The Gardens

The six of us in our group met up to leave the library. I was eager to get back to our rooms and relax after another brutal day of training, however Sara had suggested that we train some more. I was less than eager; but I knew that the more we trained now, the easier the rest of the training would become. I was also outvoted in that regard, with Korin, Rayall, and Sybil joining Sara in her decision for us to train. I was given little choice.

Instead of finding a free training hall, we absconded to the citadel gardens. They were a verdant paradise, very different from the utilitarian architecture of the citadel itself. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers, jasmine, roses, all mingling with the fresh smell of dew on the leaves. Large swathes of green stretched out before us with a path meandering lazily throughout, inviting visitors to explore the kaleidoscope of colours, planted in every shade of green, pink, yellow, purple, and blue bursting from every corner. It was a beautiful sight that we took a moment to appreciate as we traversed the path and found a spot on the emerald field that we could use to train.

Cleo and Sara both practiced their healing magic some more, they had been kind enough to heal each of us earlier when we suffered defeats at the hand of Orion. None of the wounds I had suffered bothered me any longer with most of them not even scarring, however I couldn’t help but wonder how they would practice healing more grievous injuries.

As we all trained with our magical abilities, Korin took a seat on one of the rocks, already having received a double training session with his axe as usual. He was also kind enough to throw out his advice to each of us, based on all the experience with magic that he didn’t have.

I was running low on my mana, having been practicing my lightning bolt, when Rayall approached me. He seemed to be more tired than I felt, he must have drained all of his mana already. He looked somewhat at peace in the gardens, more so than I had seem him recently. Perhaps they reminded him of the elven kingdom a little.

“How are you Aucus?” he asked, sitting in front of me with his legs crossed as he stroked the tips of the blades of grass.

I frowned a little, surprised that the half-elf is asking me that. I crouched down and squatted so that we were about the same height. “I guess I’m okay, why do you ask?”

He looked at me, “You seem sure that someone is trying to kill you, your abilities are less than traditional, and you have an enemy in someone who will one day be one of the most powerful adventurers” he said matter-of-factly. “It seems like something that humans would struggle with”

I smiled a bit at that, I had almost forgotten how blunt he could be. “Well yes, there is all of that” I said and blew out a breath of air. “I guess I’m scared” I said at last, “I just wanted to be an adventurer to protect people, to see the world, to have a bit of… well adventure, I guess. And now there’s all of this.” I waved my arms in exasperation. “Sometimes I wish it would all go back to how it was before I took the test, before I came to the capital…” I trailed off and sat in silence for a moment. “Before Lord Motten” I finished in a quiet voice.

He nodded his head to me in understanding, his silver hair bouncing through the air with the motion. “There is a saying in the elven tongue, Dorhille, eol maeworr. It roughly translates to the river carries or breaks. It means that the course of life is already set in motion, and nothing can change it. We have the choice of allowing it to take us to its destination or fighting against it and coming out broken” he said.

I nodded my head; not quite sure I completely understood what he was trying to say but appreciating the comforting tone he was giving me. “Well that’s probably easier for elves to listen to, they live for hundreds of years and can afford to wait for the river” I said, seeing the others turning from the practice to look at us.

Sara and Cleo were both giving me comforting smiles and Sybil seemed to have disappeared into the shadows once more. I shrugged off the emotion that was beginning to well inside of me. “I don’t think I’m going to break though. I was told once that I’m on a path and I will reach its end, she seemed pretty sure about it, so I guess I’ll be staying in one piece for now” I say as I pushed myself back to my feet. I offered a hand down to Rayall who took it and allowed me to help him up.

“Hey, don’t think you’re alone. We’re all here for you” Cleo said in her cheerful voice as she gave me a hug. I smiled and smelled a strong floral scent coming from her, even more powerful than that of the garden.

“Thanks. I think…” I trailed off as I saw a group of people walking along the path in the gardens, coming in our direction. My heart sank as I recognised a figure dressed in white. Zarin.

“We should probably go back” I said as I recognised Kira and Clen with him, a few others that I don’t recognise. And at his side was Elsie. Her fiery head transfixed my gaze as a thousand memories of our childhood together rushed back to meet me. I remembered what Sara had told me at the welcoming feast, about not looking at her with them for my own good. The pain grew in me anyway, but also something else. Anger. Anger at Zarin, at his family, at the whole fucking nobility that allowed people like Elsie to be taken as slaves.

