The Esoteric Design: Civilization Lost

by A. R. Crebs

“Quite interesting. I like it.” He set the glass on the bar top.

  Dovian noticed a pink tinge spread over her cheeks. He felt her emotions swirl around her. As expected, she was slightly infatuated with him. It eased Dovian a little, glad that she didn’t fear him like she did Euclid.

  “But nothing like that Iven wine I hear about.”

  Dovian shrugged. “Iven wine is fine, but this was a good change of pace.”

  “Never had it,” she said, pouring two more glasses.

  “Perhaps I’ll bring you a bottle,” Dovian offered.

  “Oh? I would love to have some to add to my collection, honestly.” She giggled, and then wrinkled her nose, and cleared her throat.

  “I’ll send you one, as payment for today’s drinks.” He winked at her.

  Her grin widened. “You’re generous.”

  “I can’t deny a woman with a pretty smile.” He chuckled, but then coughed a little. It was far too easy to flirt with human women. Hearing their barrage of flattering thoughts was often far too much a temptation, allowing Dovian full confidence. With Sorcēarian women, it was the opposite. The unknown scared the ever-living daylights out of him. If he could read I’Lanthe’s mind, he could’ve avoided many painful moments. Dovian knew better. He usually behaved, but there was something about this woman that interested him. Alas, she’d be a fleeting moment of his life. Regardless, his thoughts were uncalled for. He had I’Lanthe. She was beyond perfection to him. He nervously scratched the back of his head. Why did his mind circle so much?

  The woman laughed, handing him another drink. “Bottom’s up, warrior.”

  She and Dovian clinked the glasses, blew out the flames, and downed the contents.

  “You know what status I am?” he asked licking the sweet liquid from his lips.

  “Of course. We’ve heard Euclid’s stories. He’s Azure. He battles with Scarlet warriors. I guess you are Scarlet?”

  “That I am.”

  “You must be the friend he always speaks of.”

  Dovian nodded. “Most likely. He’s not close to many. Dovian.”

  She held out her hand, shaking his. “Not surprising.”

  “Hey, Ivan! I need three drinks over here!” one waitress shouted across the room.

  The black-haired woman lifted a finger in the air, preparing the order.

  “Ivan?” Dovian asked.

  “Ah, yes. That’s what they call me here. Last name is Ivanov.”

  “Pleasure meeting you, Ivan.”

  She nodded. “Always a pleasure meeting a Sorcēarian. I hope to see you again sometime.”

  “With as often as Euclid frequents, I’m sure I will.” Dovian watched her work.

  “Highly doubtful. Don’t you hate dumps such as this?” Euclid’s rich voice interrupted.

  “Hey! This place isn’t a dump!” Ivan glared daggers at Euclid, her entire energy fluctuating with the Azure man’s presence.

  “To each their own.” Euclid lazily slumped onto one of the bar stools beside Dovian.

  “Where’s Teresa?” Ivan sighed. “She was supposed to clock in twenty minutes ago.”

  Euclid leaned forward, sneering. “She was preoccupied.”

  ‘You dirty son of a bitch.’ Ivan’s thoughts penetrated Dovian’s mind.

  “Euclid,” Dovian cut in.

  Euclid eyed him, easing off.

  “You’re to attend the council meeting tomorrow. Sir Gaius would also like to speak with you at your earliest convenience.” Dovian spoke quietly in his native tongue. Ivan homed in on his words, her scowl worsening.

  Euclid scoffed, smoothing out his robes. “I've finished here anyway,” he also replied in Legacy.

  Dovian nodded once, and Euclid gave a crooked smirk before disappearing. Ivan shivered.

  “Hate when he does that.” She finished an order of drinks and called to her waitress. “So, he is a troublemaker, isn’t he?”

  Dovian’s face hardened. “Did I say something to make you believe that?”

  Ivan smirked. “I know three languages. I’ve heard a bit of your dialect. Not enough to speak it, but despite that, your tone was telling enough. Sounds like he may be in trouble.”

  The Sorcēarian lowered his gaze. “I’m not sure. We’ll find out soon.”

