Chapter 10: Rules and Rituals
{Saturday, 13th March, 1114}
[Savoda Village]
Nozna stirred on his bed, slowly coming to his senses as the glow of the golden morning light squeezed through the tight cracks in his room's window.
Nozna slowly sat up, before realising that Khamat's robe was still wrapped around him. He decided to take it off.
A wave of dread enveloped the young boy.
The world of Arcans… divine powers…
Nozna, who had still not fully accepted that he was an Arcan, rubbed his eyes.
I…I accepted his offer so easily…
One side of his heart didn't want to become an official Arcan. It was too dangerous, he knew nothing about it. He didn't want the burden. He preferred his peaceful life. Maybe he can still talk to Khamat… and say that yesterday was a mistake.
But the other half was excited, being able to use divine powers, a new spectra even… if he became strong, he would be able to protect his father, during this year's Huntary but also in the years ahead.
But… Can I fight?
Yes, I joined Khamat so that I can fight… fight my fears… protect…
But… where will the future lead me?
Nozna continued to wrestle with his inner turmoil before a familiar noise erupted.
"Oi Nozna, wake up!"
Pushing his feelings aside, Nozna shouted back. "I'm already up da!"
Silence. Nozna smirked before leaving his bed.
I bet he didn't expect such a quick reaction.
Opening the window, gushes of light seeped through the opening, illuminating his room. At that moment, his door snapped open.
"Heh, you're up quite early today." His father retorted, before handing him a bowl full of water.
Accepting the bowl, Nozna smiled. "Thanks da." He was deciding how to turn his 'early' rising into a joke, but then he paused. Something else was weighing heavier on his mind.
"Da… let's say you live your life almost the same every day, every week. But one day, you have the choice to change your life completely, do something new… something that will change your life so much it can never go back to what it was before."
Nozna looked up at his father, his voice got quieter as he spoke. "Da, would you choose to change… or stay living your same life?"
Jack stood still for a few seconds.
His expression remained unchanged, still calm on the surface – but the light in his eyes had slightly dimmed.
Not noticing this, Nozna proceeded to quietly wash his face and mouth, following his usual routine. Spitting the chewed sage and mint leaves out into the bowl and pouring it outside his window, he turned towards his father again, waiting for an answer.
"Heh, you're full of surprises today boy." Jack turned around and walked to the kitchen, Nozna followed. "Here, have some breakfast and get ready for school."
Both of them ate in silence, chewing on the dry bread. Finally, his father decided to speak.
"I can't answer that question."
Before allowing Nozna to respond, he quickly added. "Heh, there's not enough information!" Leaning back on his seat, Jack questioned. "What is the new thing that will change your life? Why can you not go back to your usual life? What good will you reap from taking the life-changing choice? Is it good enough to risk losing your old life?"
Sighing, Jack continued.
"I know you're hiding something from me Nozna, I won't force you to tell me… I won't ask you what choice you've been met with." His father exhaled slowly.
"So I can't answer your question. But what I can tell you as a father is that… decisions are not meant to be easy. Trust your heart. If your heart has two sides, trust your head. If your head can't agree, trust your gut.Trust your body. If all of that has two sides… choose the side that makes you grow."
The side that makes me grow…
"Is the life that you live everyday, every week truly the same? Nothing stays the same forever Nozna. Growing is what makes us strong. This is also why I agreed with elder Lobertman's plan."
Jack met Nozna's eyes.
"Finally, no matter what you choose, you'll never walk alone." His father's voice was low and comforting.
Nozna stood up slowly, the chair creaking loudly behind him. He lingered for a moment before answering in a soft voice.
"I'll get going now… be careful in the woods today da."
He took a few steps, but before fully leaving the kitchen, he paused. Nozna turned towards his father. His mouth melted into a tender but aching smile. A faint shimmer clung to his sapphire blue eyes as they softened.
"I promise… I'll tell you soon."
…
In front of Nozna was a set of double doors. Above, hung a wooden sign that read 'Mawisa Inn' in Santorian. Taking a deep breath, Nozna pushed the doors open.
