Chapter 23 - Part 1

"I can't believe this big dummy solved the riddle before us!" Maree jumped from the stone bench that circled the big tree in the middle of the palace's courtyard, his voice traveled throughout the Academy's grounds scaring away a few stray birds from within the tree's green canopy. Ever since Haiden had released Screech from where he was bound the tree had begun its normal cycle of rebirth and now it had a full head of emerald green leaves.

"See it and believe it, loud mouth!" Tasgal waved a blue silk scarf in front all of them, puffing his chest with pride.

"Well done, Tasgal!" Camila gave him a small round of applause. "Here you earned it." She stretched her hand and gave the Ashen fresh and warm sweet bun. He quickly thanked her.

"Come on, Tas! Tell us what the answer is." Haiden begged for the hundredth time. He tried to wink seductively and distinctly but failed miserably making Tasgal burst into laughter.

"What was that?" Maree asked with his brow raised.

"Nothing!" Haiden pouted.

"Sorry, Haid. I wish I could help, but if anyone finds out that you had help you'll be disqualified and lose your chance of getting that title." Tasgal said between mouthfuls of delicious sweet pastry.

"Forget Haiden. Tell meeeeee." Maree dropped on all fours begging. "I'll let you play with Alva." He quickly looked around to make sure they were alone and pulled a small bundle of white fluff from his bag and dangled him in front of Tasgal. "Isn't he the fluffiest wuffiest cutest little cloud you ever seen?" Alva gave a small yelp and stuck it's tiny tongue out eagerly awaiting pets.

Tasgal had to admit. For an awakened one, Alva, was incredibly adorable and he could barely resist the temptation to touch his white fur that tingled the skin to the touch. Almost compelled to touch Alva, Tasgal pulled his hand back it.

"No can do! Headmistress will have my head on a platter if you fail because of me. Didn't she have some great plan for you or destiny?"

"Higher purpose." Maree answered in a flat tone rolling his eyes.

"I can't believe you two can't wrap your heads around it. I only heard it from you two a handful of times and I figured it out." Camila added in. "Even Nola had her blue scarf, not to mention Bras and Malitica."

"You're lying!" Haiden gasped in shock. "Nola can't figure out her right from left or how to do a simple three strand braid."

"Hey! She's got better."

"Only after you showed how to do it for like the thousandth time." Maree laughed.

"Still. She's actually a nice person."

"She may be, but I can't believe she figured it out on her own before us." Haiden slumped back on the bench, taking a sweet bun and shoving it in his face.

"Maybe if you read it slowly and take every word in and think really hard about it, you'll figure it out? That's what I did." Tasgal replied. "And that's all I'll say to help." He made a motion to lock his mouth. His eyebrows weaved into a silent "I'm sorry" to Haiden whose attention fell on the riddle.

He had all the reasons not to help them, regardless of how much he wanted to. He could not risk Haiden failing the trials, he had all the faith in the world that he would win. Tasgal did not have very high hopes to win against Haiden using his powers to the full extent of his abilities. The more they spared the greater the gap became apparent. Haiden's Wielding was improving much more rapidly than Tasgal's fighting skills and the handicap that the young Wielder subscribed to when the two fought was no longer effectively seizable. A part of Tasgal worried that they would end up fighting one another in the Trials, but part of him was eager to experience his full power. He wanted to see Haiden reach his very best, his unapologetically powerful, clever, strong headed, and snappy self, just like he is every time he visits Tasgal at night. Even now, among his friends and lover, Haiden pulled back. It gave Tasgal a sense of privilege that he saw Haiden shine so bright, and it made him happy that it happened whenever they were together. In a sense he wanted to keep it that way, for his eyes only, but how could he keep the world deprived of such brilliance.

The overcast made for a pleasant freeday, where the wind blew lazily through the green leaves filling the air with pleasant harmony of rusling. Locks of Haiden's jet black hair swayed gently and Tasgal could not keep his eyes away.

Haiden groaned in frustration. He got up and threw the piece of paper as hard as he could only for it to be pushed back by the air, falling softly to the ground.

"It's no use!" Haiden whined. He had so much on his mind, and Screech did not help one bit. The creature wasn't interested in solving his riddles, it only wanted for Haiden to train more and more. By now they had gone half way through the book he had stolen from the Headmistress' office. Haiden had quite the arsenal under his sleeve, even a basic understanding of matter manipulation. No where near Bras' abilities, but enough to not allow himself to get swallowed up by a giant opening in the ground. It was quite upset when Haiden halted their late night training. The training he was doing with Tasgal and classes was already taking its toll and now he had to concentrate on the task at hand. Haiden hasn't seen the creature in a few days, but he didn't think too much of it, it had a habit of disappearing on Haiden whenever its feelings were hurt. He'll get over it. Haiden thought.

