Chapter 4: Fleeting Shadows

An echoing laughter surrounded her, covered by the masking fog. She could barely see her hands in front of her as she felt the smooth surface beneath her feet. It felt hard to breathe, the air heavy and almost choking, wrapping around her neck.

"Sis…Zeta…are you there?"

"Rei?" she turned towards the voice, squinting her eyes.

In the distance, a silhouette stood behind the fog, its head turning aimlessly and its arm reaching out.

"It's so cold…so dark."

"I'm coming!"

The fog began to part beneath her steps, clearing a path for her as she ran breathless. The laughter grew louder, almost worming its way deeper into her ear as she got closer, reaching her arm out in desperation. Lights flashed in the fog in ominous shapes, following her as she neared the silhouette. 

"Rei!" she lunged forward.

"Welcome back, dear big sister!"

She froze, her face paling at the glowing blue flames that appeared as they emerged from the silhouette. 

"Fool," she spat.

"Ah ah ah. You are to refer to me as Alia remember," Alia raised her finger, smiling, "You may have escaped our last encounter, but as family, we are never too far from each other."

Dressed in a suit with a top hat, she sprung forward, tapping her shoes as she laughed.

"Beautiful isn't it, that hair, those eyes," Alia gestured towards Zeta, "You are almost like family now. Soon you'll be joining your brother and me."

"What have you done with him!" she spat.

Another silhouette appeared in the shadows, glowing and then fading as it emerged from the fog. She stumbled forward, throwing away The Fool from her mind. 

"Rei…?"

Tears flowed from her eyes as she saw his face. Purple veins etched across his face, pulsating with vigor as his eyes stared blankly at her, as if he were in a trance. Laid against a metal table, he weakly raised a finger, opening his mouth, but no sound followed.

"Rei!" she cupped her hands around his cold face.

"Soon dear sister," Alia's voice echoed around her, "we shall be family once more."

***

Her heart shot from her chest as she slammed her head against her knee. Tumbling to the floor, she looked widely around her, throwing the blanket that fell on top of her aside. Her violent breathes filled the silence as sat up, listening to the soft hum of the lights in her room. Her hand rested on her bed, clammy and shaky. Right, she realized trying to steady herself, she was in the dorms of the training facility. Drops of sweat rolled down her forehead and she could feel the cold stain on her back as she pressed her hand against her beating chest.

"A dream, or was it real?" 

She closed her fists, recalling the look of her brother, the emptiness in his gaze. She didn't know if she should be happy or upset by his condition. Soon, she reminded herself, she would rescue him no matter what. She stood up, making her bed as she looked around the room. There wasn't much in here, she thought. A desk, a bed, a closet, and some ornamental plants. It was simple, but it would do. She looked up at her clock. 

"First day," she took in a deep breath, preparing herself as she changed.

She looked in the mirror, tying up her hair into a ponytail as she fitted on the white top and black tactical pants they had given her. A knock on the door alerted her as she finished tying the strings of her boots. She looked through the peephole, checking as the door opened with a hiss.

"Celestia," she said, putting on a smile, "good morning."

Celestia smiled back, but her eyes looked at her like she was a lost puppy.

"First day, how are you doing?"

"I'm…alright," she said, yet her insides quivered at the thought of the dream.

Celestia seemed to notice this too as she placed her hand against her shoulder.

"Focus your emotions into these next three months. This training is vital for your journey. I'm sorry I won't be there to oversee your progress, but if you ever need anything from me, please tell The Headmaster."

"Going back out to the field."

Celestia nodded. "The invasion of zone 10 has caused many to be sent to the frontlines in zone 9, and zone 11 has been cut off from us. I promise though to update you on the situation if anything on your brother comes up."

Her fist tightened. It felt like every mention of her brother made her breath stop.

"Come here," Celestia spread her arms, embracing her.

The warmth and radiating glow of her wings wrapping around her reminded her of when they first met. The soothing scent of a spring meadow washed over her. 

Focus…breath…and pull. The shot rang out, a beam of light soaring through the air as it slammed beside the target, leaving behind a thin burnt mark on the wall.

"Remember to keep a tight grip and keep the sight level."

