Catalyst

Chapter 8

The wind breathed through the trunks and branches of the trees stirring the leaves and blowing a cool breeze of relief on the hot bodies of Miasala and Gan. Mia fastened the last buckle on her leather skirt and stretched her arms up toward the sky as high as she could reach. Gan stood as well dusting off his pants and facing Mia. He smiled. "Well, about time to head back?" She nodded smiling back at him.

"Yeah, let's go ahead and do that." They began to walk back through the trees along the barely worn path that led to the clearing. Mia felt a sudden rush of dizziness flood into her senses swelling into the sides of her skull. Swaying on her feet she steadied herself against a tree and glared off to the right. In an instant Gan was beside her with his bow drawn and arrow notched aiming where she looked.

"Love, whot do you see?" he asked gruffly focusing on the swaying leaves. Fading into the shadows right in front of their eyes came a figure cloaked in darkness. Miasala stepped forward.

"What?" she barked. The figure stepped into view, but still somehow seemed out of focus. His visage was blurry and distorted, but he clearly had on a set of black and white robes and carried a staff of some sort. His hair was long and gray or white. A voice emanated from the figure that sounded like a voice in a dream unable to decide whether or not it was really there.

"You've done well. Very well. I do hope you've retained enough energy to complete yet another task for me?" Miasala shook her head.

"We've done what we needed to do for you and gotten all we wanted. Our dealings are done Whatever-You-Call-Yourself." she scoffed. The figure spawned a vivid smile on its nebulous face.

"I am the Hierophant my dear. Hierophant." he explained. Shaking his head he moved closer and Gan pulled the arrow back further aiming where he presumed the thing's heart was. "It's a shame we're finished here. I've yet to complete my objectives you see. If you're of no use to me, you may have a problem with what happens next." Miasala's eyes hardened.

"Excuse me, but that sounded like a threat." she growled. Smile still on his lips, the Hierophant leaned in closer to getting eye to blurry eye with her.

"Back off!" Gan roared sticking the tip of the notched arrow to the Hierophant's temple. Miasala didn't flinch and neither did the blurry adversary. Now that he was this close she could see him just a little better. One of his eyes was visible. It was a radiant golden amber color of a luster that didn't seem earthly. The rest of his face still seemed rather difficult to make out. It seemed flat or otherwise unnatural. It was then she realized what it was. The Hierophant was wearing a mask. A cracked and partially broken mask. Mia still couldn't distinguish any remarkable features about it, but it was most definitely smiling. A smell slowly wafted from him now and it soaked her mouth in the taste of metal.

"Blood..." Mia whispered. "I smell pools...oceans of blood on you." The Hierophant didn't budge.

"Tell me, you'll reconsider. I trust you will." he said slowly moving away. "I'll leave you with something to help you understand what is at stake for me, and for you; if I don't get what I need." With that, the Hierophant disappeared. Gan looked horrified at Miasala.

"Whot the fuck is he talking about?" he asked frantically. Miasala looked around for moment immediately sensing something horribly wrong.

"I don't know, but I definitely don't like it. Let's go." she said seriously as they made there way down the trail.

Those words seemed to haunt Miasala as they traveled. Her heart was pounding in her ears forewarning of something atrocious. Dragan kept up with her running with his bow still notched and at the ready. As they exited the deeper woods and the cave came into view they spotted one of the men standing outside leaning against the cave wall. Even at the distance they were at it was obvious what he was covered in. "Blood, oh my God." Miasala gasped charging forward. "Halus! Halus what happened?" she shouted as they ran toward the shaking man. When they neared a strange sound could be heard coming from him. He collapsed to his knees right as they reached him lowering his head with only his blood soaked brown hair showing to them. Gan put down the bow and put his hand on Halus's shoulder.

"It's alright man, come on talk to us." he comforted. Halus continued to shake. His face was toward the ground. Miasala smelled more blood in the cave and looked in to see the walls lined with it. "What the hell...?" Gan whispered. Mia looked over to him and saw him back away from Halus and look up at her in disbelief. The sound was still coming from Halus's hunched form, but it was still very muffled.

"What is it?" Mia asked frantically. Gan gulped and looked at Halus again then back to her.

"He's got no cuts on him, and...he's..." stammered Gan as he stared at Mia. The noise grew louder finally recognizable by Miasala as Halus burst with laughter standing straight up staring into the sky bellowing gleeful hysteric laughter at the top of his lungs. Miasala took a step back.

