Eron Hart XIII arrived at the Slayer school. He looked around, suitably impressed with what he saw.
Eron came from a long line of members of the Order of Light, all named 'Eron Hart' funnily enough. He was the thirteenth with that name, and had a son and a grandson also with that name.
He was the Headmaster of the Order of Light school for boys, training them early for the day they may become a Paladin. Of course, they had to be a knight first, and not all knights became Paladins. At that, not all the boys even became knights, but clerics or blacksmiths, or other required professions. Eron fitted into the last category. He knew that his path did not go down these roles, but instead became a teacher.
The school had to move - it had outgrown it's previous premesis. And what better spot than near the only Slayer school? In some ways, slayers and paladins were as different as night and day, and yet there was an almost family connection between the two roles.
Eron XIII was here to meet with his fellow collegues.
Giles and Willow
Giles, Willow, and Pete and Katie Doyle were all waiting to meet Eron Hart.
"Hello, Mr. Hart," Willow said, smiling, her white hair waving in a phantom breeze. "This is Rupert Giles, Headmaster of Slayer School, and Pete Doyle, Head of the Watcher Academy, and his wife Katie. I am Willow," she said. She used to have a last name, Rosenberg, actually, but now that she was a goddess, she didn't really need one.
Eron XIII
Eron nodded.
"It's good to meet you," he said. "My wife, Helen, would have been with us today, but she has had some things to take care of at the church."
Willow
I have to admit," Willow said, "That even with everythinhg I've witnessed since 1997, I still thought that Paladins only existed in D&D,"
Eron XIII
Eron smiled.
"D&D isn't the only place where Paladins appear. They all had to get their inspiration from somewhere. Still, I would have thought that you may have been aware," Eron shrugged. "Nonetheless... I hope there is no objection to us moving into your neighbourhood. Along with everything else, it would be a great learning experience between our two schools."
Willow and Giles
"Three schools," Katie corrected.
"Actually," Willow interjected, "There's a fourth school, in New York. Once a month I do a teleportation spell, and the girls go to Mujtant High for a co-ed dance. The most common complaint I hear from my girls is the lack of boys."
"All Paladins, are male, correct?" Giles asked. "If your school is boys only, we may have a hard time preventing, ahem, rendezvous?" He said, trying to be discreet. Willow rolled her eyes.
"Giles, get over it. You guys don't understand the modern generation. If teens want to have sex, they're going to have sex. All you can do is make sure they're well informed. Besides, I put a magical contraceptive around the school. It's as if they're taking birth control pills, without them actually having to take pills." Katie looked at Willow.
"Clever girl. Anyway, Mr Hart," Katie said, "What is the formula for your school? We believe in a lot of structer at Watcher Academy. A large majority of the professors are my own children and grandchildren, as well as several of the students. There are two other strong family lines as well at our school."
"This school is more about giving the girls enough knowledge to keep them alive," Willow said.
Eron XIII
Eron nodded.
"Please, call me Eron," he said. "Mr Hart is what the students call me. Although, as to that, Eron is a namesake in my family - I'm the thirteenth, and I have a son and a grandson with the same name. We - well, the Order of Light, anyway, also have a number of family lines. We believe that the path to being a Paladin is a lifelong journey and choose to train the boys in the ways of the Paladin as soon as possible. Easier to break bad habits that way. But, not all our students become Paladins. Some go no further than knighthood, and others decide to become clerics or blacksmiths."
A wry smile crossed his face.
"Or teachers, like I did," he went on. "But the primary focus is to teach virtuous living, and the second focus to give them a proper education."
Willow and Giles
"WEll, we would love to have a relationship between our three schools, since they're all in Cleveland, but I just want to know if your morals, ahem, don't interfere with tolerance."
"What he's trying to say discreetly," Willow butted in, "Is that I'm a lesbian and a Wiccan, as is one of our teachers. Her girlfirend also lives here. She was raised Amish, but left after she became a mutant. Also, you're not gonna slay my dragons, are you?"
Eron XIII
Eron raised his eyebrows.
"Willow," he said firmly. "I, personally, cannot understand, ahh... homosexual tendacies, but I have also been happily married for forty years. However, when you go indepth into our Code, we are expected to have tolerance, and respect for others. Our clerics even go further as to say you may not judge anyone but yourself. We accept that there are people out there with different DNA, spritual, sexual and other make ups, upbringings and lifestyle choices."
He paused for a moment, and smiled.
