5:40 PST
Thursday March 8, 2020
DEO Lab, Coast CityInteracting with: @Ceta de Cloyes
The first thing that Frakedi noticed was that Echo said "we're" as on more than one. That means he had friends somewhere, which could be a good or bad thing. So far though the boy seemed trust worthy, he knew of planet Ghol from his ships navigational charts, plus someone with that fire in their eyes would not be lying at a time like time like this. Frakedi sighed as the boy finished talking, this simple job had turned into more than it was worth. This guy would probably break in like he had planned but cause some kind of ruckus and Frakedi would most likely get caught up in whatever it was anyways.
"Okay okay, no need to be a grouch. I am not here to stop you, in fact I am planing on getting inside myself. So what do you say to the idea that we team up because of our like minded goals? At least for now that is, I mean you obviously don't trust me, but you know I can get inside so consider this a better way of keeping an eye on me." Frakedi said with some mischief in his red eyes. He was not lying, it would have been easy for him to phase in steal someones face and credentials and then get the info he needed while ratting out the boy and walking away scott-free. But he had no intention of turning Echo in, just wanted to make himself seem untrustworthy so that Echo would stay on his toes and Frakedi would not have as much to worry about.
"So what do you say, friends...for now? I would be hasty with my decision though, we are running out of night time, because during the day this place is like a bee hive." Frakedi said with a hint of seriousness that contradicted his early on playful tone. Normally this place was alive with drones doing their jobs, even at night the building they were currently in was fully staffed and guarded, but for some reason it was a lot more empty and Frakedi did not want to waste this opportunity.
?:?? XXX
XXXXXX XXXX Xth, XXXX
East Royal Area Khrysopsis, Arkos
Zalim sat with his back against the rail, sweating, armor removed, drinking water and eating fruit. The practice had been brutal, leaving his body littered with bruises and and cuts, some still bleeding some not, but this was normal for Arkosian training. They needed to be ready for the next invasion or whatever larger threat lurked in the shadows waiting to steal their paradise. His training was especially harder because he was a prince, child of the man who has slain 1,000 demons by himself, or so the legend says, but the number changes every time he tells the story. So he trained with the royal guard, the elites, the best of the bunch, as his brother did before him and his father before that. Aside from major shows, usually ones of strength, the East Royal Area was for training the best of the best. It was one of many on the island but this one had all the great battles, mighty man to man challenges, and noble deaths tied to it, with this in mind any and all who had the privilege to stand in this area and walk away with nothing but some bruises and cuts should be honored.
The training session was simple, it was similar to the
bull in the ring football drill. One man stands in the middle and takes attack after attack until the time runs out or he passes out. Now passing out is okay, but giving up is punishable, so when Zalim gets into the ring the instructor always loses track of time, so on days like this he was exceptionally sore and bloody, but nothing he had never dealt with before. He cannot complain though, the Archemon was always watching and he never said word, only after does he ask if Zalim is alright, and tells him that it is to make him strong. Those who were there the first time Zalim had done this drill saw him collapse from exhaustion and sleep for almost a day, but now he "took it like a man" and stayed with it till the end. Even though the Archemon says this will make him stronger, it still does not help with his panics. Zalim still hates all the eyes, whispers, and what they mean.
A lot of people dislike Zalim, because he is not a carbon copy of Kassander. Kassander, fights on the front and in your face, Zalim will shoot you from afar and hide in the shadows, Kassander fights with honor and purpose, Zalim will throw dirt in you face trip you and then smile as he runs a dagger though you chest. On the battle field they are polar opposites, but when the armor comes off, they are brothers, Zalim is a shy scared little boy, and Kassander is the one who pets his head while he hides behind him. One thing people do love is when they fight together, they are a "godly duo" as their father likes to say but it has been much time since the last fought side by side.
As Zalim soaked up the eternal night and let the wind blow on his bare back he heard a crunching noise and when he looked over, Vel was eating the carrots form his bowl. "Hey!" he whined to the goat, the thing was always near, and always eating. He was a gift from Agni, on his 8th growth ceremony, and Zalim has only seen his true form a couple of times. The horrible monster that Vel turns into will kill anything that tries to touch an injured Zalim. For example, when Zalim was younger and was still new to training, some boys "accidentally" pushed the boy down during a training excesses and he broke his arm. Vel burst into flames and killed them all on the spot, no one but Kassander could come near Zalim and Vel stayed in that form until is arm fully healed. Vel is his guard goat and does his job well.
A few moments later, a messenger came running up to him looking rushed.
"Arkhay Zalim, your father has summoned you." The boy said with a serous face. This spiked Zalim's curiosity, his father had not been at the practice today, and maybe now he would get answers as to why.
"Did he say why?" Zalim asked as he grabbed his spare shirt and began to put it on, it got chilly up in the area when there was nothing going on.
"Yes, its your brother, he has been summoned by Lord Ares. It is time for him to begin his mission." At first Zalim was happy but then, he grew depressed, that meant he would be going away and then Zalim would really be alone. The boy left after informing Zalim that his father was making preparations at the main palace for Kassander's departure. So he left the food, picked up the water and his bow, and left to find out what his father would need of him.