"You want to continue?"
"If you'll have me."
"You know that I've always believed your promise was special," Li-hon said. "I saw nothing on Ehl to make me change my mind. The question has always concerned your commitment, not your heart or ability. So please forgive me for asking if you know what your reasons are for continuing your challenge."
"You want to know if this is because of Evan."
"Yes. I do."
"I can give you a quick answer, because I asked myself that question before I came down here," Bhodi said. "It's not about Evan."
"Good-"
"But it is about what the Warlord did to him. That showed me better than anything how little the Arrians care for what we are, and how casually they'd destroy it."
"What you say is true," Li-hon said. "And it's a hard truth for someone your age."
Bhodi shook his head. "I'm older than I look. See, I've spent these last two days putting away my childhood," he said. "Because this war is no place for children-and there's no place for me to be but here."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
Li-hon slipped down off the table. "We'll get you some time to go home," he said with a pleased smile. "But your training is over, Bhodi Li. You've learned what you most needed to. The rest you can learn as a Guardian."
A month had passed, most of it spent on Earth, before Li-hon's promise to Bhodi could be fulfilled. Then, in the company of the entire Ninth Platoon, he returned to the Sanctum for the first time since his encounter with the First Guardian following his audition on Rejia.
This time reminded him very much of the other. The stars still blazed through the nine great viewports, and the disk of the planet still appeared overhead in the octagonal skylight. The audience was the same-Parcival, Pike, Lord Baethan, Tivia, and Li-hon. Above the dais floated the image of the wise-faced, maternal First Guardian, garbed and coiffed just as before.
But as he stood in the middle of the circle and looked around him at the expressions on the others' faces, Bhodi realized that there was one immeasurable difference. This time, Bhodi knew he belonged.
"Welcome back, Bhodi Li," the First Guardian said. "Today you become one of the chosen, a Guardian of the Light, a true Photon Warrior. Nar-lex-ko-li-hon, does he wear the ring?"
"He does, First Guardian," Li-hon said.
Bhodi glanced down proudly at the heavy metal jewelry decorating the third finger of his right hand. The ring bore not only the spectral disk of the Alliance, but the emblem of the Ninth Platoon as well.
"Nar-lex-ko-li-hon, as Bhodi Li's teacher and mentor, do you affirm his right and worth to wear the ring of a Guardian?"
"I do, First Guardian," Li-hon said.
"Bhodi Li, you have earned the right to a place among the Guardians of Light," said the First Guardian. "Twice you were asked to give up your challenge, and twice you refused. Now I ask you one final time to claim your place with us, or relinquish it forever. What is your choice?"
"I claim it," Bhodi said with a sideways glance at Li-hon, who was beaming like a proud father.
"Then give now your oath of allegiance-"
EPILOG
The throne room of Scarrcastle was a shadowy place at the heart of a forbidding world, an armed and cratered artificial world moving through the silent gloom of a dark nebula. A wraith, a changling, a horrible grotesquerie sat upon the throne of the Warlord of Arr and screamed its rage. A bizarre and hideous menagerie formed a loose circle around the throne, some standing, some crouching, some cringing.
"My Lord-" began one of the Warri.
The wraith's wail sharpened to a shriek.
"My liege," the Warri attempted bravely, "Mandarr has won a great victory for the Dark against the demon Nar-lex-ko-li-hon-"
"Nothing! The demon lives! The crystals lost!"
"But a world claimed for the Dark Alliance-"
"The new warrior," the Warlord roared. "He lives as well."
"Yes, my lord."
Smoke rose up from the throne and swirled around the Warlord. When it dissipated, he stood a foot taller, his features more horrible than ever. "I want him. I want him mine. I want him dead." The words echoed the length of the long chamber.
The Warri bowed deeply. "Yes, my lord. But what threat is one thin-fleshed Guardian-"
"Do you question me?" the Warlord thundered.
"I question only-"
The wraith-changling shrank to a bristle-backed lump half its former height. "They will draw strength and courage from him. I sense it. I foretell it. Take your choice of my warriors. Find the new demon, and destroy him."
The Warri bowed again. "As you command. In the name of the Warlord, let the Darkness grow."
And the circle of monsters rose up as one to repeat in voices snarling, cold and terrible: "Let the Darkness grow!"