Aliath

Premonition

"You met Hela in the training room while we were away?" Aliath asked.

"Yes. She arrived a few days after you left," Eric responded. "Is something the matter?"

"No... well yes. But we'll discuss this later," Aliath said, trying to erase the troubled look on his face. "Elena, was it?" Aliath asked, in an attempt to change his focus.

"Yes, sir!" Elena replied.

"Her name's not Elena, sir. It's Patience," another soldier said as he lay on the ground.

The three were puzzled as they stared at Elena for answers.

"It's Elena now, sir," she replied.

"You changed your name?" Aliath asked.

"I reverted to my previous name sir. When I was born, my parents named me Elena. But after a few years, they decided to change my name to Patience. I merely changed my name back after they passed away a few years back," she replied.

"Interesting. Did they hope that you would grow up to become a patient person because you were such a troublesome child?" Aliath teased.

"Quite close sir, but my parents were not so considerate. They realised that it would take a lot of patience to deal with me as a child without mortally wounding me, hence my name, Patience," Elena replied with a face so straight, that Aliath knew she was not joking.

"Oh," he said, as the atmosphere became sullen. "Well, it made you strong, now, didn't it?" Aliath said; a scuffled attempt at motivation.

"I've always been strong, sir," Elena said.

Aliath's eyes deemed. The words that came out of Elena's mouth meant more than she could have imagined. I have always been strong. A thought that had resonated through Aliath's mind from the day he was born. He wasn't only strong. He was the strongest. And yet, what did that really mean? Before him stood a youngling who probably did not understand the weight of that statement. To be strong wasn't the power to defeat your enemies. It was the power to defeat yourself should you be the enemy. That was what it meant to Aliath. Without it, the world would be in ruin because of him.

He stared at the young soldier on the ground who had spoken earlier. He hadn't observed it before, but there was something peculiar about her circuit. While it might not be visible to most, he could see two circuits overlapping one another in a strange fashion. It wasn't uncommon for people to have overlapping circuits. Elementals often had varying circuits for each element. Some wizards like Bitrus had varying circuits for contrasting abilities. But before him laid someone with one average circuit and a completely empty one. That much was uncommon. "What's your name, soldier?" Aliath asked.

"Oremei," the soldier said.

"I'll remember that," Aliath said as he took his leave

Bitrus conjured earth magic to replace the arena that Eric had destroyed, much to the amazement of the new recruits. He created mountain-high obstacles with repeated sword movements with the word; Terra, followed by the word; grow. A simple spell that many knew, but Bitrus's magic levels created results that very few were capable of. Shortly after, he and Eric took their leave as well. Elena sat beside Oremei who was still yet to stand up, as was the case of all the other recruits.

"Can we assume he's an earth elemental now?" Elena asked.

"I can't say. But it's a possibility. Perhaps you could learn from him then. It shouldn't matter much whether or not he's an earth elemental if he's capable of such a feat," Oremei responded.

"True. I guess we'll see how that goes then."

***

Bitrus and Eric converged at Aliath's quarters. The entrance was a heavy oak door adorned with ornate carvings of ancient spells and mystic symbols. It creaked open slowly, revealing a dimly lit antechamber lined with towering bookshelves that held centuries of arcane knowledge, most of which many doubted Aliath paid heed to. After all, they were only there because they were the property of the position of the High Wizard. Bitrus on the other hand spent much time in Aliath's chambers reading those books, and Aliath advised many to do the same. He was an advocator of improving one's magic. Ironically, only a few have witnessed him practice at all. A door off to the side led to the High Wizard's secret room which Aliath opened by placing his palm on the door, to which it responded and gave way. The three walked into a well-lit room, with more space than Aliath's entire chamber altogether.

"I thought you wanted to speak to us?" Eric asked.

"There's not much to discuss. I'll need to set things straight so that I don't create any misconceptions. In the meantime, I want to use the opportunity to train," Aliath said as he picked up a sword from the plethora of weapons on the wall of the secret room. Aliath focused his effort on conjuring magic with his sword and as he struggled, Bitrus and Eric took a few steps back.

"Should we be this close?" Eric asked.

"I'm always close," Bitrus replied without breaking his focus from Aliath as he continued to try to conjure up magic from his sword.

Eric stared at Bitrus wearingly. "That doesn't sound the way you think it does. That's creepy," Eric goaded. "Besides, you might be fine, but if I accidentally get hit, then I would be in trouble."

"You'll be fine, don't worry."

"And what makes you so sure?"

"That," Bitrus said as he pointed at Aliath's flame magic that was not more than a candlelight.

"I see. He's still that far off," Eric said.

"Did you see that? I conjured fire just now," Aliath exclaimed.

"Well done master. But I reiterate that you do not need this training. I'll be with you whenever you need."

"I appreciate that, Bitrus. But I want to be able to save people with my own hands. I don't want the fate that was destined for me."

"And it won't happen, master."

"It hasn't happened for now. But the signs lately are telling otherwise. I need to be ready. We all need to be ready. Or the day where I destroy the world may be fast upon us."