Spirits of Alaruk

Chapter 2: Ludaru

Treke trailed behind Elder Vrenik as they made their way through the bamboo thicket. Only Vrenik knew where the overgrown path could be located, but Treke could already sense an odd energy from the direction they were headed.

“Elder Vrenik, could you tell me more about this Ludaru? Why did our clan try to forget them?”

Avoiding eye contact, Elder Vrenik gave a solemn grunt. "It's a sore subject, child," he grumbled. "I will tell you more when we reach the shrine." He clicked his beak, clearly frustrated at the situation. Such a sore state was rare for Vrenik.

“Whatever it may be, I feel it is best for me to learn of Ludaru's history.”

Another grunt from Vrenik, but this time more agreeable. “I suppose you are right. Some truths simply cannot be avoided.” He sighed and shook his head. “It's been half a lifetime since I've seen that shrine, so the path may be quite overgrown and difficult to reach. This might be a good opportunity to use your ability to track rranha.”

“How do I do such a thing?”

“You'll know rranha when you sense it. Negative emotions fuel it, but the reverse is also true. Do you feel anxious? Disgusted, perhaps? You may even feel hatred and rage, but the sensation will not feel natural or even from within yourself.”

Treke closed her eyes for a moment to concentrate on the energies around her. Something ahead made her uneasy. “Yes, I do feel something. It is similar to how my dream felt. Disorienting, frightful... I do not like it.”

Vrenik nodded. “That is rranha. A ruksala can track the source of it. Can you sense which direction it comes from?”

“Up ahead... to the right of the path. This way.” She pointed to the source.

“Good, good. I sense it from the same direction. Let us follow the trail then.” He gestured to Treke to go ahead of him. “Lead us there, young ruksala.”

The new title was strange to Treke, especially coming from her mentor, but she stepped up, letting her new senses guide her. Nearing the source, her heart pounded faster and made her queasy. At first, she was unsure if this was just nervous anticipation, but the eerie silence in the air told her everything.

“Here, look at this,” she said, pointing to the side of the path. Remnants of cut bamboo, evidence of a formerly maintained path, hid amongst the vegetation. One could easily miss it at first glance with how thick the bamboo grew.

“Hmm… Let us get all this out of the way first,” said Elder Vrenik. He grabbed a stalk of green bamboo and snapped it with a single powerful arm.

Treke did the same and made quick work of the bamboo, snapping off pieces and pushing ahead to create a path large enough for both of them.

“Ahh, I wish I was still as lively as you are now,” Elder Vrenik chuckled, sidestepping his way past the fallen bamboo. “I suppose that’s why you’ll be taking my place soon enough, eh?”

“Elder Vrenik, do not say such things,” Treke said, giving Vrenik an awkward glance. She held the last of the bamboo aside to let him slip through. “You still have many years left to live.”

“I’m old, child, it’s a fact of life. I won’t be around forever.” He gave her a reassuring smile before reaching the clearing. “Ah, here we are.”

Covered in moss and lichen, a large ancient stone slab stood alone in the clearing ahead. The powerful rranha in the area made Treke’s stomach churn. She kept her distance from the tainted stone, fearful of the negative energy.

“So, this is Ludaru’s shrine…”

Elder Vrenik circled around the shrine, looking for anything out of place. Disturbed moss on the surface of the shrine and cleared bamboo nearby indicated someone had been here before them.

“This is worse than I feared,” Vrenik grumbled. “The new growth of bamboo here looks several seasons old.”

“That long ago?”

“I have a very bad feeling about this,” said Vrenik, examining the shrine’s surface. He brushed away some moss, revealing strange glyphs painted onto the stone. “…Ludaru is no longer here.”

Treke’s ears perked up. “W-what?”

“The seal placed on this shrine that kept Ludaru imprisoned is broken. This was likely done by someone from our own clan.”

“Who would do such a thing?”

“I have my suspicions… Do you know of my previous apprentice?”

“Yes… Karrak.”

Vrenik nodded.

“But I thought he left the island years ago.”

