"Do you, by any chance, know where Cole is." Asked Gavin, standing amoung several soldiers. So, thought Adam, The leader's name is Cole. Gavin had never supplied him with the leader's name before. He still had doubts with trusting a mysterious figure.
The soldiers shrugged and mumbled with each other for several seconds, Adam heard small fractions of their conversation, but nothing to take account of. They remained in this position for minutes on end, surrounded by the small, temporary base that was well hidden under a cliff-overhang structure. All three acres were encircled in an electrical barbed-wired fence with at least four watch towers along the outer most region where gaurds endured a constant watch at all lined the inside of the fence, each filled with soldiers. Also accompanied by garrisons of weapons and vehicles.
The sounds of training infantry units made the base come alive with noise. Off in the distance they practiced a rutiune called Aim 'n' Shoot, where soldiers would man the tanks and fire at holographic enemies. Next to that practice field were soldiers testing new exoskeleton suits, and behind a blast-proof window were the scientists, typing away at the various holograms that floated before their eyes.
Often times Adam would see a combat robot fly into the base and walk around blasting more holograms. To Adam, of course, this was quite familiar yet in it's own way different. All the soldiers trained openly throughout the base, but back in Xeon they trained in certain sections.
He was brought out of his reverie when he heard his name. "Huh?" He asked.
"Cole has just arrived via transport ship, we'll meet him by the airstrip." Gavin replied pointing towards the airfield.
Adam nodded. They left the soldiers behind and crossed the base and onto the runway. The airport beacons flashed alternately white and green, but are differentiated by two quick white flashes between the green flashes. Hangers lined the runway with one single operating control towers with ATC imprinted into the side of the tower in bold letters.
The runway itself is the surface from threshold to threshold, which typically features threshold markings, numbers, centerlines, but not overrun areas at both ends. They traveled the length of the runway safety area. The safety area is the cleared, smoothed and graded section around the paved runway. It appeared kept free from any obstacles the might impede flight or ground roll of aircraft.
A jet was currently being unloaded, soldiers from a different faction than Gavin exited the craft, armed with large, drak grey guns. But what caught Adam's attention was the various colored swords sheathed at their sides.
What, Adam thought confused.
"Why do they have swords?" Adam asked Gavin.
He shrugged, "Don't know, maybe it's for show."
Next exited a man that had a set of advanced armor that resembled armor back in Adam's time. It had the texture of untempured steel, yet looked extermely stable and was decorated with glowing symbols of some language. He too had a sword belted to his waist, only it was sapphire blue, and on it's sheath was a glyph of...
"Gavin! So what is it you wanted to speak about?" Asked Cole, crossing the airstrip.
Gavin looked around as if what he was about to say was confidential. "He." He said, pointing at Adam." Can use magic."
Cole looked suprised, as if he was about to start laughing, then signaled them to follow him. Gavin gave Adam a cautionary glance. They made their way to a cube shaped building. Cole opened the door for Adam then started to close it before Gavin could enter.
"Woah, what's this!" Gavin shouted in alarm, trying to pull the door open.
Cole looked him directly in the eye and said, "Eitha."
Gavin hesitated as if he were about to do something he didnt want to do. He started backing up but looked as though he were fighting agianst himself. But soon he was walking away.
Adam was startled, and angered. He jumped forward and shouted, "Thrysta!"
Cole slammed the door shut before the spell took effect binding him in place. "Brakka du vanyalí sem huildar." Cole replied, releasing the spell.
Adam didn't waste any time, he rushed Cole, but before he could take a step Cole whispered, "Letta."
Adam froze mid-jump. "How did you learn magic?"
Cole took off his gloves and placed them onto a table. "So i've heard that you have helped out alot. All my soldiers talk about you, they say you are a magician."
"It appears you are too."
He laughed. "No, no i'm not a magician. I am something much more powerful."
Adam suddenly felt the spell wear off, he fell to the floor. "What do you mean by more powerful?" He asked standing up.
Cole pulled out a metal chair and sat down. "Long ago the land was prosporous, full of mysterious creatures, elves, dwarves, urgals, humans, and the most frieghtning and yet most beautiful of them all, the dragons. All the races lived in harmony. Now there were another race; Riders. They were bonded to..."
Adam interrupted. "Dragons. Enough with the history lesson, i already know all this."
Cole's face cringed as if he had tasted something sour. "Who are you? And how did you learn the ancient language?"
Adam shrugged. "You know so much of the past, why dont you answer your own question."
"So your from the past? Interesting. Well i guess i could believe it, look at the armor you wear and the sword you bear."
Adam chuckled. "So you study the land's past and your into poetry."
"You know, you remind me of a friend of mine. Same attitude, same humor, and, well you look just like him. So, where in the past are you from?"
"Not sure of the time period, but i grew up in Xeon."
"So your from the Salazian Age. Or better know as the time period that the Salazians ruled Alageasia."
Adam halted Coles sentence, "You said Alageasia, not Salazier, which is what the country is currently named. Now either you are a scholar and your life is buried in ancient scripts or you are from that time period, which would be impossible."
"Your here are'nt you. But no there was no time travel involved."
"So you are from the past."
Cole pulled out his sword and held it so Adam could see. "This sword is ancient, created thousands of years ago, yet it is in perfect condition. See this glyph." He pointed at a symbol on the sword. The emblem was the representation for fire or, "Brisingr." Suddenly the sword burst into flame, lighting the room and creating shadows that danced along the walls and cieling. Coles features were brighter and the shadows of his angular face flickered back and forth. But why in the heck did his ears look pointed.
Author's note: Sorry for the long, long wait, but my great grandmother recently died and there were things that me and my family needed to do. Its been hard dealing with the death of a loved one, but im holding up. And also my good friend M.X.M World Traveler has made a story that ties other stories together, its very intersting so go and check it out, its called A Traveler's Journey. So does anyone have any thoughts to as who Cole really is. And if you would like more chapters about Adam or Austinjust let me know. Enjoy.
- 7RON