by Dusks, Rydre
Despite my hesitation, I approached the dwelling. I already knew it belonged to the woman who spoke to me. A feeling I couldn't quite describe whispered to my heart and told me so. There was a knocker on the wooden surface of the door, but the door itself opened before I could even raise my hand to grip it.
A tall woman stood on the other side. She was even taller than I was, and her burgundy hair cascaded down her back in waves of autumn color, tiny curls here and there mimicking the elegant softness of down feathers. Under thick lashes were two milky white eyes without pupils. She wore a folded scarf over her head and heavy earrings, completing the image of an otherworldly witch. She left me stunned with the overwhelming sensation that she knew me... and could read every part of me, down to the finest of details.
"IkioElle," she began--a voice like glass and winter. It froze my soul but rang like a song. "I've waited for this day that we would speak. Come inside and dry off."
I walked in slowly, feeling horribly bewildered. The woman shut the door behind me and led me across a tiny sitting room toward a dining table. I looked around at the many items she had placed on shelves and hung up on her walls. I saw everything from old porcelain dolls to herbs in bottles. There were also a few unfamiliar charms hanging up in the archways of her kitchen and entrance to the small dining area. The woman pulled back a chair from the table, offering for me to sit, and walked into her kitchen.
I sat down slowly, gazing at her as she took a teacup from a cupboard and set it in front of me before leaving for a moment. I waited until she came back with a tray holding a steaming kettle, setting it on the table before pouring me some of its contents. Once she'd poured some for herself, she sat down at the corner from me.
"You are speechless with confusion," she announced.
My eyes noticed a life-sized marionette boy slumped over in a corner of the tiny living room. The outer casing had flaked from parts of his face and around one eye. It had to be nearly as old as the smile-bot I'd seen. Automatons like that hadn't existed since Era came into power nearly 300 years ago.
"I don't know where I am or how I got here," I stated quietly as I looked away. I didn't touch the tea, although it smelled rather nice.
The woman took a band from her wrist, pulled her hair around one shoulder, and tied it in place. "SiyariDendo is the only god who is able to freely and easily traverse dimensions, but that does not mean that it is impossible for the other god incarnates as well. In a height of panic, you landed yourself in an area between dimensions, IkioElle. I hear mortals call it a Glitch sometimes. But I and Siyari both prefer to call it Uncertainty--a state which exists yet does not at the same time."
"That was where I was? You know Siyari? Velzae?"
The woman picked up her own teacup. "Indeed, Ikio, just as I know you. I understand that you have been searching for my son."
"Your... son? You mean Velzae?"
The woman set her cup down after taking a sip. "In an immortal state, yes. SiyariDendo is mine and SolTansra's first son to grace Kairenz to carry through its rebirth."
My fingers felt cold. I curled them into lax fists. "That would make you TeilaLouna. The mother of Crei."
"Yes. At this point, Ikio, there is no more reason for you to disbelieve in us. If you want to get to your son, you must start understanding faith. We thought that we had lost you in Uncertainty, but thankfully your abilities brought you to Lenta."
"L... Lenta?"
The woman nodded and took another sip of her tea.
I gave myself a moment to process this. How could that even happen? I was in the Rove Desert just a few minutes ago. Then I went into this bizarre state in dimensions and fell out into Lenta? I questioned silently, trying to see how it all fit together.
"You did."
I swallowed, looking at her cautiously. I wasn't so sure I enjoyed my thoughts being read so frequently like this, though I supposed Sylvain did it on a rather routine basis.
"And it won't be easy getting back, Ikio. But you needn't worry yourself about Va'lent right now. Your son is here in Lenta as well, brought and kept safe by Siyari. I have stationed myself here in the forest to slow the spread of my husband's Curse over the land. I am just as much against his plan as you are, and am here to guide you. "
I finally found my air again. I had to think rationally. If I really was in Lenta, then Teila's divine push had brought me here. I just hoped Rook was okay.
"LasNuk is just fine. I sense his spirit thriving."
