by Shawn Topp
Raul’Jun stared pensively at the small crack at the base of the Untho column. It was the third time in less than a hundred quivers the crack had formed. Things seemed to be more fragile with each passing quiver while the success rate of his maintenance work appeared to be diminishing in parallel.
Dravonia-22, with its bright and open setting, its endless network of Untho columns and abundance of delicacies to sustain the Inklings, was the most beautiful place Raul’Jun had ever seen. Sure, he had never ventured away from Dravonia, but his certainty of its rank amongst the rest of the universe as the most wonderful planet throughout was unquestionably at the top. He was quite unsure what, if anything, lay beyond the reflective casing that surrounded his world, but he was confident nothing would be as splendid as Dravonia. He was not privy to such knowledge; being a maintenance worker did not require him to know anything more than what was needed to keep the Unthos running. But still, he had his suspicions about some bigger plot outside Dravonia’s walls.
Clambering over to the nearest pung-plant, Raul-Jun lifted the knotted cluster and scooped out a small handful of the healing cream that grew beneath. The soft substance, pure white with bits of pung seeds scattered throughout, was used to seal the cracks that formed along the outer casing of the Untho columns. The Dravonian atmosphere remained on the dry side, which left them susceptible to chapping. Raul’Jun gently rubbed the cream along the crack line, which caused a gentle reverberation to move along the Untho’s scaly skin. Once satisfied, he moved on to the next column in the rotation.
There was little sense of haste or urgency associated with his inspection circuit unless there was a drastic change in one of the Unthos, which, on his watch, had never occurred. Raul’Jun tended to move slowly between the columns, often stopping to pick at a pung-plant or drand-bush or to go down to Krelf’s under-cave for a sip of filn. Untho maintenance was tiring work and he needed to keep his energy levels optimized.
Dravonia-22 was the most beautiful place Raul’Jun had ever seen.
He didn’t know how the other Untho maintainers worked, but he was fairly certain his method was the most effective. Reflecting on his status, he decided that a visit to Krelf was more than deserved.
“Good reflections, Krelf,” Raul’Jun said as he stepped into the small cave.
“Good reflections to you as well,” Krelf replied as he looked up from his freshly brewed sac of filn. “How are the Untho feeling today?”
“They’ve never been better,” he said with his eyes fixed on the filn. “In fact, I think my circuit is now the highest ranked in all of Dravonia’s eighty-two kingdoms.”
“These wonderful tidings were delivered to you then?”
“Well, no. But I don’t see how it could be any other way.”
Krelf handed Raul’Jun a pung leaf full of filn, which he graciously accepted before plunging his scent receptor into the rising steam. He found its mix of odours both pleasant and rejuvenating.
He greatly desired to understand the method Krelf used to transform the simple mixture of plants and shrubs into something so delicious, but alas, Krelf kept his methods to himself just as Raul’Jun kept his Untho repair techniques to himself. That was just the way of things on Dravonia; the Inklings performed their tasks with an unwavering sense of pride and a sort of self-importance, which remained at the heart of their secretive ways.
Of course, the list of tasks, mostly considered menial by galactic standards, were achieved with little variance from Inkling to Inkling, and yet, without that sense of individual importance, the whole system threatened to crumble. And without the Inklings, the universe would surely stop moving.
Krelf kept his methods to himself just as Raul’Jun kept his Untho repair techniques to himself.
Raul’Jun, feeling greatly satisfied from the filn, decided to return to his assigned Unthos and complete his circuit for the day. As he strolled towards the exit hole, however, he noticed the faint sounds of a gathering further into the tunnel. Curiosity, a dominant trait in all Inklings, was especially potent in Raul’Jun and on more than one occasion had got him into trouble. And yet, while he could sense an element of wrongdoing when he allowed his curiosity to determine his actions, he simply could not resist.
