A massive, bull-like beast lumbered up the mountain path, pulling a carriage in which nearly dead Zinor was lying. It was being guided by a disciple of the Fire Temple.
"This Hafelo Cart is too big for this narrow way."
Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He was looking back into the carriage frequently.
"What if he awakes? Though it's a long time since yesterday night."
Dhrr..
Some small rocks fell down by the step of Hafelo.
"Eeeeh! Hey! Watch your step. You were going to kill both of us."
Mmmmnnngh!
The Hafelo grunts.
They kept following the path.
The charioteer looked once to the downside of hill. "Eeeeeh!" He jerked back by the fear.
The helios was about to reach over the head. The path is too long to cover.
"Just this mountain. After this there will be plains like this. I will just settle there into any other fire temple."
Drrr...
"Eeeeeeh! What's now?"
A small rock fell from the path.
GRRRRR!! GRRR!!
"A earthquake? This time. AAAAAAAH!"
MMmmmngh!
The hafelo cart fell down into the depths. There voice faded drastically then vanished.
Zinor was running in the void. The blankness was still chasing him.
"How long this gonna chase after me? It feels like I am running for decades."
He looked behind, the darkness he just passed fell down like a piece of glass.
From that empty place a indescribable thing was visible. Maybe this is what they call nothing.
Stup!
Suddenly Zinor's legs tangled. He fell on the ground.
As he was falling the blankness rapidly came toward him.
"Aagh!"
Zinor jolted awake in middle of a green field.
He was drenched in sweat. The exhaustion of nightmare was portrayed on his face.
He put his palm over his face. What was that.
His eyes wide opened. He looked at his shoulder. It was healed.
"Did I die again?" He asked himself looking at the chains of Abzala.
"No! But you were close." An uninvited voice answered his confusion casually.
Zinor jerked. He jumped backward and stood placing his left hand ahead to block any attack.
"Ooh. Sorry to scare you. I am not hurting you."
"Nice to hear. So who are you then?"
Zinor looked at him. It was a boy. Young in age. His black curled hair was waving as the pleasant wind blew. His eyes were confident. He was not carrying any weapon.
"What place is this?"
"It is Ribia Mountain. You can see up there."
He pointed his finger at the mountain behind Zinor.
It was heavenly mountai, bluish rocks were shining like jewel and the green trees made it more beutiful.
"Are you a new student of Tansen Dojo? I never saw you."
"Dojo? No. I am not. Aagh."
"Don't stress your brain. I was filling buckets. When I heard a huge sound."
"Sound?"
"A Hafelo Cart fell into the lake. Brother found you. That fire temple decsiple is in Fire Temple. I don't know how is he now. But, your condition was worse too and they don't have enough Dayans so..."
"My shoulder.."
"Yeah. That wound started getting decompose. Master cut some Dayans to save your life."
"Dayans? Are you from that Fire temple? A hunter to kill me. Ha!"
"Temple? No no. We are outlaws. We don't have any divine law to worship that way."
Zinor stood normally . "Do you know which way is the fire temple?"
"Yeah. That is at the top of the mountain."
"In the dense forest?"
"Forest? Though there is tress but you can't call it a forest."
"What? Do you know the old man? Ugh! His name..."
"Huh.. If you don't know his name...."
He gave a awkward smile. "How will I help you?"
The boy thought something for a moment.
"I guess master can help you."
"Master?"
"If you have no place to go you can stay in the dojo. Many travellers live here by the way. Follow me."
The boy picked the water filled bucket and walked on the way of mountain.
Zinor walked along him.
"Who is this master of yours?"
"He was the one who made that dojo from scratch. Also carved ways so people wouldn't struggle to cross it."
"Wow. He hade some iron will then."
"Yes. He was the most courageous among Raiser Brothers"
"Raiser Brothers? Is it some kind guild of warriors?"
"I don't know much about it. They disbanded many years ago. Only some great elders know them. Rest of them passed by time..."
"We are here."
The boy stopped before stairs made by mountain rocks. Zinor looked at it.
"There are 40000 steps. You can take rest in stairs if you want."
"No need, I guess."
Zinor and he started climbing up.
After some steps, Zinor broke the silence.
"Didn't you say your brother was with you too."
"Yes, he likes sitting for long time beside the lake."
"Which lake? I don't see anyone here."
"That is behind this mountain. You can reach there by crossing the dojo."
"Oh."
"By the way. You didn't tell me your name."
Zinor didn't replied.
"Oh. My name is Yarma Yarsuto. My family lives in the Dojo. We work here."
Zinor nodded. "I am Zinor."
"Where do you live?"
"Nowhere."
The mid-day was turning to the afternoon. A person was lying on the ground beside the lake. The water was touching to his legs.
"Were you a warrior once?"
Zinor stopped for a moment. "Why do you think so?"
"The way you talk and walk sets a fear around you."
"I see. Now as you mention. Don't you fear these things?"
Zinor turned to him and showed him the chains of Abzala.
The boy looked closely for a moment.
"What is it?"
"You don't know?"
"Is that... armor stuck into your skin?"
"No. Forget it." He continued climbing.
Yarma followed him.
After a long time, both reaches the top.
"Haaah!" Yarma was panting. Zinor was too yet less than him.
A big man was standing their.
He wore a heavy off-white Gi type attire. The clothes are thick also textured. Across his shoulders there were patches of slate-grey reinforcement.
"Yarma, you are too slow. In your age I can bring more than ten buckets of water."
He shifted his eyes to Zinor.
"And who is this person?"
"Sorry, Goodman Sehab. I am late. Oh, he is new here. Also have no place to go."
