After arriving at Tuliyollal and touring this magnificent capital of Tural, the Warrior of Light was mired on a beach. So, too, were the other scions that now escorted Wuk Lamat.

The very reason for their inaction was, of course, Wuk Lamat herself.

True to Erenville’s assessment of her, the female hrothgar demonstrated no interest in the rite of succession.

Wuk Lamat currently laid at ease on her beach lounger, sipping her wild banana blend made from Ja Tiika bananas from Yak T’el’s lower canopy.

The Warrior of Light was capable of maintaining a patient outer demeanor, as did Krile and Alphinaud. Erenville less so, often rubbing his temples with his thumb and finger. However, the viera knew of Wuk Lamat’s nature, and had long accepted his fate when accompanying her.

The one who truly could not tolerate the current situation was Alisaie. The elezen repeatedly glared at Wuk Lamat, who made it a priority to ignore the dagger eyes as she stretched and basked in the sun.

How could this princess lounge around without a care in the world?

Alisaie turned towards her twin brother, wishing to voice her frustrations, only to see Alphinaud roll onto his side and pretend to ‘fall asleep’.

Feeling betrayed by her brother, she stood and strutted towards the Warrior of Light in her beachwear with a glint in her eyes.

“You were never one to rest on your laurels,” she said. “Surely, you feel a calling to action?”

The Warrior of Light pondered on what to say in reply. True, charging into battle had always been the Warrior of Light’s eventual fate. Then, there’s all the busy and mundane assistance the Warrior of Light rendered to the inhabitants of various locales.

“I am quite satisfied with a break after traveling to the ends of the universe,” the Warrior of Light said, sipping a wild banana blend as well.

Alisaie bit her lips as her eyes narrowed. Yet instead of exploding, she twirled on the spot.

“What do you think? How do I look?”

The Warrior of Light considered many potential answers. One such answer was to mention her mother, who had, in fact, requested the Warrior of Light to provide her with glamorous outfits. Probably not the best answer.

The Warrior of Light also considered simply staying silent. Just like Alphinaud. However, Alisaie was certain to cause a scene in the face of such a response.

Thus, the Warrior of Light chose the most obvious option.

“Absolutely stunning!” The Warrior of Light answered with a bright smile.

“Hmm.” Alisaie beamed but forcefully withdrew the pride filling her chest. “How about a competition? Remember when we were on The First?”

“Oh?” The Warrior of Light would certainly welcome some action.

“Turali land crabs. Five minutes.” With that declaration, Alisaie dashed off. Alphinaud sighed dramatically in his ‘dreams’.

Five minutes later, Alisaie would return with seven crabs in hand. The Warrior of Light only returned with six.

“Well. I suppose it is your victory,” the Warrior of Light noted.

“You… didn’t go easy on me, did you?” Alisaie harbored suspicion. She recalled that back in their competition on The First, the Warrior of Light had returned with one less as well.

“Our leisurely pace has unfortunately infected my mind and my bones,” the Warrior of Light seriously stated.

“Wow!” Wuk Lamat yelled as she leapt onto her feet with feline grace. “Perfect for crab stew! Time for a delicious meal!”

The Third Promise took a moment to examine the crabs captured by the Warrior of Light and Alisaie.

“Are you a culinarian?” She asked the Warrior of Light. “The crabs you captured are somewhat larger and more suitable for cooking.”

The Warrior of Light was bathed in an intense glower from Alisaie.

“I am… somewhat practiced as a culinarian, yes,” the Warrior of Light replied.

“Assist me in preparing this crab stew then!” Wuk Lamat cheered. She herself enjoys the various cuisines of Tural’s many people, and has spent no small amount of time learning the various culinary arts.

Alisaie pinched the skin of the Warrior of Light’s arm.

“You and I will have a long and extended talk later-- tonight, just the two of us,” her voice sounding dangerous.

The Warrior of Light could only nod in agreement.

After the crab stew was prepared, the Warrior of Light discovered that Krile was no longer beside them.

Only then did the Warrior of Light discover that the lalafell had moved herself some distance away onto a ledge, attempting to paint upon a canvas.

A wave and Krile rushed to return for the meal.

“Ah, I apologize. I do have to continue practicing my combat arts. Visualizing the forms and accurately channeling my aether still remains an arduous task for me.”

All others present nodded their heads in understanding. They recognized Krile’s desire and efforts to be better prepared for the trials ahead.

A whole day of leisure passed in such a way.

The very next morning, Wuk Lamat was just as carefree. Luckily, Alisaie seemed much more tolerant of Wuk Lamat’s nature after the night, and was filled with verve.

However, Wuk Lamat would not be able to remain lackadaisical much longer, for a caravan pulled by two Rroneeks slid in front of their eyes before they could return to the beach from the seaside inn.

