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Edonil: This is a prequel to another story of mine, meant to be read afterwards. It's kind of hard to explain everything, but if you go to my website (www . edonil . com) there's an entire section under "Edonil's Library" called "Seond". If you go there, you should be able to find whatever you need to know, with the exception of two words (which I will explain in a minute). You can also find the first story at my website.
Two Words You Need to Know:
- melatya: homosexual
- meluyo: bisexual
(Obviously, there will be a same-sex pairing in this. You have been warned.)
And so, without any furter ado...
Seond
Gai’sho Té
“Up, middle, down. Switch! Up, middle, down. Switch! Up, middle, dow- Trainee Menissa, what are you doing?!” Despite the fact that she wore a skirt of thick metal plates, Training Master Fyelila Mynel of the Gai’sho Té moved silently. Poor Menissa Lenelish, also known as Nissa, flinched.
“Uh… Practicing?”
“That was not done properly!” Although she yelled, Master Fyelila’s face betrayed no emotion. But then, that was normal for a Master of the Gai’sho Té; the Gai’sho Té were People of the Calm, and Master Fyelila had, after all, mastered the Calm.
“Sorry, Master Fyelila.” Nissa began to drop a curtsy in the human style she was used to, then changed to a Gai’sho Té bow half-way through, hands clasped, bending ‘til her torso was parallel with the worn training ground. Her transition was not smooth, and she nearly fell over. Some of her classmates snickered.
“What did I just here?” Master Fyelila asked the class. “Was that emotion?” There was no reply. “Answer me, class!” There was a murmur of “sorry’s”. “You are training to be Gai’sho Té; feel no emotion,” Master Fyelila reiterated. “The Gai’sho Té are people of the Calm, and in the Calm there is no emotion. And when one is without the burden of emotion and other mortal worries, one is without flaw in every part of their being. Including fighting. Which brings me back to my original point; Trainee Menissa, what were you doing?”
“I was failing to master the Calm, and as a result, my attack was incorrect,” Nissa replied respectfully. “I beg permission to go to the Sanctuary, so that I may meditate on my error.”
“Go, Child.” Trainee Menissa bowed- correctly this time- and strode off, not too fast and not too slow, like they had been taught, towards the Sanctuary.
“What are you looking at, class?” The class took one look at Master Fyelila’s emotionless but hard silvery eyes and went back to their drill.
“Have a good time?” she asked innocently. Nissa glowered.
“Goddess of Chaos, I hate that sanctuary!” Kira grinned. “Oh, don’t you smile! I didn’t laugh at you last time you were caught making out with whoever it was and got sentenced to the Sanctuary!” Kira shrugged and went back to her book, no longer smiling. Nissa’s words had cut. Vilai…
Vilai was safe. The first time the two girls had been caught kissing, Vilai had managed to dash off, and Kira would never betray her love, so only Kira was warned that Gai’sho Té “felt not the yearnings of lust”. The second time, Vilai had hidden, and so had Kira, but Kira was a kitch-resh, and her fiery hair had glowed and given her away. If Kira was caught one more time, she would be in very serious trouble.
Kira was one of the oldest Trainees in residence.
Then there were Kira’s lovers. Nissa tried to be a good friend, but she always knew when Kira had been “dumped”. It was not unusual for Trainees who had just reached puberty to feel the yearnings of love, but Kira was fifteen! And she was meluyo; that was something Nissa would never understand.
“Trainee Kira-Lye, you are moving, and therefore you are not meditating. Let the Calm envelop you.”
Kira gritted her teeth and tried again.
There are too many stupid rules I don’t want to follow! I have to be calm. I must be a dedicated Gai’sho Té. I can’t fall in love…
I just don’t understand! Emotion is important! Passion is what makes life worth living! Love… I just don’t understand.
Kira opened on of her feline eyes a crack. There sat the draigin Vilai Yivil, not two feet away. She appeared to be deep in meditation…
Is she about to reach that stupid Calm? She wants to be Gai’sho Té, and I want her to be happy, but… Oh, Vilai! I’d do anything for her! I have! I’ve lied to protect her, and been punished for it, but I’d do it again if she asked I think I could even bear being Cast Out, if I were with her. Even if my family disowned me, which they surely would. But if she were Cast Out, Vilai would be devastated. The Way of the Gai’sho Té means so much to her. Would she give up our love for the Calm?
What love? That ended months ago, last time we were caught. Well, I was caught; Vilai didn’t want anyone to know she was melatya, so I helped her hide. I tried to get away, too, but my stupid hair just had to glow. But Vilai got away, and that’s all that mattered. Even if I got yelled at. Even if I spent countless hours in mediation, “atoning for my sins.” So long as I don’t get caught again… But I won’t. I explained everything to Vilai. She understands.
Stupid Gai’sho Té! I’m sure there’s some way to get around that stupid rule! I’ll just check that stupid scroll; there’s gotta be something there…
The kitch-resh girl shifted again. First Master Niviarali Kisalva, known as Niv by her few close friends, sighed. Kira-Lye of the Zil-Intar Kitch-Resh was not suitable for the Gai’sho Té. Not fitting in did not make one worthy of being Cast Out, though; what was more, Niv didn’t want to Cast Out the girl. The girl was welcome to leave, but being Cast Out made one dead in the eyes of the Gai’sho Té.
