The Emerging Part I: Dream

Hawk listens to the Daijoks’ every word. He hopes this time none of them can feel his presence. He knows that if he is caught this time, the consequences will be far more severe than a paralytic air current to his body.

“Even if Uxxok does not find what he seeks, at least we know Hawk has the potential to become legendary,” Vaiqon says.

“You underestimate Uxxok, Vaiqon,” Vulcan says. “Perhaps you overestimate Hawk?”

“Of course not. Hawk’s prowess will be unrivaled by anyone after he is trained. His ire abilities already rival Raptor. I say a few more years of training, honing his skills, and he will be ready to take my place as the ire Daijok,” Vaiqon says.

“I do not like placing so much faith in a boy,” Vulcan says. “Though, I do feel his power. But what is more astounding, is his sincerity. He truly feels compassion, especially for his Pentad. That is what we all have lacked in recent years.”

Vaiqon stares at Vulcan. “Is the always veiled Vulcan showing an ounce of emotion of happiness?”

Vulcan scoffs. “Enough of this nonsense.” Vulcan flashes away on the spot.

Hawk watches Vaiqon as the Daijok’s head turns to exactly where Hawk is hiding. Vaiqon nods slightly. Hawk closes his eyes to the blindingly bright flash caused by Vaiqon disappearing.

Hawk awakes in a cold sweat, the sunlight just beginning to filter in through the window above his bed. He looks to his Pentad to see them barely stirring in their sleep. He tries to close his eyes but then sees Desert has snapped awake as well, shooting up from his bed.

Hawk and Desert’s eyes lock for a moment. They nod. They crawl back under their blankets, but discover that sleep will not comfort them. They rise and begin strapping on their leathers and weapons, causing the others to rise before they are ready.

Hawk and Desert finish dressing and sit at the table waiting for the rest of the Pentad to dress. Hawk cups his hands and places his head in them. Desert flickers through a book he is not even reading.

Soon, the Pentad has dressed and they make their way to the Gallery for breakfast. Silence echoes from Hawk and Desert. Santhemum notices Hawk’s silence and lack of appetite.

Santhemum leans in close to him on their side of the table, “Is everything alright, Hawk?” her velvet voice streams through Hawk’s right ear.

Hawk blinks. He jerks his head as if shaking sleep away from him. He notices a half-filled plate of breakfast in front of him, but feels half-empty inside. He glances at Santhemum.

“Of course. Why would it not be?” he asks.

“You had a bad dream,” she states.

Hawk merely nods. “I do not want to talk about it.”

“You do not have to. But I am here if you want to.”

Hawk smiles, feeling his appetite returning somewhat.

Pork has noticed Desert’s unusual behavior as well.

“Desert,” Pork begins before a deadly look glares at him from Desert. Pork appears shocked for a few moments before returning to place forkfuls of eggs and sausage into his mouth.

After the Pentad has finished their meal, they each rise and make their way to the first ring only a few hundred yards from the Gallery. They look at one another along their stroll.

The air has become crisper, the wind adding to the chillness. Even with the sun out, they almost shiver. Their teeth chatter lightly. Just before arriving at the first ring, they make a detour and head towards the smaller clusters of rings to their right.

The Pentad arrives at a ring where they find Vaiqon already waiting for them. Vaiqon welcomes, “Ah, hello, Pentad. May I trust you had a restful night?”

The Pentad nod unsure. Vaiqon smiles, “Ah, I understand. You are frightened that you are leaving each other to begin training with other, more experienced Rniti. But do not be afraid, you have already made quite the reputation around here, you will be brilliant.

“Now, Hawk, seeing as you chose both the sword and the axe, you will spend the morning learning the sword and the afternoon learning the axe. The sword ring is this one, actually.”

Hawk nods. He remains still, averting his eyes from Vaiqon’s. He places his palm on his sword on his right hip.

“And the others, follow me, I will show you to your respective rings,” Vaiqon says immediately turning and exiting the third ring.

Hawk watches Vaiqon leading his Pentad to the other rings. He watches as Vaiqon stops not but three rings away to the northeast. He sees Desert is left behind this time. Vaiqon leads the other three out of sight.

Hawk stands in the middle of the ring. He notes that this ring is an eighth of the size of the first ring.

He gulps.

He hears voices from behind him. He turns to see other Rniti with swords strapped to their hips and some with swords lashed to their backs. He gulps again realizing these are his fellow sword-prone Rniti. He notices all are Jayyojjek.

