Chapter 04: The Fated Summon

It is darkest before dawn.

- People's lore and telltale.

*****

For the past 5 days, I had been in bad mood. Despite my attempts of diverting my mind with trainings and lessons, I still felt restless. And the nightmares I had made me awake more times that I could remember. And it was no different this morning either. Looking out through the window, it was still dark. I was still worried about Sehanie. And that girl... I wondered what really happened to her

While I’m still deep in my thought, suddenly there was a knock on the door. I snorted at the thought of who might be visiting me at this early hour. Must be those kids again. What did they want now? I was in no mood to entertain them and so I just ignored the knock.

Knock! Knock!

I guessed ignoring wasn’t’ the best policy.

“Go away! I’m in no mood right now.” I shouted towards the door. However, instead of going away, the knock became louder. And the force was so strong that I could actually hear my door creaked.

I was getting pissed off. Was someone trying to challenge me, the master of my own little realm in here? Those pipsqueaks were going to get a whack for this; pissing me off early in the morning and trespassing the serenity of my realm.

Feeling annoyed, I got up the bed and opened the door.

“Why you little pipsqueaks. Are you deaf or what? I said, go away! Leave me alone…”

Expecting the usual bunch of little kids, I wanted to give them a piece of my mind. However, what awaited me in front of the door were not little kids. Nay, it was a giant of a man. Twice, perhaps even tripled my size. I couldn’t even see his head from the door. And his whole body was wide enough to block the doorway.

The silence after I opened the door was deafening as I could hear his heartbeat pounding like a thunderous sky. And when he spoke, it sent shivers down my spine.

“Are you trying to say something to me? Something that I found very unwanting of an Initiate?!” I gulped. His voice boomed right into my brain and my ear ringed. Did he just used an unknown shout skill to stung me?

“At least you could answer me, or tell me who you are before I opened the door. You know, the usual courtesy. You do know that bit right?” The giant man did not budge. In fact, he looked at me straight in the eye, like a wolf to a shivering deer. Cold, yet menacing.

The one in front of me was none other than the dreaded Chore Master. His name was Red Wolf and I try to avoid him like plague. For what reason did I do so anyway? He really lived up to his namesake.

Every time I saw him, he would delight himself with my suffering upon suffering. Sure I do get punished a lot for my misbehaviour or my certain concept of creativity which some might find un-amusing, but this guy took things way too seriously. And the fact that he was a Sun Master wasn’t helping my plight in the slightest either. He got away with everything while I end up becoming a fodder for his endless temper. Life wasn’t fair for those at the bottom rung of the food chain.

“Come. Lord Supreme Grand Master had summoned you!” My mind was still in shock from his earlier shout skill and now I got another shock of my life.

“Huh? What do you mean I’m being summoned? Why? What does that old geezer summons me for anyway? I did nothing…”

Before I could even finish my words, Red Wolf cut me short, like he always did. “Enough of your yapping! Either you come with me, or I will carry you there. Now, stop wasting time and get dressed!”

Did I even look like I had a choice? I was supposed to have a choice, right? But with Red Wolf, the word ‘choice’ was something that was not even in his dictionary. He would always get what he wanted.

“Alright, alright. I’ll come. Now close the door and I’ll get dress as soon as possible.”

Red Wolf did not even listen to me. Not only did he not close the door, but his eyes never strayed away from me. I felt like a convict of some kind right now. He really took things way too seriously for my liking.

Sigh, what a beginning of the day.

*****

Before long, we arrived in front of a great door; the Wall of Soul. Now, this wasn’t just any big-arse door being placed here for no particular reasons than being a show-off. Sure, it was 30 feet tall and all but that was not what made it special.

To open the Wall of Soul, one must use the inner energy of some sort. Nothing else could and would open this door. It was sealed to all outsiders and even to the members of the Brotherhood alike except for Sun Masters and above. And behind this great door was the esteemed Chambers of Solaris.

Chamber of Solaris was where the Lord Supreme Grand Master, the highest rank in the Brotherhood and his Grand Council of Solaris met for official duties. Of course, many important events took place here too, including my Initiation into the Brotherhood. But, right here and right now, I’d been summoned and as far as I know, this wasn’t Initiation or any important event of some sort.

Red Wolf opened the door without much problem by just placing his palm on it though I could not see any indentation that acts as a keyhole. He neither pushed nor pulled as there was no door handle to do so. It was as plain as any other door; saved for the side engravings. Perhaps this was what they meant by only a Sun Master and above can open this door; using a skill that was far beyond my current level and rank.

