The Emerging Part I: Dream

“Hawk, that was an extraordinary duel,” Vaiqon begins, “I have not witnessed such prowess from an Ummkoniyo is quite some time.”

Hawk slumps on the bench in exhaustion, the memory of the duel running through his mind. He breathes deeply trying to catch his breath, his body aching from soreness. He looks at Vaiqon with a wary smirk. He merely nods in acknowledgement of the compliment.

“Now, Pentad,” Vaiqon says after adjusting his tunic and standing at the front of the room, “I realize that I may have lost control of my temper slightly, but after that extraordinary duel with Hawk, I feel that I have quite the cool head again.

“Hopefully, my duel with Hawk has portrayed to you all just how powerful you all are at present and how powerful you will become. This is why you all must train yourselves to be disciplined, especially of the mind. I will teach you all of mental determination and fortification.”

The Pentad straightens slightly at the mentioning of training their mind, “But what I will not do,” Vaiqon continues, “is attempt to instruct you when you all are clearly not listening.”

The Pentad slumps cohesively.

Vaiqon shakes his head, “Now, I am sure you all have questions, who shall be the first to inquire of my knowledge?”

“Why must we be the fastest to learn of any class, Vaiqon?” Hawk asks.

Vaiqon winces inwardly as he answers, “Ah, Hawk, a most excellent question. However, you are not yet ready to know the answer. Perhaps when you have become Rniti, you will possibly be ready to hear the answer.”

Upon the look of utter disappointment and slight anger on Hawk’s face, Vaiqon quickly amends, “I can assure you though, Hawk, that you of all will be most ecstatic to learn of the answer.”

Hawk merely glares at Vaiqon under a haze of anger.

Vaiqon glances away from Hawk’s gaze and says, “Who else has a burning question?”

“You mentioned the Oqoponh cycle,” Fox begins.”

Vaiqon nods, “Yes?”

“Well, I was wondering as to what the Oqoponh cycle is exactly,” Fox concludes.

Vaiqon smiles at the question, “Well, Fox, that is an excellent question, and one that you all must know the answer to. I, however, cannot fully explain to you all of the Oqoponh and its intricacies. But, I will perform my best.

“The Oqoponh cycle is exactly how it sounds, a cycle. The Oqoponh is either a man or woman, the most recent Oqoponh being a woman. When our Oqoponh dies, a man will take her place.”

When the Pentad’s confusion echoes on each child’s face, Vaiqon pauses to collect his thoughts.

“Pentad, imagine the Oqoponh as a phoenix,” Vaiqon says, “when the current Oqoponh dies, she rises again from the ashes of her death, but rather in the same body, she is instead resurrected in another’s body, this case being a boy, who will then grow up with the abilities bestowed upon him of being the Oqoponh.”

“Will the Oqoponh be difficult to identify” Pork asks.

Vaiqon shakes his head, “Alas, for us Daijoks, not at all. We have the knowledge within ourselves to search through auras that identify the Oqoponh with a quick examination. The examination is merely a cursory glance through a person’s aura where we search for unique symbols within the aura that clearly define the person as the next Oqoponh.”

“So, we know why the Oqoponh is a cycle, and how the next Oqoponh is identified, but we still do not know exactly what the Oqoponh is nor why he or she is significant,” Hawk determines.

Vaiqon smirks warily, “Aye, then, Hawk, imagine a person, a sole person in all of Munda Luna that could easily, easily mind you, develop a connection to all of the zoltind abilities and have a natural propensity for every martial art form and innate proclivity for wielding every weapon with expertise?”

Hawk takes a moment to close his eyes to imagine such a person, a hint of envy runs through his bones, but a sense of challenge wafts through his aura. Vaiqon feels the two opposing emotions sift from Hawk’s uncontrolled aura and winces inwardly.

Vaiqon then speaks, “Hawk,” he pauses for Hawk to open his eyes to look at him, “the Oqoponh is the only person in all of Munda Luna that this ability comes naturally to, and we have come to respect this as Rniti.”

Hawk cocks his head to the side understanding the hidden warning Vaiqon has laid upon him. Hawk scoffs inwardly then glances out the window where he watches the air currents blowing over the surface of the Lake. He watches as the wind blows waves across the Lake. He smiles as a thought echoes through him, but is suddenly cut off from him as Vaiqon’s voice rings through the air again.

“Ah, Teqqc!” Vaiqon yells to the sudden newcomer that has appeared in a flash of white.

The Pentad stares at the woman near Vaiqon’s age wearing all white with silver white hair and nothing but a staff strapped to her back and sword to her right hip. Teqqc and Vaiqon embrace quickly.

