by Kyrja
* * * * * * * *
Denit felt the wash of the joyous vibration wash through her and knew exactly where she needed to be now. Looking over at the only remaining version of herself, she nodded, watching her other self nod at the same time. So be it! Perhaps there was more than one version of the Universe or Time itself which required her to be right here, right now. Transforming into her Firebird form, she roared into the vacuum of space, then dove for the planet below her.
Chapter Thirty-Five – Death and Rebirth
Borja watched from a distance as Savaar, Shio, Batal, and some girl who was obviously a Bahari (although she couldn’t imagine what the girl might be doing with a Tear) brought Jarles back to life. She had vowed not to allow Giya to give control of the seas to anyone else when she had regained those powers from Amphedia some time ago. Nor had she broken her vow. Jarles just didn’t know it yet. She smiled to herself, satisfied. She would go down to where they were all gathered and insert herself among all those to whom the bond had called; True Children of Amphedia and Bahari alike. She would congratulate him, and would even be glad for him as the new Sea God. That was something she could not take away from him, unfortunately, or they would all be fawning over her right now, instead of a mortal Giya had fashioned into a god. One day, though, he would be the one to bow to her.
But first, Ozahm. She owed him for having nearly destroyed her.
* * * * * * * *
“Come, Lord of Death!” Gaku bellowed, “I have been waiting for you!”
“Have you decided then, how you would like to die?” Ozahm asked, placing his hands behind his back and raising his chin, amused. Or, he would be amused, he knew, if it wasn’t for the fact that he must attend to Giya. He finally had the means to end her existence, and he knew it was harvest time within Jikangai right now. The most-potent time for Sina to use her talents to give him use of her powers. No matter, he decided after a moment, he could wait a while longer, while the vines grew out of control. By the time the next harvest cycle arrived within Jikangai, the vines would have already spread themselves far and wide, so that Giya may very well be the last to die, instead of the first. Oh, how she would hate to have to watch – from a distance, of course – as all of her people were consumed by the plant they had named – aptly enough, after all – “Giya’s Tears.” Yes. Now he was most-certainly amused.
“You cannot kill me, Ozahm,” Gaku chuckled, clearly looking far too cheerful for a man who was about to die. “I am already dead. I am here to give you the chance to be the god you once were, instead of the bitter thing you have become.”
“What would you know of what I once was?” Ozahm asked, sincerely curious. Then he felt it – the energy of magic aimed at him. Ah! So this one was merely distracting him, so that the others might attempt to … what? Weaken him? Harm him? Kill him? That was, in fact, amusing. There was nothing they could hope to accomplish. Ah! – he realized – they were trying to distract him so that the Sea God could recover and flee. Of course. He almost tsked, knowing that not even those who lived in the sea would escape the effects of the candentis vine. Jarles may flee today, but his reign as Sea God would be a rather short one.
“Balance, my Lord!” Gaku shouted, as if it was the most beautiful word in all the Universe. “You know it well! Or, you did once, so very long ago. Death, rot, disease – these are all things which are necessary for life to evolve. The old must perish in order for the new to evolve, grow and flourish! You knew these things, my Lord, but now you seek only to destroy. We need you! Have you not seen the truth of this everywhere you have trod upon our world? Have you not witnessed how greatly your touch is required?”
Ozahm looked around him then, as the Singers began to join in the chorus of vibrations created by those who had come to revive the new Sea God. Such pretty words this one man spouted, when all around him, everything he had worked to so hard to achieve was being ripped apart. It didn’t take much more than a glance to understand Jarles had breached the barrier to receive the power to control the seas from Giya. There was a life he would dearly love to permanently extinguish! He whom Giya had purposefully created by means of breeding just the right men and women throughout the past several centuries. She sickened him with her constant meddling. How he would love to rip the flesh from Jarles’ body with his own hands! There was no balance in having created this one man. None at all. And yet, there it was – the bond was sealed and Jarles had drawn his first breath as the new Sea God. Disgusting. Even more so that the Singers had joined in to re-animate this abomination.