He moved quietly through the tunnel, going around a few bends past several empty chambers until he reached the gathering. Six Inklings, each a member of the high council, stood in a circle within one of the smaller chambers discussing what Raul’Jun imagined to be of great importance.
“…showing a strange, quiver-less material.”
“The Wisdom-Keepers words cannot be interpreted to allow for such risks!”
“We are bound by their words to accept this risk!” one of the Inkling’s said with the stomp of a foot.
“What if harm is brought upon us? As the most important realm in the Dravonian Kingdom, our duty is beyond question!”
“The Unthos will protect us against any harm. They have been harvested to always move us forward and they will not allow jeopardy to befall us. It is written in the Wisdom-words.”
“Ah, but the unknown risks, sweet Liorty, the risks are too clouded to judge what course of action we must take.”
“If the unknown was not as such, it would cease to be a risk. And as the great Mul’lowl wisdomed in us — ‘without risk there is no progress!’”
The conversation halted as the council paused to reflect on the latest point.
“Very well then,” one of the Inklings announced. “Let it be known that on this very quiver we shall allow the curious object to arrive on Dravonia-22 for the purpose of improving our wisdom nest.”
Raul’Jun, who’d remained enthralled in the discussion, forgot that his spot just outside of the chamber left him exposed to discovery. By the time he remembered, it was too late.
“The great reflection shall be thinned to a point of — Raul’Jun! What is the meaning of your uninvited company upon the precipice of our private council?”
Rual’Jun felt himself stumble over his own words.
“I was just, I thought I heard… I… I… didn’t hear anything about the visitor… I mean…”
“Silence! You do not have the proper status to be exposed to this private conversation. It is a matter of Dravonian security and wisdom, not some mindless patchwork upon the skin of our great Unthos! Explain yourself!”
Curiosity, a dominant trait in all Inklings, was especially potent in Raul’Jun and on more than one occasion had got him into trouble.
Raul’Jun was taken aback by the cruel outburst from Liorty, the council’s third ranked member, and was about to respond when Henroe, the council’s leader spoke up.
“That is quite enough of the word bursts, Liorty. No need to damage the purpose-pull of our trusted maintainer — we are all grateful for his tremendous work on the Unthos. Raul’Jun, although we are glad for your service, you are in violation of our council. What in Wisdom’s name are you doing?”
Raul’Jun was glad for Henroe’s kind approach.
“Great leaders, please excuse my untimely approach upon your discussions. And thank you Henroe for pulling the words of Liorty from the infliction they were intended to strike. For I am merely an Untho Healer and yet you, together, how gracefully you gather in the name of progress for our great Kingdom, our perfect place at the centre of all things, this wisdom-nested council are of the — ”
“On with it then!” snapped Liorty.
Raul’Jun tightened his grip on the empty pung leaf before turning back to Henroe.
“Alas, I was listening to your gathering discussion without permission or status.”
Henroe sighed.
“You are indeed a curious one Raul’Jun. I, myself, now the great leader of this council, was once like you, nodding my receptors into conversations I was not intended to hear. And still, young Inkling, I learned my place. And on this most wonderful day on the most important of all the kingdoms of Dravonia, you shall learn your place.”
Raul’Jun suddenly felt Henroe’s prior compassion escape like the steam from a leaf of filn.
“I offer you my greatest regrets, dear council. I seek only for the betterment of Drav — ”
With a raised hand, Henroe gestured for Raul’Jun to be silent.
“No need to continue with your words Raul’Jun. We’ve got a task for you to accomplish, something to bring your nest of wisdom to a higher level. But do not be fooled by your arrival at this task — great importance rests in your successful accomplishment, an accomplishment that if achieved, will surely be written in the great wisdom-teachings of our fair kingdom.”
To his surprise, Raul’Jun was led deeper into the under-cave away from the open plains of Dravonia-22. Henroe, Liorty and the other council members scurried at a pace Raul’Jun found himself trotting to keep up with.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
Salfan, the council’s lowest ranked member, slowed enough for Raul’Jun to catch up.
