The Pillar of Ruma

> The Pillar—nothing more than a sheer column of pointed rock jutting straight up into the sky—was well over one hundred and twenty feet tall. It could be seen from anywhere on the island, the reddish stone shimmering in the sunlight. A single tree grew at the top, its branches forever swaying in the ocean winds, its roots laced over the rock, its fruit rare and delicious.
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> That sole charberry tree was what had attracted the first phoenixes to our island centuries ago. The spicy fruit tasted like a chili pepper, but sweeter and juicier. Phoenixes loved them.
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> The base of the Pillar was the starting location for the Trials of Worth—the tasks given to the wide-eyed hopefuls wanting to prove their value to the phoenixes... A staircase wrapped around the column of rock, all the way to the top.
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> - Knightmare Arcanist
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In addition to being a major landmark on the island of Ruma, the 112 steps on the Pillar each contain a piece of wisdom for the phoenix arcanist candidates who make the island their home.

### Steps known to date:

1. Integrity. Without it, we cannot have trust.

2. Passion. Without it, we grow complacent.

3. Discipline. Without it, we are not the masters of our destiny.

4. Preparation. Without it, we leave our fate to chance.

5. Patience. Without it, you cannot see a seed grow into a tree.

6. Tenacity. Without it, we fail at life’s most important tasks.

7. Adaptability. Without it, we break to the slightest change.

8. Wisdom. Without it, we’re ruled by foolishness.

9. Loyalty. Without it, we cannot know true friendship.

10. Respect. Without it, we make fast enemies of our acquaintances.

11. Conviction. Without it, virtues are just words.

12. Knowledge. Without it, we fear our surroundings without hope to understand.

13. Tranquility. Without it, we cannot control our rage.

14. Restraint. Without it, we harm ourselves and our surroundings.

15. Optimism. Without it, we lose ourselves to misery.

16. Perseverance. Without it, we fail at the first problem.

17. Confidence. Without it, we surrender too early.

18. Charity. Without it, we build no goodwill.

19. Humility. Without it, our pride becomes an obstacle to happiness.

20. Prudence. Without it, we make poor choices.

21. Temperance. Without it, we lose ourselves to vices.

22. Fortitude. Without it, we allow pain to dictate our lives.

23. Humor. Without it, we live in a darker world.

24. Dignity. Without it, we treat ourselves as buffoons.

25. Tenacity. Without it, we trick ourselves into giving in.

34. Moderation. Without it, our vices destroy all else.

35. Forgiveness. Without it, we allow hate and sorrow to consume us.

36. Ambition. Without it, no one will strive for true greatness.

37. Compassion. Without it, we make the world a crueler place.

41. Persistence. Without it, we fail to achieve our greatest feats.

50. Honesty. Without it, we cannot learn the truth about ourselves.

51. Love. Without it, we lose our empathy and compassion.

52. Greatness. Without it, we have nothing to strive for.

80. Bravery. Without it, we cannot act in the face of fear.

82. Strategy. Without it, only the brute will rule.

83. Sacrifice. Without it, we cannot achieve the greatest of accomplishments.

111. Mercy. Without it, we cannot help others find redemption.

112. Justice. Without it, we cannot differentiate from revenge.

> I placed a hand on her wrist, stopping her from slashing her nonexistent foes. “*Restraint*,” I said. “*Without it, we harm ourselves and our surroundings*.”
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> Attacking everything I thought to be a danger was a poor way to conduct myself. It would lead to trouble—other people wouldn’t understand—and I needed to be more than a force that removed evil. I needed to be an example of justice for other arcanists, especially now that I was no longer an apprentice.
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> Evianna stared up at me, her lips pursing as she mulled over the wisdom. I hoped it would sink in.
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> “You still quote the Pillar?” Zaxis asked with a huff and a stifled laugh. “You’d think you’d start to forget one hundred and twelve random phrases, but I guess once they’re ingrained, they might as well be a tattoo on your mind.”
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> Atty lifted both her eyebrows and gave Zaxis a long look. “Don’t pretend like you don’t still have them all memorized.”
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> “I never said I didn’t.” Zaxis walked by me and then leapt down the remaining stones, using his momentum to carry himself to the bottom of the mountain. He stumbled on the last landing, but he quickly recovered and brushed the dust off his crimson scale armor. “I just don’t go around quoting the damn thing anymore. That’s for children.”
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> - World Serpent Arcanist
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