"And our people haven't slain a dragon in generations. We usually restrict our slaying to the real trouble makers: undead and demons, although there are exceptions."
Willow and Giles
"Okay, They're fine with me," Willow said simply.
"What my rather immature colleague means is that we would be happy to create a relationship between our school. Let our students mingle, exchange training techniques, etc. Do you concur, Matthias?"
"Absolutely, Rupert. How about you, Eron?"
Eron XIII
Eron nodded.
"In a world where there are so many forces seeking to destroy us, it is important that those who would oppose them can work together," he said sagely.
Giles
"Would you care for some tea?" Giles offered.
Eron XIII
"Yes please," Eron accepted. "I am also rather interesting in knowing more about slayers and watchers. I'm afraid I don't understand the relationship. And, naturally, if you have any, ahh, further questions about Paladins, or any other occupation of my Order, I'd be happy to divulge."
Willow and Giles
"Watcher's are usually chosen as children, and are sent to us. They are trained in demonology, ancient languages, and how to keep the Slayer alive," Pete said.
"It used to be 'The Slayer,' but Willow changed that," Katie said. "Now we are hoping to pair each slayer up with a watcher."
"They don't just look after and train Slayers," Pete said, "They used to train the Slayer's in Waiting. We had a Seer who would track them down. Originally, one new slayer would be chosen after the old one died, and she could be any age. But to put the fate of the world on one little girl's shoulders is a terrible thing."
"So Buffy and I decided to change the rules," Willow said. "At the time, I couldn't activate just some Potentials withoput activating all of them, which is why some of our slayers are very young. But now, any girl who is born with the potential to become a vampire slayer, will get her powers at age 13."
"So, we want to keep our girls alive," Giles said, "Which is why we bagan this school. As a Watcher, I lost 3 slayers, and Buffy I lost three times. After Kennedy and Amanda was turned, I decided to fight back. I want to prepare my girls better, to keep them alive."
"MAny watchers are magi, some are gypsies, and some are ordinary mortals with no magical ability," Pete said. "We've chosen to set our schools here, because this a Hellmouth. Cleveand is sitting on top of one of the entrances into Hell."
"Demons and vampires are drawn to hellmouths, and we try and keep them away, while trying to keep the nasty forces from crawling out," Willow continued.
Eron XIII
"Ahh," Eron nodded. "Should have known there was a Hellmouth around here. There seems to be a disturbing number of them around the world, and as soon as you close one another one seems to pop up somewhere. Our Paladins have some demon and undead specific powers. Actually, as to that our blacksmiths are able to imbue weapons with lesser versions of those powers. They're still powerful, just not as potent as the real thing. Say, what are your weapon supplies like?"
Willow and Giles
"Would you like to see our weapon stores?" Willow asked. She concetrated, andsent out a telepathic message to the Connors. Hey, Kate, wanna come meet the head of Paladin school? Withing a minute our so, Kate came in.
"Hello," Kate said, coming in.
"This is Kate Connor, she and her husband John are in charge of weapons and combat training, and we would be happy to give you a tour of the facility," Willow offered.
Eron XIII
"It would be a privlage," Eron accepted.
He nodded to Kate.
"And if you or your husband would like a tour of our own we would be happy to oblige. Any of your, for that matter."
Willow
"It's pretty cold," Kate said, "let's take the tunnels." They took the elevator to the underground level, then led him through a series of passageways to the weapons hall.
"We have axes, swords, crossbows, staffs, and other weapons for the girls to practice with," Kate said.
"I keep the enchanted weapons locked up in my quarters, along with the most dangerous texts," Willow said. "We have one sword that traps possessing spirits, one that traps poltergeists, and Olaf the Troll-God's enchanted hammer, that most humans can't actually lift," she said.
"So this side has the practice weapons," Kate said, "And this side has the weapons that the older girls take on patrols, although some, like Armelle and Friday, have their own favourite weapons to use."
Eron XIII
Eron nodded.
"Yes, some of our boys have their favourites, although none of them do any 'patrolling'."
He looked around at all the weapons.
"There is some remarkable workmanship here," he said. "Not that I would expect any less from you, of course. Do you have your own blacksmiths? Or obtain these through more universal sources?"
Kate
"Well, if a Slayer wants something specially-made, we generally order it. Friday likes working with sais, so she had some made out of wood. Armelle was trained in fan-dancing, so her brother had a fan made for her, out of razor-sharp daggers."
