Lost within the light that the Entity beside him was illuminating, he collapsed onto the floor. The pain was unimaginable. His mind feeling light and woozy, he desperately clutched his chest and the arm-sized wound, attempting to stop the blood that was coming out at such a rapid pace he was surprised there was any left inside him.
Losing awareness, he watched as Medzu moved towards them, its massive hand outstretched as if it were about to squash them beneath the weight, in one last attempt to stop the Entity’s actions. But it was too late, the ground beneath them collapsed as Vena started to rip apart. Syros gave out one last curse before he felt a tear roll down his face, which seemed to be for Saniya and all his mistakes. I’m sorry, San. Come meet me in death so I can love you properly. He pictured her face along with Torjan’s as he felt the stiffness overcome him. As the glow of the Entity beside him strengthened to its celestial brightest, he finally let go of his old self. He could sense himself transforming within the endless astral light. He was changing. He was luminous and vibrant. He was eternal. And then… he was nothing.
23
Medzu
Ednon opened his eyes and all he saw was white; is this nothingness? No, even whiteness is something. The floor below him was moving gently as if he were standing on the purest of clouds. He turned his head to the side and found Amelia next to him. The small creature was beside her, cheerfully waddling round the vacant space. In this moment, he remembered the events that had just occurred; the arrow hitting Amelia in her chest and the creature appearing in front of them, before they all disappeared into the light. He checked Amelia’s body, but there did not appear to be any wound from the stray arrow. He checked his own being; his hands had stopped glowing, his vision along with it, so he must have returned to his normal state. He surveyed his chest for the wound that Fergus had inflicted on him in the underground network only moments before, but that had vanished as well.
“Ed…what is this place?” Amelia said cautiously, as if uncertain whether she was dreaming.
“I’m not sure…” he responded, continuing to scan the surroundings. Were they dead? And if they were, did that make this the afterlife? No, he was sure that he had not died. He still felt, still thought. Everything was the same – inside of him, at least.
He proceeded to survey the location. And what he found directly behind him was a strange being. It had no eyes, indeed no eye features of any kind, but what seemed like an endlessly spinning spiral filling the entirety of its rounded head. There was a thin body, just as a human, made up of strange patterns and textures, with hands and feet both. And even though this place was completely white, he could tell the being was glowing. It was Medzu itself standing before them, but unlike the one hanging above the clouds over Asterleigh, this one was much smaller; in fact, it stood only an inch or so taller than Ednon and Amelia.
He did not know whether to bow before the God or let out a scream; instead, he did neither and stood in awe as he watched the divine being moving upon them.
“You have made it to the in-between, child,” it said in a calm voice, aiming its words towards Ednon. “It seems you were able to escape your planet just in time. For this, you must be either exceptionally lucky or have some higher powers working for you.” Its voice sounded distant, and even though the being did not appear to be opening or closing its mouth, he could still hear the words as if they were sent directly into his consciousness.
“What do you mean we managed to leave our planet in time? What has happened to Vena?” Ednon asked, deep down already knowing what had happened, for it had all been foretold to him.
“My lad…” Medzu responded, with an air of sympathy in its voice. “I’m afraid Vena has turned to nothing but vacant stardust.”
“What happened? Was it something that I did?” Perhaps when he had awoken in his omnipotent state, he might have accidentally done something to contribute. Was it the moment that he had disappeared into the light while Amelia lay dying in his arms?
Medzu gave a shake of the head. “It has nothing to do with you, young one,” it informed him, still in a manner that denoted concern for his wellbeing. “The world was under attack by someone whose sole purpose appeared to be to antagonise me. I’m afraid the gods can be just as petty as all other life forms. The man who destroyed your world seemed to have been trained to have such unlimited power, and as soon as I find out who it was that organised these cruel events, I promise I will bring you justice. For Vena, being under my jurisdiction, means that this attack was an attack on me as well as on you.”
