Anarchy 6
As the weeks slipped by, KiNa found his stance on ShiKon largely unwavering – he still didn’t like her. If anything, he began to like her less and less. At first, there was the hope that she was unimpressed with the Anarchy setup, which would nudge her to go back to life on the streets (after a good old-fashioned mind wipe, of course). But that didn’t happen.
Instead, she began to attend Master SoYa’s mind magic lessons along with him. KiNa thought this might be a temporary thing. After a few weeks, however, ShiKon not only appeared to enjoy the lessons, but she was actually showing promise and improvement.
Anything she does… I can do better.
KiNa narrowed his eyes as he strode towards Master SoYa’s office in the center of the base for the newest lesson of the week. Schooling himself, he ran the mantra through his mind. Jealousy was for weak and petty people. That still didn’t keep him from feeling the pang of bitterness at being forced to share what were once personal classes with some upstart mind mage who thought she was better than everyone else in the world.
I’m going to teach her the meaning of humility.
A soft voice called his name. KiNa turned to see the figure of LaNie waving at him. Pulled out of his brooding, the corners of his lips curled upwards and he walked towards the girl.
“Good morning,” he beamed with every ounce of charm he possessed.
She soaked it up the way girls always did, and responded with an excited, and somewhat brain-fogged, smile, “Hi, KiNa! Where are you going?”
“To my lesson right now,” he explained for the tenth time that week, making it sound as important as the first time he explained it.
“Oh. Oh, that’s right. You told me you were going there today,” her expression didn’t change. Not even when ShiKon appeared.
The other girl paused to give them a long look. KiNa couldn’t read if it was irritation or incredulity. ShiKon was getting better at shielding her feelings from his senses – one of the few downsides of being forced to train with her.
“So are you two an item or something?” ShiKon asked.
“That’s right,” KiNa returned her look with a slow, sly smile. He hooked his arm through LaNie’s and pulled the girl closer to his side.
You’re not as hot as you think you are, ShiKon. There’s lots of other girls… better girls… in the base.
Unfortunately, LaNie’s overly-bubbly laugh ruined his suave moment. “KiNa asked me to go out with him! Isn’t he the greatest ever?”
ShiKon lifted an eyebrow with a you-could-do-so-much-better look at the boy. Then she nodded to LaNie, humoring her. “Sure. Good luck with that.”
“Thank you!” the girl beamed back, hugging on to KiNa’s arm giddily.
“Don’t be late to training or we’ll have to start without you,” ShiKon fought back the snort. With an unimpressed swing of her hand, she turned and walked towards Master SoYa’s office, hips swishing all the way.
KiNa fought to keep the color from flushing his face as he stared after her. Thankfully, LaNie didn’t understand the gravity of his expression.
“I… uh… better get going. I can’t be late,” he told her, trying to regain ownership of his arm.
“Okay, KiNa,” LaNie nodded, though it didn’t seem to register that he needed her to release the vice grip. “I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah, later,” he promised, hoping that would pacify her. It must have done something, because he was finally able to pull free and fast-walk to Master SoYa’s office.
His teacher was waiting for him with that patient, long-suffering look. ShiKon just shook her head and swept her hair back over her shoulder as if she was queen of the world. KiNa simmered a bit, but strode into the room.
Master SoYa looked at his time piece with a meaningful expression.
“I know. I’m late. I’m sorry,” the boy muttered.
“Girl troubles?” his teacher asked.
“Something like that.” KiNa winced.
Nothing got past Master SoYa. The way the man peered back and forth between KiNa and ShiKon spoke that he knew exactly what was going on.
“Right, well, we have a lot to discuss today. So you’re going to have to leave the girls at the door,” he paced into the center of the room, hands folded behind his back.
“Is something wrong?” ShiKon asked, taking note of the man’s tone.
“The situation with the Manor continues to puzzle me,” Master SoYa answered.
KiNa quickly intercepted, eyeing the girl suspiciously, “Master, this isn’t something we should discuss with outsiders listening.”
ShiKon gave him an open mouthed scowl.
Master SoYa responded before she could protest verbally, “ShiKon is not an outsider, KiNa. She’s chosen to help our movement.”
“For as long as it benefits her,” the boy frowned back and crossed his arms.
“That’s not true!” the girl snapped. “You better take that back before I make you eat it!”
“I’d like to see you try!” KiNa retorted hotly.
Was this it? His chance to finally show her who was the top student? The chance for him to prove his rightful—
Master SoYa dropped a soft hand on his shoulder, which seemed to sap his frustrations instantly. KiNa knew it was mind magery of some sort, but he couldn’t fight back. He could see that ShiKon received the same hand-shoulder treatment.
“Students,” the man said in a soft voice. “Why you are standing here is irrelevant. The fact that you are here is what matters.”
“But…” KiNa still struggled, wanting to argue.
He threw his heart and soul into the Anarchy movement. He was Master SoYa’s first student. He was the one chosen to work at Master SoYa’s side to plan and develop their secret strategies. He was true to the vision of the rebellion, filled with the righteous injustice against the Manor, and fought for the rights of the Runnian people.
ShiKon, on the other hand, was only there for a free meal and a warm bed.
He shouldn’t treat us like equals!
“KiNa,” Master SoYa’s voice filled his mind with a patient, but tired sound.
