Chapter 3 The Lore-Master When the two brothers arrived at the hut, Dulguth—their commander—had already laid out a map on the wooden table. He discusses the planned raids on the Wulvbaen's supply huts with the troops. The conversation about the tactics continued until the commander turned his attention to Zar. Dulguth: Zar, after Yuon distracts the guards far away from the storage, your team of three will sneak inside and scavenge for supplies. Take anything of worth, but be quick. He warned. Dulguth: Zar's team will not keep the attention away for long. There might even be more guards patrolling. "Commander Dulguth." One trooper spoke. "What would happen if everything went bad, like fourteen blue moons ago? We've lost one of our own and almost got caught in the last blue moon." Dulguth: Show some amount of faith, soldier. Dulguth replied. Dulguth: There is no reason for us to worry. We have had our losses, but we also have had successes! Dulguth looks down at the map, then back to the troops, keeping his stern, serious gaze. He points out the distinctive spots on the map: the underground tunnel routes. Dulguth: Also, I remind you that there are about three escape routes found nearby your positions, one at the north, another at the east, and the west of this area. He continued. Dulguth: However, I would not recommend using the western escape route since that is where those guards will be after Yuon's distraction. We do not want to risk exposing the tunnels. We will strike tomorrow night. The commander places both of his hands on the table. Giving the same stern gaze to the other wolves gathered in the hut. Dulguth: I do not want one of those Wulvbaens to catch wind of the tunnels that lead to our village, nor lose any of us. I do not want any repeats of the horrid actions a certain ex-member of our clan did. We of this clan are siblings to one another, and siblings aid one another! Are we clear on that? The troops all together said, "Yes, commander Dulguth!" before their commander dismissed them to prepare for the raid. Cedric was about to leave when Dulguth caught his attention. Dulguth: Cedric, a moment of your time, please. The wolf stopped, then turned towards his commander. Cedric: Yes, Dulguth? Dulguth: There are two things that I need to say to you; the first is a discussion that I need to speak with you of importance. Cedric's face showed a puzzled expression on his face, onto where Dulguth was going with his words. Cedric: Um, right? He replies, in a soft tone, not wanting to sound disrespectful to his superior, no matter how much pressure Dulguth puts. Even when the commander stares straight at him—a stare that would make the inside of the hut feel bigger. Any common soldier in the ranks would become intimidated by the thought. Cedric's not like any of the other soldiers he serves with, for he kept his composure the entire time. Cedric: Is there anything you want to say about it, sir? He asked. Dulguth picked up the map from the table and rolled it neatly back up before talking with the wolf. Dulguth: The blue moon will hopefully forbid it, but if one guard somehow gets the best of both of our teams, I want none of them to know that we would have a backup on standby so that we can catch them by surprise. Understand? Cedric just nodded to confirm what he had heard. Dulguth continued talking to him about what his plan was. Dulguth: Good, because you and two more members shall be the backup team, with you as the leader. Your task is for you and your team to remain hidden amongst the tree branches, around the same position. Where your brother and his team be, understand? Cedric: Yes, sir. Cedric said. Dulguth approaches him with the same stern look he would give to his soldiers. The commander raised his arm and placed it on the young wolf's shoulder. Cedric looked to where he put his arm, then looked back up to Dulguth's face, noticing his expression had changed—nothing that looked comforting, exactly. But he could feel the commander's stoic tone when speaking. Dulguth: Listen, I used to serve with your father back when you and your brother were still kids. Right now, Zar is all you have left. Be sure to take care of your own family for your father's sake, okay? Cedric replied to his superior with a confident tone in his voice. Cedric: You have nothing to worry about, sir. I will not do the same thing that Raff did to my dad many moons ago! Dulguth was on his way out of the hut when Cedric asked him. Cedric: Oh and, sir, what was the second thing you wanted to tell me? The commander had nearly forgotten what else to tell the young adult member of the Eeriuff clan. Now that Cedric reminded him about it, Dulguth turned to him and said to him. Dulguth: That is correct. The second thing is that Itscai—the Lore-Master—asks for you. You better see him at the library at once. Cedric: I will do that. Cedric replied and went on his way. The library was not too far from the tent, only a few blocks away from the central village, a walking distance away from the tactics hut. Once, the young warrior entered the domed structure. The crisp smell of old tomes and scrolls hit his nose—the aroma of sweet vanilla—filled the vast air of the assembly of row after rows of tall bookshelves. Walking around, he can see the different murals painted on the walls, displaying certain parts of the clan's history, and showing some greatest amongst their members. One portrait on the wall shows his father, Duran, posing and staring out onto the horizon with the shape of the planet's crescent moon placed on the top-right corner of the portrait. Cedric went over to that part of the wall to look upon and pay his respects to his dad. Reflecting on the various memories, he could recall the time spent with the parent who raised him and his brother after their mother passed on. He remembers what his father used to say to him one time when he was younger, before going on what would be his last scavenge mission. He used to say to him, "Someday, Cedric, there will come a time where you would have to choose between saving yourself or those you value more than anything else. Just be sure to make the right choice." And those last words have stuck to Cedric ever since. "Your father was a good Lykahni, wasn't he, young Cedric?" Said a voice from behind. It was so unexpected that Cedric nearly jumped right off his feet. He whipped