He gulps.

The Jayyojjek filter into the ring. Some in groups, some by themselves. Soon, no one else enters the ring. Hawk sees there are only twenty other Rniti besides him in the ring.

A flash appears in his peripheral vision. His nerves are calmed for a moment to see Vaiqon standing beside him. His nerves flame when he sees Vaiqon leave his side to address the ring as a whole.

“Attention, Rniti!” Vaiqon’s voice booms. “Thank you all for coming to aid my training of young Hawk. Now, I know you all have your own various duties and routines, but if you give me just an hour of your time, maybe less, you will see that it was well worth it.”

The Jayyojjeks all stare at Hawk, summing the young Ummkoniyo up in their minds. Hawk feels as if he has shrunk to the size of an ant. He tries to hold the stares of some of the more powerful looking Jayyojjeks, but finds his nerves biting at his stomach.

Vaiqon speaks again, “Now, who would like to volunteer to spar with Hawk first? Perhaps take young Hawk aside to teach him some secrets and techniques?”

Vaiqon pauses to look around. None of the Jayyojjeks raise their hands. Vaiqon looks down. He sighs, “Shall I just pick amongst you all then?”

Just then, a hand at the far end of the ring, separated from the crowd, waves in the air. Vaiqon notices the waving hand and gestures the person the hand is attached to over to him.

“Ah, excellent! Hawk, your first challenger, and teacher, is Jayyojjek Raptor,” Vaiqon says.

Raptor approaches Hawk. Hawk notes Raptor is wearing a sword attached to each of his hips, two daggers stashed in each of his boots, and one massive sword lashed to his back.

Hawk sees Raptor wears no armor besides basic leather, the same as Hawk. He sees Raptor wears a hood that hides most of his black hair and white face, but cannot diminish Raptor’s deep blue eyes.

Raptor leads Hawk away from the crowd that has already begun sparring lightly with one another. Raptor smiles at Hawk. He withdraws his hood to show shoulder length hair beginning to fade in color.

Hawk cocks his head to the side with confusion on his face.

Raptor chuckles, “Yes, Hawk. I am much older than I initially appear. I came to the Injhihato nearly twenty years ago. And now, I am to enlighten you on a secret no one told me. Lose the shield. You do not need it.”

Hawk appears stunned. “What?”

“Hawk, you are a Rniti. Though you are only an Ummkoniyo, you will learn how to move very, very quickly. The shield will only be a hindrance. You might as well become accustomed to not using it. Drop the shield. Now.”

Hawk obeys, confusion still upon his face. Suddenly, enlightenment fills his mind. His eyes widen. His right arm feels weightless and defenseless, but free and much more maneuverable.

“Excellent. Here,” Raptor says providing Hawk with a second blade resting against the fence and another sheath.

Hawk quickly lashes the sheath to his waist and sheathes the second blade on his left hip.

“Two blades are better than one, but, before you are trained, I would stick with one for now.”

Hawk nods.

“Now here, allow me to show you some things,” Raptor says wielding the blade from his left hip.

Raptor works with Hawk for a few minutes. Vaiqon watches with great interest. Raptor then looks over at Vaiqon with a nod. Vaiqon nods back.

“Very well, everyone cease your actions!” Vaiqon booms.

Raptor and Hawk approach the center of the ring as the rest of the crowd moves to the outside of the ring. Raptor nods to Hawk as he draws his swords from either side of his hips.

Hawk blinks. He draws the blade from his left hip in his right hand. He grabs the blade on his right hip, but leaves it in its sheath. He stands with a shoulder width stance, bouncing his weight between his back and front leg, and points the blade at Raptor with the edge hovering over his own head.

Raptor stands with a shoulder width stance as well, but crosses his blades in front of him as he leans most of his weight onto his back leg. He points both of his blades at Hawk. He winks at Hawk.

Hawk charges quickly at Raptor. Raptor easily blocks Hawk’s attack in the nook of his crossed blades. He throws Hawk away. Hawk stumbles but quickly regains his balance. Raptor shakes his head in disappointment.

“Do not allow yourself to be drawn in, Hawk,” Raptor chides.

