The Last of the Sages (Sage Trilogy, Book 1) (25 page)

No one said a word except Achan, who muttered only one sentence with disdain.

“I hate Sages…”

Chapter 11 - The Final Test

James woke up feeling better than he had in a long time despite current events. It was nice to wake up in a bed again and not the cold granite floor of the cave or the dirt of the forest. He decided not to go outside the Kingdom walls anytime soon. Since Achan had released his eidolon and defeated the Langoran in one strike, not a word was said as they limped their way back to Allay. Scarlet and Arimus were waiting for them at the entrance. There wasn’t a big celebration or cake, but at least they were quick to bring them to the infirmary. And that was better than dessert.

He mainly slept, not caring what tests or duties were next. He just wanted to rest, as he had in the old days, when life was simple and dull. It was nice to go back to it once in a while and no one could call him lazy, or say he hadn’t earned it. No one said a word to him, period. They just let him sleep, and he thanked them silently for it. No one knew but him what torture he went through in that cave, and he didn’t want to relive it just yet in the debriefing. The only two survivors who were unscathed were Elder and Rahima, and they mainly just hung around the dorms, telling in detail the story of their survival.

James was finally ready to say something when Achan walked through the door. James couldn’t speak first. He was sure he was going to start crying. Achan noticed the hurt in his friend’s eyes and simply sat down beside him.

“I know, I know…why me, right?” Achan said as he shrugged his shoulders. He winced at the pain that shot up his broken arm. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t want this.”

“It makes it worse,” James said, his voice trembling as he tried to put on a happy face.

“Noted.”

“So why are you here? To gloat?”

“Idiot, I just told you I don’t want this. I came to see how you were doing.”

“I’m doing fine. My leg is still not the same, as expected. But I’m hanging in there.”

“I hope you’re not taking what happened during the test too hard.”

“Why would I be sorry for getting people killed?”

“You don’t have to get nasty. I only want you to know that we all knew the risks. We all heard Kyran’s words. We knew that people could die.”

“I didn’t expect some to die because of me. Because of a decision I made.”

Achan sighed and sat at the foot of the bed. A clock somewhere ticked away.

“Listen, you did what you thought was right. You knew deep down that Allay wouldn’t stand for a prisoner being let go, yet you fought for him anyway. It’s not just because he saved your life, but also because you had some kind of bond that carried you further. Without him, you may not have survived down there. The important thing is that you’re alive.  Just don’t sleep the rest of your life away. Make their deaths count for something. I myself was the leader of that team, and because of that, their faces will haunt me for the rest of my life. I could stand here all day and rattle off what if’s. What if I did this or that, what if I changed something, or said something. Blah blah blah. Bottom line, we have to learn from our mistakes.”

“Yeah, but some should never have been made in the first place, like trusting the enemy.”

“James, honestly, we would all like to believe we’re all fine judges of character and we can discern what a person is feeling and thinking, but at the end of the day, when it comes down to it, we just want to believe in people.”

James nodded, thinking hard about what his friend said. Achan patted his shoulder and got up, getting ready to leave.

“Why did you come back for me, anyways?” James had to know. “I was gone for so long, you should’ve assumed I was dead.”

“You must not remember. I did think you were dead, but when we heard the cave-in, that’s when I got some hope.”

“Yeah, but still, there could have been tons of Langorans around, yet you came anyway. Why?”

“What? Fishing for compliments?”

“Just answer the question.”

“Well, I figure that you’re one of the few people I’ve met in my entire life that understands me. Everyone else just think I’m some snobby, preppie kid. I don’t know where they get it from...but, I just thought it would be nice keeping around someone who gets me.”

“Don’t get soft on me, now,” James pretended to sniff.

“Hey, hey, that was a one time deal. You won’t get another compliment. Trust me.”

“What are you going to do? Cut me down with your eidolon, Sage?”

James couldn’t help thinking of the Langorans’ way of saying the word.

“I’m no Sage yet. I still have to take all those annoying classes.”

“You do know I have to see that eidolon sometime.”

“Of course. I won’t be like Dominic.”

“Good.”

“Ugh, and since he’s the only other Sage in training, it will just be the two of us in class. How’s that for disgusting?”

“Wow. Maybe being a Sage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“It does give me one edge though.”

“Besides your eidolon?”

“I might have a shot with Catherine,” Achan said boldly. “I know she’s down to earth and all, but I don’t think the Kingdom would allow her marrying just anyone. Dominic is of nobility, and I’m just a commoner, but if I make a name for myself, no one should have a problem with her marrying a Sage. What do you think?”

“I think you’re right…”

“Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot. Slipped my mind that - you know, about you and Catherine. You two were good friends, right?”

“Yeah, then I blew it, said some things about her that were really insulting.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. If I know Catherine, she’s already forgiven you. If anything, she’s waiting for you to come find her, especially now that the test is over.”

“You don’t care if I talk to her?”

“Should I?”

“Well, I mean, since...uh…”

“Do you love her?”

“Well, no…”

“Are you interested in her?”

“Not really. I mean, I always wanted to marry someone like a princess, but I didn’t even know she was the princess when I started talking to her.”

“I get it. Don’t want to fall in love with her just because it sounds like a fairy tale, huh?”

“Exactly.”

“Then I have nothing to worry about. She does like you a lot, especially since she knows you’re not being fake with her. She needs someone like that in her life. I’ve always known her as the princess unfortunately, which means that though I love her for who she is, I can’t help but think about her status sometime, and if she would be so appealing without it. Only sometimes though. Don’t worry. I’d never hurt her.”

