Chapter 21: Aftermath

After the Dragon’s duel ended, I remember volunteering to investigate the site of the epic battle. We approached carefully; the center of the fight having been turned into a city-sized crater. And at the center of the crater rested the Great White Dragon, still recovering from the trials of the conflict.

“OUCH! Hey nurse, could you try not to kill me before you heal me?”

“Oh, stop being an infant, Ryan,” retorted Éclair.

Eramar pretended to watch with only mild interest, but after half of the things he heard that Ryan did, he was anything but uninterested.

He’s still got a way to go before he’ll catch up to the others, but all things considered, this boy may have just as much potential as Leon … perhaps more.

Speaking of Leon, the boy seemed unusually cryptic, even more than the norm. Whatever transpired between Leon and the traitor, Hamma Steel, it had shaken him. At least Ryan seemed to be back to his normal, obnoxious self. Eramar missed that about him, although he would literally pull out his own tongue before he admitted as much. Ever since the business with Tork started, Ryan had been acting a lot like … well, Leon.

Ryan and Leon were on completely different spectrums, and yet, they did share certain qualities, rage being foremost among those qualities. A not altogether pleasant observation, but one which Eramar hoped might become the common ground for the two young Elementals in the future. Though, given their polar opposite personalities, it seemed unlikely.

But then stranger things have happened. Even now I can see from the expressions on everyone’s faces that they have already accepted Ryan; even Éclair has, despite her annoyance. You should be proud, Richard. Even if it’s not what you wanted for him, I think you would be happy to see the man your son is becoming. Not to say that the little idiot doesn’t have a long way to go. After all, he takes after you, old friend.

Ryan sat in a hospital bed next to Thomas, who was positively giddy at hearing all the feats of heroism that his mentor had displayed in the battle.

Honestly, one Ryan Uruks is quite enough to deal with.

Éclair had already removed the ice daggers from Ryan’s back. Being psionically crafted icicles, they took longer to melt than regular ice. Miraculously, Hamma missed Ryan's vital areas such as the kidneys, lungs, liver, and a dozen other places that would have resulted in permanent injury or worse.

It’s not just that though. The boy’s regenerative abilities are off the charts … inhuman. Of course, Ryan is not completely human, but still, I get the feeling there is more to it than that. Not even Saurians recuperate that fast.

Tork’s injuries were serious, but not as severe as Ryan’s - something to be expected with him being a Dragon and possessing scales even harder than a Saurian's. Tork sat on a bed in the corner of the room and didn’t say a word. Eramar guessed that he still hadn't told Ryan about his past, or at least not all of it.

Leon leaned his back against a pillar in his usual nonchalant, cooler-than-school manner. Rachel, while her stepsister preoccupied herself with Ryan, tried to get Leon’s attention with idle chit-chat about the weather. He only nodded absently as if his mind were elsewhere; perhaps an accurate assessment taking his telepathy in mind.

Ryan kept complaining to Éclair about her horrible bedside manner, and Éclair replied by saying that she knew a thousand different methods to paralyze a man for life with a few quick thrusts of her fingers.

To this, Ryan replied in awe, “That’s awesome!”

Finally, Ryan’s attention focused on Eramar, then Leon, and back to Eramar. Eramar had been waiting for this. He needed to start being honest with Ryan on Elemency and all its applications. He'd been worried about overwhelming the boy, so he gave him menial tasks that didn't require much physical or mental exertion … but now, Eramar felt confident Ryan was ready for the next level.

With any luck, I’ll have him at First-Level of mastery within the year. It’ll be a long shot considering that most require a much longer period of time to make the transition from Grunt to First. Even Leon needed at least half a year. But maybe after hearing about his recent accomplishments, the council will approve my plan. First to answer his questions, and then to bring him to a point of understanding on how to progress further. But knowing Ryan, easier said than done. 

“Hey, Eramar, I’ve got some questions for you,” said Ryan.

“I thought you might.”

Ryan was equal parts anger and curiosity. “I want to know if you knew about Hamma Steel the same as Leon.”

“Yes,” replied Eramar.

“And you didn’t think to arrest him, or to even tell anyone about it, like … I don’t know … your pupil! Ouch! Damn it, woman!” Ryan tried to squirm out of bed, but Éclair put him back with a shove.

“My name is Éclair, not woman. Now, hold still before I give you a real injury, you ninny,” threatened Éclair, her fury a match for Ryan’s.

Slowly, Ryan complied.

After Éclair had calmed Ryan down, Eramar drew in a deep breath to explain. “First of all, what I'm about to tell you is classified, and was not meant to reach your attention through any channel. So I must request for you to keep what you hear a secret. That goes for everyone in this room.”

