Rebels: An Epic Fantasy Gamelit Adventure (Darkthorn Academy Book 5) Read online

  He couldn’t use the same tactic as the last time he had his back against the arena perimeter, so he spun around and caught Stann’s ax in his weapon. He recognized his mistake immediately. Stann was not only bigger but stronger. With other opponents Elon would have been able to push Stann back or knock him off balance.

  Elon had a moment of panic as his muscles quivered and he felt the weakness of his weapon: it could be snapped at any moment by Stann’s heavy ax. His only option was to release and hope he could find an opportunity to strike.

  Before he could commit to this new plan, his time ran out. The edge of Stann’s ax slid across his upper arm, breaking the skin, and causing blood to run down his arm. Instructor Brazee blew his whistle and the students cheered.

  Stann pulled Elon in for a tight embrace and finally let Elon see his full smile.

  “Well done, Elon!” he said as he slapped his back. “Here, let me help.” Stann pulled a small vial from his waist and poured it over Elon’s wound. The pain went away, and Elon watched as the skin closed.

  “Thanks!”

  Stann addressed the class. “Elon did an excellent job using his unique weapon and solid techniques to counter the fact that I have both a reach and power advantage. This is why we spend so much time on tactics and learning to create advantages when none may appear. Learn to adapt to your situation, find your enemies weaknesses or create opportunities with calculated risks. Elon’s final mistake was hesitating when he realized that he’d need to drop his weapon to have any chance of surviving the conflict. Hesitation can be a dangerous as an outright mistake. Challenge yourselves in training so that you can learn when to take risks and when to rely on solid tactics and techniques.”

  As Instructor Brazee called the next pair of combatants, Stann pulled Elon out of the circle. “Let’s watch the rest of your class,” Stann said with enthusiasm.

  Elon sat beside Stann and listened intently as Stann critiqued and cheered on his classmates. Elon felt like he learned more from watching than he had in the months he had spent training. Stann offered unique perspectives and it opened Elon’s eyes to new tactics and strategies. Instructor Brazee was a fine instructor, but Stann had a way of explaining things that just resonated with him.

  “Come on, it’s time to go,” Stann said as he stood up and offered Elon his hand.

  “Go?” Elon said, “I should be receiving my evaluation from Instructor Brazee soon.”

  “You did well, no need to stay. Time to go get your tablet. Rhonda is waiting,” Stann said casually.

  “I’m getting a tablet?” Elon said incredulously. “Now?” Elon said as he looked to his teacher and then back to Stann.

  “Yeah, come on, you’ve earned it,” Stann encouraged.

  “How? Why?”

  Stann smiled and gestured for Elon to walk. “It’s time to start offering the tablets to the students. You will be the first. Rhonda wants more data on how it integrates with younger people.”

  “Why would it matter?” Elon asked. The Misfits who had the tablets had powers and abilities that were such an advantage that anyone not taking a tablet would be behind forever. They also didn’t have any negative side effects that Elon knew of.

  Stann shrugged. “I’m not sure but the tablet we took seems different from Mage Nowak’s and different again to Kissalin’s. Nothing bad, just different. I think that mana condensing, and cultivation is linked. We were young when Willmarth taught us, and it was easier. Mage Nowak hasn’t seen the same results.”

  Elon walked alongside Stann towards the settlement. He had been bugging Jack about a tablet for a while now, and he wondered if it would cause problems with the other students. He didn’t want them to think he was being favorited. Although, having Jack for a half-brother did make people think twice about what they say and do around him.

  “The rest will get theirs very soon. Rhonda just wants to use you as a test, she knew you were willing,” Stann chuckled. Elon smirked; he had been quite vocal.

  “What’s it like?” Elon asked.

  Stann glanced down. “The integration? You don’t feel anything, but you should get a notification and maybe some questions.”

  “How do I know how to answer them?”

  Stann laughed. “I don’t think you will have any trouble. Haven’t you talked to Kissalin about her experience?”

  Elon put his head down as he walked. Kissalin had been a mentor for him growing up in Pine Valley and she had advocated hard for him to travel to Kusharna and attend Darkthorn. She was also the big sister to his friend and fellow student. They were close, but since her tablet integration, she had been different. She spent more time creating and fighting. He hadn’t had an opportunity to talk to her.

  Elon shook his head. “No. Things have been busy, between my chores and studies and her schedule, I haven’t had a chance.”

  “Well, from what I understand, she has nothing but good things to say,” Stann reinforced.

  They had arrived at Rhonda and Mage Nowak’s cabin. Elon had never been inside and hadn’t spent much time around the two mages. All he knew was that it took a lot longer than usual for the hippos to accept Rhonda’s unique scent.

  The door opened before Stann knocked. Rhonda stood in the doorway and smiled warmly.

  “Elon, welcome. Come in. Thanks for bringing him, Stann.”

  Elon nervously entered the cabin. It was much bigger inside than it was outside, obviously some kind of magic. The main room was dark, curtains separated them from the rest of the space and only floating orbs brought light in. There was a circle drawn on the floor with strange symbols. Around the circle, she had candles, incense, and an assortment of pillows.

