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---When speaking about the history of the land of Etheros, the kaspera and Sarian clan hold a very special place. In their time of prosper, they overflown with talent and power. They brought elemental practice, martial arts and strategy to another level. But truly they should have been feared by their sheer will to adapt to each era, no clan could challenge them and hope to survive, they helped shape this land and its history and if not for their self-destruct nature who can say what kind of land we would be living on now. (Kurtos, from his book ''Clans' History and Tradition'')---
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Bakuha moved with purpose through the narrow corridors of the HQ's building but took his time to gracefully walk and stopped to extend greetings to passing clansmen, he wasn't in a hurry really; making the council wait was his favorite thing to do.
He slid the wooden red engraved door sideways, revealing a room full of low tables, many clansmen were sitting around them on soft pillows or on their legs, talking or sipping their tea. The walls were decorated with many drawings of old clansman who passed away which made for a moody place.
''you decided to grace us with your presence Bakuha? How kind of you, time to get started then'' councilor Vieroy; he was a bright man no doubt about it but way past his time, now sitting at 210 years of age.
''Peace clansmen'' he looked around and his sight fell on the elder's table and there he stood at the head at a higher plateau the man that hold bakuha's unconditional hate. His white as paper hair fell upon his back, his violet piercing eyes felt like they were seeing through everything. They could hold someone in his place indefinitely; Dero the current clan leader and grandmaster. He kept his focus on Bakuha as he entered the room. His long robes extended in front of him as he got up, decorated with the sigil of the clan, the eye that sees beyond. They were hardly practical, but it was not allowed to enter the council's room without that clothing, a useless law of old, since it was impossible for someone to enter the council's room unless they were recognized by the guards.
''Let the meeting begins, take your seat '' Dero said firmly. Bakuha's settled back on his seat and pretended to listen intently about boring treaties and wasteful comments about the current state of the barracks. It was a common practice, old men dominated the clan's council, Bakuha was expecting another wasteful session.
''Those fools are enjoying wasting my time''. He commented to the man next to him.
''patience Bakuha'' Faren whispered. Hearing Faren's voice was always calming, besides today he expected a twist, this meeting held a particular interest to both of those men. He observed Faren holding a piece of paper seemingly concentrating on the meeting and writing down comments. He smirked, it seemed absurd to Bakuha that he was taking notes; he was a true genius, able to remember every word that has been spoken in front of him or anything he ever read.
Faren was to Bakuha's eyes a true master in disguise, underestimated his whole life no one really knew the extent of his powers. The reason was simple, his powers laid in misdirection; making him one of the most talented illusionist that ever existed among the Sarian clan's members. He was the only man that Bakuha ever trusted in the clan besides his master. A contradiction but Faren had undoubtedly earned it.
''Let's move on to the next part of business'' that drew Bakuha's attention back in the room. ''The Terien clan is trying to break of''. That statement was followed by a buzz of voices, everyone was suddenly awake. Vieroy expected the statement to bring some unsettling feelings to the head family.
But he continued nonetheless. '' There is nothing that indicates much but our spies sounded sure about one thing; if nothing is done soon they will move against us. ''
Bakuha was getting nervous, everything is about to fall into place. ''we should send someone from the branch family to negotiate, we should not endanger a councilman'' everyone nodded to that, accepting the wisdom of the statement. Bakuha turned to Faren, who nodded discretely. He stood up drawing in stares from his clansmen.
' 'If you may, dear members of the council, sending a branch family clansman would only lead to aggravate them further, it would be like cutting of our ties before even the negotiations start, they would think that we consider a minor problem while sending a real representative of the clan's interest, would smooth the situation, getting their trust back should be our priority.''
Dero was quick to answer ''and who would you suggest master Bakuha.'' After a small pause, in which no one spoke, Bakuha stood up again.
'' I believe I should go; I have dealt with the Terien before I know their traditions and aspirations. I have spent several months as their guest on the last clan gathering. I can be firm and know what the head family demands of the situation, of course with your permission grand-master Dero'' nodding unwillingly towards the master's table. He knew there was no reason to stop him from going, his reputation as the most accomplished clan's member could not be disputed, being the youngest member on the council and always displaying the calm and restrained nature of an elemental master of his position. His respect from his peers and masters was well earned. He never got involved in a situation that would demean him in any way, being the discipline of Raieh and one of the most proficient elemental users among the members of his clan only added to his strengths.
''I wouldn't consider anyone more capable than Bakuha for this mission, this young man has proved his efficiency countless times in the past'' Serkei added carefully, trying to avoid referring to Bakuha's younger days. Bakuha thanked him and turned his attention to the elders, they were concerned but not as much as Dero, he looked Bakuha with his penetrating eyes, a moment that seemed like eternity and he spoke.
''Thank you for your input master Serkei'' he paused yet again for a considerable amount of time, yet when he spoke sounded assured. 'Very well, you have my blessing, you may represent our interests.'' He said slowly.
''And with that, the meeting is adjourned.'' An elder said and clapped his hands twice.
