Those Who Sharpen the Mind

Punishments and Condolences

Un'tra's vision of the past began to fade and his eyes opened. He took a moment to gather his surroundings. He had survived the 'Gambler's Last Call' and was slowly returning to his senses and sense of self. He moved his fingers and regained some sense of touch. He looked through the barely lit forest and only saw blurs. He had no concept of the time that had passed. 'What am I to do now?' he thought. He hadn't been torn to shreds by the dogs, but what could he do? He took a moment of meditation and looked inside for any sort of answer. The thought of his mentor plagued his mind and seeing him in his vision did not make it easier. A Path in his mind began to form and in the distance he saw the tips of the tallest buildings in Haimore.

There was danger for him in Haimore, but he had to see if he could help Un'debro and the Holi-inte. The tensions of that night had surely ceased and no one would know of Un'tra's connection to Un'debro that evening. Un'tra's mind was still foggy and he couldn't conceive if anyone would recognize him, or if he would recognize himself. He felt like he had his same consciousness and therefore he was content with the idea that he was still Un'tra.

Un'tra felt his muscles flexing and working to create the movement he now desired. He had looked within himself and without a doubt in his mind, his Path was to check on his mentor and peers. No matter the risk to himself he forced his body to move in what he thought was the direction of Haimore.

The forest detritus on Un'tra suggested that he may have been unconscious for a day or two. He dusted himself off and followed a small pocket of light. The travel was slow and difficult, but his Path was not detoured and he could see the rising walls and the tops of buildings coming into view.

Un'tra made his way through the city streets with ease. His steps echoed in him as reminders of the chaotic escape. How could these streets return to normalcy after the desperation of his steps felt like an instance ago? It was hard for him to fathom that he was free of danger. He cautiously returned to the Holi-inte campus. At that very moment, the majority of the Holi-inte were in the campus plaza. A few Senators including Drake stood on either side of a serious and burly-looking man. They stood on a makeshift stage and were somberly addressing the Holi-inte. Un'tra could recognize a fellow member he had studied with many times. He reached for his peer's shoulder awkwardly. Un'tra had not fully recovered from his experience. Words in his mouth felt like marbles being twirled around. He managed to get out,

"Wh... penin?" His peer Un'codem turned with a surprised look.

"Un'tra! I was wondering when the golden boy would show up. It's a mighty pity what happened to Un'de..." Un'codem trailed off remembering the closeness of Un'tra and Un'debro. "My deepest condolences Un'tra. You must be distraught?"

Un'tra stared at Un'codem blankly. He struggled to speak, but his features told Un'codem of his confusion.

"By the gods, you must have heard? I don't take any pleasure being the one to tell you, 'Tra." Un'codem took a deep breath before the plunge into the uncomfortable conversation.

"Two nights before, Un'debro was attacked by some disgruntled farmhands in his quarters. The reason is still unknown, but the results are disastrous. The bastards ended Un'debro's Path for what seems to be no more than a tavern dispute. These Senators are announcing our new headteacher. Un'nipu I believe his name is." Un'codem continued talking as Un'tra's face straightened. Un'tra did not want to let on to how broken he felt inside.

"My studies were never at your level, I'm not quite sure what his name means." Un'tra could be stoic no more and began to weep as he dropped his head into his palms. Un'codem placed his hand on Un'tra's shoulder to comfort him. Un'tra could not force the words out of his mouth. Un'nipu means 'The One with a Strong Hand'. He wept for his beloved mentor's passing and at the realization that the order would never be the same.

Un'tra gathered his emotions and nodded to Un'codem. Leaving the peer in confusion, he stroud away from the congregation towards Un'debro's quarters. The sounds, uncertainty, and events of the fateful night rushed into his mind. The door was locked as the possession of the quarters would now be changing. Un'tra wept again and fell to his knees. His Path had never felt more hidden. The tears streaked his face and he took several deep breaths. He took a look inside himself and the tears stopped. As if he could hear his mentor's voice, his emotions suddenly changed. 'I can't lapse in this sadness. The other Holi-inte need me, for the future may be difficult.' Un'tra raised himself and made his way to the main barracks. What was to happen to the Holi-inte was unknown, but Un'tra would face it with his brothers and sisters.

For the better part of a year, the Holi-inte campus and training changed entirely. Lessons were given with no passion or differentiation for all of the young men and women. Beautiful discussions about individual Paths and journeys were replaced with lessons about dealing with unruly citizenry and tax collection. The greatest of the diversions from the once beloved Holi-inte teachings was the new regime's intolerance of rebuttal and criticism. Any Holi-inte that was accused of insolence was severely punished. Inquiries and deviations from the daily schedule were met with harsh physical punishments. The cruel punishments and 'academic' demands weighed heavily on the Holi-inte. They were being pushed to their mental and physical limits. Many quit the order and would never return.

The one who took the greatest weight of the oppressive regime was Un'tra. Un'tra's inquisitive and contrarian nature made him the obvious target. Almost daily he would receive some tortuous or tedious retribution for his vocal retorts. Un'tra fundamentally did not agree with the regiment and pedagogy of Un'nipu and his regime. It did not focus on attaining knowledge or understanding one's self and Path.

Every night Un'tra meditated and looked within. Every night his Path became clearer. He was to wear the punishments with unflinching conviction to restore faith in the gods and the order. The other Holi-inte were to look at him as a symbol of righteousness and a follower of the Path. This Path was clear to Un'tra, but he couldn't shake visions of Un'debro, rabbits, and doubts of his worth from his mind. He could see the Path, but how was he to walk it alone?

Un'tra's defiance was no easy task as Un'nipu devised crueler punishments for each consecutive disobedience. Un'tra could not understand how menial tasks and outright torture were to prepare anyone for being a steward for the gods. He knew this Holi-inte leader had been installed by the Senate to rot the order from the inside. However, this was Un'tra's Path and he bore each escalating punishment with a stoic expression and demeanor. The other Holi-inte knew what he was doing and it did inspire those who weren't broken into leaving the order. The Holi-inte continued with their faith and even took up secret discussions and lessons of true value and worth.

The other Holi-inte were not the only observers of Un'tra's defiance. Messages were constantly being brought to the Senate. The Senators who had doomed Un'debro grew fearful. They saw the same uncontrollable and righteous spirit in Un'tra as had been in Un'debro. A new plan had to be made that would end dissent from the Holi-inte.

The Senate had to change the minds of the Holi-inte or crush them.