CHAPTER 39

CHAPTER 39

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”

 

Yexi tapped lightly on Shenjoon’s head, disrupting his intense gaze on his urn which was placed on a table in the room especially provided for them.

            “Why are you looking at it like that?” she asked. Without seeking his opinion, she wheeled his wooden wheel chair next to the bed.

            “I did not remember taking my urn along when I was trying to save us,” he blurted. “And it just appeared in our room!”

            Depending entirely on Yexi to move his body onto the bed, Shenjoon yelped when he accidentally banged an arm against the surface of the bed.

            “I’m so sorry, Shenjoon!” His wife apologised quickly. Since he was suffering more from physical injuries, the Sage healers could not do much but to leave his injuries to recover on their own. His hands, lower arms and legs were heavily bandaged with strange-scenting herbs.

            “It’s okay, Yexi.” He shrugged it off. “But I just can’t stand the smell of my bandages!”

            She sighed with remorse. “Sometimes I wish I were a healer, a healer of the flesh at that.”

            The pair of dark Flamese eyebrows knitted together. “That’s weird. Grandpapa always said to be born a Lundea is a great blessing by the gods, plus, you’re a Yamist. Why would you want to be a normal healer? You have to be a non-Lundea to be that.” It was obvious that he disapproved of the thought.

            Yexi’s fluent movement of adjusting the blanket and fluffing the pillows so that he was in the most comfortable position possible, paused for a moment as he reminded her of her duty to the Light, not that she had ever forgotten it. She resumed her doting actions quick enough so that he did not realise the odd stop.

            “Well, if it isn’t because you keep getting yourself injured physically, I definitely would not have such thoughts!” she replied sensibly. Restoration of the body whereby the damages are done by physical inflictions is the one thing the Sacred Energy could not be used for. Resurrection of the flesh was impossible. Otherwise, the rule of the living would be breached.

            “Yexi, you know that the Tao-Yang Energy in me hastens my recovery. Christine and the others get physical injuries from fights too and they have their Sacred Energy to help them heal, even though they don’t heal immediately,” he said, placing his arms on his body to avoid lying on them in his sleep.

            The wife laughed quietly. “You’ve become more talkative lately.”

            Shenjoon smiled at the remark. “I think it’s because of this journey.”

            “I agree, Shenjoon. We have found very pleasant people for friends.”

            He closed his eyes, prepared to sleep.

“Yexi...”

            “Hmm?”

            “I like listening to your songs.”

            Following his words, a soft melody filled his ears, sending him off to the dream realm.

 

            The Prince dragged his feet on the grass, unable to lift them up to walk properly. He gritted his teeth as he felt terrific amount of gravity tugging onto his body due to the weight bags strapped to his four limbs. Master Orestes had told him to hike along the circumference of the small village with the weights. Two hours had gone by but he was not making good progress, barely completing one-quarter of the circumference.

            He leaned against the defense walls which protected the village within. They were not brick walls; they were simply crude walls of stone erected from the grounds. Sage Village was outlandish. Everything was, in a way, natural. While the interior of the homes of the villagers might appear the same as any other homes in the outside world, their exteriors were actually gigantic trees. The types of trees were decided according to the residents’ preferences.

            As he was fit to commence his trainings before the others, the Fierell sisters’ master insisted he used his time productively. He was of the same opinion but he didn’t expect his starting task to be as gruelling as the present.

            “If we had more time, I would have you carry out this training the way Sonia did. However, she began since childhood. You don’t have the luxury of time, hence, you might find my trainings more severe than any of which you have undergone.”

            Those were the master’s words.

            His lost of focus caused him to trip over a stray stone on the ground.

            “Argh!”

            He stumbled and plummeted down onto his four. He smashed a fist onto the ground, frustrated. The late morning sun was beating down on him. His whole body was drenched with his own sweats. He turned over to face the sky, lying on his back.

            I’m so tired...

            A gentle breeze brushed against his cheeks. He heard chirpings of the birds and rustles of the leaves and grasses. It seemed so peaceful and tranquil in this part of the Kingdom. Who would believe there was a great evil haunting the world beyond, where peace was so fragile?

            He opened his eyes when a shadow cast over him, blocking the blazing sunlight.

            “Lorenne!”

            He struggled into a sitting position. The Yamist of Wisdom giggled as she watched him made his effort.

            “It’s not funny,” the Prince grumbled, a little annoyed.

            “I’m sorry, Raviex,” she apologised, smiling mildly. “Forgive me but I really don’t think you should be resting.”

            Raviex exhaled. Master Orestes must have sent her to check on me.

