Legacy of the Roras

It was not yet morning when Therin entered Jesse’s room and urged him to wake up for the next lesson. It can’t have been more than a couple of hours since I limped back from the dueling room, Jesse thought groggily. His legs ached in protest as he got out of bed. The night before had been another torturous night with the dueling simulations, and once again he seemed to lack a competitive edge. After he saw the state of Jesse’s wardrobe after the first attempt at the simulators, Therin had brought Jesse simple workout clothes of a deep maroon. They were light; form fitting and perfect for training. Yet even they had become somewhat ruffled by his training. When Jesse looked from Therin’s perfectly pressed clothes to his own, he couldn’t help but feel slightly inferior. This morning Therin led Jesse in the opposite direction of the dueling room. They marched past a number of locked doors that Jesse knew all too well. During an ill-advised exploration the day before, he had encountered the security system within one of the rooms. He had been knocked unconscious before he even knew what had hit him. He had awoken back in his room. Therin stood over him and tried very hard not to laugh. He kindly reminded Jesse that this was an old Rora base, and that the rooms were not entirely safe. It was a phrase that weighed heavily on Jesse’s mind as he followed Therin past a door he had not seen before. He entered a room that was oddly triangular in shape and came to a point in the ceiling. It did not have the padding of the dueling room, which allowed Jesse to see the rock the room had been carved from. He also glimpsed engraved markings of Scrii that had been etched into the stone. “Seeing as how you were able to keep the water from smothering you in the flood, this next task should be somewhat easier,” Therin told him. “Many half Roras find it to be one of the more difficult challenges, but I believe that you will succeed where others have failed.” “Sounds good,” Jesse replied. He was unsure of himself despite Therin’s confidence. “Why do half Roras have such a hard time with this task?” “One of the defining characteristics of the half Roras is that they lack the mental capacity to master all of the Rora abilities. In time, each one reveals a certain power that they excel at. Rarely are they adept at the more powerful abilities, such as repulse.” So my main abilities must be visions and repulse, Jesse concluded. He felt more confident, especially if he had already exhibited signs of excelling at a power few others could wield. ‘Repulse,’ he repeated to himself. Sounds cool. “This test is not quite as physical as the last one, but it can be a little more dangerous. Stand here,” Therin ordered as he positioned Jesse in the exact middle of the room. “This is the only spot in the room where you can survive this test. Whatever happens, don’t move.” Survive? “If you look directly above you, you will notice a small hole in the ceiling with a metal plug in place. When I leave, the plug will be removed. Sand will begin to pour into the room. There is more than enough to completely submerge you and most of the room, so do not think you can wait it out. You must access your abilities and push the sand away from you; otherwise you will be buried. The longer the sand falls, the wider the hole becomes and the quicker the sand will enter the room. This is both an opportunity to practice the repulse ability and your combat meditation.” Therin peered at the plug and then walked toward the exit. “What happens if I don’t get it in time? What if the whole water thing was a fluke?” Jesse asked. His confidence slipped as he looked around at the room that suddenly looked much smaller and frightening. “Doubt is a luxury you cannot afford,” Therin lectured. A wry smile crossed his face. “Seriously though, what will happen?” Therin reached the door, sighed, and turned to Jesse. “You’ll die,” he answered simply as the door closed behind him. With a resounding boom the room sealed itself off from the main tunnel. Well, that’s comforting.