The Andurin

Ikrei P.O.V.

My head was throbbing. The extreme struggle of the previous night was bothering me severely. I had no visible injuries. Sitting myself up from the bed, I posed a question.

“Where are we?”

“Zayin, frontier city of the Zurians, welcome to the Kingdom of Orlum.” Iru responded.

He was reading his customary spell book or something of the sort on the nearby bed.

“What happens now?” I pressed.

“The princess is here and we are still guarded by a Claimere. This is the smooth sailing portion of our little adventure.” Ciel answered.

She was cleaning her bow with Krigsiain next to her. Weapon fanatics will always be meticulous with their gear.

“Food will be coming soon, just relax and enjoy the peace man. We will do whatever the higher ups tell us to do.” Krigsain added.

“I thought you would always do what you wanted to do.” I pointed out.

“They want to leave this place, I want to leave this place, aligning interests my man.” He elaborated further.

“I guess I can be at ease for a while finally. Things might be looking up this time.” I hearkened to myself.

I felt exhausted, my leather armor tattered and my general cognitive response a little dull but the room we were in was luxurious when compared to the woods. The door opened and the establishment aids came in carrying various dishes, drinks and pastries. The smell engulfed our surroundings.

“Dig in!” Krigsain ordered as he stood up and handed out plates with fruits and vegetables to everybody.

I did accept his offering but I was more interested in drinking some wine and having some meat. I hurriedly munched over everything that was available. A lively atmosphere ensued. Like starved beasts we combed through the servings in record time.

After an elapsed time of an hour, the door to our luxurious room opened again and Cleimere Freslia and what I assumed was the princess of the Kotar kingdom came in. Freslia looked worn down.

“Hello my fellow countrymen.” Said the princess with a dashing smile.

A fair skinned, red haired beauty with brown and purple irises stood in front of our squad. Seeing my reaction, Iru pointed out near my ear, “One sign of the kingly line in Kotar are her strange looking eyes.”

Surprised, I had no retort, I just sat there perplexed waiting for someone to say something.

“This is princess Asara young Sachears. She saved us, a debt of gratitude is owed.” Freslia promptly introduced.

“Truly worthy subjects died in our behalf, a sacrifice we should not forget.” The princess spoke solemnly.

A moment of silence fell around the room. All of us acknowledged the situation with nods. After a few moments the group stood for a salute.

“Your highness.” We spoke with the exception of Krigsain who just accented.

“Glad to see you in better spirits everyone. Princess Asara Ryel, most of you must have heard of the Kotar crown, if not me specifically. You may introduce yourselves Sachears.”

We all got into a proper military column stand and proceeded with the order.

“Iru Liria, from the wondering Magi family. My pilgrimage took me on quite an unexpected route, Malgrunian territory. But it has been quite fruitful for my personal growth.” He elaborated giving a small nod at the end.

“Ciel Thresen, the result of a non-planned pregnancy in the middle of a long term mission assigned by the kingdom. Growing up in hostile surroundings has been eye opening to say the least. I am a far better warrior because of it.” She answered adjusting the bow at her back.

The eyes of the princess turned to me. Her strange looking eyes made me a little uncomfortable.

“Ikrei, an orphan son of Andurian hunters, non-awakened, in general terms much to learn and very tired. Living on the edges of the Andara forest with no formal training in the arts.” I expounded trying to look as militaristic as possible.

“Non-awakened?” The princess asked looking at Freslia.

“Half-awakened. He is a singular occurrence. The fact that he isn’t dead or disabled is prove enough. Everyone in this group is special in their own right.” She spoke stoically.

Somehow the words from the merciless taskmaster made me feel better about my prospects.

“Is this deriving pleasure from pain?” I thought inwardly.

“Special, yes. I guess the bulging muscle over here is our prospective sage in the making?”

The princess spoke looking at Krigsain with an attentive gaze.

“Krigsain, no family name. I was scouted by Ciel’s grandfather and have been training and learning the arts from them since my early youth. Any more disclosure than this, you will have to ask the Andurian Elders, even if it’s the princess that is asking.” He said giving a noncommittal smile.

“Glad to meet you all. The kingdom welcomes you with open arms.” She said as she shook our hands one by one.

After a few minutes of banter and small talk amongst the present, I heard the princess call out to Krigsain.

“…Understandable, I have a proposal you may find intriguing.” The princess suggested while motioning for Krigsain to follow her.

The pair did leave the room amicably. Ciel wasn’t too happy about it.

“Ikrei follow me, we also need to converse.” Freslia voiced.

I waived my roommates and headed out with the Claimere towards her private room.

“Have a seat.” The Claimere motioned her hand.

Although I didn’t know what exactly she wanted to talk about, I was guessing it had to do with the events of the previous days.

Her eyes emanated intense blue light for a few breaths. Something happened to our surroundings, strange powers part four.

“How much do you know about the Andurin?” She probed.

“The basics on meditation exercises and a couple of crystal based formations from watching my parents. The expanded version of all my knowledge came from the Argon I got my hands on, but you know that already. Father was focused in teaching me how to survive.”

“How about the Rite of Passage, Ikrei?”

