𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘 | 𝑜 𝑘𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑏𝑖

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐕

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CHAPTER 5 ~ The Change Winds

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THE WIND HOWLED outside of the soaring stone walls of the Sunfire Temple, rippling the long, golden grass of the plateau like a stormy ocean. The massive túrann trees shot into the dark sky like small mountains, their outstretched boughs either reaching for the roiling blanket of clouds or bending to latch into the earth. Any stranger to the planet might think the massive limbs that twisted upwards might snap and crash to the plateau with the power of an earthquake due to the violent winds, but the trees had been growing with the fortitude to withstand the screaming winds for thousands of years — they would likely stand strong for thousands of years more.

Gaea watched the deep orange and gold leaves of the túrann trees roll and rise with a frown on her face, unable to appreciate the beauty of the sight. The kind of wind that ripped across the plateau without restraint was rare behavior, but not altogether unusual. Wind mighty enough to contort and control the constant clouds of Nahlyve was a harbinger of change. Not only did they bring physical change, for she knew the signs of such an event when she saw them, but it seemed a spiritual change was coming.

That just added another layer to the many things making Gaea's head throb. She glared at the sky, where a reddish orb glowed behind the cloud layers towards the West. "What have you got planned?" She got no answer — not that she was expecting one. Whatever was to come of the next few days, whatever plan or will that Danéru — the Force had, it would make itself known in due time.

Footsteps against stone echoed through the cavernous space and the Headmistress turned to see Varruc, Veitla, Thera, Getria, Junya, and Cyronn enter, some silent, others murmuring to themselves. Masirah was not present, but Gaea didn't blame her. She was likely in the medical wing with her brother. Cyronn wasn't yet a Lasa Meádá, his ceremony continuing to be postponed, but he was old enough and close enough to the situation to warrant his presence.

As soon as the recount of the mission to Ord Radama left her mouth, the hall erupted. Every person had an immediate opinion and decided that shouting was the best way to express it. Gaea was quite sure Thera had started it, but it was impossible to tell. Varruc was waving his hands in the air and Junya had decided to hiss in his face, ears flattened against her head. Thera and Veitla had gone from passive-aggressive to one wrong word away from trading blows in a matter of moments, while Getria held the Mirialan woman back.