Wuk Lamat initially struggled in battle against Bakool Ja Ja. She soon discovered the energy of resolve within her becoming ever easier to gather and employ at critical moments in battle.

Bakool Ja Ja could feel the battle shifting away from him. The damn hellcat would recover from the brink of collapse again and again. Each time she would grow fiercer like a kitten discovering the use of her sharp claws!

Again, the ferocity within Wuk Lamat’s axe strikes waned, followed by a raging inferno breathing new life into her relentless swings, raising the hrothgar to new heights.

A cleave fell from the heavens and Bakool Ja Ja was sent stumbling backwards with his twinblades raised in a panic.

“We must employ our paired magic, brother,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic muttered.

“This kitten is indeed more thorny than I expected,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty mumbled, wholly unnerved by the unexpected situation.

Bakool Ja Ja leapt backwards to create a good distance, and extended his two scaly arms. His right arm was a fiery ball, while his left carried an icy aether.

He brought his two hands together and the two spells, aetherically opposed, combined seamlessly.

The ball of fire and ice was then released in Wuk Lamat’s direction, gradually expanding to fill the whole area in a chaotic storm.

Wuk Lamat brought her black axe down once again, and the very land was rent asunder as mountain peaks rose from the ground, forming an impenetrable wall against Bakool Ja Ja’s storm.

As the turbulent mess of aether filled the area, Bakool Ja Ja’s four eyes widened in disbelief to see an axe parting the sea before his very eyes.

He once again raised his twinblades to block.

The weapons crossed. A dull crunch sounded as one of Bakool Ja Ja’s twinblades shattered as he was sent tumbling backwards, having no choice but to roll and dissipate the force of Wuk Lamat’s axe.

“Impossible…” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty muttered as he recalled that his twinblades had been previously damaged. Did Wuk Lamat somehow notice that singular nick and thus aimed for it with her strike? Or was it just luck?

Regardless, he had failed. He was doomed. The weight of the situation gradually filled Bakool Ja Ja’s mind, shocked awake by the unexpected combat ability that Wuk Lamat displayed.

He had been baited by Zoraal Ja into releasing Valigarmanda, placing him at odds against the Yok Huy, preventing his completion of the Feat of Ice.

He assumed it would be easy to gain said completion slab from Wuk Lamat. She turned out to be some mad hellkitten with no interest in the rite of succession, and had destroyed her Feat of Ice slab instead.

As the two-headed Mamool ja of the current generation, he was meant to lead the way. He had been instructed by his father to inherit the seat of Tuliyollal, and correct the wayward Gulool Ja Ja, who had forgotten his role in bringing the whole of Mamool ja society to stand at the very top.

And of course-- he had been defeated with a single pommel from Zoraal Ja.

“No…No! NO!” The weight of his failure sent his mind into despair, and Bakool Ja Ja rose to his feet before dashing away, back into the safety of the Yak T’el lower canopy.

-

During Wuk Lamat’s duel against Bakool Ja Ja, the Warrior of LIght, Leveilleur twins, Krile and Erenville pursued the kidnappers of Hunmu Rruk.

Bakool Ja Ja’s minions would soon take a stand, failing to shake off the pursuit of these well-experienced scions.

“If you continue this pursuit, we will take the life of this hrothgar,” a menacing Mamool ja threatened.

“Oh please…” Alisaie rolled her eyes. “Bakool Ja Ja has already enraged the Yok Huy. Do you seriously wish to also reignite the conflict between Mamook and the Xbr'aal as well?”

“Indeed,” Alphinaud sighed. “Mamook will be flattened. You had best release Hunmu Rruk before this situation worsens.”

The twin’s words created doubt within this leading minion’s heart.

“Gulool Ja Ja will not allow his place of origin… to be destroyed,” the leading minion hesitantly mumbled.

“Many of your Mamool ja already call other areas of Tural their home. Gulool Ja Ja has long demonstrated his desire for cooperation and peace, since the time of my grandfather,” Krile added. “Do you truly think he would stand on your side?”

“The autarch has always called Gulool Ja Ja a wayward son of Mamook,” an unnamed Mamool Ja said from the back. “He demonstrates the peak of a two-headed strength, yet fails to carry on the very legacy of Mamook.”

