Obsidian Sky (26 page)

“I don’t even know what class it is.”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re not going to be separated.”

“This complicates things, but I’ll meet up with you as soon as I can.”

“How? Necrosis will be coming after us. We’ll have to stay on the move. Why can’t you just ditch them?”

“Because they’ll know right away that we’re together. Tristan will report me to the Elders and they’ll send the Discipline Squad or some other warriors your way. That will just make things harder for you. How about this? In one month’s time, meet me in Otalli.”

“Now who’s leaving who behind?” he snapped.

“Remember,” she said, taking his red hands into her blue ones. “Remember.” Aidan shook his head profusely and ripped his hands from hers.

“First chance I get, I’m coming to you.”

“Don’t do that.”

“Stop me.”

“You were going to ask me to stay behind anyways,” she said, giving him a stern face. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“You’re wrong,” he said through grit teeth, turning to face the Elders while he repeated his promise. “I’m coming.”

“And let your team die? No, you’re not. You would never forgive yourself.”

“Stranger things have happened,” he said, pointing at Tristan in the distance. He was waving for Leah to come with the group so they could strategize. “They need you.”

“I’m not leaving until I know we’re okay,” she said, grabbing his arm. He took a deep breath and tried to turn down the heat on his boil.

“We’ll always be okay,” he said, his face softening and turning to her. “One month,” he said reluctantly. “Nothing more.” Leah nodded.

“I’ll be right back,” she said, going to meet her group.

“- and Aidan Serafino,” Elder Thine finished calling out as Jin went to retrieve the parchment. It was strange seeing him without his armor and in a Lowsunn uniform. Jin strolled over to Aidan with a weary countenance and gave him a corner of the paper to hold. Three others, two girls and one boy came up behind them and glanced over their shoulders.

“B class mission,” Jin scoffed. “What a joke. We’re supposed to investigate the city of Darken – one of the few municipalities inhabited solely by naturals. It’s rumored that Necrosis has been killing naturals there and we’re supposed to confirm whether this is true or not and relay the information back to the Elders.”

“What’s the point of that?” one of the girls asked.

“I figure it’s to know for sure whether they can start sending more groups there. If there was no real threat there, then Darken could become a possible supply source or ally in the future. The real joke is that this is classified as a B because we’re only to investigate, not fight whomever is committing the crime. Like that’s going to happen. Necrosis will probably be the welcoming party.”

“So where are we going instead?” she asked.

“Onyx Major,” he smiled. “A place so populated that we’ll know if Necrosis is coming from miles away. It’s a far trek to the east, but we have more than enough power between us to make it. Allow me to introduce everyone. This is Aidan – Fire Arts –”

“- we all know him,” the extremely long-haired girl laughed. “My name is Grain. Yeah, I know it’s a horrible name. Anyways, my specialty is that I can read deception. I know when someone’s lying right away. And I’m not too bad with a sword either.”

“I’m Teller,” the bored-looking, red-headed boy said. “I can fly.” Aidan stifled a laugh.

“And I’m Jessica,” the last girl with the long black hair and blue eyes replied. “Gravity manipulation.”

“Together we’ll be okay,” Jin commented. “And we might as well get to know each other well. After all, we’re going to be one big family for an undetermined amount of time. Teller can help us see way ahead while in flight. Grain will assist with finding safety zones and the rest of us are the wrecking crew. We’ll deal with the threats that we come across. Now, we’re supposed to be leaving by noon and that’s not a lot of time so please, say your good-byes and gather any supplies that are dear to you. Don’t pack too heavily though or the Elders will know something’s up. We’re going to head out at 11:30 at the south end where the shields will be made weak enough for us to pass through. Any questions?”

They all shook their heads and Jin clapped his hands together.

“Then we’ll see each other later. Take care.” Jin disappeared into the crowd with Teller and Grain but Jessica grabbed Aidan’s arm before he could leave.

