Axiom

Chapter Two

June 29, 2164 | 6:00

At the Day's Opening, Jason packed his things and began the march to the city. Soon he reached the City of the Axiom. He got in line with the rest of the people going through the city checkpoint. When he reached the checkpoint two guards asked for his ID. He gave it to them and when they scanned his record showed him as a member of the Shunned class.

"You're not allowed in here, you filth." one of the guards sneered. But Jason saw the screen next to him flash the words, "Tyro", an Axian's apprentice. When the guard turned around his eyes dilated in terror. He dropped to his knees.

"Please!!! Don't tell your master of this." he begged.

"Uh...sure." Jason responded uncertainty, shocked by the man's sudden change in demeanor.

"You're so gracious and forgiving," the man praised.

"Thanks," Jason stuttered. Jason wondered if that was the type of decorum that people used around Axians, even their apprentices.

He slipped by and began to walk into the city. Inside the city Medians follow in an out of crumpling building from the Old World. Small markets were trading food and small items. The trash can was full of garbage and feces, as there was no sewage. A few electric cars weaved through the thick crowds on the street and bumped up and down on the tattered street. These cars were reserved for the richest of society, Axians and wealthy Medians. The Pyramid of the Axiom stood at the end of the main road. It was a wonder of the Old World standing at 500 meters tall and 700 meters wide, created right before the Collapse.

He turned the corner, went into an alley and knocked on the door of the address written on the piece of paper. Then suddenly the place seemed familiar. Like he knew this place. This was his home before he was Shunned! How had the Axian known? Jason thought. That was eight years ago. Behind him someone said,

"You came." The Axian was standing there, still as a stone.

"H-how did you know?" Jason quivered.

"I know everything I want to," he replied, "I wanted to make an impact. Follow me if you still want to train. Then again if you don't your class will be back down to Shunned and you'll be killed for being in the city."

And with that he took off. He was already 20 meters ahead before Jason even began running. Jason ran into the crowded street and saw the Axian still putting distance between them. He watched as the Axian leaped into the air and quickly tic-tac in between an alley and onto the top of a building and leaped over the city wall and onto the other side.

Jason pushed through the people waiting patiently at the nearest gate. A guard tried to grab him but he just shook him off. He could see the Axian entering the forest. As Jason ran into the forest his natural klutz took over and he tripped and fell into a small creek. Wet and exhausted he ran for around an hour more. Soon he saw the Axian standing at the top of a hill. As he stumbled up the hill, his heart beat against his chest so hard he thought it would burst, his lungs were as dry as parchment, and his head throbbed.

When he finally reached the top of the hill he fell at the Axian's feet, he coughed and gagged, sucking in the dry dirt as he breathed. The Axian seemed as though he hadn't broken a sweat.

"You have completed your first test," the Axian said. Behind him stood a small log cabin in the clearing. A thin trickle of smoke rose from the chimney.

At dinner that night he was given a stew with chicken and peas in it.. And as he ate he asked,

"Who are you," Jason asked.

"Honorable Axian Finn Hudson," he said as he sat down at the table, "but you will just refer to me as 'master'." He put his hood down and clicked a button on the side of his hemelt. It made an unsealing noise and loosened, Hudson put one hand on each mask and took it off and put it on the table. Finn had light brown hair, neatly kept, and kind, deep, gray eyes that seem distance yet focused.

"Sir...I mean Master when will training begin?" Jason questioned.

"Tomorrow. There is a room in the back prepared for you," Hudson said and after dinner Jason went to find his room. His room was small and modest yet provided everything he needed. A nice sleeping set, consisting of a ten centimeter thick sleeping mat, a pillow, and some blankets, and a small desk and a lantern. When Jason lay down on the mat he realized that it had been years since he had used one and quickly drift off to sleep.