《The Wider Realms》 Introduction Kiba Teaii Mel¡¯Aodh let out a screech, his cry tearing at the fabric of space and turning nearby planets into cosmic dust. Rage, unlike anything he had felt in eons, burned through him. Kiba¡¯s form burst into white flames, mirroring his anger as he unfurled gigantic wings. Stars brushed against the flame like feathers, only to be consumed by the heat a second later. Space twisted as the great phoenix drew in a breath. Cracks appeared around his mouth as the void between space was revealed. Creatures moved in the void, turning sightless eyes towards the heat of flame and the taste of life. A second later, Kiba breathed out and flames boiled across the galaxy. Spirit, strong enough to cripple most lifeforms, burst forth from Kiba as he scanned the area, his anger still burning. Among the sea of flame was a single dead spot, where flame and heat could not reach. Tiny compared to the inferno raging around it, and almost insignificant in its energy, most would have missed it, but not Kiba. With the screech of a bird of prey, the phoenix dove, its wings tucking in close to its body as it angled toward the dead spot. Tongues of flame trailed its body like the dust behind a shooting star. The phoenix¡¯s mouth opened wide, wide enough to swallow planets, as Kiba attempted to swallow the god, for what else could harm a primordial beast but a god? His beak snapped shut on nothing. The dead spot had vanished and with it, his attacker. Kiba Teaii Mel¡¯Aodh floated there in space, seething, as he searched for any signs of his quarry. The ash and burning embers of dozens of worlds drifted around him as stars were pulled towards his flames. Gaining control over his emotions once more, Kiba¡¯s form shrunk. The flames condensed and shifted, and moments later a man stood where once a primordial beast had existed. A scowl twisted Kiba¡¯s handsome features as he glanced around with eyes that changed color constantly. First blue, then orange, then red, before fading to white. One hand rose, brushing black and red streaked hair from his face. Kiba glanced down at his bare chest and the dark purple bruising that covered his left pectoral. Touching it gingerly with a flaming finger, his scowl deepened as he felt the foreign energy fight against his efforts to heal it. It had been a while since he had encountered something that his passive healing couldn¡¯t overcome. Taking a moment to focus inwards, Kiba allowed Vitalis, rich with the Principles of his Path, to cycle around his body. Watching the energy move through him, he saw it make contact with the poison, the warm red and gold pushing against the sickly green, wearing it down. Until it didn¡¯t. Kiba watched with concern as the poison latched onto his energy, feeding from it and growing. Tendrils of the green energy dug deeper into his body as it sought out his soul. Resisting the urge to throw even more Vitalis at it, Kiba glanced back down at his chest. The bruise had grown, it now covered his left chest and most of his ribs.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Pulling up his stats, he did something he hadn¡¯t done in many many years. He looked at his health. It gradually ticked down. Kiba almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. This body may just be an avatar of his true self, but it still had a spark of a primordial¡¯s energy within him. A fragment of his greater selfs soul. To be poisoned beyond healing¡­was just embarrassing. Kiba did laugh then. A full-bellied laugh of amusement, though a darker layer of anger, added a hard edge to the sound. He would need to return to his main body. Still laughing, Kiba turned his back to the ruined galaxy as he focused inward, trying to locate the tether between this body and his true self. The laughter cut off as a thought turned Kiba¡¯s heart cold. Looking once again at his failing health and the poison chewing its way through him, Kiba sighed. He couldn¡¯t risk exposing his main body to the poison. He would need to find a place to lie low and heal. The poison was clearly designed to kill him. Designed to kill the Primordial of Flame. Decision made, Kiba wasted no time severing the connection to his true body. His soul shook and an empty ache took up residence in his chest. With that done it was time to find a place to recover. With a single step, Kiba appeared in another galaxy. The Vitalis was thin enough to mark it as belonging to a middle realm. Another step and he appeared in a different realm, this one with a Vitalis so thin it had to be minor. No one would think to look for a Primordial here. Kiba felt something brush against his spirit as he prepared to step forward. A call. It wasn¡¯t meant for him, but it also wasn¡¯t far. Smiling to himself, Kiba completed his step and reappeared above a small ball of dirt. A planet. Not even integrated into the system yet, thought Kiba could sense a planetary core that was primed and ready. Lights flickered across the land masses of the dark half of the world. Grimacing as pain flared through his chest, Kiba began to descend through the cloud cover. The moisture in the air burned before it came into contact with his skin causing steam to rise around him. Kiba felt the signal again, stronger and just below him. Breaking through the clouds, his eyes saw what his spirit had sensed already. A bipedal creature, large enough to dwarf the surrounding mountains, knelt near the edge of a lake. It¡¯s dark leathery skin undulated with thousands of tentacles, each moving, searching for something. A single horn protruding from its brow looked like a lightning conductor. The creature moo¡¯d in distress as Kiba approached, its skin blistering. The water in the lake began to boil and plant life withered and died before turning brown and bursting into flame and ash. ¡°Such fragility,¡± Kiba murmured, pulling in his aura as tight as he could, lest he activate the planet''s molten core and destroy it by accident. ¡°And you¡­thank you for finding me a resting place, but I don¡¯t need the added attention.