Cypher crawled out of bed much earlier than he was used to the following morning. With the sun still an hour away from rising he rushed to pull on clothes and get ready to go see Jelroy. His mind was a lot calmer than it had been the last few days. Part of that, he guessed, was because of how understanding Molly had been. Coupled with a restful night of sleep in his own room and he was almost feeling like his old self. Almost.

Still, there was much that weighed on his mind. Today he would have to make a decision and that choice would push him down the path to one of two outcomes. As he yawned and fought his way through the grogginess and back to reality, he considered those paths.

On one hand, he could suck it up and push down his feelings of defeat and self-doubt. He could continue to train with Eiden and Jelroy and grow as a warrior even more than he already had. Of course, that would mean putting himself in danger in days to come. Was that something he really wanted to do?

Molly had been very upset after his return. While gruesome, his injury wasn’t all that bad considering what he had been through. If he continued down this path there would only be more wounds waiting for him. Some might be minor, but given the nature of the job, it was only a matter of time before something truly serious befell him. Would he be able to face her then? And what of the people he might let down? What if next time there was nobody to save him? What if next time, evil prevailed?

Would it be better for him to walk away from that? Would it be the wiser choice to let others do the protecting? Could he be reliable enough to do what needed to be done, when it needed to be done?

On the other hand, if he returned to simply being a servant for the Galvans what would his life look like? It hadn’t exactly been sunshine and roses so far. In fact, he had hated his life before he started training with Jelroy and Eiden. His days were filled with more than simple chores while training beside those two. He found joy in learning and growing stronger, the variation of the lessons, the physical exertion, and of course, the feeling of accomplishment he felt when Jelroy would praise him for getting the hang of a new technique or scoring well on a test.

Being a simple servant didn’t offer any of those feelings. He didn’t get any satisfaction from the work he did, nor did he even get paid for his efforts. In fact, the money he had earned from his journey to Gett was the first he had ever been given. His efforts as a simple servant went completely unnoticed. It was a thankless way of living and he wasn’t sure that it was for him.

Was it worth it to really fall back into that old way of living? He wasn’t sure as he found his way towards Jelroy’s room and knocked on the door lightly. It was quiet for a moment before Jelroy finally greeted him and stepped aside welcoming Cypher in. The room was pretty average as they went here in the Galvan mansion. It was large and featured an open office space loaded with everything one would expect just as many of the other guest rooms in the mansion did. Although it was clear that in his time here, Jelroy had made the place his own.

Various weapons were mounted on the walls, which itself wasn’t all that strange a sight. However, each of them gave off a faint glow or were otherwise adorned with glowing gems. It was very clear that they were Magickal in nature. Cypher wondered to himself what each of them was capable of and his mind ran wild with possibilities.

Off to the right was another door which Cypher knew led to the actual bed chamber. The floor was covered in an ornate rug of extremely high quality. The designs seemed to be quite exotic but were orderly and very pleasing to the eye. Several bookshelves stood along the walls between the weapons and were lined with colorful books of varying sizes. Curiosity welled up in Cypher, but before he could ask Jelroy pulled out a chair for him in front of his desk and Cypher took a seat.

“As you know I wanted to bring you here today to talk about what happened back in Gett. I-” began Jelroy, but a knock at his door silenced him. He looked to Cypher and pressed a finger against his lips. Cypher took the hint and went quiet.

“Yes?” replied Jelroy.

“I was wondering if we could talk for a moment or two before I left with my family,” came the voice of Galex from the other side of the door.

Jelroy paused and then said, “Of course give me just a moment.” At that, he silently urged Cypher through a door and into his bedroom. It was dark in here save for a single dimly lit lamp on the wall. But Cypher didn’t have time to examine much of the room before Jelroy had welcomed Galex in. Cypher peeked through the slit in the slightly ajar door and watched as Galex shook Jelroy’s hand.

He was curious as to why Jelroy was being so secretive about him being there but Cypher thought it better not to question his teacher and did his best to remain undetected.

“I’m sorry to bother you so early but as you know, my family and I are heading out to the lake to spend a bit of time together before I return to Riftmoore City,” said Galex.