Hawk flashes anger upon his face for a quick moment before charging at Raptor again. Hawk drives his blade down hard upon Raptor, but Raptor again catches the attack in the nook of his crossed swords. Raptor moves to throw Hawk off-balance, but Hawk expects the move. Hawk plants his back foot and drives the blade up from the nook of the crossed swords, forcing Raptor to break the cross and block Hawk’s attack aimed at his head. Hawk’s blade is parried, but Hawk uses the momentum to quickly spin and bring another strike to Raptor’s left arm. Raptor blocks the attack. Hawk allows himself to be thrown slightly, spins, and brings an attack at Raptor’s right arm. Raptor quickly blocks the attack, but Hawk just as quickly retreats his blade and swings it over his head to strike down on Raptor’s neck. Raptor barely blocks Hawk’s attack with his left sword. Hawk then slides the blade down Raptor’s sword and drives upward, breaking Raptor’s guard. Raptor is forced off-balance. Hawk quickly acts to use the flat part of his blade to smack Raptor on the back before returning to the pose he initially started the duel, waiting patiently for Raptor. Raptor slowly stands after falling. He turns to face Hawk with a new stance. His feet more than shoulder width apart, squatting low, his left blade closest to Hawk pointing aggressively, Raptor’s right blade next to his own eye. Suddenly, Raptor attacks in a flash. A clang of metal upon metal is heard. Hawk blinks and retreats a few feet before another clang of metal is heard. Hawk spins but hears another clang of metal, sending him tumbling.

“Though you were able to block my attacks, though I am not entirely sure how, you lack technique. Natural skill will only get you so far,” Raptor says just before attacking the newly risen Hawk.

Hawk hears a clang of metal, his hand reverberates with shock waves. He sees Raptor’s left blade is pushing hard against his own. He sees Raptor’s right blade is zooming toward his head. Hawk pushes Raptor’s left blade, but finds stiff resistance. Nearly panicked, Hawk quickly grabs his blade attached to his right hip with his left hand and deftly blocks Raptor’s overhead attack, effectively surprising Raptor and the others in the ring. Raptor smirks before breaking away from Hawk, forming himself into the same position as moments before and attacking again. Raptor forces Hawk into a whirlwind of striking and blocking, forcing him to retreat time and time again. Amazingly, Hawk prevents Raptor from landing a single blow. Hawk watches as Raptor begins using his two blades as one. He counters quickly with the flat of his blade on Raptor’s open left arm after a wide strike. Raptor stops all movement. He looks to Vaiqon. Vaiqon merely nods. Raptor finally moves and sheathes his blades.

Raptor looks at Hawk. “You performed admirably. I admit, you bested me. Today. Perhaps when you have refined your technique, I will be able to attack relentlessly, without fear of overwhelming you.”

Hawk gapes, “You were not using your full strength?”

“Nor my full speed,” Raptor says before walking over to join Vaiqon.

Hawk has no more time for questions before he is suddenly challenged by another Jayyojjek. Hawk gulps as he can sense this Jayyojjek is even more skilled and powerful than Raptor.

Vaiqon watches Hawk spar a minute longer before flashing to the hammer ring. He watches with great interest as he sees Desert quickly learning the basics of the hammer.

The Rniti in the hammer ring soon break into sparring partners. Desert is forced to spar with a Jayyojjek but appears eager to accept the challenge. Desert observes his opponent. He sees a powerful build on his opponent and wonders in awe if he will ever be that massive.

“You may call me Bull,” Bull says to Desert.

Desert nods, “I am Desert.

Bull nods before drawing his massive hammer from his back and waits for Desert to do the same. Desert slowly draws his much less imposing hammer and readies himself for anything.

Desert and Bull begin and their power is soon obvious, their hammers colliding in a fury of thunder time and time again. Desert tries his best to break through Bull’s ever changing guard, but to no avail. Every time Desert believes he sees an opening, Bull quickly closes it with a fast strike from the handle of his hammer or his fist. Desert begins racking up numerous hits and bruises.

He retreats from Bull a few feet, his hammer held at his side, leaving himself wholly exposed on his left side. Bull cannot help but seize the opportunity and bolts to attack Desert. Again, thunder is sounded as Desert expected the sudden burst of speed from Bull and moved before Bull even thought. Bull grunts as his hands feel the vibrations caused by his and Desert’s hammers colliding. Bull then retreats to regain his composure.

