Michael Blackwood

The next few days were full of nothing but training nonstop. I kept training in hand to hand combat, and Rohan wouldn’t stop saying how impressed he was with how fast I was learning. During breaks, especially lunch, the others were telling me how much they were improving as well.

Just as I finished yet another sparring session with Rohan, I felt as though I was being watched. I looked over and saw the princess, who had just entered the room. Then, addressing all of us, she started to speak.

“Everyone, I’d like to congratulate you all. In just a few short days, you have all improved upon your abilities massively. However, your harmonization isn’t growing stronger, so we may need to take a break for a while in order for you all to meditate to increase that. I say that, because in two weeks from today, you will all go on a test mission.”

Calvin raised his hand, and when the princess gestured for him to speak, he asked, “A test mission? What do you mean by that?”

“In two weeks from today, a caravan with supplies will be arriving in a nearby village. Your job will be to take over for the previous guards, and defend this caravan,” she replied. Then, looking at me she said,” Michael, you will accompany us, so don’t worry. This will not be a dangerous mission.”

I  gave her a small laugh.

“I appreciate that princess. I’ll say when I first got here,” I paused, caught off guard by the words I was about to say, “I definitely felt like I wouldn’t belong at all. But now, I’m starting to feel as though maybe I was wrong about that assumption.”

Besides, they’ll continue growing in strength while I won’t. I need to do my best to make sure I’m not left behind.

I could see Skylar look at me out of the corner of my eye, and she smiled.

“You see? I told you that you didn’t need to worry,” she said.

Levi and the others also gave me encouraging looks, but when I looked around at the trainers, I felt uncomfortable when I saw Atticus staring directly at me, making an expression I couldn’t read.

This is the fifth time today I’ve caught him staring at me. Did I do something to piss him off?

“Tomorrow,” the princess started speaking again, “you will all, except for Michael, start your meditation practices again in order to strengthen your harmonization. Normally, instead of the normal meditation, you would undergo a type of meditation known as ‘Soul Trials’. But that is far too risky to attempt this early on.”

We all looked at each other nervously. Then Calvin asked another question.

“What exactly is a ‘Soul Trial’ and why is it too risky to attempt right now?”

The princess looked at him seriously, then answered.

“Soul Trials are a form of meditation where you will ‘speak’ with your thread in a way,” she said. “It’s different for everyone. These Soul Trials allow harmonization to strengthen much faster, but it’s far harder to achieve then by regular meditation.”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘harder’?” Skylar asked.

“These trials can be dangerous sometimes. You’ll see visions, different versions of yourself. Think of it as having a conversation with your thread, but fighting it at the same time. All to achieve a deeper understanding of your power.”

I looked at my friends, who all seemed to take in this new information. I knew that soon, they’d grow even stronger, and I couldn’t help but wish I could grow alongside them.

Then, the princess looked directly at me.

“Michael, you will continue in your normal combat training. You have also improved. If you’d like, we can start training you with weapons. Swords, daggers, spears, we have a bunch you can choose to learn how to wield properly.”

I thought for a moment, then replied.

“Swords would be cool to learn I guess. Is two weeks enough time to learn though?” I asked, unsure if two weeks was sufficient enough.

“Normally no, but you are a fast learner,” she said with a smile. “You won’t become an expert by the time of the mission, but you’ll know enough to be able to handle yourself.”

She then looked at Rohan.

“You have experience with swords don’t you?

Would you mind continuing his training?”

Rohan dipped his head in a bow.

“I have no problem with continuing his training, your majesty.”

“Good. Starting tomorrow, you will start training Michael on how to use a sword,” then looking back at me, she said, “I look forward to seeing how quickly you adapt to using a weapon.”

I walked up to Rohan, and held out my hand.

“I look forward to learning even more from you. You’ve proven to be a great teacher.” I said, making sure he heard the appreciation in my voice.

Rohan laughed heartily at this, but I could tell by the smile on his face, it wasn't a dismissive laugh.

“I appreciate the compliment kid,” he said, taking my hand in his own. “But there are a couple people that I know of that are far better than me. Maybe you’ll get to learn from them one day.”