  The woman’s expression changed to one of concern. “Another drink?” she offered.

  Dovian tweaked his head to the side, pushing his worrying thoughts away. Focusing on the woman, he bowed. “No, thank you. I best be off.”

  “It was a pleasure meeting you, Dovian.” She eagerly offered her hand again.

  Dovian grabbed and twisted it so he could kiss her knuckles. The woman’s breath caught, her heart pounding. “A pleasure as well, Ms. Ivanov.”

  She cleared her throat as she withdrew her hand. “See ya around.”

  Dovian winked, reaching for his tuner. “Most likely.” And he also disappeared.

  Ivan puffed her cheeks, blowing her long side-swept bangs away from her face. “Now I understand what Teresa was talking about.” She shook her head, laughing. “Dangerous men.”

  A low hum and loud whoosh startled her. She looked to her right, gaping in awe at the large bottle of Iven wine that now sat beside her. She gave a quiet gasp, snatching up the item. Screw keeping this at her bar, she was taking the bottle home.

  A single note was attached. ‘Ivan, enjoy the Iven wine. Don’t drink it all at once, my dear.’

  The woman closed her eyes, grinning. Euclid had given her the creeps, but Dovian was the complete opposite. A small flutter in her tummy told her that she might have been a bit infatuated with the Scarlet warrior. Popping the cork, she poured herself a glass.

  ***

  As usual, Dovian entered the meeting late. He slipped through the back door, searching the hundreds of seats that formed around the lead councilmen. Gaius sat at the center table, his expression solid. Today’s meeting was no doubt troublesome.

  “Dovian,” a quiet whisper alerted him to Orin.

  Slipping through the aisle, he dropped beside his stony-eyed friend.

  “Miss anything?” Dovian asked.

  “Eh, same old. Humans are mad about yet another thing we haven’t done for them. Demanding clean water and twice as many food sources. We’ve given them all the tools, yet it’s easier to demand us to do it for them.” Orin rolled his eyes.

  “Yes, I’ve personally dealt with that mentality in many of the villages I protected.” Dovian sagged in his chair, sighing. “Sometimes I wish we could fix it all for them…so they’ll stop complaining.”

  “Creating their utopia isn’t our mission. They must earn it at some point. It’s like our presence here has only hindered the process.” A loud beep sounded on Orin’s wristband, and he quickly silenced the alarm. He made a hissing sound, eyeing the others surrounding him that sent spiteful glares. “Damn it, Elizabeth. Told her not to message me during my meetings.”

  Dovian smirked. “How are things there?”

  “Um…alright.”

  “Alright?”

  Orin rested his chin in his hand, frowning. “It’s been many years, Dovian. She’s….”

  “She’s what?”

  Dovian knew what Orin was going to say. It was always the same.

  “Getting old,” he sighed.

  “What’d you expect? She’s human.”

  “But…why do they have to age so fast?” Orin appeared genuinely upset. He was known to be a bit shallow, but Elizabeth was a unique specimen for him.

  “It’s just how it is. This is why it’s ill-advised to mingle with the human race.”

  “I know. I got burnt badly on this one. I didn’t think she’d stick around this long. I mean, I care for her a lot. But she’s…Lord, I don’t even want to think about it.” Orin palmed his forehead. “I think I need to separate from her. For both our sakes.”

  “Orin, is that wise?”

  “What would you have me do? Wait until she dies? Think about it….” The man was sil
ent, his irises swirling as he pondered. “She deserves to find someone who will always be there for her. Someone with whom she can grow old. Me being with her is selfish. She could easily waste all her good years on me. She wants a husband and children. Giving her a child is a risk I cannot take. We all know it’s physically not possible for her to bear my child. In the end, it’ll end in heartbreak. I can’t stand to watch someone I love age so quickly and pass. It’s a mental mind screw.”

  “I’ll agree with you, Orin. Perhaps it is best for her and you. I don’t want you to go through that.” Dovian placed a hand on the man’s shoulder.

  Orin nodded slowly. “I’ll speak with her soon. But not right now. Her birthday was just this past week. How brutal would that be?”

  Dovian hissed. “Ah, wait at least another week.”

