Attaining the Mark
Joshua Dyer
Published by Joshua Dyer
Copyright 2012
Joshua Dyer
The first rays of the Suul forced their way through the dense deciduous and evergreen vegetation crowning the hilltops to the north. The warmth of daylight surrounded Layol as he walked beside his Kanja through the fields of swaying grass.
“Master Bennegraf?” the boy asked.
“What is it, my apprentice?”
“I’m not feeling so well, my Kanja.”
“Go on,” the tall slender master of the art of Kanji said.
“My belly. It feels like it’s doing flips.”
“Ahhh!” Bennegraf said adjusting the small pouch at his side. “More than likely, those are your nerves, my boy.”
Layol brushed the bangs of his mahogany mane back over his ears – his hand unsteady.
“I just don’t know that I’m ready for this, Kanja,” Layol said.
Bennegraf placed one of his dark slender hands on the boy’s shoulder and drew him closer.
“You will do fine! You have studied and learned all that I can teach you on this level of mastery,” his Kanja said. “You can manipulate both Fire and Wind Symbiotics. You’ve memorized and mastered all the kicks, throws, and blocks of the Shanrka. I’d hate to be your competition in this test!”
Layol turned his gaze to the endless sea of green blades adorned with the morning dew.
“What if I am tested on knowledge, Kanja?”
“Generally, even at this level of the art they don’t test you in that manner, but if it makes you more at ease then try this. Explain the Symbiotic Theory to me, apprentice,” Bennegraf said.
The adolescent boy bit his lower lip hoping that a bit of pain would help conjure up the correct answer.
“The Symbiotic Theory of Kanji states that…”
Layol raised his sights to the looming thin cylindrical tower in the distance.
“I’m listening, boy,” his master said with a grin.
Layol felt his knees buckle; he thought his legs were going to topple him any moment.
What if I give him the wrong answer? What if I did the same in my test? Similar doubtful questions were starting to percolate in the boy’s conscious. Layol’s mind drew a blank as he fidgeted with a few strands of hair. Then it hit him.
“The Symbiotic Theory of Kanji states that the energy required to manipulate a given elemental must be equal to the energy released by that manipulation.”
“Or?” Bennegraf rolled an open hand in the brisk spring air.
“Or the physical and energy foundations of that particular area will dissolve,” Layol said holding his breath in the hopes that he was right.
“Correct!” his master shouted. “Well done, Layol. You are as prepared as you will ever be for this test.”
Layol let out a long sigh of relief and his face lit up with confidence. This would be one of the defining moments in his young career as a student in Kanji. Not to mention open possible avenues into a political seat in the Order of Tallam.
If I can continue to prove my skill and worth to the elders, the boy thought, and then maybe I stand a chance of being inducted into the Order and granted permission to study the higher forms of Kanji.
Layol continued to loll over his future possibilities as he and Bennegraf strode ever closer to Tallam’s Tower. The magnificent structure threatened to scrape the low drifting clouds on this particular morning. The tower itself had been hewn from the very mountain that surrounded it. From a distance, an unsuspecting traveler wouldn’t even know that the structure existed. As Layol drew nearer to the tower, small holes emerged on the surface of the building. Maybe they were windows to the studies of the elders or perhaps to the virology labs where they devised remedies and cures for the afflicted.
The boy’s overactive imagination ran wild on this tangent which was for the better anyway. At least it took his mind off the great task ahead of him. The large life-giving sphere of flame had climbed up to crest the hilltops. Layol and his master now stood in front of a massive set of stone double doors. Bennegraf approached the dark entrance, and waited in silence. Not long after, the bust of a cat-like creature materialized in the center of the left door. The mouth of the chegna creaked open and greeted the mage.
“Who comes forth to enter the Tower?” the chenga bellowed.
“It is I, Bennegraf,” the old mage said, “and my apprentice, Layol!”
“What business have you here?”
“I have brought my young pupil here for his sparring test.”
The bust of the chenga fell silent and motionless for what felt like an eternity to Layol.
Then its mouth opened once more only this time, it didn’t speak. A small thin blue screen pushed its way forward in the chenga’s widening jaws. The nearly transparent screen stopped behind the cat’s long incisors with a bleep. Bennegraf approached the screen and pressed a number of symbols and figures in rapid succession. The screen receded and the chenga’s mouth fell shut again. Large echoing booms radiated from the other side of the doors as they swung inward before the boy and his Kanja. The day’s warm rays bathed the plush red carpet at the foot of the long hallway in their radiance.
“Ah, Bennegraf!” a petite young red-haired woman shouted from a set of doors to Layol and Bennegraf’s left.
“Selan! My dear, how have you been?” the old mage asked.
“Quite well. And who is this?” she asked. Her blue stare focused on Layol. The apprentice sensed a flirtatious undertone in the question.
“This,” Bennegraf said patting Layol on the back, “is my young apprentice, Layol. We have come here for his sparring test.”
“Oh,” she said leering at the boy. “Have you now? For which mastery level are you here?”
Selan took the boy by his left wrist and turned his arm over. She studied the parade of tattoos that ended just above the boy’s wrist with the archaic symbol for the fifth level of mastery: one large four-pointed star with a smaller version fixed up and to the right.
“The Sixth, eh?” she asked. “Most impressive for a pupil of your age!”
“Thank you, Madame Kanja,” Layol said in a revered tone.
“You are quite welcome,” Selan replied in a seductive tone. “Well,” she said snapping back into reality, “allow me to take you the Grand Kanja’s quarters. I’m sure he’s expecting you.”
“We would be honored,” Bennegraf said bowing before his senior colleague.
“This way, then,” Selan said turning toward the belly of the mountain.
She led them down to the end of the long corridor that smelled of decades’ worth of study and hard work. The cool and inviting air enveloped the tandem as they made their way deeper into the tower. Selan halted at a small round door constructed of a fine polished wood. Nothing fancy, by any means, but it still managed an air of dignity and wisdom.
“Here we are, gentleman,” she said. “Grand Master Ardymon’s quarters. Best of luck to you in your test, Layol.” With that, Selan swaggered back down the hallway adorned with large tapestries of former Kanji masters on either wall.
Bennegraf rapped on the polished surface of the small door.
“Who goes?” a voice inquired from the other side.
“It is I, Bennegraf and my apprentice Layol,” the mage said. “We are here for his mastery test.”
“Bennegraf! Come in, come in!” the voice was more upbeat.
The small door swung open and Layol followed his master into the small chamber. The rumors of the Grand Master of the art being an intimidating presence did Ardymon little justice. He kept his long flaxen hair tied back behind his head. The Gr
and Master peered into the very soul of the boy with his weathered gray eyes. Layol had no idea what kept him conscious at that moment. He thought for sure that his world had gone dark.
“Young Layol,” Ardymon said looking down his nose. “An impressive career you have had indeed thus far!”
“Thank you, Grand Kanja,” Layol said forgetting to breathe.
“Your opposition for this test is a fierce competitor, boy. I will give you the same explanation of the test that I gave to him,” the muscular man said. “You will each be given a small tree to serve as your only, and I emphasize only, source of energy for Elemental Symbiotics during this test. Once the tree has died, your use of Symbiotics will cease and you’ll have to rely on hand-to-hand combat skill and weapons alone. So, manipulate your elementals wisely, apprentice. As always, the first person to knock their opponent down three times first wins and graduates to the next level. Should you fail this test, you can come back to re-test in one month’s time. Do you understand these regulations as I have explained them to you?”
Layol nodded his head.
“I understand, Grand