Chapter 6: What can and can't be done.
The door opened without warning, "Delivery for one Kyle Barker." Valandus entered his room unceremoniously and dropped several bags onto the floor. He looked around, "So they stuck you in the usual room. It's... bare. When you get some free time let's go shopping and get you some things to liven this place up. Despite my looks I know some good décor- Hey you alive?"
Kyle had barely registered him coming inside. Instead his eyes were pressed downwards to the wooden floor, his hands clasped in front of him in thought.
Valandus scratched the back of his head and sighed, "You went there didn't you?"
Kyle nodded. They both knew what he meant.
"When the Captain told me where you were going to be working I thought this might happen," the driver took the nearby chair and swung it around to face Kyle before sitting down. "Not a pretty sight is it?"
"No... it's not."
"What are you going to do?"
Kyle was silent. Since they had returned he could barely look the children in the eyes and headed to his room soon after.
"Half a day ain't bad you know." Valandus looked at the young man understandingly. "A few of us in the Hero's Guard know the truth. Most of them never come here. They can't handle it. Knowing what sacrifices we make every time we face the demons... they'd rather see the children as disposable weapons. For them it's better to never see their human side."
As dark as Valandus' words were, Kyle understood, but for him it was too late. The moment he came here... the moment he met Jana and Lillia, he could never see them as mere weapons to be trained and sacrificed.
"There's the other thing some of us have done too," Valandus' voice became gentle. "Forget it all." He put a finger to his head and mouthed a bang. "Memories gone and replaced. If you want, I can even get the Captain to send you back ho-."
"No!" Kyle suddenly stood and stared down at him. His heart beat heavily and he had to pause to calm himself. "No... I-I don't want to forget. I don't want to leave. I'm just.... It's all just a bit more than I expected."
"So you're going to stay here?" Valandus was surprised. "Even knowing what these children you're taking care of are? What we're using them for? You're weak Kyle but over the past few days I already know you're kind. I don't want to play down your determination but I'll say this, I couldn't do it. It would be like I was sending my own child to die month after month. The only person I know who's stuck with it is Maila. I can't even fathom what she's been through."
"I'm not leaving," Kyle said the words again. More than anything Valandus' warning spurred him further to not run away. Especially after he mentioned Maila. In only half a day he understood how much she cared for each of the children. It wasn't just Lillia and the other Hero candidates. He also wanted to help reduce her burden even by just a bit.
"Lillia was right. You really are a weird one." Valandus stood up. "I like it. So if you're not going to sit here all day, how about you come with me and I show you something?"
"Let's go," Kyle stood up as well, determined. In truth his nerves weren't quite ready but if he left it alone they might never be.
Valandus led the way out the room and upstairs. It was the first time Kyle had been this way and they passed by the rooms of the children. Each one had a name hanging out the front, some with two as the smaller children shared. Most were closed but a few were open and many of them a mess. Halfway down the corridor Valandus turned and moved towards the back of the house. They reached an inconspicuous door much like any other and passed through. The room on the other side was ordinary. There were several spare boxes for storage and knickknacks lying about but it was the clear sliding door at the end they headed towards. Valandus gestured for Kyle to lead the way. The cool breeze refreshed him as he slid the door open with a creak. Outside he quickly saw what Valandus wanted to show him. From the house's second floor he had a full view of the children training below.
They were all active and taking their practice seriously. Even the youngest of them was doing some type of exercise and at the head was Maila coordinating them all. Some were swinging sword and training with other enchanted arms, others were running and building endurance, a few were even putting their skills in magic to the test.
"They do this almost every day and Maila is the one that trains them," Valandus said from beside him. "A few of the higher ups wanted someone else but she refused. After all she knows them best."
While the sight of the children trying their hardest was inspirational, Kyle couldn't help but frown, "They're training to die...."
"I thought that as well," Valandus' eyes focused on Maila heart-warmingly. "But then she told me differently. You know it's hard to get her to open up and when she does, she's not always as pretty as she usually looks. By her words it was the most she could do for them. No matter what, they'll become the Hero someday but the stronger their base is, the longer they'll live. That's why she does it, to push those children to even live a day longer and she does a damn good job of it."
"It's painful."
"I agree but that's her way of doing her duty."
Kyle breathed out and leaned against the railing, "Is there anything I can really do for them?"
Valandus chuckled, "I thought the same thing but I can't give you an answer. In the end I couldn't handle it. Though I come by occasionally it's not the children I'm here for." His eyes drifted, "Knowing them as the Hero is as much as I can take."
For a moment the two of them watched from above. Kyle looked at the children one by one. He didn't know the names of many of them but they had already taken a place in his heart. They were already so much braver than he was and doing things he couldn't possibly imagine.
"Where's Lillia and Tai?" Kyle straightened himself realising that the two weren't there.
"Tai? Ah right he's up next. He's probably started to train with the Hero's Guard. Lillia would be doing the same, though she might be doing her own practice as the Hero."
"Can I see them?"
Valandus' expression became conflicted, "Hmmm by orders you're not meant to leave here for a few days but... well I guess I could take you to them."
"Really?"
"As long as you promise not to leave my side. Oh and remember what your official position is if anyone asks, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyle Barker Logistics Division."
"Right," he nodded. "I did read up on those books you gave me."
"Good," Valandus peeked towards the training ground again. "If we're going to leave we should head out before Maila realises what we're doing. Don't worry I'll leave a note. You know what they say, better ask for forgiveness than permission." He laughed. Kyle had the feeling as military personal he really shouldn't have that mentality.
*
Valandus led Kyle down a different path leading outside the Garden. The paved stone had been finely worn from frequent use and was quite a bit shorter than first he had taken to arrive. Only going for a few hundred metres it reached the closest wall and ended at a façade built into the rock. A large sign had been stamped down beside the door. No Children allowed beyond this point without strict permission and guidance. Now knowing how cheeky some of the children could be, Kyle wondered how many of them would actually be turned away. Thankfully however only certain members of the Hero's Guard had the key and authority to pass through, Valandus clearly being one of them.
"Stick close to me," he led the way and made sure that the door behind him was sealed shut. A single encased path continued from the door and together the two made their way down. Eventually another door blocked their way. This time however Valandus didn't pull a key and simply opened it. To Kyle's surprise the other side was an unassuming office. A uniformed women sat at one of the desks and at their appearance looked up.
"Valandus you-," she paused and focused her eyes on Kyle. "Who's that?"
"Oh this is the new Petty Officer who's working as a caretaker," Valandus replied easily.
Feeling a prod from Valandus, Kyle nodded and saluted, "Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyle Barker."
"It's nice to meet you," the women smiled. "I'm Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Hunter. I organise the deployment of the Hero Candidates. Let's get alo-. Hang on didn't the Captain say he was meant to stay in the Garden till further orders?" her eyes turned onto them suspiciously.
Valandus' calm expression didn't falter, "Captain gave me permission to walk him around a bit early. He wants Kyle to experience things on this end as well."
Melissa was surprisingly easily convinced, "If the Captain's given the okay, go ahead." She sat back down in her chair.