Chronicles of Galadria II - Encounters

by David Gay-Perret

  Glaide realized then that he needed to explain even more. “In my world, we are much more numerous than here. Our smallest villages are like Shinozuka, and people are surrounded by buildings, and can’t see any of the countryside. We have cars – devices that let us travel faster than dragons. Except, they roll, and they need proper, well-kept roads, like the ones leading to the capital, but made of cement and asphalt, instead of paving stones. The earth is covered over and hidden, so that it becomes a privilege to look out on a green hill, a mountain, with its peaks illuminated by the dawn... Some people view all of that as unimportant, and they live their lives so cornered in, that they forget that nature even exists. Others, however, like me, take great pleasure in watching the setting sun, or simply listening to the wind in the trees. That’s why I love being here so much: everything is so much more accessible.”

  Kezthrem looked anxious. “I think that imagining everything you’re telling me is simply impossible. You talk about everyday things, but that seem to have an immeasurable value where you’re from.”

  “I know. And I think my friends and I are the only ones who can truly understand what all of that means.”

  “Let’s go back to the wars. You told me that only humans exist on Earth. So that means that they kill each other?” Glaide noticed that the idea made Kezthrem grin; he didn’t believe a word of it.

  “Actually, yes,” replied the adolescent, however. “Humans kill other humans.”

  The man’s smile disappeared. “I need to think about all of this,” he murmured. His gaze fixed on his disciple, and he looked at him seriously. “So you’re saying that men fear other men, and the violence and fear that some are victims of are contrived from no other source than... other humans?”

  Glaide nodded.

  “Your world is lucky enough not to be faced with the creatures such as the ones that threaten us, and they still have to fear such things, because animals within their own race fight against them?”

  “I’m not sure that the presences of monsters would change anything. As you said, men are nothing more than animals, though many are unwilling to accept that. Our ability to think and everything that has been invented and been built has gone to their heads. Their pride pushes them to forget what they really are in the end. But it is enough to watch them kill each other, to prove the existence of those animal instincts.”

  “And you, Glaide. Do you consider yourself like them?”

  The question took the young man by surprise. He didn’t really know how to reply, but finally, he said, “At the very least, I try to fight my animal nature. I’m not saying it is impossible to overcome that nature, and be a man. I’m just saying that in my world, most of those living believe they are more man than animal.”

  “And what does it mean, then, to be human, in your mind?”

  “Having wisdom, careful thought, art...”

  “And that is what you are trying to learn here. But at the same time, I’m teaching you how to use a sword, violence, and isn’t that the animal nature again? And art is not accessible to everyone, as well you know. So, does that mean that someone who is incapable of drawing or painting is just an animal, then?”

  Glaide opened his mouth, then closed it again without saying a word. He had no response. Finally, he asked timidly, “Do you think I’m wrong?”

  Kezthrem smiled at him. “I don’t think anything; I’m just trying to understand. You are a man of thought, and if you’ve arrived at these conclusions, it is because you’ve seen examples in your own world that have pushed you to believe them. As far as knowing if they’re true or not... Don’t forget that your values are not all universal. Just because they uplift you and make your life better, doesn’t mean they would do that for everyone. Remember this: what you think drives your actions, and your actions reflect what you think. But that doesn’t give you the right to assume that you know the truth.”

  “Yes, master,” replied the young man humbly. “I understand.”

  “Right. So on that point, what are the values of your world?”

  “There are many sets of values, and everyone chooses to believe in the one they prefer. In the countries that are rich, buying and consuming hold an important position, to the point that your possessions become more important than kindness, solidarity, or virtue.”

  “I don’t understand what you mean by ‘consuming’, but don’t think that all humans are virtuous. Here, because of the times we are living in, a strong sense of brotherhood exists, but human nature is complex and always changing.”

  Glaide nodded. “Humans are capable of the best and the worst,” he sighed.

  “Exactly, and it is important to recognize that everything has two sides; you have to be able to recognize that you are happy, in order to tell when you aren’t.”

  “In my world, as we look at what has happened in the past, and at what is happening now, we have a tendency to believe that things are inevitable. Sometimes, one country feels obliged to attack another, in response to the expectations of the world, to keep up appearances. An insult cannot go unpunished.” Glaide’s voice went up as he spoke.

  “But in the end, the soldiers that we send are killed for stupid reasons. And strangely, there, a combatant is nothing but a pawn in battle, unless he becomes captured; then, he suddenly becomes a man, with a name, and a face in the eyes of the world. And of course, a soldier that has been captured must be saved, and so we go to war, but a soldier killed in battle means nothing. And what if we count the number of deaths that occur on each side, just to save one man? The number of widows created? Where is the logic in all of that? Where are those beautiful, patriotic speeches, when one man is risking his life to kill another?” At that, he got up quickly.

