The Last of the Sages (Sage Trilogy, Book 1) (17 page)

“What does it matter? You shouldn’t be talking with her anyway. She’s the princess. She doesn’t have time to waste on people like us. As it is, she’s in the academy to learn how to fight for herself in case of an attack. She doesn’t want to be vulnerable like her mother and father were. It’s best if we leave her to her training.”

James thought of the story she told in such vivid detail. She was only four at the time she said, but that was still old enough to comprehend that her father and mother weren’t coming back. Achan’s eyes suddenly widened in recognition.

“Wait, you’r
e
tha
t
James. The one the princess was hanging around?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I personally don’t care. I mean, the princess has the right to do whatever she wants, but a lot of people have been saying how you should have known better, that you were a bad influence, especially taking her outside the walls.”

“Geez, it’s not like I made her take drugs.”

“Still, you have no clue how fragile our Kingdom is at the moment. Although she has all authority here, she’s still young. She wants to go out and play and have friends and everything, but she can’t just do that. She has to prepare for the day she becomes Queen, to run the Kingdom.”

“So why would I be a bad influence?”

“Because she has to realize that you’re only a subject. She can’t be friends with you. I know what you’re thinking. What’s the big deal? But it is. When we’re out in the battlefield, she has to stay objective. Imagine if she had to make a choice between the mission and you, she might have to let you go for the greater good but because you’re so close, you’ve just caused her pain over your loss. By staying back, you’re actually helping her.”

“Don’t you worry,” James scowled. “I won’t get in her way anymore. The only reason I hung around her was because I didn’t know who she was.”

“Good,” Achan said immediately, pushing his tray to the side. “At the same time, we can’t completely detach ourselves either. She needs people to rely on. Be her support but keep your distance.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you sound a little protective.”

“I’m not.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Maybe you should talk to Arimus about when your next exam is,” Achan snapped.

James could tell Achan was done talking to him and didn’t want him around anymore. What was his problem? He only made a statement about how he sounded, and he just happened to sound a little protective. It was like Achan was her big brother and James was asking her out on a date or something. He hoped it wouldn’t become a trend. People assuming he was going to keep Catherine occupied and away from her duties. It was never his intention. Now that he knew the truth, he was glad to leave her alone. All he wanted now was to apologize for how he treated her earlier, and then he’d be out of her life for good, while keeping Dominic at bay of course.

And it’s not like he was going to be a Sage now…

The thought pierced through his mind like a drill. It was tough, and messy, too messy to really sort through the embodiment of what that meant. All he knew was that he needed to keep busy. Once he sat down and thought about it, it was going to hurt, and the pain may not stop growing.

James reluctantly got up from the table and began walking towards the courtyard. Achan did make some good points. Maybe James could be an excellent infantryman. Not a Sage, but someone that could still make a difference. It would be hard at first though.

Every time he thought of an infantryman, a drone came to mind. Someone that just mindlessly followed orders no matter what they believed. Expendable soldiers that were easily replaced. No one cared about who you were or the fact that you were a living breathing human being. To them you were just another statistic, another number.

Sages, on the other hand, were invaluable, needed to maintain the very security of the entire Kingdom. How prestigious could an infantryman get? It seemed to him that no one would really care if he died as one. They would look at the village paper, or hear about it in passing, and they’d say how sad it all was, how young he was, how pointless such and such a war was, yet they’d go about their daily lives as if nothing happened.

If a Sage died, tears would be shed by more than just his relatives and friends. He would be missed. He would be avenged. His life would mean something to people, and wasn’t that what people really wanted in life? To matter to others? What was the point of joining the academy if you couldn’t make a difference in the lives of others? As an infantryman, maybe he still could, maybe, but knowing his lazy demeanor and his habit of putting little effort in anything he found no interest in, he’d only be a hindrance. He didn’t want to be seen as quitter either though, and there was that whole quitting/death rumor…so, maybe he’d give it a shot, see how he would fare in the third test. That would at least determine just how dedicated he was to the cause…whatever that was…

James was surprised to find Arimus hanging out in the courtyard, talking to a small number of recruits. Instantly, they stopped talking and stared back at him like he had a rash in the middle of his forehead. Arimus nodded at James’ arrival and waved a hand to him, signaling for him to line up with the crowd.

“Nice of you to join us, James, and so soon,” Arimus greeted him warmly. “I hope you’re feeling better.”

James looked around the group as they waited for his response. No doubt Dominic had already bragged about how badly he beat him.

“I don’t feel a thing,” he said boldly and Arimus nodded in response.

“Well, I’m glad to hear it. I was actually sending this group out to the forest for their third test. However, I think it would best if you stayed behind.”

James looked over at the recruits, wondering what was going through their minds as they began to depart. Arimus waited until they went out the courtyard doors to speak.

“The reason you don’t feel any pain is because Dominic made his blade dull at the last second. Because he can control it at will, he can determine how blunt or sharp to make it, his mind being hisonly limit. Even so, I know it had to be painful. You were out for a day.”

“I guess that’s why I don’t feel a scar on my back.”

“Are you okay, James?”

“I’m not a child. I’m not going to get upset about it.”

“Then you are vastly superior to all of us in temperament.”

James mulled over the words for a moment.

“Does it go away? The disappointment?”

“It fades like all painful memories do, but every once in a while there’s still a twinge.”

“Do you think about that test often?”

“Not particularly. There’s simply no point in dwelling on something I can’t change. I can only improve and hope to pass in the next test life gives me.”

