Kaya woke in her bunk, once again at first light. She had found the bunk still more luxurious than her simple hide and padding bed at home, but it was nowhere near the level of plump excellence she experienced at the Warriors Rest. Only her armour had been removed, as it was much cooler within the bright stone walls of the fort and she could comfortably sleep even though she had most of her layers still on. Several of the recruits had noticed her when she came in, northerners looked very different from most of the other races, having generally fairer skin and darker hair, with stronger features and normally slightly taller than most of the southern races. Needless to say, she stood out among the darker and stockier southerners but they regarded her more with curiosity than anything else and she engaged in conversation, brief and vague though it was, with most of them as everyone mingled among themselves. Small talk about life as a new recruit, combat experience, losses both shared and personal, histories of peoples and places, regrets and achievements, many of them still with wounds so fresh they are seen weeping in the mess or into their pillows at night, praying desperately to gods we know are not there anymore, and clutching tightly to any relic remaining of a time when their lives weren't shattered.
It soon became apparent that most of the Lighthand ranks were a collated group of dropouts, rejects, criminals and survivors. Few were trained soldiers before coming to the brigade, and fewer still were even beyond the fourteenth year at most. There was, however, some small semblance of hope among them all, as not one of them suffered alone, and Kaya never saw a warrior crying with no one consoling him, every weeping mother had another survivor holding them as they wept. It made Kaya feel uneasy to look around at the group of what in her culture were essential elder children, and think of them training to fight all manor of foes, from beasts to humans and even the occasional demon. While it is true the Mal'Katai have a rich heritage of hunting, they were not really fighters, favouring to learn only what they needed to cycle the gifts of the land provided, and fend off the occasional attack from some boorish group or another. Despite these feelings of unease, it warmed her heart to see the level of acceptance and love among the troops of the Light, and she truly started to imagine these veritable outcasts as her family, extended though it may be.
She wasn't entirely sure what she was supposed to be doing this morning save that at some point she would be expected to recite the Oath of Light. She like the others had been given a parchment with the Oath scrawled upon it, and Salec had told her she'd be expected to commit it to memory. Luckily it was not overly longwinded or complicated, and after a few tries, most of the troops were confident they knew it. So she remained there and waited, just sitting in her bunk toying with her brother's blanket in her lap, rubbing it gently between her fingers and palms she let her mind drift back to times growing up in the village and smiled as her eyes started to twinge a little. She thought of the time last year, when mother was preparing for babe to be born, fussing over every little detail of his crib, his clothes, his blanket... She wondered how long it would take to be able to think of her past with fond longing and regretful comfort as opposed to the bitter, crushing agony she felt now. Before her mind wandered any further she was startled by Soren at her bedside, as if from out of nowhere, though Kaya had come to expect this of him. When he chooses to, Soren can move with a lightness of feet and a swiftness of execution that could not be rivalled, save for a wraith and could barely be seen by any normal person's eyes. It was almost as if he briefly becomes nought more than a shadow, and appears exactly when he intends to. While mostly he used this as a combat technique, as it is very taxing to keep doing by his own admission, he does on occasion allow his more jovial side to flourish and uses it purely for dramatic effect.
"Morning lass. 'Ad a feelin' first light'd call you from sleep." he chuckled.
"Much easier to wake up here than it was in the Inn. Argh, I never wanted to leave that bed." Kaya sprang from her bed and swiftly tucked her brother's blanket into her bag.
"Yea Eridos been runnin' that place since his Father died, think nineteen year ago? He was barely in his fifteenth year hiself, but hes done good wit' the place, no doubt, those beds are sommin' else lass, and that wine?!" He let his eyes roll in mock pleasure as Kaya was standing up straight, she stretched herself out a little as she began to strap on her armour layers, she laughed and asked him, "Whats the plan?"
"Yar t'be sworn in wit' a group o' recruits, then it'll be drills an' trainin'. 'Ave ya learnt the oath yet?" Soren questioned.
"Mostly I think, I went over it last night with some of the others." She had finished getting dressed and armed.
"They'll also be outfittin' ya wit' Lighthand equipment. New armour and weapons."
Kaya froze. The thought of not using the Whitewood shortbow she made when she was only in her ninth year and had used it ever since, made her skin crawl and her spine run cold. The armour she wore was made from the hides of Grunks that she slayed herself, and they were tanned and fashioned by hands she trusted, hands that held her as a babe. She could not bear the thought to give up what remained of her home and her people, it was all she had left, though she was well aware it was probably not going to be fit for the task as a soldier of the Lighthand. She and Soren made their way down to the mess hall to get something to eat and sat with Salec who was already eating. When they were all seated and had exchanged greetings Salec spoke up "Ya got the oath in ya mind lass? If ya goin' ta be captainin' wit' us gotta make sure ya kno' what ya doin'."