“Henroe see’s a wisdom in you, young Inkling, something you would be well advised to count your reflections on — if it were up to the other council members, you would be climbing the nearest Untho stalk with nothing but a drand stem to pick off the dried bits of skin. Curiosity must be tamed! It is not some errand to be chased, some wisdom-enriched pung-plant to be snacked upon! Wisdom must be earned; it must be provided to you by the blessings of the reflections! And yet, here we are, rewarding you for your ignorance instead of punishing you as you deserve.”
Salfan quickened his pace and returned to the others before Raul’Jun could respond. The infliction-intended words mattered little to Raul’Jun; if Salfan were so important, he would surely not be the lowest ranked member of the council.
The group rounded a corner and entered a small nook with a stone wall at the end. Henroe pushed a series of invisible markings on the wall before stepping back. After a moment, the stone began to move, slowly revealing an opening. A strange sound emanated from the darkness; the faint rumbling contained an element of familiarity Raul’Jun could not quite place. Liorty entered the darkness and was quickly followed by the other council members.
Just as Raul’Jun was about to enter the opening, Henroe stopped him with a hand across his body.
“Do not listen to the other council member’s apprehension at your reflection-blessing to enter this place. While wisdom-enriched, they often do not see past their own reflection markings. Although I see the worthiness in your knowledge, it is still up to you to understand the wisdom being offered.”
He studied Henroe’s face; the age-markings looked less pronounced in the dim light yet his eyes somehow appeared more tired than usual. Although he’d known the elder Inkling his entire life, Raul’Jun had rarely spent much time with him — his position on the council had always set him apart from the workers and maintainers — but presently he felt like an equal.
“Thank you Henroe, I am grateful for the blessings,” he replied before looking into the dark opening. “I will do my Untho best to learn from your teachings.”
“Good. Now go.”
Raul’Jun stepped through the opening and into a tunnel that pitched slightly downwards. A dim white glow began to appear while the rumbling sound he’d heard previously grew louder, more distinct and with a slight dash of gurgling.
He could not see the others but continued to move forward towards the glow. As he came around a gentle curve, the light grew brighter while the tunnel opened into an immense cavern whose precipice Raul’Jun stood upon.
The cavern was strewn with Untho columns, specifically the stalks that grew below Dravonia’s surface. The base of the Unthos continued unseen below the cavern floor and towards what end Raul’Jun did not know. The dim light, whose source he could not determine, reflected off the Unthos.
“The path continues just over there.”
Raul’Jun had been too distracted to hear Henroe come up behind him.
“What is this place?” He asked.
Henroe simply nudged Raul’Jun towards the path.
They walked down a set of stairs built steeply into the rock and made their way towards the rest of the council, who were gathered around a particularly large Untho.
As they approached the other council members, Raul’Jun noticed a large gash strewn across the Untho. Exposed within was a glowing white substance, which appeared to be the source of illumination.
“Don’t be afraid, it’s just an Untho,” Liorty said. “Of all Inklings, you should be well-wisdomed to understand this.”
Salfan tried to hide his snicker.
“As the most successful Untho healer on all of Dravonia-22, I do not fear any part of them.”
Liorty stiffened and turned back to the glowing white substance. “Then step forward and see what lies within.”
The others parted as Raul’Jun stepped towards the gash, its substance casted a glow across the Inkling’s faces while it grew warmer the closer he got. The white material seemed to contain a sense of fluidity as it glistened and sparkled, like some fantastic river. Untho skin was as strong as anything on Dravonia; Raul’Jun suspected an opening this large was no accident.
“How did this Untho come to receive such harm?” he asked.
Henroe stepped forward just as Liorty was about to respond. Whether it was a conscious attempt to keep the snicker-inducing commentary to a minimum or an association of leadership towards the exposed Untho, Raul’Jun was unsure. Nor did he care. He was simply glad for Liorty’s stinging tongue to remain in his mouth.
