A Long Time from Home Ch. 27

"I have some more meetings now, so I will have to cut this short, but please do stay here a couple of days, so we can have a promotion dinner tomorrow or the day after."

Coming from the Dominus Grande, it was more an order then a request, so I accepted the offer, said my goodbyes, and left the office still in a daze over the unexpected news.

Once outside the office I leaned against the wall and took a little time to collect my thoughts. I was an Inquisitor Captain and for some reason, it didn't feel like I had deserved it, no matter what the Dominus Grande had said. Of course, with the Disease and the resulting chaos, I had seen a lot more action than many of the older captains, but it was still unbelievable yearly.

If this had been before the Disease, I would have been expected to be in command of five Inquisitors and two hundred Feminae Bellum, but as things were now, I would most likely continue to do my job as I did now.

The thoughts of the Feminae Bellum got me thinking of Verina, who had started out as a student in the Feminae Bellum, before being transferred to Securitas Interna.

Those who don't know the history behind it are usually surprised when they discover that the female-only Feminae Bellum is only militant force the Ordo Praesidium have, but that's according to the law.

A long time ago, the Senatorum Imperialis were worried about the Ordo Praesidium getting too much power and to limit that, they persuaded the King of Kings to issue a decree, forbidding the Ordo to have any 'men of arms' under their command.

The Ordo Praesidium complied by disbanding their forces, but retained all their female fighters, as the decree made only explicit mention of "men of arms", instead of the more commonly used 'soldiers' or 'fighters'.

The Senatorum Imperialis complained, but the King of Kings was satisfied with the new power balance, so the rather blatant disregarded for the spirit of the law was overlooked and thus the Feminae Bellum was created.

Since men tend to have more upper body strength than women, the fighting technique of the Feminae Bellum depend more on quickness and agility than on strength, but they were as well trained as any soldier in the Imperial Army.

I looked at one of the guards outside and asked. "Do you happen to know where Verina Julia Serranus is right now?"

She glanced at the insignia at my shoulder, before saying. "Yes, Vice-Captain. Lieutenant Serranus is usually teaching a class at this time, so I suggest you go to the training area in the garden."

"Thank you. I'll find her later." I said and walked to my room to get out of the dress uniform and into the normal uniform, before I started to walk to the classrooms, where I had left Sabia.

It's not that I don't like the dress uniform. Quite the opposite, as I think it gorgeous. Unfortunately, it attracted attention even here and I would like to walk around as I usually did.

Sabia was still talking with the students when I silently walked into the room, but now the questions had changed character and was about Magical Theory.

With a slight smile on my face, I reached out to Magi Valentius, who was sitting on a chair in a corner, observing Sabia and the class.

"< How's it going, Magi Valentius? >"

He turned his head and sent me a wide smile. "< I hope we can keep her, Sir. The students love her, and the way she explains the connections between various things have taught even me something new >"

I nodded and looked over at Sabia, who was describing something with great enthusiasm, using her hands to visualize whatever she was talking about, while the students listened attentively. She radiated satisfaction and joy, meaning that she really liked teaching.

"< So she can do the job? >"

Magi Valentius nodded energetically. "< Better than me >"

"< Well, we need to persuade her to stay on as a teacher then >"

"< Yes, Sir. When we're done here, take her for a tour and I'll talk it over with the Old Man >"

"< Deal >" I sent with a smile.

Two glass later, after the class was over and Magi Valentius had thanked Sabia for coming, she looked at me with amusement in her eyes. "You know, for time to time, I hate you for being right."

"I can live with that." I said with a laugh. "At least as long as it makes you feel good."

"It did... actually, I haven't felt that good in years."

"Good. Let me show you the rest of the castle and then we can talk about it over lunch."

"Sounds like a plan."

Touring the inside of the castle took the better part of three glass, but that was mostly because I had been away for so long, that a lot of people wanted to say hi. But eventually, we reached the training areas outside, where I instructed Sabia to be as silent as possible. Mostly because it was meditation training, and some students were easily distracted.

Keeping a low profile proved to be a good idea. By the time Sabia and I reached the training grounds, the classes had rotated and now the class being taught the basis of Vis meditation by Verina, was the same class as Sabia had taught Magical Theory.