“Now, I’m not so sure. I banished him from our village when he challenged me on how to use spiritual energy. No unesudrat would spirit bond with him, so he insisted to train with rranha instead.”

“I did not know that was possible…”

“Yes, and it’s quite dangerous. I warned him not to misuse rranha, but he refused to listen. No good can come of such arrogance.”

“I am sorry, Elder Vrenik… It must be devastating to have your own apprentice turn against you.”

“I had hoped he’d change his mind, but alas.” Elder Vrenik sighed and shook his head. “He was never told about Ludaru’s shrine, but I believe he may have discovered it on his own. A sealed zreusudrat cannot escape a shrine alone, but they can still spirit bond with a willing fuglan.” He ran a hand over the stone surface, inspecting the shrine for any further clues. “It appears the lingering rranha here is leaking from the shrine itself.”

“Someone broke the seal and spirit bonded with Ludaru?”

“There is no other possibility. With Ludaru on the loose, there’s no telling what terrible things they will attempt. They must be stopped!”

Wringing her hands in dread, Treke considered the implications of a corrupted ruksala wreaking havoc on the villages nearby. Elder Vrenik was getting old in his twilight years and such a pursuit would be taxing on him. “Perhaps I should go after Ludaru…”

Elder Vrenik whipped around, shocked at her response. “Child, do you understand what you are suggesting?”

“I am not a child anymore!” Treke paused and shrunk back at the rise of her own voice. “I-I mean… I want to do this. Please, Elder Vrenik. Train me to become a better ruksala. You should not do this yourself.”

Vrenik sighed. “Very well. But if you wish to do this, you must learn how to use magic. Start with cleansing the shrine.”

“Cleanse it?”

“Rranha is leaking out from where it sealed Ludaru. You should be able to purge it with the help of Klaiune. Remove the negative energy here until you can no longer sense any presence of it.”

“I’ve never done something like this before.” Bewildered, she turned inward to Klaiune for assistance. “What do I do?”

The spirit replied as a disembodied voice inside her head once more. “Concentrate and push back against the negative energy with your mind. Resist it. Fight it. I will provide my own energy as you channel it into magic.”

“As you say…” Treke took a deep breath and pressed her hands together. As she focused, she could sense just how powerful and palpable the rranha really was by how much it pushed back on her. It sapped at her strength as she continued to focus, but already it began to dissipate as she channeled.

“Good,” said Elder Vrenik. “I can already sense it weakening. Keep going!”

Her vision darkened as she strained to remove the last of the negative energy. This would take some extra resolve. Turning inward, she envisioned the power of the stars, their fierce light piercing the darkness. Her magic, a form of starlight itself, quickly burned away at the remaining rranha. With a lash of her tail, she snapped her eyes back open at the completion of the cleansing. Her mind was sharp and awakened once more.

“Did I... did I do it?” she asked, glancing around. Not that she could see a difference.

Elder Vrenik hummed with approval. “I believe you did. The forest is calm once more. Well done.”

“Iatak,” she sighed with relief. She could finally relax again.

“Channeling kenha will be exhausting at first, but you’ll get the hang of it soon enough. Just be mindful that rranha will weaken you if you linger in it for too long. It’s best to cleanse it whenever you can.”

"I see... I will keep that in mind.”

“Now, as for the shrine itself…” Vrenik hummed thoughtfully to himself, peeling old moss from the shrine’s surface. Various ominous engravings adorned the stone, only recognizable by those belonging to the Nuek clan. “Hmph. I have no doubt it was Karrak who broke the seal. Very few know of this shrine and its location, one of them being myself. None of the other elders would do this.”

“How would we go about finding him?”

“Hmm… the rranha trail is faint, but you may be able to follow it to find Ludaru. Ancestral spirits cannot leave a shrine without a living fuglan to spirit bond with, so if you find Ludaru, you will find the culprit as well. You may have to leave the island.”

Clasping her hands together in concern, Treke thought about what it meant to leave the island. She had barely left her own village and the surrounding forest. Leaving the island would be a first for her.

