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Knightfall's World of Kulan: Many Beginnings, One Fate (Last Update: Feb 22, 2008)
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<blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2688734" data-attributes="member: 2012"><p>Dabuk led the way through the Tiger Guild labyrinth. He already knew he was right, but the moment of the reveal had to be done at the point specified by Mesik. The walk there was simple enough, and would have been even simpler if Dabuk had been allowed to reveal the secret of the labyrinth at the entrance.</p><p></p><p>“All right, this is the spot.” Mesik held up his hand and the trainees all stopped. “We’re at the start position. Go ahead Dabuk, put forth your theory.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, we’re all ears Dabuk.” Lyle still couldn’t figure out how Mesik always led them to the starting point. The labyrinth was so twisted and convoluted. “And you better be right because I don’t want to come down here ever again.”</p><p></p><p>“I’ll tell you the secret, but you have to <em>see it</em> for yourself.” Dabuk ran his hands along the nearest wall smiling to himself. Mesik caught the meaning of the boy’s words, and he knew Dabuk had figured it out.</p><p></p><p>“It took you long enough,” he said mockingly. The two just stood there grinning at each other.</p><p></p><p>“What? I don’t get it!” Wheezy banged his hand on the wall where Dabuk had been examining it.</p><p></p><p>Dabuk looked from one face to another and then to another until he was sure he had everyone’s complete attention. Then he spoke the words that shattered the trainee's entire perception of the labyrinth.</p><p></p><p>“None of this is real.” The boy spoke in that matter-of-fact way of his. “Well, at least most of it isn’t real.”</p><p></p><p>“What are you babbling about?” Bella didn’t understand. She looked to Minx who had this look of awe and disbelief on her face. “Minx, what is it?”</p><p></p><p>“If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, then I wouldn’t believe it.” Minx looked at Dabuk with a newfound respect.</p><p></p><p>“What?” Bella stood there confused. “What do you see?”</p><p></p><p>“The labyrinth, it isn’t real.” Minx could see the outline of the false walls where only moments before real ones had been. “It’s an illusion!”</p><p></p><p>“No way!” Snyder wore shock on his face like a second skin. He walked over to the wall and placed his hand along the rough stone surface. “It feels real to me.”</p><p></p><p>“Of course it does. That’s because your mind tells you it is real.” Dabuk walked up to the same portion of the wall and easily put his arm through the wall. “You have to disbelieve that the labyrinth is what they make us assume it is.”</p><p></p><p>“Wow, if I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it.” Lyle’s mimicked Minx's words as his perception changed with Dabuk’s action. “I can see it.”</p><p></p><p>“I still don’t see anything.” Snyder was becoming frustrated. “How can it be an illusion? Mesik climbed up to the top of over a dozen of the walled corridors with us when we started to think three-dimensionally. He couldn’t have done that if he knew the labyrinth was an illusion.”</p><p></p><p>“Ah, that’s the trick. Not every wall in the labyrinth is false. Some are real in key locations, which Mesik used to demonstrate how we couldn’t dig through or find our way by climbing over the walls. Plus, every time he’s brought us down here he's worn the exact same gloves and boots. I’ve never seen him wear them anywhere else but here, and he never wears anything else down here. I suspect they are magical and allow him to stay within the boundaries of the illusionary walls.”</p><p></p><p>“Thus, he could walk on the top of the illusionary walls like they were real ones as well as place his hands against such walls as to make them appear real. Sneaky.” Wheezy put his hand through the wall as the truth collided and overwhelmed his brain.</p><p></p><p>“And where he knew the walls were real, he would lean against them to help with the deception.” Minx smiled at Mesik. She had a newfound respect for the hairfoot’s guile and could now see why so many in the Tiger Guild respected him. She noticed the concern on his face directed towards Snyder.</p><p></p><p>The rogue walked over to the young boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. The boy had walked around from wall to wall testing them. Now he stood with his head hung low and his fists balled against the illusionary wall that Dabuk had put his arms through.</p><p></p><p>“Not everybody can see it, Snyder.” Mesik tried to console the boy. “It’s not the end of the world.”</p><p></p><p>“Yet, it is the end of my training, isn’t it?” Snyder couldn’t help but cry. This meant so much to his family, to his father.</p><p></p><p>“I’m afraid so,” Mesik could feel the boys pain. Over half of the trainees he had started out with had washed out in the labyrinth. It would be hard for the others too. Regardless of the trainees’ differences, they had become friends for the most part.</p><p></p><p>“No!” This time it was Bella’s voice ringing out in frustration and anger. “This can’t be!”</p><p></p><p>“Bella,” Minx turned to see her friend curled up against the corridors opposite illusionary wall. “Y-you can’t see it either.”</p><p></p><p>“This isn’t fair! I’ve worked so hard to get to this point! It can’t end like this!”</p><p></p><p>“I’m afraid it has to be.” Mesik wasn’t surprised that Bella couldn’t see the illusion. She wasn’t very perceptive. That is why Bella couldn’t see past Dabuk’s family tree or his racial heritage. Bias and a lack of imagination clouded her mind.