Tasgal grabbed the piece of paper from the ground and gave it a glance over. "Here, maybe if you hear it from someone else it will help." An began reading out loud the riddle.

When tribes of man of long forgotten

Few stood perched among the strongest

When rule and law were misbegotten

Only one was pure and honest

When they graveled tooth and claw

All was swallowed in death's maw

Only one who saw beyond

Time of heavy red cloth and awe

Risked it all for her to see

All that ends in misery

Haiden folded his arms to his chest, thinking hard, closing his eyes. His brows creased as he concentrated on the riddle.

"Long forgotten, the strongest...risked it all." Haiden repeated softly.

"Well?" Maree asked curiously and Haiden shook his head and shrugged.

"Not one clue."

"I can't believe how dense you two pea brains are!" Camila put down her book. "It just shows you never listen to Master Parvell's class." Camila said then quickly clamped her mouth.

"What that old crumpet has to do with this..." Maree stopped and turned to Haiden and locked eyes. "You're telling me Master Parvell has the answer? We need to find him now!"

"What, no! That's not what I mean at all!" Camila shook her head.

"I think I saw him back in the auditorium." Haiden added. "Grab your things and let's go." Maree quickly stuffed everything including Alva in his bag.

"Wait, Haid! I don't think it's... wise to ask him." Tasgal wanted to say but they already left.

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The stone walls of the palace, adorned with paintings and all sorts of expensive tapestries and furniture stretched in front of Haiden and Maree in twisting bends. It was much cooler and damp inside and Haiden nestled nicely in his cloak as he walked down the path of the auditorium.

"Are you sure it's wise to ask him? What if he thinks this is cheating and disqualifies us?" Haiden bit his lower lip anxiously.

"Just follow my lead." Maree pointed at himself with a finger and moved forward then stopped abruptly. "Actually, just let me do all the talking."

"What are you trying to say?" Haiden snapped.

"Nothing, just that you're not the smoothest talker."

"Fuck you, I am a great talker!"

"Yeah, Yeah. Like that time when Omnelia caught you with a sweet bun under your desk and you said you found it there while you had half of it in your mouth?"

"Not my fault I was hungry." Haiden said under his breath.

"Or that time Old Ullie caught us after curfew and you said you forgot your cloak in class while you were wearing it. Don't know why you always wear that thing, anyways."

"Alright, alright. You made your point, Creators! I'll keep my mouth shut." Haiden folded his hands over his chest.

A big doorway opened to their right. Inside, there was a big massive wood desk where Master Parvell sat quietly scribbling something on a piece of paper. Behind him, there was a big black wall made for writing with chalk and in front of him rows of desks, each row higher than the other. All were empty aside for Master Parvell.

Maree knocked on the open door and cleared his throat grabbing the Master's attention. He looked up over his glasses and quickly flipped the paper over.

"Yes?" He stared at both young Wielders. Haiden and Maree looked at each other but kept quiet. "Well, spit it out. I ain't got all day, you know." The old man shook his head.

Haiden jabbed Maree with his elbow. "You're the great speaker." he whispered. He could see his friend thinking what to say.

Maree cleared his throat. "Master Parvell, we were wondering if you could help us with an assignment. Yes. Assignment!"

"Oh? Quite surprising coming from you and mister Haiden over here, who can barely keep his eyes opened during my class" He scoffed.

"It's just that you have such a soothing voice, Master Parvell." Haiden added, he immediately felt the intense murdering stare from Maree.

"Do I now." Master Parvelle began to stroke his white wispy beard. "I always thought of myself as a baritone, but my long departed mother, Creators bless her, said I'm more of a tenor." He chuckled. Maree couldn't believe the quick shift in the old man's attitude.

"I think it's maybe a soft bass, Master." Maree added, he could see the man's pasty paper thin skin blush.

"Always enjoyed me a good late night tavern singalong with the platoon after a heavy day of patrolling, back in my day." Both of them nodded as if they cared what the old man was saying. "There was this one song..." Master Parvell began telling an ancient story of his past while Maree and Haiden nodded and gasped every now and again just to entertain their teacher while their minds were somewhere else. Haiden had lost track of how much time had passed when he snapped out of the daze when Master Parvell began to laugh with such joy. "Yes, indeed. He did say that to the owner! Can you believe it?"

"No!" They said and shook their heads.

"It's good to remember long lost friends from time to time." The man sighed as his laughter calmed down. For a moment he seemed pathetic and sad. Haiden felt for the man, he knew how hard it was to lose a friend, how lonely it was.

"You were saying about an assignment, lads?"

"Ah! Yes. Assignment. We're writing a paper for - "

"Master Rwoy." Haiden quickly added seeing Maree's hesitation.

"Yes. And we were wondering about the tribes of man..." Maree made a big pause hoping the old man would catch his bait, and luckily for him, he did.

