by S. K. Ng
“Baby _ it is of it, Cart; just like how Master Santlyn found you ten years ago,” answered one of the elder novices.
“Baby _ so it is an abandoned of it like me, Senior Dencon,” remarked the ten year old novice whose name was Cart Dirrell.
“Baby _ unfortunately it is an abandoned of it like you, Cart,” confirmed Novice Elementhar Rock Dencon.
“Basket _ Rock, pick up of it and bring it inside,” instructed Master Santlyn.
Novice Dencon did as he was instructed. All of the other novices followed him.
Master Santlyn picked up the silver staff and examined it. There were no distinguishing marks on the silver staff except one; an emblem was carved near one end of it. The emblem was in the shape of a shield with an image of a sun in the middle of it. Eight lines of rays were radiating from the image of the sun. Rays of the sun? Just like the rays of the sun that broke through the cloud cover and shone upon the infant basket. Ray? Yes, why not? And what of the surname? What was the name embroidered on the blanket again? It was Iddell, he remembered. And so the infant was named Ray Iddell.
Master Santlyn walked along the main walkway from the gates inward towards the main building of the monune. Lush beautiful gardens lined either both of the walkway. The main building itself was a large, white coloured, rectangular, five storey building supported by a vast number of huge marble columns. It housed lecture rooms, laboratories, offices, a library, an archive and an infirmary, amongst other things. At the balcony of the topmost floor of the main building was a large bonfire. This bonfire had been burning since the formation of the order and was never allowed to be extinguished. It was a symbol of the fire element. And fire was the element that all Fire Elementhars held dearest to their hearts. For as far as they were concerned, fire was the manifestation of heat in its purest form, and without heat to fuel the movement of matter, nothing could exist. There would have been no life, human or otherwise. There would have been no universe.
Behind the main building sat two other buildings which were smaller and simpler in design. One was the living quarters for the members of the order and the other served as the stables, storeroom, mess hall and workshop. Behind these buildings was the fruits and vegetable patch which fed the order. And finally, behind the patch was an empty field that served as a training area for the practical training sessions of Elemental Sorcery.
Master Elementhar Autumn Matten walked into the main building to see what the fuss was all about. Immediately, this female Elementhar, of the age 40 and of Aridyte ancestry, put her maternal instincts to work. She shooed all the novices away and carried the infant Ray Iddell in her arms. Then she sang him a lullaby and he slowly fell asleep. All was quiet. No novice dared make a sound lest they wanted a Heat Burst straight in the buttocks.
Novice Dencon stepped out of the main building to find his master there, still analysing the silver short staff.
“Emblem _ do you recognise of it, master?” he asked.
“Emblem _ no, I do not recognise of it, Rock; do you?” asked Master Santlyn in return.
“Emblem _ I do not recognise of it, master; but if I were to venture a guess, I do not think that it originates from anywhere in Free Falls, or even on this continent, for that matter,” answered Novice Dencon.
“Reason _ what is yours for saying of this?” asked Master Santlyn.
“Reason _ master, mine of this for saying so is because Fallsian families do not use family emblems, and neither do the Serpentians nor do the Aridytes,” answered Novice Dencon.
“Kingdoms _ it could still be from one of these on the continent, though,” said Master Santlyn.
“Kingdoms _ I highly doubt that it came from one of these on the continent, for the person who brought the baby here would have to travel through Serpentia or the Arid Plains; both which are extremely dangerous and therefore, unlikely. Possibility _ there is a slight of this that they sailed along the coast from the northern kingdoms to get here, but why go through all that effort just to dump a baby?” said Novice Dencon.
“Point _ you have a good one of this, Rock! Ocean _ they had probably come to Free Falls by the crossing of it from another continent, and making landfall at Fallsbay. Fugitives _ they are most likely of them, perhaps running away from a war or a natural disaster,” concluded Master Santlyn.
“Agree _ I do of this as well, master, and this being so, would you like me to go and investigate?” offered Novice Dencon.
