by S. S. Segran
“Hey!” Jag exclaimed.
“You snooze, you lose.” Kody settled down on the grass, opened the basket, and dug in. “I’m gonna miss your cooking when we leave, Huyani. This is delicious.”
The others rolled their eyes and shared their mirth with the siblings before joining Kody for a satisfying meal.
58
The vibrant plumes of colorful flames from the cauldron cast a warm glow in the foyer. Down the hallway that led further into the temple, murmuring voices mingled with the soothing gurgle from two small fountains.
The Elders had assembled where the friends had had their first formal discussion with Nageau about their training a few weeks before. Five polished, wooden chairs were set up to complete the semi-circle the benches formed. The Elders spoke softly so as not to disturb the other villagers in the temple.
It was only a few minutes later when the friends joined them in the alcove. They dipped their heads at the Elders, who each in turn embraced them, and took seats facing their mentors.
“Are you well, younglings?” Tikina asked.
“We are,” Tegan said. “What about you and Elder Tayoka?”
“We are better, thank you. The physical wounds heal much faster.” There was a twinge of sadness in her words.
“How many people did we lose?” Tegan ventured softly.
“Each soul whom we lost was one too many.”
Seeing the friends’ solemnity, Tayoka spoke and Nageau translated. “But they gave their lives not in vain. With their bravery and courage, we managed to put a stop to the destructive forces that were wreaking harm to our land.”
“In the meantime,” Tikina said, “you five have a far-reaching road to travel and immense responsibilities on your shoulders. As well, you have shown tremendous courage and selflessness, and have brought our people much hope.” With a radiant countenance, she added to the firm nods of the other Elders, “The promise of the prophecy unfolds through you. You are the shield that protects. You are indeed the Saplings of Aegis—growing, advancing, rising.”
The friends had no clue how to react to such a statement of faith. Kody scratched the back of his neck. “Sooo . . . when do we continue our training?”
Nageau let out a hearty laugh. “You lot never cease to amaze me. You really would like to get right back into training?”
“We decided we’ve had a long enough break,” Aari told him with a small grin. “And we know we’ve got more to learn.”
“By the way,” Jag said, “do we know what happened to the workers after we left the mountain?”
“I did a quick sweep of Ayen’et with Akira,” Tikina answered. “I am relieved to say that the workers have all been evacuated and they took their machines with them.”
“Good.”
“Chayton will be sorely missed,” Nageau said wistfully. “The children have adored him since he wandered into our village as a youngling.”
Tikina clasped the crystal around her neck. “He was truly one of a kind.”
After a moment of silence, Tegan spoke up again. “We found it thoughtful that you left a radio for the man heading the mining operation. I’ll admit, if it were me, I may not have done that.”
“If we had left them there helpless, they may have perished,” Nageau said. “That was not our aim.”
“I have a question,” Mariah said. “There was a coin I found, which I handed to Elder Saiyu . . .”
“Ah, yes.” Nageau looked to Saiyu and she pulled the coin out from the folds of her tunic. She passed it to Nageau, who held it up for the friends to see. An intricate symbol was etched onto the surface. The teenagers leaned closer to get a better look.
“What is it?” Kody asked.
Nageau cleared his throat. “It is part of an ancient symbol belonging to our people.”
The friends blinked.
“Uh, wait a minute,” Jag said. “How is that possible? I thought this civilization was hidden from the world.”
Nageau handed the coin over to Mariah so she could pass it around to the others. “I shall get to that in a moment, Jag. Let me begin by enlightening you on what this symbol means. This symbol is a part of a pair that represents duality in all of existence.”
He motioned to Ashack. The black-haired Elder raised his hands to show a glowing crystal ball. Inside the sphere were two symbols on opposite sides. They looked like the last letter of the modern alphabet with a horizontal line cutting through; one was blindingly bright, while the other was midnight-dark.
Aari, who now had the coin, held it up next to the sphere. The symbol on the coin was the same as the dark one. “What exactly is meant by the duality in existence?” he asked.
“We believe that the entire universe exists in harmonious balance,” Nageau answered. “There are many terms that various civilizations have used in history to express this.” With a knowing sparkle in his eyes, he said, “You probably have heard about the concept of yin and yang.”
Tegan gave the Elder a sidelong look. “Okay, seriously. How do you know so much about the outside world?”
Nageau just smiled and continued. “Matter and anti-matter in your scientific discoveries is another example, as is the cycle of composition and decomposition that we see around us. The pairing of male and female within this biosphere is yet another illustration. The religious concept of Heaven and Hell, too, is based on this duality, and is even referred to as the twin pillars of justice and mercy in a recent revelation. Likewise, these two symbols you see in the sphere signify something important.” He met the friends’ anticipative gazes. “Creation and destruction.”
Ashack placed the sphere on an altar behind one of the benches. Mariah took the coin back from Aari and lifted it between two fingers. “So which one does this symbol represent?”
Nageau sullenly ran his hand through his wispy white hair. In a hushed voice, he said, “Destruction.”
There was a stretch of quiet as five minds tried to grasp the impact of what was just said. Aari clasped his hands under his chin. “What does this all mean?”