Eramar looked around the room until everyone nodded. Not that any of them would remember this conversation unless given explicit instructions by the memory unit of the Mental Division, and that would depend on how things went.

“Secondly, I did what I did because I believed that it was in your best interest as well as the Ministry of Fire’s best interests. You can judge for yourself whether I was right or wrong; however, I do not regret my actions, and would do so again if necessary.” 

Silence settled between the pair. “Go on,” said Ryan finally, his voice fierce and sure.

“I admit that I suspected Hamma’s intentions for quite some time," admitted Eramar. "For the past few years, Steele has managed to circumvent telepathic checkups from the Mental Division. He always seemed to come up with perfectly reasonable excuses for putting off the checkups. A disaster on some deep space assignment. Last-minute changes to his duty roster. Once or twice could be innocent, but repeated behavior of avoiding psychic screenings usually indicates an Elemental has gone rogue and switched to the Mystic’s side. The fact that the disappearances coincided with this strange behavior is what really got our attention. However, he disproved this growing theory by getting a telepathic screening just a few months ago. But he didn’t count on our persistence.

“Though he passed the screening, revealing no malevolent thoughts or memories, our telepaths felt that he was holding something back somehow. They could tell that he possessed special training with blocking mind reading, much more so than is required for an Elemental of his rank. That led them to believe that he was holding back information. A more in-depth screening of his mind could’ve led to brain damage, so they considered that too drastic without solid proof. That’s why I had Leon tailing him since he’s set to join the Mental Division one day. Besides, Steele was always careful around older Elementals, but he never showed the same caution with the younger, lower-ranked Elementals.”

Eramar then spread his arms, as if wrapping up. “So that about sums it up. We never had concrete evidence to implicate him; he was simply too careful. His mind was well guarded, and he always managed an alibi for every disappearance that has happened recently. He even avoided or circumvented our surveillance system, such as when he knocked out our sensors and cameras in the area where he set off the bomb and in the training arena. He may not have been the most effective of fighters, but he did cover his tracks fairly well.

“One of the most sacred laws of the Ministry of Fire is to never accuse a comrade of betrayal without decisive proof. To even spread rumors is considered an offense. As much as I may have wanted to, I could not arrest him without cause, nor inform you beforehand. If I had, you might have gone to the council without evidence, and such an offense is punishable by expulsion.”

Eramar paused, appraising the room to be sure everyone had time to process the information. His voice became darker as he continued.

“There's nothing more sacred than the bond of love and loyalty that we share as members of the Ministry of Fire, and anyone who threatens that bond must be dealt with. Simply put, we are very prideful, and infiltrators are a rarity. That's not to say that I couldn’t keep my eye on him. It was only a matter of time before he slipped up, which fortunately because of you, he did.

“Hamma started getting sloppy ever since you got here, Ryan. I suspect that this may be because of the recent past you two have shared; however, there may be other factors that we simply haven’t considered yet. It may be coincidence that Hamma made his move on you just as our guys were getting ready to move on him.

“Whatever the case, we just have to wait for the answers to present themselves. After the explosion, no one knew where you were, and Thomas was in critical condition. If you still wish to complain about not being told of a spy in our midst, well then, I’m afraid that your only option is to get the hell over it. You are still just a Grunt. What did you expect, the keys to the Minister’s secret enclave?”

Ryan seemed to consider Eramar’s words carefully. As hot-headed as he could be sometimes, he still thought things through when he needed to. Ryan seemed to calm himself a little, but the fire in his eyes had not completely dimmed as he turned to Leon.

“So what about you, Leon? After you had disabled his bombs, why didn’t you come to help me?”

“I did,” insisted Leon.

Ryan seemed perplexed. “But you must have done it beforehand, otherwise, we would have noticed you?”

“Oh no, I was there while you two were fighting. I noticed the bombs and decided that they were the more serious threat. They were placed in such a way that they threatened the entire infrastructure of the arena. If the explosion didn’t kill us, the fall to the forest floor would.

“More than that, I admit that I was a little curious to see how you would fair. If it seemed like Hamma was about to finish you off, I would have intervened. Fortunately, Hamma seemed intent on taking you alive, right up to the point when he activated the bombs that I had already disarmed.”

Shock and bewilderment overcame Ryan to such a degree that his mouth hung open and his eyes became bigger than marbles. Éclair started laughing and Ryan’s skin changed color slightly.

Just like his dad. When girls were in the room, he'd always turn purple. Still, I think that Ryan is a little better at hiding it.

Trying to compose himself, Ryan said, “How did you cut Hamma open like that? I didn’t see you draw a weapon.”

 Leon held out two fingers up to his face. “I used these.”

As Leon spoke, a tiny tornado swirled around his fingertips. As small as it was, Eramar could feel the wind's convulsing waves from where he stood.

