That Which Has No Beginning Chapter 3
Fateless Discovery of Burdensome Responsibility
A day has already passed since the journey to Rabaccan Woods began. So far, the journey has been rather uneventful, much to Z`ar's dismay. It has been nothing but flatland and well traveled roads, and the only change in scenery has been in the attire of other travelers met along the path. Z`ar was a bit surprised to not be given much in the way of physical training along the way. At least Lye wasn't making every available opportunity a strenuous workout session for Z`ar, not that Z`ar was about to say anything about it. He knew better than to ask for more work from Rin by now. It's not like Rin was going easy on Z`ar, it was business as usual when it came to setting up camp for last night and gathering all the things needed to get through a night in the wilderness. But for the first time in, possibly ever as far as Z`ar can recollect, there was no extra push beyond, no added stone to the pile, nor any kind of additional burden to the back of the already sore and weary student. Z`ar isn't sure to take this as a sign of exciting things to come or as a plausible cause for concern.
"Something wrong Z`ar?" inquired Lye, breaking the flow of the previously near silent day's journey. "It seems like I'm boring you," he continued, only to be interrupted at his smirk by his anxious student.
"Oh no, not at all Rin!" Z`ar outburst, knowing what things tend to come after such statements from Lye. Realizing that he nearly halted in place at his outburst, Z`ar practically stumbles over himself as he returns back to his previous pace.
As if he knew the spectacle of his student would occur before he even asked his question, Lye had stopped to turn around and face the bumbling Z`ar. Chuckling, Lye continues his interrupted train of thought.
"Relax Z`ar," Lye smiled, "We don't have time to waste on covering old ground."
Hearing this, Z`ar stopped in place to look back at Lye with a blank stare.
"If you are bored, why not strike up a conversation with ol' Rin?" Lye mused. "Besides, we still have a good two, maybe three days until we reach our destination," continued the jovial Rin.
"If there's something on your mind or you're just curious, ask away," Lye eye's glinted as he gave Z`ar his patented, mischievous grin.
"Don't bore me now," Lye threatened jokingly, "I might be a Rin, but I'm still human."
Turning to face a direction perpendicular to the path they have been traveling all this time, Lye concludes his thought before walking towards the wooded area adjacent to the road.
"You know how I get when I'm bored, Z`ar."
Z`ar had no time to be confused at the current change of direction and immediately followed his Rin's lead. Having been instructed by Lye for over a year, keeping up and asking questions later has become second nature to Z`ar. Lye had something planned for today, Z`ar knew this for a fact. But just what Lye has in store, well, it has never been predictable historically. Z`ar has no reason to believe he should expect anything but the unexpected now, and he is prepared for anything in the upcoming woods ahead.
The two walked a good ways into the woods. On flatland and nearby a well maintained highway, the ground is covered with a blanket of various tame grasses. The large trees are well dispersed; they are spread out and leave plenty of viewing distance in between themselves. These woods that surround both sides of the highway that Lye and Z`ar just left are certainly inviting. One wouldn't worry much about any local wildlife given that the sounds of travelers can be heard miles in. There is no viable cover for any would be highway robbers either, and the road is far too traveled for any possible payoff to be worth the risk for even the most daring of bandits.
Light from the high hanging sun filters through the various tree tops; the day is just getting started, and work has scarcely begun. Upon reaching a clearing, Lye takes a seat on a large, smooth, very dry rock. Motioning Z`ar to take a seat as well, the two rest under the shade of an overhanging tree. They are far enough the woods now that the noise from the highway is but a faint memory. A nice breeze filters through; along with the shade, this provides a welcome escape from the rather warm day. It isn't quite time for the plants to start shedding leaves in preparation for the harsh freeze that winter brings for much of Southern Limbiard. Summers tend to be rather mild here, which makes the woods an excellent respite from todays unexpected, warm weather.
"Do you feel you are ready yourself, Z`ar?" questioned Lye, who appears to be staring off into the wilderness.
"Hmm?" Z`ar replied without much thought. Despite first appearances of the dry, lichen ridden rock, it makes for quite a comfortable seat. It was hard for Z`ar, to not let his mind get carried away alongside the calming breeze.
It was mere moments before Z`ar was brought back to attention by the impact of something hard against the back of his head. It didn't take long to figure out what hit Z`ar. After reeling back a bit, he quickly collected himself for a scolding from Lye.
"I'm beginning to doubt my own judgment, seeing you let your guard down like that so easily Z`ar," Lye said with a hint of disappointment.
"The real training begins today Z`ar," Lye sighed, "You've seen so little Z`ar, there's a whole entire world outside of the tiny village you've grown up in."