“This would be a good opportunity for you to expand your horizons,” said Elder Vrenik. “Get to know more of the world, eh?”

“I suppose… Leaving the island will be a first for me.”

“You’ll be fine,” Elder Vrenik chuckled. “I know the Nuek clan is quite secretive and we don’t leave our village often, but think of yourself as an ambassador to other clans and tribes. You should visit Sivaterin at the lagoon. The Asu can help you get across the sea.”

Treke nodded. “All right. I admit I haven't met any of them yet...”

“They're actually quite a friendly bunch. Bring a gift along and make a friend or two! I don't expect you to do this all by yourself, after all. Good luck, Treke.”

Treke headed back to her village to say goodbye to her family and pack supplies for the trip. She told them of her new role as a ruksala, and that she had to travel, but shared no details about Ludaru. It took a little convincing towards her parents to assure them she would come back safely, but her uncle and sisters were excited for her adventure. Her youngest sister, Tirine, was especially thrilled.

“Are you really going to travel beyond the sea?” Tirine asked as Treke packed away one of her robes.

“Possibly. Hopefully it is not too far…”

“Where will you be going?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I must visit Sivaterin first.”

“Can I come with you?”

Treke sighed and shook her head. While she appreciated Tirine’s enthusiasm, she couldn’t tell her sister about what she was actually doing. “No. This is a ruksala’s responsibility. I must deal with the spirits.”

“You'd better come back safely then! I want to hear stories about the outside world.”

“Do not worry, sister. I will come back as soon as I can. Work on your weaving until then, okay?”

Tirine nodded and sank in tempered disappointment for a moment before perking up again. “Oh! Do you want to bring along the blanket I finished? Here!” She ran to her cot and returned with a blanket decorated with a tropical flower motif throughout the weave. “I made a few mistakes with the flowers, but it will still keep you warm at night!”

“Of course, sister. Thank you.” She gave her little sister a hug and accepted the blanket. “I will be sure to keep it safe.”

Her uncle gifted her a small bag of tea leaves to take along. Sahuan tea, with its cool minty flavor, was her uncle’s pride that he grew and dried himself. Grateful for her family’s understanding and encouragement, she finished packing up some supplies, said her goodbyes, and headed back into the forest.

The first thing she needed to do before heading into Sivaterin was find a gift for the sea fuglans. Exchanging gifts between clans was a common practice on the island, ensuring a friendly relationship between everyone. Nangangu fruit, a favorite treat for many, was currently in season with its trees aplenty. Not far into the bamboo forest, she spotted a large tree with plenty of fruit, ripe for the picking.

Setting her pack down, Treke shimmied up the trunk of the tree. As a forest fuglan, climbing trees came naturally to her. Large arms made it perfect for grasping around the trunk of the tree, while her clawed feet dug into the bark. A powerful prehensile tail made it easy to grip onto branches, keeping Treke stable as she reached for a few hanging fruit.

“These will do,” said said before climbing back down with her newly acquired prizes. She decided she would have one for herself as well before packing the remaining two away.

While the fruit was mostly bright yellow, a pinkish-red color covering the bottom gave a good indication it was sweet and ripe for eating. Its shape, elongated and split into three sections like fingers, made it easy to tear open and enjoy the pale-yellow flesh inside. The center of the fruit, filled with rows of little black seeds, gave off a light, flowery aroma.

She tore into the juicy flesh with the tip of her beak, swallowing whole chunks of the fruit. Gastroliths, little stones she kept in her stomach, would grind up the fruit for her. As she finished up her tasty treat, a sweet and faintly tangy flavor lingered in her mouth. Having her fill, she moved on.

The village of Sivaterin was not far, perhaps no further than half an hour walk through the forest. As she followed the path, she kept in mind where the north side of the island was located, using the eastern morning sun to prevent getting lost.

The edge of the forest opened up to an expanse of dune grass that stretched across a hill of sandy soil. This was as far as she’d ever gone, never leaving the safety of the trees. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward and followed a sandy footpath worn through the dune grass. Abandoned driftwood logs marked the transition from dune grass to sandy beach. From there, a massive teal lagoon drained into the vast blue ocean.

