I jolt awake to a sharp pain in my chest. I let out a cry loud enough to wake my father, who comes rushing in through the door.
"Are you alright?" He asks. His eyes wide and panicked. "What did you see?" I take a moment to recall the dream through labored breaths. I describe the dream in as much detail as I can.
"Melina was Corvus's wife?" I ask. My father nods sadly.
"I ran from home a few days after. Fearing that his affliction had driven him mad. He always said a demon possessed her. But I did not believe him."
"She looked so familiar... did Corvus find a way to bring her back?" My father shrugs his shoulders.
"My father likely tried, whether he succeeded or not I cannot say."
"Do you think the cult did?"
"The cult has many ways of recruiting members. But raises them from the dead is not a method I belive they posses." his words spark the memory of the Salacshi in the Sorrowmoore. The twisted vine that Aurora pulled from it. Does Corvus know? I look at my father who shares the same revelation.
"We're to meet Corvus in the training hall. Perhaps it is best that you bring this information to him." He stands and motions towards the nightstand by my bed. "I laid out some fresh clothes for you. Meet me outside when you're ready."
---
We arrive to an empty training hall, the smell of sweat still thick on the stones. But Corvus is no where to be seen. My father takes his leave and I make my way to the center of the room.
"Having dreams again are we Soren?" Corvus's voice echoes through the hall. I turn expecting to see him behind me, but still nothing.
"Yes. I was hoping to speak with you about it."
"No need." He says. As a ripple of shadow reveals his form standing in front of me. "You saw what I wanted you to see."
"What do you mean?" I ask. How much of my mind can they see? What other parts of me can they control?
"It's the only way, outside of this Memoria for Samir and I to communicate with you. Should we choose, we can send you visions."
"Why show me the death of your wife?" I ask. If he can choose what memories to show me, why such a painful one?
"It was a warning. The dark side of the Rose Knight coin. The forces that hunt us do not care about anything but death. And they will slaughter everyone in their way. When you return, save yourself the heartache. Don't get close." He speaks as if the memory evokes no emotion. Only a harsh lesson to be passed on. He walks over to a rack of weapons and retrieves two swords. He tosses one to me and motions for me to join him in the center ring.
"Now, for your first lesson in combat. Hit me." He readies himself and waits in posture. I thrust at his chest, he parries and steps back. I thrust again, he smacks my blade to the side and steps through behind me. I spin towards him, arcing my blade towards his calf. In one smooth motion he steps onto my blade, forcing it to the ground and throws his opposite knee into my gut. I drop the blade and stumble backwards gasping for air. Through my heavy breaths I hear the tsk of disappointment. I look up to see Corvus walking close to me, shaking his head.
"We have a lot of work to do."
The following months blur together, the days are spent with Samir going over military strategy and politics. The nights I spend with Corvus, sparring until my body is covered in bruises. The bruises always heal overnight. A welcome benefit to training in this strange place. It is not long before I am able to keep stride with Corvus, and match Samir's intellect. They explained that here in the Memoria the Black Rose accelerates my advancement in each skill they teach me. I speak with my father after every session, about the world, our purpose in it and the memories that carved a cavern between us.
Corvus has spoken often about the magical abilities gifted to the Rose Knight. Shadowfrost he calls it. He would not teach me how to wield it before I learned to wield a blade. And today just might be the day I best him. After my study with Samir I make my way to the training hall, it smells as it always does. Of blood and sweat. The dim moonlight shines through small windows that line the walls. Several massive braziers hang above us, illuminating the hall with bright flickering light. Corvus stands in the center ring, waiting for me as he has the past months.
"I'm ready to learn the shadowfrost." I say and approach the ring. He chuckles softly to himself.
"So confident tonight Soren. Though you've said the same before." He draws his blade and turns to face me. "Come on then."
I rush him with a flurry of strikes, the clash of metal rings throughout the hall with each. We seperate for a moment, studying each other. Deciphering each others strategy. And then we clash again, each slash we make meeting either air or a metal blade. We perform the same deadly dance as every night. Moving to the rhythm of clashing metal. But this night is different. I interrupt the flow of blades, stepping off beat and attacking at an angle he's not expecting. I stop my blade just before it meets the flesh of his throat, a cocky triumphant smile spreading onto my face. Corvus's eyes brighten with pride.
"You're finally starting to look like a Knight." He shifts his weight and swings a leg towards my ankles. I'm too caught up in my own triumph to react. I hit the stone floor hard and feel a blade pressing into my chest. Corvus stands above me with a stern expression.
"Your enemy is not defeated until it is no longer breathing. Show no mercy to those that mean to kill you." He retracts his blade and reaches out a hand, pulling me to my feet.
"We're finished for the night." He walks to the rack of weapons and begins removing his gear. I linger for a moment, pondering whether I should speak my next words.
"I've been meaning to ask you something."
"Oh?"
"Your wife... I feel like I've seen her before, in the real world. But that shouldn't be possible, right?"
"What are you getting at?" His tone is sharp and short.
"Did you find a way to bring her back?" His eyes widen, and his face twists into a sneer. His next words come deliberate and hushed.
"I saw her blood fall from my blade, I felt her heart stop beating. I saw the light fade from her eyes and buried her with my own hands. She is dead, Soren." A flurry of mixed emotions whirl inside my chest. I want to believe he is telling the truth, but some part of me knows he is hiding the truth. But I will not press the matter. He finishes removing his armor and moves towards the exit, stopping beside me for a moment.
"Get some rest, the shadowfrost can be very demanding."