“Unnecessary _ it is of this, Rock; for people have been leaving babies at our front gates since the time of Pioneer Vanguard herself, and if we investigated every case, we would not have any time left to hunt demons, which is our primary responsibility,” declined Master Santlyn, handing the silver staff to Novice Dencon.
Novice Dencon accepted the silver staff from Master Santlyn and looked at it up close.
“Baby _ of him, I think he is someone important, master; judging by the fine craftsmanship of this emblem,” concluded Novice Dencon.
“Baby _ of him, I agree with you that he is someone important, Rock; but the question is, will it matter to us?” Master Santlyn pointed out.
“No! Matter _ it will not be of this to us, master,” accepted Novice Dencon.
Master Santlyn patted Novice Dencon on the back, smiled at him and nodded his head. Then the both of them went into the main building.
When the infant Ray Iddell finally awoke, he started crying again. All of the novices began to panic, including Novice Dencon who was the most mature and experienced of the lot. They tried all sorts of things to calm him down, but nothing worked. They tried carrying him, making funny faces at him and even sang him a lullaby, but nothing worked! So they did the only logical thing they could do, which was to look for Master Matten. It was only when Master Matten arrived did they know that the baby was hungry and stinky. She fed him with some cow’s milk. The novices witnessed for the first time the process of diaper-changing. Some of the novices ‘ooh-ed’ and some of the novice ‘aah-ed’. But Novice Elementhar Cart Dirrell went ‘Oh, no!’ because he was tasked to deal with the dirty diaper.
Three years later, a man arrived carrying a child in each arm. His name was Coal Dellix. He was a sailor and a former member of the order. He had left a decade earlier after deciding to get married and start a family. But alas, his wife had died due to an unknown illness and he was not able to take care of his children, a pair of identical twin girls. He begged his former mentor, Master Santlyn, to take the girls in and raise them in the monune. He promised to compensate the order for their upkeep and education; and that he would visit them whenever he was back in Free Falls. Master Santlyn took pity on his former student, and more so, on the pair of two-year old girls Coal was carrying. Reluctantly, Master Santlyn agreed, and so the twins of Bloom and Radiance Dellix became sisters to the three-year old Ray Iddell.
When Ray was of the age four, he fell down when he was running around the main building of Monune Ruby. He suffered a serious cut on his right knee. Fortunately, he managed to limp his way to the infirmary, which was Master Matten’s office.
“Done _ what have you of this to yourself, Ray?” asked Master Matten.
“Fell,” answered Ray feebly.
“Run _ you should not do of this so much, Ray; then you would not fall and hurt yourself,” advised Master Matten.
“Understood,” replied Ray.
“Good,” responded Master Matten.
“Mother _ Master Matten, are you mine of her?” asked Ray suddenly.
Ray’s question caught Master Matten by so much of a surprise that she froze momentarily. It took her several heartbeats of time to recompose herself. She was not sure how to answer him. She looked at his young, innocent, eager eyes and her heart just burnt with pain. How could anybody have been so irresponsible so as to abandon their own child? And now more importantly, how was she to answer Ray’s question? But honesty is the best policy, always!
“Mother _ I am not yours of her, but I care for you just as muc
h as she would have. Found _ we had of this of you here one day at the monune, when you were just a baby. Parents _ we do not know who yours of them are, but we have always suspected that you were brought here from across the ocean; so maybe one day you will sail across the ocean and find out,” she explained.
Ray kept quiet. He was a little disappointed. But he had his suspicions. He had noticed that most of the elder children went away from time to time with adults they called ‘parents’. Even the Dellix twins went away with someone they called ‘father’. But Ray himself never went anywhere and never called anyone ‘father’ or ‘mother’. Why this was so, he did not understand until now. So his parents were across the ocean somewhere. But why have they left him here? Why do they not come and take him away just like the parents of the other novices? Do they hate him? What is wrong with him? He did not know, but he swore that he would find out one day!
