CHAPTER 10: AETHER
THE CITY OF AETHER.
FROM HIS VIEWPOINT ON ORION’S BACK, THE CITY WAS LIKE A GLOWING BEACON TO RAIZO AS SOON AS HE SPOTTED IT FAR AWAY ON THE HORIZON.
AS HE GOT CLOSER, THE SHEER MAGNIFICENCE AND MAJESTY OF IT MADE HIM DIZZY, AS ALSO THE HUGE AND ENDLESS STRETCH OF LAND THAT IT WAS SPREAD UPON. RAPHAELA HAD TOLD HIM THAT BEING THE CAPITAL CITY OF EMPYREAN HE WAS SURE TO WITNESS SOME GRANDEUR AND SPLENDOR, BUT IT WAS ONLY BY SEEING IT WITH HIS OWN EYES THAT HE TRULY UNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE MEANT.THIS WASN’T JUST RICH AND HUGE, IT WAS ROYAL AND FRIGGIN HUMONGOUS. MOST OF THE CITY WAS MADE FROM A WHITE STONE VARIETY THAT MADE THE CASTLE (AGAIN, HUGE) AND THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS SHINE UNDER THE SETTING SUN, MAKING THEM GLINT LIKE A LIGHTHOUSE IN THE DISTANCE.
HE COULD SPOT THREE ROWS OF FORTIFICATIONS AROUND AETHER, WITH EACH SECTION OF THE TRI-WALLED MONSTROSITY GAURDED BY ATLEAST A DOZEN SOLDIERS AND ARCHERS.
SEEING THE PROTECTION GIVEN TO THE CITY, RAIZO DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO DISMOUNT AT THE GATE ITSELF RATHER THAN TRYING TO MANOEUVRE THE ARROWS THAT WOULD TRY TO PIERCE HIS PEGASUS AND HIS BODY ALIKE IF HE WENT ANY FURTHER, NOT TO MENTION THAT ORION WOULD HAVE TO SOAR TO A MUCH HIGHER ALTITUDE IN ORDER TO CROSS OVER FROM ABOVE THE FORTIFICATIONS. SO HE URGED ORION TO LAND, BUT THE PEGASUS SEEMED TO BE IN A DIFFERENT MOOD ALTOGETHER.
INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN AND LOSING HEIGHT, ORION PICKED UP HIS SPEED, FLAPPING HIS WINGS FURIOUSLY AND GLIDED FROM OVER THE TOP OF THE GATES AND INTO THE CITY, AND AS HE DID, THE GUARDS JUST LOOKED UP ONCE AND WENT BACK TO WHATEVER IT WAS THEY WERE DOING EARLIER. ]
STRANGE, HE THOUGHT.
IN ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES OR SO, THEY CAME CLOSER TO THE CASTLE, AND RAIZO FIGURED THAT ORION MEANT TO CIRCLE IT BEFORE LANDING, THOUGH HE DIDN’T KNOW WHY.THE POSTERIOR OF THE CASTLE WAS AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE FRONT, AND CONTAINED AN ARRAY OF STEPS AND BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED BALCONIES AND PLATFORMS. ORION, LANDED ON ONE SUCH PLATFORM NEAR THE TOP OF TALL MONUMENT OF LEADERSHIP, WHERE THERE WAS A GROUP OF SOLDIERS WAITING IN FORMATION.
SO THAT’S WHY THE SOLDIERS AT THE GATES HADN’T PROTESTED, THEY ALREADY KNEW OF MY ARRIVAL.
A SOLDIER AT THE HELM OF THE FORMATION HELD ALOFT A BANNER THAT BORE THE INSIGNIA OF AETHER. A SIDEWAYS ROARING RED LION ON IT’S HIND LEGS, AGAINST A WHITE BACKDROP.
RAIZO UNMOUNTED ORION AS SOON AS HE MADE A GRAND LANDING IN FRONT OF THE SMALL GROUP, AND SURPRISINGLY, HE HAD NO PROBLEMS STRAIGHTENING UP.
THE SOLDIERS PARTED TO MAKE WAY FOR TWO GRANDLY DRESSED RIDERS IN THE CENTRE, ONE OF THEM WITH JET BLACK HAIR AND A BURNSIDE GOATEED BEARD UNMOUNTED AND STRODE TOWARDS WHERE RAIZO STOOD,HIS CAPE FLAPPING BEHIND HIM IN THE WIND.
“YOU ARE RAIZO NECROS, IF I’M NOT WRONG?” THE HEAVILY BUILT MAN ASKED, HIS FACE SCARRED WITH MARKS OF MANY A BATTLE, AND EYES COLD AND HARD FROM SEEING THE DEATH OF MANY A GOOD MEN.
