TCO: Chapter Seven

Aderes's and Gyan's small talk ceased as they began their warm-up exercises at the chinálei. They were soon joined by the other light warriors in their group. The chinálei, or training field, was adjacent to the left side of the temple and was partially concealed by plant foliage and large trees. A large, circular space at the center of the field was used for sparring while the surrounding grassy area was designated to practice breathing and strength exercises.

As the warriors remained silent and focused throughout their routine, dark clouds billowed in off the sea, shadowing the calm of the morning. The group hurriedly gathered beneath an awning that projected over a side entrance to the temple just seconds after the downpour of rain began.

Syam opened the temple doors behind them with a wave of his hand. "Good. I can see that you are eager for your day," he said. "Follow me. You are not sparring today. There is much else we need to do."

The warriors looked at each other in confusion, but Syam gave no further explanation as he gestured for the warriors to enter.

The side entrance to the temple was rather plain in comparison to the front entrance. Although not adorned with large statues or pillars, the octagonal-designed foyer was modestly decorated. Two gold and silver statues outlined in blue light with eight small candles surrounding each base stood on either side of the entrance doorway. A navy carpet embossed with a silver Lumsigne was centered on the foyer floor.

A portrait of what appeared to be two lovers embracing with their arms outstretched to the side hung on the wall directly across from the entrance. From a distance, the two lovers appeared to be dancing, with the face and body of each slightly blurred together. A multicolored glow extended from the middle of the lovers and stretched to the edges of the portrait. Beneath the image was a silver plaque engraved with the words, Un Uri.

The stone wall behind the warriors opened and Syam led the warriors down a stone passageway Gyan had never noticed before. The passage was dimmer and colder than the other areas in the temple. Its only light came from several lit torches that hung along the wall.

The warriors entered another side door leading into the Thesarei of Kya—the same meeting room that Gyan and Aderes had passed through on the night of the graduation ceremony. Standing around the large table were five elder masters in matching red robes.

The san warriors shifted uncomfortably under the direct gaze of the elder masters as they filed into the room.

"Welcome to your first meeting with your elder masters. Please stand before a seat," stated Syam as he motioned to the empty chairs at the council table. "You remember the warrior philosophy you have learned as apriedus, yes?"

The warriors nodded.

"Good. We open every Council by reciting our philosophy. And although this is not considered an official council meeting, we will still do so here."

The elder masters and light warrior sans bowed to each other before speaking in unison.

"As above, so below…as within, so without…as the universe, so the soul."

The warriors sat down as Syam spoke.

"We will begin by providing you with basic information about the elder masters, and then you will be on your way to continue your training. To feel as if you are a part of the entire Order, you must gain a more personal glimpse at the elder masters so that your familiarity with us strengthens." Syam gestured around the room to the elder masters. "Each of us used to be in the same position as all of you are in presently. Now we are your elder masters, as many of you will become someday. It is our responsibility to share with you what we know so that any information regarding the function and flow of the universe remains in trustworthy hands and is used to maintain harmony across civilizations. Syam placed an open hand over his chest. "In case you do not remember, I am Syam Aline." His violet, red-haloed eyes crinkled lightheartedly.

The san warriors smiled in response.

"I am Nyhra Vidar," said the woman sitting on Syam's right. Nyhra had tan skin, black hair, and gold, red-haloed eyes. Gyan briefly thought of Affera and her gold eyes as he gazed at Nyhra. "Although I have never met any of you formally, I have heard much about each of you from the Council," she stated in a strong, smooth voice that put Gyan immediately at ease. "I generally travel to outside locations to research and interact with many different civilizations in the galaxy, but I will attempt to join more of your training when I am not traveling."

The man to the right of Nyhra, who had called out their names at the Ceremony of Pyhron, introduced himself next. "I am Zareb Wakize. I am not originally from this kingdom, as I was born in Kraundor. My family migrated here many years ago when I was a young child. You will learn more of this kingdom in the next phase of your training, for the ruler of Kraundor, Mordán, is one that the light warriors observe closely."

Aderes shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Excuse me, Elder Master. I thought all light warriors were from Alsar," interjected Jarek.

"It is true, San Jarek, that there have been no other light warriors found in another kingdom other than Alsar that we know. It is not understood exactly why. However, light warriors from this galaxy seem to either be born in Yevani or migrate with their families to this kingdom during early childhood. Perhaps this tendency is to ensure that they are discovered by the elder masters soon after the physical transformation occurs."

"For this galaxy?" questioned Jarek. "You mean there are other light warriors from other galaxies?"

Hoshi lightly kicked Jarek under that table for interrupting the elder master a second time. He looked at her and shrugged.

Zareb smiled. "Yes, San Jarek, there is a large possibility that there are warriors in other galaxies that we do not yet know of. As you advance further in your training you will learn more, as will we, from the information that we find through the discoveries of Elder Master Zenobia," he gestured to his right at the elder master next to him, "and Elder Master Nyhra."

Gyan suddenly felt very naïve. He had not realized until meeting the elder masters just how little he knew about the Order. So much of their time was spent on fundamentals of thought and behavior and skill that he hadn't properly considered the vastness of their purpose. Apparently, he was not the only one feeling this way. As he looked at his teammates, he saw many of the warriors looking puzzled or deep in thought. He looked up to find Nyhra staring at him.