An elderly woman lowered herself carefully down from the driving seat.

“Namikka! You needn’t h--” Wuk Lamat had no chance to express her concern.

“Lamaty’i,” Namikka hurriedly conveyed the message. “Your father has stated that if you do not set out immediately, your caravan will be impounded once again.”

“The Dawnservant has also stated that if you fall too far behind, your caravan will be impounded as well,” Namikka added.

“That damn old man!” Wuk Lamat harrumphed. “Forcing me to participate in this rite of succession with such tyrannical methods!”

Alphinaud and Alisaie glanced at one another. Though twins, they often had different opinions. However, they currently shared the same thought-- it was a good thing for Gulool Ja Ja to force Wuk Lamat to participate in the rite of succession.

Having no choice, Wuk Lamat boarded her caravan followed by the others.

“Lamaty’i!” Namikka yelled after them. “I believe in you! You should be confident! Don’t give up before even trying!”

“That’s my nursemaid, like a mother to me,” Wuk Lamat groaned. “She thinks I don’t wish to participate in the rite of succession because of my lack of confidence. I can assure you, I simply have no desire to become the Dawnservant.”

“Why not?” Alisaie asked.

“Would you want to become the Dawnservant? Playing governance and politics?” Wuk Lamat directly asked the fiery youth.

Alisaie was momentarily speechless. She would hate being in such a role. She suddenly discovered that she very much understood Wuk Lamat’s disinterest.

She turned to Alphinaud within the caravan. “That’s his role.”

Wuk Lamat could not resist laughing out loud. “My brothers suit the role in different ways as well!”

So it was that the caravan traveled towards Kozama’uka for the Feat of the Reeds.

During the journey, the Warrior of Light recalled the beginning ceremony of the succession rite. Wuk Lamat was like a chameleon, easily melding in with the various peoples of Tural. Not at all surprising, given the fact that the female hrothgar often visited the various villages of the New World with her caravan.

A rather common sentiment though, was that many saw Wuk Lamat as a friend to enjoy days of joy with, but not necessarily as someone capable and reliable for solving future issues.

Koana, with his Sharlayan education and understanding of the sciences, was much more favored, as well as Zoraal Ja, who had accomplished much to defend the New World with the landsguard.

It was then that the Warrior of Light also recalled the startling appearance of Estinien beside Zoraal Ja, as well as Thancred and Urianger beside Koana.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Alisaie was not at all pleased, and realized that the succession rite would be a challenge, that much was certain.

And Bakool Ja Ja… they all thought of him as nothing but a troublesome brute. Most curious, though, was why Gulool Ja Ja seemed content to allow this brute’s participation.

Regardless, they soon arrived at Ok’hanu and proceeded with the Feat of Reeds.

They quickly discovered that aether stagnation was the cause of the lifeless reeds that the Hanu Hanu so relied heavily upon, the very source of their current suffering.

Wuk Lama visibly yawned. “The way I see it, there’s no need for us to worry. Koana will know the exact method to resolve this issue.”

“You…I received sharlayan education as well, you know,” Alphinaud sputtered.

“Nono. Let us prepare the Harvest Festival!” Wuk Lamat gushed. “Koana can do the dirty work.”

“Are… you not concerned for your caravan?” Krile wondered. Wuk Lamat was not taking this seriously at all.

“I just have to not fall behind on the journey, right?” Wuk Lamat shrugged.

“This…” Zanuhali noted down that Wuk Lamat was as they say. Unreliable.

“Worry not, friend!” Wuk Lamat cheerfully replied. “My brother Koana will resolve the aether stagnation, that is for sure. I have utmost confidence in him for this task, at the very least.”

So it was that Wuk Lamat and her aides came upon the damaged float, Linuhali, and Wuk Evu, the hrothgar with knowledge on how to repair said festival float.

“Are you certain?” Erenville questioned Wuk Lamat.

“Old friend…” Wuk Lamat, for once, became serious as she gazed up at the clear blue sky. “Have you ever wondered why all these various peoples of Tural, host festivals unique to their own culture?”

“Festivals are a gathering of a people. To come together and align their hearts. In hard times, to raise hope within one another’s breast. In good times, to celebrate life and remind one another of worthy values.”

“It provides something… intangible to the heart. It is not to be understood by simply weighing visible and physical upsides and downsides.”

In their journey thus far, the Warrior of Light and the accompanying scions had little respect for Wuk Lamat. Yet now, they began to see a glimmer of Wuk Lamat’s soul.

“Haha!” Wuk Lamat quickly returned back to her typical casual and carefree attitude. “So let’s repair that damn float. I badly want to ride on it, that’s all!”

The team split apart to forage for the necessary materials that Wuk Evu needed for repairs.

As if waiting for this moment, Bakool Ja Ja appeared before the now-alone Wuk Lamat.

