HTG - Chapter 197

Kalon

Chapter One-Hundred-Ninety-Seven: Ata - Part One

Planet: Etheria

Solara traces around me slowly, each movement is measured and full of intention. Twin blades slide into her grasp, each as long as her forearms with a curved edge, I have not seen the style before making me wary. The momentum paired with her blade song, I wonder how it will move.

“You always have such curious eyes, Kalon,” she says spinning the blades, “Eyes that linger more than they ought.”

“I am admiring your blades, I have never seen any like them before.”

She gives me a wry smile, “And earlier, were you admiring my training attire?”

I do not reply as I grab blades from the wall. Three that I know and two that I do not, in the same style as the ones she uses.

“You do not seem upset with me.”

“Why would I mind?”

“I meant because I did not keep our deal.”

Her smile fades a little as she becomes more serious, “My end didn’t get fulfilled as it should have either.”

“Yet all those I care for lived, and you did not get what you desired.”

“I’m used to that,” she says, motioning the blade up slowly, “You’re not usually this talkative, didn’t you say you were ready?”

“I owe you, Solara, and I’m not sure I can give what you sought, without the bounds, my control of…”

She lowers the blade, “Kalon, you don’t owe me anything, besides, I found my own solution for it.”

My brow furrows but there is relief as I ask, “You did?”

She nods.

“Then name something else I can give you, I do not like to owe.”

“You don’t owe me.”

“I do, Sola.”

Her eyes smolder in mine for a few moments, “I told you before, I don’t want to be like everyone else who uses you.”

I tilt my head at her, “There should be equivalent exchange between us.

She looks down at her blades, weighing them in her hands, “Friends don’t need such a thing.”

“Sola…”

She sighs heavily shaking her head, “Best me in a fight and I’ll allow you to repay me.”

My grin returns and I nod.

“Don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

“I would be offended if you did,” I breathe.

The air cracks and she is upon me, blade to my throat. I blink at her.

“I don’t remember you being this quick,” I admit.

“Whilst you slept all those months, I trained like a Raven. I’m still not as strong as Luna was in the fourth, but I’m getting there.”

I swallow, looking down at my hands. I had forgotten what it felt like to be this weak.

***

Hours have passed and my body no longer sweats. The pain in my weary limbs is more of a numb throb now. Only my pride stings.  

“The gravity is higher than you’re used to,” she says trying to give me a reprieve from the weight of my pride’s failing.

“Still less than you are.”

“I’m much further in the bounds than you are now. It isn’t a fair comparison.”

“Do not spare my feelings.”

She looks at me fully, there isn’t even the glisten of sweat on her brow, “As you wish.”

The air rushes and my world tilts as she knocks me down.

“Again?” she asks.

The air wails as she throws me back and forth like a rag doll, fracturing my pride. Even in these moments though, something strange is rising in me. Something that would have never been there before. Something akin to excitement. Not just from sparring with someone as skilled as her. But because there is so much room for me to improve.

It is said that Raven’s can crush stone to dust before they even hit the third bound.

I want that… I need that. My body was always holding me back before. It was always breaking under the pressure of my soul, making me rely on people like Krotha to survive.

A smile forms in the blood from my lip as I rise from the ground, “Again.”

She squints at me, “Does your pride not have an end?”

“It is not just pride that can hold my legs upright,” I retort, pushing my hand through my thick black hair.

***

Solara is different than Lunara. Even though they share their father’s blood, I see more of it in Sola’s red eyes. Pity does not dwell in them. She does not pity me for failing so many times. I can feel it in the strength she musters for each bout, she does not take it easy on me, she helps me to learn the gap. Helps me to find greater motivation to train.

Even with my body being much weaker than hers, there is learning. I see it in the way she watches my forms, in the way she forms questions about my style and the concept of a blade’s song.

“We’ve been fighting for nearly a day, Kalon, you’re barely standing. Perhaps you should rest?” she says tilting her head at me with a smile, “If your pride is settled that is.”

I can barely stand in the oppressive gravity, each time I fall though, she comes to my side and presses maka into my weary body, breathing life into it. She tells me this is part of the Raven’s training. Using shards to push past the body’s normal healing constraints.

She told me that I should take the doses that the others received, but she also tells me that Luna and her never did. She wants me to grow, but she doesn’t force me to.

***

A sweet melody plays on the air delicately. A hum that I recognize from my dreams…

My eyes open and I see the dull glow of the training room lights.

“You’re awake,” Solara says raising an eyebrow, “Ready to give up?”

“What happened?”

“You passed out while you were trying to throw me,” she yawns, stretching her neck, “If you’re awake now, kindly stop using my leg as a pillow.”

I look down and see that my arm is wrapped around her leg. I release her and try to stand but my legs are too weary, “I just need to sleep for a time,” I begin, drifting off.