"Halus?" she asked cautiously. He lowered his crazed green eyes staring directly at Miasala, but still unable to fully contain his laughter. Tears were streaming out of his eyes as if he'd just heard the world's funniest joke. Mia dashed over to him and grabbed his shoulders to steady his still shaking form. "Get a hold of yourself and tell us what you saw! Halus!" she shouted at him

"We're..!" he piped before covering his own mouth and snorting between gasps, "We're just having too damn much fun!" she screamed before another fit of guffawing took him. Mia gritted her teeth. Whatever he'd seen had driven him right over the edge. Halus had always been so calm and collected, never would she have imagined he could snap like this. Something was horrifying wrong.

"Fun? Halus what's happened in there?!" Mia roared shaking him once. Halus continued to chuckle trying to contain himself.

"Just...so much fun!" he bellowed again.

"Dammit!" Gan growled looking back into the woods. "That Hierophant bastard. What did he do?" he asked himself.

"Halus, tell me, what fun are you talking about?" Mia asked calmly. Halus withdrew his lips and clenched his mouth shut trying to muffle his laughter again. "What fun Halus?!"

"THIS!" he screeched drawing a dagger from his side and swinging it up towards Mia's face. Her eye slammed shut as she lurched backward caught fully by surprise. Had she been a lesser woman she'd never have opened them again. Feeling a sharp cut glide across her lower lip and the tip of her nose she fell back. She looked up to see Halus over her with the dagger raised laughing like a madman. It was covered in blood that dripped down his arm. He was emitting some kind of strange energy. It was powerful, terrifyingly powerful. The energy coming off of him seemed like it weighed a ton and pinned her. Mia's body was like lead frozen in place with steel needles in her flesh. Staring up in horror she watched the knife descend. Gan forced himself in the way of it grabbing Halus's wrist and wrestling with him trying to pull him aside. Gan had always been stronger than the man, but they'd never needed to test it like this before, and now when he needed that to be true it wasn't. Somehow Halus's strength was multiplied an innumerable amount of time. He pushed against Gan's wrist and slowly the knife sank into the flesh of Gan's chest. Dragan's eyes widened as he fell to one knee still resisting the knife of the screaming madman determined to kill him.

"GAN!!!" Mia screamed seeing the blade burrowing deeper into his flesh. Gan pulled his other hand away and drew his own knife slicing up across Halus's wrist. How he had wished not to do that. Halus was his friend, many a card game they'd argued over. Halus had finally won one just yesterday, and now here they were inflicting mortal wounds on one another. Gan's knife hit Halus's throat next sending him crashing down into the hard ground with no laughs left. Gan rolled over onto his back clutching his chest and groaning. Miasala dashed to his side. The wound was on the right of his chest and far. It could seemed to have missed his heard, but it could still bleed into his chest cavity and asphyxiate him.

"Fuck!" Gan grunted looking up at Mia, "Go check on 'im," he commanded. Mia gritted her teeth seeing Gan tear from his sleeve and plug the wound. "Go on, I'm fine...shit!" he cursed. Halus lay on the ground still trembling. She went over to him staring down into his eyes. They were still filled with laughter. She couldn't help but remember those same eyes after someone got hazed by another bandit or just a good day full of jeering and name calling. Her eyes filled with tears as she absorbed the scene.

"Halus...why? Please tell me you didn't do this..." she choked. Halus's eyes moved to her slowly. A stillness began to take them.

"The...words..." he gurgled. Blood was pouring from his mouth like a fountain. He coughed spurting a gush of it on the ground. "He....gave me to the words, and I shared....the fun...with every...body. My name..." Halus mumbled as the light from him faded.

"Halus?" Miasala whispered shaking him. It was obvious, he was gone. She took a deep breath and collected herself going back to Gan. He sat up slowly, but she pushed him back down. His breathing grew more hurried but ragged. He was having trouble.

"Babe, I...God...I'm sorry. I thought I could stop him...I di'n wanna kill 'im I swear it." he rasped. Mia leaned down kissing him and placing her forehead on his.

"Dragan, baby you're dying. I can feel it, everyone at home is dead. Halus is gone too. There's not a doctor anywhere near enough to fix you up. Gan, baby I can't lose you. I can't lose you too..." she said choking again.

"Love, what are you talking about? I'll be alright got it?" he lied. Gan could barely breath enough to keep talking. His chest was hot and felt heavy, full. His vision was already foggy. He wouldn't last much longer. That knife had made it pretty deep into his chest. He placed a shaky hand on Miasala's face. "I'm good see?" he lied again. Mia sat up and looked into the woods.

