by Chris Fox
“Hello, Priest Unarr,” I said. “How has the day treated you?”
“Very well, High Priestess. Our fellows in the temple had hoped you would spend a moment with us today, if you have the time to spare,” he said. I could hear the nervous note in his voice, the fear I would rebuff him.
My features softened and my lips curved into a smile.
“I always have time for my fellows. Lead me.”
It wasn’t necessary. I knew where the temple was and I was very familiar with the streets—but it was a sign of respect. An opportunity for him to represent his temple.
He bowed halfway, then straightened and headed off toward the temple. I followed him through the winding streets of the capital, smiling at the people we passed, and letting myself delight in the thriving spirit of the city.
All around me, there was movement, there was life. The buildings pulsed with an assortment of colors, and the streets were lined with a tech replication of the bioluminescent markings that dotted our faces and the plant life on Eyrus. It was a lovely reminder of the old days, when the markings on the plants had been what guided us through the forests. A beautiful melding of the old with the new, and I reminded myself I should once again commend the architects for the works of art they had created for the city.
A short walk up the steps of the temple, and then Unarr lifted his hands to send his magic into the great doors—not as grand as the doors on the High Temple, but that was to be expected. Still, they were decorated with numerous sigils, aglow with a mixture of enchanted stones and the pulsing tech lines the people were so fond of.
The top of every temple bore our symbol of balance—a healing staff and an energy sword crossing one another, both more intricately designed than most Stryx would ever hold in their lives.
The doors opened for him, and we walked inside. His boots resounded heavily against the floor with each stride he took. I padded after him, my eyes flitting over the temple.
It was not the first time I had been here, but there had been some slight changes.
It had the same marble floor, embedded with lights, as the High Temple, and the same faux stone walls.
Some of the artwork had been traded out, some of the windows had been changed for a more modern look, and the mats upon which we kneeled when in worship had been replaced with slightly more decorative ones.
Priestess Lika, a woman of medium stature with bright red hair and pale skin whose hue glowed amber, stood at the very back of the temple, on the dais. Once she spotted me, she stepped off the dais and crossed the temple to meet us in the middle.
“Thank you, Priest Unarr. That will be all,” she said, dismissing the lower priest.
He bowed to both of us, then left.
“Priestess Lika,” I said, inclining my head.
“High Priestess Xiva.” She bowed.
“It has been some time since we traded words, has it not? Life has kept you busy.”
“And you, as is expected. I am grateful you would make time for me.”
The skin about my eyes wrinkled as I smiled. “You know you have but to send a missive, and I will make the time.”
She laughed. “And you know that few would dare to impose on you in such a fashion.”
“Yes, well, perhaps that should change. I need to know what happens in all the cities, but most especially the capital. It is a necessity, and I do hope you will call on me more when you need me.” My tone had become somewhat stern, a small reprimand.
She bowed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Ah, well, how does the temple fare?”
“Oh, quite well. We have seen good days of late, and our people have thankfully chosen to spend that good fortune with the gods rather than becoming lax in their prayers.”
“Always a blessing.”
“Yes,” she said with a small smile. “I was wondering, though. If you have the time, our people would love to hear from you themselves. It is no small thing to hear the voice of the high priestess. And as we have been having a good run of attendance, it could do well to maintain that.”
I inclined my head. “It would be my pleasure.”
Together, we walked to the dais. I ascended, and she remained.
The people in the temple took note and immediately knelt on the mats, eyes fixed on me.
“Hello,” I greeted. “For some, this may be the first you have heard from me. For others, you may yet be familiar. It is my greatest pleasure to come to Ela Serin and spend time amongst you, learning about your lives, and doing what I can for you. Priestess Lika has asked me to speak to you, and I am sure it is known I can never resist an opportunity to share myself with my people.
“We have been blessed with good fortune these past days, and I am sure we are all forever grateful to the gods for that. It is good, but it is also good to remember what was, so we do not forget why we are grateful. It was once that we did not have all the blessings we do now, before the Skeyce brought their technology to us, before our artisans discovered how to meld this technology with our magic.
“With these blessings, we learned fast that it was necessary not to forget the Orders of our gods. They are the balance of our world, and They wish for us to reflect that. We are made in Their image, after all. The balance of magic and technology is but a small part of that; it is what is in our hearts that is the true balance that the gods look for. Remember this, hold it inside of you every day. And remember that it is the temple that nurtures this balance in your hearts, that keeps you on the true path.
“Do not allow a few days of good fortune to turn your head from that path.” I paused to look out at all of them, gazing back at me with reverence in their eyes. “And do not forget that, in all things, I am your servant as much as I am the gods. If you have need of me, do not shy away. My heart and arms are open to you all.”
They waited a beat to ensure I was finished, and then they began to clap, several bright smiles beaming back at me. I bowed to them, and they touched their heads to the ground out of respect.
