Chapter 31: Laying the Foundation

POV: Brick

“-iiiiiT” I tumbled across the ground only stopping, when a foot touched my back. I looked up to see Lynoe smirking at me. I turned back to see Zac and Vnexi still going at it. 3 months had passed since The Followers of Light attacked us on the moon. I felt so useless as I watched all my friends go out to fight. My family always said I had talent. I never tried to act on it. I didn’t think there was a need, that there was always going to be time.

I couldn’t think like that anymore. I had to be better, to be able to protect my friends. As if they needed protection. If I was able to just stand beside them, then that would be enough. So I resolved myself to actually try to tap into the talent that my family seemed to think I had. When I told Zac, to my surprise he seemed happy, and told me to meet him here every morning from now on. At first it was just the two of us. Zac constantly kicked my ass, while Lynoe shouted tips from the side.

After a few weeks, Vnexi got curious as to where I was going every morning, and began to participate. Even more recently, other… guests arrived.

“WOOOOOOO!!!!! Look out big guy!!!” Vonev shot towards me. He had just tried a sneak attack on Vnexi and received a backhand for the trouble. I curled my fist and backhanded Vonev before he could crash into me. He hit the ground as the protective system lit up cushioning his fall.

“You damn lizards are all the same.” He cursed as he rubbed both sides of his swollen face.

“Wow Chowderhead! I’m actually impressed. A week ago Vonev would have smack right into

you. You’re way better than that useless little sack you used to be.” Juniper clapped.

“Why are you even here?” I wondered out loud. Vnexi made sense, even if I wasn’t here she would have been here anyway. It was hard to separate her and Zac lately, even though all they did was fight and argue. Aonani was the same, she was never too far from Zac these days. Vonev said he was told to hang around the two Gteju. Juniper was the only one out of place; she wasn’t a fighter, and she wasn’t usually one to just hangout with friends.

“I’m gathering data.” She responded.

“On what?” Aonani asked. During these training sessions Juniper and Aonani usually just lodged about watching us beat the crap out of each other. She claimed that melee wasn’t her forte and she had no reason to learn, as she wasn’t a soldier. She just wanted to use that pretty face to marry into the Zym family. I was certain of it.

“Obviously, I’m gathering data on how the body moves in high stress combat.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? Aonani, did you not see those tacky little uniforms the Followers of Light were wearing. My goodness I was embarrassed for them.” A look of disgust appeared on Juniper's face as she pressed her hand against her clavicle.

“Those were top of the line battle armor. Every major powers’ attack forces wear those or something similar.” Aonani retorted.

“I know. That makes it worse! Everyone looking ugly and tacky doesn’t distract from the fact that everyone is ugly and tacky. Ergh!! Aonani I expected better from you.” Juniper looked genuinely distraught.

“I get what you're saying. But, they focus on function over form. They’re made from synthetic fibers that allow 60% Soul Source absorption, to allow fairly powerful systems to be applied to them, while maintaining almost full range of motion.” Aonani tried to explain to Juniper. The armor those soldiers were using was the best the Castle currently had to offer. Even the Black Market didn’t have anything much better.

“And yet Zac and that idiot tore through them like cheap paper.”

“AYE!! What the hell?!” Vonev responded, still rubbing the side of his face.

“I didn’t mention your name! Thank you for letting the world know that you're an idiot!” Juniper responded, making Vonev shut up.

“HAHA!!”, I could hear both Zac’s and Aunt Nexi’s bellowing laughter at Vonev’s expense in the distance.

“Anyway, that’s my point. NEAR range of motion, only 60% Soul Source retention. Those are subpar results, and the armor still looks ugly. I could make armor far more efficient while having it look absolutely stunning!” Juniper snapped her fingers with a flourish.

“How?” Vonev was drawn in by Juniper’s confidence. And I could see the curious look in Aonani’s eyes as well.

“Let me ask you something, what is a natural fiber that’s stronger than steel, while also being smooth to the touch, and completely malleable?”

“Spider silk? But that’s very primitive. Spider silk body armor was a thing ages ago. But they fell out of favor because the silk would burst apart when a soul source was applied to it. I know you’re not into this sort of thing, but the synthetic fibers of the current body armor are based on and improved on that concept.” Aonani explained.

“That’s where you are mistaken, my lady. I am well aware of that. I’m also aware of a creature that is closely related to Arachnids. The Vrogrit.”

