Divine Apostasy Book 7 - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Ruwen stepped through the portal already knowing they would arrive on the same planet. He had memorized the previous gate runes and recognized the symbol for this planet. Even though they’d come back to the same world, the site had changed drastically. The other Adepts had grouped together by Rung in a small dirt clearing, and as Ruwen walked toward Sift, he studied this new location.

They stood on a thousand-foot-wide mound shaped like a plateau, and over fifty tents, most of them small, flapped in the gentle breeze as if breathing. A deep canyon circled the hill, separating their location from the desert like plain that surrounded them on all sides. Dry air swirled around him, the wind carrying particles of sand.

The slope from the canyon bottom up to the plain contained hundreds, maybe thousands, of small chests. Ruwen turned in a circle, confirming what he guessed. They stood in the center of a circle.

“It’s like a giant donut,” Sift said. “I think I’m going to like this trial.”

Before Ruwen could reply, the Founders and Addas arrived through the gate rune portal. Having just embarrassed himself by a lack of focus, he decided his response to Sift could wait.

“Before we begin the second Master’s trial,” Mist said. “We will ask you each four questions.”

Thorn continued. “We will repeat these questions before your final trial.”

“There are no wrong answers,” Dusk said. “But your answers reveal how deeply you’ve understood the teachings of our Clan.”

“No one said anything about a pop quiz,” Sift whispered to Ruwen.

Ruwen kept his eyes on the Founders but whispered back. “I like tests.”

“Figures, you weirdo.”

The Founders strode to one of the larger tents and Madda spoke. “Meditate on the mysteries until you’re called.”

Everyone sat cross-legged and Padda walked over to Echo. She stood, and they followed the Founders.

A few seconds later, Madda appeared in front of them.

“Did you roll around in a fire?” Madda whispered to Sift.

Sift looked down at his scorched clothes. “Air friction.”

“The bridge golems are controlled by the Champion,” Madda said. “I saw your ‘helping hands,’ and it will bring his ire. You’ve made your future stops there more difficult because of it.”

Sift looked up at his mom. “It saved our lives. So the future can eat my elbow.”

Madda frowned at Sift.

Sift, unaffected by his mom’s displeasure, continued. He pointed a thumb at Ruwen. “Nobody thinks better under pressure than this grump. He saved us.”

Ruwen turned to Sift. “Thanks.”

Sift nodded. “I mean, I could have survived by myself, but for sure you rescued the others.”

“Really,” Ruwen asked. “How?”

Sift held up fingers as he spoke. “I’m a great swimmer, have experience fighting underwater, and I know a special trick to confuse my enemies.”

“Peeing in that river would not have saved you,” Ruwen said.

Sift shook his finger and opened his mouth to respond.

Madda slashed her hand through the air. “Enough. You two give me a headache. Now meditate.”

Madda marched away and twenty seconds later, quiet snoring came from Sift as he entered his special ninth level meditation. Or what everyone else called, a nap.

Ruwen considered his first experience with the Founders. They had moved around him like panthers circling a stunned rabbit. Many things had changed since then, and he’d turned into a panther himself. The only time he’d heard questions there had happened in the very beginning. Thorn and Mist had asked him four.

What had the Steps taught him?

Which was the most important Step?

What was his goal?

How many Steps were there?

As Padda fetched the Adepts one by one, Ruwen contemplated his past answers. For what the Steps taught him, he’d demonstrated the Viper and Bamboo forms for Thorn and Mist. His answer to the most important Step had been the one that took him to his goals. They had immediately asked him what his goal was, and he’d replied with balance. For the final question, they had asked how many Steps the forms contained, and he’d responded with none.

Ruwen felt the most confident about the last two questions. Balance remained his goal and the symmetry of the Steps resulted in the same thing as doing nothing. He didn’t plan on changing those. The first two, however, he had found a different perspective.

Ruwen nudged Sift as Padda approached.

“Thanks,” Sift whispered, keeping his eyes closed.

Padda stopped in front of Sift. “Adept, it is time.”

Sift immediately stood and followed his dad toward the Founders.

Ruwen focused on the first question. What had the Steps taught him? As he contemplated the insight the Steps had revealed, they had one thing in common: immense complexity and multiple layers. Only time and building on previous knowledge had led to his success. Some things could not be rushed. The irony of his conclusion made his mind and chest ache.

The second question, asking for the most important Step, Ruwen struggled to answer. He had responded with goals the last time, but that didn’t feel right. How did one even get goals?

Unsurprisingly, Padda and Sift had started their return. As Ruwen had expected, Sift’s answers had been short. Sift needed Step philosophy like the ocean needed fish.

Ruwen’s answers would be short as well, but for the opposite reason. He devoted immense thought to everything he did. Too much. But he couldn’t change his identity. In fact, it provided the answer for the most important Step.

“Adept,” Padda said. “It is time.”

Ruwen stood and followed Padda, matching the man’s serene stride. Just being near Padda relaxed Ruwen, like hearing a stream or listening to the rain.

“Thank you for saving them,” Padda whispered as they walked. “Your strength, is your heart, Adept.”

Before Ruwen could respond, they stepped into the tent. The Founders sat cross-legged in the middle of the large open area. Ruwen and Padda bowed, and the Bamboo Grandmaster turned and left.

The ground here consisted of hard packed dirt, but Ruwen easily detected the trail left by the other Adepts, and without being told, strode to a place five feet in front of the Founders. He sat and mirrored their posture.

“You have grown since our last meeting,” Mist said.

“Unnaturally fast,” Thorn added.

Ruwen gave a curt nod. “Extreme methods, obsession, and intense focus created many learning opportunities.”

“You are a mystery to us, Adept,” Mist said. “Silence and darkness fill you.”

Ruwen had spent time alone in the deep icy darkness of the far universe. He knew exactly what true silence sounded like. Despite his best efforts, his soul remained trapped. Bound by his Ascendancy to Uru and imprisoned by the tattoo she’d place over him like a blanket before he had even been born.

“I also hear the deafening silence,” Ruwen replied.

“This is not the place for such a conversation,” Dusk said.

Mist and Thorn nodded.

“How many Steps are there?” Dusk asked.

“None,” Ruwen answered.

“What is your goal?” Mist asked.

Ruwen locked eyes with her. “Balance.”

“What have the Steps taught you?” Thorn asked.

Ruwen faced Thorn but avoided locking gazes with the woman. Her eyes had a hypnotic ability that he wanted to avoid. Last time he’d shown them the forms, but he took it further this time. The Steps, with all their complexity and slow revelations, had taught him a painful lesson. One he’d ignored and would ignore again.

Ruwen sighed. “The Steps have taught me patience.”

“Ironic,” Thorn replied.

Ruwen nodded. “I am mindful of my hypocrisy.”

Ruwen valued the mysteries the Steps revealed, but with the stakes so high, not everyone could afford the time required to reach their potential. He needed powerful allies for the battles to come, but he kept all this to himself.

Dusk asked the final question. “What is the most important Step?”

One thing had motivated Ruwen his entire life. It had propelled every action, and the Steps were no different. “The Step toward learning.”

Ruwen’s Diamond Fortified senses and one hundred eighty-eight percent Perception allowed him to detect a slight disappointment in Dusk’s expression. His answer had been close, but not the one she’d wanted or expected.

“Thank you, Adept,” Dusk said. “You may leave.”

Ruwen stood, bowed, and marched back toward the other Adepts. He had come so far, but there was still something left to learn, and he’d have one more attempt to get it right.