Part 35
Father of the Geodes
“Those are not Shadow Warriors,” Sworder said, as he watched the two Geodes.
“Perceptive, but what can I expect from a Kazan,” the blind man said. “You are correct; these Kazans are known as Living Souls.”
“Living Souls?” The Trapper said. “I have never heard of them before.”
“That is not a surprise,” the blind man said. “They have only recently been discovered and it seems their existence is still not widely known, and since we have only recently observed them, there is still so much we do not know.”
“What makes them different from other Kazans?” the girl asked.
“Well, that is a difficult question as the different races are so distinct. Rather, I will answer what are some core features of Living Souls,” the blind man began. “Living Souls possess objects that have weak souls. They can then manipulate the properties of these objects, such as taking on more material or shedding it. Thus by possessing stones and gems they can increase their body mass by absorbing similar materials allowing for spontaneous growth. This, however, requires a significant amount of energy. Thus, if they expand too quickly, they risk severe injuries. This also separates them from most of the races of Kazan because they have a completely physical manifestation, though this also has its disadvantages. I speculate that they are not confined only to simple material such as stone and minerals, so it is possible that any of you could have seen one before but did not even realize it. Being a newly discovered race, it is uncertain if they can be caught by Sealing Stones like many other Kazan types.”
“Wait! Caught in Sealing Stones?” the girl asked, “Like the one I found Sworder in.”
“Well every Sealing Stone is different,” the blind man said. “However, yes, many races of Kazan are known to be captured in Sealing Stones after disappearing. As I was saying, it is unknown if it happens with Living Souls or, like Beast Shades, they fade forever.”
“Do you know anything about it, Sworder?” the girl asked.
“I have never heard of Living Souls,” Sworder said. “I can not answer.”
“Of course he would not know,” the blind man said. “I assume you have been asleep for almost a millennium.”
“I do not know how long I have slept,” Sworder said.
“What made you think that?” the girl asked the blind man.
“It is really just a hunch,” the blind man said. “But the longer a Kazan sleeps the less they can remember and the more of their power lays dormant. Garnet tells me your strike was only a fragment of your true potential, thus I also assume it has only been a few months since his unsealing. The first year you will see his growth the most but if he has been asleep for that long it is likely he will take over a decade to restore his potential.”
“What about his memories?” the girl pressed.
“Well, without external stimulus, many will only ever come back in pieces and some not at all. But you don’t have to worry about these memories changing him. He is who he is because of these very memories, even if he can not remember.”
“He reads her well,” Namic said as the girl clutched the front of her skirt and lowered her head embarrassed.
“He can read them all well,” Ranin corrected.
“Indeed, despite losing his own eyesight he has found other ways to read people,” Namic said. “He is quite a remarkable man.”
“Maybe he’s a Kazan!” Ranin exclaimed.
“That,” Namic said, with a pause, “would be impossible.”
“You know,” Ranin said. “I think I am starting to remember him; that was quite some time ago.”
“Depends on your view of time,” Namic said.
“If I am not mistaken, it looks like our destination is just ahead,” the blind man said. As he led them onto a ledge overlooking a village made of stone buildings within the cave. The other side of the cave was almost lost in the dim light. Thick columns of stone were scattered around the village reaching to the roof.
But the party failed to take notice of any of it, as their eyes instinctively raised towards a massive rose quartz slab, stretching the entire length of the ceiling high above them. A shimmering, rose filtered, light dimly illuminated the village in its spring-like aura.
“I have been told it is a beautiful sight,” the blind man said.
“Who built this?” the girl gasped.
“The Geodes,” the blind man said, proudly. “They built this city for themselves. They may not speak but they each express themselves differently and truly enjoy the beauty.”
The two Geodes led them down towards the Village, where they were met by a group of almost a dozen Geodes. They were waiting for the group as if some invisible message had been sent to them. The Geodes looked similar, each one just being a pile of stone of varying heights, with the vestige of a man hidden in their frames.
“It seems most of you have come to see,” the blind man said, as he began to walk among them and discuss with them. He addressed each by a name and despite them never giving him an answer he held conversation as if every one of his questions were answered.
One of the Geodes he called Topaz walked forward and motioned for the travelers to follow him. Thus the party was led away from the blind man and guided by three Geodes.
“I don’t trust that man,” the Trapper said gruffly. “And I don’t like being surrounded by his pawns.”
“Be more careful what you say,” Sworder said. “They may not talk, but they can listen and communicate with him.”
“How could that be possible?” the girl asked.
“I believe part of it is vibrations,” Sworder said.
“Vibrations?” the girl said, confused.
