TBC: Chapter Fifty-Five

The door of the Thesarei at headquarters burst open. Malik stalked into the room carrying the appearance of a man who hadn't slept in days. "Where is he?" he demanded. He stared hard at the new masters that had just arrived and gathered at the round table for emergency Council with Syam and Jabari.

"He has already gone after her, Sir Malik," Syam stated with a grave expression.

"He tore the tracking device out of the lumray and left his uniform in the forest," Jabari added. "It is likely that he has already crossed into Kraundor."

Malik opened the Libranand sat it on the table before the group. "The letters of the revolving prophecy have just sealed."

"What does that mean?" Gyan asked.

"When any event or action leads to a high probability of a revolving prophecy fulfilling, the letters will seal by turning red."

"What does the prophecy say, Sir Malik?" Valora asked.

"Faith weakens among the light. A warrior's passion grants power to freedom, yet blood exchanged for freedom binds the will of heart. In forced action, darkness bleeds and light is consumed until the fire shall rise."

"It's about Master Aderes?" Gyan asked.

Malik nodded. "I started thinking that it was about him some time ago, but I couldn't be sure. It wasn't until I saw the evolvement in his charismatic energy that my suspicions grew stronger. I knew for sure the prophecy involved him when Master Jabari told me that he failed to share his evolved gift with the team. It was then that I suspected he had a wish to separate himself from the group. When that happens in any team, it generally means that trust has been broken and a solitary mission or a plan of abandonment is in progress. The weakening of faith among the light was about his belief." He shook his head. "I should have watched him more closely."

"What does the wording mean, specifically?" Lorcan asked.

"That whatever Master Aderes is planning may have granted freedom, but that loss is involved somehow," Malik said with a somber expression. "'Blood exchanged for freedom' means a sacrifice will occur."

"Of someone's life?" Hoshi said in alarm.

"Possibly," Malik replied, "but it could also mean an injury or capture." He looked down at the Libran. "Master Aderes has clearly forced action. I'm still unsure what it means by 'darkness bleeds and light is consumed until the fire shall rise', but I feel it concerns the future."

"Well, whatever it means, it doesn't sound good," Brogan said.

"I'm afraid that whatever events Master Aderes has set into motion may change the course of what we are facing in this war, Elder Master Syam," Malik stated.

"Then we have no choice but to adapt to the change," Syam replied. "The power to do so will arrive at the right time. It always does. Until that time, we shall hope to salvage as many innocent lives as possible, for that is what we should be most concerned with."

"Have our spies in Kraundor located him?" Malik asked.

"No," Syam replied. "They report no abnormal activity, so we do not know if he has even located Lesiana. We only know that he has not gotten captured yet."

"Aren't we going after him?" Jarek asked.

"If we interfere with his plan, he will only return to Androsa to do what he has set out to do," Malik stated. "We cannot control him, nor should we try."

"Given the situation we are in with Mordán and Akila, it is best that we do not appear in Kraundor at this time. If Master Aderes succeeds, there will be no need for reinforcement," Syam stated.

"As long as he remains alive, that is," Jabari added.

"Until more information arrives from our spies, we must wait," Syam finished.

After the meeting, Gyan shut his mind to the other warriors and hurried to his room in silence. He changed into his warrior gear and put on his black cloak, trying to ignore the heavy silence that lingered in his and Aderes's room. He was in the middle of lacing up his boots when a knock sounded on the door.

"Going somewhere?" Valora asked as she entered and eyed Gyan's appearance.

"Yes," he said.

"You know you won't be able to stop him—whatever it is that he is trying to do. He has made up his mind."

"I'm not trying to stop him," Gyan replied. "I'm going to help him. If he wants to be stubborn and do it his way, then I'm going too."

"You believe he was right to go against the Order?"

"No, but my intuition says it is right to support him, so I'm gonna trust that."

"Good," Brogan said as he approached the door. "We do, too."

Gyan saw each of the new masters standing behind Brogan and smiled.

Brogan tossed Valora her black cloak. "Change out of the blues, sister," he said, pointing at her formal master robe. "We've got a job to do."

Hoshi smiled at Gyan. "Let's go. Master Jalena is already waiting with a ship."

***