Chapter 28

The Overseer

- And he watched over them, from beginning to end -

Excited murmurs and whispers filled the air but died down quickly. The figure remained unmoving, hand clasped before him.

Then he spoke. One word.

"Assemble", he said quietly.

At first no one moved.

Then, the hooded figured looked up slowly. The effect was immediate and there was a sudden flurry of action as girls and boys rushed to sit in front of the robed-figure. Thonavar, Lyla and Chaeron moved to sit somewhere at the back.

There are so few of us, thought Thonavar, and he counted about thirty or more children. Many of them looked grim and tired. Some had dark circles around their eyes and many had reddened eyes. But all had a determined look about them.

Thonavar saw some of them lifting their heads, paying close attention, looking expectantly at the figure in black.

"I am Biron Malcus", the figure spoke, introducing himself. His voice was powerful, radiating with purpose. Biron Malcus paused and removed his dark hood. A green-eyed man with black hair stared out at them. He looked young but it was his eyes that told a different story. He had a distant look which made him look sad and melancholic.

"I am an overseer of the Angerius Order."

He paused again for at least a few seconds before speaking.

“Many of you will have questions. They will be answered in due course. As to where this place is, rest assured it is well within the realms of HavenGuarde. Look to the sky", he pointed, and those who sat before him looked up to the skies. Thonavar, Lyla and Chaeron too looked up.

"Behold, the curtain remains."

True enough, the pinkish hue of the sphere could be seen, its refractive surface bending the sky and clouds above in distorted angles.

"They call this place Ayumah - the land before time. An expansive realm between the city of HavenGuarde and the cold mountains seen in the distance. Ayumah predates the great flare. It is an older land."

Biron Malcus paused again before speaking.

"I am pleased to see that all of you have on the required clothing. I am also pleased that all of you arrived before the sun rose with the dawn. Following instructions will be crucial if you are to make it to Sanctum."

Thonavar’s stomach did a flip. He exchanged a look with Chaeron whose eyes were wide with the same realisation.

We had barely made it in time.

Lyla shot Thonavar and Chaeron a dark look before hugging her knees, listening closely to the overseer.

"You have each passed through the dreamscape and emerged victorious. But the next stage will begin shortly. And you will be tested further. This time, there will be no virtually-constructed reality. Worry not, for it shall be explained shortly", continued Biron Malcus. His voice was low and smooth.

"Now, who can tell me what comes next?"

A boy raised his hand.

"Yes, you!"

"Next comes classification. At Sanctum, we will undergo basic training before we are classed."

"Correct."

The boy looked pleased with himself.

"That is, assuming you are able to make the journey to Sanctum. Look around. There are many faces here but few shall I see at Sanctum’s gates."

The boy’s good nature crumbled instantly.

He paced a few before turning back to them. The clearing was strangely silent. There were no bird-songs and no rustling of the wind in the trees. All appeared to be still.

"And who can name the respective classes?"

"There is the class of blades," piped a girl.

"The class of staves", said Chaeron.

"The class of range", said Lyla.

"And the class of fist", said a powerfully-built boy. Thonavar looked at him and saw him glaring back at him.

"Indeed. Few have managed to master their class", said Biron Malcus, and his gaze swept over the cohort of children gathered before him. "Very few indeed. Therefore, consider it the norm for one to stay in their respective class until the very end."

"How about the class of chain?"

Someone, a young boy, piped up from amongst the group, interrupting the overseer. "I have heard of such a class."

The cohort of children started murmuring amongst themselves.

Biron Malcus did not respond but kept silent. Then looking the boy, he spoke quietly but his voice carried a threat.

"Speak when you are asked to speak."

Thonavar saw the boy’s face become pale.

"The class of chain no longer exists. It was disbanded a long time ago", said Biron Malcus the overseer, his sad green eyes looking past the children seated before him into the distance as if trying to recall something.

"I forget myself", Biron Malcus continued, "there is much more to say. Of course, there are those who do not meet the criteria for classification and find themselves assigned to no class."

At this some murmuring began but quickly stopped when they realised he overseer was silent again.

"There need not be any cause for concern. Those that fail to be classified will still serve the order but in other ways. There remains always the path of the haeliel where one can learn and master the advanced application of technology to heal the mind and body."

At this, Chaeron leaned in close and whispered to Thonavar.

"Pshh, I do not wish to be some healer. I want to be able to fight!"

"More shall be said of classification. Indeed, it would be sometime, years probably, before many of you become eligible for a classification. And I tell you these things now to give you but a taste of what is to come. But for now", said Biron Malcus, "is the journey you must make."

The overseer paused again before continuing.

"Where you have spent your sleepness night was a mere temporal holding area. The dwelling place of the order and where you will begin your training is within the cold mountains. In a place called Sanctum", said Biron Malcus.

At this, boys and girls looked at each other and a murmuring began again. Thonavar knew what they were thinking. His gaze drifted to the icy peaks of the mountains in the distance again.

Those mountains in the distance? They were miles away…

Thonavar heard Chaeron curse to himself, and saw that Chaeron looked worried and anxious. On the other hand, the blond-haired Lyla remained silent and attentive.

The overseer clasped his hands tightly before him. Instantly, another two dark robed figures materialised behind him.

