EG Monster Island Chapter 9

Jon woke me an hour later. “Dude, LIbrarian Narwan is calling a meeting. The others from Craesti will be there too!”

I hopped out of bed. “It’ll be good to see Mentor Jameson again. I wonder if he’s decided about seeking Perfect Core or not.”

“Well, go ask him!” Jon said, then turned and walked out the door. I hurried to follow him, and we rushed down the stairs to find the girls already chatting with Mentors Jameson, Lo, Granjer, and Kucharz. Sitting next to Mentor Kucharz was his Bond, a Wind Wolf whose head was level with his Bondmate with his rump on the floor.

I didn’t know Mentor Granjer was part of the team? She was only at Seed Core, as far as I knew. Guess she’s more awesome than I thought. That Wind Wolf is even bigger than he was before we got to Craesti City.  I never did get his name. Speaking of which, “Sia, where did you go?”

“Park. The park has a place for Bonds to sleep if we want to, so all of us are here,” he responded immediately. “There are many Beasts here. The Toprak Bond Beasts as the Craesti do, and it seems the Ashkha do something similar as well.”

“Awesome! Let me know if you need anything,” I sent back, before turning to find another team had arrived as well. I had to suppress an immediate surge of jealousy. All of the girls were focused on the leader of the team, a ridiculously handsome young man with black hair, blue eyes, and a smirk that seemed to shout ‘I’m better than you,’ even if I knew that thought was ridiculous.

The other three members of his three members of his team were young women. The one who was standing right behind him was smiling happily while chatting with Ming. She was slightly shorter than him, with dark brown hair and eyes and a narrow face. Next to her was a scowling, diminutive, red-head who was nervously tapping her foot with arms crossed over her chest. The third girl was hanging back shyly, with an anxious smile on her cute face that wrinkled her button nose.

Knight Kaminski walked up behind me, “That is Mentor Kanclerz Marcel, the Chancellor’s son. His teammates are (Think of names later). Come, I will introduce you.”

“Thanks, ma’am,” I said, forcing the glare off my face. I started walking again, realizing I’d stopped moving when I communicated with Sia.

“Knight Kupiec! It is an honor to meet you,” Mentor Kanclerz said, nodding his head at me. His smile seemed insincere, done only to meet social requirements.

I bowed to him, “Likewise Mentor Kanclerz,” and did my best to keep my tone civil.

After Knight Kaminski introduced Jon and I, the last two students to arrive, Librarian Narwan popped into existence in the middle of our group. “Excellent, you are all here,” he clapped. “The Tournament of Champions will start tomorrow for both groups. I have discovered the first event is the Stairway of Determination.” A bunch of confused looks met his announcement. He continued, “Spend the evening gathering and think on why you are here and what you desire most. That is all I can say about that.” He nodded sharply, then turned and vanished again.

“Well, okay then,” Mentor Kanclerz said, even his voice pleasant. “Shall we have dinner and catch up more, then follow Master Narwans commands?”

Lindsay walked out from an empty doorway to the rear of the building, “If you will follow me, I will show you to the dining room. After dinner, I can guide those of you who just arrived to the Aether Sauna rooms so you may utilize their Formations. A stipend of Cores has been made available to you, and after dinner so you may choose which Aether Sauna you wish to use. Dinner is Orange Glazed Frysta Anka on a bed of Hawa Nabat Alhaliun.”

She led us back through the archway into the dining room. There were a dozen tables that sat eight. We were directed to sit with Mentor Jameson and his team, while Aleks’s team sat with Mentor Kanclerz’s team. Ming, Xiao, Jamila, and Lea sat with Knight Kaminski and Librarian Narwan. The food was delicious and I enjoyed getting to talk to Jacob. He’d insisted I call him by his given name, as had the rest of his team.

Lindsay came back after the other servants cleared the plates and said, “Now that you have enjoyed your meal, please follow me.” I stood, stretching and bouncing on my toes to let the food settle into my stomach.

“What’s an Aether Sauna?” I asked Jacob as we walked.

“It is a small room with a Formation for draining Cores set in the center. Besides the door there are two benches that line the walls,” he answered me. “Each one is specialized for a specific Element, which makes them better than the generic Formations you typically see. You will see the rest.” I nodded my thanks.

We turned into a stone hallway, with four doors on either side before another archway led into a courtyard. Each door had a symbol etched into it that was painted in the color of the Element it represented. “Master Narwan informed me that many of you are working on deepening your Aether Pools. He had to run some errands this evening, and provided me with some Elemental Gathering Pills for you to take.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Xiao said, giving her a grin. “May I have an Ice pill please?”

“Of course,” she handed it to him, and he gave a pout that she wasn’t responding to his charm. The rest of the contestants filed into the various rooms.