“Hello, little kitty,” Bakool Ja Ja the mystic snarled.

“Come let me defeat you here and now and let you understand the pointlessness of your participation in the rite of succession,” Bakool Ja Ja the mighty challenged.

Little did Bakool Ja Ja know that Wuk Lamat cared not for the rite of succession. In her eyes, both of her brothers were much more suited to be dawnservant. She preferred to travel among the people of Tural. Not sit upon a throne!

“No thanks,” she did not even deign to give Bakool Ja Ja a single glance as she continued to search for wood.

“Then I will deliver the first blow!” Bakool Ja Ja charged at the Third Promise, but Wuk Lamat, with feline grace, easily maintained a distance from the brute while searching for the necessary materials.

“Hah!” Bakool Ja Ja the mighty yammered. “Nothing but a scared little kitty kitty. A wimp of a promise! Is that all you can do? Flee?”

His word failed to have the effect he desired, for Wuk Lamat remained completely unbothered by his insults.

Frustrated with the fleeing hrothgar, Bakool Ja Ja the mystic racked his brains.

“Little kitty. We have already captured Zanuhali. She will soon have no choice but to hand over the--”

Wuk Lamat suddenly charged at the two-headed mamool ja and swung down heatedly with her heavy axe.

Bakool Ja Ja roared with both heads as he raised twinblades to block the attack. Then with his full strength, he swiped outwards and sent Wuk Lamat skidding for yalms.

“I will once again warn you all,” Zanuhali’s voice came from a branch above. “All incidents during the feats are reported to the Dawnservant. As such, I do not recommend untoward behavior.”

Wuk Lamat sighed. She had been fooled into engaging in combat against Bakool Ja Ja. She promptly leapt away to continue foraging for repair materials

Bakool Ja Ja initially laughed. Then he examined his blades. His eyes widened when he spotted a nick upon the edge of his right blade.

“That wasn’t there before…” Bakool Ja Ja the mighty muttered.

“We have simply failed to maintain our blade after obtaining victory in the competition to qualify for the rite of succession,” Bakool Ja Ja the mystic replied.

Some distance away, Wuk Lamat examined her rather damaged axe that no doubt needed a blacksmith’s repair. A pity. Unfortunately this normal axe was nothing compared to her hidden-away black axe.

Yet, she could not reveal her black axe, having been forced into action against those malformed creatures. She had no desire to steal her older brother’s thunder. God knows, Zoraal Ja needed it much more. Having traveled through the lands of Tural, Wuk Lamat naturally knew of the mamool ja’s obsession with two-heads, and their diminishing of one-heads.

___________________________________________________________________________

While Wuk Lamat was harassed by Bakool Ja Ja, the Warrior of Light discovered the path before him blocked by Zoraal Ja!

“I am the resilient son. The First Promise,” Zoraal Ja said as he brandished his twinblades. “Sareel Ja. Tell me what you see.”

Sareel Ja muttered various incantations under his breath and his eyes lit up with an ephemeral light.

The very moment he glanced at the Warrior of Light, he collapsed onto the ground. A trickle of blood leaked down the corner of his left eye.

“Radiant. More than two souls. Yet unlike your father, fused into one in perfect unison. How many more, I cannot tell!” Sareel Ja gasped.

“Hah!” Zoraal Ja pointed his right blade at the Warrior of Light. “If I overcome you, that will prove that the mamool ja’s obsession over the two-heads of two-souls to be pointless!”

Alisaie, attracted by the sound of clashing blades, discovered the Warrior of Light engaging in a heart-wrenching combat against Zoraal Ja.

Her initial response was to raise her rapier, but she was stopped by Estinien.

“Don’t. This is Zoraal Ja’s tribulation,” the dragoon said before leaning back against a tree to observe the battle.

“Hmph.” Alisaie could still remember the dragoon mistaking her for Alphinaud.

The battle between the Warrior of Light and Zoraal Ja raged ever on. Their blades clashed again and again, and for some time, the battle seemed even.

And yet…

Gradually, Zorral Ja could feel the battle slipping away from him. It was the very same feeling he felt when sparring with his father, Gulool Ja Ja. An energy seemed to exist within the Warrior of Light’s twinblades.

“It can’t be,” muttered Zoraal Ja to himself. The Warrior of Light was able to use the very same energy that his father was famed for-- the energy of resolve, at perhaps even a greater scale!

Similarly, the Warrior of Light was surprised that Zoraal Ja could last so long. Wuk Lamat stated that Zoraal Ja had gained some mastery of Gulool Ja Ja’s head of resolve techniques. Supposedly, an ability named the energy of resolve.

During combat against Zoraal Ja, the Warrior of Light could sense this energy of resolve to be identical to dynamis.

Regardless, a few more clashes later, Zoraal Ja could no longer maintain his pace and dropped down onto one knee.