I saw Aonani’s eyes widened at Juniper’s words.

“The Vrogrit?! You're going to use Vrogrit silk?! You might as well say you're going to make armor from Gteju scales. That would probably be easier, Zac and Vnexi might give you some.” I was confused by Aonani’s protest. I had never heard of a creature called the Vrogrit before, so I couldn’t understand what the issue was.

“The Vrogrit is a terrifying spider-like creature that dwells on The Floor of Naught. It has 10 legs and can grow to about the size of a human hand. Their venom is strong enough to kill almost any creature in the Castle. Even a Gteju would be paralyzed with pain for days on in if they stumbled into a nest of those things. Oh right, they also live in nests of about 100-1000.” Vonev explained the situation to me.

“Yes, yes, yes… they are very scary. However, what most people don’t know is they’re silk is as malleable as spider silk. BUT Vrogrit are very Soul Source rich creatures. Meaning their silk is made to contain a large quantity of Soul Source. They are the perfect catalysis for my Battle Fashion.” Juniper looked absolutely elated at the thought.

“That’s all well and good, but how are you going to acquire them?”

“Acquire them?” Juniper was the one who now looked confused.

“I’m not going to acquire shit! It’s already got.” Juniper started to laugh.

“She’s right, Big Boss has farms of Vrogrit. She uses them to harvest poison for the Black Market Assassins.” Vonev responded.

“Is that something we should be sharing with outsiders?” I asked as I looked at Aonani.

“Everyone we wouldn’t want to know, already knows anyway. Besides, what are they going to do? Attack the farms? How are they going to find them? Will Big Boss just let it happen?” Juniper said while laughing. I sighed to myself.

“Big Boss gave me free reign to play around with my ideas, after she saw the gloves that I designed with Zac. After watching those soldiers, I was inspired.”

“Hmm, even so, the process of actually imprinting the system on that silk will be difficult. Working with synthetics is easy, applying the system to natural fibers will be a tall task.” Aonani sat there with a complex expression on her face. It seems she was going through the process in her mind.

“Yes, since Big Boss pretty much has the market on Vrogrit silk monopolized, I can play around with it as much as I want. But I am finding the natural Soul Source of the silk conflicting with my own quite the hurdle. What I’m attempting is something new, so there aren’t many that can help me.”

She was right. Battle items these days were crafted mostly from synthetics. The only craftspeople who worked with natural materials were those that designed clothing and furniture, and even those fields were moving more towards synthetic materials. Making battle armor… sorry Battle Fashion from Soul Source rich material, especially this Vrogrid… Vograte… this spider thing, she was probably the first. Or at least the first to have access to so much of it.

“Hmm, it can’t be helped. I’ll figure it out. I must!!! Battle Fashion is the future, and I will be the one to make it a reality.” Juniper stood up from her seat and stretched out her hands.

“Just imagine it. Soldiers bravely giving their lives on the battlefield, and the last thing they see before they take their final breath. Is Battle Fashion designed exquisitely by me!!!! AAAAHHHH!!! What a beautiful death! I’m almost jealous!”

Juniper closed her eyes while fluttering her fingers in front of her face before resting her hand on her neck. When she opened her eyes again she had a shocked expression as her head whipped around the area.

“Why is everyone staring at me like that?” She asked.

Only then did I realize that Zac and Aunt Vnexi's fight had paused and everyone was staring at Juniper like she was a lunatic.

“I’m sure they are all just happy that you’ve found your calling.” Lynoe was the one to break the silence.

“Oh dear me. Well thank you everyone. No need to be so kind. We are all friends here! We raise together!” Juniper excited smile made me chuckle, and I couldn’t help but ask,

“Oh, so we’re friends now? Last time I wasn’t allowed to even say your name in public.”

“We were always friends, it was just embarrassing to admit that.” Juniper shamelessly spoke with a look that said that much should have been obvious.

“So what’s different now? Zac my friend so it’s not embarrassing?”

“You’re trying now. If the reason you’re trying now is because Zac is your friend, then sure. That’s the reason. But all I wanted from you was to try.” The carefree smile on her face embarrassed me more than her finally accepting me as a friend. She was looking at me like she had been waiting for a long time.

“You finally started to try, and what do you know? You’re actually talented.” Me? She thought I was talented?!