For the first time, the boy looked up into his teacher’s face and saw the draw of long sleepless nights and stress of situations unknown to him. Then he thought of his petty bickering and felt a little ashamed.
Thankfully, ShiKon kept her thoughts to herself through the exchange.
“I need to ask a favor from both of you,” Master SoYa said finally, once they were both silent. “I know this isn’t going to be popular. I know you’re probably not going to like it. But there’s something I can’t do without drawing suspicion to myself… that I need help with.”
“Of course, Master SoYa,” KiNa answered instantly, feeling a bit concerned. “You know you can ask anything of me. I’ll help!”
“Ask anything of you? We’ll see about that,” the man chuckled good naturedly. Then he turned towards them both. “Many turns ago, we took down the Darkman, as you know, and freed the children that he was trading to the Manor. However, that hasn’t stopped the Manor from trafficking children. They appear to have other sources, some which may not be located within the city.”
“Why? What do they gain by buying orphaned children?” KiNa asked with a distasteful frown.
“That’s what I want to know,” Master SoYa replied.
“They need servants?” ShiKon suggested.
“I thought that at first, too,” the man nodded and began to pace slowly again. “But now, I think there’s something else to this. Something they’re looking for.”
“Maybe,” KiNa frowned, scratching his cheek nervously.
“The other suspicion I have is a little more troubling,” Master SoYa stopped pacing. His back was to them as he peered out the window in silence. When he finally spoke, it was with the sadness of experience, “I think they’re not taking only orphans.”
“You mean they’re kidnapping kids who have parents?” the girl asked, the first hint of real dedicated emotion crossing her face.
“That’s my fear,” the man nodded, turning back to them. “They did something similar with my own son. Only, they had an excuse. He’s a mind mage with a lot of potential power. They brought him into the Manor under the guise of taking him in as a student. However, I believe there’s something more to it.”
“Why?” KiNa frowned.
“The way it was done… it was forceful. They couldn’t wait for Fu to be of age to make his own choice,” Master SoYa’s brow furrowed. “At first, I thought they wanted to usher a mind mage into their establishment to ensure that he would think the way they wanted him to think. But Fu has done anything but that, and they appear to be encouraging this.”
KiNa glanced over at ShiKon. She looked concerned, too. His teacher was muttering to himself at this point, shaking his head with an intense frown.
“No, they’re looking for something in these children. I just don’t know what it is yet,” he continued. “I can’t find that missing piece. That’s what I need your help with.”
Master SoYa paused, peering at them with intense green eyes. His words held a solid strength.
“Both of you.”
Only then did KiNa understand what his teacher was getting at. His stomach curdled at the thought. “You want me to work with her?”
“Ditto,” ShiKon crossed her arms. “He’d only slow me down.”
“What?” the boy turned with a deep scowl.
“It’s true,” the girl said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “You’re slow and noisy. You rely on your magic to get you in and out of places. I don’t need magic and I don’t need him tagging along.”
KiNa bristled at the sound of the challenge in her voice. “Oh yeah? If you’re so smart, why did you get stuck with the Darkman for so long?”
“Did it ever occur to you that I wanted to be there?” she snarled back.
“That makes no sense,” he retorted.
“Someone had to take care of those kids,” ShiKon jabbed a finger forward. “Unlike you, who just ran off the first chance you had.”
“Unlike me?” KiNa snapped. “I was the one who made the plan to get them all out of there. If it wasn’t for me, they’d all still be–”
“Students,” was all Master SoYa said this time. It was enough, and their argument severed instantly.
KiNa’s jaw worked back and forth with unspoken fury. He glared daggers at the girl, who began to pointedly ignore him.
“I brought you two here because I need people that I can trust to take on a mission for our movement,” the teacher spoke somberly.
“Trust?” the boy looked shocked. “How can you trust ShiKon? She’s only been here a few weeks.”
“Then this is a good opportunity to prove her intentions,” Master SoYa noted. “What about you, KiNa? Is the good of the revolution more important than your personal feelings?”
“I…”
“Can you set aside frustrations to get the job done?” the man clarified, tilting his head slightly. There was still patience there, but a quiet strength, too. A challenge.
KiNa turned away, and puffed his cheeks a bit at the thought of working with ShiKon.
He’s right. This is my duty as part of Anarchy. I guess… no one ever said I’d always like who I have to work with. I bet she’s just going to sell us out anyhow.
His green eyes lifted to glare heavily at the girl. She still wasn’t looking at him.
If she is… I’m going to be there to stop it.
“Yes,” KiNa finally said. “I can do that.”
Master SoYa nodded in approval. Then he turned to the girl, “ShiKon? What about you? Is this what you want to see happening in our world?”
KiNa snorted. The girl didn’t care about anyone but herself. Why did Master SoYa waste his breath trying to convince her otherwise?
ShiKon’s glance fell on KiNa, as if sensing the silent accusation. Her eyes narrowed as she responded, “I’m in.”
The boy fought to hide his surprise.
Master SoYa only gave them both a knowing smile, “You two will need to work together on this. Do you think that’s possible?”
“…yeah…” KiNa’s answer was more of a growl than a word.
ShiKon merely gave him a nod. Then she turned and whispered to KiNa before leaving the room, “You better keep up with me, Spots-A-Lot, or I’m leaving you behind.”
The boy opened his mouth to retort, but she was already gone.