The Emerging Part I: Dream
CHAPTER XLIV

Vaiqon has summoned the Pentad to the tallest point in the Injhihato, Tougons Weeh, a natural hill so tall, it eclipses the sun even standing on top of Rniti Spire. He readies himself as he prepares his speech for the ascend that is just ahead of the Pentad.

As they begin their ascent to the top, Vaiqon tells the Pentad, “Tougons Weeh is the most sacred hill for the Rniti in all of Munda Luna. Some legends imply Munda Luna spawned from this very hill. Some legends lead some to believe the hill is really an ancient, gigantic creature, now lying dormant for all eternity, that dragged Munda Luna to its spot in the world. Some legends say the hill is nothing more than a universal terminal for all dust, rocks, and debris.

“But the most accepted legend that has been passed down for generations upon generations make certain the hill is the source for a power so grand and magnificent, no one should be allowed to harness even a milligram of its awesome power. As the legend goes, the one man who did magically conjure that milligram of power transformed into the worst of everyone’s nightmares and ravaged the land. God could not be compared to the beast. Instead, a calling for a protective group to silence the beast sprung forth to every corner of Munda Luna. This protective group was extensively trained in the use of the sword, shield, bow, arrow, and a mysterious power that only they understood how to use without destroying themselves. There were five of them in all. Qiwo, Hkaht, Fijxep, Ywakuvo, and Mkehoyhok, all were brothers with the surname Rniti.

“As the legend describes, each had a special weapon they used. These weapons, now legends themselves, were passed down from them to their sons, then their sons, and so on, in case the banes of a Thousand Nightmares were ever needed again. But, unfortunately saddening, these weapons have been lost to time, even their names have been lost to the wind.

“Also, the legend tells, the brothers had special connections to nature that each knew how to manipulate to their means and needs. Qiwo and Hkaht were okit zoltoks. Fijxep was a sigo zoltok. Ywakuvo was a fuhok zoltok. And Mkehoyhok was an ire zoltok. They each understood their own connections exceedingly well, but also understood the weaknesses and strengths shared by the other connections their brothers had. This made each individual immensely powerful in his own right, but it also made them exponentially incredibly powerful together.

“When the brothers confronted the Thousand Nightmares, a heavens-shaking battle erupted between the brothers and the beast. The brothers used every skill and trick they knew to slay the beast, but the beast was able to anticipate every move and sustained minor injury. It was as if the beast could sense what the brothers were planning and executed the counter at the exact opportune moment. When the beast took its turn to attack, the brothers had two choices, die or evade. Even in evasion they sustained heavy injury. The Thousand Nightmares was making quite a show of its power. But the brothers did not give up. Together they paused for exactly ten seconds, concentrating on every breath, every movement, every insect moving about below the ground, every grain of sand being carried by the wind in the desert, every part of their bodies, from the muscles, to the tiniest veins pumping blood in their bodies.

“When those ten seconds were over, it was as if the brothers each tapped into the same source of power the beast did, for when they attacked in a final assault, the beast could not block nor evade nor counter a single move. The brothers slashed, ripped, stabbed, and tore as much of the beast as they could. When the brothers ceased their attack and stepped back to watch what their desperate attack would accomplish, they crumpled to their knees.

“The beast groaned in complete agony, stampeded in blind tracks, and finally crashed to the ground. The final breaths of the beast came in slow, black, ragged spurts. The brothers eased themselves off the ground, slowly moved over to watch the beast’s final moments, and rejoiced excitedly when no more of the vile beast’s breath ejected from the bloodied nostrils.

“In an attempt to never have the Thousand Nightmares return in any way, the brothers devised an ingenious device. A device that has a never-ending flame that released the hill’s power a microgram an hour. They called their device the Pyroternal. They hoped that if the Pyroternal released enough of the energy contained within the hill, the power would be siphoned off into oblivion. The brothers felt strongly about the fact that if someone had ever saw the Pyroternal’s massive flame from just a microgram of power, they would be discouraged from wanting the power themselves. Their hopes have become truths for no one has tried to obtain any amount of power from Tougons Weeh since that day the Thousand Nightmares was defeated.

“The Rniti brothers were revered as gods in Munda Luna. Everywhere they traveled they were known by name. Soon, people were wanting to be taught the brothers’ unique skills. The Rniti brothers discovered that more and more children actually had the same potential as they to become just as, if not more, knowledgeable and skillful as themselves. So, the Rniti brothers founded an immense facility they called the Injhihato, a place where, if they passed a test or two, children may come to learn of the ways of the Rniti.

“After a time, the Rniti brothers died legends, and the ways of the Rniti brothers were continued to be passed down by their students. Rniti became the collective term for the students, and soon the newly established Rniti became protectors of all of Munda Luna and there has been an everlasting peace ever since,” Vaiqon concludes.

All the while Vaiqon is telling his tale, the group is traveling up the hill. A light that none had noticed at the bottom of the hill, increasingly becomes brighter and gives some a headache.