"Hierophant!" she thundered. Gan's eyes widened.

"Babe, don't do that. Don't! Leave it-" he coughed. His breath gave out and sprays of blood burst out with each burning cough. He tried to breath in, but what felt like a bubble of blood pushed against the precious breath leaving him without air. Gasping, Gan coughed again.

"Come out!" Mia shouted again. A shadow formed near Gan's head standing and facing Mia.

"Oh, I do hope you've reconsidered." came it's voice.

"MIA!" Gan bellowed losing breath and hacking again.

"You son of a bitch. I'll kill you for this. Mark my words I will one day kill you for what you've done." Miasala spat. "If you want my loyalty for now, you can't let him die. You can't let Gan die you hear me?" The Hierophant turned his smiling mask toward Gan who glared at him.

"Don't you look at me you FUCK! Piss off!" Gan snapped spitting blood with every syllable.

"If that's your condition, then I'll consider it."

"No. You don't have time to consider it! Now!" Mia cried. The Hierophant looked up at her.

"Fine. But there's one thing you must do. Think of it as further incentive. Recite to me one of the Holy Verses." he commanded. Mia glared at him her fists shaking. Was this asshole toying with her? She didn't have time to think. Thinking meant taking in all of what was happening, it meant accepting what she was doing, realizing it was her only option, it meant a breakdown, and she couldn't afford that right now.

"Be it thy will, let it-"

"You'll have to do better than that." he interrupted. Mia growled looking down at Gan. His eyes were rolling around in his head. She was losing him.

"Though this earth cast ye unto filth and want, in the eyes of thy Father ye are like shining jewels." The Heirophant watched her for a moment.

"Acceptable. Be sure to remember that one. It seems...important to you." he leaned over Gan's face meeting him eye to eye. "Now, you just have to let me in you see. I can't do this without your help."

"Fuck you," Gan spat. Mia closed her eyes.

"Dragan, please. Don't leave me alone here. I can't..." she paused. He already knew what she wanted to say. He knew his purpose. Since he'd met her he'd known. He was there to be with her. To be there for her. There was no one else in the world meant for the task like he was. After all, he loved her. So, no matter the consequences...

"Damn..." he wheezed looking up at the mask and the one revealed eye. "Alright, but it's because I trust that woman. I have no more words for the likes of you." He felt a grim smile form on the lips of the Hierophant.

"Good, then remember this." he said. Suddenly, something spoke in Gan's mind. It was loud and clear. It was accompanied by a touch as if something placed a hand on something deep inside his chest. Something beyond his body.

Thy name be Eyzakrot

With that a mask formed on his face. Miasala stared down at him. It was a white mask that portrayed a fanged mouth similar to an oni with the canines curving outward and coming from the lower jaw. The left eye was pure white appearing to be blind while the right eye portion of the mask was missing showing Gan's actual eye and head. The rest of the mask was smooth and rounded aside from the lower jaw which was somewhat framed around Gan's actual jaw. Red lines ran down the eyes and over the mouth down the chin. The mask clung tightly to Dragan's head seeming to weave partially into his own hair. The Hierophant looked to Miasala again.

"As long as he wears that mask, he will not die. There are limits to his power, but you'll find him much more useful now I assure you." he explained. In truth. Gan didn't feel any better at all. The knife wound still felt like it was there, but when he looked down at himself he saw no wound, no blood. Standing slowly, Gan faced Miasala who stared defiantly at the Hierophant. "Now, for your next task."
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Aizik stood outside the building watching some of the soldiers drill with their spears. A series of rows of six stood ready with their captain standing before them shouting "Thrust!' every few moments. Each soldier let out a shout and lunged their weapons forward keeping steady. Drilling was the foundation of training. Aizik walked over to the captain keeping his distance until the armored man looked over at him. "Can I help you sir?" he asked. Aizik nodded.

"Would you mind if I drilled with you?" he asked. The captain looked to his men.

"Thrust!" he shouted looking back at Aizik as the men thrust their weapons. "Well, I'm getting ready to switch drills. You got any skill with a spear?" asked the captain. Again Aizik nodded remembering the rigorous drill he'd had to do with Ralus on spearmanship.

"It's not my weapon of choice, but I can manage." he answered. Armored mean approached from behind. Something bothered him about one of them. He felt...familiar. Aizik glanced back to see a familiar blond haired officer.

