7 Growing up

"Uhn, oo, ree!"

"7!"

"Uhn, oo, ree!"

"8!"

"Uhn, oo, ree!"

"9!"

"Hoff! Get up that wall!"

The Drill Instructor's powerful command rang out across the course. Kano leaped up from the front leaning rest position and rushed to the next obstacle.

"Sir, yes, Sir!"

His arms were sore, his back was sore, heck, even his legs were sore. But through all that, he felt good. He felt like he belonged. It was a strange feeling to have found, especially for a guy that had prided himself on always being alone. If he was honest with himself, it was nice.

Kano leaped up from a small concrete landing and grasped a rope that hung from a roughly 10 meter wall. Using his legs to brace himself, he began to climb up. Hand over hand, step by step, he pulled himself higher, his every breath and intention focused on the top of the wall. The sounds of others huffing and puffing joined with the hoarse commands and calls of Drill Instructors.

From the lane next to his, he heard a small popping noise and a gasp of surprise. His head snapped toward the sound and he realized that the recruit next to him was falling. In an instant, he made a decision. His feet planted and pushed him towards the recruit in jeopardy. He let go with one arm and reached out to grasp at their uniform.

The added weight was too much for his grip on the rope and he felt it slip through his fingers. The ground rushed up to meet them and he knew that the concrete pad was there waiting.

***

The air smelled stale and earthy as Kano's senses slowly returned to him. He groaned as he reached for his head, but he found himself unable to move freely, as if a weight was holding him down. Upon opening his eyes he was unable to see, but could feel a cloth was over his face. It was light and from beyond he could feel dirt. Realization struck him. He had been buried alive. Panic set in and he struggled to get his arms free. Dirt sifted around his body as he pushed his way forward. The rumble of thunder caught his ear, 'It must be raining.'

The ground was turning softer as he clawed his way up, at least he hoped it was up. No, he prayed he was facing up. Most corpses were placed face up, anyway, so he felt a little better about his current predicament. Soon, he could feel water on his fingers and he began to claw even more fervently, his lungs were burning as he held his breath, there being no more oxygen from his small area.

Rain poured on his face as he broke the surface, his arms flailed about as he struggled to pull himself free. His knees squished into the soft earth as he crawled away from the grave until his frantic mind regained control and he twisted himself around to look back. A hole in the ground and a simple wooden cross made of two sticks bound together with twine. 'Strange. Why did the Marine Corp bury me like this? And shouldn't I be in the morgue or something?'

Slowly, he looked at his surroundings and realized he was in a graveyard, and an old one at that. A small statue stood in the center, a winged archangel with sword held high. 'No... not again. I must be in a coma. I'm in that dream again!'

His tattered robe from before was in even worse shape than he remembered. All of that dream he could recall as if it had actually happened... and that is when the words of Bonesy returned to him.

'This is the real world, kid.'

Kano's shoulders slumped visibly as he sat in the rain. He was really in Chelandria. He really was in a world that resembled the game he had spent so much time in. Even the arcane words of his spells had resumed buzzing at the back of his thoughts.

"Real. "

"That's right kid. Real. Not a dream. No hallucination. You're here. Personal sheet and all. "

A muffled man's voice sounded from behind Kano and he jerked in surprise. His eyes caught hold of a man only a few feet away dressed in a black trenchcoat, wide brimmed hat and a plague doctor mask covered his face. In his hands he held an umbrella which served well to keep him dry.

"Well, come along then. Don't want to catch your death again so soon do you?" the plague doctor said as he turned and began walking down the path out of the graveyard.

Kano felt his blood rise as he stared after the dark figure. "Who are you? What do you mean again?! How do you know about the sheet?!"

The plague doctor stopped for a moment and only turned his head a bit to speak before continuing on. "Come with me and find out. Or stay and don't. "

Kano could only stare after the enigmatic figure before sullenly following behind. It was a short walk full of silence. Only the rain could be heard as the plague doctor continued on his path that led to a small cabin, just at the edge of the graveyard.

Upon entering, Kano discovered that it was rather cozy and warm. The hearth had a candle emblazoned upon the mantle which Kano recognized as the holy symbol of Drusellia, goddess of hearth and family. The cake in the dark. A flicker of hope against the encroaching of evil.

"Alright creepy old man! I'm here. Now answer my questions!"

"So impatient. We have time. Plenty of time. Have some stew." The old doctor evaded and brought out a bowl of hot stew from a cauldron on the fire. He placed it on a small table and motioned for Kano to sit with him.

Kano glanced warily at the mysterious doctor and slowly sat. It did indeed smell good. He could not help but water at the mouth as he carefully inserted his spoon into the hearty goodness. As each spoonful entered his gullet, it seemed to warm his very soul.

The sound of a lyre drifted on the wind, the smell of a good stew joined it. A familiar figure stepped out of the shadows beside the cabin. His beautifully decorated bicorn hat, peacock feather and all, seemed to pierce the night with its audacity.

"And so dear friends, we find our little Kano has made a friend of his own. Dr. William Harper, a man that knows quite a bit about the world they found themselves in. He was a plague doctor during the Black Death. He saved lives during both the French and American Revolution. A man that has seen a lot of death, and a lot of life. Over the course of a year, he and Kano will begin the journey of teacher and student. Now, until we meet again, dear friends. As always, forever yours, Bonce de'Poiard will spread the tale of a young man on his way to Fame!"