“And how did this get into the hands of an outsider?” Jag asked.
“It appears that your being here was certainly predestined,” Tikina said. “The events that have unfolded in such a short time since your arrival have only served to assure us of the validity of the prophecy. Mariah’s finding of the coin is, to us, a sign that you five need to be made aware of certain truths earlier than we had intended.”
Conscious of the expectant gazes fixed on her, Tikina fidgeted with her blouse. “While our existence here as a community has remained—and must remain—a secret as directed in our scriptures, we have, in anticipation of what our prophecy has forewarned us, taken certain unconventional measures. Over the last few generations, we have placed a league of what we call Sentries within your civilization.”
The friends were baffled.
“I beg your pardon?” Aari said.
“Allow me to shed some light on this,” Nageau said. “We have people out there living amongst you. In their own ways they are aiding humanity to face the dark clouds that are gathering.”
“What dark clouds?” Mariah asked.
“Civilizations can only move forward based on universal principles such as truth, justice, honor and love. Is it possible for any society to function effectively based on the opposites, such as deceit, injustice, dishonor and hate?”
The friends frowned, heads shaking. The Elder continued. “Since the turn of the last century, humanity has been marching forth at a relentless speed toward a questionable destination. In the last several decades, we have seen this momentum accelerate.
“Mankind has passed a fork in its journey, and has unfortunately taken a path of self-centeredness fed by greed and corruption. Having strayed from the great traditions that have been its guide for ages, it now finds itself in a gathering storm. This has often happened in history with the rise and fall of civilizations, but this time, by the sheer immensity of what is about to
happen due to its global nature, this is far different from anything humanity has ever experienced.
“The dark clouds that gather feed off these weaknesses, but at the center of this storm is a catalyst far more destructive than anyone can fathom. We believe this entity aims to accelerate humanity’s journey down this road of self-destruction. Although this force of darkness gathers, there is still light left in many good souls that illuminate the world. It is this light that our Sentries across the planet seek to nourish, sustain and protect. Above this, their overriding function is to assist the Chosen Ones in the outside world when the time comes.”
Tegan squished her cheeks as she tried to comprehend the Elder’s meaning. “What is this catalyst? And why does it want to speed up our demise?”
“Those are valid questions and you will have many more as you ponder on this further. What we have revealed to you suffices for now. As you complete your training, we will gradually enlighten you with all the knowledge you must have to fulfill your role in the prophecy.”
Jag took the coin from Mariah. “That still doesn’t explain how this symbol got out.”
The Elders shifted and glanced away momentarily before Nageau said, “That is something we are waiting to affirm. We shall hopefully have knowledge of that soon.”
“What about the Sentries?” Kody asked. “Who are they? Will we get to meet them?”
Life returned to Tikina’s green eyes. “It is possible that you might have run into one of them in the course of your young lives. They could have been a school teacher, a firefighter, the owner of a corner store, or even someone you pass by on your daily errands.”
The friends’ minds raced through images of people they knew. Tayoka remarked teasingly, “Look at all those furrowed brows! Easy, younglings. For now, let us discuss the completion of your training.”
Ashack spoke up for the first time the entire meeting. “I have observed the tenacity you have shown during your training and the courage and bravery that you demonstrated during the Siege of Ayen’et. My heart now soars with the knowledge that you are indeed the ones, yet I am concerned with the weight of your responsibility as you prepare to face your mission to bring back balance. Therefore, in the remaining moon cycle left of your training, we as Elders will do everything in our power to equip you with all that you will need.”
“One moon cycle?” Mariah repeated. “That’s only four weeks! Is that all the time we have left here?”
Her friends muttered their bittersweet sentiments. The Elders gazed at them affectionately.
“When you leave, you will go back to your homes and continue on with your lives,” Nageau said.
“It will not be a goodbye that lasts forever,” Saiyu assured them through Tikina. “We will remain connected.”
Jag’s face pinched. “How?”
“You will know in time,” Tikina said, then turned to Kody. “Youngling, I have some wonderful news. You will be pleased to know that your father is alive.”
Kody blurted, “What . . . how . . . where is he?”
“We do not currently know for certain his location, but we do know that he had made his way to a small town at the edge of the forest.”
“Will I be able to see him?”
“Chances are he would have been taken back to your home. That is all we know for now.”
Kody was euphoric and looked about ready to bounce around the temple, but contented himself with swinging his legs back and forth, grinning hugely.
Nageau regarded his apprentice fondly. Standing up, he beckoned the friends to follow. He and the Elders led the way to the far end of the temple’s main hall, coming upon an ornate pedestal on which stood a gold-plated, five-sided pyramid.
Nageau fiddled with the latches and one of the pyramids’ faces opened. Reaching in, he picked up a black velvet sachet. Tayoka, suppressing a smile, gently directed the friends’ hands up with his cane, palms open.
From within the sachet, Nageau placed a crystal in each of their hands. The crystals were all different in color and shape. The friends examined the quartzes, transfixed.
“When you have completed your training, these will be yours,” Tikina said. “They are not ordinary crystals, younglings. These ones will help strengthen your spirit and galvanize your minds.”
