Present day.
Eeva sat on a checkered blanket as she sipped cold honey tea from a mug and read from her book. Lleyton and her had the day off from the Teaching Facility, and so at her father's behest, she took Lleyton to relax at the Square. The giant clearing with lush green trees and ponds and the people of Orconia City, soaking up sun and laughing and lounging, seemed the most relaxing place to be.
Eeva looked down at Lleyton and smirked. He was lying down and sprawled across the blanket in a pretzel-like fashion, eyes closed and enjoying the sun which saturated him with warmth against a cool breeze.
Over the past week, Eeva could tell he was trying to distance himself from his lack of memory. He yearned to create new ones, become something, become normal.
That normalcy started with not trying to remember his past every waking moment. A large part of him wanted to start a fresh life, and to be a normal young adult. She knew that her father relied on him remembering, but she enjoyed watching Lleyton trying to become whole again, and actually enjoying himself. She was thoroughly enthused watching him flounder at advances made from other women his age, which he was completely oblivious to.
It pained her slightly to think that him reliving whatever memories he forgot may re-cause him harm. Nevertheless she could tell Lleyton had a code, and despite wanting to distance himself from his past he knew he owed Aimos and his people this information. He met nightly with Dr. Fyanzyan to try and help along with his memory, but still nothing came back.
Like Dr. Fyanzyan, Eeva began to trust Lleyton gradually, seeing his frustration with his memory and his effort to try and remember as him trying to repay the debt for his sanctuary. Eeva also heeded her father's advice. Whoever had put Lleyton into the river was no friend of his. She saw how he dodged Julien's punch a week ago, and she'd much rather have him on their side. Even if he was an Outlander, and part of a bad tribe, he was no longer one of them, and almost certainly a victim.
But the pressure was mounting on Lleyton to remember something and anything for her father, and she saw him trying to be like everyone else at the same time. Happy and lounging in the sun. And here he was, laying in the Orconian heat and savouring his moments of regularity. He clearly trusted them, meaning Eeva was doing her duty as an Orca, as her father instructed her to do.
She began trusting him because of how he acted around everyone else, too. She realized he was a young man like the other young men she knew within the city. He loved socializing with others and learning to razz the friends he easily made. He loved going to pubs and singing shyly and awkwardly with strangers. He loved playing sports in the Square. He loved the Viking sport, and even had a favorite team since Eeva took him to some matches. And he loved dancing.
Only a couple of nights ago at a Orconian wedding reception, Eeva spotted him dancing with a little girl and an elderly widow, and to her shock he was surprisingly good at the Sea Step. And in class when he thought she wasn't watching him, he would sneak children in her classroom sweets with a wink, or stay late after class and tutor teens in the subjects he quickly picked up, or help students resolve conflicts amongst each other. The children and teens looked up to him as a natural role model. Aimos always told Eeva it was difficult to fake being a good person.
"What?" he said to Eeva's grin, lifting an eye lid in the sun light, sitting up to sip from his own cool drink.
Eeva shrugged at him and kept reading and smiled to herself. She was happy they could finally be friends rather than forced acquaintances.
Lleyton sat up completely. "All these people... they really don't work?" He asked her.
Eeva put down her book, annoyed. "For the hundredth time, no. Only on a volunteer basis. We have everything we need. Now sh, I'm reading."
Lleyton still couldn't comprehend the seeming paradise he found himself in. He decided to continue bugging Eeva. "What are you reading?"
Eeva sighed and marked the page she was on, realizing she'd have to endure Lleyton's sporadic curiosity and pestering. "I'm reading about the 'Ideological Differences of the Provinces of Gaiathal'. Riveting stuff, would you like me to read you back to sleep?"
To Eeva's surprise, Lleyton was actually interested. "Yes, but quick."
Eeva laughed. Lleyton knew full well that the politics of Gaiathal could not be summarised in a single conversation, but he seemed to get a kick out of playing dumb with Eeva.
