Age of Strife Book 0: The Path of War

Chapter 7: The Lost Divine

As three months would pass again, since the "intruder" incident Hiryu now eighteen years old has made strides to help his fellow disciples. Though some are still offset by his initiation in their order, they have warmed up to his presence being a commonality in the monastery. Hiryu now finished learning the Eastern Front's kingdoms and history, has moved on to the Ninth School's history and the relations it has to the other Monasteries. "What you call gods we call divinities. It's an attribute to what they had done for us here on Terran, and we are ever thankful for their service." Uruiz lectures. "You see long before the New World was ever ushured in, there were telltales of the divinities walking on earth alongside us mortals and we worship them both as a sign of their godhood and tribute for what they did for us. You see why we-" 'SNOOORE.....' Uruiz is interrupted as witnesses Hiryu passed out at his desk while trying to take notes. "Geh, I can't believe it... can you believe it Fels?" Uruiz says as he turns to see his coinstructor Felicia also sleeping but atop the desk. Frustrated Uruiz lets out a loud roar causing Hiryu and Felicia to wake up in shock, now awake with their attention Uruzi chides "Would you two please show a bit more respect for the story!? I mean this is not just about a singular god nor a singular pantheon, but the birth of all divine beliefs!" Hiryu rubbing his eyes tiredly responds "Apologize senior, but the story is rather long...." "And boring, can't you just cut to the part where it's relevant now?" complained Felicia. With an annoyed and frustrated groan Uruiz gives in and says "Fine, Fine! I can tell the "spark notes" but key details of their ascension will be missing!" "I'm sure our initiate along with other disciples will live if they miss that long detail." Felicia jokingly says. Ignoring Felicia, Uruiz regains him composure before continuing with his lecture "To put it in the briefest of terms, the divinities we worship today are derived from the stars. Each kingdom has an order dedicated to their belief in divinities such as the Human Empire with the Twin Spheres of Harmony and Order, or the Faeries in their belief with the Covenant of the Moon and Stars, whilst the Beast-Kin have the Rituals of Sun and Earth." Hiryu writing down in his notes raise a question to Uruiz "So... who does the Ninth School worship?" Uruiz looks at Felicia who answers "No one particular if we're being honest." Hiryu gives a puzzled look in response, Uruiz adds "Well not no one Fel, just technically he doesn't officiallyexist in the eyes of Twin Spheres, Covenant, or Rituals." "What?" Hiryu confusingly says. "Look as an orc who comes from the southern lands, I can tell you that almost all the beast-kin hold the belief that through Ritual of Sun and Earth they become stronger through adversity. I hold that belief still, much like how Fel still believes in the Covenant of Moon and Star. The thing is with the Ninth School's god, almost nobody worships him... hell I'd say nobody even remembers his name. Even Grandmaster Kazuma despite holding worship to him doesn't know his name." "So the school is just a glorified martial art school?" Hiryu asked even more confusingly. "Well no, it's still officially recognized as a monastic school but on the bases that the students hold a belief for the orders mentioned prior. To put in a simple perspective everyone here does hold faith to a god, but not to the god dedicated here. As Uruiz said only Kazuma does." Hiryu looking confused and feeling conflicted simply writes in his notes 'Unknown Divine'. After the lecture and lesson were over, Hiryu wandered the ground to see the other students on their day to day. Seeing Ry'ar unoccupied at the moment Hiryu walks up to him and greets him "Senior Ry'ar, greeting." "Ah Hiryu, what do I owe this conversation?" Ry'ar greeted back. "I'm in the process of learning the various religions and faith of the Eastern Front, and the topic of Ninth School's faith came up. I'm curious as to what your faith lies in?" Hiryu asked. Ry'ar looks at him with a puzzled look before leaning toward him and in a low tone say "Perhaps you shouldn't go around asking about people's faith, because one might get the wrong idea." Hiryu feeling both a little embarrassed and ashamed asking a supposedly taboo question goes to apologize but Ry'ar interrupts with "But to answer your question I am of the Rituals of Sun and Earth, much like Uruzi, Balyek, and a majority of the beast-kin disciples here." Hiryu nods at the answer and begins to think on another question to ask, but Ry'ar intercepts and says "Your wondering about the Lost Divinity aren't you?" Hiryu gives a surprised look but nods at the assessment. "Hah, I'm not surprised. Everyone here is curious about the Lost Divine, but because Grandmaster Kazuma knows very little himself there not much we can learn." said Ry'ar. "Still, whoever this Divinity is must have a shrine or a place of offering that exists within the monastery." Hiryu remarks on. "Hmmm... maybe." Ry'ar thinks for a moment and seems to be deep in thought before saying "Perhaps... no I shouldn't... but." Ry'ar expression reads one of conflict as he internally debates on what he should do. With a deep breath Ry'ar's expression clears and he says "Look, I