“YES I AM, PLEASURE TO MEET YOU SIRE,” RAIZO REPLIED, BALLING HIS RIGHT FIST AND RESTING IT AGAINST HIS CHEST, BOWING AS HE DID SO---A GESTURE OF RESPECT THAT RAPHAELA HAD TAUGHT HIM BEFORE HE LEFT.
THE MAN NODDED CURTLY IN RESPONSE,
“I AM GENERAL MARKUS CROMWELL, AND THIS IS FIRST COMMANDER MAGNUS, WE WELCOME YOU TO AETHER. NOW, IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND, FOLLOW US, OUR KING IS LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU.” MARKUS SAID, AND STARTED WALKING TOWARDS HIS HORSE,
“WHAT ABOUT ORION? DO I JUST....?” RAIZO ASKED,
“OH YES, ONE OF THE SOLDIERS WILL TAKE HIM TO THE AEROBLES,” THE GENERAL SAID, WAVING HIS HAND.
THE CASTLE THAT RAIZO WAS BEING LED THROUGH WAS HUGE AND BEAUTIFUL, WITH EACH WALL COVERED WITH TAPESTRIES THAT BORE THE LION SYMBOL AND LARGER THAN LIFE PAINTINGS THAT DEPICTED THE MANY WARS FOUGHT BETWEEN THE GODS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS.AN ARRAY OF HANDSOMELY DRESSED SERVANTS GREETED THEM ON THE WAY AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY TOWARDS THE KING’S COURT.RAIZO TRIED MEMORIZING THE WAY THEY CAME IN AND THE TURNS THEY TOOK, BUT THERE WERE SO MANY THAT HE HARDLY REMEMBERED EVEN HALF OF THEM.
SOON, THEY CAME UPON A HUMONGOUS DOORWAY THAT WAS CARVED WITH THE DESIGN OF A TREE THAT STRETCHED OVER IT’S ENTIRE SURFACE. TWO 7 FOOT STATUES IN ARMOUR STOOD ON EITHER SIDES OF IT, BEARING SPEARS THAT CROSSED OVER THE CENTRE OF THE DOOR.
“GENERAL CROMWELL WISHES AN AUDIENCE WITH THE KING,” ONE OF THE SOLDIERS FOLLOWING THEM PIPED UP.
THE STATUES WERE STILL FOR A WHILE BEFORE, TO RAIZO’S SURPRISE, SPRINGING INTO MOTION, MOVING THEIR SPEARS AWAY FROM THE DOOR, AND THEN GOING DOWN ON THEIR KNEES. THE DOOR THEN OPENED INWARDS SILENTLY AND HEAVILY.
THE HUGE COURT WAS LINED WITH VAST SHUTTERLESS WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES THAT WOULD’VE LET IN A LOT OF SUNSHINE, BUT STRANGELY, THE LIGHT FROM THEM DIDN’T SEEM TO ENTER INTO THE COURT, THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN SURE, BUT YET THEY WERE DARK. IT WAS AS IF SOMETHING WAS FORBIDDING THE LIGHT FROM COMING INSIDE, THE LARGE ROOM WAS THUS LIT UP WITH CHANDELIERS INSTEAD.
THE EMPEROR SAT ON A THRONE AT THE FAR END OF THE THRONEROOM, A BIG STAINED GLASS WINDOW EXACTLY BEHIND HIM. HIS HEAD WAS ADORNED WITH A BEJEWELED CROWN, BELOW WHICH LAY SHOUDER LENGTH BROWN HAIR THAT WERE NOW TURNING FROSTY NEAR THE HAIRLINE. HIS EYES BORE THE KNOWLEDGE GATHERED OVER MANY WINTERS, YET HIS FACE WAS THAT OF YOUNG WARRIOR AT THE PINNACLE OF HIS STRENGTH.
“WELCOME, WELCOME TO THE HUMBLE KINGDOM OF AETHER, RAIZO NECROS!.....” , THE EMPEROR SAID GETTING UP AS SOON AS HE SAW HIM, HIS HANDS HELD ALOFT AND VOICE BOOMING WITH POWER, HIS RED CAPE BILLOWING BEHIND HIM AS HE APPROACHED RAIZO.
“......I, EMPEROR ADONIS, WELCOMES YOU” HE ENDED, HUGGING RAIZO.
“HOW WAS YOUR JOURNEY TO HERE, MAY I ASK?”, ADONIS CONTINUED, ONE HAND ON RAIZO’S SHOULDER.
“IT WAS GREAT.....MY..LORD, RIDING A PEGASUS WAS A NOVEL EXPERIENCE, ONE THAT I’LL CHERISH FOR A LONG TIME.” RAIZO REPLIED, THOUGH SOMEWHAT UNCERTAINLY.
