::Chapter Six::
Oh, he's so cute! Nanami stroked the back of the emerald green ball of fur in her lap, and it turned it's feline eyes up to regard her with frank curiosity.
I'm glad you like him, Londs replied cheerfully, for from this day forward he is yours to keep as a gift from the Royal House.
Nanami froze. The cat had turned his chin up so that she could get -that spot- right below his jaw, but she wasn't scratching him anymore.
Whaa, ah, why, I mean, are you serious?
Londs nodded, still smiling. Lyn is the first of a new breed, the very latest advance in new armor production techniques. This was the least we could do to thank you, for giving up your own life to protect the Royal Family.
Nanami's jaw came unhinged. She looked back down at the cat, who now appeared to be grinning broadly. He stood up, stretched out lazily, then with a familiar leapt up and wrapped himself around Nanami. But instead of simply protecting her upper body, as the rest of the cats did, his tail extended up the back of her neck and formed a protective cap that continued to the front of her head at the hairline, which made her hair stick out in odd tufts on the sides.
she said again, utterly surprised by the feeling of having a large feline contract itself around her torso. When the shock had worn off, she began to twist around and examine herself. she marveled, this is amazing! I mean, I'd always wanted a pet, but mom could never have one in the house because she was so allergic to everything that if you even got her near one she'd puff up like a great big puffer fish and it would take her days to...
Princess Rune interrupted politely, giving her a very reproving look.
Oh, right, Nanami said, slightly embarrassed. She did her best to tuck her errant hair up underneath her helmet,' then smiled wide and said, Thank you guys so much!
Londs cleared his throat. Well, now that that's been done, there is another occasion which we feel you might wish to attend. If you'll follow me?
He turned around and walked out the door to the conference chamber they were in, and Nanami's head was full of questions as she and the princesses followed. They walked down the winding steps in the center of the Royal Palace, and out to a courtyard where a small transport was waiting to take them away. They boarded silently, and even though it was the middle of the day -and despite the fact that they were accompanied at all times by the requisite guard contingent- Nanami felt like they were sneaking out somewhere in the middle of the night. It reminded her of the time she and Makoto had darted out of school early to have lunch in the park, which is why it surprised her when they turned down the main boulevard and sped up to the open, yet still strangely imposing gates of the Royal Academy's Main Hall.
The Hall was the second largest structure in the Kingdom, next to the Royal Palace itself, and although it's towers were nowhere near as tall as the Palaces', the campus was spread out on at least as much ground. All of the buildings were made of the same bleached white stone, and even though their surfaces were polished and kept up regularly they exuded a sense of ancient wisdom that was palpable from the streets.
The gatekeeper saluted smartly almost as soon as they approached, which Nanami noticed and understood to mean that this was a pre-planned visit, no matter how secretive Londs seemed to be acting. They swept over the long, paved approach to the Hall and came to a stop only as they reached the gigantic white marble steps that led up to the entrance. Finally, Nanami could no longer restrain her curiosity.
Hey Princess Rune, just what are we doing here? she asked in a conspiratorial tone, as they stepped off the transport.
The princess simply looked at her, then smiled and turned to ascend the staircase, her robes flowing about her feet like uncertain ghosts. Londs and Fatora followed wordlessly, and Nanami watched them go ahead of her, before walking up herself.
****
Dr. Stalubaugh was waiting to greet them inside the entrance. He nodded to Londs, then said Your majesties, Miss Nanami, thank you for coming today. The ceremony will take place in our VIP reception area, which I have cleared for our use.
Nanami raised her hand in front of her to speak, but before she'd gotten more than an out, the party was walking down the center of the Main Hall, and again Nanami noticed that everyone else but her seemed to be taking this in stride. All of the academics, teachers, students, and sages that lined the hall bowed as the princesses walked past, but while they were quite obviously awed by the presence of royalty, Nanami could only stare open-mouthed at the immensity of the hall. The structure was tiered like an oval shaped colosseum, with each containing nothing but tables, chairs, and endless shelves of books and scrolls. There were at least thirty floors like this, maybe more, and each one was open to the tremendous domed ceiling that filled the hall with brilliant sunlight.
