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Zade: Agent of Gaia

Tutorial (Part 1)

"While a world's magical potential is yet relatively primitive, it can get by without intervention. There comes a point when that potential becomes too high to let the world be. That is when we take it upon ourselves to appoint one of that world as an agent of ours to intermediate and act on our behalf. To maintain order, we do not meddle, instead advising and guiding our agents in regards to the missions they must do to stop and apprehend those that disturb the peace. Life requires order, harmony. If neglected, chaos leads to ruin. To ensure the safety and security of life, of creation, the nine of us became the Council. We found our own way of becoming Ascendant, developed Cosmic Law, and call upon persons of each world to enforce those laws. To further maintain order, each world only has one agent at a time. As you may have guessed, we have chosen you to be the first of your world," a voice spoke.

"Why me?" Zade inquired.

"The sword in your possession should make it obvious," spoke a second. "You have proven yourself. Despite your circumstances, you were inspired to put your life on the line for the sake of your town. Now we implore you to do the same for your world in its entirety. Cid sees potential in you, and so do we. Additionally, Cid is one of our agents. To gift something such as that sword is not something someone would do lightly, especially Cid. Transmutation is one thing, but enchanting is another. It requires a portion of one's own life force. To create Flamebrand, Cid shortened his lifespan. He made an investment in you that he cannot get back. He sacrificed part of his future because he has faith that you will be the hero that this world needs. Due to your recent experiences, we conclude that no one else is better prepared to deal with what Gaia is facing."

"I have sword, but I have no skills. If I am supposed to be the hero that I need to be, then I need instant training," Zade responded

"Time flows differently in different worlds. You are going to have to train in a world where several days pass in the span of a day on yours," a third voice spoke.

"What world will I be going to?" Zade asked.

"A world which parallels what Gaia will soon become," spoke another.

"'Soon!?'" Zade questioned.

"Mana, the very essence of magic, and even life, is supposed to enter a world naturally. As a result, the limits of creation expand naturally, gradually. However, when Mana is forced into a world, especially rapidly, the changes are rapid, sudden. Cid's redundant assessment confirms what we suspected. The transformations that Gaia is going through are going to vast and are going to be quick," a fifth voice spoke.

"Then there is no time to lose!" Zade exclaimed.

"We are glad you agree. Once you are sufficiently trained, you will learn all there is to being our agent," spoke a sixth voice.

"So, how long am I supposed to be an agent?" Zade inquired.

"It's a lifelong commitment so long as you don't end up in our prison," a seventh voice spoke.

"I guess there really is no such thing as peaceful living anymore. My life is the price for the world to know harmony," Zade replied.

"You want to be a hero, right? You want to protect your world from evil? Could you turn your back on it at any point? Heroism is costly," spoke yet another voice.

"So be it," Zade said.

"Be on your way," a final voice spoke.

A portal opened up, and Zade stepped through. The fantastical sights overwhelmed him.

"Zade?" a voice called out.

"Who are you?" he inquired.

"I am Syrion, this world's agent working on behalf of the nine councilors. I am your chaperone during your stay here. Welcome to Aethlos!" the tall, sturdy man announced.

Zade proceeded to vomit.

"Ah, Temporal Nausea. Your body is acclimating to the difference in temporal velocity," Syrion said.

"Are all agents explanatory know-it-alls?" Zade asked.

"Ignorance is an egregious disadvantage. Knowledge is power," Syrion answered. "That is why you will be touring Aethlos in its entirety, so you will be prepared for Gaia's future."

"I'm not here to see sights. I'm here to learn how to use a sword," Zade replied.

"Yes, you are. However, the world is a big place. It just wouldn't be right to stay in one place. We will train as we travel," Syrion responded.

"A world tour sounds like time we can't afford," Zade said.

"It's been forever since I looked at a time chart, but I'm pretty sure Aethlos' temporal velocity is Gaia's sevenfold. Don't worry," Syrion assured.

"How long am I here?" Zade asked.

"A week," Syrion answered. "It really is a travesty. Sufficient training requires more time."

"We're on borrowed time," Zade said.

"Unless..." Syrion spoke.

"Unless what?" Zade asked.

"Unless we utilize the Dreamscape..." Syrion responded. "The only problem is we need to present an offering to the Dreamer, and finding something that suffices is easier said than done."

"Excuse me, the what?" Zade asked.