"Captain Grael." said the leader saluting. Grael approached as he returned the salutation. Aizik resisted glaring back and the lightning sparked eyes of officer Grael.

"At ease, Morris. I see you've met our support from Alium." Grael said stopping in front of Aizik and looking right at him. The Morris nodded.

"Yessir Captain Grael sir." he said still relatively formally. Grael stared into the eyes of Aizik as if searching for those thoughts he said he'd kill him for. "I take it that means you've already met this man?" Grael didn't shift his gaze an inch. Aizik's eyes caught a subtle difference in the sword on his side. It's scabbard was curved like his own. Grael seemed to be carrying a katana this time. Strange...

"Absolutely. He's the man who slaughtered our Cathedral." Aizik's jaw tightened as the drill halted immediately with each soldier looking directly at him. Morris looked at him with malevolence pouring from him instantly.

"What!?" he growled. Grael smiled.

"At least...he has the unfortunate fate of sharing the same name." he continued. The hatred pouring from the other men subsided, but Grael still had the same unpleasant aura. "Indeed, if this man had been nearby I'm certain that other bastard Aizik would not have survived that fight. What do you say Aizik? How about we show them a little demonstration of that skill?" Aizik looked at the other men.

"You're saying this guy could have defeated the man who killed twelve Holy Knights?" asked Morris in surprise. Grael took a step back placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Actions speak louder than words." he replied. Aizik faced Grael. What was this? Some sort of test, or display of dominance? Perhaps, it could be one of those things if Aizik was lucky. If Grael truly intended to make good on his earlier intent to kill Aizik then there would be problems. Big problems. Aizik had no intention of making him his enemy, but in a life or death fight he'd have no choice. There's no way he'd be able to make good of killing a commanding officer here.

"Is live weaponry really such a good idea?" Aizik asked hiding his nervousness. Grael closed his eyes for a moment.

"I trust in your ability." he replied. Aizik saw his shoulder shift knowing the draw was coming. Aizik slid his foot forward closing some of the distance between them and blocked Grael's elbow with his right hands. This was simple maneuver he learned. By stopping the arm at the elbow its forward movement in restricted. Doing this during a swordsman's draw stops it cold giving your a split second to move in and beat their reflexes. If successful, a fight can be stopped before it's even begun. Aizik pushed off of his left leg thrusting his left palm forward with all his might into Grael's face. It was strange though, Aizik hadn't taken Grael for an amateur swordsman who'd put his weight forward to strike off the draw of his sword; still even masters make mistakes sometimes. As he pushed forward he knew how this worked out. The opponent's forward weight would be thrown off by the strike to the face which was also a hard shove and push them from their feet. Aizik's palm shot forward and the satisfying crunch of the jaw was a little lackluster. Aizik's senses caught up with his actions just in time to see Grael was no longer in the path of his attack, but it was too late he'd already moved. Grael must have turned his body the other way and instead of pulling the blade from the sheath pulled the sheath from the blade instead as he turned. Blade drawn and Aizik moving forward, he had little more to do, but hold the sharp edge of the blade in his path and let Aizik disembowel himself. With lightning reflexes Aizik grabbed the hilt of his sword with his now free right hand and pulled it -sheath and all- out enough to feel the hard collision with cold steel against the hilt instead of his flesh. The unfortunate clash avoided Aizik whirled around to face a still circling Grael and drew his own sword. Though, instead of his sword coming out he quickly sidestepped and held his arm up to block a blunt attack from Grael who'd launched a lightning fast thrust and then swung outward. Aizik had dealt with this technique before. Grael had baited him with the initial move playing it like chess. He'd lured Aizik in using his quick reflexes against him turning the tide in an instant. This man was no amateur. In fact, Aizik was already certain he could not beat Grael like this. The man was a genius of combat. It was difficult to process going from offense to full defense that fast. Especially when your opponent was well practiced in taking out a target before they could even draw their weapon. That was why he attacked first, to coax Aizik into trying to do something with his bare hands getting his focus away from immediately drawing his weapon. As the blunt attack struck Aizik hard on his guarding right arm he wasn't fooled again. The pain, was a distraction. A blunt strike from a skilled swordsman meant one thing. A lethal blow was coming in the next instant. He threw himself forward along the ground rolling on his left shoulder to angle off his distance, but he knew once he got to his feet that Grael wasn't going to ease off and let him breath. Instead of standing and trying foolishly to draw his weapon with an arm still recovering from a clash with steel less than a second ago, he slid his leg out and turned still crouched to face Grael. The blade was coming down toward his left shoulder to cut diagonally. Aizik's grasped his sheath with his left hand pulling it again partially out from his belt and letting Grael's blade strike on the metal of the handguard to the left of the handle. Flinging his opponent's blade to the left Aizik grabbed the hilt with his right and stood as he pushed toward Grael and drew his sword hurling a strike toward his opponent's throat. Grael's strike was fluid even in deflection and found its path intersecting Aizik's attack. The two pushed against one another. A deadlock. Aizik knew this wasn't a matter of strength. Without really fighting. Without making Grael his enemy he had to rely strictly on his skill. Whether or not this exercise was meant to embarrass him or not, it was excellent training. Not wanting to play into Grael's game, Aizik took the opportunity to shift his foot up under his weight instead of crouching and leapt backward squaring off with Grael again.

