Their rest lasted a while, but they jolted awake at the dry and cracked roar coming from the bottom. Ari inched toward the edge of his pillar. His head moved downward, and his attention was directed to the excited and saliva-ridden NatureBorn, whose larger-than-life shelled body made life slower. This, however, did not seem to apply its agility, as it stood on its two legs, sitting its butt on the chromatic gravel.
Grinjas’ long beard hung above the ground just a few feet from touching the gravel. Ari looked into the eyes of the Born, noticing one of them was scarred shut. Regardless, Ari could tell it was staring into him under the eyelid.
Grinjas began rumbling and roaring for a few seconds, with Ari nodding his head in each pause of Grinjas' speech.
"You can do that for us Grinjas?" Ari asked, smiling as he swung one arm along the perch of the pillar. After one loop around the perch, he let go, backflipping through the air. As he landed on the ground and rolled on the tough grains of sand, Ari extended his arm to the Born, rubbing his fingers along its white, sticky beard.
Grinjas, who sat way taller than him now, goes back to being on all four legs. The dust cloud from its landing made Ari cough violently.
“Why're you so loud!!” Clementine rose, her tangled hair made Grinjas cower behind Ari in fear.
“Clem! Grinjas said we can ride on his back to wherever we need to go next!” Ari screamed, leaping onto Grinjas' shell, scratching the temple of his head. Grinjas grins and shakes in glee,
“He likes me. See?” Ari finished.
“Grinjas? Did you name him that?” Clementine asked.
Leonardo finally lifted his torso towards the commotion.
“No. That’s his name already…Well? Are you guys going to get on?” Ari asked as he stopped petting Grinjas' head.
Clementine began gathering her backpack and sword as she looked over to Leonardo, who had already begun descending by going down through the appropriate footholds. She cautiously descended her pillar, and she landed on the ground. She glanced over again at Leonardo, who had both hands on his and Ari’s assigned water bottle.
“Something’s off,” Leonardo said.
Clementine was puzzled. She stood still, thinking of how to respond, “Okay... what do you mean?”
Leonardo lifted his eyes toward her. “This climate should by all means kill us. We also fought those Shinobi yesterday, which should have depleted our Essence for days. Yet today, I'm feeling better than we ever have since we started this journey. I thought it was my imagination, but I did notice a change since we left that cave.” He finished.
Clementine moved her arms in a waving-like motion, speeding up as her joints loosened. Her head jerked back when glancing at her fingers, which no longer had a wound or even a scar left behind to show for. “Oh, you’re right. Even my fingers healed too...” Clementine continued,“...But, we also ate a lot of food after the battle. Let's just say the shooting star healed us.” She laughed as she opened up her backpack.
Leo smirks slightly before straightening his face again,
“Actually, Paegon, when he finally became a disciple, that is, preached of the stars being the reason for our powers. But now, I'm not so sure..."Leonardo mentioned, "...I don't mean to pry, but you said ‘I knew it’ right before the battle yesterday. You knew those hooded people were hunters, didn’t you?” Leonardo asked.
Clementine turned away fast while she straightened her back and planted her feet harder, “Yes, but you bonded with the book, that can’t be for nothing, is how I see it.”
“I mean, you're right. But why didn’t you tell us we were not supposed to be here?” he takes one step away from Clementine's backpack.
Clementine turned around, causing Leonardo to flinch slightly as she began speaking,
“I had no idea they would try to kill us on the spot. But now that we have seen the way they treated that book, we can't tell anyone else about it for now…” Clementine said.
Leonardo pushed his glasses in silence, crossing one arm under his armpit.
Clementine sighed after a minute of contemplation, adjusting her scabbard on her belt loop, “Okay, starting now, I won't make decisions on who I fight without Red’s permission. I'm sorry for putting you in that much danger. I don't know what came over me.” Clementine shrugged her shoulders, and her eyebrows finally loosened up. She then dropped her shoulders slowly.
Leonardo took a minute to ponder her words. He finally moved his arm to his side. His eyes briefly locked with Clementine's, and neither remembered to blink after looking away.
“No need to apologize, I would’ve done the same," Leonardo stated as he swiftly turned his head in shame.
Clementine is then distracted to see Grinjas, who was aggressively charging and timbering the 25-foot pillars the Shinobi assassins trained on for decades.
Ari, whose red hair-tip dye is rubbing off his hair, is bellowing with laughter and galloping with Grinjas, using his beard as a handle.
