Gobehyz
Logan and
Ryan sat at one of the reading tables in the Temple’s study. Logan took a long
sip of tea and held the cup by his face, taking in the scent and heat.
“Brilliant. This is excellent tea, Tolel.” Ryan nodded and took a sip of his
cup. “My father’s servants taught me a few years back. They said it would be
useful if I was ever on my own.” Logan sighed. He bowed his head in thought for
some time with his eyes closed. “What would you like to know, Tolel?”
“I would
like to know everything, Gobehyz.” Logan looked up and cocked his head.
“Everything? Then we must start with history.” Ryan looked confused. “You see,
everything has its roots in history.” Logan stood and began walking. He
motioned for Ryan to follow. “As you know,” He said while gesturing towards the
main chamber, “Magic is a major part of Iltazian History. Come.” The two
entered the main chamber and stared up at the eight pillars. Each of the
monoliths were made of solid gemstone and sat on a pedestal of gold.
Logan
walked into the center of the room. “We will begin here.” Logan pointed towards
a pillar as white as snow. “The Opal is the gemstone of the light. Light that
guided the fathers to this land.”
“What?”
Logan smiled. “Our fathers, the first Iltazians, made a long and treacherous
journey from their land. Exiled and defeated, they chose retreat over rout.
Their leadership was severed, their armies broken, and they left behind what
remained of their families.” Logan began walking around Ryan. “This is all the
Exiles were able to take with them: gems the hue of Snow, Lavender, Sky, Ocean,
Grass, Fire, Earth, and Shadow.” Logan stood in front of Topaz, the gemstone of
Earth. “As the ground beneath them quaked, they departed from their old lands
and settled here. Iltaz,” He paused to glance at Ryan, “From the Argondosean
word meaning ‘the second chance’.” Logan walked across the room to the Pillar
of Ruby, gemstone of fire. “And yet, the fires of war still followed them.”
Logan turned once again at Ryan.
“Now you
see, Tolel, that history is all. Art, Politics, Mathematics…Without history,
who is to say what is to be learned? Remember, you are what you are because of
your past. My past. Our past. Lives connecting on unique paths that never will
cross again. Each last interaction sends a ripple across lives that is
imperceptible until it has finished its course. Two people that are exactly the
same may make opposite decisions when the moment comes.” Logan turned. “But
you, Ryan, have the benefit of knowing a long forgotten past.” Ryan was trying
to take in all the information.
“You see,
Tolel,” Logan moved to the center of the room, “a nobleman like yourself and a
scholar like myself are in a unique position. We can remember the things no one
else does.” Logan tapped his mind. “The legends, the stories, the history…and
the truth.”
“What has
truth to do with this discussion, Gobehyz?” Ryan asked, exasperated. Logan
greeted his question with a somber gaze and a low whisper. “The truth is
everything.” He pointed towards Ryan. “How did the Col army defeat Daylon at
the battle of Largon Ridge?” Ryan paused to remember his old history lessons. “Well,
General Mark’s strategies overcame the Daylanian assaults.”
“Wrong.”
“What?”
“That is
wrong, Ryan. I was there.” Ryan stuttered for a moment. That was what he had
learned from his father, and the small amount of self-study he did before he
went in search of Logan. He told that to his teacher, and Logan laughed. “See?
The truth is everything.” Logan ran his fingers through his hair. “The General
Mark had ordered a full retreat due to Daylon’s fierce attacks and cunning
strategies. The Col army was saved when a scout managed to grab an urgent
warning message instead of the battle plans that they one.”
“What was
the message?”
“It was to
convince the Daylanians to escape while they could. A bad storm was coming, and
Wind mages grow stronger in harsh winds. This let Mark know to deploy his
mages. Then, in a stroke of blind luck, the Daylanian forward guard was struck
by lightning during the first attack. That act of God wiped out nearly three-fourths
of Daylon’s fighting force.” Ryan was speechless. “They did not tell you this,
Tolel, because they won. Should they have lost, it would have been attributed
to the General’s inability. See? Not all is what is written.” Ryan nodded in
understanding. “Therefore, I ask you Ryan: Go forth and find the truth of what
I’m about to tell you. Only then will we have another discussion.” Ryan nodded.
“Anything, Gobehyz Logan.”
“I want you
to seek out the Legend of the Sages. Can you do that?”
“The sages?
Yes sir, I believe I can.” Ryan said. Logan smiled. “Good man. Now, go and find
the truth. That is not just both sides, but all sides.” Ryan nodded hesitantly.
“Now then, be off Ryan. I shall stay here to study. Meet me out by the wayfarer’s
shrine outside the city in ten days. If you are not there by nightfall, I shall
need to end my tutorship there. Best of luck to you, Tolel.” Ryan bowed and
hurried outside. Logan returned to the pillar of Topaz. “And the ground beneath
them quaked…heh, I guess I really did mean that.” Logan’s eyes began to emit a
soft brown light. The warm glow ignited the Topaz. The room filled with light
as the other Pillars began to glow. From the center of the floor, a mountain of
light rose. A gray swamp followed, creating a despairing wasteland. The
illusion began to flicker a long figure of light approached the base of the
mountain.
The
armor-clad figure marched into view. It shot a look at Logan. “You know.” Logan
nodded in agreement. The figure laughed and kept marching towards the lights.
Soon, the Pillars lost their glow and the room returned to normal. Another
smile drew itself across Logan’s face. “It seems that becoming Gobehyz was the
best thing for me.” He left the empty chamber as a quiet voice hissed. It
repeated its orders until Logan was far from the city. “Get stronger. Fight.
Kill.”
No comments:
Post a Comment