            “I came because Christine wanted me to make sure you are not slacking.”

            The pair of heavenly blue eyes blinked, then, its owner slowly ruffled the hair on the back of his head guiltily. “It’s just so... tough.”

            “Persevere, my Prince. Master knows what he is doing,” comforted Lorenne.

            He could only nod wordlessly.

            “Christine would have come here personally but she can’t, of course. When she heard about your training, she told me that it would be better for you to have company as you carried it out,” the girl explained.

            It was strange how the simple, kind thought from the red-haired girl could easily conjure a smile on his face.

            “Thank you, Lorenne.” He felt much rejuvenated. Finally, he was back on his feet and prepared to finish his task.

            “Don’t thank me just yet. My duty is not over. Christine would have used the Visual-C to talk to you but since it can’t work within Sage Village, I’ve promised her that I’ll keep you companied until your mission is accomplished.”

            He laughed aloud. “Alright, why not?” It was better than hiking alone.

            You understand that I am weak when I’m alone, right, Ryn?

            The weight bags did not feel as heavy when he recommenced his training.

 

            The sun was going to set in a few hours when Raviex dropped down in exhaustion before the entrance to Sage Village, sitting with his back against the stone wall. He let out a cheer whilst Lorenne clapped happily for him.

            “Mission not accomplished if you don’t step into the village, Prince Ax.”

            A light chuckle followed. “Come in already, Raviex.”

            Raviex turned his head to see Sonia, Kyoden and Christine welcoming him back from his training (Kyoden and Christine were sitting on a wheel-chair). He laughed heartily. “Hey, you’ve no idea what’s it like!”

            “It can be monstrous, I know,” Sonia said. “Apparently, you’ll be consistently stretched to your limits by Master. I honestly doubt if you can withstand it.”

            “Don’t worry, I’m not too certain myself,” replied Raviex half-jokingly.

            Christine wheeled herself before him. “One step at a time; take your training day by day. It’s easier that way.” She offered a hand to him. Taking it, he pushed himself up, staggering slightly.

            “How are you feeling today?” he murmured as he bent over to kiss her forehead tenderly.

            Kyoden coughed. “Excuse me, there’s another person who is injured severely during our Silvongein expedition which caused the fella to be stuck in a wheel-chair too.”

            “I did not forget you, Kyoden,” remarked Raviex, amused.

            “Then you shall kiss my forehead too.”

            “No, thank you, Kyoden,” the Prince declined instantaneously, retreating behind Christine.

            “Okay,” the Haikenese sighed.

            “It’s not even funny,” Sonia uttered mercilessly.

            “You’re saying that only because I did not ask you to kiss my forehead,” he returned her a haughty retort.

            Sonia kicked his wheel-chair so that he flopped onto the ground clumsily on his belly. “I’m a patient, you witch! I am so reporting you to Master Orestes!” wailed Kyoden.

            Lorenne hurriedly helped him back to his wheel-chair; the other Fierell grunted as she left. “And I thought the two of you would have gotten along a little by now,” she muttered. Kyoden turned a deaf ear on purpose.

            But that’s how we communicate...

            “Raviex, Master Orestes is waiting for us,” informed Christine. He nodded once and began wheeling her in the direction of the Sage’s home. Lorenne and Kyoden trailed just behind.

            Trees of exotic kind greeted them as they walked. Most were roughly as tall as a two-storey building, with leaves as large as a man’s palm and branches which reached out. The flowers which blossomed from the trees, however, varied.

            Just before they took the left route to Master Orestes’ tree, Raviex’s eyes lingered upon a peculiar weeping willow located further down the right route beside a pond. It would have passed off as a normal weeping willow if it was not for its white leaves which possessed the sparkles of diamonds. His hair on the back of his neck pricked up as he felt invisible eyes on him, observing him from the tree.

            “Lorenne, who does that weeping willow belong to?” he asked, his sight still fixed onto it as they walked on.

            There was only one tree on the other path they left behind, so, she instantly knew. “The Three Silent Sages reside in that tree, Raviex,” she replied uncomfortably.

            “Silent Sages?” repeated Christine who became interested to. It was hard not to notice such a tree. “Don’t they have names?”

            “Umm... I don’t really know a lot about them, to be honest with you. I’ve never seen them out of their tree nor met them personally. The villagers here merely refer to them as the Three Silent Sages,” said Lorenne.

            “It’s not just them. I feel the people here generally are quiet,” commented Kyoden. The other foreigners were of the same opinion. Raviex was uncertain if it was the appropriate word to describe them but he saw that they were far different from the people he met in Little Dai Town or Kaza City. While they do associate themselves with one another, they would speak very softly despite the non-existence of such regulation. He realised also that the villagers wore similar simple robes.

