《The Ascendant's Path》
Act 1 - Volume 1 - 01 - How to Live After You
Whenever Caelan closed his eyes, all he heard were the sounds of dirt covering the coffin. The humid earthy smell would follow, invading his nostrils against his will. Weeks had passed, and he still held onto those.
For an hour after the alarm rang, he lied in bed. Directing glances to the empty side of the double bed, the untouched set of pillows besides him. Every so often he could hear the usual words as well. Come on, get your lazy ass out of bed already!
Sighing, the man stood up, stretching a bit before making the bed. Breakfast followed, ground beef and potatoes, seasoned with a light touch. Only upon sitting down Caelan realized he had made two portions and set the table for two. With a loud grunt, he saved the extra food for the next day and put away the extra utensils.
Someone called while washing the dishes. ¡°Hey Matt, how¡¯s it going?¡±
¡°Checking in to make sure you alive.¡± He seemed to be waiting for an answer that never came, so he broke the silence first. ¡°The boys are planning to go out for a few drinks tonight. Wondering if you want to come.¡±
Frowning a smidge, Caelan placed the final plate on the drying rack. ¡°Negative, not tonight.¡±
¡°Look man, we all worried about you. It¡¯s been over a month alre¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s only been six weeks! And I am fuc¡¡± He stopped, took a deep breath and counted to five. ¡°I am fine. I don¡¯t need drinks, I need¡ Never mind.¡±
¡°Just¡ call me if anything happens, alright?¡±
¡°I will. Tell the boys I¡¯ve got ¡®other orders to follow tonight¡¯, alright?¡±
To clean his head, the young man went for a run to the gym, leaving the car behind. Already heated up for it, he focused on the simple practiced motions. Pushing and pulling, no need for much thinking.
Afterwards, some practice with the sandbag. Jabs, crosses, all the basic moves. Then finishing the session with a few rounds of shadow sparring.
Back home, a shower. He stopped when reaching for the shampoo. Looking at the many unused products. You should throw it away. Or give to someone who will use them.
Once again, they were left untouched.
Then, cleaning the house. It didn''t need anything tidying up, but he had nothing else to do. Sweeping, taking the dust off, all the usual motions. Less than an hour later, he found himself back at his previous state. Pondering on what to do, he almost didn¡¯t hear the bell ringing.
A delivery man waited by the door. A package to him, packed as a gift, no less. Upon opening it, he froze, unable to believe what he found inside.
The Ultimate Collector¡¯s Edition of The Ascendant¡¯s Path trilogy of videogames. The kind that comes with a statue of the protagonist. The faint voice of her explaining their whole dynamic to him came to him. A note came with the package, with a few words.
Check the third drawer besides the cabinet.
Stomach in knots, he looked in the general direction of the room where he got instructed to search. Despite the alarm bells ringing in his brain, his body moved towards the door. Decorated with an obscene amount of stickers, the door seemed to loom over even his massive frame. You have delayed this enough anyway.
With a sigh, he opened the door.
A slight cover of dust adorned everything inside. Aside from that, everything felt the same. Even the floral smell trapped inside stirred him in ways he couldn¡¯t comprehend. Every wall hidden by shells filled with figures, books and weird objects. On this last category, pretty rocks in weird shapes were the majority. And dominating the room, a television with all gaming consoles, a pair of armchairs in front of it.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Clenching his fists, Caelan stepped inside.
He moved as quick as he could, each second inhaling the fumes inside threatening to be his undoing. Inside the instructed place, a single paper envelope. With swift moves, he took it out and then jogged back outside, sealing everything once more.
Back against the door, the young man slid to the ground. He steadied his breathing, eyes closed as practiced exercises took place. Once he felt ready, the envelope got opened, revealing a letter. One penned in her calligraphy.
Hey Blood Sworn
How are you going? Knowing you, probably locked inside home like a wounded bear, refusing to socialize like a normal social animal humans have evolved into becoming. I bet my body pillow collection you even refused to come inside my woman cave and only found the letter when the present arrived.
If I am wrong and you did come inside to clean whatever unholy mess I left behind when I last used the room months ago, congrats, I am so proud of you! But we both know I am right, don¡¯t we?
Anyway, in case you wondering, the games aren¡¯t meant for me. On account on me being very much dead and buried by the time you get those. If I am not, I plan on burning the letter and then enjoying the trilogy myself, with you complaining on the expenses besides me.
Growing up, I spent way too long in hospital rooms. Heck, you spent at least 2/3 of that time with me, so dunno why I included it here. Guess it is to explain that games have been my way to feel less scared with the whole ¡°not living till 30¡± thing. And The Emperor¡¯s Path has been my absolute favorite game in the entire world.
The journey of Kai Garnier, from a simple student to the Hero of Lucernia has been an inspiration to me. I could endure all the treatments, the meds, the fear, because of this one fictional man.
And you, the sole pillar holding myself together. You have been my rock all this time, my harbor amidst the storms that followed my ship all my life. But despite how strong you are, I know it can be too much sometimes.
Like when I am no longer there to hold you in my arms, to play with your hair while the raindrops hammer our window. To ask you how work or gym were that day, To clean the ears of a man twice my weight while humming our favorite songs. Just thinking of that is enough to send me into a teary mess.
But I can¡¯t let you feel like complete garbage. Just as you took care of me, let me do it for you one last time, alright?
I challenge you to 100% all three games. Engage with the story, its characters, their dreams and pain. Let them help you as much as they have helped me. It will hurt, no doubt, but you are stronger than me, so you will be fine.
Heal, and enjoy life. Go see Matt and the boys. Visit your folks, try to mend things with them. Find a job you actually like. And let yourself love another gal as much as you felt for me. Whoever it ends up being will be the luckiest person in the world.
That last part is an order. I don¡¯t care, just don¡¯t be a widower for the rest of your life. You young and hot as hell, use that!
Yours forever,
Sam
A single drop. That¡¯s how it started. He read the letter again, his eyes scanning the familiar handwriting. But as he folded it close, a tear slipped free, tracing his cheek. He wiped it away, only for another to fall.
His breathing hitched. Paper crumpled beneath whitening knuckles as he clenched the letter tighter. A sob broke free, rough and jagged, shaking him. He leaned forward, forehead resting against his knees, as though bracing himself. But the dam had already cracked.
His fingers clawed at his hair, as though trying to anchor himself. Another sob, louder now, echoed in the still corridor. Then another, continuing until resistance gave way in full.
He wailed. It didn¡¯t sound like a cry¡ªmore akin to the sound of years of pressure exploding, raw and unfiltered. Fists struck the ground, impact reverberating up his arms. He had held it all inside for so long, for her, for himself, for everyone who needed him to be strong. And now, it poured out in shuddering waves that left him trembling on the floor.
Time passed unmeasured. The echoes of his grief faded bit by bit, replaced by a hollow stillness. His muscles ached, his throat raw from screaming. Once a short eternity passed, he sat up, face streaked with tears, and stared at the crumpled letter at the floor.
After a long, trembling breath, he rose. He cleaned the tear-streaked floor and fixed the crumpled paper. A cold shower followed, the icy water biting at his skin but grounding him.
With his soul cleansed, he moved the box of the Emperor¡¯s Path to the room, Sam¡¯s refuge, how belonging to him alone. No need to avoid it any longer. It had the only television in the house and moving it all somewhere else would be too much trouble, after all.
A quick cleaning to get off all the dust. He wiped down the console, loading the first disc.
Unknown to him, this would mark the beginning of his journey.
Act 1 - Volume 1 - 02 - Remaining Void
As the credits rolled, Caelan couldn¡¯t help but drop onto the armchair as if a puppet had its strings cut. For weeks all he did was play the entire Ascendant¡¯s Path trilogy. Using all paid vacations he ever had, unlocking every single secret they offered.
He would have finished them much earlier, if not for the gym and proper sleep. If you had sacrificed those for a video game, I would come back to haunt your ass! He could almost hear Sally yelling at him from even considering that.
That made the widower smile.
Fall had passed when he finished, a coating of snow blanketing the outside world. Seeing the silver sheet overtaking all in sight, a tightness formed on Caelan¡¯s chest. I guess I forget the annual hot cocoa.
Opening the cupboard, a pair of mugs at their usual place waited him. Still felt like a needle going through his heart. It left a hollow somewhere within, one that the body hasn¡¯t learned how to compensate yet.
He had hoped fulfilling her final wish would bring back some semblance of normal back.
It didn¡¯t. At least, not as much as Caelan hoped.
I guess now comes the hard part.
He would need to take out the snow. Not to mention go back to work at some point, too many bills to pay. But for a moment, all he wanted came down to sitting at the porch. Blanket tight around him while sipping a scalding beverage.