The briny scent of the sea hit Treke’s nostrils as she crossed the beach. The lagoon was so open compared to the forest. With only a few palms and coconut trees around, it left her vulnerable and exposed. She was so used to the cover and protection of the forest, but out here so was different.

Ahead, the village of Sivaterin stood entirely on pilings on the lagoon, connected by a branching system of docks that extended along the edge of the lagoon like a spiral. Huts and boats lined each of branch, forming a village that could easily grow in size with additional extensions. A long ramp on the beach lead directly into the village.

Sea fuglans were very different than forest fuglans, with finned heads and tails and webbed digits. Treke’s lavender scales stood out against all the greens, blues, and yellows of the sea fuglans. Even their clothes were different, mostly woven from hemp and decorated with colorful seashell jewelry. Despite her fascination, she tried not to stare too much at the staggering difference between her and the Asu tribe.

Most of the villagers were busy hustling about this time of day, patching up boats, weaving nets or fishing. One green and teal sea fuglan sat at the edge of a pier with a fishing pole her hand. She looked bored and half focused on the water, but not particularly busy. Treke approached her, hoping she wasn’t too much of a bother.

“Umm… excuse me.” She coughed and cleared her throat, trying to raise her normally quiet voice more. “Could you help me with something?”

“Hmm?” The sea fuglan's long frilled ears flicked in response before she looked up at Treke. “Oh, hello! You’re… not from around here, are you? What do you need?”

Treke wrung her tail between her hefty hands, reluctant to ask at first. “Well... I was wondering if you could help me find someone who could ferry me off of the island? I need to go somewhere.”

The sea fuglan grinned at Treke. “I could ferry you, if you’d like!”

“Really? You don’t mind?”

“Not at all! I have my own boat and everything.”

“Oh?” Treke’s ears perked up. “I would greatly appreciate it. My name is Treke, of the Nuek clan.”

“Nice to meet you! I'm Siku.” She pulled up her fishing line and examined it with disappointment. “Kalagala, these fish aren't biting today for some reason...” She sighed and set her fishing rod down. “So, where do you need to go?”

“Truthfully, I am not exactly sure where, just that I know I must leave the island.”

“Hmm… that might make it a little difficult for both of us. Do you know which direction you need to go at least?”

“Oh! Yes, right, of course…” Treke closed her eyes and focused on where the trail of rranha might be located. Oddly enough, the largest concentration of rranha appeared to be coming from below. “Wait, I… That does not seem right.”

Siku cocked her head to one side. “What’s wrong?”

Treke made sure she was not mistaken by focusing more intensely, but the rranha was definitely coming from the bottom of the lagoon. Could Ludaru be down there? She pointed to the dark teal abyss at the center. “Could you take me out there?”

“In the middle of the lagoon??”

“Yes, I know it sounds strange, but it’s important. There is something down there...”

Siku gave Treke a concerned look then shrugged. “All right, I’ll get my boat ready. I should take a break from fishing anyway. I haven’t caught anything for the past few days.” She sighed and stood up. “Follow me.”

Further down the pier, a small outrigger canoe with a crab-claw sail bobbed in the water, yanking gently at its dock lines. The boat was big enough to fit two or three fuglans and a small cargo load. The canvas sail sported a beautiful painted emblem of the three moons of Alaruk eclipsing each other, with the smallest in waxing crescent, the second largest in waning crescent, and the largest in full phase.

“Hop on in, my forest-dwelling friend! I’m not sure what you’re looking for in the lagoon, but I can at least take you out there.”

Treke climbed into the boat, her legs wobbling underneath her. It was strange how easily the boat glided in the water as she still grasped the edge of the dock. As she sat down, she gripped both sides of the canoe in desperation, trying to find her balance in the uneven water.

Untying the boat, Siku stepped into the canoe with little effort, using her weight to push it away from the dock. A large paddle, carved with images of the moons in various phases along the handle, was all she needed to guide the vessel through the water.

