(Written while listening to: "Gandalf the White" by Howard Shore, from the movie"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" on YouTube)
----------------------------
<<<>>>
Laito's head was throbbing with a migraine.
Not because he was harmed or anything, but because he was in the midst of hearing an endless tirade from his "master".
"What were ya two even thinkin in there?!? Oh wait! Obviously ye weren't! Only a brainless buffoons like ye lot could came with such a stupidity."
It felt like hours had passed since this old, dry looking man began his journey of finding new and inspired ways to call them "Idiots".
After the Lady Commander saved their lives, she promptly dismissed them with a message written directly by her, that explained the entire "situation", addressed to their "master" and current guardian. Old Gatekeeper Gastac.
Despite him being their "master" he's apparently an Awakened, not an Ascendant, but still.
He was strong.
And seriously pissed off right now.
"Ye thinkin 'tis some jokes? That servin' the Incandescent Order is some shite and giggles. I'll tell ya, ye ain't gonna laughin now!" His tirade continued
"Especially ye lass!" He pointed his angrily shaking finger at the redhead girl who was standing next to Laito, with her head lowered in shame.
"The lad's new to the job, so he ain't fixed yet. But YOU've been doin tis for over a year now!"
"Ye're' soo screwed, Imma tellin ya!"
–
'Hehe.'
"And the HELL, ye grinnin at lad!?" He turned to Laito who slipped slight schadenfreude at the girl misery.
'Not hehe.'
Laito's face turned serious immediately.
"Nothing Sir! I'm ashamed Sir!" He responded with a stern expression, standing at attention.
–
"...- Lad, ye ain't doin soldier's drills yet…- Just leave that talk for yer future trainin officers…- And yer doin it wrong anyway." Gastac was speechless for a moment with Laito's behavior, which managed to give him a pause.
–
"
The redhead's (apparently named "Dory") face paled even more…- even her freckles somehow has gotten paler at the gatekeeper's decision.
–
'And ye lad…-" After thinking for a bit he addressed Laito.
"Will check ye'rself up with the Lord-In-Command"."
"Something is wrong with ye and the Order's Sorcerer needs to take a look at ye."
"And trust me, that ain't gonna be pleasant."
–
[On highest floor of the Incandescent Keep]
Laito has been led to the Keep's highest tower, just under the brilliant artificial sun.
Up there was a chamber that looked like it belonged to a Wizard.
And factually, it did.
–
'The hell?!? It's Gandalf the Hwhite!'
Inside the chamber, behind the desk a wizened old man was sitting behind a well crafted wooden desk covered in some mystical appliances, his appearance and even voice indeed similar to the most famous fantasy wizard.
"Lord Gandeon Olorfnir…- Imma leavin' the lad in ye care" The old gatekeeper said while bowing to the ground in front of the current second strongest person in the entire continent.
"I will take it from here Gastac. Thank you. You may go back to your duties, I promise the boy will be alright." The Wizard said relaxingly, while smiling warmly.
"
"That won't be necessary my dear friend. Now please go. I need to have a little chat with this young man. In private."
"Of course M'lord" Gastac bowed once again and turned to leave, but before that, he pointed his finger at Laito and said with a low voice.
"And ye lad better behave, Transcendent Gandeon's a real big deal…- and a person like him…- he'll see right through ya…-." he added and left promptly.
"
-
"
Bearded Saint, Gandeon said to Laito when they were left alone, while slightly shaking his head with amusement and a small smile.
"Now please boy, take a seat" the wizard pointed towards an empty chair in front of his desk.
"Would you like a cup of tea? I also have some fresh biscuits."
-
"...- Do I have a choice?" Laito asked hesitatingly.
"
Laito sat down at the chair and took a biscuit.
'Hmm, nice. Sweet, soft and fluffy. Could greatly get along with some warmed milk.'
"The Incandescent are an elite knight's order founded and led by yours truly, together with small group of like-minded individual Masters" The Wizard explained. Unprompted.
'Oh, a lore dump, this is going to be useful.' Laito noted to himself.
"Right now the Order consists of two Transcendent: Me, and also Saint Tirabeth Lux also known by her true name as a "Pure-Gold Justicar", who was assigned to this god-forsaken place as punishment on behalf of her dynasty." The Lord Commander continued.
"Also, among our ranks, there is now a considerate amount of Ascendants, all with unique and powerful abilities of their own. They act as a higher ups of the Order and are the intermediaries within chain of command between me and an Awakened force of many valiant Knights."
"We are a "loosely" organized, binded together mostly by camaraderie and shared values. A force acting as this outpost's administration, military and clergy. Serving The Sun Empire, ruled by the Anointed of the Sun God. The Silver Sovereign, holding the title of Supreme Emperor."
"Unfortunately, his domain and by extension, the Sun God's domain, is not reaching here, as we are at the verge of a dead-lands." The old wizard pointed in the direction of the eclipsed sun.
"Apparently, they have had some scuffle with the Shadow God, so both the Sun…- and Death are denied from humans in this territory."
"This is why the places of rest under the eclipsed land are sealed and forbidden grounds, as the dead there tends to rise in unrest if not purified regularly, or provoked…- as you have had an occasion to find out recently yourself…-"
Laito cringed.
"Ah yes, thankfully you two were able to return safely…-" Gandeon continued.
"Right?" The wizard looked now at Laito with a gentle, but piercing gaze…- As if he could see into his soul…- maybe he could, in fact.
The Wizard pushed slowly a rune filled parchment over the desk, towards Laito.
"Could you read it for me please?"
<<<>>>
[5 years left until MHA plot beginning]
[Chapter End] The story is not over yet