“Hmph,” the leading minion said. “Fine. Release Hunmu Rruk. By now, Bakool Ja Ja should have defeated that scared kitten. Our task can be said to be done.”

Unfortunately, the Warrior of Light would not have the chance to stretch and loosen limbs this time.

They returned to be pleasantly surprised by Wuk Lamat’s victory.

“Fled with his scaly tail between his legs,” Wuk Lamat boasted proudly.

“And thank you,” Wuk Lamat glanced at the Warrior of Light then Alisaie in turn. “I think your words assisted me in understanding something deep within myself. And also my father.”

Hunmu Rruk, rescued and freed from his bonds, approached. The others would return to Wuk Lamat’s caravan early, to give the two privacy.

Eventually, Wuk Lamat, too, returned to the caravan in good spirits, causing the others to feel relief without the need to know the exact details of what had transpired.

“Now… for a good nap!” Wuk Lamat declared.

“I don’t think she has truly understood anything deeper within herself,” Alisaie mumbled under her breath.

______________________________________________

So it was that Wuk Lamat and her beloved caravan arrived at Mamook after trundling down a steep root-infested path. The rroneeks are truly beasts capable of navigating all sorts of environments on their thick and sturdy limbs.

The Warrior of Light stepped off the caravan, and Wuk Lamat did so as well with a graceful feline stretch.

They approached the indicated location for the rite of succession, arriving just in time to see Zoraal Ja crumbling onto his knees in defeat against a smokey form of… Gulool Ja Ja?!

“Resilient one? More like the lucky one,” a rather important-looking Mamool ja guffawed. “You are nothing against the blessed siblings. You may have defeated Bakool Ja Ja, but you have the benefit of being trained by Gulool Ja Ja. The benefit of riding with the landsguard, an army built on the back of Gulool Ja Ja.”

“Any blessed sibling would have far more potential than you. A far higher ceiling in ability and skill. It seems… you have already long reached your ceiling. Now leave. You are not even close to defeating this… magical recreation of prime Gulool Ja Ja.”

Zoraal Ja, though seething, could only stumble away in defeat.

“Oh? Another claimant?” the Mamool Ja glanced at the new arrivals. “Ah. the so-called Third Promise. Known for being a useless daughter eternally vacationing across the lands of Tural.”

“Indeed! I am her!” Wuk Lamat laughed with complete disregard for the Mamool ja’s jibe.

“I am Zereel Ja,” Zereel Ja motioned at the primitive pot at his feet. “This magical contraption forms the prime of Gulool Ja Ja, your father. The trial is simple. Defeat him and you will complete this feat.”

“Such a trial…” Krile muttered. “If Gulool Ja Ja is the strongest fighter to ever have existed in Tural, then this trial cannot be completed, no?”

“In time, another blessed sibling will be successful, that much is certain,” Zereel Ja sneered.

“Well,” Wuk Lamat said as she shrugged. “Let me show you around the place first. I’ve visited a few times before. The Mamool ja are not wholly unwelcoming, even if somewhat withdrawn from outsiders.”

“As for this trial…” Wuk Lamat raised a quizzical eyebrow. “I suppose it’ll be years before it can even be beaten.”

“Wuk Lamat,” Alphinaud interjected. “Surely, this is… not in line with the protocol of the rite of succession?”

“Just be patient and allow my father to arrive and resolve this issue,” Wuk Lamat smiled. “The Autarch of Mamook has always been… uncooperative. One might say-- extreme.”

As Wuk Lamat and the others strode off to explore Mamook, the Warrior of Light was unmoving, with gaze fixed upon the magical pot.

A memory of Zenos filled the Warrior of Light’s mind.

“You know the thrill of pushing your body and soul to their limits. Of confronting ever-mightier foes, dancing ever closer to the precipice, wondering if this will be the one to finally, finally... fill the void."

“Hah!” Zereel Ja sneered at the Warrior of Light’s interest. “Are you supporting the Third Promise’s claim? Are you perhaps curious?”

“That I am,” the Warrior of Light’s eyes glinted in fervor.

