Chapter 26: Cut

Chapter 26: Cut

"NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. A federal court authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer. If you've lived within a fourty-five mile range of the Vortex Industries Testing Facility Plant 45-A, you are entitled to receive a payment from a class action settlement. You received this letter because your home located is within fourty-five miles of Vortex Industries Testing Facility Plant 45-A. A $1,990,322,039.98 Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit claiming Vortex Industries unlawfully performed actions that unduly threatened the lives and property of civilians near this site. The court has determined this to be a gross negligence of lawful practices and safety standards...."

- Notice Of Class Action Settlement: Vortex Industries V. John Truce (2102, 2nd Era)

Erec explained to Garin quickly that Boldwick had summoned him to his office. Was it because of his swing on his brother? Did Bedwyr stop lying? Or about how he fought against the monster? Perhaps something else entirely? The man had staked his name on getting Erec into the Academy, and Erec was playing a careful game to try not to reveal any of his fears.

After mulling it over, Garin shrugged and wished him good luck.

The trip through the halls of the Verdant Oak quarters was pleasant as always; the living atmosphere of the place grew quite quick on the soul. Though the note said an hour, he didn’t know how long Gwen had taken to deliver it. And since he was still new to this place, Erec had no clue where Boldwick’s office lay. Certainly somewhere down the central hall—but as he peeked into room after room, it became an increasingly annoying task.

But there was no one to ask. The typical assortment of wandering Knights were still in the field cleaning up after battle and war, leaving Erec to his own devices.

At least the beauty of the rooms kept the panic from growing too much. He came across one room with an artificial lighting spell leading to a floor of thyme and lavender that flushed a pleasant scent with the door open. Another was a thought-provoking display of animal prints and wasteland photography. Once courses started, which of these would he become a regular in? What sort of lessons would he be taught?

That was if this talent didn’t lead him to a grave mistake.

“You lied to me,” Erec said as he roamed the halls—eyes still scanning for where Boldwick’s office might be. If he were a Master Knight with a high enough rank to snatch whatever room he wanted—where would he make his office?

[Query. I stated that if you threw a tantrum once more, I’d put you in time out. I attempted to. The attempt failed. My data regarding the sedatives didn’t account for the unprecedented response of the anomalous energy to further ramp up adrenaline and testosterone production. Now that this information is known further tests may be conducted to devise an effective solution.]

“We both know you’re avoiding what I mean. You waited, VAL. If you had used it earlier—“

[You’d rather I administer a sedative while surrounded by hostiles and as your allies were under direct assault? I thought it more prudent to gather data and not risk my employee. OSHA would disapprove of such an act.]

Fuck. VAL had a point. And Erec knew that before getting into this conversation. Letting him rampage also allowed him to slay the ooze harassing Garin and Olivia. But he wanted someone to be angry at. If he couldn’t get mad at VAL—what was he left with? Himself? The Goddess for this double-edged talent?

“I apologize. Given the circumstance, you tried to follow my demands while keeping me and the people I care about safe. I’m just—it’s frustrating. I’ve gotten so far, and this thing—this talent might take that away? Was Bedwyr right? He’d never struggle like this; he’s never struggled like I have.”

[Are you familiar with the scientific method?]

“Uh. Somewhat, I mean—“

[Observe and question. Then research. Form a hypothesis based on the research. Devise experimentation and test. Once you’ve gathered data, analyze it. Draw conclusions from the analysis. Then the cycle repeats, countless iterations until you’ve achieved a satisfactory conclusion for a research topic. Query. Do you realize why I state this?]

Erec shook his head slowly. It was impossible to say.

This time his eyes snapped back to Erec. “It made you hit him?”

“...Yes?” Erec asked. If it’d been Garin, would he have? His head leaned toward yes, even if his heart refused to agree.

“Well, that’s not great. So it makes you a loose cannon, a danger to enemies, allies, and probably yourself. But I guess we don’t know the last one for sure, yet.”

“Yet?”

“Where do you think you are?” Boldwick barked out a small laugh.

“The Academy.”

“And what do you think we do here? Teach our Knights how to do fancy arithmetic and which fork to use at a high-class dinner party?”

Erec’s cheeks burned. He was, in fact, confident that those types of courses existed here. He’d heard tales of it from Garin long before signing up; there were a lot of things that made many different types of Knights. Boldwick must have seen that thought on his face.

“Not in this Order, not you, at the very least. I got you in here, put my name out there because I saw it—“ his finger jabbed toward Erec. “That little bit of a spark. That raw instinct. There’s a fighter in you, a survivor. The sort of type that I can turn into a little scavenger and send running across the wastes to get me information; and trust to come back to me in one piece after fending off against all the nasty beasts out there that want to eat you alive.”

“I—thank you.” Erec bowed his head slightly. Boldwick’s certainty in him was humbling—

“Plus, I liked how you beat that brat’s face who back talked me.”

—maybe he was a little unhinged. But still, Erec was grateful. “I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”

“Don’t be grateful, and don’t make that promise to me; you haven’t even glimpsed my expectations for you. I’m going to make you bleed, sweat, and probably cry. And only then, after all that, after I’ve turned you into a living weapon and tool for this Order, do you get to thank me.” Boldwick leaned back in his chair again and sighed. “All of you damn initiates, get all worked up before you’ve put in the time. This is deadly, it’s hard, and it’s shit work. You won’t be a hero if you do it right, you probably won’t even be thanked.”

Erec slipped into silence, unsure of how to respond to that. Boldwick muttered a couple curses under his breath before settling his gaze on Erec.

“How are you going to deal with your problem?” he asked.

“I’ll control my emotions,” Erec said back.

“Wrong.” Boldwick shook his head. “You learn how to use them properly. If you swing around a sword by the blade, you’ll get cut. But if you jab it into something while holding the handle, you’ll stab the monster dead. After your exam I’ll see to getting you into a special talent development course with a couple of the other early bloomers. Damn funding change has made it harder to devote the time, but given your talent, it’ll be easy to argue it as essential for your training. Dismissed.” At that, Boldwick whipped the book back open and began to pore over the words.

[Procure one of those books.] VAL commanded.

Erec instead left. He owed Garin an apology and an explanation.