Order of the Sacred Sword Ch. 01

"You have my sincere thanks," I replied, taking in a deep breath.

"Save your words," he told me. "You will have plenty of time to express your feelings at your induction. For now, take rest in this room. I will bring you some books and food shortly."

"Again," I said, laying back on the mattress and the hard pillow. "Thank you."

Without a word, Althenon departed, but left the door ajar. I sat up, thinking I might be able to summon the strength to close it, but another figure appeared through the gap. Her form was unmistakable – Talaxel. I had nowhere to go but backward into the wall, and to hide under the blankets would be unbecoming for an aspiring knight. But she gave me a kind smile, and I found her much less intimidating when covered by a loose, shapeless gown.

"My darling," she said, approaching the bed. She did it with much less force than I had the day before, and with a grace I found surprising for what most would call a demon. "You have nothing to fear."

"Why should I believe you?" I replied. "I have no explanation for what happened yesterday. Magic can be a powerful thing, I have heard, but to not be accountable for my action is something I have yet to experience."

"My powers are great, but I have no desire to harm members of the Order," Talaxel said. She sat not at the end of the bed like Althenon had, but at the edge, mere inches from where I lay.

"I was told you are here under duress," I replied. The memory was hazy, but I knew I had been told that, at least.

"I sought asylum here when my own people tried to destroy me," she said. "In exchange for the service I performed with you last night, I am allowed to live here in relative luxury. I am happy to be able to help the brothers here fight my kind."

"Forgive me if I am skeptical," I said. "You seemed all the demon last night."

"Half performance," she explained. "Half spell. The right wizard, the right command, and I have a tendency to lose control, if I allow myself to."

"I thought he was protecting me."

"He was," Talaxel said. "Had he uttered the wrong word, I might have torn you apart. But I wanted you, and I cannot give you a proper challenge unless a bit of my true nature slips out."

"Well, I thank you for restraining yourself," I said. Her presence was calming, if only because it dispelled my previous notions of her demeanor.

"We will see each other again, I am sure," she said. "For the safety of the Order I keep myself relatively secluded, but you may seek me out if you have any questions. I'm sure they will arise as your time her lengthens."

"It's good to know that yesterday was a fiction," I said.

"A fiction?" she said, laying a soft hand on my cheek. Her green eyes caught the light as she tilted her chin to one side, as one might use their face to comfort a child. "My darling, yesterday was just a taste of the reality that awaits you."