Stolen Apprentices

Chapter 3

Ajax walked to the center of the room, and got down on one knee to bow. The other four followed suit, dropping in a line on both side of Ajax. Christina looked over at him and winked, diminishing some of the nervousness he was feeling.
He dared not raise his head as he heard the booming voice speak.

"Welcome, children, to the Council's meeting place!" The man boomed.
"We have selected you for a very special reason. Rise now, so we may speak." The man spoke again.

Ajax looked up, and started to get to his feet, wondering if this really was the Council Ash had told him about. He looked around the room, only to notice it was really bare. There were no decorations, and the room was a flat gray. The only thing in the room was the five chairs they sat on. The people sitting on them seemed really old, ancient even. They were wrinkly and feeble, but they gave off a vibe of power. Ajax knew to be cautious around them.

"Why did you bring us here?" Christina asked them.

"We have brought you here to train under us. To unearth your hidden powers, and to become the generals you were meant to be." The man told them. He exuded this charisma that automatically pegged him the leader. He probably knew what he was doing too, just to show who was the boss in the room.

"I am sorry. I have failed you. Let me introduce ourselves. I am Walton. I preside over the element of earth. This is Malikai, who governs the air. That would be Lynn. She is the ruler of any and all things water. That's Zaiden. He's a grumpy man, but don't get in his way unless you want to be burnt to a crisp. And last, but not least, we have Emery, who is the mistress of metals." The man, who has introduced himself as Walton, says to the children.

"Very well. Nice to meet you all. Let me introduce us then. I am Ajax. This is Christina. That's Jackson. Sylvia. And Elise." Ajax told the Council.

"We know exactly who you are young one. We have watched you for many years. Now is the time to come to your trainer for the time being."

"Tell us who that is, and we will follow, for now."

"Council. You know how this works."

Ajax felt his feet move of their own volition. He started to panic before he realized that they were just taking him towards Walton. Looking around, he noticed the others being paired up. However, he sees that he's the only one with the mentor that hasn't said anything or moved. He sees Jackson in front of Emery, and Sylvia with Malikai. Christina is by Zaiden, and he winces in his mind. He wishes she didn't have to deal with his Mr. Grumpy. Elise is standing by Lynn, and he realizes that's everybody.

"Are you ready to have the entirety of the earth at your disposal?" Walton asked Ajax.

"That's gonna take a lot isn't it?" Ajax asked.

"Yes, yes it will. But I know you can do it. I would not have chosen you otherwise. Follow me. The others will get acquainted and start their own training." He told him. Ajax just nodded and followed along. Ajax looked around in wonder. The hallway was much grander than the room. It was painted gold, with chandeliers hanging every 10 meters or so. It was wide, and it seemed to almost stretch for kilometers upon kilometers. There were pictures of wars, peace, a dragon, and people hunting. It was kind of like history written in pictures.

"Why was the throne room so bland but this hallway is amazing?" Ajax asked Walton.

"Ah, that was only the room we meet new people in. You will see the actual throne room later on." Walton told him.

Ajax was confused to why they had two throne rooms, but he just nodded along like he understood. He suddenly turned right turning down a small pathway. Walton pulled open the door, and lead Ajax inside.

They were standing in the middle of a large, barren, rocky room. "For today, we will just be going through simple things. Raise a chunk of the earth, and send it towards the wall." Walton told him.

"That's not exactly simple, but okay. Sure." Ajax said

"It's very simple compared to what we will be doing at a later date."

"Of course. Now, be quiet and let me focus."

Walton shut up, and sat there waiting for something to happen. Try as he might, Ajax just could not do what he did to the statue earlier. He focused, and put all his willpower into lifting the earth. He could feel his muscles straining from the effort he was giving.

"Okay, stop. You just look like you're constipated. You have to let it flow through you. Earth is solid, but controlling it is not. It's a lot more instinct and emotion than what you're trying to do. Relax. It will come." Walton told him.

Ajax was upset. He knew he could do this. He had done it before. Why could he not do it now? He wanted to be able to do this. He wanted to make this man, who he just met 15 minutes ago, proud. He didn't want to be a failure or an outsider anymore. With a yell, the earth was lifted. Ajax roundhouse kicked it, sending the rock flying towards the wall, where it broke into little pieces.

He was breathing heavy at the end of it, having taken a lot of energy to be able to do that. Ajax looked towards Walton for confirmation.

"Good. Good. Clearly, that took a lot though. I just wanted to see what you could do. You will rest for the remainder of the day. I will take you to your room." Walton told him.

"Okay. I'll follow you." Ajax said.

Walton walked out with Ajax following. He lead him right across the hall to a room that was small, but furnished lavishly.

"This is it for now. Breakfast is at 8 o'clock. Don't be late." Walton said.

"Where will breakfast be held?" Ajax asked.

"Come out of your room and go left. You will come across it."

"Very well."

Walton left the room, and shut the door behind it. Ajax laid down on the bed, and started to think about how his life had changed the past few days. It didn't last very long before he fell asleep though. It was almost immediate, with Ajax not realizing how tired and drained he was.

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