Gaia struggled with Julian's grip on her shoulder but failed to break loose. Julian was bigger than her and had so much pride in his strength that he did not even flinch one bit.
"Let me go!" she yelled. She stumped her feet around as she was being dragged through a hall way, approaching a room.
Julian dragged her into the room and tossed her to the floor without much stress. The sound of her body striking the ground made the old man behind a table raise his head from the paperwork that took all his focus.
The man, bald with long white beard stared at her. He stood immediately and walked to Gaia, crouching before her. Gaia shifted back, avoiding such close distance but this man leaned forward.
His cold hands were on her cheeks now. "My goodness!" he exclaimed, "You're alive, Gaia!" His eyes were nearly tearing up as he hugged her.
"You're alive!" he said again.
Gaia sat still, astonished at what she heard. "M-master?"
"I'm sorry, Gaia. Sorry we didn't come for you guys all this while."
-
Maelo's scream reached the upper room where the masters gathered. They heard the scream from underneath them and chose to ignore it, their meeting continued regardless. Grandmaster Viztef and his reason for visiting was the matter on discussion for which they gathered.
"We still have a little more than a half year," master Trathmir said, "we should use it wisely."
Yoken leaned in, his hands resting on the table. He glanced at the others. "I suggest we train them ourselves," he said. "We've all experienced the festival firsthand and we know how it can get."
The masters murmured and deliberated amongst themselves. Yoken's words were truly the most profitable thing to do. Their circumstances did not allow them so many options, and Kaadin did well to rub it in their faces at the slightest opportunity he had.
The door went open and master Tu Tu walked in. He wiped his bloodied hands with a cloth as he moved to an empty seat.
"What happened?" Kelluen asked.
"I told you he was the real deal," Tu Tu said, sitting, "I can't seem to penetrate his mind...for now. I'm sure it'll give way soon. It's only a matter of time."
Maelo's head stayed lowered with blood dripping down the sides of his head and his ears. His face was red with his blood, so much that the bleed from his nose went unnoticed. Maelo gasped, his mind swinging between reality and unconsciousness.
He turned to gaze on the Aepari that strengthened his binding circle, and he laughed. Despite being in so much pain, Maelo mocked his captors at every opportunity he got.
-
Sirsca whistled along with the birds as she hung several clothes on a rope. It was easy for her to blend in with the people of the Labronkath. As she would say, "they were not as bad as I thought."
"First impressions really do matter, my boy," she told Nyne once.
Nyne walked up to her. His face was not that of the little boy she used to know. Those bubbly eyes had disappeared, and his smile buried somewhere she had no knowledge of. Sirsca feared that Nyne sank deeper, with each passing day, into the vast ocean of sadness.
"Why do you have a frown on your face, my boy?" She asked. She tossed the cloth she held back into the pail and walked with Nyne.
"You know, I like that I get to do chores here," she said with a smile. Sirsca was happy in the Labronkath. She felt warmth and safe. Something she had not felt in a long time.
"Maybe someday, I might do more than the chores."
Nyne stopped and looked at her. He pat her shoulder like an older sibling. "I'm glad you are happy here, Sirsca."
"What is it, Nyne?"
Nyne was taken aback by her question. He faked a smile and shook his head. "It's nothing," he said to stop Sirsca from worrying.
Sirsca still knew Nyne. A babe she nursed, there was no way she could not tell he lied. "You weren't always good at lying, you know. Do tell, what bothers you?"
He fiddled with his hands and barely looked his godmother in the eyes. "Is it that obvious?" he asked.
Sirsca persisted. "What's the matter?"
Nyne did not know the right words to say. He feared that Sirsca would worry, and that made it even harder to say anything. Sirsca, however, did not plan on letting whatever it was eat Nyne up.
Nyne took a deep breath. "The festival..." he said, finally giving in to Sirsca's persuasion, "I want to take part."
Sirsca stayed silent for many minutes. Her lingering silence made Nyne uneasy, but her silence allowed her reflect on what Nyne said. Sirsca took her time to absorb his words, and to find the right words.
"The festival of pruning?" she asked, "Didn't they say it's dangerous?"
"I know that but there's no way I can get to the capital if I miss this opportunity. I need to find out why father and my brother were murdered."
Sirsca's eyes teared up watching Nyne talk. The little boy she knew had become a man.
"Just promise me one thing," she said, holding his hands, "promise me you'll return."
Sirsca may not have the grace to understand or even use magic, but one thing stood out for her - she had an innate ability to read people. She could tell a lot about a person by simply listening or even observing them. With Nyne, she knew within her that his mind was made up. She could not stop him and she did not plan to, even though Nyne really hoped she would ask him to stay. Sirsca understood that this journey was necessary. She might not have the answers to all his questions, but if Nyne had a chance to get them, she was definitely not going to stop him.
Nyne placed his hand on hers and nodded. "I promise."
She embraced her little boy. Although Nyne's voice was muffled but she could tell he was sobbing.
He whispered. "It's so warm. I haven't felt such warmth in a very long time."
"Thank you, Sirsca."
-
At sunrise the next day, every Aepari of the Labronkath gathered. Each one dressed in the standard dark brown robes and black long sleeves with only the masters sporting special robes.
The masters were seated before them. All six of them present. The Aepari murmured amongst themselves with many shooting quick glances at master Tu Tu.
Master Yoken stood from his seat and approached.
"Greetings!" he said, "We have gathered you all today to pass an important information. As you all know the pruning is nigh. Those who have tasted understand what I mean. A few among you have decided to represent us. I want you to know that we wish you well and a safe return. Remember that you're not going there as yourself, but as a son and a daughter of the Labronkath. A heart of the continent of Esterya!"
The hall went into a frenzy with loud cries from the sorcerers. The Aepari roared like warriors heading into a battle. Swords and spears reached for the roof and clinked at each other.
"It's nothing to be happy about," said one of the Aepari, "it's a shit show."
Vorgard glanced in the direction of the Aepari that had just spoken. His voice downed by the noise the others made but Vorgard still heard every single word he murmured. He had heard rumours of the festival but never had the chance to be part of one, and might never if he missed this one. Many said it was a festival of bloodshed and grace. Stories were told of sorcerers who lost their sanity, and sorcerers who reached the top of their ranks as well.
"They are merely stories. Tales told to children," Vorgard thought. Vorgard refused to believe that such a thing existed in the realm.