"Okay. here goes: The Wolves of Dazheen were built on absolute love for countrymen and isolationism, only taking part in the Technological Inspections with the other provinces, military was compulsory, all decisions finalized by their leader who was my father's youngest brother, but he was advised strongly by their Hosts. Only Wolves within their borders, including the Outpost.
The Ravens of Blackland: Founded on complete equality, resources distributed to everyone equally, also quite militaristic but more open with the other provinces, led by my father's brother Nik...
The Bears of Baylon: Democratic, and my father's brother Aaron behaves as a regular citizen but a General in their military, and have very open borders and don't think of themselves as better than the other populations.
The Tigers of New Felix: Run themselves according to the Tree religion. Sort of spiritual hippie fanatics but try to adhere to the things that make us most 'human', whatever that means. My aunt is as fiery as they come, you'd love her.
And then there's us, built mostly on compassion and care for each other, where my father makes political decisions, but five elected citizens can veto any decision he makes they don't agree with. How'd I do?"
Lleyton looked at her with a scrunched face. "Sounds to me like the Bears have it figured out. What are the Technological Inspections?"
Eeva smacked him with her book for favoring the Bears. "The Inspections are when members from each province, after the Council of Provinces occurs, travel to the other provinces and inspect technological advancements. If anything is deemed dangerous or can be easily altered to be war-like, the advancement is destroyed and sanctions imposed on the province by the others."
"It's why medical equipment is advanced but nothing for hunting," Lleyton said to her, coming to a moment of realization. It was why there was such a strange mix between an advanced civilization and a rustic one.
"Exactly. Technology to protect and prosper, not destroy. It's the one law that applies to all provinces and all people."
"And do... Outlanders obey these laws?"
Eeva paused a moment, and then said, "Often times, no. But we try to police Outlanders via one of our Outposts, and fortunately they haven't found Outlanders up to anything for my entire life."
Lleyton was surprised. It seemed a long time of peace for everyone to still mistrust Outlanders. Perhaps they really did want to live on their own, with those like themselves. How much time had to pass before someone was forgiven?
"The non-Gifted who pledge themselves to a province have always been model citizens, though, I think."
"The Council of Provinces, you said they were meeting soon. Have they? Did they bring me up?" Lleyton said to her.
Lleyton saw disappointment spread across Eeva's face. "They met yesterday. There is no record of any citizens missing from their cities or Outposts. I'm sorry, Lleyton."
Lleyton was not disappointed. He already knew somehow he was an Outlander, and he was at peace with it. He needed to learn to embrace himself, his identity, but he wouldn't let it change who he was. "It's okay. I'm okay. I just hope it doesn't change how your people think of me."
Eeva nervously smiled at him. It undoubtedly did make people think differently about him, especially nationalists like Julien. It's why Eeva's guards followed him everywhere instead of her. She was worried he would realize the protection was for him - rather than Eeva - now.
"Yikes, I'm going to be late," Lleyton said, rushing to his feet and throwing on a light green silk shirt after glancing at the golden clock fastened to Aimos' facility. "I'm supposed to meet Calysa at the stadium for her Viking practice. I'll see you."
Eeva nodded and folded her lounging blanket, collecting the sweet baked breads and fruits they spread amongst it. "Not sure drinking Sweet Beer before Viking was all that smart," She said to him chuckling as he jogged out of the Square.
**
Calysa tugged on a metal vest over Lleyton's head, and buckled a collar around his neck of identical material.
"So if I get struck on my neck or on this armor, I get shocked?" Lleyton asked her as she tightened his suit. "And I'm out of the game?"
"If you get hit hard enough," Calysa corrected him. "The strike has to mimic a kill shot. And don't worry, the blades are sparring swords, they can't cut you."
"What's it like getting shocked?" Lleyton asked her, nervously.
A grin spread across her face and eyes widened, as Lleyton realized he was going to find out in seconds.
One of Calysa's teammates behind him struck his back with his sparring sword, sending a jolt through Lleyton's body as he seized to the ground. It lasted only for five seconds but felt like an eternity, an awkward pain surged through his torso and legs and arms, his skin numb and singeing.
"Like that," Calysa said to him laughing and helping him up.
