Tejina Akai: Chapter One
In the market outside of town, the family walked back to their household. The mother turned to Rezo. "You do remember what I told you on the way there."
"Yes, Mommy. I'm not anybody anymore because I can't see."
Kieris didn't want to see her little brother suffer like this. "Mother, you can't just leave him here, alone! He could die with no one to provide for him!"
"Our family honor is at stake, Kieris. Either we are exiled, or we get rid of Rezo. It is your choice."
"Kieris, just leave me here. I don't want you and Mommy to be sad. Maybe I can go back to Mister Talinis and he'll take me in and I can study magics. But maybe not. Who knows? I don't, you don't, and Mommy doesn't either. But this is prob'ly my destiny. Yours is just… somewhere else. I'll miss you both lots, but I'm sure I can get by."
Kieris knelt down by her little brother and hugged him close. "We'll see each other again someday, I promise, Rezo. Whether or not you're right… and I'll still worry about you. If you get to Sir Talinis, just give us a sign somehow. Like a light spell like Father used to do when he'd make the whole sky light up. I'll miss you, little buddy…"
Rezo smiled at her. His sealed eyes stayed dry. He patted her shoulder and left, his tiny red cape billowing in the breeze. "I'll miss you, too Kieris," he called back, "Take care."
Kieris turned to her mother, seething. "Why… how could you do that? Even I can sense he's got great potential! A real mother can never let her children go, no matter what their handicap."
"He couldn't see. I know what's going to become of that child if no one can open his eyes, and it's nothing we want to befall. That Talinis will train him, all right, and very well too. Rezo will gain great respect throughout the land, most likely. Then something terrible will happen after an extremely long lifetime… something not even I can decipher. And it can't be good."
"Maybe our keeping him would have prevented that."
"I doubt it. Come, Kieris, we have to go home now. Forget about Rezo, just like I have. You've no idea how hard that was- seeing my youngest child walk off without even a goodbye."
Rezo continued walking toward Talinis' dwelling. He couldn't remember the way there- after all, he'd never seen it, but he was pretty sure. There was a house nearby- he could sense it- maybe he should ask the way there.
He went up to knock on the door. "Yes?" the voice from inside said. It sounded like an old woman- or perhaps middle-aged.
"I need to know the way somewhere. I lost my way."
She opened the door. "Oh! You poor dear! All alone?"
"Yes, ma'am. My family exiled me because I can't see anything."
"Step in. It's getting late- you can stay the night here with Lillian and Fahr and I. Make yourself at home."
"Thank you ma'am. My name is Rezo." He stepped in the house. "Hello."
"Where was it you were going, Rezo?"
"To Mister Talinis's house. He said he'd be glad to tutor someone like me when he tried to get rid of the dark."
"Oh, I see!"
Rezo shivered. "It's dark in here, isn't it? I can tell because it's cold."
"Yes. Our only candle ran out a long time ago."
"I hate the dark. Here, let me make it light for you.
Source of life that shines so bright
Gather in my hand your light."
A brilliant white ball sparkled in his hand. He tossed it in the air with a nod. "It should be light now."
Two children, a boy and a girl, came out of the adjourning room. "It's light, Mommy! It's light!" the girl called. Her long blonde hair sparkled.
"Wow… did the kid with the funny hair do that?" The boy pointed to Rezo.
"My hair looks funny?" Rezo said.
"Yup. It sticks out weird."
"I'm sorry. I can't see it."
"Why don't you open your eyes?" Rezo just stayed very still. "WHY DON'T YOU OPEN YOUR EYES?"
He twitched. "Oh! I'm sorry. I just saw the dragons again."
With the children and Rezo safely asleep, the mother sat in the light Rezo had created and contemplated. What was it her mother had said long ago? Wasn't it something like 'Those who see visions- memories not their own- and who live in darkness shalt not walk down the eastward path'?
Who knows? Oh well…this kid doesn't sound too bad. What could be wrong with him?
The next morning, Rezo was first up. "I didn't want to bother you, ma'am, so I'll just leave now if you tell me which way to go."
"No! You said last night you were 'seeing the dragons again'. What did you mean by that?"
"I'd rather not say, if you don't mind. It's rather irrelevant. I just see… dragons. They're battling. I can't… say… much else. I don't SEE them, just… I know what's happening. Like being able to see without seeing… you know…?"
The mother just stared. This wasn't an ordinary child.
"Can you please show me the way to Mister Talinis' house? Please? I can get the light to last longer… maybe forever once I'm trained. I promise you I will come back, one day… someday."
