Cairn
Shaboh had arranged everything, but something seemed off. The jealous stares from the other applicants made that much apparent. Some wore brightly colored togas, while others wore drab tunics both in tone and appearance. By their ruddy looks, they were commoners or worse, slaves.
The applicants with the more refined clothing obviously belonged to families of wealth. The air about them stank with pomp and arrogance. The disdain in their eyes toward the commoners shone brightly.
Regardless of social standing, most of the applicants were girls. And of those, almost all were human save for two Shaylin boys huddled at the back of the crowd. If he were to count, Cairn estimated the girls outnumbered the boys ten to one.
It seems the records at the monastery were right. Most mages in Absion are women, he thought.
The Praeceptors had gathered each applicant into a central hall at the heart of the Arcanum’s first floor. From the numbers close to two hundred were in attendance, and regardless of standing, all of them seemed nervous. Only the slaves showed a glimmer of hope in their eyes as they stared expectantly at the double doors on the far side of the granite chamber.
Acceptance here meant a better life for them and possibly their families. Shaboh had explained as much. Still, when Cairn thought about the Sorceire, it was hard not to question his motives.
A soft chime echoed throughout the granite chamber, and Cairn lifted his eyes toward the double doors. When the chime died, they opened, and the Praec entered with his Praeceptors in tow.
Shaboh had explained that the Praec ran the Arcanum, and the Praeceptors were the instructors. They also administered discipline to unruly Ediscites. If I pass this test, then according to Shaboh, that is what I will become.
Age lines decorated the Praec’s face. He had silvery hair that fell down to his back, but it was the gaping bald spot at the top of the man’s head that made Cairn snicker. Those closest to him turned, their glares sharp as daggers. Cairn bit his lip, noting the Praec staring directly at him.
“Don’t mess this up for me!”
Cairn turned to his right, then blinked. How did I not notice you?
His heart momentarily quickened when his eyes fell on the young girl standing beside him. Her hazel eyes, short brown hair and bronze skin showed she was Absonian. Something about her seemed different though, she didn’t have the same finery of the other girls and lacked the sense of despair radiating from the slaves.
Still, her eyes carried the hard edge of someone who had seen a lot for a girl of possibly sixteen winters. They also spoke of how determined she was to be here.
No, it’s more than determination. She needs this.
“Applicants!” Cairn paused, trying to peel his eyes off her as the Praec spoke. “Today may well mark a new beginning for many of you. It may also extinguish whatever embers of hope you have left.”
Through the murmurs, Cairn heard the other applicants voicing their fears. Even among those who came from wealthy families.
Absonians pride themselves on achievement. They need this as much as the slaves.
“Unlike what you may have heard, just being here does not guarantee acceptance. To protect a nation, one must be strong, like steel. Unyielding and unbreakable. We do not tolerate weakness in the Arcanum.”
“While you will formally train in martial combat, your true weapon is magic. It is the only reason any of you have a chance at becoming more than what society claims you to be.”
As the Praec droned on about the Arcanum’s glorious history, many of the girls looked hopeful, but they weren’t alone. The boys shared in the sentiment, particularly the two Shaylin. Cairn winced when he looked at them. Upon closer observation, by their stance and proximity, it was easy to see they were brothers.
“Vahti, please be okay,” he whispered under his breath.
He clenched his fist when one of them turned, showing the left side of his face. The elf’s eye had been gouged out. From the scorch marks, a hot poker was clearly the culprit.
Cairn curled his lip, ozone filling the air amid his outrage. He took a breath, but it wasn’t enough. A Surge was building.
No, not here. Not yet. He sat on the marble floor, crossed his legs, and focused his breathing. The Surge subsided, and he opened his eyes. The smell of ozone vanished, and he looked up. The Absonian girl who scolded him was staring, her eyes wide in shock.
“What was that?” she whispered.
A loud thunderclap echoed through the chamber. “Silence!” Cairn stood, once again the Praec was staring at him, then his gaze shifted to the girl.“Bring them,” he said.
The Praeceptors stepped forward, the crowd parting like water against a ship’s prow. The girl narrowed her eyes at Cairn. “I warned you!” she harshly whispered.
On instinct, Cairn shifted his feet, and assumed a fighting stance. Her anger melted into curiosity. The Praeceptors also paused, but one moved closer.
“Cairn Laiden, if you resist, we will put you in chains,” she said.
Cairn relaxed, lowering his fists. “Forgive me, it’s habit.”
The Praeceptor frowned, motioning for him to follow. The girl had already come forward. Cautiously Cairn did the same, and the Praeceptors led them to the front of the crowd.
Cairn tensed as all eyes shifted to him. The Praec’s gaze fell the hardest. His eyes showed he lacked the capacity for compassion or mercy.
“You two will be the first to take the test,” he said. “Pass and your application is complete.”
The groaning of the double doors behind the Praec drew Cairn’s attention as they opened. Three girls close to his age entered the chamber. Two of them carried a thin marble pillar about five feet long, while the third carried a large crystal orb.