The great door slowly creaked open. With a very deep sigh wondering at what would await me beyond, I followed Red Wolf.

*****

Recollection of Aldebaran, Lord Supreme Grand Master, 103rd Solaris Primus, Brotherhood of The Sun.

The year was 3977AD.

That was the first time I’d battled against something that was non-native to this realm; a summoned monster that was brought here from another plane of existence. A humongous winged humanoid of no less than 12 feet tall with red scales that no ordinary weapon could penetrate and fangs that dripped of corrosive acid.

We did not know its name, species nor the reason why it was here. But we knew one thing; it took all our effort to finally put it down. Though we suffered no casualties, the fact remained that it took nearly 20 full-fledged Sun Masters myself included, proved to us the untold powers that monster have had.

Unfortunately, until today we have yet to find out who the summoner was and for what reason the monster was brought forth into our realm.

Year 3997AD.

We have had seven more deadly contacts with the summoned monsters during the 20 years’ period. Though we emerged victorious each time, our ranks suffered greatly. There was one battle I remembered vividly as if it just happened yesterday.

That time, we were on our way back to the guild-city after a successful trip around the Kingdom and her neighbour, looking for young boys and girls to be initiated into our Brotherhood ranks. It was noon when we first saw a blinding flash that covered a 10-mile radius, originating from a nearby village. Fearing the worse, we went to check it out immediately. With me that time was my trusted friend and former student, Sun King Blizzard Hawk.

However, the sight that greeted us was beyond gruesome. And yet again, I saw the same summoned monster. Preparing for a life and death battle, this was the fifth contact.

It was a bittersweet victory. The summoned monster not only claimed the lives of our younger members and all our new Novices, but also the whole village and its surrounding; leaving nothing but ashen remains of the buildings and corpses. And to our shock, the scene told us that there was one more summoned monster though it was defeated before we arrived.

The sight of the massacre was so disturbing that some of the younger members who survive; especially those below the rank of Sun Master traumatized. However, amidst the remains, we found one remaining survivor of that massacre; a severely injured young boy.

His will to live was so strong, courageous and selfless enough to help us despite his own conditions. Because of that, all of us took an immediate liking to him and Blizzard Hawk; who lost his student in the fight, took the responsibility to initiate the young orphan.

Year 4009AD, 6.00pm

12 years later, I saw the same light again. I was still in my personal chambers reading when the light came from the eastern side of the Great Forest Shanintara. However, this time around, it had much more intensity and with it a certain malice that spread as far as one could see.

Immediately, I had a bad omen about this incident. I touched a crystal ball that acted a telepathic communication device and sent out my words of action to my old time friend. “Blizzard Hawk, did you see the light that came from nearby our guild-city, at the eastern side of the forest?”

“Yes, my Lord! It is the same light when we first saw it 12 years ago!” Came back the answer.

Fearing the worse, I gave my orders “This is an ill omen, my friend. Gather around our available Sun Masters and meet me at the eastern gate in five minutes. We have no time to lose right now.”

“I’ll get on to it right away, my Lord!”

Year 4009AD, 6.15pm

We arrived at the site where the blinding light originated from. There was 15 of us; all Sun Masters and above, preparing for yet another life and death battle. However, this time we did not need to participate.

“Lord, we have a survivor here!” A young lady with white hair was lying in front of us. One of the Sun Master went immediately to her and casted healing magic.

“My Lord, there’s a wood elf over there, and a human girl. And besides both of them, is a boy, wearing our tunic. An Initiate, Lord!”

Surprised, I got down on my horse and made my way immediately. I was followed by a few Sun Masters who specialized in support and healing skills and techniques.

“This is… Hasty One” I was relief to see that he was still alive. His will to live never ceased to amaze me. “And that girl?”

“She is Sehanie Moonbow from Elaeseryn!” Blizzard Hawk explained as he arrived and stood beside me.

“Sehanie, are you alright?” Blizzard Hawk tried to calm down the crying Wood Elf. However, she kept her silence amidst her tears.

“This is Blizzard Hawk here, the friend of your Village Elder. It’s safe now. Don’t worry. You can let go of Hasty… Claude right now.”

She still did not give any response.

“You did a great job, let us take over from here. He will be safe. Rest assured, Sehanie.” Blizzard Hawk continued to persuade her relentlessly. We had to be careful of their underlying conditions and to take it slowly. After a while, she finally let go of Hasty One. However, due to extreme exhaustion, she too immediately fainted beside him.

