Chapter 2 - Part 5

[Haiden was too out of it due to recent events to really pay attention to the road so he just followed Tasgal's broad back. Power and confidence, overwhelming confidence bordering arrogance emanated from his stance.

A true warrior, he thought lowering his gaze as blood rushed through his body. No, stop it! he chastised himself. He took a deep breath to calm down. Not the place, time or person.]

The winter twilight's flaming pinks and oranges colored the white buildings in a stark display of light. Haiden didn't pay much attention to his surroundings, his gaze never leaving Tasgal's broad back. His thoughts kept going back to the woman that was brutally murdered in the plaza.

I have to be careful from now on, he thought. But a sinking feeling in his stomach told him this will be harder than he'd hoped. From what he understood from Tasgal there's an organization whose sole purpose is to instil the Creator's teachings, among which Yeva'ahs are regarded as sinners. I need to stay out of their eye at all costs.

The light show quickly dissipated into brief darkness before tall metal rods illuminated the streets. Haiden dared to take his eyes of Tasgal's back, keeping his pace, and looked at the incredible sources of light. He had never seen anything like it. At the top of the rod sat a jewel like stone that illuminated their way. They passed rod after rod until Haiden bumped into something hard. His face was pressed into Tasgal's broad back. He smelled nice, of leather, fresh herbs and sweat. Haiden stole a breath before pulling away.

"What are you doing?" Tasgal said with a light chucke. Haiden pointed at the rods and replied.

"I've never seen anything like that." Tasgal creased his brow.

"Oh, the lamp posts. Yeah, they're pretty new. I gotta say, it's really convenient."

"How do they...how do they work?" Haiden asked amazed.

"See that small gem at the top? It's a light stone, wielders charge them once a week or so, and when it's dark they just light up on their own." Tasgal replied with a shrug. With his mouth ajar, Haiden looked back at the rods in wonder. "The gems were discovered by one of the teachers here at the Academy," Tasgal continued grabbing Haiden's attention. "There are a few gems that...uh..."Tasgal's eyes settled in a squint trying to remember something. "channel, that's the word, they channel fios and make things happen."

"Whaaa...that's amazing." he managed to say.

"Come on, we're here." Tasgal said and before Haiden could say anything else he noticed the huge wrought metal gate that stood in front of him. At either side of the gate, a tall white wall circled the premises. The creek of the metal gate made as Tasgal pushed it, Haiden cringe inwardly reminding him of the creature's howl. He was certain that the creek alerted everyone nearby. You had to be deaf not to hear the horrid almost animal-like sound.

Just as they stepped in on the premises he saw a light bobbing and moving their way. There were no lamp posts on the other side of the wall so everything was pitch black, he could hardly see Tasgal's silhouette due to the green sister in the sky.

"Ah! The welcoming committee" Tasgal said in a light tone as the light approached them.

"The what - "

"Have you any idea what time it is?" a breathy voice boomed from the light's direction. Hurried footsteps on the stone tiled way pattered at a hurried pace. Soon a round silhouette became discernible in front of them obscured by the lamp's light. As it got closer, Haiden could make out more and more details until the wrinkly face of an old man draped in what seemed like five blankets stood next to them. His wispy white beard pointed to the ground and pale eyes caught the warm light of the lamp he was holding. Similar to the lamp post, it had a gem inside but encased in glass. Slight warmth emanated from the old man's lamp. He looked mildly annoyed but comfortable within the confines of the warm blankets.

"Who are you and what do you want at this hour?" the old man demanded.

"Ullie!" Tasgal gasped in shock. "Don't you remember me?" he grabbed his heart pretending to be hurt by the old man's words.

"Huh, not you, you big ninny! The boy beside you!" said the old man quickly dismissing Tasgal.

"H-hello." Haiden said with an awkward wave. "I'm H-"

"He's Haiden, said he's a wielder, but I still haven't seen him do anything so not sure if that's true, he says he will be starting here at the Academy." Tasgal interrupted, to which the old man gave a sour look. Tasgal ignored him and slapped Haiden's back. "So, can we get him settled in?"