“Do you ferry Vratinsav like me off the island often?” asked Treke, nervously peering into the water. Vratinsav was the name of the forest fuglan tribe, just as Asu was for the sea fuglans.

“Not really. The last time I remember someone ferried was several moons ago. I usually ship fish and other goods to and from the port of Hulerin.”

“Hulerin?” She tried not to stare too much at the watery abyss below her.

“Yes, it’s a desert town not a day’s travel from here by boat. I like to travel back and forth every chance I get! Maybe I could take you there one day.” She smiled back at Treke.

“I see… If I need to go there, I will keep that in mind. Thank you.”

“No problem.” Siku paddled away, alternating her strokes on either side of the canoe to propel it swiftly through the water. “Say, did you know the center of the lagoon and this whole island is the remnants of a volcano? It just sank into the sea and that’s why we have a crescent shaped island. It looks just like a moon from a distance! Maybe that’s why our clan decided to start a village here.”

“Yes, I believe I heard that story as a child. I’m not looking for a volcano though.” She checked the water again, noticing an odd absence of any life in the water. Whatever was in the lagoon, Treke had a much better grasp on its location now.

“If you don’t mind telling, what are you looking for?”

Similar to the rranha around the shrine, a nervous, sickly energy emanated from the area. From Siku’s plucky energy, the sea fuglan did not seem affected by it. At least, not yet. Elder Vrenik warned Treke not to linger around rranha for too long. She had no intention of going down there herself, only getting as close as she could from the surface.

“Negative energy. There is an alarming amount at the bottom of the lagoon…” The water beneath them was now such a vibrant deep blue that Treke could see no bottom in sight. It gave her the chills. “I am going to try to cleanse the lagoon.”

“Do what you need to do. Maybe it’ll bring the fish back,” Siku chuckled.

As she began the process of purging the rranha, the mass of negative energy shifted beneath them, deep below. Only able to reach the shallow waters, it was as if the rranha somehow knew she was trying to remove it by avoiding her.

“How strange,” she whispered. “I think it might be… moving?”

“The negative energy is moving? Maybe it’s like a bad fish swimming around down there?”

“Actually…” She dearly hoped it was not what she thought it was. “Perhaps I can have Klaiune check below.”

“Who’s Klaiune?”

“Oh! My apologies. Klaiune is my ancestral spirit. I’m a ruksala, you see. Well… I just became one today, actually.”

Siku nodded, not entirely understanding, but waited patiently for Treke to do her work. Like most laymen, Siku was unable to see or hear spirits, but most fuglans respected the work of a ruksala nonetheless.

“I will check the water, but my reach is limited,” Klaiune responded to Treke alone. “As I am tethered to your physical form, my bond will weaken the further I travel.”

“I understand. Go only as far as you can, and tell me if you find anything unusual.”

“I will do my best.”

Klaiune poured out of Treke’s third eye like a billow of smoke and descended into the water, its ghostly form passing through the liquid undisturbed. Treke waited quietly until the spirit soon returned and resurfaced.

“The Asu was correct in her assumption. There appears to be a giant fish below us, but the distance is much deeper than I can reach.”

“A fish… with rranha?”

“It is possessed by a tukra.”

Treke dreaded the day she had to encounter a tukra on her own, but she never thought it would be her first day as a ruksala. She needed to be brave. “Can we… get rid of it?”

“It should be possible to banish it. However…”

“…However?”

“We must get closer to the fish. We cannot deal with the tukra when it is out of reach.”

Treke groaned in frustration. There was no possibly way she was going into the water. “Siku? You’re good at fishing, correct?”

“Of course! My whole clan is skilled at catching fish.”

“Does that include large fish?”

Siku gave Treke a questioning look. “Well, yeah. What are you getting at?”

She wasn’t quite sure how to tell Siku that a giant fish at the bottom of the lagoon was possessed by a tukra, but perhaps this would be a good opportunity for her clan to go fishing.

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