It had been three blows so far in their fight with one landing. Aizik knew that there was plenty more to be fought out. What had just transpired barely constituted as a warm up with a swordsman like Grael. Grael stood up straight and sheathed his sword. "Again, good reasons to trust your skills Aizik. I hope your keep your skill as sharp as your reflexes and instinct." he said. Aizik felt some sort degree of both compliment and insult from the comment. Grael walked past him. "Carry on gentlemen." Aizik felt cool air touch the skin on his left side. He looked down to see just behind where his sheath was there was a cut in his shirt. Three blows...two landed. Morris patted him on the shoulder.

"That was incredible Sir Aizik! Captain Grael is surely the best swordsman for a long way around. Not many can make it three blows with him and retain such poise!" he praised.

"Well, it was truly...an honor." Aizik replied looking back at the captain as he disappeared. Something was up. "Excuse me." he said following.

Aizik had left the room with the rest just a few minutes ago talking about training. Eira decided to make her way back to the room where she'd seen Adam. What in the world was up with that anyway? There seemed to be something much bigger going on in the world than she'd known even existed. Seeing strange things, feeling strange things wasn't so foreign to her, but nothing ever as strange as that.

Opening the door slowly Eira peered inside seeing no one there. She closed the door behind her and looked around. "Adam?" she called. There was no answer. She walked around the desk in the room and sat in the chair. "Hmm, I wonder what this room is for anyway..." she pondered. The window behind her face outside, but the curtains were closed and if it was someone's office or something she didn't want to go fiddling around with their setup. Suddenly Eira remembered what Adam had said about taking the glasses off sometimes and took them off her face. Immediately she noticed how much worse her vision was. The difference was pretty obvious between wearing the glasses and not wearing them, but still...something about having them off felt...good. Chances were it was probably just that she wasn't used to them yet. Wiping her eyes she put them back on and sighed. Maybe she should go train with Aizik. It would be good practice with how she'd gotten schooled a little by that Miasala woman at the end of their fight even thought it was just because she got surprised. That woman had gone through something horrible like she had... "I guess that's no excuse." Eira said aloud standing up and walking out the door.

On her way outside she spotted a man wearing a katana on his side with blond hair and a brooch on his shoulder. He must have been some kind of ranking officer. Grael passed her looking at her only briefly before breezing on by. Aizik came seconds after. "Aizik," Eira called to him making him stop. He'd had a look of determination on his face as if he was on some sort of mission.

"Eira, if you'll excuse me just a moment." he replied before continuing after Grael. He passed, and Eira shrugged letting it go. Maybe she should go check out the room they'd be staying in. She may as well set her things down instead of carrying them around. Grieves had said that their room was on a few down from the meeting room and each city's Knights were grouped together. They'd have plenty of bonding time on the wagon tomorrow. Eira couldn't help feeling a little excited about seeing Elestia soon. It had been too long for her to not have seen her sister. They'd grown up together obviously, and after their parent's death it was just them until Elestia went on to train to be the maiden. It had slipper Eira's mind till now, but it would be hard to hide Aizik's involvement in the Cathedral slaughter from her sister. She was never able to lie effectively to her. As a matter of fact, Eira was a decently convincing liar if only it didn't piss her off so much to have to do it in the first place. Doing it to family was next to impossible. The only things she'd ever lied to Elestia about was...that. Elestia would not be so forgiving if she learned of that.

"Doing alright?" came the familiar voice of Hayen. Eira looked to her side to see him catch up with her.

"Oh, yeah I'm doing fine," she replied continuing down the hall.

"That's good. So, did you watch the execution of that murderer?" he asked seeming a little excited.

