Chapter 14

The red sister hid Haiden well among the bloody shadows that stretched along the courtyard. He crept crouched down and pressed tight along the walls of the once white castle, now crimson with bloodlust. Haiden gently brushed the waist high flowering shrubs that guarded the ancient colossal building. The rustle gave him comfort as not even the wind dared dance on a night like this.

Stop that, Screech warned. He'll hear us.

I can't help it! Haiden pulled his hands from the shrub. Watching closely as Master Uligarth patrolled the stone tiled ways, several lightstones circling him, he had lost his favorite lamp he'd carry on patrols in favor of levitating the stones at the Headmistress' insistence as she shamelessly and publicly berated the old man in front of the entire Academy as it being too pedestrian. As always, even in the delightful tempered warmth of Spring the old man was a ball of blankets. Haiden never understood why he prefered the blankets over simply Wielding himself warm but to each his own he supposed. Were the students of the Academy not accustomed to the unusual senile man they would have surely passed him for a creature of the night. His sagged face riddled with wrinkles poked slightly from the blankets in an everlasting frown of displeasure. I'm nervous. Haiden's stomach lurched within awaking the sudden urge to visit the lavatory even though just moments before leaving the comfort of his room he made sure his bowels were empty, just as Screech suggested.

Haiden sighed in relief as Master Uligarth passed making a sharp turn to the left around the corner towards the inner courtyard. That meant he would circle back to this exact stop from the gardens in roughly one hour.

You're certain this is the spot? Haiden nervously asked.

Yes. Screech certain. The creature looked up at the wide tall windows at the very top of the castle. Even Haiden recognized them from when he was in the Headmistress' office, but something in him wanted to find a reason to abort the mission which they painstakingly planned in the course of the last couple of weeks. It had taken Screech multiple nights to scout out Uligarth's nightly route around the grounds and make sure that the Headmistress was not in office that night. It turned out she was quite a workaholic. Only leaving her office when it was strictly necessary. Screech had noted her secluded used bed behind the one of the back bookcases. But, as luck had it, Screech overheard Headmistress Helena discussing her plans over a Bonding stone about meeting someone at midnight at Devil's Tongue tavern in the center of town. It had never occurred to Haiden that Bonding stones could be used in such fashion and what was even more out of the ordinary than the ever so scluse and mysterious Headmistress was meeting someone in the dead of night outside of Academy grounds. He had never thought of the woman as someone who would sneak about. He wondered what business she had with the mysterious person, but nothing came to mind. He knew little to nothing about that terrifyingly powerful GrandMaster wielder as had found out from Rwoy.

Just then, as if on cue, Haiden saw a cloaked figure hurring on the stone tiled ways towards the tall metal gates.

Coast clear, Screech said after the figure was well outside the Academy grounds.

Are you sure this is safe, Screech? I know we practiced and all that, but it's one thing floating a few inches above my bed and another thing going a few hundred feet into the air. Haiden clenched his palm over his stomach. He looked up at the window and the distance seemed ever growing giving him slight vertigo.

Yes! Screech confident. You can do it. Just like practiced. Look Screech. Follow Screech. It said and with a wiggle of its deformed appendage floated past Haiden towards the window.

