FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE (45 page)

     “What
!
” responded Ray, shocked beyond his senses.

     Ray kept silent. He knew how the twins felt. He felt the same way too. Horrified. Disgusted. Sad. He had come to sit on the boulder for the view and the tranquility it offered. But the twins had come because they needed to hold on to their sanity. Therefore he decided that the best course of action was silence. He wanted to allow nature to do the healing. He wanted the gusting wind to blow away the fear and horror, the freezing rain to wash away any guilt and disappointment that they had for failing to save those villagers; and finally, the gentle swaying of the trees below to be the very cradle that rocks the baby of their souls to a gentle slumber. So the three of them sat silently on the giant boulder just like they had done for the past many years ever since they were kids.

     The sun finally appeared some two hours later and it did so low on the horizon. Ray, Bloom and Radiance got off the boulder and headed to the mess hall for dinner. Slide was already waiting for them with three mugs of hot chocolate. Thunder brought them three towels to dry themselves off. Then Slide and Thunder went off not only to get their own meals, but meals for Ray and the Dellix twins.

     “On _ what is going of this
?
” asked Ray.

     “On _ going of this, what do you mean, Ray
?
” responded Thunder.

     “On _ going of this, I mean the hot chocolate, towels and even our food trays
!
” insisted Ray.

     “Leaving _ we are of this, Ray,” Thunder finally admitted.

     “What
!?
” said Ray and the Dellix twins in shock.

     Slide and Thunder gave Ray and the twins the straightest and most honest look that they could give.

     “Leaving _ we are of this, Ray; for this will be our last Grand Creation Day together and then we shall go our separate ways. Marry _ Thunder will do of this of that mystery woman whose identity he has kept secret from us all these years and I will be leaving to return back to my parents’ farm,” said Slide.

     “Reason _ of this, as far as Thunder’s is concerned I can understand, but why are you doing this now, after all these years, Slide
?
” asked Ray.

     “Tired _ I am of this, for I have hunted and I have killed my fair share of demons and I think it is time for me to walk away from it all and go back to the life I once had, before all of this,” answered Slide.

     “Back _ but can you go of this, Slide, after what we have learnt and done, for you are now a Master Elementhar; so can you return to being a simple farmer
?
” asked Radiance.

     “Yes,” was Slide’s simple reply.

     Ray shook his head in disagreement, but actually, he was in mild denial.

     “Society _ what about the demonic of this
?
” said Ray.

     “Society _ as for the demonic of this, I shall return as an Independent, to help should I be needed. Expedition _ of it to find the demonic society will only be set out two years from now and I am only needed when we are ready to attack it; which would be even later, but in the mean time; I feel I need to return to my roots,” explained Slide.

     Ray did not understand. He could not understand. He was raised in the monune his whole life. Life outside the monune was strange to him. But it was not so for Thunder and Slide. They had known life outside the monune. They had known life unrelated to Elemental Sorcery and demon hunting. And now they felt that it was time to move on.

      “Sad _ do not look of this, for as you know, nothing in this universe is permanent, and our presence here or anywhere for that matter, will always be temporary. Return _ I too, shall do of this if and when the demonic society is found and the Grand Order is ready to attack it,” said Thunder.

     “Go _ will your future wife let you of this, Thunder
?
” asked Bloom.

     “Go _ she will let me of this, for she has already made this promise to me,” answered Thunder.

     “Happiness _ I wish of this to the both of you
!
” said Radiance.

     “Happiness _ may the feeling of this be forever yours
!
” added Bloom.

     “Happiness _ of this, and the best of luck I wish you in your new paths
!
” added Ray, finally accepting reality.

     A smile and a nod was how Slide and Thunder showed their gratitude for Ray, Bloom and Radiance’s well wishes, for in this case, gestures spoke louder than words. They finished their dinner slowly, talking well into the night; with Slide and Thunder sharing their experiences and memories of their lives outside the monune, the very lives they intended to return to.

     All the Fire Elementhars had gathered at the empty field. It was the darkest of nights, with the moon in full eclipse. Despite the gloom of the night sky, there was nothing but a glowing radiance on the cheerful faces of the Fire Elementhars as they waited in eager anticipation. The tables were set. Food and drinks were prepared and laid out. In the middle of it all, a single candle stayed lit. The candle was lit when the sun dipped below the horizon that evening. Slowly and steadily, it burnt itself away, under the watchful eyes of approximately 100 people who comprised the entire order.

     The candle burnt to the halfway mark signifying the end of the
30
th
Night of Fourth Month
of
Wet Season
. It was midnight and the start of a new day, a very special one for all Elementhars of the Grand Order. That day marked the
1
st
Day of Fifth Month of Wet Season
and it was exactly 685 years to the day Pioneer Elementhar Nova Vanguard took in her first novice, thereby giving birth to the Grand Order of Elementhars. This special day was known to all Elementhars as The Grand Creation Day.

     Heat Bursts after Heat Bursts were shot off into the midnight sky, each exploding in a spectrum of bright colours like a halo that radiated sequentially all the colours of a rainbow. Bonfires were ignited everywhere. The empty field became bright and lively. There were shouts and cheers and feasting and many forms of merriment. The young novices took the opportunity to play pranks on each other, an activity strictly forbidden at any other time. For this one special night, they were allowed to behave like normal children.