"Sorry mate, everyone gets shocked their first time suiting up. Kind of like an orientation. Still want to play?"
Lleyton collected himself, and said, "Sure, yeah. As long as I can prevent that from happening again."
Calysa was the team captain of the third place 'Sea Monsters' and gathered in her teammates from around the empty stadium to discuss their practice. The stadium was green grass, with bodies of water scattered across the floor, and the great wall of seats for spectators was imposing and shining even though empty.
"Okay everyone, today we scrimmage with some light cardio after. We got beaten badly in our match ups last week. Franz, I want you to go basic sword and shield today. And Lleyton, don't feel bad if you lose quickly. We're all professionals on this team, except sometimes I wonder about Franz," She said to the teammate that shocked Lleyton, her team laughing.
Lleyton grabbed a small sword and a long sword, and Calysa's whole team scoffed at him.
"Hey mate, maybe you should go basic for your first time playing. Shield and sword is the easiest combo to ease into," Franz said to him.
Lleyton didn't know why he grabbed the weapons that he did, but they felt good in his hands. "Nah this feels... right," He said to everyone, Lleyton barraged with a second round of scoffs.
"He'll learn the hard way," Calysa said, grabbing a shield for herself and a long sword, her face now donning an intense stare. Lleyton could tell she was competitive.
Calysa speedily pointed out five members per practice team, and the squads immediately formed a huddle. She passed Lleyton's team an Egg, and to Lleyton's dismay, Calysa was on the opposite side of the field as him.
"Let's give it to river-boy," Franz whispered as Lleyton and his team all huddled tightly.
Calysa caught Lleyton's glance with a grin through his team's wall of limbs while she poked her head out of her own team's huddle mischievously, scanning for any sort of tipped-hand.
"Last person Calysa would expect to have it, a rookie," Another teammate offered, all agreeing.
Lleyton took the golden trinket in his hands, somewhat shocked they saw someone weak before them but also glad. Underestimation was venomous to a warrior's plight, and no doubt did his adversaries who huddled beyond share what he knew to be a deleterious delusion.
The ten members lined up opposite each other, five a side, Lleyton with his team's tiny Egg concealed at his waist. With Calysa's yell to start, the two teams charged.
A man much taller than Lleyton sprinted towards him, and punched his shield forward and slashed his sword from the side. Lleyton effortlessly side stepped the shield and sword, and tore the shield from the man with his short-sword hand, leaving his opponent bare. He extended his long sword which he knew would get blocked by his opponent, and quickly stabbed his opponent's unguarded chest with his long dagger. The shock sent him to the ground.
Lleyton immediately blocked a swing from behind him from another foe, and threw the small sword into the neck-band of his second attacker past his shield, sending him to the ground in a shocking heap. He retrieved his small sword and scanned the field.
All that was left was Calysa, and she seemingly glided through her opponents as Lleyton had.
"Impressive, rookie," She yelled to him, casting aside her shield and picking up another long sword from one of her fallen teammates. She also threw aside her Egg which was now meaningless to have, given it was just the two of them left standing.
Lleyton grinned and lunged, holding nothing back, a flurry of strikes all deflected by the deceivingly strong Calysa. She jumped back from him, sizing him up in a crouch. Lleyton launched his small sword at her chest, thinking the chances of her blocking with two swords was minimal. She effortlessly deflected the dagger, leaving him with one weapon.
She grinned at him, and slowly walked towards an out-weaponed opponent. Lleyton grinned back. Wielding one sword with two hands felt just as natural. Calysa slashed her two swords down on him, and Lleyton blocked them. He grabbed her by the collar with his left hand and brought her close to him, and twisted a sword free from her hand before she kicked him backwards.
He went on the offensive again after quickly returning to his feet, slashing furiously at his now one-sworded opponent, backing her towards a body of water behind. The whole team was now watching, jaws open in anticipation and amazement.
Finally, Lleyton struck free her other weapon with a quick swipe, Calysa now defenseless and cornered.
