“The Temple! Ahktum Temple was attacked!” Ravaen shouted again.
He was shocked and so was everyone in the room. He looked at Sevidon who seemed to be worried the most.
“That temple is the holiest of grounds in my kingdom! For it to be defiled like that is unacceptable!” Ravaen said as he looked intensely at him.
“Ravaen, you need to calm down. Let your council handle it,” Glaivel said.
“The council is not allowed to step nor even do anything in the Ahktum temple without the king. Guess who the king is?” Ravaen said, trying to make a point.
“Still, you are needed here. This is much worse than a silly little raid,” Aderon said.
Ravaen’s face flared and he shouted, “This is not a silly little raid! The Ahktum Temple is not just your little churches or worship dens or whatever, this is of Mt. Mjior! No one can just go ahead and fly in the gorge of Gorenhurd. I will not back down from this, Aderon!”
“I’ll let you go then,” he suddenly said, surprising everyone. Ravaen then turned to the door when he added, “However, you have to hand over command of the mystic army first,”
“What did you just ask me to do?” Ravaen said as he paced towards him and stood toe to toe. He looked at Ravaen’s burning eyes. He could clearly see that he was already burning with rage.
“What makes you think I will hand over the command of my army to you?” Ravaen said as spears of his guards were pointed at Aderon.
“Who said anything about you handing it over to me? Choose whoever you see fit to command your flock of birds,” he said then he walked towards back of the table map.
He stared at Ravaen as though baffled by his decision. He looked to Sevidon then said, “You are in charge until I get back,” then Ravaen looked at him and all he did was nod. The doors then were opened and Ravaen walked out along with his own guards.
Sevidon looked at him as though waiting for something, “Go and have a platoon scout out the Wyaen Forest. Before letting Kaira sweep the ground. Then Kaira, once the intel gathering from the falcons are back, you begin your own sweep of the land,” he said.
“Understood,” Kaira answered as she walked towards the table map as well.
He thought of something else as he rubbed his chin, “Maybe we should move the imperial army a bit forward to the east. Have them set up and secure the outer frontier so we can move our camp bit by bit as well,”
“Too risky,” Sevidon disagreed, “We already tried to do that but somehow they kept coming back. We thought we could’ve held them back but they just surged at us like waves. Let’s just wait for the Iron Council to decide.”
“Might as well use their strength to our advantage while we have a chance,” he rebutted.
“I understand that. But they are our shield as of the moment,” Sevidon said again.
He thought otherwise. He disagreed with Sevidon to some degree, but what he just said is in fact, for the time being, true. “Alright, I’ll just have two imperial battalions scout that area for now. Then we’ll decide later.” He finished, taking what Sevidon said into consideration.
He then walked back towards the balcony, “You are dismissed for now,” then the others followed through and went straight to their chambers.
“Tamiron, you bastard,” he said, as he thought he was being played by Tamiron. He chuckled as he watched the cloudy night sky above Bastominad.
TAMIRON SLOWLY WALKED towards the tomb. He had not known of the tomb until several days ago. He entered the small opening and was surprised how well ventilated the cave was inside. As he reached the very end of a small tunnel, he saw a big cavern — hand-made. It was literally carved out from the mountain.
It was well lit. The openings were placed properly and was given careful thought inside the cavern walls that lit up the inside, revealing a tomb. With two statues shaped like those of the imperial phalanx guarding its doorways.
The tomb was a marvelous piece of architecture just like the empire’s palace that sat atop a giant cliff and the Holy Animos Freinus Temple. He had not seen anything that could rival those, and he was convinced that the same people designed this tomb as well.
It was a sight to behold if it wasn’t for the dead bodies that still litter its grounds. Blood splashed on the walls and the statues’ bent up armor with the trasidian still wearing it. He stopped to look at it, for he cannot believe that their metal — the hardest of them all and the strongest, were crushed like it was nothing. Another body missing a head, another body against the wall with its right shoulder seemingly torn or blown up.
He approached the door and stopped to look for an inscription, on who was buried there, it could reveal as to why it was raided in the first place. He looked around the opening to see a scratched out plaque on top of the door. He sighed and looked inside and saw more dead bodies, around what seemed to be a blown up marble casket, carved right out of the cave as well.
He looked inside, hoping to at least see any clues that might lead to him finding out what or who was buried there.
“This place is built like a tomb for a king,” a guard said as he inspected the surroundings as well. He heard this and looked around the blood bathed walls of the tomb.
He was right, he thought. The design alone and intricate writings on the wall, writings that was unknown to him and the fact that a separate burial chamber was built for this person meant he was of great importance.
But why this far? He begged the question.
“Do we have any idea on who was buried here?” he asked his guards, with them shaking no.
“Send a message to the imperial palace and library. I want to know who was buried here. A record must’ve been kept,” he said.
“Sire we must leave now. This is no place for a monarch,” the guard said.
“After knowing what I’ve done, maybe I do or somewhere much worse,” he said silencing his own guard.
He then proceeded to walk outside of the temple after he got one last look of the place.
