Chapter 3: Our Pasts

Zarnem stands at a gravesite, his expression vacant. His gaze is fixed on the stone that bears the name “Penim,” his face a mask of emotionless detachment.

Zarnem: Are we all here?

Four other military leaders arrive. Ira, a brunette woman with a single streak of blue in her hair. Fex, a man with short black hair and piercing green eyes. Bayz, a nearly bald man. And Analee, an older woman with brown hair, now graying with age.

Analee: Just waiting on you to pay your respects.

Zarnem: You know I don’t say anything.

Fex: I hate that we choose this as our meeting grounds.

Zarnem: It’s better so no one can overhear our discussions. No one hangs out at a cemetery.

Fex: It just feels disrespectful.

Bayz: Here goes Fex again.

Fex: I’m serious. Having a meeting at a cemetery, a place where people are supposed to be put to rest. And yet, we’re still telling them our war plans.

Bayz: It’s fine. Half of these stones don’t even have the bodies underneath them, so it’s not like they can hear us.

Fex: Exactly! That’s even more disrespectful! We come here like this is somehow an honor to them, and the majority of them aren’t even buried here.

Zarnem could be heard sighing. Analee chuckles at Zarnem’s response.

Ira: So, what’s the plan now?

Zarnem: Well, Virem and I spoke before coming here.

Ira: And what was decided?

Zarnem: I’m going to leave Clyden.

Ira: That fire and that light user accepted? What’re their names? Sen? Dain?

Zarnem: Yes. Both of them agreed.

Ira: Oooh. You got yourself a pretty solid team. What about the other three?

Zarnem: Makota, Shera, and Yerah.

Ira: Oh, Shera and Makota! I’m so glad those two agreed! I don’t know Yerah though.

Zarnem: She fought alongside Makota and Shera. They killed a Zagon. Sen and Dain killed one on their own too.

Ira: Ah, you made good choices then.

Zarnem: I will need later today to teach my crew the basics of healing.

Ira: Sure, that’s fine. I’d love to meet Sen and Dain too. I hear Dain is a hottie. I’m talking fire of course.

Bayz: What else did Virem mention?

Zarnem: Well, it was more of me talking… I’m heading back to Krutone.

Bayz: Krutone? Why are you going back?

Zarnem: I have a few things to carry out.

Bayz: And you want… those five? They’re not our best soldiers… They’re not even enrolled in our military.

Zarnem: I’m aware. But, I have my reasons.

Fex: Like what?

Zarnem doesn’t respond.

Analee: So, did he say when you’re going?

Zarnem: I want to go soon. I think I may know a few things Krutone needs… The main reason I brought you all here was because I need a few of you to come with me.

A moment of silence.

Bayz: Count me out.

Ira: Same. I’m out.

Analee: I’m not risking my life.

Fex: And don’t think about forcing me to go. I’ll throw a fit, and you know it.

Zarnem: I will need at least one of you.

Bayz: Look, I get it. You’re the incredible Zarnem, the man who can break boulders. The man who can flood the air with sand. The man who can move mountains. But seriously. You’re Zarnem. You’ll survive the travels. None of us here probably will.

Fex: And what about your recruit of five? You probably won’t even come back home with them. There’s so much war going on. Getting caught in the crossfire is inevitable. Not to mention the Zagons.

Bayz: We don’t even know how many there are out there.

Fex: And the bombings. We don’t even know who got hold of them. Apparently, Krutone isn’t the only place with that kind of power.

Zarnem: Just take time to think it over. I will need at least one of you to join me. Ideally, I’d like to have Ira in case we have severe injuries that only she can manage.

Ira: Ughhh…

Zarnem: But if not, then at least you, Fex.

Fex: Oh, not me.

Zarnem: Yes, you. My crew is still new to each other.

Fex: I thought you were done with bringing up soldiers.

Zarnem: I trained all of you. I need at least one of you to do me a favor back. I know it’s a heavy one, but at least one of you.

No response.

Zarnem: At least think about it in the next few days. I have to set off by next week.

Bayz: Next few days? So soon.

Zarnem: I’m aware of the short notice.

Another moment of silence.

Ira: Ok, I’ll go.

They all look at Ira.

Ira: What’s everyone looking at? I’ll go. We can move on now.

Zarnem: You’re sure?

