“Alright. Seems like everybody is here.” Cassian looked around, scanning a group of people who gathered around a table in the main hall. “Cassian, I don’t think Quingon is here yet...” “Don’t worry about that sorry mess of hangover. Merri will keep him informed. Well then...” Getting a small nod from Merridian, Cassian continued. “Our mission in Tressmoor requires us to seal the cave entrance to the Abyss and make sure that there is no rare beast and monster loitering around the region. Before getting to the detail, you guys know Floki, but we have another member joining us. Guys, meet Lucious. Lucious, meet guys...” “Good morning, I’m Lucious, a trainee from the local Union. Nice to meet you...” “Wait a minute, brother. Don’t you being tardy with the introduction? What’s with the “guys”? It sounds annoying...” “No offence, Cassia. We need to get this over with. Do it by yourself later...And don’t call me ‘brother’ when we are on duty.” Brushing off his tongue-clicking sibling, Cassian resumed.
“First, we should split our roles by groups. My group will be entering the cave and seal the entrance to the Abyss, guided by Floki and Lucious. Merridian, you will bring Quingon’s group and set up a barrier ward and sentry perimeter outside of the cave. We don’t know what will be slipping out from the cave, plus the possibility of another rare beast coming to the area.” Sensing no complaint from the group, Cassian pointed on his map. “This area with the ‘X’, is our target which is deep within Farfner Forest. Judging from the terrain, our members, and estimated pace, we will have to walk for several days, probably two or more, before arriving the cave. Depending on the daylight, we might have to make camp for the night half a mil away from the cave before entering on the next day...” Finishing with the journey itinerary, Cassian continued with a brief discussion with the group about the formation, tactics, and precautions for unaccountable situations before ending the meeting.
During the meeting, Lucious watched in awe, dumbfounded by the radiating leadership and logical decision of the young leader of the Centalion squad. “He shouldn’t be much older from brother...Incredible...” Lucious also noted the active and shrewd participation of the members in the discussion. To be honest, he could not follow the discussion at all as he knew little about the formations and tactics they spoke of. Nevertheless, the meeting was an eye-opening experience for the young trainee from a small city-state barely passed its fourth decade. “Everyone knows their stuff...So this is the power of Jercflosey...” Unconsciously gripping his fist tightly, Lucious was deep in his admiration for the subjugation party from Jercflosey before a hand clasped on his shoulder.
“Hello. You are Lucious, right? I’m Cassia, you know my blockhead brother Cassian. I saw you guys ate with Merri and took a walk outside...” Lucious jumped back a little when the blond female knight with her hair letting down to her shoulders jolted him from his thought. “Anyway, what is your case, Lucious? Is there something special about you? I don’t quite understand the reason behind Brother’s decision to include a trainee...” Looking at the way Cassia frowned with her hazel eyes swimming in ponder, Lucious could tell the resemblance of the siblings. “Ah...Maybe he needs someone to guide him in the cave. I was there when it all happened...” “I see. I don’t know there is a surviv... YOU WHAT?!” Lucious was trying to hush Cassia’s loud outburst before noticing something. “Eh...Where is everybody?” “Ah...” Looking around the main hall, it seemed like the members had gone when they talked. “Ha...Right. It seems like there are stuffs that I need to know. Plus, everyone needs to hear this. We will be continuing this tonight...” “Seriously...that stupid brother of mine...” With her shoulders rose in annoyance, Cassia walked away briskly, grumbling with complaints before Lucious could reply.
Brushing his hair with a breath of relief, Lucious was about to walk out from the main hall when a voice stopped him. “...Lucious...” “...What’s up, Ruffia...?” Lucious turned to meet his estranged childhood friend who was obviously nervous. “...F...Floki said to meet him at the stable...” “Thanks, Ruffia...” “...W...Wai...” Lucious ran out from the main hall before she could say something else. “Ruffia... I’m sorry...I...” Running to the training ground, Lucious could only wallow in sadness and regret as he made his way to the stable. “You look like the end of the world, kiddo...” Catching his breath, Lucious returned the smirking stare of the bald instructor. “What do you think you know better, Floki?” “Oh, the scrawny kid learned how to bite. Cute..” Floki deflected Lucious’s flaring temper with ease and calmed the young boy with a serious expression. “You know, this might be the end for you, so why not be a little braver and nicer? Talk to the girl. Sweep her off her feet if you can.” “That’s not fair, Floki. You don’t know how she had...” Lucious stopped and lowered his head in desperation. “...I don’t think I am ready yet...For what she wants to say and how will I feel about it...It just...”
