Chapter Eighty-One: The Infinite


    “You won’t believe what Yue said,” I tell Sia after we’re done sparring in the Arena.


    “No, I probably won’t,” Sia agreed as she took exhausted breaths, trying to recover from the beating she took. “What happened?”


    “She approved of the kidnapping of Tayaina,” I respond.


    “The Member’s wife,” Sia groaned. “Why would she do that?”


    “I don’t know,” I shrug. “It wouldn’t make any sense, considering he wasn’t even a cultist, but maybe…”


    “Maybe what?”


    “Just a thought,” I say. “Nothing important. But the Member wasn’t anti-Cultist either, so I wouldn’t disapprove either.”


    “Zade!”


    “I’m just kidding,” I respond, then under my breath, I whisper, “Maybe.”


    “To me, this is only putting a stain on us folk that oppose the Cult,” Sia says. “If it was up to me, we’d wait patiently for the Cult to strike and then respond.”


    “Oh, yeah, great strategy, Sia,” I scoff. “We stand like sitting ducks and when one of us dies, we finally decide to try to rip them to shreds.”


    “I don’t know if we need violence. You can’t fight fire with fire.”


    “You can’t fight it by sitting down either,” I respond. “Come on, I don’t want to have this conversation now. Let’s fight again.”


    Sia frowns. “This won’t end well if we have different views and you know that. We need to talk about this.”


    “Not now,” I tell her. “Later, please.”


    ZadeWar Mage versus Polynesia Combat Mage


    The fighting commences in one minute.


    You may start.


    — — —


    The Arena has been a blessing to me, in the few days I’ve had it. Every day, I stay there for at least five hours, either fighting my friends or fighting the musically-generated opponents. I think I’m getting really good at fighting, which is excellent, because I am a War Mage. I’ve wondered why the arena doesn’t call me a Necromancy Mage, but I don’t mind it.


    Xavier has spent a lot of time in the library, and Anni has still been generally isolated, although I’ve seen her around Jade a lot. I haven’t seen Skai much, but Xavier says she’s fine. Sia has made a lot of friends around Zenyth, but for some reason, she prefers to stay with me and Xavier.


    “After what I’ve seen, it doesn’t feel right to abandon you guys,” She explains, but to me, it feels like a flimsy excuse.


    After Yue admitted what was going on with her, I haven’t seen much of her or her group. I miss them, and inside mark a reminder to visit them sometime.


    Life has gotten so much more natural and fluid, almost as if no Horde is coming our way, but that reminder always sombers me. I don’t want this life to end, with friends all over magefell, and Jade actually here! When it ends, I’ll be sad to see it go. That is, if we win the battle and I’m alive. The chances are starting to look slim.


    The ball is edging closer and closer and Xavier bugs me to invite jade, and, just to satisfy him and for no other reason, I decide to do just that. It’s a good excuse to visit yue and the others, anyway.


    As soon as I’m let in the Vanguard grounds, I see Neena, who waves at me and grins. I wave back, and, walking next to her, I ask her if she knows where Yue is. Her jaw sets and she frowns slightly.


    “No,” She replies, gritting her teeth. “I haven’t seen her, but she’s around. I’m sure you’ll find her easily.”


    “That’s strange,” I tell her. “You’re usually the person I could trust the most to tell me where she was.”


    “Times change, Zade,” She replies. “I guess you’ll see soon enough.”


    With that cryptic message, she walks away, and I stare at her, gaping. What the hell is going on? Shaking my head, I keep walking, searching for anyone I recognize. It doesn’t take long to find Artemis, but he doesn’t seem in the mood to talk, so I leave him alone. Finally, after searching for upwards of five minutes, I see her on the green, shouting at a group of twelve warriors. When she sees me, she cocks her head.


    “What are you doing here, Zade?”


    “I was going to speak with Jade, but I thought to stop by and see you. Is everything okay? Neena seemed a bit off. And I see you kidnapped—”


    “Not here,” Yue hisses. “Wait until I’m done.”


    I do so, sitting and watching the Vanguard train. Their swordsmanship is incredible, but that’s not what they’re doing here, at least not completely. They are mostly practicing dodging weapons, ducking and rolling, or jumping above. It seems difficult what with the other warriors stabbing rapidly. Thankfully, all of the weapons are covered by a leather hide to lessen their impact, but I can still see how much they hurt when one of the warriors is knocked to the ground, oomphing.


    “You did goof, Fuil,” Yue screams. “But you can do better. Pick yourself back up and try again. You need to last at least ten minutes.”


    “How long will this last, Yue? I do have stuff to do, you know.”


    “Fifteen minutes or so;” Yue grits her teeth.


    I purse my lips, and watch as Fuil tries again. This time he stays for longer, only falling when the sword strikes his temple.


    — — —


    “Yes, I kidnapped the Member’s wife. I didn’t know she was a mother, and when I figured it out…” She paused, then changed the subject. “So, how are you doing?”


    “I’m fine, nothing new,” I respond. “What’s happening with Neena?”This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    “Well, she decided to split up with us before we split up with her.”


    “Huh?”


    “She broke off the friendship, Zade,” Yue responds stiffly. “Not completely, but just enough that I haven’t talked to her in at least a day.”


    “That’s horrible,” I say. “Neena seemed friendly enough with me.”


    “She’d do that,” The warrior responds.


    “Where’s Alyx and Aster? And Xander for that matter?”


    “Xander should be around, either training or relaxing,” Yue tells me. “And Alyx is with Aster at the cabin. They’re always there now, you probably won’t see them.”