THE KING LAUGHED HEARTILY, “INDEED IT IS, I TOO HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN MY FIRST PEGASUS RIDE, I’D CAUGHT MYSELF IN BETWEEN THE BEAST’S LEGS! ANYWAY, YOU MUST BE FAMISHED, LET’S GET SOME WINE AND FOOD IN YOUR BELLY SHALL WE?” SAYING WHICH THE KING CLAPPED HIS HANDS AND TWO SERVANTS CAME FORWARD,
“I EXPECT YOU TO HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH ME AS SOON AS YOU HAVE CAUGHT UP ON YOUR SLEEP AND HUNGER,THEY WILL LEAD YOU TO YOUR CHAMBERS,” THE KING SAID AS HE WALKED TOWARDS HIS THRONE,
“BUT....MY KING,” GENERAL CROMWELL SPOKE UP FROM BEHIND RAIZO, “HE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION, HE----“
“GENERAL PLEASE, RAIZO NEEDS REST BEFORE HE NEEDS INFORMATION, I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING,” THE KING REPLIED CUTTING HIM SHORT.
“UHM, KING ADONIS,I GUESS I’M NOT THAT TIRED... NOR HUNGRY, HOW ABOUT WE GET TO THE GIST OF MATTERS IMMEDIATELY?IF YOU WON’T MIND, THAT IS,”, RAIZO SAID,
“OH.....ALRIGHT,IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WISH, WE COULD DO THAT, HOW ABOUT WE DINE TOGETHER TONIGHT? CROMWELL WILL JOIN US TOO, I’LL BE THERE IN THE DINING ROOM IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS. WHY DON’T YOU BOTH PROCEED AHEAD YES?”, THE KING SAID, GESTURING THE HANDSOMELY DRESSED SERVANTS TO LEAD THEM TO THE DINING HALL.
__________***********____________
THE DINING HALL HAD AN OVAL SHAPED TABLE RIGHT AT THE CENTRE, IT’S LEGS INTRICATELY CARVED TO IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE WOODEN TABLE HAD GROWN UP FROM THE GROUND LIKE A TREE WOULD. SIMILARLY CARVED GRAND LOOKING CHAIRS SURROUNDED THE TABLE, ONE OF THE THEM AT THE HELM OF THE WAS BIGGER AND MORE DECORATED THAN THE REST, FOR IT WAS THE SEAT OF THE KING.
THE ROOM HAD A OPEN (PLATFORM LIKE AND WITHOUT BANNISTERS) BALCONY ON ONE SIDE, THAT OVERLOOKED THE BEAUTIFUL VALLEY AND MOUNTAINS BEYOND.CARVED PILLARS AT REGULAR INTERVALS SEPARATED THE MAIN SEATING AREA FROM THE BALCONY PLATFORM. A CHOIR OF FEMALE MINSTRELS SILENTLY PLAYED THE HARP AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ON THE PLATFORM.
AS THEY WAITED FOR THE KING TO ARRIVE, RAIZO DECIDED HE’D BETTER GET SOME BACKGROUND ON WHAT IT WAS THAT THE KING WANTED TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT, LEST HE BE AT A LACK OF WORDS AT THE WRONG MOMENT.
“SO UHM...GENERAL CROMWELL,” HE ASKED, “KING ADONIS RULES ALL OF EMPYREAN? OR JUST THE AETHER PART?”
“HE’S THE KING OF ALL EMPYREAN, NOT JUST AETHER.” THE GENERAL REPLIED.
“OH..OKAY, SOO....I GUESS YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO ARRIVE? RAPHAELA INFORMED YOU?” HE ASKED,
“MISS.MIST DID INFORM US, AT THE LAST MINUTE IF I MAY SAY, WE HARDLY HAD TIME TO PREPARE.” THE GENERAL SAID PURSING HIS LIPS.
“WHAT DOES THE KING WISH TO TALK TO ME ABOUT?” RAIZO ENQUIRED, NOW WONDERING IF THE GENERAL MINDED ANSWERING HIS QUESTIONS,FIDGETING WITH THE SILVERWARE PLACED IN FRONT OF HIM,
“I DO KNOW OF IT RAIZO, BUT WHATEVER IT IS I SUGGEST----“ THE GENERAL’S WORDS WERE CUT SHORT BY A BUGLE SOUND THAT SIGNALED THE KING’S ARRIVAL, AND THE DOORS TO THE DINING ROOM OPENED SOON AFTER.
AS THE KING SAT DOWN AT THE TABLE, THE SERVANTS IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IN PLATES AFTER PLATES OF FOOD, AND FILLED THE KING’S EMPTY GLASS WITH WINE, RAIZO’S AND CROMWELLS’ ALREADY BEING FULL.
“RAIZO NECROS...” ADONIS LET THE NAME PLAY ON HIS TONGUE FOR A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE CONTINUING,
“I HAVE BEEN EXPECTING YOU FOR...QUITE A WHILE NOW.”
