Elyria's Sacrifice

“The next two towns should be calmer without many rumours of the war reaching them yet.” I stated. Meli's head swivelled to look at me smiling. “Best for us to act like a minor group of minstrels offering stories and music without truly stating our origins.” I continued slowly. “It should gain us lodging and extra coinage to complete the trip easier once we reach Greece.”

“Most of our stories would be hard to explain without mentioning Atlantis.” Meli returned.

“Lost tales?” Sert suggested. Meli tilted her head in a half nod to him.

“Try using tales from life at the orphanage.” I continued. “Orphanages abound and it could be seen as happening anywhere.” I explained.

“Considering our stay in the orphanage was a hundred years or more, it may be hard to escape the amount of adventures we could speak about.” Sert retorted.

“Not to mention all the magical events and abilities it would reveal.” Meli agreed.

“Present them as lost myths and legends of an unknown land we hazarded upon during our journeys?” I countered. “Magic and mysticism are typical in many mythologizes the world over making the odd events seem normal in our stories.” I explained slowly. My companions nodded back slowly their agreement. “You are not truly convinced?” I added with a chuckle.

“I see it as being rare that they will not guess that we speak of Atlantis.” Meli admitted.

“Maybe this story can be your best example.” I stated. “It is a combination of three or four tales I have heard in passing that when tied together makes a very moving story without showing where it ever took place.” I told them. I took a deep breath before beginning to tell them of my greatest sorrow.

In a land cast in permanent darkness because of what had been imprisoned there long ago, a messenger rode out with rabid creatures at his heels. He sought the man of legends that had helped place the monster in chains that stirred once again. The one that ruled here had fallen under that monster's spell somehow and was preparing to sacrifice his own innocent daughter to the vile creature. The messenger and the young girl feared this would release the beast enchained here but she could not escape this fate without assistance.

The hundred black scaled creatures that chased him were gaining ground quickly as he rode headlong down the path. His mount screamed in agony from the wounds that spurted blood behind them goading the creatures to continue their pursuit. As his mount faltered, the closest creature pounced at him. He threw himself forward hoping to escape while knowing this was to be the moment of his death.

The arrow of light flew by him as he floated for but a moment before hitting the ground hard. Shrieks of agony and fear erupted from the creatures. Their sharp claws skittering as they forced themselves to stop. The messenger glanced back to spy the one that had leaped at him frozen in the air with a glowing shaft impaling it. A row of black flames rose at his back as a deep chuckle sounded before him.

“You are right my husband, something dire has started here.” a female voice hissed. The messenger turned to see a man in white armour glowing brightly standing with a scaled covered woman. He gulped in relief at the sight of what he had sought being there as if summoned by his own thoughts.

“Has she broken free yet?” the man screamed at the messenger.

“I do not know Great Master overall.” he returned. The pain he had not noticed suddenly took him as blood exploded from his mouth. “Hurry please, young Karina is to be sacrificed upon the monster's seal.” he added. With the words forced out and his duty accomplished, one shuddering breath filled with blood left the messenger as he died.

“He died that easily?” Sert remarked. Meli shushed him.

“Continue please.” she whispered to me.

“And the poisoned land claims him.” the woman whispered.

“It is why we placed her here, my love.” the man replied softly. “And why those guardians that chased him were set here.” he added.

“It is best we make haste to reach the seal before they release my sister's evil upon all that lives and will live.” she returned angrily.

“She changes reality into her dark dreams and many have already fallen because of her.” the man replied. They stepped forward together and the distance melted between the edge of this land and the gates of the lone outpost. The gates were closed before them as they step out of nothingness.

“I have feared this reunion for centuries my husband.” she muttered. Her hand reached out to touch the gate which shattered and melted from the black fire she wielded. “But I must do my duty as much as you must do yours.” she added under her breath.

“If she is still bound, we will remove all from here so none can be touched by her darkness.” he returned softly. “We let the lands consume them and my pets continue their vigil for eternity.”

