I lay in my bed with my arms wrapped around my head and my feet crossed, looking up at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep.
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I couldn't help but wonder, have I even improved at all? I mean, yeah, I could use Tzelem, but what was the use of all that if a damn cat could beat me using only 5% of its strength?
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"Damn it," I whispered as I sat up. I got out of bed and walked out of my bedroom. I needed to clear my head, and I wasn't going to do that indoors.
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I walked through the hallways, every now and then looking up at the pictures on the walls. I saw beautiful scenes of places that looked like they came from a fantasy book, and others filled with people, some dressed in official clothing, while others wore armor, brandishing swords. I didn't know if the people I was seeing belonged to this family, heck, I didn't even know if they were real, but either way, this family had an interesting history.
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I was about to walk out on the front porch and could already hear the rushing water of the fountain. I neared the sliding glass door that led outside, and before I even reached for the handle, I saw someone sitting out on the porch.
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"Madelyn," I said, realizing who I was staring at. I quickly opened the door and walked outside, met with the cool air of the night.
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Madelyn turned around and looked at me with surprise. "Ethan?" she asked, clearly not expecting to see me.
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I stopped as soon as I saw her face, scratched and bruised, even her clothes were ripped and torn in certain places that I made sure not to focus on.
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"What happened?" I asked, sitting down next to Madelyn.
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"The job," she said, looking away, rubbing her bruised face.
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We were quiet for a moment, which seemed to be what Madelyn wanted. I occasionally glanced at her and saw her looking up at the night sky.
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"So, um..." I said, scratching my head.
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"I heard you fought Poku," Madelyn said with a small smile.
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"Uh, yeah..." I said with a small laugh. "It didn't go so well."
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Madelyn smiled and looked at me. "It never does."
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"That's one strong cat," I said, leaning back, getting more relaxed.
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"He's been in our family for hundreds of years," Madelyn explained. "So he has to be."
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Madelyn and I shared a laugh together, and I could tell that she was feeling better, and so was I.
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"How did that fight even come about anyway?" she asked.
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"Uh..." I said, at a loss for words. I really didn't want to tell her that I was upset because I couldn't go with her, so upset that Poku had to show me how weak I was, but from Madelyn's curious gaze...
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"It was training," I finally said.
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"Training?" Madelyn said, raising one eyebrow.
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"Yeah, what can I say, I want to get stronger," I said, raising my arms and flexing my muscles.
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Madelyn stopped smiling as she turned her gaze to her hands that rested on her lap. "Stronger, huh?" she said. "Ethan..." she said quietly. "You are growing at a rapid rate. Your skills are more advanced than any beginner."
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Her words should've made me feel better, but after remembering the beating I had received from Poku, my confidence wasn't coming back.
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"You don't have to rush," Madelyn said, brushing the blond strands from her face. "But that being said, I think it's about time we begin the next part of your training." Madelyn crossed her arms over her chest.
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"The next part?" I asked. "Wait, am I going to get my own sword now?" I stood up with excitement.
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"Your own sword?" Madelyn asked, obviously confused.
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"Yeah, you know, like you and that cool katana you used before," I said, remembering that blazing blue sword.
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"Oh, you mean that sword." Madelyn slightly turned away. "Sorry, Ethan, I'm afraid that's a no. You're not ready for that..."
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"Oh," I said, feeling down.
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"No, what we need to perfect is your Tzelem," Madelyn said with a smirk.
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"But I already know how to use Tzelem," I said, slightly calling upon the power that flowed through my body like a gentle stream.
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Madelyn looked up at me. "You have become stronger," she said. "But your Tzelem can still become stronger." She stood up and faced me. "There are three skills of Tzelem." Madelyn held up three fingers. "The first and the easiest is Enhancement," she said. "Which is when we use our power to enhance our strength and speed. Even our five senses fall into this category."
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"Why is this the easiest?" I asked.
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"Because our power is already unconsciously changing our bodies, making them stronger and more powerful. Our bodies, over time, become used to the flow of power and in time will be able to control it physically," she explained. "The first is physical; the other two are mental abilities. You will have to be able to use them both if you are going to hope to survive."
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My heart seemed to skip a beat. "Survive?" I asked.
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Madelyn turned away and began to walk toward the sandy fields where we had once fought.
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"The day of proof and trial," she said, wrapping her hands behind her back. "The most important day for any Pillar: the Amar."
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"The Amar?" I asked. "We never talked about that in any of our history lessons."
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Madelyn, still not facing me, continued to speak. "No, I suppose we didn't. The Amar are a set of trials and challenges given to every would-be Pillar to see if they are worthy enough to stand beside us," she explained. "You can be given any number of challenges, and you must pass every one."
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"What happens if I don't?" I asked.
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Madelyn paused for a moment. "You will die," she said.
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This was news to me, and for the first time, I found myself rethinking all of this. "So if I pass all of these tests, then I will be a Pillar?" I asked.
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"No," she said. "Not until you stand in front of the Crimson Stone."
***
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