Atmedanyeh | The Shakkhari Stepp: I

David studies the unimpressive figure seated next to the wizened white bearded Master. The arrival of the Gran Celestial, Kalakurik of Zastasia, sent the monasteries into a frenzy. Barges of varying sizes clotted Lake Marna alongside luminous house boats, fishing vessels, and ferry boat all at maximum occupancy.

Akh'yun dragged a sulking David onto one of these ferry boats drifting toward the northern main temple.

"He's finally here!" Akh'yun leans over the railing to gain a better view of the luminous and intoxicating bubble of crystalline energy.

Aranle skulks on the railing next to David. He attempted to coax the feline behind but she managed to sneak aboard. A few other animals perch themselves around the monks who are all in contagious spirits.

"Careful you don't fall over, or you'll be sent back to change." David laughs. "Maybe I'll fall in myself."

Akh'yun narrows his eyes. "Then they'll send me back with you, to keep you company." He smiles. "There'll be lots to eat and drink, plenty of people to meet."

"Who is this guest we're all celebrating?" David wonders aloud.

Akh'yun gives David a disbelieving stare, then erupts in delightful laughter. "I forget you've forgotten," he grins. "We're celebrating the completion of the Planetarium in Euradai."

The intoxicating air diffuses in his mind as the sobering weight of his predicament returns. Then disappears when Aranle begins purring. He pets the beast delicately and proceeds to partake in the festivities.

Though he knew very little in the beginning, his interaction with diverse and far faring travellers illuminated his mind to the significance of the planetarium. Many of the scholars now settled in Euradai to operate the planetarium, or partake in research, were once discipled residents of Atmedanyeh.

Akh'yun introduced David to many of his old friends, they bantered and played together, indulged in well prepared food and good wine.

Not long after the opening ceremony did David start observing the festivities from a distance in a blissful mood. From his perch high up in the courtyard verandah, he studies the unimpressive celestial seated next to Master Kurolos.

The two seem engaged in some serious discussion. Master Kurolos frowns every now and again. David rubs his eyes, certain the master had subtly gestured in his direction.

He yawns and proceeds to find a room to rest. The ferries would not carry another passenger till the breaking of dawn, and his last chance to depart for the west monastery had already passed.

The corridors reverb with music and laughter emanating from the many courtyards. The festival reached such a peak, the corridors themselves were boisterous with activity.

Illuminated by strung paper lanterns filled with ayshek fragments, David continues westward, into the verdure of lush gardens where a myriad of animals wild and domestic, roam freely.

David sits beside a fountain where a school of beautiful koi scurry forward in anticipation of food. He laughs and recalls Aranle, who had skulked off to some unknown region of the monastery.

The stars are alight in the atmosphere of the night sky. He's gazing into the cosmos in dreamy trance when he notices something flicker atop the canyon cliff face. He squints his eyes, then opens them wide.

His vision never showed him the world quite clearly. Sighing, he searches the courtyard for anyone. When no one was to be found he refocuses his attention to the flicker. It has moved.

He jumps when a lithe cat rubs against his leg, purring.

"Aranle! Where have you been off to?"

Aranle acknowledges him and follows his gaze: "Where do you imagine?"

"A secret room with other kittens, drinking too much cream and cavorting in mischievous activities." David chuckles.

Aranle presses forward, turns around and stares mutely at David's blank expression. "Are you coming?" she continues forward, David trailing behind.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll know soon enough."

"Okay."

They exit the monastery grounds and into the forest, following a recognizable riverstone path. David's chest hums with saudade. "The upper Terrace?"

Better view of that light.

"Shouldn't we tell someone?" David looks around warily, the woods take on a menacing shade. He lets the feeling play out but continues. "What do you think of Kalakurik?"

"Old alvarrian, brings troubling news, didn't seem all too pleased with what the master had to say."

"I thought so too, what do you imagine they spoke of?"

They reach a stone slab of a bridge, just a few inches over a trickling stream. Aranle pauses, keels her neck to take a drink, then continues.

"Didn't pay attention, I was talking with some friends."

David chuckles. "A cat festival?"

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"To you it's a cat festival, to us it's just a festival. She pauses, rotating her ears. But yes, a festival."

"My apologies."

"We're here now."

"Where else can one be?" David stops beside Aranle, marveling at the rising ramparts carved into the canyon walls. Portions of the path disappear into the wall, only to reappear somewhere out of sight. Brilliant Ayshek lamps illuminate the path upward. "Amazing isn't it?"

"Convenient."

They begin their ascent, rising slowly over the forest treetops where they are met with a gust of cool spring breeze. Gratefully David's garb was woven thick enough to keep him warm.

An hour or so passes when they pause their journey at one of the resting alcoves furnished with curved stone benches and a gushing drinking fountain.

Aranle drinks from the fountain, accompanied by David who cups his hands. Refreshed, he takes a seat for a short rest. "It'll be dawn soon, will we reach the top before sunrise?"

"Yes, an hour or so remains."

David nods. The view provides them with a scene of Lake Marna dazzling with the reflection of the monasteries and temples. While they rest, three antelope enter the alcove, ignoring them as they drink from the fountain.

A few minutes after the three antelope finish and exit the alcove, Aranle stretches her limbs and jumps onto the floor.