“Foolish,” Zereel Ja mocked. “Very well. Taste the strength and power of a blessed sibling in their prime!”

A wave of the hand and a smokey Gulool Ja Ja formed before the Warrior of Light. The Warrior of Light unsheathed a pair of twinblades with a confident grin.

A titanic clash would ensue, a feast for those with love for combat. The Warrior of Light had only recently gained some mastery of the twinblades. It was against this magically-recreated prime Gulool Ja Ja that the Warrior of Light would begin to enter the final stretch of twinblades mastery.

Zereel Ja’s eyes became increasingly narrow slits as the combat between the two continued. Initially, the Warrior of Light seemed… rusty with the twinblades. Yet, the repeated clashing of blades soon came to an equilibrium, with neither side gaining any advantage over the other.

After another few trading of heavy blows, Zereel Ja waved his hand, and the smokey Gulool Ja Ja vanished.

“Who are you?” Zereel Ja questioned in a flat tone. He was naturally quite unnerved by this aide to the Third Promise.

“Hmm… me?” the Warrior of Light muttered in thought. The warrior of Light had, after all, gained an uncountable number of titles. One such title was ‘World-class Troller’. Not exactly an intimidating title.

“I suppose a friend once called me… just-- A Traveler. A Shepherd to the stars in the dark,” so the Warrior of Light replied with a smile. “Whether this is true or not-- I have every intention to travel the length and breadth of every land.”

The Warrior of Light’s words only further increased the unease within Zereel Ja’s heart.

One might think that Zereel Ja disabled the magical recreation of Gulool Ja Ja prime due to his fear of seeing the potential defeat of Gulool Ja Ja. The truth was that Zereel Ja had already become perturbed by the simple fact that the Warrior of Light could stand as an equal to Gulool Ja Ja in combat.

-

The Warrior of Light rejoined the others already exploring Mamook.

“You fought that… simulacrum, didn’t you,” Alisaie glared at the Warrior of Light. “Without me. Did I not once warn you not to take such action? When you fought the Endsinger alone?”

The Warrior of Light embarrassingly coughed. “It was…not a world-ending threat.”

Alisaie harrumphed in dissatisfaction, but at least ceased her grumbling.

“How was it?” Wuk Lamat curiously asked.

“Equal,” the Warrior of Light replied. “Your father is truly strong. Though I have been on the backfoot a number of times, I have, more often than not, overcome my foes eventually. Your father’s strength does not wane. Nor can his moves be ever wholly figured out.”

“My father is truly amazing, isn’t he…as are you,” Wuk Lamat stated. “Though… I cannot help but wonder why he specifically requested Erenville to beseech your aid for me…” the female hrothgar drifted into deep thought as she contemplated this question.

The group’s exploration would soon be interrupted by the approach of an exasperated Hoobigo.

“Are you Wuk Lamat?” the female hoobigo desperately gazed into Wuk Lamat’s eyes. “I am Milaal Ja. My son… Bakool Ja Ja, has locked himself within his birth chamber. I…”

“You’re a claimant, yes?” Milaal Ja confirmed after some hesitation. “Surely… surely you have come to know one another somewhat?”

The hoobigo’s words were frankly, confusing to their ears.

“Why… me?” Wuk Lamat raised her eyebrows.

“The First Promise is known for his military achievements. The second, a miqo'te wholly dedicated to research and technological development, often coming across as indifferent,” Milaal Ja explained.

“And… me…” Surely-- Wuk Lamat believed her reputation to be rather low.

“Well…please do not take this as an insult, but,” Milaal Ja paused to gather her words. “Though none of us believe you capable of being the Dawnservant… it cannot be denied that some of us, over the years, anticipate your visits and… theatrics during our very own festivities…”

Wuk Lamat honestly knew little of Bakool Ja Ja’s mind. Whenever Bakool Ja Ja approached her so far, it was to cause trouble. Still… that Mamool ja did seem rather distraught… almost like a lost soul upon her victory in their duel.

“Very well,” Wuk Lamat sighed. “Take me to him.”

“Let us be careful,” Milaal Ja whispered. “It would be best not to draw my husband’s attention. He loves Bakool Ja Ja, but also places too many unnecessary demands and expectations upon him…”

So it was that they arrived at the Skydeep Cenote.

