Valkyrie Black

Chapter 21: The Challenge Course

Valkyrie Black Age 13

The next years flew by as Val trained with a new master each day. Thanks to the funds her mother had left, as well as Desmond’s contribution, she was easily able to pay for and complete five levels of mastery in almost everything she trained in. Her spark become an intricate part of her being, and she relied on it as second nature. Some of her favorite skills were stealth, parkour, and rock climbing. As she scaled the cliffs around the fortress, she could lose herself in the challenge of finding the next hand hold and pushing her limits.

Each morning, she would leave her room, and pass through the training hall. On her first day, Desmond had pointed the ceiling out, stating there were five levels to climb. What she had failed to realize was that the landings she could see were not the levels, but actually all part of the first ascension. Each mini-landing would have additional challenges to overcome, the first of which was a rope that would drop once you reached about halfway up.

She had watched countless trainees attempt this rope only to fall hard to the mat some twenty feet below. A trainer kept yelling every time it happened, “You must be lighter than the rope. Your weight cannot jar the rope free.” This concept was foreign to Valkyrie and she could never understand how you could change your weight to not break the rope free from its hanging.

Until she could figure it out, she would never complete the first tier.

Desmond returned from missions and would train with her for an afternoon or two before heading back out to a different part of the world. It was on the anniversary of her arrival that Desmond presented her with a gift.

“Here. I captured this on my last mission.” He handed her a small parcel wrapped in brown paper. Inside were three orangish yellow crystals, each only about an inch long. They had perfectly hexagonal sides, forming a long, thin structure.

 “They are called citrine. It is a type of quartz, more in the amethyst family, but these have been heat-treated by the earth’s core. They are very rare, but a single one will store more power from Scath Shadows than four quartz.”

Desmond also withdrew a coil of thin wire and fine white ribbon. “Your hair is a bit unique but I might have something to help with that. You can actually twist the wire around the stones along those sides and then use that and this ribbon to hide them in your hair.”

Val frowned as she considered before beaming up at Desmond and wrapping him in a hug. “Thank you!”

With this, she could always have storage for as many as twelve plasma units, which could then be available for healing or feeding the spark. And with them being so small, their weight would be negligible in her hair.

“Once you get them attached, I will work with you on how to use them best. Once you fill them, the Spark will detect them and send a tendril to secure them. Once it has, you will not have to think to use them or fish them out of storage. They will simply be at your disposal. Plus, unless you cut your hair above them, the tendril will ensure they never fall out.

Val suddenly thought of something, “Will other sparks know of this?”

“In high society, yes. They make it a fashion statement to have various enhancement stones and tools on their person. In some ways, you can judge how wealthy one of the Spark Blessed are based on what they wear. In other ways, just because they have such tools, doesn’t mean they know how to use them to any great effect. Some of the strongest keep their wealth and skill well hidden. Many rich families will also adorn themselves with these as well, even if they cannot use them. They are showing their resources and ability to become one of the Spark Blessed.”

“Are Sparks really rare in Suria?” Val asked. She had yet to pass the barrier mountains, into Suria proper.

“Uncommon would likely be a better word. Many of the heads of houses, and a few of the heirs of houses or clans have them. Of the lower tier Sparks, many of the guild masters and master merchants will be Spark blessed. Understand that most of the people who have sparks possess one that can only master one skill set.” Desmond explained.

Among the brotherhood, they are very rare. Only the top tiers of their organization are known to have them. They have at least one elite warrior. HE will likely know of this type of crystal and will have ensured he had many Shadows in reserve. If you ever see Falazure, run. You are no match for his kind of brutality.”

Desmond shook off a cold sweat as he continued, “About ten years ago, we tried to assassinate Falazure. We lost three well-trained Sparks that day and no less than thirty mundane warriors, each highly skilled and well-armed. He didn’t even bother recovering the Spark artifacts, he simply sliced right through the necks, destroying them completely as he killed the host vessels.”

Val shivered at the thought and wondered what it would take to kill something like that.

“So, have you made any friends?”

“Mistress Morgessa is fun.”

“Morgessa?” The shock in Desmond’s voice was enough to make Val wonder what kind of history they must have.

Desmond seemed to not want to talk about Morgessa so he changed the topic. “Have you made any friends your age?”

“A few, but the cohort is supposed to rotate here next month, from what the instructors have told me.”