“You would hold prophecy at bay simply to keep me even if you risk losing everything else?” she stated. The edge of anger and annoyance weaved in her words to him.

“I would slaughter all other living creature to keep you safely at my side, my sweet Lyra.” he answered softly. She reached out to touch his face. Black fire played along his jawline and cheek but could not consume the flesh. “Without you, existence is empty and without purpose for me.” he whispered.

“That is truly a deep and steadfast love.” Meli gushed suddenly. I heard her sigh and Sert groan keeping my face passive and empty of emotions.

“Yes, now may I continue?” I asked blankly. Meli blushed as she nodded to me.

“So you wait until your duties are done to allow me to do mine?” she whispered back. The man simply nodded rubbing his face against her hand. She smiled softly at him before kissing his cheek quickly. “We save Karina and leave my sister to her nearly eternal prison.”

They walked in silence through the halls of the outpost searching for signs of Karina as they made their way to the seal. The unearthly silence wrapped around them as they walked side by side toward the unhinged door. Within the room that held the seal stood a girl barely old enough to bear children and an aged man holding a great sword in hand ready to smith her down.

They charged into the room as the man grappled the father by the throat to pound him hard against the back wall of the room. His wife was at his side as the girl began giggling like a madman in the deepest throes of insanity. Before the man could turn to see what was wrong, the wall before him exploded outward in black flames. He was being tossed from the room as the sound of many clicks echoed like a swarm of insects behind him. The giggles of madness rang out as he slowly turned to peer into the room.

Lyra stood frozen in place by multiple wire-thin rods that had fired from ceiling, walls, and floors. She smiled softly at him as he stood helplessly watching her die. He saw the girl by the door they had entered scowling at him. His eyes returned to gaze upon his wife seeing her feet slowly dissolving into the nothingness of true death.

“They need you more than you will ever know my love.” she whispered like thunder in his mind. “I was never truly important and do my duty by freeing you for them.” she continued. “Be strong and never allow this moment to turn you toward hate.” she concluded.

As her final words echoed in his mind and from the room, his anger unleashed. The outpost shattered around him into dust as he launched into pursuing the monster they had unwilling liberated into existence once more. But that hunt is a different tale.

I had remained passive as I told the tale as much as any storyteller would while watching my companions reaction. Meli had tears in her eyes from the moment my wife died. Sert's had been glum during the display of love but even he could not fight the glistening mist that formed in his eyes during Elyria's final words. Both gazed at me as I sat with but a soft sad smile on my face.

“It can be that simple even if I shortened it a bit.” I told them. They nodded back to me in silence. They glanced at one another before spurting out stories they remembered. I laughed and listen not truly thinking about anything for a while. After a few hours or more of travel, they selected a dozen or more tales together to use in the next town. I only commented on the order but remain silent otherwise listening to them speaking of their past misdeeds. I mentioned to them that I would only play music in the background while trying to refrain from storytelling allowing them to be the main focus. They seemed to take this news well as they continued practising their tales while I listened. We ate as we travelled and they practised while I had the chance to simply listen and be at peace for once.

“Once we know how rampant the rumours of war are, I will see if we can cross to Greece earlier.” I informed them. They glanced back at me. “I cannot promise we will get across in this town, but be ready just in case.” I told them. They smiled back at me not questioning why I had doubts. They simply confided in my thoughts this easily. I smiled back as they returned to practicing their two main tales for the coming night.

Visions, Oaths, and Family

“I see the world throwing itself into great wars that ravage the lands.” I stated bluntly.

“Atlantis would never permit that happening!” Meli reprimanded. A sad and derisive laugh escaped me.

“It is not Atlantis' place to police the world just to maintain peace.” I scoffed. “Humans must grow at their own pace and choose their own path.” I continued. Both stared blankly at me. “Atlantis will be there to help them face their truly darkest moment but that is all it can do without changing the humans path to somewhere they should not go.” I conceded. “But I doubt it will survive that darkness like most of the world which will be destroyed in the dark days.” I added softly. They stared at me in silence as I stared back at them sadly.

