sleep in unimaginable positions. But they took care of each other and the spaces really helped, giving the travelers the rest, they so needed.
By the end of the fifth day, the roar of the waterfall could be heard, as mighty streams of water slipped through the crevices that were under the last step of the Staircase.
The staircase was ending and the abyss, just beginning – a bottomless pit, into which the waterfall disappeared.
“Should we go straight there?” Inao asked his father in an alarmed voice.
“Remember, my pupil and son, that doubts give rise to fear!” Master Nao replied. “Listen to me all! Conquer your doubt! And if you do not believe me, know that this way was suggested to me by Ino-to, our brightest sage. Believe in yourself!”
After uttering these words, the Master was the first to step into the seething water and disappear downstream. Masters Kuno and Ean stayed back to step into the waterfall last. Ulari, no longer having any doubts, followed their example to help others with a kind word and support. First, with timidity, and then with increasingly greater confidence, the pupils of the School of the North Slope began to make their descent into the unknown. It now was time for Ulari to go. He knew there was no return!
As powerful waves picked him up and rushed him downstream, Ulari thought the water would cover his head and flatten him with its weight. But on the contrary, it carried him smoothly and easily as though it were taking care of him. He did not fly or fall down, but slid.
The stream carried his body into the warm waters of the river Kawa where Ulari dipped his head for the first time. After emerging, he saw his detachment, led by Master Nao, on the shore. All were safe and sound. They had to only wait for Master Kuno and Master Ean.
“So, we have descended from the skies to the ground!” declared Nao.
Henceforth, the School of the North Slope was divided into two parts.
6
And then the Ulutau met the Vedichs. Judging by the conversations, many mountaineers still feared these strange forest inhabitants. Quite explanatory! After all, the redheaded Vedich girl showed that they really could turn into wild animals. However, Ulari fully trusted the words of his master. Moreover, before them there were no warriors or men, but just children.
But this incredible skill continued to intrigue the Ulutau. Simple and understandable was the power of Master Nao, allowing you to immobilize the enemy. This was incredibly difficult to achieve such a skill, as the other forces available to the Tau masters, such as levitation, could be easily explained.
But to turn into an animal so easily! To change your appearance… how was it possible? After all, the bones must break, the flesh must change.
Ulari was convinced that even his master could not unravel such a secret, but for now the most important thing was that he called the Vedichian people harmless.
Together they all walked along the shore of Kawa for several days. Master Nao announced that the Vedichs were free to go. However, Wey-Leya asked to travel together; at least to the city of Kawa.
At first, it looked very strange. For sure, the forest dwellers should have been harboring an ulterior grievance for such an unpleasant first meeting. The offense was brought to Wey-Leya, but Master Nao was wise, quickly found a Common Language with the Vedich girl, and apologized. She accepted and judging by her behavior, no longer held a grudge.
As a result, both nations regarded the collision on the coast as a misunderstanding.
Ulari himself became acquainted with Fao and Ina, rather grown-up and cheerful girls. They told him that they could turn into squirrels, martens, raccoons, and ferrets. Curious, Ulari asked for a demonstration, but they laughed loudly.
The young Vedich with greenish hair looked at his communication with the girls with obvious indignation. If he remembered right the boy’s comrades abbreviated his name to Nome, but Ulari would never be able to utter the full name.
Strange names these Vedichs have! Although they themselves say these names were prompted by the forest; nature prompted them. What a nature they have, that whispers such names!
When the city of Kawa appeared on the horizon, Ulari became a little sad. He managed to make friends with the forest people and he very much hoped that his path would one day again intersect with Fao and Ina in the Valley.
Masters Kuno and Ean also left the squad, entrusting their schools to Nao. They returned to the waterfall of the Celestial Staircase to await new envoys from the mountain people.
7
As Kawa was getting closer and closer, Ulari began to see the differences. Tokana was made of huge stones and built on majestic peaks, whereas Kawa was small and compact like a toy and stood on the river. The Kawa houses were made of wood and the city was surrounded by a high hedge of tall pine trunks, pointed upward. Master Nao called this hedge a fence. He explained that it protected against wild forest animals and robbers.
Nao, like everyone else, was seeing the Valley for the first time, but had already read almost everything about it in the information about the remaining nations brought to the Tokana by Rogue Azir. Having learned the local language, Rogue Azir translated many books about his people for them, and also wrote several of his own in the Ulutau language. The Ulutau were taught the Common Language using his books.
Ulari never understood why they needed to learn the Common Language until he met the Vedichs. And it turned out to be very convenient! How would the Vedichs know the language of the Ulutau, and vice versa if not for the Common Language? The Vedichian people spoke it terribly, as if they had just learned, and it was Wey-Leya who spoke the most. Fao and Ina had to be asked to repeat what they said several times to understand what they meant.
At the entrance to the city, their squad was met by a strange man with long blond hair wearing a leather suit with steel heels – an outfit which obviously didn’t resemble armor. The Ulutau themselves didn’t wear armor either, but in Tokana’s libraries there were many pictures of the Taurs and one could immediately understand that armor was needed to protect against demons. This stranger’s clothing would not help in battle; the cloth was sewn chaotically. And on the bridge of his nose the man wore a metal frame with transparent glass circles.
“He’s from the Tuasmatus people,” Nao explained.
“What’s on his face?” Ulari inquired.
“It seems that it helps him to see better.”
Tuasmatus! Or Mechanicum, as they were also called. This nation was related to the Ulutau and the Itoshins. However, if Emperor Tosho blessed the mountain people, then he cursed the Mechanicum! Itoshin Kunu-Lau left the city of Shohan without the knowledge of the Emperor, and afterwards with like-minded people he founded his kingdom in the west.
Mechanicum, according to stories, are strange people. They are smart and inventive, but don’t share their secrets, so information about them is very contradictory. They say that Mechanicum can use their technologies to create people from stone and revive them, they can build special devices to swim in under the water, they can almost build the second Celestial Staircase.
But who in Tokana believed such stories?
“Master Nao,” said the same Mechanic, “It’s good to see you!”
“You know me?” the Master asked with surprise.
“They sent me especially to meet you!” The stranger smiled, but that smile was cloying and disgusting. Ulari’s attention was immediately drawn to this. After all, any Ulutau feels sincerity. The smiles of Vedichs were sincere!
“Who are you?” asked a clearly puzzled Nao.
“My name is Eoamit Asmalou. I am the representative of the Reyro kingdom, a glorious Tuasmatus people. The burgomaster of the