SWNOVELS Chapter Sixth Chant
Now and Then. Nothing important changed
“Sensei! Sensei! It’s missing the ending!”
“No, my young warrior, the story never ends. Have you already forgotten the truths from the temple?”
“No master, but it’s not what I meant… Look!”
Young boy, no more than 10 years old, ran through the hall to the next room with old scroll in his hand.
Lying on the couch, middle-aged man smoking a pipe took the scroll from the boy and smiled.
“My boy” he unreel the paper coil, got up from the couch and pushed boy back to the room he came from. “This is just a half of what we succeeded to retrieve after so many wars… Find the scroll with this symbol on it” he showed the boy small multi-cross shaped symbol in the bottom left corner of the scroll.
Room was full of books and papers laying everywhere with no place to leave the cup of tea for a moment. The man leaned on the doors and still smoking pipe looked as boy was looking through the bookshelves, desk and piles of paper to find the one scroll his master mentioned.
After few minutes of searching, boy sit tired on the floor.
“What do you think you’re doing, boy?”
“Wh… What do you mean?” boy asked while heavily panting.
“What I mean is my business, but what should YOU do right now? Is sitting on the floor the best way to find something? What did they taught you in the temple anyway?”
Boy's azure eyes pierced master’s dark brown ones with deep sadness. The temple is gone, the monastery crumbled, the monks are dead.
“Come on, speak up, what did they taught you?”
“I… I can’t… I don’t know what you want to know, sensei…”
“Tell me one rule you had to follow in the Temple and the only one I said you can break when I took you in.”
“The rule…” still panting, black haired boy stood up and whispered “No chants are allowed without permission of the Higher Fathers.”
“So? Find this bloody paper and read the story to the end… As I said, one must know past to make the future… And stop bugging me with questions every now and then. Come when you’re finished”
“Yes, sensei”
The boy put on his white hood and joined his hands in praying position, then he reached out one hand forward making it fist and whispered:
“Blue sky and blue water, guide the moon and sun. Feel the tree, feel the ink. Smell the parchment, taste its age.”
He opened his eyes which glowed dark deep red and opened the outstretched palm. The boy created small whirl above his hand sucking all the air in.
“Basic Fusion. Wood and water element. Written Searcher. Come, scroll with cross symbol.”
From the huge pile of papers on the window still few old and a little burned sheets flew up to the ceiling and fused into one long scroll.
The whirl on boy’s open palm stopped, there was no more wind current in the room and scroll slowly sank onto his hooded head.
“Sensei! It worked!” the boy screamed rushing to the doors with rolled scroll in his hands when he remembered last words of his current teacher.
His hand stopped before it reached the door-knob. He pulled it back, took off the hood and looked at the scroll.
“No, I think he knows…” boy turned around and sat on the chair in the center of the room. “No need to disturb him for now, let’s get back to reading, shall we? Mister Dhamm?”
He rolled out the coil and began reading.
In the room across the hall Sensei took out the phone and looked at the time.
'It’s late, over 3pm in the new HQ' he thought and opened window. He typed the number and before he could hear single signal some deep male voice answered.
“Father Cheng, I thing the boy is finally ready to start his actual training.”
“Very good.” deep voice could be heard loudly even without speaker being turned on. “It’s still very much time left but also many things the boy must withstand.”
“What do you suggest to do?”
“For starters, when he finish the elder scrolls, let him pass ADAM exam… Let’s see if this time Battler can survive the incoming events.”
“Yes father. I’ll fill you in his progress shortly afterwards...”
“No need… If I was right, and you know I’m always right, this boy might be the next Battler.”
“So?”
“What do you mean ‘so’, son? Bring him to me even if he fails, just remember to record it all for me.”
“Of course, dad.”
The conversation was terminated and Sensei looked at the rising above the mountains sun. He closed the window and lighten the pipe. He took deep breath, jumped on the couch, laid down and smiled.
'So, is the boy ready?…'
(end of part 1)
part 2:
The History Records of the Great War with Time, Scroll Second written down by Father Elijah. That’s the title that was visible at the top of the long document.
The boy sitting on the chair started reading the text out loud.
“After the death of General Yakufe, The Giant Army of Time left Solar System just like Callyps promised…”
Few hours after Gamidio’s funeral, I was called by the rest of Ellementall General Council. As I walked through the city to the Council Building I passed next to Yakufe’s mansion. Ms. Yakufe wasn’t on the funeral, I think she couldn’t bear it after all… Meg on the other hand never even shed a single tear.