  Orin agreed, looking determined. “My thoughts, exactly.”

  “The council would like to bring up order number two hundred and sixty-six,” a tall, slender man in his sixties barked through a small microphone at the center table. Dovian and Orin both straightened up.

  “Two hundred and sixty-six? Busy month,” Dovian whispered.

  “Never-ending,” Orin replied.

  Dovian inspected the center council. Across from Elder Gaius sat, of all people, Euclid. Dovian had known Gaius expected Euclid to attend the day’s meeting, but not as a seat. Things suddenly became very interesting.

  “State your name,” the older man dully droned.

  “My name is Albert Ortega. I seek approval from the council for my DNA replication projects. My laboratory was receiving federal aid, but my workplace was recently shut down due to false allegations.” A middle-aged man with tan skin and brown eyes spoke before the council. He wore a white jacket that was symbolic of him being a scientist. He looked the part. Immediately, Dovian sensed something unsettling about the man.

  “And what were these allegations?” the French Councilman asked.

  Ortega sputtered. “I, uh, would like to explain my project first.”

  “I would like to hear the allegations, first,” the councilman rebounded.

  Ortega became slightly disheartened. “Cloning.”

  “Of?” Elder Narita chimed in, making Ortega flinch.

  “Humans.”

  Murmurs filled the room, a dull hum that grew in beats of disapproving groans.

  “Are you cloning humans?” The English councilwoman asked.

  “Well, not…not necessarily as you would think. I mean, there is the replication of cells to help battle disease. There’s the creation of perfectly healthy organs. And there’s also—”

  “Are,” another councilman interrupted, causing Ortega to grow silent, “you cloning humans?”

  “Um, not exactly. Not full-grown humans, but….” Ortega fumbled with his papers, half the pages scattering to the floor.

  “He’s lying,” Orin leaned toward Dovian.

  “Shall we make the council aware?” Dovian replied.

  “No. My grandfather will catch it.”

  Immediately, Elder Fardon stood. The room went achingly quiet, the sound of the large chair scraping against the wooden floor only made the atmosphere more uncomfortable.

  “Mr. Ortega. I understand that you care deeply about your research and development. I’m sure we all will realize the good efforts you’ve put in with your scientific discoveries, however, lying under oath to the council is a serious offense.” Fardon’s eyes swirled as he inspected Ortega.

  “Do you not realize the benefits of cloning? Not just food and organs and tissue, but full-fledged humans?” Ortega snarled. “We can capture memories and ideas. When a great scientist dies, we can gather his intelligence, bring him back. Soldiers killed in action can finally return home. Athletes, musicians, actors, children. Would you deny a parent whose child wrongfully died in war or from a terrible illness?”

  “How many specimens do you currently have?” Someone questioned.

  “Think of husbands who have gone to war. With their consent, they can have a replacement at home to keep their families happy. No more broken homes.” Ortega continued listing examples, sweat beading on his brow.

  “Are there any humans in custody?”

  “How long have you been operating?”

  “Who approved your funding in the first place?”

  The council questioned the scientist until the room became a flurry of noise, everyone speaking over one another.

  “Enough,” Sir Gaius spoke with a deep tone that echoed against the walls of the massive rotunda. He rose, towering over everyone in the room. His golden robes shimmered beneath the fluorescent lighting, his hair like a silver flame. He gazed upon Ortega with diamond eyes, lightning flickering from within.

  “Mr. Ortega, you are to cease all activities. Your operations, from this moment forward, are under thorough investigation.” Sir Gaius held up a hand just as the scientist began to speak. “I’m not finished. You know very well why your request will be denied and never approved. To clone for resources is one thing, to clone a human is unethical.”

  “Unethical,” the man scoffed. “Saving lives is unethical?”

  “Recreating lives, you mean,” Euclid suddenly spoke up, matching the scientist’s snobbish tone.

  The Elders motioned for Euclid’s silence.

  “A soul can only inhabit one body at a time. To create a replica leaves you with an empty vessel,” Gaius explained.

  “They aren’t empty. They are living, functioning humans,” Ortega argued.

