Keepers #1.2

Denahi followed Khaldor as the haedian led him out of the room. Two guards were still positioned at the doorway but seemed more relaxed now that Denahi had been approved to stay. “You’re actually just in time to come share knowledge with my clan at our hall.” 

The runner was a bit apprehensive about this, worried he was just going to be interrogated by the very curious members of their clan. Denahi wasn’t one for small talk, let alone questions. Still, the vayron knew that in order to complete the elder’s request he would have to endure them and their questions. 

Denahi soon entered the hall and he could hear the haedians beginning to whisper as he entered. The walls were lined with crystals and books, more than Denahi had seen in his entire life combined. Many of the keepers were there using crystals and books. All of them had now abandoned their learning as they stared at the surface dweller.

“My clan! This surface dweller has come to speak to us. I’m sure we can learn much from him. But don’t scare him off.” Khaldor said with a laugh. The hushed voices grew louder as haedians began to approach Denahi. 

The questions began to come from every direction, overwhelming the vayron. He was grateful when Khaldor raised a paw, silencing the members of his clan. “Maybe we should share some of our knowledge first.” 

“What should we share?” Another haedian questioned.

“Gather some crystals about our clan.” Khaldor instructed. A few of the clan members nodded and grabbed crystals from the shelf, bringing them to their leader. Denahi felt uneasy and out of place as the others still stared at him. The green and bronze tyrian set a crystal down in front of Denahi, leaning back and expectantly looking at him. 

“Well… how does it work?” Denahi questioned awkwardly.

“Oh I can’t believe I forgot to instruct you.” Khaldor laughed. “It’s really easy, I promise. You just need to touch your paw to it and the crystal will do all the work.”

Denahi was still a bit nervous as he reached his paw forward and pressed it onto the crystal. The rock was cold beneath his paws and for a moment nothing happened. Then, the crystal began to glow softly and grew more intense as images began to form in front of him. It showed a gathering of haedians from a variety of ages. Denahi could see young pups and elders talking in the image.

“In our clan we have a tradition called the Gathering of Echoes.” Khaldor began to explain as the picture disappeared. “Our members from different generations come together to tell stories and share knowledge. It is very sacred to us.”

“I see.” Denahi replied, thinking that this information would be very useful for the elder. He sighed as he was handed another crystal and he repeated the process of touching his paw to it.

This time an image began to form of the very hall he was in but decorated with glowing crystals and more crowded. He could tell that some of the haedians were from other clans based on how they were dressed. “And this is our annual event called Luminal Eve. Members from other clans are permitted to enter during this time and we share knowledge.” Khaldor explained.

“So you hide your knowledge from the other clans?” Denahi questioned and the leader seemed a bit taken aback.

“I wouldn’t say we hide it, but normally other clans are not permitted in our hall. You see, while knowledge can be an enriching thing to better yourself it can also be…” The haedian trailed off as he seemed to look for a crystal before they picked it up and began to display the image. “A dangerous weapon.” They finished as an image began to appear of haedians fighting.

Denahi nodded his head with understanding. War certainly can end in disaster and the haedian clans didn’t exactly seem to get along with each other. “Yes my kind has had our fair share of war.”

“So I’ve heard.” The leader sighed and Denahi gave them a quizzical look. “We may live deep underground but I have heard some of whats gone on in the world above.” They explained and the tyrian seemed to become uncomfortable. “Well, feel free to browse a bit through our hall. Though I must warn you that some of our sections are restricted.” 

“Thank you.” Denahi said as he cleared his throat. The vayron’s blue eyes looked around the hall he was standing in. He could spend a lifetime here and not finish all the readings in the hall. However he was no scholar so this was fine by him. 

He noticed the other tyrians still looking in his direction as he began to look around the hall, curious as to what kinds of information they had.