Leonardo looked at Clementine again as they heard the cackling and crashing from afar. , who stared forward at the stumbled pillars, the only advantage the Shinobi had in their domain, turned to rubble by a boy and his creature.
“How does he have so much energy? S-sorry I drifted, the point is, we’re with you, Clem.” Leonardo commented.
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Clementine stepped forward slowly, taking caution of Ari’s behavior. She then quickly glanced over at Leonardo with her side eye. “...Thank you.”
They finally caught up to Ari, who finally mounted off of Grinjas’ shell. He was continuously spinning and fell twice before he could get his shirt back on on the ground.
Leonardo reached his hand out, helping Ari off the ground.
Ari wrapped his arm around Leonardo and lightly jabbed him in the gut with his free hand, making Leonardo jump,
“Leonardo, you’ve gotten stronger. I can tell. We have to go back and fight Garrison again. We’ll tell him all about what happened yesterday, and he’ll never mess with you again.” Ari said, winking at Leonardo, who was gracious at the compliment.
Clementine was already on the back of the Born, whose eyes seemed to be covered by green and white fur, “No! We’re not telling anybody, anything, unless Red or I say it’s okay…now get on.” She said.
The two runaway boys climb on board as well. Much to their surprise, Grinjas' back had enough room for everyone to stretch out their legs.
Clementine whispered into Grinjas’ ear, petting the wedge of the shell using her scabbard, and he ducked his head and rapidly kicked one foot up, making everyone shake.
"Someone's itchy." Clementine chuckled in a high-pitched voice. Grinjas nodded his giant rectangular head.
Grinjas began the trail per Clementine’s directions, and after a few seconds, Ari tapped Clem,
“So… why can’t I tell anyone? When we become Hunters, it won’t matter about our background; Garrison will have to fight us like his real enemy. ” Ari said, punching his hand softly.
Clementine turned around to face Ari, “Is that what this is about? Just some petty rivalry you have with a Clergy?”
“Well, no, but I'd like to show him...,” Ari pouted.
“Do you think that's what Kings do? ” Clementine commented.
“I knew you'd mention me saying that. This has nothing to do with that; he just deserves it!” Ari exclaimed.
“I'm sure you mean that, but we can't tell anyone. It's not that hard, you know, just keep everything that's happened secret for a little bit longer." Clementine said.
“Well, you're asking the wrong person to keep a secret. I've been known to be awful at it.” Ari said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Well, just try, okay?” Clementine responded before raising her eyebrow at Leonardo, who shrugged his shoulders.
“And for the record about last night, I want to be a king, yes. But I don't want to be your boss." Ari slammed his hands to his side.
Clementine turned around, “Well, whose boss would you be? The Holy Trident's? I wouldn't know if the OTF would allow that, though.” She mentioned sincerely.
“I don't care about things like that. I just want my citizens to feel safe to be themselves. Have my land where people and Born live as equals. That’s all.” Ari responded.
Leonardo chimed in, “Wait, so do the Guardians answer to them within the OTF?”
Clementine interjected, “Yes, it's been that way from the beginning. As far as I've heard, no King or Queen has given up their position for longer than I’ve been alive.” She finished.
Ari slid his hands down his legs, “I didn’t know that. I’ll find a way. How long have the Guardians held their spot for?”
“My dad became one a few years after I was born. But I don’t know, honestly. It's also rare for a Guardian give up their spot. But, it would be nice if it changed soon.” Clementine commented.
Grinjas continued to march as everyone took the time to catch up on their sleep. Leonardo, however, bided his time.
Leonardo moved his left arm up, bent his elbows 90 degrees, and opened up his fingers. As his fingers opened, a small Dark spiral appeared in a circle that the fingers projected. Faster than Grinjas’ footsteps, the Black Book forced itself out of the spiral as Leonardo snapped his fingers to catch it. The spiral shut behind the book's exit, as he noticed how long his hair, even though it was parted in the middle, had gotten. He could no longer see accurately, his strands of hair having just gone past his eyes, he moved back to his dark locks to assess the contents of the book. He then crossed his legs as he looked at the blank back page. All that was to see were evenly spaced lines, anticipating to be written in, but the pages looked so fragile and brown.
He remembered what he heard recently, “...so whatever 3 questions you have I will answer to the best of my ability.”