"I-I can introduce myself, thanks!" he glanced at Tasgal then turned to the old man. "As the...big ninny over here said, my name is Haiden." Tasgal gave him a quick scowel. "Master Danil, my former master, instructed me to come here and become a full fledged wielder. I would like to get settled right away as it has been an arduous journey, Master..." Haiden paused waiting for the old man to introduce himself.

"Master Uligarth, at your disposal...Master Danil you say." the old man stroked his wispy beard in contemplation, letting out a few grunts and wheezes of old age. He seemed to be stuck in a thought that went on for a few minutes. Haiden could feel slight static emanating from the old man.

He's doing something! he would have passed it as just his imagination if it wasn't for his fuzzed up wispy beard, despite his constant stroking it would not relent, it's wiry hairs sticking out every which way. Master Uligarth broke the long silence with a long wheeze as if his soul just left his body then reverting back to his statue-like state.

"Is he alright?" Haiden whispered to Tasgal.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. He's just old." Tasgal replied snapping his fingers a few times in front of his face. "Hey, Ullie, you there?"

"Huh, yes don't shout at me you ninny." he said slapping his hand away and turning his gaze to meet Haiden. "Master Danil, you say, then you must be Haiden. Yes?"

Haiden looked confused at the old man. "Uh, yes. I just told you."

"Told you, he's ancient." Tasgal leaned in and whispered with a deep chuckled.

"Don't get snappy with me, boy." Uligarth shook his finger. "And you!" he said turning his finger to Tasgal. "Watch who you're calling old, ninny! Come, Master Rwoy and Headmistress Helena have been waiting for you, you're quite late, you know?" the old man mused turning around and moving forward on the stone tiled way. Haiden saw the old man's sagged posture and couldn't decide if it was from the heavy blankets or  just old age, he shrugged and followed. After a few paces the old man stopped abruptly turning to Tasgal. "Not you, you ninny. You need to go to your dorm, unless you want another ten laps around the Academy?"

"Come on Ullie, let me tag all-" Tasgal didn't had a chance to continue as Master Uligarth snapped his fingers. The old man's beard fuzzed up and a short wave of static went over Haiden. Immediatley Tasgal was pulled into the dark along with Haiden's trunk by something invisible. Haiden's eyes widening in fear, his instinct kicked in and moved to follow Tasgal to help but he quickly got stopped by the old man that motioned to follow him.

"Don't worry 'bout that ninny, I sent him to his dorm."

"But, my trunk..." he said nervously in a whisper.

"Now, come on!" the old man urged. "if we hurry we might still find Bertha in the kitchen and ask her to fix you something." he said with a warm tone. Haiden didn't know how the old man could tell he was famished, with his mind on food he quickly forgot about the trunk. It was probably the exhausted state the he was in. "Also, you reek. What in Creators name did you do, boy? Did you bathe in piss?" the old man sniffed the air a couple times and Haiden just chuckled to mask his embarrassment dismissing his remark.

Is it that bad? he asked himself. Great! Now I have to meet with the headmistress smelling like piss. Thanks Tasgal. he groaned.

"What was that?" Master Uligarth cocked his head towards Haiden.

"Uh, nothing."

They went up the winding stone tiled way that seemed to coil and go back and forth throughout a wide garden. The old man's lamp obscured his view, darkness lingering just two paces in front of him,  he had to wait for the next day so he can explore the grounds in full daylight. He just couldn't see anything asides for the stone-tiled ways and the old ball in front.

Finally, after a few solid minutes of walking, which gave the impression that the gated premises were huge, they arrived at the main massive wooden door to what seemed like a tall white castle. Illuminated windows shone like beacons in the night. The light was too strong for candles so Haiden just figured there must've been more of those stones inside. Master Ulgarth waved his hand and the massive door opened on its own. Static softly bounced off of him, Haiden could feel him using his wielding.

Haiden followed in silence. They entered a main hall the interior of which seemed to be comprised of stone and wood, each wall adorned with shiny treasures and paintings of past wielders or battle scenes. Every so often, thin columns, that were decorated with intricate floral details, segmented the stone walls. It was spacious and tall. The old man hurried his pace through the left corridor denying Haiden the chance to gawk at anything in more detail. They arrived in a round tall chamber, It's ceiling seemed to be the very top of the castle as the green sister shone it's dim rays through the few round roof openings.

