Coalescence

Chapter 8: A Long Time Brewing

 Malcolm rushed back to Jameson's compound to tell him the news, the sun was at its peak. He almost broke the door down to see Jameson in his office, having jolted him awake with the slamming door.

"Commander, commander!" Malcolm was yelling into the building as if no one was home. Jameson rubbed his eyes.

"Yes, yes, what? Did the meeting go well?" He lazily asked. Malcolm was brimming with energy.

"More than well, I've been recruited into the Yellow Corps, in Alexander's squad!" Jameson's eyes went wide as he stood up from his desk.

"I figured this day would come, just not this soon." He approached Malcolm and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Did you hear Alexander at any point mention a 'mastered Art'?"

"Yes, I believe I did during our fight, why?" Jameson shook his head slowly.

"As a captain, he has the right to forcefully inaugurate one person into his tutelage over the course of his career." Jameson explained, Malcolm slowly nodding. "When he left my care, he said that he'd only use his mastered Expanse Art on the person he intended to inaugurate." Malcolm's eyes went wide in turn.

"So, he had to use his free recruitment to let me in?" Malcolm cast his head downwards, all of the excitement leaving him.

"Yes, but don't think of it as a bad thing or preferential treatment. It takes a lot of decision making to come to that conclusion, and the fact that he did so that quickly means that he had plenty of faith in you." Jameson knelt down in front of Malcolm. "I, have plenty of faith in you. Go ahead and grab your stuff today, I'll have a parting gift ready for you." Malcolm nodded before retrieving his small bag of belongings.

By the end of the day, Malcolm was sitting on the porch of Jameson's compound waiting for his return and send off. As his mind started to laze away, he stared off into the setting sun. With its light, he also saw the darkness that would soon take its place. As he started to get lost in thought, he heard Jameson flying towards him. With a small wind gust, Jameson stopped on the porch and handed a bag out to Malcolm.

"So this is the end?" Malcolm asked, taking the bag from Jameson.

"Sadly, it is for now." Jameson let his arms fall to his sides. "Don't think this is the end of me standing up for you. I'll be there when you need me." He let his face fall into a relaxed smile, and Malcolm did the same.

"I can only hope it's not. What's in the bag by the way?" He asked inquisitively.

"Go ahead and take a look." Jameson urged. Malcolm unfolded the top and revealed a golden spear, a complete golden sheen covering it like a new polish.

"Wow, this had to have cost a fortune. How'd you manage to pay for it?" Malcolm asked, feeling the weight of the spear in his hands.

"I get a free repair or project from the blacksmith every year, I only figured that I'd send you off with something nice." Jameson smiled and urged him to take it. Malcolm spun it a couple times in his hand and put it back in the package, wrapping it up with all of his other belongings.

"Thank you, I'll keep it with me." He slung his pack back over his shoulder. He extended his hand out to Jameson. "Until we cross paths again." Jameson firmly clasped his hand.

"Until we cross paths." Malcolm released his hand and sprouted his wings, taking to the skies. He felt a hollow sense of solemnity as he flew away from the compound, approaching the courtyard of Alexander's estate as night fell.

He walked in through the front door and was met with a small welcoming party. Other's in the Yellow Corps armor greeted Malcolm as he walked in and he eventually came to Alexander sitting on his couch.