Editor's Note: This is the fifth installment of an 11-part short story written by Shawn Smith, a junior English major from Keene, N.H. A new installment will be presented in each issue of The Norwich Guidon during the 2001-02 school year.

Reality's End

by Shawn Smith

Part 5

There weren't very many Brothers who walked around the courtyard as I sat alone underneath a large palm tree, --an unusual sight in Japan, grown with the help of magick.

The ones who were there merely ignored me as they passed by. No recognition, no glances, nothing.

The wind was light, and the top of the palm swayed ever so softly as the breeze passed through the leaves. As it hit my face, I was reminded of the Outer Realm that my master had created. The pure green color of the grass, the hilltop where so many exercises were conducted, and of course the always present cool breeze.

I felt my eyes begin to water at the memory of not only the realm, but also the lives that were violently taken at the hands of my own master. I bent my head down and clenched my teeth together to fight back the tears. I wouldn't let anyone see me this way. I couldn't show any weakness, or else I'd lose whatever face I had left in the monastery. Not that it was much, based on the overwhelming response I was getting.

It had been two weeks since my journey into that limbo between life and death. I was still weak from the ordeal, but I was able to train lightly as soon as my body allowed me. With the High Master as our sensai, Kenji and I practiced our techniques and weapons skills alone. The other masters refused to train either of us because of what happened, and I told High Master Jensen that it wouldn't matter how much she punished them, they still wouldn't teach either of us. We were alone in the Brotherhood; our most treasured family didn't care what happened to us, or what kind of lives we would lead outside the monastery's walls. After all, we couldn't stay here forever.

I sat and tried to comprehend the power I had within me. I anticipated that my sash would transform into an even stranger color than before, but it remained the same. It didn't make sense. Each time I made a leap in magickal strength, it would add a red stripe. Wait, was it just a leap that I would make? Or was it something more?

"You are in a magickal limbo and until you gain the right focus, this sash represents your powers are strong, but your mind must be stronger." The words of my master rang throughout my muddled mind.

My mind wasn't strong enough to focus all of my ability. The proof was evident in what I had done to Kumiko. I raped her mind, plain and simple. I didn't blame her for not speaking to me since that day. Her entire identity was taken from her and nothing was left but a primitive imprint of what she once was. In my opinion, it was pure luck that saved her life. I had no part in it.

"No part . . ." I mumbled. I kept my head down as a feeling of great dread washed over me.

"David-san?" a trembling voice said very slowly and softly.

I didn't look up. I sensed who it was. "I haven't heard from you since --how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. I mean, with everything that's happened . . ."

I looked up and said, "I can understand why this is so difficult for us, Kumiko. I took all your thoughts and memories from you. I gained the most intimate insight into who you are. You're in the right to look down on me."

"David-san, you saved my life. You could have let me die, but you didn't. If you hadn't done what you did, I wouldn't be here now. Please, wait, don't stand-"

I stood up anyway. "The last time I looked into your eyes, they were filled with fear. I don't want to see that again. I'm not sure how we can relate to each other, but at least know that I am truly sorry for what happened. You must think of me as a monster, as I do."

"You're not a monster. You are special, that much I can tell. Not even a master could have done what you did that day. I'm-I'm sorry, David-san. I didn't mean to upset you like that."

"It's all right. I'm used to it."

"No one should go through what you are now. Your master has deserted you, the Brotherhood looks on you with indifference . . . and now you think that your friend Kenji-san is the only one that cares."

"You're scanning my mind, Kumiko. I can feel it and I can easily prevent it, but in some way I can't at the same time."

She took my hand in hers and looked into my brown eyes. There were little flecks of gold in her equally dark brown eyes, no doubt a combination of her mind scan and the aftereffects of the magick I had used to revive her. "When you gave me back my memories, you must have placed yours inside them. I remember things about you that no one else can. I sometimes have a hard time telling my memories apart from yours, probably because my ability isn't very strong."

"Someday it will be. You have to train very hard, but it pays off," I told her reassuringly as I squeezed her hand lightly.

"Maybe, but it will never be as great as yours. You don't realize what kind of strength you have, David-san. Nobody does, and that's why everyone is scared of you."