"Are you rested enough?"

David nods a response and they continue their journey upward. What gales the canyon exude at this dizzying height, tall guard railings worked with spherical geometric patterns break them apart. They continue this last stretch for what feels like an eternity.

The first azure of dawn floods the night sky. The two finally arrived. David faces the canyon's edge and opens his arms to the wind in a wide embrace, letting it pore through him.

Aranle stretches out her limbs beneath the entrance to the upper Terrace complex.

"Isn't this something else?!" The wind muffles his voice.

"We should wait in the gardens."

David agrees, the morning chill numbs the shivers in his limbs. Somehow he carries himself forward, enters the ceremonial open gate, and into the midst of the Shakkhari Steppe.

The gardens themselves were an assortment of the natural occurring vegetation, short and stout, wildly arranged by the environment itself, save for the added stone artwork and resting platforms.

Aranle suggests he wait while she investigates the light from earlier. Her stealthy constitution appropriate for the task.

David agrees, seating himself behind a particular stone platform diverting the morning wind. A few minutes later Aranle returns with a peculiar silence.

"Well? Did you uncover the mystery? The suspense is making me impatient."

"Yes. Although, it will be revealed soon enough."

David groans. "I might just have a peak myself."

"It is rather difficult to explain."

David's mouth falls open. That voice. He laughs. "Well, now the suspense is over, I think I'll return to the festival."

"And ignore an old friend?" A smile, old and familiar. Though now he was dressed as a traveler, adorned in trinkets glimmering with aseurik fragments. Nikolai, the face of his old friend is almost unrecognizable with trim stubble and lengthy hair tucked beneath a wide brimmed hat.

No hesitation. David embraces his friend, laughing uncontrollably.

"Isn't that a warm reception?"

David stops laughing. He whirls around, surely as his memory recalls. There is that handsome face, only a little rough with a mixture of calm. Marko, finely dressed in a blue kurta bearing a sword secured at his waist with a white sash.

He cannot help himself, David breaks into another round of laughter. "What's the occasion?"

"Sit down and we'll all catch up." Nikolai gestures to the seat where Marko is lounging. "It's actually a coincidence really. I met Marko at the Seaside City of Naayir-Nahtama."

Marko nods. "I didn't know myself until after the tournament, when he congratulated me in person."

"The tournament was really something." Nikolai continues. "The fleet had stopped by on business, along the way we took some damage and stayed for repairs."

"Is that why you had time to stop by?"

Nikolai nods.

"We'd been so busy ourselves, I'd forgotten all about the tournament." David faces Marko. "I wish I'd seen it."

"It was a mild affair, I needed the coin." Marko brushes the comment off. "Tell us what's all this excitement. We had to take the back path, the traditional route was too congested."

"The festival? I don't really know much myself because it happened before the amnesia. From what I can gather, it's to celebrate the completion of a new machine. A planetarium."

"In Euradai?" Nikolai says in genuine surprise. "I've seen a glimpse myself, from the ports during an excursion of Athera."

"What does it do?" Marko asks curiously.

Nikolai shrugs. "I don't really know, but the machine is a building. A lot of people in Euradai are excited, nothing like it has been done before."

"Why celebrate it here?" Marko wonders aloud.

Nikolai shrugs at this too, "I don't know."

"It has something to do with Master Kurolos, some of the older residents assisted in its construction. I suppose we're celebrating that. This happened before we lost our memories." David sighs, "by any chance have either of you made progress with it?"

Marko shakes his head,"I'd forgotten all about it."

Nikolai smiles apologetically. "I've been travelling so much, it kind of just slipped my mind."

"What about you?" Marko adds.

"I don't blame you two. For awhile I just stopped thinking about it myself. Not until recently did I start going through it all over again." Before the other two respond, David stands up. "You two have to be hungry, there's plenty to eat and drink at the temple, let's go."

Nikolai and Marko's stomach audibly grumble. They laugh and proceed their lengthy descent into the canyon.

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Upon entering the monastery grounds, the festivities went on with considerable gusto. The newcomers delighted Akh'yun, who had taken a moment to register David's companions.

After a heavy breakfast, Nikolai and Marko acquaint themselves with their old friends and instructors, the latter of whom were intrigued with their new vocations.

"How long will you two be around?" David asks Nikolai later that evening.

"We haven't an estimate, the damages are minor but reparations will delay us. On top of that, the fleet is restocking its supplies. I'm still expected to work when I return to Naayir." Nikolai faces Marko. "What about you?"

Marko shrugs. "I haven't gotten anywhere to be anytime soon. I could stay for a bit."

Nikolai nods. "You know, it would be alright if you both came along. The fleet is always recruiting. The pay is worthwhile for the work we do." He indicates to Marko his sword. "I overheard a few of the crew say Master Eraanos is in need of more guard. We do get into nasty scuffles at times."

"I never considered leaving the temple before." David murmurs to himself. "I'm not sure what I'd be able to do on a merchant fleet."

"There's lots to do, it'll be a bit rough in the beginning but I'm certain you'd take to it fast." Nikolai shrugs, "you have some time to think about it. We're not expected to voyage for awhile."

David and Marko both agree to consider it. In the meantime they made plans to journey to the Seaside City and see Nikolai off.