Chapter 26

Goodbye

- And after he bade them farewell, he entered the paths of destiny -

Thonavar saw the hooded overseer hold out his hand. At this gesture, a doorway opened at the end of the chamber. The hooded overseer pointed across the vast hall and there was a collected gasp from all of the children standing all around Thonavar as a group of confused looking adults walked in. Many of the women had red and misty eyes.

Thonavar heard someone shout. "Father! Mother!"

A young boy dislodged himself from his place, breaking the near perfect symmetrical line of children. The boy ran towards the group of adults.

Seemingly out from nowhere, hooded figures materialised, barring the running boy’s path, towering over him. Hooded faces, peering down. The boy stared up at them and started to tremble.

"Stay calm young ones. You will have your chance to wish your folk farewell," said the hooded overseer, his hands outstretched, motioning from calm.

"Return to your line boy," he commanded sternly, arms still outstretched.

The young boy who had run toward his parents stood rooted to the spot, his eyes drinking in the tall and dark forms of the watchers.

“Return to your seat boy”, boomed the overseer once more.

Slowly, but surely, the boy took several steps back and resumed his position in his line, quivering slightly. The robed figures melted into the sides of the hall and became one with the shadows once more.

"Young ones," continued the overseer, "the path that you will now take is a difficult one. But you bring great honour to your families. Take one last look at them. See their proud faces. Remember them. For you will not see them for a time. Only as you approach your eighteenth birthday will you be able to see them again."

Upon hearing this, there was a murmur amongst the children and their parents.

"Silence please," said the hooded overseer. "This is not news to you. Now, let us prepare to say our farewells. Parents you may approach your children. Please approach your child in an orderly manner."

There was a slow shuffle of moving feet as the group of parents dispersed across the hall toward their children. An air of desperation hung over the hall as mothers and fathers embraced their children fiercely as if it was their last time they would ever see or interact with their child. Many pairs of eyes glittered with hate at the hooded overseer who stood on an elevated platform staring down at the scene before him with apathy.

Thonavar desperately sought his parents but could not find them. Moving rapidly through the small crowd of embracing children and adults, his head spinning left and right, Thonavar struggled to see above his height.

"Today, there should only be pride and joy. Today, there should be neither grief nor sorrow. For you should be very proud that your son or daughter has been called to serve HavenGuarde - this monument that is the symbol and the peak of human civilisation. Your children will be protectors and guardians, preserving this great heritage, in the name of humanity. Look to the east they say, for Havenguarde still stands, a glory in the shadowlands."

Suddenly, a familiar voice shouted his name from above the din, and Thonavar spun around.

"Varu! Over here!"

Turning around, Thonavar saw the frightened faces of his mother and father, waving as they did their best to wade through the crowd to reach him. Thonavar struggled through the crowd to reach them.

Mirya swooped down and threw her arms around him, pulling him close to her. Thonavar took in the familiar strength and warmth of his mother and it comforted him. Jesse stood a little away, head bowed, his face hidden in shadow by long locks of hair.

Mirya pulled back and lifted her head to look at her son and Thonavar tried to fight back the tears. A lump formed in his throat.

She smiled and Thonavar almost choked.

"My varu," she said and her voice never sounded so sweet. "This day is now upon us. They will now take you away from us. You will go to some place to become someone with a special responsibility here in HavenGuarde. You will be able to do and achieve things no other ordinary person will be able to. Your father and I are so proud of you."

Jesse nodded, his face still hidden, and Thonavar could not see his expression. Mirya looked as though to speak again but the sonorous sound of the hooded overseer sounded throughout the hall.

"Faithful citizens of HavenGuarde, time is of the essence and the young ones need to rest in preparation for their training on the morrow. We seek your cooperation in releasing your children to us. Rest assured that they will be well cared for and will want for nothing. You may have a last minute with them."

Mirya frowned, annoyed at the rush for time. She gripped Thonavar’s shoulders and tried to pull them back, fussing over his lack of posture. But Thonavar heart was heavy. He would not see his parents for some time. He was going to be alone.

"Listen to me, Varu. Do not be afraid of anything. Especially them," she said, and looked to the sides of the hall where dark cloaks were gathering in the shadows. "Be strong. Do not worry for one moment about how we are doing. We will be alright and will do just fine."

A tear fell down Thonavar’s face. He nodded vigorously, showing a brave and stubborn face.

"Varu, whatever happens, promise me this," whispered Mirya, and taking his hands in hers, Mirya spoke softly, but with authority, her voice echoing the wisdom of her years.

"Never do evil or repay evil with evil. Be kind to others and use your strengths to aid or protect them. Also, have compassion for the weak around you, for one day you will be great, my son, and when that day comes, you will know it, for it will be like a new morning, a new sunrise. When that day is finally upon you, then you shall be truly tested and you must prove yourself worthy."

"Mirya," Jesse whispered, coming close to them, "we must go."

At those words, Thonavar’s heart sank. His father had barely paid him any attention. Will my father not miss me?

All around the hall, parents were waved tearful goodbyes and retreated at the sight of dark-robed individuals which had suddenly disappeared from the sides of the buildings, only to reappear in their midsts. It was time.

"Mother, Father, I promise I will be worthy," Thonavar managed to whisper. Jesse stood close by. He looked at Thonavar and finally, as if struggling within himself, he looked at Thonavar, with piercing light-brown eyes and gave his son a nod of approval. His eyes said it all. The pride. The affirmation.

And Thonavar drank it all in.

But then as quickly as it happened, the moment passed and Thonavar found Jesse slowly turning away from him, eyes still locked with Thonavar’s. Finally, he withdrew his gaze and turned, walking in the opposite direction. Thonavar smiled inwardly and looked upon the back of his large frame as he walked away.

Then Mirya, too, stood up and looked upon him, smiling as though she knew something. Then, she turned and left him standing there as black robes enclosed from all sides.

Thonavar felt a sudden desperation well up within him. For each step she took away from him was a screaming step of abandonment and Thonavar resisted the urge to run back to her. He could barely see her now as black robes swirled all around, obscuring his vision of her. Thonavar strained his neck to see every last part of her as her figure slowly dissolved and disappeared. At the very last moment before the darkness swallowed her light form, he caught her eye, for but a brief moment, before the fleeting connection broke and he was left alone.

"Come now," boomed the voice of the overseer, as the last of the parents exited the hall. He raised his hands and gestured to the huddled mass of miserable boys and girls surrounded by black-robed watchers.

"Welcome to the Angerius Order!"

He turned his head to look over all of them. Thonavar felt the eyes of the overseer fall upon him and he looked straight back at him. The eyes of the overseer were eerily large.

"Tonight, be sure to get some rest," said the overseer. "For tomorrow, you shall make the journey to Sanctum."