¡± Continuing his downward descent, Kiba dropped towards the base of the creature''s head. As he was now, his human form was little more than a spec in relation to the size of the beast. But still it bucked, trying to move, but it couldn¡¯t. The tentacles along its limbs had sunk deep into the planet, rooting the creature in place. Like a hot knife through butter, Kiba dropped through the creature''s body, severing its spinal cord. Flesh and bone melted away, creating a hole wider than he was. When he cleared its body and met soil beneath, it melted away just as easily. Nothing remained where his flames went. Above him the large creature collapsed, its weight made the ground shake. Deeper still Kiba sank, until all that remained was a cocoon of darkness. The Primordial of Flame closed his eyes and waited. He had existed before time. Before the System. He could feel the inhabitants of this world scurrying about its surface like ants. Kiba wondered how many would survive what was to come. The Flare Calf above him was the first sign. This world would be integrated. Kiba Teaii Mel¡¯Aodh smiled in the darkness and began to make plans. CHAPTER 01 The warm sun beat down on Edan, making him squint as he looked around, wide-eyed. Sitting on his father''s shoulders, his little body leaning forward to use his father''s head as an armrest, Edan watched the crowd around them. Everywhere Edan looked he saw color. And not just in the pedestrians that walked past in their colorful clothes and armor, weapons flashing in the sun. The storefronts were painted in creams and pastels with bold highlights of red and yellow. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased all sorts of goods for sale. ¡°Dad! Dad! Look a sword!¡± Edan exclaimed, smacking the top of his father''s head to get his attention. His voice squealed with excitement and his father''s rumbling laughter sent vibrations up Edan¡¯s legs. ¡°I see it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s bigger than yours!¡± Edan¡¯s head twisted, trying to keep the sword in sight, as they walked past the store. ¡°I don¡¯t have a sword. I have an axe. Its blade isn¡¯t meant to be bigger than a swords. And that one is probably shi-bad quality.¡± Tyrian said, correcting himself midway through the sentence. He had been trying to cut down on his cussing around Edan. ¡°If you want real quality swords, go to a smith. Anything in a store like that is what¡¯s called a showpiece.¡± Nodding along to his father''s words, as if he understood them, Edan was already focused on something else. A stall selling sweetmeats. Tyrian rolled his eyes as he felt Edan slapping at his head again. A couple of moments later and a few tokens less, Tyrian resumed his walk down the road. Chewing on a piece of skewered meat, Edan hummed happily as he watched a cart loaded with crates being pulled by an old man. He wiggled with excitement. He couldn¡¯t wait to unlock his system. Sitting on his father¡¯s shoulder, sauce and grease smeared on his mouth, Edan smiled at the old man. ¡°Remember what I told you, Edan?¡± ¡°Begawd.¡± Edan said around a mouthful of meat. A bit fell out of his mouth, landing on his father¡¯s head and he quickly dug around for it. ¡°Be good, Yeah-Hey! Did you drop something in my hair?¡± Tyrian said, feeling his son¡¯s questing fingers nudging at his scalp. ¡°Edan!¡± ¡°No!¡± Edan tried denying it, but he had never been very good with deceit. ¡°Sowy.¡± ¡°If you keep dropping food on my head I¡¯ll let you down and you can walk on your own.¡± Tyrian tilted his head up, bumping Edan¡¯s chest as he tried to look at his son. Framed against the afternoon sun, he saw the wild halo of dark hair Edan got from his mother. His son''s bright blue eyes looked at him innocently as his little fingers tried to cover his mouth and ensure nothing else fell out. Clamping down on Edan¡¯s thighs so his son wouldn''t fall off, Tyrian shook his head. He could never stay angry at Edan for long. ¡°Like I was saying, I need you to be good. I know you love hanging out with Reema and Sanik, but while I¡¯m gone I need you on your best behavior, Okay?¡± Edan nodded, not trusting himself to speak. ¡°Good boy. I¡­I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ll be gone but they¡¯ll look after you.¡± Tyrian wasn¡¯t sure if he was trying to reassure Edan or himself now. ¡°Look, there¡¯s their store.¡± Pointing with his chin, Tyrian motioned to a small, simple, two-story building along the side of the road. A sign hung over the door. Edan, still learning to read, couldn¡¯t understand the fancy writing, but he liked the picture of the scissors and ruler. A bell over the door chimed as they entered, Tyrian swinging Edan off his shoulders so he wouldn''t hit his head. The inside of the store was simple but clean with manikins lining the wall in various colorful outfits. A counter ran along the wall opposite the door. It was from behind this counter that Reema popped up. Her long dark hair was tied in a messy bun, a few strands slipping free to frame her heart-shaped face. Her eyes turned warm as she looked over at the pair, a smile turning up the corner of her lips. ¡°Aunty Reema!¡± Edan called out, running towards her with his hands out. ¡°Hello, little Edan,¡± said Reema warmly. Dropping the pile of fabric she was holding so she could scoop him up for a hug. ¡°How are you doing today?¡± Tyrian watched on with a smile as Edan started telling Reema about his morning and the sword ¡°that was bigger than daddies.¡± ¡°Sorry to stop by so early,¡± Tyrian said, butting into the conversation as Edan didn¡¯t look to be slowing down. ¡°I figured it would be best to get it all sorted out now. Is Sanik around?