The moment would have been nostalgic and bittersweet, if not for the cell phone ringing. The young man considered throwing it away for a second, before seeing who had called.
Taking a deep breath of the frigid air from outside, he answered it. ¡°Mother.¡±
¡°Hey, I¡¯m just wondering how you have been. You haven¡¯t called in quite some time, and we¡¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine. Now, if you finished the obligation condolence call, I¡¯m quite busy.¡±
¡°Wait!¡± The air itself felt like it held its breath, waiting. ¡°Look, I know we had our differences in the past¡¡±
¡°Is that what you call it now? Does that make you feel less guilt?¡±
¡°Look, I know I hurt you¡ and her. But we are still family, we need to stick together.¡±
Caelan had to put down his mug, or risk breaking it with his grip. It had been a gift from Sam. ¡°Now we are family? Then do tell, why not do it when Sam needed it? When your son needed it?¡±
¡°Look, your father and I wanted what¡¯s best for you. And that girl, she made some decisions that would reflect badly on the family.¡±
¡°Reflect badly?¡± Arms trembling, it took all the willpower he could muster to not explode. ¡°They abandoned her! Do you have any idea how broken, how hurt she got? And then you went and said all those things to her!¡±
¡°Caelan, you didn¡¯t have to¡¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t have to what? Go on, finish that sentence, mother. I dare you.¡±
¡°If you could only listen to me, you would know I just wanted to help!¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Caelan finally had enough, slamming his fist on the wooden floor. ¡°You think abandoning someone when they¡¯re already on the floor is ¡®help¡¯? Right when she¡ I needed you!¡±
¡°Caelan, I swear, on God¡¯s name, that I¡¡±
¡°What? Which excuse will you give me now?¡± Only silence served as his answer. ¡°Forget it. You already showed me far better than whatever you could ever tell.¡±
He ended the call, blood rushing by his ears, almost deafening. He stared at the number, thinking, knowing what would be best for him, yet his fingers refused to follow. Closing his eyes, he saw the woman he loved curled like a ball. She held her stomach with white knuckles, crying.
Then, he blocked her number. And of every family member from both sides.
Visit your folks, try to mend things with them.
¡°Fu¡¡± Swallowing hard, he counted to five before chuckling a bit. ¡°Sorry love, but I Can¡¯t follow that order yet.¡±
The cocoa had spilled, with the mug remaining intact. The little things are what matter, after all. Once he cleaned the mess, he considered something he knew would need addressing.
¡°Hi Matt. I still don¡¯t feel like going out, but how about some beers at my place?¡±
Couple hours later, both men sat at the couch, bottles in hand. ¡°So¡ you really finished all of them?¡±
¡°Sam¡¯s last request. Couldn¡¯t refuse.¡± Shifting his body weight, Caelan took another sip. ¡°Enjoyed it more than I expected.¡±
With a chuckle, Matt raised his beer up. ¡°Everyone needs a way to handle shit life throws at us. Just expected you to hit the gym instead of video games.¡±
¡°I never stopped.¡±
¡°I meant ¡®hitting the gym even more¡¯. Heck, if you use all that grief, you can go from Batman to Bane. Comic Batman to Bane.¡± Seeing how his friend tensed up, Matt closed his eyes with a pained expression. ¡°Sorry.¡±
Caelan kept staring with intensity at the glass he held. ¡°No, I¡ can¡¯t keep going like this forever.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay to feel like shit, brother.¡±
¡°Maybe. But Sam wouldn¡¯t want me mopping around. Heck, she would have some serious opinions if I turn into Bane.¡±
¡°Like what?¡±
Clearing his throat, he tried his best to mimic the tone of his former wife. ¡°Goddamn, I¡¯m eating good tonight!¡±
That caused an eruption of laughter to come out of Matt. Even needing to put down his drink so he wouldn¡¯t spill it all over the place. Even Caelan smiled, a shy one that lasted but a second.
¡°God, she would say that. Without any shame, no matter the place.¡±
¡°Oh, she did let the intrusive thoughts win a bit too often.¡± A warm silence followed, the type reserved for those too familiar with one another. ¡°So, how¡¯s Diana doing?
¡°Oh¡¡± Matt started tapping on his knee, brow furrowed.
¡°Did something happen?¡± Caelan straightened his back, pupils dilating.
¡°Well, yes, but nothing bad, per se.¡± His friend scratched his head, playing with his short hair. ¡°I wanted to tell you this under better circumstances, but¡¡±
¡°Just say it already.¡±
¡°She¡¯s expecting.¡± Caelan blinked twice, his brain processing the words. Then he took away both their bottles and left them at the counter. ¡°Hey!¡±
Looking over his cabinet, the house owner pulled the most expensive scotch he had. ¡°This isn¡¯t the night to drink cheap stuff. Should have said it sooner.¡±
¡°It¡ didn¡¯t feel right, with everything you¡¡±
Placing a glass filled with ice on his hand, Caelan filled both with the whisky, his lacking the ice, as it should be. ¡°My misery isn¡¯t your burden to carry, soldier. And those are the kind of victories we toast to.¡±
For an hour, they both enjoyed themselves. Even made a video call to Diana to offer proper congratulations. Caelan could, for a short time, be excited for the future. An alien feeling, after trudging through immense darkness for weeks. But as he watched the app driver carry his best friend away, some of the emptiness returned.
Looking over the slight mess at the living room never felt worse. Before, Sam would be picking up bottles, insisting she could do it by herself. Instead of disputing the claim, he would wash the dishes. Her blabber about her day or the most recent game she played at the background.
Now, only the humming of the fridge remained.
Once everything got cleaned, back to his room he went. Tomorrow, he would decide when to get back to work. Think of gifts for his future stepson. Practice a new move at the gym.
Hope the cavity in his chest grow smaller.
Rhythmic breaths to lead his mind to sleep, his thoughts turned to Sam, praying every morning. She said it calmed her down, a tradition from childhood. When asked why she continued after all the bad things, she shrugged.
He gave me you.
He reached out, touching her side of the bed, cold and spacious. ¡°If there¡¯s a god out there, any deity, I hope they gave you a happy ending.¡± Unconsciousness crept ever so closer. ¡°And that I can, one day, see for myself how blissful of an ending you got.¡±
And thus, Caelan closed his eyes for the final time.
Act 1 - Volume 1 - 03 - An Unexpected Turn
The first thing the Boy heard was the wails. They echoed among the empty, claustrophobic urban valleys. Armed with his trusted bat, he ran towards the sound, ready to assist as much as his seven-year-old frame could.
He found the source by the park. Its patchy grass struggled against the concrete jungle. It was a small oasis of green, resisting the gray. To him, the one place in the Satellite Zone that didn¡¯t feel like a cage.
A girl holding her bleeding knee while rolling in the dirt. Frozen for a second, he felt as if he were watching a scene from a fairy tale, surreal in a way he hadn¡¯t encountered yet.
She looked small, like a porcelain doll, but slim as a baby reindeer. Without hesitation, the youngster stepped forward. He asked what had happened while pulling a piece of cloth from his backpack.
Some kids had thrown her ball on top of the tree, said the Girl. While he cleaned her knee, she explained how she fell when trying to get it back after the mean children had left. She used her hands a lot, illustrating with precision the scene. When asked why she cared, she said it was her mother''s last gift before her parents got "unmarried".
He offered to get it back for her. She asked why he would do that for a stranger. Mommy had told her to be wary of them, and she had never been wrong.
He paused, scratching his head and thinking about how his brother always said to help people in need. Then she shrugged and said he could try if it wasn¡¯t any trouble.
She responded about how dangerous it would be. He chuckled, claiming he had done it several times. The Girl doubted him, crossing her arms in front of her chest in defiance.
Then, the Boy leapt into the trunk. His hands gripped the wood like a squirrel. He even imitated their cries, making the child below laugh. That turned to a gasp when his foot slipped free for a second before he recovered his balance.
Ball recovered, he made the descent with greater focus, not wanting a repeat of the climb. Upon recovering her treasure, she clutched the ball to her chest as if it were the world itself. Her tear-streaked face now beamed like the sun after a storm.
¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± said the girl, offering her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Sam. I just moved here.¡±
¡°Hello Sam, I¡¯m Caelan.¡± Responded him, accepting the hand into a firm handshake. ¡°I think I¡¯m your first friend here.¡±
-----
The first thing he noticed was the pain. Like molten metal had replaced his blood. Growling a bit, Caelan tried to sit up, finding each of his movements far slower than usual.
Then he felt a massive mass in his stomach. That had him awake faster than the time lighting takes to appear.
A gigantic belly greeted him, with his chest now two mounds of fat falling over his round shape. Breathing fast, he grabbed at it. It was his. But his arms looked like overstuffed sausages, not well-toned muscles. He had worked for years to carve them.
