The Emerging Part I: Dream
CHAPTER I

“Ten years have passed since the arrival of a new class to the Injhihato,” a man with snow white hair and beard utters to three other men.

“Yes, Vaiqon,” another man with a roaring voice says to the first man. “We have each tried our absolute best to bring even one child back to the Injhihato, but I am afraid the children of Munda Luna are just not as skilled as they once were.”

“Well, Rhino,” a third man with a voice that flows as smooth as a quiet river speaks, “I thought Vulcan was our resident pessimist.”

Vaiqon, Rhino, and the third man chuckle but the fourth man, a man with a dark gaze, snarls with the hiss of a snake, “Quiet, Shark. Your foolery knows no bounds.”

Shark, the man with the flowing voice, chuckles loudly again, “No matter, Vulcan, I am certain that if you allowed yourself even one bout of laughter every now and then, even you can be seen as the happiest Daijok.”

The four Daijoks cannot help but laugh cohesively at such a far-fetched statement.

When their laughter subsides, Vaiqon speaks again, “Alas, ten years have passed since either of us have returned from our yearly quest for a new class to train in the ways of the Rniti. I feel as though this year will be far different.”

“You say that every time when the cycle falls upon you, Vaiqon,” Rhino says, his aura still wafting negativity throughout the Chamber Rniti forcing even the bright sun that filters through the colorful windows on either side of the Chamber to appear dim.

Vulcan chuckles, “Besides, Vaiqon, you venture to Karacrross, Coas Citis, Southern Citis, and Dzrt. Hardly any of these cities have produced a child of potential as of late.”

Vaiqon shrugs, “Nevertheless, they have produced the strongest of our Rniti. Need I remind you of Arosa from Karacrross, one of the few ires of the Rniti that gave her life unbeknownst to the defense of the city.

“Or of Shadow from Coas, an incredible fuhok that defeated the Rind Ponodel. Wherever she disappeared too, I wish the best for her. Or of Gypsum from Southern, a strong okit that was able to carve a path into the steely rock of Mount Titan.

“Or even of Helioso, may he rest in peace, from Dzrt, an extraordinary sigo that brought about a peace to the warring factions of the kezeh and evko. These four Rniti alone prove that my ventures to Karacrross, Coas, Southern, and Dzrt have never been in vain,” Vaiqon concludes.

Vulcan scoffs, his sigo energy radiating off of him in disgust, “Are you forgetting of that treacherous Ragefier from Rizq? A demonic man that left us? The sole reason you never venture to Rizq any longer?! A man that refused the coveted title of Daijok?! My Daijok position no less!!”

Rhino and Shark start at the bold mentioning of Vaiqon’s most disappointing pupil. They turn their eyes slowly to Vaiqon to see the elderly man standing perfectly erect. Vaiqon glares at Vulcan with contempt on the edge of his aura, his emotions becoming uncontrolled.

Nevertheless, Vaiqon breathes in deeply, allowing his ire to calm him as he slowly states, “Ragefier was a unique case with a very troubled past. Even I did not fully understand him, and I was the one that found him in Rizq.”

Vulcan scoffs, but says nothing further.

Shark, attempting to lighten the tension in the Chamber, inquires, “Vaiqon, are you to begin your search soon?”

Vaiqon, casting one last anger-filled glare at Vulcan, turns to Shark with his aura calmed and says, “I leave at once. As always, Karacrross will be my first destination. My brothers, veqxon xucj wek cea.”

“Veqxon xucj wek cea,” Vulcan, Rhino, and Shark reply back to their brother as Vaiqon flashes away in a hue of brilliant blue.

Vaiqon appears instantly in the Central Ring Marketplace of Karacrross. He glances about the market, his eyes observing all of the activity of the marketplace. He sees numerous vendors shouting their wares, numerous merchants passing through the market shouting their wares from atop their wagons, and numerous people milling about glancing at all the various wares that can be purchased.

Vaiqon smiles as he feels nothing but peaceful auras filtering from the Karcrrossian people. He widens his sensing hand to feel a multitude of children on the cusp of their twelfth year of life. He smiles to himself as he says silently, ‘There are quite a few children with the potential to pass my tests. Most excellent.’