¡± ¡°Sure. We¡¯re closed for the day, anyway. I just had to receive a delivery of new treated beast leather.¡± Reema pointed at the fabric she had been holding. Edan was pulling on her other hand. She hooked a thumb over her shoulder at the curtain behind the counter. ¡°Sanik¡¯s through there. Why don¡¯t you go see him while I handle this little terror!¡± Edan¡¯s giggles as Reema tickled him followed Tyrian as he ducked under the curtain. The back room was the main workshop where Reema created the clothes she sold. Long tables took up most of the space with tools Tyrian couldn¡¯t even begin to name strewn about. Bolts of fabric, strips of metal and bone, and even sheets of rough leather were stacked in corners. Sanik had his back to the entrance. His tall, broad frame leaned over a table as he studied something out of sight. ¡°Yo!¡± Tyrian called out, moving through the room to his friend. Sanik glanced up. His blonde hair, usually tied in a ponytail, was currently loose and fell like curtains on either side of his face. Light blue eyes looked at Tyrian in disapproval.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°You¡¯re here early. Can¡¯t wait to get rid of him and go running off on another adventure?¡± Tyrian chewed on the inside of his cheek. Sanik¡¯s harsh words would have usually provoked an equally aggressive response from him, but Tyrian just didn¡¯t have it in him today. Years of familiarity must have alerted Sanik to his friend''s mood as his eyes softened. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, grudgingly. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­you know I don''t agree with this right?¡± ¡°I know.¡± Tyrian let out a sigh and leaned back against a table. ¡°I don''t even know if I agree with this. But I can¡¯t just let her go, Sanik, she''s out there. Somewhere. Alone!¡± ¡°And that was her choice. It¡¯s been years! You still have your son to look after. What''s Edan going to think, huh? Mother runs off and father follows, neither one of them thinks to stay with him?¡± ¡°Oh, Fuck off!¡± Tyrian said with heat. ¡°You didn¡¯t see how scared she was when she left. I can! I see it every damn night when I put Edan to bed and sit alone in the dark watching over him. I love her. I can¡¯t leave her to face whatever it is alone. I¡¯d take Edan with me if I thought I could keep him safe.¡± Sanik brushed the hair from his face. His features were still twisted in disapproval but after a brief moment, Sanik let out a long, slow exhale and moved to stand next to Tyrian. ¡°Fine. Still think you¡¯re a dick though, for leaving your son.¡± Sanik said, giving him a pat on the back. ¡°You may think it, but I know it. I feel like crap.¡± ¡°Any idea where you should start looking?¡± Sanik asked. Tyrian scrubbed roughly at his face, feeling the stubble on his chin poke his palm. ¡°I know she¡¯s off-world,¡± he said at last, his voice resigned. ¡°More than that? Not a clue. I¡¯ve managed to call in some favors from the Hunters Guild-¡± ¡°Barny?¡± ¡°Yeah, Barny. He owes me one from the old days. He¡¯ll work up some bullshit excuse so I can get off world. The FSHA shouldn¡¯t cause any problems. I figure heading to Lumyx is a good starting point.¡± Sanik nodded along. He didn¡¯t know how Tyrian planned on finding someone who didn¡¯t want to be found, especially when they had an endless number of planets to hide among. But Lumyx would be a good start. The trading capital of the Lower Realms, gossip, and information flowed through those streets quicker than coin. ¡°The Four Star Heavenly Sect may not have any issues letting you go, but you know how strict they are on re-entry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cross that bridge when I get there. Listen, I need you to do something for me,¡± Tyrian said, reaching into a pocket. ¡°Because I¡¯m not already?¡± Ignoring the snippy tone, Tyrian pulled out a thin silver chain with a coin on it. Sanik leaned in close, his curiosity getting the better of him. There was something engraved on the coin, some type of design, but for the life of him, he couldn¡¯t make it out. It seemed to twist and change the more he focused on it. ¡°What is it?¡± He asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Tryian admitted. ¡°Lillian left it with me to pass on to him. Now I¡¯m leaving it with you. I need you to give it to him when he¡¯s older.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just give it to him now?¡± ¡°Sanik, that kid would bounce off the walls if left alone. He¡¯d lose the necklace within an hour. Whatever it is, it¡¯s important to Lilli, and I want him to get it. Please?¡± ¡°Sure. What¡¯s one more favor at this point.¡± Sanik snatched the pendent, tucking it away safely. He thought of where to keep it. Reema would be the best person to ask. Speaking of Reema¡­ ¡°Reema is over the moon with joy,¡± said Sanik, choosing to change the subject. ¡°She¡¯s been wanting a baby and she loves Edan. Having him here will be perfect for her.¡± Tyrian looked at Sanik, cocking an eyebrow in question. ¡°And you? Don¡¯t want a baby, yourself?¡± ¡°Maybe. Don¡¯t get me wrong, mate, I love Edan. The little ball of energy has a special place in all our hearts, and sometimes when I look at him I think it may be time to have one of my own, you know?¡± Tyrian nodded. ¡°But I still feel the call to cultivate. I still want to reach higher¡­even, if I¡¯m being honest, my progress has started to slow down. Can¡¯t do that and have a family. Look at you!¡± Tyrian scowled under the accusatory glare from Sanik. ¡°Again, I say, Fuck off,¡± Tyrian said, though this time with a smile. ¡°I thought my adventuring days were behind me.