Surprisingly, the Heleian Encantos did not hear of the disaster by the forked road a month after it had occurred. A correspondence arrived in Agua Carina's doorway from someone in the Southern Postal House; which is odd, as all correspondences usually arrive from the north, due to the easier landscape. The poor mailperson showed signs of fatigue at the journey and the Encantos tended to him for his safe return back to town.
Both the correspondence and the mailperson confirmed that the main road up north connecting Hele to other nearby cities and towns nearby has been cut-off by a landslide and no efforts were exerted to clear away the debris. The letter from ISoS revealed that they are sending people to help with the clearing operation, but it may take a while before they arrive on the site.
Loire sighed in relief upon knowing that no one had been hurt in the incident. When she informed the Heleian Encantos about this, Rai and Aiden headed north, where they indeed found part of the Naga River blocked with a good amount of fallen trees. Little of the actual dirt and debris from the Canyon are visible from their position, but the mud from that part began to seep in the water.
"If this keeps up, there's a good chance that the grasslands near Hele will flood." Aiden related grimly as he followed the river back down to Hele's location. "Soon."
Rai propelled herself in the air with a hop and in a second, she was hovering in mid-air with a clear view of the damage. The water on the other side of the Naga River, which follows the path leading to the Jigsaw Canyon, is still and calm, unlike the ones blocked by the debris, whose currents continue to run rampant. The path leading to the connecting woods was completely blocked, which earned the Lightning's Mistress a sigh of relief.
As she returned to the ground, she gave Aiden her assessment: "No one is stationed on the other side yet, but it is evident that this will be a great deal of work. We should wait for the people from Solferino to arrive and coordinate a plan."
Looking at the rough waves, Aiden raised a finger. "Or we can drive the rough currents towards the debris and make the river flow once more."
The suggestion was outlandish, but possible. After all, Aiden and Loire are skilled at the control of their elements, though the Water's Son initial deficiency with manipulating his gift worried the Lightning's Mistress.
"Why don't we consult with Agua Carina and the Sequoia Council?" Rai suggested, to which, surprisingly, Aiden agreed.
By the time they proposed it to the Council however, majority of its members voted no, much to Aiden's disappointment.
"Why not? It's plausible. Plus, if we succeed, we will not need assistance from the central post." He argued as he sat across the table from the Sequoia Council.
"We do not wish to reveal this so bluntly, Water's Son," the Elder Vatra began with a clear of his throat. "but reversing the Naga River's currents require a higher level of elemental skill."
"One that you currently do not possess." Loire continued with finality.
Aiden's jaw tightened at the revelation. It was not because of the reality of his skills' status that hurt him, but his helpless state during a time of calamity. He hung his head low before the Council, out of arguments.
The Council was visibly saddened and impressed at the Water's Son proposition and his acceptance of his incapability. They have gotten used to his brash outbursts whenever a predicament arises and this reaction showed that he has grown.
The Council members exchanged knowing glances and stretched their family staffs and glowing palms towards the center of the table. Most of the Council members, save for Rai and the ground Council Sikh, claimed the title as their respective family leaders, hence their possession of their family's golden staff, each bearing the glowing gem of their family's gift: The Elder Vatra wielded the gem of fire for his family of Iqniqs, and Loire possessed the gem of water for the Marises.
All blessed a document before Aiden and Loire approached her son to hand it to him. "The Council is aware of the Duko'o ritual you and Mirano Suri shares."
The statement perplexed Aiden, his face flushing at the thought that they might know all the details of their promise. He kept his head down in embarrassment, and Rai's giggled at the Water's Son's reaction. Hearing her laughs, however, has made Aiden relax.
"Do you wish to fulfill that vow to the best of your ability, Aiden Maris?" Loire asked, catching Aiden's attention once more.
Aiden pursed his lips as he recalled the white crystal he received from Mirano that time. He immediately nodded, much to the Council members' delight.
"Then, we present a task most fitting for you!" Loire dropped the scroll on Aiden's lap. "This document is an invitation for you to begin elemental and academic training in the Eastern Encanto Capital of Valaz. Our blessing will ensure that the Council at Valaz's Magna Picea wholeheartedly accept you as their student."
Aiden blinked in shock, his glistening sea eyes staring down to the scroll with the glowing seal of Hele's Sequoia's Council.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
The Eastern Encanto Capital of Valaz: another renowned landmark in CANDEMARO known for its offers of higher education, particularly in Encanto elemental training and general academic knowledge. Only the most skilled and honorable recommended by their tribes are given the privilege to begin education at Valaz's most prestigious guild: Magna Picea.
Aiden looked up to the Sequoia Council, his smile widening.
"I-I'll prepare immediately then!" He declared, dashing out of the tent, only to return upon realizing that the place of the meeting was also his home.
The frantic enthusiasm elicited a few hearty laughs from the Council and Agua Carina soon adjourned the meeting.
----
"... And he has sent me here to deliver you the news of his departure." Rai finishes her narration to the curtain of roots of the Old Balete Tree.
Up in one of the obscure branches of the Holy Tree sits Mirano Suri, his head up to the leaves of the Old Balete, watching the afternoon sunlight peek past the boughs.
