Seldom do you live out your life as you would want, nor are you able to live peacefully to an old age. This is true of Ana who was a fairly weak empath and was murdered by a man who was in a position of power.
Shane had lost everything due to Lt Colonel Avraz and his obsession with Ana. The truth was out there and knowing his wife died because of his job was something he was having trouble handling.
Aline the daughter that Ana and he had created had survived and he was raising her as a single father. It was never going to be easy but he was all she had. He would do anything to protect her even going so far as to quit the Spirit Warriors.
He was sitting outside of the Lt Generals office when he was told to enter. Shane walked in and gave a quick salute to the Commanding Officer.
“Shane, I am pleased to see you. Do you need anything, I want to help.”
Shane nodded “General. Thank you but I think this is the end for me. I am going to hand in my resignation and have my oath reversed.”
The General wasn’t shocked as he had expected something to be coming. He didn’t want to lose one of his best agents despite the fact that he didn’t and wouldn’t accept promotions. “I understand Shane and we don’t want to lose you. What we can do is an extended leave to be with your daughter. When you are ready no matter how long you would be welcome back.”
Shane nodded, understanding that his life would go on forever. The time on this earth was definitely going to be long and he knew Jagged understood that as he had covered the tracks of Shane for years.
Jag was one of the few people who knew he was part demonic and part angelic. His daughters life would also be long as she was a quarter angelic and an eight demonic. The rest was human but even that little bit of the other worldly would increase her life.
He left the office thinking if he would ever return to the headquarters or would he even see these people again.
———
The judiciary branch of the mages was very difficult to join and they have two different branches: the Military as well as the non-military.
The Military branch had its hands full as the trial was about to start in the case against Avraz. Judge Alcona is a woman who was strong and who was able to control the earth. She was an Elementalist before she took the oath of a Judiciary which increased her life span and allowed her to do what she loved best.
The people who were part of the tribunal core were three members all from different branches though none were part of the Spirit Warriors. It was seen as a conflict of interest for them to be represented.
This case was already open and shut as they had proof of wrong doing because of the magic surveillance that Shane had in his home. The fact that it was his commanding officer spoke even louder volumes.
“I think the death penalty is in order” said Arati a member of the traditional mages order. “What he did was planned out and executed when his subordinate was on a case for him.”
Jaresh stepped forward “We saw what happened plain as day however the contact after about the job being complete is the area we still need to confirm about. We don’t know if the threat has passed or are we still in danger.” Jaresh was part of the psionic group and his abilities were mind shields.
A younger looking woman stepped forward by the name of Yeo Se Chang. She was a mage smith one of the rarest of all disciplines. “I agree with Jaresh. The threat may not be past and we won’t get anything out of him if we have him executed. What he did was horrible but we require the information he has. If we make Avraz a deal we can get what we want and he can stay locked up forever”
Alcona wasn’t pleased with this as two of the three members thought the same thing that they needed the information that Avraz refused to give at this time. Offering a deal while it was common place it was also not what he wants to do since this man had destroyed the life of a fellow officer in the Spirit Warriors without any justification. He knew that the tribunal would ensure that he got away without the ultimate penalty. “I hear what you are saying. I also understand the concerns about the threat level however I am not wanting to offer any deal without first speaking to the party who was harmed the most. Bring in Shane for his victim impact statement.”
Major Shane Mccolm entered the room of the room were the discussions were taking place. “Members of the Judiciary. I am Spirit Warrior Major Shane McColm. I am here today to try to help you come to a just conclusion and punishment for what former Lt Colonel Avraz has been charged and convicted of. The murder of Ana McColm has left me heartbroken and my baby without a mother to care for her. While that is of no concern for many of you here it is very much an issue for the Spirit Warriors. The man was a commanding officer and he abused his power and went after his subordinates homes and causing the death of a member of this community. I seek vengeance for what he has done and ask for his punishment to be the ultimate price of his life. Thank you. Shane stepped back and sat down in a chair that had been brought in for him.
