The Legendary Warrior (Book 5) (14 page)

The students weren’t sure what to say, and a few of them didn’t even understand his words. But they didn’t cast his words away. They considered them, and thought about them, and that was all James wanted. The seed had been planted. Perhaps the water and germination wo
uld come later. But in the meantime…

“Class dismissed,” he said, clapping his hands together hard. “Let’s go! Master Orchid wishes to speak with me.”

“Is that what I want?” Orchid commented as the students ran past her. She approached James, and took note of the smug look on his face. “What are you smiling about?”

“You and
Lakrymos have no power over me.”

“We are stronger than you,” she said matter-of-factly, but James shrugged his shoulders.

“And I care…why? I am in control of my destiny. The most you can do is kill me, and even then there’s no guarantee that I will stay that way forever. You’re a testament of that. Maybe my trip to Paradise will just be a temporary vacation before I come back here.”

“You’re speaking foolishness,” Orchid spat, “and why the
sudden change in demeanor. Give it a few more days and you were on track to hanging yourself.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve had a lot to think about. And I’ve reached my conclusion.”

“You know that you are always watched because of your lack of allegiance, don’t you? We know you went to the Allayan Order. What did they do? Give you a pep talk?”

“All you need to know is that if you hurt anyone in this Kingdom, it will come back to haunt you. That I promise. Whatever we have going on between us, it stays there.”

“You are in no position to be giving me orders,” she scoffed. “And no matter how much bravado you display, it doesn’t change the fact that it will leave you the moment I crack your spine.”

“Come over here and try it,” he said low. He placed his hands to his side and waited. Orchid snickered and stayed where she was.

“You may be weak, but I admire your fervency. It would serve us well in the battle against the Yama.”

“Whoever they are.”

“James, I didn’t come here to fight with you.” The moment she said his name, his eyebrows raised. She had never referred to him by his actual name.

“Then why are you here?”

“I am taking a leap of faith right now,” she said, her face softening. “I need you to listen to what I have to say. I need you to ally yourself with me for once.”

“Say your peace and we’ll go from there.”

“What I’m about to say cannot be repeated to anyone.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” James replied. He stayed on edge, waiting for Orchid to say something that was designed solely for distraction. He knew that she was one to slink in the shadows, so deception would surely be one of her primary weapons.

“Lakrymos is dead,” she said, and James lost his guard. His muscles slacked and his mouth dropped opened as she shook her head. There was no smile or movement toward him on her part. Just sorrow. “Bastion killed him.”

The second piece of news shocked him even more than the first.
Bastion?
How was that possible? He knew that the boy had great potential and he would surpass Lakrymos someday, but so soon?

“How?” James asked, tensing up again.

“I don’t know,” Orchid said. “I was so shocked that I didn’t ask him about the specifics. And then…I grew afraid he would attack me for inquiring, thinking that I was plotting against him.”

“You have no idea? Then how do you know
Lakrymos is dead?”

“I felt his body and soul separating, his energy dropping to zero. And I was able to feel that Bastion was in the proximity. Bastion confirmed it through conversation the next day.”

“Couldn’t he get another body?” James asked curiously. “Can’t Ephai make him another body?”

“That’s not how this works,”
she said, rubbing her forearms. “And it doesn’t matter right now. We have to think of the future. Bastion plans on leaving Allay. He’s mentioned it in the presence of his friends. It’s only a matter of time before he does, and then Allay will be without their leaders. I need you to choose to stay here. I realize that if you found out Bastion left, you would leave also.”

“I was planning on leaving today anyways, so I don’t know how this changes anything.”

“I need you to change your mind and stay.”

“Then tell me your weakness. How is it that you and
Lakrymos were able to maintain your forms? I’m not going to believe for a second that Ephai is holding you two together. It doesn’t make sense, and besides, how would it benefit him?”

“I’m not going to—”

“You will!” James snapped. “Because it’s the only way I’m going to be able to trust you. Now tell me, before I feel like you’ve gotten too much time to come with a lie.”

“There’s no guarantee that you’ll stay after I tell you.”

“You’ll just have to trust me, like I would for you. If the Yama are really that dangerous, and you need me so bad, you’re going to have to tell me. Who knows? If I stay, I might be able to persuade Bastion to as well.”

“Fine,” she said, closing her eyes and sighing. “The truth is that
Ephai didn’t create our shells. He was merely used to fashion our entrance back on this continent. In reality, our bodies were created by the Delilah.”

“
Lakrymos mentioned them when he took my eidolon from my body.”

“They live near the Yama, but they’re very secretive. The Delilah are crafty, but not strong, relying on strategy and tactical skills to help them in battle. The Yama destroy them whenever they can find them hiding, and their numbers are dwindling fast. After Thorn was killed and all the souls were freed, forced to go to Paradise or Oblivion, the Delilah saw it as an opportunity, to retrieve us and encase in shells before we were taken down below. They knew about the Sages’ great strength from their own secretive scouting missions
, and when we had come up against the Yama in the past. They knew that if we were to fight the Yama in full force, we would win, ensuring our survival, and that of the Delilah as well. They need us. They need warriors to do the work that they cannot.”

“Why did the Delilah pick you two specifically? And why not more?”

“Lakrymos was already seen as a legendary warrior by the people of Allay, and so he was chosen for his reputation. He would be able to persuade the people easily. I was chosen because I was always a close friend of Lakrymos and I would be able to provide him support and steer him back on course if he ever went astray. We were sent to Allay to build an army for the Delilah, but it was more than that. Lakrymos and I agreed with the cause. We believed that if the Yama were able to annihilate the Delilah, it was only a matter of time before they came to our shores. From what I’ve seen and been told, they really are monsters.”