A wave of warmth greeted Nozna as the faint scent of roasted herbs hung in the air. Inside, the inn was dimly lit by the combination of natural sunlight and the flickering glow of the fire hearth to Nozna's left.
The walls were built from tough but weathered timber. Thick support beams ran across the low ceiling whilst banners and colourful tapestries hung from them. A staircase sat in the corner, leading to a second floor. Surrounding the hearth were a cluster of tables and chairs, currently empty.
On the other end of the room stood a counter made out of dark oak. Behind the counter was a teenage girl slouched on a stool. Her head was resting on her folded arms atop a ledger as her dark chestnut hair was sprawled all over the counter. She seemed to be wearing a brown apron over a simple linen tunic.
Come upstairs, Tomir will show you the way.
The sudden outburst of Khamat's voice in Nozna's head caused him to jump. He had planned to wake up the napping girl to ask for Khamat's whereabouts. But Khamat had reached him first.
Right, he can sense Essence. So he can sense me.
Nozna quietly climbed the stairs, relieved that he didn't have to wake up the young girl. Not because he didn't want to disturb her sleep, but because he didn't want to interact with her. Especially in his current emotional state.
The girl's name was Flora Lindera.
Just like him, Flora was adopted at a young age with no knowledge of who her real parents were.
Wait, why isn't Flora at school?
The Savoda Village held lessons in the Voria Chapel every Saturday for the children to learn. Whilst it was not compulsory to attend, the village elder and head priest both emphasized the importance of education. As a result, most parents forced their kids to attend the Saturday sessions.
Is she skipping school today?
In some sense, she and Nozna were very much alike.
Arriving at the top of the stairs, Nozna was greeted by a handsome figure. His hair was a beautiful shade of navy blue which reached the back of his neck. The hair only partially covered his ears where two thick silver earrings hung. In the front, some parts of his hair reached his dark eyebrows. He looked quite young, perhaps only a bit older than Nozna himself. His alluring ruby eyes stared straight at Nozna.
Nozna was mesmerized.
"Follow me." Tomir offered. He was wearing a long robe tailored to fit his slender frame. Silver embroidery traced along the sleeves amongst a deep blue background. It seemed to be of similar material to Khamat's sage green garment.
Mawisa Inn had two floors, the ground floor resembled a tavern, consisting of a kitchen, tables, chairs and a counter. The top floor had rooms for the guests. The inn currently has 5 rooms, including one for Mawisa and her adopted daughter – Flora. This inn carried a subtle tradition of changing its name through each generation. Back when Mawisa's mother owned the inn, it was called the Celia inn. Now it bore Mawisa's name. Perhaps, one day, it would be called the Flora inn.
Entering Khamat's guest room, the man invited the two to sit on his bed. The bed sat against the far wall, a blanket of coarse wool was sprawled over stacks of straws that sat on top of a crude wooden frame.
Sitting on the chair, Khamat wore the same sage green garment he had worn yesterday.
"Good morning Nozna." Khamat said with a calm smile. He slowly turned towards Nozna.
"Good morning... " Nozna replied, giving a half smile before awkwardly adding, "to the both of you..."
Tomir gave a slight nod.
"There is much to teach you, Nozna." Khamat kept his smile. "But first, have you fully come to terms with joining us?"
"I- I don't know. I–" Nozna stammered.
Suddenly, Tomir stood up and quietly left the room.
"At ease, at ease. I've instructed Tomir to leave."
Nozna took a breath, and then another. His shoulders slumped slightly as he looked down at his knees. His father's words echoed in his mind.
"Choose the side that makes you grow."
"Growing is what makes us strong."
"I've already made my decision, I am going to join." Nozna said. "But… I don't feel comfortable. I just feel like running away from everything, hiding away from danger, from all of it."
His voice wavered. The next words seemed to be caught in his throat.
"I'm scared," he admitted, "and I don't think I can do it."
Khamat was quiet for a long moment, his emerald green eyes remained fixed on Nozna.
"Why do you feel fear? Do you think you're weak?"
