The Land Below our Feet COMPLETE

TRAINING

The Yahurian was calmly sitting in the tactical tent when the young Captain entered the place and squared himself respectfully at the sight of him.

-You wanted to see me, Commander? – Phomtek asked, reaching out and grabbing the cup of wine the Yahurian offered him before taking a seat.

-We are not far from Enhisieh now and by the time we reach the city we need to have figured out who is getting a firearm and who is not – Ussi explained as he worked on an extended map, tracing their route – There are not enough for everyone, so we need to make the most out of every single one of them.

-How do we decide? -The Captain asked, taking a swig from his liquor and scanning his eyes – You know they are all excited about wielding one of those new weird weapons.

-We don´t. Gather your lieutenants, have them run a voting amongst their men and pick out fifty names each. Let the troops choose the fighters they are willing to entrust with their backs in the field.

-Will do, Sir – Phomtek nodded, finishing his drink. He promptly stood up and saluted him before exiting the tent and starting to look for his men.

-Well, what you say, Axe? – Ussi asked, turning towards the spot where the child silently sat – Are you feeling like training for a bit today?

The Yahurian led the kid towards a secluded spot, away from the noisy encampment, and he soon began guiding the kid through what had now become their training routine.

-See this? – Ussi asked, holding an unlit torch in his hand and waving it before the kid's face – I want you to light it for me.

The child looked at him for a second, before stepping forward and touching the Kevlar wick slightly, a small flame soon erupting from its waxed-coated surface and progressing into a steady blaze.

-Well done – The warrior cheered for him happily as the kid cooed excitedly – Now put it out.

The toddler raised his hand slightly and swung it in a sharp move towards the burning stick, a gust of wind blowing forcefully against the Yahurian´s frame and almost throwing him out of balance as the torch blew out.

-Very good, kid! – Ussi exclaimed with an approving look – Now take it away from me.

Axe extended his arm at the warrior with his palm facing upwards, his fingers clenching in and out as if he were calling at the inanimate object, the Yahurian instantly feeling the potent tug reeling him forward. The intensity rapidly increasing and making his muscles strain as he resisted the pull. A loud outburst thundering and the wooden stave exploding in pieces out of his fist.

-Easy Axe! – The Yahurian chuckled, dusting off the remaining splinters from his hand and walking up to where he stood – We still need to work on your self-control. I said take it, not destroy it.

He was just patting the kid's head when a faint sound reached his ears and he perked up, his hand darting for the hatchet on his waist.

-Get behind me – Ussi muttered at the toddler, his eyes scanning their surroundings and landing on the heavy foliage a few feet ahead. The leaves rustling as five Cahenean men emerged from them with their sabers in hand.

-Commander – One of them greeted him with a devilish smile. His hand wielding his weapon menacingly as the others tagged behind.

-What are you doing here? – The Yahurian scolded them – Go back to your units and report your whereabouts.

-You see? – The man kept marching imperturbable, advancing towards the warrior and the child – They say that kid of yours holds a hefty price over his head. If we are fighting for you, then we might as well get our cut out of it.

-I will give you one last chance to keep your lives – Ussi spoke slowly while readying himself – Retreat! Go back to where you came from and I might even spare your head.

The five soldiers pounced on him, ignoring his command, charging wildly at them and aiming their unsheathed weapons.

-Run! – The Yahurian yelled to the child as he engaged in combat. Dodging three of them and getting his hatchet through the fourth one's head.

He pulled it out and turned to face the others, taking two of them down effortlessly. A loud familiar childish voice making his eyes widen in surprise as he prepared to get rid of the third one.

-Ussi! – The kid's voice had shockingly called out, reaching his ears as clear as a bell, his head darting towards it and finding the remaining attacker holding to the frightened toddler as he trashed around and tried to free himself from his captor's grip.

-Axe! Listen to me, child – Ussi grunted as he blocked the impact of the Cahenean´s saber – I need you to flame that moron up now!

A loud pained screech erupted from a few feet away as the Yahurian´s hatchet found its way into his last attacker. The warrior's crazed eyes traveled in the direction of the agonizing screams and discovered the frenzied soldier that had taken the child running around in circles, converted in a human firebrand.

His laments turning into a faint whimper as the flames engulfed him whole. His charred corpse dropping heavily on the ground, a dark silence filling the air along with the sickening smell of carbonized flesh.

-Put him out now – Ussi spoke, placing a hand on the kid's shoulder and staring at the sinister scene.

The infant pointed a finger towards the sky, bright lightning flashing and blinding the warrior's sight for a second, before a loud thunder unleashed a heavy storm over the combusted remains.

-Say that again, please – The Yahurian requested, crouching down before the kid and grabbing him by the shoulders as the rain dropped heavily on them.

-Ussi! – The kid muttered happily, looking deeply into his stunned eyes and reaching for his shielded face.

-So, you DO talk then, uh? – The warrior wheezed happily, scooping him up and pressing him against his chest – And it turns out that you know my name too!

The storm was still pouring down loudly by the time the Yahurian emerged from the woods and barged out to the camping site, dragging the five tied up corpses through the mud before the eyes of the astonished army, the small child trailing silently behind him.

-Warriors, assemble! – He angrily yelled, dropping the pile of corpses heavily aside – There are a few little issues we ought to settle straight right now!