Karta Stryker

Chapter 16: Pack Your Bags

I woke up the next morning, laying next to the now dead fire-pit. Everyone else was already up, flourishing around the newly grown gardens. Arcadia was standing over the top of me, hands on hips waiting patiently for me to get up.

"About time you got up. It's already lunchtime." She raised an eyebrow.

Already? I must have blacked out.

"Had a late night, I guess. Had to make sure nothing was coming." I lied.

Jade was packing her bags, and Marcus was watching the children, along with Samma'El. The kids frolicked among the daisies, and the pedals of many other fluorescent flowers danced in the wind. Wherever we were, this was now a place of pure harmony, thanks to Jade. She was the one who saved the children. She, like no one else. But Marcus' eyes were locked on her like nothing else mattered. His jaw was hanging, unaware of his own facial expression. All of a sudden, a snap cracked through the air like a gunshot. Arcadia had slapped him on the jaw to wake him up from his daydream. Marcus rubbed his jaw, making sure it wasn't broken. 

"Be thankful it's not her that caught you." Arcadia smiled. 

In spite of the bright atmosphere, Samma'El grimaced. He tucked his head down, and stood as still as stone. He raised his head to look towards me, and gestured me to walk to him. Once I did, he spoke quietly.

"No time to jest. You must continue your training." Samma'El said.

"More than we already have?" Marcus almost cried. 

"Not physical training. No, this is something that requires more discipline. You must train your minds, for that is a far stronger weapon than any sword." 

I respected Samma'El's need to prepare us, but the more time we spent training, the stronger Galgamere grew.

"We need to make haste, no time to be wasted." Samma'El spat. 

I simply nodded in reply, deciding to entertain Sam.

I made my way over to Jade, who had been sitting with her legs crossed in the middle of a courtyard the garden had naturally enveloped. Her warhammer was standing with the handle upwards, and Jade appeared to be meditating. I decided not to interrupt her, and and sat opposite to her. I crossed my legs and placed my palms on the outer sides of my upper legs. My weapon levitated from the sheath on my back, and stood parallel to Jade's warhammer. 

"Joromalleus. It means earth hammer. I am one with it, as I am with the earth." Jade spoke calmly. 

"Another verse of wisdom from Jade." I smiled. 

"I've been part of the earth for my whole life. It's warranted." Jade smiled.

I expected her to keep on the solemn wise-woman act, but she is just a kid. 

"To be one with your weapon, you must understand it. What's it's name?" She asked. 

"Stryker." I said.

"Please tell me it's spelt with an 'i', not a 'y'. It is, isn't it?" Jade peeped through one eye and giggled. 

"What do you interpret it to mean?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" I said.

A pebble flew through the air and hit my head, instantly making me wince. Jade didn't make a single movement, yet she was still able to throw a rock at me. 

"Just that. What does the weapon mean to you?" 

My eyes grew vacant, looking back to the past. 

"12 years old today, Karta! You know what that means?" Zero smiled.