FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE (12 page)

     “Understand _ I do of this, master; and I have come to terms with it. Suspected _ I have been of this of the truth all along, but I just wanted some confirmation,” explained Ray.

     “Brave _ you are of this, Ray; for you seek the truth no matter how bitter and hurtful it may be. Imagine _ I can only do of this of how you must be feeling right now, but I see now that you are a brave boy and that you will be fine,” complimented Master Santlyn.

     Ray nodded his head, but kept silent.

     “Cut _ by the way, how did you get that of this
?
” asked Master Santlyn.

     “Cut _ I got of this when I was running and I lost my balance and fell down,” answered Ray.

     “Careful _ please be more of this, Ray. Mistake _ never make the same of this twice,” advised Master Santlyn.

     Both of them sat silent for a while, enjoying the view and the cooling breeze.

     “Ocean _ Master Santlyn, what lies across of it
?
” asked Ray.

     “Ocean _ across of it lies continents and many little islands, full of people friendly and hostile; and all manner of creatures natural and unnatural,” answered Master Santlyn.

     “Safe _ is it of this to venture there
?
” asked Ray.

     “Safe _ no, it is not of this to venture there; but perhaps when you have grown up and you have mastered Elemental Sorcery and when you are able to defend yourself very well, then such a journey can be conceivable,” answered Master Santlyn.

     “Ocean _ if I do cross of it, where do I look to find my parents
?
” asked Ray.

     “Ocean _ if you do cross of it, then ask around for your surname or for the emblem of a shield with a sun in the middle of it emitting out eight rays; and mind you, it will not be easy for it could take years or maybe even decades before you manage to find a clue,” answered Master Santlyn.

     “Parents _ do you think I will manage to find of them
?
” asked Ray.

     “Parents _ I do not know if you will manage to find of them, but remember this, Ray, you will always have a family here,” answered Master Santlyn.

     “Understand _ I do of this, master,” replied Ray.

     Master Santlyn smiled and rubbed Ray’s head. Then they both sat quietly and enjoyed the beauty of nature together.

     When Ray was of the age six, he and the Dellix twins accompanied Masters Santlyn, Matten and Dencon to the nearest town, Eastpeak. Master Elementhar Rock Dencon had graduated a year after Ray was found at Monune Ruby. Besides hunting demons, Master Dencon also functioned as Master Santlyn’s assistant all these years. The Dellix twins grew looking more identical throughout the years, if such a thing was possible. To help tell them apart, Master Matten had dyed Radiance’s hair blond, while Bloom maintained her natural dark hair. The Fire Elementhars were in town to get much needed supplies. They were also there to buy rubies from a caravan of travelling merchants. While Masters Santlyn and Matten tended to business, Senior Dencon, as he was known to Ray and the twins, took the children to the town fair.

     Senior Dencon was designated as the babysitter for this outing, and he was not too happy about it. The children could tell. They saw the signs on his unhappy face. Senior Dencon was as strict as Master Santlyn, almost. But this being their first time in the town fair, their senses went wild. They immediately forgot about
not
upsetting Senior Dencon and they ran wildly into the crowd. The three children ran off in three different directions, leaving Senior Dencon clueless as to what he had to do next.

     Making their way through the crowd, Ray and the Dellix twins met up at the Ferris wheel. This was the first thing that had caught their attention. They queued for the ride but then they encountered an unexpected problem. The conductor of the ride had asked them for money, and they had none. Their happy and excited faces turned into sad frowns. Suddenly, Senior Dencon appeared and paid the conductor. The children started smiling again, but a stern stare from Senior Dencon reminded them that they were in big trouble. So they started staring at the ground and made apologetic expressions on their faces. Finally, Senior Dencon smiled and gestured them to get onboard one of the gondolas. They smiled again and got onboard immediately.

     Steadily the gondola that they were in rose higher and higher. They could see the entire town. People looked like ants to them, so small and busy. The gondola came down and went up again. After several revolutions, finally the ride was over.

     Next the children headed to another ride. It was a ship that swung sideways like a giant pendulum. Senior Dencon joined them this time. And off they went, swinging from side to side and higher and higher.

     “Ship _ of it, is this how it feels like to be onboard one, Senior Dencon
?
” asked Ray.

     “Ship _ of it, no; this is not really what it feels like to be onboard one; for the motion is far more sorter and sudden; and you shall end up vomiting a lot,” answered Senior Dencon.

     “Ship _ have you been onboard of it often
?
” asked Ray.

     “Ship _ I have been onboard of it often when I was younger, Ray, to the point that I no longer want to ever set foot on one,” answered Senior Dencon.

     “Why
?
” asked Ray.

     “Parents _ mine of them owned a fleet of fishing boats and ships, and I am bored from accompanying my father on many voyages across the ocean; and besides, the sea-sickness, the constant pirate attacks and the frequent thunderstorms that we had encountered were very scary; so I do not ever want to set foot on a real ship ever again in my entire life
!
” explained Senior Dencon.

     Ray thought about Senior Dencon’s answer. Ray was quite sure he was onboard a ship once. But he could not remember properly. All he could remember was the sound of the creaking of wood, the splashing of water, the howling of wind and the flashes of what must have been lightning. Master Matten mentioned that he could have come from across the ocean. Had he sailed through a thunderstorm six years ago
?
He had no idea. Would he sail across the ocean one day to find out where he came from
?
Maybe
?
Probably… No,… he definitely he would
!
He wanted to find out where he had come from. He felt that his life would not be complete if he did not
!