“I know. And just so you know, I hear that all the guys want you to win her heart over Dominic.”

“I think the guys would want a cockroach to win her heart over Dominic.”

James laughed and thought about her for a moment.

“You’re sure you don’t mind if we hang out? Provided she wants to?”

“James. I consider you a close friend of mine, despite knowing you for so little. With that being said, I don’t own either of you. Talk to her as much as you like. Honestly, even if she did fall in love with you, I would have no say in the matter because that’s who she would want, and I would have to respect that. As long as she is happy, I’m happy. That’s where it ends.”

“Wow, that’s serious.”

“That’s what you call unconditional love.”

“You might even be too good for her, Achan. Geez. You’re making me sick.”

Achan laughed.

“I’ll see you around, James. I’ve got to start preparing myself for the classes to come. Oh, and see Arimus on the balcony over the courtyard when you’re ready. He’ll have your review for you. And go see Catherine today, for crying out loud. I don’t know what you did to her, but the sooner you apologize, the better things will be. You don’t sit on things like that, alright?”

“Yes, sir!” James said, saluting him. Achan saluted back and walked out the doorway.

James threw the blankets to the side and leapt out of bed. He got dressed quickly, eager to hear Arimus speak. As he went out the door, he couldn’t help but be happy for Achan, even if he was regretting becoming a Sage in training. Whether his life was changing for the better or worse, the fact of the matter is that he was alive, and since they were friends, he’d have plenty of time to go one on one against his eidolon.

Even if he never released one himself, he would gain unfathomable experience by facing Achan consistently. That was for sure. It would make him that much better as an infantryman. Although it was going to hurt, he could understand Achan’s approach to the infantry and so he decided to follow suit, adopting the attitude of his friend. He had to keep up a good face for the recruits that would take the third test, especially since there was a chance he would be asked to accompany them. If he was ever given the option to be a leader, he’d take it, and approach it as Achan did, with enthusiasm. Even though the Langorans were ridiculous and the mission hadn’t gone as well as expected, they wouldn’t have become nearly as united without Achan’s rally cries and support. Not to mention his eidolon’s final blow…

Making his way to the balcony, Arimus was waiting there just as Achan had said, talking with Scarlet. Scarlet’s eyes lit up at seeing James after so long.

“High hopes! Hey, you lived! What do you know? Maybe your dreams will come true after all.”

“Nice to see you again too, Scarlet.”

“So how do you think you did?”

“I could’ve done better.”

“Throwing in the towel already?”

“No. I’m going to be the best infantryman this Kingdom has to offer.”

Scarlet scoffed and patted the crown of his head.

“Whatever you say, James.”

Scarlet walked off as Arimus watched her departure.

“What was that all about?” James asked.

“She’s not in a good mood,” Arimus stated solemnly. “Catherine is taking a particularly difficult test today, and she’s not happy about it.”

“Is it going to be dangerous?” James asked quickly, thinking about the torture he went through during the infantry exam.

“It shouldn’t be. I believe she has what it takes to pass with flying colors.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“…well, enough about Catherine. Let’s talk about you. I hear you went through quite an ordeal out there.”

“Were you around when they were torturing me? I know you and some of the other proctors supervise the test.”

“To be frank, not long after you got captured, we were busy taking care of all the Langorans that escaped.”

“You got them all?”

“All that were scouting the Kingdom. Kyran killed most of them.”

“So you weren’t watching us after that?”

“No. We were fully aware there were only a few Langorans left, and the Pratllian. We figured that that’s usually the number of Langorans loose during the test so if you didn’t survive them, you wouldn’t have passed either way.”

“So you didn’t get Alexander?”

“Is that his name? The Prattlian? No. Him and one other Langoran escaped. They can’t do anything damaging alone.”

“He’s dangerous, Arimus. When I was in the cave, he not only tortured me, he revealed a lot of information he knew about Allay. I don’t know…something’s just not right with him.”

“We’re still keeping an eye out. If he comes near, we’ll get him.”

“Good.”

“So how was it, being in the cave?”

“Horrible. They beat me up, Alexander wanted me to become a Sage so he could study an eidolon, assess one’s weakness and…”

James trailed off as he thought about what his cellmate said of him, how he had turned into some kind of monster. Still, he didn’t remember any of it. Was it a lie, to keep his mind on other things? That would make sense. It’s not like he couldn’t have taken down the pillars in the cave himself.

“And what?”

“…and then Achan and the others came. We found out my cellmate was a traitor…and more of our teammates died. I’m trying to forgive myself…but it’s hard not to dwell on it.”

“It couldn’t have happened any other way. The older you get, the more you realize that there’s not too much coincidence in this world.”

“I hope there’s not too many lessons like that I’ll have to learn.”

“Regardless of how things turned out, you did survive. That is very important.”

“Achan said the same.”

“So you want to become the best infantryman this Kingdom has to offer, huh?”

“I figure if Achan is going on to better things, I might as well hold down the fort on my end.”

“And do you believe your words?”

“I saw what Achan did with the team when we were out there. He made us feel safe, like we had the upper hand in any situation that would come our way. I’ll never forget that, and I think if I ever get the chance to lead a team, I’ll try to do the same.”

“So do you think you have what it takes to be a leader?”

“Not at all,” James laughed. “I’m just saying I’ll know what to do if I’m ever thrust into the role.”