"Y- Yes, but even with powers, I don't think I can do it. I just… can't."
"Why do you think you can't do it?
"Because… I am too scared… I want to fight, I want to be able to protect my father, I want to be able to stand up…"
"You're already halfway there Nozna."
Nozna looked up, a bewildered expression appeared on his face.
Khamat continued, his voice was low and measured.
"Perhaps, a portion of your fear may stem from the unknown of the Arcan world, it may stem from your ongoing nightmares, or some other troubles from your current life."
Khamat stood up from his chair and stepped towards Nozna.
"But you admit your own fear, you recognise it."
"Fear is growth, Nozna."
"You feel fear because you feel like you are powerless, but even when you are capable, when you have the power to do something, you still feel fear. Fear of failure."
"But the fear will never go away. Nozna, fear is growth, but it also can be the opposite. Don't let fear control how you live. Let it control how you grow."
"You said you wanted to protect your father. Nozna, you can. I will help you. I will help you control your fear."
Khamat placed his palms on Nozna's shoulders.
"You don't need to believe you're ready, live with the fear, grow with it. When you are struck by fear, focus. Breath in, you can even think about me, maybe think about your father too. But focus on your priorities, what you are doing, why you are doing it. Admit your fears, but also laugh in the face of fear. That is all I have to say."
Nozna clenched his jaws, grim determination etched across his face.
"Thank… you."
"It will take a long time, Nozna, but slowly, you will grow." Khamat said gently.
Releasing his grasp on Nozna's shoulders, Khamat looked away for a moment.
"Nozna, you are special."
Nozna blinked.
Khamat laughed, easing the solemn atmosphere. "So are you ready to join us? I would appreciate not giving out confidential information to a Roamer."
Nozna didn't answer right away. His father's words from earlier suddenly appeared in his mind.
"Decisions are not meant to be easy…"
"Trust your heart… choose the side that makes you grow."
"No matter what you choose, you'll never walk alone."
Nozna straightened his posture. His voice was quiet but clear.
"Yes, I am certain."
"Alright, allow yourself to relax." Khamat's voice was gentle. "We can start after a short rest."
With that, Khamat turned and walked towards the door of the room. His sage green robe swayed softly with each step. The wooden door let out a low creak as it opened, then shut behind Khamat with a heavy thud.
The muffled sound of his footsteps outside the room echoed rhythmically. Then it grew fainter, until silence returned to the room.
Nozna remained seated on the edge of the bed, motionless.
His two hands rested on his knees, his fingers repeatedly squeezing them in a restless rhythm.
The still air pressed down on him, thick and heavy, as if trying to suffocate Nozna. He stared at the wooden floor as his thoughts spun like a raging tempest.
Anxiety. Fear. Uncertainty.
Hope.
Khamat's voice echoed in his head.
"Don't let fear control how you live. Let it control how you grow."
Nozna closed his eyes, repeating Khamat's words in his head over and over again.
His breathing, previously erratic and shallow, slowly began to steady.
Twenty minutes passed.
The door swung open again with a creak.
Khamat stepped inside, the golden embroidery on his robes caught the morning light as he moved.
The thin scar running down his left cheek was stark against his smooth skin as his emerald green eyes settled on Nozna with a quiet intensity.
Nozna gave Khamat a quick nod. He was ready.
Khamat's voice erupted in Nozna's head.
What I am about to tell you must stay only between you and me.
As I told you last night, I suspect you are from an entirely new Spectra. The 21st one. Allow me to explain again. Nozna, your knowledge of ranged-weapons is an ability of the Moon Spectra, however, their Arcan creature is a mutated Tree. Since the Arcan creature you transform into seems to have black fur, we can safely conclude that you are not of the Moon Spectra.
I contacted other members from our organisation to find out more about the creature you turn into when you go 'Berserk'. I will let you know when they respond. Hopefully, we can identify the 21st Spectra this way.
You must also keep the fact that you were an Arcan from a baby a secret.
A new Spectra… A mutated tree… Moon Spectra… Nozna had many questions.
Today, I will teach you how to feel and control your Essence, then you should be able to use your powers. Before that, I need to explain to you a few things.
