THE LAST KEEPER

Sagiri had been carrying a spear around for the past two days, Miss Lakiya advised, but it was not as heavy as the wheels turning in his mind. He had tried several times to have the desire to remember or force it, but failed each time. Whenever he went to bed, or when he was eating or sleeping. He was trying to have that desire to remember, but the archive had remained silent through all his attempts.

His mind had not stopped trying, even when he was sparring with Bukata Zazarie or N’varu. The two more so had volunteered to practice and train together, especially when they learnt how badly he had performed. Maita had tried to teach him how to wield a bow and arrow, but when he didn’t hit the heart of the target twice in a row, apparently, he was too damaged to be redeemed.

The Chimera clan are indeed the worst teachers to have as a beginner.

The exam results were to come out before the end of the day, and he already knew how badly he had done in the weaponry and combat tests. What was going to happen to him?

It was after lunch, and someone had announced that the results had been displayed in the classroom wing. He was walking behind Kiuga and Kaka with N’varu, with Zazarie and Bukata at the back. It was easy to say that groups had started forming even before squads were released. After all, it was a war Academy, and it required peers to compete and spar to polish their skills.

They were about to take the last turn to the classroom wing when someone pulled off the wall where he had been launching and blocked their way.

”Senior instructor Yavaga.” They all saluted him and stopped. It was only natural to stand and salute if an instructor blocked your path.

”You can all go, I only need to borrow the smaller one,” Yavaga said, tilting his head, and his eyes landed on Sagiri. Sagiri had been on edge the whole day about his results and the council of the ten schools. Yavaga must have come to pick him for that reason.

”Is he in trouble?” N’varu asked, looking between Sagiri and Yavaga.

”Yes, senior instructor Yavaga, do tell us what our teammate did this time,” Kiuga said with a lopsided smile.

”You guys are starting to act like a team, I see,” Yavaga started becoming Sagiri to come out from behind Kaka and Kiuga. ”Your teammate is not in trouble. Even more, we need him for something only he can do. I will make sure to bring him back in one piece,” Yavaga said, and everyone turned to look at Sagiri.

”Something only he can do?” Bukata wondered loudly, but Yavaga was already resting his big hand on Sagiri’s head and leading him away.

”Maybe they need someone who can’t wield a sword or a bow and arrow,” Kaka said, and Kiuga snickered.

”I think it is because of his senses. No one can beat him in the entire Galka Academy now without the twins, whom he already beat,” Kiuga said. Sagiri could hear them whispering as Yavaga led him away.

”If I see those two cowardly backstabbers again. I will break them in half,” Kaka said.

”Hey, what’s wrong with my back stabber?” Kiuga whined, obviously offended at the use of his style.

”Shut up!”

”That boy can’t catch a rest,” Bukata said as the voice began getting thinner, and Sagiri, even with his enhanced hearing, couldn’t hear anymore of their bickering and speculations.

Three other men were sitting in the room beside Senraki and Yavaga, who had just entered. The antireality of Salka Squad was sitting in different places of the room except for Lotaga. Matasi, Kolu, and Salka were all seated. Were they here to send him back south just like they had escorted him north? Regardless, he saluted each of them before saluting the Senraki.

”I failed,” Sagiri said. He had really done his best, but it seemed he would have to trouble Senraki again to take him to meet the council of the ten schools personally.

”You didn’t tell him?” Senraki looked at Yavaga.

”His entire team was there, and I wanted to keep them guessing,” Yavaga said. He and Lotaga were almost cut from the same cloth, only that Lotaga was much, much worse, and Yavaga could tame his madness sometimes.

”Dear Sagiri, of course, you passed the written exam, but you failed flat on the weaponry and combat tests. I only have to send your written exam south so they can look at it themselves. You aced the language exams, too. A perfect mark in all five compulsory languages. So Salka was right. You are indeed a genius,” Senraki said, standing from his place behind the desk.

”Of course, I wasn’t making it up.” Salka snickered with irritation.

”You were leading in the first year and second year exam, third in the third year, and fifth in the fourth year written exam,” Senraki said, and Sagiri sighed. His hand had been hurting so badly that he left some questions unfinished on the third and fourth-year tests, but it seemed he had done well.

”So the boy is a genius. Good to know I didn’t escort a waste of time who would be expelled for failure,” Kolu said, and Senraki frowned.

”Of course, our dear sagiri is a genius, and all the credit is mine,” Senraki bragged, and Salka’s eyes rolled.

”Why am I here then?” Sagiri could not understand the reason for his summoning now more than ever.

”That is because Salka is being a baby and does not want to let our best tracker back on the squad.” Senraki did not miss a beat.

”He is still not well. I am not as petty as to put a punishment before an important mission,” Salka said, and Sagiri wondered if the two were from the same mother because of how badly they bickered. If not for the fact that they did not share any similarities in appearance, Sagiri could have pinned them as siblings. Rusha always told him how he used to fight day and night with his older sister, who had passed, however.

”I need you to go on a mission for me. The region falls so close to the Galka War Academy, and they want us to solve it before they can send backup from the military headquarters in Galka City,” Senraki said, and Sagiri snapped his eyes up to look at him.

”I am not a tracker,” Sagiri answered, looking at Senraki wondering why they couldn’t think he was the best fit to replace Lotaga.

”I still don’t think this is a good idea. No matter his talent, he is still a child,” Matasi said.

”It’s just Tree snakes, it’s not like I’m sending the boy to battle,” Senraki said.