What is going on? He pinched himself¡ªhard. The pain shot through his nerves, all too real. Oh, great¡
Looking around, he couldn¡¯t place where he had ended up finding himself. White curtains boxed him in. The sterile look reminded him of a hospital. To his surprise, a young girl, around the end of his teens, slept in a chair beside the bed.
¡°Excuse me, miss¡¡± Calling her didn¡¯t seem to produce any effect, so he gave a gentle push. ¡°Hey, sorry to wake you, but I would like to know what happened.¡±
Her half-opened eyes locked on him, making her perk up at once, utter shock all over her young face. Tears started coming down her hazel eyes once she relaxed a bit. ¡°My lord! You are awake!¡±
¡°I beg your pardon?¡±
¡°Oh, I should go find a doctor! Wait just a moment, my lord!¡±
¡°Wait!¡± Ignoring him, the girl ran outside the space closed off by the curtains. ¡°Guess I''m in a hospital.¡±
Could he have been in a coma? But if that had been the case, he would have lost muscle mass, not gained fat. Upon closer inspection, his hands looked less rough. They lacked the callouses from years of boxing and the military. Also, the skin looked off. It was too pale, even for him. Paler than when he broke his leg.
¡°Fucking useless maid!¡± To his side, a somewhat echoing voice rang.
What Caelan saw couldn¡¯t be explained by logic. A green blob, shaped like a human, floated at eye level. A detailed face stared daggers at the spot where the girl had been. Upon noticing the man staring at him with his mouth agape, his teeth scraped against one another. ¡°You fucker can see me?¡±
¡°Well, I guess I am going insane.¡±
¡°Give me back my body, you slimy piece of horse manure!¡± The creature flew at him, ignoring Caelan''s raised arms. Protecting him from any potential impact. Instead, it went through him, ending up on the other side. ¡°What have you done to me?!¡±
¡°What have I¡? I don¡¯t even know what is happening!¡±
¡°Bollocks! You must have done something to end up controlling MY body!¡±
When he was about to give an answer, the girl came back with an old woman dressed in a white lab coat. Without waiting, she stepped forward. Asking a barrage of questions while checking his condition. ¡°My lord, does it hurt anywhere? How much do you remember of what happened?¡±
¡°Just tell her you took my body from me so we can correct this fuckery!¡±
¡°Shut up!¡±
From the corner of his eye, he could see the apparition freeze. ¡°Wait, I can hear your thoughts! What in the abyssal shit is this?¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t know, how am I supposed to?¡± Gripping the blanket, Caelan turned to the older woman. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but could you repeat that last part?¡±
or some reason, both women seemed taken aback by his request. The young maid even came close to falling to the ground, so strong were her knees shaking. The older doctor looked at him with clinical eyes. Then, she pressed her hand to his forehead. Her gaze turned to concern as she gripped him by the shoulders. ¡°Lord Sturmfeld, do you recognize this woman behind me?¡±
Freezing up, Caelan kept his eyes fixed on the doctor. ¡°What¡ did you call me?¡±
¡°No¡ this can¡¯t be!¡±
The woman sighed at his question. ¡°Maia, could you do me a favor and leave us for a moment?¡±
¡°No! Can¡¯t you all see this is an impostor? He doesn¡¯t even know my name!¡±
Pulling a chair closer, the woman sat beside the bed. ¡°First, let me assure you that you are safe.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Despite it all seeming too unreal, Caelan answered, ¡°Alright¡¡±
¡°I¡¯m Dr. Moreau, and I¡¯m the one in charge of taking care of you. Do you remember why you are here?¡±
¡°Because he stole my fucking body!¡±
As the blob said that, a passing headache shot right between his eyes, causing him to flinch. ¡°Shut up already!¡± Looking at how the doctor waited for an answer, he swallowed what little spit he had before giving one. ¡°I don¡¯t¡¡±
¡°Right. Sorry if I¡¯m wrong, but are you being honest right now?¡±
For a moment he took a quick glance at the floating ghost haunting him nearby. ¡°Yes¡ ma¡¯am.¡±
Moreau leaned back, relaxing a bit. ¡°Do you feel any physical discomfort? Pain, nausea, anything?¡±
Extreme confusion. ¡°Just a short headache now.¡±
¡°Do you remember who you are?¡±
On that, Caelan paused to ponder. An idea crossed his mind, so absurd in its entirety he chastised himself for even coming up with it. He reminded himself of the words of his former C.O.: Keep it simple, soldier. Ain¡¯t no time to solve a riddle when bullets are flying. With that in mind, he had no choice but to, at least for now, accept the possibility as the truth. But first, he decided to test the waters.
¡°Leopold,¡± he said, testing the name like a foreign word on his tongue.
¡°See? He¡¯s clearly pretending!¡±
The woman had a relieved smile on her face. ¡°And what else can you tell me about you?¡±
¡°Well¡ I think I am a noble, son of a count.¡± The woman nodded, encouraging him to continue. ¡°I study at Hollowbane Academy, under the Weaver course.¡±
¡°What else?¡±
¡°That girl from before.¡± He focused on her hair and clothing, realizing he had seen them before. Or at least, a pixelated version of them. ¡°She¡¯s my personal maid, Maia.¡± He paused, coming to the conclusion he should play it safe for the moment. ¡°That¡¯s all. Everything else feels¡ muddled.¡±
A silence filled with weight followed between the two. ¡°Very well. I know things might be very confusing right now, but I¡¯m here to help you through it. Alright?¡±
¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±
¡°There¡¯s been¡ an incident, which caused you to be sent here, under my care.¡± From the corner of his eye, Caelan saw the talking blob flinch. It looked away, silent for the first time. The medic got up to her feet, placing one hand over his shoulder. ¡°This may have caused your memory loss, but we¡¯ll only know for sure once we run some exams in the morning. For now, I¡¯ll send Maia home to give you the opportunity to rest, alright?¡±
Once she left, only Caelan and the thing remained. Taking a deep breath, the displaced man turned to the apparition. ¡°You know what the incident is, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°And why the fuck should I tell you anything?¡±
Caelan could feel a vein popping on his forehead. ¡°And here I thought you loved the sound of your voice as much as a drill sergeant.¡±
¡°Oh, fuck you! You don¡¯t get to be funny after stealing MY body!¡±
¡°From the looks of it, the poor thing could use new management,¡± Caelan said, patting his swollen belly. ¡°Seriously, have you ever heard of a salad?¡±
¡°You¡ you¡¡± He swung a fist at Caelan¡¯s head, the blow passing straight through like smoke. ¡°Damn it all!¡± Leopold tried to grab the vase nearby. But it was a repeat of his earlier attempt. ¡°You can¡¯t just steal my body and mock me, you piece of¡¡±
¡°Careful, wouldn¡¯t want to strain yourself. Oh, wait.¡±
Seeing the little thing cussing gave him a warm feeling. But Caelan needed to confirm things before deciding what to do next. ¡°I know how to save Sofia.¡±
Leopold froze mid-rant, his flickering form going still. ¡°How do you know that name?¡± His voice trembled, stripped of its earlier venom.
His suspicion settled, Caelan closed his eyes for a moment, thinking of Sam. ¡°I know many things. Of particular interest to you, where she is and how to save her.¡±
Leopold floated closer, almost going straight through his own body¡¯s head. ¡°If you are lying, Matron helps me¡¡±
¡°I don¡¯t lie. Like it or not, I¡¯m your best shot at seeing her again. And you''re the only way I can keep this charade without raising suspicion."
One could see Leopold''s intense struggle. His tiny ghost hands turned into fists as he weighed his options. After a time that stretched into infinity, he relented. ¡°Alright. What do you want to know?¡±
Caelan, arms crossed, leaned against the pillows. He thought about what to prioritize. ¡°What date is it today?¡±
It seemed as if he was about to question the first inquiry, but he kept his mouth shut. ¡°Thirteenth of the Frostwind Cycle.¡±
¡°January, then.¡± Ignoring the look of confusion on his face, Caelan went on. ¡°Then you already got caught for giving the order for the Red Fist to assault Kai Garnier?¡±
¡°¡¡±
¡°Well?¡±
¡°Yes, I did.¡±
¡°Have you been expelled already after getting caught?¡±
"A hearing with the fucking headmistress would happen tomorrow, if not for... what happened."
Looking around the hospital room, Caelan had a shiver run down his spine. ¡°And what did happen, Leopold?¡±
He remained silent, a frigid expression covering his demeanor. ¡°I had¡ an accident. After reading a message from my father.¡± Leopold¡¯s voice faltered, his spectral form dimming. ¡°And no, I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡±
¡°This could be important.¡±
¡°Does that bloody matter?¡±
Caelan counted to five before continuing. ¡°Leopold, you weren¡¯t supposed to be hospitalized. The more you tell me, the better I can help get my bearings on the situation. So, just say what the message is about.¡±
Even saying that, the spirit took some time to answer. "My father disowned me, alright? Is that what you wanted to hear?"
