A Soldier's Life
Chapter 211: Pup

Chapter 211: Pup

I had seen Maveith’s reading, so I knew there could be potential over 100. I just never thought that I would see my attributes that high. Elven artificers crafted the tablet table, but it copied the design for human physiology. It was my understanding that 100 was the highest possible score, yet there was a 101 after my space affinity.

Maybe magic affinities didn’t follow the same rules? What this meant was my spell form was three more points powerful—which accounted for my larger dimensional space. It also meant that people and creatures would have a harder time resisting it. I reviewed my other attributes before wiping the reader.

By far, the most beautiful number was the improvement in my channeling attribute. Looking over my magical stats, aether shaping was still limiting me from casting true spells. Obtaining essences for aether shaping was problematic. I had copied most of the bestiary from the library, and only a few beasts even noted what essences were likely to be formed using a collector on them.

Not a single creature so far noted the shaping attribute as a likely essence formed with a collector. Well, that was not true—dragon eggs yielded the essence about a quarter of the time, but then you would have to deal with an irate mama dragon.

This meant using a collector on a mage was the only recourse to get a shaping essence. Still, my review of the bestiary was incomplete, so I would hold out hope to find a reasonable creature that could yield the shaping essence. Maybe not in this library but perhaps another. Even without being able to cast true spells, I thought I was doing well for myself.

My other weak attribute was aether resistance. This attribute helped me resist aetheric magic’s influence on me. I have been targeted twice recently, once by Mage Ona and once by Cassian. I think the only thing that saved me with Ona was the distance we were apart. And if Zyna was right and she was getting the charm affinity amulet, I would have to be careful around her. I sent the tablet reader table to my space. If I were called away to Hounds training, I didn’t want to risk leaving it behind.

I was feeling good about my progress, and I took the rest of the night to page through the last of the books from Caelora. Around midnight, I deposited these books inside the makeshift wall safe. Even though my dimensional space had increased, I wanted as much space available as possible.

I did keep one book. It detailed the construction of fine elven chain mail using flattened diamond-shaped links that fit together seamlessly. The resulting chain mail fit like a heavy shirt, but when impacted, the individual links lock together, dispersing the blow across a wide area. The links were supposed to be made from a metal called Mithril, but the only place I knew the metal existed was in the Shimmering Labyrinth. It was probably a nightmare for a smith to create, but I thought to leave it as a parting gift for Ignis. If I didn’t lose my dreamscape amulet, I would have access to the tome myself as it was already copied there.

I cleaned the kitchen and secured my room before entering the dreamscape. I spent some time with Oscar and then studying the void spell form for purify self. Once I joined the Hounds, I didn’t plan to use the amulet other than to enter for a few minutes to create ten or so books every night. I walked to the center of the sandy scorpion room, and Konstantin and Xavier followed, understanding my intentions. “Going to fight the orcs again? How about a wight tonight?” Konstantin asked eagerly holding his runic weapon.

“Not tonight. I have a new member to add to our collective.” I focused on everything that had happened today with Cassian. All the weapons, all the instructions he gave, and the exchanges we had in training for over twelve hours. The gladiator stood before me, dressed in the combat gear I had first seen him in at the Coliseum. His confident visage studied me as a pressing headache formed behind my eyes. I was glad I had not made any books tonight before adding Cassian.

“Have you changed your mind then?” He asked suggestively. I hadn’t changed the essence of what I knew of him. Now that he was created, I could alter his personality, but it shouldn’t be necessary.

“No. Stick to instructing me, and let’s keep our interactions focused on improving my weapons skills.” I fought through the migraine to create the same weapons racks available in the gladiator training yard around the circular chamber. I sunk the large scorpion into the sand, out of sight.

Konstantin immediately started walking the lengths on racks, “This is more like it!” He tested a pilum and threw it into the wall, it pierced the shell of a snail before falling to the sand, the snail dead.

Cassian sighed at my rejection and looked around at people. “I do perform better in front of larger crowds. Can you add a few more…”

I interrupted the gladiator. “Maybe in time. But for now, this is everyone. Let’s start with spear practice.” My black-tipped spear manifested in my hand, and I stepped toward Cassian.

When I left the dreamscape, it was an hour or so before sunrise. The practice had been intense, and I was surprised by how much my subconscious brain had picked up during the training session during the day. It was clear the amount of information was what had caused the migraine, which was still lingering even now.

My body was sore and achy, and I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning. I could have used my aetheric healing, but I hesitated. Without my aether channels burning, I felt like I needed some pain in the background to keep my focus. Had I become masochistic?

I went through a mixture of stretches and yoga on the balcony as the city woke below me. I could see why legionnaires would continue serving on after finishing their term to be employed by First Citizens. Although, probably, Zyna treatment of me and her accommodations was more of an exception rather than the rule.

Zyna was already gone as she didn’t answer her door when I called breakfast ready. I spent my morning in the kitchen preparing food and drink to store in my space. I added more burritos, meat buns, squeezed a few gallons of blood orange juice, and baked loaves of caramel bread.

I had gotten a few crates of blood oranges by mistake, and they were going to go to waste, but I managed to get five gallons of juice and chilled it before storing it in my space. When the noon bell resounded, I was expecting Renna, but she didn’t show. I descended the tower to find it curiously mostly empty. No one was in the libraries or classrooms.

I stopped a passing servant, “Everyone is in the banquet hall for the assembly. They will be there through the evening meal.”

“Why? What is happening?”

“It is an early graduation for some. But the Emperor and Chancellors will be speaking. Then they are clearing out the dorms for the next class a little early. Kind of their final meal,” he snorted. As he left, I wondered why Zyna had not told me. Was Renna being sent away?