“Wind is not just good for blowing things away,” explained Leon. “If refined to a certain degree, it can have incredible slicing abilities. Observe.”

Leon then demonstrated his power by slicing in half the soda can that Grafael drank from with a quick chop of his hand too fast for Ryan to see, but not for Eramar. The cut had been so clean and so quick that it took a few seconds for the top of the can to slide off. Éclair swooned a bit. Ryan gapped. Grafael looked sad, and at the same time, angry. Eramar had never known Leon to show off like that, but maybe he just wanted to impress Éclair.

“I hope you're willing to replace that,” growled Grafael, easily crushing his dispatched soda can into the size of a pebble. “Do not think to desecrate a warrior’s beverage without consequence.”

Leon shrugged uncaringly. “I apologize. I was overzealous. Would you forgive me if I promised to bring you another box of Twinkies?”

Grafael seemed to consider as he scratched his chin, then held up two massive fingers, “Two boxes. And this time I want strawberry filling.”

Grafael stomped towards the door, shaking the room with every footstep. Before he left, he turned around, pointing at Ryan. “As for you, your actions were moronic, foolhardy, and vituperative.”

Then Grafael softened a bit before speaking again. “However, you redeemed yourself by seeing through the lies of the cowardly traitor, and defeating him like the motherless dog that he was. In so doing, you aided the Ministry and saved my winged brother from death. For that, you have my thanks.”

Grafael’s face hardened again as he flashed his fangs. “But do not presume that your insolence will go unpunished in the future. It will still be many, many moons before I consider you even remotely close to being my equal. Until then, be wary of me, Ryan Uruks.”

As Grafael turned to leave, he put a comforting hand on Tork’s shoulder, a surprising display of friendship from the usually gruff Saurian. And with that, the doors turned to fire, dissolved, and then reappeared as Grafael vanished behind them.

“Hmm, charming,” said Ryan sarcastically. “I bet he’s just a killer with verbal jousting. Oh, wish to have a friendly chat with Grafael? If he doesn’t like what you say, he’ll bash your head in with his two-ton hammer.” Ryan seemed to consider something. “And how does he have that kind of muscle tone and eat Twinkies? Sometimes, I wish I was a full-blooded Wingless Dragon, but don’t tell him I said that. His head’s already too big for this dome.”

Rachel moaned in annoyance. “My God! Lord Caretaker take me! Does he ever stop talking, Éclair? You would know since you hang out with him the most.”

“I only do it because I have to. The council told me to look after him. He is my protectorate after all,” said Éclair, becoming defensive and slightly embarrassed, as if it would be unthinkable if anyone assumed she didn’t mind Ryan’s company.

“Éclair, you really do care for-AAAAAHHH.” Ryan gasped, suffering a bandage tightened much more than necessary.

“And no, he never stops talking like this,” answered Éclair, glaring at Ryan.

Ryan turned slowly towards Eramar. “You’ve been keeping things about Elemency from me, haven’t you?”

“What makes you say that?” probed Eramar, hoping Ryan had already put most of the pieces together for himself.

“Firstly, I had no idea that we could control more than one element. Secondly, I’ve had my suspicions for quite some time that there are abilities other than Elemental powers. I confirmed all of this in my battle with Hamma. He had control of not just his main element, mist, but water and ice too. And then he used another ability that I think he called a psionic ability. Somehow, he could sense me in the mist even though it was too thick to see.”

Eramar spread out his hands offhandedly. “He could've detected your presence through many different methods. He could have heard your breathing. Put a tracer on you. It's also possible he could’ve known where you were through the displacement of the mist cloud that he created, much in the same way that a spider detects a fly caught in its web.”

Ryan considered this, and then shook his head.

Eramar smiled inwardly. There are times when Ryan can’t see past his own nose, and other times when he is as perceptive as a hawk.

“I don’t think that was it. Up to that point, he was pretty confident that he could take me on because of my lack of experience, so I don’t think he would bother putting a tracer on me, even if he had one handy. And to be honest, I don’t think he was skilled enough to pull off those other things that you were talking about.

“Sensing an enemy from where he has made contact in the mist web or being able to hear them from their breathing … I don’t know how else to explain it. He was good, better than I was … but he wasn’t that good. Does that make sense?”

Eramar nodded approvingly. “More than you know, Ryan. You are right. Hamma wasn't skilled enough as an Elemental to sense with his mist powers alone, nor was he experienced enough as an assassin to be able to detect someone simply by their heartbeat. I say that because, according to Leon, you hid your presence and leveled your breathing quite well.”

“Really? I didn’t notice.”

Astounding! He did all that by instinct. He has so much potential … if he only had a little more knowledge, and brainpower, I could make a legend out of him. But that will still take a lot of work and no small amount of patience.

