Chapter 4: No More Childhood
"Let us remind you," said Mr. Brown, "Your childhood is over. At the training base, we do not tolerate inappropriate, childish behavior. If you are caught exhibiting such disgraceful behavior, you can choose to be thrown out or suffer the consequences."
And I nodded...
"Your uniform," Mr. Brown said as we walked through the Orphanage to my dull room, "is typical of that of any Dqyu uniform. As the lowest of the low, Dqyus are expected to give the higher levels of power respect and obey them. You train on the main floor of the Orphanage. You learn to fight, read minds, and, most of all, blend in in plain sight. Magic, classified in its own little genre, will be taught to you later on." He handed me a sword. "What do you do?"
Impulse. What do I do? That's easy. I strike. I hit. I withdraw. I stay poised, ready to do it again, do you contuine to be a threat.
So, I did. And the sword hit him, and blood welled in his chest, and I kil-
"No worries," Mr. Brown told the Emerald Warriors at his side, and he stroked his hand over his chest. It healed, and a scab went over the deep wound.
"How did you do that?" I gasped, having dropped the sword and slapping my hands to my mouth in fear. I had almost killed him. But, he's OK. So? I almost killed him anyway, and that's all that mattered.
"Magic," said Mr. Brown with a twinkle in his eye. "Ancient form called the Duand. One of the hardest forms to master." He smiled. "Impressive. On impulse, you struck, you took down the threat, now we just have to show you who the threat is."
I nodded uncertainly as we sat on my small, drab, but cozy, bed.
"Well, first, we have to establish you a Jivae. A mount to carry you everywhere, to be your protector if things don't turn in your favor." Mr. Brown said at last. He stood up, and he led me blindly through the airy waiting room to the boatkeeper dock.
The water scent stung my throat. It was salty.
"Call one," said Mr. Brown, "there are at least 50 pups here. One is bound to respond."
"What do I call?"
"A combination of trilll, rrrrr, and squeeeee. Just try it out."
I looked at the muggy ground and took a deep breath. "Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, rrrr, sqeeeeeeee, trillllllll, rrrrrrrrrrrrrr, rrrr, sqeeeeee, trilllll...." I called loudly, and out of the clearing came a-
"Duck!" said Mr. Brown as a huge, grey animal whizzed overhead.
The animal landed with a crash on all four paws, snarling and growling. Then I realized it was an Ielkea. Ielkea, large dog-like creatures with reptile tails and wings that poke out of their front kegs to enhance leaping.
"Just don't call that anymore," Mr. Brown said, and he shooed the animal away.