“Are you saying another god ordered the attack on our world… who?”
“I don’t know that yet I’m afraid. I am saddened for these are worrying times… it appears the war of the gods may soon be approaching.”
He did not care about the war of the gods; he didn’t care about any of that. He wanted to know why his planet had been destroyed and all the life that had populated it had been ruthlessly wiped out. “Why didn’t you appear?!” Ednon demanded angrily, forgetting he was shouting at a god. “You could have appeared and prevented everything… if only you had shown yourself to us for one moment. How could you have let us all die? As if we were absolutely nothing!” He felt tears streaming down his face as he fell to the floor, utterly overwhelmed by all that had transpired throughout his short life. “Everyone we ever knew is dead… I never got to say goodbye to Syros… And you act as if you don’t care at all.”
“You must despise me… mustn’t you?”
Ednon looked up, shocked by the emotion he had heard. It sounded so human in the way it had uttered these last words, like a child grieving for its lost loved ones. He gazed towards Medzu; the God did not have eyes, but he was sure if it did, it too would have been weeping.
“No, I just want to know why. I saw you within my dreams every night, and during the day I would look up to you in the sky and wish that you would save us… but now it’s too late…”
Medzu moved upon him, before placing its hand upon his head. “My child, you have suffered all too much. It hasn’t been easy for you and I know that more than most. The pure-hearted ones always end up with the most hardship. It’s a sad fact of the way that life is… you have love in your heart. But you do not know what it is like to watch over millions as I do. To watch day after day as they butcher one another. My love is not unconditional. I did not act because I could not bear to watch, for it broke my heart. And when I did show, I was too late. I am not infallible. None of us are. You must take the hardships when they come. But also try and hold onto the good, and when it comes, hold onto it for as long as you can.”
“Then where do we go now? We have no home to return to.”
“Go to another world.” Medzu pulled him up by his shoulders. “And be happy.”
In this moment, the small transparent creature moved towards them and started cheerfully playing against Ednon’s leg. “What creature is that?” Medzu said, contemplating the life form. “I have never seen a species of life quite like it.”
“You truly do not know?” Ednon said, wiping away the last of his tears while caressing the small creature’s forehead. “I assumed you knew all life within the universe.”
“I do,” it said, perplexity in its voice. “Perhaps this creature is from another universe entirely.”
“Her name is Orla,” Amelia said, picking up the little life form and cradling it in her arms.
“Stick close to your shining lodestar, for I feel it will be an imperative light in your hereafter.” As Medzu uttered these last words, a void in the whiteness appeared behind the god, a spiralled passageway through space and time itself.
Medzu relinquished its grasp of his shoulders. “It is time for you to leave. Go to your new world and pray that it won’t be like your last. But be forewarned, the universe may not be through with you yet.”
With that, Ednon, alongside Amelia and the small creature, mo
ved past Medzu and headed towards the rift in the cosmos.
“Farewell, starry wayfarer. I shall be replaying this moment within my dreams,” Medzu called, as the three of them started to move through the portal.
Side by side with Amelia, he placed his hand against the spiralled rift, and in a flash of white light they began their new lives in the stars.
Epilogue
Shores of Xerus
They found themselves standing upon soft silken sand. The suns ahead of them were rising past the white cotton clouds, reflecting off the slow-moving tides. It looked very much like Vena, whatever this place was, only more peaceful and still. They seemed to be the only ones present here upon the shores. The small creature beside them gave out a joyful squeak before immersing itself within the waters. Ednon and Amelia watched the life form as it jumped in and out of the sea, while it looked back towards them as if it was daring the two of them to come and join in its fun. They continued to stare, marvelling at the glorious new suns rising until a voice from behind caught their attention.
