A Dangerous Destiny: The Pure One Book I

Chapter Twelve

Author's Note: Ok, back to Manna and Karina for a moment. This chapter will clarify some of the questions you might still have about the Senmin people. Hope you enjoy. Don't worry, we'll get back to the action soon...;-)

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Manna

Manna saw the impatience of her pupil written on every part of her body, legs dangling at the edge of the chair kicking back and forth. Her head moving in a small figure eight, looking exactly everywhere except to focus on the book she was supposed to be reading.

"When can I go outside?" she asked, the end of the sentence tipped with a slight whine.

Manna sighed. "Karina, the lessons I teach you are very important. You don't realize how very lucky you are to have the right to learn such things.

The girl was unimpressed. "Aidan says that he never had to learn anything. He gets to help on the farm and play with sword and."

"I allowed you to spend the whole of yesterday outside," Manna answered. "Today is a day for study." 

The girl slumped back in her chair sticking out her lower lip in a pout of protest making her look like a spoiled child far younger than her nearly ten years of age.

Manna softened her tone. "Do you not like learning the knowledge our people have passed down for so many generations? You like the stories I tell don't you? The stories of the Nitas, the Fae, the God?"

Karina nodded but her eyes remained wistfully focused on the world outside the window.

Manna frowned thoughtfully. "You know, there are people who wish to ban all of these stories," she said.

Karina's focus shifted back to the room, interest piqued. "What does that mean?" she asked.

"It means that they want to stop people from telling them. That is why you are so lucky. There are places in Erestia where children are not allowed to hear these stories at all."

The girl considered that for a moment. "That isn't fair," Karina said finally. "Who would want to stop people from telling stories?"

"You know who Fredrick Bastario is?"

Karina nodded. "He rules Erestia. He is like the Nita."

"That's right. The Bastario line has ruled Erestia since Philip Bastario overthrew the Hapsben monarchy eighty years ago, and it is to their crown that all Erestians must pledge allegiance.

"And the King won't allow people to hear stories?"

Manna nodded. "That's right. The stories of the Senmin are ban in many parts of the Empire. Including the Capitol. In Auresir possessing this book or even knowing the stories inside is not allowed. If someone is caught with them they are punished."

Karina sat still for a moment, face almost comically serious, as she tried to process what Manna knew she could not fully understand. After a few moments of silence, Karina asked, "But why?"

The innocence and simplicity of her question pained Manna. It struck her how entirely unaware Karina was to the world outside of Gregorn and Cainell.

"Do you remember what I have taught you about the Senmin?" Manna asked.

"We are Senmin."

"And what does that mean?"

"It means we believe in the one God above. It means that we believe in the celestial realm of the Oracle, and the power of the earthen Fae. It means that we believe in living our lives according to the Great Book, the words of the Nitas past, and the holy texts entrusted to the sacred Initiate."