Since I didn't want to disturb the class, I leaned against the wall, whispering "Let's observe from here for a moment" as I activated a Vis power, that allowed both Sabia and I to blend in with the surroundings in the same way as a chameleon, while we observed Verina and the students.

From what I could hear, it was one of the first classes in Vis Vitae and the students were having a hard time understanding the concept, so my attention wandered over to Verina.

It had been a couple of years since I last saw her, but she still dressed in Lescarian silk kimono with the golden headdress and fans that matched the colour of the clothes and as always, she moved with the gentle grace of a dancer.

"Wow." Whispered Sabia softly. "Whoever she is, she's gorgeous!"

"That's Verina Julia Serranus." I replied in a low voice, that couldn't be hears by the students. "I'm sure Varro had told you about her."

"That's Verina?" She said dumbstruck. "He forgot to mention beautiful she is."

From the hungry looks, some of the students gave Verina when she wasn't looking at them, I guessed the students thought the same, and that one of the reasons that they had difficulties was that they were too busy thinking about sex, when they should have been thinking about Vis. The start of the teens was really a bad time to start learning Vis.

Like all other forms of meditations, Vis depended on focusing an inner calmness and unless they have already learned it, most adolescents have difficulties being that focused for longer periods of time.

"What!" Whispered Sabia suddenly. Apparently, she had been following what Verina was teaching, and something had suddenly occurred to her. "There's a third power beside Magica and Mentalis?"

"Shyy." I whispered back with a slight smile. "Not only is it a lot weaker than the two others, but it's also a secret and only taught to the members of the Ordo Gladius."

She looked at me in stunned silence, causing me to ask. "Shall I ask Varina if we can watch it all?"

"Yes!"

I reached out with my mind, connecting with Varina. "< Hello Falcon. Tired of stupid students? >"

"< Spectre! >" came the happy reply and I could see Verina looking calmly around. "< Where are you? I mean, since you're using your natural ability, you must be near >"

"< Oh, I didn't want to disturb your class, so we're hiding >"

"< We? >" She asked, but immediately continued. "< Oh, you brought Sabia Lartius along. That is awesome. Is she as good as teacher as I think she is? >"

"< Well, after the class Magi Valentius walked up to meet the Old Man and request that she stayed on as a teacher >"

Besides Verina was very hard to keep secrets from, I had also contacted her to get her input on the plan with the new department, so she knew just about everything there was to know about the new department and the plans connected with that.

"< That is good... Can you bring her in on the conversation? >"

"< Sure >" I extended the link to include Sabia. "< Sabia, Falcon have requested that you joined our conversation. I hope that is fine with you >"

"< It is >" Sabia answered calmer than I would have expected. "< And I'm sorry to disturb >"

"< You couldn't disturb these students more than they already are, even if you tried >" Varina said with a mental snort. "< I don't know why, but they're incredible slow in understanding why they need to learn this >"

"< Because it might save their life and the lives of those around them? >" I suggested with a mental grin, noticing Sabia's eyes widen.

"< Yeah... I already tried that one and it didn't help >" Verina answered, "< The problem is that after the Disease all organizations need more people, so they can pretty much choose an education in anything they have just the smallest talent for and they know it. What they don't understand, is that it's not the way it works here, but I hope they will figure that one out, before we have to transfer them away >" She paused and asked. "< Was the Old Man rough on you? I heard that he had requested a meeting >"

"< Naah. Not only was he extremely satisfied, but for some reason the Promotion Board had in all their wisdom decided to give me a promotion and a big one. I'm now Inquisitor Vice Captain Emilian >"

That almost caused her to stumble. "< What?! You're kidding me? >"

"< Nope >"

Sabia chimed in with a "< Congratulations! >"

"< Yes. Congratulations! >" Echoed Verina, happy feelings flooding the link, and was silent for a few heartbeats, before she added. "< You must be the youngest Inquisitor Vice Captain in history! >

"< I doubt it and to be honest, I haven't really understood it myself yet, but since the Old Man gave me the insignia himself and insisted that I put them on right then and there, it must be real >"