“Hey, I just wanted to say that we might not show it, but we’re happy you’re with us. You have a lot of insight into the outside world that we can only dream about.”

“We’ll all be getting plenty of insight soon enough,” he replied as she let go of him. “But don’t worry too much. We have an able team. We’ll be fine, unless we come across Necrosis of course.”

“Yeah,” she said, playing with a strand of her hair. “That would be bad.”

“I have to go,” Aidan replied, leaving her so he could search for Leah. As he looked around for her, he suddenly realized that Isaac hadn’t been there. What had happened?

Come to think of it, he hadn’t shown up at the cabin either. Aidan began tapping people on the shoulder and asking if they had seen Isaac, but not one knew of his location. Jin appeared from the middle of the crowd.

“Hey, Aidan,” Jin said. “Do you know what happened to Isaac? I didn’t want to say anything with the others there.”

“I’m on it,” Aidan waved Jin away. “I’m on it.”

Concerned, he began searching more frantically, looking in all the major spots: the Field, the schoolhouse, the cabins, the infirmary. Isaac was nowhere to be found.

He wouldn’t go back outside without us, would he? Aidan wondered as he stopped by the Western Restaurant to think. Hopefully he was with Bailey.

“Aidan, come quickly!” a cry interrupted his thoughts as someone grabbed his forearm. Aidan faced the source and found Eugene before him, sweating profusely. “It’s Isaac.”

“Take me there,” he demanded, following the professor. They ran through the woods behind the Restaurant as fast as they could, jumping over fallen branches and whole trees.

“He’s over here,” Eugene cried out, jumping through a thicket of leaves and thorns. Aidan opted to burn it down rather than crawl through it as Eugene had done. As he walked through the smoking remains of the thicket he saw that Isaac was indeed there, and he had seen better days.

He was lying on his back with his eyes closed, and a pool of blood was seeping out from underneath him. Looking closer, Aidan saw that he had been stabbed over six times by something big. Every one of the wounds were fatal.

“Isaac, are you there?” Aidan asked, stooping down to examine him. All he could hear was the soft spilling of his friend’s life leaving his body. Aidan grit his teeth and began concentrating.

“What are you doing?” Eugene asked but Aidan shushed him. Aidan took a deep breath and said the words clearly within his mind: I wish that Isaac’s wounds would be healed, and that his body would be back to normal.

The teleportation was instantaneous. Once again he was back in the Judge’s chamber, standing before him as he continued to sit on his tiny stool. Aidan made no move for him this time. Feeling the invisible hands encase him once was more than enough.

“Hello, Aidan,” the Judge replied, still sitting atop the engraved symbol of the Yen in the floor. “I hope you have been well.”

“I’ve been better,” he said, waiting for the Judge to grant his request. Only silence ensued. Finally the Judge spoke up.

“No threats this time?” he asked. His voice almost sounded shocked.

“Not this time,” Aidan said. “I just want my wish granted.”

“You would waste one of your Yen on him?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“It’s just surprising. I thought you were saving your Yen so you could use them to kill me.”

“I can’t bring my dead family back. Not even with a Yen. So I’ve got to save the family I do have.”

“You make me more curious every year, Aidan. Your wish has been granted. Until the next and last time we meet, take care.”

“Even after the Yen are done, I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

“Perhaps,” the Judge replied, and Aidan was back in the woods. Isaac was coughing and Eugene was patting his back as the swordsman sat up to catch his breath.

“What – what happened? Why am I still alive?” he asked. Aidan pulled up on his own sleeve. Two of the three Yen were darkened. Isaac coughed one last time and did the same. Two of his three Yen were black as well.

“Good to have you back,” Aidan replied, helping Isaac to his feet. The swordsman didn’t look happy.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Isaac replied. “I didn’t want you to waste one of your wishes on a weakling like me.”

“It’s done. Now what happened?”