Ray limped out of the infirmary absent-mindedly. He was walking around without thinking. Then something large and both brownish and greyish appeared in front of him. It was only then that he realised that he had wandered onto the empty field behind the vegetable patch; and that he had stopped in front of a giant boulder. Just out of curiosity, he decided to climb it, despite his injury. When he finally got to the top, he felt his spirits lift. Right before him was a magnificent view of the forest below the monune. A soothing, gentle breeze was blowing, adding richness to the entire experience. So he decided to sit there and relax.
Ray sat atop the boulder for hours, and enjoyed ‘not–thinking’ of anything. He just enjoyed the breeze and the view. Then he heard someone climbing up the boulder. To his surprise, it was Master Santlyn.
“Feeling _ how are you doing of this, Ray?” asked Master Santlyn as he sat down next to Ray.
“Fine _ I am of this, Master Santlyn,” Ray answered.
“Question _ Master Matten told me of yours of this, and I am sorry that we could not give you a better answer, but the truth is the truth, unfortunately,” said Master Santlyn.
“Understand _ I do of this, master; and I have come to terms with it. Suspected _ I have been of this of the truth all along, but I just wanted some confirmation,” explained Ray.
“Brave _ you are of this, Ray; for you seek the truth no matter how bitter and hurtful it may be. Imagine _ I can only do of this of how you must be feeling right now, but I see now that you are a brave boy and that you will be fine,” complimented Master Santlyn.
Ray nodded his head, but kept silent.
“Cut _ by the way, how did you get that of this?” asked Master Santlyn.
“Cut _ I got of this when I was running and I lost my balance and fell down,” answered Ray.
“Careful _ please be more of this, Ray. Mistake _ never make the same of this twice,” advised Master Santlyn.
Both of them sat silent for a while, enjoying the view and the cooling breeze.
“Ocean _ Master Santlyn, what lies across of it?” asked Ray.
“Ocean _ across of it lies continents and many little islands, full of people friendly and hostile; and all manner of creatures natural and unnatural,” answered Master Santlyn.
“Safe _ is it of this to venture there?” asked Ray.
“Safe _ no, it is not of this to venture there; but perhaps when you have grown up and you have mastered Elemental Sorcery and when you are able to defend yourself very well, then such a journey can be conceivable,” answered Master Santlyn.
“Ocean _ if I do cross of it, where do I look to find my parents?” asked Ray.
“Ocean _ if you do cross of it, then ask around for your surname or for the emblem of a shield with a sun in the middle of it emitting out eight rays; and mind you, it will not be easy for it could take years or maybe even decades before you manage to find a clue,” answered Master Santlyn.
“Parents _ do you think I will manage to find of them?” asked Ray.
“Parents _ I do not know if you will manage to find of them, but remember this, Ray, you will always have a family here,” answered Master Santlyn.
“Understand _ I do of this, master,” replied Ray.
Master Santlyn smiled and rubbed Ray’s head. Then they both sat quietly and enjoyed the beauty of nature together.
When Ray was of the age six, he and the Dellix twins accompanied Masters Santlyn, Matten and Dencon to the nearest town, Eastpeak. Master Elementhar Rock Dencon had graduated a year after Ray was found at Monune Ruby. Besides hunting demons, Master Dencon also functioned as Master Santlyn’s assistant all these years. The Dellix twins grew looking more identical throughout the years, if such a thing was possible. To help tell them apart, Master Matten had dyed Radiance’s hair blond, while Bloom maintained her natural dark hair. The Fire Elementhars were in town to get much needed supplies. They were also there to buy rubies from a caravan of travelling merchants. While Masters Santlyn and Matten tended to business, Senior Dencon, as he was known to Ray and the twins, took the children to the town fair.
Senior Dencon was designated as the babysitter for this outing, and he was not too happy about it. The children could tell. They saw the signs on his unhappy face. Senior Dencon was as strict as Master Santlyn, almost. But this being their first time in the town fair, their senses went wild. They immediately forgot about not upsetting Senior Dencon and they ran wildly into the crowd. The three children ran off in three different directions, leaving Senior Dencon clueless as to what he had to do next.
