Chapter 3: The meeting

A Chapter by Karin Koops

Chapter Three: The meeting.

The General’s daughter. Who would have thought? After their talk had been abruptly cut short Xavier lost sight of her due to the many people that were suddenly running around. Xavier didn’t care even though people were praising his courage. All he cared about right now was Naida and making sure she was ok. He rushed over to her side just in time for her to open her eyes. “X-Xavi?... What happened? My head hurts..” She murmured out. Xavier just smiled. “It’s over so rest for now ok?” He slowly picked her up in his arms and carried her towards the barracks. A path being instantly cleared for him by the swarm of people.

Julian came rushing to their side as soon as he spotted them. “Xavier! Follow me, she needs rest.” Xavier only nodded as Naida had fallen asleep in his arms again and followed Julian inside towards one of the rooms. Slowly he layed her down on one of the beds and sat down beside her. “The General would like to see you as soon as possible.’’ Julian said. “The General can wait.” Xavier said without taking his eyes off Naida. He wasn’t going to leave her side. Not now, he thought as he placed his hand on hers. He thought about how they met back at the academy. The instant connection they shared. The jokes. The laughter. And now she was laying there. If only they had given her proper training she wouldn’t be like this right now he thought to himself. He could still hear the commotion outside but all he could see for now was her.

As several hours passed sometimes someone would come in to see how she was doing or to tell Xavier that the General really needed to see him. The moment he leaned over her and kissed her forehead she suddenly opened her eyes slowly. “Hey there stud...” She whispered with a hint of a giggle. “Hey... How are you feeling?” He asked. “My head feels like I’ve hit a brick wall or something like that. Other than that I feel fine. Stop worrying so much.” Naida said as she smiled up at him. “More like your head hit the floor. You should know by now I can’t help but worry.” Xavier said as he smiled back at her. For a moment they sat in silence just gazing at each other until Julian came back to the room.

“Xavier I really must urge you to come see the General. It’s time to meet the rest of the team. Naida, you will be introduced later as well.” Julian said with a slight nod in Naida’s direction. Naida nodded and looked up at Xavier. “You should go Xavi. I’ll be fine and I will rest some more. Just come see me afterwards.” Xavier sighed and agreed. “I will be back as soon as I can ok? And you better rest or else...” He said with a grin. Naida giggled. “Now you’ve made me curious about the ‘or else’. Now go and hurry back.” She smiled as Xavier got up to his feet. “See you soon.” Xavier said as he left the room with Julian.

Xavier followed Julian through the longstretched corridors of the main building. In a way he was sure they must have used some form of magic to make it look even bigger than it actually was. This was it, he was about to meet this team he had heard about, the team he would soon be a part of. They stopped infront of two large dark wooden doors. ''Well this is where I have to take my leave. I'm not allowed inside. I wish you all the best Xavier.'' Julian said with a smile and turned to walk away. ''Yeah, you too.'' Xavier whispered, the nerves were setting in as he looked at the doors and gave it a slight push. He could hear the voices inside. A female one. She sounded mad. ''So you're telling me we're here to wait for some brat?! This is ridiculous! And I will tell you one thing, I will NOT...'' The voice faded suddenly. ''He's here and standing at the door listening in.'' The voice spoke calmly this time but had Xavier shaking in his boots.

The door swung open and in front of him stood the General. ''Ah Mr. Moreaux! Please do come in so I can introduce you to everyone.'' He said with a smile as he saw the look in Xavier's eyes. Xavier took a few steps inside and saw the grande table around the corner. Sitting at it were four people. Two of them he knew, it was the girl that helped him earlier, Silvana, and Montgomery Malone in another overly colored and decorated outfit. ''Hey Xavi!'' Silvana called out. Xavier gave her a light nod and managed to pull up a smile. His eyes scouted along the table.