"Listen to me very closely now, for I am about to tell you of what you are about to face and what must happen", continued Biron Malcus. "Consider this a test also. But with a simple objective. The task is simply this: enter the mountain’s entrance before last light on the third day. Those who do not complete the journey to the mountain’s entrance within three days before the third day's sunset would find rescue. But, they will not find passage into Sanctum."

This time there were no murmurs and Thonavar saw the boys and girls around him sitting up straight, looking very determined, paying close attention. However, some also appeared frightened and disturbed.

"Any questions?"

Chaeron put up his hand.

"Yes, you there boy. Speak!"

"What about food?"

"And water," added another girl.

"Needless to say, this is also a test of your ability to survive. You shall be given no help whatsoever. With regard to food, ayumah is rich and supply is plentiful. There are many streams and pools containing fresh water and forests and rivers teeming with wildlife. But when the sun comes out at midday, ayumah will become vulnerable to blistering waves of heat. Who can tell me why this is so?"

Lyla put up her hand.

"Yes, you girl. Speak."

"HavenGuarde produces and generates much heat whilst the cold mountains produce tremendous levels of negative heat or cold. Ayumah’s wide and open spaces thus facilitate temperature changes and hence cause wild convection currents between HavenGuarde and the mountains."

"Very good," said the overseer, nodding his head in approval. "You are intelligent. Let us hope that you make it to Sanctum."

"I will," she said firmly, nodding in response.

"Good," replied the overseer, before turning back to the others. "I cannot emphasise enough the need for planning and strategy. One might wish to find shade and cover before midday and there are plenty of forests around for this purpose. However, too much rest may result in one facing the risk of being unable to return before last light, or sunset on the third day. Any further questions?"

Thonavar raised a hand.

"Yes. What is your question boy?"

"Will we have to climb the mountain to get to Sanctum? How will we make the climb?"

"Ah, the mountain. It will tower over you and threaten to overwhelm your minds. But do not give in to despair. First, you must find the way into the mountain. Second, you must make the climb to Sanctum. Storms of ice and hail batter the mountainside come nightfall so be on your guard."

But Thonavar was not done.

"And how will we find Sanctum if it is hidden so well?"

"You ask a good question boy. I shall leave you all with this clue. Look out the sign of the three circles that will guide you home to Sanctum’s gates. That will be all for today. Come now, we must begin."

Suddenly, without warning, another black-robed figure detached itself from the shadow of a nearby tree and came forward from behind the overseer. Biron Malcus, turning around, paused and waited till this new figure came beside him.

The figure too removed his hood. His hair was also black but his features were sharp and cruel. He leaned in close to whisper something to the overseer who nodded once the figure had finished speaking.

"Come now. Follow me", said the overseer, and he turned to walk slowly into the trees.

"Rise!"

The cruel-looking dark-robed figure barked loudly and the children scrambled to their feet. The dark-robed figure pointed at the disappearing figure of Biron Malcus into the trees.

"Follow now! One by one!"

His cold and cruel features stood out, giving him an almost demonic appearance. Hastening to follow his instructions, the children gathered to form a single line following the overseer into the forest. The other cruel-faced robed figure took the last place at the rear of the line.

Thonavar was somewhere in the middle of the line and he could see the dark-robed figure of the overseer leading the front. Chaeron and Lyla followed behind him. The forest ground was soft and the temperature was cool. It was still slightly dark in some parts but tiny shafts of light could be seen here and there spearing through the thick leafy foliage above.

Back home in HavenGuarde, city below, there was an artificially-constructed ecosystem open to the public near his house and he used to go to that domed park to enjoy the sights and sounds of a forest in the old days and to sometimes hide from Alexis and his gang. Thonavar smiled to himself at the recollection of a distant memory. But the smile quickly disappeared.

I will not be returning home for a long time, he thought to himself. I wonder if it will still be there when I return.

His thoughts turned to his parents.

Where were they and what were they doing now? Would they be thinking of him?

Even as he emerged into the sunlight from the dark cover of trees, he knew that his father Jesse would be hard at work. He would have to continue working and fulfilling his role as a builder. He also knew that his mother would be at home, performing her household duties. She would be lonely without him. At this his heart soared with renewed determination.

I will return and free them from their poverty. Then we will ascend to city above and live happily forever.

"Halt!"

The dark-robed figure shouted over their heads and Thonavar saw that they had come to the top of a hill overlooking the entire realm of ayumah. It was green, vast and breathtakingly beautiful. In the distance were the cold mountains which towered majestically with peaks capped with rings of white snow and clouds of dark grey. Thonavar could see the curtain falling in height, its distortive refraction of the world outside disappearing behind the cold mountains.

"Gather", said Biron Malcus, the oversser, and the children moved to stand before him.

He looked down and scanned their faces.

"Remember what I said to you. Remember my instruction for it shall serve you well. I wish you courage and strength", said the overseer. Then he pointed once more to the mountains in the distance. "Behold, your destination."

Other black-robed figures suddenly appeared from the forest behind and moved to stand next to Biron Malcus and his cruel-looking associate, clasping their hands before them. The sun could now be seen rising from behind HavenGuarde which was behind them, casting an orange glow in the sky. Their temporary holding area was far behind them. It looked like a house on a hill.

A sense of the surreal gripped Thonavar.

It is about to begin.

Excitement rose within his chest and he felt his stomach churn as the thrill of adventure coursed through his veins.