“Young Inkling, welcome to the Great Cavern, the most sacred place in all of Dravonia-22, which, of course makes it the most sacred place in all of Dravonia’s eighty-two kingdoms and, thus, the universe, both beyond our great barriers and below.”
Untho skin was as strong as anything on Dravonia; Raul’Jun suspected an opening this large was no accident.
Henroe stroked the Untho’s skin above the gash.
“This is no ordinary Untho. This is the Cerebrum Cordis, which we know from our wisdom nesting by the great Mul’lowl to be the first Untho to sprout up from the great barrier below. The upper stalk, the portion between the surface and the reflection casing that surrounds our world, has played a significant role in our understanding of Dravonia-22 and its clear position at the centre of all kingdoms.”
Raul’Jun looked deep into the gash, his sight-spheres mesmerized by the churning hot substance.
“Looks like it’s suffering from a severe chap-wound,” Raul’Jun said. “Even as the most respected maintenance worker in all of Dravonia, I am not wisdomed in how to repair such damage.”
Liorty snickered before nudging Salfan.
“You fool! We did not bring you down here to spread pung-plant extracts along the skin of this sacred Untho! This blessing-wound contains the very material that allows life to begin.”
Raul’Jun could sense a stronger infliction bursting from Liorty.
“Your greatness,” he said turning to Henroe, “your leadership is unquestioned, your wisdom-nest fuller than any Inkling across all eighty-two kingdoms, but I cannot stand by while the ignorance glands seep so freely from this lowly Inkling. He is a disgrace to the great cavern, he is an insult to all that Mul’lowl’s teachings have lead us to believe, he is — ”
“Silence!” Henroe said with a firmness that seemed to penetrate the rocks. “You would be well-advised to limit the use of your words at this moment. I have let your tongue whip about much too freely. Now stand aside and allow me to fill your wisdom nests. Some are clearly more empty than they should be.”
Raul’Jun almost felt bad for Liorty.
“Now, dear Inklings,” Henroe said, “let us begin the ceremony of extraction in the name of Mul’lowl so that we, the Inklings of Dravonia-22, may continue to lead the Kingdom in our unending quest for knowledge.”
Henroe turned back to Raul’Jun and the other Inklings.
“As the council is aware, there is a stranger approaching our realm from the unknown depths beyond our casing; the first to visit Dravonia-22. We, as experienced members of the highest order, understand the implications of this great blessing, but to our guest, Untho Healer Raul-Jun, this ceremony is un-wisdomed. Raul’Jun — this stranger appears unlike anything we’ve seen before — it shows no sign of the life our Untho material provides to all creatures, both on Dravonia-22 and throughout the great universe beyond.
“Now, young healer, you must be wondering why you’ve been brought to the ceremony. Council members, can any of you wisdom as to why we’ve brought Raul’Jun here on this glorious quiver?”
Barronne, the only female Inkling in the council, and the second ranked member, had remained silent up until that point.
“The great teachings of Mul’lowl state that the extraction ceremony is most effective when completed by less ‘experienced’ Inklings.”
“Correct!” Henroe said. “And do you know why this logic was wisdomed?”
“Mul’lowl believed the less experienced Inklings were more closely related to the very Unthos themselves,” Barronne said. “And what’s more, an Untho healer was regarded as the closest relative of all the un-wisdomed.”
Barronne glanced at Raul’Jun as she stepped back with the other council members. His scent receptors perked up, like her stare was akin to a perfect batch of filn.
“That is correct, Barronne. Your wisdom nest is truly a source of greatness. Now, Untho Healer, please step forward and open your hand.”
As Rual’Jun stepped towards the Cerebrum Cordis, Henroe put a long thread of pung-root in his hand and gestured for him to place it into the glowing substance within the Untho. The substance began to pull the strand as it entered until only a short length remained.
