Taking to the Sky

You meditate alone in your room for several hours. The temple is magnificent and beautifully wrought, but spare. Your own room is little more than a square hunk of stone. Nonetheless, a beautiful tapestry hangs from your northernmost wall. Its figures are drawn in a strange and alien style. The tapestries in this monastery were woven by those who first built it, uncountable years ago. On one level, they show the conflict that you and those who came before you and will come after you have fought since the monastery was built. You have been told some of the stories now and understand this aspect better. But they are also carefully interwoven with spiritual and allegorical meaning. The old man had told you that he did not understand their full meaning yet, and he had lived here for many centuries.

But your mind is too much in turmoil for to meditate. Frustrated, you pace around the room and wish that you had someone to speak with other than the mentor. He would not understand you, as he could only talk down from a position of wisdom. If he ever felt as you do now, it was so long ago that it no longer means anything to you. If only Astra were still here for you... You sit down in the corner of the room and try to imagine what this place would be like if Astra were here. Would she have been capable of handling this life, though? You had not thought yourself capable of living it when you first came here. In fact, you still did not think yourself capable of it. So why would you wish it on Astra? But it wasn't fair that you had to walk this path alone. But what would she make of the path you have to take now? Would she understand and accept you? The old man had told you that even many of the best of men would be blind to the evil you were facing. You realize bitterly that the old man was probably right about Astra. Like it or not, you are alone.

You stare at the tapestry and try to move beyond your emotions and purify your mind, but then you hear the door behind you creak open. You turn around and see the old man, holding a golden key. "Follow me," he says. "The time of the first purification has come."

"But I'm not ready yet!" you say, trying to hold your anger in check.

The old man laughs slightly. "Do you think it's up to you to decide when you're ready? When the war begins, no one will feel ready. When you realized that your old life was over, you proved yourself ready for the first purification. You are no longer living in death. Now follow me."

You do so, following him once more into the main room. He speaks a word, and the doors swing open. The chilling winds blast at you in full force, but you stand tall, knowing they will not kill you. "Do you remember the song?" shouts the old man. You nod silently, not really sure whether you actually do. Nonetheless, you close your eyes and try to find harmony between your spirit and the tune, as you do your best to remember it. Your singing voice is painfully bad, but you continue to sing, though the wind seems to grow stronger with each note. Before long, however, a sharp cry joins with your song. You stop singing, open your eyes, and see a large and majestic gryphon swoop into the main room. You are dumbstruck--you had heard tales of the creatures before, but nothing could have prepared you for seeing one in person. The old man confidently mounts the gryphon. Nervously, you follow him, fearing with every step that it will buck you off. "Don't worry," says the old man to you, "it knows what to do. Hold on tight and try not to vomit." At that moment, the gryphon takes off...

1. The Dragonslayer

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