Disclaimer: Genesis, Isaac and Sam all belong to me.
Chapter 11: Militant Opposition
For the rest of the day, I had been taught the various things about astral projection with the help of Ariana, Joseph and Loretta. Steena had left the building to tell the others that I was studying with the local Shamaness.
It was nighttime now and I was asleep. Ariana told me that I should continue to develop my skill while I was sleeping because that is the peak time for astral projection. After I've been asleep for a while to get my energy up, I did the technique that helped my astral body "disconnect" from my physical body. With the Shamaness and her apprentices' help, I was less afraid than I had been the first time this happened. I looked toward my physical body to see Seifer and myself in bed together. I passed through the wall and found myself outside the building.
I flew up higher into the air past the treelines and I calmly flew through the air. Since Cockatrices have limited flying ability, I knew I was safe at this height. I flew to Trabia Garden, which was to the east of Mysidia and I watched as some of the students made their way to various places. After a few minutes I went back to Mysidia and made my way north of the town. About four or five miles away from Mysidia, I seen some sort of camp. I lowered myself a little and seen it was an army camp, the Galbadian army. There seemed to be thousands of soldiers which concerned me. Again I went lower to the ground and seen a pen of about twenty Cockatrices far on one side of the camp, there were also Ruby Dragons chained up on the same side. I noticed these soldiers had tanks.
I went lower to the ground, almost touching it, but hovering in mid-air. I made my way into a tent. "What do you think about this mission?" a soldier asked. There were three soldiers in this tent.
"I don't know...we should get some sleep though, it's gonna be a long night tomorrow and we need all the strength we can get," another one said.
"I know, this is unnerving though...have any of you ever fought mages before?" the first asked. The other two shook their head. "What time do we leave?"
"We're suppose to attack tomorrow night or early the next morning when they're asleep."
"That doesn't seem very fair, attacking when they are defenseless..." the first started.
"They are powerful, we need all the advantage we can get Genesis," the last guard said.
"I know Isaac, but this doesn't feel right...I mean I never even heard of Mysidia until recently, what harm can they do?" Genesis asked. "What do you think Sam?" he turned to the other soldier.
"I've heard of Mysidia and it isn't a well-known town in this world. That can be dangerous, I mean, they train mages and powerful ones too. If the President think they are a threat then they might be," Sam told him. "We are to destroy every shred of evidence that Mysidia ever existed."
Genesis sighed and replied, "I don't think this is right. It's just a feeling I have..."
"Are you psychic too?" Sam asked with a joking kind of tone in his voice.
"Screw you," Genesis smiled. I don't know this Genesis guy but his heart seemed to be in the right spot regardless of his orders, which gained my respect. I was glad he was questioning his role in this army. I seen enough, so I quickly flew back into the sky and sped back to the town of Mysidia.
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I quickly woke from my journey and got out of bed. I looked at the clock on the bedside table and it read 4 AM. I ran to the door and opened it, making my way to Mathias' room. I pounded on the door loudly, yelling, "MATHIAS!!! MATHIAS!!!" I heard mumbling coming from the room.
The door opened with Johann standing in his boxers. "What is it? Do you know what time it is?" he asked angrily, I guess he was annoyed at being woken up.
"I DON'T CARE!!! I NEED TO TALK TO MATHIAS!!!" I screamed.
"What is it?" Mathias asked and came to the door also in his boxers. "What can be so important that you need to wake me up?"
"The Galabadian army is about five miles north of here and they are planning an attack!!" I blurted out.
"What? How do you know this?" Johann asked me.
"It's hard to explain and that can wait, but we need backup!!" I demanded.
"Explain it to us," Mathias persisted. I brushed past him and went into the room. I could smell the sweat of sex in the air, but I ignored it.
"Do you know what astral projection is?" I went straight to the point.
"Yes," Mathias began. "I've been doing it for years."
"You are full of surprises Mathias," I started. "Anyways, that's how I know. I went to their camp."