That seems impossibly heavy. Judging by how coordinated they were, the girls didn’t appear as to be straining. But when the base of the pillar made contact with the marble floor, the echo that followed confirmed its weight.
The third girl put the orb on top of the pillar, then placing her hand on it, began softly whispering under her breath. The orb responded, taking on a faint luminescent glow, and she stepped back. The Praec waved them off, and they bowed, exiting the chamber.
“This orb measures the strength of your natural talent. Once activated, it will begin absorbing that latent energy within you. The brighter the glow the greater your talent.”
Again Cairn tensed. Something about the Praec’s demeanor seemed suspicious. What are you hiding? Eying the orb, he could sense the raw power contained within it.
“Now, Cairn and Lidia,” he said. “Stand opposite of each other and place your hands on the orb.”
Without hesitation, Lidia did as she was told. Her hazel eyes burned with determination as she placed her hand on the orb. She shifted her gaze from it, staring at Cairn expectantly. “I warned you,” she said.
Why does she sound apologetic? Cairn felt the hairs standing on the back of his neck when stood he opposite of her. She’s way too tense. He placed his hand on the orb, glancing at the Praec.
The old man’s grin widened. “Now we will see who will live and who will die.”
As soon as the words left the Praec’s lips that Cairn felt a sharp tug within his chest. It wasn’t a Surge, but more like tiny fishhooks latching onto something. He gripped the orb, clenching his teeth. Lidia reacted the same, except blood trickled from around her eyes.
No!
The orb flared to life, bathing the chamber in its light. A few of the applicants screamed, shielding their eyes. Others fell to the floor to protect them.
Cairn locked eyes with Lidia. Her determination was waving. Somehow, he could sense she was fighting against something. It pressed into her will, threatening to crush her, but she pressed on.
“I won’t lose to you!” Lidia shouted.
Though hard to explain, Cairn felt another tug in his chest. The sensation shifted, like someone was physically trying to push him away. His mouth fell open when he realized what it was.
It’s me… I’m killing her!
Fear gripped him as memories of Brother Demecus laying on a pallet, barely alive and wrapped in bandages flooded his mind. Lidia screamed, snapping his mind back to the present. Her eyes were bloodshot with veins appearing along the edges.
She was gaining ground, but he also sensed the anguish she was putting herself through. Stop! Don’t do this!
The pain in his chest spiked. Frantically Cairn searched his thoughts for answers, but at the moment, it was too hard to focus. The fear and worry he held for Lidia overwhelmed him.
Somehow, with both of them touching the orb, Cairn could tell she had a great deal of magical potential. But potential was no substitute for raw power. The difference between them was too great. To her, Cairn could only compare himself to an abyss, and she was on the verge of being swallowed up. Lidia was trying to bridge the gap, fighting against the impossible.
Brute force won’t work. A sense of familiarity pricked him and Cairn paused, thinking back to one of Arridus’ many lessons:
Cairn, do you believe hitting that block any harder will make a difference?
But Arridus, with enough force, anything can break.
I agree, something will break, but not what you think.
You mean my hand?
That’s one possibility. Regardless of the material, everything has a breaking point. It’s an immutable fact. Even water can break stone.
But water is soft…
Water is deceptive, Cairn. It only allows you to see what it wants. But hidden within it, lies unimaginable strength. When water is ready to show that strength, it acts, but until then, it remains fluid, moving with, and around any obstacle…
Cairn recoiled, giving her ground, and shifted his attention to himself. Centering himself, he focused on the force of his presence, fighting to give it definition in his mind. Ironically, the teachings suddenly began making sense.
Be like water, soft, not hard. Whenever Lidia pushed, he flowed into it, enveloping her, and offering no resistance. The light of the orb dimmed, and Cairn began grasping its true nature.
They’re misusing it. The orb was created to teach control, not show potential. Through their connection, Lidia’s frustration became clearer, and the wavering strength of her presence hinted at fatigue.
“Stop running and fight!” she panted, sweat beading down her cheeks. “I can’t lose here!”
“I am fighting,” Cairn replied. “Fighting to save you.”
There was a shift, and the force of her presence grew still. Cairn reached out, barely brushing against it as an idea came to mind. Some of the monks who mastered The Path of the Mind could speak to others without using words.
Lidia, can you hear me?
Her eyes widened, and she nodded. If we play their game, we both lose. I don’t want to hurt you. If we let go at the same time, the Praec will call it a draw. He won’t have a choice. Blink, if you agree.
She blinked, her fatigue winning out over her determination.
Now!
She recoiled, withdrawing her presence. Cairn did the same, and the orb winked out as onlookers stared in stunned silence. The Praec seemed displeased.
Cairn leaned into the pillar, exhaustion overtaking him. He lifted his eyes to Lidia; she hadn’t fared much better. They were both covered in sweat.
“The test is incomplete,” the Praec announced. “Begin again.”
Cairn forced himself to his feet. Lidia looked heartbroken. “Praec… Your words were, ‘We will see who lives and who dies’. We both live, therefore we pass.”
