4 Gene's Legacy
Somewhere, a horn sounded. Signaling that dinner was ready. Janus ignored it and kept slashing at the practice golem.
Maybe he wasn't hungry. Maybe he just didn't feel like eating.
"Is everything alright?" Startled, Janus whipped his head around to see master Elmek standing a few steps behind him. He lost concentration. "Swooosh" A wooden fist came swinging towards him and he braced the shield for impact. Using one boot he gave it a solid kick followed by a counter backhand slash, making the golem topple backwards, swinging violently on its hinges.
"Seems like you're giving it a rather hard time." Elmek chuckled. The voice was deep but smooth. Janus felt like it was capable of sounding more powerful and commanding. He could almost picture Elmek, in a set of brilliant armor, a battle axe balanced on his shoulder guard. He would be standing in a chariot, shouting commands while deflecting arrows with his shield. "Show no fear!" He could almost hear Elmek's voice. Sometimes he would picture Elmek fighting a dozen enemies. His axe drawing arcs of blood as he decapitated several men in one blow. It was only fantasies but Elmek was in fact a real war hero. And he was almost certainly born to wield an axe. Being the tallest acolyte in the school Janus barely reached Elmek's shoulders. No one knew Elmek's age, but Janus considered him to be in his forties. Several scars ran across his face, combined with the strong chin and the set of piercing dark eyes Elmek seemed even more prevailing.
Little was known about the past of Elmek. The students looked up to him as a fatherly figure. Indeed, Elmek had a way with young people. He was never harsh but always understanding. Now his shadow loomed over Janus. "You're not holding a grudge with someone, are you?"
Janus aimed a kick at the golem's chest, hitting the kill switch. A wooden fist stopped in midair, dangled dangerously for a moment, then the golem collapsed .Deactivated.
"It's nothing. I'm perfectly fine." He replied. Deep inside Janus wasn't. He couldn't stop thinking about how he had lost the match that morning. He couldn't stop going over the fact that their father…no. He corrected himself. It was Genesis' father, not his. He didn't have a father. It was Genesis' family that found him, miserable him. Without one living soul in the world to count as his family. They took care of him in the first two years of his life. Then they left, but this time he had something. This time he had Genesis, someone he trusted. A single soul to call a friend. But now…that "Great Legacy" Elmek mentioned. He should feel happy for her, and he actually did. Now she had…everything. And he was losing everything.
Janus was the last to arrive at the dining cabin that afternoon. Everyone else had started without him. Janus shut the door behind him. Usually, he would sit next to Genesis, but he turned away when he saw the crowd that gathered around her, so there he stood, craning his neck, trying to find an empty seat.
"Janus! Over here!" Leon, one of the younger boys was waving at him. They cheered as Janus sat down at their table.
"That back-flip power attack you did this morning…It was INSANE!"
"Look. It was nothing. I lost, anyway." He replied, stirring his bowl of porridge with a spoon.
"Listen, bro." Leon said, lowering his voice. "The technique you used belongs to an ancient style called…the origin…or something. It's like…thousands of years old! I've read about it in books." Suddenly serious, he whispered: "You should have seen Master Elmek's face when you-"
"Ghhhh" Janus choked on his porridge. Lifting his head from the bowl, he saw Elmek stand up.
"Boys!" He made his way across the room to where the older acolytes sat.
"Could I please.." Almost laughing now, "borrow Genesis for a moment?" Everyone roared with laughter. A boy sitting next to Genesis, however, laughed rather unwillingly.
"Is it about my dad?" Elmek nodded. "And his legacy?"
"Correct." Replied Elmek. A hush fell over the room. Quickly Janus lowered himself and pretended to eat from his bowl. Which was, by now already empty. Gazing into the reflecting surface he saw a blurry shape getting bigger and bigger.
It was Genesis. She had made a beeline straight for him.
Too late. He felt slender fingers wrap around his arm. All of a sudden he was on his feet, still holding the empty soup bowl. God! the girl WAS strong.
"Then Janus should hear it, too." Genesis turned toward him, "He's family. Right Janus ?"
"Uhhh..." He began, then "Ow" as pain shot up his upper arm. "Yeah..f'course.."
Elmek smiled his knowing smile. "Indeed."
Janus found himself being dragged along again. The air around him turned warm. Somewhere, elegant music was being played. Near the wall a stone fire place crackled merrily. Two sofas were placed facing a large oaken desk. Above the fireplace a shelf displaying antiques hung against the wall. "Wow" Thought Janus, massaging his bruised upper arm.
"Welcome," Elmek said in a dramatic voice, "to my study."