“Ah think nothing of it,” replied Jelroy. “What can I do for you?”

Galex walked across the room and turned to face the window. A silent contemplation ran over him as he stared into the distance and, after a moment, he began speaking in a low tone, “I wish I was coming to you with good tidings but sadly that isn’t the case… They’re starting to move again, Jelroy. I can feel it.”

Galex seemed to grow more imposing as his demeanor darkened. “I’ve spoken with the other Nobles throughout Dellorim and while some of them are in denial, the rest of us are all in agreement. That damn cult is at it again.”

Jelroy paused and stood frozen in the entryway, “How can you be certain?” he asked, his tone grim and serious.

Galex sighed and said, “Zightbeast attacks have increased five-fold, bandits are roaming the land in ever greater numbers despite increased patrols, and even the Academy seems to be making moves behind the scenes. Normally one of those things is hardly a cause for concern, however together they’re quite troubling indeed. It’s impossible not to see that SOMETHING is happening that should concern us all and I can think of nothing else that would cause such disturbances.”

“The royals are playing their damn games of ‘wait and see’ according to the envoy we spoke to, so they’re basically of no use to us right now. They clearly aren’t going to do anything proactive about this. Things are going to spiral out of control sooner or later and when they do none of us will be safe. For now, at least, things are manageable. But in all honesty how long can that last?” Despite facing the window it was clear that Galex looked stressed out and worried.

“I have to ask myself why now?” he continued, “Why start things up again now of all times? It’s been over ten years since the last of them faded into obscurity. I can’t even begin to imagine what they might be planning… but all of the issues I mentioned earlier are exactly how things were the last time those damn cultists were active. When the time comes…” Galex paused and started again as he turned to face Jelroy, “If the time comes, can I count on you to stand with me?”

Jelroy was silent for a moment as he considered the possibilities. “That, my old friend is something you needn’t question. We’ve had our differences but I know that what you do, you do for the betterment of your family. Holding old grudges will do us no good. I am and always will be on your side.”

“Thank you… I know that I’m not the best man sometimes. I have my temper and I have my priorities but at the end of the day, your insight is valuable to me in ways I cannot express. Knowing you’re still on my side brings me great comfort. I figured sooner or later you’d hear about all this and quite frankly it’s all still quite hush-hush. I’d prefer it if this didn’t get out just yet.”

Jelroy nodded as Galex continued, “As it stands we all need to be as ready as we can be. To that end, I’d like to make sure my son is up to par and ready for his entrance exams next year. In truth, I’m sorry that I’ve doubted your ways and I do apologize for my son’s… Hrm… Interesting nature. I’m just concerned for his safety and well-being and with these matters happening all over I’m starting to get worried. He is doing well though, yes? Ultimately, that is what I’ve come here to talk about.”

Jelroy frowned and said, “He is progressing to be sure, but there are still several issues that will ultimately hold him back if things don’t change. You know as well as I that he’s… well, a pain in the ass to put it lightly. I don’t know how you managed to raise such a spoiled little shit.”

Galex turned to face Jelroy and offered a frown of his own, “You always were quite blunt. But you’re also not far off the mark. I don’t know where I went wrong with him. His sisters aren’t half as entitled as he is. In any event, I thank you for putting up with him through his difficult nature. Despite that, you seem to have tempered his attitude a bit.”

“Aye,” replied Jelroy, “It took a lot of work but I managed to garner some respect and obedience from him. Still, his sour attitude concerns me, especially when it comes to his treatment of Cypher.”

With that Galex seemed to stiffen up a bit, “Ah, that…”

“Yes that,” continued Jelroy, “You know that he treats the poor boy like hardly more than a slave right? He can’t even seem to let the young man have even a single accomplishment that might overshadow his own. You heard about the beating right?”

Galex nodded as Jelroy continued speaking, “It’s unacceptable how he treats the person who’s supposed to be his sparring partner. It’s one thing to be a bit uppity, I’ve come to expect as much from some of the other noble children I’ve trained. But Eiden… Well, he’s in a league of his own.”