"Looks like he's not throwing a tantrum about leaving, huh?" Mirano finally says with a smile, his head still up in the leaves.
"He looks excited, honestly." Rai chuckles. "It's for the best, I believe." Her voice drops, but still bears the same amusement. "His journey to Valaz following the Naga River south will not be an easy one though, but it is better than have him around and worry about our concerns with ISoS."
Another wave of silence passes. The faint cacophony of the wild animals in the undocumented part of the Rainforest echoes in the distance. Mirano spares the direction a glance, but he immediately looks down to Rai's olive beret. "Doubting your proprietors?" Mirano asks.
Rai nods firmly. "Ever since my employment." She crosses her arms as she meets Mirano's gaze. "It is already odd that they are continuously praised within the walls of Solferino for their discoveries, when much of their expeditions lose the most non-Usor lives."
Mirano holds the stare until Rai paces around, continuing her statement.
"Majority of the sites they have uncovered are now protected, preventing any registered academic from further excavating it; unless with their approvals. With that, followed by the loss of the Digma position in ISoS, there has been a rise in Rogues— Digma academics— who try and disprove much of what was already known to be historical facts."
"Digmas, huh? You mentioned that they are the most audacious among the three tribes. They are living accordingly to that description."
"Encanto and Digma academics share the same suspicion of the Usor Orders, but we are technically powerless over ISoS's verdict in the academic world, given that the heads of each Order are part of ISoS itself." Rai looks up again to Mirano, meeting his bloodshot gaze with worried eyes.
There are a lot of mysterious instances that has occurred since Mirano's emergence. Rai has never considered him as a breakthrough worthy of examination, but a person she truly cares about. Mirano's existence is the most important thing to Rai and having to think that the Usor Orders will eventually discover his existence has made Rai flinch. Reversely, Mirano considers Rai Juni, the Lightning's Mistress, as his most treasured individual; for she has given him a home and an identity when he had nothing. The thought of endangering her and her community has made Mirano tighten his jaw and his hand instinctively reaches out to the Juni Family's blanket that wraps around his neck.
"It will not be long until they clear the northern path and have people explore the undocumented area of the Beda Rainforest. I am unaware of the truth behind the Rainforest's defenses, but I worry that it cannot stand up against a large number of explorers." Rai says.
Mirano hops down next to Rai, looking towards the shadows of the undocumented part of the Beda Rainforest, then turns to Rai, his voice reassuring. "Darkness is preparing... Thanks to your warning. However, I am sure that its precautions will be cruel in the eyes of the Usor academics."
Rai furrows her brows at Mirano's words, to which the Unknown Child simply replies with a small grin. As she stares at Mirano's bloody eyes, a premonition dawns on her, as if equally being suggested by Mirano himself. The idea should have been a clear possibility to Rai already, given her initial worry over ISoS discovering Mirano's existence, yet her mind is also consumed by melancholy at the thought. Rai throws her arms around Mirano. Mirano returns the gesture, embracing Rai tightly and burying his face on her arms.
"Awa'a." He softly whispers and Rai shifts to hug him tighter.
"I wish not to hear you utter your next words, but if it is K'raas' will, I am prepared." Rai softly says.
Mirano is the first to break from the hug. He flashes another small smile to the Lightning's Mistress. "I'll be off to the Jigsaw Canyon in the hopes of uncovering my origins."
In the last of the afternoon dusk, Rai lets out a silent sob in Mirano's arms.
----
Meanwhile, Aiden has finished preparing his belongings in a large blue backpack, patting it with a sigh. "That's going to be all." He happily announces to no one in particular. As he plops on his sleeping bag, Mirano's white crystal falls off of his pockets and he immediately collects it, raising it above his face to observe it under the lamp's flickering flame.
Worried that he might lose the artifact every time he lays to sleep; Aiden ponders on the best way to keep it close to him. An idea comes to him and he shoots up, calling for his mother who is settled by the table on the other side of the tent, mending one of her wool ponchos.
"Is it possible to furnish me a brace of some sort for this," he approaches his mother with the crystal in hand. "I wish to keep Mirano's crystal close to my skin as possible so I may not lose it."
"I have enough black fabric to make you one for your neck." Loire replies as she pulls out the fabric from beneath her sewing basket. She smiles as she tries fitting it around Aiden's neck. "Aren't you going to bid farewell to him?"
Aiden shrugs. "I'm sure he is aware that at some point, we have to go our separate ways." He grins at his mother. "No worries, though. I look forward in sharing the enthusiasm of reunion with him!"
The image of Aiden smiling has flashed memories of Loire's husband in the same expression, making Loire tear up in nostalgia. She covers her initial sadness with a chuckle and busies herself in making the choker for Aiden.
When the next morning's sun greets CANDEMARO, Aiden has left Hele on his journey to be employed as a student in Valaz. That same day, Mirano Suri, the Unknown Child, has begun his trek to the Jigsaw Canyon via the undocumented areas of the Beda Rainforest on foot, the darkness surrounding the wretched woods extending to be his senses. The fulfillment of the promise of the lifetime begins.
---
To be Continued...