Rather than try to find this assembly, I pushed my way into the bestiary library. As expected, the uptight curator was not present. It was always better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I picked up where I had left off and finished the modest library before anyone disturbed me. I was surprised the sun had set when I climbed the winding stairs.

I was becoming concerned as it had been almost a day since I had seen Zyna. Also, the truth was longing to spend some time with Renna. It almost felt like everyone had forgotten about me.

There was no point in preparing dinner, so I spent the night in the alchemy lab. I finally heard the door to Zyna’s room and went to question her. She was pouring herself a glass of wine and looked tired, her eyes sunken slightly.

“How was the assembly?” I asked, pouring myself a glass. One sip and I put down the acidic wine.

“A bunch of old wizards pretending they are still important,” she waved her hands dismissively. “I would have come to get you, but you would have just had to stand in a row with other legionnaires for hours.”

“I heard the Emperor was there?” I replied cautiously.

She huffed, “No. He rarely attends, and it is better as he cannot hold himself together for such a long time.” I nodded slowly.

I decided to be direct, “Will I see Renna again?”

“I can’t tell who is more smitten, you or the girl,” Zyna cajoled. I didn’t respond to her teasing. “Yes. Yes. She will be by tomorrow after midday.” She sighed and more seriously said, “Livia has left the city to go to Gesedmuria with the Antonia’s emissaries.”

“Things are moving quickly,” was all I could say. Zyna just nodded solemnly. My impression was she thought the expedition would not succeed and may not even arrive. I asked a few questions about the banquet. It was a show for the mages and failed aspirants. It was to show them they were valued in the Empire before being assigned elsewhere. Renna still had too much potential untapped to “graduate.” I left Zyna in the kitchen, drinking wine. By her mood, that might not be the only bottle tonight.

I followed my routine through the morning. When Renna finally arrived after midday, she rushed into me. She was wearing the orc short sword and hadn’t belted it well among her robes, as it pressed uncomfortably into me. Still, we ignored the discomfort. Renna was directing me toward my room that was off the kitchen, but I stopped her. “Later. For now, I need to teach you to use this. You don’t even have it looped and strapped in the belt properly.”

The sword lesson was extremely handsy, but Renna didn’t mind—even encouraged it. I still felt it was my duty to prepare her as best as possible, so I kept getting her focused on the simple sword forms. She wasn’t going to be a swordswoman in an afternoon. I thought if she was assigned to lead a company, she could always have her legionnaires continue her training.

“If I am a mage commander, why can’t I just have you be one of my legionnaires?” She complained when I suggested it.

“We don’t always get to make the decisions, Renna. If you never want to be told what to do, become the Empress.” I was being snide but Renna took the words and mentally chewed on them.

I shook my head and got her focused on footwork again. Even if she never became a great swordswoman, it was good exercise, and she had the perfect sword for her ability level. The sun was fading outside and Renna dragged me into the baths, “Zyna said I have to leave at dark. It is my turn to choose what we do!” I didn’t resist.

The next three days were the same. We spent our afternoons training with blades with a rushed session of intimacy in the baths before she left. I had taken a number of essences in the evening, using all my quickness and earth essences and the one remaining channeling essence. I didn’t see Zyna much, but I always left her dinner. I knew she was giving Renna and me privacy because our ephemeral affair could end at any moment. I secured my room that evening and settled into the dreamscape.

I deflected Konstantin’s decoy strike with my shield and used my air shield to hamper Cassian on my left. I needed to isolate one of them and get a killing blow. Maveith and Zorana encouraged me on as I was pressed back, leaving air shields in my wake. Cassian wanted a cheering gallery—I complied but they were cheering for me, not him. Oscar barked encouragement as well.

Then Cassian cheated, using his foot to kick up sand to show the air shields he couldn’t see. Even with my improved aether capacity, they were wearing me down.

I dropped my shield to use the black-tipped spear two-handed. It greatly increased my speed and control. I caught Konstantin diagonally across the face. His eye was destroyed and a flap of his cheek hung. Cassian used my focus on Konstantin to move in but I expected…

I was suddenly in my bed. The crude pulley system I worked in the door and window had pulled the amulet out of my hand. After Zyna had bypassed the locks, I jury-rigged the system. The door thudded into the wedge on the floor, stopping it just a few inches open. I rolled to my feet, sending the amulet to storage and grabbing the unsheathed orc’s torment leaning nearby. I put on my helm, and kneeling, I sent an earth speak pulse into the stone floor to see how many enemies I faced.

A single man was at the door, trying to press it softly forward, but the wedge caught it, and just his fingers were visible. Another man stood relaxed a few paces back. Cornelius’ voice broke the tense air, “I would have knocked, but I didn’t want to disturb your rest.” That made no sense.

“It is midnight. Can this wait till morning?” I asked, sounding annoyed, but I was on edge. Maybe they decided I was not needed for their plans, and this was an assassination.

The old Hound chuckled. “We always take the Pups at midnight. Usually, I get to surprise and awaken them unpleasantly. But you are spoiling my fun.” He let out a long, manufactured sigh of disappointment. “I will wait in the common room. Gather your things, leave your armor. You are no longer legionnaire. You are now a Pup. If you grow some fangs, I will name you a Hound. Five minutes, and we depart.”

I looked over the small room. I got my boots on and picked up a small pack and two letters. Cornelius looked surprised as I exited in less than a minute. “I am ready, I just want to leave these in the kitchen.” I put the pack in the cold larder and the two letters on the table. One was addressed to Renna, and the other to Zyna. Then I descended the tower with Cornelius and the Hound accompanying him.

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