This caused Caelan to flinch. ¡°What?¡±
¡°Having my¡ animosity toward the Garnier guy to every student. And all the other accusations. Got him angrier than usual."
Holding his head with both hands for a moment, Caelan took a deep breath to calm his accelerated heart. ¡°This isn¡¯t what¡¯s supposed to happen.¡±
¡°Excuse me?¡±
¡°You¡¯d be expelled,¡± Caelan said, meeting Leopold¡¯s stunned gaze. ¡°But it would have been quiet. No public scandal, nothing to anger your father.¡±
A sharp pause. ¡°He would have brought you home. Found some way to use you in his plans, despite the mess you made.¡±
¡°How¡ how in the Abyssal Wastes do you know all this?¡± As the young man didn¡¯t answer, Leopold raised his voice. ¡°Who are you?¡±
¡°Because¡ this was the story of a video game I played.¡± Whatever the answer he expected, this made Leopold¡¯s mouth agape. ¡°At least, this is how the story went there.¡±
¡°A¡ videogame? Are you kidding me?¡±
¡°Your name is Leopold vorn Sturmfeld, son of Duke Heinrich. Your sister, Sofia¡ªshe¡¯s alive.¡± Caelan paused, watching the specter¡¯s flickering form. ¡°Your father sent her away years ago. That¡¯s all I know¡ for now.¡±
This barrage of information on his backstory had Leopold frozen in place. ¡°I can continue if you want.¡±
¡°I¡¯m¡ a bloody fictional character to you?¡± His voice cracked, swinging between disbelief and rage. ¡°What am I, some sideshow for your entertainment?¡±
To that, Caelan sighed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll act as if everything is real, regardless of the truth.¡±
¡°Fuck¡¡±
¡°Leopold, I¡ WE can help Sofia. Focus on that; freak out later.¡±
It took a long time before the conflicted man responded. ¡°Fine. Say your piece. But if you¡¯re lying, I swear¡ª"
¡°Something changed things for you. I don¡¯t know what or how, but if I¡¯m to find out what happened, I¡¯ll need you to help me.¡±
¡°How? I can¡¯t even touch shit; what can I do that will bloody matter?¡±
¡°Teach me. I know a lot about this world, but the game 100% left a lot of small details that only a native would know. Our situation feels like a Shattered. They have memories of a past life. So, unless we want to raise suspicion...¡±
¡°You must behave perfectly.¡± Voice hollow, Leopold¡¯s form dimmed as he sank lower. ¡°Where¡¯s Sofia?¡±
Caelan hesitated. ¡°She¡¯s under the service of a minor noble on the southern border. Not the easiest life, but safe enough.¡±
¡°She¡¯s safe?¡± The words left him in a whisper that was almost inaudible. His form flickered, shrinking in on itself. ¡°After all this time, she¡¯s¡ she¡¯s alive? Matron bless¡ I thought¡¡± It felt as if the small blob had the weight of the world lifted from it. Curling in a ball, he sobbed a bit. ¡°For years, I thought the worst. That she got sent to some whorehouse, or worse.¡± Nothing came out of his eyes, but the way his body convulsed up and down felt more than enough. ¡°Matron be blessed, she¡¯s alright!¡±
¡°For now.¡± Before Leopold could unleash whatever barrage of questions he had, Caelan interjected. ¡°In a few years, the minor lords will gather together in open rebellion. In the original storyline, you arrive too late to save her. She dies in your arms, not recognizing you.¡±
¡°We have to save her!¡± The ghost, despair etched on its face, tried to grab the outsider by his shirt. It forgot its inability to do so. ¡°Please, I¡¯ll do anything!¡±
¡°That goes without saying. If your¡ accident tells us anything, it¡¯s that we¡¯ve got room for maneuver.¡± Offering his hand to the tiny specter, Caelan looked into his eyes. ¡°If you help me, we can save not only your sister, but prevent every tragedy from ever occurring.¡±
For a brief second, Leopold raised his arm, but stopped midway. ¡°Why do you even care about her? Or anyone, for that matter? If what you said is true, we are all just fucking video game characters.¡±
A flash of Sam smiling while playing games, leaning back against his chest, came to him. ¡°Someone¡ I knew deeply loved you all.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°She cared about you. All of you.¡± Caelan had to hold back the tears threatening to come out. ¡°I don¡¯t know if that makes this real, but it makes it matter. And every soldier needs a mission. Guess this is mine now.¡±
Biting his lips, Leopold looked at the massive hand. Then he passed his arm through it. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll make sure you¡ we don¡¯t get caught. Then, we save Sofia.¡±
¡°And everyone else.¡±
Act 1 - Volume 1 - 04 - Disciplinary Hearing - Part 1
Rubbing his eyes, Caelan went over the maps again. Wanting to etch them into his brain. The rest of the team had already left, wanting a few hours of respite before the operation the next day.
His fingers had brushed the gun¡¯s grip when Matt¡¯s voice cut through the air. "Save your bullets for the freaks tomorrow, Instructor." Matt raised his hands and grinned. His presence defused the tension before it ignited.
He sighed, body relaxing as he returned to the plans. ¡°Boot camp ended years ago. Could you please drop that stupid nickname?¡±
¡°As long as good old Sarge is kicking, no one ever will.¡± Matt peeked at the notes his squad mate kept making. ¡°Just go get some sleep. The plan is solid enough, Caelan.¡±
¡°Say that when it¡¯s you who writes to the families.¡± He marked an entry point they hadn¡¯t considered as an emergency exit.
Matt took the notebook without warning. Caelan''s jaw tensing up, he tried to pry it back from his brother-in-arms. In turn, he avoided all attempts aimed at the object (and his throat). He reminded him that plans never survived actual encounters. Worrying over details would cost him sleep and compromise the mission.
Caelan at last got hold of his binder, eyes glued to the ground. ¡°I hate it when you are right.¡±
¡°Always am.¡±
Matt''s grin faltered. He saw the strain in Caelan''s posture, clutching the binder like a lifeline. ¡°I can¡¯t stop seeing their faces. Every failed plan, every wrong call¡ªsomeone pays for it. It¡¯s¡ too much, this burden.¡±
Matt placed his hand on the young man¡¯s shoulder, making his body relax. ¡°Trust in your preparations and we¡¯ll be fine.¡±
¡°And if they fail?¡±
¡°If the plan goes sideways, we improvise. Make the freaks regret showing up at all.¡±
-----
¡°I hate hospitals!¡± grumbled the disembodied spirit of Leopold, floating besides Caelan.
As they walked back to their room, Caelan remarked how no one liked them. His throat rasped as he breathed. He had insisted on using the stairs instead of a wheelchair. The obese body made him regret that decision, fast. The bickering from his spiritual associate didn¡¯t help with that.
¡°Why are you complaining? You can just float everywhere.¡±
¡°We share a body, genius. I feel everything too.¡±
That affirmation, and a flaming pain to his sides, had him stop dead on his tracks. ¡°Really?¡±
¡°Only the physical bits.¡± Leopold¡¯s voice dripped with disdain. ¡°So yeah, every needle, every pain, everything. So next time, use the fucking stairs!¡±
A light chuckle escaped Caelan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Try not to scream too loud when I stub a toe.¡±
Ignoring the insults, Caelan meditated on the last few days. All spent going through all manner of medical exams. Some of them were recognizable, but many felt alien to the young man. Not to mention, Aethertec constructs were everywhere. Assisting the doctors and nurses with various tasks. On his old world, there were some robots used for public services before he left, sure. But in The Ascendant''s Path, they seemed to be everywhere.
¡°I sure am not in Kansas anymore,¡± Caelan muttered under his breath.
¡°The waste is Kansas?¡± Leopold groaned, floating behind him with a lazy demeanor. When Caelan didn¡¯t answer, he sighed like the drama queen he was, flopping onto his back mid-air. ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly calm for someone tossed into another world without warning.¡±
¡°Says the guy who found out he¡¯s from a video game.¡±
Leopold blinked, followed by a sharp chuckle. ¡°Ha! Touch¨¦.¡±
Back inside their room, Maia had been humming while folding a few clothes. Seeing her in the flesh after spending so long looking at her 2D image or sprite felt surreal to Caelan. After hesitating for a second, he stepped forward. ¡°What are you doing here, Maia?¡±
¡°Oh, Lord Leopold!¡± The girl got to her feet, greeting him by bowing down while raising a bit of her skirt. He couldn¡¯t help but also notice how she tried to make herself as small as possible in his presence. That realization made his stomach churn. ¡°I heard you might get discharged soon, so I¡¯m preparing for it.¡±
Sitting down, he noticed how troublesome his belly had become. He couldn''t help but feel a sting of irritation spreading across his new body. That, combined with the girl behaving as if a bomb were in the room all the time, did not improve his mood. He reminded her, in a firm but neutral voice, that he no longer had a title of nobility. And how she should return to the house of Sturmfeld as soon as possible.
