We walk from Juqus administration block and arrive at a doorway with a large, plain number four inscribed above it. Inside is a stone-walled complex seemingly built deep into the thick city wall. On the other side must be the river Ou.
Raehla tells me that even though many divisions are stationed at Juqus Barracks, building four has been reserved solely for her division.
We arrive at the building's armoury where Raehla deposits the box. Then we descend a ramp to the training den, a huge, sunken bunker room lit wonderfully by deep view-slots out to the river. Through them I can make out rivergrass and a large number of barges gathering outside.
A woman in a hooded camouflage dress is waiting here to greet us. After a confused glance at my pants she waits for Raehla to introduce her. She is "Lissa, Hero of Holding". With a short but triumphant military curtsy she looks inquiringly at her superior, commander Raehla.
Lissa is gorgeous. Her long golden hair flows loose about her combat fatigues. Raehla explains that she is a first-class combat trainee with advanced skills in ranged weapons.
Raehla then introduces me to Lissa as "Jak, Wand Bearer select". At these words Lissa's eyes widen and she instinctively clasps her hands.
Raehla explains that, like me, Lissa was selected in a similar wooden box ritual. In fact hers was the first successful relic selection test. It was a slow, city-wide process that took Raehla almost a year. All combat personnel in Opak had been asked by her to hold the relic box while Raehla herself read out incantations in an lost language.
Lissa's selection by the relic was instrumental in legitimising the formation of Wand division within the Holy Army, Raehla remarked. After Lissa, a handful more heroes were found, some from different cities of the kingdom. They are all currently quartered here in Juqus 4 and participating in research to uncover the power of the wand relic.
I ask Raehla if experimenting with the wand relic is dangerous, and she admits that it might be. "So far we have demonstrated some minor power effects, but these are extremely weak. With a Bearer present we should be able to attempt a true ignition ritual and the output should be substantially more. The danger will naturally increase as we further advance our research."
Lissa grins, "The full power of a legendary weapon, Wand Bearer! Can you imagine?"