Legends of Amacia The Caverias Rebellion

On the other side of the pool, Hanna and Andrew ceased their frolics and just swam side by side the length of the pool. When they reached the end, Hanna turned around and leaned back on the edge, laying her arms up on the pool deck. Pushing her wet hair back out of her face, she sighed deeply, smiling warmly at Andrew as he turned around, facing Hanna. Propping himself up with his left arm on the pool deck while looking at Hanna, he admitted, “That was fun. I haven’t had that much fun since I was a kid.”

“Me too,” Hanna chimed while relaxing against the poolside. “You make a pretty good playmate, Andrew. I’m glad you stuck around. I haven’t play swim tag in decades.”

“Has it been that long?” Andrew asked.

“Yeah,” Hanna murmured. “I’d forgotten how much fun it could be. You really gave me a run there too. I had trouble catching you. You swim like a fish. Where did you learn to swim like that?”

“Mom and dad taught me,” Andrew stated, rubbing his nose. “They insisted everyone learn to swim since we live on an island. I’ve always liked the water for some reason. I can’t really explain why.”

“You don’t need to explain,” Hanna chimed. “Some things can’t be explained. But I can say that you’re really in your native element when in the water. I can tell.”

“That’s true,” Andrew murmured. “I feel connected when in the water.”

“Interesting,” Hanna answered. “I feel that way when I’m exploring. But dag gone, you wore me out. I should sleep well tonight.”

“Me too,” Andrew agreed, casting a look towards Josephine and Nemesis. “I underestimated your stamina. You kept up with me despite your size. It amazed me. I wish Josephine, Selina, and the others could have participated in our little game of tag though. It’s so much more fun when there’s more than two people playing.”

“I can’t argue that,” Hanna agreed. “Maybe when they get back on their feet, we can play swim tag again. Maybe we could even get Enoch and Kida in on it.”

“Not likely,” Andrew chimed. “Maybe mom, but I know dad won’t. He’s always too busy doing serious shit, kind of like you. I’m surprised you played tag with me. I didn’t think you’d do it.”

“You would have been right about that before my mutation,” Hanna declared, “but not now. I’ve learned I have to let my hair down at times and enjoy life. That’s what I just did when we played our game of tag. I stopped to enjoy the simple pleasure of playing like a kid again. I’m glad you lured me into that game of tag. It helped me temporarily forget my troubles and have some fun. Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome, little sister,” Andrew replied with a smile. “I guess I feel the same way. I did need that diversion. I don’t feel so beaten down now. I had no idea fighting and war could be such a heavy burden. You realize I killed for the first time during the raid, don’t you? How do you deal with it? I found it quite disturbing and depressing. After it was all over and everyone safe, I retreated to my private place and cried myself to sleep.”

A deep, solemn sigh escaped from Hanna lips when she heard Andrew’s confession. “Killing is indeed a heavy burden I know very well,” she murmured. “That’s why I avoid it whenever possible. If I could have gone back to the Black Fortress and not had to kill anyone to rescue Selina and our friends, I would have. I did everything I could to minimize the loss of life in that raid. But things didn’t go like I planned and we were forced to kill to save our friends. That was one of the times where killing became the only option.” Hanna became subdued in her tone as she continued, “Those who attacked us meant to kill us, so we acted in the only appropriate manner. It’s okay to protect yourself and those you care about with lethal force when confronted with it. But you must never kill when you’re not in mortal danger. Furthermore, killing in cold blood out of malice or hate is forbidden, especially if that person is unarmed or helpless. That’s murder, which the Ancient of Days forbids. And to kill someone in revenge for a wrong inflicted upon you isn’t right either. Never ever kill out of a revenge impulse. It opens you to the Dark Powers. That’s how I became snared by the Darkness. When I killed those men who killed my family to avenge their deaths, I became snared by the Darkness. I still bear the scars of it, both physically and mentally. That’s where many of the scars you see on me came from. It shows the penalty for turning against the Darkness after serving them. They don’t take kindly to traitors and will do everything to destroy that person. Only the Ancient of Days keeps me from falling back into that Darkness.”

“I was wondering about those scars,” Andrew said softly. “That’s explains much. I also understand what you’re saying about killing. Not once when I killed did I do any of the things you said not to do. It was only to protect myself, and my teammates from harm. Many times, I tried to talk them into joining us, to no avail. They refused to listen to reason. Why is that?”

