The Emerging Part I: Dream

Rniti fill every inch of the Gallery of Rniti. The Pentad stand before the congregation on another stage erected just for the occasion. The Daijoks stand between the Pentad and the gathered Rniti.

Smells of the feast just outside the Gallery waft in with a cool breeze. Succulent birds, ripe fruit, sweet pastries and pies, and even bitter wine fuse together in a delicious aroma that force all gathered to salivate in anticipation.

The Pentad gaze through the gathered Rniti where they see friends grouped together at the front of the Rniti. Santhemum sees Firose where she waves nearly imperceptibly. Firose acknowledges her sister with a nod and a proud smile.

Desert and Pork see Oukton standing to Firose’s right where they raise their right fists in the air as a show of solidarity with their okit brother. Oukton returns the gesture with a proud smile.

Fox sees Jtoon to Firose’s left where he conjures a tiny water droplet from the water outside. He coerces the water to freeze on Jtoon’s nose. Jtoon glares at Fox, but responds by controlling the ice on his nose to zip into Fox’s shoulder where he melts the water to be absorbed by Fox’s tunic. Fox smiles deviously. Jtoon smiles with pride.

Hawk sees Raptor gazing at him with a smile on his face, but an ache in his heart. Hawk gazes at Raptor in confusion as he senses Raptor’s aching heart, but cannot understand as to why.

Hawk flicks his gaze to Raptor’s right where he sees Makayla standing with her arms crossed, but her face open wide with a bright smile. She stares directly into Hawk’s eyes where she sends feelings of congratulations to Hawk though she knows Hawk cannot understand the source of the prideful feelings.

Hawk glances around believing his Pentad is patting him on the back, but when he turns back to face Makayla, he sees her chuckling. Hawk gazes upward to ponder a thought that has occurred to him, ‘Am I feeling her aura? Did she project her aura onto me?’

At that moment, Vaiqon awakes from his stupor and raises his hands to silence the gathered Rniti. A few minutes pass for the few hundred Rniti to silence themselves, but nevertheless, obey the Daijok’s command.

Vaiqon smiles widely. He connects to his ire to amplify his voice as he says, “Welcome, welcome all! We are gathered today to hold a celebration that has not been present at the Injhihato in a decade. We are here to celebrate the Pentad in their recognition as Keer in the Keer Acknowledged Ceremony!” Vaiqon exclaims.

The Rniti clap and yell boisterously, but Makayla, Firose, Raptor, Oukton, and Jtoon merely clap reverently, their hearts pouring their pride and happiness in waves through their auras in an effort to touch the Pentad.

When the Rniti have quieted again, Vaiqon continues, “The Pentad has shown great determination and tenacity having completed the Keer Serial Event in only six months time, a most productive time.

“In their short tenure as Ummkoniyos, the Pentad has survived no less than thirty Edge Runs and twenty Circumference Runs. The Pentad has endured innumerable duels and bouts with those far more skilled than themselves. For that, I must thank Firose, Raptor, Oukton, and Jtoon for all of their aid these past few months.”

Firose, Raptor, Oukton, and Jtoon turn to gracefully accept the applause that rains upon them from the gathered Rniti.

Vaiqon continues, “Also, the most defining accomplishment of the Pentad is their having achieved Light Speed in their time as Ummkoniyos as well,” Vaiqon pauses as he watches a handful of Rniti visibly gape in wonder.

Vaiqon then turns to the Pentad, signaling for the Daijoks to separate to allow the Pentad to step forward. The Pentad assembles in their usual manner of Hawk in the center flanked by Santhemum and Fox on his right and Desert and Pork on his left.

Vaiqon’s voice tears through the air again, “Congratulations, Pentad, you have earned the title of Keer. You have proven yourselves as proficient in the art of the sword, in the defense of the shield, and in the mystery of your respective zoltind connections.

“Among you are two okits, one fuhok, one sigo, and one ire, a rarity of all the Rniti. Among you exists a brotherhood, a family. Among you exists a force the Rniti are honored to have gained amonst our ranks.

