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Celestial Forge
Chapter 17: There Is Always A Silence To Be Found (Part 3)

Chapter 17: There Is Always A Silence To Be Found (Part 3)

The Celestial Forge

By: Schin Ka'Tharos

Chapter 17

(Part 3)

I lazily opened my eyes to observe the two.

Still as stone, Ciara sat a few yards from me on her knees back straight and eyes closed. I was certain she was soul-forging and had her eyes been open they would have blazed white-blue. Adeon lounged close by in a half lying position propped up on the top steps. He stared up into the heavens and drank casually from a canteen. The Celestial Forge still dominated the early morning sky splitting the darkness through the middle in two. He seemed content to soak in its light and let his sister answer.

“Like I had said before, our family, House Solarin, has walked a difficult path in recent times.” Ciara started. “Adeon and I moved to Stone Crown City a summer or two ago trying to make our own way there. What I had said before is the truth, we are not members of the Seekers Guild. Everyone knows celestial rain doesn't fall out here in the Unending Wastes but a few months ago things changed. The Seekers Guild began to ramp up efforts to increase their capabilities. We were able to secure a relationship with the Seekers Guild and had been assigned to join a team from their south gate branch within Stone Crown.”

“We thought it was a bloody gift from Onak at the time.” Adeon said and handed me his canteen of water. “The fools we are.”

“They assigned us as candidates for possible assessment to join their Guild.” Ciara continued. “We thought they were honorable and this would offer an honorable path for now. We were wrong.”

“I still don't get it. I don't understand why the hell they turned on us.” Adeon now sat in a lotus position soul-forging.

“They turned on you?” I said.

“On our first assignment with the advanced search team,” Adeon said. “We hit a small group of stone-edge jackals all equivalent to low level Disciples. The head of the team, the now dead Vice-Captain, decided to engage with them. We had a crew of thirty. Three were other recruits and the rest were full Guild members. We all ranged in advancement from 1st to 4th Disciples, plus the Vice-Captain, a low level Adept. It should have been simple.”

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“We should have never engaged that pack in the first place. It was a setup.” Ciara took over again. “As soon as we engaged with the jackals, the Guild members began to also target the recruits.”

“You managed to escape twenty-five Guild members and a pack of jackals?”

“We’ve proven ourselves…difficult to kill,” Ciara said bitterly. “They underestimated both the recruits and the jackals. It was a chaotic slaughter on all sides. One of the other candidates, I think his name was Bao'sho, was really something to behold, I think he took out six or seven of the Guild himself. Unfortunately after a prolonged battle all that remained of the recruits were Adeon and I. The two of us managed to fight our way out and in the mayhem we were able to steal one of the skiffs and get away.”

“-And then a boring month or so goes by with us surviving out in this heaven forsaken waste.” Adeon said and then gestured to me. ”Until shattered soul guy drops from the sky like he’s the biggest piece of celestial rain to fall since my grandmother was born.”

“Do you know why they were trying to kill you?” I asked.

“No. I have yet to figure that out.” Ciara said.

“I don't need to know your secrets, but I have two questions I hope you can answer.” I said, fixing my eyes on Ciara. “First, what oaths did you speak to the Seekers Guild?”

“None. No oaths were given. Which, in hindsight, should have been a warning sign to us.” Ciara said.

“He wants to know why I can bloody well drive a skiff, Ciara.” Adeon said. “It's not a technique from the Guild. My family, it- my family invested in a secret propulsion technique for me. You could say it was an unwise gamble out of desperation. I guess in the end it did save our lives though, huh Ci.”

The water from Adeon had helped a little since I hadn't had any since back on the Skiff but I was still at my limit. I remained resting against the doors and I glanced up at them as if noticing something. I had waited as long as I could manage.

“I believe we're almost in.” I said and stirred from the seated position. “Last question. Earlier, back in the cave, you said you were lost in more ways than one. What did you mean? What are you looking for?”

“We just have some answers we're looking for.” Ciara said. “Once we can get our feet under us we-”

“We’re a ship without a destination. Not a rudderless ship mind you. Our rudders work just fine, we just need a place to point them." Adeon cut in emphatically. Then followed with a mutter. “And some rest. I’m looking for some bloody rest.”

Most of what they said lined up with what I could piece together. I could tell parts were misdirection's to the truth but I also felt a sincerity and general honesty from them. They were as guarded about me as I was about them.

“I’m with you, Adeon. Time for some bloody rest." I said.

I willed the giant crimson doors open. The silence of the room of Reflections beckoned us. I had done the best I could in the circumstances for all our sakes. If Ciara and Adeon survived the rest of the morning I would be able get my unasked questions answered eventually anyway.

Next Chapter...

Chapter 18