“Because they feared the Emperor more than us,” Hanna replied grimly. “It was the same with a good portion of those I fought with. To them, disobeying the Emperor’s orders meant hideous, gruesome death that would cost them their very souls. The Kitchen we destroyed in the raid was one of those places that kept most of them in line. It could be possible to reach them if you could shatter that fear of the Emperor. Most of the time, they’ll break and run when the real pressure is put on them. I saw it during the raid.

“Then there are those others who’re sold out body and soul to the Darkness, literally possessed by the Dark Powers. Those people are inherently evil to begin with and will not abide anyone who doesn’t bow to the Emperor. They’re extremely treacherous, conniving, and impossible to reason with. You’d have better luck reasoning with this pool deck here than with them. When they decide you’re a threat, they will not stop until you’re killed in the most twisted, gruesome way their demented minds can imagine. In that regards, they’re just like the Emperor. The only way to deal with them is to put them down because they’ll not stop until you’re dead along with everything and everyone you know. I know this from brutal experience because I used to be that way when I was a dark wizard. Ahriaman and the Emperor himself are classic examples of these people, and I use that term loosely. When they get like Ahriaman and the Emperor, I truly believe they lose their humanity and become some kind of dark hybrid. Do you realize the Emperor has the ability to shape-shift into the form of the demon spirit possessing him? I saw it when I encountered him in the throne room during the raid. He transformed his very shape into that of the Black Prince.”

“I did not know that,” Andrew said softly in astonishment. “I didn’t realize he had that kind of power. That means he’s much more dangerous than I realized. But all that aside, can you tell me how you deal with taking someone’s life? Is there anything I can do to remove this guilt?”

“It’s something you must discover for yourself, Andrew,” Hanna admitted. “First kills are often the worst. Every warrior goes through it: the guilt of taking that first life. The pain and guilt of it will linger, but ease with time. However, you will bear the scar of your first kill for the rest of your life. It’s the price we pay for killing. If you truly want peace about what you did, ask the Ancient of Days for forgiveness, and then forgive yourself. You admitted not killing out of malice or hate, but in defense of your life and the lives of your friends, which is good. The fact you pleaded with some to surrender and switch sides shows your devotion to the Light and Life. Our God will forgive you if you truly want it. He will give you peace and make your burden bearable. To be honest with you, I repent every time I’m forced to kill. Only by repenting and accepting His forgiveness have I been able to keep the faith. Our God delights in forgiveness. But let there be no misunderstanding. You will bear the warrior’s burden now that you’ve taken up the sword. Ask the Lord to give you the strength and grace to bear this burden, and always pray that you may never have to take up the sword again to kill. That’s how I deal with it.”

“You’re amazing, little sister,” Andrew replied with great gratitude. “Your words have soothed my aching mind and heart, making this burden tolerable. Just seeing how you deal with it has given me hope that I’ll not be haunted by those I slew.”

“Not to be a wet blanket,” Hanna stated soberly, “but you will be haunted by them without a doubt. Those I’ve killed haunt me continuously. The only question is whether you allow them to shake you. The Lord can help you deal with those restless spirits, and He will if you only ask.”

A deep sigh escaped Andrew’s lips as he gazed at Hanna. “You’ve given me much to think about, little sister,” he murmured. “I hope I don’t freeze up when you need me most.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Hanna said with a warm smile. “When it happens, and it will, I won’t blame you. It happens to everyone at least once. It shows you’re only human.”

“I don’t know if I could live with myself if that happened,” Andrew admitted.

“Don’t give it a second thought,” Hanna urged. “You can’t mull fearfully over what-ifs. We’ll deal with it when the time comes.” She suddenly splashed Andrew playfully. “Lighten up, Andrew,” she crowed. “We’re supposed to be having fun.”

Andrew splashed Hanna back, briefly blinding her. “Right,” he answered, quickly picking Hanna up and tossing her bodily into the open water.

Hanna squealed with surprise as she splashed down, going under. Before she could surface, she felt Andrew wrap his arms around her in a rear bear hug, pulling her up. Hanna coughed and gagged for a moment when she emerged from the water locked in Andrew’s bear hug. “Sorry about that,” Andrew apologized in her ear from behind.