Khamat switched to his speaking voice.
"I will tell you the rest of the 'rules and rituals'. Nozna, do you remember the third rule?
Nozna contemplated, then answered "Consuming an Arcan creature much stronger than you will lead to berserkness?"
Khamat nodded.
"Exactly. By the end of the 10,000 year war that began in the third era, humans had realised the safest way of gaining strong Arcan powers was to consume a weaker Arcan creature, before slowly consuming stronger ones."
"As a result, they designed what's now known as the '8 Tiers' system to aid future generations. Tier 8, being the weakest, and Tier 1, being the strongest. Anything wielding Arcan powers was roughly assigned a tier. Both humans and creatures. As a normal human, you would consume a Tier 8 Arcan creature to become a Tier 8 Arcan."
"This system served as a guide for the gradual growth of Arcan powers corresponding to their Spectra. One must only advance one Tier at a time. For example, advancing from Tier 8 to Tier 7 is relatively safe, but advancing to Tier 4 from Tier 8 is suicidal."
"By the end of that very same war, humans had also roughly determined which Arcan creatures belonged to which Spectras. Each Spectra has mostly its own unique set of Arcan powers. Our ancestors had observed rapid berserkness when people attempted to mix Spectras. So once you have picked a Spectra at the 8th Tier, you must only advance to the 7th tier of that same Spectra."
"This is the fifth rule. One cannot wield Arcan powers from two different Spectras."
"Talking about the 'rules and rituals'. I've mentioned the 'rules', but what about the 'rituals'?"
"The concept of 'recipes' was also born at around the same time. The first rule, only specific parts of the Arcan Creature are needed for consumption. I imagined it must have been cruel, but countless experiments had determined the different combinations of Arcan creatures from the same Spectra that can actually be consumed together. This allowed our ancestors to mix and match different parts of Arcan creatures, forming a 'recipe'. In a recipe, the amalgamation of each material will fuse together to form an Arcan stone. By consuming the Arcan stone, you will advance to the next Tier."
"There can be many recipes for a tier 8 of one Spectra giving you the freedom to choose your own pathway, however, as you go up the tiers, the variety of recipes plummets. People simply cannot keep sacrificing tier 5s Arcans or higher for the sake of getting another pathway. These Arcans were precious resources."
"How do you tell which recipe is for which Tiers?"
"Different Tiers have their own names. For example, in the Violence Spectra, its Tier 8s are called Leaper, Spy and Butcher, whilst its Tier 7 is Assassin and Tier 6s are Bladesmith and Blood Druid."
"So one can choose to consume the Leaper Recipe, and then consume the Assassin one. But one cannot consume both the Leaper and the Spy recipe?"
Khamat shook his head "No."
"We do not fully understand why, but I think our weak Tier 8 body cannot accommodate all the different abilities available."
"The next tier will usually contain an amalgamation of all, if not most, of the powers available in the Tier before it. For example, a Leaper can jump up to 10 metres, a Spy specialises in Stealth and disguises, a butcher is adept with creature anatomy and knifework. An Assassin can do all three with the additional ability of increased speed and agility."
"Wait, all those names you just mentioned are the different Tiers of Arcans in the Violence Spectra?" Nozna questioned.
"Correct."
"Why is it called Violence? Aren't all Spectras violent in some sort of way?"
Khamat clarified. "Some call it the Violence Spectra because Arcan powers from most of these Tiers revolve around one concept: Violence. Though, the Violence Spectra is more commonly known as the Assassin Spectra."
"The Spectras are given a name that most embodies the Arcan powers that belong to it. There are many names given to one Spectra, it is just your own interpretation."
Nozna nodded.
Interpretation…
"With the recipes, came the rituals. For some specific advancement, there are rituals that either decrease the chances of going berserk, or increase the power one would hold in the next Tier during each advancement."
"It is not something one necessarily has to follow."
"Take some time to digest the theory behind the 'Rules and Rituals'. You can always ask me or Tomir if you forget."
"After I explain Essence to you, we will begin your training."