Sustenance, rejuvenation and rebirth, once the knowledge was acquired, all this could be accomplished and manipulated. Whatever the light touched, no matter the spectrum, even light not visible to the naked eye, that element, that object, with the correct spell, could be summoned and controlled. All that was required was the knowledge and the tenacity needed to endure the decades of training. After all, one can read the instructions on how to swing a sword but it took years of swinging that sword, conditioning the muscles of the body, to become a master swords man. It was no different with a mage, only more dangerous. For every action there is a reaction, unleashing something of light also meant unleashing something of equal value of the dark. It required studying for decades before practicing even the most basic of spells, for the caster's safety.
At least that is what it is like for mages casting magic of light, Aldien thought, he did not know much of the dark mages. He had that tenacity however and that motivation. Though unable to use magic, he had study diligently, not only on magic but on almost everything, that he could find, at the library of the Maesra Athema. The drive to acquire this knowledge was simple; the lamech behind him kneeling in the grass.
Everything came easily to that person, the apprehension of this world, fighting skills and even leadership. How was he expected to lead such an individual? He resented him, the lamech that had caused disgrace to his family. A constant reminder of his father's infidelity. This outsider. However for one that hordes knowledge, this specimen, those eyes were a gold mine. They saw through almost everything. Whatever he did not know, whatever he had not read, he could simply ask Adonis.
And here he was now, back in the city they had only just fled from, fleeing for their lives, because Adonis supported the idea. He had learnt to depend on his insight, though at times for their own safety he had to deny his supplications. Should he have done so on this occasion?
The valley below the city was completely engulfed in flames, fire leapt and dance skywards. A majestic gyration of gold and scarlet death, gradually occluding all paths out of the metropolis. They were being trapped inside, when the time came would they find a way out? That bloody Dyagon was out of control. The forest screamed as it bled thick black smog that poured upwards obscuring the lunar sisters. Soon even the city itself would be in danger.
If anyone could survive that conflagration however, it would be Auron. He was not made the youngest Mentor in the history of the Athema without reason. For certain he had survived and was making his way to carry out his plan.
For now the smoke and the darkened sky worked to Aldien's group advantage. Staying hidden was easier. He would depend on Adonis's eyes, as he did to get in, to get them out when the time came.
"When I say, we move quickly and without hesitation." Adonis whispered. "Ethos will get the door, Aivar will lead us in, he knows where the nymph is. As we are trying to prevent a war, it goes without saying, try not to take the lives of the guards."
"And if it can not be helped?" Aldien asked. "The safety of the Quorae is tantamount."
"The safety of Pejora is." Aivar corrected.
"As far as I am concerned the Divide can go to...."
"Move, move, move." Adonis whispered.
Ethos sprang from the bushes and ran across the grounds without even the slightest glance around at his surroundings, such was his trust in Adonis. Behind him was Aivar, then came Aldien, Echelon and, always on lookout at the rear of the group came Adonis. The plan was to get inside the dungeons quickly, incapacitate the guards, get the nymph and escape without drawing any additional attention to themselves. Taking on the city guards with a party of five, with a ticked off mage and Dyagon lurking about would be suicidal.
The heavy metal door was sliced from it hinges in one swing by Ethos, Aivar kicked it hard before the guard on the other side could react, it slammed into him rendering him an unconscious heap on the floor. Aldien took care of the other guard at the entrance, getting to him in the blink of an eye and striking his windpipe with the hilt of his sword, sending him to join his comrade in sleep. Aivar ran by them, sprinting towards the nymph's cell. He skilfully avoided the swords of the other guards as he went along, sliding, twisting and leaping by them, leaving them behind to be dealt with by his Quorae. The metal door of the cell that held the nymph was practically ripped off barehanded. Aivar stepped inside to be greeted by her green eyes.
"Took you long enough," She said smiling. "I told you I would be waiting, Aimar." She gasped as Aivar sliced the shackles from her legs and lifted her to his chest. "You do not have to. I am able to walk."
Aivar did not seem to hear, he spun on his heels and took off. Aldien led them out, Ethos and Echelon flanked Aivar to his left and his right, providing extra security for their cargo, to the rear they left their backs to the eyes of Adonis.
..
"What are you reading?"