“Your friends have come to see you…” Milaal Ja yelled out in concern.

“Friends…” muttered Alisaie under her breath. Wuk Lamat and the Warrior of Light were similarly bewildered.

Still, the heavy stones doors did surprisingly swing open. And they were greeted by a crestfallen Bakool Ja Ja, shockingly, with a broom in hand.

The blessed sibling glanced at them and then resumed his previous obsession with sweeping the ground of this very place.

“Have you come to laugh at me?” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty asked. “The great blessed sibling. Supposed savior of all of Mamool ja. Carrier of the torch.”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“No…” Wuk Lamat replied. “Your mother simply requested our visit.”

“You must think me a fool. No-- I am a fool,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic said. “To fall for Zoraal Ja’s taunt and release Valigarmanda. To-”

“Wait,” Wuk Lamat interjected as her ears received new information. “My brother was a participant in releasing Valigarmanda?”

“Well…not exactly,” mumbled Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty. “Sareel Ja was the one who approached us.” He would go on to explain the exact details of the incident.

“Still, we were fools to fall for such a simple trap,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic finished.

Wuk Lamat’s mind reeled from this new information. She had always seen her older brother as a bit of a role model-- putting his life on the line to protect the safety of Tural’s citizens. Has something changed over the years? Is Bakool Ja Ja’s words even trustworthy?

“Yet you attacked me,” Wuk Lamat frowned.

“Another loss for the great Bakool Ja Ja,” the blessed sibling mocked himself. “I needed that Feat of Ice slab. I had to return to Mamook as a leading claimant to the throne. That is the duty of a blessed sibling.”

Of course, Wuk Lamat had long known of Mamook’s obsession with blessed siblings. However, she increasingly felt that she had failed to understand the depths of said obsession.

Unsure of what to say, her gaze wandered about before settling upon a number of pots within the chamber.

“What are these?” she asked.

“The corpses of my unborn siblings…” Bakool Ja Ja replied somberly.

“I…” Wuk Lamat was once again speechless, as were the others.

“This is the place where I was born and grew up within,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty said. Once he began to speak, it was as if the dam broke, and a ceaseless flow of dirtied water rushed out in endless waves.

Horror soon filled the ears of all those present.

Indeed, the process of creating the blessed siblings was not publicly known.

Wuk Lamat’s mind was ever more perturbed.

“Why did my father not put a stop to this?” she muttered. Her father was not one to stand idly by and tolerate such a disturbing practice.

“My father once said that Gulool Ja Ja is bound by an oath,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic informed her.

The blessed sibling’s words were not enough to settle Wuk Lamat’s heart. Increasingly, Wuk Lamat felt that the twistedness of Mamook was much deeper than she had initially thought.

“I had thought that I understood the Mamool ja. My father. My brother. Perhaps knowing isn’t enough. Even now… I cannot imagine how a mind might become warped by the very nature of Mamook. I am not Mamool ja, after all…” Wuk Lamat said as she beseeched the Warrior of Light for words of wisdom.

“Indeed,” the Warrior of Light replied with conviction. “We can but act, and believe in the true and justness of our actions. Sometimes, that is all that we can do.”

Wuk Lamat nodded with a frown. She initially had no plans to participate in the rite of succession, but was forced by her father to be an active claimant. She had journeyed from one place to another, completing feats while treating them as nothing more than a sort of fun festivities in her heart.

Eventually, she had to seriously contend against Valigarmanda, before having risen to the occasion after being enraged by the underhanded methods of Bakool Ja Ja-- the kidnapping of Hunmu Rruk, her biological father.

Now, she began to have an inkling as to why her father had forced her to participate in the rite of succession. If her father was bound by an oath to not interfere here… then perhaps, her father needed her-- a thought that had never occurred to her.

Mamook must be the true sore spot within her father’s heart. The true test of the rite of succession laid in Mamook-- the other trials were but preparation.

When they left the Skydeep Cenote, Wuk Lamat gazed upwards at the glimmering neon blue lower canopy. To think such darkness laid in this wondrous fantastical forest.