“Well, you did. And you are right; Hamma was using an ability besides simple control of the elements. He was using a psionic ability to sense your presence. An ability called Trace used by sensory types of the Medical spectrum of psionic abilities. Tracers can enhance their senses well beyond human capacity. Some Tracers focus these abilities into their natural senses such as their eyesight, hearing, or sense of smell. Others have been known to sense the psions of those around them.

“It’s like they have a radar in their head that tells them where other living beings are, how matured their psions are, and sometimes even what nature or psionic abilities that they possess. You see, Ryan, there is much more to Elemency than you have been led to believe. They only teach the basics in the Grunt classes that you are assigned.

“However, we leave it up to the students themselves to discover the secrets of the true Elemental arts. We leave clues and hints here and there, but nothing definite for them to grasp. This is a way of testing a Grunt's curiosity and capacity to learn.”

Thomas spoke up for the first time. “Oh, sweet! That means I can use this to get ahead in class!”

Eramar turned to Thomas. “I’m afraid that you will have no recollection of this conversation because you didn't discover it for yourself like Ryan did.”

Thomas crossed his arms with an eight-year-old pout.

Eramar then turned back to Ryan. “You see, Ryan, there are two parts to Elemency. One is the means to influence external things, such as fire, wind, water, and earth; that is to say, things outside your own body. The other part is to influence internal things, that is, forces within your own body.

“As such, the external elements of Psionic Users come from things that the subject has little control over. The factors that contribute most to what element you will use are aspects of your external environment, such as your upbringing, your surroundings, and your family bloodlines. An element is determined by one’s genes, so those with fire like you can only pass down the fire spectrum to future generations.”

A thought occurred seemed to Ryan. “What if I married someone from a different spectrum, like someone who used fire instead of water? Which spectrum would our kids get? Could they get both?”

“If you married someone from a different spectrum, then your offspring could get one or the other. You could have a daughter who gets your fire, or a son who gets the mother’s water. However, a single child cannot have traits of both. Either they would get the fire spectrum, or they’d get the water spectrum. No one is gifted with an element from two separate spectrums.”

Ryan gave a brief glance at Éclair as she continued doctoring him, then turned back to Eramar. No doubt he was indulging in some boyish fantasy of the two of them.

When Eramar had the boy’s full attention again. “The Elemental genes you inherited all combined to give you the natural element of Fire. As such, this will allow you to eventually control all the elements that fall into the fire triad. With enough training, perhaps you will master both lightning and lava. However, this will depend entirely on you. Not every Elemental can master all three elements in their spectrum.”

Ryan considered Eramar’s explanation for a few seconds. “What if someone doesn't have an element or a psionic ability to inherit? What if someone is born with no Elemental parents?”

“All Elemency is passed down the generations through blood,” answered Eramar. “Every Human Elemental that lives today can trace their lineage back to the original Elementals formed at the foundation of the Empire. Sometimes the trait skips a few generations, so it's possible to inherit Elemency without Elemental parents. But like I said, there would have to be an Elemental somewhere in the bloodline.

“Now, as for your psionic abilities, the factors that influence this part of your Elemental life are dependent on internal factors, such as your personal preferences. Your personality and unique ways of reasoning determine which psionic ability you will inherit. Though your bloodline can also come into play as well, particularly in the case of those like you with nonhuman blood. Most Demihumans with Elemency inherit abilities in a single spectrum. This means that you have abilities from your Dragon side. Wingless Dragons, as of now, do not have any elements, but they do have psionic abilities, particularly Physical-Type psionic abilities. These psionic abilities come in many forms and diversities, but we have managed to narrow down at least twelve basic types, just like there are twelve element types.

“These are the twelve psionic types. Beaters for strength. Runners for speed. Defenders for endurance. Tracers for enhanced senses. Healers for tissue regeneration. Shifters for shapeshifting. Hiders for invisibility. Jumpers for those who can teleport like me. Phasers for those who can phase through solid objects. Thinkers for the telepaths. Seers for the few who possess foresight. And Shielders who possess telekinesis and the ability to create psionic barriers. Out of these twelve types, we have grouped them into four categories just like the elements. This means that when you inherit an ability from one category, then you may eventually control all the abilities from that specific set. If you want to know your category, you are a Physical-Type, particularly a Beater, giving you enhanced strength. One day, you may inherit the powers of a Runner and a Defender, granting incredible speed and near invulnerability.”

            From the quizzical expression that so often clouded over his simple features, Eramar doubted Ryan had a full understanding of the lecture.

            He’s Richard’s son alright. A lot of potential, but not much brainpower. No need to worry though, at least not yet. 

“The point from all this is that there is much more to Elemency than you have been led to believe, and infinitely more than my brief explanation covered. The possibilities of Elemency are infinite, with a limitless range of abilities and preferences for you to master, depending on your will and your curiosity.”