“Secure the tomb. Clean it up and have extra guards stationed here. No one leaves and no one enters without my approval,” he commanded to the guards outside. “I will be in Tamara for the time being so make sure to send the message there.” He added as he walked outside. As he reached the opening, he was slightly blinded by a light that came from the sky. He looked up and saw paneloseis. He was awed at what he saw, but seeing one, is no miracle.
“Are those, paneloseis?” one of the guards said out loud, clearly spooked as he was.
“I here they only appear in places where people died and successfully crossed the Mirror Realm,” another guard said.
“They are Lyo’s message to us, saying that our comrades are now safe and will peacefully live on for eternity,” the other one said.
Tamiron looked at the guards as they talked. He walked slowly, examining the glittering things. They looked like pieces of paper that flew with the wind, but moved as though they are swimming through the air like jellyfish.
The guards knelt on one knee and held both of their arms together and started to pray. He looked around him with most of the guards doing same. He then slowly knelt and began to do the same, to which the other guards followed.
He took that moment to send a message to the Gods and Animos, Take care of my people’s souls for they have done nothing wrong. Take care of the souls that I have wrongfully ended and bring them peace.
End of chapter VI
VII: Celestial Being
Evangeline read all the books in the enormous Grand Orderian Library. She was like in a trance as she read multiple books at the same time continuously. Pages were leafed through as they glowed with her magic and then returned to the shelves that spanned across the circular walls.
I must find another way, she thought.
“There has to be another way,” she uttered as her voice echoed through the length of the library and her eyes glowing bright.
She started from top and was already on her way to the
very bottom of the library. Dust enveloped the room as she floated in the middle of the platform she was on. Her eyes glowed through the entire day as a tear began to fall from her eyes. She was losing hope.
Everything will be in vain, she thought as she tried to hold her own tears. The books surrounded her in a whirlwind as she analyzed all of their texts. She looked at her dilemma in all possible angles. She looked at the problems the Gods and Animos had put on her shoulders. A problem that she was given to deal with — but not to solve it, no — but to make it happen as they see fit.
I refuse to bow down.
As she neared the end of the book case of the entire library, she began to slow down and with the final book having been read, leafed, and closed, she slowly descended to the floor. She closed her eyes as she gasped for air.
I failed.
Sadness was painted all over her face. She slowed her breathing and calmed herself down. She opened her eyes and saw the floor reflecting the cloudy skies.
“Did you find anything, Grand Sage?” a voice said to her.
She looked up and saw, Lyo the Messenger of the Gods and Animos. She was at the Mirror Realm. She hesitated to answer as she looked away but Lyo walked closer to her.
“We have already given you the answer, Grand Sage. Why can’t you come to terms with it?” Lyo said.
“Because it is an imprudent way. What you ask is unreasonable!” she shouted out of anger.
“So did you find another way?” Lyo asked again. “Grand Sage, you have to remember, nothing will stay as it is. Sometimes we are left with the hardest of choices in order to do the noblest of deeds.”
Evangeline followed the messenger as they walked in the silence that lingered where only their footsteps could be heard.
“I still don’t agree. I refuse,” she suddenly said.
Lyo turned to her slowly with her eyeless gaze. “Oh young one, you still think the world’s thread can be altered?”
“Yes,” she answered briefly.
“Why so?”
“If a single being can destroy the world your Gods and Animos made then I’m pretty sure that it was not planned at all. The world was thrown into uncertainty because of whoever that being is,” she answered.
“You are right. They did not expect this kind of disturbance. They are working hard to correct it. I can see it, and I can feel it,” Lyo said as she looked at her hands that seemed like flowing water. “Yor’Jod is sad that his creation is being destroyed right in front of him.”
“So He does care?” she mocked.
“Of course He does. He can’t just go down there and solve your problems. Everything has to be done by his creations. He believes in his creations’ capacity to face and overcome problems,” Lyo said.
“What kind of explanation is that? I do hope you know you sound ridiculous, right?”
“You seem to lack — faith?” Lyo finally asked her.
She was caught off guard but quickly thought of an excuse, “Well, my people are not from this world. So I fail to see why he gave me such an important task if I’m not one of his creations.”
“Oh, but you are one of his creations, young Grand Sage,” Lyo said.
“What do you mean by that?” she said, dumbfounded.
“This world and beyond, inside the Celestial Medusozoa, He created it as it swims in the vast nothingness of the great void. You are all Yor’Jod’s creation. He is the Maker, the great conductor of the heaven’s orchestra. The orchestra keeps the world moving — the same thing that keeps the Celestial Medusozoa moving. All the worlds move within its great fifteen hands of stars and dust. And at its great core lies the world. Your world and ours,” Lyo said as she looked at her, “Both our worlds.”
“I — I don’t understand.”
“Yes, you don’t. And it is understandable,” Lyo said then her hand touched her face. “You need to learn much, much more, Grand Sage. There is more to our worlds than what is written in books.”
She followed the immortal being for what felt like an hour that then turned longer when she finally stopped and looked at the skies.
