NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 22: Last Night
The day began with relative normalcy. Dressed in an immaculate military uniform that clung to his muscular frame like it was tailored specifically for his chiseled physique, Vorden strode into the Elemental Abilities classroom with his head held high. His blond hair, the color of sunbeams, reflected the light pouring in through the tall windows, also highlighting the room's broad layout.
Vorden stood before a swath of gleaming desks in his state-of-the-art classroom at the brand new Earthborn Military Academy.
The room was a marvel of engineering, stocked with any kind of technological machinery that the government has deemed as useful training equipment. Desks lined one side, neatly arranged, while the other half showcased a well-equipped training section including mats and practice dummies, all waiting patiently for their first humiliation of the academic year. Bright, natural light cast an almost ethereal glow as it reflected off of the freshly polished flooring as well as the never before used tabletops of the desks and even off the high-tech equipment that lined the wall of the training area. It was all so very well lit, and somewhat invigorating.
The vacant classroom was just as empty and exciting as it had been the night prior. Of course this room, shining like a golden palace broadcast through some means of heavenly sunlight array was currently in stark contrast to the vast domain of shadows that had engulfed it last night. Like a land cast out of the realm of the living, dark and foreboding, with the shadows seeming to be much larger than the objects that cast them. Vorden shuddered.
He recalled the prior evening with deep confusion now sewn into his prior reservations. He curiously followed Jade into her classroom without concern, of course. Genuinely wanting to know what fame she was speaking of. Vorden was aware that the Blade family had some renown ever since they made their existence known during the final days of Hilston Blade,this was nothing new. They had also attained notoriety from their time spent as a faction of otherworldly ability. They managed to ammass the reputation of an amalgamation of mercenaries and guardians of earth, in the best of propaganda.
However these accounts were not at all relevant enough, in regards to geopolitical matters, to be the discussion subject matter of the common classroom curriculum. Besides niche interest enthusiasts or the occasional honorable mention in some higher learning classes within the confines of a specific aspect. The latter usually relates to social psychology, society as a whole, or just overall culture. It wasn't exactly useful as educationally enriching information.
There were far more frequent mentions of Sil, typically accompanying details of the many more recent exploits of Quinn and whatever actual truth of those matters they eventualy allowed released to the public. Of course, much of it was simply too large to contain, like the altered memories of an entire planet or said planet subsequently engaging in a campaign of interstellar conquest leaving a trail of corpses in its wake. Not to mention the complete change of every vampire in existence to mere mortals suddenly and without warning. Conflicts and events of that magnitude are not exactly easy to cover up by any means, that's not to say that they didn't try, because God knows they did. They always do.
Then, once the information is gathered, story rewritten, the news has to then be spread. Often detailed in only the most recently published and up to date texts available. Sadly, many educational institutions tend to purchase new textbooks and course curriculum every few years or so, that depends on funding and budget decisions. So while the info about Sil may very well be out there, it simply wouldn't be considered common knowledge for a while yet.
The main point that had Vorden following the doe eyed girl despite his subconscious dread of being eaten alive by some type of succubus or mythical dream demon, in the end it was his insatiable curiosity. So, follow her he did, of course her excitement to show him was so overwhelming that she practically dragged him, leaving next to no real following needing to be done.
When they entered her classroom, which was identical to Vorden's room, only flipped to mirror it, Vorden realized she had obviously arrived much earlier than he had that day. This was evident by the several piles of historical textbooks, and various other items neatly packaged in a box or two next to the stack of books, sitting on the desk already as they entered the room.
There were also a few laminated news paper clippings about important dates and events, as well as a couple framed photographs depicting historical events. They were enlarged and matted for hanging around the room. Instantly, Vorden froze in place. His blood felt suddenly like ice cold water being flushed through his veins. His eyes had come to settle on a single image that made his mouth very dry.
There, laying out in the center of her desk, was an incredibly large, professionally framed, giant print of a single image, from the live stream that Bonnie aired, so very many years ago during the second Dalki War against humanity, and Vampire kind... A single shot. Vorden couldn't keep his mouth from simply resting on the floor. The completely unexpected memory that he had just come face to face with, after all this time.