“I was here in the woods trying to think of how I could best use my next Yen when someone snuck up behind me and stabbed me in the back. I was paralyzed instantly and as I fell, they kept stabbing me. I didn’t have much time. I used one of my seals to grant myself a telekinetic ability and I threw my sword in the direction I heard someone running but I don’t think I got them.”

“Won’t know until we make sure. Which direction?”

“East,” he said, and they began walking that way. Isaac rubbed his hands over where the wounds used to be. “I can’t believe I’m still alive. Aidan, I’m grateful…but you have no idea how terrible I feel.”

“I said it’s done.”

“No, it’s not,” he said. “I wish I could use my last Yen to give you back yours…you know what? That’s what I’m going to do. My last Yen is yours to use as you wish.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“It would be gone if I had died anyways. I should have been more careful.”

“You can’t blame yourself,” Eugene said from behind them. “It could have happened to anyone. It’s fortunate for you that I frequent these woods for reflection and meditation.”

“Did you see anyone besides Isaac?” Aidan asked.

“No. All was quiet.”

“I don’t care what you say,” Isaac practically shouted. “My last Yen is yours, and in the meantime, I’m going to become the greatest warrior in the world. I’m going to make what you did count. I’m going to fight so hard that you won’t have to. My life is yours to do with what –”

“– geez, just stop,” Aidan chuckled. “I’m just happy you’re still here.”

“That must have hurt to say,” Isaac smiled. “But in all seriousness, I am going to get incredibly strong.”

“I have no doubt,” Aidan chuckled. He stopped and kicked back a few leaves to reveal Isaac’s dagger. He picked it up and inspected it, but there wasn’t a drop of blood. He glanced back to where Isaac had fallen. “Your throw went quite far. The telekinesis might have stopped once you went unconscious.”

“Then whoever it was got away,” Isaac seethed. “And with everyone going on missions today, there’s no way to conduct an investigation. They might already be gone.”

“But who would be bold enough to do this anyways?”

“If the Elders are after us,” Eugene said, “they might have sent a hit on Isaac. They know that they placed you two together on a mission. Maybe they realized that they gave you too much of an advantage and that by removing one of you from the equation, the others would have a greater probability of failing.”
 

“All the more reason to get stronger,” Isaac said.

“We’re leaving Lowsunn at 11:30,” Aidan stated. “We’re meeting in the south end by the shield. Do you need any supplies or anything?”

“Just what I have on me,” Isaac replied. “You know I don’t have anything.”

“Me neither,” Aidan chuckled. “Well, until then, we’re sticking together. I don’t want to give the assassin another chance. Unless you feel like being bait and we try to settle this.”

“No, like I said, he’s probably gone. Besides, have you said good-bye to Leah yet?”

“No,” Aidan replied. “I was heading over to do so when I realized you were missing.”

“It’s so weird. I can still feel where the blade pierced through me…I don’t think I’m going to get over this anytime soon.”

“Just accompany me,” Aidan replied, and he turned to Eugene. “It’s good you found Isaac and were able to get one of us in time. But what this also means is that you’re going to have to be careful around here in our absence. Most of us are leaving. There’s no one to protect you.”

“Even if I’m killed, I’ve lived a full life,” Eugene said, his eyes smiling. “I wish you both the best of luck.”

“Thanks,” Aidan said, and they walked away. Eugene began searching the ground for clues as to what had happened. The two boys stayed in the background as much as possible as they made their way to Leah’s cabin in the south. She was sitting right outside the door when they arrived and she stood to greet them with a smile.

“I was given an N mission,” she declared with a smirk. Isaac raised an eyebrow.

“What is that?” he asked. “I’ve only heard of A through D.”

“There are six classes to a mission,” Aidan declared. “The highest is Omega, and then it goes A, B, C, D, and ends with N for negligible. Basically she’s probably going to Otalli or another nearby location to get supplies and come right back. But it doesn’t matter. Leah, plans have changed. You’re coming with us this morning.”