BDS: Chapter Twenty-Seven

Later that evening, the warriors gathered for a run through Gyasi's latest simulated obstacle course. Blades, arrows, and lasers repeatedly flew at them as they battled their way through a constantly changing terrain.

Jalena, Jarek, Lorcan, Shamira, and Hoshi slowed their pace to a jog as they crossed the finish line of the course. They turned to watch the second group complete the set of trials. Only minutes behind—Gyan, Valora, Tarak, Brogan, and Danika moved swiftly through the course, with Gyan finishing way ahead of the rest of the second group.

Jarek shook his head as Gyan, breathing hard, approached the first group.

"How do you do it?" Jarek asked.

"Do what?"

"I've watched you teleport without being in danger and now you're zipping past everyone as fast as Lorcan."

"It's because of his Shanlo power," said Hoshi.

"I showed you the memory of Kesól teaching me how to teleport even without danger present, remember? You have to practice recreating the frequency."

"You have to practice recreating the frequency," Jarek mocked in a high-pitched voice.

Gyan shoved Jarek lightly in the head. "You should train with me more."

"You've only trained a couple of more times than us!" said Hoshi.

"More like every night for the past couple of months," Jalena corrected.

"He gained the teleporting skill faster because he is a Shanlo," said Jarek.

Gyan laughed. "Probably. Maybe going through that hellish transformation is finally paying off." He met Jalena's eye. "I don't think being a Shanlo is entirely the reason though because Jalena can teleport at any time now too."

"Really?" asked Jarek.

Jalena nodded. "I just kept attempting it until I found the right vibration, like Gyan said."

"Because of your light key queen power," grumbled Jarek.

Jalena smiled. "More like focus, Jarek. I won't be surprised if everyone starts doing it during the fight with Akila, if not before. It's easier to recreate the frequency while in repetitive danger. Now that some of us are doing it, the rest are likely to catch on."

The warriors looked up as Malik and Kesól entered the simulation room and bowed to the group.

"Master Jarek, we are in need of your skills."

"That's right. Jalena and Gyan aren't the only two with almighty power," Jarek said as he stood.

Danika rolled her eyes as Hoshi shoved Jarek from behind.

"Akila will have hidden her whereabouts from Sir Kesól and I," Malik continued, "but she may be unaware that your vision has advanced in detecting one's immediate location. If you attempt to locate her it will be faster than waiting on reports from our spies. After what happened to Marcile, I feel it is too risky to have someone tail her. So, if you would, focus on an image of Akila—"

"Ew," Jarek interrupted.

"Jarek!" said Hoshi.

"Okay, okay. Sorry, Sir Malik. I will—just give me a second."

Jarek's eyes lit up. After several moments of concentrating, he spoke. "I found her. She's in Gawl Forest."

"Is Drasúl near her?" asked Kesól.

Jarek shook his head. "She is alone now, on a path that leads deeper into the woods. It looks as if she is meeting some of the Dark Sector Vaznaun."

"It is ideal," Kesól said to Malik.

He nodded and turned to Jalena. "Gather the other masters while we give an update to our Tridaun warriors. We leave in half an hour."

"What if she leaves Kraundor before we arrive?" Jarek asked.

"Then we will hunt her down wherever she is," Malik responded.

"I like this type of fierce wizardry," said Jarek as the group plowed out of the training room. "No more waiting around."