“The mirror realm seemed to get dimmer and dimmer by the day,” she wondered and Lyo only looked at it as well.
“Don’t you remember where you are? This is the reflection of the world. You do know what this means right?” Lyo asked her again then looked at her and her face turned cold.
“Jorus Gracos Saros,” Lyo suddenly said.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked curiously as her forehead creased.
“For hope, for dreams, for freedom, for peace. For all that is good or for all that is naught, a price is needed, a price is paid,” Lyo said as she looked at her and the feeling of fear suddenly drowned her. She did not know why, but it washed over her body. “The Songs of Ruin is upon us.”
“Wait, Lyo?” she asked again, but Lyo chose to ignore her.
“You must go,” Lyo said as she waved her hand. “You have work to do. And I do believe you know what I am talking about.”
She was thrown out of the mirror realm and back to in the Orderian Library. She sat on the cold floor, breathless. She looked around her as she stood. She held her hand forward and a book arrived to it. The book flipped on itself and text glowed maroon.
The keeper of the great void, of dark and death, the God Shardon. His sister, the Goddess Arumar, of light and life. She was his most precious jewel. He was her protector from the great unknown of that he ruled. The Great Unknown that he chose to rule and control. The one thing his father kept at bay and controlled. Thus, a balance between those of the light and those of the dark has been struck.
He preserves life for his sister against the uncanny promise of death. For life cannot stay in his void of promise so Shardon and Arumar made a home for them outside the great Celestial Medusozoa, but not beyond it. For the living wants to feel the dead, and the dead wants to watch over the living.
With the help of his brother and his father Yor’Jod they created the Mirror Realm, a gateway for the worthy dead to cross. And beyond that grandiose gate they created Vermelia, for that they call home for the Heaven’s Orchestra.
Evangeline thought of it as she floated towards the exit of the library.
What does she mean? She thought as she let the book float back to the bookcase. She exited the library and it sealed the door behind her.
She suddenly felt cold and stopped on her tracks. Her fingers shook. She took a deep breath and teleported herself to place where the wind howled like the wolves.
She looked at her surroundings and found out she was in a floating island, right above the gorge of Gorenhurd. She looked to her right and there she saw from the Great Tree in its towering glory. She turned to her back and was shocked to see a temple.
“No,” she said as she walked towards the smoking temple of Ahktum.
The enemy was here. Just like in the imperial tomb. Fallen guards lay on the floor. She was startled to hear something move from afar, only to see a guard, barely clinging for life. She treaded carefully. If the guard knew she was there, she would be blamed for what had happened.
The temple was blown up from the inside. She traced the enemy’s footsteps and found a huge hole that exploded from the floor. A huge circular stone stuck on the triangular ceiling, above the hole that must have covered it. She breathed heavily as she walked the inside of the now empty hole.
She ran her hand across the rugged floor and she could tell that the ground inside had not seen light for many years. Her eyes glowed and released a blue wave from her body and she was taken aback from what she found out.
Magic — Orderian magic was used in the raid.
End of chapter VII
VIII: Crown and Throne of Four Horns
Tamiron arrived at the palace without wasting any time. He quickly paced the decorated halls of the palace as he immediately went straight to the throne room where he was greeted by her sister, Queen Tamara Lluch and three of the newly formed elder counc
ilors, Moselei Maktu, Ferrier Ole, and Tolous Rham. Tamara formed the Elder Council right after the Unibeltrasian forces departed the city and replaced the old council. They were warmly welcomed by some of the old councilors, but some had their reservations. Tamara did not trust the people who made everything worse for her kingdom, so she replaced the entire council altogether with the people she knew she could trust.
He did not expect any company and was a bit surprised by the three’s presence. “I am sorry for intruding, I will take my leave,” he said apologetically as he bowed out and was about to leave the room.
“No, stay,” Tamara said as she stood from the throne.
He sighed deeply as the servants began to close the door. He faced the Queen and again bowed down to her, “My Queen.”
“No need for formalities, my dear brother,” Tamara said as she beamed a smile to him and gestured for a hug.
He wasn’t able to stop himself and he smiled as well and gave in to Tamara’s offer.
“How are the frontlines, my liege?” Tolous asked.
He gave his respects to the elder councils, then answered, “For the time being, we are waiting for the reinforcements. So we needed to stay put.”
“I see, so it was that bad as mentioned in the reports,” Moselei said as he shook his head slowly, not too happy hearing it from Tamiron directly.
“Who is in command if you are here, my Prince?” Ferrier asked.
“I’ve put High Prince Aderon Azure in charge for a while,” he said and this caught everyone off guard.
“The High prince? Are you sure we can trust him?” Tolous said.
“He is a capable commander and—”
“But he is arrogant! As arrogant as his father!” Ferrier quickly added. Tamiron could not help but giggle to that for he thought the same.
“Again, he is a capable commander. He may be arrogant but he is capable. Plus, he takes pride upon his skills to lead an army so I’m sure he won’t do anything that will embarrass him or his father,” he explained as he gave Aderon a bit of credit, while some of the councilors huffed in disagreement.
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