“And why not more Sages? Why just the two of you?”

“They had to act quickly in retrieving us. The souls were flying off in chaos, going to their respective final destinations. They had to make a snap decision. From what I’ve been told, they tried to coax a few more from the ‘Paradise’ side, but those particular souls only wanted rest. They had no more stake in this world. While we…we might be able to change our fate given more time with the living.”

“And why couldn’t you tell us any of this before? Why the secrecy and the force?”

“Because of Catherine,” Orchid said with disgust. “Because of you Sages. Once we arrived here and learned about your journey for the stones of the power, we knew that you wouldn’t be easily persuaded. Against the wishes of whole Kingdoms, you decided to carry out your quest with such force and lack of consideration that we knew that might was the only option. You all are too hardheaded to listen. You wouldn’t believe a word we said without seeing the Yama and Delilah in the flesh. And force worked. We just underestimated Bastion’s power. I didn’t think he could defeat Lakrymos so soon.”

“So the plan is to make an army, fight the Yama when they arrive…and then what?”

“I’ll go back to the Delilah,” Orchid said, studying James’ eyes. “There will be no need for me anymore.”

“You think they’ll
keep you alive? What’s your body made of anyways?”

“I have no clue,” she said, examining her body. “I just know I was given a body that looked like my previous one. I don’t know how the Delilah were able to create or maintain it. It took three years before the process was even complete. We had to lay on these beds in a shell
, as every part of us was slowly created.”

“And
Ephai? Where is he now?”

“I don’t
know. Like I said, he was only used to announce our arrival.”

“That’s an interesting story.”

“It’s the truth.”

“It very well could be,” James sighed. “But it might not, and if it isn’t, then you’ll be making an army for another reason. For what, I have no idea. Perhaps you’re the one that’s trying to take over the Kingdoms in this land.”

“If that’s the plan, I’m doing a horrible job.”

“
Prove the Yama exist,” he said flatly, and Orchid snickered.

“Gladly,” she said,
waving her hand forward. “I can show you since I’ve seen them myself.” Suddenly a Yama appeared before James, crouching low. James was startled by its unnerving appearance. Its large oval eyes and practically non-existent lips. It was thin and tall, nearly reaching James’ chest in height, even while in a crouching position. It stared at him thoughtfully as James thought about whether to release his eidolon or not. Sensing no danger, he turned his gaze to Orchid.

“A manifestation,” he breath
ed, relieved the moment the words came out his mouth.

“I’m probably missing a few important details,” she groaned. “But this is the gist. I’ve been sparring with them.”

“Sparring with manifestations?” James scoffed. “You’ll always be stronger, since they are really a part of you. How could you fight it knowing that? You’ll never improve in strength.”

“That’s true, but what are my other options?
Lakrymos had a Kingdom to run and now he’s dead. I can’t fight you or Bastion because you’ll exploit my weaknesses. All I can do is spar by myself. I could create the likeness of other Allayans or Quietus or whatever else I deem fit, but by using Yama, it reminds me of what is at stake. It keeps me focused. Even if you decide not to help your Kingdom, remember these faces. Once you see one, you’ll know that there are not many behind. The invasion will have begun.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“So,” Orchid said, making the Yama manifestation disappear. “What have you decided?”

“I’m leaving.”

“Even after I’ve told you the truth?”

“I have no clue what’s truth and what’s not. All I can think about is how you and
Lakrymos attacked us. Perhaps in time I’ll be able to get over that, but for now, I think this is all a trick. Sorry, but I quit. I won’t try to persuade Bastion one way or the other. He has to make up his own mind, but I won’t be around.”

“But he won’t stay, I’m sure of it.”

“You never know,” James sighed. “Even though we’ve spent a lot of time together, I don’t have a clue to who he is. Just when I think I’ve gotten him figured out, he surprises me.”

“What are you going to do? Go back to Catherine?”

“That’s none of your concern. Good luck with the Yama.” James gave her a curt wave and walked forward, heading toward the door. Orchid put a hand out to stop him.

“What are you going to do with the information I gave you?”

“What does it matter?”

“Yo
u can’t tell everyone. The Yama may have scouts on this land as we speak. If they overhear that we are preparing for them, the invasion will happen sooner than expected.”

“You know,” James sighed. “I don’t deal with invisible threats and enemies.”

“Right, because Zen-echelon was none of those.”

“I’m leaving now.”

“No!” Orchid shouted, her black robe pouring over her like a waterfall and then solidifying once she was covered from her shoulders to her feet. “You have to stay! I won’t accept no for an answer!”

James didn’t respond
with words. The room shuddered, as if a giant had picked up the school and shook it, then Orchid’s vision went black for a moment. In the next second, she was inside a room, and it was filthy. A child sized bed with blankets that had been stained by sweat and dirt was in the far right corner, by a window that was so small that a child wouldn’t even be able to fit through it. The room itself was only big enough to handle about thirty people standing. Rotten food and long worn out clothes surrounded her feet. She glanced behind her and James was there, giving her the saddest look she had seen in her life. His shoulders were slouched forward, and his eyes were tired and worn. He hadn’t been that way a few seconds ago so what caused the exhaustion? The manifestation?

“What is this place?” she asked with her hand at her side, ready to pull out her eidolon at a moment’s notice.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” he chuckled, kicking at a pile of dirty laundry. Orchid wrinkled her nose and immediately pinched it with her right hand. She had been so overwhelmed by the sudden change in location that she hadn’t thought about the smell. She wondered how much of the stench she had breathed in already. Wait…how was she able to smell anything?