"Don't freak out, boy." Master Uligarth said pulling a lever in the middle of the room.

"What? Why?" A slight tremor went through the floor.

"Oh, and hold onto something." just as he said that the whole room violently shook and it started to ascend rapidly.

"Ack!" Haiden yelped falling to the floor. The old man laughed and gave him a sly smile. Haiden felt his stomach being left behind as they ascended. Everything being pulled down. Steadily he managed to get his footing just when the old man pulled the lever again and the room stopped lurching Haiden on the floor.

"For fuck's sake..." Haiden let out. " a warning would be nice."

"Get up, we ain't got all night." the old man said snickering. Haiden was about to snap at him, but took a deep breath and calmed himself down. Three people have called him snappy today and he wasn't going to give them any satisfaction in getting anymore snappy reactions, so on the outside he tried to suppress his annoyance as much as he could.

Snappy my ass! Calm down, Haiden, nothing good will come if you pick a fight with a frail old man, he told himself.

Master Uligarth lead Haiden through a twisted exposed stone corridor. There were multiple doors on either side but they didn't stop until reaching the very last double door at the end. The old man threw the five blankets along with his winter coat on the floor and straightened his brown robes.

"Behave yourself, boy." he said turning to Haiden then knocking gingerly on the door.

"Come in." a firm female voice ordered and the doors opened on their own, revealing a massive study with bookshelves spanning the whole wall on either side. The room looked luxurious with all sort of golden paraphernalia and knick knacks alongside huge intricate tomes displayed in glass cases. The room was lit by the same light gems as well as a center hearth that was set ablaze. At the very end of the room, behind a massive black wood desk sat a thin woman in white robes. Her brown hair was neatly braided and pulled on her right shoulder. Her dark eyes intense and curious. On the opposite side of the woman, sat a familiar dark haired man dressed in black robes, reminding Haiden of Thau. Flashes of the gruesome scene from the plaza went efore his eyes, making him grimace.

"Uligarth, we got your note." the woman said, holding her hand up as a piece of paper unfolded itself from the desk, floating in her open palm and read. "Danil's package has arrived, meet with Rwoy.' I assume you're referring to him" she said lazily looking up at Haiden. Her unreadable gaze bore straight into Haiden's soul. The paper was immediately consumed by fire turning into white ash in the woman's hands. This made Haiden take a sharp breath in shock. She surely did so further intimidate him.

"Yes, Headmistress Helena. He's finally arrived." he confirmed with a scoff. Haiden felt the gaze of both the woman and the man analyzing every inch of him. It felt like they were trying to read his mind.

Where have I seen him before, he thought, thinking of the dark man.

"Very well, you can leave us. Tell Bertha to prepare him dinner and have it sent to his room along with his luggage." at once Haiden realized his backpack was no longer slung over his shoulder and he remembered the trunk that had disappeared along with Tasgal. Panic ensued as he looked as his empty palm.

I didn't even felt it's weight being lifted.

"Relax, kid. They've been sent to your room already, Uligarth has seen to it. Come closer, Haiden." The dark man said.

"Of course, Master Rwoy." the old man confirmed.

"Danil sent us letters about you." Master Rwoy began.

"The young prodigy he'd found in the far north of The Empire." the woman continued narrowing her eyes, lips pursing as if thinking what to say next, but Haiden knew she already had everything planned, so her gaze unsettled him even more. "A handful of people with a lot of sway in the Kapitol wanted you here." she continued. "Why?" she demanded.

Haiden didn't know what this was about and it worried him. He didn't know what Kapitol really was, so he furrowed his brows in confusion. He decided to be truthful with her - as much as he could. The power emanating from Headmistress Vice was filling the room with tangible static that could be cut with a knife. Every fiber of his being tingled. His senses screaming to run. Her mere presence would make a full grown man cower, and it worked on Haiden as well. He was scared of her and he just hoped his face didn't betray him.

"I-I don't know, ma'am. I only know that Master Danil promised me a new life here. And I wasn't about to throw that away. I don't know who wants me here or why, for that matter." his throat must've been drier than a dessert but still managed to audibly gulp. The woman pursed her lips again as if checking if he was telling the truth. With a sigh, she opened her red lined lips again to speak.

