Spoiler
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Update, February 15, 2011: Upon completing the third chapter, I have determined that the prologue no longer fits the direction I have taken. As of now, it adds nothing to the immediate piece and serves more to delay the story from starting. I may work pieces of it elsewhere as the work progresses, but for now I am removing it as a prologue here.
That Which Has No Beginning Chapter 1
Yet Another Beginning
Deep in thickets, within the craggy countryside of no mans land, a faint glow flickers out to dissuade the encroaching darkness of nightfall. If one were to follow the twisted, uncut trails beyond all of the the thorny vines and hardy, century old trees; they might find themself at an earthen abode from which this phosphor yearns out. It is no more obvious if the dwelling was built by the hands of former inhabitants, than if it was purely chance that local plant-life grew over the earth to make such a recognizable form.
Recessed within a side of the organic hills, a single tree that towers tall amongst company serves to provide an excess of this home's structural integrity. This tree's immense, exposed top roots seamlessly integrate with the surrounding rocks and soil; together, colorful walls are formed in-between a few spots through which the darkness licking glow escapes.
If one were to build up the courage to peer through any opening inside, they might be surprised with what they find. It is quite spacious inside, and certainly, it looks well lived in. The intricate knotting of roots serves to form sturdy walls, further door-like openings partitioning separate rooms, and even pieces of recognizable furniture.
Venturing further in, one might find the source of this once previously undetectable light. With no discernible owner other than the room that it persists in, the light is intensely awe inspiring, yet it is not blinding. It casts a warm, inviting, uniform glow upon the entirety of the innermost room, a room that is rather plain in features otherwise. In fact, all one might find in this room beyond the light in it, is the same organic form for walls that it shares with the other rooms.
There are countless tales and legends of a place like this on Hera. Stories from all types of discernible origin, there are likely more legends surrounding this place than all other stories combined. While the details widely vary for where it might exist or for what purposes it might serve, one involving detail has persisted. It is a detail that has ultimately remained unchanged since even a time before Hera, and it is one that will no doubt survive beyond Hera: How might one come to use such knowledge to one's own advantage?
Of course, even if anyone has ever found this place, the only knowledge surrounding it is understood within the thoughts of individuals and through the eyes of many. Might such a light hold the immense capability to serve the desires of any who might harness it? Could it possess magical, unreal powers to cure the sick and reward the poor? Perchance, mightn't there be some untelling truth in its discovery?
If so, how might one capture an unknown light, such formless power, such great revelation? All of these questions remain unanswered, for even amongst the growing many and the shrinking few, not a single one may acquire anything they know nothing about. Even so, this does not deter many. Herans continue to tirelessly dig, ransack, and even destroy well after the revelation of a fruitless and wasted search. For much of Hera's inhabitants, there must always be something more, whether there exists any more or not.
"So Z`ar, do you better understand the importance of the role you are training to fill one day?" a somewhat gruff, yet friendly voice finished.
"Not really Rin," answered the inexperienced voice of a young man, "What does Hera have anything to do with Hielle?"
The owner of the young voice spoke as he impatiently fidgets in his seat; now finished, Z`ar looks back at the wizened teacher in anticipation.
Noting his student's response with a contemplating look, the Rin continues, "I see..." He paused briefly with a short pacing of the room, a common trait shared by most any Rin.
"This just means that you still have much to learn, and that I won't be out of work anytime soon," the seasoned Rin mused suddenly as he bends back a bit with a hearty chuckle, "Not that you're the lost cause much of the council makes you out to be, Z`ar."
Not sharing his Rin's enthusiasm, Z`ar replies with snide sarcasm, "I feel so accomplished now, oh great and wise Lye."
Z`ar's snarky cynicism is met with a piercing stare back from his Rin, "Watch your manners Z`ar, you have not been dismissed yet." Lye's stern expression fades a bit; quickly working himself to appear amiable again, Z`ar's Rin continues, "You know better than to call me anything but Rin when the days' work has scarcely begun."
Back at attention, Z`ar sighs. "You sure love to torture your student. What backbreaking labor do you have in store for today?"
A mischievous smirk overtakes Lye.
"Still pushing the teetering daredevil towards the pit of venomous snakes, as usual," Lye shrugs, "I was thinking you were finally ready for something new today, but if you still consider your previous training up to now 'back breaking labor', perhaps I've overestimated your progress."
Eyes widened, Z`ar leaps up from his seat, nearly knocking it over.
"Really?!" exclaimed the excited Z`ar.