"Are you really TeilaLouna?" I finally questioned. "Unless you were born with additional traits like me, I don't get how you could know so much when we've never met before. And how can you read my mind? Are you another prototoxine victim?"
Her face was blank as she answered. "The Crei’s power still thrives on Kairenz. You are clinging to the last little threads of hope that your rational thoughts all these years were not in vain. I am sorry to give you this kind of news, but even if a mortal being has been created to carry the traits of a superhuman, it makes them a god."
Her voice had altered to a glassy and sharp tone, and I felt somewhat like a chastised child. I didn't have any scientific explanations for my showing up in Lenta so suddenly, and the woman's telepathy was just as clear as Sylvain's... but without the help of prototoxine.
"It will take time for you to comprehend your divine power. As I stated, you ended up here by accident, although it was fate as well." She placed her teacup down. "You have little time, however, Ikio. I sense an ominous presence drawing closer to you. You cannot stay here."
I pushed my feelings about the gods aside, trying my best to understand just one detail at a time with a small sip of my tea. "Isn't there a way I can get back home? Or a way to track down Stelliot? I don't know where to go from here."
She gazed through me for a moment. "In a height of panic, your abilities are amplified. If you were to slip through dimensions again, you would need to be in another state of fright, and even then, you could end up anywhere. It is best for you to master this ability first, or find another way. Unfortunately in my physical state, I do not have the power to transfer you to your son. But believe me, Ikio. If I could, I would not hesitate."
I stood from the table, trying to organize my thoughts. I'd had a direction at first, but now I was completely lost.
Teila seemed to feel sorry for me. She rose as well. "I do wish I could return your divine memory, Ikio. Unfortunately the most that I can do in this physical form is call Siyari to come get you. Follow me."
I did as she bid, following her out the front door and across the clearing. Although it had darkened considerably from earlier I could still pick out the tiny details of flowers blanketing the meadow floor. It had been a long time since I'd seen a forest. The Gasaidiatt was colder, darker, more foreboding. This forest was lush with greenery, alive with sounds even at night, and warm. I had never been to Lenta before, but I knew that the continent consisted of three provinces. Sheliaas was the most inhabited province, and certainly the hottest. Alker was the middle province, and Cantor was the east-most. Cantor had been victim to the Mirror Curse, however, and was mostly gone now. As cities covered Sheliaas, or at least from what I'd heard, I had a feeling I was somewhere in Alker.
"You are correct," said Teila. "My home is in Alker."
She didn't stop until she reached a worn stump. It looked to have been used as a seat for many years. She trailed slender fingers over the soft wood and circled around it. "My husband made a brash decision with the Mirror Curse despite my protests. He was desperate to see a cleanse, but I left his side to come here and stall its process. My presence is also necessary to assist our lost children. You, IkioElle, are one of those that are lost."
"And he'll continue to stay that way."
I jumped from the voice, and Teila whipped around. Behind her stood a boy dressed in green. He looked sickly and bruised. At one glance I knew he wasn't human--or at least not anymore. Even in the darkness I saw grey tubing connecting his tendons
together at his joints and pressed against his body underneath his tight outfit. His frame was frail, but not nearly as frail as Sylvain's. He had blond hair that fell limply in his face, doing nothing to shield eyes so electric green that they glowed as if filled with radiation. He was gaunt, appearing as a toxic, twelve-year-old walking corpse with folded arms and a grin that put Dentrin’s manic expressions to serious shame.
The moment my eyes landed on the boy a jolt shook my body. I felt as though I'd been electrocuted, but not with simple electricity. This was a different energy. A sharp, stinging, stabbing energy that encompassed the entirety of my body. Although it hurt I couldn't look away.
"Why... IkioElle, I didn't realize you would be so susceptible to my talents." His voice was singsong and light. It carried an innocence that had long since been tainted and twisted.
Teila stepped in front of me to block me from the boy's gaze. "GaenVrellec... I have been expecting you. Sol requests that you come home, my son. I have attempted to contact you for some time now."