They walked down the center of the first floor that was as long as a football field, and through another set of doors into another grand hallway. Dr. Stalubaugh led them through a maze of halls and corridors, and eventually came to a small enclosed patio on the edge of a grassy field. There were a few other people milling about there, including Mr. and Mrs. Fujisawa, Shayla, Qawoor, and Alielle, who glomped on princess Fatora the second she walked in, but Nanami noticed immediately who was standing in the middle of it all.
she yelled over the quite conversations that were going on, and marched up to him, what in the world's going on here? How come you didn't tell me about this, I've been worried sick! It's like there's some big conspiracy or something!
Makoto smiled and put his hand on her arm to calm her. Relax, Nanami, I wanted to surprise you, that's all. I'm glad you could come on such short notice.
Nanami just scowled. You still haven't told me what's going on.
Oh, well, since Mr. Fujisawa's ceremony was such a big event, I really thought that it would be best to keep this one a little more private, so it didn't seem like I was trying to show him up or anything. Besides, Dr. Stalubaugh said that traditionally there isn't even a ceremony at all.
Nanami asked pointedly.
Makoto replied sheepishly, they're giving me a formal position in the Academy for all the work I've done on the Eye of God, and the flyers. It's no big deal really.
Nanami was nearly apoplectic, and she grabbed his collar. NO BIG DEAL!? What in the world made you think that, Makoto? This is wonderful news, and you did your level best to keep it from me! OH!, there are times when that bookworm brain of yours makes me so angry I could...
Excuse me, my dear, at that point Dr. Stalubaugh walked up to them and interrupted Nanami, but we're ready to begin. If you would please take your places.
Nanami took a deep breath, shut her eyes, then looked at Makoto again, and her grin was broad as she said, You'll pay dearly for this someday, Makoto Mizuhara.
He chuckled in response, then they hugged each other briefly and turned to take their place in the small crowd. Nanami folded her legs and sat on a cushion in between Qawoor, who was beaming annoyingly and staring with undisguised affection at Makoto, and Mr. Fujisawa, who was also beaming but with undisguised pride. He seemed to have a lump in his throat that he couldn't quite swallow, and so Nanami decided she would save the small talk for later.
The buzz of conversation died down as Dr. Stalubaugh made his way to the front of the patio, and cleared his throat loudly. I believe, he began, that this is the largest group of people ever to witness the swearing in of a Fellow. But given the extraordinary events surrounding the poor lad, and his time here in El Hazard, I felt that every one of you should be present for this.
Makoto, who was standing next to him, was clearly very embarrassed by the attention. The doctor turned around and gathered up from behind him a large white robe, which had been folded upon a pedestal, and he cleared his throat again before he continued.
Makoto Mizuhara, let it be known in all the lands of El Hazard that from this day forth, by the powers entrusted to me by the Royal House of Venus, sovereign ruler of the Kingdom of Roshtaria, you are hereby granted a full Fellowship in the Academic Order of Roshtaria, with all the rights and privileges of your new station!
The applause began, but Dr. Stalubaugh quickly interrupted it. And also, by the order of the Royal Family, in thanks for your tireless efforts to save this Kingdom from certain doom, you are hereby granted the honorary position of Second Scholar in the Royal Academy, and Advisor to the Royal Court, in light of my retirement from the position, effective this very day.
Silence. Then, Makoto began to speak, hesitantly. But, Dr. Stalubaugh, I've hardly, I mean...
The doctor turned his wistful gaze on Makoto, and his voice was husky as he spoke. My boy, you've done more to aid the royal family than anyone, even I could ever hope to equal. I will remain Dean of the Royal Academy, of course, but I am no longer as young as I used to be. Heh heh! I could think of no finer young man to replace me, but I must also confess that it was not entirely my idea.
Makoto's curiosity was evident on his face, and the doctor continued, Princess Fatora was the first to recommend you for the position, as I recall.