The Headmaster stood behind her, shifting her stance and adjusting her hands slightly as she looked down the sight of the pistol. She took a deep breath, feeling the weight in her hands as she focused on the gun. She pressed the trigger, feeling the discharge as her hands shook, yet the shot rang true as it hit the target.

"Better, that's enough for now. These weapons are your greatest allies, so I want you practicing with them till it's practically a part of you."

She nodded, unclipping the energy crystal into her palm. The way it glistened along its many points made it look like a star as she carefully placed it back on the table. She followed The Headmaster as he led her from the shooting range into the elevators. They were on the second floor of the training facility as she gazed down below as they descended. At the very bottom, a large track stood with a gray field in the center.

"The track will serve as your morning cardio," he watched her eyes, "That field on the other hand, is a simulation arena. Modified to simulate combat scenarios, it will serve as practice and as a final test for all trainees."

"Does that mean…" she said.

The Headmaster nodded, "The training program is normally half a year, but for you…that time is cut in half. Fail to graduate and your execution will be swift."

Her thoughts flashed back to Celestia's words about Levi. Strength and will, she remembered, it seemed like she had only passed the Cardinals entrance exam. The doors slid open as they entered the first floor. The clacking sound of wood snapped through the hall as trainees practiced with wooden swords along set stations. Some sparred with partners while others practiced on dummies shaped like creatures of The Nihility. 

"A Sentinel must also be able to adapt to close range combat if necessary. Some of The Nihility have tougher armor that can only be penetrated with light blades" The Headmaster explained, as they approached a padded floor.

A staff member came by as they handed him two sparring blades. 

"Come, let us test your skills with the blade," he tossed the sword at her, casually gripping his with one hand.

She grabbed the blade, feeling the smooth surface of the wood. Never in her life had she ever swung a sword before, yet something felt odd as she rotated it. It felt almost familiar, as if she had handled one before. She gripped it with two hands, letting her hands find the right position as she spread her feet. The Headmaster's eyes narrowed as he examined her.

"Begin!"

Her body seemed to move on its own as she dashed forward. Quick, balanced, and precise, her strikes flowed fluidly into a chain as The Headmaster backed up, caught off by the speed and consistency. He slowly danced them around the edge of the arena, making sure he had room to move as his eyes tracked her blade. The relentless assault became a melody of light strikes followed by heavy finishers, yet she could feel her arms beginning to weigh as her breath became more sparse. It had only been a couple strings of attacks yet it was as if her body couldn't keep up with the movements.

"Interesting…" The Headmaster said, his breath even, "Prepare yourself, I shall begin my assault."

His poise straightened, sword turned as he deflected a strike and riposted. Her body dodged immediately as her eyes caught the start of his movement. This sensation, she thought, it was like what she had felt before. An energy, she could sense it, the direction, like watching lightning strike in slow motion. The sword passed her shoulder and crossed her torso as she weaved and blocked in between the strikes. She could feel the blisters swell on her fingers as the speed of the strikes became more rapid, exhaustively trying to defend herself as each blow threw her position. A strike from below caught her unaware as she felt the sword fly out of her hand, a deafening clack echoing as she fell backwards onto the pads. The Headmaster looked down at her, barely a bead of sweat dripping off his forehead as he knelt down, offering a hand.

"Your stance is…impressive," he said, pulling her up, "Where did you learn this type of sword art?"

"I don't know," she stared at her blistered hands, wincing as she tried to curl her fingers, "I've never used a sword before…but it was like my body knew what to do."

"Hmm," The Headmaster pondered, "what you displayed was not something that a mere person nor creature could create on the spot. I could tell, those moves were drilled, born from experience and muscle memory. It was as if...I were fighting someone else."

He picked up her fallen sword, examining it with a long gaze.

"Your skills exceed my initial predictions. You lack proper physical conditions, combat knowledge, and experience, but most of that can be solved with time, which unfortunately you also lack. I'll send a schedule to your dorm, expect extreme conditioning."

She saluted him. "Yes sir, thank you."

He shook his head, holding out the sword. "Duty is the matter of the mind, but commitment is a matter of the heart. Don't let yourself fall into despair if things get rough."

She picked up the sword. Despair was one thing she couldn't afford.