Part 53: The Next Adventure

Jake's POV

"Sentinel, Lady Suma, are you injured?" The Major asked us after finally arriving. In the last few minutes, several Neame had arrived and began treating the one I wrapped up in my armor. They said I saved her, that the runes kept her alive… it wasn't as comforting as they had probably intended it to be. I was the one who did it to her after all."I'm fine sir, and I've already healed Ja- um... Sentinel." Suma answered."Sir Sentinel… did you cause this? Was that your spell we saw?" The Major asked."Yes sir, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. It was too strong of a-" He cut me off."Fantastic! This spell is incredible, truly. Sir Sentinel, welcome to the Drakes.""What? You're happy… I assumed you would want to like... kick me out of the army or something." I said bewildered."Do not confuse my words Sir Sentinel, there will be consequences to using a spell of this magnitude in a test, but this only cements what we already knew: that you are an asset. We need your strength Sir Sentinel. Both you and Lady Suma will have a place on the Drakes Brigade.""But, what about the third portion of the exam?" Suma asked. "We are only on the second.""The third portion actually took place at the same time as the second. It was a test of ingenuity and creativity, and all of your team did well enough to pass." The Major explained."Sir… I don't deserve that." I answered. "I hurt so many people. I thought I could control it, but-""Sentinel, this is a war. You will kill, you will hurt, and you may die. Don't regret fighting, regret having not stood for what was worth fighting for. You have heard of the Southern Union, what they do, how they are. Our country, no... the world, needs your strength." The Major said."I know you're right, but that doesn't make me feel any better… I want to apologize to everyone who was hurt today... can you help me do that?" I asked the Major.He nodded his head, "That would be possible." With that, we were each escorted off the field. Our team had officially won, and each of its members was granted a spot as a Drake, as well as one of the Neame from the other team who had impressed the judges. I spent the next day visiting each of the Neame who was hurt by my spell. Two of them were mad, one said it was a risk he knew might happen and that he didn't hold it against me, and the others didn't even know it was me in the first place. Two, the member of my team who had gone with me and was caught in the blast, was annoyed, but understood that what I did got him his spot on the team, so he let it go. The Neame who I hurt worst, the one who as it turns out, was the same Neame who was shooting me with lightning, and who was the one I wrapped in my armor, actually found it funny. She said she got what she deserved shooting lightning at a familiar out of nowhere. She apparently had let the others talk her into doing it, but she herself didn't originally want to. She thanked me for saving her, and I apologized again.After I finished visiting everyone Suma and I had a talk. "He is right Jake." She said."Who is?""The Major… I do not…" she sighed, "I do not want to hurt anyone any more than you do, but this is war, and it would be foolish to think it will not happen eventually.""I know. Especially if we are a part of the Drakes.""Do you think… do you regret our decision?" She asked.I thought for a moment, "no, joining the Drakes was the right call. I think we will be able to do more good with them than if we had simply joined the front lines or the reserves.""Perhaps..." There was a moment of quiet tension, she looked uneasy about something. "Jake, are you scared?""About the Drakes? Yeah.""So am I." I picked Suma up and put her on my shoulder, I didn't have my armor on at the moment, so she used the loose cloth of my jacket to steady herself. "I hope you are right Jake.""Me too," I answered.After that Suma and I, as well as everyone else who passed the test, were released from camp and sent back to the cities we came from. We said goodbye to Vindicta and Von-Pac, and Suma offered them a place to stay if they ever came by her city. Vindicta and Suma both sang for a while, and Von-Pac and I waited quietly for them to finish from a good distance away. I don't know where the others, that being Two and Lauric, went, but Suma and I headed back to Suma's city, Zach-Ahshem. We were supposed to wait for assignment orders, then go to wherever our orders said to meet our new team. They said we should expect a summons within one week, so we needed to get ourselves ready before then. Suma sent me back home, and spent a while traveling back to hers. I spoke to my mom. I told her that I had passed the test, but left out how, and told her that our orders would be in soon. I explained that I might not be able to come around as much now. She was worried but understood.Suma and I spent the week getting some upgrades and repairs made to my armor, runes, and weapons from Ceil and Sela-Car; both of whom were doing well and happy to see us. Ceil's business was doing better, apparently a name raised his social rank and now more people were ordering from him. Sela-Car had spent the last few months developing new Chaos-Magic runes for me, and was eager to apply them.The repairs and upgrades to my armor included a lining of daljar linings on the inside layer. That way I wouldn't need to summon any actual daljars to activate my healing and stamina runes. All I would need to do was flow the mana through the layer first. The new runes were interesting too. Sela-Car said she was able to increase the efficiency and force of the runes on my weapons by changing the patterns. Meaning they would be a bit stronger for the same amount of mana.Suma eventually went and saw her parents, I don't know how it went, but she seemed upset afterwards, so I had a feeling not well. I tried to talk to her about it, but she just said that it was normal for them and asked to change the subject.Eventually, our orders arrived, and we were to meet or new team at a city called, "Antonella." It was one of the strongholds holding off Southern Union forces from the Island of Sangu. Suma said it would take her three days to travel there, and that she would see me then. With that, she sent me home and started traveling. I spent the three days preparing a few things. We were going to war, and I had a few items to purchase before that happened.Two days later, I was lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. My mind started to wonder and I, still guilt ridden, thought about how the test ended. I knew I needed to move on, that it was an accident, but I still felt bad. I decided to bring it up the next time I spoke to Dr. Maxwell. Eventually, I slowly fell asleep.I had hoped to dream of how things were before I disappeared that day, or even of just relaxing in Suma's world, but instead there was only darkness… darkness and him. "Hello Sentinel," the kinder half said. "You're getting stronger.""Who are you?" I asked. "You said last time that you were my friend, and my doom.""YES," the more reptilian side yelled, "DOOM, DOOM TO ALL OF ATMOSIA!""Why? What did they do to you?" I asked."NOT THEM… the dragons… THE TRATIORS….""I don't understand." I said."Then allow me… TO SHOW YOU!"