"It's right this way, child. Right this way, to the east."
Rezo continued walking. It was a long journey- he was very grateful for the provisions the woman had given him. He opened his small satchel- inside was bread and a jug of water. He tore off a small piece of the bread and ate it as he walked.
It was three days until he reached Talinis' tower. It was raining and he was very hungry… the bread and water had been gone the first day. Wet and cold, he knocked on the door shyly. The large brass knocker made a loud clanging noise as the rain kept falling down.
Talinis was up in his study. The last days had not been peaceful- he had been withdrawn and moody due to his first meeting with the boy. What was it with him? Although it was obvious he had superior magical potential, there was also some reason… something… that made Talinis even possibly… fear this young boy. And his dragons, most likely. Dragons seen by a blind child…? It made no sense.
"Master Talinis," a servant called, "There is someone here to see you. He says it is all right if you are busy, he will wait."
Talinis rubbed his head- he had a migraine from too much thinking. "Send him up here. I'm not in the mood to walk down the stairs today."
"Yes, sir," the servant said and headed downstairs.
Less than a minute later, the servant returned to a tired Talinis. "Here is the boy… although what he wants is beyond me."
"Hello Mister Talinis," Rezo said, "You might not remember me, but I was here a few days ago."
"Rezo! Is that you? You're so dirty I hardly recognize you!" Talinis waved away the servant, "You may leave now, John."
John left, leaving Rezo and Talinis alone.
"So," Talinis began, breaking the silence, "I take it your mother's threat was true. You…"
"I have no family, Mister Talinis. Only Kieris wants anything to do with me… and the old lady. But that's beside the point. I came here because I want you to teach me magics."
Talinis was taken aback. The boy had seemed to have grown ten years in four days! Only the use of the word 'magics' kept his innocent air about him. "I see. Well, Rezo, I would be glad to take you in. However… you will have to dress like a mage. These clothes are too old and ragged. Here- I will give you some robes and you can change."
Talinis gave Rezo the clothing and left the room. Rezo felt the robes with his fingertips- they were made of silk. Very fancy for an apprentice, he thought, but he supposed that if this was what Talinis wanted him to wear…
"You can come in now, Mister Talinis," Talinis came in the room, "What color are these?"
Talinis smiled. He'd almost forgotten Rezo was blind. "They are red, Rezo. Crimson. The color of…"
"Kieris always said that red was both hate and love. How is that?"
Talinis shook his head. "Red is many things, child. But now we must learn magic. Sorcery, the art of both clerics and sorcerers. Both evil and good use magic, Rezo, and you must learn to use it for the good of all. That is the importance, more so than being able to use it. Are you ready to learn?"
"Yes, Mister Talinis. But first can we go down to the mural?"
"Of course, Rezo. I will explain everything to you."
To any bystander, it would have been a very touching scene- a young boy and a middle-aged man, standing together by the mural. Talinis slowly traced Rezo's hand over the figures, explaining to him what the mural conveyed, and in it a legend.
"Rezo, this is Ciepheed," he said slowly, "The dragon King. Long ago, at the edges of the world, Ciepheed worked his very hardest to seal an great evil in the earth."
"Who was that, Master Talinis?"
Talinis moved the boy's hand to a much more severe figure. "This is Shabranigdo, Dark Lord of all the mazoku and controller of the negative forces of the earth. Ciepheed and Shabranigdo fought for ten hundred years."
"Didn't they get tired?"
Talinis laughed. "Of course not. They were the most powerful beings on earth. Anyway, they fought for ten hundred years. It appeared Shabranigdo had beaten Ciepheed when Ciepheed launched one final strike- and managed to split Shabranigdo into seven pieces."
"Didn't that hurt?"
"Let me finish, Rezo. It took the last of Ciepheed's strength to defeat Shabranigdo, and he died. However, as I said, Shabranigdo was not defeated completely. Legends say once every thousand years, Shabranigdo is reborn into a man's body. Ciepheed's chosen warriors must fight very hard to defeat him and re-seal him into the earth, or Shabranigdo will end it. Does that make sense?"
"Yes, Master Talinis…" Rezo turned his head to face Talinis, "So the battle will never end until someone truly defeats Shabranigdo?"
"That's right."
"Then I want to be the person who does it. I understand the dragons now, and I have to kill the bad one…"
Talinis shook his head. "None of the Four Wise Men have been able to even think of a way. I doubt you shall ever become powerful enough."
But one look at the boy told Talinis his words were in vain. A grim resolve had gripped Rezo, and there might never be a way to shake it off.
