Zeltor's page

It is only darkness Zeltor... - The half breed thought to himself as he woke up drenched in sweat yet again - still after all these years he had not become accostumed to the nightmares that assail almost every single of his nights - the insistent droning, the mumbled prayers in a language that he is not able to understand or fathom, the eyes that stare at him from the dark and, above all, the disturbing feeling that this is all too familiar, the feeling that he belongs there, in that pit of desperation...

His throat dried as always, reaching for the fresh mountain water just beside his table, he could sense the presence before he saw her -"Master... How long have you been there?" - staring at him from a dark corner in the room, as she had done so many times since the boy was found, was Rin-Tarith, his teacher, master, and friend for the past 10 years.

She stood up gracefully, heading towards the closed window without a single word, opening the wooden shutters, and letting the freezing night chill invade the close quarters - staring a crystal clear sky for moments that seemed to drag on forever, she spoke calmly - "I believe it is time that we had a straightforward conversation about how you came under my tutelage - you are bending far too low under the weight of doubt and I fear that you may snap - we have worked your mind as well as your body, both have become flexible and adaptable, yet strong and deadly, but one cannot fight enemies one cannot see"

Looking straight at the young tiefling, the woman's eyes caught the reflection of the star filled nightsky - they seemed to take in the darkness in them as they sparked a translucid blue, with a glow that totally betrayed the 50 odd years already lived by the his Zen Master - "It is then time to give them names, making them tangible enough for you to cleanse yuor soul once and for all - fecth your clothing, and meet me in the courtyard - tonight we talk, and fight"

Zeltor had virtually no memory of his time before the monastery - his first memory was that of a sunrise, and the stark contrast between the warm rays on his skin, and the cold morning air as he sat on top of the main building in the monastic compound, his tail casually playing with a tree twig - he knew he had a life before that, but it was all completely clouded for him - the memories since that day, his tutelage under Rin-Tarith, his studies of history, his combat training, were all clear as mountain dew, but nothing before, as if he had ben born that day....

Outside, the master wears her combat attire - a simple, old and grey sleeveless tunic, a bow strapped behind her back, a single quiver, and a quarterstaff - he had seen her fight with many other weapons before, but her attire was quite simple at the moment, in spite of the unbeliavable
feats she was capable of with that simple shortbow she carried at her back.

They began with the usual warming katas, simple movements, part contemplation, part focus, part exercise, and then it began.

"A woman child found it - a small, small bestial creature ran the wilds of the most inhospitable place in the world like a devil - eyes red, dark tail flashing like a viper he dashed through the Ashen Plains. No others saw him, but she did, and he saw her too, their eyes crossed and their souls met, she could not ignore it"

With a prowling movement, around Zeltor she circled, close enough to deflect his strikes and strike him back for each missed attmpt - "The panther throws caution to the wind as they weave recklessly among their foes. Those who master the style turn their unrivaled mobility into a weapon, striking their enemies with a series of swift retaliatory strikes"

"Day after day, the woman child traveled with others, heroic all, in search of victories to be found, names to be built, and evils to be toppled in the ugliest place in the world, made an open wound by the folly of men and god alike - up is down, and left is right, but they pressed ever onwards. She knew they were heading towards him"

On her four, she charged at him - his trained reflexes not enough to avoid the much more experienced master - while biting and pummeling him, he could hear her - "The boar attacks with as much viciousness and cruelty as possible in order to break their enemies not only physically
but also mentally"

"There they arrived - one of so many foul places - thought unique by those who think themselves also one and only when distracted by youth and lack of vision. Therein they entered - search for confirmation that on one side lies good and on the other lies evil only sated by fist, sword and death. There they sought treasure, making it equal to being stronger, making it equal to being... Right"

In apparently awkward movements, like a wounded bird, she deflected every single attack from his seeking fists - "Do not mistake the Crane position as frail or unbalanced - its defense and agile counterattacks, in graceful, one-legged stances and folding arm techniques mimic the bird in its graciousness, but defend stronger than the sturdiest walls"

Inside they were truly blessed with fortune and ability - for they were naive, but strong and determined - the halls were navigated, the foes were vanquished, whether from this world or another - blood ran freely, horrors and loss were lived through, all in the name of... good or victory - the difference neither found nor looked for when upon the she-devil they descended their righteous retribution"

Hands like claws, she came at him in sequenctial attacks, not only lightning fast, but also driven with such power, that each of them, parried or not made him retreat a step from the sheer strength of the blows - "Emulate the power and fury of the great tiger. Use your hands like claws, perfecting overpowering double hand strikes and driving attacks that will serve the offense, even if defended against"

She wailed, she thrashed, she clawed and she unleashed foul magic, more ferocious than any they had ever encountered - the abandonment was not rational but heartfelt, the screams were of fury and denial, but in the end, dead or banished was irrelevant, victory was had and defeat was handed out, leaving empty halls, devoid of hauntings and unliving reek. Yet there it was - a whine, a moan... a cry..."

The fluidity of her next movements were almost unearthly, head and limbs swaying in an hypnotic pattern, as if to an unseen melody, striking lightning fast, and through unpredictable movements - "The snake attacks in quick, shifting movements. Mimic the predator's head and movements, strike when least expected, be opportunistic and find unforesseable speed"

"The devil child sputtered and whined, hissed and bared harmless fangs at those that would destroy it on the spot - cornered, alone, hated - it still clinged to life and to being alive. It could not talk nor draw caring feelings, but it looked straight at the woman child - their souls had met, their fates had entwined, and there was no turning back - he was hers, and woman child was not child anymore"

She urged him on, drawing her bow - "You are not using an implement of war child - follow IT'S movements, do not work against them - it is not a contest between you and the bow - you are both weapons, and you both wield each other" - he could not keep up, no matter how much he tried - for every arrow fired, Rin-Tarith would fire six; for every two hits he would have a miss, while she would have no misses in 100 shots - he did follow though, this was what his training was all about - persistence, determination, resilience, and a bow - he could not help but chuckle at the simplicity of that last part.

She came to a complete stop, the small whirlwinds of snow from the blinding movements, now settling down in total silence as they both stared at each other for long moments - "You need to go Zeltor - I have found you 10 years ago, but you have not yet found yourself. I have witnessed how you have perfected your body for the fray - your balance is askew, and I can see that you search for answers, as clearly as I can see the snow flow around us. I have watched as you poured through our small library, focusing on the history of this world, and how hard you have been trying to master a craft - that of weapons, of your weapons..."

Inching closer, she adds - "But I also remember the devil-child that arrived here with me so many years ago, that ran wildly screaming on the monastery grounds craving for respite without even knowing from what, until it almost broke the peace of this mountain top - I was watching when you found ease of mind with the daybreak, as I have been there watching every night, when I hear you stir in your nightmasrish sleep - I will not voice my fears of what may be the cause for your unrest, since they are irrelevant - it is now up to you to not only find the path, but to walk it"

Laying her hand in his, she whispered - "You need to find your way back to the Worldwound, back to your beginning, to understand the journey, and decide where you want it to take you."

From one of the folds in her robe, she produced the smallest of velvet pouches - a delicate thing, tied shut by a simple cord - "This is my present for you, once you have ended your journey, do not open it until then child... MY child"