“So, what is it that you desire?” The Warrior of Light awaited the Third Promise’s decision. Such revelation must have shaken the Third Promise’s mind to the core, so the Warrior of Light thought.

“I once thought my father to be well… almost invincible. I thought my older brother, Zoraal Ja, to be noble in all of his actions,” Wuk Lamat said. “Perhaps… perhaps even the greatest of us all, can become prisoners to our heritage, despite our best attempts to escape its unyielding grip…”

“I’ve always wished to only travel Tural, and perhaps one day, lands across the sea, in leisure and peace. I only desired to live day-to-day in the present, drowning myself in contentment. I could, because my father and older brother bore the burden of maintaining the stability of Tural.”

“I am still the same. I still desire that same peace. But perhaps, at least in this instance, I can share my father’s burdens,” Wuk Lamat nodded to herself to encourage herself. “Yes. My father needs me, after all…as did the people against those malformed creatures.”

“So…?” Erenville, for once, did not palm his own face in reaction to his childhood friend, Wuk Lamat’s actions and words.

“If the source of their obsession with the blessed siblings is their continued belief in the necessary might of said blessed sibling to conquer more fertile lands, then we simply need to remove their desperation for such fertile lands,” Wuk Lamat stated.

Bakool Ja Ja, who had accompanied them out of the Skydeep Cenote at the bidding of his mother to get some fresh air, simply grumbled, “Impossible.”

Still, he lumbered along as they spoke with many residents of Mamook, and they soon identified the problem within the lower canopy.

Consequently, Erenville promised to return with many of Sharlayan’s botanical collections to test their compatibility with the nature of Yak T’el’s lower canopy.

Beyond that, Wuk Lamat also enlisted Koana’s assistance-- If Koana could truly develop better methods to allow trade between Mamook and the rest of Tural, their specifically uniquely-tilted lands might be of a lesser issue. There are naturally downsides-- a train to the lower canopy of Yak T’el, for example, could impact the wildlife of the region.

They also discussed the matter of finding a potential use for the odd meteorites in the lower canopy. Quite naturally, there was some concern that using said meteorites or introducing new species might affect the unique environment of the lower canopy.

Still, such change would take generations despite the positivity of some of the more receptive inhabitants of Mamook.

Perhaps most important was to dispel the idea that blessed siblings would save and guarantee their society’s existence.

“We must defeat the magical-recreation of my father,” Wuk Lamat declared.

They returned to the indicated trial location, only to find Gulool Ja Ja arriving alongside-- shockingly-- Vorporlor, the leader of the hostile Chirwagur faction of the Yok Huy.

“I have come to seek compensation,” the giant said. “Your son released Valigarmanda, the Skyruin, taking many lives of our people. I must have an answer, for my people. Otherwise, my faction will demand war!”

“I have already been informed of this,” Zereel Ja answered. “You will have compensation. That I can assure you. How many lives did you lose?”

Vorporlor was confused with the ease of Zereel Ja’s agreement.

“What do you mean?” Vorporlor asked in his typical slowish Yok Huy speech.

“It’s simple,” Zereel Ja replied. “If you lost a hundred citizens, then we will give you a hundred of our single-headed Mamool ja for you to do as you please. If you want revenge, you can have their heads.”

Zereel Ja’s words shook the hearts of all those present. Yet it made sense-- the Mamook valued the blessed siblings. To protect Bakool Ja Ja, the loss of a few single-headed Mamool ja was nothing!

“Or do you wish to have my head? Bakool Ja Ja is inexperienced, and was fooled into releasing Valigarmanda. As his one-headed father, I am more than happy to spend the rest of my life in your jails if you so desire. After my role in the rite of succession is complete,” Zereel Ja said this in a matter-of-fact manner.

Madness. Vorporlor had initially come to Mamook, prepared for a tough round of negotiations. Though he was more militarily aligned within the Yok Huy, he also recognized that the majority of the Yok Huy wished to avoid throwing Tural into chaos.

Some believe that his Chirwagur desired to wage war to relive their old ‘glory’ days. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The Chirwagur only believed in removing all potential opponents to guarantee their days of peace.

There was also one other reason-- the very idea of pursuing utopia, or one might call it, the pursuit of ‘heaven’, the Golden City!