“You will not presume to tell me how to run my Arcanum, boy!” he replied. “You are Libertas, you know nothing about the laws of this nation!”
Weakly, Cairn grinned. “Actually…,” he panted. “I’ve committed every single Absonian Law to memory. Would you like… me to quote specific sections of it?”
The Praec stiffened, his eyes full of fury. “Take them for preparation,” he sneered.
The Praeceptor who had spoken earlier stepped forward. “Come with me,” she said coldly.
Cairn nodded, but when he stepped forward, the world spun. Exhaustion had won out as he fought to keep his eyes open.
“Cairn!”
Anki? Is that you? Then it occurred to him. The voice was much too feminine to be Vahti’s.
*****
Amid the haze, there was a sound, like a dull melodic buzzing. He shifted, muscles aching as it grew more audible. Eventually the tone shifted, growing familiar.
“Cairn?” someone called. “Cairn… Please wake up.”
Cairn winced, opening his eyes. Lidia’s soft features came into view, a wave of relief washing over her face. He turned his head, his vision clearing.
Dozens of pallets came into focus, all of them empty. The granite chamber was rather plain, save for the large oak doors on one side of the room and a doorless entryway at the other.
“Where..?”
“The Medicorum. It’s where they bring all the Ediscites who are injured during training,” she replied. “How do you feel?”
“Everything hurts,” Cairn replied. Her eyes softened and he let a smile slip.
“Why are you smiling?” she asked suspiciously.
“Because you actually care,” he replied. “It think it makes you prettier.” Cairn froze. Maker help me, did I just say that out loud!
Lidia’s cheeks turned red. “What reasonable person wouldn’t care?” she replied, sounding a little flustered.
Cairn smirked. “Well, you were so bent on beating me. Even killing me. It’s nice to see that’s not who you are.”
“It didn’t have a choice.” she said, averting her eyes and shifting them to the floor. “You wouldn’t understand anyway.” She bit her lip and adjusted her tunic. “Why didn’t you kill me? You could have easily done so.”
“All life is sacred. Taking it disrupts The Cycle.”
She looked up, seemingly curious. “You’re very strange, Cairn.”
Cairn grinned, then glanced toward the open archway. “I won’t kill for them, Lidia. I came here to learn how to control my power so I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
Her expression hardened. “Then you came to the wrong place,” she said coldly. “We are tools of war in the service of the state.”
The determination she showed before returned, but deep down, Cairn saw past the mask. Lidia just wanted a place to belong. “That’s not what your heart says,” he replied. “Nor your eyes.”
She bit her lip again. “How would you know?”
“I know more than people give me credit for,” he replied.
Her stern expression faded. “I don’t know why,” she said. “But I believe you.” Lidia glanced back toward the archway. It was as if she was expecting someone to step into the chamber at any moment.
Cairn sat up, wincing as he did, but wished he hadn’t. Lidia turned to help him. “What’s wrong? You look worried.”
“Cairn, you embarrassed the Praec,” she said. “You have to be more careful in how you speak to him.”
Her tone was grave, hinting at fear. “You sound like you know him.”
“I know enough,” she replied. “The Arcanum is its own world. In here, the Praec and Praeceptors are the law.”
“I’ll be careful.”
She smiled warmly, and Cairn felt his heart flutter. He shifted his attention to the empty pallets. It was strange. If the test was so serious, why weren’t there more here.
“How long do you think you’ve been unconscious?” she asked.
Cairn eyed her suspiciously. “A few hours maybe?”
She shook her head. “Nearly a day and a half has passed since the test, Cairn.”
Cairn eyed the pallets. “How many applicants died?”
“None,” she replied. “Though there were many who did not pass.”
“So why did the Praec order us to dual?”
“To make an example of you,” she replied. “Though, had he known how powerful you were, I doubt he would have ordered it.”
“How can you be so sure?”
She shifted her eyes toward the archway. “I just know,” she said. “Please be careful, Cairn. There are whispers about you.”
“What kind of whispers?”
“Just be careful,” she said.
A soft echo of footfalls came from the hall beyond the archway and Lidia stood, cautiously moving up to it. She peered into the hall, seemingly tense. “We’ll talk soon,” she said, slipping into the hallway.
Moments later, two women wearing long gray tunics stepped through the archway. The bottom half of their tunics were pleated, stopping just shy of their knees. On both their foreheads was a tattoo depicting a rod with two bars angled parallel to the other laying across it.
Apothecaries…
“We are pleased to see you awake, young Ediscite,” one of them said. “How are you feeling?”
“My body still aches, but at least I’m still here,” Cairn replied.
“Good, you have lost much time,” she replied. “We have instructions to give you a physical and escort you to your chambers. Someone will be along after to get you orientated to the way of things here.”
With his arms shaking, Cairn fought to clasp his right fist in the palm of his left and bowed to them. “I look forward to your hospitality.” The woman gave a slight nod, but said nothing else.