     Master Elementhar Rock Dencon executed a huge Heat Burst into the night sky that made it look almost like dawn. There were ovations all around. He was well known to be one of the gifted ones. Elemental Sorcery came so easily to him that many speculated he was probably a Grand Elementhar in a previous life.

     “Nothing _ that is of this, now watch careful, senior, and see how we ‘experts’ do it,” said Slide in a friendly yet challenging tone.

     Thunder laid his hand on Slide’s shoulder. Focussing his mind, he channelled his energy into Slide’s body, while Slide gathered up his own. Slide literally glowed orange-red from all the energy build-up. With a loud yell, Slide shot off into the sky a Heat Burst so bright every thought it was daytime.

     Senior Dencon sniggered. Then he shook his head like as though he was admonishing two naughty children.

     “Experts _ you call yourselves of these
!?
Hah
!
” he said.

     Going deep into his soul, Senior Dencon gathered so much energy that he glowed almost pure white and shot off into the night sky a Heat Burst so bright that for a moment it seemed to everyone that they were standing in the empty field at midday under a hot Dry Season sun. The resulting explosion was so loud one would have thought a volcano had just erupted nearby.

     “Expert _ who is of this now
!?
” was Senior Dencon’s rhetorical question.

     “Worthy _ we are not of this,” said Slide and Thunder repeatedly while waving their hands in mock worship.

     Everyone broke into loud, uncontrollable laughter. Ray was laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes and his stomach hurt.

     Bloom and Radiance had gotten over their recent trauma, mostly. They were, for the most part, their cheerful selves again. They were telling stories to the young novices, who listened raptly to the folk legends and the heroic tales of bygone eras. Cart, Feather and Cutter joined them and took the liberty of drawing flames from a nearby bonfire and manipulated them to form the shapes of the heroes and the villains involved as the Dellix twins narrated their stories. The novices listened with rapt attention as their eyes followed the graceful movements of the flames that were being manipulated by Cart, Feather and Cutter.

     Ray felt someone tap his shoulder. He turned to look behind, and saw Senior Dencon standing there.

     “Come _ please do of this with me to Master Santlyn’s office, for there is an important matter that he wishes to discuss with you,” said Senior Dencon.

     The two of them left the field and walked back towards the main building. Ray was curious and had wanted to ask what it was all about, but one look at Senior Dencon’s serious expression was all that was required for him to change his mind. Master Dencon knocked on the office door. A series of dry coughs was the reply, followed by the word ‘enter’.

     “Nature’s wisdom _ may you have of this, Master Santlyn
!
” greeted Ray and Master Dencon as they entered.

     “Nature’s wisdom _ may you have of this, Rock, Ray
!
” replied Master Santlyn.

     “Wrong _ have I done something of this, master
!?
” asked Ray in a rather alarmed tone.

     “Wrong _ no, you have not done anything of this at all, Ray,” was Master Santlyn’s reply.

     An expression of relief appeared on Ray’s face. The Grand Elementhar gestured for the both of them to sit.

     “Reason _ of this, I have asked for you to come here is to show you this,” explained Master Santlyn as he took out what looked like a thick, heavy book carefully wrapped in an orange-red coloured, thick cotton cloth.

     “Original Vanguard Manuscript
!
” exclaimed Ray as he realised what it was.

     “Original Vanguard Manuscript,” confirmed Master Santlyn.

     Ray removed the wrapping of the book and examined it closely, taking in all its details, such as the metal cover and the black jewel embedded into it at the front.

     “Reason _ what is of this, master, that you show me this book
!?
” asked Ray, absolutely clueless.

     “Reason _ of this, I show you this book because the High Council has decided to appoint you its primary keeper and protector; in other words, to make you Prime Guardian
!
” explained Master Santlyn.

     Ray was speechless. It was a great honour amongst the Elementhars to be appointed Prime Guardian, for only the most skilful and competent Elementhar was ever given this privilege and responsibility. But he was also puzzled. Master Santlyn was the current Prime Guardian. In accordance with the decision of the High Council, High Elementhar Dulcet Calnen, Ray’s teacher in the earth element, was supposed to be the next Prime Guardian if and when the Grand Elementhar was to find himself no longer able to function in this capacity. So why was Ray given this privilege, or rather, this responsibility, instead
?

     Ray stared at the Original Vanguard Manuscript. His face carried an expression of a puzzled look.

     “Confused _ you are of this
?
” asked Master Santlyn.

     “Confused _ I am indeed of this as to why I am appointed Prime Guardian instead of Master Calnen,” responded Ray.

     “Appointed _ you have been of this by the High Council in our last meeting, for it was decided that no High Elementhar or Grand Elementhar should function as the Prime Guardian until any and all controversial issues have been resolved. Original Vanguard Manuscript _ you are appointed the keeper of it to ensure that it cannot be ransomed or used as leverage by anyone. Remember _ you must do of this, that this manuscript is sacred to all of us,” explained Master Santlyn, coughing lightly.

     “Security _ worry not, Ray, for we shall provide of this for you when you travel back to Monune Brown Diamond, in the form of 10 escort guards,” added Senior Dencon.

     Doubts still existed heavily in Ray’s mind. This was either a big joke or a big mistake.

     “Unsure _ I,” responded Ray, but was cut short by Senior Dencon.

     “Unsure _ we know you are of this, but we are not; for the High Council have decided wisely,” insisted Master Dencon.