by Reiter
“And your student made the wrong decision,” Valian said, returning the book to the shelf.
“Wrong to you, perhaps,” Jorkethian argued.
“No, now you’re testing me again,” Valian said, waving his finger in front of his own face. “How can something be wrong on Monday and right on Tuesday?! Just because I’m giving the grief instead of receiving the grief? No, Master, there are no two sides on such things, just a loss of perspective.”
“Is that what you think it is?”
“I know what it is for me,” Valian testified. “The number of times I was called Pallid... the traps... the endless hounding... and now I am to be a KnighT. People are already calling me a lord. I feel the power of this station... and it sickens me!”
“Careful, son,” Ulreejun warned. “It is a power like any other. It can be used justly and with responsibility, or it can be abused. But it can be just as great a crime to misuse it because you have contempt for those who failed their station as it would be to join their kind. Be the example you wanted to see when you were a child. Bring pride back to the station, and shame others who have no concept of what it means to truly hold the title.” Jorkethian watched as Valian closed his eyes and contended once more with his inner demons: the memories of a less than ideal childhood. “And for what it is worth, I do apologize. I have been testing you... and far more than I have a right to.”
“This wayward student that took a piece of you when they betrayed your ideal of knighthood,” Valian said as he slowly opened his eyes. “... you had to kill them, didn’t you?”
“They had become a cancer that I created,” Ulreejun relayed, speaking plainly, looking down at his hands as he removed his gloves. “According to my personal code, I had to resolve the issue.
“Speaking of codes, have you-”
“I quest for the ultimate light, the ultimate love, and the ultimate truth.”
“That sounds quite challenging,” Jorkethian remarked.
“It’s meant to,” Valian replied. “It is worded in such a way as to imply that I have yet to find these things.”
“You mean to say that you have?!” the Elder KnighT frowned.
“When you stare deeply enough into the abyss, you will see that it is staring back into you.”
“I am familiar with the philosophy.”
“There is no light in the abyss,” Valian stated. “The only way you can see the abyss doing anything is by the light you bring yourself. Name me a greater light.”
“And the ultimate love?” the Praeceptor pressed.
“The love of self.”
“And the ultimate truth?”
“I do not know.”
“Well, two out of three isn’t bad.”
“No, Master. ‘I don’t know’ is the ultimate truth. Without that perspective in mind... how can we ever truly learn?”
Hearing the young man speak, Ulreejun was taken back to a time when he was much younger. He stood in front of his Master, learning of the secrets of the KnighT, feeling as if he was so richly blessed to be in that room at that time. He felt the same way now, only he was supposed to be the teacher.
“Sacred Empress, forgive me, but this I must do.
“Follow me, boy!” The Elder Knight said as he marched out of the library. “And whatever you do, Phytos... hold on to your ultimate truth!”
There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique.
Martha Graham
(Rims Time: XI-4804.27)
Departing from the library, the two men walked and Valian had never seen the man move with such intention; each stride was punctuated by a stout clicking of Brick against the stone floor. They strode to the end of the corridor where the spiral stairway normally took them down to the exercise rooms... but Jorkethian started climbing the stairs. The Praeceptor could feel the slight hesitation in his student.
“Come along, Phytos,” he said as he started jogging up the stairs.
“Right behind you, Master,” Valian responded as he started up behind the Elder KnighT.
“We have to be about the business of answering your question.”
“My question?”
“You wanted to know about Empowered Combat, remember?”
“Yes. Yes, I did!”
Coming out of the stairwell at the top, Jorkethian maintained his quick walking pace. Valian followed the man, with every intention to stay close on his heels. But that was before he saw the glass ceiling... and the blue-purple sky above... and the stars beyond that.
“What is this place?!” he exclaimed at just above a whisper.
“Outer Rim,” Jorkethian answered. “Thought you knew.”
“There’s knowing,” Valian began, seeing a cluster of stars and red colored gases behind the setting sun. “... and then... there’s knowing!”
“I suppose I can do the driving,” Jorkethian said, finding it increasingly difficult to keep the smile away from his face.
“Driving?” Valian asked, coming away, slightly, from his stupor. He looked down to see his Praeceptor approaching a small launch area where an air-car was waiting. “Yes, perhaps you should drive, Master.”
“Still have a preference for wheeled vehicles, do you?”
“Whenever possible, yes.
“You’re a very old soul, Valian. When I was your age, I couldn’t wait to get into the sky!”
“And yet somehow, you made it.”
Jorkethian laughed as he got in behind the controls, placing Brick in the back seat. He waited patiently for Valian to get in, but it did not take long and he did so without opening the door.
“Glad I’m not competing anymore,” the Elder KnighT thought. “He’s stronger than he looks, faster than he looks, and sharper than most masters!
“I’m still not sure about having a complete stranger step into the rank of Retainer Mistress,” Ulreejun considered. “That decision-” the man smiled as he piloted the craft away from the castle. “Careful, old man. You’re coming very close to being a hypocrite. The woman announced herself as a follower of Zorkaysha. Something that Kurshigg verified. Wouldn’t that have been enough for you?”
