Chapter 106: His Broken Wings (1)
On wobbly legs, Yoa hobbled along the cave, relief releasing his shoulders as the reflection of the water above casted wavy shadows along young Yoa’s hollowed cheeks. He paused to tighten the cloth around his waist so it would not fall. Zahul had to walk by his side, staff in hand, and aided Yoa whenever his knees buckled from his weakened form.
Every step weighed heavily. It was like the earth itself tested his right to stand tall, but he moved forward. It was a struggle, but the corner of his lips tugged up. He had done it. He’d finally done it.
After seasons of training, enduring, devoting his life to this path, he had become what few ever could. A guardian of Tayun.
Yohuali was the next Yiska, the second youngest in all remembered time to bear the sacred title.
The only problem was that Yoa couldn’t remember what he’d done to pass this final trial. There were only fragmented glimpses, flashes of his memories buried deep in his mind. It should have troubled him, but after everything he’d learned from Tayun, there was no room for doubt. If he was not meant to know what happened, or to remember what he saw, then there was a reason. And that was enough; his resolve remained unshaken.
His feet came to a stop upon seeing a figure on the ground, his wings spread out beneath him. Vulcan’s eyes were glassy, staring vacantly at the ceiling, drool trickling down from the corner of his lip and pooling beside his head. His chest rose and fell dangerously slow, and like Yoa, he had lost a lot of weight.
Was that how he’d looked while he was in his trial?