</p><p></p><p>“How did you figure it out, Dabuk?” Bella just couldn’t understand how he could have beaten her to the solution, let alone that he could <em>see it</em> and she could not.</p><p></p><p>“Like everyone else, I started out by seeing reality as the walls that hold us back from where we want to end up. I saw only the physical, even if I did consider the third dimension of life eventually. The solution was simpler than I could perceive. I failed to take into account the world I live in. I forgot that magic and mysticism are also factors that I will have to deal with on a regular basis. In the end, I began to examine the labyrinth as I believed others would see it. Eventually, I considered how my cousin would approach the matter, and then it hit me. Magic was obviously involved. It didn’t take long to figure it out after that.”</p><p></p><p>“Damn,” Bella still couldn’t see past the limits of her own mind. “It never even crossed my mind that the solution was anything but physical.”</p><p></p><p>“You and Snyder can always reapply to the guild’s training program after you’ve gained some more maturity in the real world.” Mesik’s words were final and without much hope.</p><p></p><p>“My family doesn’t have the resources to pay the entry fee again. This was my only shot. It’s so unfair!” Bella was the one whining like a child now.</p><p></p><p>“No one said life was fair, young lady.” Mesik had had enough of her prattling. “Try to show some dignity!”</p><p></p><p>All Bella could do was sit and sulk. In her mind she had already decided that the Tiger Guild would rue the day they rejected her. She would become its greatest enemy; she swore it to herself. Her eyes bore into Mesik’s like daggers through flesh.</p><p></p><p>“Fine,” Mesik turned to Snyder who was gaining a semblance of control over his emotions. “What about you, Snyder? Are you willing to face the world outside for a few years and then reapply?”</p><p></p><p>“It becomes a question of whether or not my family will let me reapply or if they’ll just try to marry me off to some horrible nobleman’s daughter. But whatever happens, I will face it.”</p><p></p><p>“At least you don’t have to worry about working in the kitchen anymore!” Dabuk found some respect for the other boy, in Snyder’s words and hoped his joke would lighten his mood.</p><p></p><p>“Hey, you’re right. I hadn’t considered that.” Snyder laughed.</p><p></p><p>“All right, that’s enough. Time to get out of here. Last one to the entrance takes over Snyder’s shift in the kitchen tonight. Move it trainees! Bella, Snyder, you both walk with me.”</p><p></p><p>Dabuk was the first to dash through the nearest illusionary wall. Minx was close behind him. Lyle reacted a moment before Wheezy, who had begun to run down the illusionary corridor. He realized his mistake a moment too late. He wouldn’t catch the others before they hit the entrance.</p><p></p><p><em>“Good, he can use the extra work,”</em> Mesik thought.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Knightfall, post: 2688734, member: 2012"] Dabuk led the way through the Tiger Guild labyrinth. He already knew he was right, but the moment of the reveal had to be done at the point specified by Mesik. The walk there was simple enough, and would have been even simpler if Dabuk had been allowed to reveal the secret of the labyrinth at the entrance. “All right, this is the spot.” Mesik held up his hand and the trainees all stopped. “We’re at the start position. Go ahead Dabuk, put forth your theory.” “Yes, we’re all ears Dabuk.” Lyle still couldn’t figure out how Mesik always led them to the starting point. The labyrinth was so twisted and convoluted. “And you better be right because I don’t want to come down here ever again.” “I’ll tell you the secret, but you have to [I]see it[/I] for yourself.” Dabuk ran his hands along the nearest wall smiling to himself. Mesik caught the meaning of the boy’s words, and he knew Dabuk had figured it out. “It took you long enough,” he said mockingly. The two just stood there grinning at each other. “What? I don’t get it!” Wheezy banged his hand on the wall where Dabuk had been examining it. Dabuk looked from one face to another and then to another until he was sure he had everyone’s complete attention. Then he spoke the words that shattered the trainee's entire perception of the labyrinth. “None of this is real.” The boy spoke in that matter-of-fact way of his. “Well, at least most of it isn’t real.” “What are you babbling about?” Bella didn’t understand. She looked to Minx who had this look of awe and disbelief on her face. “Minx, what is it?” “If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, then I wouldn’t believe it.” Minx looked at Dabuk with a newfound respect. “What?” Bella stood there confused. “What do you see?” “The labyrinth, it isn’t real.” Minx could see the outline of the false walls where only moments before real ones had been. “It’s an illusion!” “No way!” Snyder wore shock on his face like a second skin. He walked over to the wall and placed his hand along the rough stone surface. “It feels real to me.” “Of course it does. That’s because your mind tells you it is real.” Dabuk walked up to the same portion of the wall and easily put his arm through the wall. “You have to disbelieve that the labyrinth is what they make us assume it is.” “Wow, if I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it.” Lyle’s mimicked Minx's words as his perception changed with Dabuk’s action. “I