Ira: No, I’m not sure. But I have to apparently.

Zarnem: Well, you don’t have—

Ira: I have to, and you know it.

Silence.

Zarnem: Thank you.

Ira: And I’ll train your newly recruits on healing or whatever it is you need me to do.

Zarnem: Thank you.

Ira: You owe me though.

The five of them stand in silence for a while longer.

Meanwhile, Sen, Dain, Yerah, Shera, and Makota sit at one of the scattered tables in the large room, enjoying their lunch with their respective squads. A few times, Sen glances at Yerah, his gaze following her as she takes bites of her meal. She remains unaware, but Dain notices.

Makota: So, let’s get to know each other more. Shera and I know each other plenty.

Shera: Ok, you tell the group about yourself since you brought it up.

She takes a bite of her lunch.

Makota: I’m Makota as you all know by now. I went to the Clyden Academy of Intergy for all of my schooling including higher education. There, I met my girlfriend here, Shera. I’m an only child, and my father was a soldier here in Clyden. He fought many years ago against Revano’s strikes. Haven’t seen him since.

Sen looked up immediately to Makota. That statement hit a nerve with him.

Shera: How are you going to announce me as your girlfriend and then follow up with war?

Makota: Well, I thought I’d mention it since we’re practically in these times.

Shera: I’m Shera. This here is my dork boyfriend, Makota. We met in class we both had. I have no sob story other than my family is all separated.

Sen, Dain, and Yerah look at each other.

Yerah: I can go. You all know me from earlier. I’m 24. Finished schooling at Clyden Academy also. I never knew my parents. I live with my aunt and uncle. I work as a purifier for the water system here in Clyden.

Makota: And we met you during the ambush.

Yerah: Yeah, we were at the same shop when it happened.

Makota: So, we kind of already know each other. What about you two?

Dain: Oh, yeah. I’m Dain.

Sen: Sen.

Makota: You two seem to know each other pretty well. I mean, you two were “combo-ing” against Zarnem like you’ve trained together a bunch or something.

Dain: Yeah, this is my buddy, Sen. We’ve known each other a long time.

Shera: How long?

Sen: Sheesh, 10— no, 12 years?

Dain: Just about. I’m 26.

Makota, Shera, and Yerah turn to Sen.

Sen: I’m 25.

Yerah: So, practically when you both were just teens.

Sen: Yeah… It has been a while, huh?

Flashback. Sen, at 13 years old, sits alone on his bed, tears streaming down his face. Soldiers surround the neighborhood, and the remnants of destroyed buildings smolder in the aftermath of an attack. The sky is thick with smoke. From outside his window, the distant sound of soldiers cheering and conversing drifts into the room.

Soldier 1: We actually won against Revano!

Soldier 2: Victory is ours!

Soldier 1: Clyden stands!

A 14-year-old boy knocks urgently on Sen’s door, which is locked. Sen hesitates, afraid to open it, fearing it might be a soldier.

Dain: Sen!!! It’s me! Open up!

Sen opened the door to find Dain on the other side. Dain immediately gave Sen a hug.

Dain: Sen, I heard…

Sen cried harder.

Dain: Your mom and dad didn’t make it back…

Sen broke out sobbing.

Dain: Can you come over to my place?

Sen didn’t answer. Just cried.

Dain: My mom and dad would like to see you if you’re ok with coming over.

Sen nodded, tears flowing once more as he cried. Dain pulled him into another embrace. They were just two young boys, on the cusp of their teenage years, having only recently become friends—and later to be best friends.

Present.

Makota: We all shared our sob stories. What’s the both of yours?

Sen: Parents also died in war.

Dain: I have no sob story. I still have both my parents.

Makota: Ooo, lucky you.

Shera: Both biological? No divorces?

Dain: Uhh, no divorces. Both biological.

Shera: We found a winner! Ding ding ding!!!

Sen and Dain were not sure how to respond.

Makota: Ahhh, sorry. Don’t take it so hard. We just try to make light of our “shituations.”

Dain: …Shit-u-a-tions…

Shera: Yeah, you know? Shitty situations.

Dain: No, uh, I get it. It’s just—never mind.

Makota: Sorry, if we stepped on any toes though. We tend to not have filters.

Dain: No, not at all.

Sen: It’s good you try to take life less seriously… even if… it’s kind of serious.