“They send small vibrations through the ground to communicate different thoughts,” Sworder said.
“But I never felt any vibrations,” the girl said.
“Your shoes absorbed most of it,” Sworder said. “And I suspect he has acute senses.”
“How did you sense them? Your boots are thicker than mine.”
“My boots are part of me,” Sworder said.
“What?”
“He’s a Shadow Warrior; lass,” the Trapper said. “Even his weapon is nothing more than a mere part of his shadow.”
“Does that mean his cloak…” the girl trailed off.
“What was that?” Sworder said.
“Nothing,” the girl said after turning away from him to hide her crimson flush face.
The Geodes that guided them made no sign of understanding their discussion. They quickly led them to a large hut with woven drapes as doors. The hut was large and surprisingly empty with only one chair and table. After a few moments of awkward offerings, the girl sat in the chair as Uncle Ben and the Trapper stood on opposite sides of the table and Sworder sat against the side of the hut behind the girl.
The three Geodes left the group alone, but the party remained silent in the still room. The girl quietly played with her skirt while the Trapper began drumming his hand on the table. “Do ya think they are listening?” he asked.
“I do not sense their presence,” Sworder said. “I think they understand our reservations about them eavesdropping and they are respecting our privacy by removing themselves.”
“Considerate,” the Trapper scoffed.
“I guess they still have some things to prepare, as well,” Uncle Ben said.
“What do you make of all this?” the Trapper asked.
“They have numerical superiority,” Sworder answered, “By any count, they have at least eight bodies.”
“That would leave about three to each of us,” the Trapper said thoughtfully, placing his chin on his hands.
“What are you talking about,” the girl exclaimed.
“Battle strategies, lassie; if they were to jump us we have to think of a way to defend ourselves.”
“Why are you guys so suspicious? There is no reason to think that might happen.” She said looking to Uncle Ben for support.
“She is correct; there are no signs of hostility towards us.” Uncle Ben said. “For now we can set our suspicions aside. At least until we can get some answers.”
Sworder stiffened a little and he spoke in a hushed tone, “They are returning.” The group fell silent as they waited the long few moments before the drapes were parted and the blind man and three Geodes, each carrying a chair, entered.
“Thank you, Garnet,” the blind man said to the Geode as it set down the chair for him. The other two, after setting two new chairs, began setting the table with bread, nuts, and salads. “Sorry for the lack of substance, meat is quite rare and among three it would go much faster. The Geodes would not hear of it; however, we have tea for those who want it. Now, I know you have questions but please hold them a little longer.”
The silence which prevailed lasted until the majority of the meal had been eaten; only broken by Uncle Ben asking for another kettle of tea.
“Now,” the blind man said leaning back, “How should I begin?”
“How ‘bout an introduction,” the Trapper said.
“It has been so long since I have gone by my name but the Duragard call me Seeker. At one time I was an Imperial Scholar for the Empire.”
“The Empire!” The Trapper exclaimed, almost rising out of his seat.
“Why is someone from the Empire this far north?” the girl asked.
“That is part of a large story, but for now I will say I was researching something,” Seeker said.
“Which Empire?” Sworder asked.
“What do you mean which? There is only one. The Lantis Empire, a war hungry civilization bent on world conquest,” the Trapper said.
“Now that seems quite an outdated idea of the Empire. Ever since Selia’s King married the Crown Princess of Revena nigh almost a century ago, the Imperial Council has found trade far more profitable than war. Has that changed in the last eighty year?” Seeker asked the group.
“There has remained a tense truce along Selia’s southern border,” Uncle Ben said. “But the fear of the past does not fade quickly.”
“Lantis, you said,” Sworder mused. “So that was the house that won out in the end.”
“Do you remember something?” the girl exclaimed.
“More like… I have heard that name a long time ago.”
“He’s starting to remember,” Ranin said.
“With the correct catalyst any memory may surface, but the history of the Empire will not jog his lost memories.” Namic said.
“Was he associated with the house of Lantis?” the girl asked.
“There is no way to know for certain,” Seeker said. “Little survived from before the rise of the Lantis Dynasty more than a millennium ago. However, it is well known that all sides relied heavily on Kazans; so it may be possible he fought in those wars.”
“That is great and all,” the Trapper interjected, “but what does this have to do with why you are here?”
“Yes,” Seeker said, folding his hands in front of him. “I am sorry; my curiosity has gotten the better of me. Now where was I, ah yes? I was an Imperial Scholar; being recommended to the school in my fourteenth year. My specialty was Kazan research. I was particularly interested in the variety of Races. I study the ins and outs of the ever common Shadow Warriors and Shade Beasts; the Bodiless Sleepless Walkers, Forceful Wills, and Spirit Weavers; the Eastern Shadow Blades; the Mythical Eternal Guardians; and the like.
