by Jeremy Dwyer
“In what is your faith?” Nov’Talod asked.
“Higher powers that we cannot understand,” Serfex said.
“You should seek to understand them,” Nov’Talod said.
“I must first find them,” Serfex said.
“Then you should first seek in order to find them,” Nov’Talod said.
“I will seek. Yet, the girl with the great voice will find them,” Serfex said.
“You are trusting Taesa? She is dangerous, and has called down ruin. Her voice is a great power, yet she is an adventurous child. She must either be controlled or killed before she brings more ruin,” Nov’Talod said.
“Violence is your answer to many things. This is why I cannot release you,” Serfex said.
Nov’Talod just stood there, surrounded by the cage of narrow metal bars that were as sharp as swords. The rectangular cage was twenty-four (24) feet on a side and twelve (12) feet high, and he had been in it for the previous eighty-nine thousand nine-hundred sixty-eight (89968) years. All his needs were met, both food and the waters of the Ursegan Ocean, so as to continue his own longevity. Yet, he was never released, as Serfex knew that Nov’Talod was bloodthirsty and had no restraint, having next to no regard for life other than his own. The sharp bars did not move, so he could not use his powers over time to find a moment to escape during motion, in the way that he did in the tower where he found the tiara.
“The girl has not seen us, yet she has seen many great powers. Her curiosity is a virtue, despite the danger that she encounters. She has no evil intent in her search for truth, and that good intent is a danger to some, for the world has many dangerous secrets,” Serfex said.
“Victoria may kill her. You do realize that?” Nov’Talod said.
“Victoria loves her like a sister. She may use Taesa, but she will not harm her or allow her to be harmed. That is why Taesa is being kept in Thalkalana. I’ve been watching, as I have lenses to observe many things in this city. The one who is with her – Halina – will also protect her. She needs only to observe and to think, and may thereby discover its secrets,” Serfex said.
“The girl’s mathematical skills are weak. She is incapable of solving the riddles of this city,” Nov’Talod said.
“Some puzzles are beyond her, no doubt. Yet, others will soon arrive who can penetrate its mysteries, and I will watch them, as well,” Serfex said.
“My mind can penetrate many puzzles. Of that you should have no doubt. You would know many more things if you released me,” Nov’Talod said.
“I would know the feel of the blade in my back. You are heartless, which is why I am fortunate enough to have captured you first,” Serfex said.
“You claim to be merciful and kind, but you should consider your chief disciple. You told me of his evils. You yourself admitted that Lavakara is cruel far beyond reason. Yet, you taught him what he knows. Certainly, you bear some responsibility for that, and the blood on his hands is on yours, as well,” Nov’Talod said.
“I did not teach him cruelty. I taught him how to discover hidden secrets. How one uses the mind, for good or for ill, is a choice of ethics, and will blaze the trail to one’s destiny. He has done wicked things. Yet, he has proven to be of assistance against Victoria. This, too, I have seen, as I have many lenses affording me a view of the world above. And spies, who report on his whereabouts and actions,” Serfex said.
“How can a monster be of use to the world? If his actions displease you, then end him, as you know his whereabouts,” Nov’Talod said.
“If I applied that logic to you, would that be pleasing to your logical mind? Of course not, because then you would no longer be alive to be pleased,” Serfex said.
“Apply it to yourself, first. You’re the one who created the tiara and gave it to that woman. You knew the danger it represented, and that she was a twisted creature. You gave her power and appealed to her basest desires for power and violence. Now, through the winds of fate, the tiara has fallen into the grasp of Victoria. You gave the tiger sharper claws,” Nov’Talod said.
“It is true that I have my own sins. And Clarice had hers. Hence, I cannot judge,” Serfex said.
“You judge me by keeping me detained in this cage,” Nov’Talod said.
“This is not judgment. It is restraint. You continue to live, and contemplate, and speak, and I answer you. This life is limiting, yet it is more life than you would allow to those you would deem to be obstacles. Do you fail to appreciate the difference?” Serfex asked.