"What execution?" Eira asked quickly. She'd just seen Aizik a moment ago! They couldn't have found out and killed him so quickly could they? It didn't take any thinking at all for Eira to realize that was ridiculous and she'd just asked a very stupid question. "I mean, yeah...no! No I didn't see it. We left before the execution, but I'm sure it was great. Evil bastard got what was coming to him!" Eira stammered. Why did this guy keep catching her off guard on her lie? Hayen raised an eyebrow.

"Really? That sucks. I'd have given anything to have taken him down myself. How could someone do something so...so...heartless." he asked. Eira kept her eyes forward and continued walking knowing there was not meant to be an answer to that question. Hayen shook his head. "Too bad. Anyway, let's not let your Knights' lives be in vain huh. We'll do this pilgrimage and bring the blessings of the Light Father to our cities." Eira smiled reaching the door to her room and stopping to face Hayen.

"Yeah, we can do it." she agreed happily. Hayen seemed nice enough. It wasn't often someone would come talk to someone just to encourage them. He opened the door for her.

"Still, you gotta keep something in mind," he said with a smile, "if we're going to do this as efficiently as possible we have to depend on each other and that means we have to trust each other. I know we've only just met today Eira, but well...you'll have to come to depend on me and I you in the coming days." Eira nodded.

"Yeah, I'm sure we'll figure it out," she decided stepping inside the room and facing him again.

"Good," he replied, but suddenly he glared at her his eyes cold as artic glacier spires, "because I don't trust you two in the least right now. That could be deadly in the battlefield." Eira's smile disappeared. What the hell was that, a threat? Hayen's cheerful look returned as he turned to leave and waved, "I look forward to working with you!" he cheered walking away. Eira stood in awed silence and dash of silent rage. Seriously, what the hell was that? She turned and closed the door letting the heat in her face subside. That was NOT a good start to this thing.

The room itself was somewhat small with two small beds and a nightstand between them holding a couple of candles. There were two chests at the foot of the beds for containing the resident's things, but neither she nor Aizik would need them. The room was rather plain, but it would do. No reason it shouldn't.

Three blow and two landed. This guy was really no joke. Aizik turned the corner ahead seeing Grael heading down it. "Captain," he called. Grael stopped.

"What do you want demon?" he asked harshly. Back to his old self apparently.

"What are you doing?" Aizik asked.

"Going to see the Minister. Perhaps I should warn him about you?" he scoffed, "You seem to have a thing for impaling his kind."

"You know well enough what I'm asking Grael." Aizik retorted walking up beside the officer. Grael didn't bother to look at him but he stopped.

"I didn't rat you out yet because there must be some reason you're being sent on this pilgrimage. If the others kill you here it could compromise everything. If you survive the journey, then maybe I'll cut you down myself." he explained. Aizik had no fear of Grael if the fight were actually life and death, but skill on skill he wasn't sure if he could beat this man. It was no lucky break that he'd bested him just a few minutes back.

"So, what are you doing here? Why didn't you just ride with us if you were coming to the checkpoint anyway?" Aizik asked. Grael shook his head,

"I have my own carriage. Besides, I had other duties to attend to before leaving. Is this interrogation some kind of revenge for my questioning you Aizik?" he asked shifting his eyes over to Aizik. "You don't honestly believe I came all the way out here just to spar with you do you?"

"I don't know what your intents are, but you're a little suspicious." Aizik stated sternly. Grael chuckled lightly.

"I'm suspicious? You must have a very skewed definition of the word. Get away from me heathen. We're not friends, and you're not a particularly worthy rival, so I've got no reason to tolerate your presence right now. Find something else to fuck up besides my day." he replied continuing down the hall. Aizik sighed watching him leave. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was already going down. This pilgrimage was important, but it hadn't even really started yet and there was already so much motion behind the scenes. Aizik didn't understand any of it but, it was there. Strings were being pulled, balancing shifting, something big was changing and it had only just begun.
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Anna ran the wet rag across Cavan's bare back tracing the small scars that ran down it with her eyes. They looked like scars from the lashings of a whip like weapon.

"It is said that the Light Father took physical form in order to spread His word to all his children and to show them that it was only through Him that eternal life and happiness could exist. We are taught that he walked the lands for over three decades before the Edenians caught him and killed him for heresy. It was after that the armies of Aret and Leneigh united to destroy the devil kingdom of Eden and thus the origin of our Artelle of today. It was after that they say that the Light Father appeared in the skies and told us we were not yet ready for Him, and He would return when we were truly prepared to take us all home." she explained to Cavan gently cleaning his back. He sat patiently in the water of the bath.