Haiden tried to calm himself as much as he could and closed his eyes to concentrate. He drew upon his reserves of Fios and felt the static prickle his skin like a gentle whisper of power. Just like how Screch had shown him, instead of sending his energy outward and away, he sent it inward first, then around himself, enveloping his body in a safe cocoon of energy. At first Haiden was reluctant to believe Screech that he could fly, or rather levitate, but it had seemed that there were actually multiple ways to achieve this incredible feat. Even if he had levitated objects before, levitating objects had at its core the concept of using your body weight as an anchor and If the object in question was heavier than your weight, levitation was simply impossible, levitating oneself was an entirely different application of Wielding. After deliberation on the nature of the mission at hand, they had settled on the most minimal and silent way to do so, which incidentally was the hardest. Haiden had a very difficult time to understand the basics of what he was doing. This was by far the most complicated spell that relied on concepts he had never even heard of before. Screech soon realised his disjointed way of speaking was not suitable for in depth explanations and frustration bubbled within the both of them. He had to rely on the same technique he had used back when he showed Haiden how to conjure light. Though he feared he would dissipate as it took took much energy, Screech was reassured by Haiden to take as much as he needed to maintain his form. Slowly, but surely, Haiden began to understand the concepts that Screech was feeding directly into his mind. It was an exhausting ordeal for both Haiden and Screech, It took a total of seven days of late nights and canceled plans to finally hover a few inches from the ground, but only lasted seconds. The hardest concept to grasp was that energy carried different charges, negative and positive, carrying itself over through motes, though identical in every way regardless of charge, the energy would interact in so many different and strange ways with itself and the world around it depending on the charge. It baffled him how the brilliant Master Wielders had no inkling of this concept even though it seemed they toyed with the two charges in spells without even realising it. When he finally wrapped his mind around it, it seemed so easy. Such an elegant solution. The spell that would allow Haiden to levitate used the repulsion and attraction properties of the two charges of energy to supply lift. Same charges would repel each other while opposite charges would attract. He would then control direction and speed using his body and various methods of propulsion be it shifting the currents of air around him, force blasts, pure energy release, and even controlled explosions to achieve actual flight. First, Haiden needed to surround himself with negative energy and slowly push it against the ground which always had a negative charge of natural energy which would repel his own same charged energy, while the sky above held positive natural energy to attract. He incrementally increased in intensity as he maintained concentration on the negative charge of his cocoon of Fios. Although in theory, once understood it sounded simple enough, although in reality the execution was quite difficult. Changing polarities of your energy was an intense concentration exercise. Fios is by nature positive. It felt wrong to change polarity and it was hard to maintain. But once he achieved a constant flow of negatively charged energy his feet left the ground. The next thing he had to do was to make sure he remained steady on course without too much turbulence. One wrong push in the wrong direction would ruin his concentration making him plummet to the ground from a few hundred feet. Haiden didn't yet know how to control the aircurents around him, which would have been the best option and most silent of all, so instead he opted for gentle bursts of force blasts to keep steady.

Haiden slowly ascended towards the window, with shut eyes he reached his hands to feel for the castle wall. It stedied him and allowed him to keep track how high he got by estimating how many bricks he passed.

You're doing it. Screech tells you.

Quiet. You're ruining my concentration. He mentally said as rivulets of sweat trickled down his forehead. Not only this was immensely difficult mentally but also extremely physically taxing with his muscle straining to maintain balance. Were it not for the Tasgal's training he would have surely fell to his doom.

Almost there. No look down. Screech said as it chortled. Haiden ignored the creatures and just felt for the bricks as he felt weightless, rising upwards towards the sky. He had to be very careful. If he put too much energy into it, he would shoot up maybe thousands of feet in the air, not enough and he would simply fall. These thoughts didn't help him so he pushed them aside as he slightly opened his eyes to see the window ledge getting closer. He quickly grabbed it and pulled himself on the ledge. He breathed relieved as his feet stood on something solid. With a flick of his hand the notch swung open from the inside allowing him to climb inside. Just as he looked back down to see the hundred of feet he just flew the elation swole inside him.

I did it! Screech I did it!

Told you. He said smugly. Now close window before old man sees. He warned and Haiden listened. Master Uligarth had turned the corner right after closing the large window. His light stones shining bright and pure in a red night like this. He couldn't believe it has already been an hour. He was so deep in concentration with his eyes closed it felt like minutes. He wondered how slow he actually levitated to the window because to him it felt like a decent speed. Maybe it was just his imagination or maybe the old man changed his course. He debated on asking Screech but there was no time, if indeed an hour had passed he had to get to searching and fast.

Haiden took a deep breath and turned around to face Headmistress' desk. Just as he remembered, the walls were littered with books on either side. Tables with oddly shaped objects and glass decanters holding of which contents he could not even guess. To his right there was a slight opening that lead to a small maze like library that also hid the bed that Screech mentioned.

Do you think it's there? He asked Screech.

Don't know. Desk first, he advised. Better hurry. Boss lady might come soon. And so he began searching for the letter that Headmistress Helena had received a few days before he had arrived at the Academy. Haiden flipped through the papers and folders on the massive wooden desk, but nothing interesting. He quickly looked in left drawers which housed nothing but supplies and other irrelevant objects. He turned to the right side and on the top drawer there was a letter and a folder that had his name. His heart drummed with the fear of being discovered, but intrigued that he found something he pushed past all doubts and opened the folder. He was jittery from the adrenaline pumping in his veins. Haiden lit a small light and hovered it above the files in the folder.

The first pages contained testimonies of all sorts of people, the name of which he did not recognize. They were denizens of Yn'lan as it was stated next to the name. They claimed to not have any knowledge of anyone named Haiden or the incident that resulted in the death of a family from arson in which only the son survived with loss of memory. One particular testimony caught his eye. The head sister of the Sanctum where Haiden had recovered. She too had claimed she knew no one under that name that stayed in the Sanctum for so many months, insisting that she would have definitely remembered someone that would have suffered such great loss and unique affliction nor a Master Wielder named Danil. The pages followed people from all over Yn'lan with no knowledge of the incident or Haiden until finally the pages detailed accounts from the town where he and Regor had their first stop, the town where he planned to purchase a ride to Elo'yn before Regor insisted to ride together, and the next entry was an account of the villagers that found Haiden in the forest of Avlan.

