A black Raven cawed outside Zarda's window. He opened one eye and threw a pillow towards the window pane, hoping to shut it up and scare the bird away. His aim was just short and the bird remained mocking him from his bed. Zarda pushed up and went to get dressed in the tiny bathroom in the open air hallway. Dressed and ready he retrieved his staff and headed for the location where the warriors trained. He was met by the arrival of Lord Asger, who had already been up with his fleet training and practice fighting. Asgers warriors Ayaan, Hamish, Luca and Gille waited for Zarda on a old stone rubbled wall. Zarda walked over to stand with his legs shoulder width apart, facing them.
"Warriors, rise and shine! Today's mission is to find and shape two important items. We seek gemstones and large wooden branches suitable for crafting into powerful staffs. After they are crafted, I will ask for my Elohim's blessing, then you will be able to wield them individually. With Elohim's divine power and your unique skills they will merge to create a remarkable gift. You will only discover your new skill when you connect with the staff and Elohim. If you're prepared to leave, then let's begin," commanded Zarda.
The four warriors all nodded in agreement before following Zarda as he led them out into the woods. They were careful to stay within the boundaries, scanning the forest floor for the perfect broken tree boughs. The branch needed to be thick enough to form a sturdy staff. Despite the seemingly impossible task, it wasn't long before Hamish discovered the first branch that was suitable. He was pleased with his find, as were the others who soon found their own perfect match. Zarda was grateful to see that luck was on their side after a challenging twenty-minute search.
After finding the wood for the staff, they had to look for pure gemstones for the tip. Zarda understood this meant they would have to journey to Hellir or somewhere close by. The idea of returning to that cave filled him with dread. He despised the idea, aware of the sinister beings dwelling in the shadows, and having no desire to revisit that place.
He was prepared to send them deep into the mines for gems if necessary, but for now, he led them to a stream that flowed from the river of Fljot kingdom, nestled between the rocky mountain peaks near Hellir. They sifted through the stream in search of precious gems, hoping for good luck. Ayaan was the first to discover a stunning golden nugget, much to Zarda's delight, relieving him of the need to venture back into Hellir with its dark memories. Gille soon unearthed a smooth rock resembling a tiger's eye, a significant find. Hamish found a jasper stone in the depths of the stream, and Luca uncovered a beautiful opal stone.
Armed with all the necessary supplies, they were prepared to begin creating their staffs. Making their way back to Havardr didn't take long. Zarda inquired about a nearby blacksmith shop and Hamish offered to lead the way. Setting up a workshop at the smithy's tent on the far east side of Havardr near Fljot, they spent hours meticulously carving and shaping the branches into works of art. After two hours, the staffs were ready for the addition of gemstone tips. Zarda carefully guided them, using his own staff to secure the gems in place. As each warrior held up their finished staff, Zarda went to each one, blessing them with a touch of his own staff. With a prayer to his master, fire from the sky descended onto the staffs, imbuing them with incredible power. Overwhelmed by the strength of Elohims power, the warriors fell to their knees, clutching their staffs as they began to glow with varying colors. Each warrior was enveloped in a glowing aura - Hamish in orange, Ayaan in neon yellow, Gille in electric blue, and Luca in bright green. Zarda knew it was time to practice and adapt to their newfound abilities, so they followed him to the training field, their glowing forms lighting the way.
The residents of Havardr were quite shocked as they observed four glowing individuals passing through to reunite with Asger and his warriors. As they approached the field, the warriors and recruits stopped in their tracks and stared in disbelief. All eyes were on Zarda and the glowing four. Zarda promptly asked Lord Asger for a suitable spot where they could practice without causing any harm. Asger, taken aback, directed them to the far end, away from his warriors to prevent any accidents. Content with the location, Zarda had them step forward to face a hay bell target individually. He instructed them to focus on positive thoughts, as he had done with Osborn. Hamish the Bison volunteered to go first, standing in a southpaw stance with his feet comfortably apart and gripping his staff firmly, he aimed at the target. Zarda cautioned the other three to stand behind him in case of any emergencies.
"Hamish, focus on the happiest moment in your life and channel that energy towards the target. You will feel a tingling sensation in your body and see the color grow brighter. Stay focused," directed Zarda.