“Now place what’s still exposed along the edge of the opening. Here it will rest until the Cerebrum Cordis has done its work.”
Raul’Jun placed the remainder of the strand along the edge of the opening and looked back up at Henroe.
“What is the purpose of all this?” he asked.
Just as Henroe was about to respond, the Untho stalks suddenly began to bellow and groan, the sounds echoing through the chamber. Henroe and the other council members immediately turned and ran towards the exit.
“What’s happening?” Raul’Jun shouted over the noise as he followed them out.
“The stranger has arrived,” Baronne said.
The group of Inklings made their way through the tunnel and onto the open plains. As Raul’Jun stepped out, he looked up to see the strangest sight his vision spheres had ever been set upon.
A large cylindrical object glimmering like the very reflective casing that surrounded the planet, moved towards them with an elegance and precision that seemed impossible. It barrelled through the Dravonian sky, a bright spot that grew bigger with each passing second as it zigzagged between Untho columns. To Raul’Jun, it sounded like the crackling of rocks scraping together.
The object slowed as it approached the surface, almost stopping completely before it dropped the last few feet near where Raul’Jun and the council were gathered. After a moment, the object transformed into a large sentient at least three times the height of the Inklings with eyes that did not blink. As it stood looking at the group, Henroe stepped forward and introduced himself and the council.
“Welcome to Dravonia-22, curious stranger. We are humbled by the wisdom you must possess in your desire to visit the most important planet within the Dravonian Kingdom.”
The stranger cocked its head as it focused on Henroe. Somehow, it was able to understand the small creatures despite the lack of any audible communications. It was as if their words were not so much spoken to him as they were placed inside of his mind.
“Greetings Dravonian beings, I am pleased to meet you. I have many questions to ask, but, as is customary where I come from, I shall tell you who I am.”
The stranger’s name was Robert and, although he was not made of organic material, he appeared to possess a high level of curiosity and intellect. He had travelled a great distance across the empty voids that lay beyond the outer casing that surrounded Dravonia-22. He showed no signs of malice or duplicity; he was simply curious about the unknown world he’d stumbled into.
Somehow, the stranger was able to understand the small creatures despite the lack of any audible communications.
As Henroe shared his knowledge of the Dravonian Kingdom and its importance to the universe, Raul’Jun stood and watched with interest. Robert was unlike anything he’d seen before; his skin appeared hardened and unnaturally constructed, like he he’d been put together by some other creature.
After a short while, Henroe turned to address Raul’Jun.
“Untho Healer, let us now return to the chamber and retrieve the strand. When we reappear, you shall understand what purpose it holds.”
They quickly ran back into the tunnel and returned to the chamber. Raul’Jun pulled the strand out of the Untho gash. As it fully emerged from the white substance, the strand seemed to move under its own volition; it coiled and uncoiled with a pulsing essence that made it appear to be breathing. Raul’Jun could sense an energy being emitted from the strand, something beyond the pulsing heat, something that he could feel in his mind. Presently, he knew what was required of him when he returned to Robert.
As they emerged from the tunnel, the Inklings were surprised to see that two more beings had arrived. The creatures were similar in shape and form to Robert, yet they appeared softer and more naturally created. Henroe showed no interest in engaging with them nor did he appear to care that they’d arrived without warning. Or perhaps he knew and simply did not tell the others.
Henroe nodded at Raul’Jun to begin the task he’d been brought along to complete. Pulling the strand out of his pung-belt, he stepped in front of Robert. As the foreign creature looked down, Raul’Jun lifted the strand up and watched as it wrapped itself around Robert’s body. As the glowing strand made contact with Robert, Raul’Jun’s mind was suddenly filled with a vast array of images and information. It was almost as if his memory had been altered to include that of another’s. It was Robert’s memory, he realized, that now filled his own. He was aware of who the other beings were and how they’d created and cared for Robert. How they’d explored countless places beyond Dravonia’s outer casing, across vast pockets of emptiness to worlds containing new colours and textures, new beings and structures, strange technologies and ways of life. There was an entire universe beyond Dravonia filled with a myriad array of creatures that each experienced their own lives in complete ignorance of the Dravonian Kingdom.