Yet another question. They were fidgety and always whispering to each other as if they had a secret the whole world was dying to hear. They wore grey cloaks like all lamechi children that have yet to be admitted to the Athema, their long black manes were caught in ponytails. They were just two grey grains in a sea of grey sand so why of all the places for them to sit, why next to him.
The hall in which they sat was enormous and grey, with five tiers of balconies going up and right around. Adult Nandurans stood looking down on a thousand Nanduran children who were staring intently at the dais at the head of the room listening for their names. It was the final day in the month long orientation--for days, thousands of new students of the Athema have been pouring in to be sorted. The Athema was the only school in the Lamechi society, so of course all events were on a grand scale, lasting for weeks, or months even. The new quorums were being announced and the houses; the dormitories named after the first ten Nanduran generals, that they would be placed in, decided. The Jeaganites had been sorted first, with the last student being sorted three weeks ago. Now it was the last of the Nandurans' turn, even so, word was that the female campus was only half way through their list.
The ten houses varied in prestige in accordance to the ranks acquired by their past students throughout the history of the Lamechi army and the number of school competitions the house have won over the years. Currently at number one was the House of Thawne, followed by the Druet Lodge, the Eudon House, the House of Guille, the Gawen House, the Lodge of Malcuos, the House of Oddo, the Hann House, the Emory Lodge and the Radulf Board. The house one was assigned to could potentially decide one's career, even so, the young lamech had not been paying much attention. Being totally absorbed in his reading, he was depending on the calling of his name to jar him back to the present. Except, he was not absorbed, these two kept interrupting him.
"Dragons, Dyagons, Wyverns and the Dance of the Ill Fated." Aldien answered.
There was clapping and cheering as a brand new quorum was formed and their house named. He was not sure why such importance was placed in the house to which one was assigned or the Mentor one is given. Everyone else however seemed to take pride in such frivolities. He did not worry about such things, he had topped the scores in both the physical and written entrance examinations, he was certain all the houses and Mentors would be clamoring to get their hands on him. He glanced upwards to catch his father beaming a smile of pride down at him.
"Ethos, and Echelon." He was extended a hand which he hesitated before accepting.
"Ethos and Echelon, as in the words..."
"Yeah, blame our parents." The Nanduran child smiled at him. "You might have heard of us, the first ever lamechi twins."
Aldien observed them a moment. They were mirror images of each other, except one seemed to be always smiling, the other however was in deep contemplation. "Yes I have. I am Aldien."
"As in, theeee Aldien?" Echelon's smiled broadened. "The Aldien with the highest scores ever on the entrance examinations. You have not even started the Athema and already you are famous. It is an honour to meet you."
"The honour is mine." Aldien answered. He closed the book. "What is it like? Being twins I mean."
The other of the pair turned to face him, his eyes roved over Aldien from head to toe, then back to his head as if appraising him. "Normal, what is it like to be you?"
Aldien cleared his throat, taken aback by his answer. "I am told it, your bond, is similar to the bond of the Quorae. It is the same as being bonded by the amalgama stone."
"Do you think it will hurt?" Echelon asked. "After the quorum is announced, that is the next step right, being bonded by the stone?"
"Yes it is." Aldien answered. He tapped the black leather cover of the book he held. "Do not worry, the bonding ceremony is nothing as barbaric as that of the Dyagons. Lamechs are unable to use magic, all that is involved is bathing in the glow of the stone. The bond will not be as strong as that between a Dyagon and his dragon, but it is sufficient for the team work and tactics used by the Quorae in battle."
He had only seen diagrams and had only read books on the pool below the Athema used for the ceremony, yet here he was speaking on it with such authority. From what he had learnt, the pool was a large circle with a purple glowing stone in the center, below the surface of its transparent waters. The pool itself was divided into compartments by thin stone walls, radiating from the center like spokes of a wheel, intersected by concentric circles forming trapeziums. It is within these compartments that the quorums are bonded. One quorum to each compartment in which they spend an entire night staying afloat, emerging with the dark dawn of Pejora as fractions of a whole.
"I would like it if we were placed in a quorum with you." Echelon cried. "Someone as smart and as skilled. That probably will not happen though, you will most likely be placed in an elite squad."
"Elite squad," Aldien answered smiling. "That would be something, though being placed in a quorum with Pejora's only twins would be interesting too."