The Warrior of Light, naturally, had no intention of taking Zoraal Ja’s life.

“Hmph.” Once recovered, Zoraal Ja left, flanked by Sareel Ja and Estinien.

“How strong is he?” Alisaie asked.

“Enough to tire me,” the Warrior of Light replied as he sat down against a tree trunk. “His techniques are perfect. But… something is missing in his heart. I cannot say what that may be. Thus, his will weakened before mine.”

____________________________________________________________________________

“The Warrior of Light traveled to the ends of the universe and returned. There is no shame,” Estinien advised Zoraal Ja.

“However, it is known that the Warrior of Light only recently picked up the twinblades, techniques of the viper. Even in battle, I could sense the Warrior of Light’s techniques to be flawed. But I could not fully take advantage of those gaps. It’s as if…” Zoraal Ja was disheartened by his defeat. Are the mamool ja right after all? That two-heads carrying two souls is simply superior?

“The Warrior of Light has mastered many techniques, experienced many tribulations, and thus has an uncanny ability to overcome disadvantageous situations.” That was all that Estinien could say.

“A pity that we could not disqualify Wuk Lamat.” Sareel Ja sighed. One of the soul seer's eyes was still closed in pain from gazing at the brilliance of the Warrior of Light’s soul.

“My stepsister cares not for the throne. “ Zoraal Ja repeated again. He could not understand Sareel Ja’s obsession with removing his sister from the rite of succession. After all, it was only with his father’s threats that Wuk Lamat had even arrived at Kozama’uka in time.

____________________________________________________________________________

So it was that Koana revitalized the reeds of the Hanu Hanu with a unique mixture, followed by the beginnings of the Harvest Festival, with Wuk Lamat raised upon the repaired float.

Though the reeds had been somewhat revitalized, the harvest season had already been somewhat harmed. With the delay in the growth of the reeds, they would not have as much harvest compared to better years.

Though no longer at the brink of disaster, the Hanu Hanu remained downhearted. That was until Linuhali and a few others paraded the float carrying Wuk Lamat as per yearly tradition.

Though some were initially irked, the Hanu Hanu soon recalled their fond memories of the previous years, and they let down the burden of their hearts as they became infected by the other dancing and chirping Hanu Hanus.

The procession grew and grew during the march.

With their spirits lifted, one Hanu Hanu seemed to awaken.

“Though our harvest may still be reduced, at least we will have a method to resolve the issue of a similar occurrence in the future!”

Another Hanu Hanu laughed. “I felt so downhearted before, but I had forgotten our many allies! We are all citizens of Tullioyal! The Pelupelu…”

“Nono, the Pelupelu might squeeze us like a lemon!”

“Most do arrange fair deals.”

“Did the foreigner not briefly mention having met our long-lost cousins before? The Gundu, Zundu and Vundu of the Vanu Vanus? The Dawnservant, too, received aid from over the seas during his journeys.”

“That can be arranged,” Alphinaud glowed in elation. He wasn’t just thinking of the bird-like race, but also Garlemald. Supposedly, cerulean is being employed in Shaaloani. A potential for the future.

Alisaie rolled her eyes. Her twin brother was finally useful.

The procession finished at the shrine of their worship with an almighty roar of the crowd. Zanuhali observed her people and their reignited vigor sparking their minds with renewed determination to seek solutions to their problems.

And suddenly, the clouds above her head, too, lifted.

Wuk Lamat, having enjoyed herself prancing upon the float, gently conversed with and fed the rroneeks before entering her precious caravan, preparing to return to Tullioyal empty-handed.

“Wait,” Zanuhali chirped. “Here.”

Wuk Lamat peered out of her caravan, and barely caught a stone with her cat reflexes.

“You passed the Feat of Reeds,” Zanuhali stated. “We have grown too reliant for heroes to come and save us. Perhaps our dependency on the Dawnservant has grown too much after he brought peace to the region.”

“You reminded me and my people to have the determination to sweep away the clouds in the sky and look beyond the horizons. To seek unexpected possibilities. And for that, I hope you will continue to stand at our side. Even should the Dawnservant be another.”

The two bid farewell, and Wuk Lamat carried a funny look upon her face.

“That, I did not expect,” she muttered.

“I think she’s just stated her allegiance,” Alisaie said.

“I was just lucky…” Wuk Lamat laid down to nap as the rroneeks pulled the caravan along the slightly bumpy path back to Tullioyal. “After all, I have no interest in the rite of succession.”

Bakool Ja Ja would eventually obtain his passing stone by imitating Koana’s mixture. A guess of Wuk Lamat when Koana informed her of being followed by Bakool Ja Ja’s minions.

As for Zoraal Ja? It was unknown to the party as to what he accomplished to pass the Feat of Reeds.