Only Katuo returned to the field. She worked alone, quietly clearing stones from a nearby plot.

  Not far away, Hudyn and Ramii sat in the shade of a tree. They watched her with uneasy eyes. It struck them that she was still just a girl.

  For a moment, Ramii glanced at Hudyn. His friend sighed, then rose abruptly and strode toward the field. Ramii followed. He reached up and ruffled Hudyn’s hair with a small grin.

  This planting season, they had gained much experience. Their hands and feet moved with greater skill, no longer pricked by thorns as before. Laughter and chatter now filled the field, replacing the old complaints and grumbling. Even the scent of c’roroc flowers no longer seemed unpleasant. Breezes from the Melogong River swept up the mountainside, bringing cool, refreshing mist. To think I hadn’t noticed all this before, Katuo thought, as she carefully picked bugs from the leaves.

  All the gray fruits gradually turned deep purple and grew plump. Their bitter, spicy, sour, and astringent flavors of the fruit blended together, creating a rich, strangely delicious taste. It turned out that last time, Tiknahah had them harvest unripe fruits. As the three sat savoring the c’roroc fruits, Tiknahah appeared once more and asked:

  ‘OaaRudidi ~ Children, does the sweetness of the fruit gladden you now?’

  A faint light passed through the Trueye of Tiknahah as they gave a quiet nod. He spoke gently:

  ‘OaaLoarin ~ Oaa is not only present in sweet fruit. Oaa abides even when you taste the bitter. Sweet or bitter, both come from the same fruit, born of the same tree. The seed of Oaa sprouts only in the land cultivated by compassion and wisdom.’

  Afterward, Master Tiknahah instructed them to continue planting. But this time, it was not c’roroc, but a strange new life-form. These were beings of dual nature, part plant and part translucent crystal, half rigid and half pliable, called D’lomox. This species was stubborn and mischievous, prone to injuring those who nurtured and trained them.

  This lesson was no less arduous than the last, but the three disciples no longer complained or felt aggrieved as before. They came to understand their Master’s intent more clearly and gave themselves to their learning.

  ~~~

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  “Hurry up!” Katuo cupped her hands around her mouth and called. “Come on, lads! The valley beyond the mountain is breathtaking!”

  She stood upon the highest crystal peak of the Lodom Mountains, while Hudyn and Ramii trailed far below. Across the jagged range, the two still strove against one another. They wove between the long, spear-like spires of rock and darted through the jagged clefts. An O’Ky wing clung to each of their backs.

  Katuo did not wait. She shot upward into the open sky, riding the wind’s breath with practiced ease. She glided alongside the flying beasts, and now and again let herself drop freely into the billowing clouds.

  At last, the two lads reached the summit. Hudyn furrowed his brow as he watched her display. “How did she get here so fast? Since when did she get so sharp, huh?” he mumbled.

  With their current spirit power, the three could conjure only O’Ky, a Floramina with two neat rows of slender wings.

  “Oh, so you’ve finally made it back?” Katuo said with a teasing grin. She had just flown back to the mountaintop. “So, what do you think of my flying skills?”

  “Yeah. You’ve improved. Still need more practice,” Hudyn replied curtly.

  Ramii ruffled Hudyn’s hair. “Are you talking about Katuo or yourself?”

  “Obviously her. I was just hungry today. Otherwise I’d have finished ahead of her.”

  “Then make sure you eat well tomorrow,” said Katuo. “We’ll race again and see who makes it to Agariri Forest first.”

  “Aye… sure… let’s race…” Hudyn muttered. “But no—we shouldn’t. What if you run into the Goyk on the way? It’s dangerous. So forget it. It’s not that I’m afraid of losing to you…”

  “All right, I understand. You’re only worried about me,” Katuo said with a small smile. “I can hardly wait to return to K’houbo Tribe. I miss Sister Lyndorin and everyone in the village dearly.”

  “Well, I miss my Skichip too,” said Hudyn. “If he isn’t working me to the bone, he probably can’t sleep at all. He’s always been generous with me. That old man works me harder than he ever works you two.”

  Katuo noticed the unhappiness on Ramii’s face. Those words had reminded him of his mother. From the day they came to this land, she had not dared to say in front of Ramii that she missed Mr. Rono. She knew he always carried a quiet sense of guilt for having brought both her and Hudyn here.

  Thump!

  Hudyn smacked Ramii hard on the shoulder, nearly sending him pitching toward the edge of the cliff.

  “What’s with that gloomy face, huh? You really that attached to this pile of rocks and stones?”

  “You old monkey!” Ramii shouted. “Are you trying to assassinate me or what?!”

  “So what if I am?” Hudyn jutted out his chin. “What are you going to do about it?”

  “Then take this!” Ramii slammed a fist into Hudyn’s stomach and then threw himself at him, even though he knew he was about to get knocked flat.

  “You little whelp!” Hudyn barked. “Do you want to die?”

  Katuo already knew how it would end. She stood aside, giggling as she cheered, “Come on! Go, Ramii! Just try not to get beaten up too badly.”

  After nearly two ga’sonaxs had passed, Master Tiknahah allowed the trio to return to K’houko Tribe and rejoin the Warhost, where they would put orO’ magic into practice on the battlefield.

  Before they departed, Master Tiknahah gave them one final admonition:

  ‘OaaLoarin ~ Children, return and learn from Nature. Hear Nature. When you hear the Call of Oaa, return to me. If you do not, come not before me again.’

  ~~~