Ethos was eyeing him again. "What is taking this long anyways." He seemed even more agitated.
Echelon rose from his seat. "Ok, come along Ethos. I see that you can no longer hold it. Aldien, could you listen out for our names please."
"Wait, what? Where are you going?"
"If we stay any longer, Ethos might have an accident. We will be right back, just a quick trip to the rest room."
"I do not think you should leave at this..." Aldien watched as the twins disappeared through the hall's entrance, his words falling short of their ears. He sighed.
He reopened his book. At least he could continue reading in peace. Those two -- what would happen if their names were called and they were not here to answer, such a thing was unheard of. It was not his problem, certainly a warrior should at least know how to control his bladder. They would be reprimanded, punished, probably whipped -- no, no, no, definitely he was over thinking the situation. The adults would not go that far, would they? He flashed a look over his shoulder to see if they were returning, no, no sign of them.
"Mikel, Echelon, Ethos, Jaekon..." Just perfect. Aldien listened as the rest of the quorum was announced. They gathered on the dais to applause and cheering as their names were called, all except the twins that is. "Ethos, Echelon?"
The seven foot tall Mentor stood with his three new underlings - they did not even reach his knees - scanning the crowd. "Ethos, Echelon? As anyone seen Ethos and Echelon?"
Aldien found that he was lowering himself in his seat, afraid that some way, some how this would be seen as his fault. A few of the students close to him were staring.
"Some one go find those two and tell them to get their behinds out here." Now it seemed every one was staring at him. It was obvious who they had thrown the responsibility of this task on. He got up and made his way to the exit. "Moving on, we are not waiting."
Aldien walked along the hall way towards the rest rooms wondering, why him of all persons? He had only just met those two, why was he suddenly responsible for their actions? The situation was gradually getting worse, he had checked the fifth restroom now within the edifice without success and was contemplating leaving this building and heading over to the dormitory blocks to check. Where in the hells have they gone to?
He was about to leave the building when he spotted the two rascals. They were talking to a child who was clinging to the leg of a Nanduran, a final yearling at the Athema it seems from his uniform. They were rubbing the child's head as one would rub the head of a puppy, the child in return was smiling from ear to ear.
"Your names are being called." Aldien bowed in respect to the final yearling, then turned back to the twins. "And you have gotten me involved in this foolishness. Can we get a move on please."
His attention was drawn by the stare of the child. He seemed younger than Aldien and was dressed in Pejora's grey cloak of childhood. There was a aura about him, a warmth, it was almost visible. Aldien found himself reaching out to touch his head. The child recoiled, hiding behind the final yearling's leg.
"Who are..."
"Aldien come on." He escaped his trance to see that the twins had walked away and Echelon was beckoning to him. "I thought you said our names were being called."
"Right, right." Aldien stole a final glance at the child then walked away.
"Who is he," Aldien asked as they walked back to the hall.
"Do you mean the kid? Echelon asked. "We do not know, met him in the rest room. Nice kid though."
"Yeah, nice kid." Aldien answered.
Ethos pushed the enormous dark stained wooden door that led into the hall, there was an echo as they stepped inside. It was completely empty, safe for three adult Nandurans standing at the dais, the other children had already left. The three adults scowled at the boys as they made their way towards the stage. The Nanduran that was announcing the names earlier leaned over and whispered into the ear of the Nanduran standing to his left. Aldien's heart sunk when he saw his father's change of expression.
"Well?"
"I..."
"Shut your mouth." The announcer snarled. "The Athema is a place of discipline, it is obvious you lack even the slightest modicum. All quorums have been formed, there is no place for you three here. Not this year."
"But..." Aldien shifted his plea from the stoned face announcer. "Father, please."
His father looked away from him in disgust. It was not his fault, but Aldien knew he had let him down. He had not thought it possible but he felt his heart sunk even lower. He decided to try the announcer once more but the Nanduran was not even looking at him. He was looking pass the three boys towards the hall's entrance door. Aldien turned to see at what.
"Do not be too harsh on them Maesrai Couro. They were only helping me with a matter."
The final yearling with the child still clinging to his leg stood in the doorway. He and Maesrai Couro were glaring at each other, no apparent love lost between the two.
"Do you think because of the position your father holds, you can do as you please, Auron." Couro asked. "Not this time, no, this time around you have truly messed up."
