Arvium

41: Training a Beta

Month 1, Day 4, 10:30:42; Arvium, Trinity Village

Aella walked down the path toward the village with heavy steps. Jothan hadn't asked her about what she had seen in the Temple. He had just nodded to her when she reappeared, and led her out of the caves and down the mountain. She pulled off the helmet, feeling the warm sun touch her face.

"Aella?" Jothan asked, turning to look at her.

"Go on," she said, giving him a small smile. "I'll follow in just a little bit."

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and listening to the bird calls in the greenery around her. The air was warm, filled with humidity, almost tropical. The rocks on the path crunched as Jothan kept on walking, heading toward the village. With a breeze came the smell of cooking vegetables and meat, and the sounds of laughter and talking.

The crystals were heavy in her pocket, and she bounced on her toes. It feels like I just drank five cups of coffee. She stopped and opened her eyes as she heard a fern rustle to the left. She narrowed her eyes as she saw the man leaning against a tree at the base of the path.

His arms were crossed and he had his back to the sun. He wore the simple attire the other villagers wore, a white shirt and leather pants, with leather boots. But this time, two black leather straps crossed his chest, and the hilts of two swords peeked over his shoulders. At his side, hanging from a leather utility belt, was a quiver of arrows, and a black recurve bow sticking out amid the arrows.

He killed those players. She frowned. But he saved two players, and let the second group go. She scowled at him and crossed her arms. Then he kidnapped me.

"Come now," he called out, opening his arms wide. "You still haven't forgiven me? I did save your life, you know."

She scoffed, and raised an eyebrow. "When?"

He pushed off from the tree and stood, his arms crossed, mirroring her stance. "When you were caught in the avalanche. Noir and I dug you out and I carried you to the cave entrance where Jothan and his men met us."

She shifted to one foot, a groan escaping her lips as her shoulders sank. Please tell me he didn't. She straightened and pointed a finger at him, her voice raising until she was almost shouting, "You still kidnapped me."

He rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up into the air. "If you were in my position, would you have done any differently?" His voice grew louder as well with each word, and he motioned with his hands in wide gestures as he argued. "I'm supposed to be dead, remember? Dead of fatal wounds received in the last Alpha battle? Having a witness that places me in the Beta Game destroys that theory and would call down the fury of the entire Mortia and Invictus Guilds down on Ender and me."

Aella clenched her fists and growled. "I wouldn't have told anyone--I didn't even know for sure if you were a wraith!"

He paused for a moment, then shook his head. "You would have been curious and started asking for more information."

She nodded. He has a point. "But I know how to find it quietly. I hadn't told anyone yet, and I managed to find out you were a wraith. I even found the names of your team."

His shoulders lowered and he ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "Prince isn't a fool--he would have figured it out. Ender was right. I shouldn't have appeared yet. I should have just stayed in my castle and left things alone."

She walked down the path, passing him. She stopped, turning to face him. "Why did you come back?"

He smirked, then his gaze lowered and the smile disappeared. "I couldn't leave the last Omega players to be slowly picked off by Mortia mercenaries. They were my friends, and it was my fault their guild was destroyed."