“You have had the masters to yourself this whole time?” Desmond asked, shocked.

“Almost… is that odd? You told me to train while you were away, and the Prior didn’t want me going to the other forts mid-term. So, I have just been working out here. There are two other students, Cade and Alexa. They have been training with me”

“Most students never get four years of one on one training like that unless they are from one of the ruling families with members of the council of thirteen. You are very lucky indeed, though I do wish you had been able to make some friends your own age. Perhaps you will have to introduce me to this Cade and Alexa. If Moregessa has been training you, then you passed the first level right?”

Val blushed, “No.”

“No? Hmm.” Desmond didn’t push too much but asked, “why don’t you show me what you have learned then.”

Val eagerly led him to some of her favorite training spots and showed him how much she had improved at scaling the tall mountain faces. “I still cannot climb the rope in the training hall. Cade even made it right after arriving but will not tell me how.” She finally admitted after successfully scaling a 100 foot sheer rock face without hesitation or even the need for a rope.

“The rope is what has you hung up? Girl, you haven’t even made it off the ground to the first challenge then!” Desmond said in disbelief. He then sighed, “It is the first challenge for a reason. Even someone as large as me can complete it as you now know from Cade’s ability. He is likely from a family that has been training him for a long time. They plan on him making a good showing here before the other students.”

“No one will tell you how to beat this because they are not allowed to. Only a master who is level three or higher can choose to give you hints, and then, few would bother.”

Desmond considered her for a moment before coming to a decision, “The secret is in control. Here on the rock wall you mentally trust the rock. There you assume the rope will break. You must learn to consistently apply the same pressure, the same way, all the way up. Too many over-commit and leap up the rope, snapping it. It’s a slow, consistent climb that will get you to the landing.”

Val was eager to test this out for herself. She knew she had been doing exactly what Desmond had said. In the final few feet, she would get excited to be near the top, and knew the rope would detach any second. In her haste and desire to beat it, she would leap for the highest point she could to try to reach the landing before it broke. She fell every time.

When she raced back to the hall this time, Desmond stood in the doorway, crossing his arms as he watched. He gave her a small nod, before she began to climb. Slowly, hand over hand she ascended. Constant pressure, never more never less. Her movement became fluid as she climbed, consistently moving up. Before she knew it her hand was reaching for the floor of the landing just a food away from her hand. She was higher than she had ever made it. As her fingers closed on the ledge, the rope released!

However, she hung, suspended by a single hand grasping the landing. She glanced down to see the floor thirty feet below. It would be a bad fall if she lost her grip. She put all her strength into her arm and yanked hard, throwing her body up. She managed to grip the floor with both hands and then levered herself up onto the platform.

A small round of cheers rose from the onlookers. None of the trainees had ascended to this level since she had been here. Only the masters managed to climb that high. Val rolled onto her back, panting from the exertion. She grinned, and rolled back to her feet and stood, ready to descend. That is when she took in the other challenges of this floor.

“You made it to the next floor but to claim the prize, you have to complete the floor,” Desmond called. “You didn’t think climbing a single rope made you worthy did you?”

Val huffed but looked around and groaned.  From this point, she could see a door in the far wall, but to get there, she would have to navigate a sea of obstacles and challenges. The first of which was a swinging target hung from a long thin cord.

She pulled a throwing dagger and lobbed it easily into the center of the target, sending the disc spinning. However, nothing happened.

“Use your senses!” Desmond called. “All that training, but if you don’t open your eyes…”

Val glanced around, not seeing anything of note until her eyes fell on the rope holding the target. It didn’t just hang from the roof, but was connected to a series of strands that held a bridge in place! Once she saw this she finally understood. She drew another dagger and sent it at the rope holding the target. When it cut clean through, the target crashed to the ground, and a narrow wooden bridge dropped down, connecting her suspended platform to the outside catwalk.

“The next part is on you, girlie.”

Val grunted and darted across. As her foot hit the catwalk that ran around the outer edge of the level, a padded blade wiped out from a dark spot in the wall, catching her in the chest and sending her flying into empty space.

When she returned to consciousness, Desmond was staring down at her. “Guess you still have more to learn, now don’t you?” Desmond chuckled as he walked away. He called over his shoulder, “Guess you need to start training with the agility master as well as the situational awareness trainers. Maybe next time.”