“It must appear strange to all of you,” admitted Lorenne. “Those of us who live here, we are close to nature. The way we live revolves around the principle of respecting nature. That is why, though we seek comfort, the villagers here always make sure nature is not harmed,” Lorenne explained.

“To live with nature...,” mused the Prince. They literally do live with nature.

“But why is it that you and Sonia do not dress as how the villagers do?” questioned Christine.

Lorenne’s green eyes fell to the ground. “We aren’t real natives from Sage Village. Master said our parents left us with him in order to stop the Civil War of Ignorance.”

Raviex, Christine and Kyoden murmured their apologies. The Civil War of Ignorance occurred roughly a decade before the Kaza War in Sage City between three groups of people: Flamese-Sage and Millen-Sage, who made up the larger share of the population of the city, and the remaining minorities.

Sage City was not one of the Eight Powers which existed before the kingdom. It existed after the formation of the Katelion Monarch; its existence came also after Sage village (there was no connection of history between these two places). The civil war broke out when the people became intolerant with one another. It was discovered later that it was the Valkyr Empire which fanned the flame of hatred among them. While there were those who tried to prevent the war from occurring, damages and casualties still happened.

“Master Orestes brought up my sister and I here where it is peaceful and distant from dangers but he did not bind us with the traditions of this village. He told us that we do not originally belong here and one day, we will live this village to lead on our lives,” added Lorenne. She smiled when she thought of her sister. “I know Sonia loves to venture out of here. It is not the same for me. I love this village. If the Light could grant me this wish, I hope to live out my life here without worldly worries.”

Deep within, Raviex yearned for the same wish too. He knew it could not be so since he was the Crowned Prince. The peace of the world was his responsibility. It was not a choice but fate.

The walk to Master Orestes’ home was short since it was, after all, a small village. It marked the end of the conversation. The old Sage was watering the bushes which grew by the side of his tree. He looked up at the group.

“Can’t you magic the bush to water themselves?” asked Kyoden, frowning, as though it was the smartest question one could ask on that very spot.

          Master Orestes laughed heartily. “If you can do it on your own, why should you not accomplish the work with your own hands?” He then beckoned them into his tree.

            The three who came from beyond Sage Village sat around a round table as Lorenne dutifully prepared tea to be served. They had not passed the stage of awe as to how the interior of the trees could become homes to the villagers. Inevitably, they suspected there was sorcery at work.

            “You have finished your hike earlier than I expected, dear Prince,” the Sage remarked with favour. “Your grounding is fairly well but do not be too pleased just yet. The journey is not a breeze.”

            Raviex found difficulty to move with the weight bags around his arms and was about to remove them when Master Orestes stopped him. “You will carry out daily activities with those on until I say you may remove them,” he said sternly. “You will walk with them, sleep with them, eat with them, do your trainings with them et cetera, but I will exempt you from them when you are going to take your bath.”

            He was compelled to say ‘yes’ and grabbed his cup of tea with much clumsiness. “I feel sorry for you, chap,” sympathised Kyoden.

            “Kyoden, you are no exception. Your training will commence three days from now. I am positive you will achieve full recovery by then,” Master Orestes directed his attention to the Haikenese.

            “Me?” he gasped in horror.

            “Yes, you, it is quite unnecessary for you to make me repeat myself when you clearly understood my instructions,” chided the teacher.

            “Okay,” he said meekly. I would love to know if I can further development my skills anyway. “What about Christine? Why doesn’t she get trainings too?” he whined.

            Master Orestes cast a glance at the girl. I’m sorry, Allegar, there is nothing I can do to help her. “She will assist the Prince when she recovers.”

            Christine looked away from the pair of grey eyes. She understood immediately the reason why she was not having any training. It was not because she was really strong but it was because he was unable to help her with her problem. Since the time her seal was brokened, she had not used skills which required Sacred Energy. She dared not try, afraid that she personally no longer had the control over it.

            “Master Orestes, do you know how I can find the White Ruins?”

“Raviex, I will tell you when the time is ripe. For now, you must concentrate in your training,” advised Master Orester. “From what you have told me, your enemy is incredibly a threat.”

“Yes, Master.”

Christine held his hand, giving him an encouraging smile.

            Watching the scene as he stroke his beard, it occurred to him the relationship between the two. Levon’s son and Allegar’s daughter? He chuckled. Fate was something unfathomable. My beloved friends, who would have guessed that I would be a guardian to your children?