Leonardo immediately glared at Clementine’s bag, as his lips crinkled and his eyebrows sank. “I’m sorry… I won’t take long.” He reached into the bag, grabbing a pencil. Nobody seemed to move as Leonardo looked at the first line. After a moment of shaking his pencil, he wrote his first question before falling asleep:
What is this book?
During their slumber, within the night sky, the stars that were once seen gleaming are no longer visible. The lighting was almost nonexistent, making Grinjas bump into some stones along the cold desert. One bump awakened Ari, who assisted in pioneering this elderly beast. Leonardo and Clem woke up shortly after in the darkness.
Leonardo gasped but relaxed when he saw Clementine. Clem lied back down, still awake as Ari stared forward, showing only his back. Ari heard the rustling behind him, but was still in rhythm with Grinjas’ movement.
“Oh, you woke up…I’ve been thinking about it.” Ari said.
Clementien rubbed her eyes. “You alright?
Ari remained nearly motionless. “The last time I told anybody I wanted to be a King was my older brother.”
“You have a brother too?” Clementine asked, sitting upright.
“Yes, I don’t think about him much anymore. I don't want to. Chi’s the oldest. But he did something unforgivable. He lied to us. And now I don’t know if he’s even dead or not.” Ari answered bluntly.
Everyone's thoughts overshadow the sound of Grinjas’ footsteps.
“I’m…sorry about whatever happened with your brother. I sometimes also wish I knew what happened to my mom, but we have to remember that their choices aren't our fault, or our business.” Clementine said in a sad tone.
“I just don’t want to be like him. I'll have to go back at some point and try to see my sisters to remind them that they still have a brother.” Ari's voice became shaky. He wiped his cheeks as he looked downward.
Clementine and Leonardo press their hand along his back.
Ari sniffled and loosened his grip on Grinjas' beard. “I’m fine, I still don’t want to go back. Not yet, anyway.”
Clementine moved her hand away, “Okay. I really appreciate your help. Please let me know if you change your mind.”
Ari smiled as he gripped the beard of Grinjas, who steers them toward the requested destination. Ari looked at the sky and was surprised at the lack of stars. He looked back, disassociating from the chatter amongst his companions behind him. A few days ago marked 5 years since his brother left. The three go to sleep again, feeling some of the strain of their journey catching up.
Clementine was the first to wake up this time, as she noticed everything was at a still point. She inched closer to Grinjas, asking if he could continue. He shook his head, denying her.
This wokeup Leonardo and Ari, who looked ahead. The three stretched after they all unmounted Grinjas. He took no time to rest his very heavy body, as he retracted himself into his shell.
“Well, great, now where do we go?” Ari asked,
“We're almost there. I should have told you before, we're going to do a lot of climbing soon.” Clementine shrugged her shoulders and advanced.
Ari moves very cautiously and is visibly put off.
Leonardo lagged behind his two peers and once again opened his book. Much to his surprise, when he flipped to the back page, the first answer came.
What is this book?
This is an underwhelming first question. No matter. I will grant you this answer for free. This book was mine, but I gifted it to you. In a time far from the current. You used your Dark Essence to preserve your memories and channeled it by scribing everything they saw in this book. You will begin to realize what I mean soon. This book was preserved for you and by you, so you could follow your fate accurately.
Leonardo took a deep breath, slamming the book shut. By the time he looked back up, he saw Ari and Clementine stop in their tracks.
Covering their entire vision was a wall of rock that stood perfectly upright, blocking their view. The indented stone wall was nearly piercing the clouds with its height. Its width was as wide as the eye can gander.
There was only one way to go. Ari looked up, gulped, and looked at Clementine, who turned around.
“Before you say anything, we have to. I’m sorry. This’s the only way.” She replied, scrunching her lips.
It’s a beautiful morning in the Holy Trident, a young boy is still asleep and unable to witness it. It’s customary within the Holy Trident to pray after the stars appear the night before. The woman next to him did not forget. Sheena Nocard was once a Bishop in the Agriculture Sector of the Holy Trident West. She hoped to become a Prime Clergy, but her plan was altered upon getting married. After which her reputation was slightly tarnished due to the nature of the marriage, however, she remains firm and proud of her status. She gave birth to four children with her ex-husband. Shortly after the birth of their fourth child, she suffered a critical injury which left her permanently in a wheelchair.
On this particular morning, the day before her son Ari and his friend Leonardo disappeared; she found herself next to Ari, who was still sleeping twenty minutes past call time. She notices his hair and can't help but to disturb his sleep.
“What is that in your hair!? Is that Hair dye!? What's going on with you, Han-Ari!?” Sheena asked.