There was a moments silence on the link, before Verina spoke again "< Spectre, just by being here you gave me an idea >"

"< Always nice to be an inspiration >" I said with a chuckle "< Are you going to tell me about that idea? >"

"< No, but the two of you can follow us to the training arena. Then Spectre can say something to the students when the demonstration is done >"

"< That I can do >"

There was a mental chuckle from Varina. "< I'm sure you would like to see it too, Sabia Lartius. I promise you that it'll be entertaining >"

"< Yes, Inquisitor >"

"< Good >" She closed the connection and we looked on as she gathered the students and walked over to the magical training arena before Sabia and I followed at a distance.

"What is she going to do?" Asked Sabia curiously while we walked.

"I have no idea. Verina likes to surprise, so I guess she's going to do that."

"So, wait and see?"

I nodded. "Exactly."

I had expected Verina to demonstrate some Vis powers, but instead she went to the controls and activated some of the runes before she turned and looked at the students. "Some of you have asked, why you need to learn this, and I have tried to explain some of the various things you can do with Vis, especially when combined with other forms of power. However, I think that a demonstration might be in order here, to make you understand what I am talking about, so watch closely." She turned to look at the training area and said, "Show Spectre 104-52."

The lights in the training area dimmed and suddenly I could see a younger version of myself standing in the arena, sword at the ready. Since it was the Verum Forma (Baylon: "True Form") form of my sword and I only had used that form once in the arena, I knew exactly when that was made. It was my evening 'training' from the day we found out about the Disease, starting from the moment I had said 'Engage'."

It started out nice and easy, exactly as I remembered, but as time went by, the pace picked up and the combat went faster and faster.

"Oh, sweet goddess." Mumbled Sabia next to me. "That's a most insane thing I've ever seen."

I didn't answer, as I was caught up in watching. It was the first time I had the opportunity to see myself fight from the outside, so I observed closely, while Verina identified some of the Vis powers I had used for the students.

One of things I noticed was the fluidity of the combat, which I knew was the effect of Mutatur Tempus Mente. One sword technique flowed into another in a deadly pattern of sharp adamantine, not even pausing when Vis powers or Ars Mentalis were activated.

As the difficulty of the combat went up, I could see my errors being punished by hits and grimaced as I remembered the pain.

"... flaming shit!" I heard one student whisper to another. "Who is that guy?!"

"Beats me." The other students whispered back. "Perhaps..."

"Pay attention!" snapped Verina's voice and they were silent again.

However, the interlude between the two students reminded me that I had promised Verina to say something when the demonstration was over, so I walked a bit closer while I thought about what to say and how to say it.

------------------------

Finally, the recording stopped, and the lights came back up, so I whispered, "Stay and listen." to Sabia and discarded the camouflage as I walked into the training area. From the look of the students faces, they recognized me immediately.

"Hello, Falcon." I greeted Verina, again using her call name.

She lit up in a smile and came over to me. "Hello Spectre. Nice to see you again." Then she turned towards the class. "Students, allow me to present Inquisitor Vice Captain Spectre."

I nodded and turned towards the class. "Hello there. Please sit down and relax."

They did as I said and a moment later, I had fourteen eager youngsters looking at me, as I sat down myself.

"I promised Falcon here, that I would say something about Vis, so please pay attention now. There will be time for questions later."

They nodded and I continued. "Unlike Ars Magica and Ars Mentalis, Vis Vitae is not something that is unique to the Baylon race. In fact, there are many more humans than Baylons that can use Vis, and the Grand Masters of Vis Vitae have always been human and most likely always will be. Learning to use Vis Vitae takes a lot of time and effort and to be honest, many of the things you can do with Vis, you can do easier and better with either Ars Mentalis or Ars Magica." I smiled slightly at the looks on their faces. "However, if you did not have the ability to use Vis Vitae, as well as at least one other power, you would not have been accepted here, because no one becomes an Inquisitor of the Ordo Gladius without being able to use Vis." I lowered my voice a bit. "That means that if you for some reason don't learn it, you will be kicked out of here."

One student held up a hand to signal that he had a question. "Sir?"

I nodded to him. "Yes?"

