Chapter 6 - The Final Story

"Well, Zara," Kala said, "Today will be your final history class. In honor of this great achievement, I will tell any story or lecture you wish."

Zara, now dressed in the white robes of a novice, smiled. "Then you shall tell my favorite, Kala-sensei. Tell me the story of the dark heretics."

Kala sighed and shook his head. "I honestly do not see why that story interests you so much. It is not even a good story."

"I just have a connection to it, Kala-sensei. A feeling that it will somehow affect my life."

"Well, I should hope that it doesn't." Kala sighed and began his tale. "About seventy years ago, there was a sect of the Followers of Saetan in Omerta that dabbled in the dark arts of You-Ki, the demon energy. The power and numbers of this sect grew until it was viewed as a threat by the other sects. The sect was ordered disbanded, but a small group would not allow this. They fought to keep the right to their seperate sect. This resistance started small, around thirty people, and gradually grew smaller as members gave in and spread out amongst the other sects."

"With twelve members left, the group hid in a small bunker and prepared for the attack that was to come. When the battle came, ten of the rebels were quickly killed, but the other two, the joint leaders of the former sect, unleashed horrible dark energies so powerful that the force was felt by every gifted person in the world. Oh, it was a horrible feeling child. I was young and barely trained at that point, but I could still feel the demon energy from all the way across the globe."

The two masters slew fifty men before the day was through, and they escaped, each going their seperate ways. One of the men, Niso Haruga, is rumored to have traveled to his homeland here in Tershan. The other man, Norman Jhast, disappeared from all record and is now used as a fairy tale to scare Omertan and Dewvronian children."

"The constant use of Heiho-Ki has been shown to slow aging quite considerably. Whether this is true of You-Ki is unknown. What we do know, is that if it works for them as well, one or both of the dark heretics may still be alive."

"And I honestly hope, child, that it is not your fate to meet one of these two men. They are possibly the most dangerous creatures to ever walk this earth." Kala rose from his chair and moved to Zara's side. "Now there is something I must speak to you about, child. It is about your decision on the location of your exodus."

"Why, is there something wrong with my choice?" Zara asked, innocently.

"I don't think you realize the rammifications of making a trip to Dewvron. Your heritage would instantly mark you. Outsiders are not generally accepted in that country. That is why there has not been an exodus to Dewvron in a hundred years."

"It will be fine Kala-sensei. I will find acceptance somehow. Trust me."

Kala let out a deep sigh. "Very well. If you are to catch the trade ship at the port, you had best leave now." Tears formed in Kala's eyes as he gave his student one last hug. "You've grown so much since you first came here. I will miss you."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kala could not watch her go. He sat in his chambers remembering the last embrace Zara had given him before she had left, remembering the love of one who had been a daughter to him. He sat with regret in his heart, for he knew that he would not likely last another seven years. Kala wept at the thought of never seeing his adopted daughter again.