The judge stood “Thank you Major McColm for your time today and we are very sorry for your loss. The Tribunal believes that the threat that is upon us was not just a one off issue and that Avraz has that knowledge. He was seen in the surveillance that was part of your house they he was talking to someone that the job was done. We fear that means that this is not over. As the judge in this case it is hard to not listen to the tribunal members however I am prepared to sentence Avraz to death. We also are thinking with your permission that we could offer him life in prison and remove his powers if he would tell us who was the mastermind. This is the person truly responsible for the death of Ana.”
Shane was shocked as this was not what he was expecting. Could he make that decision to not have the murderer put to death for a higher good.
“How can I choose this? You know what he has put me through and I know there is the greater good but I am not sure I can just leave this. Your suggestion is important to me but I need to speak to Jagg he can assist me”
They nodded “We will give you a week and then we will need your decision.”
——-
Shane had been thinking through the options that the judge and tribunal had offered to him. This was the hardest choice he has ever had to do. In his head he knew doing after the person who ordered this heinous crime was the best. His heart was on a different level and was thinking it was time for vengeance not just the limited revenge that was jail time.
It had been two days and he had finally requested a meeting in his home in Austria between him and Lt General Jagged Anderson. He has already put in for extended leave but now this was going to be harder for him.
“You requested this meeting Shane? Have you changed your mind about the leave and are resigning or are you going to come back full-time?”
Shane shook his head “No this isn’t about the work at all but something personal.”
Jagg nodded “Okay what is this about?”
He sighed and then started in to the hardest discussion he had “The tribunal and Judge have given me a week to decide what I want to push for death penalty or life in prison. I am not sure because they have proof that Avraz wasn’t working alone but not what it is. They want to make him a deal to get as much information as possible but they don’t want to alienate myself as they understand what he did”
Jagg shook his head “You know Avraz at least as well as I do. He won’t break and give up this information that you want. The tribunal can order a scam of his brain to get the information however he likely will then invoke the Pagaral Rite and go the route of a gladiator. It is his only chance to remain alive”
He nodded “If he takes the Gladiator route brought the Pagaral Rite he will not survive. It is a very difficult thing to survive in the arena. Fighting an individual battle is one thing but even a person that has been trained like we have. Where did he get his training as he wasn’t trained in Austria by myself?”
Jagg nodded “He trained under Gurthal the Philippine islands. They are in a place that is known to have a lot of mountains and also wasn’t populated by the people.”
Shane knew Gurthal and had been to his training facility once. The man wasn’t a person who tended to think or fight outside of the box wasn’t his strong suit. He was standard fighter and would tend to pull in those with unique fighti g techniques when there was a lesson that needed to be taught.
“I will go speak to Gurthal and see what we can use against his former pupil to get him to open up. I had the pleasure of working with him a number of times including as his specialist in unique fighting styles. I am sure he will talk.”
——
Shane approached the large castle on what was thought to be an unihabited island in the Philippines. This place felt like home and he could feel the wards of the place. He wasn’t a mage but he was magical and could feel the magic of the castle. The wards wouldn’t prevent him from entering nor would it warn anyone about his presence.
He could see the mountains and could see people training with swords. Approaching he bowed before he entered showing the respect was due to the master.
He heard the deep voice of Gurthal. “Everyone let’s welcome a former guest teacher here Major Shane McColm.*
“Thank you Master Gurthal. I didn’t mean to interrupt your lessons but I will need to speak to you soon on a matter of great importance.”
He nodded “We are almost done here go to my private office and I will meet you there”
The fact that Gurthal had made sure he wasn’t at the trial of his pupil was shocking. While the murder charge was common knowledge the person who was killed was not. Treason was something that was not common with the Spirit Warriors. The oath that they take was very binding.
Gurthal came up “Shane it is good to see you. Something isn’t right you are showing signs of stress that is more than the job. Your team just completed a successful mission against Demonics.”
“That is not what I am here about Gurthal. Your absence at the Tribunal for your pupil was felt. Why did you not show up?”
“I couldn’t Shane. He was one of my top people I had trained and also one of the highest ranked. His treason and murder trial was something had I attended would have been me on trial for training someone who would betray his oath and destroyed another’s life. I am sorry I couldn’t go there to be judged.”