Yerah finishes her meal first, listening to everyone talk.

Makota: So basically, aside from Dain, we don’t really have anything to lose. That’s why we’re in this war right? We’re all so young and already throwing it all away at the front lines against monsters we used to think were fairytales from a book.

Silence.

Makota: Can we talk about Zarnem, though? That man literally handled all five of us.

Sen: He was more than we were ready for.

Shera: And get this. Did you know he used to fight alongside Krutone?

Dain: Oh, he’s that important?

Makota: That doesn’t even touch the surface. He used to be one of their highest-ranking officers.

Sen: Actually? Why’s he here then?

Dain: Right? Why Clyden?

Shera: Like we would know. Probably something political as always.

Sen: Seems like that’d be the case.

Makota: So, he’s here now, training little graduates like us, now as recruits.

Shera: Although, Sen, Dain, you both didn’t go to school, right? I don’t ever remember seeing you two around at all.

Sen: No. Just for our required years when we were younger.

Dain: We just train each other.

Makota: Wow. And you’re both that capable in combat already. Sheesh, not bad. Especially you, Dain. Your fire usage is some of the best I’ve seen.

Dain: Oh thanks… we couldn’t really afford it. School.

Shera: Really? Even someone with both parents?

Dain: Well, I mean. We could, but only for one person.

Shera: You have siblings?

Dain: Well, no.

Makota and Shera look over to Sen.

Makota (nodding): Ohhhh. Your parents didn’t want to leave out Sen. I see.

Sen lowered his gaze, a pang of guilt stirring within him as he felt responsible for Dain not being able to pursue higher education.

Shera: So, Sen? A light user? How do you even discover something like that?

Sen: Well, I guess just genetics. My father was a light user too.

Shera: And your mother?

Sen: Dark.

Makota: Dark!? Can you use dark Intergy too? Did you get both?

Sen: Mmm, not that I’m aware of. Or at least not fully. Sometimes it sparks, but never on command.

Makota: I had no idea light Intergy was so explosive. When I saw you land that hit on Zarnem, that actually gave me some hope! Hahaha.

Sen: Hope?

Makota: Yeah, because we were all missing our hits on him. Hahaha. You were the only one to land a shot. He either countered all our hits or dodged them.

Sen: Yeah, I suppose.

Shera: And you marked him too.

Sen: Yeah, I did see that.

Makota: So, where do you two even train to get that good?

Sen: Clyden Gym Center.

Yerah looked up at Sen and Dain. Sen quickly looks down, breaking eye contact with her, and Yerah notices. A look of concern crosses her face, her confusion evident as she wonders why Sen would react that way. Zarnem enters with Ira.

Shera: Oh my gosh! Professor Ira!?

Shera immediately got up and gave Ira a hug. Ira responded back with open arms.

Ira: My favorite student of all time!

Makota: Liar! You tell that to anyone.

Shera: Don’t be mad, babe! I’m the favorite.

Ira: Jealous, Makota, always.

Makota rolls his eyes as Sen, Dain, and Yerah remain silent, unsure how to respond to the reunion. Finally, Shera releases Ira, allowing her a moment to assess the three unfamiliar faces before her.

Ira: And who do we have here?

Zarnem: Sen, Dain, and Yerah

Ira: Neat. So, in case you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m Ira. I’m one of the professors at Clyden Academy that teaches at the Health Department. I specialize in teaching how to mend flesh using Intergy.

Zarnem: I’m going to leave Ira with you all for the next few hours. She can do a much better job at explaining how to heal through Intergy.

Ira: No rush, but when you’re done with your lunch, meet me at the same room you all had your little fun sparring match with Zarnem. I’m sure he was a lot of fun to deal with!

Makota and Shera give a disagreeing look.

Ira: The great thing is, we have two of my best former students, Shera and Makota. They’ll be a great help also.

Makota: Oh, now I’m one of the best?

Shera: She didn’t say favorite though.

Makota rolls his eyes.

Ira: Like I said, I’ll be in the other room. Just come on over when you’re done eating.

Ira leaves, and Makota and Shera abandon their meals, tossing them in the trash before following her out. Yerah, having already finished, stands and joins them. Sen and Dain remain seated, finishing their food, while Zarnem stays in the room with them.