Kaya nodded with a mouth full of Porga sausage, "Yea I think I got it down" She was still nervous about changing her gear, but the more she thought about it, the more she settled with the idea. After all, there was nought left of her home and the people that she knew of. The ones that were alive had all seemingly fled by the time she returned from her hunt, and who knows how many of them are actually left to begin with. If the Lighthand are to be her family now, she must embrace them as such, but she would never forget the traditions of the Mal'Katai and would make sure they lived with her until her End.
"We'll be headin' into the courtyard after breakfast, after the Oath is done, ya to join me and Soren as Captains." Salec began to stand as he was finished eating and grabbed his trusty hammer, propped behind him on the wall, "I'll see you out there... Captain." He smiled, Kaya smiled back and took his leave, patting his brother's shoulder as he passed.
They finished their meal and Soren guided Kaya out to the courtyard where she could see at least a couple dozen other recruits standing in a group a little separate from the bulk and she assumed these were the others being sworn in. Soren motioned for her to go and join them, and as she walked over to them she saw Commander Velixar standing on the stage above the troops. She was a little reassured at least seeing a face she could put a name to and started making small talk with the others as she arrived. A little while later, a huge cheer erupted from the assembly as Kaya saw another Paladin but not quite, walking out onto the stage. He was the largest man she had ever seen, easily the same size as a Zebear and bigger than either of the Paladins she had seen earlier. His armour was like theirs by design, but bigger, more regal, radiant, more exquisite somehow, seemingly glowing with an eerie ethereal yellow-white light, and she noticed he was not wearing a helm like the other Paladins. His features were sharp and chiselled, his defined chin flanked by a short beard on both sides and his hair to his shoulders and dark as the night sky. Though his eyes were dark, Kaya could see the fire within them from where she was, and she noted his energy riled up the soldiers to an almost fervent level. Velixar lifted his hand towards the sky and the congregant mass fell to silence almost instantly.
Velixar spoke first, "Soldiers… it is my great honour to introduce, our Grand Exalted Overseer and Lord of all the Light, Terack The Lightbringer!" The crowd cheered again, just as ferociously as before, citizens had stopped whatever tasks they should be getting on with to join the adoration of this enormous presence.
This time, it was Terack who silenced the crowd, raising his hand again to render them dumb, as he spoke in a booming and powerful voice, Kaya could swear she could actually feel each word as it was said, "Soldiers of the Light, you are all blessed by divinity and guided by the purest of judgement. You come to us broken by this world, so long abandoned by the gods who made it, left to crumble and fail and starve and die but by the grace of Light are rebuilt. By the Light, you are healed, and if you swear yourself to it, with loyalty and honour in your heart, the Light will protect you, I WILL PROTECT YOU!"
He pushed his palm to the sky and an instant shockwave of air blasted from him in all directions, pushing a few off their feet. In his hand slowly materialised a bolt of yellow lightning, easily 8 feet in length, and he held it crackling above his head as the crowd cheered and the clouds began to look angry, gathering high above him in the atmosphere, swirling rapidly darkening vortex, accompanied by the great rolls of thunders roar. For a few seconds, the bolt crackled and sparked before he loosed it clear towards the heavens, with a great throw, and when it was high in the sky above them, just as it was about to pierce the dense layer of black cloud he clapped. The bolt split as his hand met and burst into what seemed an uncountable amount of sparks and smaller bolts flying in every direction, illuminating the atmosphere with that same brilliant yellow-white light for a few seconds as they dissipated into the air and with the clouds began to fade and disperse. After the display, the clouds began to abate and the scorching beams of the noonday sun warmed the growing and gathered once more. The crowd roared and Kaya had to admit to herself that the display was impressive, to say the least. She had never seen any of the Mystics of her people use the elements in such a direct and controlled way, nor did she even think a mortal could do so. Only gods can do that.
"Step forward all those who seek the refuge of the Light!" He boomed again and the group started to eagerly shuffle forward, lining up in one row in front of him, left hand on their chest, Kaya stood at the end of the line, standing as the other recruits did.
"Speak the Oath and bind yourselves to the Light!"
All at once, the recruits spoke the Oath of Light.
"I swear to become a beacon for the faithless
I swear to be a shield to any who would stand with me
I swear to weather the storms of chaos
I swear to meet terror with courage
I swear to never leave a fallen ally behind
I swear to place duty above all else
I swear to protect the world from darkness
I swear to temper myself in the face of loss
I swear to flee from conflict
I swear to fight until my last breath
I swear to devote myself to the Light
All this I swear, on my honour and my life
Should I break my oath, my life is forfeit
In Calaanas name, I stand for the Light."