"I'm not here for you, woman. You can go away," the boy stated as he gazed at Teila. She seemed unaffected by his piercing stare and sharp words. "You always have your nose in the affairs of your kids, and it's utterly annoying." There was a pause. "I've waited quite some time to speak to my elder brother IkioElle."
"How did you know where I was?" I demanded, my voice slightly strained. I stepped out from around Teila to view him again.
"Sylvain told me, of course. Perhaps I ought to properly introduce myself to you." He bowed gracefully. It didn't correspond well with his appearance. "I am GaenVrellec incarnate. Mortally I am known as Crane--Dr. Allan Dentrin's newest beloved High Saydea Project and second devoted biological weapon for Iason."
"Crane, huh?" I responded after managing to control the aches. "And what do you want from me, Crane?"
"Well..." the boy started in his continuous lilt-like fashion. "I was hoping to come to you to find out where your adorable little son is. Stelliot. That's his name, isn't it? That bastard child of a god and a mortal. Unique name. Cross between Stellar and Elliot, yes?"
I didn't like the way he spoke about my son. "I don't have a clue where Stelliot is. What do you want with him anyway?"
Crane narrowed his eyes and smiled. My body wracked with needle-like pain down its spine. My knees buckled and I dropped, too alarmed and caught off guard to even keen from the agony.
"Ikio!" Teila started. I felt her pull me into her lap. Brimming tears distorted my vision. I gasped for breath. I'd never felt so defenseless, even during the Roavo hound attack.
"I allowed you to follow Ikio's aura so that you two could meet, not fight," Teila spoke up to Crane. "How dare you use your tainted powers in my sacred place! You let him go!"
"I have a gift to give my nephew, brother," Crane finally answered, ignoring Teila. "He's a special boy--I've heard so much about him from Sylvain." He stepped forward. "My only problem, IkioElle, is that you are making it very difficult for my plans for the future to work. You see... In order to purge this world of the ugly, we need to make room for the pure, yes? I'm sure Velzae told you something some time ago about the gods' plan for the rebirth of the planet. Well, Sylvain and I want to stop that from happening. No sense in killing everyone. Don't you agree?"
The pain let up just enough for me to respond. "Y-Yes."
"The thing is, Ikio," Crane continued, "You are left blundering about due to losing your godly memory. You have forgotten the laws of the divine. So we ought to change that."
"Crane," I started, sitting up a little but keeping close to Teila. "What, exactly, is yours and Sylvain's plan? Sylvain never told me, and you're dancing around it, too."
Crane grinned again, but luckily this time I wasn't plagued with hurt. "The godling, Ikio. Your son. A mesh of mortal and immortal--innocence and raw power. What could be more perfect for the rebirthing of Kairenz? Every god knows not to lay with mortals. Demigods are a forbidden venture. They are unstable creations that the Fathergod does not yet fully trust mortals with. And you... The stupid and frail little being that is supposed to be the proud God of Justice incarnate... You have broken that law due to your..." He waved a thin hand around, trying to think of a suitable word, "...ignorance. Because of your failing to uphold that law, I have come to claim that which is foreign to Kairenz. Stelliot must be used to wipe the slate clean."
"Gaen, you mustn't," Teila spoke. "Sol and I have no qualms about Stelliot's existence. When Ikio lost his memory, we foresaw this situation, and have come to terms with it. You must let Ikio care after his son instead, to avoid any disasters. There is no reason to use the boy."
I started forward into a stand despite the pain. "If you even try to get near Stelliot, I will rip you to pieces!"
Crane rolled his eyes. "Mother, you and Father would never truly understand the majesty of this plan. I am several times more powerful than Ikio is right now, as I am fully aware of my talents. I've had time to get used to this mortality, whereas he is a sorry excuse for a god. What makes you think that he has any potential to raise a being that even you and Father don't fully understand? I could reduce both of you to a permanently crippled state with a single touch, so I recommend you stay out of my way and let me know where the boy is."
"Your body looks rather neglected to be dishing out threats like that," I argued.