"A Dreamscape is a dream that is shared among multiple persons. As long as the host remains asleep, the cognizant consciousness of slumbering individuals can co-exist inside the dream. Actually executing a Dreamscape is quite challenging, but more importantly, it's illegal to do so without the Council's permission. Only the Dreamer is allowed to host a Dreamscape on Aethlos, and it is perpetual per her arrangement with them. Given the sensitive nature of Dreamscapes, the Dreamer has protectors without and within. These priests are vigilant and won't let just anybody in. This is why we need an offering that is satisfactory. Aethlos' Dreamscape is a sacred sanctuary," Syrion explained. "We'll work our way there last on our journey. We'll keep our eyes out all along the way for something. In the meantime, let's set ourselves up for the adventure. First things first, let's procure a remedy for your ailment."

Zade followed Syrion as he walked off.

"Are you really familiar with the entire world?" Zade inquired.

"I sure am. I have to be. I am its agent after all," Syrion answered. "We're currently in Rauron, Human territory."

"'Human territory...' How many... peoples are there?" Zade questioned.

"Officially, there are fifteen," Syrion answered.

"Fifteen!?" Zade shouted. "That's... how are there so many!?"

"Calm down. You're drawing attention," Syrion commanded. "There are fifteen distinct races. To put it simply, there are the Bestials, the Elves, the Hybrids, Dwarfs, Humans, Orcs, and the Undead."

"What?" Zade asked.

"I figured exposure to our world would be somewhat overwhelming. This is why I have been planning on guiding you little by little. We're starting in Rauron for a reason. This is your chance to really look around at all our awesome vegetation," Syrion replied.

"This is not a vacation. I'm not here to admire leaves, I'm here to train in the art of swordsmanship. Must I continue to remind you?" Zade questioned.

"We're here," Syrion said.

"Where?" Zade asked.

"The apothecary," Syrion answered. He opened the door and walked in, still followed by Zade. "Good day, madam. May we trouble you for a simple antacid?"

"Just an antacid?" The woman questioned.

"No. I assure you that I will be purchasing more in a bit. We don't want this poor lad heaving in this fine establishment, however," Syrion responded.

"Fair enough," the woman said as she rushed to grab the vial. "I'll charge you for it along with everything else."

"Much appreciated," Syrion responded as he was handed the item. He handed it to Zade who ingested it immediately.

"It tastes worse than my vomit!" Zade exclaimed.

"But it does the trick," Syrion replied.

"Now that I'm good, let's not waste any more time," Zade said.

"Of course," Syrion said.

Syrion led Zade around to all the shops, buying all that they would need.

"Are we done now?" Zade asked.

"Yes we are," Syrion answered.

"Can we start training now?" Zade asked.

"Yes we can," Syrion answered. He took Zade to a nearby field. "First and foremost, you must learn the principles of fighting. You must have a strong mind in addition to a strong body. Being able to remain focused and calm is vital. You must also remain confident and doubtless. You must avoid consistency. Predictability is detrimental. Lastly, timing is everything. That sounds obvious, but reiteration never hurts."

"Intellect, confidence, inconsistency, timing... I think I've got it," Zade said.

"Do you?" Syrion questioned. "Do you truly grasp the importance of timing? Patience is key. You've been rushing me to start your training. Timing is the difference between life and death. Rushing in a battle could be fatal."

"I may be impatient, but I'm not reckless," Zade replied.

"Then what do you calling rushing into battle without any skills?" Syrion asked.

"What? How...?" Zade questioned.

"I know about what happened because it's my business to know everything about my student. That's how," Syrion responded.

"Doing something was better than doing nothing!" Zade exclaimed. "Besides, what Gaian really could have diffused the situation?"

"What would have happened if you had died then?" Syrion asked. "Who else could be standing here where you are now? Like the Council said, no one else is better prepared than you. There is a difference between giving your life and throwing it away."

"The past is in the past. I'm here to learn, so teach me!" Zade responded.

"Are you here to learn just sword skills, or all that is required of a fighter?" Syrion questioned.

"I'm here to become what I need to be," Zade answered.

"Then I suggest you really take patience to heart," Syrion replied. "While you are pestering me about time, don't forget that you still have to learn all that comes with being an agent, and the Council has an insolence intolerance."

"Okay, I get it. I won't rush you anymore," Zade said.

"Thank you," Syrion replied. "Now that you know the principles, it's time to learn the basics. The basics of offense is as basic as basic gets. All there is to it is the eight angles of cutting. They are upward, downward, leftward, rightward, high left to low right, high right to low left, low left to high right, low right to high left.

"Yes, that sounds simple enough," Zade said.

"Good. We can move on to the basics of defense," Syrion replied.

Zade and Syrion trained all morning long.

"It's midday. We've gotta move," Syrion said.

"What? What do you mean?" Zade asked.

"We've got a total of seven days, and fourteen territories to explore, which means we have to tour two territories each day," Syrion answered. "We've dwelt here long enough. We'll continue training in the next area."

"'Fourteen territories?' I thought you said there are fifteen races," Zade said.