“With the matter of Gett quickly becoming common knowledge around the mansion, it’s only a matter of time before young Eiden hears about it. If he confronts Cypher about it there might be more than a beating to contend with you realize. Not only has Cypher proven to be a powerful warrior in his own right, but he was also quite handsomely rewarded for his efforts. I shudder to think of what Eiden might do if left alone with him…”

Galex sighed and took to staring out the window again, “I understand what you mean Jelroy, get to the point.”

“As you wish,” he began, “Basically I’m asking you if you’ll have a word with the boy. I feel as though part of his sourness comes from the lack of praise you offer him. You’re gone quite a lot and he looks up to you as any son would. Not to mention the general standoffish attitude that you and your wife seem to have around Cypher. I don’t know what the deal with that is, but regardless, Eiden has picked up on that and run with it.”

“I’ll…” Galex cleared his throat and started again, “I’ll talk with him, maybe try and do something for him that will distract him enough to push this matter under the rug. Perhaps a mission of his own sometime soon…”

“Well whatever you do, I suggest you do it quickly. I’d much rather prefer that Eiden keep his sparring partner, especially given that there isn’t much time left before his entrance exams. Training a replacement is out of the question.” Jelroy leaned against a support pillar with his arms crossed as he stared at Galex’s back.

“We’ll be gone for the next few days. I’ll make sure to change Eiden’s attitude while we’re gone. However, I expect you to do the same for Cypher. I am willing to give him the chance to come back from this, but I need to know that he’s still willing to give his all,” said Galex as he turned to face Jelroy.

“I’ll do my best, that much I promise you. Ah, but you should be on your way shouldn’t you? Cypher should be here soon, I told him to come early after all and you shouldn’t keep your family waiting,” Jelroy said with a wry smile.

“You’re right, old friend. We will return in a few days. You can either run drills with Cypher while we’re gone or give him time to himself. Either way, I expect him to be in top form if he’s going to continue training with my son.”

With that, the men shook hands and Galex headed out. A few moments passed and then Jelroy turned to his bedroom door and said, “It’s safe to come out now. I trust you’ll keep your mouth shut about what you just heard, yes?”

Cypher came out slowly, unsure of what to think about the conversation he had just overheard. He felt as though he had heard something he very much shouldn’t have. He had so many questions. What was this cult? How bad were the Zightbeast attacks? Why were the royals involved? His mind ran wild with questions but he pushed them all down, nodded, and agreed to stay quiet about it. It was none of his business after all and pushing for answers might only upset Jelroy.

“Thank you Cypher. Also, I can’t promise that when Galex talks to Eiden things will change much, but you should have it somewhat easier if it goes well,” added Jelroy.

“Thank you for that… It’s not easy for me to talk to Lord Galvan about his son, and Madam Tyrina always avoids me so I can’t go to her either. It might be nice to get even a small break from Eiden even if only for a little while.”

“Come have a seat, we have our own conversation to get to,” Jelroy said, holding out a hand towards the chair in front of his desk once again.

Cypher took a seat and Jelroy settled in opposite him.

“So, we both know what the issue here is. Despite what I told Galex, I won’t push you into making a choice you’re uncomfortable with. If you feel as though you need to step away and return to your old life I won’t stop you. Personally though? I think that’s a mistake.”

Cypher looked down at his hands and continued listening. “You seem to have taken your loss to heart and it does not suit you well Cypher. You lost, yes. You nearly died, this is true as well. But it was not your skills that failed you, it was a lack of understanding of the evil in this world.”

“I did my best to try and impart that to you and Eiden but I feel as though I was a bit lacking. Not everyone can be reasoned with. As good as your intentions were sometimes you absolutely must act as judge, jury, and executioner. Agnad knows this all too well and if not for him you would not be sitting there right now. But he also has years of experience behind him.”

“You fought hard for those who could not defend themselves knowing full well that you might lose your life in the process. You didn’t surrender and you didn’t retreat. That is admirable. I told you to think about the situation before taking a life and in part that was wise. But there are certain foes you cannot hold back against.”

