"YOU WILL DIE!" screamed Eoria, dashing towards Urnyras Jael while she's lying on the ground. "DIE, SCUM!"
She attempted to hit Urnyras Jael with her blade. Urnyras Jael could merely block the attack before tumbling to her side, breathing heavily. She regained her control and dashed forward, like an agitated panther - counter-attacking without losing time.
Eoria blocked her in the air, jumping backwards and sending her a force blast using Ùrda; Urnyras blocked the blast with her blade but she lost her balance. She was having a hard time hitting Eoria, somehow fearing hurting her. Eoria, however; did not look compassionate, at all.
"SCUM!" she roared again, throwing one of her shortswords to Urnyras. Urnyras started to run towards Eoria and blocking the shortsword moving with a clear expertise, jumping and tumbling towards her and sending her a force blast back. Eoria, caught off-guard, got hit by the blast and flew a few feet back, to hit the wall and fall on the ground. She started to breathe heavily, peering at Urnyras with hatred and purring low.
"You are an illusion," Urnyras Jael said. "Thus I will slay you."
She did not hesitate cutting Eoria's head with a single blow.
...
"It happened again," Urnyras Jael said. "I killed Eoria."
"Still, that was impressive," said Fauran, when Urnyras Jael gathered her consciousness back. "It is... strange that whenever we initiate these anti mind-control practices, your mind picks Eoria as the hardest opponent. You value her. Your most common opponent is always the hardest to kill. Your mind likes challenge."
"I do value her, Master," she nodded. "I fear that one day we might actually encounter in a battle against each other. I fear that I will be too weak to fight her."
"Disciples do not turn against each other easily," Fauran shook his head. "But, no matter what, your training includes to be able to slay the most loved ones when necessary. Hesitation is our biggest enemy, and your loyalty is primarily to the power you wield. You have to remember that."
...
Weeks flew by faster than they thought. After six months of continuous training, all four apprentices of Master Fauran could actually feel the power coursing within their veins and soul, filling every single side of their body; pumping courage, wisdom and force. Eoria, on the other hand, was still as cold as she always was to Gea and Shevach, however it wasn't as bad with Urnyras anymore. Urnyras could swear that she has seen Eoria slightly smiling once, even.
Weirdly enough, there were many times that Urnyras found herself unconsciously trying to make her smile. Everytime she sensed a glimpse of joy in Eoria, she felt it double.
Still, she didn't have much time to focus on her.
...
"Your yearly trials are yet to come," announced Fauran, one morning; when the Disciples were eating at the Halls of Gathering. "You will split in two groups and you will be given an assignment out of the Temple. You are expected to complete your given assignments in the specified time."
"Out of the Temple? Where, Master?" asked Shevach.
"Patience," replied Fauran. "After the Ùrda practice today, you will be given your briefing and your team members."
Shevach nodded. The others didn't react. Fauran left the girls alone with fast steps, out of the Halls.
"Trials," mumbled Urnyras. "I can't believe it has been six months since we came here."
"Well, we were too busy and tired to realize how time flew by," said Eoria.
"That's right, but still - do you feel ready for the Trials yet? I feel like... I don't know anything," said Gea. "I am not sure if I can-"
"Hesitation is our worst enemy, Gea," said Urnyras with an absolute and explicit self-esteem. "If you hesitate your soul, you can't do it anyway. I can handle anything to come. Remember the code, hesitation, temptation, excitem-"
"Oh, come on now," sighed Eoria. "We have one Fauran, we don't need a smaller female version. Let go."
Urnyras raised an eyebrow, but didn't reply.
"How was the mind-control practice?" asked Shevach to others.
"Smooth," said Gea. "I killed my father with no hesitation. It sort of felt... good, you know. I love my father, but it felt like I released a weakness, some unnecessary bond that was enslaving me, oh, I like these practices."
"It was pretty smooth for me too," said Shevach proudly. "I killed my uncle. I still hope I won't have to actually do that ever in my life."
"You?" said Gea rapidly, turning towards Urnyras. Urnyras literally jumped.
"Ha? What?" she could say.
"Mind-control practice. How was it?" Gea asked.
"Ah, good," Urnyras replied, chewing her meal. "I killed my.. um, mother."
Eoria smiled.
"What?" Urnyras turned towards Eoria, somehow nervous.
"Nothing," Eoria replied, shrugging.
"What about yours?" asked Urnyras, challengingly.
"I killed my father," she replied straightforwardly.
Urnyras somehow felt a disappointment deep inside.
Still, she found the fact that she actually wished Eoria to kill her instead of her father a bit awkward.
Eoria smiled.
...
"Why did you lie?" asked Eoria to Urnyras Jael, shortly before the Ùrda training, when they were alone.
"Lie? Why would I lie?" said Urnyras. Her heart started to beat faster with panic and anxiety. "I didn't lie, no."
"Hmm, so why are you in panic all of a sudden, and in a repetitive denial?"
"I'm not-"
"I know who you killed. I am aware of everything," Eoria said.
"But-"
"I know it, because I killed you, not my father."
"You killed me?"
"Yes. You."
Urnyras felt joyful. Most possibly, if she wasn't a fylla but an eila; she'd dance around the Temple, singing.
"So-"
"If you are ready, we shall commence our Ùrda training," Fauran's voice echoed the training grounds. "It will be relatively short today, since you will get your briefings and given half a day to finalize your preparations for departure."
...
Ùrda training lasted only four hours, and Fauran ordered the Disciples to gather at the Halls of Gathering in half an hour before leaving. Shortly before the sunset, the Disciples gathered around Fauran. He was holding four green envelopes.
"Tomorrow, before the noon, you will leave the Temple towards your destinations specified in these letters. You will not open them now, and you will not be told who your companions are. Each of you will leave the Temple seperately towards your directions. Your first objective, aside the ones written in your letters, is to find your companion within the zones specified. You are expected to track and spot your companion. You may have multiple companions, or you might simply be altogether, everything is possible, actually. The routes you will follow are given in your letters. If any of you dare to speak of their routes and/or their destinations, they will be banned from the Temple immediately and deported back to N'ya. So keep your mouths shut."
Urnyras lifted her head and looked at Eoria, only to notice that she was looking back at her; most possibly hoping for the same thing: companionship of one another.
...
Urnyras found a silent, remote corner in the Temple Gardens and ripped open her letter:
Destination: Axed Keg Tavern, Delhraìr, Orbh City
Route: N'ya - Forest of Orbh - Orbh City
Expected Duration of Travel: One Week
Quest: A suspicious activity in this Tavern has been reported.
Disciple is expected to arrive there as soon as possible, after finding her companion(s) in Orbh City, who will be sent there for another task. These tasks will be finished one after another. Initiative will belong to the Disciples' common decision.
We have limited information on this 'suspicious activity', and reports only specify several rituals taking place. We suspect a cultist activity.
Disciple will figure out the actual happening and deliver a detailed report to the Intelligence Corps.
This message shall be annihilated by the authorized officials.
Quest Duration: Two Weeks
She slowly folded the briefing letter.
"Orbh City?" she asked loudly. "Wow, that's..."
"Do not, please, shout your destination once again," said an expressionless voice. "If I was one of the Disciples, you would be on your way home now."
Urnyras blenched, quickly turning back to look who talked. It took a brief moment for her to realize it was Fauran.
"Master," she trembled. "I'm sorry."
He made a dismissive gesture.
"Go get ready, girl," he said. "Yours is a risky, dangerous, yet an adventurous journey."
She slowly bowed her head, and left for her room to get ready.
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