The air-car arched over the castle and the hills around the property, giving the young KnighT a better view of the megacity nestled in the center of the immense valley. Leaning forward in his chair, Valian was quick to discover what he had first thought was the ground was actually thick clouds. He frowned, straining his eyes. Jorkethian thought it best to give him some sort of relief.
“One hundred and twenty decks,” he explained. “One of ten such cities on this continent, though I’m told there will soon be an eleventh.
“Do you remember your history?” Ulreejun asked as he transmitted the coordinates he wished to go to.
“Yes, I do.
“Who are the Odelree?”
“Did you say ‘are’?” Valian asked.
“My mistake,” Jorkethian admitted. “But since you are here, perhaps it is time you receive a more accurate historical account. Let’s start with what you read in your books.”
“There were two factions of Terrans who were not SpellCasteRs,” Valian stated. “... the Vohlterrans and the Odelree. When spaceflight was discovered, and everyone learned that a number of SpellCasteRs had already visited other planets in the system – establishing bases of one sort or another – the Odelree decided to take their leave of the known systems. The Etasi went with them. Is this where they came?”
“Eventually, yes,” Jorkethian shared. “They went out much farther, but came back to settle into the open territories of the Outer Rim. The name of this province is Bruckedonn and it is at the center of the Odelree Dominion, the best kept secret of the Inner Rim Empire.
“That city back there,” Ulreejun pointed out. “... of the Terrans in that city, I’d say about eighty percent of them are Odelree and the rest are Vohlterrans. And as yo
u get away from the urban areas and into the estates, those numbers begin to shift to about sixty-forty.”
“And that forty percent is mostly made up of the more privileged Vohlterrans?” Valian guessed.
“Exactly. You see, while the Odelree had the technology, traveling through the stars taught them they also needed energy-wielders. So they made peace with their Terran cousins and here we are.
“Hang on,” Ulreejun warned. “We’ve coming to our trans-gate.”
Valian looked at a large free-floating hoop the air-car was approaching. He could see the anti-gravity units as well as other machines that were placed along the ring. He could hear a synthetic voice telling the Elder KnighT he had been cleared to proceed. The mechanical teleportation seemed to be faster than the portal they had used in the basement of the castle, and instantly they were flying over a much smaller city... one that did not have half as many technological devices built as the one in the valley near the castle.
Valian closed his eyes, feeling so many energies passing over his body and through it, as Jorkethian made his approach. The air-car landed on a prepared pad that was a good walking distance from a building that looked and felt like a temple.
“What is this place?”
“The Temple of Light,” Jorkethian stated. “There’s only one thing left for me to show you, Valian. You’ve already named your code, and I’m sure you’ll get around to putting together your Coat of Arms. The last thing you’ll have to decide is your Cast of Light. This place will allow you to sample the known Energies so that you can make an informed decision.” Jorkethian disconnected the straps and started to get out of the vehicle. “The code you choose will be your Energy when you engage in Empowered Combat.”
Valian hopped over the door, landing on the edge of the landing platform. “If you feel I am ready for this, then let it begin!”
The two approached the rear of the ivory building, but Valian could already see the softness of the architecture. There were curves and rounded surfaces. There were hardly any hard and fast edges and where there were, tapestries had been place to drape them, frame them, accentuate them to the point where they did not register so strongly to the eye. The stone door rippled like water as three figures came through from the inside. They were dressed in robes the same color as the building; large hoods had been pulled over their heads, blocking their faces. The figure in the center wore a soft brown scarf around its shoulders, but there were no other distinguishing features. They walked in unison with only the slightest difference in their frames. The scarf-wearing figure was the smallest, framed by near twin figures on either side.
“Speak your name... and your purpose... and be embraced in the Nexus of Wonder.” Valian could hear and feel the voice, quickly coming to the conclusion that it came from none of the approaching trio. But it felt as if the sound had moved up to his body, touched his form, and then vibrated through him, causing him to stop walking.
Jorkethian had also stopped walking toward the temple, lowering his head. “My name is Ulreejun Jorkethian, Elder KnighT and member in good standing of the Sixth Haven Order of KnighTs. I have come to bring one to the Nexus... to feel its embrace... so that it could come to feel his.”
“You are recognized, Ulreejun,” the voice replied as the three figures stopped. They stood three abreast with their arms down at their sides. “It has been some time since last you were felt this close. Much has changed since that encounter.”
“I am teaching again,” Jorkethian admitted. “I did not think I would ever feel moved to instruct ever again.”
“And now you feel even more inspired... and thusly, there is an even greater fear accumulating at your center. You have allowed that fear to drive you... mistakes have been made. This introduction should have been your first act of instruction. But... it is not too late.”
“Thank you, Keeper of the Nexus,” Ulreejun said softly, bowing.
“You are welcome here... but not your fear. Entrance for you is still denied. The one you call Phytos, however, may come forward.”
Quickly turning to face his student, Ulreejun held up his hand. “Now is not the time to stand on principle.”