“Like the infantry?”

“It’s not as bad as you think, being part of the infantry. Regardless of how unglamorous it sounds, you do get to take part in the action, and even if you defeat only one soldier from the other side, that’s one step closer to victory for the rest of us. Besides, think of how tired Sages would be if there were no infantry, they’d have to take out every little soldier that crossed their path, and even Sages, despite their finesse, are still human.”

“The scrubs can fight the scrubs. I get it.”

Arimus laughed as he placed a hand on James’ shoulder.

“No one is forcing you to stay, James. If you don’t want to be here, then it’s best that you leave. The last thing anyone needs is someone they can’t trust with their life by their side.”

James hesitated.

“I understand, it’s just I need some time to really get over the fact I failed. It happened so fast…but I genuinely want to try the next test.”

“If that is the case, then you can go with the next group into the forest. They are leaving in an hour. When everyone arrives, I’ll elaborate on what needs to be accomplished. You stay here, James, while I go retrieve your group leader.”

“Okay,” James said as Arimus walked off, his strength seeming to radiate from every step he took. James stood in the courtyard, looking around at the various blade markings in the stone walls. He put his head down in shame as he stared at the gravel beneath his feet. Crunching it nosily to entertain himself, he barely heard someone stride up behind him.

“What’s wrong, James,” a soft voice inquired behind him. James turned to see the lunch lady without her usual garb, wearing a frilly green sundress despite the chilly weather. Her hair neatly braided and bound into a neon green scrunchie. By her side stood Kyran, emitting darkness and gloom as always.

“Oh, nothing  really. I was just thinking about a couple things.”

“Don’t hurt yourself,” Kyran replied and Chloe punched him in the arm. Kyran shot her a look of surprise, which due to Kyran’s stoic character, wasn’t much surprise at all.

“Don’t mind him,” she apologized. “He’s just has a cold heart and can’t relate to little things like emotion.”

“I would be more familiar with emotion if you’d allow me to see more than overbearing joy,” Kyran stated, making a “smile” with his finger toward Chloe.

“I figure that’s the emotion you need most. Besides, if you can’t even get the first one down, why would I show you others?”

“I figured you might want to mix it up a bit.”

“Why?” Chloe asked slyly. “Does my ‘overbearing joy’ bother you?”

Kyran pretended to think about it and Chloe punched him in the arm again. James coughed unconsciously and they turned their attention back to him.

“Are we boring you?” Kyran asked flatly as Chloe looked toward the courtyard doors.

“You’re about to take your third test, aren’t you?” she asked. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

“Though this test shouldn’t be underestimated,” Kyran interjected. “A good number of recruits die in that forest.”

“You always say stuff like that…” James muttered under his breath.

“I’m sure he’s heard about that already,” Chloe said, ignoring the comment. “I’m only saying that he shouldn’t get nervous about something he knows nothing about.”

“Is there any reason why he shouldn’t be nervous?”

“James,” she said leaning toward him. “All you have to do is ask the Maker to help you and I’m sure he will.”

Kyran scoffed as Chloe frowned at the response.

“Just because you’d rather rely on your own strength doesn’t mean you should laugh at mine.”

“I’ll admit that you can fight well, but I would hardly chalk it up to the Maker.”

“Why don’t you try talking to the Maker for once and see where that gets you.”

“You do your way. I’ll do mine,” he brooded as James felt a little awkward.

“I didn’t know you could fight,” he said toward Chloe as Kyran seemed to drift off.

“Better than Kyran actually,” she practically sang. Kyran scoffed again.

“I don’t know how you could say such things when our fighting style varies so greatly. Chloe is a close and personal fighter. The kind that relies on brute strength while I rely on stealth and speed.”

“But if we were matched up one on one, who would win?”

“I hardly think that’s an appropriate question.”

“Because you already know the answer.”

“I didn’t say that, only that it makes no sense since we fight so differently.”

“Basically, you’re saying I’d win.”

“What do you think, James?” Kyran asked innocently, as James gulped. Kyran was the last one he wanted to disagree with.

“Well…I mean, if she relies on strength, it wouldn’t take much to knock you out but then again if you’re faster, she might not even hit you.”

“HA!” Chloe triumphed. “I told you I’d win.”

Kyran fought back a smirk as he watched Chloe laugh in victory.

“He didn’t even answer the question correctly. And you interrupted him.”

“Is there a wrong way to answer a question?” she challenged as James heard a cough behind him. James turned to the left to see his mentor standing in the background with an amused look on his face. Apparently, he had been there awhile, and obviously he was used to the endless ranting of his fellow cohorts. James laughed at the sight, wondering just how many times Arimus had witnessed such a spectacle. Chloe and Kyran straightened up but stayed at ease, waiting for Arimus to speak. Behind him, stood nine recruits, also confused about the playful exchange between their superior and the “supposed” lunch-lady. Chloe nodded her head toward the academy doors, signaling it was time to leave and Kyran nodded in agreement. Everyone watched silently as they skulked away like children that had just been scolded.

“I didn’t know Chloe could fi -” James began as Arimus covered his mouth.

“We’ll talk about that later.”

“Okay.”

James suddenly noticed Achan in the crowd. Achan gave him a smirk of recognition.

“I was right,” he silently mouthed toward James who tried to maintain his composure. Arimus gently pushed James toward the group and he stood in the front row, blank faced and confused as they awaited instructions.