Ryan nodded uncertainly. Eramar got the sense that the boy didn't fully comprehend the explanation, but he seemed to grasp the most important aspects. Suddenly, an excited expression formed on Ryan’s face, and Eramar could see the kid’s imagination going wild.

Looks like he's beginning to comprehend a little about the true nature of Elemency … the art of understanding ourselves and understanding the universe.

“There's something else I should tell you. I was the one who gave Leon his orders not to interfere in your encounter with Hamma unless absolutely necessary.”

            Eramar expected Ryan to get angry, but the boy simply said, “Yeah, I figured as much. From what I’ve gathered, this has all been some kind of test for me, right? The test didn't end with the fires from the volcano on orientation.”

            He has more intellect than I gave him credit for.

“Yes. As you may have noticed, holding the status of Grunt doesn't make you an Elemental. In order to get the chance to receive full status as an Elemental, you must pass certain requirements that your mentor has put forth for you. While not many students have passed my standards in a while, I'm proud to say that you are among the first in a very long time.

“There are a total of four tests that you must pass in order to achieve full status as an Elemental. The first test is the Test of Fire at orientation, but the other three are administered at the mentor’s discretion. Each mentor is allowed to administer his tests as he sees fit, most of the time informing the subject ahead of time so they are more prepared, but I prefer to use subtler means at my disposal.”

Eramar crossed his arms, taking a deep breath to finish the lengthy lecture. “The next three tests that I assigned to you are as follows. You faced Grafael in all his primal fury, and you even managed to give him a decent right hook; something that he will begrudgingly remember in the near future. I congratulate you on passing the Test of Endurance.

“Second, you were able to logically evaluate a difficult situation and penetrate the lies that Hamma set before you using your own fear and bias based on past trauma against you. That was no small feat. I am proud to say that you successfully passed the Test of Truth.

“And then you bested Hamma in a duel of Elemency. Although Hamma could still be considered a lightweight, even in his status as a Third, he was by no means an easy opponent to confront. To defeat him as you did took a stout heart and, more importantly, a flexible mind. I commend you for passing the Test of Focus. You are now ready to take the exams to become a Level One Elemental.”

            Ryan looked a little disappointed. “Couldn’t you just make me an Elemental now?”

            That actually made Eramar laugh a little. “I could, but it would probably get you killed. The four preliminary tests are just a way to see if you’re ready to take the real test. The life of an Elemental is hard, and the consequences of not being prepared are even harder. To be worthy of joining our ranks, you must be willing to face every grueling aspect of life.

“Every cruelty, every injustice, and every temptation. Only one in a hundred applicants that apply for Elemency are considered eligible to join. There is actually a much larger percentage of those born with Elemency than the media has led the public to believe. The reason that so few applicants actually pass is because Elemency is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous weapons in the universe. We are not just testing the applicant’s abilities, we are testing their hearts.

“A weak heart, who lacks the ability to control his powers, might become unstable. There have been numerous incidents of young Elementals causing natural catastrophes simply because they couldn't control their mental stability.

“And then there exists the possibility of those whose hearts have been consumed by darkness and the lust for power, like our friend Hamma Steel. Even today, with all the precautions that we take, evil sprouts up like weeds in the unlikeliest of places. You can see why we take such strict measures, especially when it comes to a weapon as dangerous as Elemency.”

            “It does seem a little harsh though,” said Ryan, his naiveté almost touching to Eramar. “All those applicants who dream of becoming an Elemental only to have their dreams cast aside.”

            “Life is harsh, Ryan. The sooner you learn that the better off you’ll be.”

            “You sound like you speak from experience,” observed Ryan perceptively.

            Eramar had to catch his breath as the awful memory poured into his mind: fire, red scales, glowing yellow eyes, a wicked grin full of fangs. Last came the image of a blood-soaked young boy reaching out for anyone to comfort him during his last few moments of life.

Eramar cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Everyone has their demons, kid, as I’m sure you know all too well.”

            That gave Ryan pause as he sought to diffuse the tension. “So, what are we going to do about the Ministry of Water?”

            “’We’ are not going to do anything. I have already informed the Minister and she is dealing with the situation. You are no longer to involve yourself in this affair. You should consider yourself lucky that we aren’t taking your memories; however, that will change if you become a hindrance.”

            Ryan puffed up indignantly. “Oh, come on. Wasn’t I the one who took on Hamma Steel, one of their top agents?”

            “Hamma Steel was a scout only. An expendable pawn since he was, in fact, a Mystic outside of the official Ministries, and therefore, a means by which the Ministry of Water could infiltrate the Ministry of Fire indirectly. You got lucky, don’t push your luck any further. What you need to focus on are the exams that I have scheduled you to take in three months. Other than that, you’d best just forget this business with Hamma Steel, and deny ever having taken part in it. Do I have your word?”