I decided to go into the Lightning Aether Sauna. The room I entered wasn’t the sauna. There was a small sitting area and three doors in this room. Straight ahead was labeled Sauna, to my right was labeled Women, and to my left was labeled Men. Inside the men’s room, I found ten robes hanging on the wall and a basket with two used ones sitting inside. A small bench and cubbies on the wall had me realize this was a changing room. I shrugged, then quickly shrugged out of my clothes, leaving my underwear on, and then put on one of the robes. Mmm, so soft, I thought, need to get me one of these.

I opened the door into the Sauna to get a blast of tingly heat into my face. The air was thick with humidity. Huh, it really is a sauna, I thought as sweat prickled on my brow. The steam in the air cleared for a second, and then the skin on my face became the largest source of heat in the room. Mentor Granjer sat directly in front of him, chatting with Vaya and Lilianna. All three of them were wearing the same robe he was, that barely covered to mid-thigh.

“Aiden, come in,” Mentor Granjer said.

“Uh, okay, Mentor,” I stammered, fighting to keep my gaze over their heads.

“Wow, he is cute when he blushes,” she commented to Vaya, then turned to me. “I though Jacob told you to call us by our given names?”

“Uh, um, uh,” I swallowed, “okay, Graci. Vaya, what brings you into the Lightning Sauna?”

“Librarian Narwan told me to add more Lightning and Fire into my gathering,” Vaya answered me, patting the seat next to her. I shuffled over and sat, giving her a side hug. She smiled up at me. “So I picked Lightning when I saw Graci enter.”

“We were chatting about boys,” Lilianna butted in. Vaya reached up and smacked her leg, making me dodge my head back to avoid it.

“Well, don’t let me stop you,” I said. I squeezed Vaya again, then reached into the robes pocket and pulled out the pill we’d been given. “I’m going to focus on gathering for a bit, so, uh, I won’t be paying attention.”

“Right,” Graci said, rolling her eyes at me.

I shook my head and laughed slightly, then popped the pill into my mouth and started to pull in the utterly ridiculous amount of Lightning Aether that flooded the room. Diving into my center, I quickly set up the technique Librarian Narwan had shown us, setting up the runes and the whirlpool in my Aether Pool. My Aether reacted immediately, accepting the flood entering it and using it to push the boundaries of my center out incredibly quickly. Whoa, this is awesome! I thought, holding onto the technique and stretching as hard as I could. I think I might double my current Pool in one sitting! That Foundation Firming Pill is amazing! I wonder if we’ll be able to get another, or if it will be helpful.

Two hours passed quickly while I focused only on gathering, just like I’d told the young women. I pulled myself out of the trance I’d fallen into when the Lightning Gathering Pill had run its course. To my right, Vaya was gathering still, though she was also snuggling up to me with her head on my shoulder. So cute, I thought, looking down at her concentrating face. But now I’m stuck here. Oh well, just enjoy the Sauna. I’m supposed to think about why I am here and what I desire. What do I want? I looked at Vaya again. I want to see Vaya and Jamila smile. I want my friends and new family to be safe. I focused on my memories, and meditated on my goals for another hour before Vaya, Lilianna, and Graci stirred.

Graci arched her back, stretching her hands over her head, and I had to look away as her robe threatened to fall off her shoulders. “Yup, making him blush is fun,” she said, smacking Vaya lightly on the knee.

I glared back and forth at her and Vaya, only to get laughter from three girls as a response. I tried to keep an angry expression on my face, but ended up just laughing with them. We spent the next twenty minutes talking, and then left to get changed. I walked Vaya back to her room, gave her a light kiss, then went back to my room.

“Dude, did one of the girls join you in the Sauna?” Jon asked as I walked through the door. His voice was strangely muffled, which I realized was because he was hiding his face in a pillow.

“Uh, no. There were three. Including Vaya,” I said, blushing yet again. “I guess we’ll get used to it?”

He didn’t respond for a second, and when I looked over at him his shoulders were shaking as he held laughter in.

“Well, I’m glad I was able to make your day better. Is the shower open?” I looked, and it was, so I took a quick shower before throwing on some sleeping clothes. The next day can’t come soon enough, I thought before falling asleep.

Breakfast was amazing. Conversation was subdued, as everyone was worried about the upcoming event. After eating, we piled into two carriages. The first event was on the other side of the government district. I was glued to the window, oohing and ahhing at the massive buildings that housed the Councils that ruled this strange, enormous city. A large park opened up on the side of the road, and the carriages pulled into a culvert where six other carriages waited.

As I got out of the carriage I looked and saw a large open space that was lined with sandstone bleachers. A tower towered over the area, ringed by large stone steps.   Each step was a half-meter tall and three meters by three meters in size. The tower glowed with Aether, hundreds of Inscriptions covering the outside. Librarian Narwan led us into the park towards the tower.

As we walked, another two carriages pulled up and disgorged their passengers. “Illyrians,” I growled, looking back at them.

“Ignore them, for now,” Knight Kaminski said from beside me. “Defeat them in the tournament. Humiliate them there if you have to, but do not ruin your chances by attacking them outside the strictures of the Ashkhas.”