can see it.” “I still don’t see anything.” Snyder was becoming frustrated. “How can it be an illusion? Mesik climbed up to the top of over a dozen of the walled corridors with us when we started to think three-dimensionally. He couldn’t have done that if he knew the labyrinth was an illusion.” “Ah, that’s the trick. Not every wall in the labyrinth is false. Some are real in key locations, which Mesik used to demonstrate how we couldn’t dig through or find our way by climbing over the walls. Plus, every time he’s brought us down here he's worn the exact same gloves and boots. I’ve never seen him wear them anywhere else but here, and he never wears anything else down here. I suspect they are magical and allow him to stay within the boundaries of the illusionary walls.” “Thus, he could walk on the top of the illusionary walls like they were real ones as well as place his hands against such walls as to make them appear real. Sneaky.” Wheezy put his hand through the wall as the truth collided and overwhelmed his brain. “And where he knew the walls were real, he would lean against them to help with the deception.” Minx smiled at Mesik. She had a newfound respect for the hairfoot’s guile and could now see why so many in the Tiger Guild respected him. She noticed the concern on his face directed towards Snyder. The rogue walked over to the young boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. The boy had walked around from wall to wall testing them. Now he stood with his head hung low and his fists balled against the illusionary wall that Dabuk had put his arms through. “Not everybody can see it, Snyder.” Mesik tried to console the boy. “It’s not the end of the world.” “Yet, it is the end of my training, isn’t it?” Snyder couldn’t help but cry. This meant so much to his family, to his father. “I’m afraid so,” Mesik could feel the boys pain. Over half of the trainees he had started out with had washed out in the labyrinth. It would be hard for the others too. Regardless of the trainees’ differences, they had become friends for the most part. “No!” This time it was Bella’s voice ringing out in frustration and anger. “This can’t be!” “Bella,” Minx turned to see her friend curled up against the corridors opposite illusionary wall. “Y-you can’t see it either.” “This isn’t fair! I’ve worked so hard to get to this point! It can’t end like this!” “I’m afraid it has to be.” Mesik wasn’t surprised that Bella couldn’t see the illusion. She wasn’t very perceptive. That is why Bella couldn’t see past Dabuk’s family tree or his racial heritage. Bias and a lack of imagination clouded her mind. “How did you figure it out, Dabuk?” Bella just couldn’t understand how he could have beaten her to the solution, let alone that he could [I]see it[/I] and she could not. “Like everyone else, I started out by seeing reality as the walls that hold us back from where we want to end up. I saw only the physical, even if I did consider the third dimension of life eventually. The solution was simpler than I could perceive. I failed to take into account the world I live in. I forgot that magic and mysticism are also factors that I will have to deal with on a regular basis. In the end, I began to examine the labyrinth as I believed others would see it. Eventually, I considered how my cousin would approach the matter, and then it hit me. Magic was obviously involved. It didn’t take long to figure it out after that.” “Damn,” Bella still couldn’t see past the limits of her own mind. “It never even crossed my mind that the solution was anything but physical.” “You and Snyder can always reapply to the guild’s training program after you’ve gained some more maturity in the real world.” Mesik’s words were final and without much hope. “My family doesn’t have the resources to pay the entry fee again. This was my only shot. It’s so unfair!” Bella was the one whining like a child now. “No one said life was fair, young lady.” Mesik had had enough of her prattling. “Try to show some dignity!” All Bella could do was sit and sulk. In her mind she had already decided that the Tiger Guild would rue the day they rejected her. She would become its greatest enemy; she swore it to herself. Her eyes bore into Mesik’s like daggers through flesh. “Fine,” Mesik turned to Snyder who was gaining a semblance of control over his emotions. “What about you, Snyder? Are you willing to face the world outside for a few years and then reapply?” “It becomes a question of whether or not my family will let me reapply or if they’ll just try to marry me off to some horrible nobleman’s daughter. But whatever happens, I will face it.” “At least you don’t have to worry about working in the kitchen anymore!” Dabuk found some respect for the other boy, in Snyder’s words and hoped his joke would lighten his mood. “Hey, you’re right. I hadn’t considered that.” Snyder laughed. “All right, that’s enough. Time to get out of here. Last one to the entrance takes over Snyder’s shift in the kitchen tonight. Move it trainees! Bella, Snyder, you both walk with me.” Dabuk was the first to dash through the nearest illusionary wall. Minx was close behind him. Lyle reacted a moment before Wheezy, who had begun to run down the illusionary corridor. He realized his mistake a moment too late. He wouldn’t catch the others before they hit the entrance. [I]“Good, he can use the extra work,”[/I] Mesik thought. [/QUOTE]
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Knightfall's World of Kulan: Many Beginnings, One Fate (Last Update: Feb 22, 2008)
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