"If Vis is so hard to learn and if Ars Magica can do a better job, it doesn't make sense that we spend so much time learning it. Wouldn't that time be better spent learning more Ars Magica or Mentalis?"

"The obvious answer to that question would be 'yes'." I said and smiled as I saw confusion on their faces. "However, since the Ordo doesn't waste time and resources on teaching you anything that isn't useful, 'no' is the correct answer. The question you need to answer is more like: Why does the Ordo teach us this, despite the fact that in many situations other powers would be easier to use?"

"Because it not Magica or Mentalis?" Suggested a young man with spiky hair.

"Explain what you mean."

He looked surprised, but after a moment of hesitation he said. "Well, my uncle has worked with an Inquisitor, and he said that Inquisitors can do some... ehh... weird stuff."

That caused a general laugh from the other students.

I waited until they were silent again and asked with a smile. "Just out of curiosity: Who is your uncle?"

"Sky Knight Galba of the Dragon Riders." Said the young man proudly. "I'm Sertor Claudius Galba."

I stifled a laugh. I had worked with Sky Knight Galba on several missions, usually trying to track insane mages down, before they damaged something important.

"Well, Sertor, your uncle is right, because by and large it's only Inquisitors that learn Vis, so compared to everybody else we can do some weird stuff." I smiled at the thought of Galba's language. "Though I doubt that it was the way your uncle said it. In all likelihood Galba would have said something like..." I changed my voice a bit to make it sound like Galba's. "You know, boy, those Inquisitor fuckers can do some flaming weird shit. It isn't Magica and it isn't Mentalis, but it flaming works!"

There was a stunned silence, before Sertor coughed and said, "That, Sir, is exactly what he said."

Before anyone could ask additional questions, I slipped into Vis meditation and activated a power that caused one of my hands to glow with power, sending sparks from the tips of my fingers. Sparks, that turned into four glowing daggers circling around me.

As that got the students attention I said, "It's a point that you should all remember: A lot of Baylons can use Ars Magica and Ars Mentalis, but only members of Ordo Gladius are formally trained in Vis." I let the daggers dissolve into sparks before they vanished again. "A part of our job as members of Ordo Gladius is to combat magical beings as well as insane Magi and Mentats. Magi can detect the use of Magica, Mentats can detect the use of Mentalis and some can detect both. Many magical beings can also detect the use of those powers. However very few can detect the use of Vis and that, along with our training, gives us not only an edge, but the ability to survive encounters that will kill many a high-powered Magus or Mentat." I looked at the students. "Simply put: Without Vis, you will die."

After a moments silence, Verina said. "Any questions or comments?"

The students looked at each other and a girl said. "Sir?"

"Yes?"

"One of the teachers remarked that we had started late. Is that true?" she looked around. "I mean fifteen is the normal starting age, so how can we be late starters?"

I thought about how to phrase it before I said. "Yes, you are late starters. Before the Disease nobody chose to join the Ordo, they were chosen at an early age. Both Falcon and I started here when we were ten." Smiling I added. "That you have been allowed to join at your age speaks highly of your talent, but it also means that you will have to work harder, since you have shorter time to learn everything you need."

"Since you couldn't have made that choice yourself at that age, didn't you ever want to be something else?" asked another student.

"Not really. I grew up with stories about Inquisitors, so I have always wanted to be one. The only other job I would like is a painter and I can do that in my spare time." I looked at Verina. "What about you?"

She smiled a bit. "Oh, I wanted to be actress until my sister came home in her Feminae Bellum uniform. Then I wanted to be just like her, but eventually I was chosen to come here, and I never regretted that."

I turned my attention back to the students as one of the smaller boys asked. "I'm not a noble, but I know that some of the others are. Would you say that being noble is an advantage here?"

"No. It doesn't matter one way or another and to be honest, there is no such thing as an advantage here." He raised his eyebrows in disbelief but remained silent as I continued. "When you use the word advantage, I assume you mean something that makes one student better than other students." I waited to see if he agreed and when he nodded, I continued. "While there always have been competition between students, it becomes meaningless as soon as you graduate. The teachers like competition between students because it makes them try harder, but they like teamwork even better."