around to see Itscai standing right behind him. Cedric: Gah, Lore-Master! Cedric said in surprise. Cedric: Forgive me. I did not hear you coming. The Lore Master apologized for frightening the young Lykahni. Then approached forward to join Cedric in looking at the painting on the wall. Itscai: Your father was among the good ranks indeed. Out of all the missions he has been in, Duran left no member of his pack behind. Not even the injured ones. He had saved my life one time, long before I became the Lore-Master. The Lore-Master looks down at the floor. Itscai: It is a shame that the pride of The Banished One had got the better of him and left your father behind in the clutches of the Wulvbaen clan. His fate is uncertain. Itscai then turns to Cedric. Itscai: But you did not just come here to honor your father, are you? Cedric nodded in his head in response. Cedric: Indeed, you have summoned me. May I ask for what reason, Lore-Master? Itscai said nothing. He just gestured for Cedric to follow him as he walked right past him. He presses his hand on the wall. A doorway slides open from the floors in front of Cedric's feet, revealing a set of stairs leading down into a tunnel. He leads Cedric into the passage to a secret part of the library. Where only certain members, with the rank of Lore-Master or Prime Minister, would know. Cedric was quite astonished at how fortunate he was to enter such a well-hidden place. Even if his uncle were the Prime Minister, he would never think that he could enter this part of the library. When they finally arrived, Cedric looked around the hidden chamber in awe. The room was not as large as the library above, but it had enough room for two or more people to occupy the space. A table stands nearby with a Solatite light stone lying next to the ink bottle. Itscai picked up the stone from a table and placed it in a hole in a wall with the same shape as the Solatite stone. Once he puts it in the socket, the stone emits a faint bright glow that blankets the entire wall, revealing some Egyptian-like paintings that react to when the stone is present. One painting on the wall shows a group of Lykahni gathered in one spot with some crystal-shaped object hovering over them. The one next to it displays one of the clan members looking on the horizon in front of him. He was completely unaware of another member behind him, holding what looked like a dagger in his hand. Some other paintings of events looked familiar to Cedric - as if the drawings showed discrete events of this planet, from the very beginning to the present day. Cedric had never seen these kinds of murals before. Cedric: Lore-Master Itscai, what is all this? He asked. Itscai still said nothing. He just walked over and looked up at the wall paintings—his staff tapping against the hard rock floor with each step he takes—before finally answering Cedric's question. Itscai: The murals you see here tell of the events of what has led to this moment. My research can only assume that our ancestors have used an unknown substance to paint these pictures that react to Solatite. The Lore-Master turns around, facing the young adult-aged Lykahni. Itscai: You have seen the other paintings, yes? The betrayal of one of our own? They seem to have known what would happen. Somehow, they, in their time, have predicted the future. Cedric: The future? Cedric asked, puzzled by the last sentence of what Itscai had just said. Cedric could tell by the look on his face that the Lore-Master was uncertain about how to answer his question. Itscai: I do not know, young Cedric. In all my studies, I, for the first time, do not have an answer. Even the scrolls do not hold any clues to this mystery. All we could do was study what it could tell us. He turns his head to the side, looking back at the paintings. The Lore-Master points his staff to another picture on the wall. Cedric did not notice it until Itscai pointed to it. This picture shows a large gathering of Lykahni gazing towards one of their own, standing over a podium and a diamond-shaped crystal floating overhead. There were symbols shown above the crystal, which translated into Arbiter. Itscai: I am uncertain of what this could mean. I can assume from the painting that an arbiter will appear to unite the clans and bring harmony to our world one day. As our ancestors once were. Cedric: Any idea on who this Arbiter could be? Cedric asked. The Lore-Master shook his head. Cedric asked him another question that felt uncomfortable for the Lore-Master to answer. Cedric: Why are you showing me all this? Itscai just lowered his head down, then slowly turned his back to him without answering. Cedric became concerned when trying to hide his uncertainty from the young warrior. Cedric: Itscai? He quietly calls out to the Lore-Master. Itscai remained quiet before answering Cedric without looking back at him. Itscai: Your soldier brethren are waiting for you. Go, you can't keep them delayed on the task. Cedric still has much to ask the Lore-Master about what he has seen. But he knew Itscai was right; he can't keep the soldiers waiting for him and, besides, his brother on this mission, too. He quickly left the private library to meet up with his team. As soon as Cedric left, Itscai walked over to a cord hidden behind a purple, gold-trimmed curtain. He pulls down on the cord-which reveals two more paintings that Cedric did not see. They were between the pictures of the betrayal event and the Lykahni Arbiter. The first shows two of the same species—in different colors—staring into each other under a full round shape representing a moon. The other was something that made a desolate part of the guilt-ridden Lore-Master let out a sigh. Itscai: I am very sorry that you could not know this part of the mural, Cedric. Itscai whispered to himself in a quiet, apologetic tone. He was feeling remorseful for not revealing much to the nephew of the Prime Minister-the nephew of his friend. But he had his reasons, and Cedric might not comprehend what he knew. Itscai: But if this is in His will. Well, I guess we will let the influence of the almighty decide the fate of our people, huh? I pray and hope that the future will be bright for our people. He said, looking over at a set of robes hanging in an unseen corner of the room. These robes, however, were in a different shade of color than the ones used by the Eeriuff clan.