Chapter Four

Darkness covered everything, there was nothing left but a blank empty void, like a canvas painted black. A world where silence echoed shrilly and closed down upon all that it touched. Standing amidst the darkness, the only living thing within the void was an enormous figure shrouded in a veil of light. The man stood tall and defiant, energy radiating off of his powerful frame in waves. He was missing an arm, of which was replaced by an intimidating metal gauntlet that stretched all the way to his shoulder in its place. His golden mane was pulled back from his brow and fell to his collar, his dark eyes pierced deeply into the soul of anyone they happened to look upon, and raven wings larger than himself that trailed all the way down to the soles of his feet arched from his back and into the void beyond him. His mere presence alone could bring even the strongest of men down to their knees before him. He was a God in human clothing and stood patiently awaiting the person who now stood before him to come. To find him. The name of the person tumbling like water cascading down a brook from his lips… Bardox…

Bardox…...

Bardox…...

BARDOX…!

Bardox awoke in a daze, sweat beading at his brow and secreting from his body as if he had just marched a full day in the blazing sun. His underclothes were completely soaked from his perspiration along with the sheet above and under him, the pillow, and poor little Tarlach who still slept peacefully in the same position against his chest as he had when he had first snuggled against him when they had gone to bed however long ago. Hair plastered to his face Bardox gingerly moved Tarlach into a safer, more dry position on the other side of the bed, then crept carefully out of the chilly room. He didn't bother with his shoes or changing his clothes, just instinctively grabbed his sword and silently made his way out of the room, through the silent cottage, and into the crisp morning air outside. The shrillness of it attacking his skin like millions of tiny needles, the frost of it wakening him even further and calming his erratic heart as it attempted to beat out of his chest.

The dream had frightened him. He had never experienced the likes of it before. Was it a nightmare? Or something else entirely? That was the question that plagued his mind for in all this was no ordinary dream. It left him shaking and afraid, even though nothing remotely scary had happened. In the end, he could only conclude that what was frightening him so was the man. The enormous winged man who, despite never seeing before and was more-then-likely nothing more than a figment of his imagination, felt so familiar and intimate, as if he had known him all his life. His presence spoke wonders in only moments and he could have sworn the man had been calling out to him, his deep rumble vibrating through the air and falling to his ears silently, picking up in volume like a plea until he finally awoke covered in sweat and heart racing.

Standing beside the cart that had brought him and Professor J to the cottage he ran a hand through his drying hair, the cold biting at his exposed flesh and causing him to shiver. He supposed that he should really go back inside but a part of him did not wish too. Bardox wouldn't be able to fall back asleep even if he tried so he figured there wasn't any point in trying, he supposed that he could attempt at cooking a meal for everyone in the home but he didn't know what everyone liked or disliked yet or how much they ate in general so he threw that aside as soon as it crossed his mind. Looking down at the sword he had carelessly grabbed with him on his escape outside he began to admire it like he always did when in his hands. Clutching it in both hands he ran his fingers nimbly along the words 'Brionac' that were etched in gold along its sheath. He thought back to the stories his mother used to tell him when it came to the swords origins and a slight smile played on his face. He remembered his favorite as a small child and he couldn't help playing the story out in his head just as his mother had so many times before:

Nuadha, his supposed ancestor, had been wounded in a great battle. One that had cost him dearly. Stumbling through the woods, dyeing from his wounds, dehydration and hunger he had stumbled on a farm. It was the farm of a doctor and his only daughter Marylyn, whose mother had died the spring before. The doctor had found the wounded God and, not knowing who the man truly was, nursed him back to health with the help of Marylyn. As Nuadha healed and became strong once more he quickly became infatuated with the doctor's lovely daughter not hesitating to make his feelings known. For seven years he stayed upon this farm, and for seven years he courted the beautiful Marylyn until finally at the start of the seventh year she had become his bride. It was then that he had gained enough strength to win back his kingdom and save his people, and it was all due to the help of the good doctor and his bride. Nuadha had reclaimed his throne before the Gods and his children had ruled forever after him. His sword being passed down from generation to generation, the true heir being the only one who could wield it and harness his powers….

As lovely a story as it was Bardox knew it was just that, a story nothing more. Though he did come from the royal line, his mother being a cousin to the crown, it was not possible for him to be king. That was his cousin's place, not his and he accepted this, even if part of him wished the story was true and the sword actually did contain a great power of the Gods.

Carefully pulling the sword from its sheath, he admired its strange beauty before cautiously getting into a battle stance. Making sure to stay a distance from the cart and began to swing the spear-like sword rapidly, his moves and stance sloppy from never being properly trained. Bardox stayed out there well into the morning, the sun fleeting over the horizon before he stopped, his body now warmed from the workout and the breeze a relief against his overheated skin.

"Are you sure you're not a warrior brat?"

Sword falling from his hands Bardox jumped and spluttered into a heap onto the ground.

"You're not much of an alchemist are you?" Merlin's chagrin appeared over his face, the mage chuckling at his clumsiness before extending him a hand and helping him back up from the ground and taking the sword before Bardox could reach it, lifting it high above his head also in order to keep it out of his reach. "What type of craftsmanship is this, it looks nothing like a sword and more of an over decorated spear." He jeered.

"Give it back," Bardox jumped up and snatched it from Merlin's hands, surprising the mage with how high he could actually jump, "It's a family heirloom."

Merlin rolled his eyes, "either way kid shouldn't you be using your cylinder rather than that hunk of junk. Or are you getting second thoughts? I know J is a pain in the ass to be around but I didn't peg you as a quitter."

