Zara’s victory was welcomed favorably by most of the monks in the temple. Ragalat had won many to his side by giving favors and promising even greater favors down the line, but his overly forceful methods and his recent words and actions earned him no small amount of discomfort and opposition throughout the temple.
For somehow recovering the fourth Sacred Beast Bracelet and skillfully seizing a hopeless victory during what was a crisis situation for the sect, Patagamon gained tremendous trust and support.
News of Ragalat’s cowardly behavior in regards to the duel in the Shrine of the Four Sacred Beasts also spread throughout the temple. It was unlikely he would hold a position of influence ever again.
Zara ended up spending four months at Jan’Majar Temple. As a convert who had fought for the sake of the sect, he was qualified to study the temple’s secret techniques, so he took advantage and received instruction. It was a tough but beneficial four months.
Zara turned seventeen years old while staying at the temple.
After that, he went to Aldana on the invitation of Jarr Dol Baza. He was allowed to stay at his training hall, and the two of them became close friends despite their difference in age.
Jarr Dol Baza asked Zara if his family name of Goran meant he was a relative of Eisha Goran. After Zara answered that Eisha Goran was his great-grandmother’s father and that his father revived House Goran, he began to be treated even more warmly and politely.
The Divine Blade said that his grandfather was a pupil of Master Goran, which made Zara equivalent to his instructor.
Zara told him his real name and rank and asked him to keep it a secret.
The Divine Blade and his new pupil crossed swords many times. Zara went to a number of training halls through the introduction of the Divine Blade and learned a great many techniques. But strangely, Zara never managed to defeat him after their initial duel.
It seemed that the Divine Blade couldn’t resist telling some people in secret that Zara was a descendant of Eisha Goran, which resulted in Zara receiving great kindness wherever he went and being told many anecdotes about the legendary swordsman.
One time, Zara asked the Divine Blade why he’d allied himself with Ragalat. He answered that there was no greater honor for a martial artist than to stand in the Shrine of the Four Sacred Beasts as a convert, so he hadn’t even thought of refusing.
He had not been told what he was fighting for, so he simply offered his polished fighting prowess and entrusted everything to the decision of the sect founder and the gods.
“I was overcome with excitement as I thought about what kind of opponent I would be able to fight. That was the reason I accepted.”
“You were very close to not fighting anyone at all.”
“What?”
The Divine Blade grew very angry after Zara explained Ragalat’s scheme.
“But all’s well that ends well. I was able to fight you, and you won. The sect founder really is impressive. Ha-ha-ha!”
“Ah, so that is the reason I was able to win.”
Zara spent seven months in Aldana and then headed for the Free Cities of Karelia. There was a man in Bia-Dharla with whom he really wanted to cross swords.