“What say you, Lord of Death?” the man hailed him, again. “Will you join us? Work with us to create balance in our world?”
“No,” Ozahm replied, quietly, his lip curled, shaking his head sadly. “I will not.”
“My heart aches to hear this, my Lord. I would wish for you to join us. Since you will not, then I ask that you grant me death’s embrace yourself, so that in my final act, I might remind you that there is also love in the world, and that it matters.” He held out his arms again, as if inviting Ozahm to hug him.
Ozahm studied the area surrounding the man, sensing no traps, either magical or otherwise. Nor had the pulses of magic sent his way affected him. Truly, if these people thought that by threatening him with physical harm they would actually be able to hurt him, or even slow him down, then they had no idea what they were dealing with. For the briefest of moments he considered that, perhaps, he should allow some of the humans to live, and rebuild civilization by educating them himself. How could they not know how to create the balance they so wantonly ignored? All they had to do was to pay attention to nature all around them! But no, they never learned. Never. Perhaps, in another hundred years, or two, he might attempt such a plan. For now … they must all be eliminated. Starting with this one first. He moved forward as the man started walking towards him.
“Your name?” Ozahm asked, uncertain why he had bothered. Perhaps to mark the occasion, he mentally shrugged. Today was going to mark the end of humanity, after all.
“My name is Gaku, my Lord,” the man replied, his arms still opened wide. “Husband of Sangeet,” he added, throwing his arms around Ozahm. Then Gaku held him closer, firmly. Undoubtedly the man was afraid, Ozahm reasoned, and regretting his decision, now that the end of his life was upon him.
Ozahm felt it when Gaku surrendered to the Song, as his own existence began to drain from him. No! This could not be happening! He was immortal! An eternal being! And yet, he could feel that his life was … if not being exactly drained from him … it was being pulled apart. It was being changed at the molecular level into nothing more than vibrations. He could feel the enormous maw of time and space as it was fitting his essence into a place it felt he belonged among the many others. It. The Song! The Song of the Earth! No! He would be nothing. No one. With no independent thoughts whatsoever. One single, perpetual sound whose voice was only heard through vibrations – one with no thoughts or characteristics of his own. He could feel his body as it began to shred, breaking down into molecules, atoms, particles. He was utterly helpless to cease or reverse the process.
And then it stopped, and the Song withdrew to a distance, hovering. Waiting. He felt like he was nothing more than a puzzle, with its pieces spread out upon the table. Everything was ready. It lacked only someone to put the pieces into order. To recreate what was once whole. His consciousness was yet very much whole, but his ability to reverse the process, to put the pieces back together again, wasn’t a part of who he was any more. He could no more reach out to anyone, or anything than he could make Lumas return him to the place from whence she had stolen him all those many centuries past.
The Song had abated, was debating within itself. He could feel it. But he could voice no argument, could present no plea. He could feel understanding within the vibrations, sounds, and frequencies all around him and now within him. He was not Joojinta. He had not been called. Had not surrendered of his own accord.
And then he remem
bered, quite unwillingly. It was not a thought he would have chosen to remember – it had been implanted by a small, but insistent pulse winding itself through the Song. An unexpected note of discord, unwelcomed, but tolerated just the same. The memory of Sov’s edict that no entity could exist without a body – his “failsafe” – suddenly flooded his consciousness with understanding and fear. And in that moment, he realized that any mercy the Song might grant him, Borja would destroy. And so did Ozahm, the Lord of Death, pass from the world, as Borja pulled his inert body from the surface of the earth, where it lay, waiting to be consumed by, and integrated into, the Song. Shredding it to pieces, she left the remnants for the worms and beetles, Ozahm’s consciousness becoming one within the Song.
* * * * * * * *
Gaku shouted as his eyes flew open. He closed them again, with a deep sigh of regret. I told you it is not yet your time to join the Song, Sangeet had reminded him just now, when he had surrendered himself to the Song. You are Yakuza’s guardian now. Guide him well, husband.
