lykan was tantamount to tipping your hand. Lykan ducked under the blow while jabbing up with the hilt of his sword right into the solar plexus of the brute.

Then as soon as he made contact, Lykan withdrew every ounce of energy the boy had in his body.

What everyone saw was a cheap punch to the sternum that knocked the wind out of the boy and caused him to double over in pain. What most failed to see was the way the energy left the giant officer’s body in an instant, leaving him little more than a weakened human on the ground.

The officer candidate fell to the ground looking at his hands. The strength that he had always managed to call upon was gone. The feeling of power, of invincibility, was gone.

He stared up at the boy who had already sheathed his weapon.

Cold hard brown eyes stared at him and judged him as if he was nothing.

He even took a step back, relaxed his posture, and let the officer candidate stand up.

“What did you do?” the giant of a man asked as his hands began to tremble. He had never felt so powerless.

“You, you struck me…” Lomen stammered. As he was about to take a step forward, a voice rang out from overhead.

“I think the better question is what did you do, Mr. Lomen? He did warn you that he was a Protectorate and that you were encroaching on his charge. Then you threatened him with a cheap shot that he countered,” Master Shai’jan said, floating from above everyone, his own sword sheathed at his waist.

The Swordmaster swooped in, effortlessly gliding down so that he was but four feet from the ground. His newfound height made it so everyone in the courtyard, even the brute before Lykan, had to look up to look at the Azani warrior.

Everyone was now staring at the four who were suddenly at the center of attention for the evening, in the training yard.

Elikard Lomen, for his part, looked on angrily as he stared at the boy who dared to mock him. Worse, the boy was a monster. What did he do to my power? Is he a Power thief? How did he move so quickly?

Questions rolled through Lomen’s mind as he tried to understand what had just happened. There was only one thing that he could realize somehow, the boy had stolen his powers. Then he looked at the boy, who clearly wasn’t much, especially with his bronze pendant. So what could it be?

Then he saw the sword strapped to the man’s back and realized what was likely the cause of the entire problem. With that realization in mind, plans began to form in Lomen’s mind. Thoughts on how he would steal the sword and use the same sword against him. With his new objective in mind, Lomen let the incident pass, taking his chastisement with coolly simmering rage.

Everyone who watched the event saw that while Lomen said and did everything correctly, he still felt a lot of rage toward the boy who had bested him.