A Banner Torn (Book 1 Complete)

Kaelid:

He woke to sunlight streaming through his bedroom window and the sound of his mother moving about quietly. For a moment, he felt almost normal. Until he tried to sit up and discovered that his body still felt like it was made of lead. The energy depletion from two days ago had left him weak and disoriented, his enhanced abilities functioning at barely a fraction of their normal capacity.

He managed to dress himself and make his way to the kitchen, where Maerwen was preparing a breakfast that seemed designed to restore strength, thick porridge with honey, fresh eggs, and bread that was still warm from the oven.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, studying his face with worry vlear in her voice, about his mysterious collapse.

"Better," he replied, though the word felt inadequate. He was conscious and mobile, which was an improvement over his condition immediately after the energy depletion, but he was far from recovered. When he tried to activate his enhanced perception, the familiar tingle barely responded, providing only the faintest improvement over normal human senses.

"Theron stopped by earlier," Maerwen smiled, setting a bowl of porridge before him. "He wanted to check on your condition, but I told him you needed rest more than examination."

He nodded gratefully. The young tutor's concern was genuine, but his constant monitoring and testing had become exhausting. Every few hours, Theron had been appearing with his crystalline devices, taking readings and making notes about his recovery progress with the intensity of a scholar documenting a rare phenomenon.

After breakfast, Kaelid made his way to the village square, taking frequent breaks to rest. He found Rannek sitting on the steps of the inn, looking marginally better than Kaelid, but still clearly struggling with the aftereffects of their energy depletion.

"Any improvement?" Rannek asked as he settled beside him.

"Some," Kaelid replied. "I can maintain my status display for a few minutes now, but anything more complex is still beyond me."

"Same here. Theron says it could take weeks to fully recover." Rannek's expression was grim. "And that's assuming we don't suffer any permanent damage from the depletion."

The thought of lasting consequences hung over them. The thought that their reckless experimentation might have permanently reduced their abilities was almost unbearable.

Their conversation was interrupted by the approach of Marta, who had been helping her father with the morning bread delivery. She took one look at them and immediately moved to check their condition, her expression filled with concern.

"You both still look exhausted," she said, studying their faces with the worried attention. "Are you getting any better?"

He pulled Lexicon from his satchel and set it on the inn steps beside him. The journal remained in its disguised form but projected a subtle display that showed their current energy levels, still significantly below normal, but gradually improving.

"Slowly," he replied, interpreting Lexicon's readings. "We're at about half strength now, but it's still difficult to maintain complex abilities for long periods."

"Have you noticed anything strange around the village?" Rannek asked, remembering the surveillance concerns that had been overshadowed by Kaelid's collapse.

Marta's expression grew troubled. "Now that you mention it, yes. People have been talking about strangers asking questions, travelers who claim to be merchants or pilgrims, but who seem more interested in information than in buying anything or seeking shelter."

"What kind of questions?" he asked.

"About the village, about unusual events, about children with special talents." Marta's voice dropped to a whisper. "Mrs. Aldrich told me a man approached her yesterday asking specifically about 'the boys who went to the capital.' When she refused to answer, he offered her silver for information."

The news sent a chill through both boys. The Praxis surveillance was becoming more aggressive, moving from passive observation to active intelligence gathering. If they were offering payment for information, it suggested they were preparing for some kind of direct action.

"We need to tell Sergeant Kael," he tried to get up, struggling to his feet. "He needs to know they're escalating."

They found the sergeant near the village's eastern edge, where he appeared to be conducting his own investigation of the area. He was crouched beside a section of disturbed ground, studying tracks with the focus of someone who had spent years reading signs of human passage.

"Sergeant," Rannek called out as they approached.

Kael lifted his weathered face at their arrival. "Boys. I was wondering when you'd come looking for answers."

"You know about the surveillance?" Kaelid asked.

"I've been watching for exactly this kind of activity," Kael replied, rising to his full height. "It's why I'm really here."

The admission hung, confirming what they had suspected. Sergeant Kael wasn't just a guard assigned to protect them, he was an intelligence operative, sent to monitor and counter Praxis activities.