"I see. Then let me open the door for you."
Saheb walked to the big metal door. The entrance gate of dojo. Rest of dojo was well crafted by wood. But the main door was heavy.
Saheb placed his palm on both door. Then pushed very hard. "Haaaah!!!"
Krinnnggg!!!
The unsettling sound came as the door opend.
Saheb exhaled. "Go on. Take a bath in lake. Master will meet you later. Yarma show him the way."
Krinnng!!! Dum!
As Yarma and Zinor passed, the door got closed by itself.
As Zinor come in his eyes got wide opened. "A Dojo right?"
On the name of Dojo. It was big miniature town over a top of mountain. There were bridge made of wood and stone to go to other mountains top.
"Unexpected, right?" Yarma asked him. "Ribia, Denaves, Lober, Ifrat and main Dojo ground on Sambes. These five mounten tops has this hexagonal dojo seems like small town. There are much more things here. Follow me."
'Really. I never imagine something this.' Wondered in mind, Zinor walked to the lake way.
It was below the mountain. Other side of the main gate.
The lake was connected by all five mountains. The only thing which didn't fit was peoples. There were very few of them.
Though, it is normal as nobody can think about this type of living place.
"Hey, Yarma. Do this place is always this much empty."
"Well.." Yarma scratched his chin before answering. "You know... Ah.. This place is not same always. During certain time people come from different kingdom to see this dojo."
Yarma's answer felt rather unnatural. Yet Zinor didn't ask much about that.
The evening fell, candles lit on the corners of bridge. It was kept in a glass cage so bridge wouldn't catch fire.
As he opened his eyes, the room dimly lit. He rubbed his eyes.
"Aah? Where am I? Is it a corpse room?"
"No. You are in Denevas Fire temple's healing chember. You fell for Darkaan Hill on the lake. Do you remember?"
"Ugh?" The fire decsiple fell asleep again.
"Did he wake?" A person asked him from behind.
"Nah. He was brutally crushed by the water force the Hafelo died on the impact but he was alive still."
"I am glad that we cut some shares from yesterday's ceremony for this types emergency."
"Yeah."
Bhuish! Grr! Grr! Aaah!
Zinor took a dip in the lake. "Haah. This feels good."
"Yeah. This lake was a gift to master's dojo sent by Water temple's master. His temple is on top of Ifrat Mountain."
"Ooh. I understand."
Bhuish!
Zinor dipped again.
After completing bath, Zinor was looking at his soaked clothes.
'I was too exhausted. I forgot I have nothing more to wear. 'he thought.
"Hey Zinor, You can wear Taisagi."
"Taisa— what?"
Yarma gave him a pair of Taisagi, the same clothes Saheb was wearing.
Zinor wore that. "This is tight. But It will work."
Zinor hung his soaked clothes on a branch of tree.
"Haaah!.." Someone woke up with a yawn. He was sleeping in under that tree. "
Zinor got startled by him.
Thaws!
He kicked on that place very hard.
Dhum!
The kick fell on the tree shaling it. At the vary time, that person moved.
"Haah! Haah!" He was panting. "What are you a maniac? Who attacks on a sleeping person?"
"Sorry I got startled."
"Who is it?" Yarma asked.
"Yarma? Is that you?" That person washed his eyes with lakes water. "Aagh. I fell asleep for too long."
"Hey Zinor. It is brother. He saved you that time."
Zinor looked at him.
He was around Zinor's age. His ambered hair and simple face contradicts each othet. He was wearing an old Taisagi.
He pointed his finger at Zinor.
"Hey Yarma, Is he that injured person?"
"Yeah."
"Ooo..."
"I am sorry. That was a default instinct rather intentional."
"Yeah yeah. Whatever. Haaah!" He yawned again.
"From when are you sleeping here, brother?"
"After he revived i came back here to complete my sleep. No go back. I am feeling dizzy. Haah!" As he yawned he lay under the tree.
"You are helpless."
He didn't respind to Yarma.
"I guess. He is in deep sleep again."
"Really, anyways. You must be feeling hungry. Let's go back."
Zinor once looked at him. Then followed Yarma.
The night fell. Yarma and Zinor walked the Lober's top. More peoples were going that way. They are talking among themselves.
Zinor looked down from the bridge. Under the bridge there was only darkness. The ground was not visible.
There was a big space arranged with benches and table.
"This is feast area. You see that big house. Merami and her sister prepared dinner for everyone in the dojo."
Everyone sat on a bench which they pleased. Yarma sat with Zinor.
A pleasant lady came pushing a moving cart which contains dishes. She tightned her hair before serving everyone.
She came to Yarma's table. "Ah. It's rare to see new faces this time. Here you go young man."
"Sister Reeme. What will we have?"
"Hila Fish and Roast Torfella."
"Woaw!..."
She served rice and the fish on Zinor's plate. Then turned to the house, "Merami! Brought the Torfellas."
"Yeah."
A young girl with ruffling hair came running. She was carrying dishes in both hand.
"Start serving this and give me the cart."
She took the cart to bring rest of them.
Zinor watched at them then started eating.
The night felt peaceful. After eating, one by one left Lober.
"Ribia has many guest rooms. I sleep there. There will be place for you too."
Yarma ran to Reema. "Hey sister!.."
Zinor saw he said something to her then came back. "Let's go."
"What did you say?"
"Oh. Brother is still sleeping in lake. I was asking her if she have extra dinner."
"I see.."
They went back to Ribia.
The silence felt on the mountains, everyone set off the candles in the room. The mountain felt asleep.
Except...
"A order has come from Sangha."
"What is it?"
"It's about yesterday ceremony..."