The deep, resonant voice of Brahan commanded attention, reverberating off the ancient walls and towering spires. Although David couldn't grasp the words, the powerful meaning of the tune penetrated his mind with undeniable clarity. As if beckoned, David began to follow the man's tune as both figures started walking into the depths of the caverns.

  The lyrics celebrated the incredible freedom to make our own choices and achieve anything we desire with passion and determination. They encouraged us to embrace the adventure of the unknown, reminding us that every journey begins with a single step—even through daunting paths filled with mysterious trees and haunting forest sounds. David felt a surge of emotion as he connected deeply with the song, inspiring him to pursue his dreams with enthusiasm and courage.

  Inspired by Brahan’s captivating orchestral storytelling, David felt a thrilling surge of excitement as he swung his sword. With each deep note that echoed, he confidently struck. As the unfamiliar words faded, David gracefully maneuvered into a slice, wholly immersed in the moment. Lost in his joy, he embraced his growing confidence with the blade, feeling unstoppable.

  " Childe, childe," Brahan called even after his song had faded.

  David gasped, the world snapping back into focus. Once more, his gaze fell upon the blade in his hands, a simple, unadorned steel length that had already begun to feel like family. The weight was perfect, the balance impeccable, and it must have been created only for him. Someone must have forged this sword and hung it upon its display, waiting solely for him.

  " Childe, we need to start your education. The harrowing awaits. " Brahan admonished David as he had begun to drift off again.

  To Brahans astonishment, David raised the blade again, mimicking the dance he had just performed, the symphony of cold steel now a part of his very being. Imagined enemies felt even closer now; the ill-smelling breath left behind an unease that spoke of death and decay. He would be ready to face them.

  " Sciath, come back to your senses." Brahan's harsh words echoed in the cavern, stripping away the veil of wonder and replacing it with the harsh clip of reality. " You have time later to explore your bond. For now, we must speak of the Song, True Names, and Unity. "

  " The Song is what we call the whisper of the world. You cannot understand the gravity it has been muttering to you, Sciath, Brahan, and others you might have heard but not understood. These words are taken from the world's song as they make communicating about it easier."

  Brahan started to laugh, his slight belly dancing around in jovial delight. David realized his blade had shrunk to accommodate the smaller sheath as he managed to store his sword within during the brief respite.

  " Some people take longer to understand the voice of the song. Some weeks, others months, and I swear there was once a fool who had a whole cycle pass before her first true vision. " He cackled in child-like glee.

  "What is a true vision, sir?" David asked, his previous confidence gone as he stood without touching his sword.

  " Will we Wra-th-unn be weighed down by another turtle? "Brahan lamented, " Have you truly not seen any flashes of the extraordinary before you? Some unreasonable words written only for you to see?"

  David paused thoughtfully, tapping his chin as he embraced the challenge ahead. Then, vivid memories of the monolith and cavern illuminated his thoughts like a flash of inspiration. Excitement surged as he recognized the Song had whispered to him before, snapping him back to the conversation.

  " I have, sir; there have been moments I saw a blue box of text."

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  " Excellent, you are no lost cause, " Brahan harumphed. " Unlike the old banshee."

  " I will rip out your throat one of these days, you old lizard." A feminine grating voice, as if sandpaper was brought to wood, reached from beyond the cavern walls.

  With a flick of his wrist, Brahan revealed a golden bracelet underneath his flowy robes. Immediately, it began to shine off it with rays of light gray, as a semi-permeable barrier appeared around David and Brahan, connecting the duo in a tight space.

  " The old bat sure is easy to deceive. No matter, without her, I wouldn't have been able to explain the use of the privacy sanctuary. " Brahan said while pointing his cane towards the barrier.

  " Where was I? "he began as if nothing had happened. Ahhh, with time, the boxes, as you see them, will start giving more details. In essence, it is a window into your soul. While there is never an end to integrating the song into your body, two things will happen once it permeates every cell in your body. "

  " This journey will reveal fascinating insights about your body—its current health, your strength, and how swiftly your hands can move. These intricacies are deeply connected to who you are, particularly your soul. "

  " It's essential to reflect on whether discussions about your soul should be shared with others or reserved for personal contemplation. Embrace this exploration; it's an opportunity for growth and self-discovery!" Brahan said.

