The Oreans

Chapter 11

Chapter 11
An Unexpected Turn of Events

The day Alen would start his training he woke up with Adrien nowhere to be found. At first, he was not worried by the young master's absence. He thought Adrien would return in time to accompany him to the camp. When an hour had already passed however and Adrien still hadn't returned, he began to worry.

He decided to go to Adrien's room to find out where he was. But before he could enter it, he saw a piece of paper on the floor. He bent to pick it up and recognized Adrien's even handwriting on it. It was a note meant for him that said:

Dear Alen,

I'm sorry if I didn't wake you up to let you know in person: You'll be on your own for some time since I have an important matter to attend to in the South. There is a crisis there, and the commander reckons the company ought to do something before the people resort to taking up arms. I am in charge of the mission.

There are more than enough supplies in the storeroom to last you while I'm away. Divan has told me you can manage on your own so I'm not really worried.

Your sword is on the mantelpiece in the hall. I wish you luck on your first day of training and the next ones.

Adrien

PS

Please bear with Troydes for the meantime.

Alen read and reread the message, feeling a sudden attack of nerves. He would have to go to the camp alone and face that Troydes. He must as well stay here and wait for Adrien to return.

But then, what if this was another test—a test for his guts? What would Adrien say once he found out that he chickened out on his first day of training because he was afraid of his would-be mentor?

With a heavy heart, Alen decided to get ready for the camp.

As he was leaving, he remembered that Rafim had also agreed to join the Oreans. He looked at his house, half expecting to see him come out the front door, but he didn't. Alen wondered when he was going to start or if he already had. He had never seen him since the night he moved in.

Sometime later, Alen found himself in the camp. A crowd of Oreans was already gathered by the gate, some chatting, others doing warm up exercises. When Alen saw junior masters among them, he dismounted from Rapido and bowed his head in salutation.

"You are the new trainee, aren't you?" one of them, an open-faced man with overlarge ears, asked.

"Yes, sir," Alen replied.

"Doesn't he look too old to be a level one trainee, Roder?" his companion asked, a tall man with close-knit brows.

"He is skipping to the last level," said another man. Alen recognized him immediately as Bruno, the one who had informed Adrien about the commander's condition, though he now looked so much less ruffled and had a thin mustache and goatee. "He already received special training from Master Divan."

"Is that true, boy?"

"Ye—yes, sir," Alen replied undecidedly, thinking if the games he had had with Divan had indeed been part of a training.

"There he is! The commander's new pet," a familiar voice spoke from behind him.

Alen turned around and found himself face to face with Dreiden. He was with a group of burly teenagers, all of them eyeing him with scorn.

"So—how was the party at the boss' mansion? Did you enjoy it?" Dreiden added.

Alen would have answered him back, but at that very moment Troydes appeared beside them.