Enter the Shadows: Book One of the RTS Series (First Full Draft)

Chapter Twelve

Daniel

As expected, the cut Daniel received from the previous trial left a long scar on his temple. It wasn't too distracting, as Daniel was easily able to cover it up with a bit of his hair. He didn't want to show off the scar, or boast about his victory in the trial. However, his friends Victor and Andrew had no problems bringing it up.

"That whole fight was incredible, Daniel! I mean, we knew you'd do fine, but it was pretty amazing to see you actually fight for your life!"

Daniel didn't pay too much attention to Victor's praises, seemingly more interested in the ground. His friends had to practically drag Daniel into town that day, and they were persistent enough that he, begrudgingly, went with them. So he was stuck walking with the two of them through downtown for the majority of the afternoon.

"Were you afraid at all?" Andrew asked, "I mean, the thing you fought was intimidating and huge at first."

Daniel had been genuinely afraid throughout the fight, but he still had an image to keep for his two friends. "No, not really. Once I figured out its weak points it was only a matter of time before I bested it. We really shouldn't talk too much about this, you know. Especially out in the open."

It was considered bad luck to discuss the trials as they were occuring, though more so on what the potential future trials would entail. Daniel just didn't want to talk about this much more, his stomach was twisting itself into knots.

"Who'd be listening to us? A bunch of blind eyes?" Victor scoffed. "They're too thick in the head to notice anything." He looked around a bit at the people walking on the opposite side of the street. "Look at them, they have no idea what's going on right under their noses."

"That's the point. Unless you'd rather be burned at the stake." Andrew replied flatly.

"That hasn't happened in decades." Daniel added, growing more annoyed with every passing second.

"It doesn't mean it can't happen again. Blind eyes are dangerous like that; they're unpredictable." Victor muttered, showing a clear disdain for the Laic of the world. "It's surreal in a way, isn't it? People, Doyen like us, living with these blind fools every day and none of them even noticing?"

Admittedly, it was odd to think about. But Daniel had regarded Laic with indifference. He had always gone to school with other Doyen, and never had to interact with blind eyes unless he was in town for whatever reason. It amazed him to think that these people went about average lives with no idea that they were neighbors with Esoterics.

"It's weird alright." Andrew agreed. Then he looked to Daniel. "So when you become a part of the Henosis Society, you're going to have control over all those followers, right?"

Daniel tensed. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"We all know it's true, Daniel!" Andrew scoffed. "Everyone knows your family has a dozen followers!"

Daniel glared at Andrew. "People who know secrets like that usually get their memories wiped, just so you know. The lucky ones, that is."

The color in Andrew's face drained abruptly.

"So," Daniel went on, " I'd appreciate it if you two would not talk about this so openly. It's not just exposure to the Blind Eyes you have to worry about, it's also for the sake of your own safety."

He was grateful that both of his friends did not bring up the topic again as they continued on their way, but they did find something else that grated on Daniel to talk to instead.

"Speaking of followers, you've been spending a lot of time with that servant woman again." Victor had decided to bring up Astra. "She's barely an excuse for an Esoteric, let alone a Doyen."