shouldn't be telling you this... but if you are truly dedicated in uncovering the name of this divine.... Then you should turn attention to the underground." Hiryu looks at Ry'ar with both surprise and questions but he continues "Neither seniors or disciples are allowed into the deeper parts of the underground, whatever it is the grandmaster hides... perhaps it may give you insight." Hiryu questions "Why are telling me this?" "You've proven yourself to be insightful, more than any normal disciple and nearly enough to match us seniors. I figure if you can pick up on learning about the Eastern Front in but five months, perhaps you can pick up on whatever it is the grandmaster hides." Ry'ar answers. "But intruding unto a place I'm not welcome at?" Hiryu responds with concern. "Heh, not the first time you've done that...." Ry'ar rebukes. Hiryu gives him a deadpan look as he knows he refers to their first introduction "Fine... where do I enter the underground?" "Well, that would be by where the library is. Go past the building and you'll see a door built into the wall, but ah... go under cover of darkness. Less people around that time and the like." Ry'ar suggests. Hiryu now curious as to what the underground hides goes about the rest his day until dusk settles. Hours later as the sun sets, and the moon rises having dusk finally settles. Obscuring his face with a mask Hiryu sneaks out of his dorms, and makes his way to the library while taking heed to avoid night patrols. Stalking and prowling through the monastery Hiryu arrives in front of the library, looking pass the building there is a door as Ry'ar described 'build into the wall'. Opening the door quietly Hiryu slips pass the gap, and closes the door before descending down into the monasteries underground. Descending down the stairs with torchlight to guide him, Hiryu arrives at the ground-level of the underground where he sees a set of cells and patrollingdisciples. Scaling the walls to climb unto the wooden frame above, Hiryu sees the cells filled with creatures and see that the disciples are adepts. Overhearing the patrolling disciples speaking to each other he hears "Grief, being here creeps me out." "I know what you mean... the creatures we got hold up here, makes me shiver just by thinking about them. Why do we even keep them here?" "Harvesting reagents for the alchemy labs and from what I heard it's because of some agreement the grandmaster has with the other monastery sects." Looking into one of the cells Hiryu see a creature malignant and deformed, as though the thing was warped at point of its body and continued to contort as such. Walking along the frame carefully Hiryu stopping at a split pathway, he sees a pair of disciples relaxing against the wall and not likely to move. Thinking of a way to distract them a loud noise is heard in the right hall, causing the two disciples to be alarmed for a moment before hearing "Help! We need help to contain this blasted thing!" The two disciples not wasting a moment run to the assistance of person calling for help, while Hiryu dropping down from the frame above quickly goes through the left hall. Stalking through the hallways and avoiding the patrolling disciples, eventually Hiryu finds a large door ornate in design. This is where the seniors are likely to stop searching, but with curiosity besting him Hiryu attempts to open the door. "Hnrng!" Hiryu grunts as he tries opening the door. Taking a good look at the door's design it has handles that can be pulled, but to little effect of opening it. Hiryu tried pushing it, but that too also had little effect in opening the door. Looking on the ground as well also tells that the doors are meant to open outward rather than being lifted up by some mechanism. As Hiryu stands there befuddled he soon sees the doors ornate design glow, but before he can do anything Hiryu begins hearing footsteps coming his direction and hides behind a pillar. Peering out of cover Hiryu sees Kazuma approaching the door; however he stops before the door and sees the door glow to his surprise. Soon enough Kazuma begins looking for something... or someone. "Hiryu... are you there?" Kazuma calls out. Coming out of his cover Hiryu approaches Kazuma and bows his head to him. "Grandmaster." "Why are here at this hour? Better yet why are here at all?" Kazuma asked. "I.... I was seeking an answer to a question that came up that came up in a recent lesson." Hiryu answers honestly. "Ah.... The Nameless Divine, so you suspect something related is beyond this door?" Kazuma asks. "Yes." Hiryu answered. Kazuma stroking his chin begins to think on what to do with Hiryu "Hmmm... my student, you aren't supposed to be here given your perceived rank among the others. But... you did take an initiativewhere others would be deterred...." A moment of tense silence permeates for a moment until Kazuma breaking his thoughts says "Very well Hiryu, seeing as you taken the initiative this far... I suppose you've earned the right to see what is beyond this door. But I assure you... it's nothing special, despite the door's appearance." Hiryu walking towards Kazuma to stand beside him to see a rune appear before them, Kazuma doing a set of gestures dispels the rune and the door opens. As the doors opens it is revealed to lead into a curving hallway, Kazuma notions for Hiryu to follow as he takes the lead.