“To what do we owe this pleasure?” Vaiqon asks after separating from Teqqc.

Teqqc smirks, “Vaiqon, you flatter me, you old buffoon,” she chuckles, evoking a mild chuckle from the Pentad as well. “I merely heard word that you were instructing your newest class and felt I aid your instruction of the Oqoponh.”

Vaiqon smiles widely, “I see. It just so happens that we have just touched upon the Oqoponh.”

Teqqc nods, “Ah, and what have you informed of me to them?”

“That you are a fierce warrior as you are the only person in all of Munda Luna with knowledge of all weapons and martial arts and of all four zoltind connections. Oh, and of the Oqoponh Cycle as well,” Vaiqon responds.

Teqqc smiles, “Then you have merely informed them of the basics. But you have not yet informed them of the true reason I exist,” Teqqc then winks at the Pentad, “to keep the Daijoks behaved, that is,” Teqqc chuckles coercing another chuckle from the Pentad.

Vaiqon rolls his eyes playfully, “Please, Teqqc, if you would,” he gestures for her to take the center.

Teqqc smiles widely, “With pleasure.”

Teqqc turns towards the Pentad fully where she enraptures all of them with her blinding white smile. “Hello, Pentad, I am Teqqc, and I am-”

“The Oqoponh, obviously,” Hawk finishes.

Teqqc appears taken aback. She spares a quick glance back towards Vaiqon who merely nods before turning back to Hawk.

“You must be the extraordinary Hawk I have heard so much about,” Teqqc assumes.

Hawk nods in answer forcing Teqqc to appear taken aback again.

“Very well,” Teqqc begins again, “as Hawk stated, I am the Oqoponh. From what Vaiqon has informed you, you have a general knowledge of the basics of the Oqoponh, but what you must truly strive to understand is that, as Oqoponh, and I am sure you have heard word of me from time to time throughout your years, is that I play the role as ultimate peacekeeper amongst the people of Munda Luna. In fact, very often my word is taken as law even over the decisions established for decades by lawmakers of various cities.

“Do not believe that I only do business with the people of Munda Luna though, I also work very closely with other Rniti, often sending Jayyojjeks to guard expeditions, research in far away places, and even instruct them in high levels of zoltind techniques.

“And, lastly, should the Daijoks ever make a decision that I do not agree with, whether it be concerning the Injhihato or Munda Luna, I have the power to overturn any decision and my word is taken, again, as the final decision.”

“You are the queen of the Rniti?” Desert asks with malice barely concealed by his scarf.

Teqqc glances at Desert with darkness entering her heart as she looks into the boy’s eyes. She shivers, “No, Desert,” Desert straightens in surprise at the fact that Teqqc knows his name, “I am not the queen of the Rniti. Rather, imagine me as a mother of all the Rniti. You are all my children and I have sworn to defend all of my children, especially in their times of peril. Essentially, if you need aid, call me and I will be there, always.”

The Pentad nods in understanding. Santhemum stares at Teqqc with a tear running down her face as memories of her mother play before her. She blinks away the tears and glances out the window where she believes she can see her mother now waving at her to remember her courage. Santhemum swallows and resolves herself to meet Teqqc’s eye.

“Are you well, dear Santhemum?” Teqqc asks concerned.

Santhemum nods strongly in reply.

Teqqc awaits a verbal answer, but then remembers that Santhemum rarely speaks. She glances away and continues, “And lastly, to elaborate more of the cycle. The cycle is very specific and technical actually. The cycle is always a man then a woman and back again. And the cycle even involves the connections of zoltind. The zoltind cycle is always okit, ire, fuhok, and sigo. So, the man before me was a fuhok, I am a sigo, the next will be an okit, and so on, and so on.”

Teqqcy then turns to face Vaiqon, “I am afraid that is all the time I have to spare for the day. Thank you for allowing me the honor of instructing this most extraordinary class,” she says after twitching her head as if hearing something far away.

Teqqc embraces with Vaiqon. She disappears in another flash of white. Vaiqon steps back to the center of the Pentad where a devious smile fades to be replaced by an excited expression.

“Pentad, the last lesson I am to instruct you of today,” Vaiqon says, his excitement palpable, “is of Qigids.”

The Pentad each reacts simultaneously at the mention of Qigids, an aspect of the Rniti they had only heard rumor of and never quite fully believed.

“They do exist?” Fox asks in wonder moreso than disbelief.

Vaiqon chuckles, “Of course they exist, Fox.”

