The Andurin

Ikrei P.O.V.

“My head still hurting.” I complained to Iru.

“Teleportation glyphs will do that to you, being non-awakened and all.”

We had travelled to the nearest main port city in the kingdom of Orlum, Litrya, using those artifacts. We had made three portal jumps covering an immense amount of distance in less than a day.

“The higher ups have spent lavishly to ensure our safety, but I doubt the princess has any more of those.” Krigsain opined.

“More likely to ensure YOUR safety, chosen one.” Ciel pointed out, she did not look happy.

“Yeah, I heard them. A benefit is a benefit, goldilocks.” The muscle mass countered.

“Let’s pick up the pace, we got to catch our luxury ride.” Our beastly beauty leader showed us the way.

We went through the port area and headed towards the set apart docks. A shame really, the city looked vibrant and aesthetically pleasing. If we weren’t in such a rush, a stroll would have been nice. Going through a sea of people, stalls and ships we reached an exclusive entrance area.

The princess and her retinue in front took care of whatever security checks the port authorities had. Before long we stood before a large metal, orgon and wood monster. A military warship with the Zurian sigil on its main sail, The Sword of Twelve Lights. Incredibly elaborate ornaments were clearly visible on the ship, imposing. I estimated a length of 120 cubits.

“The pride of the Zurian seas, the Gader everybody.” The princess made the introduction.

We quickly saluted the ship’s crew and went about setting ourselves up in our selected quarters. I was paired with Iru.

“Three decks, this thing is huge Ikrei! Let’s go and take a bath in the pool below. Your training resumes tomorrow in earnest.” He happily went about his business.

“Come on man, we’ll change into something more suitable down there. We got servants here!” He pushed me outside with severe gusto.

He was truly enjoying the atmosphere. Far more than me to be honest, I reluctantly followed.

After several grains of sand and the intervention of the ship stewards, we had changed into our new set of clothes. I should say, non-clothes, we were barely wearing anything other than shorts. We entered the pool, absolute luxury, steam was coming from the water. Krigsain was already inside talking to some male retinue members.

“Hey boys. Get in here!” Krigsain shouted.

We dutifully went in near the rest of the guys.

“Zurians are very strict with their moral code, you won’t get to see the girls, they have a separate pool.” Krigsain explained something that no one asked.

I just closed my eyes and enjoyed the water. I got to admit this type of treatment is something else.

“Enjoy it my man, coming here after training will do you good in the following days.” Iru spoke as he settled in making some bubbles with his magic.

“I’ve noticed everyone seems to be aware of my training, far more than me. Care to share Krigsain?”

“We are going to push you, your technique, your reaction time, your focus. Even your meditations, starting tomorrow Freslia will directly participate. We need to get you up to speed as much as we can before we reach Malaktaraf.”

“So, we are not going to Kotar?” I was not too surprised, not the first time I was kept in the dark.

“We heard from the Claimere that circumstances have forced a change of plans for the time being.” Iru chimed in.

“Don’t think too much of it, Malaktaraf castle is a stronghold of the Andurin in the middle of the Turgan continent. It might turn out to be better than being bogged down by politics and other subtleties in Lemuria.” Krigsain said.

“Speak for yourself, chosen one.” I told Krigsain as I immersed myself in the water floating.

Personally trained by that monster. Her words kept repeating in my mind.

“Concentrate and follow the flow of energy. I’m starting.”

Freslia was guiding her energy into me. Sitting in a lotus position I was repeating the Andurian verses of meditation I had learned.

“I will eventually have to learn the Andurian tongue. Perhaps I already knew it but couldn’t access my memories.”

“Focus Ikrei.” The hand on my back poured even more energy inside my body.

The tingling sensation augmented. I let go of any idle thoughts. Starting from my brain the sensation went from my mind through my heart, down to my gut. Slowly expanding to my liver, vase, even my testicles. Then exploding into the rest of my body, the tingling increased and my joints and muscles reacted until the flow reached all my fingers.

The energy slowly receded and it retreated back to my brain. I continued to chant the verses.

“I’m going to start adjusting the inflow as I told you before, remember the feeling, guide the energy as you have felt it over and over.”

