Pure in Fight: Chapter Nine

The woman took the plant and put it on the floor. "I changed my mind. You're going to start by opening this jar," she said, taking one off the shelf. It was empty, but I automatically unscrewed the cap and handed it to her.1

"Now you're going to imagine a jar where you can just keep twisting and it won't open. You're trying to see if you can open it--as fast as you can. Both hands."2

Despite the inappropriate parallels here, I put both hands in front of me and started the back-and-forth twisting.3

"Faster!" the woman cheered, so I did as she said. "Do you feel it? The power?"4

I stared. "No, nothing."5

She eyed me curiously. "Well don't just give up, Wary. It just takes time."6

I shook my head. "Who's Wary?"7

She giggled. "That's you. That's your name. While we're at it, mine is Anna."8

"Nice to meet you, Anna," I said without thinking, holding out a hand to shake. Instead she hugged me tightly, hands rubbing my back. I sheepishly became aware of her sexy black tube top and short skirt.9

"I won't let this happen to you ever again," she whispered. "That I promise you."10

Clearing her throat, she stepped back. "Now let's try this again. Go on. As fast as you can, but it takes time."11

I went throught the same motions again and just kept going until my fingers went numb. Actually, they weren't numb--it was like something was pulling on them. Maybe... "Now what?"12

"Bring your hands together as if all of that energy is coming together in an orb of power." Doing as she instructed, I felt what she meant. "If you smash it into your chest, you can feel all of the energy inside at once."13

That sounded a little crazy, but she had been right so far. As I slapped both palms against my body, the breath was knocked out and for one moment I felt a bit giddy...14

"What is that? How does it work?"15

She laughed. "It's a bit complicated. Can't really remember the physics terms. Centroenergy, maybe? It has to do with the force of spinning, and equal reactions and things. There's extra energy that just hangs there. We can focus that energy with mana."16

I gaped. Somebody was aware of the forces of the universe--other than mana, which I had no idea about. (Though this procedure does work in any environment if you do it right--you can try it.) "What's this mana?"17

"It's a very common particle in the air that allows the use of magic, the instant transport of energy--and, in more advanced study, objects--from one place to another. Usually the energy comes from the mage's body," she added, taking my hands in hers. "And it might make you a little cold. Now, I want you to make the orb again."18

With a sigh, I went through the motions to make an energy orb. Anna patted her chest. "Right here. I want to see how much power you've got there." My hands leapt to her heart before I could even think about it. "Well, that's really nice," she said, giggling. "You can move your hands now, ya perv."19

Whoa! I fell back onto the floor, face burning. She laughed and extended her hand to help me up. "Just kidding. You get to be that way, because I love you like that." With a bit of welcome shock my hands grasped hers again. "It's a shame," she sighed, pulled me to my feet, "To think that all of those wonderful moments that we've shared are just... gone." She looked down sadly. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around her body, letting her lean on me as she cried. "It's all gone," she repeated.20

"No," I told her. "They're still in your heart. And since I know they did happen, they are, in some way, in mine too." Once again, my ability to fake and lie through things saved me. Yes, that was a horrible thing to do. At the same time, it made this beautiful girl smile as she buried her face in my shoulder.21

For several long, sweet, silent seconds we stood there, embracing one another. Then her lips crept up my neck, my chin... the waiting lips where, without really knowing her, I had my first kiss. And, honestly, how could I have minded? Such a moment passed in mere seconds and with one last look, it was gone.22

"Let's go outside," she whispered, taking my hand in hers. We stepped out of the cave and into a clear night sky. Tents circled the sloping cavern entrance, with a fire in the center. Three guys sat around it, talking and drinking and laughing.23

"Hey, Ware-man!" called one, running up to me. "Where ya been, buddy?"24

I shrugged. "I don't know."25

Anna explained the situation to the apparent old friends of ours. Which made me wonder, "What is this place, anyway?"26

"This is our base of operations," Anna told me. "And that brings us to who we are and why. Have a seat," she added, gesturing to a log next to the campfire.27

As I did so, she began, "It is well known, even out here, that our nation's kings have slowly been growing more corrupt."28

Great start, Anna--evil kings.29

"The people are taxed until they can barely eat. Resistance is met with death. That is why we are the only ones left. It sounds much like the beginning of a children's tale, but if was only that, I wouldn't mind. So, here we are. Our plan is rather drawn-out, but we've already made quite a bit of progress, luckily. You had volunteered to take a few soldiers deep into the forest and thn ambush the family carrying the Firesil."30

The whole thing clicked into place. The family was the one I'd stayed with, and these were the same people I'd helped resist for a while. This chestplate, these possessions... must have belonged to the real, dead Wary. That was why they thought I was him. Right?31

The most obvious question this raised was whose side I was on. To abandon either side was wrong, each for its own reasons. Hopefully, by remaining a part of this mission, I could meet up with them again and try to make peace of the situation.32

"What are we planning to do now?" I asked simply.33

Anna stood up again. "The point is to get you back in shape as fast as we can--so that you could make up lost time and proceed as we intended."34

One of the guys shook his head. "Ware-man, you'd better believe she'll be able to get you back in there in no time. Ya just gotta bust your butt over it."35

He patted me on the back. "Good luck. You'll need it. I don't see why you'd take that kind of wife."36

As if my jaw didn't drop far enough, Anna smacked him with a rewarded thud. I stared at her in utter disbelief. "W-wife?"37

"Did I fail to mention that you and I are married?" Anna said. "Sorry about that."38

"That's okay," I said feebly.39

It was something, but okay wasn't it.