She somehow looked even lower, her face at a ninety-degree angle. ¡°The duke hasn¡¯t called me back yet. And it wouldn¡¯t sit right to abandon you, master. Not after everything you¡¯ve been through."
¡°What a pushover.¡± The master in question sneered at the little woman. ¡°No wonder everyone takes advantage of her.¡±
His words flushed heat through their shared body, sharp as the memory it carried. A girl''s trembling hand reached for the mangled face, once human, her gut pierced by hulking claws. ''I¡¯m sorry¡ for never being enough¡ Master.¡¯
This made Leopold turn to Caelan. He questioned where his anger had come from and mocked him for being emotional. From the looks of it, he didn¡¯t seem to notice what had happened.
Eyes blinking, Caelan tightened his jaw. ¡°Nothing.¡±
¡°At least stop calling me master,¡± Caelan said, his tone firm but calm.
Maia¡¯s mouth opened, a protest forming, but he raised a hand to stop her. ¡°Or my lord.¡± He added, voice softening. ¡°Just¡ call me Leo, alright?¡±
Leopold gave a loud growl at that, demanding he never talk like that again. It would make them sound pathetic and weak to others. Caelan, still watching Maia, reminded him how they already were at the bottom of the well.
In return, he got another set of profanities.
Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. ¡°Yes, mas¡ Leopold.¡± These came out as little more than whispers.
He sighed and leaned back in the chair. Her ingrained deference weighing on him. ¡°Close enough.¡±
The man who stepped inside wore sharp, immaculate clothing. On top of that, his movements were rigid and deliberate, as though he had been cast from iron. Caelan adjusted his position on the bed, knowing the man would expect nothing less.
¡°Professor Dorne.¡±
Dorne¡¯s gaze swept the room like frost, pausing on Maia, who shrank under its weight. ¡°Leave. Your presence is not required for my affairs with Sturmfeld.¡±
Maia stammered a response but thought better of it. She hurried out the door with haste, stumbling over her own feet. Dorne didn¡¯t so much as glance at her retreat, his cold eyes fixed on Caelan until they were alone.
¡°How can I help you, sir?¡±
The master of the Weaving Course took out a paper from his pristine briefcase. Even his movements lacked fluidity, almost mechanical in nature. ¡°Your disciplinary hearing has been scheduled for tomorrow, three past noon. Tardiness will not be tolerated. Arrive late, and you will cement an already poor impression.¡±
Caelan put on his best worried expression. He reminded the stern teacher of his missing memories. Then, he questioned how he could give a proper accounting.
Dorne¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°Circumstances are irrelevant. To allow exceptions is to invite chaos.¡± Once more, he adjusted his glasses to emphasize his point. ¡°Consider yourself fortunate to have any chance to defend your actions.¡±
With a nod, Caelan hid his intentions with a poker face. He couldn¡¯t let the older man know the pair had counted on his ¡°sanctity of laws¡± mentality to give them an edge.
Then a long explanation of how the proceedings would happen the next day followed. What he would need to bring and even a few instructions on ways he could present his case. Caelan listened with unwavering focus, cataloging every word. Information is the sharpest blade against a superior foe.
¡°How does he even walk with that massive log up his ass?¡± He floated above Caelan, producing an obscene gesture toward the door. ¡°Guess tomorrow¡¯s the big day.¡±
Caelan leaned his body against the pillows, fatigue pulling at him like lead. ¡°Then we see if we can tell ¡®honest lies¡¯ under the radar.¡±
-----
¡°Why is it so bloody important to remain at the Academy?¡± Leopold floated nearby, his spectral arms crossed. He scowled as Caelan pushed aside his hospital breakfast.
Caelan sighed, turning to his translucent companion. He reminded him about how strength came from preparation. And an institution founded to teach people how to handle Hollowborne seemed ideal. At least for the time being
Leopold¡¯s scowl deepened. ¡°Fine, but what if Sofia dies while we''re playing around?¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Caelan pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience wearing thin. Then he explained how it would take at least five years before the civil unrest could claim her life. More than enough time to graduate.
¡°But first, we must convince the teachers at the hearing that we should get a second chance.¡± Leopold gave a smug smile. They had no need to worry, as he had always been very good at concealing evidence of his activities. ¡°And yet, you still got expelled.¡±
¡°Fuck you.¡±
Caelan ignored him, leaning forward. ¡°Listen, what I need is solid intel.¡± He pointed to the floating spirit. ¡°Starting with how these hearings work. I bet you looked into it, considering how you ran the risk of getting one.¡±
Leopold pondered it. His smugness shifted to reluctant cooperation. He then confirmed he had researched the subject. He then shared all he knew about how they worked. In short, the headmistress would direct them as a judge while five faculty members served as the jury.
The Academy could pick anyone among the many instructors as well. But there would always be at least one of the Heads of the four courses present. Regardless, if they could get the majority of them to rule in their favor, they could avoid expulsion.
¡°Then, we focus on winning them over.¡± Caelan stretched, shoulders stiff.
Leopold gave a smile that had Caelan wishing he could hit him right in the nose. ¡°Don¡¯t you know all this already, oh wise man?¡±
¡°I know who they were as characters, not people.¡± Caelan picked up a pen and paper Maia had left for him. ¡°I don¡¯t know who they are. They were secondary or tertiary figures, at best. You, however, knew them in person. That gives us an edge¡ªif you¡¯re willing to share.¡±
The small ghost crossed his arms, looking away so he could hide his reaction. Then he agreed to give an overview of every teacher.
-----
Maia paced from one end of the hall to the next, while Caelan cleared his mind for what would come. Leopold tried to stay still, his eyes wandering every so often to the doors.
The very moment the clock signaled three past noon, a voice from within called. To her credit, Maia tried to give some encouraging words. But her shaking voice prevented most of them from coming out. Caelan took a deep breath, thinking back on his drilling instructor''s words. When you step in the front lines, focus on the target and get out alive. Everything else can be unfucked later.
He couldn¡¯t help but give a chuckle.
The hearing would happen in the same room where they interviewed prospective students. A half-circle table seated the five members of the faculty. The Headmistress, on the other hand, sat in an elevated pulpit. As Caelan was about to take his place in the middle of the circumference, he froze in place.
As Leopold informed, they chose five teachers. Or rather, four lecturers and one "consultant." The first surprise came in the form of them all being the Masters. Each governing one of the major courses, Dorne included. The second thing proved to be the dark-skinned beauty dressed in layered fabrics.
¡°Oh great, the universe does hate you!¡± Leopold narrowed his eyes at the petite woman. ¡°Also, why the fuck is Lady Vaedra here?¡±
Caelan recovered from his initial surprise, making his way to the seat. ¡°Because someone jinxed us and managed to call the worst possible people.¡±
Leopold waited for the punchline, his round form stiffening when none came. ¡°Oh, we are so screwed¡¡±
Selene Veylor, the headmistress, cleared her throat. ¡°We have gathered here today to ascertain the truth regarding the accusations levied against Leopold vorn Sturmfeld, son of¡" As she continued, Caelan¡¯s mind raced while paying just half-attention to her precise words. His thoughts remained on Lady Vaedra being there. He didn¡¯t think anyone could call her as a member of the table.
¡°Hey!¡± Leopold floated right in front of his face, taking him out of his stupor. ¡°Why is the ¡®etiquette consultant¡¯ that bad for us?¡±
While answering the introductory questions, Caelan turned his mind to his companion. ¡°She¡¯s the Master of Secrets, a spymaster for both the academy and the Kingdom of Lusceria.¡± That had the spirit take a sharp turn to the woman, who had been checking her immaculate and long nails.
Mouth agape, he turned back to Caelan, who gave a slight nod. ¡°Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me! I didn¡¯t even know we had that!¡± He pointed in the most dramatic fashion to her. ¡°Why the fuck didn¡¯t you say anything?¡±
At that point, Veylor began introducing each instructor for the record. ¡°She avoids getting herself involved directly with anything. Or rather, she should.¡±
¡°And now¡ acting in her capacity as a consultant for matters of discretion, Evangeline Vaedra.¡±
As if waiting for a cue, the elegant woman closed her fan and directed her sunniest smile at the boy.
