Dawn of the Epoch

Chapter XCVIII - Sacrifice

With a leap and a tackle, Malacoda had pinned Virgil to the floor.

“Everyone watches the inception. That is how this goes.”

Hunter dashed over and picked Malacoda up with one hand. He held him by the scruff of his neck.

“What do we do Virgil?” Hunter asked.

“You can do nothing. It is too late.” Malacoda interjected.

“I’m not talking to you!” Hunter screamed into Malacoda’s ear with Dahjaat intensity.

Virgil replied, “Hunter, we cannot stop Ghaelvord if he has become a Titan. We will need the full might of the Kingdom. Ghaelvord was already dangerous, but now, he may even lose his sanity.”

“I don’t think he ever had it.” Hunter said.

“Hunter! I must return to the Kingdom. I must wake the Aempyreans! There is no other way!” Virgil pleaded.

“Go.” Hunter said. “Godspeed.”

Virgil ran toward the door to the roof. As he ran, he felt the wind blowing harder against him. It picked up speed. It became difficult to run. Virgil thought that he would be swept off of his feet and he looked up. He saw the building surrounded by a vortex of smoke. The wind created a murky wall. From the wall, a gust blew directly at him. It kept him from reaching the door.

“Pilgrims!” A grandiloquent voice boomed out.

The voice echoed from one end of the roof to another. The vortex had consumed the building. All that they could see was the storm and the roof.

“Lend me your ears!” The voice melted into mellifluous laughter.

Hunter watched as the formless cyclone bulged forward and took shape. The gray surge took on an ivory hue. Hunter saw a torso and shoulders. The head was just a lump at first, but facial features broke out across it. Then Hunter could see the eyes, the piercing ice-blue eyes set against pale skin.

“No one is going anywhere.” The voice boomed.

Virgil turned, “Do not do this Ghaelvord, please! You need them. We waited so long.”

Ghaelvord laughed. The laugh came through the wind and filled the rooftop from all angles.

“Do not worry my friend.” Ghaelvord said reassuringly. “I may lose control at times. The power is intoxicating. But I can assure you, this is not the epoch of the Aldenduenum. This is the epoch of the new world. They will not be destroyed, only tamed.”

Ghaelvord laughed again, “Now lend me your ears! You have all been on a journey. You have hurt me and you have helped me. You are both my enemy and my benefactor. I am deeply grateful that you awoke me and deeply disturbed by your interference with my plans. Our fates are inextricably intertwined. It is fitting that you all should be the first to witness the inception of the epoch!”

Virgil interjected coldly, “The Aempyreans will not forgive this. You are going too far this time.”

“Imagine the world that your brethren will find when they rise! I will have had over a millennium to build my empire here! This new world will be ready for their awakening. I will prepare a fitting welcome for them.” Ghaelvord’s smile was full of mirth.

Ghaelvord went on, “You six will be the witnesses to new world’s birth. It begins here and now and with a cataclysm, as it often does. To make an omlet, one must break eggs.” Then, Ghaelvord recited the verses that he had recited to Shenouda so long ago.

Music plays and roses grow,

Upon the fields where rivers flow,