“I mean you’re not Breaker or Senohoi talented.” She said as she waved her hand dismissively at Zac, Aunt Vnexi, and Vonev who had started fighting again.

“But we don’t need to compare ourselves to these freaks. That’s right I said it! You’re a freak too!” She turned to speak to a shocked Aonani, who just moments before was just quietly reading.

“The two of us are the most normal individuals in this little group of ours. But we have both proven to be exceptional.”

“Hmmmm,” Aonani seemed to agree reluctantly.

“See?! She even agrees, and she still hates your guts.”

“It’s true.” Aonani confirmed.

“I always saw this in you Chowder. The Galdents are on the decline, but they were at the top of the Black Market for a reason. You’re mom’s, no good Chowder. She’s going to ruin you, if you keep dragging behind her.”

“Hey, don’t bad mouth my mom to my face, Jun!”

“I’m just trying to help. You are old enough to get off from under your mom and see what type of person she is for yourself. I won’t say anything else. Just be careful big guy. You’re finally starting to find yourself. I hate to see all this go to waste.” She spoke sincerely.

These were the first non-hostile words I’ve heard from her in years. She wasn’t the only one to tell me unpleasant things about my mother. Most of it was simply her using the family name to get what she wanted. Apparently she had called in almost all the favors our family had accumulated over the pass just to keep us afloat. We would be on the verge of crumbling, if we had not struck a deal that day with Quinn.

To make things worse. After the party, it became obvious that Quinn and Big Boss were rather close. Mom was becoming more and more paranoid. She thought that Big Boss was going to replace us with the Zyms. It didn’t help that the recent shareholders looked more towards Quinn rather than my mother for leadership and direction.

I was tired of it. All the whispers that my mother was incompetent. She was given a falling house and was doing what she could with what she had to hold it up. They said that she was a treacherous snake? Like anyone in the Black Market had room to talk. Everyone did what they had to gain an upper hand. Those that didn’t were walked over by everyone else.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Aonani spoke.

“It’s none of your concern.” I snapped at her.

“Oh but it is. You’re Zac’s friend whether I like it or not. He also isn’t the type to deal with ultimatums. So we’re more or less stuck with each other for the time being.” She responded with an annoyed tinge in her voice.

Her and Zac had become official not long after the party, and I swear her attitude got even more uppity than it was before. I was about to tell her to go screw, when she spoke again cutting me off,

“You can make all the excuses in the world for her. No one will blame you. All children who are treated well by their parents would do the same. Juniper isn’t telling you to turn on your mother. All anyone is saying is, watch her and decide for yourself whether she’s worth following. If you find her lacking, then just be better than her. I think that’s a reasonable ask. No one is going to ask you to abandon your own mother.”

I wanted to tell her to shut the hell up. But out of everyone here she was the only one negatively affected by my mother in some way. What she said was reasonable. I’ve never found any fault in my mother because I never once had the gall to question her. I have been told I wasn’t the brightest, but had I ever tried to think for myself, to test that theory? No, of course not. Why would I? I just followed whatever mother said.

“Fine…” I let out a sigh. It was time I grew up a little bit.

“Look out big guy!!” Vonev’s voice came ringing into my ears. Seems he was sent flying from the fray once again. Instead of slapping him away, I reached out and caught him by the throat. I slung him towards where Zac and Vnexi were still engaged in battle.

“Screw you, damned lizard!!!” Vonev shouted as Zac and Aunt Vnexi moved to avoid the flying leech. I bounded off the ground and attacked Zac with a balled fist. He parried my punch while grabbing my wrist.

“Are you done with your rest Brick? You sort out all your thoughts?” Zac asked with a smile on his face.

“Not all of them…”

“Well that’s good enough. For now.” Zac smirked.

“Knocking him around might help loosen things up.” Aunt Vnexi said as she sent a kick towards my head. I blocked with my free arm, but that small body of hers packed a lot of power. I was knocked off my feet, but Zac was still holding on to my wrist. He used the force of Aunt Vnexi's kick to sling me across the training ground. I could faintly hear what he said, as the wind blew pass my ears,

“You won’t be able to hang without using your Bent, Brick.”