"The Collegium knew this would happen?" Marta asked.

"The Collegium hoped it wouldn't, but prepared for the possibility that it would," Kael corrected. "The Praxis has patterns. When they identify valuable assets, they follow a predictable escalation sequence: passive observation, active surveillance, intelligence gathering, and finally direct acquisition."

"Where are we in that sequence?" Rannek asked, though his tone suggested to him that he already knew.

"Intelligence gathering, moving toward direct acquisition," Kael replied grimly. "The strangers asking questions, the offers of payment for information, the increasing boldness of their surveillance, these are all signs that they're preparing for the final phase."

The sergeant led them back toward the village center, continuing his explanation as they walked. "The Praxis believes in overwhelming force and rapid execution. When they move, it will be swift and decisive. They'll have legal justification, superior numbers, and enhanced agents to ensure compliance."

"What can we do?" he asked.

"For now, we continue as normal while preparing for the inevitable," Kael warned. "But we also need to accelerate your training. If confrontation is coming, you need to be as prepared as possible."

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As if summoned by his words, Theron appeared from the direction of Elder Myra's cottage, moving with unusual urgency. His normally composed demeanor was replaced by agitation, and he carried a leather message pouch that bore the official seals of the Collegium.

"Sergeant, boys," he gasped out. "I've received new orders from the Collegium. We're to accelerate all training protocols due to 'external pressures' and 'evolving threat assessments.'"

"What kind of external pressures?" Kael asked, though his tone suggested he already knew.

"Political pressure," Theron replied, opening the message pouch and withdrawing several documents. "The Praxis has been lobbying for formal custody transfer, claiming that enhanced individuals of this caliber require specialized oversight for national security purposes."

"And the Collegium's response?" Marta asked.

"Resistance, but with limited options," Theron admitted. "We're fighting the request through official channels, but if the Praxis can demonstrate immediate necessity or present evidence of inadequate supervision..."

He didn't need to finish the sentence. They all understood that the Praxis was building a case for direct intervention, gathering evidence and justification for actions they had probably already decided to take.

"How much time do we have?" Rannek asked.

"Unknown," Theron replied. "But the orders emphasize urgency. We're to begin intensive training immediately, focusing on defensive applications and emergency protocols."

The afternoon was spent in Elder Myra's cottage, where Theron attempted to compress weeks of planned instruction into a few hours of intensive lessons. Despite their weakened condition, Kaelid and Rannek struggled to absorb information about energy management, defensive techniques, and emergency procedures.

Theron monitored their condition constantly with his crystalline device, adjusting the intensity of the training based on their energy readings. "You're both improving," he noted during one of his checks. "Still well below normal capacity, but the recovery is progressing steadily."

It was during this session that they were interrupted by a commotion from the village square. Through the cottage windows, they could see a crowd gathering around a figure in dark traveling clothes, someone who clearly didn't belong in Aldermere.

"Stay here," Kael ordered, moving toward the door with the fluid grace of a trained soldier. "Continue the lesson."

But curiosity and concern overrode caution, and after a few minutes, the entire group made their way to the square to observe the confrontation that was unfolding.

The stranger was a man of middle years, well-dressed but in a way that suggested authority rather than wealth. He stood with the confident posture of someone accustomed to having his words carry weight, and when he spoke, his voice carried the crisp diction of formal education and official position.

"I am Agent Matthias Voss of the Imperial Praxis," he was saying to Elder Myra, who faced him with the dignified composure of someone who had dealt with unwelcome officials before. "I'm here to conduct a routine evaluation of village security protocols."

"We have no security concerns that require Imperial attention," Elder Myra replied evenly. "Aldermere is a peaceful community that manages its own affairs adequately."

"I'm sure you believe that," Voss leered at him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "But recent intelligence suggests the presence of enhanced individuals who may require proper oversight for everyone's safety."

The crowd around them had grown larger, with villagers emerging from their homes and shops to witness the confrontation. Kaelid could see the tension in their faces, the fear of outside authority, the protective instincts toward their own, and the growing understanding that their quiet village had become the center of forces beyond their control.

