Kuro: A Land in Eternal Night

Chapter 13.2: Searra

She removed her hands and I could see again. I saw her shake her head. "Sadly, you are not ready yet. Were the Seal of Tsukuyomi revealed to you at this time, you would fall prey to its power. It is not a Seal to be taken lightly."

"For one such as you, there is much to learn, Vannah. Much to know before you can be up to the task of surmounting the obstacle that is Tsukuyomi's Seal." Searra, noticing the anger in my eyes and the hurt on my face, looked at me and smiled. "Do not be offended. Your talent is greater than mine. That is why you were able to catch up to me."

She lightly brushed the side of my hair. I felt the blood rush to my face. I knew I was blushing in that instant. I felt naked in front of her, like I could hide nothing from Searra. "Your hair falls down straight. It would look pretty if it were braided. May I?" Searra looked at me with mischievous eyes. I shrugged. "Why not?" Searra beamed and went behind me, deftly taking my hair, slowly taking the strands and twisting them. "Vannah, I ask only that you let me guide the next few steps of your path. Let me make you my equal first. And then I shall follow you the rest of the way."

And so began the curious relationship between Searra and me. During those early years, she acted as my mentor, showing me hidden paths, underground passages, trapdoors in the walls, all leading into the Inner Sanctum and out. I slipped into the role of follower, telling myself that at least for the time being, this was necessary in order for me to learn what Searra knew. She was impulsive, every bit as reckless as I was. But she was far wiser. Following Searra thus, I deepened my knowledge of the world that I was living in.

Since our fateful meeting, the Order decided that we should both be isolated and kept out of contact with the rest of our 'less talented' sisters. A story was made up that I had finally found a new home and would leave the temple. My sisters bade a tearful farewell to dear Vannah and that was it. Once properly isolated, the Order devised a special program for Searra and me, letting us roam, free to learn the knowledge that was hidden from the rest of them.

During the hours of the Slumber and just before the Winding, the world became our oyster. There were things to read, tomes with knowledge just waiting to be discovered. Unlike the rest of our sisters who had to perform heavy and taxing manual labor, Searra and I were left to our own devices. During the day we would keep ourselves hidden, gathering strength to keep awake during the Slumber. We were granted access to the Inner Sanctum.We would hold hands, and irreverently run around. We would be scolded of course, but we knew they could not really do anything to us. Novice priestesses who happened to wander about the temple at night would often report hearing the laughter of young girls, giving rise to the stories that the temple and the Inner Sanctum were haunted.

We sparred often during those early years, competing against each other with our Sealcraft. During those formative years, I had not realized how far ahead of me Searra really was. But I was exceptionally driven. One could say the rivalry between us was a great motivator for both of us.

I had entered another phase of happiness in my life. My development under Searra's guidance was rapid. She withheld nothing from me, teaching me shortcuts, tricks, seals that I needed to know.

Searra became a surrogate parent to me. I was desperate to win her approval, to show her that she had not been wrong to wait for me all these years. Without the benefit of the companionship of the rest of our sisters, Searra and I developed a bond that became stronger because of the circumstances we both found ourselves in.

To this day, I have yet to understand the reason for Searra's benevolence. Perhaps she was lonely and was grateful for the companionship. I am not sure if I would have done the same as she, had there been another that came after me.

We talked about the things that mattered to us. We spoke about our families and our childhood, the things that we had lost. Searra told me that she lost her parents and an older brother a few short years ago. A plague overtook her village and claimed their lives. She told me how she had come under the care of the Order. I confided a lot in Searra. I told her how lonely I was, how I had missed my Daddy in those years before we lost him, how I longed to go back.

Searra was always the strong one. "Don't look back, Vannah, she would say, "Don't you ever dare look back and wish that things did not turn out the way they did. There's no use in crying over the past." Back in those times, because we were both isolated from the rest of our sisters and the majority of the order, Searra was the only human contact I had in a long time.

I had found a friend.