Crane smirked. "On the contrary, Dentrin did a marvelous job resurrecting this Lentan boy's body for me." He raised his arms as if in offer for me to admire his form. "A bit dependent on fluids to keep it sustained, but it is what it is. Besides, I don't need physical force to render you helpless." He pointed a finger in my direction. "Now, IkioElle, you will stay out of my way unless you want to meet death in a fit of rampant agony."
I was about to charge forward, jerking toward Crane with a small snarl, but Teila gripped my shoulder to hold me back. "Ikio, you may not remember GaenVrellec's strain on the family. He is not playing with you. What he has done to you now, he has done to all of us in the past."
Another presence entered the clearing. For a second I saw a white light behind Crane, then it faded to dim clothing and snowy hair. I hadn't seen Velzae physically since chasing him to Saydea, not counting the strange visions I'd had of him in Roavo. Before Crane even had the chance to turn around Velzae rushed forward in a flicker and landed a heavy hit to the side of the boy's head. Crane dropped in an instant, completely unconscious.
"SiyariDendo," Teila greeted with a small smile while letting go of me. "Thank you for answering my call."
Velzae gave a polite nod to her. "Always good to see you, Mother. I'm glad that you are not hurt. Kro." Velzae turned his attention to me. He panted a little as if he'd run a distance to get here. "The adversaries are moving swifter than I imagined. You need to get back to Va'lent."
"I would love to, Velzae, but that's impossible right now," I answered. "Where is Stelliot?"
Velzae knelt beside Crane's prone figure, checking to make sure that he was completely unconscious. "Stelliot is in Cantor. He's safe and well. But it has been four years since he has seen you. He may be wary of you."
I paused. "...What?"
Velzae gazed at me heavily now. "It's been two years, Crow, since we spoke last."
"I spoke to you while I was in Roavo--in a couple dreams," I corrected.
"Ikio..." Teila started. "It seems that your lingering in Uncertainty has caused you to skip two years of your life."
I closed my mouth before I could say anything, speechless.
Velzae straightened. "By Sol, Kro, is it true you do not know? You discovered Uncertainty--a place where anything can happen. Time can slow or fly depending on where you are and when."
"I was in the Rove Desert," I started, filled with disbelief. "A-And then I wasn't. I was on a street, and somehow ended up here. Within minutes."
Velzae looked calm, but there was a tightness to the corner of his mouth. "Your powers are out of balance, Kro. I am not at all surprised that y
ou fell into a space between spaces. LasNuk told me what had happened, and I did the best I could to let the other gods know. Your mortal body lingered here, phased in half by being partially transferred to a Glitch that should not truly exist."
I looked back at Teila. "And you didn't tell me this earlier because...?"
She simply shook her head. Velzae answered for her. "Our godly mother has little sense of time, Kro. She is older than the planet itself. Years are nothing to her."
"Th-That makes Stelliot almost six years old," I uttered. "Oh hell..." This time my eyes brimmed with tears of emotion. "I am a terrible father."
"How so?" Teila questioned. "The events of the last few years have not been of your making. Do not throw unnecessary guilt on yourself."
"Listen to me, Kro," said Velzae, stepping closer to me. He took me by the shoulders, making sure I looked at his pallid eyes. "Stelliot has been waiting for you. Every day I have spent with him, he has asked me about you, and I always give him the same answer. I say, 'your papa is on his way to get you, Stelliot.' And if he ever doubts, I remind him again. He still remembers you, and he is your godling. You and he have a special bond that many mortal families do not possess."
I let the tears go from my lashes, trying to keep myself together. I missed Stelliot more than anything, and had suffered two years, now apparently four, questioning his well-being and whereabouts. I wondered what he looked like now and how much he'd learned from being with Velzae.
"Kro," Velzae began again. "I am the true incarnation of SiyariDendo--the God of Life. I may have preserved lives and assisted births while I was a spirit, but this is the first time in my mortal state that I have ever fought so hard to keep a person living. Stelliot needs you. As a godling his talents are far too appetizing for the darkness of this planet. It is becoming increasingly more difficult for me to shield him without him being able to rely on his own father to neutralize his power. Now that you are away from the chaos it is time to find your son and defend him."