¡± Further conversation was made impossible as Edan came racing into the room, followed closely by Reema. Shouting out in joy, Edan ran full speed at Sanik before launching himself into the air. Catching Edan mid-flight, Sanik swooped the boy down before lifting him over his head. Edan whooped with joy, his hands held out in front as if he were flying. Setting Edan down so he could stand on the table, Sanik ruffled his hair. ¡°How¡¯s it going, Kiddo?¡± ¡°I saw a sword bigger than daddy''s!¡± Edan said. ¡°From what I hear, that isn¡¯t hard to do.¡± Tyrian could only roll his eyes as he was forced to hear another retelling. ¡°And Daddy said I get to stay with you and Aunty Reema for a while,¡± said Edan. ¡°He said I have to be good.¡± ¡°Not too good,¡± Sanik shot back, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. ¡°That would be boring.¡± The duo shared a smile, both pretending Tyrian couldn¡¯t see. Using that as a segue, and feeling his own heart drop at the impending departure, Tyrian pulled Edan towards him. ¡°Okay, Edan, I think it¡¯s time for me to go,¡± he said, ignoring the stinging in his eyes. ¡°I want you to be good¡­or try to be good, or Aunty Reema will be mad at both you and Uncle Sanik. Okay?¡± ¡°Okay, Daddy,¡± Edan said in a small voice. ¡°I love you, Edan Mawe, more than all the stars in the sky and across all the realms in the Great System. Your mum does too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to bring mummy back?¡± ¡°That''s the idea.¡± Tyrian pulled Edan close and looked him in the eyes. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do this unless I had to. Remember what I always say? ¡®We do what we must not-¡¯¡± ¡°-not what we want.¡± Edan finished, his lower lip trembling as he fought back tears. Tyrian had no doubt his son didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind those words. But he would. One day. Gathering Edan in his arms, cradling his little boy in a hug, Tyrian had to fight against the urge to just stay. He could do it. Give up on Lillian. She had been the one to leave. Tyrian could stay with the son he loved and live a good life. He didn¡¯t have to go. But then he remembered her face before she left, the tears streaming down her cheeks, and the fear in her eyes she had tried to hide. If that was the last memory of his wife and the woman he loved, Tyrian couldn¡¯t stay. ¡°Reema and Sanik will keep you safe,¡± Tyrian muttered, to both Edan and himself. He gave Edan a kiss on the head, his son''s hair tickling his nose. ¡°I love you!¡± Releasing his son into the waiting arms of Reema, Tyrian turned his back. He didn¡¯t want to see the look of disappointment in Sanik¡¯s eyes, even as he put a protective arm around Reema and Edan. He didn¡¯t want to see the pity in Reema¡¯s face as she cradled Edan to her chest. Most of all he didn¡¯t want to see his son, with tears in his eyes. If he turned around now he would stay, and if he stayed he would be haunted by his wife''s face for the rest of his life. Even as he cursed her for putting him in this situation. He would be back. He had to. CHAPTER 02 Edan looked up at his mother''s smiling face. Her blue eyes danced with mirth as she tickled him again and he squealed with laughter. Small infant hands grasped at her nimble fingers. His father¡¯s laugh, a rich warm bass that rumbled through Edan¡¯s chest, sounded out from the corner of the room and his mother laughed with him. Scribe lights, each a pebble no larger than a grown man''s thumbnail were inserted in mirrored lamps around the kitchen. The soft orange glow from the marked stone bounced off the mirror, throwing its light wide and illuminating the room. Done tickling him, his mother''s arms grasped him gently by the armpits as she pulled Edan from his cot and settled him against her chest. Her hair smelt of Appleberries and tickled Eden''s nose. Edan cooed happily as his father mopped up the last of his dinner with a slice of bread and popped it in his mouth. Standing up, his impressive height dwarfed his wife and son, but his touch had nothing but love and care in it as he kissed Lillian on the top of her head and rubbed Edan¡¯s soft dark hair. ¡°Thanks for the meal, my love. It was edible as always.¡± Lillian laughed as she swatted her husband.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I get for trying to co-¡± The rest of her words were drowned out by the sound of splintering wood. Pieces of the ceiling rained down around the family, crushing the table Tyrian had just been sitting at and destroying the sink across the room. Tyrian used his bulk to shield his wife and child. A wooden beam, wider than he was, fell against his back and head, but he barely blinked. Edan screamed as the sound hurt his ears. Wind whipped into the room, bringing with it the smell of burnt ozone. Moonlight now streamed into the room, the silver beams defused by the still present scribe lights. Standing tall, pushing rubble away from him, Tyrian¡¯s eyes burned with fury as he looked up at the hole where his ceiling had been. Lillian clutched the crying Edan to her chest, her eyes searching the dark sky. ¡°Who dares!¡± Tyrian roared. The ring on his finger flashed and a monstrous axe appeared in his hand, the black blade drinking in the light around him. Lillian pushed at the wreckage around her, almost tripping on a piece of wood as it rolled out from under her foot. Edan continued to cry, his father''s roar having scared him more than the roof disappearing. ¡°It is you who dares.