“I won’t,” I promised. “Uh, do those rules only apply to the teams competing?”

She gave me a firm look. “Yes, though major crimes can also have you disqualified. Speak to me or Master Narwan before doing anything stupid, okay?”

I nodded, “Probably would want help anyway,” I said. We got closer to the tower, and I saw groups of competitors standing next to large flags. The Craesti flag drifted in the wind, and we stopped next to it. Sia and Zim winged up, and I saw Kami and Lampart loading their way to The Illyrians were on the other side of the rest. I eagerly looked at the other teams. The Westreich dwarfs stood in lines with military precision. The tallest of them was only one and three quarters of a meter tall, with most being around one and a half. I barely heard a bellow in their language that my translation ability equated to “At ease” and they stepped apart and relaxed slightly. I do mean slightly.

Next to them the Ashkha teams prowled, crouching or sitting near each other like lions on the savannah. The only person standing in their group was older, with a grizzled look to their face as they stared unblinkingly at the tower. I could feel the power and anxiety rolling off them.

Between the Ashkha and ourselves stood the Topraki. Seeing them made me do a double take. Werewolf? There wolf,  there tower, I thought, giggling lightly. They were wolf-people, but emphasis on people. They looked human, except for dog ears poking up from the top of their heads and tails. Fluffy dog tails that on at least two of them were wagging in happiness.

A clap of thunder sounded, and I turned to find an Ashkhas standing on top of the tower. Even over a hundred meters up, I found I could see them clearly. “This morning, we start the [Number] Tournament of Champions,” he announced. I understood him, but heard the announcement in this weird echoing note. He’s using a technique or Inscription to translate his words into multiple languages, I realized, as he continued. “First, they will prove and show their heart, their willpower, and their dedication to advancing at any cost. Today, they will climb the Stairway of Determination! They will be tested, and only if their heart is true will they be able to reach the top!”’

Cheers echoed from the bleachers behind me. I looked to see hundreds of people of all races, standing on their feet and bellowing in support, or in anticipation of what was coming. Another thunderclap sounded, and the Ashkha was now standing in front of the tower. “Contestants,” he said quietly, yet I knew everyone there could hear him fine. “This is not a race. You have unlimited time to make it up the Tower’s steps. I repeat here, do not rush up the Tower. Ascending too quickly can cause significant damage. Each country will send a single team at first, and then another after five minutes. You may not interfere with another climber’s ascent in any way. If you do, you will be removed from the Tournament entirely.”

He paused, looking at each person individually. I felt his power. I swore for a second he was judging my soul. “As you ascend, the Tower will judge your willpower and determination. Each step up is harder to reach, and with each step your mind and heart will be refined. Use this to grow stronger. When you have reached as far as you can, take a knee. As soon as it is judged that you have given up or are physically unable to continue, you will be retrieved.” He smiled. “If you manage to reach the top, you will be given a prize on top of the rewards for this event.”

Lightning struck the spot he stood, and whisked him to the top of the tower again. “This Tournament will be unlike any other for the last two hundred years. Along with the individual rewards to the top five teams and competitors, each team will be accruing points. These points will be used to determine the order in which teams will be able to enter the Divine Territory of Alilahat Nuwr! The ultimate winners of the Tournament will be decided by what they manage to retrieve from inside.”

A hush struck the crowd, and Librarian Narwan looked up at him with a troubled gaze. “Now, though, they must ascend the Tower! Nations, send your first team!” the announcer boomed out.

“Ming, go,” Librarian Narwan commanded.

“Yes sir,” Ming responded, waving at the others.

“Good luck!” Aleks yelled out.

I watched Jamila sprint with the rest of them, resisting the urge to chew my fingernails. Ming slowed them down, letting all the other teams go first, before leading them onto the stairway. Lea paused right before the first step, then hopped up. She stumbled, something messing with her balance, but recovered. Every person moving on the steps moved as if they were carrying something heavy, pulling down on their shoulders and bowing their backs. In the five minutes before the next wave of people ascended, the top competitor only reached twenty steps up. One of the Topraki was trying to push as hard as she could, almost running up the stairs. As I watched, though, the twenty first-step crushed her to the ground. Her cry of pain reached the place I stood, but she struggled back to her feet. Blood dripped from her nose and scrapes along her knees where her pants had ripped open. She stepped forward slowly, unable to match her earlier speed, or even the speed of the slower people rushing up the steps.

Finally, five minutes passed. “Aiden, your team is up,” Knight Kaminski barked from where she’d been speaking with Librarian Narwan behind a wall of Air.

“Yes ma’am,” I bowed to her, before looking at my friends. “Come on, we’ll follow Ming’s example and enter last.” I took off at a light jog, or what would have been a full sprint before advancing to Condensation. The other teams reached the Staircase of Determination first, this time taking more care as they stepped up. I slowed to a stop right in front of them, glanced over at Jon, Vaya, and Bridget. They mirrored me. “Together?” I asked

“Together,” Vaya said. We all stepped onto the steps together.