FAI
Beneath a dark dome, eight shadows waited in silence. The Moon slowly rose in the sky, and the pale light filtering through the dome’s circular openings fell into the depths of the room, illuminating faces like ghosts. The ninth figure, Fai, had been summoned; chosen by the gods, he was to join the ranks of the wizards and become the final piece of the ritual. Fai was preparing to take the place of his father, Geyb, who had passed away just a few days earlier. The solstice was approaching, and time itself seemed to hold its breath. Dressed in his father’s heavy garments, he stood at the center of the eight wizards’ circular formation, directly beneath the empty opening in the dome. His heart pounded with both excitement and fear, each breath merging into the ritual’s silence. Outside, the wind whispered softly as the Moon’s light streamed through the dome, dancing across the room, creating a strange harmony with the dust and shadows. Fai tried to steady himself, pressing his trembling hands together within the folds of his robes. Finally, the light reached its peak. The wizards threw sparkling dust over Fai; the particles swirled in the dim white light, solidifying the invisible bond between him and the wizards. Drawing a deep breath, Fai stepped toward the center of the ritual. With each step, he moved through the shadows entwined with light, drawn toward the threshold of his own destiny in a divine silence. In that moment, time froze. The Moon’s glow and the mysterious presence of the wizards circled around Fai, carrying him to the threshold where sacred darkness and light converged.