¡°Oh, my dear, sweet Sturmfeld! You mustn¡¯t frown like that¡ªit¡¯s positively unbecoming of a young gentleman!¡± None of the others had manifested themselves above a non-verbal acknowledgment. ¡°Now, how about we shed light on all your scandalous secrets?¡±
Her words caused a vein to pop on Dorne¡¯s forehead. ¡°Lady Vaedra, perhaps we could proceed without your theatrics. This is a disciplinary hearing, not a theatrical production.¡±
¡°Oh, Dorne, don¡¯t be such a bore! I¡¯m merely setting the stage¡ªwe can always afford some panache even at the most boorish moments, don¡¯t you think?¡±
As the headmistress chastised the young woman, Leopold manifested an opinion. ¡°Lady Veylor flinched just a smidge. I bet whatever you want, her presence wasn¡¯t expected.¡±
¡°An unexpected entry point can provide new options.¡± Still, he couldn¡¯t help but cast quick glances at the woman. ¡°But it can also work as a trap.¡±
¡°Leopold vorn Sturmfeld, you have been called to this hearing to provide a defense on the many transgressions you have committed over the past eight months.¡± She followed that by giving an overview of the many things his companion did before he took control of the body. Those include things such as having others do their schoolwork for him, building a gambling scheme to trick students, employing ¡°hirelings¡± to intimidate people into keeping his secrets, and cheating on exams.
¡°I¡¯m impressed you managed to not get caught sooner.¡± Caelan clenched his jaw at hearing the true extent of what the now-floating ghost had done.
In response, Leopold shrugged. ¡°Meh.¡±
¡°In light of these accusations levied against you, how do you respond?¡± The Headmistress placed her frigid gaze upon the seated young man.
Caelan took a deep breath, steadying his mind. ¡°I cannot give a proper response, ma¡¯am.¡±
That had all of the present, each with some degree of uninterest, focus on him. ¡°Oh boy, you better not mess the fuck out of this!¡± Caelan ignored the remark from his spiritual friend.
For a long moment, the room was silent save for the faint tapping of the Headmistress¡¯s fingers on the table. The Headmistress¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t weigh him¡ªit dissected him. Each second of silence felt like a blade at his neck. When she finally spoke, her voice cut through the tension like a blade.
¡°Explain yourself.¡±
¡°Well, it¡¯s just that I don¡¯t recall ever doing all these myself, ma¡¯am.¡± Caelan spoke in a calm, measured way, letting each word sink in before continuing. "The truth is, the doctors have told me that the¡ incident leading to my stay might have caused memory loss. At the moment, I myself lack most of what once made Leopold a person.¡±
The professors exchanged brief glances, a ripple of silent understanding among them. This all centered around the Headmistress, who continued to watch the young man. Dorne¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line as he adjusted his spectacles, his eyes narrowing in cold judgment. ¡°I believe I speak for all my colleagues when I question the veracity of such statements. How can we believe this is not merely a ploy to garner sympathy?¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect you to take my word for it, sir. But my medical records, which I trust are thorough, should corroborate what I¡¯ve said.¡±
¡°You would think the Masters of the Academy would have bothered to look that up beforehand.¡± Leopold smirked as he floated in circles above his own body¡¯s head. ¡°Makes you question a few things, doesn''t it?¡±
Livia Trenith, the Master of Understanding, crossed her arms. Index finger tapping at her elbow, she studied the accused. ¡°Memory loss is not a shield, Sturmfeld. Actions bear consequences, regardless of what you remember. The world does not grant amnesty for ignorance.¡±
¡°I agree, Professor Trenith. Ignorance doesn¡¯t absolve responsibility. I do not bring this point as a way to challenge the accusations, but as an introduction to what I hope to convince you all.¡±
Lady Veylor raised an eyebrow. A smidge, nothing more. ¡°Oh, and what would that be?¡±
¡°A better alternative.¡±
-----
¡°Proving your innocence is pointless.¡± Caelan had to grip his pen to avoid throwing it at the ghost form of Leopold.
¡°Don¡¯t you know things because you played the game? Or are you telling me you are full of shit?¡±
¡°The hearing isn¡¯t shown. I have no idea how it will go, what sort of evidence they have, or the school regulations in full. And despite the way all that comes out of your mouth reeks worse than MREs, you have some modicum of brains in you.¡± That last part had Leopold unsure if he should be brimming or scowling. Caelan continued explaining how all that couldn¡¯t save his ass from the firing squad. Meaning, they had no chance to prove any form of innocence.
While Leopold bitched like usual, the displaced man closed his eyes to think for a few moments. "The way I see it, our best shot is admitting to being guilty.¡±
¡°Are you insane?¡± The way the specter looked at him felt like the suggestion had been to throw themselves in front of a bus.
Doing so would give a better impression of them. And let them use the ¡®I regret everything¡¯ card. Caelan pointed at his own forehead. ¡°We can even use the fact we have ¡®amnesia¡¯ to make it seem more believable that we can turn over a new leaf. To give us another chance, so to speak.¡±
The small humanoid didn¡¯t seem too convinced, judging by the way he kept biting at his lips. ¡°Doing that would take a shitload of luck, bluffing, and the heaviest balls.¡±
Caelan tapped his pen against the table, his voice calm as a winter lake. ¡°A wise man once said, ¡®If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.'' And with both our intel, we can achieve our mission objectives."
Leopold crossed his arms, still doubtful. ¡°And if they don¡¯t buy it?¡±
¡°They won¡¯t buy any of it.¡± Caelan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he leaned back in his chair. ¡°But if they even begin considering it, we¡¯ll have the advantage.¡±
-----
¡°Members of the table, I accept responsibility for everything done before my accident.¡± He got up from his seat, giving a better performance. ¡°But I ask you to consider this: expelling me would not serve justice. I have no memory of Leopold¡¯s life, and my father has already cast me aside. What more can you take from me?¡±
The room seemed to tremble when the massive arm of Magnus Holt came crashing down on the table, rattling it. ¡°What sort of father does that, regardless of his child¡¯s misbehavior!¡± His outburst brought a bitter look from Dorne and Trenith. In contrast, the disguised spymaster looked amused at watching it. ¡°Also, calm down, lad, we haven¡¯t decided on your punishment just yet.¡±
Bowing down, Caelan turned towards the massive instructor. ¡°Thank you for the support and kindness, sir. But I hold no illusions on how this hearing will end, if I don¡¯t offer another solution.¡±
Swallowing hard, he then prepares himself for his greatest gamble.
He closed his eyes and conjured her image. The way her honey-scented hair tickled his cheek when they lay together. The warmth of her small frame curled against his. Her soft humming as she doodled late into the night.
But also, of the months he would be away, leaving her alone. For a good reason, yet the bitter taste in his mouth came all the same.
Remembering how it felt to go out the door, wondering if that would be the last time he would ever see her alive. How powerless he felt when she came to him for help, right before turning eighteen. All that served to empower both his resolve and coat his main strategy to convince the table.
Those moments of love had been fleeting, but the pain she left behind would be eternal. The memory of her trust in him¡ªher belief that he could be more¡ªsettled in his chest like a stone. He could not waste this chance.
¡°These past few days¡ no, perhaps for a much longer time, I have carried regrets. For things I have done wrong. For wasting time on meaningless distractions when I should have done what mattered.
He paused, his throat tightening. A tear slid down his cheek, unbidden. ¡°For giving excuses for failing to be the person I knew I could be.¡± Voice cracking, he kept going. ¡°I don¡¯t ask for forgiveness; I know I¡¯ve hurt others. But I have nothing now¡ªnothing that matters. All I ask is for the chance to prove I can become the kind of man I should have been all along.¡±
The petite spymaster raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a faint smile. ¡°Well, well, isn¡¯t this a turn of events¡¡± she murmured, her tone soft yet laced with something sharper.
Gideon Falkner, the Master of Creation, had been fiddling with a strange contraption. But something in Caelan¡¯s words had him put it down and lay his head in his hands, attention now on the young man.
Dorne adjusted his spectacles, his expression unreadable. ¡°Fine words. But words alone are cheap.¡±
Trenith leaned back, her sharp eyes narrowing. ¡°Regret is easy to claim, Sturmfeld. What makes you think you¡¯ll follow through?¡±
¡°Come on, Liv, let the boy breathe a little.¡± To the young man, Holt offered an ear-to-ear smile filled with genuine warmth. "It takes guts to admit your failures, lad. Even more to try and fix them. If you¡¯re willing to put in the work, maybe you deserve the chance to climb out of the hole you dug yourself into.¡±
"We''ve got their full attention now.¡± Leopold had an eyebrow raised as he scanned over the six of them. ¡°Damn, I thought you would fuck up way before we reached this point.¡±
¡°Now, we divide and conquer.¡±
Act 1 - Volume 1 - 05 - Disciplinary Hearing - Part 2
¡°Forget everyone but the heads of each course.¡± Caelan was about to question that affirmation when Leopold cut him off. ¡°They are a bunch of bootlickers who agree with anything the Masters say and do. I, uh, ¡®borrowed¡¯ the records of all previous hearings. Without fail, when the decision got split, it came from the heads disagreeing.¡±
¡°Hum¡ Then, we focus on them and count on the lesser professors following what they decide?¡± Taking notes, he looked over the long list of people who could be sitting at the table. ¡°What are the chances the Headmistress only brings the heads?¡±
¡°If that happens, start praying.¡± To that, Leopold snorted out of his nose. How a ghost could do that was beyond both their understandings. "Relax. Worst case, you¡¯ve got two heads at the table, and you butter up the right one. Odds of all five Masters showing up? Zero-point-nothing. Unless, of course, the universe hates you. Oh, wait.¡±
¡°Yeah, being stuck with you in my head does seem like divine punishment."