Very well, he thought, inhaling deeply. Then that is what I will do. He looked up to see a wall of astonished faces surrounding him, then found himself being jostled. The next thing he knew, he was running, as a gigantic beast swooped in on enormous wings to land right next to the barrier of the inner circle of Jikangai.
* * * * * * * *
Although he had never seen her in this form, Jarles knew immediately that the “beast” was his grandmother, Denit. He couldn’t help himself; he felt his right cheek rise, creating a smirk across his face. “Good ol’ Maw’ki!” he chuckled to himself. Then he sent out a telepathic message to all who shared the bond with him, with instructions to clear everyone away from her, to give her some room. He most-explicitly made certain everyone knew the Firebird was a friend, not an enemy! He was glad he added that last, because the beast bellowed, looking for all the world as if she would trample or eat them all. Waiting for her to transform was a challenge, because he was excited to hear what news she brought with her.
Jarles felt himself laugh out loud when the enormous beast in front of him – the Firebird – suddenly shone brightly, as if the sun itself had exploded inside of her. Thankful for his transparent, protective inner eyelids, he was able to watch as the form in front of him shrunk down to reveal his grandmother. While everyone else was still blinking and trying to see again after such an intense burst of light, Jarles was able to run to her for a hug.
* * * * * * * *
Baya nudged Aku, asking, “Is there anything you can do to get the Singers to make time the same out here as it is in there?” She nodded towards the inner circle, noticing that it seemed to be pretty dark in there, while it was only early evening outside the circle. To her great surprise, Aku turned to her, her eyes looking deeply into her own and said, “The Singers hear you, Baya. Speak to them.”
Never before had she felt uncomfortable in her sister’s presence, no matter what she had said or done. Ever. But that one, coherent phrase, spoken calmly and rationally, sent shivers up her spine. Grabbing Aku by the shoulders, searching her eyes for whatever she might be able to find, she felt her brow crease as she asked, “Are you all right Aku? What’s happening to you?”
“Oh Baya,” Aku smiled at her, cupping her cheek. “I am evolving. Don’t be afraid.” She flung her arms to her sides then, and Baya could feel the force of the time change as it rushed through her. This time, she could feel it when the Singers took up their melody of vibrations, helping Aku to sustain the time once she had matched it to coincide with the time inside of Jikangai. Then Aku turned to her, saying, “I am the rooster now,” and she winked at Baya.
* * * * * * * *
“Mother,” Denit said, turning away from Jarles with a smile still on her face after a bone-cracking hug. She held her hand up to the barrier, as if wishing she could reach through it.
“I am so pleased to see you,” Giya smiled in return. “Youni told me where she took you, and why. I knew you would find a way to return to us.”
With a lopsided grin on her face, Denit replied, “Sitting still really isn’t my strong suit.” She paused then. “Are you ready?” she asked, serious again.
“Ready?” Giya asked, not understanding.
“The Crystal Seed, Mother,” Denit smiled again, trying to be brave, but felt it when her bottom lip trembled. “Lumas only ever intended for you to be … “ she paused, sighing. Looking away from Giya, she shook her head.
“Take your time, Denit,” Giya told her, her voice as calm and soothing as always. “Ratio has brought Deiserin to a standstill, and Ozahm has been defeated. We have time.”
Denit looked up again, somehow strengthened to see her mother standing there with her hands inside the sleeves of her robe, as if she had not a care in the world. Looking as she had always looked. She felt her lip tremble again, then raised her chin, determined. “It has always been Lumas’ plan to reabsorb, or reintegrate, you into herself once she grew tired, or bored of Sov or this world. And this, Jikangai, was where she planned to lure you so that she could do exactly that.
“I see,” Giya replied, quiet and still. “But, of course, you have found an alternative,” and Denit could hear the smile in her voice.