There was clatter and chatter as the meeting came to an end, Bakuha immediately noticed councilwoman Kerlen coming his way, ''oh dear'' Faren exhaled,'' I will leave you two alone'.' And rushed towards the exit, leaving Bakuha before he had a chance to say anything,
''you!! On a diplomatic mission'' Kerpen said shaking her head in disbelief, she looked imposing standing next to him with her sharp almond eyes and her straight, shiny black hair falling on her back, she was called the flower of Sarian for a reason, her beauty could not be compared with any other woman on the clan.
''what demon possessed you to volunteer for this mission? This isn't like you at all''. Bakuha looked away from her stare, thinking of a way out, Bakuha knew that the only reason that Kerpen tried to befriend him is because of his connection to his master, she seemed to revel in the presence of Raieh, when he used to roam these halls. But she also found Bakuha a bit of a mystery, considering how much he changed over the years, they were friends since he was a child but their paths never converged.
''You don't think I have a knack for politics?''
Kerpen looked at him doubtfully. Bakuha simply smiled.
"It doesn't matter what I used to do, because as it stands the clan is going through a transformation, I plan to be a part of it '' Kerpen looked at him with genuine surprise.
''well that's a statement'' she said crossing her arms,'' You know you are the worst one here to speak about change don't you?'' she said darkening her expression.
''People change Kerpen, it is due time I prove it. Now if you'll excuse me I have preparations to make'' and with that Bakuha moved towards the exit leaving Kerpen to watch him walk away. The people of the clan had not forgotten what he did and it seemed to Bakuha they wouldn't allow him to forget either. But to him it mattered little, he was a changed man, nothing more than a respectful, well-mannered, obedient youngling; an image he build for years upon years. But every time he had been able to prove himself to his clansmen he was reminded again and again, about his lack of discipline, that he was unable to listen to commands, his inability to stay his hand from killing and finally the incident in the Elven wars; if it wasn't for Raieh -the only one who ever understood him- the elven wars would have become his undoing.
Thoughts of his past creped in as he was moving through the open gardens in the center of the circular building complex, he kept following the path made of cobblestone running through it. It was one of those trees planted right in the middle of the garden that he usually found him; his master, now gone from this world. In his stead though standing his only friends; Farren was right next to the tree trunk standing with his back to it and steadying a book on one of his hands reading it with focus. Bakuha turned to face the other man that was there as well, sleeping on one of the girthier branches. He sighed,'' I wish you cared more, Darhan'' Bakuha knew he heard him, he opened an eye slightly in response, you could feel his dissatisfaction and defiance even from far away his yellow cat-like eyes only added to that effect, one more reason people did not approach that tree, even Bakuha felt uncomfortable sometimes around his discipline. ''you are leaving then?''
,'' yes will be gone for the next two days, it is time to put everything in motion''.
Darhan smiled, ''finally, I was getting extremely bored'', he said excitedly and jumped from the tree following that with a yawn and a stretch. Darhan was not the muscular type, he was lean and slender, his build allowed him for silent and smooth movements qualities which described his clan. Of that, Bakuha could only assume, because he knew not which his clan was, after all not even Darhan himself knew his place of origin.
Twenty years ago was when Bakuha found him outside of the clan's settlement battered and bloody; a kid barely hanging to life. After his recovery it was mere days before he was recognized as an elemental practitioner, none, though was able to pinpoint which clan he belonged to, his yellow eyes could have been identification in itself but if there was a clan like that around the land of Etheros, Sarian clan's records had no mention of it.
It wasn't long before Bakuha decided to take him as his discipline, it was some time after he was allowed to have one of his own, to train and to pass on his skills, it was unexpected and certainly unusual for a council member in particular to train someone outside of his clan, many clansman thought he was mad not to choose among the hundreds of Sarian clan's promising new generation, one that would offer honor to his master in the future. But soon the murmurs of disapproval ceased, since Darhan turned out to be a scary prospect of talent, outwitting and overcoming all the challenges that an adopted member of a clan faces and coming ahead from his fellow students, people soon started fearing his powers.
Bakuha himself did not know his discipline's limits, despite all his efforts he was casted aside as an outsider unable to find the root that Bakuha hoped he will discover among the safety of a powerful clan like the Sarian. Even though Darhan did not seem to carry any scars from his dark past he was not a man to be approached with ease, but he trusted Bakuha with all his heart, he knew that. Now looking back at his closest friends he managed to gather a group of outcasts.
''Master Vieroy wishes to meet with you, he said that he is uncertain about the outcome of the plan in motion, he does not believe we should go ahead with it''.
Bakuha sighed, visibly frustrated ''I won't be able to have a talk with him I need to travel right away, you know how tight our schedule is''.
''its fine'' Faren said '' I will speak with him, but what if I cannot put his mind at ease?'',
Bakuha looked grim for a moment. '' I trust your judgment, our priority is the execution of our plan who would be a part of it is secondary''.
''Don't we need him?''.
'He is a councilman, but I have no time to waste for cowards. Two days Faren, that's our time limit''. He turned around waving at his accomplices and started heading into the complex of villas on the south of the barracks.
He took a moment to stay still as he was reaching his home sipping in the air gathering strength. He was fulfilling his lifelong ambition and nothing would stand in his way.