“I DO NOT UNDERSTAND SIRE,” RAIZO SAID, “HOW IS IT THAT YOU KNOW OF ME?”
“MANY YEARS AGO, THERE HAD BEEN A PROPHECY,” THE GENERAL SAID COMING STRAIGHT TO THE POINT----SORT OF, “OF A GOD RISING FROM THE ASHES OF A LONG INCINERATED WORLD, CREATED FROM THE WAYWARD AMBITIONS OF OLYMPUS,”
“AND THE ASCENSION OF A WARRIOR TO PROTECT THOSE WHO WOULD FACE THE WRATH OF THE RESULTING CATASTROPHY,” ADONIS COMPLETED.
RAIZO WAS CONFUSED, “WHA-- HOW IS THE RISE OF A GOD SUPPOSED TO BE CATASTROPHIC? AND I GUESS THE ‘FATES’ MADE THAT PROPHECY DIDN’T THEY?”
“NOT JUST ANY GOD RAIZO, A MALEVOLENT GOD, A DARK DIVINE. CREATED TO BE THE RULER OF THIS WORLD, OF ELYSIUM, BUT THEN BANISHED ALTOGETHER TO THE DARK NORTHERN CORNERS OF HIS VERY EMPIRE. AND NOW THAT HE IS ABOUT TO COME TO POWER, WE DO FACE A GREAT CATASTROPHY,FOR HE ISN’T RETURNING TO CLAIM ONLY THAT WHICH WAS HIS, BUT FOR OLYMPUS ITSELF.” ADONIS SAID,PLANTING HIS FIST ON THE TABLE.
“AND YES, THE FATES DID MAKE THAT PROPHECY, BUT APART FROM THAT, WE NEEDED TO PINPOINT A WARRIOR, FOR THE PROPHECY DOESN’T SPEAK OF A SPECIFIC PERSON, AND VARIOUS FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE LED US TO BELIEVE THAT IT’S YOU,” CROMWELL SAID.
“WHAT...WHAT KIND OF FACTS?” RAIZO ASKED, PERPLEXED.
“AFTER THE GLADIATOR MATCHES AT FORTBURG, I BELIEVE YOU MET MY SON? LEO?” THE KING ASKED,
RAIZO’S FIRST DREAM AFTER THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH AT LAS VEGAS CAME BACK TO HIM, LEO TOLD HIM THEN THAT HE HAD LOST THE MATCH AT FORTSBURG, SOME GUY HAD BEATEN HIM UP LIKE SHIT.
“YEAH, YES I DO, HE AND ANOTHER GUY HAD TAKEN CARE OF ME WHILE I WAS, IN PULP FORM.” RAIZO SAID, “BUT HOW COULD THAT BE OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE? I LOST THOSE MATCHES DIDN’T I? I GUESS YOU HAD ARRANGED THEM TO FIND A HERO HADN’T YOU?”
“PRECISELY, I DID ARRANGE THEM TO FIND A CANDIDATE WHO WOULD FILL THE SPOT OF THE SO CALLED ‘HERO’, I EVEN HAD LEO PARTICIPATE IN IT, FOR I STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT HE WOULD BE THE ONE UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, BUT THEN, HE TOLD ME THAT YOU NEVER REMEMBERED ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR PAST IN THIS WORLD AFTER THAT MATCH, AND ALSO POINTED OUT THE WAY YOU SPOKE, AS ALSO THE FACT THAT YOU DRANK THE BREW HE GAVE WITHOUT HESITATION EVEN THOUGH YOU SAW THE CONTAINER IT WAS KEPT IN,” THE KING REPLIED, “ANY PERSON IN THIS REALM WOULDN’T BE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO DRINK THE BREW OF GODS IF THEY KNEW IT, AND YOU DRANK IT IN A SINGLE DRAUGHT WITHOUT IT BURNING YOU INSIDE OUT.”
“YOU MEAN I COULD’VE DIED OF THAT THING?!!”, RAIZO SAID TAKEN ABACK, “HOW AM I STILL ALIVE?”
“THAT’S THE QUESTION RAIZO,” CROMWELL SAID, “INDEED, HOW?”
RAIZO THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT BEFORE HE ANSWERED, HIS BROW CREASED,
“DO YOU KNOW OF RAPHAELA?” RAIZO ASKED, “SHE WAS GOING TO TELL ME ABOUT MY LINEAGE, MY PARENTS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE ATTACKED, AND I HAD TO FLEE. MAYBE THE KNOWLEDGE OF MY LINEAGE MIGHT HELP, WON’T IT?”
“I GUESS IT WOULD. BUT WAIT A MOMENT, YOU WERE ATTACKED? I GUESS RAPHAELA FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WHEN SHE INFORMED US OF YOUR ARRIVAL.” CROMWELL SAID.