The crowd turned in unison to stare at the princess, who instead of blushing became very annoyed indeed. Well, it's not like I know that many brainiacs, she posited, and he's certainly done more than anyone I can remember to deserve the position. Dr. Stalubaugh is needed elsewhere, and as a Princess it's part of my royal privilege to appoint his replacement.
If it was enough of an explanation for her, the rest of the crowd was clearly still confused. An awkward silence persisted until Makoto took off his overshirt, set it aside, and unfolded the clean white robe he'd been handed. He pulled it over each arm and fastened the clasps that were hidden behind a small stripe of light purple fabric that ran the length of the robe down the front and around the collar, and when he turned back around the crowd began to applaud again with renewed enthusiasm.
As with Mr. Fujisawa's induction, it seemed to take forever to accept the congratulations of a dozen men he didn't know, but would soon be working with side by side. Then Mr. Fujisawa came up to him and nearly wept with pride.
Oh, Makoto, he said in that painfully gruff voice of his, I'm so proud of you. You have honored the name of Shinonome throughout the universe! To think that you used to be my student, and here you are now, Advisor to the Royal Court, I guess, you don't really need a sensei anymore.
Mr. Fujisawa began to weep noisily and gripped Makoto's shoulders with such fervor that he nearly suffocated. That's nonsense! You'll always be my sensei, Mr. Fujisawa. Hey, maybe we'll even get to work together sometime!
Mr. Fujisawa stopped abruptly, stood tall, and cleared the lump from his throat. It would be an honor, he said severely, and they bowed in that ancient gesture of mutual respect that had been so essential to their culture back home.
Qawoor startled no one when she nearly tackled Makoto, putting her arms around him and squeezing, causing his face to turn an even deeper shade of red. Congratulations, Makoto! she gushed. She'd long since agreed to drop the master', but still never passed up an opportunity to show her affection.
Shayla tugged on Qawoor's shirtsleeves. Hey Qawoor, where the heck is Afura?
Qawoor turned around. I thought you would know where she was. I haven't heard from her since she left for the Temple Home two days ago.
Shayla shook her head. She hasn't talked to me since then either. But I can't imagine that she'd pass something like this up on purpose.
Alielle piped up from behind them all, AHEM. I think there's someone else who's missing here, too.
Everyone stared at her in unison.
Alielle became impatient.
****
John was in fact still at the Temple Home, although he hadn't seen Afura since the incident in the courtyard two days ago. He had decided to spend some semiserious time studying the lore, myth, legend, scripture, and tales surrounding the Seminary, enticed somewhat by the fact that no man had been allowed read it since the ancient times before the Holy Wars.
So he passed his time, alone but for the regular visits of the acolytes assigned to watch over him, until that same afternoon, when something in one of the tomes he was perusing caused him to sit bolt upright in bed and stop breathing for an unhealthy length of time.
He peered as deeply as he could into the page in front of him, then turned to examine his lamp in fine detail. His head whipped between the two as he fought to reconcile what his brain was telling him he had wrapped around his wrist with what he had just read.
After a minute he regained his breath, and his senses, and shut the book gently and laid it down on the small table next to his bed. He strode out the door, passed by the acolyte that had been on her way to check on him without so much as glancing her way, and his pace was just barely shy of jogging as he threaded his way through the now-familiar corridors to the Hall of Scripture.
****
You didn't tell me that I'm wearing the damned Sage Stone! No wonder I can hardly control the thing!
Mother Moram fixed John with a piercing gaze. Watch your tongue, boy. The words came out flat and cold, and the authority behind them was unmistakable. John froze, but the defiant light in his eyes refused to leave.
Moram continued, This is a holy shrine to the great past of our order. You will enter with reverence and remain here by my whim. Do you understand?
She waited patiently, and after a few breaths John nodded quickly. Moram seemed to relax into her chair a bit more, and said, Now, tell me what you have learned.
That you, John began hotly, but forced a measured calm into his voice, that the lamp you gave me was fashioned from the Sage Stone itself, the personal lamp of Wren.
Moram smiled. Teaching had always been one of her favorite job, and she spoke slowly, with obvious pleasure at being indirectly asked to recount the tale. Yes, but do you know the legend behind it, and why it came to be so powerful?