Following his gaze Jade saw it too. "Oh, sorry, I hadn't gotten around to hanging it up just yet... I apologize", she quickly hurried past Vorden and picked-up the large photo from her desk, blushing slightly. "I'm sure things like this must drive you crazy.... " Muttering the last bit almost more to herself than actually towards Vorden. His purely shocked expression was gone. His face had contorted into a mixture of genuine horror and subtle confusion, as she quickly took the large framed piece over to the wall behind her desk and carefully set it on the hook that she had already installed before they came in.
Vorden winced at the use of the word 'crazy', regardless of the past and who instilled his aversian to the word within him. He did not, in any way, appreciate being called crazy. However at this moment he couldn't be bothered with that train of thought. His body was suffering from a physical, real world, whole body, stress response to the image hanging on the wall in front of him.
That moment in time, the singular moment. When his brother Sil killed their father Hilston Blade. After all the torment he subjected his many children to over the years, he finally met his end. He never saw it coming, several of his most beloved and highest achieving proginy, who he considered to be his most prised possetions, all turning against him. Brothers and sisters who had known only pain, only hatred, only vicious savagery and competition. An entire childhood wasted on being forced to fight dangerous beasts to the death, or having to physically fight with your brother and sister, to kill them, to kill all of them or be killed if you fail.
The horrors and torment of Blade Island left a permanent mark on all of the survivors that managed to escape that hell. IT was only right that we who were his creations, should be the ones that end their creator.
His hands were clenched into fists at his sides. With his knuckles white, all color had drained from his face as well. His jaw was clenched, and his face looked clammy. He had wide eyes and was still frozen in place.
One fleeting observational glance at the stone faced Blade filled Jade with horror. "I'm sorry, did I do something incorrect here? I thought you were upset that I was disrespecting your brother Sil". Her face was bright red and her gaze cast down. She had been trying to sing Sil's praises, and yet somehow now she was just afraid that she had done something that might have been misconstrued.
She was embarrassed, and a bit heartbroken as she had been hoping to ask a few questions. However it didn't look like a promising endeavour anymore. Jade had quite literally dedicated her life to the pursuit of knowledge and deeper understanding of abilities among humanity.
"You, didn't do anything wrong. It's just, I haven't seen any of that footage since that day, and..." Vorden had to swallow to try and alleviate some of the dryness that had formed in his throat. He looked directly at Jade, her face was filled with confusion as he continued. "I was just caught off guard is all. I suppose I never expected to see this, here of all places, and on today of all days, it's actually kind of wild". The tension on Jade's face eased up slightly as Vorden let out a huge breath. After a pause, he took a few steps closer to the frame and examined the clip, taking his time to look at the features of each face. Slowly the corner of his mouth started to curl up into a grin.
"It's actually really funny now that I think of it". He began to chuckle. She looked at him with questioning apprehension. Vorden pointed to the photo that was now hung on the wall. "That photo is probably the only family photograph we ever actually took back then... minus the two siblings that used to play the part of the parents... Heh, it all sounds pretty dysfunctional I guess".
Jade's eyes grew wide, "Wait... What do you mean, are you saying, were you there too? I mean I know that at first glance I honestly could have mistaken you for Sil, but I just figured it's a strong resemblance, but I met with Sil a few years ago so I know that this is a photograph of Sil, Hilston, your gran... Erm ... Father, at least what was left of him after he was put down for the second time.... " Jade's face was scrunched up once more. She looked like she was piecing together a puzzle as she walked over to join Vorden and began to continue listing off names. "Other than those two though... I mean I see the Hero Quinn and a bit of Slicer obviously, and the two I already listed" she pointed to the headless body of Hilston laying on the ground, and to Sill. "Then I see the twins, which everybody knows of course that Vicki is now a Green. I also know that the guy holding her hand is her twin brother. Other than the two beasts, and the strange humanoid Dalki nobody else is in this snap, at least not from what I can see here, which matches what I have read. Only... Hmm". She took another moment, moving her face even closer and scanning the picture. "The big mystery that nobody knows, where is the member of the Brie family controlling those beasts? There is no record of them". She looked back one more time before she turned back, shaking her head, looking utterly bewildered and disappointed.
When she looked up at Vorden he was still smiling, and his faroff gaze made him look distant, like he was actually somewhere else. "Ah. That would be because there were none there. Those three are Blade sons as well. In truth... those guys are what can only be described as.... Trouble". He grinned mischievously. "Borden, Raten, and.... Me". He watched realization wash over Jade's face as her eyes bulged wide. He couldn't resist feeling a little satisfaction at her amazement. "Yeah, that beast with the wings? That's me".