Ignoring his complaints, Caelan requested an overview of the professor¡¯s personality. Putting on his traditional smirk, the floating being laid down on his back to give a lecture.
¡°You¡¯ve met Dorne. Walking rulebook. Doesn¡¯t bend, doesn¡¯t break. If you don¡¯t step out of line, he loves you. You so much as sneeze wrong, he¡¯s got your head on a platter. The man despises me¡ªit¡¯s mutual.¡±
¡°Why am I not surprised?¡±
¡°Holt¡¯s a walking recruitment poster. Big, loud, and always talking about ¡®grit¡¯ and ¡®perseverance.¡¯ Failure¡¯s just practice, he says. Yeah, right. The man could probably give a motivational speech to a rock and make it blush. Flash some puppy eyes, cry a little, and he¡¯ll go to war for you.¡±
That got Caelan to raise an eyebrow. ¡°Cry a little? That¡¯s your big idea?¡±
¡°Back at the slums, tears were a weapon. Made everyone underestimate you. Until shivs got pulled.¡±
¡°Anyway, Falkner. Absolute lunatic. Loves anything that explodes, paints, or otherwise defies the laws of sanity. Mention you enjoy sculpting manure, and he¡¯ll call you a misunderstood genius.¡±
¡°He did seem like an interesting person."
¡°Trenith is a bitch. I¡¯m not even saying it for laughs; she¡¯s actually a bitch. She¡¯s worse than Dorne, thinks she¡¯s smarter than everyone else. Might be, too, but she¡¯ll respect you if you can prove you¡¯ve got a brain in that skull of yours.¡±
Caelan sighed, sitting back to review his notes. ¡°So¡ we focus on these four, pray they¡¯re the ones called, and hope they¡¯re not all in the room together.¡±
"Relax," Leopold said, waving his translucent hand. ¡°Odds of that are next to zero. Unless, as I said, the universe hates you.¡± He glanced at Caelan taking notes. ¡°Oh, we''re so fucked!¡±
"You should work on your jokes. They''re starting to get repetitive."
-----
"With all that said, there is a way to face the consequences of this year''s events; thus, giving me a second chance.¡± Caelan paused, enough for those who enjoy theatrics, but not too long for the ones who don¡¯t. ¡°I should be held back a year, undo all the progress made on the back of unsavory practices.¡±
Another set of exchanged looks among the faculty, as they weighed the words given. A booming laughter came from the Hunt Master. ¡°Well, that would solve our current predicament.¡±
Caelan would later swear he heard the snapping of bones, with how fast Dorne turned to his colleague. ¡°Absolutely not! Keeping a student with such disdain for the regulations would only serve to disrupt the students worth keeping.¡±
Trenith crossed her legs, deep in thought. ¡°And yet, losing an entire year of academic progress could work as an incentive to readjust one¡¯s demeanor.¡±
¡°Professor Trenith, do you believe a single year¡¯s setback will instill a sense of discipline? In a student who has repeatedly acted with impunity?¡± Dorne looked around the table before settling on the person in question. ¡°Letting him remain after repeated violations undermines the foundation of our institution.¡±
¡°Oh Dorne, as usual, so rigid, so boring.¡± Gideon Falkner manifested himself at last. ¡°Let¡¯s not pretend expulsion fixes anything. Sturmfeld¡¯s still got the capacity to learn and create¡ªperhaps even more after facing setbacks. Isn¡¯t that worth considering?¡±
¡°None of you know this young man as I do. I¡¯ve seen signs of his actions for a long time, only never managed to catch him in the act. And if you think I will allow him to cause chaos among those under my care, you are sorely¡¡±
¡°Oh, go suck a dick!¡± Leopold turned upside down, spinning around as he tried to fight his boredom. ¡°Or lick a pussy, if the first is your thing.¡±
¡°If I could, professors¡¡± Caelan had the fierce debate interrupted, their eyes once more set on him. ¡°Holding me back a year isn¡¯t the only suggestion I have in mind. If I am to prove myself, offer me a challenge while also accounting for my unique circumstance.¡±
¡°Do tell us what you have in mind, dear.¡±
Taking a deep breath, he revealed his hand. ¡°I believe remaining under the Weaving course would be an impossibility. Both in practice and theory. Not to mention going against Professor Dorne¡¯s beliefs. No, if I am to show my resolve, a new course would offer greater hardships, even more so in light of recent events.¡±
¡°I see.¡± The Headmistress spoke, looking at her colleagues. ¡°Is there any among you who would accept Sturmfeld as a pupil?¡±
¡°Such a challenge would be a delight!¡± Holt got up from his seat, eyes brimming with excitement. ¡°Give me a year, no¡ªjust six months, and none will recognize young Leopold here!¡±
¡°My, my, Sturmfeld, you do have a way with words. In ¡®practice and theory,¡¯ you say? Tell me, is this charming ambiguity your idea of strategy, or are you hiding something deliciously scandalous?¡± Despite the sweetness oozing from her tongue, Vaedra¡¯s eyes had a frigid air to them.
Caelan cleared his throat. ¡°I was just getting to the part, ma¡¯am.¡±
¡°Oh shit, here it comes.¡± Leopold joined his hands in prayer.
¡°I¡¯ve been told this in private by Dr. Moreau; it shouldn¡¯t even be on the medical record yet. Whatever the accident that afflicted me was, I have been crippled in a unique manner.¡± He waited for his words to have sunk in. ¡°I have become unable to manipulate essence in any way, shape or form.¡±
A tense silence followed the revelation. ¡°Excuse me?¡±
-----
Hand pressed against the orb, Caelan focused all his being into¡ to be honest, he didn¡¯t know what. Leopold had tried explaining several times already, much to his growing frustration. Yet, the displaced continued to fail to grasp the concept.
¡°It¡¯s all right, Leopold, let¡¯s stop.¡± Doctor Moreau placed her hand over his shoulder. ¡°I think we can both agree this isn¡¯t working.¡±
The young man looked away, frustration sinking in. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡ don¡¯t know why I can¡¯t do it.¡±
The medic invited him to take a seat while she went and picked a glass of water for him. While he drank, she pulled a few papers from her briefcase. She then asked if he knew what the purpose of the tests was. After giving her a negative answer, the older woman sighed before looking into his eyes.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
¡°Leopold, when I examined you, I noticed something unusual. Most people would never even think of looking for it in the first place. And if not for my stronger sensibility to essence, neither would I.¡± She waited for him to absorb all her words before moving on. ¡°What do you remember about the way Aether works?¡±
Using his knowledge from the games (and some help from the actual Leopold), he explained, as best as he could. How it consisted of an energy that formed the fabric of all that exists. Every living being had essence and could manipulate it in some manner. But only the Awakened could use it for combat purposes. In fact, the purpose of Hollowbane Academy was their training.
All so they could better fight the Hollowborne.