            “But-”

            “Do I have your word?” repeated Eramar a little more forcefully.

            Ryan sighed and hung his head in frustration before replying in a quiet voice, “Yes, you have my word.”

            Eramar nodded. He knew that Ryan was ignorant, but he was also honest. He wouldn't tell anyone if he promised not to. Others had questioned Eramar’s faith in the boy, but he knew he made the right decision. Eramar had argued against taking Ryan’s memories mostly because he felt these recent experiences would help him to grow.

            Eramar then turned to the rest of Squad 99. “Alright, let’s leave these two to rest.”

            As the group got up to leave, Tork spoke up. “Sir, with your permission, I’d like to stay a few moments, please.”

            Eramar had rarely seen Tork so serious. Leon nodded toward Eramar, and he guessed what the Dragon wanted to say.

            “Granted, but don’t stay too long. Our young Grunt is going to need his rest for what I have in store for him.”

Éclair watched as Leon fluidly moved to Thomas’ side and gently placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. Immediately, the boy’s eyelids closed, and he fell into a pleasant slumber. Leon had extreme perception in regards to others' feelings, despite what people may think about him given his cold exterior. But Éclair never found him cold, just different, and being different was often misunderstood.

            As Éclair and the other members quietly left to give Ryan a little time with Tork, Leon stood on the outside of the door, just like Éclair knew he would. Sometimes he was so easy to predict, and yet, so aloof and mysterious at other times. One of the many things that Éclair found so mesmerizing about this mysterious boy.

She still didn't know all the details of his past, just bits and pieces. Éclair waited patiently for the day he would trust her with his darkest secrets just like she had trusted him. The wait sometimes frustrated her but looking at his flawless face and strangely sad eyes made Éclair long to be near him, to comfort him.

            “Thank you,” Éclair said.

            A bemused expression crossed Leon’s features. “For what?”

            “For saving Ryan and having the decency to put Thomas to sleep.” Éclair allowed herself a mischievous grin. “Best be careful, Leon Lurranna, or your reputation as a cold-hearted warrior will be tarnished.”

            Leon smiled his gorgeous smile. “I trust that my secret is safe with you.”

            Éclair started blushing and turned away before he noticed. Éclair desperately tried to think of something, anything, to say to pass the silence and at least appear semi-competent.

            “You’re very protective of him, aren’t you?”

            Gaining control of her flushed cheeks, Éclair turned back to Leon. “Who?”

            “Ryan Uruks,” Leon’s glasses reflected the hallway light stinging Éclair's eyes slightly. “I’ve noticed since the day he arrived. You are very protective of him, more so than the others who have come. You must tell me his secret so that I might endeavor to better myself in your eyes.”

            Éclair had no idea what was going through Leon’s head. Her first girlish reaction was to assume it to be jealousy, but as she thought more on it, she realized the absurdity of such a thought. She had a way of feeling people, especially Leon. She knew that telepathy and empathy were beyond her being a Medical-Type, but she still didn't doubt her instincts.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Leon,” replied Éclair honestly. “I’ve treated Ryan no different than I’ve treated any other member of Squad 99.”

            “I must respectfully disagree,” said Leon as he habitually adjusted his glasses. “In the past, you've been formal and polite to other candidates, but never went out of your way to aid them in any significant fashion. With Ryan, you not only demonstrate a genuine concern for his wellbeing, but also an innate familiarity with him. You are comfortable enough in his presence to joke with him and scold him, almost as if he were an old friend to you. If I may be so bold, my lady, you seem to be more comfortable around him than you are with others.”

            Leon was decisively perceptive in a most disturbing way. Other people might have become uncomfortable or angry at such mental probing, but Éclair had gotten used to it from Leon. It was his only means of understanding people, to analyze, and Éclair had made concessions for him over the years.

Now that I think about it, he's right. I guess I never noticed that I feel closer to Ryan than I have with other applicants who have come along over the years.

Éclair's godfather had always taught her to never shy away from knowledge. Instead, she chose to analyze herself in the most objective manner so as to truly know herself and her own capabilities.

To know yourself is to know the secrets of the universe, Éclair remembered a voice from her past saying to her.

“I suppose you're right, in a fashion. Ryan is my first protectorate, so I feel responsible for him to a certain degree.” The more Éclair thought of it, the more she knew she couldn't fully explain it in words. “I guess he has a certain type of personality that is difficult to dislike completely. More than that, it’s almost as if we have met somewhere before. Don’t get me wrong, he drives me bonkers sometimes, but … I don’t know … I guess he’s kind of a funny little rascal, don’t you think so?”