Making their way through the crowd, Ray and the Dellix twins met up at the Ferris wheel. This was the first thing that had caught their attention. They queued for the ride but then they encountered an unexpected problem. The conductor of the ride had asked them for money, and they had none. Their happy and excited faces turned into sad frowns. Suddenly, Senior Dencon appeared and paid the conductor. The children started smiling again, but a stern stare from Senior Dencon reminded them that they were in big trouble. So they started staring at the ground and made apologetic expressions on their faces. Finally, Senior Dencon smiled and gestured them to get onboard one of the gondolas. They smiled again and got onboard immediately.
Steadily the gondola that they were in rose higher and higher. They could see the entire town. People looked like ants to them, so small and busy. The gondola came down and went up again. After several revolutions, finally the ride was over.
Next the children headed to another ride. It was a ship that swung sideways like a giant pendulum. Senior Dencon joined them this time. And off they went, swinging from side to side and higher and higher.
“Ship _ of it, is this how it feels like to be onboard one, Senior Dencon?” asked Ray.
“Ship _ of it, no; this is not really what it feels like to be onboard one; for the motion is far more sorter and sudden; and you shall end up vomiting a lot,” answered Senior Dencon.
“Ship _ have you been onboard of it often?” asked Ray.
“Ship _ I have been onboard of it often when I was younger, Ray, to the point that I no longer want to ever set foot on one,” answered Senior Dencon.
“Why?” asked Ray.
“Parents _ mine of them owned a fleet of fishing boats and ships, and I am bored from accompanying my father on many voyages across the ocean; and besides, the sea-sickness, the constant pirate attacks and the frequent thunderstorms that we had encountered were very scary; so I do not ever want to set foot on a real ship ever again in my entire life!” explained Senior Dencon.
Ray thought about Senior Dencon’s answer. Ray was quite sure he was onboard a ship once. But he could not remember properly. All he could remember was the sound of the creaking of wood, the splashing of water, the howling of wind and the flashes of what must have been lightning. Master Matten mentioned that he could have come from across the ocean. Had he sailed through a thunderstorm six years ago? He had no idea. Would he sail across the ocean one day to find out where he came from? Maybe? Probably… No,… he definitely he would! He wanted to find out where he had come from. He felt t
hat his life would not be complete if he did not!
When the ride was over, Senior Dencon brought the three children to the refreshment stalls for some drinks.
“Fun _ which is more of this?” asked Senior Dencon.
“Ship!” answered Ray.
“Ferris Wheel!” answered the twins simultaneously.
“Fun _ which is more of this for you, Senior Dencon?” Bloom asked.
“Ground _ solid of it is the best fun for me,” answered Senior Dencon.
“Booo! Fun _ you are not of this, Senior Dencon!” said all three children together.
Senior Dencon laughed out loud. He liked their adventurous spirit. He was like them once, a long time ago. But one pirate attack too many had killed that spirit. No, he did not ever want to set foot on a ship again!
Ray was looking at the pendulum ship ride. His mind was still on his past.
“Sail _ will you be doing of this like your father one day, Bloom, Radiance?” asked Ray.
“No,” answered the twins simultaneously.
“Why?” asked Ray.
“Ocean _ we hate of it, for it takes daddy away from us!” answered the girls simultaneously.
“Ships _ of them, you seem to be interested, Ray; and may I know why?” asked Senior Dencon.
“Ships _ of them, I hope one day to sail across the ocean to find out where I came from, and perhaps, find my parents,” answered Ray.
“Blame _ I do not do of this of you, but do not put too much hope, for you shall most likely find the truth a little disappointing,” answered Senior Dencon.
Ray was puzzled by Senior Dencon’s answer. So were the twins.
“Mean _ what do you do of this, Senior Dencon,” asked Ray.