“WE WERE TALKING WHEN HER HOUSE BLEW APART. THERE WAS A MAN IN DARK CLOTHES AND ARMOUR, RAPHAELA KILLED HIM BUT HE SENT OUT A SIGNAL OF SOME SORTS JUST BEFORE HE DIED.” RAIZO EXPLAINED.
“DID HE HAVE A SYMBOL CARVED ONTO HIS ARMOUR?” CROMWELL ASKED
“NO BUT WHEN HE......DIED, A RING FELL OFF HIS HAND, IT HAD A CIRCLE WITH FOUR LINES ON ITS CIRCUMFERENCE,” HE SAID, DIPPING HIS FINGER IN HIS WINE AND THEN ROUGHLY DRAWING THE SYMBOL ON A NAPKIN KEPT IN FRONT OF HIM, THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS:
¤
“THE WARLOCKS OF AKNALÏR, WIPED OUT DURING THE OLYMPUS WAR.” CROMWELL SAID AFTER HE SAW THE SYMBOL RAIZO DREW ON THE PIECE OF CLOTH, “ZEUS HAD FORCEFULLY INDICTED THEM INTO HIS ARMY, AS A TAUNT TO HADES AND APOLLO.WHAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND IS, HOW IS THAT RACE STILL SURVIVING?”
“WELL CLEARLY THEY ARE NOT JUST SURVIVING BUT ALSO TRAINING,” ADONIS SAID EXPRESSING HIS CONCERNS, “WE NEED TO ACT, AND FAST. IF A RACE THAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE WIPED OUT ENTIRELY IS STILL FLOURISHING, I WONDER HOW BIG THE OTHER PARTIALLY DAMAGED NORTHERN RACES MIGHT NOW BE.”
“YES MY LORD, WE NEED TO TRAIN RAIZO, HELP HIM MASTER THE ART OF WAR AND THE SKILLS OF AETHER------“ CROMWELL SAID, BUT RAIZO CUT HIM SHORT,
“HEY HEY HEY SLOWDOWN, LISTEN, GENERAL, MY KING, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT ALL THIS IS, I KNOW THE VITALITY OF TRAINING MYSELF IN THE REQUIRED FIELDS, AND I UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH AND GRAVITY OF THE IMPENDING SITUATION, BUT, I HAVE ANOTHER LIFE, ANOTHER REALM THAT I BELONG TO, I HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AND PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF THERE TOO, WHAT ABOUT THAT?”
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN?WHAT IS THIS OTHER REALM?” ADONIS ASKED, HIS EYES DISBELIEVING,
“WHA—YOU DON’T KNOW?” RAIZO ASKED, HE HAD ASSUMED THAT THE KING WAS WELL AWARE THAT HE,RAIZO, WASN’T FROM THIS WORLD.JUST AS HE WAS ABOUT TO EXPLAIN, THE DOORS TO THE DINING ROOM OPENED AGAIN AND A BEAUTIGIRL STEPPED IN, DRESSED IN A BREATHTAKING GOWN, HER AUBURN HAIRED BROW CROWNED WITH A DELICATE TIARA THAT ONLY COMPLEMENTED HER BEAUTIFUL FACE.
“HE SPEAKS OF HIS HOME ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THEURGIA, FATHER,” SHE SAID, HER VOICE SOFT AND SOOTHENING, “FROM WHENCE HE HAILS,”
“DO YOU NOT RAIZO?” SHE LOOKED AT RAIZO WHILE SITTING DOWN BESIDE HIM, HER HAND ON ONE OF HIS SHOULDERS.
AS SOON SHE HAD TOUCHED HIM, RAIZO HAD FELT A INTRUSION OF HIS MIND, OF HIS SENSES, AND A VOICE HAD RUNG OUT IN HIS HEAD, HER VOICE,TELLING HIM TO PLAY ALONG WITH THE FLOW WHEN THE MATTERS OF HIS HOME CAME UP. HE WAS DAZED FOR A MOMENT BEFORE HE CAME TO HIS SENSES AND ANSWERED,
“YES, THAT’S WHAT I WAS SAYING,” HE REPLIED, LOOKING AT THE KING ONCE,
“I SEE, BY THE WAY RAIZO, THIS IS MY DAUGHTER, THE PRINCESS OF EMPYREAN, CYTHEREA.” ADONIS SAID, LIFTING HIS HAND ONCE TOWARDS THE PRINCESS AND THEN GOING BACK TO HIS WINE.
“LEO IS GOING TO BE HOME SOON, HE AND GENERAL CROMWELL CAN THEN TEACH RAIZO IF NEED BE,” CYTHEREA SAID, “FATHER, I HAVE INFORMED HIM OF RAIZO’S ARRIVAL, AND HE HAS GIVEN ME A MESSAGE FOR YOU, THAT THE REBELLION’S AT RAVENPORT HAVE NOW SETTLED, HE’S GOING TO BE BACK SOON.”