“I’d like that,” I said, and I could feel the lips of my mouth start to turn upwards into a smile.

“Michael,” the princess started to speak again, “you have proven quite adept at learning quickly. Although you may not have a thread, your skills will prove to be very helpful.”

“Thank you, princess,” I replied, but I could still feel doubt at whether or not I’d make an actual difference in a real fight.

“Actually princess, I have a question about this guard mission,” Skylar said.

“Yes? What is it?”

“What will this mission involve? What will happen if the caravan we’re meant to protect gets attacked?”

The princess gave her a surprised look, then said, “You will defend it of course.”

“Will that involve killing?” I asked hesitantly.

“It very well may. That’s just how things work.”

I’ve never killed anyone before. I don’t even know if I’d have the stomach for that.

“I know you may seem like you don’t want to take a life,” the princess said, “But it will most likely happen if the caravan is attacked.”

I felt the blood start to drain my face at the thought of killing, which the princess seemed to notice.

“Don’t think about it too much right now. Simply having all six of you as guards should deter any and all possible attacks. We will make sure all of you are prepared in time.”

I glanced at my friends, and saw that Levi looked surprisingly calm when hearing this.

“If it gets to that point, we can’t hesitate. That doesn’t mean it’s something I’m ok with, but sometimes, things need to be done a certain way.”

Rebecca walked up to me, and she softly grabbed my arm, to which I looked at her in response.

“Michael,” she began to say, “it’s ok to be nervous about this whole thing. Just don’t think about killing anybody. We still have a couple of weeks before this whole thing. If we can all get strong enough within that amount of time, I’m sure nothing bad is going to happen.”

I gave her a soft smile.

“Thank you Becca. Yes I am nervous, but you’re right. We just have to get stronger to make sure nothing bad happens.”

I looked at the rest of my friends, who all gave me comforting smiles.

“No matter what happens, we will always stick together.” Levi said.

The rest of the day wasn’t too eventful. I continued to spar with Rohan, getting far more used to fighting then I’d ever been before.

——————

Skylar

“Is it just me, or is he getting even faster?” I heard Dylan ask.

“No, I don’t think it’s just you,” Calvin replied. “It’s quite impressive that he can move the way he does.”

“He was so worried when we first got here,” Rebecca started to say. “But I think this is proof that he’ll always be able to fit in with us.”

I looked down when I heard Rebecca’s words.

“Honestly, he’s still worried. I talked with him last night. He knows that the rest of us will continue getting stronger, while he can see the limit to his own capabilities.” I said, my gaze still on the ground.

“Even if that’s the case, he will always be important to us,” Rebecca said.

“Especially to you, right?” Dylan said, and when I looked up at him, he was giving Rebecca a sly grin.

I watched as Rebecca snapped her head towards him.

“W-where did you hear that…?”

“Oh c’mon. It’s obvious you like the guy. All the extra time you’ve been trying to spend with him these past few days. Specifically the first day we started training on how to use our threads,” Dylan laughed. “We were all heading back to our rooms, and I heard you say that he was important to you.”

Rebecca was turning red with embarrassment and was struggling to find a reply to his words. Before she could, however, I started to speak.

“Dylan, you don’t have to tease her about it. Sure, I’ve teased her about it, but that’s because I’m allowed to.”

“And why exactly do you get that special privilege?” Dylan asked, looking at me with a frown on his face.

“Simple. Because she likes the guy I grew up with.”

I then shot Dylan a satisfied smile, to which Dylan didn’t reply.

“What are you guys talking about?”

Rebecca jumped when she heard Michael’s voice. Even I didn’t notice that he had walked over to us.

“O-oh hey Michael…”

I gave Michael a smile and then spoke.

“Ohhh nothing. Just how fast you’ve been getting during your sparring sessions with Rohan is all.”

Michael returned my smile with his own.

“Yeah, even I’m surprised by how fast I’ve gotten. Still, I won’t even be able to hold a candle to you guys pretty soon. But I’ll keep doing my best.”

He then posed in an awkward fighting stance, and we all laughed. Even then, I knew that he still felt as though we would all leave him in the dust as we continued to grow in strength.