Lost Identity: Eloria Series Book 1 | ✓

17: Corin Carriages

7/6/3028

The temperature was perfect when Keiran, Jarek and I set out, but by late morning I craved the shade the trees provided.

Throughout the morning we hiked over endless rolling hills. My aching body rebelled with every step, with every inclined pathway an ordeal. At first, we walked in single file—Keiran in the front and Jarek behind. As time wore on I must have slowed considerably and Jarek ended up beside me.

"You look about as limber as a log. Are you aching?" Jarek asked.

"Yeah," I groaned. The limp was a dead give-away. "Are you?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Really?"

"Are you talking about yesterday's scuffle?" Jarek grinned.

"Scuffle?"

His smile lines deepened. "It's okay, I'll help train you."

"It might take a while to train me. Considering your arm is bigger than my thigh, you must have trained for a long time to look the way you look."

"Yes, but my good looks are just my genetics. I trained for many years in Kayden to hone my skill," he said slowly, emphasizing the last word.

"Fighting skill or corin power?"

"Corin manipulation," he said. "But martial arts is equally important if you want to join the Praetorian Red Shields."

"Your weapon glows when you use corin manipulation?"

"That's right."

I pressed my lips together into a tight-lipped smile, satisfied that my hunch was right. I pushed him for more. "You learned how to manipulate corin and fight in the country Kayden?"

"Kayden isn't a country—it's a province in Ankinia and it is also my hometown. We are a strong people that have mastered the art of martial skill." He thrust his chest out. "Kayden isn't known for corin manipulation study, but for martial arts and quality metallurgy."

As we walked, Jarek shared about his life growing up in Kayden with five brothers and being fiercely competitive. For play, he learned to roughhouse and grappled constantly with his five brothers. By the age of eight, he started training in swordsmanship and soon became renowned for his skill with the blade. It wasn't long before he was inducted into the Praetorian Red Shields. I wasn't sure what that military branch meant, but it sounded cool. When his superiors caught wind of his talents, he was appointed to work directly with Keiran as his bodyguard.

"So, how long have you been Keiran's bodyguard?" I asked.

"Five years—but he doesn't really need my help. Anmus..." Jarek jutted out his cleft chin and gave a crisp nod. "He's a solid fighter."

"Then you must know him really well, right?"

"Yes," he answered, keeping one eye on Keiran, who was walking not far ahead of us.

"Is it alright if I ask you about Keiran?" I kept my voice low.

Jarek raised his eyebrows. The old scar on his forehead crinkled. "Go ahead."

"I don't know if it's appropriate to ask, but... are Ilta and Keiran together?"

"Together? Do you mean are they together often?"

"Er... Sure."

"They are."

"Like, a couple?"

He paused. "I think so. I never asked."

"Oh, I see..." I nodded slowly, trying to appear indifferent. "Do you know how Keiran and Sye-Liene met?"

"He met Sye-Liene Anmyn in Muirek city at the Day of Peace celebration."

"Anmyn?" I questioned.

"It's easy—let me explain. Anmyn is a title, like Anmus, but used for women. Sye is the family name. Liene is the first name," he explained.

"Wait a sec, you don't mean to say that Sye-Liene was royalty?"

"She only became royalty later. Sye-Liene Anmyn's mother saved the royal family."

"What's her mother's name?" I asked.

"Sye-Reine."

"Sye-Reine..." I repeated in a whisper. "What was she like?"

"I don't know. She died after saving the royal family."

"Oh." My arms hung slack at my sides. My throat was tight. I was at a loss for words. Jarek's words weighed on my chest, hefty and dense. It was another minute when I cleared my throat. "So, Sye-Liene and Keiran became friends after Sye-Reine saved Keiran's family?"

"Yes. I think Sye-Reine's last wish was for the Ankin royal family to take care of Sye-Liene Anmyn. I don't know so much about it. I joined the Elite Ankin Soldiers after Sye-Liene Anmyn's disappearance."

If the royal family took care of Sye-Liene after her mother's death, what would her relationship to the royal family be? I glanced forward at Keiran. Did he think of Sye-Liene as a sister? For some reason, I didn't like that idea.

It was around noon when I spotted a strange sight in the distance. Something was flying toward us at great speed. Keiran and Jarek had seen it, too, but they weren't alarmed in any way.

"Shouldn't we get off the path?" My voice wavered.

"It's alright, Ellis," said Keiran. He stood firmly in place as the bizarre object neared.

The closer it got, I realized there were multiple flying objects. They streamed quickly towards us, traveling much faster than the horses. A heavy blast of wind hit us like a wake from a large ship, following in behind the metallic black objects that now cruised above us. One that was the size of a small bus, much larger than the others, broke formation and landed on the path ahead.

It reminded me vaguely of a bullet train—streamlined for speed. I looked to Keiran and Jarek for clues as to how I should react to this thing. They were completely relaxed. I did my best to ignore my rapid heart beat pounding in my chest and stood in place as they did. A door opened in the side of the object, the pilot stepping out and shielding her eyes from the sun.

"Anmus," Stanjah said with a slight bow of her head. I breathed a sigh of relief. "The reinforcements are heading for Possen Fort. I assume it is alright that the corin carriages were utilized?"

"A wise decision, Stanjah," said Keiran. "Let us hope that Possen Fort can endure a little while longer until our reinforcements arrive."