Chapter 3: Threads of Fate

The hut was simple- a wooden door, four timber walls, a chimney, a window at one side that was opened facing out. Aromas floated outwards, drifting past the weary and hungry travelers- a complex yet succulent mixture of herbs and meat that made Xel’s stomach growl.

Just as the trio closed their eyes to take in the smells, the door creaked open. Xel caught a glimpse of the being standing in front of him and all thoughts of food were expelled from his mind.

“K’Nae!”

Eio and Serenity’s eyes both snapped open, hands reaching within their clothing to seek out their Zantet. Within moments, the three hot-blooded Phernix were armed with their weapons- bow, sword and axe.

Diamond took a step aside and the K’Nae had a look of amusement on his face.

Serenity fired off a blade of grass, enchanted by magic to be as tough as steel. The K’Nae rolled over to the left, and started running towards the open field behind the hut, with Serenity firing shot after shot at his back. The K’Nae dodged every shot, as if he had eyes behind his back which could see the projectiles coming.

Around fifty meters away from the hut, the K’Nae stopped and faced them. Seeing him unarmed, Xel dashed forward and slashed down with his broadsword, leaning his weight on it- a clumsy blow that the K’Nae smoothly evaded. Just as he was about to counterattack Xel, Eio’s axe swiped past, forcing him to jump backwards, just barely enough to dodge the hit.

By this time, Xel had recovered from his first strike, and lunged forward, attempting to pierce the K’Nae. It simply stepped to the left, and with one hand, slapped the broadsword hard. Not expecting the attack on his weapon, Xel lost his grip and the broadsword spun away, landing on the grass a few feet away. As Xel turned towards the weapon, the K’Nae appeared suddenly right in front of his line of vision and delivered a blow to his stomach. Before he could launch another attack on Xel however, an arrow shot straight at him, forcing him to leap backwards suddenly, losing his balance.

Eio took the opportunity to bring down his axe. The K’Nae somersaulted backwards, missing the blow by inches. Eio followed up with an uppercut slash, which finally connected.

However, instead of the normal sound of axe cutting through bone, a loud smash of steel on steel was heard. The axe was blocked by the K’Nae with his bare hands. Shocked, Eio dropped his weapon on the grass and stumbled backwards.

Monster. He’s a monster. Heaven help me..

The K’Nae started to walk forward, and Serenity fired off another arrow at him. This time, the K’Nae just raised his arm and allowed the arrow to hit it, but instead of sinking into flesh it bounced off harmlessly.

With a burst of speed, the K’Nae dashed right in front of Serenity. Raising his fist, his face an obscure, unreadable mask, the green humanoid drew it back, ready to let fly a hard punch at the girl’s face. Serenity closed her eyes, preparing for the impact. It never came.

Laughter caused the girl to open her eyes just a crack. The K’Nae was laughing. “These are the three you wanted me to train, Diamond?”

Diamond walked out of the shade of the hut, heading towards the fighters.

“Indeed. Would it prove to be overly hard? It seems you had much fun playing with them, Spade.”

“Play? With their skills, they aren’t anywhere near worthy. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t mind passing down some knowledge. After all, I have all the time in the world- and nothing to spend it on nowadays.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll come claim them again when I’m done with what I have to do. I’ll see you then.”

“Surely not. Stay for a meal, at least.”

“Sad to say, I am presently running on a tight schedule. It would be impossible for me to spend any more time here. Until we meet again, then…”

With that, Diamond made a few gestures, and he shimmered out of existence.

Serenity, Xelthius and Eiothanus were by this time grouped closed together, Zantets recovered in hand, wondering what they were going to do now, in a hostile land with their guide missing, an enemy in front of them.

Spade turned and began walking toward the hut. Motioning for them to follow him, he said, “Come now, we have much to do. I didn’t expect you to come so soon, so I haven’t prepared a meal for you - you’ll have to go gather some fruits yourselves today.”

Momentarily shocked, the three of them could only stand and stare at the man, trying to absorb what he had just said.

After several steps, Spade heard no footsteps and turned around to see the three of them still standing there, with little sign of movement.

“What, you growing roots now?”

“You’re not going to kill us?” Serenity, ever the brave one, spoke out first.

