"I imagine getting in will be a simple matter of asking the Ruler of the Scholar Region, but if it is not, do anything you need to do to get in. This is important, and failure would be detrimental to future plans." The Emperor said.
Skymender nodded. "As you say."
"I will explain more later. I'm sure you understand what needs to be done in the meantime."
The Emperor dismissed Skymender, sending him back to the capital of the Scholar Region.
Skymender took Mora with him as he rode back towards the capital of the Scholar Region.
"How did it go?" Mora asked.
"Good enough." Skymender responded.
"What did you do?"
"Just had a conversation with someone important." Skymender said.
Mora didn't ask any more questions, knowing he wouldn't get an answer. It only took a few days before they once again reached the capital of the Scholar Region. Along the way, Skymender had not stopped teaching Mora. It reminded him of how the Imperial Scholar would teach him while they traveled, even when he was blind.
Skymender fell silent as he thought about the Imperial Scholar. Mora asked a few questions, but stopped after realizing that Skymender wasn't answering.
He stayed silent the rest of the way.
Once in the capital, Skymender made his way to the palace with Mora.
He headed straight to the top floor, Mora following. Mora had intended to talk to his father about the trip, but hadn't expected Skymender to be a step ahead of him.
Skymender knocked on the door.
"Come in." The ruler said from beyond.
Skymender entered, and Mora followed.
Neither the ruler nor Skymender paid Mora any attention.
"So you've returned. What did that Emperor of yours say?" He asked.
Skymender did not waste any time with him. "I need to participate in the Mainland gathering."
The ruler laughed. "To think your Emperor would even know about that. Sure. I'd like to see what he plans to do with that."
Skymender left, leaving the ruler alone with his son.
Mora spoke. "Father. I…"
Before he could say anything else, the ruler interrupted him.
"You told Skymender about my origins." He said indifferently.
Mora was shocked, so shocked he didn't speak.
"It doesn't matter to me. What annoys me is your foolishness. You seem to disregard the Temple. Do not make that mistake again. The Temple is by far the most powerful force in this world, save for perhaps the Treant itself."
Although Mora did not know what the Treant was, he was shocked by his fathers words. He had no idea that his father thought about the Temple so highly.
"Now go on. You can come back tomorrow."
Mora nodded and left, still not sure how to feel. His "betrayal" was revealed the first moment he met his father.
He could only inwardly swear to never do it again.
Skymender left. The next day, he continued to tutor Mora as though nothing had ever happened. However, after a month, the ruler requested his presence again.
"The Mainland gathering will take place in two months. It will take a month and a half to get there on your transportation. Two others have already been sent and are on their way. You are the only one who remains."
Skymender nodded. He turned around to leave, when the ruler spoke again.
"Do me a favor and take Mora with you."
Skymender turned back towards the ruler, whose back was facing him as always.
"Why?" He asked.
"I want to see just who my son truly is."
The ruler did not elaborate much, but Skymender understood.
"So be it."
Skymender made a detour on his way out of the palace, meeting Mora.
"Let's go. I'm taking you to the Mainland gathering." Skymender said.
Mora hesitated. "I don't think it is such a good idea."
Skymender had already been told by Mora that his father had learned about him telling Skymender his fathers secret.
It was clear that he was guilty to this day.
"Your father specifically requested that I take you."
Mora's guilty expression was replaced with confusion.
"Why would he do that?" Mora asked.
"I don't know. Just stop being ridden with guilt. No successful person has reached the top while feeling overly guilty. It's just life."
Mora thought about it and nodded.
Skymender traveled on his horse, which was even faster than the Mainlands fastest mode of transportation. After all, it was specially bred and fed with the meat of a Mythical Creature. Skymender did not know if there were any such beasts on the Mainland, but he hadn't even heard rumors or legends of such a thing.
There were always fantasy books, but nobody took those seriously.
Thinking about fantasy books made Skymender think of Skymerge. He still hadn't found anything out about his disappearance.
Skymender wanted to find him. Skymerge was a genius of his own right, and the only family member Skymender was still interested in seeing.
He could only wait and see if he could discover anything. Perhaps the Emperor or the ruler would know something.
Skymender rode his horse for a month and a half before seeing what the ruler had told him. It was a large, symmetrical mountain with a staircase on each of the four sides going up to the top.
This was a symbolic location, as it was where the territory of the five regions met.
Skymender rode his horse up to the staircase. Some guards stood there and tried to stop them, but Skymender rode past them at a speed they could not react to, ignoring them completely.
They considered chasing him, but didn't.
"Hey. Get down here." One of them mumbled under his breath.
"Stop or face the consequences." Another whispered.
They then turned around.
"Well. We've done all we can do."
"Sweet gig, big bro Yan." The other guard chuckled.
Skymender and Mora quickly reached the top of the staircase. There was a platform with very few people on it. There were already two on the side Skymender and Mora had come up on.