"Enhanced individuals, if they exist in our community, are under appropriate supervision," Elder Myra said firmly. "The Collegium has assigned qualified personnel to ensure proper development and oversight."

"The Collegium," Voss repeated, his tone carrying subtle disdain. "Yes, we're aware of their... involvement. However, individuals of this caliber require specialized oversight that exceeds Collegium capabilities."

"And what caliber would that be?" Elder Myra asked.

Voss's smile became predatory. "The kind that represents significant strategic assets to the Empire. The kind that requires proper evaluation and development to ensure they serve the greater good rather than becoming potential threats."

The threat in his words was unmistakable, and Kaelid felt his weakened core shard pulse with alarm. The Praxis wasn't just interested in studying them, they saw him and Rannek as weapons to be claimed and deployed.

"I trust you'll cooperate with our evaluation," Voss continued. "It would be unfortunate if resistance to proper oversight were interpreted as harboring potential threats to Imperial security."

Elder Myra's response was interrupted by the arrival of Theron, who approached the confrontation with the formal bearing of someone invoking official authority.

"Agent Voss," he interjected, his voice carrying the crisp tones of Collegium training. "I am Theron Ashwick, assigned by the Collegium to oversee enhanced individual development in this region. Any evaluation of our charges must be conducted through proper inter-institutional protocols."

Voss turned his attention to the young tutor, his expression shifting to one of polite dismissal. "Ah, the Collegium representative. How convenient. I trust you'll ensure full cooperation with our security assessment."

"I'll ensure compliance with all legal requirements," Theron replied carefully. "But I must insist that any evaluation be conducted according to established protocols and with appropriate oversight."

The exchange continued for several more minutes, with both men speaking in the careful language of bureaucratic maneuvering while the underlying threat remained. The Praxis was establishing its presence and authority, while the Collegium was attempting to maintain its protective role through legal channels.

Eventually, Voss concluded his business and departed, but not before making it clear that he would be returning with additional personnel and expanded authority. The crowd dispersed slowly, with villagers speaking in hushed tones about the implications of Imperial oversight.

That evening, as the village settled into an uneasy quiet, he and Rannek made their way to the forest clearing despite their weakened condition. They needed answers and guidance, and Curio and Lexicon were the only sources of wisdom they trusted completely.

The journey was exhausting in their current state, but they managed to reach the clearing as the sun was setting. Curio was waiting for them, its translucent form rippling with what appeared to be agitation.

The disturbance grows stronger, Curio's surface vibrating to produce words that carried undertones of concern. The watchers have multiplied, and their purpose has become more focused.

He set Lexicon on a fallen log, and the mimic immediately shifted to its natural form with distress in it's movements. The baby creature's large eye blinked rapidly as it projected patterns of light that showed the village and surrounding area.

But this time, the display revealed something far more alarming than simple observation posts. The entire village was surrounded by a network of scanning devices, their artificial signatures creating a web of surveillance that monitored every building, every person, every thought.

"They're not just watching anymore," Rannek said, studying the projection with growing horror. "They're actively probing every mind in Aldermere."

"Looking for enhanced individuals," he said thinking aloud as he put pieces together. "Mapping the village's consciousness patterns to identify anyone with abilities."

Lexicon chittered frantically and updated its display to show the scanning intensity increasing over time. What had started as passive observation had evolved into active mental intrusion, with every villager being subjected to consciousness probes designed to detect enhancement.

"How long before they find what they're looking for?" he asked.

Curio's form darkened to deeper shades of blue and green. Not long, The scanning devices are crude but persistent. Eventually, they will detect the signatures they seek.

The implications were staggering. The Praxis wasn't just preparing to claim Kaelid and Rannek, they were conducting a comprehensive survey of the entire village, looking for any other enhanced individuals who might be hiding among the population.

As they prepared to return to the village, Lexicon projected one final image that sent chills through both boys. The scanning network was expanding, reaching beyond Aldermere toward other communities in the region. The Praxis wasn't just interested in their village, they were conducting a systematic search for enhanced individuals across the entire area.

The game had escalated beyond anything they had imagined, and the stakes now included not just their own freedom, but the safety and privacy of everyone they cared about.