"All the girls learn how to make their own stakes, and taper them to best fit their hands in combat. We carve and fletch our own arrows and make our own bows, but none of us are very adept at making swords, so we usually order them."
"My husband John keeps all the more modern weapons locked up-- guns, bombs, explosives, grenades, etc. We make a lot of our own stuff, and pick the rest up from underground suppliers. In the spring, I'll be teaching the girls how to fly airplanes, and John will be teach them how to operate helicopters, tanks, and other battle vehicles. What's your stance on society's dependence on machines?" Kate asked, wanting to make sure that Eron was on her side.
Eron XIII
Eron shrugged.
"Machines are a part of modern society, and our students are trained in their use. But we are also trained to deal without them. Depending on machines is like depending on anything else - a balance is required."
John and Kate Connor
"To rely on machines is to give them control over our life. We stopped AI once, but I have strong doubts that we'll be ableto do it again. It's a waiting game. Some of the T-100s are still out there, though we've destroyed many of them. I don't trust computers," John Connor said, walking into the room and giving his wife a kiss.
"John, I think you're frightening our guest," Kate said, poking him.
Eron XIII
Eron blinked.
"No, he isn't," he replied. "What is this T-100 you speak of? Is it anything like those androids that someone made? Remarkable device. We've come across a few of those over the past few months. Has proved an interesting study, although none of us have fired any back up. Given the destruction they were said to be wreaking at the time, it doesn't seem advisable. Some of the students, blacksmiths, a few knights, and even a couple of the younger paladins, have been trying to figure out if there's a way to track the rest of them down - assuming there are any others. Barak - my brother, he's a Paladin - feels it is reasonable to assume that since these were so destructive, any other would be too, and is taking the matter of tracking them down very seriously. He doesn't have a lot of modern technology knowledge, but he did take down one of them."
Willow
"They are programmed to destroy all human life," John said. "And eventually, they will continue the up\grades. We destroyed Skynet once, but it may still rebuuild itself, in fact I am sure that someday it will. They are called Terminators, and eventually the terminators will be upgraded to look like humans. They will infiltrate and assassinate."
"Theyre are also flying teminators," Kate said, remembering gunning one down herself. "They are small, self-flying airplanes, armed with automatic weapons and equipped with solitary A.I."
"Your weapons training, for your students, does it include firearms and explosives?" Willow asked.
Eron XIII
"Yes," Eron nodded. "Although they're not really weapons of choice - not as effective in our usual battles. I believe one of our blacksmiths has been experimenting with imbuing gunpowder though - trying to see if upon explosion it will also take a few undead with it, instead of just blowing up a house. This is rather interesting. We have known nothing of this 'Skynet'. I'm sure many of our Order would be very interested... would you mind conducting a conferrence sometime on the matter?"
Willow
"Sure," John said. "In case Artificial Intelligence becomes self-aware again, it's important to have a resistance ready. I was destined to be the leader of the resistence against the machines. So far we have stopped Judgement Day twice."
"Also, do you have any computer tech or hacking classes?" Willow asked. "It's an important skill. We teach computer science here, and hacking. They must be prepared to fight demons and vampires of course, but humanity has a habit of damning itself."
Eron XIII
"My Order has been fighting demons since we were founded," Eron replied, frowning. "And yes, we do have computer classes. Haven't I just been saying as much? No hacking though. While we recongise that it is a skill, maybe even a useful one to have, it is also much like lock picking - primarily used for dishonourable reasons. Not that we would discourge anyone from learning if they really wanted to. Honour is important to us, particularily to a Paladin, or any of the students and knights seeking to become one."
Willow
"Well, it's good to know how to fight the non-physical demons as well," john pointed out. "But kate and I have to finish rewiring the jet."
"I'd be delighted to give you a tour of the rest if the school, if you'd like," Willow said.
Eron XIII
Eron XIII looked a little confused at John's phrase "non-physical demons" (as he was used to another definition to that phrase), but turned to Willow.
"Certainly," he said, "I would enjoy it."
Willow
Willow led Eron through the center building, showing him the gymnasium and dojo and sparring rooms.
"Forgive John, please. He tends to get carried away. Before he was born, a Terminator assassin, one who was created to blend in with humans, was send back in time to kill Sarah Connor, and make sure John was never born." They turned down the hall into the martial arts dojo, where two Slayers who stayed over holidays were training with w watcher.
"John's father was also sent back. He told Sarah everything about the future, and they fell in love. He was killed the day after John was concieved. In this timeline, he hasn't even been born yet." Willow gave Eron a moment to process all this information.
