-Orenda Shards-
“What is this place?” he asked the Jadelin, who had introduced himself as Vayn.
“These are the old jade mines. We are unable to remember why they were dug, but Jadelin sometimes feel compelled to go down to the mines to sing a song passed down from centuries before. We use the jade in almost everything we build.”
“I noticed the beautiful craftsmanship before running into the starcrosser,” Drew said, nodding his head.
“It is unbelievably rare for a starcrosser to permit anyone to mount them. When I first saw you and the divine creature I wondered if you were more than I had first assumed, more than I had hoped you might be.”
“Who do you think I am?”
“A changed Forlorn,” the Jadelin said simply, guiding Drew deeper into the mine, where six or seven Jadelin were gathered in a large opening, singing the unique melody, their massive blue eyes closed. “I may not be as old as the ascendancy, but I have witnessed enough to know the perpetual cycle of your broken people.”
“I’m not actually Forlorn,” Drew admitted, running a hand through his hair, which was finally long enough for his taste, the ends curling once more.
“Maybe not in name, but I can feel your identity. The blood running through you is Forlorn. The Orenda you wield bears all the signs of coming from the Forlorn and their teachings, but it is how you use your Orenda that caught my attention in shadeworld.”
“How?”
Vayn suddenly took a seat on the smooth stone floor. “I will answer your questions in a moment. Listen to the song. Observe the jade.”
Drew complied, sitting beside the Jadelin and watching the proceedings with interest. As the group of Jadelin sang their hauntingly beautiful, interlaced melody and harmony, the glimmering green stone around them began shaking, as though trying to dance along to the music.
After several long moments, the sound grew to a crescendo, and at the height of the singers’ melody, the jade firmly housed in the rock walls around them tumbled free, falling to the ground and resting at the Jadelins’ feet.
Drew turned to ask Vayn what had just happened, but the Jadelin seemed to sense the question before it was asked and shook his head slightly, clearly signaling that now wasn’t the time.
After the Jadelins’ song had finished, Vayn silently stood and began walking the way they had come, leaving the mine and the mysterious jade behind.
“What was that?” Drew finally asked, spitting out the question as though gasping for air after holding his breath.
“It is just as much a mystery to us as it is to you. Although we do not remember our history, certain songs from the past linger. When they are sang in the mines, the jade shakes free. But you had asked me about your Orenda.”
“Yes, that’s true.” There was so much for Drew to learn here, he had trouble focusing on just one question at a time.
“The ascendancy believes someone like you is key for the great changes that are coming. Believes we will need Forlorn trained in the true art of Orenda. He tasked me and Sealuh with instructing you.”
“On how to use Orenda? I know my Orenda is different from those around me, but I don’t think I want to be like the other Forlorn, who treat Orenda like a caged beast to be beaten into submission.”
“Spoken like a true soulspeak,” Vayn said with satisfaction. “It seems Drask’s faith in you was not misplaced.”
When they exited the mouth of the mine they found the female Jadelin waiting for them, shifting impatiently from foot to foot. She was beautiful, and although Vayn made no outward gestures to suggest the pair were more than friends, Drew couldn’t help but wonder.
“Sealuh, are you ready to travel?” he asked her.
“Always,” she replied, her voice just as melodic as Vayn’s. “Is this Drask’s special interest?”
“Yes. I have only talked with him for a short time, but I think we might witness something the Jadelin no longer remember or even deem possible.”
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“And what is this special interest’s name?” she asked, looking in Drew’s direction.
“Drew Thorne, miss.”
“Sealuh. I hope you can keep up,” she smirked. She seemed to silently communicate with Vayn before the two of them took off into the forest, Drew running to catch up with their loping forms.
***
Sealuh held up three shards of jade in her long, slender hands.
“True Orenda consists of three paths, and most wielders specialize in one of the three paths. All but the Forlorn. They walk a forbidden path—destruction, a corrupt form of protection. Orenda was never meant to take life or destroy living things. At most, this sacred power was designed to defend from evil and protect others, especially the innocent.
“That is one of the three paths: protection. Jadelin who specialize in this path are considered our warriors. Vayn is one such Jadelin.”