     When the ride was over, Senior Dencon brought the three children to the refreshment stalls for some drinks.

     “Fun _ which is more of this
?
” asked Senior Dencon.

     “Ship
!
” answered Ray.

     “Ferris Wheel
!
” answered the twins simultaneously.

     “Fun _ which is more of this for you, Senior Dencon
?
” Bloom asked.

     “Ground _ solid of it is the best fun for me,” answered Senior Dencon.

     “Booo
!
Fun _ you are not of this, Senior Dencon
!
” said all three children together.

     Senior Dencon laughed out loud. He liked their adventurous spirit. He was like them once, a long time ago. But one pirate attack too many had killed that spirit. No, he did not ever want to set foot on a ship again
!

     Ray was looking at the pendulum ship ride. His mind was still on his past.

     “Sail _ will you be doing of this like your father one day, Bloom, Radiance
?
” asked Ray.

     “No,” answered the twins simultaneously.

     “Why
?
” asked Ray.

     “Ocean _ we hate of it, for it takes daddy away from us
!
” answered the girls simultaneously.

     “Ships _ of them, you seem to be interested, Ray; and may I know why
?
” asked Senior Dencon.

     “Ships _ of them, I hope one day to sail across the ocean to find out where I came from, and perhaps, find my parents,” answered Ray.

     “Blame _ I do not do of this of you, but do not put too much hope, for you shall most likely find the truth a little disappointing,” answered Senior Dencon.

     Ray was puzzled by Senior Dencon’s answer. So were the twins.

     “Mean _ what do you do of this, Senior Dencon,” asked Ray.

     “Mean _ of this, I was there the morning we found you; and you had nothing but a blanket and a silver staff; which meant that most likely your parents were dead as a result of war or some natural disaster and a guardian had brought you here in desperation; otherwise your parents would have come and claimed you by now. Life _ yours of this at where you had come from is over and gone, so best if you look to building your life here with us, Ray. Future _ look to of this, and forget about the past, for there is probably nothing there but ghosts,” answered Senior Dencon.

     The Dellix twins had no idea what Senior Dencon was talking about. But Ray got the message. Senior Dencon was trying to tell him to not have high hopes as it would lead to disappointment. Ray was advised to be constructive and to think about the future which could still be shaped; and not to dwell on the past as it could not be changed. Senior Dencon had deep knowledge of history and current events; and was well educated when he came to Monune Ruby. So any advice he gave was always given serious considerations.

     Senior Dencon and the children spent the whole day at the fair. They met up with Masters Santlyn and Matten only at dinner time, when they all checked into a local inn. The Fire Elementhars left for Monune Ruby the very next morning.

     A few days later, the Dellix twins found Ray sitting on top of the boulder at the edge of the empty field.

     “Boulder _ Ray, what are you doing sitting on top of this
?
” asked Bloom.

     “View _ I am enjoying the forest’s of this,” replied Ray.

     “Up _ help us to get of this,” requested Radiance.

     “Wow
!
” said the Dellix twins simultaneously after Ray helped them to climb up the boulder.

     “Disappear _ so this is where you do of this to after breakfast and lunch, Ray
!
” said Bloom.

     “Share _ why did you not do of this of this place with us
?
” asked Radiance.

     Ray just looked at them and shrugged his shoulder.

     For a long while, all three children sat in silence and enjoyed the view and the cooling breeze that was blowing.

     “Elementhar _ your father is one of him, am I right
?
” asked Ray after a while.

     “Elementhar _ he was one of him of the fire element, but he had left the order when he got married to our mother,” answered Radiance.

     “Order _ why must he leave of this when he got married
?
” asked Ray.

     “Order _ he must leave of it when he got married because the rules of the Grand Order forbids its members from being married,” answered Radiance.

     “Father _ ours of him says that married Elementhars are not able to give full commitment to demon-hunting and thus, are no longer suitable for the job,” answered Bloom.

     “Father _ ours of him also says that because of his lack of commitment, he increases his chances of getting killed; so the Grand Order forbids its members from marrying and starting a family,” added Radiance.

     Ray was quiet. What a choice to make
!
To
not
get married so that you can keep on fighting demons, or to get married and give up fighting demons, and see your family get devoured by the very demons you gave up fighting against. Life must be a joke
!
It must be one really big joke
!

     “Choose _ what will the both of you do of this when you grow up, to stay and be Elementhars, or to leave
?
” asked Ray.

     “Stay,” answered both girls together.

     “Why
?
” asked Ray.

     “Think _ because we do of this that to
not
to have loved at all is actually better than to have loved and lost; for it is less painful this way,” answered Bloom.

     “Hurt _ it did of this when mother died, but it hurt father more than it did us; much ,much more
!
” added Radiance.

     “Sure _ are you of this
?
Agree _ because I do not do so with the both of you; for at least you knew your mother and you still have the love of your father, but I do not. Life _ mine of this is a series of question marks, one after another. Knowing _ not of this is worse than knowing, even though knowing is painful; therefore
not
loving is worse than loving, even though loving is painful,” argued Ray.