Lye stood up and turned to motion Z`ar to stay in his seat. "Sit and rest for a while Z`ar," rebuked Lye, "I need to run through some things with you, and we won't be going anywhere until we're on the same page."
Seeing a familiar expression overcoming his student's face, Lye speaks with a sincere expression. "Believe me when I say, this is of immediate importance Z`ar," Lye looks back off into the distance.
"I've kept you in familiar territory for as long as I did for good reason," Lye explained, "It's not like you were ever one for my fun and games; you should be grateful that it's time to move on into the real world."
The nonchalant Z`ar leaned back against the tree that helped make the back of his seat. Whether this really was just another one of Lye's cruelly pointless stories, or something Z`ar could understand at long last, one thing was certain; Z`ar needed to get comfortable for the inevitably long story that Lye had in store for him.
"I see you've gotten comfortable now." Lye said this without a single inflection to his serious expression. "Don't forget Z`ar, the length of a story bears no indicator of importance or meaning; listen to the words, think on them, and always ask questions."
Lye's current expression is nostalgic for Z`ar. Scarcely able to put his finger on the feeling, Z`ar is able to recall a few nights where Lye, the old drinking buddy Lye from over a year ago, told a story or two like this. Since becoming Z`ar's Rin, it was a rare expression that seemed to disappear entirely. Finally recognizing the return of an entirely forgotten side of Lye, Z`ar leans forward and perks up to listen to his old friend.
"Z`ar, do you remember that night we first met?" inquired the forlorn Lye.
"How could I Rin?!" Z`ar exclaimed.
"Had you not rushed in to deter that drunk from smashing my face in," Z`ar trailed for a moment, "Well you likely saved my life that night."
"Quite possibly," contemplated Lye, "You really got that guy riled up after you stood up for that girl he was harassing."
Lye smiles, "But you weren't out of place, you did what any decent human being would do."
"Well yeah Rin," Z`ar reminisced, "I know you wouldn't have even allowed for things to get as far as they did had you been around before the whole mess got started."
"Please Z`ar," Lye derailed, "You've come far enough now, the formalities are no longer necessary."
Z`ar stared back at his Rin, confused. "This isn't another trap is it?" Z`ar questioned cautiously.
"Relax Z`ar, does I look like I'm being facetious?" Lye asked this with the full return of that rare expression Z`ar had not seen in years.
"Not at all Lye," Z`ar replied earnestly.
"Now don't forget," Lye went on, "I am still your Rin."
"That includes all of the implications and responsibilities that come with the job," Lye smirked, "Today just marks a new direction with brand new rules."
"Well I know that Lye...," Z`ar started.
"Waiting for a further explanation?" Lye grinned slyly, "Then let's waste no further time with old memories."
Lye began his explanation. "Up until now, as Rin, I have been watching you closely, tailoring your daily training, planning your every move for you; I have carried you through enough basics so that you might survive out in the wilderness."
Playfully hunching over with a sigh, Z`ar interrupts. "Just survive? Nice to know you have confidence in me."
"I do," Lye answered.
"Now if you don't want to be caught off guard again you'll do best to save your questions and comments for after the seminar." Lye grinned, pointing out the sun's speed in encroaching its rest for the night.
Looking to where Lye pointed, Z`ar sees that late afternoon is indeed amongst them. Catching the hint, Z`ar sits quietly to listen.
"Now, this new stage changes our roles around a bit." Lye explained while noting Z`ar's cocked brow, "Up until now, all of your training has been devised by me and followed up with close supervision."
Lye began to pace back and forth now. "Now that you have mastered the basics I trained you in, it is up to you to choose your own direction."
Z`ar nearly interrupts Lye again, but holds back his question leaving his mouth open awkwardly for a moment.
Lye winked at his obedient student before going on. "Now don't get the big idea that this is some kind of complete teacher-student role reversal."
"This just means that I won't be planning your every move anymore," Lye elaborated. "From here on out, you will be the one to lead the way with your own training."
"Mind, I will still be around to provide my guidance and advise," Lye stops pacing to look directly into Z`ar's eyes, "However, you'll have to learn from first hand experience, the outcomes of your own actions."
"From this day forward Z`ar, your Rin sheds his title of Rin," Lye stops to stand tall in a rigid posture.
"On this very day and with the blessings of your Rin, you, Z`ar, my student, gain a title," proclaimed Lye.
"As Rin and as Lye," he beams, "I recognize that my student has rightfully earned the title given to one who is ready to find his own way beyond the guiding light of a Rin, Rinsu."