John shook his head. I only got through the first paragraph, and the illustration that showed what it looked like.
What you wear is indeed the lamp held by Karali Wren, who before his death was the most powerful Elemental Priest the ancient world had ever known. The legend says that while he was away on an adventure, his homeland was attacked by an evil mage. His home was devastated, but the mage was driven back by the other sages of his order. Before they could kill him, however, he escaped across the oceans to an island shrouded in eternal mist, and six of their strongest holy warriors were sent after him.
Her voice held such a hypnotic quality that John failed to notice that she had surrounded them in the same gray fog that she had used to show him his last vision of the Holy Wars. But it was abbreviated; the images swirled around him like a hurricane of memories, just briefly showing him what had occurred, flashing by like a documentary, and Moram pressed on.
When the Six arrived on the mages' island, they found it full of terrible beasts that he had conjured to fight them off. They fought bravely, but there were too many beasts, and they were defeated. The Priest Karali had arrived in his home too late to join them, but he was told of where they went, and so with his traveling companions set out to aide his brethren in seeking vengeance.
They found the island, and Karali jumped off their airship when he saw the Six and ran to join them. But he found them all near death, and despite his great ability to heal he could not save them. The Six agreed to give up their powers to Karali, at the cost of their own lives, so that he might press on and kill the evil mage. When he accepted them, his spirit was suffused with a holy energy more powerful than anything the world had ever seen. With his companions as his aides he swept the island clean of the monsters, before he came to the evil mage himself.
The battle was terrible, but Karali struck the telling blow. By then the powers contained within his body had become too great to control. They consumed him entirely, and before he crossed over into Heaven he left behind two things; a staff of immense elemental power, which has sadly been lost to time, and his lamp, the jewel from which now rests with you.
Moram's tale ended, and the images around them faded into mist. John was left to stare in amazement at the bejeweled armband he'd been gifted, and Mother Moram allowed him a few seconds to recover, before continuing.
His companions brought it back to his homeland, and in time it came to be called the Sage Stone. Thousands of years later, when technology ruled and the ancient gods were cast aside, the stone was entrusted to the newly-formed Temple, hidden away in the depths of the forest until the time came for it to be used again for the purposes of good. No Priestess who has tried could use the powers of the Sage Stone, perhaps for the same reason that the men in our time cannot be taught our powers. But this is the gift you have been given.
John said after almost a minute of silence had passed, sure beats working at the copy store. Ha ha. And then, after he was done smiling at his slight joke, You really think it's a good idea, I mean, giving me this thing? What if I like, go over to the Dark Side, or something?
That is another unique property of the Stone, Moram replied, that it cannot be used for evil. It has a soul, you see, a tiny remnant of the soul of Karali, and it can sense the soul of whoever tries to use it. There were a few instances during the Holy Wars when the Stone was stolen, and someone tried to use it to harm others. But they were always disastrous. Since then no one has approached it, and indeed it had not been seen for hundreds of years, before you came.
John said again, geez, uh, I, um... wow.
Many when confronted with more have said less, Moram said sagely.
replied John. He was busy studying his lamp.
Oh, never mind. In two days time I am sending you, Cerin, and the Muldoon Priestesses out to the outer borders of Laidae, where we suspect the Phantom Tribe have hidden a base of sorts. We have lacked until now the means to pierce the illusion that hides that place, and I want Shayla, Afura and Qawoor there with you in case it should turn out to be dangerous.
John looked up at her at last. Um, are you sure that's a good idea, sending Afura and Cerin on the same mission after what happened?
Moram regarded him severely. They have both been punished for that foolishness, and they will both make their peace before they leave. In the mean time, I would urge you to read as much as you can of the legends regarding the Sage Stone. They may be of help to you in understanding your power.
It was clearly intended as a dismissal, and John needed no second warning to leave. He turned and walked out of the Hall of Scriptures without saying another word, as his mind tried furiously to digest everything he'd just been told.
He returned to his bed, began to nibble on the cheeses and fresh bread that had been left for him in his absence, and studied until the light of dawn broke through the trees that surrounded the Temple.