"I, am Headmistress Helena Vice, you will address me as Miss Vice or Headmistress Vice. Not ma'am, certainly not madam. Understood?" Haiden only nodded, every fiber of his body was tense. "Good. This," Headmistress Vice pointed a hand towards the man across her. " as Uligarth was kind to point out earlier, Is Master Rwoy, he will be assessing you to see if you're truly worth joining us. It doesn't mater who wants you in this school, we'll be seeing for ourselves what this commotion is all about." Haiden nodded and swallowed dry. The man looked so familiar he surely had seen him somewhere else. Dark eyes, tan complexion, tall and jet black hair.

And then it clicked.

"He's the drunk that was yelling at the guards!" Haiden whispered to himself, louder than he had hoped. As soon as the words washed over Master Rwoy his face changed and Haiden's eyes went wide, he didn't mean to say it out loud. The man in front of him was the drunk that was yelling at the guards when he first entered the city. The only difference were the clothes, he was now wearing dark robes.

"Drunk?" Master Rwoy asked with deep creased brow. Headmistress Vice gave him a quizzical look to which he just shrugged

"Sorry, didn't mean it. I...uh - saw you this morning at the city gates." he quickly explained. The man audibly sighed, his hand going through his thick black hair.

"Ah, that," the man chuckled. "Funny you should ask."

"I didn't as-"

"For your information, I wasn't drunk. I was angry. I was actually yelling at the guard because of you. Kid, you were supposed to be here a month ago. What happened? I've been there every day asking if they seen any wielder kid come by," Master Rwoy said, a twinge of compassion could be heard in his voice, he sounded young but his face showed otherwise.

"I...I had to take a detour that delayed my arrival," Haiden said, he didn't know why he lied  to them about the creatures, Regor, trying to find someone who will take him to Elo'yn, but he did feel bad that he put them through so much trouble. The man sighed and the Headmistress Vice narrowed her eyes again and pursed her lips.

Shit, they know I'm lying, he thought. Deep breaths, relax, they can't read your mind. Can't they?

"Let's bypass the pleasantries and get this over with, I don't have all night." Headmistress vice interrupted the silence.

"Wha-What are you going to do?" Haiden asked as he took a step backwards.

"It's ok, you don't have to be scared. I'm just going to probe with my mind and see the level of your fios. In other words, how powerful you are." Haiden was nervous, but understood what was going to happen, this is what Master Danil did the first time they met. He wasn't worried about it then, but now the fact that he might learn about Regor might pose a real issue. Haiden looked at Rwoy suspiciously.

"What will you be able to see when you do that?" Haiden asked his voice quivered, obviously in distress.

"Only what you let me, Haiden." Rwoy assured him. "But, I just need to see your potential. If you want to I can show you how to quickly hide all of your thoughts and emotions that you don't want me to see." Haiden nodded eagerly. "Just visualize a locked door, behind which you can place anything that you don't want me to see. Safe under lock and key. Alright?"

Haiden nodded again but this time with uncertenty and his brow creased in concentration, He visualized all of it, Regor, his parents' death, the accident, the dead woman in the plaza, even Tasgal, behind a fortified closed door. Once he was ready he stepped forward towards Master Rwoy. "Alright, I think I got it."

"Good, you're a fast learner." Master Rwoy said taking out of his pocket a shiny brown stone. "This is a bonding stone. It will let me connect you. He took the stone and placed it in Haiden's open palm, with his own palm on top of it. "Ready?" Master Rwoy asked and Haiden nodded with uncertainty. Static tickled his palm, and he felt it spread down his arms slowly enveloping his whole body.

A moment of relaxation was followed by an intense headache earning a grunt from Haiden. It felt like someone was splitting his head into two. The constant buzzing of static was present in the back of his head - more like inside of his head - like someone was actually inside his thoughts, watching, listening and looking for something.

Haiden. Don't be alarmed. Master Rwoy said in his mind. You're going to feel a bit nauseous, but don't panic. It will be over soon.

Alright, Haiden replied in his mind. As soon as he acknowledged the man inside his head bile piled in his throat and fought to hold it in. The static presence seemed to be moving around. He visualized the door again, fortifying making sure it holds. He Hoped that Master Rwoy didn't find anything about him.

