The Heroes of The Elemental Academies Book 3 The Tides of War

Chapter 16: Fey

   Stratos

"Dammit This is serious!!!," John slammed his fist on the conference .table. Strat shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The problem with these chairs was that they were just so hard. It was one of the biggest reasons he hated these war meetings.

   "We all know it is serious! Someone was targeted from within the Academy City which is supposed to be one of the safest places for any agent." Samson rumbled from his chair at the head of the meeting table. He looked tired to Strat, his eyes had dark bags under them and the wrinkles in his forehead had only increase. Even his long braids, which he normally immaculately kept were frizzled and frayed at the ends. Samson stood up, pushing his chair back as he did.

   "We must increase security for all high ranking members of the Academies," He said in a firm voice. His tone however was directed at Stratos, probably because he knew how Strat was going to react to this.

   "Sam you know I don't need protection," He said glaring at Samson from the corner of his eyes. He didn't like having bodyguards. Not because he thought he was too powerful for them but because if he was truly in a life or death situation, he couldn't focus on protecting them while also protecting himself. The room went quiet. Stratos was the only one who would ever refer to Samson as Sam. Samson was a huge figure, a literal biblical story come to life. His strength was unrivaled.

  Samson's own glare intensified. "You couldn't even sense the attacker," he pointed out.

   "We all know how powerful you are Stratos, that's why we can't afford to lose you." Strat understood this but he couldn't bring himself to use the lives around him like that. If he couldn't sense the attack then their was probably no one in the Academy City who could. It would be like asking them to die.

   Samson seemed to pick up on his train of thought.

   "How many times have you saved the Academies? Samson asked. "Your very long life is an testament to your service to God. I'm sure there are a ton of agents who would love the chance to pay you back. Remember you are not alone."

   Strat knew that Samson was right but he just couldn't push himself to be protected by others. Protecting was his job.

  "Anyway now on to military matters," Samson stated loudly signaling an end to the matter. Stratos still couldn't shake the bad feeling he had. He knew perhaps better than others what he was capable of. While he wasn't the best when it came to detection, he was by far no slouch. He had had years to master his different talents and abilities and it was scary to think that there was a weapon, a projectile no less, that he wasn't able to sense or react to. Something had to be done.

   The biggest reason why he had remained the protector for so many years and the strongest one in the Academy was due to him always increasing his strength. He never stopped training. So, this was just a signal that he had gotten lazy, and much too arrogant.

  "I will have to fix this," he thought to himself nodding.

   "You disagree Lord Bannot?" Matt said interrupting his deep reflection.

   "Sorry, what was that I was a bit out of it. What were you saying Matt?" He may have been distracted but he wasn't distracted enough to miss the smirk John through Matts way. He sat forward now fully aware that they had  made some joke at his expense.

  "Let's talk about volunteer's for the unit to be protecting me. I think John and Matt are great additions," He said resisting the urge to smirk himself.

    Seth

   "Focus Seth, feel your Fey flowing with in your body, try to imagine limiting it flow." He had only been training with Rylee for two days now. They had made steady but slow progress towards the city of Durindal. The heavy rain had turned most of the roads into mud marshes. Since no paved roads existed in Elementia this meant travel relied on the state if the roads. And the mud was thick and they saw no sign of it drying. So they were to continue the final leg of the journey tomorrow.
   They had begun to spar every night training him to control his Fey. The energy had always been there but he had no realized wha it was or what it meant. It had felt weird and alien but also... warm, welcoming. But the last few days of learning to precisely control and guide it had been difficult. It was hard to feel the energy and use it without being intensely focused.
   "You need to be aware of your surroundings while you are using your energy. Remember using Fey is solely based on having faith that whatever you are trying to accomplish with it Will happen." He was currently attempting to accurately guide his Fey to a gathering point just under his abdomen.
   "Having a core made up of Fey ensures you have a supply to use whenever you need it," Rylee said circling him.
"But remember even if you have the Fey without having the faith to know that God can make what you are attempting happen the creation will still fail."
" If having Fey energy gathered is so important, how have I managed till now?" He asked. She stopped circling him and rolled her eyes.
"I'd say it was a mixture of pure instinct and as much as I pains me to admit this, talent."
"Talent really? I've summoned swords, and pillars of earth. I even summoned a hydraulic mech suit to increase my speed and power." Rylee squeezed her eyes shut briefly as if she was remembering something unpleasant.
"I know. Not to mention the shield you summoned on the battlements last summer. That was the reason I assumed you had been trained in all of this." A small "oh" was all Seth could manage in reply.
   "Then how will this effect my combat ability?"
  Rylee crouched near him and began picking at something in the dirt.
  "Hard to tell, but maybe it will only make you slightly weaker. You could also just keep using you power as you have until now. At least until you are ready and your Fey has been gathered sufficiently."
" That's enough contemplation we have a camp to get packed up. Tomorrow we should arrive in the province of Durindal. So you will need to keep on your toes."
He stood up feeling Sonfang clang back against his side.
"Will we continue this tomorrow night?" He asked her as she was already leaving. She turned back to look at him and uncertain gleam in her eyes.
"That's assuming we are even still here tomorrow night." With that she swept past him and reentered the camp.