“That was not going to be my argument,” Valian quickly returned. “I simply wanted to know why I am here alone when there should be at least three others.”
“If and when our embrace is a harmonious one, I will allow you to send your retainers to me... each of them to the level of a First Embrace,” the Nexus claimed. “Will that be acceptable, your lordship?”
“Guarded mind or not, this temple knows what buttons to push,” Valian thought.
“It would be difficult to come to be called the Keeper of the Nexus otherwise,” the voice projected to his mind. “Hello, K’Torru. It is good to embrace you again. You too may come forward, but only so far as to keep your presence from the Elder KnighT. There are chambers where you will find comfort and the means by which to restore what this mind has lost.”
“You will receive little argument from me, Nexus,” K’Torru replied. “Move boy. It is not good to keep the Nexus waiting!”
“Okay,” Valian whispered. “Color me impressed!” As if being assisted by the temple, Valian started forward.
Ulreejun was just bringing his head up when Valian approached the three figures. As expected, the middle figure turned to walk beside the young man. The other two remained with Jorkethian. “Impressed is the least you will be, Phytos. And I wonder if you will forgive me for this gross misstep. She is right... this should have been the first place I brought you. Five years we could have had, exploring the possibilities. But enough of that. No amount of sorrow can undo what I’ve done.”
“Contemplating the hereafter, old friend?” a voice called out to the Elder KnighT and Jorkethian turned his left shoulder toward the source of a familiar voice. His grip on Brick tightened and he felt the cane making their hand-lock a mutual effort. “Or are you simply wrestling with the woes of your past?”
In front of Ulreejun stood two KnighTs garbed in black armour. Two men who definitely appeared to have the mark of trained men-at-arms. Walking up between them was a third figure, larger than the other two. He too was a KnighT, but like Jorkethian, he was not wearing any weapons. Unkempt, stringy jet black hair framed his long face, and it swung from side to side as his shoulders swayed with every thunderous stride the man took.
“Evard,” Jorkethian said with a slight smile. “Fancy meeting you in a place like this... a place where you will need to be carrying a provincial writ if this is to become confrontational.”
“I have a writ, Ulreejun... just not for you. At least, not for you directly.”
“What?”
“I’m here on official business of the Order. I’m here for the boy... unless you want this to become... confrontational.”
Valian found himself in a wide-open, dimly-lit interior. The stone walls and ceiling were the same tone of ivory he had seen outside. In the center of the large circular area were four fountains, each shooting a column of fluid into the air. Only one of the four appeared to be water, though slightly green in color... the others looked to be wet, but nothing else like the nature of water attached to it. Stepping quietly onto the polished stone floor, Valian could see a reflection of himself at his feet. But something was wrong, and Valian looked up to make sure he still had an escort. The figure still walked beside him but when the young man looked back down, he could only see himself.
“This floor gets to be a pain from time to time,” the Keeper complained. “Especially with someone who’s been trained to take in his surroundings.”
“An illusion,” Valian said softly, looking down while reaching out to touch the figure walking beside him. With his arm fully extended, he felt nothing. Slowly lifting his head to look at the figure, he blinked, feeling a little light-headed for a moment as the image of the figure faded from sight.
“Of course it was an illusion,” another figure stepped out from behind a fountain of whit
e fiery waters. She was a tall, slender woman with graying hair and a look of wide-eyed inspiration on her face. “That is not the question. Here, at this nexus of the Energies, we do not concern ourselves with the feat, but rather how it was achieved. Did I cast a spell of MannA? Or did I bend light to create the image? Perhaps I simply placed the thought into your head.”
“And since there were three images, who is to say you used the same method for all of them,” Valian added.
“Quite right! Well done, Young Master Styrke.”
“Thank you,” Valian smiled, looking back down. “And the floor?”
“It was here when I moved in,” the woman shared, waving off its importance. She turned to walk toward one of the fountains and Valian looked at the floor, seeing her reflection, though it appeared hazy in the polished stone.
“And who do I have the honor in addressing?” Valian asked.
“The honor of addressing,” she repeated, looking back at Valian. “You’re among the smoother of first attendees, I can say that much. So... it’s a name you’d like, eh?”
“More as a means to make conversation simpler,” Valian replied. “A false name would suffice. It might even go along with your false face.”
The smile left the woman’s face, along with the tenderness that had been sparkling in her eyes. “My, we are capable of rudeness, aren’t we?”
“Am I to presume this does not please you?” he inquired.
“More of an apt deduction than presumption, I’d say.”
“Then you are as much a hypocrite as you are a false projection!”
“How dare you?!” the woman exclaimed, her eyes flaring with bursts of white fire.
“Interesting. You think an increase of theatrics will shake me from my resolve.”
“Explain yourself, boy!”
“Everything I have ever learned about the forces of the universe tells me they all appreciate the path of least resistance. That which is simplest in nature is what nature first tries to achieve. You’ve done nothing but waste time trying to show me how impressive you are... as if my opinion of you will change what you are. Must one be in wonder to appreciate the Nexus of Wonder?”