The energy inside me expanded and contracted continuously, always the same pattern. Sometimes, the Claimere sent even greater waves of energy throughout, others just barely enough for me to feel the presence. The process was arduous, the constant change of the amount of energy made it hard to settle into a rhythm.

We kept at it since early morning until a little past the sixth hour.

“Go eat something light, come back within the hour.”

When I came back the entire gang was waiting for me inside the training room.

“Ciel, Krigsain positions. Iru be on hand for healing.” Freslia motioned for me to step in the center of a very wide combat circle they had made.

I went ahead and grabbed a couple of blades from the weapon rack and prepped myself up within the circle.

“I know you lack a proper core, and the energy within you is but a speck. So, I’ll be supplying you with the ability to withstand this exercise.”

As I heard her words, I felt the same energy from the morning meditations flow into me. She was standing on the back, with a wave of her hand the intensity of the energy increased. Strange powers again.

“Get ready chicken coop.” Ciel was grinning.

“Feel the energy, use it when you execute your blows, Ikrei. Begin!” Freslia ordered.

Ciel fired a light arrow straight into my chest. It was an obvious opening salvo. My senses were heightened. I could feel things far more vividly, the shot even appeared to be considerably slower than usual.

“Is this how Teng felt?”

Amazing!

With my improved reaction time I parried the light energy shot. These weapons here were no joke. Ciel fired again. Another parry. The sequence repeated itself several more times.

“Guard up, my man!” Krigsain shouted.

I instinctively rolled to the side, just like I did with the shadow wolves. The blow crashed into the floor, the energy I felt was oppressive. The floor didn’t suffer at all, not even a scratch.

“Hey!” Shouted Ciel, another arrow came my way.

I barely managed to parry with my second blade.

“On guard!” Another strong downward blow from Krigsain came.

I managed to roll once more, but I was destabilized. Another arrow came, this time it hit the target, me.

I was hurt but somehow the energy around me seemed to have cushioned the blow. I had seen Ciel kill through armor with her shots. She was holding back. Before I could keep having anymore considerations, Krigsain landed a power blow on my side. I was sent flying.

“Get up.” Iru’s voice sounded close.

I felt Iru’s touch as I was healed almost instantaneously. I felt my inner energy explode and increase suddenly.

“Chicken coop!” Another arrow flew my way. I parried it as I steadied myself for another round. Krigsain dashed to my position making and obvious downward slash again. Too late to dodge, I used the core energy within me to power myself for a block with the two blades. I didn’t know how I knew what I needed to do without thinking.

DOOONG!

The clash of the three weapons caused a severe vibration.

“This is the Will, learn to listen to it.” Krigsain said to me with a smile.

Krigsain stepped back. Ciel prepared another arrow, bow shinning.

“Remember the feeling Ikrei. We will be getting serious from now on.” Freslia’s voice resounded throughout the training room.

“Don’t let up Sachears, ingrain the lessons on our little coop here.” Ciel spoke with another witty smile.

“Crazy monsters I tell you, monsters!”

“Again!” Came the word from the Claimere.

And like this, the ‘training’ continued well into the night.

After the several hours of pummeling I was floating in the pool looking at the delicate paintings of the Zurian god in the ceiling. Freslia was doing acupuncture treatment on my body with her strange powers.

“You lost your focus several times during the practical battle. You need to channel your anger and your resentment.” Freslia said as she was standing near the pool.

“My father said that the Andurian way is the way of balance, clear of emotion.”

“Your case is different; you need to channel all your emotions not repress them.”

“How can anyone meditate or focus if your emotions are all over the place?”

“You can be happy and sad at the same time. You can be sad that love ones died and happy that they have shared their lives with you. It’ll be extremely hard not impossible. We will put you through a crucible.”

I didn’t like anything she was saying.

“Did you go through something similar?” I asked.

“Claimere go through their own set of very complex trials. Yes, for sure.”

I guess now I understand a little on why she is so paradoxically nutty. I felt energy leave my body and the acupuncture needles floated away from my skin and into her hands.

“Will I ever be able to do something like that?”

It was a wondrous sight to me.

“Rest here and eat well before going to bed. We will resume in the morning.” She sounded off as she left.

I closed my eyes letting myself go in the water.