“I kill the unworthy in search of higher answers. The monks of the Temple of Quiet Purity were no more innocent. They kept the temple’s benefits for themselves, in their selfishness. They were elitist and arrogant and deserved to die,” Nov’Talod said.
“You are the elitist. You think that others, whose lives do not directly serve your higher cause, should die. Entrance into the temple was not a right that you had. It was theirs to grant or to deny,” Serfex said.
“Their arrogance had to end. I ended it. I, therefore, gave freedom of thought. Others were free to enter,” Nov’Talod said.
“They were afraid to enter. You did not give them freedom. You gave them reason to fear being there, that you might strike them dead. You did not share your knowledge of the tiara when you learned of its location – you kept it to yourself,” Serfex said.
“When you created the tiara, did you share it?” Nov’Talod asked.
“As the creator, it was mine to decide whether to share. It was never yours – you merely found it. I do regret creating it, however,” Serfex said.
“You didn’t share knowledge of Thalkalana, either. You kept it a secret, yet you aren’t the creator of the city. Isn’t that a form of selfish elitism on your part?” Nov’Talod asked.
“I did share knowledge. I’ve left small signs, over the years, to be found by those who can grasp them. Those with the proper talents will discover the city, and unlock its mysteries,” Serfex said.
“The wrong people are finding it. Doesn’t that trouble you? After all, I found it. And so did Tanith Orenda,” Nov’Talod said.
“Indeed, trouble has found its way here. She came by the aid of a demon. You, by the aid of the tiara, which another demon granted you the knowledge to find,” Serfex said.
“Indeed. The spirit world did reach out to me, not I to it. Perhaps, then, there is some good in me, like your disciple, Lavakara, whom you do not keep in a cage,” Nov’Talod said.
“His violence pales in comparison to yours. He spares many lives, and has some semblance of mercy. He often spares enemies, though he is not without guilt for murder. You have no mercy, and strike at the helpless. Gentleness does not exist within you. Unleashed, you would bring ruin,” Serfex said.
“Whereas Lavakara rules an empire known for conscription and harsh treatment – what army could I raise?” Nov’Talod said.
“An army of one bent on evil would be more than enough evil in these latter days. Victoria is enough of a scourge, which must soon end,” Serfex said.
“A scourge which you enabled by your tiara. The blood of millions be upon you, oh merciful and wise one,” Nov’Talod said, smiling at the power of this all-too-true condemnation.
“A blood debt I do indeed have. I shall not add to the weight of that debt by releasing a ruthless fiend such as you to commit even more murders,” Serfex said.
CHAPTER 25: Battered by a Wave of Hatred
A portal opened and the Tidal Sovereign appeared on the waters of the Elanatin Ocean. Victoria looked out upon the waters, and then upon herself, including her many wounds. The power of the tiara had been expended in her previous battle, and would need to be renewed. She also needed rest, so she returned to her quarters on the ship and her scouts stood guard around her.
Victoria’s injuries had remained with her, yet she was not dying from them. Blood stains remained, and the wounds bled very slowly rather than gushing as they should have, given their size. Looking at herself, she realized that, by now, she
should have been dead. This was a frightening thought, and she wondered if the tiara was sustaining her, or if she was being kept alive by the demon, Matatirot. Either way, she sensed grave danger to herself. The dreams had each been portents of attacks against her, and she feared that another was approaching. The gazing blue eyes still felt as if they were upon her, and she did not even know what this meant, which made it even more disturbing, albeit in a different way.
