Alia Stormkiller - Pt 3
By: Cerulean
Alia Stormkiller.....Part 3
Alia wasn't sure what to expect from her training, but she really enjoyed everything that Necromancers Munne & Blackblood taught her. There was so much more to being a Necromancer then just creating minions and she couldn't get enough of it.
Needless to say she excelled in all of her Necro studies, the problem being there was more to learn the just being a Necro. Part of being in the Academy was that you had to serve in the military and this was an area she was not very good at. In fact she was sent to see Warmaster Tydus so many times that he had went ahead and scheduled a weekly meeting with her knowing that something would come up.
The problem was that she just didn't like to take orders. She could fight with the best of them when she was allowed to do her own thing, but following orders that was a different story.
Finally after 3 months of this Tydus sat her down and let her know where she stood.
"Alia, you are becoming a fine Necromancer, but there is a problem. The problem is that daily I get reports of how you refuse to follow orders. If it wasn't for the fact that Baron Ravenstaff sponsored you, you would have already been kicked out of the Academy. Now let me read you the letter that I must send to the Baron."
"To the Honorable Baron Ravenstaff. I write to you regarding Alia Stormkiller who you have sponsored into the Academy this year. It is with my deepest regrets to let you know that she has been dismissed from the Academy for numerous violations on the failure to follow orders."
"We have given her every opportunity to change her behavior and she refuses to do so. Alia showed great promise with her studies but as you know with the military as in ordinary life there are times you must follow orders and refusing to do so can and will get you into trouble."
"As you may know with her dismissal you will not be allowed to sponsor any further recruits for the next 5 years and you are fined 5 Platinum for this transgression".
Signed Prince Rurik.
Alia sat stunned. She had a look of horror on her face. She didn't realize that the Baron could get into trouble because of her. She wanted to speak but she was unable to. Finally Tydus broke the silence.
"Alia, we do not want to send this letter. That is why I read it to you. I wanted you to know what can happen. Not only would you be disgraced, but the Baron would be too. You have the chance to keep us from sending this, but you have to start following orders immediately. If I hear that you failed to follow them one more time then this letter will be sent. Do you understand?"
Alia looked at him and in a week voice said "Yes, Sir".
"Good, now go back to your room and prepare for training tomorrow"
"Yes, Sir. I will". At that Alia got up and left and went to her room. She sat down on the bed in shock realizing that she almost made the biggest mistake of her life. Suddenly she was startled by a knock on the door. Alia said "Come In" and just sat there.
When the door opened it was Necromancer Munne. She came in and sat down by Alia.
"I know you had a discussion with Warmaster Tydus and I know he gave you your final warning. I came here to tell you that even though you have caused us, the instructors, some trouble we all are willing to work with you. We don't want to see you fail. So tomorrow when you show up for training you will be treated no differently then someone who has never been in trouble."
Alia with her head hung low said, "Basically for my entire life I did not have to take orders. I was used to doing what I needed to get by. I will try but I know that I am going to mess up at some point".
"Alia, we all know that. We all realize that changing something like this will take time and work. I am not saying that an instructor will not get on you for not following an order, but we will work with you to help you improve. The best advice I can give is when an instructor gives you an order just do it no matter if you think it is silly or not. Later when there is time you can ask the instructor about that order. They will be glad to explain the reasoning behind it. Just promise me, promise us that you will try."
"I promise that I will do my best."
"That is all we can ask for. Now get some rest and we will see you tomorrow". At that Necromancer Munne got up and left.
Alia knew it was now up to her. She had to prove that she was worthy of the sponsorship she received.
Alia woke early the next day and reported to her first class. It was about military protocol and not 5 minutes into it the class was ordered to march. Well this was something she saw no reason to do, but she took Munne's advice and did it. This is how it went for the entire day. She kept her mouth shut and did what she was told. She noticed that the instructors did not treat her as a misfit even though some students did especially a second year student named Cerulean Niteshadow.
Cerulean just ate up the military life. As much as Alia hated it she loved it and it was Alia's misfortune that Cerulean was one of her Squad Leaders. What made matters worse with this person was that on visiting days Alia was always alone but this Cerulean always had someone visiting her. If it wasn't a parent it was a sister and it really started to get to Alia.
The year went on and there where a few occasions that Alia messed up but with a firm reminder from the instructor she corrected herself. Alia was even starting to enjoy some of the non-necro things. She may never really like them but tolerate them she would.
During the final weeks of training that year Cerulean was to take the squad to Ft Ranik to participate in some military games. Most of the trip was uneventful. When they got within a mile of the fort they where passing through the trees along the path when suddenly a dozen giant spiders dropped out of the trees. Before anyone could react half of the squad was poisoned and the rest where fighting for their lives.
Alia started casting spells on the spiders that where attacking and she noticed that 2 of the squad had already went down. She caught site of Cerulean who had 2 dead spiders at her feet and was battling 2 more. As her training taught her Alia backed away and noticed that one of the Elementalists had also backed off and was casting.
At this point she now saw 4 of the squad down, 6 of the spiders where dead and the rest where still attacking. She continued with her spells and after casting on 1 spider saw it go down. At that point she noticed that the Ele had fallen and it was now just Cerulean another warrior and herself with 4 spiders left.
Cerulean killed 2 more but not before the warrior had fallen. This didn't stop Cerulean but as she turned to confront the next spider she was poisoned. She kept fighting and Alia did what she could. She concentrated on the other spider and was able to kill it then she turned her attention to Cerulean and the last spider. At this point Cerulean was struggling to just stay up. Alia had no spells ready so she ran in, grabbed an axe from a fallen warrior and proceeded to strike the spider in the back.
A lucky or desperate blow but the spider went down. Alia happened to have an ability to remove poison on her and cast it on Cerulean just as she was going down. Cerulean was still for a second then slowly sat up. She asked Alia if she could Rez anyone and if she could then to rez the Monk and she would get the others.
After they got the monks up they allowed them to work while they rested. Cerulean came over and sat by Alia. She said, "I want to thank you for saving my life".
"You don't need to thank me. We are close enough to the Fort that we would have been found and rez'd anyway", said Alia.
"It depends. You may not remember but a rez can only be done for a certain amount of time after you go down. If to much time goes by then you will stay dead. Even though we are this close to the Fort there is no guarantee that we would have been found in time. You not only saved my life but you saved all of our lives. Alia you are a hero today."
"Please, I am not a hero. I did what I could and thankfully it was enough.", said Alia.
"Alia, I have judged you wrong this year. I had pictured you as someone who would run during a battle, but you stood there you fought when everyone else was going down. When we get back, I would love to talk with you more and to get to know you better."
"I would like that too", said Alia.
After that they finished the march to the Fort and reported the incident. They had a great meal and rested for the next day.
...more coming