The Emerging Part I: Dream

As the rest of the Pentad speeds off to the Gallery, Hawk stays behind. Vaiqon comes out of the room and notices Hawk sitting on the wall across from the door. “Yes, Hawk, is there anything I can do for you?”

Hawk answers, “Yes, could you, well, I have a question…”

“Go on then,” Vaiqon coaxes, feeling he knows what the question will be about.

“Well, is it common for Rniti to have feelings that they have seen something before, as if a memory came to them from somewhere long ago?”

Completely taken by surprise, Vaiqon answers, “Well, everyone feels they have done this. Seen something they thought they never have before. It is quite common.”

“No, I mean, is it common for Rniti to live memories of the past in the present?”

Feeling slightly uneasy, Vaiqon asks, “What do you mean, Hawk? Have you lived memories of the past in the present?”

“Well, I do not really know, but I have felt as if I have done certain things before and have seen certain things before. As in, when we first arrived at the Injhihato, I knew immediately where we were when I saw Rniti Spire. I even knew the name of the tower even though I had never seen it before.”

“Hawk, I feel you should not dwell on these so-called ‘living memories,’ as you have named them, I believe you should focus on your training and learning all you can. Now, go eat something.”

Hawk nods, rises to run away, but before he takes off in a dead sprint, he turns back to Vaiqon. “Something has been troubling you again, Vaiqon.”

Vaiqon stares at the young lad with disbelief. He hides his emotions from appearing on his face as he says, “Of course not.”

Hawk walks back to Vaiqon, places a hand on Vaiqon’s stomach and pleads with his eyes as he asks, “What is troubling, Vaiqon.”

Vaiqon smiles warmly at Hawk. He brushes Hawk’s hand away from his stomach gently, conjures two air chairs, and sits. He waits for Hawk to sit before he says, “Ah, Hawk, you are by far the most extraordinary boy I have ever come to meet. You are correct in the aspect that I am troubled, but as I have told you before, you need not to worry yourself with my troubles.”

“But why? If I am as extraordinary as everyone makes me out to be, shouldn’t I not be given a chance to live up to this incredible prowess?”

Vaiqon stares at Hawk for a moment before answering, “That is a strong argument, but, I have to ask, who has made you out to be extraordinary?”

Hawk rolls his eyes, “As if you don’t know. You ought to have realized that I can sense things I don’t quite understand myself. I can feel from you, the other Daijoks, and even that Teqqc woman, that you all make me out to be extraordinary.”

“I feel as if you have had your mind dwell on this?”

Hawk nods, “Yes. It makes me feel jittery. Anxious, I guess. To prove to you all that I am extraordinary even though I don’t feel extraordinary myself.”

“Ah, but keep that mindset, Hawk.”

“But why? Shouldn’t extraordinary people feel extraordinary?”

“Well, there are many ways to feel and express that represents an extraordinary person.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You could be a conceited, arrogant, ignorant, raging, wraith that is always seeking power, always seeking to prove himself. Or, you could be a humble, meditative, saint that realizes he is extraordinary but does nothing to showcase his prowess beyond what is needed.”

“I feel myself drawn to both sides of that extraordinary.”

Vaiqon stares at Hawk, mulls whether to enter Hawk’s aura, then decides against it as he says, “Well, if you were to become a wraith, you would always be seeking a challenge from those supposedly more powerful. You would go mad trying to find a worthy opponent, especially if none proved to be powerful enough.

“But if you became a saint, you could reside in peace for the rest of your days, using your power only when called upon. Possibly strengthening yourself without even your knowledge. I am partial to the sainthood.”

Hawk stares at Vaiqon. “One can never be that diluted.”

Vaiqon recoils as if Hawk has struck him, but recovers before Hawk can notice. Vaiqon then says, “Well, perhaps it is your personality. Have you ever looked inward at yourself? You did say your grandfather taught you how to meditate.”

Hawk nods slowly, “Well, he tried to, but he died just before I could take meditation seriously. I wish he was here now. Will we learn meditation here?”

“Where?”

“Here. At the Injhihato.”

“Oh... Er, I am afraid not, Hawk.”

“I thought so. But then how am I to know how extraordinary I could be?”

Vaiqon is silent for a moment.

“I know!” Hawk exclaims.

Vaiqon looks at Hawk with a smirk, “Oh?”

“Yes! You could take the Pentad along with you on a mission!”

“How would that prove to you that you are indeed extraordinary if the rest of your Pentad accompanies you?”

“How can one become stronger just by himself? You need friends to have a sense of humanity.”

Vaiqon looks at Hawk with disbelief. He cannot control his expression on his face, but says, “Hawk, you need not concern yourself with your own extraordinary abilities, run off now and join the others for a bite to eat.”

Hawk nods to Vaiqon and reluctantly takes off to join the rest of the Pentad. Vaiqon takes on a look of utmost surprise and slight uneasiness. He vanishes from the spot.