A strong and tall-looking man was sat on the other side next to a hooded figure. From her posture he could tell that must've been the female voice he had heard, even though he couldn't see her face, the hood prevented that. The General spoke but Xavier's eyes were fixated on the woman, her attire told him who she was but so far he believed her to be a myth. ''First let me introduce to you Frederick Ramsby, the finest swordsman we have. And next to him is...'' His voice got cut off by Xavier who whispered. ''Huntress...'' Xavier couldn't believe that she was real, not a myth, nor a bedtime story which his mother told. Huntress was sitting in the same room as him. ''Indeed she is.'' The General continued. ''Along with Frederick, Silvana, Montgomery, Naida and myself you will form the team. I urge you to keep anything discussed in this room is kept to yourself.'' He gave Xavier a stern look, who snapped out of his gaze at the hooded woman in the room. ''Yes Sir, ofcourse.'' He replied quickly.

''I told you this would be a waste of time, I can't work with kids... No, he's a kid I tell ya... Stop that!'' The whispered words came from the hooded woman, as if she was talking to someone next to her, but there wasn't anyone there. Xavier had heard about that part too, Huntress was considered crazy, talking to herself as the people called it, even arguing at times. It scared most people and usually kids were told before bedtime to go to sleep or the Huntress would get them. Now the bedtimestory turned out to be true. Xavier looked back at the corner near the entrance and back at the Huntress. Something puzzled him. He had clearly heard her voice busting him at the door, yet from where she sat, there was no way to even see the door. The tales told about her having eyes everywhere which was why she hides her face, but Xavier didn't believe that. Then again, how did she see him?

''Good!'' The General spoke. ''Most of you have been briefed already. We're heading up North tomorrow, Silvana's memory of her kidnapping by the brutal fire wielders, will help us from there. Make sure you rest tonight, for we don't know when we can rest again. The caves will be the hardest part when we reach them and we will have to rely on the Huntress's directional skills. At all times we stick close together, the fire wilders are brutal but smart. Don't ever underestimate them. The ultimate goal is to take out their leader. However to reach him will be tricky to say the least. For now I wish you all a good night. We assemble in front of the barracks at 5 AM sharp.'' The General gave a nod and left the room, soon enough followed by Frederick and Huntress.

Silvana was still beaming at Xavier. ''It's still amazing to see you.'' She breathed out and left the room as well. Xavier shook his head with a chuckle, she was a strange one for sure, he thought as he made his way to the world map. It looked as if it was made of islands, which in a way was true. He looked up ad trailed his fingertips over the paper at a part where there was only sea. Home. That was where Xavier's home once was before it got taken by the water. A feeling of sadness overcame him and he sighed. This journey would be for his parents, he would dedicate it. Latovia stretched out all along the bottom of the map, above it there was mostly water, with a few islands scattered here and there. Most of it was uncharted. At the top left corner of the map was a large piece of land, marked with a firey skull. Their destination.

A smile curled up on his face when he heard soft footsteps behind him. ''Shouldn't you be in bed, Naida?" He said as he turned away from the map. Naida giggled when she saw the look on his face. ''How did you know it was me?'' ahe asked. ''I felt it, if that makes any sense?'' Xavier said in a hesitant tone of voice. ''You should be resting. Come, I'll take you back to the infirmary.'' He took her arm to walk with her, but she didn't move just yet. ''I can get plenty of rest after seeing you all off and when I'm all better, then I can catch up with you all. I just wish I could go with you right away, I'll be worried sick here.'' The sad sound of her voice made it clear that she wasn't agreeing on being left behind initially. ''There's nothing to worry about.'' Xavier assured her. ''We'll be fine, you'll see. Now come with me, I insist.'' He said as he hugged her, wishing he was as sure of his words as they had sounded, keeping his arm around her as he walked back to the infirmary with her to make sure she would rest and maybe it would help her worries to pass, or so he hoped. Tomorrow would be an early day for him, the first of probably many to come.

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