“You have arrived…”
Turning around, they saw a figure, its face veiled by white bandages, wearing a long black cloak that trailed past its feet. Two bloodshot eyes stared back, meeting their gaze. It was the phantom he had met in the Grand Library all those months ago. As if the small transparent creature had recognised the figure, it made its way out from the water, trudged its way over towards them and moved to stand beside it, as if seeking approval.
“Well done,” the figure said, kneeling down and petting the wide-eyed animal on its forehead. “You have done well.”
“You knew you would meet us here all along. How did you know this would happen?”
“I didn’t,” the figure told him, standing up once again, eclipsing the three of them by a good couple of feet. “There is no planned destiny, Ed; we can only attempt to forge our own futures. However, when you have help like from this little one… then that makes everything a lot easier.” He motioned to the creature, which gave out another happy squeak, pleased to get the recognition.
“You sent the creature to help us?” Ednon’s mind and heart were racing. “And ‘Ed’, you know my name. Who are you?”
The phantom stared back silently and for a moment Ednon suspected he would not get his answer. But then, the figure unwrapped its bandaged head to reveal the face of his grandfather. He focused in awe on the face he had imagined he would never see again. Ira surveyed him, his wrinkled face healthier than Ednon could ever remember.
“Are you…” Ednon began, stuttering his words, feeling overwhelmed with emotion, “… truly my grandfather?”
“Would it make you happy if I said that I was?” the face he recognised asked him.
“It would…” he cried, embracing the man. He was half expecting the phantom to disappear into the air once again. However, as hard as he enfolded the phantom, it stayed whole. “This doesn’t seem real… This whole place is like some wondrous dream.”
“If it is…” Ira told him, returning his embrace, “then be happy, and enjoy the rest of your life within the endless dreams.”
Moments passed. The suns had moved over the clouds, covering the entire morning horizon in pure white light. They watched the creature as it once again played in the tides. The figure had gone, disappearing into the air, much like the first time they had met in the Library. However, searching inside himself, he felt content, for he knew they would meet again someday. He turned to Amelia, who gave him a smile and outstretched her hand, which Ednon in turn took into his own, with no intention of ever letting it go.
Preview
To Bypass the Empty Void
(Book 2 of the Endless Dreams Saga)
By Michael Georgiou
Prologue; Beasts from another World
The strange esoteric allure had firmly embraced the troop as they journeyed through the desolate woods. Death was in the air. It was right under their noses, almost palpable in its strength. Like loose hounds, they followed the scent, looking for their prey. The night was ominously stygian and the woodland shared in this absence of vibrancy. Ento stared skyward, but he could not make out the starry laced veil through the thick mass of pines and oaks. For the first time ever, he was going to miss the passing of Sechen. Ento considered this as he felt a branch entangle itself around his ankle, causing him to sprawl on the ground.
“What’s wrong, Ento?” Xavier smirked, turning around to face him. “Lost your nerve?”
“Sorry, Xavier… I must have forgotten myself.”
Xavier let out a loud snort before placing his hand upon his halberd. “Rookies…” he grumbled.
“Get up, lad…” the grey-haired Jozef smiled, lifting him to his feet. “This is not the time for you to be making mistakes. Not now. Not tonight.”
Ento gave one more glance at the front of the troop, where Xavier was angrily blitzing his way forwards. “He hates me. Ever since my first day at the special ops, he has always hated me.”
Jozef shrugged. “I think he hates everyone, to be honest with you. It probably comes with our line of work. The Leper did tell you what our mission is?”
“Aye, the Leper told me.”
“And… it doesn’t bother you?”
“No,” Ento returned without a moment’s hesitation, “I hate the Aureuts, even more than Xavier hates me.”
Jozef patted him on the shoulder. “We all do, lad. We all do. Come, we mustn’t get left behind.”
Simultaneously, the two men turned and continued with the rest of their squadron as they followed the captivating scent. Excitement filled Ento’s stomach. He was going to see it. He had only heard stories, fiction that seemed so fantastical and inconceivable that they were surely myths conjured by a madman. But now he was going to see it. He clutched his blade cheerfully. He was going to see the ripple within space and time with his very own eyes.