With a nervous chuckle, Z`ar rambles on. "Backbreaking labor? Of course not! Just as you say, I should learn my manners better, Rin. Shame on me! I know better than to joke about such things and make light of your truly valuable experience like that and I should certainly show my appreciation for your hard work so much more!"
Mischievous smirk now a broad smile, Lye can scarcely contain another bout of warm laughter.
"Now there's the enthusiasm I love to see!" Lye beamed. "If you have no objections then, we should get going before you wear yourself out jumping out of your skin like that," he asserted.
With the look of someone who just narrowly escaped a heart attack, Z`ar makes haste in assuming a rigid, upright posture, albeit still unable to hold perfectly still.
Z`ar nearly chokes, falling over his own antsy words. "No master Rin, no objections whatsoever master, I am ready for anything Rin feels I am ready for!"
Playfully lowering his eyes, Lye feigns a bit of doubt.
"We haven't even started the trek to the days' training, yet your capacity for speech is already hindered," Lye concluded with the return of his signature, mischievous smirk. "Regardless, we should not waste another moment," he continued, already turning to face the door that leads outside, "the outskirts of Rabaccan Woods are a good 3 days journey by foot."
"Rabaccan Woods?!" Z`ar exclaimed, this time with a quizzical expression. "What business could we possibly have there?"
Already halfway through the door, Lye turned just enough to briefly call back to his straggling student. "Make that 4 days for a Rin with a student who has time to devote to asking questions while not moving," he bellowed, wasting no time himself in working his way down the road.
Taking the hint, Z`ar quickly collects his neatly, previously prepared belongings and makes haste in chasing after his escaping Rin.
Certainly, the fresh and energetic Z`ar was not too out of place to be bewildered at his Rin's ever vague instruction. Z`ar's Rin, or any of the circumstance of how Lye came to be Z`ar's Rin, is anything but orthodox.
Normally, it takes many years of experience and the devotion of much resources for one to become a qualified Rin. As such, the governing council of Hielle keeps a close eye on Rins, as they are vital to the continual teaching and leading of new generations to come. Only a very few, who are able to come into a certain mastery of knowledge with the necessary refinement of experience, can rightfully claim the role of a Rin. Due to the importance and prestige that surrounds such a role, the Hielle Council, or even simply, 'the council', ensures that any who do not rightfully claim the role of Rin are publicly exposed and punished in accordance to laws governing instances of 'misleading the future'.
The council manages such a limited and valued resource within Rins as well as it is able to divide them amongst the populace. When one becomes available, the wealthiest of Hielle may bid for the instruction of a Rin; in exchange for valuable resources, and at the sole discretion of the council, one can come to hire the most highly valued and dedicated instruction of a Rin. Additionally, the council occasionally sends so-called seekers to go incognito and scout out any who seem to possess certain traits that the council might be seeking. Like Rins, these seekers are masters at what they do; it is always surprising for one to receive a direct summons from the council as this very seldom occurs. It is common knowledge that an authentic letter from the council by way of a messenger typically means good news and even an exciting opportunity.
On a similar note, the council leaves law enforcement to more local jurisdictions. Only the most outstanding and grievous offenses that are deemed to be destructive to the well being of Hielle as a whole, are dealt with by direct intervention of the Hielle Council. In these cases, one can be sure that the council does not expect a criminal to respond to a cordial summons with turning themselves in.
Thus, the guidance of a Rin is reserved for the wealthy and the spectacular. Born into a tiny, rocky, landlocked village of non-prestigious artisans and already at 20 years of age, Z`ar was certainly neither of these things.
Rins are usually quite seasoned in age; a good number can pass for being a grandparent, sporting wrinkles, graying hair, or some other physical evidence indicating their level of experience. Of an average height and with a somewhat stocky build, Lye comes off as being more of a mid-aged, good-humored and caring fatherly figure.
Rins are also assigned by an arduous, structured, and very formal process that is closely regulated by the council.
Lye and Z`ar first met in a local pub.
It is not hard to imagine the common disbelief of Lye being a legitimate Rin or especially that the council would waste such a valuable and scarce resource on someone like Z`ar. But the council has never let any false Rin practice the approved role in the open without a swift and immediate capture of the impostor. Even previous, publicly unseen frauds have all been exposed by the council with much fanfare. If Lye is an impostor, it would be a first. Z`ar refers to Lye as 'Rin' in all sorts of company, as this is formally required within the teacher-student relationship between a Rin and their assigned follower.