“Why would I?”

“I thought...”

“You thought too much,” Spade laughed. “Diamond asked me to train you. I agreed since I had too much time to spare. So I intend to pass you some battle skills. It wouldn’t make sense to teach a bunch of corpses how to fight now, would it? Now are the three of you coming along? Or do you really want to root there?”

Before they could say anything, thunder rumbled in the distance. Spade looked up to see dark clouds spreading tendrils over the sky. He continued, “It’s going to rain in a few minutes. I highly suggest you go forage for your lunch at the bushes downhill soon, and return to the hut before the rain comes. I’ll see you guys there.”

With that, Spade continued walking. The three Phernix, stomachs rumbling, decided to heed Spade’s advice, confusing though they might be. They walked briskly down the hill and, in a small bush just thirty feet away from the foot, found a couple of blueberry shrubs. They ate a couple and kept some, using their shirts as an improvised basket. On their way back, just at the bottom of the hill, raindrops started falling. They began to run uphill, through the rain that seemed to grow stronger with each passing minute.

Being the children they are, they played around in the rain for just a few moments outside the hut before entering drenched through.

And thus began their training.

“Wah’Kha, son of Agra’ham.” A man shouted.

Two burly trainers dragged him into a small space between two walls, just big enough for him to squeeze in, not big enough for him to fidget. They then tied his arms and manacled his legs to the walls. A deep breate in, and he smelt the distinct smell of blood. Dried blood. He looked to his left and saw a mess of crusted blood, layers and layers caked into the walls.

Fear overcame him. Instinct told him to get out, to run away. He struggled against his binds, to no avail. Looking forward, he saw his instructor taking a javelin in hand, aiming right at his heart. The instructor threw the javelin.

“I’m going to die.” Was the last thought in his mind, just as the javelin thrust straight into his chest. Intense pain followed, stemming from his left shoulder.

…Left shoulder?

Wah’Kha awoke, feeling numbness in his left shoulder where the camp trainer just hit with a hammer, the K’Nae form of a wake-up call.

Wah’Kha was just another K’Nae youth, one of the many hundreds in the training camp off the coast south of the K’Nae capital of Gah’Net. Like every other K’Nae in the camp, he was just as nervous about autumn’s coming, for in the mid of autumn would be his graduation test. A test of manhood all K’Nae youths had to passed in order to be a warrior and fight for the glory of the K’Nae.

And that day was today. Ever since he was conscripted he wondered how the graduation test would be like. There were many rumours - “They’ll make you hunt a wild boar single-handedly”, “You’ll have to survive out in the wilderness for a month”, and the worst was “You’ll have to best the instructor in single, hand-to-hand combat”. The instructor was a burly man, with firm muscles all over his body. Scars decorated his forearm and back, and he wore them as if they were symbols of honour. He was an expert in every weapon known to the K’Nae - the sword, spear and bow, but his speciality was hand-to-hand combat. He could win most armed, seasoned fighters bare handed. To the trainees, he was the epitome of speed, skill and power. They all revered and respected him.

Wah’Kha quickly wiped off the sleep in his eyes, dressed up, and rushed out of his tent to the assembly square, where a number of his friends were already gathered, excited about the prospect of graduating. Each was discussing what their future would be like- being generals in the army, becoming war heroes and the like.

“Order!” the camp instructor bellowed. Silence ensued. “Today will be the graduation test of your group of trainees. Congratulations for making it this far, but the worst is not over yet, so do not celebrate too soon. I will call out the names of each and every one of you, and you shall face the test alone. Should you pass, you will be brought to the blacksmith where you will be crafted a weapon of your choice- my graduation gift to you.”

Murmurings could be heard from the soon-to-be graduates.

“Silence!” shouted the instructor. We shall begin after the first meal. Are there any questions? If not, you are dismissed for meals. Report back in half an hour.”

“Sir, what about those that do not pass?” a trainee spoke out. The instructor smiled, turned, and walked off.

The mess hall was especially quite that morning. Even the younger recruits sensed the tense atmosphere in the hall, none of them daring to make any noise. There was only the occasional sound of metal plates clashing with each other in the wash bin, after the K’Nae finished their meal and dropped the plate into the bin.