I landed on my back looking over at Zac. I saw his and Aunt Vnexi’s Gteju eyes staring at me, before they turned back to fighting each other. Could they see that too? I had only recently discovered I could use the Galdent Physical Bent. My cousin was the youngest one to harness this ability before he was killed by Zac. That pompous jerk used to lord it over me. If only he could see me now, I was younger than he was and I could now use it.

No. That was my problem, I kept comparing myself to others. Trying to live up to their expectations, without having any for myself. I shouldn’t be proud to be better than someone dead. I should be looking forward to bettering myself. I needed to be better, to help bring the Galdents out of the gutter. I smiled, and let my Soul Source spread into my muscles.

They knew I could access my Bent but what they didn’t know was that mine was a little odd. I didn’t know why because I hadn’t even shown this to my mother yet. Our physical Bent accessed our bestial heritage, our muscles bulked up, and spikes would emerge on our bodies. It was the opposite for me. My muscles compacted, making me leaner although spikes did form on my elbows, and shoulders. My clothes became looser due to my body’s change.

“Holy shit! Is that you Chowderhead?” I heard Jun exclaim from the sideline. I charged forward towards Zac and Vnexi. This time they seemed to take me seriously and they disengaged from each other and looked at me. A waved my hand and spikes flew out from my fist like protiles, they were aimed for Zac. Those spikes were enhanced by my Soul Source and could tip through steel easily.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about, Brick!!! Let’s have some fun!” Zac sounded excited as scales appeared on his forearm as he deflected my spikes away.

I charged into the center of the two of them, my spiked tail swiping at Vnexi who gracefully dodged out of the way, I used my momentum to send a spinning heel kick at Zac, spikes extended from my heels to and potency to my attack. I wasn’t just getting beat up all these days my fighting instincts were growing rapidly, it was just that my body responded too slowly to what I wanted to do, but now like this, I felt free.

Zac ducked under my kick,

“I’m going to get you one of these days, Sandman.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it. But not today.” He sent a sweeping kick at my planted foot. I lost my balance but used my left hand to stabilize.

“Don’t forget about me.” I heard Vonev’s voice whispering from behind. Damned Leech!!! Spike exploded from my back going out in all directions. Vonev turned into a mist avoiding those spikes and reforming some distance away.

“Son of a Bitch! If you could do that?! Why did you always bash into me?!” I screamed.

“Because I thought it was funny. At least until today.” Vonev shrugged.

“Stay focused.” Vnexi's voice called out as she slung me by my tail. I twisted my body and landed on my feet. I looked up to see the 4 of us standing equally distant from each other. I couldn’t help but smile. It looked like they were finally going to be taking me seriously.

“Finally!!! No more babysitting. I can actually get a good sparring in.” Zac said. Confirming what I had thought for a long time.

“Are you going to get serious now, Vonev? Or are you going to keep wasting our time.” Aunt Vnexi sounded annoyed.

“Damned lizards. Of course the Little Bosses would see it. Fine, I can’t have myself out shone by Brick of all people.” Vonev sighed as a light shone through his clothing.

“Are those Ponduff’s markings?” Zac asked curiously.

“Eh, not quite Little Boss. I couldn’t understand all of that shit, but I understood enough to make something workable. It will at least close the physical gap between us… a little bit.” I saw what his Grandfather did to those automations. He was the embodiment of brutal savagery. That system he used to increase his physical body was superior to most physical Bents and offered endless utility on top of that. If Vonev could make something even 10% of what ponduff did, then he might even be my physical equal. Dammit… Juniper was right, they were all freaks. But for some reason. I didn’t feel upset. I was excited. The Galdent Physical Bent had tons of secrets, and I was just starting to learn. At least physically, I refused to fall behind the rest.

“Hmmm, and Quinn was worried this would be a waste of time. Hahahaha! I’ll be sure to let her know when she gets back.” Zac gloated.

“Where is Ms Quinn?” I asked. She hadn’t been around much at all lately.

“She’s been with Big Boss. Apparently they're preparing for the 11 Family meeting. Looks like Big Boss is taking Quinn with her.”

That was news to me. I’m sure mother wasn’t aware of that, otherwise she wouldn’t have lost her shit at some point. I sighed to myself, I’d have to tell her. It wasn’t going to be an uncomfortable few days at home. Thoughts for later. Right now, I wanted to enjoy this feeling of being treated like and equal, by three Breakers.

“Let’s do this!” I shouted and charged forward, the other three responded in kind.

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