In the case of Lye and Z`ar, the teacher-student relationship was made in the very same pub that they first met. After getting to know each other as 'drinking buddies', Z`ar came to respect Lye for his fascinating stories and overall astounding depth of general knowledge. In one night's conversation with Z`ar, Lye revealed that he was let go by the Heille Council to take part in an experimental new direction. According to Lye, he was given clearance to freely go about the required duties of a Rin as he sees fit. Expecting the reasonable skepticism of his pub going companion, Lye then revealed his 'Mark of Gem' to Z`ar.
A 'Mark of Gem' is the absolute proof of a Rin's authenticity. Upon meeting all requirements strictly held by the council, and with the council's blessings, a polished piece of one of the 8 rarest and most precious stones is permanently embedded into the skin of the newly ordained Rin. The process for seamlessly integrating a piece of one of the, so deemed, '8 Saintly Gems' into a Rin's body is one of the council's most highly guarded secrets. Even the Rins themselves know little of the process used to infuse their own Mark of Gem. Unquestionably, it is a mark to which no counterfeit can hope to match.
In Lye's case, the Mark of Gem was embedded into the back of his head. No bigger than a small, round coin, Lye does well to make it hidden by carefully grooming surrounding hair and with clever usage of the cover various head-wear provides. Even someone like the impoverished, unachieved Z`ar knows that it is not a mark you can fake. Z`ar didn't have time to be flabbergasted at the offer of a Rin's instruction, for such an an opportunity is one that most can only ever dream of.
Z`ar knew it wouldn't be easy, but other Rin's students could do no worse with their initial expectations. After completing the pact between Rin and follower, teacher and student, Z`ar saw an instantaneous change in his familiar friend. Lye went from the jovial, laid back fellow that entertained nightly with his never ending stash of fanciful tales, to the no nonsense, 'slave driving', and perhaps a bit cruelly cryptic, guiding Rin for Z`ar.
From the very start of training, now just over a year ago from the present, work was certainly anything but Z`ar's wildest imaginings. Lye started Z`ar's training with a single question,
"Right or wrong, which makes a light?"
Only to preempt any attempt at an answer from Z`ar to chastise him,
"Fool, don't waste so much time on nonsensical questions with no answer!"
Definitely, none who saw the two could claim that Lye wasn't doing his job, pushing Z`ar with beyond abundant and adequate challenge. While Z`ar has had his periods of doubt and second guessing, at least he could not deny the benefits of required exercise. Though he hates to admit when he is wrong, Z`ar is forced to recognize his own oversights and mistakes by his Rin.
Now once again, Z`ar is like he was that night in the pub when Lye first offered his direction. Too many excited thoughts rush through Z`ar's mind as he sprints to catch up to his steady paced, briskly walking Rin. Z`ar has heard of similar events of progression from the stories of other Rins and their followers. Up until now, Rin has been asking confusing questions, to which Z`ar has never been able to provide a satisfactory answer. At least, this is how Z`ar has understood it.
Regardless of the frequent, confusing questions and the occasional story beyond any discernible meaning, much like the one Rin told today, one bit of training has yet to change. Beyond doubt, Z`ar has come to learn virtue of not complaining. No matter how unreasonable or cruel Rin can be with his 'excruciating', physical workouts, complaints have never made them any easier. Though Z`ar would love if Rin ever provided an actual, real partner to spar with, Rin's frustrating answer to Z`ar's concern has yet to change,
"I am not so cruel to send you to an early grave. I cannot think of any suitable partners that would not be doing yourself a large disservice by sparring with you at your current, dismal level of overall prowess."
Maybe today's sudden, unexpected change in Rin's direction meant that Z`ar was finally ready for a real sparring partner. Not the tired, old obstacle courses of pointless activities or the occasional 'imaginary opponent'; but finally, a real, actual, true, walking, talking and breathing, living being to train with. One that is both capable of thought and action by its own will, someone at a level Z`ar can handle, something he could understand. At long last, Z`ar might have a way to prove to himself that he has improved at all over the course of the past year with Rin.
At the very least, such a long journey to the next destination could mean a break from all of his hard work in prior training. Z`ar would be more than pleased if this ends up being the case. He had never been so far out to the outskirts of Rabaccan Woods; his current knowledge of the area is limited to its name alone. If for nothing else, Z`ar is excited at the promise of a change in both pace and scenery.
As he finally catches up to stride with Rin, Z`ar can't help but exude with his enthusiasm for the things to come.