“You wouldn’t have been judged for what he did. I need your help though. We need to find out what he knows but he won’t cooperate. Believe me I wouldn’t be here to ask for this after what he did. He should be killed for what he did to my family but I have to get the information.”
“What do you mean Shane about what he did to your family?”
Shane glared and his eyes begin to glass over “It was my wife he killed and my daughter and myself who lost a mother and a wife. You need to tell me what you know of him so we could break him to our will. He was seen reporting to another and we need to know”
He looked horrified. “I am sorry Shane for your loss. Ana was beautiful and strong, she deserved so much better. I will tell your what I can. Avraz was from a Portuguese family, the same as your wife. What most didn’t know is that while he and Ana was supposed to become his wife however she felt nothing but friendship. When he realized that he went out and knocked up a woman who had a little girl that he called Artania. She is the key to breaking him.”
Shane nodded and said his thanks and left. As soon as he was gone Gurthal linked everything he had here to Shane as he knew Shane would take proper care of his people and his home. He couldn’t live with what his pupil and in fact a person who was like a son to him had done. He went to top tower which overlooked the cliff. Before he had a chance he jumped from the tower and down 1000 feet to the cliffs bottom.
——–
Shane was sitting at his desk. He had already gone and met Avrazs daughter. He knew that if he said that she would be arrested now that he would crack. His daughter was the type who wanted this when she found out what her father had done. She had no loyalty to him and she could have easily been arrested as she was using magic without being brought to the Council’s attention.
“Shane my office now” said a very hard sounding Lt General Jagg Anderson.
He quickly got up and went to the office of Jagg. “Sir I just got back and have what will break Avraz I need to get it started.”
He nodded “I commend your ethics to get the information but that can wait while we get this over with. At 0600 hours today I received a magical message and a will for Gurthal. He decided he couldn’t handle what had happened and killed himself. He has left everything to you including his property that houses his school. You are now the most powerful Spirit Warrior trainer holding two of the most popular schools. We have linked through a portal the places so you can travel from each office at the school.”
Shane was utterly shocked why would he take his own life first and why leave everything to Shane. He hadn’t trained with the man other than a little bit here and there when he went to help train in unique combat skills. Could he have been at ease with what happened and feared he would be found out.
“I am sorry, he gave me his academy. I am shocked and looking forward all at the same time.”
——-
Shane went away and was talking to Avraz “So Avraz are you going to tell me now who was the person who ordered the hit on my house?”
He shook his head “Never, I would be killed if I was to do it. “
He was not happy ‘You will die if you don’t. The only difference is you will take down so many other with you including someone you have hidden from the rest of the community. You know someone who has psionic abilities and not registered is against the rules and they can be put to death as well “
He looked shocked this was not good. How did Shane learn about his Daughter Akila. She was 6 years old and had the psionic ability of farsight and she was able to read the minds of others by touching them.
“Wait, don’t do anything with that. I will tell you what you want to know. No death penalty and you won’t turn them in?”
Shane nodded to him “Agreed. Who is after us and how did they have the power to turn you against your own people?”
You could hear Avraz gulp very audibly as he was putting it into his mind how he would tell the name as it would come across badly “The first part is simple he got me to betray the Spirit Warriors by showing me how they had betrayed me. You married the person who was pledged by our families to me. That betrayal hurt a lot and couldn’t go unpunished. The Other houses of your team was a way to make it look more like a real criminal was doing it and she was unlucky and saw the theft so was killed. The person who ordered it is a very powerful person named Cratal. He is a powerful psionic who can make you feel as if your body was struck by lightning, encased in ice or lit on fire.”
He glared “I have heard of him but don’t know what he has against me. I don’t recall ever meeting him. I will get him now you will be moved to a secured prison were noone will know you. I will not wish you any luck other than ill luck for what you have done. Aline will forever miss her mother and I my wife. Goodbye and may you understand what pain you have caused.”
Shane walked out never to see his old commanding officer again. He would never find out where Avraz would be put into jail. Shane wasn’t sure he would ever forgive and knew he would never forget what hae happened.
—–
In the next installment of the story you will see a number of new characters and you will see the training of the Spirit Warriors as Shane does it
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