I stepped down from the dais and turned to Lika. “Thank you for providing me the opportunity to speak with my people.”
“Thank you for taking the time. It is—” She froze mid-speech, her eyes filled with horror as she stared beyond me.
Frowning, I turned.
And froze.
Zvarr.
He was standing there, leaning against the temple doors. His arms were crossed over his now-massive chest.
“Hello, sister,” he said, his lips curling into a smirk.
Joy burst into my heart and I raced through the temple, for a moment feeling like a young child again rather than a woman of so many years. I didn’t care for the looks of shock, horror, and repulsion in the faces of the other people in the temple. I didn’t care for anything else in that moment but Zvarr.
This was my brother, my twin. The closest person I had ever had in my life. My other half.
When I grew closer though, I drew up short, skidding to a stop just a few feet away from him as I took in his features as if for the first time.
Something was wrong. He was different—bigger, stronger, but something else. Something I couldn’t put my finger on, but it was definitely wrong. He still had the same pale skin as me, the same blue hue still glowed from it, and his eyes were still the same pink and purple of my own.
Even his hair had not changed. It was the same bright white of my own.
But there was something different about him, other than his size, and I needed to know what.
My forehead creased with concern, and I reached out tentatively along the telepathic path we shared, hoping it would work for once. I wanted some sort of reassurance from him, something to indicate he was the brother I knew and loved, and not the stranger he seemed before me.
The tentative touch I sent out on the path slammed against a wall of pure energy, sending it rebounding back to me. Pain arced through me.
He had blocked me. He’d never done that before. All the other t
imes, it had just been radio silence, as if he weren’t there at all.
I stared at him. The disbelief I was feeling had to be crystal clear on my face as strong as was it.
His smirk deepened and he pushed off the door, taking a step closer to me.
I saw the move for what it was, an intimidation tactic.
Straightening my shoulders, I stood my ground, refusing to give in to him. I didn’t know what he was doing here, what he wanted, but I knew I couldn’t appear weak before my people.
I couldn’t let him get the better of me.
I would get through this encounter, and then later, I would speak to him plainly so I could figure out what was going on.
“Still playing your little tricks I see, sister,” he said, his tone lazy. “I would have thought you’d have grown past that by now.”
“It’s high priestess to you!” Lika snapped from behind me, her tone shrill.
His eyes shifted from me to the other priestess. “No one was talking to you.” Then he looked at me again. “High priestess, eh? Well done. I always knew you had it in you—which is why I went looking for you.”
“We can guide you back, Zvarr. I don’t know what happened to you out in the wilds, but things are different now. I can help you.”
He made a swift chopping motion with his hand. “None of that, Xiva. You know it isn’t going to work on me, so don’t waste your breath. I’ll keep this short and simple, so you don’t have to keep lying to yourself about saving my soul. I want the Stryx to submit to me, and eventually, all of Eyrus. But we’ll start here, yes?”
Horror rocked my body. For a moment, I lost control. I gaped at him, eyes wide. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the blue glow of my skin pulsing furiously in time with my heartbeat.
Two deep breaths, and I had myself under control again.
I shook my head slowly.
“Never, Zvarr. I will not subject my people to you.”
He wasn’t my brother anymore—that much was clear. I didn’t know what he had turned into, and I wanted to bring him back, but this was too much. I had to protect my people first.
“You have a day, Xiva. That’s it. I’ll give you a day to change your mind.”
He turned and took steps from the temple doors before launching himself into the skies.
Vivoth save us.
5
My knees ached as I knelt on the marble floor, head touching the floor.
I was on the very roof of the High Temple, the sacred space where only I was allowed to go, where I could commune with the gods. Normally, it filled me with joy to be up here. Here, I could see the forests stretching far beyond the temple. The moons shone brightly above in the night sky, the stars twinkling in the distance. In the past, this had always given me a sense of peace, but not tonight.
Tonight, I was filled with despair. I had come here to beg help of the gods, but….
They were silent.
Their silence did not stop the incessant flow of prayer, pleas, and sobs I had kept up for the last three rotations, and would continue to keep up until such a time as an answer came to me.
I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to protect my people from Zvarr, and I didn’t know if I could bring myself to do anything in the first place.
He was my brother, my blood.
There had to be some sort of peaceful resolution that we could come to, some way to make him see reason.
But even if I found that, I didn’t know if the Stryx would allow me to pursue it.
The rumors had started as soon as he’d left, and they had reached the High Temple before I had even returned. The theory that everyone had agreed on was the worst of all—they believed Zvarr had been chosen by Nytoc. That he had been imbued with His power, and he would bring the end of times.
The end of times was an eventuality that we all knew would come someday, but no one ever thought it would happen during our lifetime. It had been prophesied long ago, so far in the past that it was almost myth rather than fact. Handed down from parent to child in the oral tradition.
I refused to believe any of it.
Zvarr could not have been chosen. That was utter nonsense.