  “We fight for freedom, and that can be honorable, but sometimes, conflicts are triggered by nothing but egotism, greed, and the insatiable thirst for power.” By now, he was practically yelling. “Men lose all of their hindsight; they forget what drives men to act, they cover their faces and pretend that all of those deaths come from obscure sources, when the source of absolutely all of it is humanity! Men are responsible for all of the tears that are shed, all of the despair that befalls them, and all of the pain that tears apart so many hearts!”

  “Calm down, Glaide,” Kezthrem broke in, his voice deliberate and earnest.

  Glaide was out of breath. He sat back down heavily. He had said everything on his heart, and he didn’t care if it was objective or not. He had always felt out of place in his world; he’d always felt as though he had nothing to do with it, and simply talking about it brought all of the anger of the past back to him. “I’ve been here nearly six months,” he thought to himself. “But even if my old life seems distant to me, I’ve just seen the evidence that it is always here, inside me. And I don’t think that will ever change.”

  “I see now what you think, deep inside of you. I see your rage. Galadria is like a deliverance to you.”

  The young man nodded slowly.

  “Everything that you have said is very helpful to me. It is my job to be the first master to teach a man who’s come from another world, and I want my future disciples to profit from my knowledge. I’m sure you have many more things to say, and just as a lifetime would not be enough for you to know this world, I will never know – or understand – everything about yours. But I think that I know enough about the people of Earth to better understand you.”

  “Master...” began the boy in a timid voice.

  “Yes?” he replied gently.

  “I... I don’t want to leave this world... It’s always been my dream to come to a place like this... And I want to live out the rest of my life here...”

  Kezthrem sighed. “Who knows what the future holds? Your training is not yet complete, and I have many more things to teach you. Plus, your magg is not here, and we will have to find her.”

  “So...” Glaide said, hesitatingly, “what comes next?”

  “One day, you will have to leave here, and go t
o find your friends. Then, when you’ve found them, we will finish your education, with Emily. But who knows what will happen between now and then?” The man got up, and his disciple did the same. He stretched for a moment, yawning. It was past midnight, and it had been an exhausting day. It was high time to head for bed.

  “We’ll continue this discussion another day,” concluded Kezthrem. Then, he left the dojo. Glaide blew out the candles. They’d been almost entirely consumed, so he threw them outside. He took advantage of the opportunity to admire the night, and his nocturnal journey on Ayrokkan’s back came to mind, and with it, a flood of emotion. “Are you watching me now, dragon?” he asked silently. “Am I worthy of leading you? You and your kind? Or do you see in me nothing but a child, infatuated with justice and dreams...”

  He let out a great breath of air, then closed the panel, climbed the stairs, and stretched out on his bed. The conversation had pleased him; he felt that it had brought him closer to his master. Their relationship reminded him more and more of that of a father and his son. “No,” he thought, “it’s different. We started with no relationship, but we are in the midst of weaving one. A relationship based on respect and wisdom. An incredibly strong connection that cannot break, because it has its origin in a common choice, not an obligation, like a son has for a father, or a father for his son.”

  As he fell asleep, a gentle smile floated across his lips, witness to a heart that had been soothed and calmed.

  Chapter 30

  A few days after that, Glaide awoke in the morning, but didn’t immediately open his eyes. Instead, he reveled in the feeling of the sunlight flooding in on his face, then slowly began to sort his thoughts, thinking about everything that had happened recently. It had now been about a week since he described his world to his master – a week during which he’d carefully and incessantly thought back on the words of the man. He realized, too, that he was now beginning his fourth month of training.

  He thought back on his master’s most recent night attack; this time, he had again attacked at night, but had changed the jig a bit. To make sure that the young man was listening for any suspicious sounds, and that he wasn’t simply listening for the sound of the door between the two rooms, the man had attacked from the balcony over the garden. The sliding wall in Glaide’s room opened directly to that balcony, so, after gently pushing aside the panels, which made no noise, he’d attacked.

  This time, the result was a mixed one: the adolescent had made progress, because he had enough time to open his eyes and see the blade coming towards him, but his reaction was too slow, and it was an undeniable fact that he still had plenty more progress to make. The exercise had another flaw that the boy noticed suddenly: the assailant was always Kezthrem, and Glaide had unconsciously learned to recognize the way his master walked, so it wasn’t the foreign sound that was waking him, but rather his master’s step that had become synonymous with danger to him. He didn’t make his concerns known to his master, though; he thought his master was probably already well aware of the problem, and besides, what else could they do?

  Another thought came to mind then – one that bolstered his spirits. Christmas was now only a few days away. He feverishly sought out the gift, which he soon found exactly where it was supposed to be: in his traveling bag. He unwrapped it for a moment, to look at his purchase. The blade was almost a foot long, and not particularly unusual. The handle, however, was a bit more special: it was longer than usual, allowing for a better grip during use, which was perfect, since he’d picked it out intending that it be used for carving, and not for fighting. He carefully wrapped it back up in the cloth, then returned it to its place.

  As he dressed for the day, he felt contentment wash over him like a wave; today, he felt like he would be ready to meet any challenge. His master had recently announced that he’d already taught him all of the basic techniques. That meant that now, the real task lay simply in mastering them– though that was no small task on its own. Nonetheless, the announcement had thrilled the young man, as it proved that he was one step closer to having mastered Iretane.