”The truth is, we can’t wait for them to send us a tracker because they already think the issue is too small. Lotaga is the best at finding and tracking people or animals, no matter how big or small. Just think of it as if it is you hunting squirrels,” Senraki said, tapping sagiri’s shoulder as if he did not hear him saying he was not a tracker.

The Tree snakes are the most treacherous, and no, they are not snakes that live on trees, as their name implies. They are colour-changing snakes, and they could take any branch shape so well that you could not see them coming until you were sitting on top of one. They are also big and ten feet at least, and they moved into packs. If not stopped, they could even cause drought because they strangle small trees and dissolve the undergrowth. It was no cause for alarm, but they are also highly poisonous, and if a pack of those was moving randomly, then Sagiri could see how dangerous it could be.

”You can still back out, we can still get it done...” Salka spoke finally. Sagiri wanted to taste the echo archive, see how far it could answer to his deepest urge. Perhaps it could trigger him to remember because nothing had made him remember so far.

”I will come with,” he cut Salka off before he could finish the statement. He could also use the opportunity to see how far his senses could reach.

”I knew you were a brave one, kid,” Yavaga said with a wide smile, but Kolu and Matasi were not comfortable with the idea.

”We leave in an hour,” Salka said, and the three men got to their feet, saluted him, and left.

”If you complete this mission, Salka plans to train you in bow and arrow if you don’t die from the tree snake’s poison first. He might not look like it, but he taught Lotaga how to use the bow,” senraki said, and Salka looked visibly surprised. It was obvious that Senraki was lying, and Salka had not said any of that. After seeing how good Lotaga was with the bow and arrow. It was quite admirable to know Salka taught him such skills.

Not look like it was not a word to use in the same sentence as Salka. he did look it.

Sagiri turned to look at salka expecting him to say no, but he seemed to be reminiscing about something.

”Yes, I will teach him if you promise to teach him using the sword,” Salka said, and it was Senraki’s turn to be taken aback. ”Since you know how to put words in my mouth, how about I put words in yours?” Salka said, and Senraki pouted. He didn’t seem to like being bested.

”Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready in the weaponry wing and healing wing to pick up vials, not to die from the snake poison?” Senraki said in a fake serious tone.

”Hypocrite!” Salka said, but Senraki was already pretending to be busy reading a book.

”What position was I in in combat?” The words tumbled out of Sagiri’s mouth before he could stop them.

”It is not that important,” Senraki said, shooing them away without looking up from the book he was reading.

”You were the last across all streams in bow and arrow and spear handling, you ranked like most above average second year and third year students, and last in the fourth year, but still average, in dagger handling,” Salka said, not missing a beat. The Asakana clan was blunt and lacked compassion. That was for sure. It would be better for everyone to stay away from the entire Bami tribe to be safe from heartbreak, Sagiri thought. He still had six more months to polish his skills before the final exam. All hope was not lost.

He and Salka exited Senraki’s office, and immediately, Salka sent him to the healing wing to get vials already set up for them. Then he would go to the weaponry wing later on to rendezvous.

Healer Sayaku was already waiting, and when he mentioned being sent by Salka, she just pointed to another room. Sagiri stepped into the inner room and froze.

Lotaga.

”You insult me, and now you are taking my team and my place?” Lotaga asked, and Sagiri froze. He had not apologized to Lotaga for how he talked to him that night. He had crossed the line that was the only truth.

”I did not want you to get hurt again because of me. I did not know it was Senraki’s plan,” Sagiri said, but he knew talking to a senior instructor meant he had deserved punishment. Lotaga held a serious expression for a long moment before his usual expression returned to his face.

”I’m just teasing you. You should work on your humor,” Lotaga said, but his serious expression was back. ”Don’t let any of my team die on your watch because then I’ll skin you alive,” he said in a grave, serious tone, and Sagiri nodded.

”I will do my best, Senior Instructor Lotaga,” he saluted, and he meant it. He owed him for almost dying for him and for insulting him. Lotaga was in for his checkup, it seemed, and the wound on his shoulder looked to be almost healed.

”Now go, Salka doesn’t like waiting on missions,” Lotaga said, releasing him. Sagiri saluted again before leaving. Healer Sayaku handed him the vials before leaving. Lotaga must have been aware they were taking him, and he also knew Salka could send him. He was indeed a good tracker. Just as good in that area as Kiuga was in deductive reasoning. He had known they wanted him for his sensory abilities long before even he knew.

The weaponry wing was only made of one hall that was so huge and high it could be called a library of weapons. Salka and his team were fitting daggers into the straps on their thighs, waist, and chest. Everyone was handed several vials, even sagiri and they all went inside different pockets. Sagiri’s Combat overall suit did not have the same number of pockets as the instructors’, so he just stood by to wait after putting the vials away.

Salka threw him two small blades.

”You will be our eyes because this needs to be done quickly. We will make sure you don’t fight, but you can’t be out there without a weapon. The blades were light, and Sagiri nodded before sheathing them. The other men continued picking mostly small blades and gearing up. They picked hooked ropes, and Salka threw two Sagiri. Salka finally picked a bow and arrow, together with Matasi. Kolu carried a sword, and Yavaga carried just more blades.

”Time to move,” Salka announced after all movement ceased and the squad rolled out. Sagiri felt like he was a four-year-old walking among teenagers. He was struggling to keep up with them, even just walking along the corridors within the central pentagon. He felt like he was running while the four were merely striding.

It was going to be a rough couple of hours or night.