Haiden flipped back to the sister's statement and read it over and over again in confusion. He clearly remembers his stay at the Sanctum. The sister that took care of him. Of Danil. He put the testimonials to the side and shifted his attention to another investigation from what it seemed like. It was about Master Danil. They had found accounts of Danil's presence in Yn'lan but briefly, but the Empire refused to detail the mission he had in Yn'lan at that time even if the request came from the once GrandMaster General Helena Vice and so the investigation was cut short. Among other papers there was a letter of denial of information that came from one Grand Master Araya L. Enora Adviser to Emperor Ryel Ashanti from Red Keep.

What does this mean, Screech? He asked the creature that hovered over his shoulder.

Screech don't know. Red Keep is important. But strange. Everything strange. Screech don't like.

Neither do I. I don't understand what any of this means. I have even more questions than I had before! Why would Danil be involved with the Emperor's Advisor and why doesn't anyone know me? At least the sister would remember something... he paused to think. The letter! He recklessly looked through the folder but there was nothing. The letter the Headmistress had received from Danil was no where to be seen and any mention of these benefactors that is supporting Haiden's stay at the Academy. Then he remembered. Headmistress Helena Vice burned the letters right in from him.

She...She burned them. She destroyed the evidence, Screech.

Why? He simply asked, as baffled as Haiden was.

I don't know but I need to find out. I need to find out who stole my memories. A fire of anger burned inside Haiden. He had so many questions, so little knowledge. But what could he do? This was his chance of getting some clues. He crumpled a paper in rage and grunted as he slammed his fist on the desk. His features were distorted in a confused pained look that made his face lit by the tiny flicker of light age by a decade.

Calm down. Someone might hear. Screech warned. Haiden took a few deep breaths and listened to the floating glob.

You're right. We need to check if there's anything else. Haiden looked at the letter that was paired with the folder. Although he already cleared it as it being the one he was looking for, curiosity allowed him to psuhe all frustration aside and read the contents. It was addressed to the Headmistress from Master Coner. It was a formal request to purchase a new batch of slaves, in particular younglings for the Healing lessons. It detailed the necessity of young slaves in order to properly teach the students of second year and higher proper technique. He then informs the Headmistress of the recent expiration of the last young slave which he is glad to confirm that it has served its purpose and so the Academy needs to restock. Haiden dropped the letter stunned, his eyes moist, filled with tears.

Mara. He killed her. The world seemed to collapse over him.

Who Mara? Screech asked, confused.

I have failed again. He said to himself, ignoring Screech. All this power. He looked at his hands and squeezed his fists, nails digging on his palms. Into the scar from Regor's pendant. And I am beyond useless. Another one, that was in reach, died because I did nothing. The face of Mara wincing as he practiced heartlessly on her, her scared expression being dragged by Master Coner. The person that saved Mara back then only delayed the inevitable. People, at the Academy, in the Empire, killed slaves as if they were mere disposable objects. Once they fulfilled their purpose there was no reason to keep them around and waste resources on them. Even his friends thought the same. They were disgusted by the thought of touching a slave. Mara. She lived a life of fear, devoid of joy. Used to no end. Creators only know what those people did to her. What I did to her. What Master Coner...Coner. She was a slave, Screech and he killed her.

Mara. Im ta Ichtu'mela at arat'hum hym Ea, Mara. Screech said in a surprisingly melodic tone, that was both somber and solemn. Haiden didn't know what it was but it felt appropriate.

What was that? Haiden asked, as a tear ran over his cheek.

Screech does not remember, but Screech felt need to say.

Thank you, Screech. Haiden looked back at the paper in front of him as the wave of uselessness kept pouring over him. If I would have paid more attention or tried I could have helped her, Screech. Yet, I sat and did nothing, concerned about my own insignificant problems. He sighed and ripped his eyes from the letter. I failed her, I failed my promise to myself, I failed Regor. I guess I'm not the hero I thought I would be. He huffed a laugh. Screen looked at him with the most sorrowful expression his diformed eyes managed as the same emotions that ran through Haiden ran through him as well.'

Screech don't remember much either. It began. But Screech remember slave too when Screech alive. Screech knows being slave is hard. Screech hope. Screech help Haiden make better.

Haiden looked at Screech surprised and couldn't help but give a faint smile. I would love your help, Screech. Maybe, someday, the two of us will right the wrongs of this world. Maybe then I would stop feeling like this.

Maybe. It said. Just as Screech reached over to pat Haiden on the head. Steps hurried outside the Headmistress' door.