Auron wore a wry smile. "Have I? I will be taking those three with me then. I will have a word with my father, I think it is high time I be made a mentor."
"A quorum is a party of six, with an experienced Maesrai at the helm," Couro snarled. "Not even your father can change that. And I guarantee that no one else will join your little band, I will make sure of it."
"Oh, I have little Aivar here," Auron answered, rubbing the head of the child at his feet. His eyes shifted to the Nanduran to the left of Couro. "And I have a feeling that if I wait long enough someone else just might come along. Until then I will have them admitted to the Athema under my tutelage."
"You are still a student at the Athema, that child is too young and five cannot bathe in the glow of the stone, it must be six or the effects could be dire." Couro argued. "Give it up Auron, what you propose is impossible."
Auron beckoned to the three boys. "Take my offer or wait a whole other year." The boys exchanged glances and started towards him. "Impossible, why? Who determined that it is impossible? Well then I will make the impossible possible."
"You stubborn little..." Aldien looked behind as Couro grinded his teeth on his words, to Couro's left his father still refused to look at him and to his right the father of the twins looked on in surprise.
He was making the situation worse going with Auron, he could tell. However he was not going to wait another full year to be admitted to the Athema, not when he was the most gifted of all the students to ever undertake the trials. His father would forgive him eventually, he was his pride, his one and only son.
Before him, Auron walked away with the twins in tow, the child he had called Aivar stayed behind, this time he had his hand outstretched to Aldien. Aldien accepted, surprised by the warmth radiating from it. He followed Auron, smart enough to realize that he had gained a mentor but he had also gained a nemesis in Couro. His life had changed forever, from easy to one with much difficulty, he sighed.
..
The clashing of wooden swords echoed in the empty auditorium. The twins were annoyingly relentless, striking, parrying, countering, neither could land a hit, they kept cancelling each other out. Aldien sat off to the side trying to get some reading done. Aivar who had taken an unusual shying to him sat by his side peering over into the book.
It has been two years since Auron had gotten them admitted to the Athema, and while they had no problems with general studies, the other students kept their distance from them, Maesrai Couro and the other instructors who supported his view saw to that. They were only allowed to practice with each other, matter of fact, apart from when they were in a class room, they were always alone. They were not even allowed into the bonding pool, they were not recognized as a proper quorum.
"Aldien." Echelon called to him again in frustration. "We are suppose to be practicing the Art of the black sword. There will be enough time for studying later."
Aldien closed the book and got up, some things never change, he still could not read in peace around those two. He picked up his practice sword and launched himself at Echelon, who parried his strike but was caught by a follow up kick to the stomach. Echelon fell to the ground grimacing in pain.
"You are leaving yourself open when you..." Aldien stepped aside as he caught Ethos attacking out of the corner of his eyes. He countered but Ethos avoided it and swung at him again, he parried and found that his feet were off the ground, he fell to his back. "A leg sweep, really Ethos?" Aldien cried once he caught his breath.
"Well, are you not going to join us?" Ethos directed his question at Aivar.
Aivar smiled and attacked, Ethos tried to but could not stop him. The wooden sword poked into his stomach sending him tumbling backwards.
"Damn it," Ethos cried. "What in the hells was that?"
Aivar shrugged. "Auron always does it, something I picked up."
"Speaking of our beloved mentor, does any of you know where he is?" Aldien asked. "This is not a free session, he is suppose to be here instructing us."
"He was called away earlier," Aivar answered. "It must be some thing important or he would not be missing this class."
"Important," Ethos remarked. "Right, because this is obviously the first class he has ever missed with us." He rolled his eyes.
"Alright, alright," Echelon chimed in. "He is not here, big deal. Let us just go over the basics then." He adapted his stance, waiting for the others to join him.
The double door behind Echelon swung open and Auron walked in. He was followed by Aldien's father and by his side was an odd looking child.
"Dad?"
"Dad?" Auron echoed. "Right, I had totally forgotten. Well then, I guess you two have something to talk about. In the mean time however, boys say hello to member number six of our quorum."
"Number six?" Echelon asked, observing the child closely. "A Jeaganite, is that even allowed?" He sighed, "A mixed quorum, things just keep getting better and better."
