Slowly, Senn and Timber followed a small mountain road northwest. Senn looked out for an inlet, or any sign of the Knights of Ardonia. A few hours past noon, they came across a small cave. Sun light shone through from the other side in the mirky passage. Senn tied Timber to a tree and ventured in.
He came to a small clearing, but there was no one in sight. "Hello?" He called, hoping for an answer. "I'm, uh, looking for the Knights of Ardonia?" Only the echoes responded.
Senn turned to leave, but found his way blocked by a Magnorite. He was a bit taller and thicker than Igneous, his markings were glowing a stronger shade of amber, and his skin a darker shade of brown.
"I'm not here to fight." Began Senn, putting his hands in the air. "I'm looking for the Knights of Ardonia."
"Fighting is wha' we do." Growled the Magnorite. He stepped into the clearing. "Look like you've come to the wrong place."
Senn stepped back, sensing danger. "What I meant was I'm not…"
"Hey, why do your marking have no color?" He was uncomfortably close now. Senn could feel the heat coming from his body. "Are you some sorta spy?" The Magnorite grabbed Senn by the arm, his hand leaving imprints on Senn's skin.
"I'm not a spy!" Senn shouted angrily. He reached for the hilt of his sword.
"Oh, so you wanna attack me huh?" The Magnorite shoved Senn into the middle of the clearing and marched towards him. "Le's have a go righ' now an' find out wha' you're made of."
Senn had drawn out his sword and poised for an attack. Pulling his weapon beside his right ear, he arched his legs and swept his fore and middle fingers across the sword's edge. The Magnorite raised his fists. The two went for it when…
"Stand down, Onyx." Ordered a familiar voice. Senn turned to see a yellow Ardoni emerge from one of the little caverns branching off from the clearing.
"Hubris?" Senn lowered his sword.
Onyx too backed away. "I was only playin' with him…" He teased, hitting Senn on the shoulder. Senn winced.
Hubris approached the center. "The Ardoni without a clan." he remarked, "Come at last. I'm glad you've decided to join us, Senn, although I am saddened to not see your Magnorite friend. Come on inside." he beckoned them into the cavern, "and welcome to the Knights of Ardonia."
Hubris pulled a small brown book on the shelf. It tilted outwards and the bookcase slid aside, revealing a short passage way to yet another clearing. They entered. Atop a small hill sat a cute Felina girl with purple hair. Her stature was straight and her eyes sparkling. If not for her grim face, she would be an absolute angel. She was polishing a bow and a quiver full of arrows. At the sight of Senn, she stood up and reached for an arrow.
"It's ok, Masani." Hubris called. "He's our new recruit." The girl sat down and continued polishing her bow.
"She doesn't talk much," Hubris explained to Senn, "but she's an exceptional sharpshooter." Masani gave Senn a sideways glance.
"That hulking giant behind you is Onyx." Hubris pointed to the Magnorite behind them.
"Jus' don' get in my way an' you'll be fine." Onyx scoffed.
"And somewhere around here we have someone who doesn't talk at all."
Senn followed his gaze and saw a little man in full silver armor with a huge scythe on his back. His eyes, dark blue and glowing, shone through the visor.
"Vrrr!" Grim purred.
"That over there is Grim." Said Hubris, acknowledging him. "also known by many of his enemies as the Reaper. You'll get used to him. And his sounds."
Hubris led Senn and Onyx into a side room full of maps and charts. Little red markers and blue darts covered the sheets.
"This is where we've set up base." Hubris indicated the tables and walls. "As you can see, we've been tracking Voltaris sightings and trying to pick up their trail. So far, we haven't seen them except in the north, where the council set out to ambush them. However, we haven't heard back from any members."
He turned to the duo. "But enough about us. Onyx, you wanted to see what Senn is made of. Why don't you take him out back?"
"Abou' time!" shouted the Magnorite, flexing his neck and warming his shoulders. "You come along too, Grim."
They exited the room and went around a hill. The small, storied openings on the back hill hinted of small bedrooms built in the traditional Ardoni fashion. Trees stood on the tops, giving shadow to the valley beneath.
"Thi' is our training area." Onyx said, "Or punching ground, as I like to call it." They came to the middle. "Now kid," Onyx turned and faced Senn. "Hit me with wha' you got."
"Um… do you have practice swords or something?" Senn placed his sword and sack on the side and looked around.
"Pfft." Mocked Onyx. "We're not using swords. A real tes' of strength involves only the weapon you were born with."
Senn frowned. "That seems a bit unfair considering you're a Magnorite."
But the Magnorite didn't care. "Less tal' and more go, kid!" He threw out a right punch.
"Umph!" Senn blocked the hit but flew backwards into the grass.
"You jus' gonna have to manage. Bac' on yor feet!" Onyx scolded, his fists in ready position.
"Grr-rrr!" Grim pointed to their side. He was warning about something.
But Onyx ignored him. "I'm not tryin' to hur' you, Senn, but if you can' figh' me, how will you figh' the Voltari…Wha' da!"
A black and red blur shot across their eyes. A split moment later, a demon, if that is how they looked like, had Onyx in a deadlock around his short, thick neck. He was flailing his arms and struggling futilely. The new-comer had a black body with a red skeleton pattern where his ribs should be, big black horns on his head, and a spiked black tail ending in a triangular knot. His orange-yellow eyes, with vertical and narrow black pupils, studied Senn as he tamed the mighty Magnorite like a helpless chicken.
"I heard there was a fight going on." The creature spoke. "Got a little excited and thought I'd join you."
He tossed Onyx onto the ground a meter away like throwing a ball and approached Senn. "Next time, pick on someone of your own caliber."
"So," he stopped before the Ardoni, "you're the new recruit?" Onyx lunged from behind, but the creature grabbed him as if he had eyes on his back and raised the Magnorite above his head. "Don't mind Onyx, he acts tougher than he is."
"Gerroff me!" Onyx shouted.
The creature held out his other hand. "What's your name, kid?"
"Uh, Senn." He shook his hand.
"Ever seen a Jaggarthan before?" The creature asked. He was now twirling Onyx like a long pole. "Whoooaa! You SHOW OFF!"
"I haven't ever heard of one!" Senn replied.
"Ha! That's because there're only a few of us in all of Ardonia." The creature let Onyx drop onto the grass. "The name's Grek, short for Grekarn. I'm a Class II Jaggarthan, means I've lived, fought, and survived my first lifetime. Us Jags get a second life if we make good use of our first."
"So, how many Songs do you know?"
"Just one." Senn replied. "a defensive song."
"Cool," Grek said, "let's see it."
Senn concentrated hard, and a short while later, a humming came from him. A blue sphere flashed around him and vanished.
"See? Umph!" said Onyx triumphantly as he clambered off the ground. "I told you he's incapable."
"Ow!" A small pebble hit Senn in the head. He focused his sight and saw Grek twirling a few in his hand. "If that was supposed to be a shield, it's not doing much good." Grek fired another pebble at Senn.
"Ow!" Senn shouted. "Stop it! Stop throwing rocks at me!"
"Stop it yourself." Grek replied. He threw a third pebble.
Senn focused, and his blue shield materialized around him. It stayed for half a second and blocked the incoming projectile.
"Good job, you can shield yourself against dirt." Grek applauded sarcastically. "With a few years' work you may one day stop an arrow." He dropped the rest of the rocks. "Welcome to the team." He walked over and patted Senn on the shoulder.