Back to the Mamool ja-- to think that Zereel Ja would nonchalantly sacrifice many just to protect the two-headed Bakool Ja Ja…

Truly a belief with an inescapable insidious grip upon the minds of those trapped in Mamook. Even the Mamool ja now residing in Tuliyollal might still be haunted by this belief.

For the moment, Vorporlor was unable to come to a decision, especially when coming face-to-face with such madness. He wondered if these Mamook, too, had become prisoners to a belief, similar to his ancestors who had become prisoners to visions of the Golden City-- the goddess and her heaven.

“Father…” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty muttered. “This is my responsibility. There is no need to--”

“Your responsibility is to lead the Mamool ja to a new golden era!” Zereel Ja quickly dismissed Bakool Ja Ja’s words.

“And. Gulool Ja Ja,” Zereel Ja said. “You still remember your oath?”

“I stand by it,” the head of reason’s voice rumbled. “However, your trial cannot be completed. That is against our agreement of you playing the role of the elector.”

“Very well,” Zereel Ja replied. “I will allow cooperation. However, that traveler cannot be allowed to participate.” Zereel Ja was, of course, pointing at the Warrior of Light.

“So be it,” Gulool Ja Ja agreed. “We will leave the issue with the Yok Huy until after the feat is completed.”

The rules were adjusted that allowed cooperation to defeat the magically-recreated prime Gulool Ja Ja.

More surprising was the fact that Koana gave up his claimant position, handing his completed slabs into the arms of Wuk Lamat, before assisting his sister in defeating the magical simulacrum!

Zoraal Ja, however, was too prideful to seek assistance, and was defeated once again.

“Meaningless. To defeat a blessed sibling with assistance,” he scoffed as he lumbered away after having exhausted himself. His words were music to Zereel Ja’s ears.

“Come,’ Gulool Ja Ja bid them all. “My son. You, too, must be a witness.”

Zoraal Ja, though displeased, remained and followed behind his father to trek through the shimmering forest.

They would soon enter the Skydeep Cenote, and unlock the deepest depths of Skydeep Cenote with the completed set of slabs within Wuk Lamat’s grasp, thanks to Koana’s sacrifice. The miqo'te had long come to terms that he lacked the connection to the people that came naturally to Wuk Lamat.

To Wuk Lamat, though, it was simply her desire to travel here and there to enjoy the festivities of Tural’s tribes.

So it was that Erenville would accomplish his goal of finding the so-called entrance to the fabled City of Gold.

Vorporlor’s expression hardened as his eyes came upon the portal that supposedly led to the City of Gold.

“Many legends were spread by us, the Yok Huy. Despite our best attempts… The people only spread the rumors of the Golden City as a place of treasure and opportunity. The reality is that this place only has death. Death and decay,” the giant growled as he hatefully glared at all that entered his sight.

Wuk Lamat and the Warrior of Light were both nervous. Both believed that this to be ultimately Gulool Ja Ja’s aim.

When they approached the portal, the Warrior of Light’s echo activated, delivering a vision of two lalafells delivering a baby into a sharlayan-dressed figure’s arms.

The Warrior of Light naturally informed Krile of said vision, causing the lalafell to enter a state of bewilderment.

Suddenly, a soft and gentle voice of a woman filled the room made of electrified cubes crafted of an unknown unique material.

“Ah… the Yok Huy. To think you would return after having abandoned your opportunity at eternal life.”

The woman was clearly speaking to Vorporlor!

“Witch,” Vorporlor spat. “You once took advantage of the primitive days of our tribes, and fed visions of heaven into our minds. You bid us conquer, collect, and sacrifice souls to gain entrance to heaven!”

“If you had not abandoned the cause, many of your people would now have an eternal life in heaven. A pity that your northward venture failed in such a disastrous fashion.” The soft voice was, of course, hinting at the Yok Huy’s bodily weakness towards northern contagions.

Vorporlor was visibly affected. It was only now that the Warrior of Light came to understand that the Yok Huy once conquered as a result of the bidding of this mysterious voice of a woman.