There were eight of them in total, dressed in black, each trained, armed and eager to kill. Ento had spent the last five years of his life with the special ops unit, learning just how to be an effective and useful cog for the Lowesby kingdom. His mentor Shani, whom most of the populace referred to solely as the “Leper,” had finally informed him what the special ops’ true purpose was in assisting their kingdom. What he had heard that day thrilled Ento. He had always hated the Aureuts and had long hoped the day would come for him to enact his hatred. They were nothing but a nuisance upon his proud Kingdom, their mere existence a direct insult to his heritage. He spat upon the ground as the troop made their way to a clearing drenched in glossy afterglow and gripped his blade once more. The forest was making a strange noise, like a low-key whisper in an exotic foreign language. Remaining covert behind an array of bushes, the fierce, yet soothing, feeling all he could perceive; his mind turned blank and sweat was beginning to manifest. The time was approaching.
“This way, lad…” Jozef motioned to him.
Ento obliged the old man’s wishes and stealthily crouched his way over. Jozef gave him a sly smile, before parting the bushes with his hands. “There it is, boy, the phenomenon that defies all reason.”
Ento’s eyes widened as his gaze fixed upon the clearing. There it was. Shrouded within the trees, almost as if it were a natural part of the forest. A spinning void, almost his height and double his width. He stared in wonderment and in this moment got an inexplicable urge to throw himself forwards to touch it, until a loud grunt from Xavier promptly reminded him of his mission.
“Does anybody know when they’re going to appear?”
“Should be on the hour. Just as Sechen passes above us,” Nanuk informed them.
Xavier slumped to the floor. “Okay, we have about half an hour. Get comfy, gentlemen, we’re in for a wait.”
“How many times does it appear?” Ento questioned, turning back round to Jozef, his mind not on anything else apart from the bi
zarre cosmic occurrence.
“Usually for just over an hour or so… Always here, but I cannot be certain about the other far reaches of this world.”
“Does anyone know where it comes from?”
“How the hell should I know, lad? Just because I am old does not mean I hold all the answers. All I know is whatever that thing brings I don’t like. So, fuck it. If you ask me, there is no greater threat to our way of life.”
Ento studied the ripple further; it looked almost alive, as if it were some type of wondrous eye staring back towards him. Thoughts were beginning to race at such a pace it made his head feel faint. He dropped to the ground and averted his stare. It was all beginning to overwhelm him.
“You alright, lad?” Jozef took a seat beside him. “Don’t worry, it had the same effect on me the first time I saw it; not the type of New Year you were expecting, eh?”
“No, not quite.” Ento attempted a smile.
He remembered the passing of Sechen the previous year; he had been out with a couple of friends drinking in the capital. After moving on from the bars and taverns, with a rowdy buzz they instead turned their attention to the Aureut population of the city. Usually, the humans and the Aureuts stayed segregated; however, in the chaotic drunkenness of the New Year, the two species often found themselves mixed. And there, in one of the taverns, he saw her. Mohana, an Aureut girl around his age. He had not previously found any of the Aureuts attractive, but Mohana seemed to excite something inside of him. He would have liked to have thought it was just the ale that had taken hold of his reasoning, but deep down he knew it wasn’t that. They had spent the night together, but as they did not speak the same language they could not properly converse. Nevertheless, during that evening, as he considered her fierce golden eyes, he could tell what it was that she wanted from him. They lay together that very night, as the Star of Sechen crossed the twinkling sky above; he could not lie and say in the moment he did not find it enjoyable. But, as the suns rose, and the drink wore off, he felt unending guilt. He had done it; a proud member of the human race, none other than a special ops unit trainee, had slept with some common Aureut whore. The shame he had felt was astronomical and after that moment he never saw Mohana again.
To Tame the Sentry Being Page 25