Desert and Bull begins encircling one another, watching the other closely. Vaiqon nods as he flashes to the ring where he brought Santhemum and watches with pride as she holds her own against three skilled Jayyojjeks. Vaiqon watches as Santhemum wields her two swords reverse gripped and feints many attacks, blocks many attacks, and parries many attacks, before implementing her backslash technique, baffling the Jayyojjeks and quickly disposing them.

“Excellent, Santhemum,” Firose shouts from across the ring. “Again.”

Santhemum nods to Firose and then forms herself into a defensive position, ready for anything. Vaiqon flashes next to Firose.

“I take it she is performing well?” Vaiqon asks knowingly.

“She is performing exceptionally well,” Firose states without a glance at Vaiqon.

“Ah, I had a feeling she would be capable to brave an assault by three Jayyojjeks.”

“Is that why Santhemum is in a ring all her own and not in the ring where the other swordsman are?”

Vaiqon nods. “I wanted Santhemum to be away from her Pentad. To grow by herself.”

“Well, she has bested those three twice... make that thrice,” Firose says. “Excellent, Santhemum, though, you have begun to hack again, watch that,” Firose shouts to Santhemum.

Santhemum nods to Firose before seeing Vaiqon. Santhemum flushes slightly and quickly turns away.

Vaiqon says, “Keep up the good work,” before flashing to the short sword ring. He spots Fox leaning on the ring’s boundary. He flashing behind Fox.

“And why is it that you are not training?” Vaiqon asks.

Calmly, Fox answers, “I have already defeated three Rniti much more highly skilled than me.”

“Oh? Did they not allow you to continue?”

“No, that is not it. I did not want to.”

“Fox, you really must receive all the training you possibly can.”

“I know, Vaiqon, but...”

“But?”

Fox shakes his head, “No matter. I will spar after those two are finished.

Vaiqon nods, “Very well. I will be checking in on you.”

Fox nods, his peripheral blinded by a sudden flash. He looks to his right to see Vaiqon has vanished on the spot. Fox turns back to the two sparring Rniti. He watches their every move, committing it all to memory.

‘Now just to implement it,’ Fox thinks to himself.

Vaiqon appears at the staff ring where he finds Pork engaged in a bitter duel with a much more skilled foe. Pork’s staff whirls in a blur, his speed accounting for his lack of skill compared with the Rniti he is sparring against.

Pork and his foe match blow for blow, but Pork is moving too quickly for his own brain to comprehend what he is doing. Each of Pork’s attacks on his foe’s staff double taps, wasting energy

Pork retreats from his foe, panting heavily. “Why did we stop, Seismal? Shall we continue?”

The Rniti shakes her head, “Pork, right?”

Pork nods trying to catch his breath.

Seismal speaks, “You need to watch what you are doing. You are much faster than me, but you do not realize it. It seems every time I block one of your attacks, you immediately go into another attack. Follow through all of your attacks. That is what you need to learn above all else. Learn to follow through on all of your attacks.”

Vaiqon nods his approval as he watches Pork reform and attack Seismal. Pork heeds Seismal’s advice and soon, his double tapping is replaced by a solid whack. He feels vibrations from every blocked attack, but realizes Seismal must be feeling these vibrations as well. The vibrations shock his hand but Pork continues his onslaught, trying to use his speed to constantly strike Seismal. Seismal soon falls victim to Pork’s blinding speed, miscalculating an attack and receiving a blow to the head. Pork continues his attack by using the momentum of his last attack to spin to his right, dipping low, bringing his staff to Seismal’s legs, tripping her, and bringing his staff down upon her head.

Seismal’s ears ring as Pork backs away to join the others on the ring’s boundary. Vaiqon can only nod as he flashes away to the sword ring where he left Hawk.

The rest of the day Vaiqon flashes among the various rings, observing his pupils with great interest. He has made mental notes about all of them. As the sun begins to dip into the horizon, he gathers the Pentad and speaks with them at the Benches.

“You all did splendidly today. Hawk, you wielded both the sword and axe with power and grace. You may yet master both weapons,” Vaiqon begins.

Hawk nods contently, his muscles yelling at him, his lungs still burning from the brutal day.

“Desert, you made an excellent choice in the hammer. I have never seen such a natural inclination to the weapon,” Vaiqon says to Desert

Desert smirks thumbing the handle of his hammer strapped to his left hip with his left hand.

“Santhemum, you were astounding today, wielding your blades as if they were extensions of yourself. Well done,” Vaiqon says with a nod.

Santhemum merely stares at Vaiqon with gratitude in her eyes.

