4 Chapter 4

"Lovell, wake up!" Lovell could hear a growly voice calling out as he slept. "Get up," Lovell felt a sharp pain in his side, gasping as he looked up. Ark was standing above him. Lovell went pale, looking at his face. He seemed different than he usually was. "Now that you are up. Follow."

Lovell got up, throwing some clothes on as he followed Ark. The moons were still out. Questioning Ark's actions as he followed Ark., Lovell noticed that he was heading to the obstacle course meant for heist practice. Lovell stopped and went to ask Ark what was going on. Yet as Ark turned to Lovell, he froze at how Ark's calm eyes.

"Um, what am I doing here, Ark?" Lovell was shuddering if he would end up dead.

Ark folded his arms as he glanced at the course. "You are going to do the course at night for the next ten years with me. Boss says that you are fast and taking in everything like a sponge." He walked over to Lovell and looked down at him. "I want to see where you are at, and this is part of your punishment from me as well." Ark sneered at Lovell.

Lovell looked at the course, feeling the taunt from Ark. Lovell smiled at Ark, feeling that he could do it in one night. "No problem." Lovell felt confident at the challenge but fell short for six, seven, eight times throughout the course.

Lovell growled each time as he got back up. Lovell's stubborn attuite towards Ark is an obstacle to acceptance. Ark surprised that Lovell could make it over halfway through be for failing, smiling at each attempt.

Lovell looked over at him, seeing his smile. "What are you so satisfied?"

Ark closed his eyes. "The fact that you fail at the first part, it is the same part that Morris fails at as well." Ark opened one eye as he watched Lovell get back up to do the course one more time as the sun beaked over the horizon. Ark took a deep breath as he did not expect Lovell to get past the same part that night.

Lovell closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to relax his body before taking off. Opening his eyes, Lovell took off at incredible speeds, ducking and dodging the swinging arms. Going through the obstacles with ease—then he came up to the part he had trouble at. Lovell stepped down as his eye narrowed and then vanished—passing the fast-moving sway arms over with ease. Lovell reached the end with no other problems. Lovell had closed his eyes at the end, taking another deep breath.

Ark stood up as the shock settled in what he just witnessed. Lovell turned the course, standing stunned that he was at the end. Lovell then turned to Ark, seeing his face just as shocked. Lovell fell over as he could feel his energy drop from everything.

Ark rushed over to Lovell, placing his hand on his shoulder. "Lovell, do you know what you just did?"

Lovell nodded as he felt s sense of pride and confusion, "Yeah, I completed the course as the youngest, but I don't remember how I did it?"

Ark hung his head at him then looked him straight in the eyes. "Yes, but you can use the speed step or flash step. Theyans normally can't do that. Nor half breeds have ever been able to learn it either!" Lovell stunned at Ark's words.

"So, how is it possible that I can do it?" Lovell was questioning his very being.

"It's one of the rare abilities that all Krisnik's can use and are the only true assassin clan of amongst the theyan race." Ark stepped back as he took a deep breath. Morris was walking over from the shadows, his arms folded at Ark. "Now Ark, this is out of character for you to train anyone?"

Ark turned away from Morris. His face turned red. Ark walks past Morris as Lovell sat on the ground, not sure what was going on. Morris turned his attention to Lovell. Lovell felt that Morris was going to say something to him. Lovell scrambled to his feet while Morris walked over.

Lovell closed his eyes while Morris reached out and rubbed his head. "I am surprised you could do the course at your age Lovell." Lovell opened his eyes slowly, as pride filled Lovell once more at his accomplishment. "I think Ark does like you in his own way. Now you are going to help me with fixing up breakfast." Lovell looked to the east; he saw the sun peer over the horizon. The frustration that he went through most of the night trying to prove himself. Now he had to make breakfast for everyone.

Morris guided Lovell to the makeshift kitchen as Lovell started to wonder how he could use such an advance move. Lovell turned to Morris, who was gathering the supplies for the meal.

"Hey, Morris?" Lovell sheepishly looked at Morris

"Yes, Lovell?" Morris turned to him, seeing that Lovell was thinking about something. "What has you in a bind?"

