The Celestial Forge
By: Schin Ka’Tharos
CHAPTER 5
(Part 1)
Even within calamity, a path to the good remains. Yet, how can one be prepared for the death of a loved one? I had experienced death and loss previously. I had lost close friends, acquaintances and seen many strangers and enemies die during my time in Jaspen.
Nothing prepared me for the loss of my grandfather. I had never known a world without his presence. He was there in my first memories, my understanding of reality itself was intertwined with his existence. He was a pillar of my childhood and a guiding light into adulthood. Some say the Way is to remove yourself from caring so deeply for others. This is not the Path I walk. To this day I mourn him. To this day I long for his presence.
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I hit solid ground as soon as I appeared on the other side of the portal grandfather had pushed me through, my knees driving into rough stone laden ground. The rip in reality, the portal I came from snapped shut leaving no inclination that it even previously existed.
Grief bore down upon me, threatening to paralyze and rule me, but I stifled my emotions and wrestled control of my wits and began to assess where I was.
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What surrounded me was the remnants of a well manicured garden, now wild and overgrown. Directly in front of me stood a grand Falling Jade Tree towering above me in a sprawling expanse. The evening light danced off of the delicate white crystalline flowers scattered throughout its branches, and from each flower hung a teardrop shaped fruit of translucent jade, casting a calming green glow around me.
This tree I knew, memories of time spent under its branches rushed back to me and I turned and looked up to confirm my suspicion. Behind me, a few hundred yards through the overrun garden stood a tower reaching into the heavens. My grandfather's tower.
Grandfather had brought me to this tower a few times when I was younger, many summers before my Travelling. I had always looked forward to being at the tower even though the journey to reach it was difficult. It was well over a couple thousand miles away from our farm and would take us a month or two to arrive there, travelling on foot as we did. Grandfather viewed the journey as further training and we would run most days, taking day long breaks from time to time to train in Jun’Dok.
Grandfather was merciless in his expectations of my Martial Advancement and my mastery in Jun’Dok. He was diligent in training, always pushing and critiquing me. Due to these unique circumstances I achieved Rank 6 by my thirteenth spring. The level of physical strength granted by my Martial Rank is what allowed us to make such good time on our trek to the tower or I would have never made it travelling across the Unending Wastelands on foot at such an age.
Before moving on, let me assure you I tell no lies here. I am aware that most attain only Martial Rank 6 or on rare occasion Martial Rank 7 by their twentieth year but due to my unusual upbringing I did indeed obtain it. I do not state this in any way to brag or astound, rather it simply serves to understand my story.
I say the tower that rose above me in the midst of the garden was my grandfathers because it was in fact built by him. He alone cold-forged its entirety. I am sure you can appreciate what a remarkable feat that is but I did not come to appreciate what an achievement this was until many years later, certainly not when he first told me of the tower.
He referred to it as his act of penance and atonement to the Heavens.
Next Chapter...
Chapter 5: Even Within Calamity, A Path To The Good Remains. (Part 2)