¡± a voice whispered, each word carried by the whipping wind directly to them. It was a voice Lillian recognized and she felt a cold hand grasp her heart. She looked to her husband standing over her, face defiant and posture welcoming violence. ¡°Please¡­¡± she whispered, knowing the man who floated above them would hear. ¡°Please don¡¯t¡­, just sp-¡± Once more her words were drowned out by a terrible noise. This time it was the crack of air as it was superheated, hotter than the sun, and immediately cooled. Lightning flashed over their heads, burning the image of a man standing in the air into Edan¡¯s eyes. The lightning fell, like a twisting violet serpent, and struck his father. Tyrian was blasted from his feet. His muscular frame was thrown across the room and through the wall with a crunch. Smoke trailed after him. Edan screamed, his small hands reaching out in the direction his father had vanished. His mother pulled him close as if her body would provide protection. Overhead thunder clapped, the sound shaking the house. A few more pieces of the roof fell around them like wooden rain, displaced by the noise. Violet light filled Edan¡¯s eyes as another bolt of lightning streaked toward him and his mother. A loud clap startled him. - Edan jerked upright, blinking in confusion. His heart still beat wildly from his dream and he looked about in shock, half expecting to be back there, in the wreckage of his family''s kitchen. When he noticed the angry squint of Mrs. Cinnaburn¡¯s eyes he almost wished he was. She must have slammed her ruler onto his desk, right next to his face. It was still there, right next to the puddle of drool. Edan ignored the muffled laughter of his classmates. ¡°Uhhh¡­I was praying?¡± Edan said hopefully, whipping at his cheek and chin and cringing a little as he felt the wetness. Mrs. Cinnaburn squinted harder, if that was even possible, her eyes all but disappearing. ¡°Late night, Mr. Mawe?¡± She asked. Her voice was sharp on the best of days, today, colored with her anger, it was downright lethal. Edan fought back a yawn. Once upon a time, Mrs. Cinnaburn may have terrified him. She was tall and skinny, her fingers long and bony and prone to twitching. As if she wanted to write something down but had neither the pen nor paper. Her voice matched her though, Edan would give her that. Sharp features and trim lines. Perfectly straight dress and spotless coat. All in drab colors. The only alteration to the academic dress was the golden pendant she wore around her neck. Three stars formed a large triangle around a single larger one in the middle. ¡°No ma¡¯am,¡± Edan replied on instinct before quickly correcting himself. ¡°I mean, yes ma¡¯am. Late night. I was training¡­my Mind.¡± It was bullshit. He hadn¡¯t spent the night training his Mind. Having to stay conscious through her class every day was training enough. No, he had spent the night running around Stratta, but she didn¡¯t need to know that. Mrs. Cinnaburn gave a disdainful sniff. Her ruler slid from his desk with the rasp of wood on wood. ¡°Really?¡± she didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that lovely. You must tell me then, how did you train? Puzzles? Problems? Perhaps studying?¡± Still shaking off the last of the dream and trying to ignore the leering faces of his classmates as they looked at him, Edan grasped at the last thing she said. ¡°Studying!¡± Her sneer turned into a triumphant smile. ¡°Ahhh, you truly are an excellent student Mr. Mawe, studying late into the night in preparation for today''s class. Tell me,¡± She paused, her ruler held up as if it were a blade about to strike. ¡°Who was it that ceded Old Earth to the Four Star Heavenly Sect on integration?¡± ¡°The World Union,¡± Edan said confidently. The answer was common knowledge, even if the event had happened over two hundred years ago. The World Union still existed today, though they had transitioned from the governing power on Old Earth to just a minor Sect on Terra. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Mrs. Cinnaburn rolled her eyes. ¡°But I asked who, not what. The name of the man, Mr. Mawe, not the organization.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Edan muttered. His early confidence crumbled. He wrecked his brain, trying to remember if he had ever heard the name of a man associated with The World Union. With a Mind level of 27 and both Wisdom and Intelligence capped, all he could remember was a vague memory of Harvey mentioning something about a man named¡­ ¡°Bruin.¡± A single thin eyebrow raised as Mrs. Cinnaburn regarded him. There was a moment of silence as the classroom held its breath waiting to see if he was right.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Bruin is the current head of the sect, you idiot.¡± A clipped voice spoke up from the front of the class. ¡°The founder of the World Union, and the man to cede power over to the Four Star Heavenly Sect was Elijah Furrows. He was later killed by some E-grade beast somewhere. A rather pathetic end. Though I suppose he was a rather pathetic man.¡± The words were a slow, bored drawl, each syllable dripping with disdain that covered the cultured twang. Mrs. Cinnaburn¡¯s face lit up with a smile as she turned to address the speaker. The expression looked so foreign on her face, that Edan shivered. ¡°Right, you are, Aser na¡¯Doma.¡± She said sweetly, already forgetting about Edan. Edan gritted his teeth against the urge to throw Aser the middle finger behind her back. A few of the class ooohed and aaahed in mock shock that someone knew the answer. The prick in the front of the class preened at the attention. With his green hair styled in a warrior knot down the middle and shaved on the side, coupled with his expensive clothes of imported fabrics in the garish purple and black of the Four Star Heavenly Sect, Aser reminded Edan a bit of a preening bird of prey. The class on Earth history was a joke. A mandatory joke. But still a joke. Mrs. Cinnaburn wasn¡¯t even from Earth and the only real merit she had to her name was that her Profession was Scholar. It gave her some credibility, Edan supposed, but the religious symbol around her neck of the Four Stars showed where her allegiance lay. ¡°As Aser na¡¯Doma so adequately put it, it was a rather pathetic end to the man.