Sealuh paused, and Vayn struggled to mask his delight at hearing his name leave her lips.
“And what are the other two paths?” Drew asked.
“One is creation. A path you have clearly dabbled in, even if you were not aware of it at the time. Any time you create something from only Orenda that is used for anything other than defense or warfare, we consider it following the path of creation.
“The third is restoration. Many refer to this path as healing. Over the years as we have observed your people from the shadows we have seen glimpses of creation and restoration, although they are rare and often polluted with destruction.”
It was Vayn’s turn to speak.
“Your Orenda seems to be split between creation and protection, which is what I sensed in the broken land separating your people from ours,” Vayn explained.
“But can’t someone follow all three paths of Orenda?” Drew asked. “Like those three shards in your hand. Wouldn’t the wielders Orenda be stronger combined and whole, just like the jade would be more firm and resilient in one piece rather than three?”
“Of course,” Sealuh responded. “But few master even one of the three Orenda paths. Drask, our ascendancy, who has lived longer than any other Jadelin living, has only truly mastered creation, although he is able to use his Orenda in defense of others. However, he is completely incapable of summoning his Orenda to restore. I have never met or heard of anyone capable of harnessing the true power of restoration.”
“I didn’t know Orenda was capable of healing others,” Drew said, surprise and a hint of reverence obvious in his tone. “So did Orenda originate with the Jadelin?”
As Sealuh answered the question Vayn shifted his feet, feeling the cool grass and dirt beneath him, listening to the massive waterfalls pounding into the ground behind them. They had taken Drew to the Slants, the true entrance to Eon, one hidden to the Forlorn but which made it easy for nightstriders and other sentinels to observe the Forlorn.
Always searching for the sunsight.
Always being confronted instead with the depressing reality—Orenda was still little more than a wild creature to the Forlorn, an animal to be beaten and whipped, forced and coerced. Complete and total control.
Jadelin had attempted to control their Orenda and gone mad in the attempt, finally refusing to summon their Orenda ever again.
It would be like controlling the potent falls, commanding the water to rush up instead of down. As ridiculous as demanding the sun replace the moon at night.
Drew was asking Sealuh another question, and he sounded earnest. The man’s inner Orenda pulsed brightly, as brightly as Sealuh’s beautiful amber Orenda. Ruby. The same shade as Vayn’s.
Now, time to see if a Forlorn could be taught anything but destruction and corrupt glimpses of creation, restoration.
***
Drew summoned his Orenda, focusing on the majestic waterfalls all crashing down side by side, like a powerful curtain or veil beating back the outside world. The Forlorn world.
Sealuh and Vayn had finished explaining the concepts behind Orenda, true Orenda, and were now eager to test him.
“We will begin with protection, a path I think you are already quite familiar with,” Sealuh said. “Your task will be to defend me from Vayn, who will mimic an attacker.”
The tall Jadelin’s nose wrinkled in displeasure at Sealuh’s words, but she either didn’t notice or didn’t mind.
“Let us begin.” She dropped to the ground and began fiddling with the jade shards, apparently lost in thought.
Even though it looked like the exercise was causing Vayn physical pain, he summoned his Orenda, a ruby glow to mimic Drew’s, and fashioned a strange weapon Sealuh had explained was a bow. Nocking an arrow back, Vayn aimed at Sealuh, preparing to release.
Instinct took over and Drew summoned his strange ruby armor, dropping to his knees and throwing his forearms in front of the ruby projectile, which shattered in a flurry of red sparks when it hit his greaves.
Vayn’s movements became more of a blur as he nocked back arrow after arrow, letting them flying with such speed that Drew knew he wouldn’t be able to body block all of them.
Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he pictured the same armor encasing the female Jadelin. When he opened his eyes Sealuh was sheathed in the same ruby protection, and no matter how many arrows Vayn let loose, Sealuh was untouched.
“Excellent work,” she said, standing. “You do seem to use your Orenda in the tendency of creation, like Vayn mentioned to me before.”
“You already seem talented in the path of protection,” Vayn admitted, releasing his Orenda, his fingertips fading to their usual ebony black.
“Now, creation and restoration…”