    “Group seems to be really splitting up, huh?”


    “Shut up, Zade,” Yue responds, turning her head. “Go talk to Jade.”


    “I was just—”


    “Go! This doesn’t have anything to do with you, and you’re only going to make things worse.”


    I sigh, my hand reaching out to Yue, but she backs away.


    “Fine,” I grit my teeth. “Where’s Jade?”


    “Should be in the warehouse. You can find her there.”


    “Bye, Yue.”


    “Hmm.”


    — — —


    The warehouse is small, but Jade has told me about how much bigger it is on the inside. Still, I’m surprised to see just how big it is. Robin says she knows where Jade is and will lead me to her, snickering all the way.


    “Why are you laughing?” I ask.


    “Nothing,” She replies, stifling it. “I definitely wasn’t thinking about you and Jade.”


    “See? That makes me think you were.”


    “But I just said I wasn’t,” Robin shrugs. “Ah, here we are. This is Jade’s room, and she’s still here. Alone. Have fun.” She leaves, cackling all the way, and sighing, I knock on the door.


    “Who is it?” Jade’s voice calls to me.


    “Zade,” I respond. “May I come in?”


    The door bangs open, and Jade beams at me, embracing me.


    “Of course you can,” She responds. “It’s so good to see you.”


    “You see me every day now. Why the hug?”


    “I need to appreciate the time I’m still here with you,” She tells me. “Come in, come in. So what brings you here?”


    “I need to ask you something,” I tell her, walking in the sparsely decorated room, trying to stifle my nervousness. Why am I even nervous? It doesn’t make sense, this is such a simple conversation.


    “Oh, I see,” Jade smiles, laying down on the bed, staring at me. “Off with it, then.”


    “I was wondering if…um…you know what I want to ask, don’t you?”


    “Of course I do,” Jade resplies, smirking.


    “Then what’s your answer?”


    “You didn’t ask the question,” Jade shrugs. “I could be answering a totally different question.”


    “Dammit,” I say. “Come one, it’s much easier this way.”


    “Much funner the way I’m saying.”


    “Women,” I mutter and am promptly hit with a pillow in the face. “Ow, what was that for?”


    “Man up, Zade, it’s how I show affection,” Jade responds. “At least it wasn’t a potato this time. I’m still waiting for you to ask.”


    “You’re making this awkward, Jade.”


    “Then I would advise you to ask the question faster, or else it’ll be even more awkward.”


    “You’re going to say yes, right?” I ask.


    “I’m still thinking. The longer you take, the more I want to say no.”


    I sigh. “Fine, I was wondering if you…” Making my voice a whisper, I continue, “Would like to go to the ball with me.”


    “I can’t hear you,” Jade says, grinning even more wickedly now.


    “But I already said it!”


    “I couldn’t hear you! What if I’m answering the wrong question? I guess we’ll never know, seeing as you won’t actually ask the damn question.”


    “Would you like to go to the ball with me?”


    “One more time,” Jade smiles. “And with more oomph, please.”


    “Oh, come on, that’s just not fair,” I groan.


    “Out with it, Zade, or else I’m kicking you out and unfriending you.”


    “Would you please go to the ball with me?”


    “As?”


    “My partner?”


    “Your date?”


    “Sure,” I respond. “Will you please go to the ball with me as my date?”


    “Yes,” Jade responds, sitting up and hugging me once more. “Of course I will. See, that wasn’t so hard.”


    “You made it harder,” I protest. “And why do you even want me to call you my date? I thought…”


    “Just a formality,” my friend winks. “Plus, it’ll make Xavier very happy.”


    “That’s not a good thing,” I respond.


    “As long as you get embarrassed, I’m sure it is,” Jade returns. “You don’t look too happy about this.”


    “I’m thrilled,” I respond. “Just calming my nerves.”


    “You were nervous about this?” the guard asks. “Come one, Zade, we’ve been friends forever, how could you be nervous about this? Why would I say no, and even if I did, why would I say it roughly?”


    “I don’t know,” I say. “I was just nervous, okay.”


    “Hmm, I’m finding traces of something there,” Jade grins.


    “Come on, not you too.”


    “I just thought it’d be fun to play into the rumors.”


    “That will only make them worse!”


    “For you,” She says. “I’m not staying here long. I can say whatever I want, and as soon as I’m gone, there’s no more embarrassment for me. You’ll suffer it all your life.”


    “I hate you, Jay,” I tell her.


    “Oh, what’s that?” She exclaims. “How could you say that? I guess I can’t go with you then.”


    “I was just kidding!”


    “You better be,” She says. “Now, you should get back to whatever you were doing, before you dig yourself into a pit you can’t escape.”


    “I don’t know why I put up with you,” I tell her.


    “Maybe it’s because I’m the only girl who can truly put up with you,” She responds.


    “Putting up with me is easy,” I protest, opening the door and walking out.


    “Ah yes, it is. That’s why it took you five minutes to ask me out.”


    “I didn’t ask you out!”


    “I know, I know,” She laughs. “See, you’re easily rankled. It is hard to put up with you.”


    The door next to us opens, and Robin peeks out, looking pissed and entertained at the same time.


    “Hey, keep it down in there,” She laughs.


    “Shut up,” I growl at her.


    “Hey, I need to concentrate here, and with you canoodling—”


    “I said, shut it,” I growl again.


    “Find a better boyfriend,” Robin tells Jade. “This one acts up too much.”


    “I agree,” Jade replies, pushing me out of the warehouse.


    “I’m going to kill you.”