Hamish reminisced about his mother's loving care when he was a young calf, before he underwent the transformation into a hybrid. Memories of her gentle touch and nourishing milk filled his mind. Suddenly, he felt a tingling sensation in his body, just as Zarda had mentioned. With his tail wagging excitedly behind him. He Focused his thoughts and energy on the hay bell in front of him. An orange blast shot out from the tip of his body, creating a straight line of rocks and boulders leading up to the target. The formation continued until a powerful stone henge burst through the target, obliterating it completely. As hay drifted down from the sky after the explosion, Zarda and Hamish shared a shocked look between them.
"Wow, that's fascinating. Your talent is in manipulating earth, controlling energies within it. You can create or dismantle anything made from it. Impressive. Great job for your first attempt. Who's next?" Zarda remarked.
It was Ayaan the Lynx's turn for training next. Just as Zarda had taught Hamish, he now passed on the knowledge to Ayaan. Ayaan concentrated on his first successful hunt in the wild and the pride it brought to his grand-lynx. However, when he tried to focus his thoughts on the target, nothing happened. Feeling embarrassed, he glanced over at Zarda, let out a nervous laugh, and tried again. Despite his repeated efforts, there was no tingling sensation, not even a spark. The neon yellow glow of his skin was still there, but it wasn't as bright as before. Ayaan's confidence was starting to waver as doubt crept into his mind and heart.
"Don't give up. Maybe your skill thrives on opposition. My friend loved a good challenge. When faced with resistance, it motivated him to fight harder and stand up for himself. Find something that ignites a fire in you. If that doesn't work, I'll train with you until we figure it out. Give it another shot and try to stay calm," Zarda suggested.
Zarda sensed the frustration of the lynx from his many failed attempts. Maybe the suggestion he made was exactly what the lynx needed to regain his confidence. Ayaan shifted his focus, this time concentrating on his father - the only lynx who had abandoned his mother to protect a family of three on her own. Ayaan's fury grew as he channeled his energy, causing his yellow glow to intensify and a lightning bolt to shoot out towards the target. Unlike Hamish's abilities, Ayaan's powers were invisible, but he could feel and hear his impact in his mind. He was able to manipulate the thoughts of those around him, making them believe he had destroyed the target when it was actually still standing. Initially, Zarda didn't understand what Ayaan's gift was, but then he realized that his mind tricks were the true gift.
"Great, you possess mind control, also known as Telepathy. This ability can be very useful during your battle. You can manipulate the humans to believe they have won and they will leave, or make them think they are injured or far away, unable to reach you. The advantages are limitless. You had me to believe you had destroyed the target yet there it stands untouched. Great work, who is next?" Zarda commented.
Luca and Gille both locked eyes, each vying for the chance to go next. Zarda intervened, urging Gille to take the lead. The Red tail hawk eagerly took his place, envisioning soaring above the ocean. As he imagined the sensation of the breeze beneath his wings, his excitement caused his hands to tremble. Despite Zarda's insistence to remain calm, Gille's eagerness prompted him to release a powerful blast, accidentally igniting a nearby tree. Quick to react, Zarda extinguished the fire with his staff, displaying his mastery over his abilities. Encouraging Gille to try again, he successfully aimed and released a blue zap, unleashing his unique skill - the deafening sonic scream. The forceful blast propelled the hay bell into the air, leaving everyone reeling from the overwhelming sound. Zarda, experienced in such abilities, praised Gille for mastering the rare skill, cautioning him about its potential dangers. He recalled his friend King Jata, the tawny eagle, had the exact gift. Zarda explained to Gille, that the skill caused seizures, dizziness, mental breakdown and ear pain or even brain bleeds. Fortunately, Gille only experienced temporary discomfort, sparing him from more serious consequences.
Luca, the coyote, was the last to step up. With a favorite thought already in mind, he did not waste much time. Aiming at the target, he released a green haze. Suddenly, the hay bell jumped up to life and began walking monstrously towards them. Zarda quickly jumped in front of Luca and blasted the object to pieces. Luca turned to Zarda in shock.
"Wow, you possess the ability of animation control, allowing you to animate inanimate objects. This is a powerful skill in battle. You could summon assistance to assist you in war. Animated statue giants would be quite useful." Zarda smirked.
Zarda was pleased with the warriors' first day of training. He wrapped up their session and promised the group that they would improve their skills even further the next day. After sending them off, he left to track down Oridian and the rest of the group in order to start making plans for their visit to the plane.