Zarnem: You two fought well earlier this morning by the way.

Dain looks up at Zarnem from his seat, pleased to hear praise.

Dain (still food in his mouth): Oh! Thank you!

Sen: I mean, not really. We could barely keep up, even with you outnumbered.

Zarnem: I don’t expect any of you to be at my level. Although, you both still did well.

Sen: You’re not just saying that?

Zarnem: Flattery isn’t my kind of thing. You just don’t know how to control Intergy fully or fight optimally.

Sen and Dain are unsure how to react. Though they’re thrilled to receive praise from someone like Zarnem, they strive to keep their composure, responding with calm and respect.

Zarnem: You two are already much better than graduates from Clyden Academy. Really, all what’s left is just the skill. The strength and power are there. Let’s just hope you two are also fast learners.

Sen: And you’ll be the one… training us?

Zarnem: Yes. I have a few more things to take care of. I’ll be back sometime this evening. For now, hurry up with your food and head to Ira. You’ll need as much time as you can get.

Sen and Dain hurry to finish their meals. Once they’re done, they join the rest of the group, finding that Zarnem has already left. Shera and Yerah are in a corner, with Shera seemingly teaching Yerah how to heal. Meanwhile, Makota and Ira are waiting.

Ira: Welcome, you two. So, as you already know, Shera and Makota were already my students at the academy, so there’s nothing really new for me to show them. I’ve asked them to help teach. Now let’s see, who do I want to work with?

Ira looks back and forth between Sen and Dain. Then she locks eyes with Dain.

Ira (quickly turning to Sen): I’ll take Sen!

Makota (gesturing to Dain): Guess you’re with me. Let’s take this corner.

Makota and Dain leave.

Ira: Neat! I get to work with the light user. Zarnem talks about you.

Sen: I see… I know my ability makes me hard to come by, but at the end of the day, I’m really not that important, right?

Ira: Well, Zarnem sees something in you. Anyways, let’s get to it. Can you release Intergy from your hands?

Sen: Like this?

Sen opens his palm to Ira and luminates a light.

Ira: Sort of. That’s your light abilities. I’m looking for just Intergy. So, this.

Ira opens her palms and releases a gentle blue light.

Ira: This is Intergy.

Sen: Oh, that. Yeah, I can do that too.

Sen, with his palms still out, releases a blue light.

Ira: Neat! You’re already there. So, the next thing is quite simple. You just use that Intergy to connect your wounds.

Sen: Huh?

Ira: Ok, well it’s not that easy. So, you’re aware of how the human body is made of flesh. Flesh has muscles, nerves, veins, blood, and all the other good stuff in between. Just like how heat is transmitted throughout the body, so does Intergy. Your goal is to make the connection between the heat that runs through your flesh with Intergy that you can release from your hands. With that, you link Intergy with your body and can piece together any broken flesh.

Ira pulls out a pocketknife from her jacket.

Ira: Care to give it a try?

Sen: You want me to cut myself?

Ira: Well, how else do you practice?

Sen grabs the knife from Ira.

Ira: Don’t stab yourself obviously. Just give yourself a little scratch. Just enough to bleed a little.

Sen gently cuts the back of his hand.

Ira: Be careful not to cut a vein!

Sen digs a little deeper to where his blood begins to leak through his skin.

Ira: Now, place your Intergy over it, and look to where you can connect heat sources.

Sen follows instructions, placing the Intergy over his fresh cut. Nothing happens.

Ira: Not quite. You can’t just place the Intergy over it. You have to try to incorporate it into your injury. Connect the heat in your skin.

Sen: Like this?

Very slowly, the cut begins to seal. It takes about forty-five seconds for the small wound to heal, the skin sealing. Ira looks pleased.

Ira: Fast learner. I didn’t even have to start using analogies to help you visualize it.

Sen doesn’t answer to that.

Ira: So, for a scratch that small, it took you almost a minute to heal. Healing injuries is a whole skill of its own. Like anything, it takes practice, and the more you understand it, the faster you can heal injuries. This is also why we can’t bring people back from the dead. They’re out cold.

Sen looks at his healed hand.

Ira: You see, Intergy flows throughout our bodies just as blood does. Using Intergy to bring your inner Intergy together is how you make connections with your body, especially when trying to seal an open wound or ease a bruise. Now, obviously, the only way to really practice this is to find people who are injured. Students at Clyden Academy are always sparring, so we always had someone they could practice on.

