When War Calls(25)

‘They can’t. It is not the dream that counts, but that they are moving forward. As long as they push their limits, there will always be growth.’

‘And so it is left to luck and faith, in hope that they by chance grow in the necessary way to survive.’

The cloud that blocked the sun moved on, allowing light to the land again. Jaden’s closed eyes twitched at the change, while Vennoss remained unhindered. The next moments were silent as each found their way into faraway places, thoughts of the unknown and visions of the future filling their minds. Together they would wander across vast and desolate planes in the realms of consciousness, free of the other’s inner ramblings, but aware of the outer presence. Vennoss had taught Jaden to do this from an early age, and now continued the practice so that they could reflect ideas off one another as they wished.

There was little that Jaden could tell his grandfather, but Vennoss seemed to appreciate the different viewpoint from time to time. He had always been interested in the thoughts of the youth, a caretaker to all in the village. He was their guiding force above even the elders. While the elders roamed the village with superior expressions engraved upon their faces, Vennoss would participate in small games and laugh with the children, answering questions as they came, and always making light of situations that the elders would have frowned upon. He was their greatest source of knowledge, and Jaden was thankful he had been given as much time as he had over the years.

‘Tell me about the Forgotten Years,’ said Jaden suddenly.

Vennoss looked down at Jaden as if surprised by the request. It almost seemed as if he were about to walk away without answering, offended, but then had thought better of it and made himself comfortable, sitting next to Jaden in the same meditative pose.

‘They were times no one should ever have had to witness,’ he said, now also with his eyes closed. ‘What do you wish to know of them?’

‘I want to know what happened.’

‘A fair desire. None can truly say, but there are fragments. Wars were constant. We know that. Waged between the living and dying, the talented and the damned. Those that could control their world were few, and even fewer were those able to command it at will. Jealousy was rampant, and soon those that could have been saviours were hunted as the enemy. There was much confusion with blame being thrown from all directions at the rift made of irrational logic.’

‘But what of the creatures?’ Jaden asked. ‘The ones still in Ukota that were born of those years.’

‘The beasts …’ said Vennoss thoughtfully. ‘A sad and unfortunate side effect, they were. Many of them perished.’

‘What were they?’

Vennoss paused a moment. ‘It is not known … hybrids perhaps, or mutations. They say the very thing that was giving the living their power was also keeping the dying from death. Many claimed that the gods had forsaken us when they saw the horrors of those years. Indeed, evil had come of age. It did seem all morality had been lost, but who is to say what really happened?’

Jaden bowed his head slightly, satisfied with the answer.

‘How did the continents change?’ he asked, but opened his eyes when a reply had failed to come.

Vennoss was examining him with interest. ‘How do you know of the change?’ he asked.

‘A traveller showed us maps.’

‘I see,’ said Vennoss. ‘Who was this traveller?’

‘I don’t know her name.’

‘It is a woman, then?’

Jaden nodded. ‘She came to us the same day you returned. I didn’t believe her. I wanted to know what you thought.’

Vennoss smiled. ‘You wanted an argument to put to her that would prove her wrong.’

Jaden’s sudden smirk told Vennoss everything he needed to know.

‘I see. Well, unfortunately, and fortunately, she is right. There was a change that saw the continents reshaped and the ground purified, so I cannot help you in defeating her. Sometimes it is wise to let go of the challenge, child; always remain on the side of truth, no matter how deep the longing is to do battle with another.’

Jaden’s smirk left him and he looked back down to the ground. ‘Yes, Grandfather,’ he said.

‘Do not feel disappointed,’ Vennoss comforted. ‘You will not be able to win every debate. Learn from each one and then look to the next. There will always be someone with whom to disagree, and someday you will rarely be wrong, but until then, you must learn as much as you can.’

‘Yes, Grandfather,’ said Jaden, his eyes still set firmly on the ground.

‘But enough of such things. How are you feeling today?’