"Sarah raised John off the grid, in the undergorund. South America, Mexico, southern California, she would move him on the whim, making sure he got all the training he needed. BY the time he was eight, he could build machine guns. BUt the time he was 12, he could pilot helicopters." She turned and looked Eron straight in the eye.
"When John was 13, Skynet tried again. They sent a more advanced terminator back to kill him in foster care. A duplicate of the original assassin was sent back to protect him. This Terminator helped John rescue Sarah from a psychiatric faccility, and together they destroyed the company working on Skynet. He, It, whatever, was like a father to him. John had to destroy him, to stop the government from finding his neural processor. It broke him inside," Willow guestured to a bench and sat down.
"They moved to Mexico and stayed in hiding. Sarah developed leukimia from exposure to computer and machinery radiation. JOhn still blames the machines for killing his mother, his father, and his surrogate father. He lived off the grid until about a year ago.
"He met Kate because of her father. Her father was a military man working on Skynet. A female-impersionating terminator was sent back, yet again, to kill John, Kate, Kate's father, and all the the current teenagers, who will one day be John's lieutenants in the resistance. They've now stopped Skynet twice, and killed many terminators. BUt as long as JOhn still lives, we know that the future has not been stopped. Someday, Skynet will become self-aware again, and succeed, finally, in destroying all International governments. The machines will attempt, once again, to take over. So, right now, we are trying to keep that future delayed as long as possible. The only way we will know for sure that Skynet will never gain control, is if John fades away, evaporates. That will mean that his father was never sent back in time to protect his mother. That is what John means by non-physical demons. He means evil that was man-made. The internet. Software, the desire the create things just because we can, without worrying about consequences. Please, tell me if I've overwhelmed you," Willow said, "I;ve always been known to ramble continuously."
Eron XIII
"Ahh," Eron nodded slowly. "So what you're hoping for, is the day that your friend ceases to exist. But if your friend ceases to exist, everything accomplished by his presense will change, and you'll be back to where you started. A time paradox. Unless, of course, you have a way to buffer against that?"
Willow
"You see, we haven't entirely figured that out yet," Willow said. "I exist outside of time, as did my friend Leo, before he was turned into a vampire. We of course don't want him to have never been born, because then we will have a time paradox, and we love him, of course. If you think about it too long it can cause a headache," Willow said, her young smile coming back, "Would you like to see our stables?"
Eron XIII
Eron smiled.
"Certainly. And I agree... time paradoxes can cause a bit of a headache. I prefer not to dwell on them myself."
Willow
"We have three stables, and quite a few paddocks and pastures," Willow said. "Tygeth is the gamegeeper, and Ryder is the stablehand."
Ryder
Ryder looked up at the entry of Willow and company. He was covered in dirt and sweat.
"Good day," he said.
"Good day," Eron nodded. "Do you have many horses here?"
Ryder's eyes brightened at the question, and he started talking about all the horses they had at the stables.
Willow
"We have 3 stables as I said before," Willow said, gently interrupting. "This one is student horses, the middle one has school horses, and the far one has more rare breeds." She sensed Tygeth behind the first stable.
"Tygeth, this is Eron Hart, Headmaster of the Paladin School. I'm sure he would be honored to meet you," Willow called. Trusting Willow's judgement, he stepped out into the open.
"Good afternoon," he said, holding out his large, delicate hand.
Eron XIII
"Oh my," Eron gasped, as he grasped the centaurs' hand in a firm shake. "It certainly is an honour. I knew centaurs existed but I have never met one before."
Willow
"I am the one who is honoured," Tygeth said. "It is your kind who rescued mine from enslavement, long ago. All my people know of the kindness of with which you treat the horses. I would be delighted to be involved with your school in any way," Tygeth said, lowering his front legs and bowing before Eron.
"Tygeth manages our animals. Between Godlings, unicorns, winged horses, a winged unicorn and a griffin, our back stable is pretty busy," Willow said.
"The dragons stay in the woods during the day. They don't generally like to mix with the horses," Tygeth said.
Eron XIII
Eron nodded.
"I see," he said, nodding. "And Tygeth? I'm sure my Order would be happy to resume comunications between our peoples."
Willow
"Wow," Willow said, looking at the sun. "I have quite a few things to do, today, but I would love for our schools to intermix."
Eron XIII
"Of course," said Eron. "It was a pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to our next meeting."
And they soon parted ways.