Harmonizer's Evolution (Balancer's Soul cycle) (64 page)

Wha
t was more astounding
i
s that Connor
too shattered the sound barrier at the exact same time
.

As
they
closed the distance to each other in milliseconds, Sorono propelled his left fist as a jab. As his fist aimed directly for
Connor’s
head
he
immediately
reacted by
sidestepp
ing
and
countered by swinging his
right arm around in a circle. His
swinging forearm connected with Sorono’s wrist and knocked it clear away from
his body. Connor
planted
his
left foot solidly o
n the stone ground and kicked his
right heel directly towards Sorono’s sternum.
His
foot didn’t make any contact as the ancient
reptile
twisted his torso and
the
enti
re body counterclockwise. In Connor’s
peripheral vision
he
saw
a long
, horizontal
object coming towards him. As he spun
,
he
barely managed to duck before
the
tail landed solidly against the side of
his
face.
As the tail missed his
head,
his
right arm caught it. When both of
his
feet became solid on the ground
again Connor
was able to firmly hold
Sorono’s
tail before his
greater
rotation could be completed.
Connor
was also able to see
the
cross brand in the middle of his back that
also
mar
ked him as a Harmonizer
.

Connor
leaned back
sharply
and jerked the enti
re tail in one swift movement. He
stopped
Sorono’s
spinning rotation and brought him into a single horizontal spin
like a rock attached to the end of a string
. Once there was
sufficient centrifugal force, Connor
leaned back and launched Sorono skyward.

His eyes never wavered as he
looked skyward, but
he
made a huge mistake. With
the
sharpened senses
of battle
Connor
had thrown Sorono directly into the sun’s light. It was midday and
he
had been dumb enough to blind
him
self. The light
stabbed directly at his eyes and became
so painful that he
had to shut
his
eyelids an
d cover them with the palms of his
hands.

Not even a second later a calm pressure
pushed
atop
his
head.
Connor
tried looking, but all
that could be seen
was a single bright spot.
“That was a good fight, little brother. I’d wager if you hadn’t thrown me the way you did, I would have lost.”

Even though he
was unable to see
he smiled upward where his
senses told
him
where
Sorono
stood
. “That really doesn’t matter. You landed a blow that would have been critical if it had been a true fight. It is your win.”

Then Connor
felt
Sorono
calm himself from the battle. His mind became tranquil as he said
“Thank you for giving a
proper
demonstration with me. Go and recover your sight.”

Connor
nodded and closed
his
lid
s and quit rubbing them. Since he couldn’t see with his
eyes for the
moment he
began using sonar to move away.

As
he
walked away
his
hearing registered nothing.
S
onar explained the reason.
Every single sentient creature within the
vicinity were shaken to
their
core and were unmoving. Many had moved closer
so that they could see the action at ringside, but were unprepared for what they saw or in
many
cases couldn’t see. If one thing was for certain, wherever
he’s
close to people they become astounded continually. Even the spaced out Elder Keepers who w
ere also on the platform with them
were as thunderstruck as the next person.

Before heading off stage
he
retrieved
his
shirt and put it back on.

As he
approached the edge Sarah wait
ed
there along with Veronica
,
he
assumed.
Then she swayed a familiar
way and it really was his
first Keeper friend.
Connor
finally figured out how to distinguish a Keeper without s
taring directly into their eyes
.

His
eyes were still shut as
he
dropped down before them. S
arah
had heartfelt worry
applied
to her tone as she spoke. “Connor, what happened? I didn’t understand what happened after
you threw Sorono straight up.” He
pointed straight
up and watched as she looked. He
watched without color as her eyeballs looked away and the muscles in her eyelids clos
ed
instinctivly
. “Never mind. I get it now. S
o can you see yet?”

He
stopped using sonar and opened
the
lids. “Kind of. You’re still very blurry, but
I can
just
make out your shape.”

“Then keep using your sonar until you can. Come and sit down with me and the others.”
he
nodded and made
his
way back to the crew.

The first person to speak once
he
finally sat down was Jack. His tone
seemed
close to unnerving. “Connor, could you please explain to us about what happened. I’m being literal when I say that in one second that you disappeared from my sight and the next that Sorono
appeared
over a hundred feet in the air.”

