TBC: Chapter Six

"Doesn't it feel weird to be participating in ceremony when Mordán is out there doing who knows what?" Hoshi whispered to Gyan's back as the two walked with the rest of the san warriors to the falls the following night.

The warriors walked single file; their faces hidden beneath the hoods of their deep forest green san robes. Each warrior's gladaé was held before them with the blade pointing up. Above them, the light of the Elsarian moons intermingled with three enormous stars, highlighting the forest trail.

"Yes, but our spies report that he has not been seen," Gyan replied. "There have been no attacks since Solara. He has even left matters of the kingdom up to his closest advisor, Lucian, for now."

"Which can't be good," Aderes chimed in from the back of the group.

"I agree," said Valora in a low voice.

"We have to seal our gladaés anyway," added Brogan. "Better if we have our own sword to fight him with."

"Yes," Gyan agreed. "I don't think it was a coincidence that the Aléise a Estel occurred right after what happened in Solara. We were supposed to be ordained as masters at this time, for whatever reason."

"We are about to reach the clearing," said Danika. "Discuss synchronicity another time."

"Okay, ceremony monitor. Calm down," Jarek said. He shoved Danika playfully as the group reached the edge of the clearing.

"Jarek!" Danika whispered fiercely as she stumbled into Valora.

Gyan cleared his throat loudly, and the group stopped short in awe of the sight before them.

The entire pool of the Tran Ceiabré was alight with blue flames. The pool of the falls churned a brilliant blue-white and gold light that stretched through the whole clearing—a magnificent transformation from what Gyan and Jalena had seen just days before. The three falls fell as sheets of shimmering blue, white, and gold over the cliffs into the pool below.

Heightened elation flooded Gyan as he took in the wonder before him. A soft tune that seemed to be coming from the water filled the air. Small, glittery flecks of light danced off the surface of the water and swirled in the air all around the clearing, like floating stardust. A faint, soft melody filled the air.

Five elder masters, looking intimidating beneath their blood-red robes, stood to one side of the pool. Standing next to each other on the opposite side were five masters, cloaked in royal blue robes. Gyan could not make out anyone's face because they were hidden well beneath the hood of the robes. Each warrior held their glowing gladaés before them, reflecting a rainbow of light around the area.

Some of the san warriors, still frozen at the edge of the trail, looked up and exhaled audibly.

Gyan followed their uplifted gaze to the top of the falls. He shielded his eyes from the bright white light that suddenly appeared in the shape of a great large star. The light dimmed, and Malik stood in its place, directly in the center of the cliffs. Glowing water flowed around his bare feet as his dark robes and long white hair whipped in the cool breeze of the falls. His skin matched the brightness of the Elsarian moons and stars that flooded the clearing. Malik's tribal markings gleamed with a blinding blue glow as he gazed upon the warriors with his chrome eyes. Gyan had never seen someone look as powerful as Malik did at that moment.

Malik lifted his white staff and pointed its blue-stoned tip, at the pool beneath him. He muttered inaudibly and a clear, glass pathway formed from the edge of the pool in front of the san warriors extending to the base of the middle waterfall.

The warriors, still carrying looks of astonishment, shuffled further into the clearing.

Zareb, a broad-statured, dark-skinned elder master, approached the warriors with his golden-green glowing gladaé. "Come closer to the water so that you may hear the ceremonial process clearly," he stated in a deep voice.

The group followed Zareb to the edge of the pathway.

Malik's voice echoed across the clearing. "At the time of the Aléise a Estel, the stars of the high priestesses align and overlap the edges of our two moons." He pointed his finger at the two full moons in the sky above the forest. The moons balanced proportionately between the three large pulsating stars that appeared to be seeping light into each moon.

"Our guiding Priestesses, Nysa, Kya, and Affera, shine their light through the stars," continued Malik, "which seeks to share the power of the moons, just as our moons seek to share the power of the stars."

Gyan's attention sharpened in curiosity at the mention of Affera's name.

Malik lowered his arm. "The power of the stars then merges with the power of the moons, creating a space to blend rare and brilliant energy. This process represents the ultimate pathway that channels the height of one's power because of the balance and connection that forms between masculine and feminine energy. It is this very balance that a warrior strives to form within, so that it is also achieved within the consciousness of the world. We are in honor of this as we celebrate the Rite of Nysa."

Malik nodded to Zareb.

Zareb turned to the warriors before him. "The color of a light warrior's gladaé mimics the color of a warrior's eyes. Our eye color is the entry point to the stream of energy lighting the path to a warrior's heart, which holds the key to your purpose and perception. Your unique gifts and perceptions are of equal value to the Order. The diversity found within this uniqueness is what stabilizes the power between us. The similarities that we share are what amplify this power. The red halo that surrounds the iris in every warrior's eye physically represents the similarity of shared power and focus and creates a bond between us. Both these differences and similarities create balance and are to be honored."