“Blizzard Hawk, how're their conditions?” I asked.

“Safe, my Lord. But both of them suffered from extreme exhaustion. And Hasty One suffered a piercing wound through his body, but somehow it has managed to heal.”

“Good. Take them on the horse we provided and send them to the guild’s infirmary as soon as possible and…”

“Lord, we have an emergency here. Please come immediately.” My instruction was cut short by a shout of desperation mixed with surprise. “This human girl here has the Royal signet with her and…. and…. It bears the seal of the House of Elsmdor of Elsigardia, my Lord!”

“What?” I immediately rushed towards her. Kneeling beside her, I took a look at her signet.

“It is the Royal Signet of House of Elmsdor. In fact, she is the Crown Princess Sierra Elsmdor. But what was she doing here?” I furrowed my brows, thinking of what could bring someone like her here.

“Nevermind that. Let’s get her treated for now.”

I looked around the area trying to deduce what had transpired here. This scene was the reminiscence of what happened 12 years ago. This was a sign of battle with the summoned monster. Our ninth battle.

“Look for any other survivors. Let’s take them immediately back to the infirmary and treat them as soon as possible. We can’t afford to delay any longer!”

Yes, we couldn’t afford to delay any longer. I feared the side effect of this battle have on our younger members and survivors, especially to their mental state. And the air that surrounded this place had mixed feelings about it. To some extent, it was heavy and foreboding of evil intention. To the other extent, the air somehow persevering the life of the survivors and the surrounding areas from further damage. But no matter what, we needed to get the survivors out of here fast.

With that, we began to search for any other survivors and unfortunately found no one else. We carried all those that we found, including the corpse of the royal guard back towards the guild-city. Before we left, I gave out another order.

“Cordoned this area off from any entry. This area now is off limit to everyone except the Sun Masters. We need to investigate further what happened here.”

But the tingling sensation and the feeling of bad omen had yet to leave me.

Three days after the incident, I had a royal guest in my personal chambers. Crown Princess Sierra was finally awake from her ordeal. Though she took her time to get accustomed to her new surroundings, I for once was glad that she did not injure herself other than just some cuts and bruises. She then told me what had transpired in the forest before she fainted.

“That’s all that happened before I fainted, my Lord.”

“Thank you, Princess Sierra. You have been a tremendous help to us. I really am thankful that you took your time to help us, even though you have just awake and have yet to even fully recover. You showed great composure and willpower for someone so young.”

The princess blushed but remain composed.

“I wish I could tell you more. In fact, I’d barely had the recognition of the ones who saved me. I must show my gratitude to them, Lord.”

“Oh, you mean that young boy and that Wood Elf? He has yet to awake from the battle, though he is in fine condition. The Wood Elf girl, however, is back at her Elven Village, but I can send your gratitude and thanks to her via Blizzard Hawk.”

Despite what she told me, it still didn’t add up no matter how much I looked at it. A Princess with not much of combat experience and skills, an Initiate from the Brotherhood and a Wood Elf took down a summoned monster from a realm different than ours. The same monster that we previously battled with great difficulty, yet this time it perished without a trace of a devastating battle.

How did the monster perish? What or who created that blinding light? I would need to ask Hasty One directly, it seemed.

“Could I have an audience with him, my Lord and says my thanks personally for saving my life?”

“As you wish. We need to celebrate our hero. Two mornings from today, we will have our Royal Grand Audience at the Chambers of Solaris. I’ll arrange the audience and have the preparations ready. Do come to me later in the evening Princess, to finalize the details of the audience.” Princess Sierra gave a slight bow before she took her leave.

I then ushered her to the door. “Till then, do enjoy your stay here, and our hospitality. Though I know it surely lacks from those of the palace, but we will give you our best that we can offer.”

I had ordered three Sun Masters, all female, to accompany the Princess during her time here. And her maid too. She was accompanying the young Princess all the while despite her own conditions. Such dedication. Such beauty too… Ahh. Such thoughts could be left for later.

More importantly, I better get ‘someone’ to bring Hasty One here. I would even make this a surprise for him, though he won’t come willingly if he didn’t know what’s going on. Now, let me call that someone who actually could take him here, knowing his attitude and all.

Red Wolf should do it. In fact, I could think of no one better than him.

With that, I summoned Red Wolf to my personal chambers and gave him my order: to summon Hasty One, without fail, two mornings from now, to the Chambers of Solaris.

Reason given: None.