"I'm not quitting!" Bardox blood began to boil at the implication.

"Could've fooled me brat!"

Bardox was about to reiterate when Professor J had come up from behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Starlet made breakfast, go eat," he stared at Bardox until he moved and continued to watch him until he made it to the door and went inside. He could hear his mentor and Merlin talking but he couldn't make out anything that they were saying. His mood fouled from his encounter with the mage Bardox quickly put his sword back in his shared room with Tarlach, who was nowhere in sight, threw on something more decent for company then rushed into the dining room they had all ate at the night before.

Starlet had prepared what appeared to be a feast. All sorts of breakfast goodies, a lot of which Bardox had never seen before, were laid out along the same worn table from the night before, Tarlach already sitting in one of the many chairs and insisting that Bardox sits next to him. As soon as he sat down Starlet had placed a heaving pile of food in front of him, his stomach choosing to start aching and growling at the moment the food appeared before him. "You two boys go ahead and eat, everyone should be joining us shortly," Starlet said kindly as she began to serve herself a plate of the delicious looking food as well. She sat across from Bardox and seemed to be watching him as he ate as if to gauge his reaction to the food.

Not wanting to speak with his mouthful Bardox gave a big swallow of everything that was in his mouth and gave a polite "Thank you" and "it's really good" before digging in again, noticing the pretty smile that spread over her lips at doing so and making him blush from head to toe, turning a beat red. She was awfully pretty when she smiled.

It didn't take long for Merlin and Professor J to join them from outside, neither of them speaking to each other or anyone else for that matter as they got their own food and sat on either side of Starlet. Merlin was ordinarily quiet, irritation lining his features and pouring off of him with every bit of food that he ate and Professor J was even more tense than usual, his typical calm exterior seeming to have been rattled. Whatever they had been talking about outside had them both riled up and everyone at the table could feel it if they had been a mile away they still would have been able to with how the both of them were holding themselves. Breakfast remained in this manner until finally Starlet excused herself and took Tarlach with her, promising the young boy some treats at lunch time if he helped her with the gardening leaving Bardox alone with the two fuming men before him who kept giving each other daggered looks when the other wasn't looking. Finally, much to Bardox relief, Merlin stormed off from the table and left him and his mentor to themselves. Letting out a breath of relief Bardox didn't dare ask what that was all about, afraid of what the answer may be and slightly having a feeling as to what it was – i.e. him – and finished the last of his toad-in-a-hole quietly.

"You should get ready; we will be going to the village as soon as the cart is set up. I will be introducing you to two more of my companions today, and they will be aiding me in your training." This puzzled Bardox, he thought that Professor J was his mentor and that only his mentor was supposed to train him, not other people.

"Aren't you going to be training me, Professor?" He asked timidly, confusion lining his words.

"Yes, but I will not always be here. Unlike other mentors I cannot devote my entire time to training a pupil because of my duties to the Kingdom. I have a job that takes precedent over most matters and when duty calls I must answer it. Which is why when I am not around you will be deferring your training to my comrades Dorren and Eabha. I trust them with my life and in extension yours. So get ready, we will be leaving shortly," with that Professor J grabbed his and Bardox's empty plates and placed them in the sink before walking out of the room to presumably get the cart ready.

Bardox was mainly ready to begin with, all he truly needed was his cylinders – he hesitated at bringing his swords and almost left them behind but decided against it and strapped it on as well - so it didn't take long for him to get out there and help with the finishing touches of the cart. After strapping the horses in they were set and ready to go, Professor J taking the reins and Bardox climbing in beside him staring at the scenery as they took off.

There were a lot of trees, wolves, and bears around them. It almost surprised Bardox how many there were, it was foreign to him. He had lived around wolves and trees his entire life, but never as many as he was around now, and surely never around an actual bear before. He felt like a tourist seeing a new world for the first time. It was exhilarating and magical all at the same time and he honestly enjoyed it. He enjoyed it even more when in no time at all they made it to the enormous walls of Taillteann, the village being much larger then Tir Chonail would ever be, at least in his lifetime he was sure. There were homes of every shape and size, farms and military bases for not only the human soldiers but for the Giants and Elves as well. He had never seen so many Giants and Elves before in one place and they hadn't even made it to that side of the village yet. When he had inquired about going to visit the Headquarters for both group Professor J gave smiled and said that they would visit sometimes, so he didn't notice when they had arrived at the alchemy shop from the excitement and images of the fantastical creatures floating about his head like a buzzing bee.

"Bardox," his mentor's voice snapped him from his thoughts instantly, "we are here."

Not wanting to be rude, Bardox quickly climbed down from the cart and caught up with Professor J who hadn't waited for him to catch up and was walking towards an elderly woman who wore a shawl over her head and a boy with hair the color of chestnuts. "This is Dorren," Professor J gestured towards the woman, "and this is Eabha," he gestured to the boy, "These two like I told you earlier will be instructing you when I am away on business," he then turned to the two in question and introduced Bardox, "This is my pupil Bardox, he is a well behaved so I am sure you will all get along just fine and that he will be an excellent student."

"Wait," Bardox couldn't contain it, "Isn't he my age?" It had just dawned on him that the boy standing before him, who was shorter than himself by at least a foot, was the Eabha in question that was supposed to help him in his training.

"I'm much older than I look," Eabha said in a high squeal.

Bardox looked at Professor J for reassurance that this wasn't some joke and was faced with his usual expressionless glare and resigned himself that he would have to be learning from this pipsqueak and that life seemed to be throwing him even more cruel jokes. "It's nice to meet you both," he gave a slight bow, "I'm looking forward to spending more time with you in the future…."