¡°Good.¡± She paused, a mixture of subtle emotions showing up in quick succession. ¡°Leopold, you aren¡¯t¡ normal.¡± Moreau¡¯s voice softened, but her eyes bore into his as if searching for something deeper. ¡°Most people release essence without even thinking about it. You don¡¯t, at least not anymore. Your essence is¡ silent.¡±
She hesitated, her hands tightening around the papers. ¡°To be frank, it¡¯s almost as if it isn¡¯t there at all.¡±
A numbing sensation crashed over his body. Leopold¡¯s ghost form had his eyes wide as plates. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
She held onto his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. ¡°I thought it strange, feeling nothing from you all this time. It made me wonder why you would try to conceal your essence like that. But after the exams, my conclusion is that you either don¡¯t have essence inside you, or something is blocking it.¡±
A numbness crashed over Caelan, like cold water thrown over bare skin. For a split second, a voice in the back of his mind screamed, "This complicates things." But he clenched his jaw, pushing it aside. Feelings could wait. Plan first, worry later. ¡°I see.¡±
Moreau explained how the more advanced tools could detect the energy inside of him. Yet nothing he did let him access nor manipulate it in any form. Then, after some hesitation, she explained that some forms of deep trauma could trigger it. Although there wasn¡¯t enough data to support such a claim. ¡°Leopold¡ do you know what the ¡®accident¡¯ you had truly was?¡±
A glance at the silent specter, who hadn¡¯t moved an inch after facing away from them both, would be all Caelan needed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure of the details¡ but I think I can guess what happened.¡±
¡°With time, you may recover from it. I can refer you to an amazing therapist to help you with all the physical and psychological effects of such a...¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am, but could I¡ have a few minutes to myself? It¡¯s¡ a lot to take in.¡±
Once they were alone, Caelan looked at the small form of Leopold, who had hugged his knees. His companion broke the silence first, before the widower could say anything. ¡°I fucked up, didn¡¯t I?¡±
A sigh came out of the obese body they now shared. ¡°We don¡¯t know that. It could be just an effect of our unique problem.¡±
¡°I knew," Leopold finally muttered, his voice a fragile whisper. ¡°Spending your life feeling it, you know the moment it¡¯s gone. But¡ I just¡ I didn¡¯t want it to be true. Like so many other things.¡±
He let out a dry laugh, bitter and hollow. ¡°Just another fuck-up to add to the pile, huh?¡±
¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡±
¡°Too much shit going on all at once. You probably noticed, but my life has changed a little bit in the last few days.¡± His body trembled a bit. ¡°I just¡ hoped I was wrong. Like always.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right¡ªyour life¡¯s gone to hell.¡± That had the younger man retreat further into himself, as if he wanted to disappear. ¡°But mine as well. And beating yourself up about it won¡¯t help either of us.¡±
He moved towards the front of Leopold, meeting his gaze with determination. ¡°We don¡¯t need essence to think or fight. And the hearing? This could be the best card we¡¯ve got. A ¡®cripple¡¯ who wants to prove himself makes a more compelling picture.¡±
-----
Caelan spent the following minutes relaying everything explained to him. Even including the more detailed medical terms. Holt¡¯s eyes glistened, and he dabbed them with a handkerchief the size of a bedsheet.
Falkner leaned forward, scribbling in a notebook already cluttered with sketches and equations. Every so often, nodding or humming, as if fitting Caelan¡¯s condition into some grand plan. Without looking up, he murmured, ¡°Fascinating¡ essence silence. Could it be¡ no, impossible¡¡±
Dorne sat as straight as a pike, his lips pressed into a tight line. Though he didn¡¯t speak, his knuckles whitened as he adjusted his already set spectacles.
Trenith¡¯s sharp eyes narrowed, her index finger tapping against her crossed arms. She leaned back in her chair, studying Caelan with the intensity of a scholar dissecting a theory.
Vaedra¡¯s fan snapped shut with a soft click, her lips curling into a faint, unreadable smile. Her gaze lingered on Caelan, eyes like polished onyx glinting with amusement. Or something colder. ¡°How¡ tragic,¡± she purred, though her tone made it impossible to tell if she meant it.
Lady Veylor remained still, her fingers steepled beneath her chin. Only the faintest narrowing of her eyes betrayed her contemplation. When she finally spoke, voice carried with the deliberateness of a judge. ¡°This is¡ unprecedented.¡±
Caelan nodded, giving his agreement. Then he explained why he picked his words just minutes before. When revealing why the Weaver Course wouldn¡¯t work with him. In fact, only two of the courses were available to him at the moment.
¡°Understanding and Creation.¡± The headmistress nodded to herself. ¡°Two paths available to you, demanding resources, time, and trust of this institution. Let us say we grant you this opportunity. What, pray tell, does the Academy gain by extending you this courtesy?¡±
¡°Publicity.¡± Whatever the six of them expected, that word wasn¡¯t it. ¡°The hollowborne grow stronger, yet fewer people come to train here. Why? Because the Academy has an image problem.¡±
None of them gave him an answer; instead, they waited for him to continue. ¡°To most people, it¡¯s a fortress of privilege. A place for nobles and those under their patronage, not for common men and women. Where elitism fosters, turning away those who might otherwise stand against the tide.¡±
He raised a hand, aiming the gesture at the Master of Weaving. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, Professor Dorne. How could one with such distaste for the rules attract potential new candidates? Consider how accepting a pariah among pariahs shows that anyone thrive.¡±
¡°And Professor Zenith, you get the chance to break the puzzle of the one who had his essence blocked presents. Wouldn¡¯t you say this merits my continued stay?¡±
¡°And Master Falkner, I''ve always had a wish to expand my horizons beyond the mundane. And so, my true calling lies in your care. For imagine what perspectives I could bring to the table with my unique situation.¡±
¡°Oh, I already have many things in mind! Such ingenious things in store!¡±
¡°Oh, I do love a good underdog story. But tell me, darling, is this about redemption¡ªor survival?¡± Vaedra leaned forward, as if a lioness ready to strike.
¡°Why not both, my lady?¡± A deep bow accompanied his returned question.
¡°I like you more by the minute, young Leopold.¡±
¡°An intriguing perspective.¡± The headmistress''s words cut through the words of the others like a knife through butter. ¡°But you¡¯re asking us to gamble the Academy¡¯s reputation on you. How can you ensure we don¡¯t regret this decision?¡±
Caelan gave a smile that would make Leopold proud. ¡°One would think if there¡¯s anyone capable of reforming someone like me, it would be the people in this room. Or am I wrong?¡±
¡°Ha!¡± Slapping his enormous thigh, Holt laughed with joy. ¡°The lad already has my vote. What say the rest of you?¡±
¡°Oh, to work in such a rough canvas could provide a learning experience, indeed!¡± Falkner¡¯s forehead had drops of ink from his furious writing. ¡°Let the kid be under my care.¡±
Dorne¡¯s face had several red dots on it, his hands white from gripping the table. ¡°Publicity stunts have no place in an institution dedicated to discipline and order. The Academy¡¯s reputation must rest on its principles, not on hollow symbols. I say we proceed with his expulsion."
A knot tightened in Caelan¡¯s stomach as Dorne¡¯s words landed with the weight of a hammer. He could feel Leopold seething in the back of his mind, hurling obscenities at the Master of Weaving. Still, he kept a neutral expression. Showing weakness now would be fatal.
Trenith took out a strand of hair that had come loose from her braided crown. ¡°Your sentiment is admirable, but it is an invitation to uncertainty. I shall not place my hopes on one who has failed to demonstrate his resolve so far.¡±
Her words hit harder than expected. Stay calm. Don¡¯t show it.
Vaedra¡¯s fan snapped shut with an elegant flourish, her smile a mix of charm and danger. ¡°Oh, my dear Leopold, you do make a compelling case. If this were about personal tastes, I¡¯d keep you without question.¡±
Body relaxing from all the tension, he had words of thanks about to come out when the woman continued. ¡°But sadly, sentiment alone cannot outweigh practical concerns regarding your will to improve. My vote, reluctantly, is for expulsion.¡±
Caelan¡¯s heart sank. Even Leopold had no snarky remark. Nothing but an open mouth as the room filled with overwhelming pressure. Every sound muted, his mind going blank, all preparation thrown to the side. Then his thoughts raced as an eruption of indignation formed from Holt and Falkner.
¡°Come on, think of something!¡± Leopold kept his face dancing from the teachers to Caelan. "You''re the one with knowledge from the future!¡±
¡°Enough!¡± Caelan¡¯s voice thundered, not with volume but with a clarity that cut through the rising chaos like a blade.
¡°What are you doing?¡± Leopold''s horrified face would be comical in any other situation.
¡°Saving our asses from the firing squad.¡± The room stilled, all eyes locked on him. He clenched his fists, forcing down the tremor in his voice. ¡°You want proof? Fine. But it¡¯s for the Headmistress alone.¡±
Dorne at last managed to break his pen, such was his ire. ¡°You think you can demand things, at this point?¡±
Ignoring all but Lady Veylor, the young man proceeded, gaze glued to her. ¡°Madam, I am Leopold vorn Sturmfeld.¡±
Lady Veylor froze in place, studying him. Then, for the first time, the venerable woman stood up from her seat, pale as a ghost. ¡°All of you, leave."
¡°What¡¯s the meaning¡¡±
¡°Out!¡±
Her voice, though quiet, carried the weight of an unbreakable command. The air itself seemed to shift, heavy with an authority that brooked no defiance. Even Holt, who looked about to protest, rose without a word. Not even his massive frame could eclipse her presence.
Then, they found themselves alone. ¡°Explain yourself.¡±
Caelan took a deep breath with lungs that weren¡¯t his own. ¡°I¡¯m not Leopold. My name is Caelan Ashvale, and I come from another world. Everything you think you know about me ends today.¡±