"Your sarcasm is duly noted Echelon," Auron frowned. "Despite the appearance of his eyes, he is actually a Nanduran."
"He looks like a blind Jeaganite to me," Ethos said. "We have it hard enough as it is already, now we will have a blind kid to take care of."
Auron's eyebrows knitted in frustration. "I am telling you he is not a Jeaganite. And could you not be so informal, there is someone else here at the moment."
Aldien's father was watching the interaction between this would be mentor and his students, behind his stoic demeanor he seemed bemused. "He is indeed a Nanduran, he is my son."
"Your son?" Aldien asked, his eyes wide. "How can this be?"
"We will talk about this at another time, for now I leave him in your capable hands Auron."
"Thank you Maesrai Aranel." Auron answered.
"But father..."
"Take care of your brother, Aldien." Aranel walked from the auditorium, leaving his son looking bewildered.
"Well," Auron broke the silence which had followed. "Introduce yourselves."
Aivar stepped forward with his hand outstretched. "Nice to see you again, welcome to our quorum, Adonis."
..
"No matter what happens," Adonis shouted. "Do not stop, keep running straight ahead."
Smoke obscured Aldien's vision and burned his lungs. He could hear quite distinctly the sound of his own breathing and his footsteps as he ran along the stone path. His Quorae was behind him, the sound of their footsteps was mixed with the far off cries of worried guards and priest. He was responsible for their safety, no wonder he was having flashbacks of the time his Quorae was formed. They were fleeing from the razor sharp edges of spears and swords and racing into the horrid flames of a dragon.
"Do not falter," Adonis was shouting at the rear of the group. "Trust me."
An arrow narrowly missed Aldien's head, they had been discovered. He kept running forward though all he could see at the edge of the city ahead was fiery death. A guard materialized from the smoke before him and he remembered Adonis admonition about killing. He parried the guard's sword and sent him sprawling backwards with a flying knee to his chin.
"Do it now Leah!" Adonis shouted. "Takes us beneath the flames."
The ground before Aldien suddenly collapsed to a rudimentary tunnel which was bordered and supported by earth and enormous roots. Behind him, he could hear the nymph crying out in exertion. He ran into this tunnel without hesitation, for if this is Adonis's plan then he could trust it.
Inches before his face and keeping up with the speed at which he ran, roots wormed their way into and pushed aside solid earth, making way for the group's passage. Behind, the earth collapsed as they got clear, maybe because of strategy or maybe it was beyond the abilities of the nymph to keep it open, either way it worked to their advantage.
"Do not slow down, Aldien." Adonis continued advising from the rear. "We have to get clear of the flames before her strength gives out."
Aldien did not have to check to see if the nymph was tiring, he could already tell all too clearly from the sound of her breathing. Poisoned by the breath of a dragon or crushed to death by tons of collapsing earth, neither option was appealing. He was powerless to help, his fate was in the hands of this person who, just a couple of days before, had tried to kill him. The damp earthy smell made him ill, worms and other creepy crawlies that called the ground their home fell from above and into his clothing. Down here there was no smoke but each breath was like being force fed gut wrenching acrimonious fodder.
He could not bear this for much longer, before him in the darkness, black rancid earth was being forced away. Behind, the rancid earth was collapsing. He wondered as the nymph breath grew heavier and heavier, how deep had they gone? If her strength failed, could he dig his way out?
"We are almost there Leah, just keep going a little longer." Adonis shouted. "Aivar, for the love of Rai Zohar, do something."
"What else can I do?" Aivar asked. "I am running as fast as I can."
"Damn it, Aivar."
A sudden silence fell, Aldien could no longer hear the breathing of the nymph, and the sound of his Quorae faded into the darkness. There were no footsteps nor respiration. He found himself reeling, his feet gave way, his consciousness was leaving him.
He felt faintly, himself being grabbed by the waist and being hurled. His back hit the ground hard, forcing what little breath he held out of him. He gasped and felt his lungs filling with crisp, clean air. Life returned to him and his vision gradually cleared, he soon realized that he was lying on his back gazing into the night sky. They were out?
"Are you ok?" Echelon asked standing over him.
He grunted as he sat up. "I am fine." His eyes shifted from the forest ablaze in the distance to the nymph now asleep in Aivar's hands. "We are never ever doing that again."