            Leon looked sad again, which made Éclair want to hug him, but she restrained herself. “He does have a warmness about him that is appealing under certain circumstances.”

            Éclair took a step closer. “I think you have a certain fondness for him, even if you won’t admit it.”

            “And what makes you say that?” asked Leon, almost laughingly.

            Éclair tiptoed closer ever so slightly. “Oh, I don’t know, you just seem more blunt with him than the others. Almost as if you know him and he knows you.”

            Leon shrugged. “Anything’s possible I suppose.”

            Éclair took another small step forward until she was close enough that she could smell his sweet-smelling breath. Seeing an opportunity, she took it. Her heart pounded. She never felt so close to Leon as she did now, and it intoxicated her

             “Do you really believe that anything is possible, Leon?” asked Éclair, her voice lowering to a whisper.

            “I suppose,” said Leon hesitantly, as if noticing her for the first time.

            “So do you suppose that this can be possible?” Éclair inched forward until they were almost nose-to-nose.

“Now I’m not sure what you mean, my lady,” said Leon uncertainly.

Éclair smiled seductively, or at least as seductively as she imagined from all the romance dramas she'd seen. Hey, it’s my first time!

“Don’t call me ‘my lady,’ and I think you know exactly what I mean.”

 Éclair wanted to reach out to him so badly. Leon watched her with his deep, dark eyes that held so much sadness, and at the same time, so much passion. She wanted to comfort him, to be there for him, and she wanted him to let her. Their lips were centimeters apart, and Éclair decided to take the plunge … until a gentle, respectful hand on her shoulder pushed her away and dashed all her hopes in the process.

Leon smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, Éclair, but it wouldn’t be proper under the circumstances.”

What bloody circumstances, Éclair wanted to scream.

Éclair felt a torrent of different emotions well up inside her, and none of them pleasant to process. She stomped out into the hallway before she started crying like a little girl.

As if to add insult to injury, Éclair heard the cruel voice of her stepsister. “Oooo. Rejection hurts, right? Better luck next time.”

Rachel leaned against the wall with a triumphant grin. Éclair raised a hand, using Elemency to freeze the saliva inside Rachel’s stupid mouth. Rachel appeared both surprised and infuriated as she tried to open her mouth but found it frozen shut. Éclair walked away before her stepsister figured out a way to get the ice off and say something more hurtful.

Éclair knew from experience that the technique wouldn't be harmful to Rachel, so long as she didn't try to force the ice off. Further, it would dissipate after a few minutes and the worst thing that would happen to Rachel was a slight cold, not that she deserved any less.

Ryan watched the Dragon as he shuffled his feet uncomfortably. “Do you want me to leave? I can understand if you do.”

             “No. Please say what you need to say,” said Ryan, trying to sound kind.

            Tork sat down in a chair at the end of the room. “I suppose you have a few questions for me, especially after what I told you.”

            “I guess you could say that,” agreed Ryan, reserving judgement until he had all the facts.

            Tork twiddled his clawed fingers nervously. He then took a knee beside Ryan’s bed and bowed his head.

            In a voice that cracked with emotion, Tork said, “I want you to know that it is all true. I was there at the Massacre of Toramirese. If you so wish it, you may have my life. I will not deny you the vengeance that you rightfully deserve.” All trace of joviality had vanished from his voice.

            Ryan answered in a measured tone, “I want to hear the full story.”

            Tork cried softly as he began, “It was my first assignment with them. As soon as I got there, I knew that I made a mistake. I should have seen it coming long before Toramirese, but I was so caught up in the atmosphere and the camaraderie that they displayed for each other that I abandoned my senses. I thought that they would treat me different because I was a Space Dragon and not a proper Black Dragon, but they gave me an injection to turn my scales black and they proclaimed me to be one of their own … a brother.”

            Tork never raised his head as he told his story with a sorrowful tone. “On my world, I was born to a powerful line, and I never felt free of my responsibilities. And then, I heard tale that a few of my closest friends had abandoned the homeworld and joined the ranks of the Black Dragons.

“This intrigued me. All my life, everything had been dictated for me. It seemed like my destiny had been written in stone before I was even born. For once, I wanted to feel like I was in control … that I was free.

“So I left my homeworld, my family, and joined a small nomadic tribe that I knew my friends were members of. My friends from my homeworld encouraged me, telling me that I was part of a great cause. Even after hearing of some of the things that the Black Dragons had done, I foolishly believed them. I just wanted to feel normal, wanted to feel free. I was a fool. Dear father, I was a fool.”

            Tork wiped his eyes fresh with tears. “I was with a smaller group that was relatively mild. We traveled to a few planets and hunted for food. No sentient lifeforms were hurt. I thought that we were different from the other Black Dragons … I thought that I wasn’t doing anything wrong.

