When Sahir was able to receive visits, Drazel saw just a shadow of what his friend was, his eyes were lifeless, and even thought his body was healed, there was something weighting him. Drazel gave him a bottle of grape liquor that he managed to get from one of the outsiders that visited the Order. He wasn’t used to doing that, but he wanted to help his friend feel better.
Sahir
You are quite good boy
Drazel
I learned from the best
Sahir
Ohhh and you are also quite the sweet talker, but it’s true, you learned from the best
Can you train?
Drazel
Can you?
And so the both of them trained as usual. Sahir and Drazel were talking while sparring.
Sahir
You do know that usually it takes people more than 5 years to reach orange right?
Drazel
I didn’t know
At the end, the young boy defeated Sahir.
Drazel
Careful with your Void Sahir, there was a clear opening
Sahir
You little monster, you should respect your elders
Drazel
Let me know when you see one
And with that and a clean hit to the chest, the duel was won by the youngest one.
Sahir
I swear…how can you be so good? I’m even Yellow now…I’ve been here for almost 10 years…I used to be considered good!
Drazel
Well, if you think about it, I’m also learning from you
Sahir
Hey! You are right, basically this is all thanks to my teachings
Both of them were laughing when suddenly they were interrupted.
Woman’s voice
Drazel?
A known voice, when he turned, her golden hair dancing in the wind captured him once more. Her emerald like eyes drowned him. He was lost for a moment. Not anymore.
Drazel
Haleena, how are you?
Haleena
I’m good, how about you?
Drazel
I’m fine…Congratulations for reaching Yellow
Haleena
Thanks…I’ll be taking the Green test soon…in fact, I’ll be taking it tomorrow…
The green test required the students to withdraw from the mountain and venture to the western forest to become one with Nature.
Haleena
…It’ll be lonely without you Drazel
Drazel
W-what?
Haleena
I’m sorry…
Drazel
What do you mean?
Haleena
What I said!...ugh…I was thinking about what you said before…
Drazel
About us?
Haleena
Don’t you have somewhere to be Sahir?
Sahir
What? And miss this? - Said him while casually drinking water from his keg.
Drazel
Sahir…
Sahir
Okay Drazel, just be careful. I’m watching you Lioness!
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Sahir leaves running after Haleena’s angry look. Then she got closer to Drazel.
Haleena
You know…I have been thinking…
Drazel
Yes?
Haleena
I don’t think I can go out with you yet…
Drazel
What do you…
Haleena
Listen again, I don’t know if I can go out with you yet, but maybe…if you were Yellow…
Drazel
What? But you said…
Haleena
I know what I said!
Drazel
What made you change your mind?
Haleena
…I just…it felt lonely without you, and…I’m leaving for a while, I didn’t want to leave like this…
Drazel
So…where does that leave us?
Haleena
We are still friends, aren’t we?
Drazel
Well…yes…
Haleena
it’s just…I want more time before deciding anything, so let’s say when you are Yellow and when I’m Green
Drazel
Well, if you don’t pay attention, I’ll get to Green before you
Haleena
You little!
They both laughed, and stared at each other.
Drazel
It’s unfair Haleena
Haleena
What is?
Drazel
That you can make me feel so many things so easily…
Haleena
I could say the same…
Drazel
What did you say?
Haleena
NOTHING! Just, keep training, okay?
Drazel
Always
Haleena
I’ll have to prepare for the test…
Drazel
I’ll miss you
Haleena
Don’t say that, I expect that when I come back you have reached Yellow, I’ll promise you I’ll reach Green!
Drazel
I promise!
And so, Haleena left for her training. And 1 year passed. Drazel had dominated all the teachings of the Orange Garment and he was ready to move on.
After this color, one would earn Yellow, which requires a “re-birth”, only possible by surviving all the steps of the dance of the sun. The dance of the sun requires the practitioner to conduct the fourth form “Sun Dance”, a series of thrusts with the spear that must cover the entirety of the enemy zone, similar to sunlight covering the earth on a clear day. The tricky part being, that this must be done for 1 day straight, without stopping and in the middle of harsh sunlight.
Usually, the journey ends for most people in this step, with the majority ending up disabled for life due to extreme dehydration. If someone passes this test, that person would be reborn, his forms being more precise, most excess movements disappearing, leading to a more efficient fighting style. It is said that those that complete this dance, can fight for days without tiring.
It wasn't easy at all, but what kept Drazel from moving forward was Haleena’s smile and the promise between them. Many times he thought about quitting, the harsh sun hitting him and each movement became harder and heavier. The lack of water, the burning sensation in his throat, all of them together made it feel like a living hell. How could Haleena handle this?...no…how could Sahir handle this?...These thoughts came to his mind while he performed again and again the Sun Dance and he found solace in them. But after 12 hours passed, the thoughts stopped, it was only pain, his body ached, and the drink they gave him before beginning didn’t help at all.
He knew something was going on, when he drank it and immediately he felt thirsty. Time moved slowly, the sun was in his zenith. He had begun at midnight, and now it was midday and he was still going. Then he fell, he thought he had failed, but the masters overseeing his Dance just stood there watching him. He thought that this was intended and tried to stand up, but his body didn’t listen to him.
Overseer
You have 10 seconds to stand up. 10…9…
His body didn’t respond at all, his hands were heavy, his legs were glued to the floor.
Overseer
8…7…6…
He tried to move, and his hands finally answered, then he grabbed the spear and used it to carry his weight.
Overseer
5…4…3…2
He stood up.
Overseer
Continue the Dance!
And with all his will, he continued, thrusting, attacking, sweeping, defending. And the sun kept on shining. And time passed, slower than anything he had ever felt before and he felt, again, and again, and he stood up. And bruises appeared in his body, there was blood in his hands and every time he moved the spear, the blood splashed into the floor. Until the sun was setting, he thought that he could find comfort in the shadow. But big torches were brought close to him, and then they were set ablaze, and he felt as if the sun had come closer, the fire next to him almost burned him.
He was dehydrated, weak and tired, he thought he would die. In fact, he would die before stopping, before breaking his promise with Haleena. But then, at some point, everything else disappeared, it was only him and the spear, all the movements he had practiced for thousands of times, every single repetition had led to this moment. His body took over, his consciousness banishing with every single moment, and returning with every breath. This was a test for his willpower, and he knew that the only way he could obtain mastery of the Yellow garment was by releasing all disappointments he had, only by accepting himself and his actions he would be able to pass, by not thinking if a movement was correct or not, only by performing the actions and accepting them, letting go of any prejudices against himself he would be able to endure the Sun Dance.
The flames continued burning until it was midnight. The masters overseeing the tests finally gave the signal to end the Sun Dance, but Drazel was in a daze. He couldn’t hear them, the only thing he could hear was the beating of his heart and the subtle changes every time he performed a new movement. At the end, they had to stop him and take him to the infirmary. There he was giving bitter herbs and nasty drinks to help him recover. He had a strong fever for 5 days and on the sixth day he was able to walk again, it was then when the results of his test were announced.