“What force could humanity unleash that would be so destructive.” Meli whispered dumbfounded.

“A great mushroom like cloud symbolizing true death to not just the body, but the land, the soul, the air, and anything that it touches!” I growled back. “A great firestorm that comes with it will consume gouges in this world making it howl in pain for centuries once it is unleashed.” I continued mercilessly. I held back telling them that this path could not be altered even with all of my abilities and powers or with Atlantis at hand. “That one event will open the eyes of some of them but most will continue blindly forward until it is too late for them.” I explained. My heart twisted in my chest as my own soul screamed in vain for me to stop talking. “That is the herald of the coming darkness and nothing can change that path because the corruption has seeped too deep into the earth to be removed until the dark days are faced.” I concluded softer.

“We cannot understand your fears since Atlantis will exist forever and not allow this to happen.” Meli retorted. I glanced at Sert expect to see the same fervour but saw understanding instead. “Nothing short of all the deities themselves could harm Atlantis while Annianka and her line stands upon it.” she added with conviction. The rage forced the words from my throat as my own mind screamed for my silence.

“Hope is but one-fifth of the complete being that it would need!” I roared at them. I suddenly felt my words had choked me as both stared at me confused and stunned by my sudden anger. I closed my eyes as I forced myself back to my senses as I erased my outburst from their mind. “She will falter when the world turns against Atlantis to force its hand.” I said softly. “Another has set two path crashing upon Atlantis where it will either disappear under the waves preserved for the time of darkness or ...” I muttered. The second image nearly held my tongue silent. “... be utterly destroyed forcing the darkness to begin at that moment.” I completed quietly. From the reflection in their eyes I saw my face had paled and saw once more the vision of myself with amber cat-eyes. “And I can do nothing to change this fate that befalls it.” I added in a nearly imperceptible whisper.

“Make sense in a way.” Sert remarked. “From what we have seen Atlantis is viewed as a godlike power by the other lands.” he explained. “It could be viewed as a possible saviour or threat from the outer world.” he added slowly. I watched Meli as he spoke. I touched the edges of her mind gauging her emotions on this matter. She understood but still refused to believe it as possible. The cart slowly began moving forward again.

“I still cannot see anything powerful enough to crush Atlantis.” she retorted. She turned but remained silent instead of voicing more of her doubts. My mischievous nature nearly told her that I could destroy her little island with but a thought. I refrained myself as the reminder that I was trying to hide my true nature and strength to this world.

The disjointed visions of Atlantis' ending restarted in my mind's eye. I saw them, The Captains, and many others I had meet including some I did not know all fighting to save the island from it's fate. I saw a fleet of many different ships all flying the same standard moving toward the island but never needing to reach it. I saw Atlantis sinking beneath the waves knowing I could do nothing to prevent this inevitable event that would become a story, a legend, and final a barely believed myth. The second set of amber eyes flashed in my mind. Was this the path to avoid losing Atlantis totally or just something that would be marked with it's return?

“Time will give you answers and even make you turn away from the one you see as the Heart of Atlantis.” I muttered under my breath. It was the last vision that showed Atlantis erupting in blue-white flames with a shade shaped cloud hoovering over it. The focus cleared showing myself and Annianka truly dead as the flames covered the island removing it even from memories. “Better to live for now than die in an unsure future that may never happen.” I stated without thinking.

I spotted Meli's glance after the words had escaped me. I read the uncertainty in her mind at my words being prophetic or simply the rambling of the madness in my blood. My face remained empty of emotions giving her no answer. In her mind I could see that she still believe that nothing could harm Atlantis while Annianka existed there. I knew that even Annianka, Hope, would be unable to stop the events leading to the destruction of Atlantis. I would have one chance from what my visions showed me to prevent the destruction but nothing could stop Atlantis from disappearing for a very long time. I also saw others, even my own sister Genia, trying to destroy Atlantis to remove the light it would carry for the Fallen Ones when the true darkness came for them.