“And you. Gulool Ja Ja. And… is that Zoraal Ja?” the voice giggled. “Indeed it is! Gulool Ja Ja. Di you remember your oath? Your son was born with two souls in a singular body. It was only thanks to my technology that the other soul was pulled out from Zoraal Ja’s body, ensuring his survival. Remember your oath, the price for saving your child.”

“The resilient one, indeed!” Zereel Ja laughed. He had naturally accompanied them all to this secretive chamber within Mamool ja lands.

Zoraal Ja felt bewildered. He had never been informed of this. He could only recall moments in his life where he felt as if he was missing a brother of sorts. Only now did he understand that he once shared his body with another soul! A result of his father being a blessed sibling!

“Gulool Ja Ja. Your wife’s soul and memories remain here with me, in this heavenly place. She is doing well, alongside the other soul of your son’s body. Remember your oath.”

Zoraal Ja’s heart was further shakened. He had grown up without a mother. Was she part of the price for his survival as well?

Gulool Ja Ja only growled in response to this soft taunting voice. Though it sounded gentle at first, the contents of her words casted said soft voice in a rather sinister light within the minds of those present.

“Heaven--a place where memory and soul never dies, is on our side,” Zereel Ja declared. “The goddess has blessed us with the possibility of the blessed siblings. The many other souls of our children? A price we are willing to pay.”

“Goddess. Thank you,” Zereel Ja said and gestured at the other present. “This is but to allow the potential future rulers and leaders of these lands to understand the existence of your heaven!”

“Your sacrifices will ultimately guarantee you a place in eternity!” Zereel Ja declared to the others.They all remained doubtful of Zereel Ja’s truth.

They soon left Skydeep Cenote. Naturally, they were all grappling with the revelation in their minds.

“My son,” Zereel Ja beamed at Bakool Ja Ja. “Your worries are unneeded. The souls of your siblings may have been sacrificed, but they reside in that heaven. A place where memories and souls are eternal.”

“Continue your charge. You will be the future leader of Mamook. More blessed siblings will be born in the future with the assistance of the Golden City, and we will continue to thrive as never before!” Zereel Ja said this with an utmost conviction.

In contrast, Gulool Ja Ja was apologetic towards his children.

“Did you think your father was perfect?” he sighed. “I, too, was born in this place. I sought to escape its clutches, seeking external assistance before building Tuliyollal and uniting Tural.”

“When I stood at the top of the world, I made the foolish decision of siring children.”

“Your mother,” Gulool Ja Ja gazed at Zoraal Ja. “was sent to me by Zereel Ja. I initially thought it to be nothing more than a ploy. Yet as time passed, we truly grew to appreciate one another’s presence. One ill-advised drunken night, and your life began in her womb.”

“I, of course, knew of the consequences. No two-headed Mamool ja had successfully sired children ever. So it was that I returned to the Skydeep Cenote, seeking assistance to give you a chance at life.”

“The reason, as ever, was the mismatch of soul and body. For us the Mamool ja… when our different tribes breed, it leads to the situation of one soul within a two-headed body. And when a blessed sibling breeds, it leads to two souls within a one-headed child. Only with the Golden City-- that woman’s assistance, can disaster be avoided. The price is always other souls.”

“Sometimes I wonder if it is a coincidence for that mysterious woman to have the ability to correct this phenomenon, thus gaining the trust of our people.”

“As for my request-- the price was your mother’s entry into that… ‘heaven’. And the removal of the other soul within you…” Gulool Ja Ja sounded almost defeated in a guttural low tone. “My greatest failure.”

“How did you choose which soul remained within this body?” Zoraal Ja growled. For all he knew, he could have become the discarded soul.

Gulool Ja Ja opted not to answer this question, and thus, silence ensued.

“Then… the rite of succession….” Wuk Lamat mumbled.

“Father…” Koana was similarly perturbed.

“Just a means to an end,” Gulool Ja Ja answered. “It is your victory, daughter, that much is certain. But your true test lay in that elusive voice of the woman beyond the veil. The future of Mamook will not change as long as she remains. I swore an oath that I cannot break. This will be your charge… heavy though it may be.”

Gulool Ja Ja hoped that where he had failed, his children would succeed.

