Suspicions of Silver

Elysia concentrated. Sweat trickled down the side of her face. No, she wasn’t going to quit. The green barrier in front of her was being pushed against by Jake. He was digging his feet into the dirt, shoving it backward inch by inch until the barrier shattered. “Whoa!” Jake yelled out as he fell forward, smashing face first into the ground.

“Oh gosh! I’m sorry Jake!” Elysia said, running over to help him up.

“No, hey, we’re supposed to be training. You lasted a bit longer this time. Right, Kraelin?” Jake groaned.

“Slightly longer,” Kraelin said, sitting on a large rock with Alex. They had been camped on the side of the road for about half an hour, and Elysia had immediately insisted on training.

“Slightly isn’t good enough!” Elysia said, smacking her fist into her palm. “I need to be better! If I can’t access an actual Talent I need to get these basic force projections to be as powerful as possible!”

“Have you noticed Elysia is a lot more intense since Havenbrook? Its been four days of this,” Alex said to Kraelin.

“Since the journal,” Kraelin agreed. “I’m betting since she feels more of a connection to her past, she feels more desperate to prove herself to her dead parents.”

“Like Batman,” Alex said.

“Who’s Batman?” Kraelin asked.

“You’d like him. Big strong guy. Stoic. Zero personality.”

Kraelin smiled. Then he shoved Alex, sending him tumbling off the rock. “It’s a good thing I have no personality. Otherwise I would be enjoying this moment.”

“Okay, fine, point taken,” Alex said, standing up.

“Alright, come at me again!” Elysia said, focusing. “And are you sure you don’t know how to turn into a big metal monster again? I want to be challenged!”

“Hey, if I knew I’d do it all the time,” Jake said. “I was cool looking then.”

“Yeah, being able to become invisible at will would have its perks,” Alex agreed.

“Which reminds me, you two should focus on trying to recreate your transformations,” Kraelin said, getting down from the rock. “Having those abilities at our disposal would be incredibly useful.”

“Well unfortunately, I don’t think using superpowers is something you can train,” Alex said. “I remember…a feeling. Something deep inside…”

“Yeah, like…desperation. Or confidence,” Jake said. “But like hell if I know how to train a feeling.”

“So maybe you should focus on training me!” Elysia said, raising her hand. “Hello! Remember me? Girl sorcerer, wants to get stronger?”

“I think Elysia wants to train, chief,” Jake said to Kraelin. “Should I?”

“Kick her ass,” Kraelin said, nodding at Elysia. She grinned, lowering her stance, extending her hands. A green wall of crackling energy appeared before her.

“Okay, Jake! Bring it!” Elysia roared.

He ran at her force field, crashing into it with renewed force, pushing it with all his strength. Alex watched for a moment, then turned to Kraelin. “So, I notice you didn’t tell me to train. Normally you kick our asses simultaneously.”

“I’ve got a different idea for you right now, Alex,” Kraelin said. “More of a…personal favor. It involves Silver.”

“Silver? What about her?” Alex asked.

Kraelin looked over at the truck where Silver was, reading through Van Harkov’s journal. Something had been bothering him about her for a while. But after spending so much time with her, observing her, setting his little traps only he would see her step in, an insane thought entered his mind. Now it was time to put his theory to the test.

*

Silver scanned the journal, taking her own notes. Her employer wanted the original book, but he never said she couldn’t read it and try to decipher its secrets herself. This was easier said than done, as the text was written in half completed phrases and code words. Initials and nicknames were used in lieu of actual identifiers. Still, she was sure she could make some progress before delivering the book.

“It doesn’t matter,” Silver said. “All it will be is Treasure hunting nonsense. Still, might be worth the right price to someone.”

Like who, she wanted to ask herself. Not the idiots she was traveling with. She’d be away from them soon. It would be better. They’d be better without her.

Then why are you still here? Her little inner voice asked the question. She knew she could leave anytime. She should leave. But…

“Yo! Silver!” Alex called out as he knocked on the truck door. “Stick still asleep in the back seat?”

Silver looked in the back, noticing the whiptail passed out, snoring softly, his tail twitching in the air. “Your rodent is fine,” she said.

“Well how are you doing?” Alex asked. “You know, the group is out there having all sorts of fun. Hey, you wanna punch Elysia’s barrier thing? Jake says it’s pretty cool!”

“Pass,” Silver said. “I’m not…”

“A team player, I know, blah blah blah,” Alex said, hand waving her concerns away. “You could at least read the thing out there with us.”

“And have you steal my notes? Pass, again. You Treasure hunters want these details, you’re going to pay for them like everyone else.”

“Pretty mercenary, even for you,” Alex said. “I thought we were all friends by now.”

“Is there a purpose for your continued talking?” Silver asked.

“I dunno. Maybe I wanted to get to know you better. You’re all mysterious all the time. Like, for example, how long have you been doing this? The whole Sweeper slash mercenary thing?”

“A while,” Silver bluntly said.

“Could you be more specific?” Alex asked.

“Five years, if you need to know,” Silver reluctantly said.

“Same amount of time you’ve been all…you know…” Alex motioned to his face and arm.

“Yes…” Silver said. “And if you don’t mind, I’d much prefer not to talk about it.”

“Okay, relax, meant no offense,” Alex said, raising his hands. “I only wanted you to know you don’t have to be the lone wolf. You can be part of our crew now, if you want to be. We’ve fought together, bled together, found treasure together. Kinda like pirates! You know, bunch of strangers, banding together, having adventures! We sail together or we burn together!”

Silver’s head snapped to Alex. “What…what did you say to me?”

“What? Nothing. Pirate stuff. Kraelin says it sometimes. Elysia too. All I’m saying is, you wanna come out and hang, you’re welcome to.” Alex walked away from Silver. He could feel those cold red eyes from her mask following him, the mirrored metal betraying nothing. But still, Alex could tell. As he approached Kraelin he nodded.

“Did she react?” Kraelin asked.

“Oh yeah. When I said the thing you asked me to say, she was rattled,” Alex said. “Looked at me like I burned her childhood teddy bear. Now would you mind telling me why you wanted me to say a bunch of pirate stuff in Silver’s presence?”

“Tonight,” Kraelin said. “You’ll find out tonight.”