“THAT IS WELL,” ADONIS SAID, “AND I JUST RECALLED, RAIZO, I HEARD YOU WERE ABDUCTED FROM THE SMALL MEDICAMP AFTER THE MATCHES? HOW THEN DID YOU FIND YOUR WAY TO NOX?AND WHO WERE THE ABDUCTORS?”
“THEY HAD A MOLE AMONGST THEMSELVES YOUR HIGHNESS, A VERY SKILLED ARCHER WHO WENT BY THE NAME ZEPHYR. HE WAS THE ONE THAT RESCUED ME AND SHOWED ME THE WAY TO NOX, AFTER WHICH I FOUND RAPHAELA WITH THE HELP OF A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE.”
“A HEROIC DEED ON HIS PART, WE MUST SAY. WHERE IS THIS ZEPHYR NOW?” THE EMPEROR ASKED.
“I DO NOT KNOW SIRE, WE PARTED WAYS AT RIVER NOX, WHEREAFTER HE HEADED UPSTREAM TOWARDS THE EAST.” RAIZO REPLIED.
“I SEE, WELL WE DO HAVE HEARD OF A SIMILARLY SKILLED ARCHER BEFORE,HAVEN’T WE GENERAL?” THE EMPEROR ASKED,
“THE ONE WE HEARD ABOUT WAS A THIEF AND AN IMPOSTER MY LORD, NOT ONE THAT WOULD SAVE A LIFE, I’M SURE THE PERSON THAT RAIZO TALKS ABOUT, THIS ZEPHYR, IS NOT THE SAME ONE,” THE GENERAL REPLIED.
“HMM, ANYWAYS, I WANT YOU TO SEND A SCOUT ALONG WITH A SMALL TASK FORCE TO INVESTIGATE THE INFLOW OF NORTHERN TRAVELLERS, I WANT A STRINGENT CHECKING PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED AT ALL PORTS. ALSO, LOOK INTO THE QUESTION OF AKNALÏR YOURSELF.” ADONIS ORDERED.
“I WILL, YOUR HIGHNESS”, THE GENERAL SAID.
“ENOUGH OF THE WINE NOW FATHER, I THINK WE SHOULD DINE ON FOOD NOW, RAIZO MUST BE HUNGRY TOO AFTER SUCH A LONG JOURNEY,” PRINCESS CYTHEREA SAID.
“OH YES, THAT HE MUST BE. TELL ME CYTHEREA, WHERE IS MY BELOVED WIFE, LADY FREYA? I HAVEN’T SEEN HER SINCE MORNING!” ASKED ADONIS.
“SHE WON’T BE JOINING US TONIGHT FATHER, SHE’S IN HER CHAMBERS ON ACCOUNT OF ILL HEALTH. THE MAIDS AND APOTHECARIES ARE LOOKING AFTER HER.” CYTHEREA REPLIED.
“I SEE, WELL THEN I GUESS, WE WILL HAVE TO DINE WITHOUT HER AND LEO TONIGHT. VERY WELL,” ADONIS SAID, HIS FACE NOT BEARING THE SAME HAPPY EXPRESSION. HE BECKONED HIS SERVANT TO BRING IN THE FOOD AND SOON THE TABLE WAS LADEN WITH MOUTH WATERING DELICACIES. ALTHOUGH RAIZO COULD IDENTIFY ONLY A FEW OF THEM, THEY SURELY SEEMED SAVOURY.
AS IT WAS STATED THAT RAIZO HAILED FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF THEURGIA, A COUNTRY LEFT MOSTLY UNTOUCHED BY THE CIVILISATION OF AETHER, THE KING HAD ASKED HIS DAUGHTER TO GET RAIZO UPDATED TO THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF THE KINGDOM.
FOR A LOT OF TIME, THE FOUR OF THEM CONTINUED TO TALK ABOUT VARIOUS THINGS, INFORMING RAIZO OF THE MANY TRADITIONS OF THE KINGDOM, AND IT’S AGE-OLD CULTURE.
CYTHEREA TOLD HIM ABOUT THE VARIOUS GODS OF OLYMPUS, WHEN HE ASKED OF THE OLYMPUS WAR AND THE REASON WHY IT ENSUED. SHE ALSO CLEVERLY AVOIDED THE SUBJECT OF RAIZO’S HOME WHEN THE TOPIC WENT TOO DEEP, THOUGH RAIZO COULDN’T FIGURE WHY, AND HOW MUCH SHE KNEW OF HIS PROBLEM.
AFTER THEY WERE DONE AND THE KING HAD LEFT FOR HIS BED CHAMBERS, CYTHEREA HAD PROPOSED THAT SHE SHOW RAIZO HIS, AND SO, SHE LED HIM THROUGH MANY TORCH-LIT OPULENT CORRIDORS AND PAST MANY CARVED DOORWAYS BEFORE FINALLY STOPPING IN FRONT OF ONE.
