(TATB) Ch 3: The Weapon Of Mind, Body, and Soul, Geist Élan

(SKYLAR)

"The 100-Year War," Professor Lee repeated, her voice echoing in the hushed classroom. The gravity of her words weighed heavily on us, each syllable a reminder of the seemingly impossible struggle between the Lilliputians and us, the Brobdingnagians. Even as someone who respected and admired the Lilliputians, I struggled to grasp how such a diminutive people could fight back against beings so much larger than themselves.

The question gnawed at my mind: How did they do it? The only plausible answer was the...

"Five Warriors."

The moment Professor Lee said those words, my thoughts snapped back to the present. I wasn't alone—everyone in the room was likely thinking the same thing. Who were these warriors, and how did they manage to turn the tide of a war that should have been a massacre?

Professor Lee stepped forward, her expression so intense it sent a chill through the room. She wasn't just telling us a story; she was revealing a truth that had been buried beneath layers of propaganda and pride.

"When the war first began, the odds were overwhelmingly in our favor. In a matter of weeks, we did to the Lilliputians what should have taken years," she explained. Her words churned my stomach. She held up a small remote and clicked a button, changing the slide on the projector.

"In one week, we had taken 10% of Lilliputian lands," she continued, gesturing to the screen, where a green map was slowly turning red. "Another 25%, another 35%, and another 40%. But when we reached 50%, our progress came to a complete halt."

Another click of the remote, and the screen changed again, revealing a black-and-white photo of four men. Each held something in his hands—a dagger, a small metal ball, a chain wrapped around an arm, and a soft white glove. The objects seemed mundane, almost insignificant, and I struggled to understand their importance.

"These are Lilliputians," Professor Lee said, breaking the silence. "Can anyone tell me what they're holding?"

The room was silent, each of us unsure of what we were looking at. Finally, a student in the front row raised his hand.

"Yes?" Professor Lee prompted.

"That's a Soul Object," the student answered confidently.

Suddenly, it all began to make sense.

"Exactly," Professor Lee confirmed. "Soul weapons, or the more correct term in the Lilliputian tongue: Geist Élan."

"Geist Élan," I murmured, quickly jotting down the term in my notes.

"The Soul Object isn't entirely new to our society. Though rare, it is a technique that anyone can learn. I wouldn't be surprised if one or two individuals in this very class possess one," Professor Lee added.

I couldn't help but frown. I was one of the unlucky few who didn't have one of these remarkable objects.

"That being said," Professor Lee continued, "even though we Brobdingnagians can use the technique, it is a Lilliputian invention—one of the many things we acquired and integrated into our society."

"More like stole," I muttered under my breath.

Professor Lee's gaze returned to the screen. "The power of the Soul Object played a pivotal role in the war 100 years ago," she stated. "Historical records indicate that it was the use of these weapons that killed thousands of Brobs and nearly caused us to lose the war."

The classroom erupted into a buzz of disbelief. Friends whispered to each other, their voices tinged with doubt and confusion. The very idea that Lilliputians could wield such power, enough to kill thousands of Brobs, was almost too much to accept.

I was no different. Like many Brobs, I had heard of Soul Objects. I knew they existed, but I was taught to believe that they were insignificant, that their study was a waste of time. Few Brobs who obtained one could make proper use of it—or so I had been led to believe.

"Quiet down, quiet down," Professor Lee called, raising her hand to restore order.

The class quickly fell silent, a mixture of fear and curiosity driving us to listen. The story was far from over, and we all wanted—needed—to hear the rest.

"During the war, there were many Lilliputians said to be able to use this weapon, but none played a pivotal role like the Five Warriors, who were said to have mastered the technique and performed unbelievable feats," Professor Lee explained.

She clicked the button again, and the screen changed to a white background with names written on it.

"As the name suggests, there were five warriors in total, each one possessing their own Soul Object."

My heart raced. We were finally talking about them—the Five Warriors.

"Not much is known about them," Professor Lee continued.

What!? I thought, feeling a wave of disappointment.

"The records of these five have been all but erased, we assume by Lilliputian hands," the professor explained. "All we really know about them are the aliases they were known by to the Brobdingnagian soldiers who fought against them."

It sucked that I wasn't going to hear more about these legendary figures, but I'd take what I could get.

"First, there was the Flash Marksman." The screen changed to a dark picture of what seemed to be a woman holding two pistols. Beyond that, I couldn't make out much, except that it looked like she was wearing glasses.

"Then there was the Tortured Bookman." The picture shifted to another shadowy figure, a man standing on a far-off cliff. He looked like he was wearing a long jacket that reached his feet, and he held what appeared to be a small book in his hands.

"The next is the Crimson Giant." The screen showed the backside of a woman standing on a barren field, her long twin tails flowing behind her, her clothes ripped and ragged.

"The fourth was known as Push-and-Pull Zyno," Professor Lee said as the image switched to another figure seen from behind—a man with well-kept hair wearing a long jacket, his arms crossed.

"And last but not least, Thousand Mask," Professor Lee said, her voice taking on a weight that made everyone sit up a little straighter. "Or by his most famous name, The Brobdingnagian Slayer."

I looked up at the screen, and this image was clearer than the others. For the first time, I could make out more details of the man's appearance. But there was one problem—the Brob Slayer wore a plain white mask, obscuring his face. It made sense, given his name. Thousand Mask's attire was distinct: a black jacket with silver plates on each shoulder and black pants that seemed to blend into the shadows.

"Thousand Mask was said to be the leader of the Five Warriors," Professor Lee continued, her tone almost reverent. "And as his second name suggests, he was the one who killed more Brobdingnagians than anyone else."

"Amazing..." The word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. I couldn't help but be in awe. They all were amazing—these legendary figures who had somehow stood against the giants and fought back.

"Thousand Mask..."