Elinor. The Deserted Valley. Book 1. Mikhail Shelkov
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interpret the teachings of Tau better than all others. Chosen by the masters of all schools, Ino-to did not have any power because the concept of power was absent in the country of the Ulutau. Even the masters didn’t impose their will on the disciples, but only helped them on their life journeys. If the master himself strayed off his path, he could always ask for advice from Ino-to the Wisest.
The Bright Palace eventually lost its own school and became the abode of Ino-to, who spent all his time there in constant meditation. Representatives of schools made regular pilgrimages to the Palace, monitored his condition, cleaned up, used archives and libraries, but never settled nearby. There was no violence, murders, or robberies in the Ulutau country, because the inhabitants of the Celestial Plateau strived for self-improvement, and human vices were alien to them.
Master Nao was a pupil of Master Mao in the School of the North Slope. After the death of Mao, he headed the school. At the time, he just turned six times six years. Nao managed it with dignity, instantly earning love and respect among the pupils. Martial arts and the ability to handle the sword were an indispensable part of his teaching, while so many schools began to practice meditation without perfecting their bodies.
Nao was as strong in spirit as in body, well-knit, incredibly courageous and mobile, and no one in the mountainous country could match him!
3
At first, Ulari wanted to be like his master in everything. However, Nao himself explained that each person keeps his own Tau in his heart, for his path is as unique as his soul.
“Think like Ulari and not like Nao!” the master once said to his pupil.
Since then, Ulari only consulted with the master, but made decisions independently. At first, he made many mistakes, but Nao only praised him for these mistakes for with each new one Ulari only became stronger.
“One mistake is one step towards independence and freedom! Awareness of this error is a leap to wisdom!” concluded the master.
When Ulari was three times six years and four years old, Nao appointed him to be an entrusted apprentice, and after Nao’s death, told Ulari he would lead the School of the North Slope. But Nao was not old, and things could still change – Ulari could leave the teachings, and Nao might choose another disciple. Masters and their entrusted ones were not forbidden to have families. Nao himself had a wife and a son, Inao. However, the management of the school did not allow him to spend enough time with his family. Each pupil of Nao – a mature man, a teenager or even a child – was a warrior who raised the perfection of his own body above worldly affairs.
“The Ino-to himself has asked me to the Light Palace of Tokana. I want to take three of my best disciples with me: you, dear Ulari, Mou’Kaa and Sa’Ea,” Master Nao told Ulari. His heart filled with joy at the chance to see the Bright Palace of Tokana in the Celestial Plateau and the Supreme Teacher Ino-to.
Never would Ulari forget that great day!
Ulari approached the Bright Palace with his mouth open – it was a huge monolithic structure of white stone compared to the School of the North Slope, which was only a small settlement. The Palace was surrounded by stretched alleys with evenly planted green dwarf pines. The fragrant aedels were flamed by scarlet tulips with a hint of lilac, like the pre-dawn twilight. The tall columns of the Palace supporting the arch above the main entrance sparkled in the sun, similar to the extraordinary whiteness of snowcapped mountain peaks.
Before the Palace stood a pedestal with a sculpture of the father of the people, the wise Tau made from granite by one of his disciples when. At the time, Tau just smiled and said, “Why go to the stone, if you want to address me? Let everyone see me as they want to see!” After his death, his followers wove the pedestal, but by the order of the teacher, the statue of stone never appeared on it.
As Ulari approached the pedestal, he was met by the face of the bright Tau, smiling at him and blessing his way while Master Nao and his disciples retreated deeper into the Palace, observing more and more new beauties. The floors were lined with pure marble, and the walls were decorated with semiprecious stones. Ulari already fantasized how awesome the hall where Ino-to sits would be. As Nao pulled the handle of the heavy door with the golden sun engraved upon it, Ulari held his breath, ready to see the greatest splendor. Instead, he saw only a raw stone, absolutely empty. The floor was covered with straw, and in the middle of this reclusory sat a gray-haired old man, wrapped in coarse woolen rags.
“Greetings to you, radiant and wisest Ino-to, a storehouse of knowledge and good thoughts! I, Nao, the Master of the School of the North Slope, and my disciples come to you in order to heed your golden words.”
Master Nao stood on both knees. Ulari, along with Sa’Ea and Mou’Kaa, followed his example, although he still hadn’t recovered from his astonishment. He eventually realized that having seen Ino-to, he knew the true greatness was not in giant marble columns and skillful gold engraving, but in the man himself.
“And I salute you, Honorable Master Nao!” Ino-to sang in a measured voice. “Do you know why I called you to the Bright Palace?”
“I can’t even begin to guess, oh wise one,” answered Nao.
“Then listen carefully to what I have to tell you, and do not interrupt. The falcon of Emperor Tosho brought wondrous news. We have all heard about the Valley of the Ancestors, which is far away from our beautiful mountains. I’ve never seen the Valley of Ancestors with my own eyes, but can imagine its glorious appearance, even though it’s been defiled by human vices. In the Valley, the inexplicable happened. Its population disappeared. Disappeared at once! What happened there, no one knows. However, the rulers of the Elinor people sent caravans to the Valley to resettle it. Let it be known to you and your disciples that the Valley has always been ruled by the burgomasters of the four Great Cities – Eavette, Mata-Mata, Dalaal, and Konolwar.
Their meeting was called The Council of the Four and all the rulers were equal amongst themselves, as well as the clans that existed in the Valley. Many of them pursued enrichment as a main goal and not self-improvement. For every one clan striving for knowledge, there were five clans striving for wealth and power. Do you know what money is? I can only imagine it and I am glad that I never held it in my hands. In our country, we do everything ourselves: we hunt and plow, erect majestic structures, and create works of art. Imagine that in the Valley no one does any of these things for free. To create the sun, such as at the entrance to my room, the man of the Valley will take a hundred gold roundels.
Do you know what “governing’ is? Governing means ruling people. You are a master, and you train your own disciples. The governing man doesn’t teach. Such power wants to see a person stupid and cowardly, weak and feeble, gloomy and humiliated, and all in order to make it easier for them to govern. Do you think, Nao, that the people of the Valley with such values brought into the rank of the benefactor will be able to resist the scourge that has fallen upon them? Will the mystery, as to where the people disappeared, be solved? I will repeat again: no. And praise heavenly wisdom that not only I think so. The rulers of Elinor decided the clans and the Council of Four could not, as before, rule the Valley, that they would again be immersed in strife and discord. Therefore, they’ve decided that this should be taken upon by someone who doesn’t care about wealth and power. And such a person can only be found among the people of Ulutau.”
Money, wealth, power…
Of course, Ulari had read about all this and heard about it from the Master. But for the time being he could not explain or imagine what this power could look like and how it could be manifested in reality. This power. The very word itself sounded both sweet and threatening at the same time. Power… money.
In the Valley, people chase money, although in fact it is just golden roundels.
“Did they turn to you, oh hovering over the sky-high distances Ino-to?” Nao asked once his respected interlocutor paused.
“They turned