“Are Qigids what those statues are?” Santhemum’s voice rings in silky waves, her delicate finger pointing behind Vaiqon to three statues.

Vaiqon glances quickly then turns back smiling.

“Ah, Santhemum,” Vaiqon begins, “those statues are depicting an aspect of Qigids we deem Qigid Armor. But to understand this armor, you must first have working knowledge of Qigids in general.”

Vaiqon takes a moment to swallow before beginning again, “Now, there are potentially numerous Qigids for each person, but we Daijoks and the Daijoks before us have discovered that more than one Qigid is of the utmost rarity. In fact, it is so rare to have more than one Qigid, we have come to call the first Qigid a Rniti discovers as his or her Instinctual Qigid, named so because this Qigid comes to you instinctively and almost without thought.

“Now, Qigids can be anything. They are, quite simply, your aura’s physical connection to the world around you, but especially to nature. Now, Qigids can be plants, animals, words, landscapes, emotions, myths, even melodies. Qigids have no limits in their source, but once you discover your Qigid, you will discover a bond unlike any other, regardless of how you discovered your Qigid.

“Imagine the bond you feel with your parents. Your siblings. The others of your Pentad. Now, imagine all of those bonds are one. Then, imagine that bond as grown stronger ten-fold. That ten-fold bond, that is the bond you will forge with your Qigid and it is with this strong bond that you will be able to conjure Qigid Armor to you.

“Qigid Armor is a protective casing of your respective armor that blocks all but the strongest attacks, prevents all but the strongest metal from touching you, and even allows you to be ever connected with your Qigid so that you may constantly draw on your Qigid’s power throughout a battle.

“However, conjuring Qigid Armor even once requires an unbreakable bond with your Qigid and an immeasurable amount of energy from yourself. We have only three documented cases of Rniti conjuring Qigid Armor, and they nearly died from the aftermath. Those three Rniti are forever in stone behind me,” Vaiqon says with a gesture behind him.

“So, what is the major benefit of Qigids if the armor can rarely be conjured, if at all, and are aspects inside of our aura?” Desert asks.

Vaiqon smirks, “Ah, Desert, because there is another aspect of Qigids that I feel you will find most interesting.”

When Desert and the rest of the Pentad lean on their knees to listen, Vaiqon smiles wider.

“There is such an attack named the Qigid Infusion,” Vaiqon says finally after a few moments of dramatic pause. “This attack is when you fully envelop yourself into your Qigid, draw upon all of the energy and power within your Qigid, as well as yourself, and explode it outward from you in a rush of zoltind energy. It is a massively draining attack. We have no documented cases where the Rniti that successfully created an Infusion... and lived.”

Desert then slumps back, disappointment radiating off of him in droves.

Vaiqon notices and raises an eyebrow, “All is well, Desert?”

Desert shrugs, “I guess I still don’t see what is so special about having a Qigid.”

Hawk opens his mouth to retort, but Vaiqon raises his hand and grunts, shaking his head.

“Desert, when the time comes for you to meet your Instinctual Qigid, I believe then you will understand fully the extraordinary benefits of your Qigid,” Vaiqon finishes.

Desert merely rolls his eyes beneath his scarf, crossing his arms over his chest.

Vaiqon then smiles even wider, “I suppose you would not want to learn of the Qigid Explosion.”

Desert then drops his arms to his lap and looks at Vaiqon with hopeful eyes.

Vaiqon chuckles inwardly, “I thought so. Now, a Qigid Explosion is very similar to a Qigid Infusion, but instead of fully immersing yourself in each of your Qigids, you only briefly request aid from your Qigid and erupt in a great spectral of zoltind power for a few seconds, very effective in battle.”

Desert’s excitement tears through the air, nearly blasting through Vaiqon’s walls of his trained aura. Vaiqon nods to Desert, “However, this is an aspect of Qigids that cannot be trained by me or anyone else of the Rniti. Rather, after you meet your Qigid, you will learn of this technique Instinctively, but only after you forge your bond with your Instinctual Qigid.”

Desert nods eagerly, “When will be able to meet our Qigids?”

Vaiqon looks away as if pondering the question and answers, “I am afraid you are still a year away from that day. You have much training to complete before such a time.”

Desert nods respectfully, astounding Vaiqon completely.

Vaiqon smiles. “Pentad, before I take you to the first ring for more sword play and zoltind practice, have yourselves a pleasant lunch at the Gallery.”

The Pentad nods graciously as their bellies have been gnawing at them for the last half hour. The Pentad rises from the bench, pushes it back to the wall together, then trickles out of the room.