THE CORRIDOR WAS EMPTY EXCEPT FOR THEM, AND SILENT TOO. SHE OPENED THE DOOR TO HIS CHAMBERS QUIETLY, AND THEY STEPPED IN.
A HUGE BED WAS PLACED AT RAIZO’S LEFT, DIFFERENT CURTAINS AND PILLOWS DECORATING IT AND MAKING IT LOOK AS WELCOMING AS POSSIBLE, THE FIREPLACE EXACTLY OPPOSITE TO THE BED MAKING HIM FEEL WARMER AND DROWSIER ALREADY.
HIS CHAMBERS TOO HAD A HUGE BALCONY, FROM WHERE HE COULD WITNESS THE FULL MOON AND COUNTLESS STARS TWINKLING, AND IN SUCH NUMBERS THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN OR ANTICIPATED BEFORE.CYTHEREA LED HIM OUTSIDE TO THE BALCONY, AND THOUGH RAIZO WAS RELUCTANT TO LEAVE THE WARMTH OF THE ROOM, HE FOLLWED QUIETLY.
“I KNOW YOU DO NOT HAIL FROM THIS REALM RAIZO.” SHE SAID SUDDENLY, HER EYES AT SOME POINT IN THE DISTANT HORIZON, AND BACK TOWARDS RAIZO
“AND I KNOW HOW DIFFERENT, OR DIFFICULT THINGS HERE MIGHT SEEM TO YOU. BUT THE THE WORLD NEEDS A WARRIOR, AND SOON.”
“HOW DID YOU KNOW?” RAIZO ASKED HER, HE NEVER THOUGHT ANYONE HERE WOULD KNOW WHERE HE CAME FROM.
“BEFORE YOU ARRIVED IN AETHER, AND BEFORE LEO HAD LEFT FOR RAVENPORT, HE TOLD ME A FEW THINGS, SOME OF THEM MORE SURPRISING THAN OTHERS. HE SAID THAT YOU DIDN’T SPEAK LIKE ANY PERSON FROM AETHER, OR FROM EMPYREAN FOR THAT MATTER. HE SENSED A DIFFERENT AURA ON YOU THE MOMENT HE’D SEEN YOU, AND THAT’S WHAT GAVE YOU AWAY.” SHE SAID.
“HOW CAN HE KNOW OF MY AURA? HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE CAN SENSE IT?” HE ASKED,
“POWERFUL INDIVIDUALS BEAR A STRONG AURA RAIZO, AND IT CAN BE SPOTTED BY A TRAINED OR GIFTED PERSON EASILY, SUCH AS LEO. BUT WHAT LEO SAW WAS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, IT WAS LIKE YOUR INNER POTENTIAL HAD BEEN KEPT HIDDEN, YOUR AURA MASKED FOR VERY LONG, IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. THAT IS WHY HE SUSPECTED YOU MIGHT NOT BELONG TO THIS WORLD AT ALL. AND THEN YOU WERE ABLE TO DRINK THAT BREW HE HANDED TO YOU WITHOUT BURNING YOURSELF, THAT WAS ANOTHER STRAW.” SHE EXPLAINED.
“WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT BREW? WHY WAS I NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO DRINK IT? AND IF I WASN’T WHY THE HELL DID LEO GIVE IT TO ME?” HE ASKED,
“HE HAD TO TEST YOU RAIZO, TEST YOUR ABILITY, FOR IF HIS SUSPISCIONS PROVED TO BE TRUE, IT WOULD MEAN A GREAT DISCOVERY THAT WOULD SPELL VICTORY IN THE BIGGER WAR. THAT DRINK, THAT HE GAVE YOU, WAS FROM ONE OF THE LAST SOURCES OF THE TEMPLES IN AETHER, THAT STILL HOLD THE DRINK OF THE GODS, A POWERFUL CONCOCTION THAT IS FIT ONLY FOR GODS AND OTHER OLYMPIANS, ALSO THOSE BLESSED BY THEM, AND PROVES MORTALLY FATAL TO ANYONE ELSE THAT MIGHT CHOOSE TO DRINK IT.YOU BEING ABLE TO CONSUME IT MEANT THAT YOU WERE SURELY BLESSED BY A GOD, AND HAD THE POTENCY IN YOU TO STAY PUT EVEN IN THE WORST OF CIRCUMSTANCES.”
RAIZO THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD SAID, AND IT WAS ONLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THAT HE SPOKE AGAIN,
“RAPHAELA SAID SOMETHING SIMILAR. BUT WHAT DO I DO NOW? I’M READY TO DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED OF ME HERE, BUT I ALSO NEED TO GO HOME, TO MY WORLD, HOW DO I DO THAT?”
