The Emerging Part I: Dream

Rniti gathered from all over Munda Luna fill the Gallery to capacity. The Pentad, the guests of honor, sit on a bench behind the Daijoks that stand between them and the gathered Rniti.

The excitement of the gathered Rniti wafts towards the Pentad in palpable waves of ecstasy. The Pentad feels their nerves intensify as they gaze at the gathered Rniti. They gaze at one another and nod to each other in a show of confidence.

The murmurs of the gathered Rniti echo throughout the Gallery, causing some of the wood to groan in protest. The statues of Rniti fallen of yesterday seem to twinkle with new life.

Vaiqon, Vulcan, Shark, and Rhino use their collective zoltind abilities to silence the Rniti. Vaiqon’s ire cuts through the fog of the Rniti’s minds, Vulcan’s sigo absorbs the Rniti’s latent aggression, Shark’s fuhok calms and cools the Rniti’s angst, and Rhino’s okit enhances the stubborn excitement of the Rniti gathered.

Vaiqon speaks using ire to enhance his voice so that all of the Rniti can hear him as if he is speaking in their ear directly, “Rniti,” Vaiqon begins, “my friends, my family, my sisters, my brothers, we are gathered here today to welcome the first class of Ummkoniyos in a decade.”

Vaiqon pauses as the Rniti clap in honor for the Pentad. When the applause fades away, Vaiqon continues, “We are Rniti, and as Rniti, we hold the protection of the people of Munda Luna as our highest priority. We Rniti always seek to illuminate any darkness. We Rniti always stand as the line between peace and chaos. As descendants of our founding Rniti brothers, we carry their mission to progress ourselves and extinguish any who threatens our ideals. We are Rniti,” Vaiqon concludes holding his right fist in the air.

The Rniti mirror the great Daijok and a moment of silence emits from the hundreds of Rniti in the Gallery. The Pentad feel the weight of the moment on their shoulders. Each child looks at one another with another nod of confidence.

Vaiqon’s voice then booms through the Gallery, “And now to introduce the Pentad!”

Reverent applause emits again from the Rniti as the Daijoks turn and separate to show the sitting Pentad behind them on a bench.

Vaiqon’s voice rings again, “The first of the Pentad to defeat the obstacle course, already showing signs of extraordinary ability, Hawk Kipjin!”

Hawk rises from the center of the sitting Pentad to stand at the front of the slight stage that has been constructed for the occasion.

“The second of the Pentad to defeat the obstacle course, in a most decisive manner, Boar Hedyi!”

Pork rises from the left of Hawk’s empty space on the bench to stand next to Hawk on his left.

“Fox Tixxon, the third of the Pentad to defeat the course in the most creative manner!” Vaiqon’s voice rings.

Fox rises from the bench to stand next to Hawk on the right.

“Desert Konvit, showing the most strength we have seen in quite some time!” Vaiqon’s voice booms.

Desert rises to stand next to Pork on his left.

“And lastly, with the fastest time on the obstacle course of the Pentad and any Rniti before her, the first girl to defeat the course in a decade, Santhemum Siko!” Vaiqon exclaims while clapping.

Santhemum rises and places herself between Hawk and Fox.

Laughter and applause echoes from the Rniti as Vaiqon then announces even louder than before, “The Pentad, the newest class of Rniti!”

The gathered Rniti explode in thunderous applause. Rhino turns to open a hidden door in the wall with his okit prowess that reveals a magnificent feast just outside the perimeter of the Gallery.

The Pentad are allowed first choice of the sweets, meats, fruits, vegetables, and drink. The Daijoks and Rniti soon filter into the grounds outside the Gallery and begin eating to their content and drinking to their merriment.

The feast stretches deep into the night, the moon shines its full light upon the Injhihato as the Pyroternal in the distance shines brighter than it has in nearly a decade. Vaiqon observes the festivities from the window of his bed chambers. He feels for the auras of his new Pentad and smiles at the elation he feels. He conjures an air mattress and falls into a deep sleep.

The apprentice watches with barely concealed anger behind a cloak. The apprentice watches as the master destroys the swords the apprentice has come to know as family, as friends, as tools.

The apprentice grimaces as the master melts the twin swords into a molten mass. The master throws away the handle, pommel, and guard. The master then moves to recreate the swords, even better than before.

The master manipulates the molten mass using sigo energy. Throwing seismic energy through the molten mass as well. The master strengthens the metal, creating a perfect fusion of fire and seismic energy. The master smiles at the handiwork of the newly recreated swords.

The master tosses the swords to the apprentice where the apprentice catches the blades with both hands outstretched. The apprentice marvels at the light-weight and excellent balance of the swords.

The master then connects to the seismic energy in the swords to recall the blades back to him. The master conjures stone from the floor and melts the stones. The master picks up two pieces of gold behind him. The master transforms the gold into a molten mass that he separates into four masses.

The master throws seismic energy into the masses to strengthen them before molding the molten masses into two guards and two pommels that the master then molds around the twin blades.

The master reaches behind him to grab two amethyst jewels. The master heats the jewels just enough to manipulate the jewels into strings around the folded steel between the golden guard and pommel. The master winds the molten jewel strings in a tight spiral that is then reversed on itself.

The master throws the swords back to the apprentice saying, “Well, at least now you have blades of a master. Perhaps now you will not disappoint me. Be gone,” the master commands.

The apprentice sheathes the blades and disappears in a fog of deep black smoke.

The master smiles sinisterly, “But, then again, no one impresses me.”