¡± She tittered softly. A few suck-ups in class joined in. ¡°But like most of Old Earth''s powerhouses, the power he learned to cultivate himself was rather¡­limited. To be expected of those who advanced before the Sects arrived. Now, a few other examples of overreaching fools are Garish the Br¡­¡± Edan stopped listening. It wasn''t that he disliked the class, per se. Sure, Cinnaburn made it all but unbearable, but the lessons themselves could have been exciting. If only Edan could see the point of it all. Edan chose instead to look out the window at the city below. Reverb Academy was built on one of the Islets that dotted the point where the Kentushi River met the Fostering Sea. It was actually on the Islet furthest out to sea. Artificially enlarged and raised, it was little more than a protrusion of sharp dark rocks and drowned plants. The Academy¡¯s stone towers ringed the central building at perfect intervals. Five Towers, for the five largest sponsors to the Academy, each sponsor getting a seat on the council that governed the school. Edan had heard tales of the entire Academy being an array laid down by the Sects as a final bastion should Terra fall. Other tales said there were once 7 towers, each representing a sin, but the Four Star Heavenly Sect had destroyed Gluttony and Sloth so its students could focus on progression. There were just fancy tales told by those with too much time on their hands. Mrs. Cinnaburn droned on as Edan watched a flock of Sunspits fly by. They streaked through the blue sky, chasing each other as the sunlight reflected off their golden feathers. Ungraded as they were, they could still spit balls of light that could blind an weak man if he wasn¡¯t careful. A gentle breeze drifted through the window, tossing Eden''s dark curls, and he took a deep breath of salty sea air. Beneath him, and out to sea, Edan could see a large masted shipping vessel making its way back to port. Even from this distance, he could see the massive corpse of some aquatic creature stretched across the deck, its fins dragging in the water and sending sea spray up in a mist. The ship had to be The Depth Charger, the deep sea fishing vessel of the Crafters Guild, the corpse on the deck their latest catch. They would be bringing it back for harvesting, Edan imagined. A good catch for the Season. Edan guessed the larger ships would see little action once the Season of Seeding turned in a few weeks and the Season of Storms arrived. You didn¡¯t want to be out at sea when the beast tide hit. A few other vessels, smaller than The Depth Charger, dotted the sea around the Islets. Their sails colored brightly in reds and greens that stood out against the deep blue ocean. Edan let out a wistful sigh. He wished he could be down there. He didn¡¯t need to be on a boat, that wasn¡¯t what he wanted. No, he wanted the freedom. He wanted to feel the sun on his back and a breeze through his hair. Suddenly the classroom felt stifling. The eighteen other students around Edan made the closed-off stone space feel cramped. Edan had to fight the urge to jump to his feet and run. The class was almost over, he just had to endure. How could he hope for Sect Sponsorship if he couldn''t even prove to them he was willing to sit and learn? Mrs. Cinnaburn was winding down now. Edan could tell by the way she shifted towards the desk at the front of the room. It had a few tubes of rolled-up paper with diagrams she used. ¡°...and so, every year we give thanks to the Precursor and his Vanguard with gifts of skill and craft during the proving tournaments. Any questions?¡± No one in the class raised a hand. Not a single one of them wanted to be there longer than necessary and by the way Mrs. Cinnaburn was collecting her presentation, nor did she. ¡°Since there are no further questions, I think this is as good a place as any to stop. Master Sims has asked that you bring your armor tomorrow. You''re having a practical.¡± There was a collective cheer from the class and she slipped closer to the door. ¡°You may leave.¡± And just like that she vanished out of the door leaving the class alone. There was the scraping of chairs as some of the students pushed away from their desks. Conversation bubbled over each other as neighbors turned to talk, or leaned over each other to say something to someone a row over. Edan took his time getting to his feet. He hadn¡¯t even bothered taking a book out of his bag so all he really had to do was sling the strap over his shoulder and he was good to go. He tried dragging that out as well, the reason was standing at the front of the class chatting with a group of boys and girls. Aser. Edan would need to pass the boy to reach the door and he knew Aser wouldn¡¯t let him through without saying something hurtful. Emerald eyes flashed in the afternoon sun streaming through the windows as Aser threw his head back and laughed. A single silver earring, a dagger hanging from a silver chain, jumped with the movement. ¡°Screw it,¡± Edan muttered as he adjusted the strap on his shoulder, making sure his pack was tight against his back, before making his way through the desks. If Edan timed it right, he could use someone as a shield and hide behind them as he moved past. Edan wasn¡¯t very large, after all. He may even be the smallest in the class. He didn¡¯t time it right. ¡°Hey, runt!¡± Aser called catching sight of Edan out of the corner of his eye. ¡°You still have drool on your chin!¡± Edan resisted the reflexive twitch to wipe at his chin. Keep your head down. Edan thought to himself. Don¡¯t antagonize him. It¡¯s what he wants. Play it smart. Walk away. ¡°Just when I thought you couldn¡¯t impress me anymore, you forget the name of your own world''s champion.¡± Aser continued. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s true what they say, a child''s education starts at home.