Ari turns slowly and struggles to open his eyes, “No, Mom, it’s my real hair now. The Academy said it’s fine. I’m sorry I didn’t ask you.”
She grabs and yanks his ear, effortlessly from her wheelchair, “Get up, your sisters are waiting for us to pray and eat.” She lets go.
“Right, Mom…right. I’ll be up, please.” Ari said, waving her away. His eyes were essentially sewn shut by the dried tears.
She remains standing,
"Did you stay up again?" Sheena asked.
“Please, Mom.” Ari repeats.
She exits, and as he gets up to look in the largely vertical mirror that is positioned right in front of the bed frame, he examines his newfound hair dye, as his youngest sister, Fia, with her two hair knots tied perfectly on her head, is behind the door. “You like it, Han-Ari? I did the color you wanted.” She asked, her hands behind her back.
He continues to put on his Academy uniform.
“It’s perfect. You're the best sister by far!” Ari said, squeezing his tiny sister tightly. She squeals before laughing with immense joy,
“Thank you! Now hurry before she finds out you’re still up here!” Fia waddles away to the main room. Ari follows shortly behind her, to find everyone seated in their placemats on the floor. The dim lighting makes the food hard to see, but it is of adequate quantity. As they all tie their Holy Trident bands on their arm, they make sure to tighten to so you nearly have no circulation. It's intention is the emphasize how tightly bonded you are to the Holy Trident Triplets.
Sheena glares at Ari, next to her, is his other sister Mixie, Ari pierces his gaze to Mixie. He immediately smirks,
“Good morning…Mixie, come on, are you still upset about last night?” Ari boasted.
Mixie, who has her singular braid down her chest, and forever been on everyone’s lovable side. She has a sharply serious demeanor and stands right up to Ari’s shoulder. As she approaches him, he backs up step by step, but it’s not enough. Before he can take another she extends a punch in his gut that exerts a boom within the household.
Ari falls to his knees, as he begins gasping for air, Mixie balls up her fist and doesn’t bend a knee, instead looking down on Ari.
“Ari, you idiot! Why would I be upset if you got a lucky shot on me while sparring!?" Mixie said, gritting her teeth.
“Okay, okay, okay, whew, let’s calm down. I don’t want to get you all riled up before you do your Bishop test.” Ari gets up slowly, Mixie moves back to her placemat but stops after what is said,
“I mean, you don’t want to mess up in front of Roooollloo--” She closes his mouth with more force than he was prepared for. He cackles under her hand, and she extends her arm for a strike before Sheena decides to regain control,
“ENOUGH!! YOU BOTH SIT DOWN NOW!!” THe matriarch yelped, causing her children to drop all actions.
The Nocard children wipe their hands on their uniforms and sit down before she continues.
“Guys, can you be normal today, just today? It’s been hard for me. I know it’s been for all of you too. But we can’t forget that he said he would come back. I still believe he’s out there, and I want you guys to believe it too…” Fia rubs her knot, as Ari smacks his teeth faintly. “... I don’t want you to turn your back on Chi. We’re going to pray and talk about Chi again as much as you want, you guys go to the academy, and then Jonthru will be coming tonight. He's finally off duty tonight. Sound good?”
Sheena relaxes as Ari stares into the abyss, making her tense up again. “Han-Ari, would you like to lead us?”
“Well, no. Especially if it’s going to be about Chi.” Ari looks at his mom.
“It’s not his fault you know! You once looked up to him the most, why do I have to hear Mixie talking about him all the time but you just shut him out.” Tears begin to swell on her face, as Fia runs to her mother and hugs her arm.
“I’m sorry, I know you deal with things differently, Han-Ari. I’ll lead the prayer.” Sheena added, prompting everyone to gather in their seats again. Ari looks at the table and crosses his lips. They all hold hands with Mixie borderline crushing Ari’s, making him grin. Sheena begins her chant,
“Sanctus, Catalina, and Golian, please accept our request and gratitude for your solitude. We come before you, to ask that you bless Mixie, as she tries to become a Bishop in the Combat Sector. I pray that Ari continues to do phenomenally within the Born-Handling Sector…” Ari winces as Mixie side smirks. Sheena continues, “...I want you to also watch my baby Fia, as she continues her first year. Lastly, I would like you to watch over my leader, my boy, my Chibang. I know he must be doing something beyond himself. Please bring my Chi back when he’s ready, Tridentium.”