Half an hour later, the graduating batch reported to the field once more. After giving out some simple instructions, the instructor started calling out names.

“June’Clair!”

“Grakhors!”

The field was filled with nervous novices, all curious yet at the same time afraid of the content of the Test. During the testing of a “Vaz’Tek”, a muffled scream could be heard, but it was silenced shortly. Everyone turned towards the source of the scream, just beyond the instructor’s tent, then towards the instructor himself, whose face held a frown.

The sun slowly rose, its warm rays causing perspiration to form on the foreheads and backs of the K’Nae.

“Wah’Kha!”

Wah’Kha walked down the pathway next to the instructor’s tent, a grim expression on his face. Determination filled him, determination to pass this test and become the warrior his father never was, for his father ran away the day just before the war with the Humans. “The son of a coward”, Wah’Kha was often called when he was enlisted. He managed to prove his worth with many acts of courage and ability during the two years of training, and his fellow trainees soon accepted him. Yet he could never forgive his father.

Behind the tent, Wah’Kha saw a scarred trainer holding a list, javelin on his other hand.

“Wah’Kha, son of Agra’ham, the traitor.” The man said with a slight sneer. “Bind him and move him to the slot.”

Two burly trainers holding a rope bound his arms together, gagged him, and dragged him into a small space between two walls, just big enough for him to squeeze in, not big enough for him to fidget. They then tied his arms and legs to manacles fixed onto the walls. Wah’Kha took a deep breath in to still his nerves, and the smell of iron, of blood hit him.

This is just like my… dream…

He looked to his left and, half-expectedly saw blood plastered onto the walls. Layers of layers of dried blood, and a layer of fresh, still-red blood covering it.

Fear overcame him. Instinct told him to get out, to run away. He struggled against his binds, to no avail. Looking forward, he saw the trainer aim the javelin at him. Before Wah’Kha could comprehend what was happening, the trainer threw the javelin at him.

“I’m going to die” was the last thought in his mind, just as the javelin pierced straight into his chest. An intense pain flashed by, and Wah’Kha shouted into the gag, his will to live burning strong. And just as suddenly as the pain came, it went away.

Carefully, slowly, Wah’Kha opened his eyes to a fraction of a millimetre. The javelin was still protruding out of his upper body, but there was no pain to speak of, as if the sudden jolt was but a faraway dream. The area which the javelin tip made contact with the skin was glimmering in the sunlight, a translucent, shining brightness.

The instructor mumbled a “Passed.” And the trainers stepped forward to pull out the javelin, as well as undo the binds holding him in place. Following that, he was directed into a small tentage where several other soon-to-be warriors were waiting excitedly.

On the path there, Wah’Kha was trying out his newfound ability- to turn any part of his skin to impenetrable diamond. Lost in his experiments, he suddenly felt someone bump into him. Turning back, he realised it was one of those who passed. As he looked back forward, he saw the rest of the trainees running back towards the assembly grounds. Then, he heard the low, resounding blast of the horn in the air, at periodic intervals. The call to assemble.

The call of war.

Wah’Kha turned and followed the crowd heading towards the assembly grounds. By the time he got there, the whole camp was already gathered, waiting for instructions. Dark clouds started to gather in the skies, signs of an impending storm. The air was still and silent. Even the horn-blower stopped blowing. The atmosphere was tense, everyone waiting for something to happen.

All of a sudden, there was a loud grunt and the horn-blower fell off the podium, blood erupting out of a hole sliced cleanly through the neck.

Just then, lightning flashed down, right where the horn-blower was standing a few moments ago, blinding everyone who was looking in that direction. Raindrops started to fall from the heavens. Large drops splattering down on the grass, the tents, increasing in intensity and decreasing in size with the passing of time.

Wah’Kha blinked out the light from his eyes, and for an instant, saw the raindrops mould out a figure, standing behind one of the trainers. Its left arm was raised, a blade in place of a conventional hand.

Blink.

Blood flew out from the back of the trainer, but the figure was nowhere in sight. Wah’Kha swept his head around, hoping to catch another glimpse of the figure in question. At this moment, he noticed the Instructor had withdrawn a pair of steel armguards from somewhere and was putting it on.