“Not long after finishing my studies, one of my mentors received word of a mysterious phenomenon seen in Calta’s mountains. He wondered if this was related to Kazans but unfortunately he could not make the journey because of his advanced age. Thus, as one of his star pupils, I volunteered to undertake the journey in his stead. Little did I know that this would be my last quest.
“Now the journey from the Empire in the far south to the northern peninsula of Calta was long and eventful but it matters little to my story. Upon reaching Calta, I was met with less than warm welcome, understandable considering my position in the Empire. But despite that I was able to acquire a guide to the mountains. I was fascinated by these caves. I believe they were called Dragon Burrows. Now my guide refused to enter but agreed to wait five days for me, and after listening to the last of a thousand warnings, I plunged into the dark caves.
“Now I wish I could regale you with a detailed account of my journey after that but the next two days I simply explored trying to map the area. On the third day I discovered that the name Dragon Burrow was accurate. I was attacked by a dragon more than an ell in size and no taller than your Kazan sitting by the wall. I do not remember much after that excerpt the beast took my sight. The scars have long healed but my eyes never returned. I lost my knife though I am sure it struck between its scales.
“I ran, feeling the blood draining down my face, unable to see. Then by luck, or maybe fate, I ran into a Geode, which I had unknowingly been searching for. He defended me from the beast but as I began to talk with him I realized how childlike his mind seemed. I knew then I was in the care of a Kazan but soon I realized he was unlike any I had known. At first I thought I had discovered a new Kind of Nature Whim like the Dvergar or a masterless Shadow Warrior, but I discovered something truly amazing.
“I had not discovered a new kind of Kazan; I identified a new Race, Living Souls, something unlike any race I have seen before. Now unable to see and entranced by my new discovery I was unable to find my way to the surface. I can only assume my guide waited the allotted five days and left, assuming I was lost or dead. With no way out, I had no choice but to stay. After all, the Geodes are unwilling to travel far from the mountains. Instead, I stayed to teach and guide this small settlement and watch it grow. In return they provided for me and helped me further my research. Ah, maybe I have gotten a little off topic, if you can forgive me. But that is how I came to be here.” Seeker finished.
The room fell silent after Seeker stopped speaking. Each taking time to digest the story they had heard. The Trapper was the first to break the silence.
“If this happened so long ago, why have you not left yet?” the Trapper asked.
“I do not want to abandon my children here. They still depend on my input to the point that I fear the day I will no longer be here for them. Additionally, how likely do you think it would be for a blind man to cross the forest by himself?” Seeker explained.
“And no other of the scholars came to follow you?” the girl asked.
“I was my master’s sole remaining pupil and I fear he did not last much longer after I departed. He may have been long lived but I doubt he is still alive.” Seeker said.
“You spoke of them being a new race of Kazan but what is your proof?” the Trapper asked. “What makes these Living Souls, as you call them, and not Shadow Warriors?”
“He is pushing for information about potential enemies,” Namic said.
Seeker smiled, “I was hoping I could speak more on this. Shadow Warriors most identifying features are their lack of a true physical form, instead holding a phantom form which can interact with the physical realm; and the ability to change their forms, which has been called Staging. Living Souls differ on both of these. When a Living Soul is formed it takes root into an object, much like Spirit Weavers do with people, and use that to move about the world, and rather than Staging, they can only increase their size so long as the correct conditions are met.”
“And Geodes would only be able to grow while touching the ground.” Uncle Ben said, nodding thoughtfully.
“Perceptive. I theorize that the conditions are related to the object they have been bound to, but since I can only observe one kind it is hard to confirm this. In the end there is still so much I do not know,” lamented Seeker. “But there is still so much to know about Kazans in general even though it has been researched for generations.”
“Sworder do you have any ideas about these Living Souls,” the girl asked.
“Do not bother asking such things. Scholars have been attempting to ask Kazans that question for millennium. Either they have lost the memories of such things like the Sealing Stones origins and why they exist, or all Kazans we see in these days have their beginnings after the origins of the Sealing stones. They never have been able to give us any answers about them.”
The girl gave Sworder a curious look but he simply nodded his head in agreement with Seeker’s words.
“Imagine the shock if all the scholars found out the greatest mystery they have ever attempted to unravel was nothing more than a mistake.” Ranin said.
“There is no point in bringing up ancient history,” Namic replied.
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