Darkness that has always been what his world has been. He had felt and heard things, but he now saw things. White lights moving. Surrounding him. Feelings inside of the lights. They brought him joy. And with his laughter he could see the lights flicker.

His food had changed, and this pained his stomach. He cried for his old milk but there was only a new sweet watery taste. It did not fill him. He was sore. They were always moving, and he found sleep only in exhaustion.

Finally, he felt the soft teat he was used to. It was much larger than he had come to know. But the milk was better. He felt fresh and new. His days continued like this for long. And before he knew it, he was eating solid foods.

He had started understanding some of the sounds others were making. And he had noticed that the Lights had become brighter and other lights that he never knew of had become visible. And he had come to know them as referring to him with the name Sorach.

Someone had helped him to stand. And with the brightening of the lights, he had learned that there were others like him. Looking in himself he too saw a light and around him there were lights. Large tall lights and small lights like him.

They had helped him how to walk and he had learned some of their tongue. He could request things and laugh. Life was good.

When Sorach was 4 years of age He and all the other children were gathered in a room. They were made to stand in a line. Before him He saw a very bright light and he saw someone standing on the other side and in them he saw Darkness. It was his first time encountering such a darkness. He strayed away from it towards that which was known towards the light.

The man who wore the light of darkness had something of value with him, but he could not see. For many of the children had chosen to approach the one who was filled with darkness. One he was close with was about to go when he took their hand. He had to get someone he knew to follow him to the light.

They followed him. Altogether many of the lights flocked to the darkness and their numbers were now very few.

4 years later.

Sorach had come to learn that the past even had been a ceremony that would separate the wheat from the chaff. So that the holy teachings would not be taught to those who were easily led astray by the outside appearance. They had been taught about healing and the temple. And He was a youngling inside of it. And when they turned eleven, they would be made anew when they learned the way of the light.

Today was a new day and he was excited. It was his friend Chali ‘s day of remembrance. The anniversary of when they were found by the light to be saved. Sorach opened his eyes. He was brimming with excitement. He was carefull not to wake of his bunk mates. He neatly folded his white linen and went to pick up his bedpan. They had had a turn-based system with the cleaning of the pan and today was his turn. He took the pan and the present he had prepared for Chali. Careful not to wake up any of the other 13 boys. As he stepped outside of the door a silent one greeted him. He greeted back and carefully carried the pan to the courtyard. Rinsing the Pan and placing it in the sun was a quick thing. He washed his hands with the soap, and he went for morning Prayer.

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When he entered the Main Hall in the temple, He could feel the Gaze of an elder as he opened the creaking door to the prayer room. Chali was already awake and there. She was very diligent. And he wanted to be like her. After the morning prayer They exited the Hall and they were finally allowed to speak.

“Good morning Chali!! , I got you a present.” Sorach exclaimed.

Chali rearing in embarrassment whispered to him. “SHHH we are barely away from the prayer hall, elder Wyn will say you have no respect for the silence of night,”

“But the sun is rising as we speak.” Sorach whispered back. Sorach was well versed in the holy teachings and one of the principles of duality was that night was the be silent and day was to be filled with sound. Without darkness there can be no light and to respect the light one must be aware of the darkness. So that you do not mix darkness and light. Every day you must be aware of when there is one and when there is another. Evil is the counterpart of good. Sin that of repentance. Winter of summer. Husband of wife. All comes in twos and to mix the twos will make you unaware of what is good and what is not. This is called the Principle of Duality and not knowing it will make you commit the worst sin. The sin of ignorance.

One can only be ignorant when there is a lack of truth. And the light is the truth. Therefore ignorance is unholy.

Chali had taught Sorach all these things as he could not read on his own out of the Holy Scriptires. Each day they would attend the lessons of elder Atwood in the morning so that they may know more of the nature of all things and the history of the temple, also learning to read and write. After that they would have lessons On Magic and healing and finally when their minds are tired their bodies are put to use as they are trained to have healthy vassals that are of use to the light. Each used for a purpose later as they come of age. Some to become paladins, some battle healers, some local healers and some will serve as the silents in the halls of the temple.

Sorach really didn’t want to be a silent one day. He wanted to be a Holy Monk. Who wields his blades for the light. Or maybe an inquisitor so that all would know only the light and none would dwell in the darkness.

The silent are ones who did not pass their coming-of-age ceremony and have to keep their vow of forever maintaining the temple. They are not looked down upon. They have merely been chosen by the light to maintain the holy halls of the temple. Not everyone was made to be a healer or a paladin.

Sorach was ripped out of his thoughts and revision by Chali who had given him a hug. She had liked the gift. He was thankful. During their last visit to the neighboring town to observe the healings of the elders he had picked up a coin. Being a member of the light, he was not allowed to trade with coins or acquire his own coins. But the picking up of this coin was an act chance and was therefore given by the light, and owning it was not looked down upon. He had shown the deacon and the deacon had given him back his coin. The deacon had said that he should use it when needed and that it should serve as a keepsake representing the duality. At the time Chali had spent a lot of time searching for a similar fallen coin so she too could have one. But a fallen coin made from Gold was not something easily found. So, when it was her day of remembrance, he took the opportunity to give her the coin instead.

Poor Sorach was also not aware that this was also another tradition.