Nomad: Luke's Journey of Life
Chapter 10: Guardia Four
The group sat down at Lucca's table to eat. Lucca's mom had been gracious enough to prepare a small meal for the 'gallant adventurer who saved me,' as Lucca so eloquently put it.
"So, Luke, tell me about the Nomades life," Crono asked before digging in.
Luke had taken a bite, so he chewed and swallowed before answering. "The Nomades follow a lifestyle we call the Path. It's a way of living on the road, but it's also a set of morals. At the very core, we believe we're meant to help others; that's why we're granted our sense of wanderlust, and why we learn the martial arts branch of the Path. We also believe in living independently; that's why we learn the practical survival skills that are another branch of the Path."
He paused to eat some more and allow Crono to take the information in.
"We always see life as a journey, and staying in one place is only a brief stop on the road. A true follower of the Path finds it hard to stay in one place for more than a few weeks at a time."
"But, my dad and mom got married and spent time together," Crono interrupted.
Luke cleared his throat. "That's the one exception to the wandering rule; if someone is important enough to warrant staying in one place. Even then, I'll bet your dad didn't spend all his time with your mom. It's a tradition to travel the countryside around any one place, just to make sure no problems pop up. And sometimes, Nomades will take more than one wife."
He took a couple of bites and a drink as Crono spluttered in indignation. He set his glass down and continued, "They only marry if that person they marry is very important to them, and they'll stick around to help raise a child UNLESS staying would put the ones they love in danger. That is one reason your father would have left, or, like it or not, he could have been killed. Nomades have been hunted in the past."
"That still doesn't explain the extra wives thing!" Crono growled.
Luke turned a stern gaze on the warrior. "Every Nomades makes it perfectly clear how they live before marrying someone. In fact, we're each supposed to tell a summary of our entire way of life as part of Nomades marriage tradition. It's a part of our vows. Some don't take other wives, anyway. Your father could have been a one-woman man. That is perfectly respectable and even admired, but it's not a rule. Total honesty to the ones you love IS a rule, even when the truth hurts.
And THAT is why I'm telling you the whole truth; for your father's sake, and the family bond that exists between us, no matter how distant we're actually related."
Luke resumed eating as Crono processed that last bit of information.
"So..." Crono asked, "you're telling me this because we're related?"
"I am going to be training you. It's a master-student kinda thing. Plus, I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, it seems. That Gate closed, didn't it?" He directed his last question to Ryoga, who nodded.
"So it's best that you guys know all about my lifestyle, as well as what I'll be teaching you."
"So what's the first lesson?"
"The first lesson is the birthright of every Nomades and the principles connected to that inheritance.
First, there's the Nomades staff. It's not an ordinary staff. It also serves as a spear, fishing rod, and bow. This teaches us to be able to live off the land.
Then there's the shield, which doubles as a firepit. It teaches us to protect and comfort others.
Then, the cloak, which also serves as a tent or hammock. It teaches us to be able to rest in the worst life throws at you.
Then, the knife. It teaches us to cut deep and true, whether it's a problem or an enemy. It's double-edged, a reminder to be honest with ourselves or we too will be cut."
Crono quietly took the information in. Everyone around the table was stunned at the profound simplicity of Luke's lesson. Luke continued eating as his words sank in.
"This is the first lesson, and the core of the Path. Everything else is based around fulfilling these four truths in our own life. Traditionally, this is the only lesson I will teach you today."