Disclaimer: I do not own Maplestory in anyway.
Chapter Three: Training Has Begun
Eckhart had been walking for days now. Umbra has been training Eckhart on the ways of being a Night Walker. They've been traveling through Victoria Island.
"Eckhart! Are you listening? Oh come on!" Umbra yelled out in frustration. Eckhart looked at Umbra evilly. Umbra looked at Eckhart shocked. "Eckhart?" Eckhart took out his dagger and throwing stars and started to attack Umbra. Umbra dodged the attack. "What has gotten into you?"
"It's your entire fault!" Eckhart continued to attack. Umbra sighed. The darkness within Eckhart's heart had gotten stronger ever since they formed a contract. Therefore, on occasion, his darkness would take over and control him Umbra knocked him out.
"Eckhart, I'm sorry. But you have been chosen by the Goddess Minerva to become the Walker of the Night." Umbra watched over Eckhart as he slept. Eckhart could never get a good night sleep since leaving Kerning City. His heart was tortured by his display of evil. He was afraid of it. Umbra watched him moan with fear. "Eckhart, your soul is haunted by the darkness from your heart. Until you can control it, you won't have a night of peace." Umbra looked up at the sky knowing that Ezekiel and Minerva were watching over them. The sun started to rise up in the sky, before Eckhart stirred awake.
"Umbra, where to?" His eyes still had a dark tint to it. Umbra understood that the darkness was under control.
"To the bow master of Victoria Island. Ms. Athena Pierce. She will help with patience and discipline. Plus we need a place to work on the darkness within your heart. Must I remind you that you need to have their approval?" Umbra explained with worry.
"Oh yeah, I totally forgot about that." Eckhart said calmly. "Umbra, I didn't hurt you last night did I?"
"Eckhart, you need not worry. I can't get hurt by you. But I assure you; none of your attacks hit me." Umbra watched as Eckhart sighed in relief. "Come we need to get to Henesys soon." Eckhart walked toward Henesys while dodging Umbra's attacks. The attack known as Vampire gave Eckhart a headache since he could never dodge it correctly. As the two neared Henesys, Eckhart put his hood on and made Umbra disappear. A few people looked over at Eckhart scared. "Eckhart your aura is making people turns heads." Eckhart didn't say anything and continued to walk toward Ms. Athena Pierce's house on the outskirts of Henesys. There was a huge tree that was Athena's house. Eckhart knocked on the door.
"Come in, the door is unlocked." A female voice said gently. Eckhart came in and closed the door behind him. The owner of the voice looked up at Eckhart. "How can I help you, young man?"
"I need your guidance on my training. Mainly patience and discipline." Eckhart replied softly. Athena looked at Eckhart and noticed a dark aura.
"Why would a thief like you want training from me?" Athena asked in curiosity. Eckhart cursed under his breath and grabbed his chest. Athena stood up and came over to Eckhart. Eckhart cringed in pain. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"It's nothing much. Only my wounds that hasn't healed completely." Eckhart took a deep breath and stood straighter. "I'm fine. Sorry about that. I need you to train me. Otherwise, I might lose control of it…"
"What is 'it' I need to make sure you don't use what I teach for evil."
"The darkness within my heart. I need to be able to control it. Otherwise, I might kill people without being in control. Right now that is my greatest weakness that I know of." Eckhart said truthfully.
"Darkness within your heart? I see. You have a kind soul, yet your aura is very different from the normal aura of thieves. It is unique. I'll teach you your patience and discipline. What is your name? Take your hood off." Athena replied. Eckhart took his hood off and Athena's eyes grew wide. Eckhart was pretty much covered in bandages.
"My name is Eckhart. Thank you for teaching me." Eckhart bowed a little and stood up straight. Athena touched Eckhart's bandages on his face.
"Did you say your name was Eckhart?" Eckhart nodded. "I've heard a lot about you. The Dark Lord speaks very highly of you. He really wished that you would take over his position. You are very polite and well-mannered."
"I'm not that good. I personally believe that I'm not fit for that position. Especially now since of the darkness within my heart. I don't believe I meet those requirements. Not to mention my destiny has been determined by the Goddess Minerva. My life is no longer mine alone." Eckhart said with a far-away look. Athena noticed the look and his words too mature for his age.
"Eckhart, we'll start on your training tomorrow. Get yourself comfortable with Henesys today." Athena said in reply. She watched Eckhart walk out. "His aura is so pure even though it's black like it was full of darkness." Athena went back to her papers. Eckhart walked through the town and took in the scene. There were kids running about and adults selling stuff that the bowmen have needed.
"Eckhart, where are you going?" Umbra said softly.
"I need a place that is quiet. My head is hurting." Eckhart walked into the pet park. Umbra noticed Eckhart mediating in a quiet secluded area. Umbra sighed and floated around him.
"Eckhart, we need to finish your other training. Eckhart, are you listening to me? Eckhart!" Umbra yelled out in frustration. "Not again! Eckhart come on." Eckhart looked at Umbra and closed his eyes. "Eckhart?"
"Minerva…what do you have planned for me? Why did these things happened?"
"Eckhart, you were chosen for a reason. You have something that this world will need." Umbra watched as Eckhart stood up. "Eckhart? What's wrong?"
"Umbra, help me." Umbra looked at him with confusion. "I need you to help me now!" Umbra touched his forehead and saw into his heart. It was conflicted between his pain and a duty he couldn't understand. Umbra saw a small child standing in the darkness of the abyss.