Niv didn’t understand; she knew the kitch-resh was determined to be Gai’sho Té, but she couldn’t figure out why. Kira-Lye didn’t agree with the Way of the Gai’sho Té, the precepts that dictated their lives. She was among the oldest trainees, which didn’t make sense at all; usually the oldest trainees were overzealous fools who needed to learn understanding. Take Master Ketalissa; the woman had been determined to fight any who did not want to embrace the Calm. That issue had long since been taken care of, of course- Niv was certain Ketalissa would someday replace her, for the master was a fine Gai’sho Té. But Kira-Lye was the accepting person the Gai’sho Té valued. It didn’t make any sense.
Niv would have to meditate on it. Such was the Way of the Gai’sho Té.
“Kira?” Kira’s heart skipped a beat.
“Vilai! What are you doing here?” The slender draigin half walked, half flew to where Kira was standing.
“I came… I came to find you. To talk.”
“Alright. What is it?” Kira carefully sat down as Vilai followed suit.
“I… I’ve been thinking. About us.” Vilai closed her storm-blue eyes and took a deep breath. “I… Kira, I need to stay away from you. Your smile, your face… It’s distracting. I want to be Gai’sho Té, and I can’t do that with you around. We aren’t lovers anymore, but we’re still friends, and… You’re so distracting. So… Please don’t speak to me ever again. Don’t look at me. Ignore me. Please.”
“Vilai…” Kira was at a loss for words- ‘til she remembered the scroll in her hand. “Vilai, listen to this. The Gai’sho Té notice not the opposite gender. They are always in the Calm, and thus devoid of any feelings of physical attraction. The Gai’sho Té know this, and treat the opposite gender know differently than their own. Such is the Way of the Gai’sho Té. Vilai, we’re both girls! We’re the same gender! According to this, we’re not doing anything wrong!”
“Really? I…” Vilai’s eyes shone. “Kira…” She leaned forward.
I ought to check first… I really should… Ah, screw it.
“What the?!” Vilai leapt back from Kira. She’d been caught… But Kira had proof that they weren’t doing wrong. Oh, but what if Kira had misinterpreted? This was bad.
First Master Niviarali glared at them. “Well.” She sounded utterly disgusted. “I come to the library to get something to read, and what do I find? Trainees, explain yourselves!”
“First Master, look.” Kira handed the failing the scroll. “The Gai’sho Té notice not the opposite gender. They are always in the Calm, and thus devoid of any feelings of physical attraction. The Gai’sho Té know this, and treat the opposite gender know differently than their own. Such is the Way of the Gai’sho Té. First Master, we’re both girls…”
“This is nonsense!” The First Master almost looked angry. That made Vilai very worried. “These are not meant to be taken literally! You should know this! You’re lucky I don’t cast you two out right now!”
Cast Out? Oh gosh… I have to say something! But what? Kira has to stay away from me, so… But no… No, I have to be Gai’sho Té. Kira will understand. I hope.
“First Master…” Vilai said quietly. First Master Niviarali turned her emotionless violet eyes on Vilai.
“Vilai Yivil! Of all trainees I would have suspected, you would be the last! What have you got to say for yourself?”
“First Master…” Vilai took a deep breath. “Trainee Kira-Lye seduced me.” Vilai tried to ignore Kira’s face. “She… I’… I’m very sorry. I never intended for this to happen.”
“I see…” First Master Niviarali surveyed the two. “Trainee Vilai, whether you were seduced or not, you were enjoying that kiss when I got here. For that, you will mediate for the next day and night. Dismissed!”
Oh, Kira… I’m sorry… Seeing liquid fire tears course down her lover’s face, Vilai nearly wept herself. But she couldn’t do anything…
She left.
“Henceforth, you are Kira-Lye, Cast-Out of the Gai’sho Té.”
The Gai’sho Té are dead to the World, and the Cast-Out are dead to the Gai’sho Té. The World understands not the Way of the Gai’sho Té, and so fears and avoids the Gai’sho Té. The Cast-Out have been banished from the Gai’sho Té, but often still know and understand the Way of the Gai’sho Té. Therefore, they fit with neither the World nor the Gai’sho Té, and spend their days drifting, their Spirit Within never finding the peace that is Eternity. The Gai’sho Té know this, and so only Cast Out the most grievous of sinners. Such is the Way of the Gai’sho Té.
Niv felt horrible. Cast Out… Poor girl. But it had to be done. Kira-Lye wasn’t fit to be Gai’sho Té. This afternoon had proved it. Not the seducing part- Niv didn’t believe a word of it, truth be told- but the willingness to find flaws in the way of the Gai’sho Té.
“You may collect your belongings, Kira-Lye of the Zil-Intar Kitch-Resh. Then go. You are Cast Out.” First Master Niviarali then turned and left, trying to ignore the racking sobs behind her.
Such is the Way of the Gai’sho Té.