The others saw where I was looking, and Korin got down from his rock. “Ay, lad we can go back” he said, putting a hand on my knee to start leading me away. I didn’t move, my whole body was clenched as I tried to hold myself back from rushing at Zarin and trying to kill him with a lightning bolt.

Before they could drag me back to the rooms, the group saw us where we had been training and approached us with Zarin at their helm. His arm was draped around Elsie’s waist as he gave me an infuriating smile. As they come closer, I was able to get a better view and saw that Elsie was dressed in a revealing maid uniform, far more revealing than anything I had seen the citadel servants wear. Goddesses I wanted to punch that man.

“Ah, if it isn’t a pitiful excuse for an adventurer” Zarin declared, receiving a few sniggers from his group, though Kira looked down at the ground absently. ”Let’s see we’ve got a rock-biter” he said gesturing to Korin, “Oh, and a pointy-eared half-blood” he added as he turned his attention to Rayall. “I suppose the likes of you can’t really afford to be picky with who you associate.” He turned his attention next to Sara and Cleo who were glowering at him. “And two beautiful women” he declared, giving them a charming smile. “You know, there’s always room for more like you with me”

Sara looked angry as he spoke, angrier than I would have expected. She seemed to be nearly as infuriated as I was by his presence, Cleo’s hand was holding her wrist, I assumed to hold her back from attacking him. “What a kind offer, my lord” Cleo said in an amicable voice, “If for some reason the monsters don’t want us in a party with them, you will certainly be our next choice”

I couldn’t help but twist my lips into a smile at the insult from Cleo, she had always been so non-confrontational, it was not something I had expected from her.

Zarin’s mask dropped in a fury, “You insolent wretch” he snarled as he turned his focus towards Cleo and swung his hand through the air. There was a loud crack as something made contact with her face in a slap, sending her falling to the ground. She pushed herself up to show her lip bleeding with a bright mark where she had been hit.

Zarin flexed his hand in front of us with a smirk, “Useful don’t you think. One of my abilities, an invisible hand” he said smugly.

Sara’s rage was released when she looked down and saw Cleo bleeding, “I’ll kill you” she snarled and began to rush towards him, but Cleo grabbed her leg, halting her. Sara looked down at the girl who shook her head, as if to say don’t

She nodded her head and lowered herself to the ground with Cleo, placing a hand on her face with a soft glow as she began to heal her injury.

A lion had appeared besides Zarin, standing faithfully at the side of its bonded master as Zarin ran a hand through the mane of his spirit. “I take threats very seriously girl, in fact I think I might have to teach you a lesson. Let’s see I cou-“ he cut off as a shadowy knife appeared at his throat. He swallowed and I faint red line appeared where his flesh met the blade.

“No. You leave now” Sybil said as she formed from the shadow behind him. Zarin’s group looked surprised at the appearance of the girl, though I thought I saw a little smile on Kira’s face.

“I’ll have you hanged for this, I’ll-“ he cut off again as the blade bit deeper

“Now” Sybil repeated, “Or the guards carry your corpse away”. The humiliation he was facing was shown in the rage on his face. He remained silent, thinking of what he could do about this situation.

At last his lion disappeared, and he made a low growling sound. “We’re leaving” he said, his group still looked a bit confused, “Now!” he shouted at them, making them scramble to attention.

He began to continue down the path, though before he got too far, he turned around with his arm still around Elsie’s waist. He smirked at me and whispered something in her ear. A pained expression appeared on her face, and she moved reluctantly, though she pulled Zarin towards her and kissed him. It was a passionate thing and he made sure I could see. I thought that my knuckles would burst through my skin as I clenched them.

Satisfied, he continued down the path and disappeared into the Citadel. Sybil came towards us and crouched down in front of Cleo. “Are you okay?” she asked.

The blonde girl nodded her head, “Yes, thank you. Sara’s healing is great” she said. After a moment she started laughing. Sybil gave her a puzzled look, worried that Zarin had hit her harder than she thought. “I’m sorry” Cleo said at last, “It’s just the look on his face when you appeared behind him” she began to laugh again.

I couldn’t help but smile as I heard her laugh, I had to admit that it was a funny look. “I’m sorry Cleo” I said to her at last, “If it weren’t for me, then he wouldn’t have a problem with any of you”

“Oh shut up Aucus, you didn’t hit me” she said as she and Sara rose to their feet

“Ay lad, he’s a cunt” Korin said in agreement, receiving a nod from Sara.

“Right” I nodded my head, “I think we should go back anyway. That’s enough training for today”

Sara glanced back at the route that Zarin and his group had taken, “Yeah, let’s just give it a few minutes first” she said.