“Pentad,” Vaiqon commands, “with the responsibility of becoming Keer, you now also have the freedom to choose which weapon class you wish to specialize. Please step forward individually and announce your chosen weapon class, this will dictate your future training.”

Pork to Hawk’s very left steps forward first. He speaks as loud as he can, but finds no one responding to his words. He looks around at his Pentad where Desert leans in to his right hear to say, “You are going to have to actually speak, not say it in your head.”

Pork appears utterly embarrassed for a moment realizing he spoke only in his head as Desert described. Pork swallows then boldly announces, “I have chosen to master the Bo staff!” Pork exclaims.

A cheer of Rniti Pork has seen training with the Bo staff cheers wildly.

“Boar,” Vaiqon deems, “you have chosen the Bo staff and as such, will be bestowed the arm band relative to your choice.”

Makayla approaches Pork with an arm band in her hand. She places the arm band on Pork’s left forearm before retreating to the right side of the stage. Pork stares at the arm band where he sees an insignia made on the arm band of the finest black leather. He sees three staffs engraved into the leather. He sees two staffs crossed at their center and the third, the longest of the staffs, bisecting the cross. He sees unknown words encircling the star of staffs. He raises his head proudly.

“I have chosen the short swords, preferably twin short swords,” Fox announces to Hawk’s far right.

“Fox, please accept the arm band that signifies you as a part of the short sword family,” Vaiqon commands.

A few Rniti of the short sword family yell their enthusiasm as Makayla places a leather arm band around Fox’s right forearm before retreating back to the right of the stage.

Fox glances at the warm brown leather around his forearm where he sees an emblem emboldened in the soft leather. He blanches at the unexpected emblem, glances to Vaiqon who merely nods, then stares proudly back at the gathered Rniti.

“I have also chosen the twin short swords,” Santhemum’s silky voice rings throughout the Gallery, shocking all that know her well. Santhemum glances to Firose to see a tear falling down her sister’s face. Santhemum can only smile, sniffing to prevent a tear from falling down her own face.

“Santhemum, please accept your arm band,” Vaiqon deems, himself choking up on the last few words.

Makayla reverently places the leather arm band on Santhemum’s right forearm. She whispers to Santhemum, “This is my most favorite arm band I have ever carved, created specifically for you,” as she slips another leather arm band on Santhemum’s left forearm, before retreating.

Santhemum gazes first at her right forearm where she sees warm brown leather with an emblem of the short swords engraved into it. She sees two twin short swords crossed at the guards with stars encircling the short swords. She glances to her left forearm and gapes at the scarlet armband before glancing at Makayla who nods. Santhemum drops her arms to her sides to stare out at the gathered Rniti with confidence.

“I have chosen the strongest weapon class, the war hammer,” Desert announces. Only three Rniti clap and yell their enthusiasm as Makayla makes her way to Desert to adorn a black, coarse leather arm band around Desert’s left forearm.

Desert smirks at the symbol engraved into the harsh black leather. He sees a perfect hammer being struck on the ground with sparks flying from the head. Desert balks at the sigo reference on his armband, shrugs, then glances back at the Gallery with a concealed sinister smirk.

Hawk is the last to raise his voice. Vaiqon bites his lip as he sees the decision weighing heavily upon his pupil.

“I have chosen the sword,” Hawk announces. Most of the Rniti erupt in applause. Makayla begins to make her way across the stage, but then Hawk’s voice erupts even louder than the clapping Rniti on a wave of ire influence, “and I have chosen the war axe.”

The applause dies off instantly. Makayla appears disgruntled and frustrated as she turns on her heel to retreat to the edge of the stage where she grabs another armband she made for the occasion.

Hawk looks out at the Gallery, he nearly recoils at the silence that yells at him, but remains firm as Vaiqon deems, “Very well, Hawk has chosen two weapon classes to master and-”

“You cannot allow him to train in two?!” a voice rings from the crowd.

“What about tradition?!” another voice adds.

“Another one of your pupils also wanted to train in two classes, correct?!” a third, more sinister voice tears through the air, but only Vaiqon seems to react to the accusatory tone. Vaiqon glares through the Rniti to seek the source of the third voice, but finds Rniti merely murmuring to one another about the indecency of allowing Hawk to master two weapons classes.

