The following day, Huan went to check on his friend. He knew that Shen's death had been a devastating blow to him. She was all he really cared about; it was because of her he had handed back the position of Temple Master over the elder's unfair treatment of her.
He had known Bobo long enough to know that he was almost certainly going to seek vengeance for her brutal murder. The wound which killed her was unmistakably that of a bear claw, and there was only one person who wielded such a weapon. Even if she hadn't been stabbed with the brutal weapon, there was only one person who would have a reason to kill her. Shen had been the cause of Arctos' banishment, and so he was almost certainly the only one who had anything to gain by her death.
Huan arrived at Bobo's chambers to find the old master praying to a small shrine. It was a sketch of Shen trimmed in black ribbon. He was praying over his short sword and so Huan already knew what this meant. He was praying for vengeance.
"Bobo, you know this isn't what Shen would have wanted." He stated, alerting Master Bobo to his presence. The old man looked at him through his reddened eyes, the testament to his sleepless, tear-filled night.
"Vengeance is all I have." He whispered gently. "Her death will not go unpunished."
"Bobo, you have to think about this." He implored him. "I loved Shen too, but she isn't the only one who could suffer because of this."
"She's dead Huan!" He reminded the healer.
"Exactly, so there's nothing you can do for her." He stated. "But there are other people in the temple."
"The elders don't want me to defend this temple anymore." He hissed. "They have Mereilax for that."
"You and I both know of Mereilax treachery." Huan reminded him. "Aurelia is gone; I think it is safe to presume she had something to do with what happened to Shen."
"What are you talking about?" Bobo asked him.
"The fight began in the infirmary." He reminded him. "Arctos is not exactly the greatest proponent of stealth. If he had tried to enter the temple grounds he would have been seen. Whoever attacked Shen in the infirmary had to be someone with access to the grounds."
"Then you believe Aurelia did this?" Bobo asked him.
"If she's involved, then it seems likely that Mereilax is too." He continued. "Bobo, we need you here. If they are planning something..."
"Then the elders will get what they deserve." He snarled pushing past his friend on the way out. "Goodbye my friend."
Huan watched him go with tears in his eyes. He had tried and failed to reason with him, but he knew that Shen's murder had blinded him to logic. If they really were planning to betray the temple as he suspected, then Bobo as the only one who saw through their lies was quite possibly their only hope.
Meanwhile in Dai Shi's fortress, Grizzaka sat, meditating as he awaited the inevitable. He knew that sooner or later Master Bobo would come looking for him, it had been part of his plan ever since he'd asked Aurelia to lure her into the jungle. Aurelia meanwhile was busy concentrating her energies on accessing her beast form.
"You are close to realising your true potential Jellica." Dai Shi told her as he entered the room. She pulled her hair in front of her face, trying to hide the scarring left by the collision with the mirror. She still felt an intense anger in her as she remembered the fight with Shen. Not only had Shen fought her, not only had she scarred her perfect face, but the worst part of all was that she rejected her. No one had ever rejected her before. The tangled mass of cuts and stitches stood as a permanent reminder that she was not irresistible as she once believed. Shen had dared to turn her away and in doing so had marked her hideously.
Of course she was becoming marked anyway. Looking down to her master's mark, she saw that it had grown since then, now extending a large way across her chest and up her neck, beginning to creep onto her cheek. She remembered the child's devastating words. She was becoming as hideous on the outside as she was in spirit. She felt the tightness in her chest as she recalled with sick satisfaction helping Grizzaka to murder her. The child had gotten what she deserved; she had been made to pay.
"I will be ready for the ascension my lord." She replied, bowing to him. "I will be ready to take my place at the head of your forces."
"Excellent." He replied. "So everything is falling into place."
"Exactly." She replied. "Carnisoar will do his part when the time comes. Soon, the entire world will worship at our feet."
"We are expecting company." Dai Shi stated. "And I think it is about to arrive."
"Leave that to me." Grizzaka snarled, getting to his feet and beginning to make his way outside. He was preparing to face the Owl master for what he was sure would be the last time.
Outside, hundreds of Rinshi bounded around the main courtyard awaiting the rival of their uninvited guest. Master Bobo did not disappoint. Soaring high above the Jungle in the talons of his owl spirit, he bared down on the seemingly impossible odds with the determination of the insane. On any other day he would never have attempted to tackle such odds, but his grief had relieved him off all logic.
The Owl spirit dropped him to the ground where he rolled back to his feet, slicing down the first couple of warriors with his sword. His powerful owl spirit swooped down, smashing many of them into oblivion.
Bobo ploughed through their ranks, not even noticing their blows as he rained down blow after destructive blow, making his way through their ranks. His owl spirit meanwhile was tackling them from the other side, slashing through them with its talons and its beak, destroying them completely.
The owl spirit returned to him as he found himself in the centre of a circle of the bonding warriors of fear. He must have single-handedly destroyed nearly half of them already. His fury was truly terrifying to behold. Tears stained his face as he prepared for the battle to come.