Zareb joined his place among the rest of the elder masters. Both the masters and elder masters lifted their gladaés into the air. A stream of light shot out of the end of each warrior's gladaé and joined across the pool above Malik's glass walkway. As soon as the resulting light merged to create an arching rainbow over the pool, the middle fall of cascading water beneath Malik split apart like curtains being pulled apart. Elder Master Syam stepped forward from the entrance of a small cave behind the falls.

Malik peered at the san warriors. "Lorcan Elwith, come forth to claim your new position in this Universe."

Lorcan looked nervously at the faces of the warriors around him. "Me first—again?"

"Don't question it," Jarek said with a sly smile as he nudged Lorcan closer to the pool. "It's the will of the Universe."

Lorcan rolled his eyes and moved cautiously across the walkway, holding the hilt of his gladaé tightly against his chest and casting doubtful glances at the flaming water beneath him. He reached the end of the walkway and bowed to Syam. "Elder Master."

Syam's violet, red-haloed eyes shone brightly as they reflected the light of the surrounding water. "Turn to face the pool and stand beneath the split of the falls."

Lorcan did as Syam commanded.

"Now, offer your gladaé above you into the stream."

Lorcan lifted his sword to the water. His eyes widened in sudden surprise. His hand jerked forward as the waterfall swallowed his gladaé the instant his blade touched the split in the stream. Light-embedded water flared out in all directions as the gladaé began to spin within the stream.

Lorcan shielded his eyes as a bright green light emerged from the middle of his blade and extended the length of the sword. The dullness in the weapon the warriors previously complained about was now gleaming with a brilliant silver color beneath the green light.

"Lift your right hand to reclaim your weapon," Syam stated.

As soon as Lorcan grasped the hilt of his sword with his outstretched fingers, the green light from the blade extended down into his arm and traveled to his neck. His eyes lit up brightly with a blue-white glow. The light from the gladaé began to swirl in a vortex pattern across the right side of his neck and moved down to cover his robe.

The night breeze increased and whipped around him. As the light from his gladaé traveled down his robe and covered him entirely, Lorcan's green san robe changed into the royal blue color of a master's robe. The light weaved intricate geometric designs at different points across the robe. A separate tribal pattern of geometric symbols formed at the bottom hem of the robe and along the edge of the sleeves. Compared to the san robe that was plain in design, the master robe that Lorcan wore turned elaborate in appearance.

Syam furrowed his brow in curiosity as he studied the change in Lorcan's robe.

As the transformation was completed, the light on Lorcan's neck dissipated, leaving the black Lumsigne marking in its place.

Syam spoke loudly from behind Lorcan. "Your proven service as a universal protector of light is now sealed within your gladaé and is an extension of you as you stand before us as a master warrior."

The group of masters and elder masters spoke in unison. "You honor us with your service, Master Lorcan."

Lorcan turned to bow to Syam, who returned his gesture. He faced forward again to bow to the entire group. As Lorcan returned to his group, he grinned at the other san warriors—his eyes shining as brightly as his green-glowing gladaé.

Amazing, Hoshi said.

Lorcan took his place in line with the others. I've never felt anything like that before.

Malik's voice boomed out from above the group. "Gyan Mesengic, come forth to claim your new position in this Universe."

Gyan crossed the walkway, more eager than anxious. Glowing water droplets bounced off the surface of the water and clung to his robe as he crossed the pathway. The mist of the falls felt cool on his face as he neared the base of the middle fall where Syam waited.

Syam repeated what he had spoken to Lorcan only moments before. "Turn to the pool and stand beneath the split of the falls."

Gyan obeyed and followed Syam's command to offer his gladaé up to the stream. His arm jerked slightly as the stream took the sword. As his gladaé twirled above him, the mist of the water showered over him.

Syam narrowed his eyes thoughtfully as he watched the transformation of Gyan's gladaé. Not only was it surrounded by a gold light that mirrored the light brown in Gyan's eyes, but a violet flame also spread from the middle of the blade and shot out the tip.

Gyan felt the familiar heat gather inside him as his light energy activated as he reached for his sword. As he retrieved the weapon, a rush of powerful energy moved through his body. A surge of satisfaction followed by a feeling of certainty in who he was and what he represented as a warrior settled within him.

As the light flowing through him subsided, he looked down in curiosity at the symbols on his blue robe and touched his neck where the Lumsigne now resided. It took him several moments to realize that Syam had not spoken.

He turned to look at the elder master and saw Syam still staring at Gyan's gladaé. Gyan followed his gaze. His eyes widened as he realized the reason for Syam's silence. Remaining in the center of the golden glow of Gyan’s blade was a pulsating violet flame that had appeared during the transformation.