"There are fifteen. The Undead are excluded from the tour. It's best to avoid those vile abominations," Syrion replied.

"Suit yourself," Zade responded.

The two hit the road.

Zade was so focused on training, that he had not payed attention to his surroundings. The road trip provided sufficient time for him to do so. Given that there was no time to train during the transition, he soon took advantage of the opportunity. He bore witness to the mystifying landscape. He looked down at flowers of alien design, and up at trees that appeared to be the realization of childish illustrations. Nature was seeming unnatural.

"How long have you been an agent?" Zade asked.

"Six years," Syrion answered.

"Only six!?" Zade questioned. "But you're..."

"Getting old? It's not about being in one's prime, it's about being the most qualified. When the time comes for a successor, the Council diligently deliberates on candidates until all nine unanimously agree on someone who is not only ideal, but guaranteed to accept the role. To further maintain order, the existence of the Council must remain a secret. Only agents may know of it. This is why people must be chosen very carefully. Things get complicated if the person they call upon refuses," Syrion explained.

"Well, I wasn't really chosen and don't really have choice. I'm just... expected to be an agent. I'm the guy people didn't seriously, but I didn't take life seriously. Life was simple. Magic was simple. I was content just having fun. Life was fun. Life was easy. I could be a dork all the time because I had the leisure of doing so. There were no real problems. Now, things are complicated. I'm not content just doing nothing while the world faces unknown dangers! But, am I really the only one on Gaia who can be its agent? I'm sure I can help in a smaller capacity, but I'm a burden to the real heroes," Zade said.

"The ones we call heroes were not always that. Everybody starts out as a nobody. It's all about growth. Nobody is born as an adult. Every butterfly was once a caterpillar. Masters are former stu-Watch out!" Syrion exclaimed. After moving Zade out of the way, one swing of his sword vanquished the sudden beast.

"Well I'll be damned. What was that thing?" Zade asked.

"A fiend," Syrion answered.

"A fiend? You call monsters fiends?" Zade questioned.

"Everyone does. You know that Mana is the source of magic and the essence of life and creation itself. Mana not only can be transmuted, it can be corrupted. Corrupted Mana is simply known as 'Chaos.' Just as Mana shapes, evolves, Chaos taints, warps, decays. Fiends were once normal creatures that have been taken by the blight that is Chaos. These aberrations must be disposed of. I hate to think that the plague is inevitable, but... I hope Gaia is free of Chaos for the foreseeable future," Syrion explained.

"That would be ideal, yes, but I have to be prepared for any screnario- I have to be," Zade responded.

The rest of the journey, luckily, progressed without any problems.

"Welcome to Lesparcia, home of the Wood Elves," Syrion stated.

"To what do we owe the honor of your presence?" a man inquired.

"Tourism," Syrion stated.

"Tourism?" the man questioned.

"I am showing this outsider the entirety of our world," Syrion answered.

"Legendary warriors have now been reduced to nothing more than guides, have they?" the man asked.

"I am more than a mere guide, I am an instructor. I am teaching this guys here the art of swordsmanship as we travel the world," Syrion responded.

"Have fun," the man said.

Syrion walked away, followed by Zade.

"What was that about?" Zade asked.

"Mere formalities," Syrion answered. "Let us locate a nearby clearing to continue your training."

Syrion and Zade spent the rest of the day going over the basics from the morning.

They spent the next few days familiarizing Zade with the rest of the Elven peoples: Following the Wood Elves of Lesparcia were the the High Elves of Dolura, then the Dark Elves of Vyrce, the Snow Elves of Ishatul, the Sea Elves of Kae Doran, and, finally, the Night Elves of Dasmarna. These days, Syrion trained Zade by engaging him in combat.

The fourth day's morning had passed, and they were moving to the next area.

"I think you're ready to fight any fiends we encounter on the roads," Syrion said.

"Really?" Zade questioned.

"There's only so much about playing an instrument a bard can learn before they need to start practicing a repertoire. Your sword is your instrument, and combat is the song," Syrion responded.

"Very poetic," Zade commented.

Zade's excitement over being able to battle left him disappointed when they arrived at their destination without any interruption.

"Welcome to Fedaltes, home of the Dwarves," Syrion announced.

"You really are familiar with the entire world," Zade stated.

"Yes I am. I have to be. I am its agent after all. As I said before." Syrion responded.

"Which implies that you didn't learn everything that you did until you became the agent. I'm trying not to feel bad about not knowing Gaia in it's entirety. I have already toured more of Aethlos than I have of Gaia. That's been true since the second day. It took a crisis to take me out of my home town. There's a whole world that needs me and I know nothing about it," Zade said.

