Page 49 of Exordium

Even though I cared nothing for any other woman besides my Nexi, I could admit these two were exceptionally beautiful despite the strangeness of their faces. They were dressed in leather pants and a corset top laced up the front. Green hair was in a purple corset, and purple hair had on a green one. It was comical, especially if they didn’t plan it that way. I could see other women in the clearing in front of the cabins. They were dressed similarly to the first two but with hair and skin in everycolor of the rainbow. Some were carrying spears made from a strange glass-like material.

Three women entered my line of sight, and I noticed the two in the back dragging someone between them. It looked like a large man, so large in fact, I was surprised they could move him at all. They went toward a giant fire pit in the center of the circle of cabins. There was a large cage near the fire I hadn’t noticed earlier in the absence of light. The woman in the front opened the door to the cage, and the two women dragging the man threw him in. The first woman shut the door, then took a small rectangular object out of her pocket and trailed it along the outline of the door. Sealing the door in some way, I presumed.

Watching the man, I couldn’t detect any movement. He was either dead or passed out. What kind of fuckery was this? Did the Academy want me to rescue this guy? Was he a damsel in distress? Biggest fucking damsel I’d ever seen. I shrugged, I guess that made me the prince. It made sense because I was rather princely.

I thought the best move was to find a safe spot to spend the day. Then come back tonight to check it out. I eased slowly out of the large bush I was crouched in and backed deeper into the woods.

I walked carefully, continuously scanning my surroundings. The trees were enormous. They looked like giant redwoods; the leaves were gold, red, and green; it reminded me of the forests in Oregon or Northern Idaho during the fall. I approached a clearing and saw massive mountains in the distance with a blanket of mist covering the valley below. I could almost believe I was still in my dimension, except the colors were too vibrant. The mist had a purple hue, and the sky was a pale lavender. I saw a tree with a large limb at least a hundred feet in the air. I felt it was wide enough at the base to sit comfortably and still have a good view of my surroundings.

I reached for the well of power inside me and…nothing happened. Closing my eyes and concentrating harder, I was able to teleport, but it took everything I had. I was sweating bullets and felt like I had run twenty miles. This dimension seemed to be fucking with my ability, or the distance from Reverie was affecting it.

I could have climbed with no problem but why have an ability if I didn’t use it. I hated to give any credit to Storm, but his conditioning regimen was legit. I’d always been in shape. I’d played sports from a young age and liked knowing when I took my shirt off, I had Reverie’s complete attention. After becoming Faction, and the training Reverie’s fathers put me through, I reached a fit reserved for MMA fighters and Navy Seals. Storm had ensured the students who were already fit maintained it, and the ones who weren’t became that way. I thought it was more for his amusement than a concern about the Passives surviving initiation.

Once I reached my destination, I got comfortable and pulled out a granola bar and bottle of water. Munching on my food, I tried to put a plan together. Teleporting into the camp and grabbing the giant man wouldn’t work. I was lucky to teleport myself to this limb, much less me and a massive man out of here. I would figure something out. I always did.

Getting back to Reverie and completing our Faction was my most important goal. I had a feeling her life may depend on it.

Chapter 19

Nathan

Ifelt like my plan was a good one. I thought wandering into the village and pretending to be lost would be my best bet. Thinking they might offer some hospitality or let me camp close by. Thus, giving me more access to the captive and the strange key the woman had used to seal the cage.

Looking out through the bars with one eye, since the other was swollen shut, I was way closer to the captive than I intended. Those bitches were, well, bitches; and so fucking strong. The guy was much larger up close than he had appeared from a distance, close to Jet’s size, in fact. I just prayed he was friendly and would help me figure out how to escape. Hopefully, getting help from the man I was supposed to save didn’t count against me. Now the big guy just needed to wake the fuck up.

Night fell, and Gigantor was still sleeping like a baby. The purple-haired chick had thrown a couple of what looked like turkey legs, into our cage. Since the guy I was here to rescue couldn’t be bothered to wake the fuck up, I ate his. Gigantor owed it to me for the inconvenience he was causing by not WAKING THE FUCK UP. I was going a little crazy being away from my Nexi this long. Those two soulless gingers better not let anything happen to her, or I would skin them alive.

I woke up when I felt a small prick in my arm. One of the warrior chicks pulled a long stick with a syringe-looking apparatus onthe end back through the bars. I felt myself getting drowsy and, right before passing out, heard the cage door open. My last thought was that now I knew why Gigantor never woke the fuck up.

When I opened my eyes, I was looking directly at a set of the most enormous feet I had ever seen. Raising my head slightly I saw large calves that led to massive thighs and up to a huge chest.

Jumping to my feet, I stepped back, making room in case I needed to defend myself. The massive guy crossed his arms and stared at me like I was an idiot. I’ve seen the look many times, so it was easy to recognize.

I decided to go on the offensive, “Who the hell are you?” The big guy just continued to stare. “Can you hear me? I asked you a question.”

“Who the fuck are you, boy?” Gigantor growled out in a crazy deep voice.

“I’m here to rescue you,” I smirked, winking at him.

The guy just stared at me like I had a screw loose. I guessed I could see his point. I felt movement, and looking out of the cage, I noticed we were in some kind of wagon. Two large horse-like creatures were pulling them. I could only see the top of the driver’s head, but there was no doubt it wasn’t one of the warrior women. His head was bald and shiny, with no colorful hair in sight.

“Where are we going? Where are the warrior women?” I asked in quick succession, confused by my surroundings. Unlike the beauty of the forest, the road they were on was muddy and rutted from frequent travel. The scenery outside the cage was barren land that looked like several bombs had exploded—no sign of trees or grass. Everything was in shades of grey, brown, and black.

“Damn boy, do you ever shut up?” the giant inquired, running his hand down his face.

“Not very often, if I’m being honest. Possibly, if we did an exchange of information, I’d be less likely to keep asking questions.” I huffed out, crossing my arms over my chest. The asshole reminded me of Reverie’s Grumpy.

“We are on the way to the Coliseum. The Pulchra, or warrior women as you call them, accepted payment, or in my case, a reward from the Brummond.” Gigantor reluctantly spit out.

“Dare I ask who the hell the Brummond is? And why a Coliseum?” I mean damn, was this guy charged by the word or something.

The giant’s pale skin turned a mottled shade of red, apparently aggravated with even more questions from me. “The Brummond is the Faction that owns the Coliseum. I know you’ve heard of the Coliseum, boy, no need to pretend ignorance.”

Faction? What dimension was I in? Could this be Aurathia? I replied dazedly still trying to figure out what was going on, “I don’t know anything about the Coliseum, Gigantor, and I don’t appreciate being called a boy when I’m clearly a man.” This dude must be blind.

“Who the fuck are you calling Gigantor?” Gigantor growled out.

“I didn’t mean any disrespect, but you haven’t offered your name, and let’s face it, you’re freaking massive,” I murmured, trying to calm the large man. The only way I could win a fight with this guy was by using my abilities, and they weren’t dependable right now.

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