The friends stared at the crystals with hungry fixation for a few moments more before Nageau took them and placed them back into the sachet to tuck away into the altar. Once the pyramid was latched, the Elders guided the friends out of the temple. Bidding them goodbye, the other mentors headed to their neyra, leaving Nageau to walk with the five along the path by the river.
The sun was beginning to set and a conflagration of pink, orange and yellow welcomed them. A couple of children ran past, then backtracked to bow to the Elder and glance at the teenagers with admiration before scampering off. Nageau and the friends grinned and continued on until a girl about ten years old shyly came up to them. She bowed, then reached up to tuck a wildflower into Mariah and Tegan’s hair. The pair smiled and, using some words they’d learned, thanked the girl in the villagers’ language. The friends had been showered with tokens of appreciation like this since their return from Ayen’et and were deeply touched by the sincerity of the villagers.
The group found the gentle burble of the river soothing as they crossed one of the bridges. The knowledge imparted by the Elders during the meeting occupied their thoughts and the peaceful sounds of the water calmed them.
As they neared their neyra, Nageau came to a stop. The five knew the Elder well enough to recognize when there was something on his mind. They gathered around him, waiting patiently.
“There is something I wish to say to you,” Nageau began. “It is something that we have spoken about before, but its importance cannot be stressed enough. You have all learned and grown so much with your training in such a short span of time. Though your powers will continue to strengthen, you must always remember that these abilities are channeled through you to bring light to the world. The battle between the bearers of light and the forces of darkness is intensifying, and your roles will always be to hold up and diffuse this light. I promise you, though, you will not be alone. And remember, it is essential that you always, always do the right thing as prompted by your spirit—though doing the right thing may not always be the easiest.”
The friends allowed the wisdom of the beloved Elder to sink in. Mariah stepped forward and gave Nageau a hug. Tegan joined her. Nageau saw the boys standing off and waved them in with a warm laugh.
As the group hug drew to a close, he smiled affectionately at the teenagers, then turned and walked away. The friends watched him stroll toward the setting sun at the end of the valley. High above the Elder, a golden eagle swooped across the glowing evening sky and disappeared past the mountain ridge.
Epilogue
It was a cool August evening in Central Park. Families were out and about. Couples strolled arm-in-arm and teenagers rode their bikes, calling out to one another. Right across from the Delacorte Amphitheater, famous for its Shakespeare in the Park performances, a lone figure clad in a knee-length black coat with a golden hood sat on a bench, holding a golf ball-sized violet sphere.
Several children trotted toward the edge of a pond to feed the ducks that paddled eagerly toward them. The figure watched them for a while before glancing at a gold watch. It was nearly eight-thirty, which meant that Adrian Black would have just gotten off work on the west coast and be heading home. Drawing out a smartphone, the figure tapped a number in the contact list and counted the rings.
From the basement parking lot at the head office of Phoenix Corporation, Black’s brand new Lexus merged with the rush hour traffic. Just before turning onto a freeway, his Bluetooth ringer beeped and he looked at the caller ID on his dashboard screen. His heart skipped a beat. In his haste to find an opportunity to pull over, he nearly slammed into a passing minivan. The driver of the vehicle honked and glared at him. Cursing, Black found a break in the traff
ic and pulled over to the side before hitting the answer button on his steering wheel. “Hello?”
“Adrian.” The Boss’s voice filled the car through its sound system. “How are you?”
Black flinched. “I’m good, thank you. You’re back in the States?”
“I arrived in New York this morning, and I got your email.”
“Oh. I, uh, sent it about five days ago.”
“Yes . . . I didn’t feel like responding to that report, considering how unreliable you’ve become.”
That verbal slap in the face shot fear through Black. He stammered, “I—I want to assure you that we’ve cleaned up the mess and left no trace. Vlad and his men have been evacuated. They managed to salvage eight kilos of the ore.”
There was silence, then the voice probed with an edge in its tone. “What was the required amount, Adrian? What did I originally ask for?”
“T-twelve kilos.”
“Mmhm. And now we’ve upped it to thirty-six. So what good is eight kilos to me? You know what it takes to launch the first wave of the Arcane Ventures on a global scale. Quest Defense has all its ducks in a row and you can’t even deliver a handful of dust to me?”
Black rested his forehead against the steering wheel. “I’m sorry. I trusted that Vlad was up to the task. Had I known of his incompetence, I would have taken other measures.”
“Weak excuse!” the Boss hissed. “Vlad may be the head of Quest Mining, but you’re the head of the corporation. He reports to you.”
Black remained quiet; there was no response he could give to allay the situation. The Boss pressed on. “You should have foreseen that and put alternate plans in place.” The voice paused. “Just like I have.”
Black lurched back. “What do you mean?”
“I sent an alternate team to drill in Siberia a while back.”
“But I was told that site up in Yukon was the only place that contained the fenixium.”
“You were told what you needed to know. I expected you to stay focused on the operation in Canada and do whatever was required to meet your objectives, but you failed me. I’ve learned to never put all my eggs in one basket and I’ve been proven right.”