¡± Edan¡¯s footsteps slowed. Like a shark tasting blood in the water Aser whispered loudly to the group around him. ¡°I hear the mother makes the dresses¡­and the father wears them.¡± Be smart. Walk away. Edan reminded himself, even as he stopped walking. The laughter of his classmates washed over him. He didn¡¯t care about that. He didn¡¯t even care about Aser. Edan was just overly protective of Reema and Sanik, just as they were of him. Yeah, fuck it. One punch. Edan turned, taking in the group in an instant. Aser stood in the middle, Tooth, and Nose to his left. Edan couldn¡¯t be bothered to remember their names, but one had a skewed tooth and the other a nose ring. Neither were very bright, or talkative. They just knew when to laugh and when to look threateningly. They also knew when Aser wanted someone hurt. To Aser¡¯s right was Lorien, she wasn¡¯t laughing at Aser¡¯s joke. Edan was glad of that. The tall brunette with her button nose and large brown eyes had always been nice to him. It may have been out of respect for his friendship with Cassie, but Cassie didn¡¯t attend the academy and Lorien was still nice to him, even here. So he¡¯d have to swing with his left. He couldn¡¯t afford to miss Aser and hit her. Aser eyed Edan as he approached, a hungry glint in his eyes. He wanted the fight. Tooth and Nose smiled as well and moved forward to try to intercept him. Edan slung the bag from his shoulder, using the momentum to throw it right into Nose¡¯s¡­well, nose. The boy jerked back, grabbing the bag on reflex, but that obscured his vision. Edan was already moving past him. He wasn¡¯t interested in trading blows with 3 boys. He¡¯d lose. They were all from the Four Star Heavenly Sect and likely trained at the Sect. They may not have been admitted yet, but their parents were. School for them was just a formality. Tooth was pushing Nose out of the way, his face annoyed. He tried to grab Edan, but Edan was small and quick. Ducking low, he made it even harder for the taller, broader boy to reach him. Edan still felt Tooth¡¯s hand tug a few strands of hair from his scalp, the sting bitter-sweet. Lorien was moving away. Thankfully she was moving towards Edan¡¯s left, putting her further away from the projected path of his haymaker. The crowd of those around her slowed her down, but she would be safe. Edan jumped, he needed the extra couple of inches to reach Aser¡¯s smirking face. His first swung out in perfect form. Then a force like a catapult hit him in the sternum. He folded around the blow, his limbs jerking forward and the breath rushed out of him. Spittle was mixed with that breath and some of it landed on Aser¡¯s clothes. Edan smiled, even as the force of Aser¡¯s straight kick sent him flying back. Spots danced in his vision but the look of rage on Aser¡¯s face was clear as day. Edan hit the ground hard, his bony shoulder blades making contact with the cold stone first. His neck snapped and the back of his skull hit next, a dull thump sounded in his ears, and the stars in his vision turned into raging suns. Darkness crept in from the edges of his sight. Edan gasped, trying to get a breath in. Someone screamed. Someone laughed. Someone cheered. Edan held on to consciousness as he tried to find the floor beneath him. He struggled to his feet¡­but the floor was cold against his shoulder¡­was he still lying down? Everything was spinning. Okay, maybe I¡¯ll take a quick nap. Edan thought, letting the darkness win. CHAPTER 03 ¡°What was that, five, zero?¡± Lorien¡¯s chipper voice asked, making Edan wince. His head was throbbing with the mother of all headaches and her chirpy attitude wasn¡¯t helping. Edan still lay on the floor where Aser had kicked him. By some small miracle, or perhaps Lorien¡¯s intervention, they had left him as he was. No stomping while he was down. No stealing of his stuff. Not much to steal though Edan admitted, looking at his bag. Someone, likely Lorien again, had placed it next to his head. ¡°Four, zero,¡± Edan grumbled. "It was my fourth loss." ¡°Nah-Uh.¡± Lorien crouched beside him, her dress neatly tucked around her knees. Her brown eyes hung over him like the bulbs of an angler fish. ¡°The fourth one was the time you tried to brain him with your lunch tray and he broke your nose.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you saw that one,¡± Edan admitted, struggling to sit up. ¡°Thanks for staying back, by the way.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I wanted to check out your mum''s shop later. Cassie mentioned she imported some new fabric from off world? I figured it was bad form to leave her son passed out at school while I went shopping in her store.¡± ¡°Workshop.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Lorien tilted her head to the side curiously. Edan rubbed the lump on the back of his head. It stung but his fingers came away clean. He looked over at the hand Lorien was offering and gladly took it. She pulled him to his feet and grabbed his bag for him. ¡°Mum likes to call it her workshop,¡± Edan said. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s neat!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Deadpan, Edan pointed towards the classroom door. ¡°Let''s get out of here.