“Vaiqon, what is that brightness up ahead,” an observant Fox asks, when he can no longer take the brightness.

“Ah Fox, that is the Pyroternal,” Vaiqon answers shining. The Pentad’s jaws collapse to the ground and their eyes widen.

The Pentad is still climbing the incredible Tougons Weeh. They have only ascended but three quarters of the hill and already they are blinded by the consuming light of the Pyroternal. The Pentad, who are now fitting the pieces of the puzzle together for themselves, realizes that that ancient battle took place on the very hill they were ascending. They become slightly overwhelmed when they realize that they are walking in the paths of the original Rniti brothers who were off to slay a Thousand Nightmares.

As the Pentad and Vaiqon approach the peak of Tougons Weeh, the Pyroternal shines brighter and brighter, the Pentad is certain by the time they reach the summit, they will be permanently blind.

Squinting, the Pentad can see a glimpse of the Pyroternal. The Pyroternal is unleashing a radiant gold, mixed with a wonderful blue and a serene green, fused with a setting sun pink and orange, and emphasized by a magnificent crimson that outlines the entire flame. The Pentad feels as if they are walking directly into a sun giving its last incredible show before it dies.

Upon reaching the summit, a structure takes shape. A beautiful sapphire cube for a base, taller than any man, a gorgeous topaz pyramid for the midsection, and a breath-taking ruby sphere for the head. The entire structure is covered with the clearest diamond prism. And protruding from the ground, through the center of the entire structure, a perfect long sword, with an emerald guard and pommel and blackened from time, bears the flame of the Pyroternal.

The Pentad’s eyes fall upon the whole structure and they do nothing but collapse in complete awe. Vaiqon continues as he has seen the Pyroternal multiple times. He continues to walk behind the structure and is hidden for a time. The flame on top of the Pyroternal flickers and dims somewhat so that the Pentad can regain their senses and think clearly. Vaiqon emerges from behind the structure, along with the rest of the Daijoks, and begins to speak.

“It has become a tradition for the Daijoks to bring forth each of their newest Ummkoniyos to the Pyroternal and explain the history of it.”

Rhino continues, “Vaiqon has told you all the story of the five Rniti brothers and how this glorious structure has come to be.”

“Without this structure, we have come to believe that Tougons Weeh would unleash all of its energy at once-,” Shark continued.

“And annihilate Munda Luna, leaving no trace of our existence,” Vulcan finishes.

Vaiqon starts again, “The Daijoks after the Rniti brothers’ deaths discovered that one of them could control the flame and make could control the flame to reflect the stability and health of Munda Luna.”

“They christened this one particular Daijok as the first Qovonx ew hto Wqupo, or Legend of the Flame, which came to be known as Qovonx for short,” Rhino went on.

“This Qovonx was special in the fact that only the flame itself decided who became the next Qovonx,” Shark went on.

“And only the Qovonx could control the Pyroternal. In fact it is said that the Qovonx has a special connection to the flame and can sense when it needs to be strengthened or dimmed, even across all of Munda Luna, as if the flame itself is telling the Qovonx when to manipulate it,” Vulcan finishes again.

“However, over time, with no wars or hardships, the Pyroternal began selecting those who were not Daijoks,” Vaiqon started.

Rhino goes on, “Common Rniti who showed great promise and loyalty to the Rniti were chosen.”

Shark goes on, “Even in present time, the Pyroternal is not like the Oqoponh cycle.”

Vulcan ends, “We Daijoks have no insinuation as to who the next Qovonx will be, it could potentially be anyone.”

“And so the only way someone knows they are the Qovonx, is that they have a warmth spread throughout their bodies. A Qovonx could be trekking through the Northern Wastes and not feel the brutal iciness,” Vaiqon begins.

“But for unknown reasons, over the ages, a few Qovonx began to keep their identity secret,” Rhino supplies.

“And every Qovonx after that has continued this precedent,” Shark supplies.

Vulcan finishes, “It has become a very honorable but very obscure title. But potentially, any one of you could become a Qovonx.”

Vulcan, Rhino, and Shark suddenly vanish in a blue light after exchanging a glance with Vaiqon.

Vaiqon allows for the Pentad go to their thoughts for a while.

“As Rniti your duty will be to protect all of Munda Luna, leave the obligations of the Qovonx to just the Qovonx, and live by the Rniti motto,” Vaiqon says.

Desert asks, “Which is?”

“U Rniti Zkehtokteek- a Rniti brotherhood. And, in longer terms, Enyo u Rniti, uqfucj u Rniti- once a Rniti, always a Rniti. If you live by that, you will always have a place here at the Injhihato, always have a family. In fact, the motto lends itself to even further interpretation. I leave those interpretations to yourselves. Now, you will most likely not ever see this structure again, it is not wise for a common Rniti to casually come to observe this structure. Now we must leave this sacred place and commence our training immediately.”

The Pentad and Vaiqon leave the Pyroternal, just as the flame on top of the sword suddenly begins to dim and shrink.