Mathias thought for a minute and told me, "Take me there."
"What?" I asked.
"Show me this camp, I need to see it for myself," Mathias answered. I looked at Johann and he shrugged. I nodded. "Lay down on the bed," he said. I raised an eyebrow at him and looked at the bed. Mathias nodded and held up both hands. "Okay, I'll lay on the bed and Johann can make you comfortable."
Mathias went to the bed and laid down. He went still soon after and Johann told me, "Sit on the floor and lean back on me," he sat on the floor where he stood and I stared.
"Do you promise you won't try to kill me?" I asked.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said with a small laugh. "I was just being a dick with those threats and I'm sorry okay? But Mathias needs proof of what you just told him."
I slowly made my way over to Johann and sat on the floor in front of him. I leaned back against Johann's chest and started my astral projection. After I was in the astral body, I seen Mathias watching me. "He won't hurt you, I promise," Mathias told me, only it came out as a barely audible whisper. I made my way back toward the military camp and Mathias followed. After a bit of traveling, I stopped in mid-air and pointed to the camp.
"They have tanks, and satallites," Mathias said in that whisper. He looked to me, "can we get any closer?"
"They have Cockatrices," I was surprised my voice was also in a whisper.
"Let's head back," Mathias told me. We navigated our way back and I was relieved to see my body seemed to be safe, Johann was holding me around the waist and I seen Seifer and Solaria standing in the room as well.
I floated in front of Seifer and said, "Can you see me Seifer? I'm a ghost!"
"You're so bad Eternity," I turned to Mathias and he smiled at me. We made our way back into our bodies. I felt the usual trembling sensation throughout my body.
"Well?" I heard Johann ask behind me.
"It isn't good," Mathias began. "Possibly thousands of soldiers...they have tanks and monsters."
"Shit!" Johann exclaimed. "What are we supposed to do?"
I sat up on my own and said, "We need to get in touch with the Headmaster and have him send backup."
"This is a SeeD test Eternity," Solaria told me softly.
I nodded, "It was a SeeD test. We were sent here to fight monsters, not an army of thousands. Even with all the mages here, the number of innocent civilians that may die might be high. I don't think the SeeD test matters anymore...if I don't pass this test, there will be others. I don't mind jeopardizing myself and facing the consequences."
"Well said Eternity," Mathias told me.
"What do they want?" Solaria asked.
"They want to destroy Mysidia and all the mages in it," I answered. "They said to leave no evidence of a town ever being here."
"We need to get the mages out of here without being caught," Johann piped up. "Any ideas?"
"We can call Garden and tell the Headmaster to send backup and transportation ships," Mathias announced.
"That may not work," I started. "What if those satallite vehicles are there to monitor any calls in or out of Mysidia?"
"Good point," Mathias smiled at me. "You'd make an awesome SeeD one day, you are already thinking strategically."
"Thanks," I replied shyly.
"How do we suppose to contact the Headmaster?" Seifer asked.
"I'll go there astrally. I have a contact there who can see astral entities...I can tell her about the problem and she can go to the Headmaster. Headmaster Cid knows I am a Sorcerer, so he will know this is important."
"How do we tell the others in the town?" Solaria asked.
"I think Lulu and Steena would know what to do," I offered. Mathias nodded.
"Okay Eternity, I'll put you in charge of that. This is an order," he smiled at me. "Do you know when this attack is suppose to happen?"
"Sometime tomorrow night or the next morning when everybody is asleep," I told him. I realized how bad that was because it had taken us almost a week to get to Mysidia.
"Damn it...our options are getting slimmer and slimmer...okay, you do what you can here while I go to the Garden," Mathias looked at Johann and told him, "Catch me." Johann rushed over to Mathias and stood behind him. Mathias began to slump to the floor, however Johann caught him in his arms and gently got Mathias in a comfortable position.
"It's in Mathias' hands now," Solaria commented.