“YOU BEING A TRANSPLANER, THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION LIES WITHIN YOUR MIND. FOR IT IS YOUR MIND THAT PROVIDES YOU A PATH FOR SHIFTING BETWEEN THE TWO PLANES.HOW DID YOU COME HERE THE FIRST TIME?” SHE ASKED
“I....I HAD AN INJURY ON THE HEAD, AFTER WHICH I FIRST SHIFTED, THEN THE SECOND TIME, A GUY CALLED RAVEN SENT ME HERE.” HE SAID,
“THERE’S A LOT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTH THE INSTANCES. THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU SHIFTED, IT WAS ONLY THROUGH YOUR MIND THAT YOU MADE THE SHIFT, BUT THE SECOND TIME, WHEN RAVEN PHYSICALLY SENT YOU HERE, YOUR BODY TOO ACCOMPANIED YOU.” SHE ANSWERED,
“I-I DON’T UNDERSTAND, HOW ARE BOTH OF EM DIFFERENT? I WAS PRESENT HERE PHYSICALLY BOTH THE TIMES, WASN’T I?” HE ASKED.
“NO RAIZO, WHEN YOU SHIFT ONLY THROUGH YOUR MIND, YOU ARE PRESENT HERE, BUT NOT IN ENTIRETY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF EVER THERE IS A WAR IN THIS WORLD AND YOU CHOOSE TO FIGHT, BUT BY SHIFTING YOURSELF TO THIS PLANE ONLY THROUGH THE MIND, THERE WON’T BE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE RESULT OF THE WAR BECAUSE OF YOU. IN SOME WAY OR THE OTHER,THE CHAIN OF EVENTS WILL CONTINUE AS THEY WOULD HAVE WITHOUT YOU, THAT IS, THE CONSEQUENCE WILL BE THE SAME.” SHE EXPLAINED, HER BLUISH EYES BORING INTO HIS.
“SO YOU’RE SAYING, THAT I HAVE TO SHIFT TO EACH PLANE PHYSICALLY IF I NEED TO MAKE SOME SOLID CHANGES? AND THAT IF I SHIFT ONLY THROUGH MY MIND, PEOPLE WILL SEE ME, FEEL ME, BUT HOW MUCH EVER I TRY, I WON’T BE ABLE TO BRING ABOUT A SOLID CHANGE?” HE ASKED, TRYING TO SUMMARIZE WHAT HE UNDERSTOOD.
“PRECISELY,” SHE SAID, “NOW FOR YOU TO SHIFT, THROUGH THE MIND OR THE BODY, YOU NEED TRAINING, OR ATLEAST A CATALYST, THAT WILL BOOST YOUR CAPABILITIES.AND IF NOT BOTH, A HEAD INJURY.”
“WHAT KIND OF A CATALYST? A BREW OR SOMETHING?DO YOU KNOW OF ONE?” HE ASKED,
“A PEGASUS. THAT IS THE MOST COMMON AND EASILY AVAILABLE CATALYST, BUT NOT STRONG ENOUGH. FOR THE PEGASI ARE MAGICAL CREATURES AND ONLY BOOST THE POWERS OF THEIR RIDER. YOU ARRIVED HERE ON ONE DID YOU NOT?” SHE ASKED
“YES, I DID. AND I THINK MY PEGASUS DID HELP ME SHIFT THROUGH MY MIND. BUT IF THAT IS TRUE, THEN I NEED TO GO TO MY HOMEPLANE RIGHT NOW.” HE SAID, NOW ALARMED THAT THE DREAM HE SAW ABOUT EVANGELINE WHILE COMING TO AETHER WAS ACTUALLY REAL.
“I KNEW YOU WOULD HAVE TO,” CYTHEREA REPLIED, A SMILE TOUCHING HER LIPS, “DRINK THE BREW NEAR THE BED BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP.” AND SAYING THAT, SHE PROCEEDED TO LEAVE.
“WILL I SHIFT PHYSICALLY IF I DRINK THAT?” HE ASKED, AND SHE TURNED BACK TO ANSWER,
“YES, YOU WILL. BUT IF YOU REACH THERE AND YOUR HEART REFUSES YOU TO COME BACK HERE, JUST REMEMBER, YOU HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES HERE TOO, AND THE LIVES OF BILLIONS OF PEOPLE DEPEND ON YOU, AND YOUR CHOICES, BECAUSE THE WORLD IS FALLING APART.” SHE SMILED AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, IT NEVER TOUCHED HER EYES.
“GOOD NIGHT, RAIZO. OH AND YES, AFTER YOU DRINK THAT, THINK OF THE PLACE IN YOUR PLANE THAT YOU WANT TO GO TO.” SHE SAID AS SHE LEFT.