Shamad leaned forward and tapped the driver on the shoulder. The driver looked back.
"Yes?"
"How much farther to Limsa Lominsa?"
"We'll be there tomorrow. Please be patient. Thaliak knows you've been a pain with all your screaming at night."
Shamad smiled at his old friend. Only Bekkar could be allowed to joke about such things. He walked back to his hammock and had another nightmare. He was back with his unit in Ul'dah and it was time for the hazing of the new ones. They didn't call it hazing but that was what it was. Unfortunately for him, he was one of the new ones.
"Each of you recruits are going to be Sharded. It is painful, it is long, and it is painful. You will endure it or you will be imprisoned for a year. If you endure it, you will be accepted into the ranks."
The recruits gulped as one. They had spent the past 6 months training together and holding each others' lives in their hands. They heard the rumors about the Sharding. 1 in 10 died from it. There were 100 of them. 10 of them wouldn't make it. The XO looked them all over.
"Any volunteers? No? Ok. You, you, and you. You're first." He pointed at Shamad and the two next to him.
They stepped forward and stood at attention. Another recruit walked forward with a case. Inside were aetheryte chips, razor sharp. The Drill Instructor had taught them what to do. Shamad took out a crystal and, as he was taught, cast a elemental spell on it. He used lightning. The crystal glowed purple. He carefully inserted it under his skin on the right side of his chest. He felt electrical pain surge through his body. The recruit next to him inserted his. He screamed as it took hold. Screaming was allowed, just no fainting or stopping once started. The third recruit inserted his. He immediately fell to the ground and died. There was steam coming out of his mouth. That reaction wasn't unexpected. The fire and lightning crystals were the most dangerous. Shamad mourned for the one who died but he had to continue. He picked up another crystal and cast an earth spell. The crystal turned tan. He shoved it into his right hand. His hand felt dry and hard. The recruit next to him did the same. They continued putting crystals in. Right foot, wind. Left foot, ice. Left hand, fire. Shamad and the recruit next to him barely survived that one. They each prepared the last crystal. They both cast a water spell. The crystals turned a deep blue. They shoved them in, just above the heart. They both started flailing as the circuit was complete. The seizure lasted about a minute. They got up, soaked with their own sweat and blood. They looked down at their wounds. They had healed! The XO walked forward. "Welcome to Charlie Company, the Drunk Drakes." Shamad and Bekkar walked to the back of the formation and watched as all the others were Sharded. 9 more died. They were all marched to the barracks.
Shamad woke up when Bekkar touched his shoulder. "We're here Shamad. I'm sorry to see you go. I hope you find what you are looking for. Shamad squeezed Bekkar's shoulder, gathered his things, and walked into Limisa Lominsa. He failed to notice the 4 people watching him intently as he passed by them.
"Yes?"
"How much farther to Limsa Lominsa?"
"We'll be there tomorrow. Please be patient. Thaliak knows you've been a pain with all your screaming at night."
Shamad smiled at his old friend. Only Bekkar could be allowed to joke about such things. He walked back to his hammock and had another nightmare. He was back with his unit in Ul'dah and it was time for the hazing of the new ones. They didn't call it hazing but that was what it was. Unfortunately for him, he was one of the new ones.
"Each of you recruits are going to be Sharded. It is painful, it is long, and it is painful. You will endure it or you will be imprisoned for a year. If you endure it, you will be accepted into the ranks."
The recruits gulped as one. They had spent the past 6 months training together and holding each others' lives in their hands. They heard the rumors about the Sharding. 1 in 10 died from it. There were 100 of them. 10 of them wouldn't make it. The XO looked them all over.
"Any volunteers? No? Ok. You, you, and you. You're first." He pointed at Shamad and the two next to him.
They stepped forward and stood at attention. Another recruit walked forward with a case. Inside were aetheryte chips, razor sharp. The Drill Instructor had taught them what to do. Shamad took out a crystal and, as he was taught, cast a elemental spell on it. He used lightning. The crystal glowed purple. He carefully inserted it under his skin on the right side of his chest. He felt electrical pain surge through his body. The recruit next to him inserted his. He screamed as it took hold. Screaming was allowed, just no fainting or stopping once started. The third recruit inserted his. He immediately fell to the ground and died. There was steam coming out of his mouth. That reaction wasn't unexpected. The fire and lightning crystals were the most dangerous. Shamad mourned for the one who died but he had to continue. He picked up another crystal and cast an earth spell. The crystal turned tan. He shoved it into his right hand. His hand felt dry and hard. The recruit next to him did the same. They continued putting crystals in. Right foot, wind. Left foot, ice. Left hand, fire. Shamad and the recruit next to him barely survived that one. They each prepared the last crystal. They both cast a water spell. The crystals turned a deep blue. They shoved them in, just above the heart. They both started flailing as the circuit was complete. The seizure lasted about a minute. They got up, soaked with their own sweat and blood. They looked down at their wounds. They had healed! The XO walked forward. "Welcome to Charlie Company, the Drunk Drakes." Shamad and Bekkar walked to the back of the formation and watched as all the others were Sharded. 9 more died. They were all marched to the barracks.
Shamad woke up when Bekkar touched his shoulder. "We're here Shamad. I'm sorry to see you go. I hope you find what you are looking for. Shamad squeezed Bekkar's shoulder, gathered his things, and walked into Limisa Lominsa. He failed to notice the 4 people watching him intently as he passed by them.