Quick! Here! Scratch ran through the little doorway created by the bookcase. Haiden's heart sank with dread. He did not have time to put everything in its place, but the steps were at the door and he rushed after Screech. Haiden's heart drummed violently in his chest. He covered himself with the dark cloak and hid behind a small table in the bend of the maze-like library.

Haiden heard the door swing open and powerful footsteps walking up to the desk. Papers shuffled before a loud bang resounded throughout the office, follow shortly by the a cuss.

Fuck!" A woman's voice said which belonged to none other than the Headmistress' herself. A deafening silence followed. Haiden's stomach lurched in anticipation. After a while she heard the woman again. "Uligarth, get the Masters and patrol the grounds NOW!. Someone broke into my office not long ago."

Shit! What are we going to do? He asked Screech.

We need hide fast! Screech looked around but there was not much to hind behind. Look! Behind you. Haiden gently turned around not to make any sound and behind him in the bookcase was something he searched for all throughout the Academy's library. "Advanced Wielding and teachings." Haiden grabbed the heavy book gently and slid it inside his cloak.

Footsteps closed as the Headmistress entered the same doorway as he did and simply followed the path created by the bookcases.

We're doomed! Screech hid behind Haiden as if the Headmistress could see him. Haiden had been in a similar situation before. He remembered how the creature stalked him as he hid in the hollow of a tree.

No! We're not. Haiden relaxed and imagined himself plunging into the shadows of the corner where he crouched and for the third time in his life he prayed to the Creators that this worked. He closed his eyes as the footsteps resounded closer and closer. He fell into the darkness as he visualised himself blending in with his surroundings, becoming one with the shadow in the small corner of the library. The footsteps felt close but they sounded distant. The distance increased until total silence shrouded Haiden so that even his once drumming heartbeat was nowhere to be heard or felt. Just like he did that night in the forest, Haiden' disappeared in a cloak of shadows. He closed his eyes, concentrating, and hoping, praying, it would work.

It felt like an eternity, he didn't know if a minute had passed or an hour. But he had to do something, he couldn't afford to pass out like last time.

Scratch, are you there? He tried his luck to see if he could still communicate with the creature.

Yes! Haiden! Where are you? It asked scared and concerned.

What do you mean? I'm still here! Haiden told him, he fought impatiently his need to open his eyes.

No, Haiden nowhere. Screech saw Haiden disappear.

I'm right here! Haiden gruntent in frustration mentally. Never mind that, is she gone?

Yes. She left some time ago. Immediately as Screech said that Haiden opened his eyes and he instantly appeared in the same place startling Screech making him, well, screech from the top of his lungs, although Haiden was sure he did not have any lungs.

Quiet down! You're making my head hurt.

How?

I don't know, talk about it later. Now let's go before she comes back!

The window! Screech pointed.

Haiden hurried to the window and with no time to think he opened the window before making sure there was no one in sight and jumped over. Immediately using the same technique to levitate but only for a briefe second to attenuate his fall inches from the ground.

Reckless! Screech yelled. If you die Screech goes back!

We don't have time for that, Screech. They'll kill me if I get caught either way!

Haiden laid low behind the bushes. He saw Master Uligarth and Master Rwoy patrolling into a direction with Coner and Parvel in the other. He crawled on all fours behind the shrubs alongside the tall walls of the palace. It went slow to make no noise and whenever someone approached he stood still. In the course of a couple of hours he finally arrived at the other side of the palace where only a few hundred feet lay the Wielder dormitories.

Haiden waited patiently to make sure no one was around but just as he wanted to make a run for it Master Uligarth passed his hideout in the shrubs. He backed away a few inches to make sure his hidden and looked at the old man, waiting for him to pas but he just remained there with his back turned.

"All clear near the dormitories. What about you Parvel?" he asked, holding a bonding stone. "Damn it!" he shouted after a few seconds. "Headmistress was right, they would try something like that. Those high and mighty bastards! Rwoy was right to make us dispose of everything. Yes, you're right. But for now, I'll check the dormitories. I know, I know, but you're never too prudent!" Master Uligarth dropped the stone in his pocket.

Shit! I need to act fast. Haiden grabbed two vials from his cloak and mixed them together until the walls of the vial started to fog up. Vapors! He gently heated the vial and with the power of his Wielding he collected all vapors and quickly sent them towards Master Uligarth. He was lucky the old man was slow. Haiden wrapped the vapors around Master Ulighart's mouth and nose, fueling the vapors constantly from the vial. Because of the distance they stretched too much but in the end old man dropped to the ground.

Now! Scratch urged and Haiden ran as fast as he could past the entrance and to his room.