Sen: So, I just have to hope I find someone or something to heal to get my practice?

Ira: Yeah, pretty much. I’d say come to the academy, but you’re not a student there. Still, if you ever somehow get the chance to, you now have an idea of how to do it. It just takes practice getting faster and better at healing. There are more things to learn in healing such as how to deal with poison or toxins. Sometimes you have to deal with bones breaking which doesn’t really have blood flow. That practice is a whole beast of its own. But for now, you’ll have to stick with flesh injuries.

Sen looks at his hands and releases a little bit of Intergy.

Sen: Got it.

Ira: Good job today though. You were a lot faster than I was expecting. I think you can head back home after this. Zarnem had some stuff to do, so I guess I’m the one dismissing you today. Just be sure to come back tomorrow for more practice.

Sen glances over at Makota and Dain, noticing that Dain still hasn’t grasped the technique while Makota continues to instruct him. With a sigh, Sen walks over to the nearest bench and sits, waiting for Dain. His eyes drift to the other corner, where he sees that Yerah is already starting to get the hang of healing as well.

A distance away, Aetrem and Lilan sit together at a bar, sipping their drinks. They’re dressed in their usual outfits, settled in a booth tucked in a quiet corner, speaking in subtle tones as the sun sets outside.

Aetrem: So, I’m thinking we might need to ask Mayzen to help us.

Lilan: Yeah, because that’s totally something Mayzen would do, right? Come on, Aetrem…

Aetrem: He’s somewhere in Clyden. We know that much for sure. He can seek out the light user.

Lilan: What does Zan even want us to do with him anyways? Are we capturing him? I hate they don’t tell us these things.

Aetrem takes out a small glass container with black and white light inside.

Aetrem: It’s this.

Lilan: What is that?

Aetrem: I have no clue, but Zan wants us to spill this on the light user for whatever reason?

Lilan: Damn, this is such a strange job. So, we just open that and pour it on him?

Aetrem: I imagine so.

Lilan: Seriously though, I want to stop working for that psychopath… this whole group actually.

Aetrem: I’m right there with you, but you know we can’t just run.

Lilan: I’m aware. Maybe if we keep doing a bad job to where he’ll want to just get rid of us. I honestly think that’s the way to go about it.

Aetrem: You’re dumb. He’ll kill us if we were dead weight to him.

Lilan: I’m just tired of working for that man. We should’ve just stayed locked up.

Aetrem: Why don’t you tell Zan to fuck off, then?

Lilan: Hell, no. I’d die if I ever confronted him.

Aetrem: So, the step I’m stuck at is, once we find the light user, what then? How do we give him this thing? Not like he’s going to just let us pour this over him.

Lilan: I thought it was obvious that we need to knock him out unconscious.

Aetrem: Or at least tie him down.

Lilan: I’m more concerned about how we can do it quietly, or if he’ll ever be alone?

Aetrem: Zagons?

Lilan: You mean launching another attack on Clyden?

Aetrem: I mean, I do have the authority to do so. I do have another fifty.

Lilan: How did you get so much? Zan would never.

Aetrem: It was Sicrus.

Lilan: Oh? Sicrus is helping you out?

Aetrem: He’s suggesting to use the Zagons if needed.

Lilan: Look at you. Maybe they’ll finally consider you one of them.

Aetrem: Never. There’s no way I could amount to their kind of power.

Lilan: You’re pretty close.

Aetrem: Not even. I thought we were decently strong… and then I saw a little of what Sicrus can do… how destructive he can be… and then Zan was asking why Sicrus was holding back. If Sicrus can do that much, what is he at his full strength?

Lilan: We don’t even know how much Zan is really capable of too.

Aetrem: If I’m being honest with you, I regret joining them.

Lilan looks out the window with a small grin.

Aetrem: I thought getting out of jail was better, but this is worse…

A moment of silence.

Lilan: So, do you think the military picked him up, huh? The light user?

Aetrem: We’ve looked just about everywhere except there. I’m almost sure he’s there.

Lilan: What’s his name again? They said Sen, right?

Aetrem: Yeah, it’s Sen.

Lilan: Alright then. Let’s get this job done tomorrow… hopefully.