“There is much you have left to learn it’s true, but it will take time and you will make mistakes along the way. I urge you to take this as a lesson and grow from it. You said last night that you aren’t suited for a life of combat, but I disagree. Not only are you suited for this life, but you also excel at it.”

Cypher was unsure of what to say. He didn’t feel better exactly but there was a lot of truth to Jelroy’s words. It was a truth that he couldn’t ignore and his perspective had shifted ever so slightly on the situation. Perhaps it was too hasty of him to consider giving up the life of a warrior. Perhaps he was just overreacting. In either case, he still hesitated to make a choice.

“What if…” began Cypher, but he stopped and came at his question from another angle. “How do you face death knowing that you could end up leaving behind loved ones? Is it fair to risk hurting them?”

Jelroy sighed and leaned back in his chair. “That is a difficult question to answer. In truth, there is no perfect solution. There are many types of people in this world. Some are meant to till the fields, others are meant to entertain, and yet others are meant to build and create works of art and architecture. For people like us, we’re meant to protect. You have a talent that is hard to come by in this world.”

“Anyone can pick up a blade and take a life, but it is the exceptional few who can do so with the level of skill and dedication that I see in you. You can’t let the fear of death deter you. Nor can you let your sense of right and wrong stay your hand against a dangerous opponent. Every time you draw your blade you have to accept the fact that you might not sheathe it ever again.”

“That of course means that sometimes, we have to leave behind the ones we love. Richmond knew this and still, he fought to protect that village. He died in battle leaving behind a wife and three children. But he did not die in vain. His sacrifice was one that ultimately allowed Gelath the Ghostly to be brought to justice. It was by your hand as well as Agnad’s that he was avenged. Think about that Cypher and when you’re ready I will be waiting for you.”

With that Cypher was left with a lot to consider. He made his way back to his room, all the while engrossed in thought. Jelroy had given him leave to take his time in returning to lessons, and with Eiden gone for a few days, this was the perfect time to do just that. He mulled the situation over in his mind as the hours passed and he eventually went to sleep still conflicted about what to do.

Cypher was free of his usual cleaning duties, but he still found himself tending to those old chores the next day. It didn’t take him long before everything was done and he once again sat alone in his room. The chores had not done anything for him in terms of fulfillment. He felt empty, bored, and quite frankly lost. It was true after all that this kind of life was not going to be a happy one for him.

He then turned his attention to his sword as it sat leaning against his dresser. Soon he was absentmindedly running combat drills in his room with all the trained precision that Jelroy had instilled in him. His wounded chest caused him a bit of pain and he was forced to take it easy, but once he was finished he sheathed his sword and considered how that had made him feel. The training brought him peace and clarity of mind. The exercise had left his heart beating fast and his lungs short of breath. Feeling the blood rushing through him with each pump of his heart he knew that this was something that truly brought him joy.

The thrill of growing stronger, and the challenge of facing tougher opponents was exhilarating. Cypher realized that this was his calling in life and he knew then that he couldn’t turn away from it. A mistake had been made in Gett. He had allowed Gelath to live and that had nearly cost him his own life alongside those of the villagers. However, in the end, he realized that he had performed exceedingly well. Nothing had been lost from his decision to spare Gelath. Nobody had truly been hurt, and thanks to Agnad, the situation had ended well.

With that, he decided to take Jelroy’s advice and learn from this lesson. He would be better. He wouldn’t ever make that same mistake again. If he was going to pursue the life of a warrior he would do it to the utmost of his abilities. He ran his hand across his wounded chest. That scar would serve as a constant reminder of this lesson.

The next morning, he met with Jelroy bright and early. The man greeted him with a wry smile and a nod of approval. Soon, they were training in earnest once again, and with Eiden gone, he didn’t have to hold back. His wound still hadn't healed completely, but with this dark cloud behind him, Cypher once again felt confident in his future. According to what he had heard in Jelroy’s office, he still had a whole year left to train and hone his skills. He would make the most of that year and do everything he could to learn all that Jelroy had to teach.