"I could find no record of this having happened before," explained Dievu. "We have no idea what caused the blood to seep from your ears. It may have been a reaction to the forces of the tunnel between the planes."
"I had no trouble with the transition. In my opinion it was whatever was causing those deafening tremors," reasoned Christill.
"Once again, we have never heard of anything like what you described. It may have been a test that Nyrune chose to put you through."
"To what purpose?" asked Christill. "And explain to me why the Goddess herself looked as though she was surprised by those noises."
"Christill," replied Dievu in a voice that he knew all too well. "The ways of the gods are still unknown to us after countless centuries upon this world. Attempting to understand the plan Nyrune has in store for you is a fruitless endeavour. Silphuras Hilke went mad for an entire month after being given a simple riddle by Skiye. It took close to a year for him to completely regain his sanity." Dievu interlocked his fingers in front of him. "What I am trying to explain to you is that even the greatest disciple to walk these lands could not understand the decisions of the guardian gods. How are we to compete?"
"I still find it odd that the greatest minds in Kovi cannot come up with an answer to my questions," muttered Christill.
Dievu frowned and reached over to the small table between them. He poured a fragrant yellow liquid from a crystal vessel and handed Christill the silver cup. Sitting back down on his chair, he gazed across at the young man he had taken under his wing and smiled.
"What is so humorous?" asked Christill, sipping his juice, a mixture of berries made by the Karmanians in Qievulin.
"I see before me a young man, transformed from an uncouth juvenile," replied Dievu, the smile remaining on his face.
"Uncouth!" shot back Christill, trying to hide his own smirk. "I take offence to that. I was quite the composed individual."
Dievu let out a modest laugh. "Indeed."
Christill rested his cup against the arm of his chair and sighed.
"Why so dour?" asked Dievu.
"I miss Feldonian ale," answered Christill. "The first thing I am going to do once I become a disciple is find myself a tall frothing cup of Ardistown lager."
"Some old habits are never sated," said Dievu. "You realize that there will be few chances for you to spend your time in a tavern, mingling with drunkards and sailors. A disciple's life is ever abound with duty. I barely find a moments rest from the tasks set for me by the Elders. Are you sure you can take orders for the rest of your life?"
"You paint a grim picture of a life that you so surely enjoy, Master. There is no need to frighten me away from my choice. I know the full consequences of my actions. Besides...," Christill pointed out with a cheeky grin. "I will not need to take orders my whole life. I just need to ensure that I eventually claim a seat on the Council."
"I expected as much," replied Dievu. "Some things will never change."
"There is nothing wrong with a little ambition. As long as I stay true to Nyrune's teachings."
"Well spoken," replied Dievu. "Let us hope that you do not one day forget those words. The path taken by disciples who disregard the teachings of the gods is not one I would wish upon anyone. They live their lives as hermits, cast out by their kin."
"How come I have never seen any of them?" asked Christill.
"The life of a fallen disciple is rarely long. They are hunted down and...dealt with. The Council of Elders pursue renegades in order to act out sufficient justice for the wrongs that they have committed." Dievu paused for a moment. "Many consider this to be harsh, but it is a necessity. The ability to wield magic provides us with too much power to remain unchecked and uncontrolled. Were we to allow disciples to follow their own edict, they could achieve terrible things."
Then why has Nyrune not enacted her judgement on the Elders? pondered Christill. Dievu's comments had reminded Christill of the goddesses remarks on the teachings of the Elders. Since returning from the Third Plane, Christill had kept his reservations to himself. Now, hours before he would visit Nyrune once more, he finally felt the need to discuss them. If not with Dievu, then who?
"Master, may I speak freely with you?" he asked timidly.
"Of course," replied Dievu quickly.
"During my trial in the Third Plane there was something that Nyrune said to me that I can't forget. I have not shared this with anyone and I ask you to promise that it will not leave this room."
Dievu leant forward in his chair, his face becoming deadly serious. "I will promise this to an extent, Christill. But if what you tell me jeopardises the safety of someone innocent, I may have to speak with others."
"I guess that will have to suffice," said Christill. Taking a deep breath he continued, "I believe that Nyrune has lost faith in the Council of Elders. She asked me not to be corrupted by the teachings of seven privileged. To follow my heart and become pure to her decree."
Dievu's look turned cold and his eyes moved away from Christill. "This is unexpected and ill favoured news. Something that I have never heard a Karmanian speak of."
"How can a Goddess allow her representatives on this world to become corrupt? If she is unhappy with the Council, why does she not remove them from their seat of power? Or replace them with people who are true to her teachings, like you?" asked Christill.
"Do not speak blasphemous words, Christill!" returned Dievu harshly. "The Council of Elders is the supreme seat of power in Karmena and they have never done anything against the best interest of the Karmanian people."
Christill lowered his head. "Sorry, Master. I just don't understand. If Nyrune was displeased she should simply take their power from them."
Dievu raised his hand to his temple, a newfound concern in his features. "Nyrune may not know. Though the gods provide us with their magic, their influence on this world is not as strong as most believe. They are the guardians of our world, but for the most part they simply watch. They cannot read our thoughts, they do not really know what our intentions are. Much like you and I they must use their better judgement. And at times they may be wrong."
"But the Council said that my magic would have been taken from me had I elected to leave the Academy."
"Yes, and they would have asked Nyrune to do so. She would have removed your link to the Third Plane. Essentially cutting you off from accessing her power. I have never known Nyrune herself to take a disciples power from them without the Council's request. The guardian gods specifically place boundaries on the use of their magic to avoid such situations. Were I to try and use my magic to kill another, it would not work. Were I to try to create life, ultimately I would fail. The gods place limits on what their power can be utilised for, but once they have granted that power, they are content to watch over us and simply provide guidance."
"Then it would seem that there is so much potential for deception," reasoned Christill. "If the gods do not take away the powers that they grant, then a disciple could run rampant. Take disciples like Zephra and Novokai."
"Gushkall is an irrational god," replied Dievu, with a slight shake of his head. "He places very few limitations on what his magic can be used for. They say that he revels in observing the disorder such untamed power causes. Remember that each of the four gods is different. Our Feldonian counterparts can use their magic to harm their enemies in need, yet find it much more difficult to heal wounds. And across the sea, Beon grants his few disciples highly limited magic."
"So we are left to suffer the oppression of tyrants on our own."
"The alternative is to have our every step dogged by the gods. Do you truly wish to have your will taken from you? To lead a life prescribed by the divine rather than your own choices?"
"No...that is not what I...," Christill puffed out his breath in frustration. "If Nyrune cannot, or does not wish to step in herself to replace the Council, then why has she not asked another of her disciples to do something? Why did she share this with me?"
"Christill, I hav
e said this to you before. We could sit here for weeks attempting to understand the choices of the gods. We could ask why the gods sat idly by at the dawn of man and watched the first Dargonian murder the children of our ancestors?"
Christill had no response.
They sat in thought until Dievu asked, "Did she say anything else?"
"No," replied Christill. "I found it difficult enough to decipher what she was saying."
Christill watched as Dievu stared into the distance, his thoughts obviously lingering on this disturbing news.
"I am glad that you have chosen to tell me this, Christill."
"Will you go to the Council of Elders?" asked Christill, suddenly worried that he might have jeopardised his chance of becoming a disciple.
Dievu shook his head. "No, I will speak with Mandigal. He is a neutral party and wiser than most. He should be able to make some sense of this." Dievu drew in a deep breath and forced a smile. "But for now, you should get some rest. You have a tremendous task to complete tonight."
From the torturous knots surfacing in his stomach, Christill acknowledged that he knew this.