As for the issue with Valigarmanda, Vorporlor eventually could only return to Urqopacha with Zereel Ja in tow, who was all too happy to sacrifice his life for Bakool Ja Ja to remain free and lead Mamook in the future.

Initially, Zoraal Ja had hoped to play a major role in the potential conflict between the Mamool ja and the Yok Huy, and through said meditation, elevate himself as a definitive leader of Mamool ja society.

Instead, he discovered that Mamook was truly willing to sacrifice all to protect the blessed sibling that is Bakool Ja Ja.

Zoraal Ja’s mind was already unstable due to the revelation that is the City of Gold along with his dark origins. This occurrence naturally sent Zoraal Ja’s already unstable mind further into the pits.

He was naturally none-too-pleased when confronted by his younger sister, Wuk Lamat.

“Big brother. Why did you, through Sareel Ja, cause Bakool Ja Ja to release Valigarmanda? That has led to deaths of innocents in the Yok Huy!” Wuk Lamat lambasted her big brother, a hint of disappointment laced within her tone.

“Sister. You have always been naive,” Zoraal Ja snarled in reply. “Mamook would never accept a one-headed Mamool Ja as leader. Sometimes, unsavory methods are needed. Imagine if Bakool Ja Ja was to sit upon the throne. You think him capable?!”

“Yet Mamook would support him unwaveringly. Willing to sacrifice their people simply to protect him. You know this to be true.”

“I have fought my whole life to prove myself. Yet Mamook… Mamook sees me as simply an inconsequential one-headed. You would never understand, sister. You are no Mamool ja. Let us never speak of this ever again!” Zoraal Ja spat.

Zoraal Ja would march off with a head held high despite his tumultuous heart, and Wuk Lamat failed to find a counter to Zoraal Ja’s words in her own mind.

“A savage place, isn’t it?” Sareel Ja said as Zoraal Ja rejoined him and Estinien, waiting in an isolated location in a northern area below the canopy. “When I discovered my unique ability as a soul-seer, the whole of Mamook disposed of me. They feared that I would be able to see the quality of souls, and thus upend their dedication to blessed siblings. After all, two souls are not always better than one.”

“If you wish to raze that place down, I will not blame you,” Sareel Ja chortled. “I will even support you. Your father has kept a close eye on Mamook through Ketenramm. But Ketenramm can be fooled. So you can act at any time if you so desire.”

“I would not recommend such action,” Estinien advised. He naturally recalled the zealotry of Ishgardian society in the past. Many of the Ishgardians had been brainwashed by their upbringing. “In time, they will learn as the world changes. That, I am certain of. I am willing to continue to provide you assistance.”

“Thank you. But I hired you for the rite of succession. You have fulfilled the end of the contract,” Zoraal Ja gazed at Estinien with mixed feelings. “This darkness of Mamook is something that only we Mamool jas can resolve within ourselves. I hope one day, we may meet again.”

So it was that Estinien parted ways with Zoraal Ja. Estinien initially wished to counsel Zoraal Ja. That Mamool ja could seek outside assistance if need be. Yet he held his tongue. Zoraal Ja had always been headstrong. Firm in his chosen action to the very end. Estinien knew that his words would fall on deaf ears, as it did upon many others during Ishgard’s tumultuous transformation.

Zoraal Ja turned his attention to Ketenramm.

“Ketenramm…” Why would this man hide himself in Mamook? An idea, a possibility, soon rose in Zoraal Ja’s mind as he considered his very future. No-- his father must have placed Ketenramm here to keep an eye on that Golden City in Skydeep Cenote. Ketenramm must have something… something that can keep that mysterious woman behind the veil in check.

“Estinien… I hope one day, we can toast one another one last time over a crackling campfire.” He couldn’t shake the odd feeling that in some ways, Estinien truly understood him. More than even his brother Koana, and sister, Wuk Lamat. Perhaps even more than his very own father.

After the others’ return to Tuliyollal, they would soon discover the disappearance of Zoraal Ja, who was supposed to have returned to the city as well. Gulool Ja Ja had called on his three children, hoping to decide on the future of Tural as well as the Golden City and the mysterious voice of the ‘goddess’, only to discover that Zoraal Ja, along with Sareel Ja had vanished.