"Yeah, that sounds about right. Same as we were taught. You believe it?" he asked. Anna looked him in the face.

"Of course I believe the teaching of our Father! How could you ask me something like that?" she asked. Was he stupid or something? Cavan chuckled.

"Sorry, it makes sense. God come down to teach us not to hate, covet, and kill each other. What happens? Man kills him." Cavan said. Anna ran the town down his arm. It was bruised and scuffed badly. He didn't flinch.

"What are you getting at Cavan?" she asked suspiciously. He looked over at her seriously.

"If he could, man would kill God." he said. Anna couldn't meet his gaze as he said it. "It's true. As a whole, we are far too diverse to pinpoint, but for each individual there is another of the opposite. There are plenty out there who would take the opportunity. If man knew a way to surpass God, someone would do just that. It's sad, but it's our nature. Anna, I don't think we were meant to be this way." Anna looked back up at him.

"Of course we weren't meant to be that way silly. It's up to each person to decide whether they want to be the best person they can be, or if they just want to wallow in sin and debauchery." she replied. Cavan shook his head.

"Anna, what I mean is...I think...I think God made a mistake." he admitted. Anna hit him in the back with the towel.

"That's impossible! Our Father doesn't make mistakes. All that is IS for a reason. Don't you understand that Cavan?" she barked.

"Sure it's for a reason, but it may not be for the same reason we were originally intended. I think we as a creation have far strayed from the path God had made for us. With each turn free will came back and bit him in the ass." he said. Anna was obviously displeased with what he was saying. "Look, I'm not saying God isn't all powerful or anything, but come on. Mankind is really fucking up his plans. What is our future? Do you really think as a people we're heading toward 'being ready' for him? Killing in his name, deceiving his children for their 'own good', and warping his teachings for our benefit? I beg to differ sweet Anna." Cavan scoffed. Anna stopped scrubbing him and stared at him.

"That's why those people would be left behind Cavan! They aren't ready so when the rest of us are prepared and he deems enough of us worthy we'll be taken home." she practically shouted.

"Don't you think the people who followed him when he walked the earth were far more ready than the rest of us? Why didn't he take those who were prepared with him when he was here in the first place? Don't you see Anna? Life, is a part of it. Us being here means something besides serving Him and praising His name. Whatever was supposed to happen with us isn't working out and things have to change. Things have to REALLY change. I don't know what, but...I just know okay." Cavan explained looking up at her again. Anna blushed a little. What was he talking about? First it seemed like he was trying to start an argument with her and now it was like he had just poured his heart out and was looking for some kind of validation that he wasn't crazy or something. Anna washed his back some more.

"Cavan, I don't know what you've been through to make you feel that way, but our Father loves you. You have to find out some things on your own. There's no teacher that can tell you or book you can read that teaches you what you really truly believe in. If you haven't found that Cavan, I can only pray that you do." she said softly. Cavan smiled closing his eyes.

"You're...an amazing friend Anasala." he replied. She blushed instantly. Somehow she knew he wasn't joking or lying. This man really had some sort of aura about him. Anna was nothing less than glad that she'd met him. Perhaps this whole experience could turn out to be worth it. She smiled,

"As are you Master Cavan." she joked. He frowned until he heard her giggle bringing his smile back instantly.
.........................................................................................................
Drilling his swordsmanship had helped clear Aizik's mind, but still the air felt strange. Everything felt somehow different although he could point out nothing that had really changed. Maybe it was just being away from Cavan for so long. Being around Eira was nice somehow, but he already missed his friend. Not only that, but it would be a long time before they'd meet again. Their goodbye had been short, but the effects were lingering.

Darkness had set on the walls of the fort and Aizik headed inside. It was easy to feel a little lost now. His head felt clouded now. Perhaps he was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the newness of it all. No Cavan, no searching for the Tome, no desperate struggle for survival, and having to lie about his identity. This wasn't what he was used to at all, and though it was easier in a sense it wasn't...home if that's what one would call it.. He entered his room to see Eira wearing pajamas that consisted of simple shorts and a shirt, both black. She was reading a book, but stopped to look up at him entering. Smiling she greeted him, "Hi Aizik." He smiled back.

"Evening." he replied walking to his bed. Eira went back to her book pulling the blanket over her legs. Aizik took off the leather belt and straps from his torso setting them on the chest at the foot of the bed then removing his shirt and placing it there. Eira glanced up blushing at his bare chest. There were several small scars but she looked back to her book not wanting to keep staring. This was definitely an uncommon occurrence for her. Aizik sat down on his bed. "Do you... feel that?" he asked. Eira stopped and looked up at him.