For some reason she was smiling at him, which turned Lleyton's smiling face into a confused and contorted one. She flipped backwards into the body of water behind her before he could deliver the winning blow, disappearing into the depths with barely a splash. He waited for her to resurface, sword ready, but she remained submerged.
Several moments passed, and Lleyton began to grow worried for Calysa. He looked at the other Orcas who were now crowded around to see the conclusion of the contest, who assured him she was okay. Their grins making Lleyton feel uneasy, like he was the only one not part of a joke.
As fast as she had disappeared and after Lleyton began to lower his weapon, she sprung from the water and grabbed her fallen sword on the bank in one smooth motion, slashing Lleyton's back. His vest zapped and the shock spread through his entire body as he fell to the ground, his teeth chattering and skin pulsing, realizing he'd been defeated. The team cheered for Calysa and they all circled Lleyton, whooping and poking him with their feet playfully.
"You're a natural, mate," Franz said as he looked down on him. "You almost beat a Host."
"Almost," Calysa emphasized cheekily, helping Lleyton to his feet.
"Where'd you learn your technique? I've never seen it before," Franz said, receiving dirty looks from his teammates. Everyone was well aware of Lleyton's memory deficits except for Franz it seemed.
Lleyton's legs were weak as he stood, and he shook everyone's hands as they pinched his cheeks.
"Good practice, everyone. What do we think, should we have him as a practice member?" Calysa said to everyone's laughter.
"Heck, he could already take my spot on the starting team," Franz said to him, patting Lleyton on the back.
**
After the practice, Calysa offered Lleyton a ride back to Aimos' facility in her carriage.
"I'm sorry I used my Gift on you. I couldn't have you beating me in front of my team," Calysa said to Lleyton playfully.
Lleyton smiled and shook his head. "No need to apologize. I now know I can't underestimate the Gifted. It was a good lesson."
The carriage arrived at Aimos' facility, and Lleyton unboarded, wishing Calysa a goodnight, thanking her for having him out. He felt like he was a part of something, like he finally belonged. Like he finally had a genuine friend.
"Lleyton," she called out to him as he and his guards made his way to the front of the facility. He looked back to her.
"Listen, the Island Games are tomorrow. I still don't have a partner and I thought maybe..."
Lleyton couldn't contain his smile.
"I think you and I could have a good chance of winning. If we keep you away from the water, that is," She laughed. "Which might be tough on an island, admittedly."
Lleyton made his way back to Calysa's carriage slowly, with fake concern on his face. "Sorry, Calysa, excuse me if I'm wrong but... would this be a date?"
Calysa turned red, her sharp eyes squinting in a shocked smile. "If by 'date' you mean robbing Julien and Eeva of a championship, then yes. A date."
Lleyton couldn't help but revel in his imagination at the opportunity to send Julien to the ground in embarrassment, knowing he had been beaten by a 'Sub'.
"How could I say no to that?" Lleyton said to Calysa, shrugging, smiling.
"Great," She beamed at him. "South gate tomorrow morning. Get some sleep," Calysa said, as her carriage took her home.
Lleyton entered Aimos's complex grinning, and found Eeva and Aimos in the grand chamber, both with papers, Eeva presumably marking tests from her classes and Aimos reviewing governmental documents.
"Someone's happy. What's with the grin?" Eeva asked him as he entered.
"Guess who just got into the Island Games?" Lleyton said to them, smiling with excitement. "Of course, if you'll let me go, sir," He asked Aimos who was looking at him with an excited gaze through thick glasses.
"The south island is very safe with no animals or people and I'll be there, too. I'll let you go on the condition you beat Eeva and that meat-head partner of hers."
"Lleyton that's great. With who?" Eeva asked him, after rolling her eyes at her father.
"Apparently Calysa still didn't have a partner, so she asked me."
Eeva's apparent excitement for him seemed to dissipate, her father analyzing her reaction closely. "Oh, well you better get some sleep. Hopefully you two don't meet Julien and I on the field."
Lleyton exchanged a smile with Aimos, who returned to his papers. Lleyton wished them both goodnight and made his way to his room, falling asleep as he tucked into bed, wondering what was in store for him on the south island.
You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net