  “Have a seat. Stann has asked to be present; do you consent?” Rhonda asked Elon.

  Elon looked at Stann and then turned to Rhonda. “Yes.”

  “Excellent. Let me explain the steps. First, I will set the circle, then I will need a sample of your blood to cast the spell. Once I have the blood, I’ll recite the incantation and enter your mind. I am just there to observe your unique tendencies and skills, so I can better direct your development. When I offer you the tablet, I’ll be able to observe the integration. You will be able to ask questions or stop at any time. Do you understand?”

  Rhonda waited patiently as Elon thought it over.

  “Yes.”

  Elon made himself more comfortable by removing his armor and settled more comfortably on the cushion. Stann had sat outside the circle and was waiting patiently. Rhonda began preparing the room and when she was ready, came down to sit across from Elon. She closed her eyes and began chanting. Elon allowed the sounds to soothe him and felt himself relax. When Rhonda stopped her chanting, she passed a bowl to Elon.

  “I need you to make a cut across your palm. Allow the blood to drip into the bowl,” she said in a low voice.

  Elon glanced at Stan and did as he was asked. He squeezed his hand to make the blood drip into the bowl. Elon passed the bowl back to Rhonda. She grabbed his hand and waved her hand over his wound. It closed instantly.

  Rhonda began chanting again and placed the blood bowl over a candle, causing a black smoke to fill the space. Elon felt his eyes get heavy. He found himself sinking into a deep meditation. Shortly after, he felt Rhonda's presence in his mind. After a moment of resistance, he allowed her access. It was very intimate and a bit unnerving.

  When he sensed her departure, he felt a sense of loss, like when a loved one pulls away from a hug. He blinked his eyes open. She was still sitting across from him with a kind smile on her face. She handed him a thin wafer. Elon took the wafer and placed it in his mouth.

  For a few seconds, Elon wondered if it had worked, but then he felt something change and he saw a display in the corner of his eye. He could see his stats and a variety of information he would explore later. The stats were presented differently than when they used spells, but it was familiar and not a shock to see the info overlapped over his normal vision.

  Then a
notification popped up.

  Integration accepted. Accessing options… Analyzing data. Unique monster and beast training abilities cataloged.

  Opportunity to enhance connection to animals, Accept?

  Elon didn’t hesitate to accept. He smiled widely as he looked at Rhonda. Remembering that she had wanted to see how the integration had changed his mind, he allowed himself to drift back into the meditation. He felt her presence again and relaxed. Time passed quickly and before he knew it, Rhonda had exited his mind and increased the light in the room. He blinked his way more alert and stood up.

  “Do you want to hear what I found now?” Rhonda asked Elon.

  “Yes, please,” Elon responded.

  “You’re on the right path. Your abilities are perfectly balanced between compassion and empathy for others, especially animals, and your skill for being a warrior. Obviously, the tablet noticed the same things, and will assist you in that in the future. I would like to congratulate you on knowing what path you were meant to travel down.”

  Elon nodded. It was true. He had spent many years trying to convince his father that he could be a Beast Master and Warrior.

  “My only caution is to be mindful of your envy towards your brother,” Rhonda warned.

  “But I’m not jealous,” Elon said with furrowed brows.

  “There is a thin line between competitiveness, admiration and envy,” Rhonda said. “It’s just a feeling I have based on the neural pathways that are developing. Let’s keep an eye on it.”

  Elon looked at Stann. “Kissalin gets a new skill and ability and I get a warning about a brewing attribute? Doesn’t seem fair.”

  “You’re in control of your thoughts. Now you will watch them more closely, besides I’d hardly call an increase in your ability to work with beasts a weak skill,” Stann said with a shrug. He didn’t seem too concerned about Rhonda’s warning.

  “Thank you, Rhonda, I’ll let you know if anything comes up that you might want to hear about,” Elon said as he gathered his things.

  “Yes, of course. Enjoy your new interface,” she responded warmly.

  3

  Jack

  Jack looked across the room at Lana and smiled. They were being fitted into ceremonial outfits by the minotaur seamstress and enduring the measuring, fitting, and re-fitting good naturedly. The team had returned to the Isle of Maga three days ago, and as special guests, they had been given a beautiful apartment across from the main square. Jack was allowing himself to relax. They had delegated others to look after things in Kusharna and he had heard from Nina that his father was still doing well. The healing spell had seemed to help with Haldol’s memory issues, allowing Jack to concentrate on the ceremony without worrying too much about his father. He wanted to enjoy the trip with his friends.

  The apartment was an elegant open space with six large rooms, a living area for cooking and a large, covered balcony that looked out over the white city. The minotaur people had moved back into the city after Jack and the team had cleared the city of the undead. Since then, the minotaurs had worked tirelessly to restore the city to its former glory. Jack had been impressed when they had first arrived. The white marble city had been cleaned, rebuilt, and enhanced. Jack had a moment of guilt when he realized most of the damage had been from them clearing the city of undead. One tower he had destroyed using his Divine Twister spell to kill the sniper who had targeted Lana. The streets were lined with overflowing baskets of flowers and tropical plants. The buildings had colorful awnings and curtains shielding the insides from the hot jungle sun. The city was alive with excitement and pride.