"Who are you?" Umbra said with caution. The child turned toward Umbra. It was Eckhart to much of Umbra's shock and surprise. "Eckhart?" Eckhart pointed at a door. Umbra went over to it and opened the door. Memories long locked away flowed past Umbra. "What is this?"
"My memories that I tried to erase. Memories that I have buried so long ago. They are my mistakes. My heavy dark burden." The small Eckhart replied gently. "The things that I could not change. They weigh too much for me. Not that I should tell unless you came into my mind."
"Eckhart, why do you hide all of this?" Umbra said while looking at the memories. The small Eckhart merely sat on the invisible ground. He never wanted to let anyone know about himself.
"I didn't want to tell people about me, if they don't want to really know me…." The small Eckhart replied sadly. Umbra saw the pain flash through the small Eckhart's face. "My time… Umbra, I'll die when my time runs out." Umbra watched the small Eckhart pull out a dagger. "This weapon will put my destiny into motion. And," the small Eckhart pulled out a glass bottle with a black liquid, "this is what will end my destiny."
"Black liquid? From what? Eckhart!" Umbra yelled out in worry. The small Eckhart merely smiled sadly as he disappeared. "No, wait! Master!" Umbra felt gravity pull himself out of Eckhart's mind. When he realized that he was no longer inside of Eckhart's mind. Umbra decided to change his shape.
"Thank you Umbra." Eckhart whispered softly. Umbra came out and hugged Eckhart. "Umbra?"
"Don't you ever hide anything from me. We're partners. Partners don't hide anything from each other. So don't hide what is bottled up inside. Please." Umbra sat down next to him.
"Umbra? Why are you being like this?" Eckhart said while looking at Umbra.
"Eckhart, you have a huge future ahead of you. You haven't accepted what happened in the past, have you?" Eckhart nodded slowly. "That is why there is darkness within your heart. It weighs heavily on your soul. We'll fix your control over your darkness."
"My past was full of pain. That's all I could really remember. Oh and the yells and screams of the innocent people… I was never like the other kids. I always seem to hurt people without trying to. That's why I tried to keep myself away from people." Eckhart said quietly. "Umbra, how are you in human form?"
"You have that much strength and power to allow me to be in this form. You're really something, you know that?" Umbra watched the sunset with Eckhart. When it set, Eckhart stood up and went to the town and saw it full of life. There was a festival going on and everyone was out enjoying themselves. Eckhart enjoyed their laughter and smiles. Umbra stood in the shadows next to him. Athena was enjoying the festivities and talking with her bowmen. Henesys partied until the sun rose the very next morning. Umbra looked at their surroundings and noticed that they were in the park again. Eckhart was sleeping peacefully for once. He was hiding under his warm cape to block out the sunlight. "Eckhart? Master? Wake up." Eckhart rolled out from his cape and looked at Umbra.
"Don't call me Master. It's disturbing. Plus, I don't think Masters would share their every secret with anyone." Eckhart said while washing up for the day. Umbra laughed happily. "Stop laughing. I'm not funny."
"That's what makes you so funny. You never try yet it's always how it ends up to be."
"Oh…shall we go to see Ms. Athena now?" Eckhart said while packing up. Umbra nodded and unsummoned himself. Eckhart went over to Athena's place and knocked. Eckhart walked in when he heard come in. Inside, he saw a girl, with black Angelique hair and blue eyes talking with Athena.
"Oh Eckhart, you came. I'd like you to meet someone. This is Nanayki, my top student. She will be joining you in the training." Athena said gently Nanayki smiled and came over to shake his hand.
"I'm Nanayki, pleasure to meet you." Eckhart took her hand in shake. "Let's work hard together."
"Yes…" Eckhart replied. Athena took the two of them to the training ground. There was a target range at the one side of the grounds the other side was a medium sized waterfall.
"We work on discipline and patinence at the same time. Both of you sit under the waterfall, I'll be shooting arrows at you so either block it or grab it. You're not allowed to break the arrow. Break it and you'll have to work without food." Athena said in her teacher's voice. Nanayki and Eckhart did as they were told. Athena grabbed her bow and shot it at the two of them. Eckhart missed the arrow and it managed to scratch his arm. "Focus, Eckhart. I don't show mercy." Nanayki grabbed the arrow. Eckhart studied under Athena for a week before getting Athena's approval. "I must say Eckhart, when I first met you I was worried that you were out to get power."
"Then why did you teach me?" Eckhart asked while wrapping some bandages on his arm. Athena saw the darkness flash through his features.
"You were different. There was something that you possessed that was telling me to teach you. Eckhart take care of yourself. I hope to see you in the future." Athena shook his hand when he stood up.
"Thank you Ms. Athena. I really appreciate it. I couldn't thank you enough." Eckhart said gently.
"Never lose this kindness of yours. That would be enough thanks for me. Good luck on your journey." Athena and Nanayki waved him good-bye. Eckhart summoned Umbra as soon as they were out of Henesys.
"Where to, Umbra? The Magicians? Maybe we'll just float around." Eckhart said with a quiet and airy voice. Umbra shrugged.
"I suppose. After all they are the closest right now. Keep your eyes and ears open for information on the black wings. Something is brewing at the eye of the storm. Be careful." Umbra said reply.
"I know. It'll be stupid to do so otherwise. We need to finish my training. Umbra kick it into over gear!"
"I understand, Eckhart." Umbra and Eckhart would spend the next two years training with all of the Victorian job instructors, before disappearing into thin air. None of the instructors heard from Eckhart again.