  More and more often, he found himself imagining confrontations with imaginary enemies. Often, just for good measure, he would also imagine a few defenseless victims in the scenario, that he would have to protect. The result of every scenario was always the same: victory. A victory that now seemed plausible, and even probable. It was on one of those occasions that he thought to himself that it would actually be pleasant to engage in a battle that he knew he could win; coming across inhabitants of Galadria who were in danger, or getting rid of a group of monsters, would no longer be a problem for him. At the same time, though, Glaide knew that he was not yet ready to encounter every kind of creature. He knew that he still needed to work on his techniques for a duel, since in that type of battle, everything would be different. Nonetheless, he couldn’t help but wish for a chance to prove himself in a real battle; he wanted to see for himself the extent of the knowledge he’d acquired. With that thought weighing on his mind, he went to join his master.

  His master was waiting for him in the dojo, sitting on his heels tranquilly. He was obviously meditating. The young man thought back on the first time he’d seen him in that position: he had tried to imitate him, and had instead experienced quite a fright, and a lesson he’d never forget! However, his master never laid the same trap twice, so Glaide again went to take up a position at his master's side. He closed his eyes, and tried to concentrate. Suddenly, though, and not really knowing how, he sensed danger nearby. Seated as he was, he could do nothing but throw himself backwards, which he did with incredible speed. And it was lucky that he did, because this once, contrary to his habit, his master attacked him again, just as he had several weeks before. However, as his blade whistled towards Glaide, it encountered nothing but empty space. Glaide rolled to the side and jumped to his feet while drawing his sword. The other man stood before him, facing him. However, he lifted his hand to stop Glaide; he didn’t appear to be interested in continuing the fight that he’d begun.

  “That’s enough, Glaide,” he said simply. His voice softened as he went on to say, “I can see that you’ve learned your lesson. This morning, though, I have things to tell you, and we don’t have time to spare.”

  The young man sheathed his sword, more than happy to remain as he was; he didn’t particularly want to fight anyway. The two sat back down, and Kezthrem began.

  “You see, my young disciple, you have now been training for four months. You have made considerable progress, and that means that now, apart from the things that relate to your magg, I will soon have little more to teach you, as far as technique is concerned.”

  Glaide was pleased to hear that; however, his joy was rapidly replaced with doubt: if his master was finished teaching him, that would mean he’d need to return to his travels. But then, where should he go? He could head towards Shinozuka, but he couldn’t be sure that he’d still find his friends there. If Jeremy had made progress as quickly as he had, then by the time Glaide left Kezthrem, Jeremy, too, would likely be leaving his master behind. No, it would be better to try to get some information about them, first of all. And anyway, who could say exactly what they’d accomplished in Glaide’s absence? Perhaps they’d already become famous in their own right. At any rate, he decided to put those thoughts to the side, and instead focus on the words of his master.

  “Before you leave, however,” the man continued, “one stage of your education still remains: the application of it.” As his student shot him a questioning look, he continued, “You have to put into practice everything you’ve learned.”

  “But that would mean we’d need to travel, wouldn’t we?”

  “Yes, precisely,” Kezthrem replied with a smile. The young man felt excitement taking over. His next question came in a very eager voice.

  “When do we leave? And where are we going?”

  “We’ll begin our travels in the middle of January, or about a month from now.”

>   “A month,” exclaimed the young man – who had been hoping they’d leave right away – in dismay. “And where are we headed?”

  “You’ll see when the time comes.”

  “Criminy,” thought Glaide. “I’m trapped here for another four weeks before we can leave. I hope that, at the very least, the place we’re heading is worth it...” Then aloud, he continued, “And how long do you think the trip will take?”

  “Well, I’d say about two weeks to get there, and the same to come back.”

  “Well, it’s nowhere nearby, then,” the boy thought to himself. He tried to imagine where they might be going, but he had to admit that he had no idea at all. Besides which, it was entirely possible that Kezthrem had no single destination in mind, but rather a tour that would pass through several villages, or detour around different locations. And then again, the boy had to admit that his own map remained far from complete – though with his additions, it contained more information than most that could be found in the Known Lands. It was entirely possible, then, that the destination his master was speaking of didn’t appear on his map at all, in which case, he’d have the opportunity to add one more mark on his map to record its position.

  “However,” continued the older man, “before we start any preparations, I need to speak to you a bit about the trip. It has two major goals: the first, of course, is to arrive at the destination, because there you will find many answers, and perhaps even more than that. Secondly, it will give you an opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in real situations. That will mean not only reacting when you are attacked, but also experiencing some fights that you may choose to enter into for your own reasons. I will show you what you are capable of, who you can help, and who or what you are able to confront. This will also be an opportunity for me to give you some advice on how to travel safely since, as you’ve come from another world, you may not yet be familiar with some aspects of this kind of traveling. I may have some tricks that will prove very useful to you in the future.”