She lay down to sleep, filled with dread at what she might dream, for she feared it would soon thereafter come true. Her dream was of a man standing on a hill, in the darkness, and saying that he loved the world, but his emotions said otherwise. He was filled with a hate so magnificent it shone like a sun, only black and hideous. She had never felt hate of that magnitude – she even shuddered at it. Victoria was often filled with an intense anger so great that the old woman – Tanith Orenda – on occasion had to warn her to tame her fury, lest it cloud her judgment. Yet, the hatred emanating from the man speaking words of love was so great that she knew it could stop hearts. And the hatred only grew, and the people gathered closer to him, responding to his words of love. Then, the man turned to face Victoria, and his hate reached out to her, and she felt afraid, as if death itself was out for vengeance upon her. She was more afraid of this than she was of the gazing blue eyes. Then, a sword was brought against her, and it brought pain and a new wound; yet, it meant little compared to the hate she felt turned against her.
Victoria awoke without a scream this time. Instead, she felt a sense of despair and dread, and it made her tired. She did not feel ready to strike, as she was weighed down by the negative emotions directed against her and reverberating within her.
Victoria remained in her quarters that day, out of concern that she would be unprepared to face her enemy in her present state.
The voice of the demon, Matatirot, spoke to her, saying: “The time to strike is short indeed. Wait no more for the hour of death. Make the world to drown and bleed. Take away their final breath.”
Victoria spoke back, saying: “In my dreams, I have foreseen strife. My blood was drawn by blades striking fast. Blues eyes now gaze upon my life. I am weighed down by a hate so vast.”
Matatirot responded saying: “Despite your many wounds, your life shall remain. My protection shall stay, unless you fail to serve my will. The blue gazing eyes shall not bring you pain. My hate is the ultimate, your mortal enemies it shall kill.”
Victoria then said: “The man that I saw in my dream in the dark, had hatred so vast it still brings me despair. His words were of love, and the contrast was stark. The truth of his loathing filled all of the air.”
Matatirot then said: “You must rest no longer. Your despair you must cast aside. The oceans are far stronger. To your enemies, love of life must be denied.”
Victoria was somewhat reassured by the words and the power of the demon. He had rescued her when she needed it, and delivered her to the next destination. Despite her many terrible injuries, she still stood. She took some confidence in this, and then confidence turned to anger as she thought of the hate-filled man who looked upon her in the dream. Then, she actually smiled at the thought of the blue eyes gazing upon her – she would let them see her victory. She had no idea, however, to whom those eyes belonged.
Victoria then left her quarters and stood on the deck of the ship. She reached out her arms and the blue diamonds in the tiara began to glow brightly again. The still air turned to a breeze and then to a high wind and then to a dangerous gale. The waters rippled and then waves rose up and then they rose higher, over five hundred (500) feet into the air, and they raced toward the coasts of the continents and land bridges.
One of her light scouts soon said to her: “To the northwest, the waters are striking at Javanda, and the bodies of the enemies are being carried out to sea. Over two million three hundred thousand (2300000) of them have been drowned in the tempest.”
Another light scout soon said to her: “To the south, the waters are striking at Baradaxa, and the corpses of the enemies are being swept out to sea. Over five million two hundred thousand (5200000) more of them have been drowned in the storm.”
A third light scout soon said to her: “To the west, the waters are striking at the Dark Platinum Road. Over two hundred fifty thousand (250000) have been drowned by the waters.”
A fourth light scout soon said to her: “To the east, the waters are striking at the Solkidian Trail. Over ninety thousand (90000) have been killed by the waters.”
A fifth light scout soon said to her: “Around us, three thousand (3000) ships were sunk in the storm waters. No fewer than four hundred thousand (400000) of our enemies have been killed this way.”
“The pain and death have just begun! I love to hate my enemies to their very souls! I love to hear of their deaths, drowning in the tempest! Yet, that is not enough. Now, I want to fill them with the despair so great that they wish their own lives to end! Then, they might even die by their own hands to end the hate that I shall fill them with!” Victoria said. She did not see her own terrible hate as anything other than justified – whereas the hatred of the man in her dream was offensive to her.