¡± The walk from the classroom was mostly in silence. Edan was too busy trying to keep himself from throwing up and Lorien was content to just skip along. Classes were held in the central building of the Academy and could take up rooms from the ground floor all the way up to the fourteenth floor. The floors above that, fifteen to twenty-one, were all administration from what Edan remembered. Their history class was on floor twelve which meant a lot of stairs. Maybe if they had guards with flight skills, like the important sect students had, who would be willing to fly them down to the ground floor it wouldn¡¯t have been so bad. At least the marble kept the building cool. Gold leaves accented most of the wooden framework such as the doors and windows. Some may think it made the building look regal or important. Edan thought it made the whole place look tacky. Stumbling behind Lorien, Edan followed her down the stairs. Students streamed past, some in the colors of their respective sects, others in the more muted colors of brown and grays favored by the guilds. There were a few students in casual clothes, the civilians dreaming of a life of cultivation and sponsorship, these, though, were few and far between. Edan groaned, holding his head, as the stairs lurched under his feet. He felt his stomach roll and quickly leaned against the wall. The wooden railing dug into his hip as he pressed his clammy head against the cool stone. A group of girls wearing the pastel pink and yellows of the Bright Petal Sect cast suspiciously looks his way as they gave him a wide berth, almost hugging the wall opposite as they slid past.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Edan was half tempted to jump at them with hooked fingers, but he feared any sudden moves would just result in him being sick. Lorien skipped back up the stairs. She was always full of boundless energy. ¡°Do you think you have a concussion?¡± She quired, cocking her head to the side like she usually did. ¡°Probably.¡± Edan shoved off the wall and took a slow steading breath. ¡°My constitution will have it sorted in a bit, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Mmmkay.¡± Lorien started back down the stairs and Edan had little choice but to follow. Exiting the stairway on the ground floor, Edan and Lorien merged with the crowd shuffling past. Most of the students walked in groups. Above and around them the adults, usually lecturers, could be seen vanishing, or flying slowly, as they used various skills to avoid the masses. Sound echoed in the large open space, the noises blending together to create a constant hum that made Edan all too eager to get out. Lorien was heading towards the large double doors that led to the Eastern Courtyard and Edan was more than happy to follow. Sunlight warmed his face and a gentle breeze helped settle his stomach as they stepped outside. Here, in the open, the push of bodies lessened. A gravel footpath ran between flower beds towards the outer walls and the entry gates. A few benches were nestled among the gardens and students could be seen sitting and chatting, or eating, most often in matching colors. ¡°Ohhhh look!¡± Lorien pointed excitedly. Edan followed her finger and saw a group of adults walking together in the shade of the walls. In the middle of the group, a massive woman strode. The brown robes she wore did little to hide her muscular frame and she stood shoulders and head above the adults surrounding her. This was all the more impressive as Edan knew a few of those adults and they were not short themselves. ¡°That''s a big woman. Do you think she''s from off world?¡± Edan wondered, using a hand to shade his eyes against the sun as he tried to get a better look. ¡°Oh! Oh! That must be the Titan! I heard the Traders Guild brought her in to train the combat classes.¡± ¡°Why would they do that?¡± Edan rolled his eyes at Loriens penchant for taking gossip as law. ¡°If the Guilds are going to go through all the effort of bringing in an instructor, it¡¯d be for one of their own classes. You know the sects and guilds are always at each other''s throats.¡± ¡°But Aser said the Traders Guild agreed to a trade. The Four Star Heavenly Sect wouldn¡¯t allow them to bring in another Guild Elder so they offered to sponsor a combat class cultivator as well.¡± Edan opened his mouth to rebut the news, if only for the reason that Aser had said it, but it did make a certain amount of sense. If the Traders Guild wanted to bring in a sect elder, it could change the already precarious power structure, and The Four Star Heavenly Sect wouldn¡¯t allow something like that to happen unless they could benefit from it. Edan made a note to ask Harvey about it later. The pair walked through shadows as they exited the gate. The stone arch looming above their heads was like an open palm, waiting to slam down on them. Wide bridges sprouted like limbs from the Islet, running off in different directions. Tall and arching they were made of treated Vitalis rich wood and inscribed with runes for durability and stability. Each bridge was built so the very top of the arch had enough space for the smaller masted ships and tugboats to sail under. The lapping of waves against the bridge support and the cawing of birds overhead helped remove the last vestiges of injury from Edan and he took a steady step forward, his foot landing on the central bridge with a soft thump. ¡°You¡¯re looking better,¡± Lorien commented ¡°I heal fast.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your constitution?¡± Lorien asked, walking backward along the bridge. An older couple were walking past holding hands, the man pointing at the port along the shoreline in the distance with his free hand. They looked like tourists, wearing simple cotton clothes, in neutral colors, unmarked by Guild or Sect affiliation. Both of them scowled and split apart as Lorien almost collided with them. ¡°None of your business.¡± Edan flashed the couple an apologetic smile. ¡°You should come back at night,¡± he told them softly, letting Lorien get ahead of him. ¡°The scribe lanterns turn on as the sun sets and¡­well, it looks pretty when you can see the other bridges lit up, surrounded by the dark ocean¡­uhh, sorry.¡± Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Edan ducked away. The couple blinked after him before the woman smiled hopefully at her man and he nodded. Lorien had slowed down to allow Edan to catch up and with a defeated sigh he hurried along.