Chapter 3 : Crown And Throne

"Hello Kairos, I have heard a lot about you." I stood speechless at the sight of my new teacher. A girl about my age with green flowing hair and hazel colored eyes stood before Drefan and I. She has on the same armor as Evander, is it a teaching organization? Anyway that does not matter. What matters is the girl who stands in front of me with a smile. How did such a young person become a teacher? Also why do I feel like I have met her before?

My mind raced for a while before I am helped out by Drefans heavy pat on the back. "That is Edith Winslow." He whispers to me. I have heard of her. The youngest Captain under Orai's military. 

"I apologize for my behavior," I say, putting on a soft smile , "I was not expecting my new teacher to be my age, or the protégé captain." I say a bit too bluntly.

She lets out a soft laugh "I get it, people are usually shocked when they see me. You can trust, I am a capable teacher." She says with a bow which catches me off. I let out a sigh and ask her to raise herself up. I have never been a big fan of being bowed at . 

"When do we begin training?" I ask

"Whenever you both are ready."

"How about now?" Drefan asks a bit too excited.

"Ok then."

We all head out to the compound, geared up with our weapons and armor on. 

"We will start with a sparring session, come at me with everything you have." She says as she pulls out her sword.

Drefan and I look at each other surprised. We decide to go together, given the fact she is a captain. Edith takes a defensive stance, "Come" she orders. Drefan makes the first movement attacking from her right flank, he swings at her feet hoping he could force her to jump up. However, she instead steps back enough to avoid the blade swing and kick his sword out his hands. Her focus is on him now. I see an opportunity to close the distance speedily, going for her blind side but immediately it disappears as she launches herself forward towards me, entering into a midsection kick . What the hell? She is fast. I barely block the kick from her with the flat surface of my sword but in doing so I sacrifice it as it shatters from the kick. I am pushed back by the hit and sent on my back while she stands with a look of disapproval on her face.

I never want someone my age looking down on me. I stand up, no blade in my hand, ready to fight. That is when it happens. The colors around me gradually changed, becoming more vibrant. Edith stands in front of me but I can see mirror images of her moving. What is going on? I don't understand this but my body seems to as it moves on its own. I push myself forward in a rush to close the distance between us. Edith lets out a smile before dropping her blades and squaring up. I saw this happen already, one of the mirror images. As I get within range, she throws a left jab for my head but my body moves on its own, evading to the right. This feels familiar too. "An uppercut next," I whisper unconsciously and that is exactly what follows. I jump backwards stepping out of her range. Is it possible, did i see the future of her attacks?

She does not let my thought last long as she closed the distance aggressively. She seemed a bit vexed as she swings to my mid section and I block it. I can see the confusion in her eyes. She jumps backwards still focused on me which will work against her as Drefan comes from behind and places his sword against her throat. We win, or I think we have. Something is wrong. I see the mana around her begin to fluctuate, this time in a different manner, more violent. An attack?

"Drefan get away from her." I yell out but I am too late as she releases a blast around her that sends him flying through the compound.

"I said we were sparring, not just sword fighting." She says her entire demeanor now changed. Her hair red and flowing wildly as she is surrounded by flames. One look at her now and I know I stand no chance.

The rest of the sparring session is one sided. We both are beaten to a pulp, unable to move. None of our moves worked against her. She stands over our beaten bodies with a menacing grin on her face and flames behind her casting dark shadows on her. Is she the devil? This is the last thought I had before I black out from the pain.

Dream Sequence 

Where am I? I stand in a surreal room, filled with stars and constellations. The ground ripples with each step creating waves like I am on water. What is this place? I wonder as I walk around the room looking for a hint or clue. At the far end of the room, a white throne is placed. There's no one there but a crown sits on it. 

"Come." I hear a voice call me. It is coming from the crown.

"Who are you?" I ask hoping to understand what is going on but I receive no answer or explanation, just the constant beckon from the crown.

"Come, come, come."

I begin to feel like I am being drawn to the throne. I try to stop myself but I cannot. I do not understand what is going on , but my instincts tell me to stay away from that crown. Few feet from the crown, I feel my body heat up and immediately I am pulled out of the room forcefully.

"He is waking up."

I open my eyes to see my mother, Drefan and Edith hovering over me with concerned looks on their face. Edith is currently on fire touching my arm. 

"What is going on?" I ask as I try to sit up. 

"Do not get up yet." Edith says, gently pushing me down.

"You have been out for four hours Kairos." My mother says, a look I have never seen on her face. Fear? "I was scared you would not wake up, Edith had to force feed you her mana." 

As she says this I turn to Edith who i now notice looks really tired. She must have been doing this for a while. Her mana is fluctuating, it is weak but there is a feeling of weight. It feels like guilt. Does she believe it is her fault? 

In an attempt to calm everyone down I let out a laugh which stuns them all. "I am ok now." I say with a huge smile on my face. I can see them calm down, but Edith's mana still bares a hint of guilt. She puts off her flames and sits back tired. 

"I will watch over him for the night." She says to my mother. I feel perfectly ok but i notice she needs this and convince my mother to let her watch me.

"Hope you get better ." Drefan says to me as he and my mother leave the room.

"Are you ok?"I ask Edith who looks lost in thought after we are left alone.

"What? Yes I am…..I should be the one asking that question."

"Are you sure?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your mana is filled with guilt."

"What?"

"I can see your mana….its a gift."

"That is quite a gift." She says. She lets out a sigh "I do feel guilty. I let my rage win and almost killed you."

"I am sure you held back." I say jokingly trying to lighten the mood. It seems to work as she lets out a soft chuckle. "That's not funny." She says trying to stay serious. "I could have killed you." 

"Maybe, but you did not."

My attempt to make her forgive herself is not working. What can I do? Maybe I can punish her. Will she feel better if she is serving for what she believes is her crime? I will try this.

"Ok how about this? I will give you a punishment of my choice whenever I want for almost killing me." I say paying attention to her mana. It fluctuates again. Her emotion changed. Relief. 

"If that is what you want, I will agree with you." She says solemnly. Her eyes and mana however betray her as they show relief. 

"Very well then , that is what we will do." I say with a smile on my face. She turns away from me instantly, staring out the window.

"Are you ok?" I ask .

I see the side of her cheek curl up in a smile. 

"Get some rest." She says as she stands up and leave the room.

That is weird. I wonder why she left? 

Just then an image of the crown and throne flash into my mind accompanied with a searing pain. I growl in agony, holding my head. What is this feeling? I feel like I am being drawn into a vortex. The room is spinning, I try to keep myself up but I cannot. I am about to pass out. The room is fading. I am cold. Am I dying? I black out for a moment. It feels like I'm in a pool of water, sinking gradually. I feel a hand hold me, a familiar mana flow. I open my eyes to see the silhouette that has been watching me. 

"It's not time yet." I hear a female voice before I am pulled out of the pool of water. 

I am back in my room. It's cold. Am I wet? My clothes are dripping, my hair fallen. What just happened? Where did I go? Who was that? Questions flood my mind as I remain seated on my bed cold. It takes a while but I do manage to fall asleep.

The week flies by just as it began. I spent most of it watching Drefan train with Edith. Mother felt I should stay away from combat after my incident although I did train a little in secret with Edith. I used my guilt chip to get private lessons. I enjoyed my time back home but now it is time to leave.