I saw her eyes when she found out about the Battle. I must inform Generals she might want to avenge her dad next time Callyps shows up.
“Dhamm! Hey! Akh, here!” familiar voice called me when I was about to enter Council’s Room.
“Oh, it’s you Rok, what’s up? I’m wanted or something? I thought you’re assigned to The Law Forces now.”
“I am, and you’re far from being wanted.” he took me few steps back from the door and whispered “Is it true?”
“Is what true?” I had no idea what he was talking about.
Did something happened? If yes then why am I not informed? Did Council called me to fill me in something?
“You know, man. That when General Yakufe fought this whole Commander Callyps only Generals and those on their level could see the fight. I heard it was so intense and fast that no one who was there and spoke with me afterwards couldn’t see a damn.”
“Oh, that… Yeah, it was very… condensed fight.”
“So?”
“What ‘so’?”
“Did you see anything? I mean, you’re practically the only one I know who’s only one rank bellow General. You probably are on their level.”
I didn’t want to speak about that at the moment. Not after what happened with Yakufe family. And not before meeting with the Council.
As I was trying to avoid answer helped came just in time.
“High Guard Chief Akh Dhamm. You may enter the Council Room now. The Generals are waiting for you.”
“Thanks Jegh, I’m coming.” I turned around and whispered to Rokki “I tell you later, maybe after diner. Meet me on the Guard Squads Training Grounds.”
And I entered through the huge stone doors.
Two rows of high guard soldiers stood at alertness facing the center, making path for me to get closer to four figures standing at the center of the room.
With my head held high as I got closer to the center, the room became more lighted with each step I made. When I stopped in front of the Council members, General Aarivento have spoken first as my straight superior.
“Akh Dhamm, High Guard Chief, Commander of Hidden Stealth Forces and Captain of 4th Unit Fleet ‘Stargate’. You were summoned here by remaining four members of Ellementall General Council to be tested.”
“Due to sudden death of Chief General Gamidio Yakufe in combat the vacancy in his position is crucial and must be filled as quickly as possible.” said the huge male figure standing next to Lord Kazaeros, General Giji Lok.
“We considered your abilities and skills to be on a decent level to enter ADAM test.” continued Lord Kazaeros. “To enter the test there must be fulfilled few conditions. First, previous Chief General must pass away or give up his position. Second, the successor must be on at least General level in every aspect. Third, the successor must be considered matured and experienced by every member of the Council and at least three High Guards. All conditions are fulfilled. You must now state your answer, with no hesitation.”
Lady Nasui came out of line. Or more like the three other Generals stepped back a bit.
“Are you ready to take responsibility over this whole planet, fate of their inhabitants and all living things under your wings?”
“Yes I am.” I answered with no hesitation, I will have time to think about all this later.
Lady Nasui took one step back and Lord Hika moved to the front in her place.
“Do you oath to fulfill your responsibilities and protect all things from evil elements in times of peace as well as times of war and destruction?”
“I do.”
Then General Lok switched places with General Hika Pozhar.
“Are you prepared for the ADAM test? Remember, it will be extremely dangerous and ends with either your death or completion. Are you prepared to put your life at stake for peace?”
“I am.”
All Generals stood in a line again and Lord Kazaeros reached out his hand to me. I shook it and everyone smiled.
I had to leave the city in less than an hour. There is one condition that must be fulfilled to complete the test. One must survive whole year in the isolated area and gain full control over seven basic elements: water, air, lightning, flame, wood, stone and metal.
I packed some cloths, some necessary stuff and went to the Southern Gates of the City of Chronostary.
I bumped into Rokki half way between my quarter and the Gates.
“Oh, Akh. Good luck. I heard about the test. It’s extremely tough, right?”
“Yea, there was supposed to be other successor of General Yakufe but he died during the test over 10 years ago.”
“Do you know who he was?”
“Yes. He was General Yakufe’s first born son. He was around my age then... Anyway, I’ve got to run. I’ll see you later then.”
“Yea.” and I walked away south. “Don’t die on me there! Remember:…”
But I needn't to hear his voice, I knew exactly what he was screaming about.
His motto:
‘No matter how far they send us, how terrifying the mission will get, mark my words, elements are everywhere and with them we will return.’
And I’m more than positive that this time it will come true.