Syam blinked several times and turned his focus back to Gyan. "Your proven service as a universal protector of light is now sealed within your gladaé and is an extension of you as you now stand before us as a master warrior."

The other warriors joined Syam's voice. "You honor us with your service, Master Gyan."

Gyan bowed to Syam and the rest of the group before retreating down the walkway. He could tell by his teammates' expressions that they were bursting with questions, so he opened his mind to their telepathic murmurs.

Valora raised her eyebrows. What is going on with your gladaé?

Gyan shrugged and took his place in line. I don't think the elder masters know either. Elder Master Syam looked confused.

Maybe it's deformed, Jarek stated.

Something different doesn't make it deformed, Jarek, retorted Hoshi.

It's deformed if it deviates from the norm, Jarek replied.

Then that's all of us, added Brogan.

Just means it is better, said Aderes.

Gyan smiled. Maybe.

Will you all pay attention? Danika said. Aderes, Sir Malik just called your name.

The team chuckled quietly as Aderes stumbled hurriedly down the walkway.

Gyan watched with rapt attention to see if any of the other warriors' gladaés had an unusual alteration but his remained the only one.

The team members returned and stood side-by-side at the front edge of the pool as the last of the san warriors underwent their transformation.

The warriors examined their new gladaés. Brogan's and Valora's blades were longer than the rest of the team, both casting a bright silver glow. Aderes's blade was more curved than the others and held a deeper silver glow than Valora and Brogan's. Hoshi's blade stood out in that her gladaé was the only one of the new masters to shine a deeper blue with two shorter blades cradling the side of her middle blade. Danika, Tarak, and Lorcan all held swords that glowed with varied shades of green. Without the violet streak of light in the middle of the blade, Jarek's weapon shone a slightly deeper shade of gold than Gyan's.

The elder masters and masters sheathed their gladaés behind their backs, and the split in the falls mended.

Malik pointed his staff at the foot of the falls from where he remained atop the cliff. A bright beam of light shone from his staff and connected to the blue, flaming water. The flames began to separate from the glowing water and traveled up the beam to Malik's staff. Before the flames could reach his staff, however, a dark fluid instantly swallowed the blue flames and spread quickly across the pool of water. The black fluid seeped deep into the pool as if someone had poured large amounts of ink into it.

Malik quickly looked around in alarm.

The elder masters and masters quickly unsheathed their gladaés.

"Malik!" Zareb shouted. "There is dark energy here." It is female, he added.

"I sense her," Malik replied.

Gyan felt the shift of energy around him and readied himself for danger. He opened his mind to the others. His teammates shared confused looks with each other as they tried to decipher what exactly was happening.

Malik leaped from the top of the cliff and landed on the walkway he had created. He knelt to inspect the black water. He looked sharply at the trees that overlooked the cliffs and stood immediately. "Elder Master Zareb, if you please."

"I will catch up," Zareb replied hurriedly.

A bright fading light was all that remained above the walkway as Malik disappeared in a flash.

The walkway slowly faded from view, and the bubbling water of the Tran Ceiabré quietened.

"I and the other masters will spread out and search for any other signs of danger," Jabari stated. "If none resides, we will meet back here to complete the ceremony."

Syam nodded, and Jabari and the other four masters split up to search the forest from different points.

"What are we to do, Elder Master Syam?" Gyan asked.

Zenobia held up her hand for silence as she moved cautiously around the edge of the clearing, her green cat-like, red-haloed eyes sharply surveying the area.

Gyan watched the elder master as she moved gracefully and quietly, like a skilled hunter in the woods. His team had not spent much time in Zenobia's presence because she was often traveling for the Order. She was the only individual from the planet Suál that they had met so far.

Zenobia stopped moving and placed her hand on a large tree. After closing her eyes for several moments, she turned to the others. "The trees show a female draped in a black cloak at different points in the forest as if she is teleporting," she stated in her thick accent.

"She must be using magic if she is traveling that fast," Syam answered.

"I cannot tell for sure how she is doing it, but the threat has disappeared for now," Zenobia replied.

Syam turned to Nyhra. "Can you see her, Elder Master?"

Nyhra shook her head. Her gold, red-haloed eyes narrowed in concentration. "Only a dark-cloaked mist. Whoever she is, she knows how to conceal herself from Seyns and wizards."

Syam and the others bent to study the dark pool that was alight just minutes before. The only remnants of light were several glittering flecks that floated above the water and out around the clearing.

"What happened to the falls, Elder Master Syam?" Valora asked.

"I am unsure," replied Syam. "It looks to be a spell or poison that reversed the effects of the magic Malik uses to create moonfire." He looked up. "It has also blocked the water from receiving the light of the Aléise."

Faelán met Syam's gaze. "That knowledge could only come from…"

Syam nodded. "Yes, I agree, Elder Master. There is apparently someone other than Malik that uses the magic of the Mysteis."