Hanna felt Andrew’s massive arms wrapped around her from behind just below her breasts, pinning her arms at her sides as he lifted her up. “It’s okay,” she sputtered while some of her hair hung in her eyes. “I should’ve been more alert. You got the drop on me.”

“I guess I did,” Andrew crowed. “But what’re going to do now? I’ve got you locked up.”

A wry smile crossed Hanna’s lips. “Is that a challenge?” she asked warmly, actually liking the way Andrew had her firmly in his grip.

“I guess it is,” Andrew replied. “What’re you going to do? No one has ever gotten free of my bear hugs.”

“Until now,” Hanna declared firmly. Before Andrew could blink, Hanna forcefully thrust her butt into Andrew’s belly, drawing a gasp of surprise and pain. At the same time, she took her heels and kicked Andrew just below the knees on both legs. His legs buckled and his arms loosened around Hanna enough for her to shoot her arms forward, completely breaking the hold. She dropped into the water, turning the tables on Andrew in their impromptu wrestling match. Hanna grabbed Andrew’s left hand and elbow, quickly pushing it up over his shoulder and locking down it down. At the same moment, she swept his feet, taking him down into the water for a few seconds before pulling him back up, keeping him off balance.

Andrew coughed and gasped for breath, feeling his legs throbbing and his left arm and elbow twisted painfully over his shoulder. He slapped his chest with his free hand, crying, “Enough; I give!”

Hanna let Andrew go and helped him regain a stable position half sitting in the pool. “You should’ve known better than to try something like that on me,” she cackled, almost laughing. “I’m a martial arts master. I’ve trained in unarmed combat all my life.”

“You’re right,” Andrew agreed as Hanna rubbed his shoulder to help it recover. “I didn’t know you had such skills.”

Hanna patted Andrew on the cheek in a friendly manner. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Andrew. I can teach you some of my skills if you like. They tend to be very useful at times.”

“I think I’d like that,” Andrew stated.

“Sorry about being so rough,” Hanna apologized, rubbing both the front and back of his shoulder at the same time. “I just reacted instinctively. How’s your shoulder feeling now?”

“Better,” Andrew reported. “For a moment there, I thought you were going to rip it off.”

“Hmmm,” Hanna murmured. “I need to be a little less rough next time. If I’d gone full bore on you, I could’ve dislocated your shoulder.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” Andrew stated. “That would have hurt a lot. I know because I’ve had my shoulder dislocated before.”

“Really,” Hanna asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Andrew reported. “About ten cycles ago, one of the mastodons we domesticated tried to kill me. We were trying to separate it from the herd because it started attacking the others for no reason. It just went nuts. We’d managed to corner it in the city when grabbed me with its trunk and threw me against a building, dislocating my right shoulder, breaking my arm and several ribs. It started to charge me afterwards and Dad, Mom, Elias, Hunter, Emma, and Elle took it down. I don’t know what caused it to go crazy like that, but it did. We ended up just burning it because we discovered a strange virus in its blood. When we scanned the rest of the herd, they didn’t have any signs of the virus. But to be safe, Dad used the Healer to synthesize a vaccine from the virus we found. All of us took it as well as the mastodon herd.”

“That sounds familiar,” Hanna murmured, stepping back from Andrew. “Was the mastodon behaving erratically, foaming at the mouth with a wild, blank look in its eyes?”

“Why yes,” Andrew replied. “How’d you know?”

“I’m betting it was a variation of the rabies virus,” Hanna stated. “We have that virus on the surface and it does just what you said. It affects the brain, causing seizures, foaming at the mouth, erratic behavior, violent outbursts, and eventually death. It’s very contagious and dangerous to people as well as animals. Burning the body is the only way to destroy the virus. Seems your dad realized the danger and had sense enough to create a vaccine for it. It obviously kept it from becoming an epidemic.”

“Yeah,” Andrew agreed. “We took the vaccine through the Healer and gave the herd the vaccine through darts. Let’s face it, a mastodon doesn’t like having a needle stuck into it no more than I do.”

Hanna chuckled. “I hear you,” she chimed. “Come on, let’s go see the others.” She started swimming towards Selina, Elle, and Arabella.

“Okay,” Andrew replied, swimming alongside of Hanna.