  The seamstress stood back to look at Jack and shook her head before making another adjustment to his garment. He stole a glance at Lana and rolled his eyes. She glared back at him to be patient. Jack took the time to look at Lana. She had been draped in a long flowing white gown with a delicate gold overlay. The mana rune was weaved into the geometric designs that flowed down in a long train to the ground. She was beautiful. Jack glanced to the other side of the room and saw that Talia and Kissalin had similar outfits. Jack tried not to laugh as he saw Stann pulling at the fabric the other seamstress was trying to arrange across his shoulder. He had been given a tight fighting vest in white and the flowing white material was being draped over his shoulders like a cape. His legs, like Jack’s and Colin’s, were fitted in tight gold shorts and a white strip of cloth that hung down the front and back. Gold sandals that wrapped around the calves and up to the knee completed the outfit.

  Jack’s stomach growled. The seamstress looked up in surprise. He shrugged his shoulders at her in an apology. He hadn’t had time to eat yet. He had woken early to meet with Mitari so he could be briefed on the upcoming ceremony. After months of preparation, the Minotaur people were ready to honor the undead. Jack had come to understand that the Minotaur had a different outlook on life than many other races. Mitari had explained that they didn’t measure time based on individual timelines but rather by the evolution of their race. When their ancestors discovered the power of the mana rune, they didn’t use it for individual gains but rather saw it as an opportunity to prepare future generations. When the great wars happened and the high mana caused so much destruction, the minotaurs on the Isle of Maga had been more adapted and didn’t have to abandon their ancestral homes or suffer mutations and sickness.

  When the first undead were discovered on the Isle of Maga, the leaders decided that it was important to learn to live with the undead and honor their souls. Mitari explained that minotaurs view death as a transition to another time and place. If the undead hadn’t transitioned and had somehow got stuck in the ‘in-between’ worlds, they needed to honor it. They believed that the undead were meant to teach the minotaur people a lesson and that when the time was right, the leaders would know that they could move forward. Over the generations as the mana on the Isle increased and it limited the ability for others to come to the island, the minotaurs became more isolated. Some left the island to experience the rest of the world, like Kankoo, the minotaur Jack had met while he stayed on the island. Those that stayed worked on their mental fortitude and physical strengths as they built lives beside the undead. The minotaur people had strong powerful bodies and will.

  The ceremony would honor the good fortune that brought the Misfits to the island. They had been strong enough to fight the undead and equal in their ability to tolerate the high mana. Maustafa was being honored for recognizing that it was time to move past the days of living alongside the undead. Now, the minotaur people had reclaimed their beautiful city and could get back to living their lives.

  “What do you think?” Lana said as she glided towards him.

  Jack had been lost in thought and hadn’t noticed her approach. “You look incredible, like a goddess,” he said sincerely.

  “If I look like a goddess then you’re a god,” she said with a husky voice as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “What were you thinking about?”

  Jack tilted his head to the side. “Mana.”

  “Oh?”

  “The minotaurs have been living in super high mana for generations and yet they don’t use it for magic. They could be enormously powerful,” Jack elaborated.

  “Maybe they are but not in the ways we think,” Lana said as she looked around the room.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, the minotaurs of this island have been pretty isolated. They didn't need magic for defense or attacks, maybe they used it for other things.”

  Jack thought about it for several minutes and then decided that he would try to ask Mitari or Castano if he got the chance. His stomach growled again.

  “Let’s get you some food,” Lana laughed.

  The seamstresses had left, and the team had the apartment to themselves again.

  “I’m not taking any chances of spilling on this outfit. I’m changing,” Stann said as he strode to the room he shared with Talia.

  “Good idea,” Lana said as she moved to do the
same.

  Jack groaned; he was starving but they were right. He followed Lana into their room and quickly put on a fresh tunic. It was strange to not be wearing armor.

  Jack was the first to be back in the living area. He opened the cupboards on the one wall and started piling fruit, cheeses, and dried meats onto the table. The minotaurs had seen that their apartment was well stocked, but they had also brought their own supplies from Kusharna. Jack didn't wait, he started digging into the food.

  Colin strode out. “Ale or mead, Jack?”

  Jack grinned and wiped his mouth. “Ale.”

  Colin put several jugs on the table and sat down to eat in a companionable silence. When the rest of the team had gathered, they began telling each other stories from their morning.

  “They have a vault filled with gold jewelry. We were taken there to be fitted for crowns and accessories. They haven't had access to it since the great wars, but it was all remarkably preserved and catalogued,” Kissalin exclaimed.

  “Did you see your litter?” Stann questioned.

  Talia laughed. “Mine is awesome! It has been decorated in red and yellow flowers with a shiny black seat. It looks like I’m sitting on fire.”