Raul’Jun became aware of what Dravonia looked like from beyond the casing; a vast cloud of white material, misted and soft, surrounded the planet and extended to distances that were barely fathomable in his mind. The mist appeared to go on forever in all directions, like some sort of impossible wall.
It was disorienting to suddenly be aware of both his own sense of familiarity of Dravonia and the mysterious nature of its existence to those who’d only just stumbled into it. And yet, the complexity of what had just been thrown inside his head felt oddly natural, like the things he’d learned in an instant were almost obvious.
As the glowing strand made contact with Robert, Raul’Jun’s mind was suddenly filled with a vast array of images and information.
Just as quickly as the strand had wrapped itself around Robert, it pulled itself off and coiled back together. As it did, Henroe instructed the Inklings to return to the tunnel and place the strand back into the Untho gash to dispel the wisdom it had gathered.
Before entering the tunnel, Raul’Jun turned and watched as Robert followed the other two creatures towards their ship. After a moment, Robert stopped and glanced back, his gaze meeting Raul Jun’s before raising a metallic finger to his vision sockets to wipe away a substance that suddenly began to drip out.
Although no words were exchanged, the two creatures seemed to communicate. Beyond simply acknowledging each other’s existence, Robert and Raul’Jun, in those briefest of moments, shared a collective set of memories that, on some level, combined them into one creature. It was like the endless voids of space suddenly shrank to the size of a drand bush, all the vastness diminished. And then Robert turned to re-join his kin and the vastness that had momentarily vanished reappeared.
“Good reflections, Liorty, how does the filn appear this morning?”
“Good reflections, Raul’Jun. This appears to be the most desirable batch yet. Here, dip your receptors and let your wisdom do the judging.”
Raul’Jun accepted the pung leaf and let the sweet aromas fill his receptors.
“Ah, my friend, indeed you have outdone yourself! The Dravonian Kingdom shall be wisdomed to this great achievement.”
“Thank you, great leader, your words are most welcome here, your wisdom unmatched. Please provide good reflections to Barronne and the Inklets.”
It had been 738 quivers since Robert had arrived on Dravonia-22 with his strange metallic head and unblinking eyes. Their exchange of knowledge left Raul’Jun with newfound insight into both the universe outside of his realm and the creatures that inhabited it. But still, it was the wisdom not rooted merely in facts that had left him with the ability to see beyond his own reflection markings. It was the notion of a universe filled with creatures consumed by their own existence, unaware of Dravonia (and most likely uncaring if they were aware) that Raul’Jun was most fixated on.
The universe, although only explored through memories that were technically not his own, and even through what was an incomprehensible vastness, seemed smaller. The unknown suddenly becoming known had allowed him to perceive his own world with fresh vision spheres and a curiosity that turned from mostly mischief to an unwavering desire to improve the lives of his fellow Inklings.
Although the knowledge he gained was put in his head, it was his ability to transform it into a better life for the Inklings that convinced the other council members to make him leader after Henroe had retired.
As he made his way back to the dwelling-cave to check in on Barronne and the Inklets, he stopped at a pung-plant arrangement, lifted the cluster and scooped out a small handful of cream. He gently rubbed it along a nearby Untho column and watched with pride as it shuddered from the cool application.
“That’s better.”
Approaching the cave, Raul’Jun turned and looked at the vast plain of Untho columns that stretched out as far as the sphere could see.
“What luck,” he said to himself, “getting to be the leader of the council andstill the most respected Untho healer in all of Dravonia’s eighty-two kingdoms. Surely there is no creature in the vastness of the universe with a greater enjoyment of his own reflection markings than myself.”