"Yes, yes the five tribes. What about them?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. Haiden immediately realized how stupid he was. 'Tribes of man' of course it was the five tribes! Hund'ui people and the Az'the were part of these five. Blood rushed to his head, he was angry how blind sighted he was by other matters that he didn't see what was in front of him, as he looked at Maree.

"The library has very few books on them and we have to hand in our assignment by tomorrow, can you tell us about them?" Maree continued.

"I don't know lads, it's getting quite let, now." He looked at the two young men trying to make big eyes at him and something in his heart gave away. "Oh, very well." He made himself more comfortable in his chair and began after adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his long nose. "There's not a lot known about the five tribes, they existed a long time ago, and they fought amongst each other for hundreds of years, we believe. There are a lot of signs across the world of ancient colossal battles, the magnitude of which changed topographies and altered the streams of rivers - feats akin those of the Creators themselves. One of my favorites is the Medulha dessert. At its very center there is an enormous crater, but no meteorite. Researchers believe that it is Wielding related as it is a dense pocket of Fios right on top and speculate it was one of the battle sights of these ancient tribes. After many many years of war they came together in peace and cultures blended together erasing the old ones, at least on this part of the continent while on others people still claim they are long distant descendants, mere remnants of the Ulo'ma. And even in the Empire three hundred years ago there was a woman named Elo'yn, or all seer, who is said to see the future, thought to be part of the Numu'y people the most elusive of the five tribes. Isn't that interesting? Our very to - " Thre quick knocks on the door interrupted Master Parvell.

"Kurd, am I interrupting?" Master Coner waited patiently in the doorway.

"No, not all friend. Come in, come in. I was just helping these two bright lads with an assignment." Maree was grateful the man didn't say what about and both of them breathed in relief. "I'm afraid we have to call it a day, but feel free to visit tomorrow if you want to hear more." The old man smiled genuinely happy to be heard.

"We'll definitely will, Master Parvell." Maree added. Him and Haiden bowed their heads and took their leave.

Master Coner waited for them to turn the corner before he spoke. "I need your help, Kurd."

The hallways were now dimly lit by small light stones affixed every few paces along the walls. Haiden looked out through the tall windows and it was already twilight outside, the green sister was slowly making her descent.

"I can't believe we got it!" Maree said. "I bet Tasgal and Camila sees us as really stupid right now."

Haiden didn't register too much of what his friend said, his mind was occupied with one thing and one thing only. What did Master Coner need help with from Master Parvell? He only saw the two talk during the pairing ceremony. It was all too suspicious and Haiden's instincts were going crazy, even his stomach clenched giving him the need to use the lavatory.

"Hello!" Maree waved a hand before Haiden's face.

"What!?" Haiden jumped.

"I SAID. I can't believe we got it."

"Got what?" Haiden asked confused.

"The answer you idiot! The answer, it's Elo'yn." Haiden stopped and looked at Maree with twisted brows.

"Tribes of man of long forgotten, the five tribes, Elo'yn was Numui'y! Haiden. She was Numui'y. Don't you know the legend?" Maree asked in disbelief. After looking at Haiden's blank face he sighed heavily. "Of course you don't know the legend. It goes something like this. When the Empire was at its strongest, it expanded long beyond the ocean of Almor in the South the great divide in the East. But we all know now the scribes liked to embellish to make it more dramatic and the Empire never crossed the great divide."

"What's the great divide?" Haiden asked unsure where this story would go. Maree sighed again and palmed his face.

"It's a scar on E'a beyond Bahal, that's so deep no one has ever seen the bottom. Back to the story." Maree quickly said. "Where was I?"

"Great divide." Haiden replied mater-of-factly.

"Oh yeah. In the East! The Empire grew arrogant of its power and couldn't see its weaknesses and faults. The emperor at the time, I forgot his name, was so blinded he didn't see the revolution growing and growing. Elo'yn was one of the Emperor's daughters, her mother was a noblewoman from a distant village in the West. Elo'yn had nightmares of the fall of the Empire but her father never believed her. She begged him to listen to her, she detailed plots and the rise of the revolution but finally he imprisoned her. In the end it happened just as she saw, the enslaved nations pushed back the Empire to a third of its former self but a lot of lives were lost including hers. Or at least that's what the story goes. Elo'yn was founded in her memory.

The huge stone female figure that welcomed him in Elo'yn. "She is draped in red cloth." he whispered in realisation. Regardless of how happy he was that he finally figured it out, there was still something darker on his mind.

"Yes! Finally! And I thought you were the smart one." Maree joked.

"Maree, you go ahead. I think I forgot something back in the auditorium." Haiden said and cloaked himself in an instant becoming invisible.

"What?" Maree turned back to look at his friend but there was no one there.