It felt lessawkward, was what Finnthoughtas he moved into the stance.


    It was their third day traveling and everything was going according to schedule, that''s whatDa''inhad said earlier that day. Noweveryonewas asleep inside the wagon. He hadn''t told them he hadn''t slept in nearly a week.He would catch himself dozing throughout the day, which led to ascoldingfromDa''in. Yet if he kept hiseye''s closedtoo long the familiarpanicof the mines would surface in his mind causing him to bolt upright flustered.


    The strain from the lack of sleep was starting to doitstoll on him yet he continued topushit out of his mind, not having the time to stop or falter he continued on with the stances Hooker had taught him. Dusty and dirty he continued on until a familiar voice surfaced in his ear, "why are you still awake at this hour?"


    Turning around quickly, Orie stood his arms casually placed behind his back, they hadn''t had a chance to continue their discussion a few days ago. More like Finn had avoided the topic altogether. He didn''t want to hear anhour-longlecture about why he should worship a god he didn''t believe in.


    "I couldn''t sleep so I thought I''d practice, what are you doing up?"


    Theunusualaurathat Orie emitted seemed to dominate the area, stopping Finn from his training.


    "This is the third night in a row you''ve practiced this stance, perhaps something else is troubling your sleep."


    For an emotionless follower, he was sharp, Finnstutteredwithwhat to say grasping for any reason that wasn''t the truth. It was a reflex, anaturalreaction, to the statement and although he wasn''t in the wrong he still felt the need to defend his actions.


    "M...my sleep? I''m fine, I just want to get the stances mastered so I can learn blade work."


    Orie didn''t look convinced and walkedover to Finn, his footsteps were slow yet he appearedinaninstant. Presentingan almostotherworldlypresence making it hard to believe he was only man.


    "Whatever trouble you''re having, you can talk to me about it, the bodycannotprogress if the mind is stunted. Whatever power you''re seeking cannot be obtained if you''ve lost your way, Finn, it''s not a matter of which road isright,butwhat direction to walk."


    The man was speaking in riddles again, but Finnunderstoodthat he meant well. For thatreason,he felt he could trust in telling Orie his problem, sitting outside the wagon Finn told his story. About the other world, about Leo and the other slaves about what had happened to them, and about hismissionof rescuing his only sibling. The more he talked the lighter he felt and the heavier hiseyesbecame until nothing but darkness engulfed him.


    The tale Finn had told before going to sleep was indeed hard to listen to, even for adevotee like Orie who had to abandon his emotions when heproclaimedto be a follower of his Lord. Looking at the boy as he lay unmovingin thesands he could see thestreaksof water trail down Finn''s face.


    "Anothernightmareperhaps." Orie murmured before placing his palm on Finn''s forehead.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    A faint light glowed before the restless sleep ceased, a relaxed expression spreading over Finn''s face as he descended deeper into slumber.


    Even if he wanted to help theotherworlderOrie knew he could not stray from his path, for he is only there to provide sideline assistance, interfering in the path of another would incur the wrathof his Lord.


    "Perhaps this is the trial masterShidaumspoke of."


    His master had spoken of many trials that would test his faith in the Lord, if it was sensed that your will wavered, your abilities would forever be lost. Thereasonhe was traveling with the liberators was a test, to test his faith in their Lord.


    "I will not waver, not for any man."


    Orie spoke aloud hisproclamation, to himself and to his God. Having the boy rest easy was payment for telling him such aheart-wrenchingstory, staying within the lines of gray his religion called for.


    Liftingthe boy out of the sand Orie places him in the wagon, Finn had been much lighter than he thought. His height not equaling the weight he should be carrying. The story Finn had told him surfaced in his mind once again shaking something inside of him, causing him to question himself.


    If I had been in such apredicamentwould I have survived? Even to survive such a thing if you were broken in mind, body, and spirit could you really call that survival? Many of the former slaves had come to the temple seeking help, some so far gone there was nothing MasterShidaumcould do for them.


    How? Was the question that repeated in Orie''s mind. How could one endure andcontinueon such apath?Unlike the path between good and evil, Finn walkedanincreasingly bloody path, filled with anguish and heartbreak.


    Bowing his head Orie began his prayer, to his lord that controlled karma from the sidelines. If such a boy had suffered through such hardships, then great fortune also showed in his future. How far in hisfuturethat was something he couldn''tforetell, or how much more suffering he would have to endure before his luck would turn around. Perhaps his Lord would allow him to assist suchanunfortunate man, yet asking to do so would stray from his path.


    Ending the internal struggle thatprobedhis heart Orie closed hiseyesas he began his silent prayer,


    "Walking up towards the light,"


    "One step in front of another."


    "To descend into the darkness"


    "For each sincommitted"


    "I will remain undecided."


    "Lord Meme, I request your wisdom."


    Requesting for guidance wasn''t something Orie had ever needed to do back in the temple, but now that he was adventuring away from his master and his comrades, hisfirstobstacle was troubling him and he didn''t know where else to turn for help.


    The familiar voice echoed through his mind, deep and powerful.


    "What ails you in your trials young devote?"


    Meme often spoke with those he haschosento be his faithful followers, with only a handful who actually passed the trials successfully MasterShidaumincluded on this list


    "Lord of Balance, O Great Meme, I request your knowledge about a man I am traveling with, he has suffered greatmisfortuneand walks a path filled with despair and carnage."


    "Men must always suffer because ofman, after enduringmuch suffering fortune is always on the horizon. Never suffering at all, despair lurks behind everycorneruntil it consumes them whole. This is the wisdom I offer."


    Bowing his head inappreciationOrie spoke, "Thank you for your divine wisdom Lord."


    The voice faded before the familiar silenceensuedthe area.Looking over at Finn his sleeping face was peaceful. Something Oriehadn''tseen on his face since the day he met him. It reminded him of a child who had cried themselves to sleep. In a low tone, he spoke to the sleeping Finn,


    "You have suffered much misfortune, sleep well and dream big. Your future treads down and an unknown path. Paved down a gold road riddled in blood."