Kira found herself interested as well.
Loudon's head tilted. "We don't believe in gods in the same way humans do."
Something in Raider relaxed. He listened rather than assumed.
"Ki is the building block that connects everything in the universe," Loudon said. "I interpret the ki’s will. Provide counsel when needed and act as the keeper of our history."
Kira didn't get it, but she didn't need to. There was a serenity in Loudon as he spoke. It was enough to know he believed wholeheartedly. It wasn't her place to question or poke holes.
By then they'd reached the foot of the fortress, a tall curtain wall surrounding its exterior.
"Woah," Blue said softly, echoing Kira's sentiments as her head tilted so she could take in the imposing structure.
The perimeter wall stood impossibly tall; the towers of the fortress barely visible over its top. The surface was flat and seamless, with no evidence pointing to stones being stacked one on top of each other to create its structure. Unrelenting black stretched unbroken in either direction.
The only evidence of imperfection was regularly spaced, shadowy holes that Kira couldn't figure out.
"Where's the door?" Raider asked, breaking into her observations.
Loudon stepped forward and raised a palm. He touched his hand to the wall and spoke a word. An invisible force thrummed, stroking Kira's senses. A door appeared, revealing a courtyard on the other side.
Loudon stepped to the side, clasping his hands behind his back. "No matter how heavily guarded, a door will always be a point of weakness. We've found eliminating them to be the most expedient solution."
A squeak of glee escaped Blue as she moved toward the wall, her hand uplifted, and her expression blazing with fervid curiosity.
"Touching is not advised," Loudon informed her.
Blue drew back, just shy of touching, regarding Loudon with an interested frown.
He nodded at the wall. "This is our first line of defense. By successfully completing the Trek of the Weary, you're given admittance and are allowed to pass within. However, you will need someone from Roake to allow you to come and go. I wouldn't suggest attempting to climb the wall. There are defenses within to prevent anyone but one of us from gaining entrance."
Kira gazed at those holes with a newfound respect. They were a weapon of some kind. She was sure of it.
Knowing the Tuann, it would be deceptively powerful.
"While simply touching the wall once isn't likely to kill you, I am told the experience is unpleasant," Loudon continued.
Raider shifted his duffel bag on his shoulder. "I'm beginning to see the resemblance between you and these people. You both are paranoid and obsessed with security."
Blue nodded enthusiastically.
Kira didn't bother arguing, though she could make a case for Roake taking her paranoia to the next level. She couldn't help her admiration as she took in the perimeter wall. If a few human cities had defenses like these during the war, her job might not have been so damn difficult, and there might not have been so many casualties.
She took in the top of the wall. Then again, maybe not. The Tsavitee would likely have flown right over it.
"What happens if someone attacks from the sky?" Blue asked.
Loudon's lips curled, the devious smile making her question whether Tuann heralds were really that peaceful.
"They may try." He gestured to the door. "Welcome to the Fortress of the Vigilant."
"Yup, definitely seeing a family resemblance," Raider muttered as he moved past Kira. "They're as welcoming as you."
Blue quickly followed, leaving Kira, Finn, and Loudon bringing up the rear.
Kira paused as she got her first close view of the fortress. It was every bit as intimidating as her glimpse from a distance had suggested.
The fortress was massive. Its own city, much as the Citadel had been. What she'd thought was one structure turned out to be many. Wide at the bottom, countless smaller towers and buildings branched off the main one as it reached high into the sky.
Standing next to it, Kira felt small and young. The fortress seemed ancient and new all at the same time, countless ages steeped into its bones.
The door disappeared behind her as Finn stepped through. His expression was closed and set, his face a hard mask no hint of emotion could penetrate. He was even more reserved than typical as he took in Roake's home.
"This way," Loudon instructed.
Raider and Blue started after him as Kira stared up. They'd told her before that her father's family was an old one. She believed it now. Their ancestral lines, and by extension hers, were an ancient one. The proof was in this fortress, which would have taken countless generations to build.
"This is your home?" Kira asked as Finn paused by her side.
"It is."
There was a world of emotion in those two words. Loss and pain. Relief to have returned. Reluctance. All tangled together.
"Are you pleased to be back?" She couldn't help but prod.
Finn hesitated. "That's a difficult question."
Kira imagined so. If she'd grown up here as she was supposed to, would she have been willing to leave for any reason?
Knowing Finn wouldn't welcome an old wound being visited here and now, Kira started after the others, not wanting to get left behind. This place promised to be every bit as much a maze as the Citadel.
To her surprise, her first impression of the fortress's design turned out to be wrong. While it didn't have the artistic flourishes of the Citadel, there was still beauty here. Little touches here and there that managed to make it seem effortlessly timeless.
They were interwoven seamlessly with the defenses. Kira spotted eight cannons in the time it took them to step inside, and she had no doubt there were countless other weapons hidden in the event an enemy targeted the visible ones.
After showing them where they'd take their meals, Loudon took them on a quick tour, pointing out where they should report in the morning for training, and the parts of the fortress they were welcome to explore.
Kira couldn't help but be impressed with the structure’s interior. It reminded her of an ancient castle, the architecture serviceable rather than ornate. The dramatic arched hallways and large rooms managed to save it from plainness as the group wound through the lower levels. The fortress’s staircases became less wide and majestic the further they descended, until they ended up in an unassuming hallway lined with plain doors.
"These will be your quarters for the time being," Loudon told Blue and Raider. "Normally, guests are housed on one of the upper levels, but since you've expressed a desire to undertake Roake's training, the Overlord thought these would be more suitable."
As he spoke, Blue and Raider opened the doors indicated, entering sparse rooms; their only furniture a bed, desk and wardrobe for clothes. The space was narrow and tight, without a window to let in the light.
Raider looked around and shrugged. "These are more than enough. They're bigger than most of the berths I've called home."
Blue nodded. "I doubt we'll be spending much time in them anyway."
Loudon sketched a partial bow. "I'll leave you to get settled then. Every room in this corridor is equipped with chimes to tell you when training events start. Tomorrow, assemble in the Warrior's Hall at 0900 human standard time. You'll learn more then."