“My father told me about it, my mother was keen in having my rite done either in the mountains or at Orgis. Both things were impossible for several reasons, distance, money, resources, surely you can picture the rest.” I answered as my father’s face flashed in my mind.

“But do you know what the Rite of Passage truly is?” She was pushing the issue.

“It’s to awaken one’s soul, isn’t it?”

“The soul is a complex thing, that’s a question for your master. But to answer in a more simplified manner, awakening is the resonance that occurs in your mind, expands to the rest of your body and the communion with the world itself.”

“That’s similar to the other ancient faiths, I guess this is where you are going to fill me in?”

“The Andurin awaken the memories of your soul gradually. Reincarnation is a fact of life to us. Consequently, our younglings develop at a considerable faster pace once the rite is done.” She answered.

“When I get to Kotar, can I have mine then?”

“Your personality, sense of self has already ingrained itself in you. At worst the process could kill you or at best drive you insane for a prolonged period of time. It’s a pity that there is no easy way for you.”

Her answer left me flabbergasted. I intuitively understood why my father never mentioned anything about the rite after I turned seven. My father never gave up on me becoming an Andurin even after that though.

“Why is that? Why can’t it be done?” I pressed for an answer.

“Do you remember when you learned to walk? You don’t do you? If you have to learn to walk because you break a bone in your old age, the process is going to be painful is it not? This is what you would be doing if you take the rite. Now imagine breaking all the bones in your body and what it would be like to do that to your own soul. It is not pretty, I assure you.”

I didn’t like the answer but I understood the principle behind it. Then the realization hit me.

“You want to grind me down to a pulp for a reason don’t you?” I asked her looking straight into those blue eyes.

“No matter how you feel about me, this is for your own good. This can only happen through blood, sweat and tears, disciple of Akathos.” She said.

Her tone was cold, devoid of emotion, dead serious. It sent chills down my spine.

“Akathos is my master, right? How did you know?” I was truly curious about this.

“For one, the Archsage told me, one of his visions I presume. But most importantly, you recognized the seal coin. Only higher ups and their direct disciples have access to them. They are our magical identification tool, they carry our personal imprint, they cannot be falsified.” She explained.

“The one you showed me read Freslia. I am assuming Eriel has something to do with me, right?”

“Correct, as per the Archsage you are the reincarnation of Eriel. There’s plenty to do before you can claim that name again though, my young Sachear.”

“Finally some confirmation of good news, I suppose you won’t tell me about myself then my lady?” I probed trying to get some more information.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Eriel my contemporary, the one that should still be by Elder Akathos’ side died, he died. What’s in front of me is nothing more than a mirage and your circumstances are, to say the least, extremely intricate. By the way, DO NOT reveal your former identity to anyone until you speak to your master.”

The warning left me without response. The room was filled with silence.

“Worry not Ikrei, you need to awaken and you will even if I have to drag you through the process.”

The penetrating gaze of hers was still very uncomfortable.

“You are never going to let this go, are you Claimere?”

She didn’t utter a word. Her eyes were the answer. Possessive, combative, merciless.

I only wanted a better future, something, somewhere, anything other than my current life. However, entering the ranks of the truly powerful is beyond the reasoning of a teen without proper guidance.

“Shouldn’t my master be the one to determine how to go about doing things that pertain to me?” I questioned the Claimere.

“It is because it is you that I am doing this. All I am concerned about is your awakening, Elder Akathos can instruct you in whatever he deems pertinent when the situation rises. Right now you are under my watch.”

“So, you want me to awaken during our travels or something?”

“You are quite far from that now, your little stunt in the cave saw to that. Let’s just say that the disciples of Akathos are a special breed. The epitome of trial by fire. You either embrace the flames or you are consumed by them.”

Her countenance seemed slightly apologetic for a moment when she said it.

Anger, resentment, resignation. I couldn’t take her words at face value but neither did I have the ability to deny her. At least not until I meet my so called master.

After some time, in the silence of my impotence I exhaled.

“What do I need to do lady Freslia?”

“You need to train, train to the absolute breaking point. Awaken without the aid of the rite under very specific conditions, this must be under need to know basis. Only after your soul resonates can you inherit your memories. I know what you are thinking, you are going to have to trust me on this.”

I could tell that she wasn’t going to explain herself further. What a troublesome leader. I could feel a headache coming on.

“Do you train your disciples in a similar fashion?” I asked.

“…No. I haven’t found anyone worthy of my guidance.” Freslia looked away.

I knew it! I am dealing with a crazy one that’s off the rocker. Just my bullshit luck!

Calming myself down once more, I queried.

“Are all the higher ups like you?”

“You implying something there, kid? No, your master is quite the oddity for instance. You should be glad to have met me, the higher up you go the less women you will find. I am a rare specimen.”

I didn’t know what being a woman had to do with my question. I wondered if she was single, my best bet was that she was, Freslia was more beast than beauty. Of course I would not voice these concerns out loud.

I don’t have a death wish.

Finally, I mustered up my courage to ask what was really nagging me inside.

“Am I going to hate you after this is done?”

“Yes.”