  David began to explore his feelings about souls. Subconsciously, he knew what a soul was from the perspective of a 21st-century Human, but everything had changed too quickly for his mind to embrace the unknown.

  " The first time you hear the song's voice, your true name will be revealed. " Brahan stated, but the mentioning of his true name triggered something within David.

  " W-W-What is a true name, sir? " David spit out cautiously.

  " A true name is who you are. To make it easier, think of them as words the Song sings to us. Like a different language, you can't grasp the meaning behind the words, even if you hear them intoned."

  Seeing David with inwardly drawn shoulders, as if bunched into a tight rope, Brahan's gaze reflected his own sorrow. With light movements, he placed a hand on David's shoulder to give the child strength to overcome the trials ahead.

  " Childe, the unknown is always scary. There is nothing wrong with being fearful. But what truly matters comes next; put it aside and explore the unknown so it too becomes known. " Brahan offered his sage advice.

  David had heard similar words before, spoken by his own Grandfather, so he drew courage from them. As if exploding from a casing of hard steel, David's attention snapped back to Brahan.

  " Good childe, good, " Brahan jovially said. " We've mentioned you being a Sciath, and I know you have no idea what this means. Think of being a Sciath as a profession or even calling. "

  Brahan began to spin a tale of grandeur in which Sciaths seemed to be defenders. Sometimes, they battled one enemy and other times; they battled hundreds at a time.

  They climbed the highest mountain peaks, covered in snow and hidden from view by fog. They also delved into the deepest dark, hoping to acquire treasure and riches.

  Every story was centered around protection, even more so when Sciaths were sent out to exterminate and raze settlements of misaligned policy.

  At first, David couldn't understand this. But as more and more sentences spun the tale, his understanding deepened. A puzzle piece was missing.

  " I see you've begun to understand. " Brahan nodded sagely. A journey can only start with a question: What is on your mind, childe? "

  Unsure of where to begin, David took a moment to gather his thoughts. The rhythmic tapping of Brahan's cane, as well as his warm disposition, lulled him into a state of openness that David hadn't experienced since the incident that took away his will to live.

  " We keep discussing being a defender or protector, but what exactly do we protect? The Sciaths in your stories seem steadfast and with will unbroken by personal choice. What is so crucial that a Sciath would sacrifice their life for?" David asked.

  Brahan smiled, his gaze filled with contentment as if a cat had laid down in its favorite sunbathing spot. He extended his arm and slowly caressed David's head before continuing.

  " Good childe, good. You are a quick study. First, let me give you some advice from this old supreme. Understanding your path or journey can only come after you decide to step foot on unknown trails. " Brahan seemed to purr out the words.

  " What a Sciath protects is the simplest but also the most complex thing. But to answer your question, let me raise my own. What happens if a Sciath's power is able to split mountains and churn the seas with a simple swing of their weapon, and not even one hundred men are able to match their prowess? "

  Initially, David was slumped as he couldn't produce a quantifiable answer. So, he began to run through his memories. With an eureka moment, he discovered a simple solution.

  " Someone else to hold the Sciath in check? " David asked cautiously.

  " Congratulations, childe. You have begun to infuse power into your words, similar to the song! " Brahan said as he clapped, with child-like glee written all over his face.

  " But no, not someone else. Think in terms of a coin. " Brahan gently admonished him.

  David's thoughts raced, not wanting to disappoint the kind elder. He felt not good enough and unworthy to receive teachings on such esoteric concepts, and his mind kept spinning further and further down a dark path.

  Almost at his wit's end, the air filled with anticipation as David felt the lightness of enlightenment.

  " Two sides of a coin. The other half. " David managed to say with shaking hands.

  "Absolutely wonderful, childe!" the quirky old man exclaimed with an excited clap. "You see, for the remarkable power of a Sciath, we need a counterpart: an Aiodos. Together, they create a beautiful balance, protecting the soul from corruption. This harmony is what we profoundly refer to as Unity!"