After a few moments, screams could be heard from the four guard sentries at the 4 gates in the camp. More invisible figures started to march in, their left arm the shape of a sword, their right, that of a spear. Some of the newer recruits panicked and tried to escape- these were the ones who got hunted down and killed first, buying time for the more matured K’Nae to arm themselves.

Not long after, they clashed.

The first wave of K’Nae who charged the invisible beings were cut down swiftly. Blood flew everywhere, mingling with the rainwater, giving a new color to the tents and grass. The trainers then charged forward, weapons in hand, led by the Instructor. He threw a fist, which connected and blasted through one of the phantom spirits. A shadow spread out from the hole in its body, covering it fully before shattering into a million particles, too small to be felt.

“These are but the Oni! They are monsters, powerful but not invincible! Show them the might of the K’Nae!” The instructor bellowed to the crowd, before once more wading into the battle.

With that one shout by the Instructor, the K’Nae recruits echoed a war cry and charged into battle, their morale high. Wah’Kha withdrew a broadsword from the weapon stand and charged into the fray, stabbing and slashing with earnest at the fast-moving creatures- he wanted to prove his valor in his first battle. Adrenaline pumped through his body, giving him a sense of invincibility as he sliced first one Oni at the side, then stabbed another right through the body.

Fighting on, he never realized that he was straying away from the rest of the defending K’Nae. It was only when one Oni cleaved his blade in half did he notice he was now all alone. The Oni continued its assault on the now-weaponless Wah’Kha, with the ferocity of a typhoon. Despite valiant efforts in evasion, Wah’Kha was soon drenched in his own blood, cuts covering his entire body.

All of the sudden, the effects of adrenaline wore out, and he felt an incomparable lethargy wash over him. As if sensing this weakness, the Oni thrust forward with his hand-sword, aiming right through Wah’Kha’s stomach.

Already seeing black at the edges of his vision, Wah’Kha made a last ditch attempt to defend himself, hardening the part of his torso which connected with the sword. The effort overcame him, and he fainted into the darkness of oblivion.

The sun shone brightly down on the ruins of the K’Nae training camp, revealing a scene of utter destruction. Wah’Kha opened his eyes, surprised to find himself alive. As he tried to move, pain shocked him at every point, as if a thousand nails had nailed him onto the ground. The overwhelming pain caused him to once again lose consciousness.

When he awoke again, it was close to evening. Once again, he tried to rise, biting his lip in preparation of the pain he knew would come. Struggling hard, he managed to rise to his feet, using a quarterstaff found nearby to support his weight. Dull pain throbbed from every nerve ending, as he walked around his home for the past two years. Tents were ripped apart, holes everywhere. The only cement building, the mess hall was decorated with blood. Bodies were strewn everywhere- some he could recognize as his former training friends, some were those of the trainers he used to hate.

Moving on, he saw the decapitated head of the Instructor. His body was a few meters behind him, a mess of blood and muscle.

Slowly, Wah’Kha staggered out of the enclosed area. Following the current from the stream flowing past the camp, he started to walk, hoping it would bring him to civilization.

For the first few days, he was too injured to hunt for game- and thus had to suffice with the berries growing around the river. By the end of the week, most of his injuries had healed sufficiently for him to hunt for smaller prey, with the help of the stolen quarterstaff.

Several days passed as Wah’Kha continued walking. Gradually, the scenery changed from green fields to a more barren land, with only a couple of trees dotting the landscape. Luckily for Wah’Kha, this part of the river sported a number of fish, providing enough nutrients for him. As he walked on, he spotted a little building at the top of a small hill some distance ahead

After three weeks of lonely walking, the possibility of the presence of another K’Nae appealed much to Wah’Kha, and he increased his pace. By sunset, he had arrived at the foot of the hill, and he could make out more details about the building. It was a relatively simple wooden hut, comprising of a wooden door, a single window and a chimney.

As he climbed up the hill, a smell of fresh meat and herbs assaulted his stomach, making it growl in response. He knocked on the door for a few moments, and waited. A few moments later, a slim figure with azure blue eyes and grayish silver hair opened the door.

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A/N: Sorry i took so long to update this. Had a little writer's block. Hope this won't happen again. Once again, constructive criticisms and suggestions would be nice. So would reviews. Thanks.