“Tridentium.” They all monotonously chant,
"Now help me pack lunch and let's have a good day." Sheena said, the two sisters standing to help.
Ari immediately gets up to assist his mother, then without saying a word to anyone else, makes his way to the cafeteria.
Ari walks past the gate of village homes that look like motels, there is a hub where students are to wait until their instructor comes to collect them. In front of the hub, is complete fog that the eyes have no chance of bypassing. When the instructor gets there, students are expected to run for 3 miles, nonstop, to their classroom; After which, they are taught about the Born’s they have acquired; their biology, botany. The main other subject is the history of the Holy Trident.
When Ari enters the hub, he goes over to his friend, Rolo. They spend much time looking at the same old comics of Sanctus and Holy Trident defeating Evil Borns. Whether the events displayed in the comic strips was fact or fiction would never be taught, any record of that era is forgotten. As they sit there, Rolo pulls out a new book he acquired illegally about Born’s outside of the Nation, he strokes back his long brown hair,
“Ari, check this out, snuck this from Selena. She just had this laying around. I think it's from that Skyborn place near here.” Rolo said
Ari stares at the pictures of it all, so many different races Ari had no idea existed. Rolo scrolled to the Skyborn born category: Griffins, Pegasus, Eagles, Hawks, and the one Unicorn in existence. Each page ncluded many documented paintings and historical facts about the Borns and the habitat in which they came from: The Land Of The Mighty.
Ari's jaw drops “This is out there? I have got to see this for myself..” He snatches the book from Ralo, who hovers over him as he continues to read, hoping he’ll notice.
"You better not tell anybody about this. Actually, why do I even try? You can never keep a secret." Ralo mentioned.
Ari doesn't respond, his attention completely engulfed within the forbidden book.
Leonardo walks up as he notices a picture in the book “That’s a Griffin, registered as a SkyBorn.”
Ari snaps his neck, “It sure is. What's your name?”
“Just call me Leonardo…I thought that book looked neat.” Leonardo said, his shy nature displayed transparently.
Ralo snatches his book back, “It's not from here don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t, I won’t,” Leonardo says as Ari looks at him,
“That’s cool that you know that, eat lunch with Rolo & I!” He smiles.
Leonardo’s instructor, Vauntess, appears behind him, her wavy purple-tinted hair throbbing with her walk, “Leo, it’s time to run honey, no need to dabble with these…children. You can see them at lunch!” she giggles.
Leo frowns as he walks towards Vauntess, Rolo and Ari get chills, “She’s so creepy.”
“Yes, but she’s attractive too? It’s confusing.” Rolo mentions.
“Yeah, exactly.” Ari said, with a confused expression.
As Ari goes about his day, he spends his time taming a Rampant Pig Born who had gotten near the Hub. His instructor, Kieffith, assigned him to it. He had a lot of fun taming Born’s, and he was recognized for it by his peers. By the time lunch arrived, Ari had already been waiting in the Hub alone for 40 minutes. He stares outside of the gates. Right when dips his head thinking of 'what if's', Rolo and Leonardo approach him.
“Hey, I got the new guy, let's go eat.” Rolo said.
Ari and his friends grab their trays, wait the line, and await as they scrounge for the 50 tables that are split into rows of two. In the tables, are the academy students, who are hovering a man clad in Gold and Red, a Clergy. His name is Garrison the 4th, he’s next in line to become a Prime. He returned from a mission and is to report to the students for them to write down notes and use for strategy. He points out Leo as they get closer, and wishes to use him as an example.
“So the Born was built like this kid, right? And you know you’d die if that were the case” He wobbles Leo from behind. He then mimics all motion on Leo
“I took him by the neck using my forearm, pinned him down, and hit him all kinds of ways.” He mimics hitting Leo, Ari walks forward, catching Garrison’s attention,
“What kid? You want next?”
“No. Back off, there are better ways to tell this story.” Ari balls his fist. Garrison grins. The academy students start becoming engaged.
“Kid…you seriously don’t want to throw that punch. I can clobber four eyes, then you, faster than you can call your mama.” Garrison gets off of Leo and looks over to Ari, who doesn’t waste a second to deliver the punch in his gut. Garrison bends over slightly and smiles as he’s crushing Ari’s arm, grasping it just before impact.
“You’re gonna regret this.” Garrionson finished, before punching Ari out of the cafeteria. This rest of this memory was forgotten and snuffed out by Ari's rage that followed afterward.