"Don't feel bad. The need for agents shouldn't exist. The Council shouldn't exist. We may never know what series of events compelled the Nine to sacrifice simple living for an eternity of ceaselessly perceiving everything in every world, to observe and instruct accordingly, but as long as there are those who would upset balance, there must be those who are prepared to stop them," Syrion spoke. "However, I must tell you. Dragons are the primary and ultimate protectors of worlds, but they only intervene when circumstances are extreme. That is why we must yet be guardians ourselves for the sake of the worlds. Agents must especially be such in your case- That is, when there is need for an agent, but Dragons do not yet exist in their world. For the time being, you are responsible for everything, and when the time does come, to usher in the arrival of the Dragons. You must protect and raise the firstborn,"

"You're supposed to be encouraging me, not daunting me," Zade replied.

"You'll be fine," Syrion responded.

"Thank you. I hope so. I don't know," Zade said.

"It's not going to do the world any good to doubt yourself. The best thing you can do for it is to be confident because the only thing it can expect from you is your best," Syrion assured.

"That's a really good way to put it. I suppose you're right," Zade responded.

The following morning, the journey to the next area had barely begun when Syrion stopped.

"I have done my best to introduce you to this world little by little, for the sake of convenience," Syrion began. "Again, for that reason we began in Rauron. We are on our way to Gildiel, home of the Kuneth. Before we arrive, I have a confession to make. I am not Human. I am Kuneth." Syrion broke the spell he was using, and revealed his true, furry form. A thick tail sprouted from his abdomen, and his face extended into a muzzle. His ears disappeared from the side of his head, and reemerged on the top in their true shape.

"Well I'll be damned. You're a, you're a wolf-man!? Man wolf!?" Zade questioned.

"Kuneth," Syrion responded. "I trust you're not bigoted? You have been selected to be an agent, after all."

"It's just that... how am I supposed to react? Like this is normal for me?" Zade asked.

"Mana. I suppose you could call it strange," Syrion replied. "The Gaia you left is not the same Gaia you will return to. While things were just starting to change, those changes must now be becoming apparent."

"That's part of the reason I'm here. I will be prepared for... the 'new world,'" Zade responded.

"Indeed," Syrion said. "Okay. On second thought, we'll go to Gildiel last."

"Well, you're the guide, so I can't argue. Lead the way to the next place," Zade replied.

The day was spent on the other Bestial races. The former half on the anthropomorphic cats, Khamaari of Al'Mahr, and the latter half on the anthropomorphic rabbits, Kani of Solunastros.

The next day was spent on the Hybrid races. The former half on the Human-Bestial race, Kumano of Saladar, and the latter half on the Elf-Bestial race, Kelviri of Arkiros. These races were especially intriguing since they came into existence not by Mana, but by interracial breeding.

Zade's final day on Aethlos began with the Orcs of Niumer. With the passing of morning, he and Syrion were again on their way to Gildiel.

"This whole week I've kept my eye out for some special looking thing for the Dreamscape, but it would have helped if you gave me some idea of what to look out for," Zade said.

"It would have helped if you told me sooner," Syrion retorted.

"Well, the Dreamscape was always only a possibility anyways, so no big deal, I suppose," Zade stated.

"Relics. We should focus our attention on Relics," Syrion said.

"Please explain," Zade replied.

"Normally, Mana doesn't have any affect on objects. In extremely rare cases, Mana itself naturally enchants an item. These special, and sometime powerful, objects are called 'Relics.' We should be looking out for any Relics there may be along the way." Syrion explained.

"It's pretty much too late now," Zade responded.

"Which is why I wish you said something sooner," Syrion replied.

"The past is the past. We must keep moving forward," Zade stated.

"Agreed," Syrion said. "This is it. If we don't find anything before Gildiel, then there will be no going to the Dreamscape later."

Unfortunately, they came across no Relics on their way to Gildiel. Despite the disappointment, Syrion was comforted by his homecoming.

A figure could be seen at the town's entrance as they approached. When Syrion was certain of who they were, and discerned their indentity, he rushed to them. Zade tried to keep up.

"Kadara!" Syrion shouted.

"Don't 'Kadara' me, you fool! How about an apology!? You were supposed to be here two days ago! How are we supposed to know whether or not you're still alive!? What were you thinking!? Your son has been crying over and over and over again and I've had to work hard at keeping him calm! What do you have to say for yourself!?" she nagged.

"You're too good for me, Kadara," Syrion responded before hugging and kissing her. "I couldn't bring myself to stop by for such a brief time, so I had us end up here in the end so I wouldn't have to leave anytime soon. It was hard, but it has to be worth it," Syrion looked down. "Don't be shy, Kota, welcome our guest."

His son was attempting to hide behind his wife, but the effort was futile.

"H-Hi," he said.

"Sythius has escaped!" screamed a man in the distance.

To be continued...