Lovell turned to look at the food, "Well—back at the course—I wanted to prove myself to Ark, but in the end, it took me more than ten tries before I completed it. Even though…" Lovell started to contemplate what he had done to get past the one part he had trouble at. Lovell shook his head, regrouping his thought. "Even though I have no idea how I was able to finish it?"

Morris looked at him, seeing his confusion. "Well, it is possible that you knew—How it was just you subconsciously did the action. Though," Looking out the corner of his eye, "to be able to do the course within fifty tries, is impressive, to say the least." Lovell listened to him with a small grin of joy at his praise. Morris flipped a carrot in the air. "Yet you are still getting punished for yesterday's action by being on cooking duty for the next month," Lovell grumbled at the idea as he began chopping some veggies. Morris grinned at Lovell as he helped him with the prep and showing him how to cook without burning things down.

Later that day, Kana slinked over to Lovell. Rubbing her rear while Lovell peeled a carrot before nipping his finger. "Need help there?" Kana asked Lovell, looking at the cut, shaking his head, "Are you sure?"

Lovell sucked on the cut for a moment. "No, Morris said that I'm on cooking duty for the month." Kana wince at the thought. "And Ark came around lunch and said if I get any help from those who are not sent by him or Morris. Will be doing night watch with him."

Kana froze at the thought. "I would rather have my rear spanked over that any day." Shuddering afterward.

Lovell continued his work as Kana said her goodbyes, pausing as he thought on Luna once more. The worry of not being there for her haunted him. Feeling he failed her, Lovell shook off his thoughts and continuing his duty for the day.

As night fell, Ark came to him once more to train him further. Groggy from all the cooking, it was like a breath of fresh air. Words were not exchanged between them as they reach the location Ark had to choose for the night. Looking up, Lovell noticed that Morris was standing in the distance.

He was grinning at him as if there was more to what was going on. Lovell stared as Ark walked over to Morris, then muttered something in his ear. A joyous laugh slipped through Morris as he looked at Lovell. Now confused about what was going on, Lovell only watched as Morris walked over to him.

Morris placed his hand firmly onto Lovell's small shoulders, "Now, let's get started." Morris's voice cut through the night air while he handed Lovell a practice sword and what seemed to be training garb. "get changed, then we start."

Lovell looked at the training garb. Morris remembered the day Lovell joined them. Lovell was rash while less confident. Lovell was more impulse-driven to fight the Faremin. Morris knew that Lovell would face them again and worried about the day to come. Morris shuddered before looking towards Lovell.

Lovell had finished changing as he readied himself for many more long nights to come. Lovell smiled at Morris as he charged forward, beginning their training. Lovell was striking at Morris while Morris dodged every attack as Lovell flailed the weapon in the air. Morris eventually attacked, sending Lovell to the ground as Morris explained what Lovell was doing wrong. Lovell whipped the dirt as he started over. Following Morris's instructions.

Huffing, Lovell began to wonder why Morris cared so much for him. "Hey, Morris?"

Morris raised his brow, looking at Lovell, "What is it? Are you too exhausted to continue right now?"

"No, it's not that." Trying to stand from his exhausted body. While Morris folded his arms, waiting for Lovell's question. Lovell caught his breath before continuing, "Well, why did you take me? Other than you liked the look in my eyes. You could have sold me off, and you could have had anyone could have trained me? but as it sits now—"

Morris raised his hand, stopping Lovell's questioning, "I made a promise to someone long ago. I think I told you once already—but I digress. Although…," Morris paused, seeing Lovell tilts his head to see more of his face. Morris gritted his teeth as he turned away, before letting out a saddened sigh, "…although if you had been someone else. That would have been the case. I would have sold you to someone who would have taken care of you or took you in as I have now, and some else train you. But since you are—well, you—the person who I promised asked me to train you if your faster mother passed away." Morris hesitated as he spoke.

Lovell was now curious as to who knew him and Morris. "Who was this person you promised. I-if you don't mind telling me." Not expecting Morris to answer, Lovell turned away as his face turned red.

Morris placed his hand by his side before taking a deep breath. "Your father, a man named Terrance. He had asked me to raise you if anything happened—to where you were orphaned. I never expected you to be in the right place, at the right moment dealing with any of my activities?" Lovell stared at Morris in dismay. Only to find out that Morris knew his father. Lovell went to open his mouth, but Morris raised his hand to stop him. "He also told me never to tell you anything about him or your birth mother. As that's for another person's job. Not mine or anyone else. Mind you, Ark, Kan, Lau, and I are the only ones left who knew of your father. Everyone else had their memories erased as to keep this secret."