“Then one day, an upstart chieftain wanting to make a name for himself, a big Dragon named Vicious of Tovac, called for a gathering of all the Black Dragon tribes. He said that an alliance had been struck between the Dragons and another party whose name he didn't mention. He said that as a show of good faith, the Black Dragons had been hired to destroy a settlement of their ally’s enemies. I asked what these enemies had done to deserve their fate. Vicious looked down at me contemptuously and said, ‘An enemy of the tribe is an enemy of yours, don’t you forget that hatchling.’ I didn’t say anything else after that.”

            Another sob escaped Tork’s lips as his voice quivered. “My … my friends assured me of the guilt of our target, of how they had been making weapons and killing innocents without a thought. I believed them, but something in my heart told me that I shouldn’t. They say it is unwise to listen to your heart, but personally, I think maybe people listen to their heads too much.”

            Tork composed himself slightly, licking his lips. “So as we neared the planet, I feel a dark presence emanating from somewhere, but it didn't come from the surface. Then I saw a change come over my friends and comrades. A darkness had seeded itself in their eyes, and I felt too terrified to move.

“To this day, I don’t know what that thing was that commanded the minds of so many strong-willed Dragons, only that it was very old, extremely powerful, and full of hatred … and pain. A telepath could probably describe it better, but I regret to say that is the best description I can give of the instigator of this bloody incident. That is not to say, however, that I am any less to blame for what happened afterwards.”

            Ryan felt like someone was strangling him as the details of his home’s massacre came into full play. Though he could guess a good deal of the description that came next, it didn't lessen his dread in the slightest. Ryan took in a deep breath as reached over to the nearby table and drank deeply of the tea meant to help calm his nerves. The slight relief it offered him helped immensely.

            “As we descended to the planet, I expected to find some sort of military installation, but instead I see a small colony with minimal defenses being massacred by a much more powerful Dragon force. I don’t fully comprehend what is happening around me, but I know with certainty that I had made a terrible choice.

“I wanted to leave, but I see a young Elf girl kneeling and crying at the fallen form of her parents. I instinctively rush to save the girl. As I carry her in my arms, a dark voice enters into my head. I perceive one word. ‘Traitor!’ After that, I black out.

“I wake up to find that I am on the ground and the girl’s body is right beside me. The blackout had caused me to drop her in mid-flight. I try to revive her, but I know full well that she would not wake; she would never open her young, innocent eyes again.”

            Tork started sobbing uncontrollably now as he buried his head in his clawed hands. Slowly, Tork lifted his head to Ryan for the first time, his face a mask of complete and utter misery.

            “I wanted to save her! I swear! I knew it wouldn’t atone for the evil that I had joined, but I just wanted to save her! I never meant to … I never meant to …” Tork put a hand to his mouth and whimpered slightly, his Dragon ears drooping miserably.

            Ryan waited with a heavy heart for Tork to finish his story.

            “After that, a small group of the Black Dragons seized me and held me tight. Vicious suddenly descended in front of me with a sneer. He says, ‘Only traitors show their tears for the enemy. I had hoped that your stay with us would be pleasant, but now I guess for you to be of any use as a hostage, more forceful measures must be taken.’

“In that moment, I realized why my friends were so insistent that I join. I was nothing more than a hostage, a bargaining chip to be used against my family. I consented myself to attack Vicious, and allow death to take me, but something strange happened that made my sacrifice unnecessary.”

            Tork’s voice changed slightly; the sadness didn't vanish completely, but there was also a sense of wonder in his tone. “A strange, red light, not like fire, but something thicker, more powerful, came and killed my captors, except for Vicious - who somehow saw the attack at the last moment and managed to escape.

“All the Black Dragons that held me down, all my so-called friends, were dead at my feet. They didn’t appear to have any wounds … they were just dead, like their souls had been taken from their bodies. Then a big man stood in front of me. He looked a lot like you with his golden scales and red eyes.”

            Ryan leaned in closer in his bed as he realized that Tork was describing his father.           

            “He stared at me with mixed feelings of pity and rage,” continued Tork. “He said to me, ‘If you wish to redeem yourself, then find my son and protect him. His name is Ryan Uruks. You will eventually find him at the Ministry of Fire. Tell them Richard sent you.’ After that, everything went dark, and I woke up to find that I had been transported a good distance away from the colony, on top of a mountain inside the woods.

“I wanted to die, but I could not forget about the man who saved my life. I then endeavored to join the Ministry of Fire. Luckily, it is one of the few Ministries that is not biased against nonhumans, at least for the most part. I have waited here for you ever since to either offer my services, or if need be, my life. That is all. I leave the rest up to you.” 

Tork bowed his head once again, as if awaiting his execution.