Before he
could explain Sorono gained everyone’s attention.
“As I can tell by looking around, not many could keep up with our movements. That is the problem you’ll face if you
should happen to
come in contact with Ranvan. If you cannot see us, you cannot defend yourself from him, if you fight head on. When we go to war
,
it would be best to pair up and take out a single opponent. What I would like for everyone to do is pair yoursel
ves
up with a single Keeper.
Each and every one of my brethren are
raised as
skilled fighters. What I’d hope to accomplish is that you’ll learn to fight against us so you’ll be prepared when you come in contact
against
a strong
er
force. For this week I’d like everyone to get used to fighting bare handed so you will learn and understand how we move and handle ourselves. After this week is over you’ll learn the next step in pre
paring
on encountering a homicidal Keeper.”

His sonar showed him
that Sorono had begun
turning around
slowly
on the stage
so that everyone could see him and vice versa.
“Now there should be plenty of us to pair up with a single Balancer or Changer. I can guarantee that someone will get separated from their mate
in the distant engagement
so please spread apart and find an available Keeper to aid in your training.”
Then he turned around and began looking pointedly at certain people in the crowd.
“That goes for the Elders too. Please begin pairing up now.”

After hearing this turn of events
Sarah knew that she had to act quickly. Her
largest and closest
companion had remained
over by the enormous ring and her
mind entered hers. It took a moment to enter because she had to know
who called
.
“Veronica, before anyone snags you, will you partner up with me?”

She caught Veronica’s
movement over in
the crowd
,
turn around to look
in her direction
. Her expression remained calm and neutral.
“I cannot see why not, but why did you choose me?”

“Because you are the only one strong enough to be on equal ground with me. We are both mates to Harmonizers and as such we will be better matched. Plus I know that you have a lot that you could teach me.”

Sarah
couldn’t see
her clearly
in the crowd
, but assumed
that
she smiled.
“Point taken.”

Since that was settled
she tended to her
mate. He had stopped using sonar and
began attempting
to open his eyes.
H
e did so and then put his palm in front of his eyes.
He was trying to
regain his
focus.

During that explosive brawl
she
’d seen
everything, even if m
ost
others couldn’t. Du
ring that brief period of time her
heart beat furiously.
Sarah
could tell that they weren’t going all out, but
worry for his safety
couldn’t be faked
. Even though Sorono held a size advantage, Connor also had his own advantages. Because of his smaller size
,
comparatively
,
Sorono had to try and hit a smaller target th
at
i
s just as fast as
himself
. Her
husband didn’t need to make as large of movements so he didn’t have to do as much. It still didn’t honestly matter because he made one single mistake. That
is
all it ever takes to lose. And she
wasn’t the only one worried
because Veronica was right by her
side. She even gasped when Connor gained a hold of Sorono’s tail and threw him straight into the sky.

It took about three or four
more
minutes for him to finally get his sight back. During that time everyone was on the move
,
trying to find a
n available
partner. It took another fifteen minutes of chattering and moving aroun
d for almost everyone to find
a
companion
.
Jack and Jillian
had disappeared
into the crowd
just like the rest of the
family. Only Connor, Veronica, Shannon and the twins stay
ed
with
her
.
There were a few Balancers close by who didn’t get their own Keeper, but they would get first pick when more
would eventually
arrive. The only Keepers who didn’t have a partner were Xaon, Clarein and Firon.
They still had a job and were still weak, energy wise.

The crowd quieted when Sorono spoke again.
“Good, now that you’ve partnered
up,
I’d like for you to take turns. Every pair may use only one square and once the fight ensures a victor, please move away and allow another pair their turn.”
Sorono turned and
began
walk
ing
away
.
“You may all begin training yourselves.
If you damage the ground, repair it and make it useable for the next group.
And
there is but
one rule
!
There will be
absolutely
no killing or any bloodthirsty battles. That is all… Begin!”

Sarah
watched
on
as the
temporarily
paired immortals began approaching the platform. It was an amazing sight and one
she’d
never seen before
, outside
of her
family
. Other people were beginning to befriend Keepers, even if the circumstances weren’t the best.