I would have known, wouldn’t I?
I alone communed with the gods, so why would They keep this from me?
He has been silent.
The blasphemous thought came to me instantly, and I questioned its origin. It could not have come from me; I could not doubt one of my gods in such a way.
It was a truth I could not deny that Nytoc had been silent for several communions now, but that was not entirely abnormal in and of itself. Vivoth was the god of Light and Life, and generally was the more open of the two. Nytoc was Darkness and Death, and that did not make Him evil like some chose to believe. His presence in the world was a necessity and worthy of the same respect that Vivoth commanded.
Nytoc was a good god; He had always been kind to me in our communions, and I had never once questioned my faith in Him.
But now?
How could He have done this—chosen Zvarr?
I shook my head against the marble floor, refusing to believe it. There had to be another explanation. The will of the gods was never clear; the obvious answer was often false in these cases. Nytoc had to have some reason for what He had done, if He had done it at all.
A strong wind rushed over me, whipping the black skirt around my thighs and slapping it against the floor. My white hair tumbled about me, and I clenched my eyes tightly shut.
It was a sign as clear as day, as good as if Vivoth had spoken Himself.
I was being a fool, refusing to believe the evidence before my eyes.
But how could I, when it meant accepting that my brother had taken the wrong side in this fight? I had always known that he thought Nytoc was the superior god, refusing to accept the two were equally matched. He had always believed that one day Nytoc would destroy Vivoth and the world would change, but….
But to actually set out on a path to make that happen? That was unforgivable.
You know what you have to do.
The thought came as unbidden as the first one, and I shoved it aside.
The logical side of my mind, which ironically, I had always thought to be guided by Nytoc, knew Zvarr would have to be destroyed. He would never return to the light. He would never seek balance the way the rest of us did, and he would never surrender.
But my heart screamed at this, unwilling to accept that this was anything even close to possible. Zvarr was my other half. We had never been apart for so much as a rotation before he left, and I had felt the ache of his absence like a missing limb. How could I be the one who would send his spirit into the next world?
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t be that person.
Tears escaped me, dropping against the floor and moistening my cheeks.
I remained like that for several more rotations, until my knees began to bleed and my prayers never stopped.
I prayed for everything. For guidance, for peace, for divine intervention.
I prayed to both Vivoth and Nytoc, begging them to tell me what to do.
And I heard no response. It was as if they had abandoned me in my time of need—like they didn’t care.
I was about to give up when I heard a sound so thunderous it left me deaf for several beats, stars bursting before my eyes.
“RISE, DAUGHTER.”
I knew it was a voice, but it sounded like a mountain moving, like the ground ripping apart, like a hurricane ravaging a town. It was the sound of primal nature and power, and it was humbling.
But I knew that voice.
I raised my head, still supine on the ground, to stare at Vivoth.
He had come to me, assumed a human form, and now He was standing before me.
My eyes hurt to look at Him in all of His glory—He was taller than any Eyrusian could ever hope to be, easily the height of the High Temple itself, and just as massive. How He didn’t crush the building just
by standing there was a miracle. His skin was inherently tan, but the translucent hue surrounding it was a myriad of assorted colors.
He was a prism of color.
His eyes burned with a bright white light that I could not look at for too long, and His hair was white like my own, but woven through it were the same hues of his skin, though lighter, more muted.
He was beauty incarnate.
My eyes watered from the strain of looking at Him, but I couldn’t bear to tear my sight away.
He gave you an order.
I stood slowly, my legs shaking with numbness and knees caked with blood. I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
What do you say to a god?
“YOU HAVE A TRIAL BEFORE YOU.”
It was a statement, not a question, but I nodded my head all the same.
“NYTOC BELIEVES IT WILL BREAK YOU.” His eyes practically bore holes through me, He was staring me down so hard. My whole body quivered, and I didn’t dare respond.
So, it was true. Nytoc had Chosen Zvarr, and He didn’t think I would be able to stand against him.
He was probably right.
“I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE STRONGER THAN HE THINKS. YOU WILL NOT LET ME DOWN.”
My eyes jerked up to His for a click, short enough to spare me the pain of going blind but long enough to still hurt.
If Vivoth believed in me…He was a god. He knew all that had been or ever would be. If He believed I could do this, then it wasn’t really a question of how but rather when.
“I have always striven to serve you, Vivoth. I will do everything in my power to honor your will,” I said, keeping my eyes on the ground, trying to put some strength into my voice.
“NO.”
“Wha—” I clamped my lips tightly together, mortified I had almost questioned a god.
“YOU WILL DO ALL IN MY POWER TO RESTORE BALANCE.”
I raised my eyes to the point of His chin, not daring to look any higher. It was all that I could do to contain the questions that leapt to my lips.
All that was in His power? What could He mean by that?
He took me by the shoulders and pulled me forward, bending until His lips brushed my forehead.