Not taking her eyes off Gyan, she spoke softly to the group. "You should not worry about your lack of understanding of your role as a light warrior. Although you are skilled in the foundations related to your duty, there is much more you will come to understand just in a short time." She broke her gaze from Gyan and looked at the others with an encouraging smile. "It will not be long before you gain more confidence in your abilities and purpose."

"Yes, there will be many opportunities to have your questions answered," reassured a brown-haired male with brown, red-haloed eyes and a deep scar across his cheek. "I am Faelán Del. Many of you know me as Jarek's guardian." He glanced at Jarek, who smiled in return. Faelán had taken Jarek into his care after Jarek's mother had been killed in battle when he was only three. Jarek's father had died before he was born.

"You will see more of me during your master training," Faelán said. "It is then that I will teach you how to forge your Gladaé a Uri."

Hoshi gasped as she stared at Faelán, failing to restrain her excitement. Gyan couldn't help but share her enthusiasm. The idea of forging his light sword excited him.

"I am Zenobia Swar," said the blonde-haired woman with white skin and cat-like, green, red-haloed eyes seated to Faelán's right. If it weren't for the Lumsigne mark on her neck and her red robes, Gyan would have thought that Zenobia was a queen from a foreign galaxy rather than a light warrior. Her hair was swept up in a large knot. Her dramatic appearance made her look exotic even among the diverse styles and races that were common on Elsaria.

"Although I too, was raised in this kingdom," Zenobia continued, "my ancestry leads to a planet called Suál. I am a part of a race known as the Mandopa, which you will learn more of in your training as well."

"Now that you have met the Council," said Syam, "we will begin your san training. In the room to your left, you will find that new training gear has been laid out for each of you, although I know some of you may be rather attached to your worn-out gear."

The light warriors laughed and looked at each other. Many of their uniforms had faded, maintaining only a fraction of their original deep tan color, and had been often re-stitched in places over the years due to wear and tear.

"You may retrieve your gear, return to the domusé to eat, and then meet me at the chinálei."

Syam and the other elder masters stood, noting the end of the meeting. The sans stood, and the two groups bowed to each other.

Gyan knew that the elders in other kingdom tribes or groups did not always bow to their students as the light warrior elders did. As a child, Gyan had asked their chinálei training master, Jabari Shomar, about why this was so.

"Why do the masters bow to us, Master Jabari?"

"Should they not?" Jabari had asked Gyan.

Gyan and the other light warriors had learned that if you asked Jabari a question, you must also be prepared to answer some. Gyan did not mind though. It was one of his favorite things about the master.

"Well, my dán had told me the Spear warriors of Uthar were to bow to the masters but that the masters did not bow to those in training," Gyan had stated.

"Ah, I see," Jabari had replied. "The light warriors believe that a master is unfulfilled in sharing knowledge without a student to receive it, just as a student uses the knowledge of a master to expand in understanding and skill. Therefore, both are necessary for learning and growth to continue. For this reason, both student and master bow together, for one could not be, as they are so deemed, without the other."

Gyan smiled at the memory of his old master and wondered briefly what he was up to. He had not seen the training master since the beginning years of his training. He missed the inquisitive conversations Jabari would often spark with the warriors, commonly testing their reasoning even at a young age.

Gyan followed the rest of the warriors into the side room to gather their gear. The new training gear was brown, edged with forest-green hem with a Lumsigne on the sleeves and on the middle of the back. Forest green crossties were sewn to the sleeve of the shirt along the forearm and on the training pants so that a weapon could be stored above the boots without having to attach a sheath.

The warriors returned to the domusé to eat quickly and swiftly back to the temple after changing into their new gear. The wind began to howl and blow severely as black clouds above the warriors thickened and gathered again. Gyan could hear the waves of the sea crashing into the cliffs as he followed the others back to the chinálei.

Syam stood waiting for the warriors outside the side temple door next to the chinálei. He led them out of the wind and into the foyer of the temple as he had earlier that morning.

"We will be leaving as soon as our ride arrives," Syam informed them.

The warriors stared at Syam in confusion.

"Leaving, Master Syam?" Jarek asked.

"While it is true that the old masters trained in Yevani, san warrior training is now done in Solara, a small city near the eastern outskirts of the kingdom. The temple there is well hidden by the Grey Forest and the Ira Aug cliffs…or as you may have heard them called, the Raging Water Cliffs. Both provide the light warriors with better protection and more room to conduct training exercises.

"The place was discovered when the light warriors were exploring new areas in the kingdom many years ago. With granted permission, we use the temple in Solara for your next phases of training, which is now also our main facility for the Order."

A look of concern clouded Danika's features. "Elder Master..."

"Do not worry," Syam reassured her in understanding. "Your families have been informed. Although you may feel uncomfortable leaving Yevani, your departure from here will serve to strengthen the connection between you and other members of your team. This is highly important if you are to reach your fullest potential as a light warrior."

"How are we to travel to Solara, Elder Master?" asked Aderes.

Syam smiled. "With that." He pointed to the trees at the end of the chinálei.

The warriors turned, some whispering exclamations of excitement as they gazed upon a large, sleek black ship slowly descending at the edge of the field.