After taking a moment to absorb the meaning of Lye's words, Z`ar's eyes light up. Leaping from his rocky seat, holding back a torrent of questions is a futile effort now.
"Wait....so no more boring training, no more confusing stories?" Z`ar questions fervently, "You won't stop me from doing anything I want to do?"
Lye chuckles. "Remember, I only promoted you to the next phase because I am confident that I won't have to be rushing to your aid like I did that night we first met."
"With formal titles or not, I am still your guiding Rin, and you are still Rin's student," Lye expounds, "As my job requires, I still guide the future."
"However, I cannot guarantee your safety anymore," Lye continues, "From now on you must remember your training and use your better judgment."
"It's a big, twisted world out here Rinsu," Lye finishes, "All of the prior training in the world can't possibly prepare you for what can only be experienced first hand."
Lye's serious face helps to cement the reality of how real everything just became for Z`ar. At least Z`ar understood enough of what this new direction meant.
Before any further questions can be asked, Z`ar's flurry of thoughts is cut short by a sudden chill. Looking up through the trees, the culprit becomes clear. The quickly escaping sun is giving way to a moonlit, starry sky. Z`ar realizes that there's no time to waste and forgets his questions for the time being. Camp needed to be made, and there wasn't much time left to get a fire going.
"Don't worry Lye," Z`ar bellows back while gathering firewood nearby, "I won't let you down."
After getting a fire going, Z`ar unpacks the bed rolls while Lye starts a stew using some leftover vegetables saved from last night's camp.
"I've worked too hard to get myself killed before I've even started," huffed Z`ar, having finished camp preparations just in time for the stars to twinkle through holes in the leafy barrier above.
"Well then," responded Lye as he spoons out his meal from the now ready kettle of hot stew, "Be especially on your guard tonight."
"I had hoped we would be finished with the day earlier and in better beds for the night," Lye shrugged, "Not that we are particularly in any kind of danger out here."
Looking back at Lye, Z`ar inquired. "Why do you say that Lye?"
Fetching his bowl, Z`ar retrieves his portion for the night before taking a seat on his bed roll by the warm fire.
"It's not like we've never camped out like this before," surmised Z`ar.
"Don't be so sure of yourself," Lye took a seat back on the same rock from earlier with his warm bowl.
"Just as no two nights predictably bring the same things, so too can the same be said of wilderness," Lye asserted.
Leaning back in his seat, Lye enjoys his meal. Stopping halfway through, he continues his thought for Z`ar. "Though time may be fickle, nature has fangs." Nearing the end of his stew, he finally concludes, "She doesn't hesitate to bare them for anyone either."
Finishing the last of his meal with a big gulp, Lye professes, "Nothing like a warm, nourishing meal to help fend off the chill of night!" Satisfied, he slides onto his bed roll from his seat.
"Just remember Rinsu, it's a entire other world out here."
Z`ar listened as he finished his own meal. He made sure to check the campfire's remaining fuel before laying down into a more comfortable position himself.
"Like you said Lye," Z`ar yawned, "I have to learn for myself."
Laying back with his hands behind his head, Z`ar looks up through a clear spot at the moonlit, night sky.
"Oh before I forget," Lye fetches something from his coat pocket.
"Yes?" Z`ar sat up on his bed roll.
"Catch," Lye tosses something small towards Z`ar's direction.
Doing as Lye asked, Z`ar finds a small, cloth pouch in his hands.
"Go ahead and open it Rinsu," instructed Lye.
Pulling the fastening drawstrings on the pouch loose, Z`ar finds a single round, smooth, black stone inside.
"What's this?" asked Z`ar, looking back at Lye for an answer.
"Well I can say it is very important," replied Lye. "As for what it is, you'll have to discover that on your own."
"I think you can handle this responsibility now," deduced Lye. "It may not look like anything special," he warned, "But heed my words, you'll want to guard that stone as you would your own life."
Z`ar played with the small stone in his hands as Lye explained.
"Really?" the baffled Rinsu asked, "Is it that important?"
"Yes," affirmed Lye, "Very important."
"I'll remember that then," Z`ar responded as he secured the stone back in its protective pouch; the pouch was then guided into the security of Z`ar's right pant pocket.
"You never did make all that much sense Lye," Z`ar mentioned, interrupted by another of his own yawns. "But you've never lead me astray, I'll take good care of it."
His friend's only response now, is a quiet snore. It does not take long for Z`ar to drift away himself as he lies in his bedroll. The campfire's diminishing flames slowly conclude their dance for the night as they lull the newly ordained Rinsu to sleep.