"Arctos!" He screamed, his voice echoing around the fortress as he yelled. "Come out and fight me you coward!"
"I'm afraid you're too late old man, Arctos is already dead." He heard the voice come from the main building. The Rinshi moved aside to let him through as he advanced on the aging master. "I am Grizzaka."
"The depths to which you will shame your father and your temple know no bounds Ling!" He sneered, referring to him by his true name for the first time since he'd earned his stripes. Grizzaka felt the anger in him building as he referred to the weakling he had once been. "You have forsaken everything pure and good about yourself. Grizzaka, Arctos, I don't care what you're calling yourself now. You will die beneath my blade just the same!"
"We both knew it was always going to end this way old man!" Grizzaka snarled as he drew his claws. "We've known since the first time you dared to stand against me!"
Bobo surged forward with a savage cry, his sword rebounding off Grizzaka's claws in a shower of sparks, before feeling the Bear Master's other set of claws rake across his chest. He staggered and looked up at his foe.
"I now have more power than ever!" He screamed. "You will never defeat me!"
"Then you have learned nothing!" Bobo responded. "You always were more powerful than me Grizzaka, you have been since the day you entered the temple. I have never defeated you with power. I have always defeated you with the three things you will never possess, control, courage and heart!"
"Words old man, words and nothing more!" He sneered.
"Then prove me wrong Grizzaka." He replied. "Face me one-on-one."
Grizzaka waved off the Rinshi, who faded and disappeared into nothing, leaving them alone in the courtyard. Master Bobo tightened his grip on his sword as he prepared to send Grizzaka to his grave.
Meanwhile Dai Shi sent his forced to march on the temple. Hundreds of Rinshi backed up by dozens of his most powerful warriors made their way through the Jungle of Spirits towards the temple. Their numbers caused the very ground to shake as they advanced. The guards on the outer perimeter immediately lit their signal fires as they saw the army approaching.
"We're under attack!" One of them screamed into the courtyard where Mereilax was training the students.
"All guards and Masters immediately gather in the courtyard!" He barked in response. "All students under 16 report immediately to the healers for other duties."
The younger students grumbled and left as they realised that "other duties" meant they'd basically be barricaded into the refectory with the healers to await the all-clear to come out. Huan remained behind just out of sight to see what was happening. If the attack was of the scale to cause this level of panic, then he knew he and the other healers would soon be working overtime to cope.
"You guards remain with me and barricade the council in their chambers for their safety." He continued his instructions. "The rest of you, prepare to march on the invading forces!"
Huan rushed to Mereilax's side, something about this didn't feel right.
"Master Mereilax, surely we should observe their movements first." He suggested. "We must keep the temple secure."
"Leave the leadership of the temple to me healer!" Mereilax snapped. "Go and barricade the students in the refectory as you are meant to."
Huan already knew that this was a bad idea. Without Master Bobo's wise leadership, he was concerned, more so since he knew that Arctos had defected to Dai Shi and would likely be leading the attack, and no one had seen Aurelia since the night Shen died. He watched the assembled forces of the masters and the guards leave as Mereilax lead the remaining dozen guards to the council chambers.
"This just isn't right." He commented to himself. "This isn't right at all."
He followed at a safe distance as Mereilax led the guards to the council chamber.
"Master Rus, the temple is under attack." Mereilax informed the head of the council. "We are here to protect you."
"Dai Shi is attacking the temple?" He shrieked. "What of..."
"The others have already gone to intercept them." He informed them. He turned to the guards, gesturing to two of them.
"You two, come inside with me, we shall be the last of defence." Mereilax ordered them. "The rest of you seal the doors and stand guard."
Huan just observed them. He knew the other healers could take care of the students; he just had a feeling that something wasn't right.
Back at Dai Shi's fortress, Bobo sent Grizzaka flying through a wall with a powerful attack from his owl spirit. He struggled to remain upright as he followed him. Grizzaka was indeed more powerful than he could have imagined. He might not have had the wisdom of Bobo's years, but he had already inflicted significant damage on the old bird. His breathing was ragged, and he could taste his own blood as he hauled himself towards his fallen opponent. He was dying and he knew it, but he didn't care. All that mattered was taking Grizzaka with him before he fell.
"Do you want to know what Shen did before I killed her?" Grizzaka taunted him, looking up at him. His own injuries were severe, and he knew he was close to being defeated. It frustrated him to think that the old buzzard would defeat him in their final meeting, and so wanted him to feel as much pain as possible. "She begged for her life!"
"You're lying Grizzaka!" He snarled, slamming a kick into his face. "That is the one thing she'd never do, because she had more courage in her heart than you've ever had!"
He prepared his sword for the final blow, levelling it at Grizzaka's throat when a bright blue tentacle wrapped itself around him, completely binding him in place. He screamed in pain as he felt a dagger plunging into his back. Jellica stood over him as he slumped to his knees.