Vaiqon throws air thundering through the Gallery to silence the Rniti.

“There are no such barriers preventing Hawk from mastering two classes,” Vaiqon deems. “The Keer will be allowed to master the sword and war axe as his decision.”

Makayla then waltzes across the stage to place a warm brown leather arm band on Hawk’s right forearm. She whispers to him, “Please take care of this armband, it once belonged to the great Accipiter,” before retreating into the crowd next to Raptor.

Hawk glances at the armband on his left forearm. His eyes widen in utter awe at the blue leather with a symbol of Accipiter himself, a war axe slicing through the center of a sword’s middle, but upon closer inspection, Hawk sees the sword is designed to have a notch in the middle of the blade specifically for the axe. He then sees inverted stars encircling the axe and sword. He sees the stars seem to be exploding, but disappearing simultaneously. He notices the fresh leather used to reinforce the ancient arm band. He glances to Makayla mouthing his gratitude before glancing at his right arm band.

Hawk frowns at the basic emblem of the Rniti sword etched vertically into the arm band with two stars on either side of the sword. Hawk rips his arm band off, effectively cutting off Vaiqon’s speech. Vaiqon gazes at Hawk with concern. Hawk then controls the air currents around him to become as sharp as a knife. He cuts into the warm brown leather, forcing the leather to harden, and carves himself a new symbol for himself alone.

Hawk releases his hold on the air currents and gazes at his handiwork. He smiles in wonder at the fact that he involuntarily carved into his arm band the symbol of the Pyroternal above the sword. He notices the sword appears to bisect the flame of the Pyroternal, but also, the flame seems to encompass the sword in a warm embrace. He nods to himself and gazes back at the Gallery.

The gathered Rniti gaze in shocked wonder at the display.

Vaiqon breathes deeply to control his anger that has suddenly spiked. He feels the questions being asked by the congregation.

‘Did he just...’

‘What was that...’

‘Can he do that...’

‘What is to become of the future...’

Vaiqon’s nightmare tears through his aura. Vaiqon sees Ragefer igniting a blast of infernal fire that he does not relinquish until Vaiqon nearly kills him with an air current at Ragefier’s throat. Vaiqon sees himself yelling at his pupil. Vaiqon shakes himself to rid himself of the nightmare.

He glances to Vulcan for support.

Shark then announces, “Pentad,” effectively silencing the gathered Rniti, “now is the time to take the Oath of the Rniti, to establish yourselves permanently as a part of this most wonderful brotherhood.”

The Pentad nod as one as Vaiqon’s voice then tears through the air, “Please repeat after me.” The Pentad nods as Vaiqon continues, “I up u Rniti. U xowonxok ew uqq htuh ij veex unx hkao.”

The Pentad repeats the words, but with great difficulty. Many of the words are pronounced in shaking voices.

Vaiqon continues nonetheless, the congregation engaging in the oath as well, “U Mkehoyhok ew uqq htuh ij kivth unx sajh. U roomok ew uqq htuh mouyowa1.”

The Pentad repeats the words with far less difficulty than the first line of the oath.

Vaiqon nods his encouragement as he continues, the gathered Rniti echoing the oath with him, “I fiqq jokgo hto hkuxihienj mujjox unx wivth wek htejo fte yunneh. Enyo u Rniti, uqfucj u Rniti.”

The Pentad easily pronounces every word, their hearts soar in elation.

Vaiqon then announces, “I now deem the Five of the Pentad to be Keer of the Rniti!”

Applause breaks out, shouts are screamed, music erupts, and the ceremony transforms itself into a festival. A banner of the Pyroternal on a triangular canvas is hanged proudly from ceiling to wall in the great Gallery.

The Pentad sits on their beds in their bed chambers after the festivities have long since ceased. They each stare at the ceiling, smiles on their faces. The all feel electricity in the room, as if their auras are trying to connect with one another.

Hawk rises from his bed. He walks to the table and sits in a chair. He pulls off his arm bands. He gazes at his arm bands, proud of himself. He hears rustling around him. He looks around to see the rest of his Pentad rising from their beds as well. Soon, all of the Pentad sit around the table.