Lovell felt a burning rage that information was held from him about his father. "Why?" Tears streamed down his face. "Why can you tell me?! Why this other person?! Why them!?" Busting out in frustration. "How did you know him?! Is he alive?! If so, where is he…please, Morris…" his rage turns to pleas for answers. "…please just give me something."

Morris turns away from Lovell, "Your father died, shortly after you were born, but—right now—you need to focus on the future before you turn to the past. As well as the past of your family. Yet, in time, it will be revealed to you." Morris started to pick up the gear from the ground. "You should go get some sleep. It will be a long day tomorrow. Besides, somethings should never be said." Morris added as tears welled up.

Lovell noticed tears down Morris's face. Lovell felt guilty, as he had asked those questions without concerning Morris's feelings. Lovell realized that they were there to sow the seeds for him to find the answers too. Lovell looked up at the moons. He figured that Morris wants to prepare him to keep his promise to Luna, even if she never knew.

'It's the same in a sense. Morris made a promise, and I made a promise. If only I had known, things would have been different. I would have taken her with me.' Lovell's thoughts boiled. 'I made a promise, and I already broke it. I never was going to be by her side.' Tears streamed down his face as he let out a yell of pain from his heart and mind. Ark watched him from a distance, seeing his frustrations in his young mind.

The next morning, Ark had waited for him by the mess hall. Lovell dry-eyed walked past without notice. Ark's hand stopped him short as he gripped his shoulder. "Seek the elves when you are ready. Find the elder one amongst them. They are the person who will tell you everything you need to know." Releasing Lovell's shoulder, Ark walked away. Lovell looked back at him, Ark trying to shake off his good deed for him. Lovell smiled at him before turning away, grinning ear to ear, raring to get stronger to leave. "Oh, and you haven't broken any promises to anyone, so don't give up so easily, mutt—"

Lovell threw a knife at him landing a post beside his head. "One thing Ark that word is taboo!" Lovell smugly looked at Ark, irritating him.

"I hate Theyan's." Ark pulled the knife out before turning away, while he smirked as he left Lovell's company.

Lovell stood up straight, "I hate you to Ark! But thank you." Whispering to himself as he entered the cooking area. Pulling up his sleeves, he readied himself. "Well, better, get busy with the first meal of the day. Don't want anyone to go hungry." Ark's words brought life back to him. Lovell started to prep when a thought occurred, how did Ark know what was bothering him. He never saw him after he was left with Morris. Lovell shook it off to focus on the task at hand.

Morris peeked in on him as Ark stood by his side. "You eavesdropped, didn't you?"

"Not by choice. I just happened to be near to hear it all." Dodging Morris's accusations. "Anyway, you know when he finds out the truth, it will either destroy or corrupt him."

Morris smiled, "Yes, I know, but he will not betray her. So, don't fret too much. I did notice you have a small liking to his son. Even if you crossed blades one too many times." Ark growled at him. Morris turned his gaze back at Lovell. "to think he lands right in our laps and to know that she is alive because of him is incredible—in itself—wouldn't you say?"

Ark turns to look at Lovell as he nicked his thumb. "True, but they won't know that she survived either, so she is safe for now." Ark stood up, "I'll send a message to him to help her when she's old enough to travel safely."

"You mean—" Morris turned to Ark.

"Yes," Ark cut him off. "He will make sure she knows who she is and have her search for her six champions. The other five Ren-Ky Warriors. We both know he's the one of Light and Darkness, the Ren-Ky of Balance."

"True the others are the Winds of Freedom, the Earth of Kindness, the Flames of Courage, the Waters of Knowledge, and the Lightning of Strength, correct?" Ark nodded. "Well, now we have to prepare him for as much as we can before releasing out into the unknown." Morris sneered. "Also, if anything happens to me, I want you to continue his training, especially in magic." Their gazes focused on Lovell. "Promise me this as a friend, not as an order."

"I will, Morris; you don't have to worry. Just protect him for a long as you can before that thing comes." Arks face tensed at the thought. Morris gripped his shoulder gently before returning to his duties as leader of the Goanna Mercenaries.