"You really are an easily manipulated, sentimental old fool Bobo." She sneered, turning on him. He looked on her new beast form in disgust. "It was so easy to get you to abandon your duties at the temple. All I had to do was hurt your precious little daughter."
"You are not fit to speak of her hag!" He wheezed as his breath left him and his strength failed him. He tried to fight free of her grip, but he was already too drained to do so.
"Well she thought I was fit to do far more than speak of her." She taunted him. "I suppose you should know of the improper advances..."
"I know all about Shen's interests!" He interrupted her. "You cannot hurt me with that. I just pray she saw through your lies and deceit before the end!"
Jellica flinched a little, looking away and covering her face with her hand. Despite not having visible scarring in her new beast form, she still felt the burn in her chest as she recalled her rejection.
"That's it isn't it? She saw through you!" He snarled. "She saw you for what you are and your ego wouldn't allow you to accept the fact."
Jellica turned to face him again. "Shut up!"
"Mereilax is a weak-willed fool! He would have fallen for any pretty face to show him a second thought." He grunted, feeling his strength going. "I knew of your affair all along, I just never paid it any mind. You were always nothing."
Jellica plunged the dagger into his chest in rage, looking deeply into his eyes.
"Well don't worry; you and Shen will not be alone for long. Dai Shi's forces are marching on the temple as we speak." She informed him. "Mereilax has ordered all of the temple's forces forward to meet them. Guess who's defending the elders and the students?"
Bobo's eyes grew wide in horror as he realised at last what Huan had been trying to warn him about. In his pursuit of vengeance, he had left the entire temple in Mereilax's care. Now he was left alone with the students and the elders. Without anyone who knew of his treachery there, they were defenceless.
"Now you get to die knowing that it is you who is responsible for the fall of the Pai Zhuq temple." She hissed, driving the dagger into his chest one last time, piercing his heart. She dropped his corpse to the ground, leaking his lifeblood onto the cold stone as Grizzaka regained his composure. She felt the warm rush of power surging through her as her power increased, sealing her forever in her beast form.
"Come now Jellica." Grizzaka stated. "Our destiny awaits."
Back at the temple, Mereilax paced the room impatiently as he awaited his comrades. The Elders were beginning to get a little restless under his watch.
"Mereilax, calm down." Master Rus ordered him. "I'm sure our forces are doing fine."
He heard a loud crash from outside the door and smiled. He noticed the Elders shifting uneasily in their seats as they heard this.
"What's happening?" One of the guards yelled.
"My destiny!" Mereilax replied as he pulled out a pair of daggers, ramming one into the guard's back. The other guard watched in horror, frozen to the spot by the Master's betrayal. Mereilax swung around, slicing his throat open, spraying blood in a wide arc as he fell to the floor. Master Rus stared at him in horror as blood splattered across his face.
"Mereilax, what is the meaning of this?" He screamed. Mereilax though had already shifted into his beast form, taking on the true form of his hawk spirit.
"Mereilax no longer exists." He sneered, throwing open the doors. They looked on in terror as Jellica and Grizzaka strode in, stepping over the broken corpses of the remaining guards. "My name is Carnisoar."
He pulled the doors closed, barricading them once more.
"The rule of the elders is at an end!" Grizzaka roared. "Now it is the time of the Overlords!"
...................................................................................
Back in Master Phant's cottage, he was reaching the end of his story. Gabby listened intently to the tale as he recounted it.
"In that single night, the entire council of elders was butchered by the Overlords." He continued with the tale. "It was only because of Huan's belief that there was something wrong that the temple survived at all."
"What happened?" Gabby asked him.
"He opened the refectory and let the students and healers out." He told her. "They joined up with the remainder of the temple's forces at the battle site and went into retreat. By the time they could return from hiding, the temple lay in ruins, many of the masters were lost in the battle, and the elders were dead."
"So that's why the temple's in Ocean Bluff and not in the Jungle of Spirits." She surmised.
"Huan and the remaining masters knew they needed a site of greater strategic defence." He continued. "So they built the new temple in the current location, though they continued to use the original temple for the master's trials."
"So what about the council?" She asked. "What did they do about the loss of the elders?"
"They formed a new council out of the most senior masters, though in recognition of his services, Huan was given the title of head of the council." He replied. "They rectified many of the mistakes of the elders. For a start, they made the interactions between the elders and the Masters a more democratic process. Realising that it was Shen's heart that led her astray, and the necessity to bolster their ranks, they overturned the mandate against relationships in the temple. Finally, they made the teaching of this legend essential study for anyone becoming a student of the temple."
"Why?" Gabby asked him.
"If we do not learn of the past, then we are doomed to repeat it." He answered. "Now, how are you feeling?"
"I'm still a little tired." She conceded. "But are you sure about...?"
"Shen was a good and noble woman. The Hummingbird only chooses those of pure heart." Master Phant told her. Gabby called forth the tiny, infant spirit into her hand and looked at it, smiling.
Fin.