Feeling the static presence wasn't a physical sensation. It was mental. He knew he was there, and where he was going. It went deeper inside, trying to reach the source of his power, his fios. After a few minutes of intense concentration and searching , the palm on top of his trembled slightly and Master Rwoy began to sweat profusely. Haiden felt deeply uncomfortable while the static poke around. Everything felt wrong. He knew how this felt when he did it with Danil, but he just couldn't get used to it. Haiden didn't feel comfortable being this intimate with someone but he didn't have a choice.

As opposed to the time Danil did this to him, Master Rwoy went even deeper, alerting Haiden with a steady ring in his ears when suddenly the air shimmered around him in an all to familiar way.

Heat began emanating from him, the stone that he had in his palm now searing hot burned his skin but he didn't dare move, he was too concentrated on withholding keeping the door under lock and key. He could, however, think.

Stop, Haiden pleaded in his mind. Please stop, I don't want to hurt you! he screamed.

The static presence ignored him and continued probing, despite Haiden's pleas. The heat increased resulting in Master Rwoy groaning in pain.

Haiden knew what the outcome would be but he could not hold it any longer, the built up of fios culminating in a yelp of agony. Flames engulfed the both of them. The ringing had stopped. Again a sense of peace followed only to realize the horrid act that he unleashed upon the people in the room. The blazing torrent roared with life and malice. It poured for what seemed like forever only to stop abruptly, exhaustion overwhelming Haiden making him drop on his knees.

He hesitantly looked up to see the horror, already imagining the charred bodies and burned down study.

However, the smell of burnt flesh and wood never came. Surprisingly everyone was untouched, not even the wooden floor was scorched.He watched them intently between half opened eyelids. They were becoming heavy with fatigue.

"How...?" Haiden asked, he breathed in relief not even noticing that he was holding it up until now. His gaze fell on Master Rwoy and Headmistress Vice.

"So, Danil was right about you, Haiden. Quite the untapped potential." Helena said appreciatively. "No wonder they're so interested in you." Haiden wanted to ask who were they, what did they want with him? But remained silent, he didn't had the strength to care anymore; Haiden just wanted a warm bath and a meal. The realization that this place might be safe, safe for people to be near him made Haiden's body relax in an unfamiliar sensation as if his shoulders were always tensed with worry.

Don't get ahead of yourself, he said to himself. With furrowed brows he gave both Wielders in front of him a once-over still not believing they're standing after he unleashed his full force.

"Ah, you're wondering how we're still standing here unscathed?" Master Rowy asked to which Haiden nodded. "Shields, kid. Pretty handy, don't you think?" he flourished his hand and Haiden could feel the static bouncing on his skin. If he closed his eyes the static emanating from Master Rowy formed a bubble surrounding him.

"Rwoy, take the kid to his room." a harsh voice snapped him to reality. "A warm meal, hot bath and fresh bed is waiting for him." She said then turning her head to Haiden. "Consider this your acceptance into the Academy. There are certain standards expected from you, make sure to not disappoint."Haiden scowled at her words, just who were these people that had such high expectations, that were so interested in him and doing well as a wielder. Then Haiden remembered his poor control and opened his mouth to say something but was quickly interrupted by the headmistress. Her presence had such gravity that it commanded everyone near her to shut up and listen. "Rwoy here will make sure you..don't stray too far from your parth."

"I will?"Master Rwoy said in surprise to which Headmistress Vice gave him a death stare from which even Haiden froze. "I mean, I will!"

"Good, that's settled then. Rwoy will work with you to help control your fios for the next week until the start of this year. Ideally we would've had a month to prepare if everything was on schedule, but this must suffice." and with that Master Rwoy lead Haiden's tired husk back through the winding corridor, back to the circular room with tall ceiling that lowered them back to the ground floor. They were headed towards an adjacent building that Master Rwoy said was the Wielder Dorm, then showing him to his room. At first glance it didn't look like much, but Haiden's gaze was drawn to the steaming plate of food. After eating his full and enjoying a hot bath he finally managed to rest after an arduous and journey full of sorrow and hurt. Enjoying a dreamless sleep.