Santhemum sits on Hawk’s right. She sits straight in the chair. Fox sits on Santhemum’s right. He sits in a relaxed slump, his left arm thrown over the back of the chair. Santhemum and Fox pull off their arm bands as well.

Desert sits at the opposite end of the table, across from Hawk. Pork sits on Desert’s right in the center of the table. Desert pulls off his arm band and throws it on the table next to him, he props his feet up on the chair next to him. Pork takes off his arm band and cradles it in his hands, gazing at it with pride.

“Santhemum,” Hawk says, “what is on your arm band?”

Santhemum smirks as she shows Hawk the warm brown leather arm band. When Hawk nods at the short sword emblem, he then points towards Santhemum’s other arm band.

Santhemum flushes as she shows Hawk her scarlet arm band. Hawk’s eyes widen in wonder at the engraving. He sees a rose with dark and light petals in the corner of a square with an animal that appears to be a cheetah roaming through a field that leads up to a billowing sky of flaming clouds. But above all is a shining beacon of light in the form of a thundering Hawk.

Hawk glances between Santhemum and the arm band. He mimics words with his mouth, but no sound echoes from between his lips. He hands Santhemum her arm band before turning to face Fox.

“Fox, you seemed awed after you received your arm band?” Hawk asks, still staring at Santhemum’s scarlet leather arm band.

Fox nods his head slowly, gripping his arm band softly. “That is because I was not expecting to see what I did on the arm band.”

“Why is that?” Hawk asks.

“Because instead of swords, I saw this,” Fox says turning the arm band around to show everyone.

On Fox’s arm band is an insignia of an arrow notched on a bow pointing to the right at a forty five degree angle. On the left of the bow and arrow is a quiver with four arrows inside. In a semicircle to the bow and arrows right are words engraved in a foreign language.

“So you got an arm band with a bow and arrow rather than a sword? And?” Desert scoffs.

Fox just smiles, “Because, this band is not for me, it is for my mother.”

Desert, Santhemum, and Pork stare bewildered at Fox.

“What do you mean, your mother?” Pork asks.

Fox just smiles not saying a word. He puts his arm band back on. He leaves his hand on his arm band as he looks at Hawk. Hawk looks back, his and Fox’s eyes meeting. Fox nods, Hawk reciprocates.

“It is for his mother because,” Hawk begins, “Fox’s mother was once a very powerful Rniti. Her name was Shadow. You can see her statue in the middle of the Gallery.”

“My mother chose the bow and arrow as her weapon specialty,” Fox continues. “You can see on her statue she is holding a bow and a sword.”

Desert, Santhemum, and Pork still wear looks of puzzlement.

“Why do you say was very powerful?” Desert demands.

Fox’s smile disappears, “Because, she, my father, my brother, and my sister all died in a fire at my house last year. I was in the market when it occurred. I have no idea how or why it happened. But I am glad to have found a family in the Pentad.”

Hawk nods, Santhemum places her hand on Fox’s shoulder, Pork’s ubiquitous look of contempt disappears for the moment, and Desert moves his feet from atop the table to the floor, his eyes wide with surprise.

“I am sorry,” Desert says, shocking the Pentad. “You speak with much love for your family. I wish I could have the same emotions towards my father and mother.”

Fox pats Desert on the back, “Just be happy you have them still.”

Desert looks down at his arm band. The hammer with lightning arcing from each side of the hammerhead smiling at him. He finds it in himself to smile too. “Everything will be different now, won’t it?” he says.

Hawk nods, “Yes. But we will all grow stronger, and we will all be there for each other. Once a Rniti, always a Rniti. We are a family, all of us.”

Desert looks up, meeting Hawk’s eyes dead in the center. A rush of wind streams through the room causing the Pentad to shiver at the sudden chill. Santhemum rises to close the window and is perplexed when she notices window has not opened.

She turns around with a shrug before walking to her bed and climbing in. She throws her blankets over her. The rest of the Pentad follows Santhemum’s lead as they each make their way back to their respective beds and quickly allow sleep to overtake them.