"We have known for millennia, what is to come, and roughly when. Details however are not so precise."
Jamyang "the gentle voice", Lama of the Flame (his remit was to deal with agents outside the hidden city).
Thusly spoken to a youthful man of Chinese descent whose reputation had grown from his college days to his actions in the recent great war. This young man, still in his thirties and already the holder of multiple doctorates gained in America and the United Kingdom had asked his questions, and in turn the lama had informed the detective.
Here is the gist of what he relayed to Dr Yao Fung. Understandably some of the phraseology, native to the Tibetan City of Flames may present as arcane and obscure, given the lack of context, but please rely on the fact that understanding will of a surety, come later.
The lamas have stood in defence of this world for millennia, since the Founding.
Millennia ago and millennia past the founding, the auguries were heard, and believed.
Revealed by The Falcon of the Gods, a man out of time, who had seen them with his own eyes.
That time, long awaited, was upon us.
And so the doctor, an agent of east and west, a man who lived in the material world beyond the spiritual home of the flame ... this man was commissioned, as others had been before him, to seek out that which would aid in the advent of the time to be.
There were three mantras recited, and anticipated.
THE AWAITED - Two souls only. Specific ones. The Flame Childe being the most important, but there was also the return to human form of a great champion of the city. At the time the Falcon spoke, this champion had not yet been born, but long after he would come, and following a long life marked in centuries, would fall in defence of the world. But he would return, as would others ...
THE RETURNED - Since the day of the founding, many within the city would depart this mortal coil, as the champion did. But their spiritual essence would not be lost, and the flame would ensure their rebirth.
THE OTHERS - Unlike the returned these souls would be starting their journey, but thanks to the arrival of the founder those many thousands of years ago, whose egress with the one not talked about from their home realm beyond, had brought with it the potential for power ... these new souls were equally as important. For the Realm's threat had not diminished since the time of the arrival - every soul who could join the fight must be aligned with those who would succour life, not devour it.
For magic was everwhere ... and in all places.