“Yes and no,” she looked at her mother then, all distractions put firmly aside. All emotions tamped – and stamped – firmly behind closed doors. “I can use the crystal to free you, but … “ she paused again, almost faltering. “But!” she shouted the word, “because I am the crystal and the crystal is me, I can only release you from Jikangai by making you a part of me.” Clenching her jaw, she added, “I honestly don’t know how that will affect you, or me, or either one of us. If doing this will … somehow combine each of us into someone who is part you and part me, or if I will barely notice you are there, or even if it will be you who looks through my eyes, hearing a small voice somewhere in the back of your head telling you to burn everything down!” She tried to laugh at her own joke, but it came out as a strangled sob. Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t know what will happen.”
“But the barrier will come down?” Giya asked, “And the others will go free?”
“Yes,” Denit nodded, understanding that her mother wanted to be sure the others would be free to go, and not remained trapped. “Once I … reach out to you … then then barrier will fall or disappear. Something. And time in there will be the same as it is out here, now. Every creature inside from another realm or time will be … well … they will find themselves back where they came from, whether they like it or not.”
“We could leave the barrier in place until we figure out a way to get everyone else out,” Jarles suggested.
“Yes we could,” Denit agreed. “Or we could figure out how to get them out and leave the barrier in place indefinitely, which means you would have to stay here, but you would still be yourself.”
Giya’s lips moved with a smirk, shaking her head. “No, I think not,” she said quietly. “You are not the only one who has difficulty staying still, my daughter.” They smiled at each other then, both content with their decision.
“So,” Jarles interrupted, “the barrier will be released, or come down, or whatever it’s going to do, so everyone can go home. What about Deiserin? Will she become a human woman again when that happens?”
“No,” Denit shook her head. “But I know who can help with that. My friends from Midbar are amazing, and I suspect returning Deiserin to her human form is something that will be able to do.”
“Eruitt!” Giya called out, and Denit marveled that her voice didn’t break when she did.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Jarles asked, looking back and forth between them.
“Pardon the intrusion,” Oculis said, still several steps behind them. “Perhaps Siri Ventus would be able to help?”
“No,” Raito said, stepping forward, “this magic belonged to Lumas alone. No matter how clever my sister may be, I can promise you that she would not have been able to
convince the Goddess of Beauty to share it with her. But your willingness to help is most welcome, Oculis, thank you my friend.”
“But you, Raito …” Denit started.
“I know,” he nodded, holding up a hand. “And I understand. I am not Lumas, but I still have some of her powers, and,” he paused then, giving them all an exaggerated smile, “all of her brilliance.” Laughter, tinged with nervousness greeted Raito’s jest, along with genuine smiles of friendship shared all around.
“I am here, my Lady,” Eruitt said, after a moment, obviously hesitant to dampen the levity of the moment.
“Do you remember what I told you must be done if I die or cannot be released from here?” Giya asked him, with no hint of a smile.
“I do,” he said, simply, closing his eyes as he nodded at her, his face devoid of emotion.
“I trust you, Eruitt,” she said. “Know that.” He nodded once more, struggling not to show any emotion.
“Then go, my Lord,” she emphasized the word, smiling at him, “and prepare. Just in case.” With that, Eruitt bowed, then walked away from Giya and the others.
“What do you want me to do?” Raito asked.
“If you will direct your moonlight onto our hands, that should provide the extra assurance we need to get this done so we can all go home,” Denit told him. Then she turned her attention to Giya, her mother. “Are you ready?”
Inhaling deeply while she closed her eyes, she pushed her chin forward, saying, “Tell everyone to stand back!” Then Giya, the Earth Goddess created by Lumas, the Goddess of Beauty and Sov the Sun God, thrust her hands through the inner circle of Jikangai while Denit, the product of her own efforts, void magic, and the magic imbued to her by Sov, her Firebird father, thrust hers forward, clasping each other’s wrists.
Forks of blue white energy immediately danced all along the length and height of the barrier, with stray bolts reaching both outward and inward, as if an intense lightning storm was taking place within the material of space time that was the barrier. Denit screamed as she was enfolded by the energy. Then Giya screamed.