"You're not scared?"

"No, not anymore. You're not like the others, but it's not something to be frightened of."

I made a sour look and looked over my shoulder. I sensed something was wrong. A group of Brothers, surrounding one person. Kenji-san? No, someone else . . .

"What's wrong?" Kumiko asked.

"I can feel something. It's not right. I'm not sure."

"Can I help you focus?"

"Please. Concentrate on my mind and project your scans outward. I'll be able to see what's going on."

She nodded and closed her eyes. I felt her push out with her mental abilities - I could understand why she had her doubts about her ability, because it wasn't strong at all - while I used mine along with the magick of space and distance to find where the disturbance was. Even though it was a study that I hadn't used in the past because I didn't have the focus to sense direction with much accuracy, I had no other choice.

I held out my hand and focused my mind on a single spot in the air. My brain started to pulsate inside my skull as I tried to open a portal to where I thought the trouble was. It wouldn't be a large portal as with Master Akagi's Outer Realm, but enough to see what was happening. My hand shook as a glow emanated from the palm and extended out to my fingertips. The pain in my head increased with each second I held onto the effect, but I ignored it. I had to see what was wrong.

The air rippled and then separated as it revealed a slightly blurred image of the location. It was in one of the dining areas inside the monastery. Three . . . no four Brothers had someone trapped in a corner as they taunted and jeered at the person. Who was it? I focused harder and the image cleared up to reveal everything that was going on.

Kumiko groaned and I almost lost the focus, but I held her hand tightly and fed her a little healing power of my own to ease her pain. Mine, however, was growing worse and I knew if I didn't stop soon I'd pass out.

Not in this lifetime, I said to myself as I strained to keep the portal open. Yes, there were the Brothers again with the person in the corner. They went to grab, but two were fought off before the others attacked from the blind side. Now down on the ground being battered. Totally vulnerable. Blood. No. I won't allow it. The rage started to build again. I felt my powers grow as my anger invaded my thoughts and dissolved the pain in my brain.

"David-san, are you okay?" It was Kumiko. She was using telepathy to get through to me. Apparently, she was strong enough for that much control, perhaps because we were linked now. I felt her try to squeeze my hand, but I still had her in my own grip.

I kept the portal open, but broke our mental link. "Kumiko, I need you to stay here. I won't be long," I said sternly.

"I'm going with you, David-san. It's better to strike in numbers rather than alone."

"We don't have time to argue. I can't hold the portal open much longer. Just stay here." As I finished my last word, I used magick to induce a hypnotic suggestion for her to sleep. I felt her try to block it out, but I was too strong for her to resist.

"Yes, I'll stay. I'm not sure why, but I feel very tired. Maybe I should go back to my room and rest."

"Maybe so," I replied. I watched her eyes get heavy very quickly as she started to walk away. "Are you okay, Kumiko?"

She didn't answer, just sat down on the ground beneath the tree and slumped backwards. I barely managed to catch her as her entire body went limp.

"Damn. I used too much." I cursed myself again and set her down gently. I could feel the portal begin to weaken and fade out. I took a short breath, then dove through the now blurry image. I had never attempted such a magickal feat before, but there was no other option available. I'd have to take the risk.

The liquid-like feeling stretched around me and then recoiled as I exited the portal opening above the dining area where the assault took place. I didn't realize how far up I had emerged and I dropped down to the floor hard on both feet. I was able to roll out of the fall, but I already alerted the Brothers to my presence.

"What was that?" a Brother asked loudly. He craned his neck around the back of another Brother beside him. As I came into view, his eyes bulged out of their sockets and a look of panic stretched across his face. He tried to form words, but all that came out was an incommunicable string of guttural noise.

"What is it? What's the matter?" the Brother beside him asked. He followed the shaky hand of his companion as it pointed directly at me. His jaw dropped and his body began to quiver.

I arranged myself into a fighting stance, the right side of my body faced my opponents. I was ready to strike, but they were still too close to their victim for me to attack. There was one option that I hadn't explored yet, though.

"Gentlemen, I suggest you leave the lady alone," I said calmly.

All the Brothers shot up where they were and turned to me. Their expressions were exactly the same as the first one who saw me. It was a look of pure fright.