“Fox, I am afraid I did not see you spar as much as I would have liked, but I can only assume you prevailed quickly in each duel?” Vaiqon surmises.

Fox nods, “Yes. Every one of my sparring sessions ended in less than five minutes. I do not know why.”

“Because you are swift,” Hawk offers.

Fox chuckles, “That is obvious.”

Hawk chuckles as well.

Vaiqon shakes his head, “And, Boar, you have made great progress today. If I were you, I would not have chosen the staff myself, but in your hands, it is as if the staff should be wielded by none other.”

Pork merely nods without a thought or word.

Vaiqon appears uneasy for a moment, but tries to recover before the Pentad notice. He sees Hawk staring at him with a confused expression. Vaiqon waves Hawk away, “Now, you have all earned a delicious meal. You are done for the day. Please, eat up, rest up. Tomorrow will be even harder.”

The Pentad groans collectively as they shuffle slowly to the Gallery for their evening meal.

The Pentad enters the Gallery to find the massive tables offering numerous dishes as usual. They break as Hawk, Santhemum and Fox sit on one side of the table as Desert and Pork sit opposite to them.

They fill their plates and slowly begin to eat, relishing every bit, the only pleasure they have had all day. Each member of the Pentad bears multiple bruises and some scratches.

They finish their meal but none rise. They look at one another, reading each others’ faces. They begin to laugh gazing at the pitiful expressions on each of their faces.

“Desert,” Hawk says, “you look as if you have lost your pet!”

“You look no better, Hawk,” Desert says good naturedly. “I would say you lost two pets!”

Pork laughs, “That actually happened though! Remember, Hawk?”

“Of course I remember,” Hawk says somewhat defensively.

“How do you lose two pets? Don’t you learn from the first time?” Fox asks highly amused.

Hawk slumps, “Not if you lose both at the same time.”

Desert, Fox, and Pork burst into laughter. Even Santhemum chuckles.

Hawk crosses his arms, “How was I to know that you are not supposed to open the cage door with two birds inside?”

The Pentad bursts into laughter again, Hawk included. Their laughter continues for a moment more before slowly subsiding.

“Well, it certainly seems as if the brutal day was nothing to you,” a voice says from behind Santhemum.

Hawk, Santhemum, and Fox turn around to see the owner of the voice while Desert and Pork merely look up. Firose stands before the Pentad with a smile on her face. Santhemum returns the smile with her own and gestures to her right at an empty spot on the bench.

Firose obliges and sits down. She gazes at each of the Pentad’s faces. She reads confusion and exhaustion. She smiles, “I just came to bear the Daijoks’ word.”

The Pentad gapes slightly.

“What word would that be?” Hawk asks somewhat unenthusiastically.

Firose begins, “Well, Vaiqon requested me to advise each of you to rest very well tonight for all of you have training of the utmost importance tomorrow. Training that all Rniti must succeed in.”

Santhemum asks, “What is so important?”

Firose smiles, “And that is why I am messenger for this news. You will be subjected to event after event, proving your skills as Rniti. Normally, you would not be thrown into the fire quite this early in your training, but I believe you all will have no difficulty with the challenges.”

“Why must we do this?” Hawk asks.

“It is a Rniti tradition,” Firose responds. “We have all completed this training event.”

Hawk merely nods. He rises from the table with uncertainty in his heart. He strolls away from the Pentad and out of the Gallery.

“Did I say something to offend?” Firose asks Santhemum with concern.

Santhemum shakes her head. “No, Hawk has been acting strangely recently.”

Santhemum then rises from the table and follows after Hawk.

Firose turns around to glance at Desert, Fox, and Pork. “I suppose you will be going after them as well?”

Desert shakes his head, “Of course not. If this training is as important as you say it is, I am going straight to bed.”

Desert rises from the table and makes his way in the exact opposite of Hawk’s exodus. Pork follows suit and walks beside Desert. Firose watches the two boys until they exit through the vast doors on the other side of the Gallery.

Firose turns to Fox who sits content still eating. Firose sees Fox’s eyes are not on his plate however. She follows his gaze to see the statue of Shadow before them. She notices two short swords engraved in Shadow’s statue. She looks back at Fox and notices two short swords lashed to his hips.

She nods to herself, “Well, I shall see you tomorrow then.”

Firose rises from the table leaving Fox alone with his mother’s statue.