***

My eyes open again and I find myself lying on a soft bed. One that is almost too soft after a lifetime sleeping on stone and patchwork metal. Still, the embrace, it whispers to my bones to rest.

Looking around, I do not see Solara anywhere, my clothes are stained with sweat still. She must have carried me here and left me to rest.

How long did I sleep though?

There are no bruises or cuts on my body, she must have healed me too. How long did we even train? As I look around the room, I see a scrawled note on the table next to fresh clothes.

Shower and change, you smell like the hells.

Don’t worry about the linens on the bed, the caretaker of this place will replace them.

Food is ordered from the wall panel.

As you are now, you’re not ready to even fight your friend, Arrum.

I won’t baby you.

If you want to train with me more, you know where to find me.

My master asked after you, if you want to speak with him, he’s in the rejuvenation chamber.

If neither sounds fun to you, the passcode to leave is 298347-883939.

The barrier that protects this place does not extend far, so be careful.

Her handwriting is elegant. Perhaps she could teach me about the masters. As Kotina said, I will need to learn how to blend in after all.

Sola spoke of a rejuvenation chamber and a caretaker. I wonder what kind of caretaker tends this lonely place. How many other people train here?

She also said something of food… my hands trace along the wall until I feel a groove near the doorway. A bright panel shimmers on. The language, it is strange… There are pictures though. Some of fruit, some of dishes I don’t recognize.

By the time I finish showering I see the food on the table in the room. I look around, but I don’t see how it was deposited here. The table itself is floating above the ground, so how was it placed here? Would I not have heard someone enter?

Steam billows from the dish. Some kind of noodles with a tender looking meat. There is a broth that looks hearty, like something that Luna would have me try.

It is… not delicious… and I feel strange after eating it. Like it was packed with maka. Steeped in it even. My body feels almost completely restored. So much so that I find myself running at a moderate pace in the halls. The gravity feels ever so slightly better than it did the day before.

Progress…

As I move I feel a familiar presence moving into my perception… Amon.

“I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me,” I jest as he nods to me.

His words find my thoughts.

Krotha punishes Ioquin and me because she lost her foothold in your realm.

He smiles, looking out the window.

“You seem happy.”

You did not die and Krotha is miserable. With an existence such as mine, that is enough for a smile to greet me.

I return his smile, “It suits you.”

He does not respond for a time, leaving both of us to stare at the large clouds that gather on the horizon.

Ioquin tells me that you have decided on the Etheric path. My Legacy should help you in this. Sha to condense the energy, and Ata to press past the bound. It helped me bound rapidly. If you have questions, I suggest you speak with my old master… Dargo may not be someone you respect deeply, but he is very wise and can offer you many tools that will suit you on this new path.

“Could you not just teach me?”

He frowns.

I could, and I will, but the one who taught me is far better at teaching than me. It is your choice, and I will respect what you decide, but that is my advice. Seek the master, not the student.

The door nearest me opens and Solara steps from it, she pauses and looks around, “Were you talking to yourself?”

“I was talking to Amon.”

Her brow knots, as though she debates speaking, “Is he still here?”

I nod.

“Do you… do you think I could talk to him?”

I look at Amon, and he speaks in my mind.

It is only possible if we venture into your realm, with it being weakened still, I cannot recommend it. Even if you trust her, it is too soon. Once you have proper barriers erected this time and a foundation that you built yourself, then I will agree.

With that he leaves in a flourish of purple smoke.

“He said now is not a good time. Soon though.”

She nods, and then looks at me, “What did you decide?”

“I don’t remember submitting to you.”

She tilts her head, “You wish to continue where we left off?”

I nod, then add, “Until I beat you fairly, I will not be satisfied.”

She rolls her eyes and lets out a weak laugh, “That would take years, even with your abilities, and that is assuming I won’t bound in that time. Eventually you’ll need to go back. You already agreed to follow Ravena’s path. They expect you to return before the year’s end and join the Republic’s army as an enlisted soldier.”

“What will you do?” I ask.

“I have to return to Knight Commander training with Luna in the spring. We’ve received an official summons to attend, and my master, Dargo hasn’t become an Inquisitor yet,” she shrugs, “Which means Victoria will likely make us suffer for his insults.”

My hand grips tighter thinking of Inquisitor Victoria controlling Luna, and even Sola.

“Relax,” she says pushing her hair behind her ears, “Luna will be fine, she can’t kill her legally, she can only make her life shitty. Luna’s still a high noble and an heir apparent. Neither Ravena nor Hekate would let her suffer too much.”

She smiles weakly, “Come on, let’s train while we can.”

I find my hand grasping her arm to keep her there for another moment, “I wasn’t just worried about Luna, you’re my friend, Sola, your life and happiness are important to me too.”

She winces at the words but gives me a smile and pulls me toward the training room, “Let’s see how you feel after a week of training.”