Victoria then concentrated and the tiara channeled the powers of the Elanatin Ocean, and the telepathic and empathic powers of the ocean waters were at her command. She then focused her anger absolutely – for a moment, she thought of herself as a mortal demon, with rage to match. Waves of hate followed the waves of water and the wind, and struck at the people on all the shores.
Victoria called out: “Die and cleanse the world! End your own pathetic lives, as you do not deserve to live. You are my worthless enemy, and the world would be better without you. Your greatest achievement will be to bring your own end.”
~~~
A powerful aura of hatred filled the air in the continent of Baradaxa, and the people of the continent felt it. The people were already in panic and sadness due to the waves and the wind and the five million two hundred thousand (5200000) deaths that the tempest had brought to the coast. Now, the emotion of hate filled them. It was a hate, not for the one who brought the storms – who some thought was a wrath-filled deity – but for themselves. There was a message in the hatred, and they could hear it within them, saying: “Die and cleanse the world! End your own pathetic lives, as you do not deserve to live. You are my worthless enemy, and the world would be better without you. Your greatest achievement will be to bring your own end.”
Sebastian was the wealthiest man in the world, and one of its most powerful drinkers of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean. He could afford the most purified Elanatin waters, which greatly amplified his extremely high innate potential for telepathy and empathy. He owned much land in Baradaxa, including vast estates in different parts of the continent, one of them near the northern coast in the highlands. He saw the storm from the relative safety of his coastal mansion, protected by hills and mountains. From there, Sebastian felt the hate and saw how it was affecting others around him. He knew they were in pain from the tempest – he, too, was greatly troubled by the horrors of the storm, and wanted to protect everyone from it, although he did not yet know how. The storm struck suddenly and moved quickly, giving too little time to prepare with the construction of shelters. However, the powers within him were always ready, and he fought to save the lives of those under threat by this telepathic and empathic attack.
He drank of the highly-purified waters of the Elanatin Ocean that he kept in a large vial that he carried with him. He was energized by them, and then drank again, and again. He then reached out with his telepathic and empathic powers and called the people around to be closer to him, from the coast to fifty (50) miles inland. Such was his focus and the quantity and purity of water within him that his range was greater than ordinary. He filled over two million (2000000) people around him – some near, many far away – with an aura of positive emotions. He gave them feelings of calm and love and acceptance – and they responded and moved toward it.
Sebastian spoke words of love directly into their minds through his telepathic powers: “Your life is precious to me. You are loved, every one of you. Live. You are my friend. Your greatest days are still ahead of you.” He continued to do this, so that the people would move away from the evil at a great distance, and reject its hatred, which he sensed was coming out from the sea, beyond even his reach.
Yet, even with his words, another twenty-seven million (27000000) people in the northern regions of the continent of Baradaxa were within reach of Victoria’s hate and power by way of the tiara and they gave in to her deadly message of despair and self-hate and killed themselves.
Sebastian looked down from his mansion and saw – and felt – the massive death. There were bodies – scattered on the roads and low-lying areas – of those who were overwhelmed by the wave of hatred or who had been killed by the storm waters. Despite the love within him, he harbored anger and sadness at this immense hatred that existed in the world. He wondered when the hate would ever end, and thought that this message of self-destruction might be due to the actions of adherents of some sort of twisted religion.
~~~
In the continent of Javanda, however, the wave of self-hatred that Victoria had projected upon the people by the tiara’s power was overwhelming. Over seven million two hundred thousand (7200000) people succumbed to the despair, taking their own lives.
Along the Solkidian Trail – the land bridge which extended north from the northeastern corner of the continent of Baradaxa – another two hundred thirty thousand (230000) gave in to the despair and ended their own lives.
Along the Dark Platinum Road, another five hundred twenty-three thousand (523000) felt the call of self-hatred and gave into the despair, losing their lives by their own misguided hands.
Out at sea, the crew of another two thousand three hundred (2300) ships fell under the evil emotions, and four hundred fifty-five thousand (455000) of them gave in to despair and ended their own lives.