A moment of depressing silence permeated the stable as Cormac and Ludin blew their breath loudly as if to blow the silence away. “...I see...Well, I just have to keep you alive until then...Return to my business with you, lad...” Floki paused to choose his words carefully and stared straight into the eyes of the young boy in front of him with a sigh. “As you know, there is a bit of problem...you might say, about the change...with that barrier of yours...” “You mean big major catastrophe...” Biting down the sarcastic return, Lucious received the serious gaze of the mid-age instructor with equal attention. “...I am sorry to say...I have to submit a report to the Central Union...to the Principle...They might be not happy with thereport...or worse...” Floki cleared his throat slightly to regain the attention of the lowering eyes of his young trainee. “...However...this might not be a complete disaster for you...I gave the report to Cassian, you know, that Clypeus youngster.” Lucious nodded his head slightly as Floki continued.
“It may sound ridiculous even farfetched...but if you want to continue your journey to become a Maeist or even rise higher to the rank of the Principle...” With his eyes widened, Lucious extended his upper body to the front and his head looking dead straight at his Maeism instructor while holding his breath as his brow was sweating in anticipation for Floki’s words. “...Prove yourself in this expedition, boy...” Lucious’s mind became blank as Floki continued to encourage him. “...Of course, it is not guaranteed even if you did do well in this mission...but you already have your feet tattering on the edge of the cliff, sonny...I will make any arrangement necessary if you impressed the Centalion groupie especially that Cassian lass...” “Me...Impressing the hotshots from the Principle...” Lucious barely recovered from the reality of the insurmountable task at hand when Floki dropped another load. “...And don’t you dare to use your bloody barrier in the action...” “WHAT?! Floki! Then how am I supposed to win the recognition of the Centalion squad? Sitting duck? Cooking soup? It was also partially your fault...” Lucious’s sudden explosion threw the veteran Maeist off his guard as the young trainee shouted unfairness over the straw-roofed daubed stable, earning the misgiving stares from the horses.
“Enough, boy!” Floki shouted. “Yes, at present, you have little chance to impress those Principle lads. Without the barrier, you are living cannon fodder in this expedition. I’m sorry for your circumstance. That’s why I’m giving you a choice by agreeing to bring you on this expedition...” Floki’s loud but calm retort stopped Lucious’s hot explosion as the boy recoiled from the firmness of the bald veteran with a scar across his face. “...Stay onto the mission until the end to wage on the slim chance of getting a ticket to Jercflosey, or use this chance to escape and disappear from this region. To be honest, your life is on the line...” Lucious froze at the revelation of his future after his expulsion, but he did not surprise by the fact as he already thought of this possibility. “...Floki, tell me...Is my barrier...that scorching mess of mud...is really that bad...?” Lucious’s expression darkened when Floki gave him a slight nod, but he continued to the most important question of all. “...Does it have something to do with the Abyss...?” “......” Floki’s silenced but firm and serious eyes confirmed the fact as Lucious staggered a few steps back.
“...Lad...How old are you...?” “...Fourteen this year...” “...You’re still too young to catch up in this madness...” Floki continued softly. “Even if you managed to get yourself to Jercflosey, you will not be completely safe...To be honest, I agreed to bring you just to let you run away from all of this and never use the art of Maeism again, for good...Think about it...kid...” With several claps on Lucious’s shoulder, Floki walked away from the stable before stopping to say something. “...Quickly gather all the stuff you think you need and come to the main square.” Lucious remained numb as his instructor walked away to the preparation. Moments had passed before he could summon his strength and walked back to the dormitory.
Lucious was gathering his stuff when Raus entered the room. Both of them paused, watching each other before Lucious returned to his task. “...Heard you going with those folks from Jercflosey...Really, you must be desperate enough to kiss those Principle boots that you following them to that...cursed place...” Lucious ignored the cynical leer of the tall thin man as he tied his sack and wore the stone necklace around his neck when Raus struck again. “...Seriously, I heard the rumour of that young leader of the group...what’s the name again...know your brother quite well. It seemed that you had your dinner with the hotshot...Phew, how sneaky, both you and...” “Raus!” A firm response stopped Raus short as Lucious donned his grey robes over his tunic, heaved the sack on his shoulder and turned to look at the brown eyes that looked even murky today. “...I’m going to that cave again. I might not come back, maybe. There is no need for you to bother a dead man, Raus. Enjoy my absence and be good...Thank you...” At least, Raus bothered to talk to him even it was nothing but scolds and jeers. Lucious flashed a sad smile and walked past the stunned man and closed the door behind him.
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