I still hunted for the bile creature Ann'Anka Anccilar that had escaped, my wife's murderer but this had been placed aside to deal with this event that could change the future of the humans forever. My oath forced me to protect the Fallen Ones from all the other races of being that came before them until they faced their darkness. I would be force to stand back and idly watch their judgement day deciding if they continued or expired. No interference when that moment came but I could do anything I wanted to stack the deck in their favour before that moment.

This was why I had done so much for them, including stealing the last Ley'ä'Luna from existence and splitting her into five parts. Her action would have destroyed the Fallen Ones before they even had a chance to exist as the Light of Life extinguished itself long ago. To follow my oaths I have done many heinous acts that would have most calling me a monster. I did not care what they called me since my actions were honourable and righteous as my oaths and my masters ordered it. Until my final true death, I shall walk with the humans as their honoured shield and righteous sword to their final destiny. These were the oaths I had sword to the pillar of light, the creators of my mother, my only true masters and judge.

“I am Genin.” I whispered to myself. “Son of Universe, guide and protector of the Fallen Ones.” I added to myself.

A small family I had, with but one sister, Genia, in my youth. She had chosen the opposing path to me as mother sacrificed herself to become the place where all the planes and races would exist because of the Ley'ä'Luna. My last words with mother was my swearing one last oath and dying wish to of hers.

“Never harm or destroy your sister even if she stands against you my son.” she had whispered to me. “Promise me this so I may be happy in this willing sacrifice?” she added.

“I swear mother to do as you ask of me.” I whispered back to her. She smiled at me one last time then she was gone forever. That oath did not prevent my sister and me from butting heads but never have I harmed her even if she has left great wounds upon me.

Genia chided me for attempting to save the wrong being that lead to my wife's death. I was laying in the temple when she found me and berated me for my simplistic mind so easily confused by trickery. Something inside me did wish to kill her for those words as I wrestled with the grief of my Elyria's death. My sister never bothered trying to capture any of them from either the first or second escape. Elyria had died to save me from a trap that would have scattered my essence throughout time and space that Ann'Anka Anccilar had created. We had placed her there together since Ann'Anka was Elyria's younger sister. She was lost in a delusion of reality cause all around her to believe her falsehood as truth. Many races destroyed themselves by falling under her powers.

Even with all my powers and abilities, I could not reassemble my wife saving her from this true death. They Ley'ä'Luna may have this gift but with only one left split in five parts to help save and serve as light for humans, I had to wait. Assembling her too early and all would be lost. The moment that the darkness the Fallen Ones must face is the time the last Ley'ä'Luna need to reappear. She would sit upon Atlantis as it's Living Light and not just as their Holy Heart.

I had laid with Annianka since my arrival upon Atlantis and feared this would change that final outcome. It would give me a chance to stand at her side and help without being notice but that was still an uncertainly. My longing to be reunited with my sweet Lyra would consume my heart with my oaths fulfilled driving me away from Annianka or whatever name she would choice for herself. But for now, the dependency I had felt from her was a way to control her if needed. She had changed much from the young girl that tended to my wounds after I had fallen from heaven. They had all changed since their rebirth at my hands. My thoughts returned to that time with the Ancient Ones remembering the shocked look on Gaia's face when the humans appeared on her Earth. All the lies I have said to those many deities to protect the humans still weigh me down and exhaust me to this very day.

Making most of them believe they had created the humans just to have them not attempt to destroy them. It was all I could do without destroying every single one of them just to allow the Fallen Ones to live as planned by the Ley'ä'Luna at the dawn of it all. I still wonder what they will think and do once they discover that the humans are the final evolutionary step and nothing more shall come to pass after them. I know my sister would relish the chance at slaughtering all those lesser beings en mass but they all had a part to play still before the final moment, the darkness that would decide all of their fates.