A hush fell over the crowd as the Oath concluded, and Terack broke the silence a few moments later, "Soldiers... Warriors... Brothers and Sisters in Arms and honour, today you have sworn yourselves to the Light, in service to Calana after your End, and in service to me until then. Go with courage in your heart, fight with power in your blades, live with wisdom in your minds."
Velixar finished for him, "In Light Be Bound"
Kaya shouted with the troops, "Be bound by Light" it genuinely felt warming to Kaya to belong again, suddenly as she allowed her gaze to break from Terack and look over to Soren and Salec cheering for her, she didn't feel so alone anymore.
Terack turned to leave and Velixar followed him off the stage as he directed the crowd began to disperse, quartermasters and officers were busy arranging and guiding their new recruits. Kaya headed off to find Soren and soon was walking off with him towards the quartermaster of their unit as Salec caught up to the pair and joined their journey. Terack and Velixar continued to move towards the back of the stage and off out of sight.
"The troops look pretty good this time round, all things considered." Velixar started.
Terack spoke much more softly with his companion as they left the sight line and earshot of the others, "Hmmm... I do want to agree my friend..." he let his thought trail off into nothing, though it was clear something more was on his mind.
Velixar probed, "My Lord?"
Terack waved him away, "Need not concern yourself with the musings of an old fool." he smiled and Velixar visibly relaxed and nodded his understanding to his superior.
"I understand my Lord, however I'd be remiss if I didn't at least offer council."
"Your council, and companionship have been appreciated these many years my friend, and I hope will be for many more. Which one was the recruit from Soren and Salec's unit?"
"The one recommended for promotion?" Terack nodded for him to continue, "Kayarona, she was the sole found survivor of a demon attack at the base of the Headway mountain range."
"And thats where the unit found her?"
Velixar nodded before going on, "She had followed and hunted the demon for near four days I believe, she has its hide." He couldn't help but crack a grin at his respect for the skill displayed to accomplish such a feat, "She got the kill."
Terack was visibly impressed by the skills and confidence it would have taken to give chase to even a smaller demon, more as she went after it alone, and then felled the thing. He smiled also.
"That's mildly impressive. Do you agree with the assessment that she would make a good leader?"
"I do my Lord."
"Very well, I leave the arrangements to you."
"Will that be all then my Lord?"
Terack grunted as he gave his commander a shallow nod and they saluted each other.
"I will see to the next patrols and make sure the recruits are out fitted accordingly before they leave." As Velixar left towards the barracks, the Lord of Light turned towards his private chapel and as he walked he pondered.
None among his rank have had the gall to face even a Trakken on their own, demons having the reputation for consuming everything around them in an indiscriminate flame of death and chaos. The larger ones have been responsible in the past for entire cities being burned to ashes in a single night. Entire societies had been erased from history because of these foul creatures, and that legendary status is deserved in every way. If Kayarona would serve as a leader among the Lighthand, she could inspire that same level of confidence and bravery in the troops she commanded, and a strong ally she would be.
He arrived at his chapel and removed the heavy bolt holding the door closed. He opened the small Firwood doors leading to a small, dimly lit and sparsely decorated room, containing only a few candles, oddly glowing with deep crimson light, a small altar, a handful of pillows and atop the altar, a figure carved from Blackstone in the likeness of Thanaag, Elder God of Death. Someone, wrapped in a fraying and simple black robe was prostrate in front of the altar, chanting something very quietly and as Terack approached, they stopped the prayer and slowly rose to their feet keeping their back turned to Terack.
"The new ones... are they... good stock?" it spoke in a voice that seems to not come directly from the person, or thing that was talking, but rather just seemed to be in the room.
"I believe they are." Terack replied.
"Good... we need... more... stock..."
"Do we know any more about the other matter?"
"Words... fail... leave us..."
The figure started to curl up again as soon as it had finished speaking but Terack had more, "There was a survivor of the demon attack."
The figure stopped amid its movements and stretched to stand again, "What... did you...say?"
"Someone lived, a girl... shes the right age... It could be related."
A low growling hiss began in the chapel and grew more intense with every passing moment, and Teracks ears began to ring in pain as it grew. Mercifully after a few seconds it abated, and the voice spoke again, "Watch her... carefully... Terack... Go!" the figure started to curl again chanting its prayer louder than before, as Terack turned to leave the chapel, he bolted the door again behind him. He let his hand rest on the bolt for a time as he released a heavy sigh, before composing himself and moving on to his daily duties of being Terack the Lord of Light.