I could feel that fear and I sensed that their minds were clouded by their emotions. They wouldn't be able to think straight until they calmed down, but how much time did I have to act? Beating them in a straight fight would be no problem, but I didn't want to shed any more blood. I was tired of fights, tired of conflicts.

"Where did you come from, traitor? Answer me!" a Brother shouted.

I ignored the Brother and focused my energy on each of the four minds. I searched their thoughts and tapped into their conscious minds, then their subconscious ones.

"You four have dishonored yourselves and your families' names. For that, death is too good of a punishment for you." As I spoke, they slowly advanced upon me. I held my ground and penetrated even further with my hypnotic suggestion. "All of you will go now and tell the masters what you've done today. You will accept punishment for what has happened. Do you understand?"

They all nodded deeply. I had total control over their minds, but resisted the urge to severely damage their psyches. Now, they just stood there waiting for my next command.

"Go to them now and inform them of your dishonorable act. Move!" I ordered in a loud voice.

They bowed and scampered off like children. Their absence left me and their victim alone inside the room with only the slightest hints of footsteps as indications of life elsewhere.

I kneeled down beside the crumpled body left on the floor. Small drops of blood around the area caught my eye as I tensed my face in anger. It was her blood. I wished I could've seen this coming, but I was caught up in my own self-pity to notice. I damned and cursed myself for my lack of vision, then stopped when I heard her utter a low moan.

"Are you okay? Here, let me help-"

Another moan and then she shifted her weight. "You've helped enough already, David. You probably beat those boys into submission as you have always done."

"No, I let them go. I just manipulated their minds enough to make them confess to what they'd done."

"Then you didn't hurt them?"

"Not this time. I'm through with fighting. I don't want to hurt anyone again because that's not who I am. I don't know what I am exactly, but I do remember who I am. That's enough for now."

She rolled over to face me. Her face was bloody from the attack, but there wasn't anything that was permanent. "And who are you?"

"A simple teacher as well as student. Nothing more."

"Wait, how did you-where did you come from? I mean-"

"Don't worry about that. Here, I'll help you up." I lifted her very carefully off the floor, but I could see that she was hunched over, more than likely from cracked or broken ribs.

"My ribs, they hurt. It feels like they're broken," she said with a grimace.

I placed my hands on either side of her and focused my energy. I felt the surge of power pass from me and into her. Yes, the wounds were mending and fading away quickly. I closed my eyes and continued to feed more and more life magick.

"No, please. Stop. You don't have to do this."

"I owe you at least this and much more for what you did to help me."

When I sensed no further injuries, I let go and stood back from her. I felt a little disoriented, but nothing that wouldn't go away in a few short minutes. I grinned and crossed my arms in front of my chest. "Well, how do you feel?" I asked.

"Much better. I don't feel any pain at all. You really aren't like the rest of us, are you?."

"No, I'm afraid not. I'm able to do things that someone my age shouldn't be able to do yet. You need to rest now, you look tired."

"Don't even try that magickal hypnosis on me. You have to work harder to get through my mind."

"Maybe. Listen, I meant what I said about owing you. You helped me when no one else would. I don't think I'd be in my present condition without you."

"I only did what was right."

"Of course." I bowed to her then spun on the ball of my foot to face the other way. I walked to the door in front of me with a sad look on my face. I still felt alone and just needed some time to sort out the chaos in my mind.

"Wait! Where are you going?" she cried.

"I need some time to myself right now. I'll be around if you need me again."

I heard her suck in a quick breath. I sensed her anxiety, but everything else was blocked out. Her mental powers were quite strong when they wanted to be, as with the rest of her ability. I sensed her small movement toward me as she breathed, "David . . ."

I swung open the metal door and stepped through the oak doorway. As I held the door, I turned my head slowly at her. I saw something in her eyes that told me that she wanted to say something, but she couldn't. I didn't feel the need to press her mind for it, so I let it go.

"Sayonara . . . Naomi-san." I released the door and stepped out of the room. The only sound I heard was the slam of metal on wood as the door closed shut. I sighed heavily as I ventured down the long, dark corridor ahead . . . alone.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 6

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