"Feel what?" she asked curiously. He lay down staring at the ceiling.

"Something is...changing. I don't know what, but something is happening. I get the odd feeling that things are about to be very different. Just...different." he said. Eira thought for a moment.

"Hmm..." she pondered for a moment. Maybe she should tell him about Adam? No, she didn't know much herself. She'd tell him when it could possibly make a difference. Then she thought back to her book. She always hated it when characters hid possibly important information for no good reason. "Well, I talked to a guy named Adam recently." Eira began. Aizik looked over at her. "The one I 'thought' I saw in the room reappeared to me. He kept telling there was something special about me and gave me these glasses. I don't really know much else." Aizik stared at her for a while.

"Are you supposed to be telling me this?" he asked cautiously. Eira shrugged,

"He didn't tell me not to." she replied. Aizik stared at the ceiling for a while.

"I'm not familiar with the name Adam. Tell me more when it can possibly make a difference." he said. Eira opened her mouth but there wasn't a word for how she felt about what just transpired so only a stammering,

"Eh..juh...agh!" came out of her mouth. Aizik looked back at her confused.

"What? What did I do?"

"Nothing, I just...bleh." she replied waving her hand at him.

"I'm sorry, I just don't really know much of the story and names and stuff. I know a lot of scripture and verse, but the names and stuff is more Cavan's area. I mean, I know the Light Father came down appearing as a wise rophet for a long time until he was supposedly killed by the Edenians." Aizik explained. Eira looked at him confused.

"Aizik, what's a rophet?" she asked. Aizik looked over at her even more confused.

"You mean you don't know? You should if you went to the Cathedral often. A rophet, you know, a wise man, a teacher of the word or the Father." he explained. Eira squinted at him.

"You mean...a PROPHET?" she asked fishing for some understanding. Aizik looked up at the ceiling pondering for a moment.

"Hmm...I guess so..." he muttered.

"Then yes, the Light Father came down to teach his word pretending to be human, but the Edenians called him a heretic and killed him. That's when the war happened and the grand kingdom of Artelle was formed which later became the Artelle Empire that fell after the death of that...emperor guy..." she racked her brain. Names, names were kind of hard sometimes for her too. "Anyway, now we just have the city states and such so it's fine." Aizik sighed heavily.

"Exactly, it says the Edenians killed the Light Father who eventually returned to tell us when we were ready he'd return. Eira, I don't think mankind will ever me ready as we are. Not in the way we were intended to be to go home. Too many have too many regrets and dark ambitions. I have an unshakable faith in our Father, but I have no faith in mankind to live up to his expectations. It is for that reason I believe that there is a great change coming. Something has gone horribly wrong, and there is no other way. I could be wrong, but I feel a strong shift in...something." he explained. Eira marked her page and put the book away.

"Aizik, I don't think it's important to worry about things like that. I don't at least. Whatever mankind has done has no effect on me, or you. All we can really do is be the best we can and try to live the best we can Aizik. We are not the world. I am Eira, and you are Aizik. Each person that is the best they can be I'm sure pleases our Father. Sure if someone is doing something wrong I try to stop them or change that, but if I put my focus on the whole world it'd be too stressful and I may lose sight of what I as Eira stand for. Our lives have their purpose as long was we live them don't you think?" she asked with a smile. Aizik looked over at her staring for quite some time. She noticed and blushed a little. "What?" she asked. Aizik smiled back at her.

"Nothing, just...what you said makes me happy." he replied staring back at the ceiling. "If things begin to change drastically we have to make sure that we retain some belief in something. There has to be a belief we will never relinquish no matter what changes. I think I know one of mine now."

"Oh, what is that?" Eira asked.

"I am Aizik, and that's all I've ever been or can hope to be." he replied smiling back at her again. "I hope you don't relinquish who you are Eira. I really like who you are." Eira smiled blushing a little again sinking further below her blankets.

"Oh, thank you." she replied. A sudden strange feeling welled up inside her and seemed to dissolve into her body. It didn't disappear, but somehow normalized. It was like how you feel the weather outside change or the shift in emotion when company leaves your house, the change when your birthday passes. It was subtle, nebulous, but something was definitely trying hard not to be the same any longer. She now understood what was bugging Aizik. In that moment, the concept of not knowing what tomorrow would bring was somehow...terrifying.