11

RC20

He formed the letters with an unusual address. He gave his movements such a lightness, that one could imagine seeing an energy passing from the tips of his fingers to the ink on the paper. He was kneeling in the center of the room. Around him, on the walls, constellations paraded. A simple touch and the planets of the RC would appear next to each other. He thus kept himself informed of the activities of the Confederation.

Axel had witnessed this scene many times. During his childhood, he had found this occupation boring. He had not hesitated to tell the Grand Master. Over time, he had become like a father to him. But he then replied "your mind is still too impatient to understand". Years later that hadn't changed, but he enjoyed watching the Grand Master in those peaceful moments when the flow of time seemed to stop for a moment.

He had never seen the Grand Master young. He had always been that old man whose eyes seemed to sparkle whenever Axel or one of his brothers did something that amazed him whether for good or ill. But, he had noticed that over time his stature had begun to sag under the weight of age. His mind, however, remained as sharp as ever.

"What are your concerns?"

"What are you talking about ?"

“You always hide in the shadows to watch me when your mind is in turmoil… And as always, you wait for me to speak to you to address what is troubling you. For once, I have no doubt about what is tormenting you."

"Descendants have been chosen."

"This should fill you with joy, after all the earthlings owe you their survival. If the Sphere welcomed them, it is because they proved themselves worthy of it."

"But so few have succeeded and so many have already been killed" says Axel, his eyes dark

"And many will still die," replied the Master wisely.

But that's not what worries you, is it? he continued while writing

“I fear the sphere has been sabotaged. "

The master interrupted his writing, but did not turn to his protege.

"It's impossible. She's served us for hundreds of years without fail. She's perfect."

"I strongly suspect his lineup has been tampered with. I looked at the list of candidates. Some shouldn't be there, master."

"It's unthinkable... But if you're right then, someone betrayed us... but who?"

"Hard to say, the Sphere is an autonomous artificial intelligence. We should have had access to it, but the only individuals capable of manipulating it are part of the brotherhood."

The Grand Master sighed at these words.

“We won't find the culprit easily. No one becomes a priest without having multiple talents. For now, focus on the rest of the test. Those who don't deserve to be there won't be a problem for long.

“Haïdar takes care of the next test. You know how much its rigidity can be an asset. Your brother will let no mistake pass. In addition, I would have liked to tell you about something that has been on my mind since the great assembly."

"I'm listening to you...

A fit of violent coughing abruptly stifled his words. Axel rushed to his master.

"Grand Master !"

He held it back with a wave of his hand and slowly caught his breath.

“ I am an old man… My own disciples will have to realize this one day. I still remember this morning. It was during one of my rare trips to RC 45 you know how much I hate this planet, but I had to see how the priest I installed there was doing. The poor man didn't last a year..." he confided, shaking his head.

I had woken up early to contemplate the empty streets of the capital, without slaves at every turn, he said with a grimace, and it was while descending the steps that I found you. Your mother hadn't bothered to dress you... But she had chosen the right place to leave you. On the steps of a temple, it was the only place that would have allowed you to escape the condition of a slave. You already had that tuft of hair that at sunrise made you look like pure gold. It goes without saying that Haidar immediately hated this child who took all my attention. He couldn't stand being in the same room as you, said the old man, remembering those years.

But a few months after your arrival, you gave us a huge fright. The doctors couldn't bring your fever down. We feared she would take you away. During these difficult times, Haïdar showed that he was your big brother. He did not leave your bedside, and begged you to stay with him and promised the High Priestess to always protect you if she would keep you with us."

"And he hasn't failed yet!" Axel said with a sweet smile on his face. He had heard this tale dozens of times, but the closer his death was, the more the Grandmaster rehashed old stories.

“I fear my son, and you will always be one of my sons like Haidar or Goran, I fear the end of my journey is near. I would have liked to see your full potential revealed.

Axel was about to speak, but the master interrupted him.

"Let's stop these sad discussions, get me my snack… You know which one."

Axel looked at him with concern. He saw in the eyes of his benefactor the fatigue of all these years.

"The one made with milk and golden leaves from RC2?" he asked.

"Yes, that's the one. My wife loved its spicy taste..." he said before going back to writing.

Axel looked at the man who had welcomed him into his brotherhood with affection before heading for the door.

A loud noise made him turn around.

"Master! Master Ethan!"

The door opened abruptly to let in the novices who were serving as guards. They stopped in front of the view that presented itself to them.

High Brother Axel was kneeling on the ground, trying in vain to wake the Grand Master of the Sacred Circle.

A crowd flocked all day to the Grand Master, but he seemed to have entered a coma that foreshadowed the end.

The resigned air of the healers had forced Axel to make the decision to recall Haïdar and Goran. Two days later, the two men finally arrived. All three of them spent the next four days watching over the priest. And on the fifth day he awoke.

"Master ! Master open your eyes!" begged Haidar

But her glassy eyes didn't seem to see him. He started to mumble, and to whisper. His sentences were incomprehensible.

In the afternoon his delirium became more violent.

" How? How could you do that? he yelled before starting to sob like a child.

I wish you had died with her. At least I wouldn't have had to bury you so full of hate," he cried.

Then in the night, he calmed down, a soft smile appeared on his face.

"Ava, you finally came. Is it time?" he asked

He then turned his head towards his three favorite disciples and seemed to see them for the first time since the beginning of the end.

"Ah my children ! My dear children, I finally see the truth…" Those were the last words before the veil of death covered those eyes.

Haïdar then delicately closed her eyes before kissing her forehead.

"What truth was he talking about?" Goran wondered.

“Who knows… he was already lost in his delirium” says Haïdar

"I'm going to call the brothers in the Hemicycle," declared Axel.

"Good idea brother. We must prepare the funeral and think of a new master, says Haïdar.

"So soon? We haven't even been able to mourn yet" insisted Goran, his eyes red.

"We have no choice, the RC will fall into chaos without a Grand Master in the first circle" says Axel.

"Then let's begin the preparations, the master would not have wanted his death to endanger what he has achieved for all these years," Goran affirmed.

The three brothers left the room, their shoulders heavier than when they entered. A long task awaited them.