  “The fact you say this proves you’ve gone against the council law and created fully-cloned human beings. This has not and never will be approved by the World Council,” one of the human councilmen spoke up. A flurry of heads nodded in agreement.

  “A body can live, yes. It doesn’t need a soul per se. But an empty vessel remains as one of the few portals that allow for inhabitation. If the source remains alive, the copied vessel will remain soulless. This allows for the temptation of possession,” Sir Gaius calmly spoke.

  “Possession?!” Ortega guffawed. “You mean by spirits? Ghosts?”

  Sir Gaius shrugged. “Demons most likely.”

  Ortega shook his head. “Unbelievable. You people,” he gestured to the council and crowd, “allow for these ridiculous religious antics? What year is this? To follow orders from these fanatics,” Ortega waved a hand toward the area housing the Sorcēarian members, “you allow religion to hinder the progress of science and humanity’s survival.”

  Elder Gaius gazed firmly upon the man.

  “They come here and govern us with some made-up moral code. It’s not a way to save us, to help us progress. It’s a way for them to control us all! To keep us beneath them!” Ortega pointed a finger.

  “Nonsense,” Narita scoffed.

  “Enough of your outbursts.” The Council gave a series of signals. “It’s been voted upon. You are to be removed from these premises. What’s been stated by the Elder Gaius stands true.”

  “What about our race? Cloning could preserve us! Could provide happier lives!” The scientist shouted as the surrounding guards latched onto him.

  After a few minutes of shouting and arguing among the council, the meeting finally was called to silence.

  “To think, they’d rather clone one another than refrain from killing each other,” Euclid murmured.

  “Silence, please,” Sir Gaius huffed beneath his breath.

  “Elders, we request your assistance in investigating this matter,” the head speaker announced.

  “Right away.” Sir Gaius motioned to the group of warriors behind him. “Proceed to Ortega’s lab. Take record of all documentation and lock down the facility. All specimens within will be dealt with accordingly by the ruling of the council.”

  Their fists pounding against their chests filled the room with a low rumble. In a flurry, one after another, the warrior fleet teleported to carry out their orders.

  Sir Gaius let out an exhausted sigh, lowering i
nto his seat. He sipped his water, his eyes shifting to the other Elders. They could all feel it, the sudden animosity from the human attendees in the room. Ortega had said enough to plant an idea in their heads. Conflict usually began this way. And things were about to get worse.

  “Next on the list is order number two hundred and sixty-seven.”

  Everyone turned the pages of their meeting packets. Dovian squint as he read the title of the next order.

  “Is this correct?” he pondered.

  “Strange. We rarely dig this deep into history. This occurred quite some time ago.” Orin sped read the file, his expression twisting into a look of concern.

  “Generations ago, actually. And don’t tell me.” Dovian kept the man from ruining the news. “I’m not sure I want to know just yet.”

  The speaker read over the file, his expression as flat as his voice. “Lord Gaius, I believe you were the one who requested to review this case.”

  “Indeed,” Sir Gaius agreed. “But, uh, it’s Sir Gaius. There’s only one Lord, and I’m not him,” he quickly uttered. The speaker gave a casual shrug.

  Euclid read over the file, his expression twisting.

  “This is a request to open the source file for event 49862, categorized under warfare. This pertains to the investigation of one Roman Sarkov and his connections with Jacob Asahni.” The speaker adjusted his glasses.

  “That is correct.” Gaius nodded.

  “And what, exactly, are you looking for?”

  “Request to have the remains of Sarkov exhumed,” Gaius kindly asked. The hall filled with whispers.

  “You do realize the man has been dead for nearly a thousand years?” the speaker asked with a look of wonder.

  “There doesn’t need to be much for me to analyze him.” The council members seemed perplexed by Gaius’ request.

  “For what reason?” The Englishwoman asked.

  “I have reason to believe there was some foul play involved in the man’s death.”

  Gaius never once looked to Euclid. In fact, Euclid appeared calm before the council, though his piercing eyes locked onto the Elder. Only those closest to Euclid would be able to tell that he was greatly perturbed.

  “And how is this relevant in any current investigations?” another questioned.