Chapter 19 - The Past
Ny'Danis reached out to all nearby life save for her daughters. She could feel stinging pains beneath her skin as her home burnt down. Every tree near to the grove was uprooted. The land around them deformed. Each tree crawled closer to the forest's center and formed a thick wall surrounding the grove under Ny'Danis' command. She gasped and clutched her chest. The deaths of the Vashiri felt as if heartstrings were being torn. The forest belonged to her. Every creature within it belonged to her. She had nurtured it and allowed it all to thrive for thousands of years. Now, it was all disintegrating into black dust. The flames could not be extinguished. Come dawn, everything will have been lost. She would have to start over from the very beginning.
But her Guardians, even the ones with her true powers, had already perished. The villages had been ruined. The plains dwellers possessed a weapon that could challenge a Goddess.
Ny'Danis had been entrusted with protecting the Divine Artifacts. For millennia, she had faithfully carried her task. The world outside was to be watched by the Flame Bearers. But they'd slipped up again. Another invasion was occurring. And this one was far more devastating than the last attempt.
Ny'Danis had lost everything dear to her once before. All of her siblings the lesser deities, her friends, even whole forests that she'd grown alongside other humans. Though it had happened such a long time ago, the memory of her heart tearing in two still remained as clear as crystal daylight. She was reminded of it each time a daughter died.
She had subjected her daughters to a cruel fate. All to strengthen the forest and avoid losing everything at once. Yet, everything she loved now lay on the verge of disappearance. All of her daughters. All of the trees. All of the flowers, nymphs, animals, insects. All of it had a home in her heart. A heart which was slowly being ripped in half again. The very thought made Ny'Danis shudder to her core. Made a deity afraid.
Once, she'd lost everything because of a lack in conviction. Now she was on the verge of losing everything again because of too much conviction. She'd been forceful and unrelenting in her ways of educating her daughters, convincing herself that it was necessary. She had lost herself in doubt and didn't even question the approaching invasion when she'd sensed it. And worst of all, she allowed her daughters to kill each other, reducing the forest's numbers.
I killed Kiali before Sar'tara…
Many variations of her life raced through her mind. Many 'what ifs'. She wondered what life would have been like had she not secluded herself, had she not created such trials and competitions to test her daughters. But more, she thought of her daughters. Every trial and aspect of competition was supposed to have weeded out those unfit to be Guardians. But what if... what if she'd simply taught her daughters to use their abilities? What if the failures could have just lived different lives?
Had failing ever been a justification for death? For Ny'Danis herself to kill that which she loved?
Ny'Danis looked to her palms. Looked upon their pale, bloodless hue. Her fingers trembled as the depth of her errors dawned upon her. She shut her eyes against the welling tears, seeing in her mind her cold as ice hands bathed in the scarlet shade of her daughters' stolen lives.
What if she'd never sent her daughters away, and instead loved them for their whole lives as human mothers were known to do?
A final question to haunt her thoughts as the lord of all others. So many questions. So many possibilities. And among them, too many mistakes. It was now that Ny'Danis realized this. Now, when she was backed into a corner now with a single path left to her: To destroy the vicious invaders who came to steal that which Ny'Danis had never truly protected.
The nymphs in the grove scurried about, crying to each other while orange lights grew. Their precious faces were wrought with fear and their round dark eyes were on the verge of tears. Their mutters and whispers were a growing chain of echoes, each nymph repeating the last's words with an added one of their own.
Ny'Danis touched their minds and ordered them to stand resolute. Their magic was slight. Dryads could only command leaves and naiads could only command water. Ny'Danis feared for them. Feared the possibilities of them being taken captive. She used that fear to further fuel her anger. Her home was being invaded by humans. Mere humans. They dared to attack a Goddess and her offspring. They would pay for it dearly. She would make certain of it.
And yet, tendrils of doubt weaved themselves into her anger.
Doubt of this mysterious weapon that had felled her Guardians. Doubt that brought with it fear for her own life. Those who wielded her powers had already been defeated. The retired Guardians were dead also. And each Kreivan Guardian carried the strength of a hundred men. Yet all of them had already been slain.
Ny'Danis felt the soldiers approaching the grove. She focused her attention on the vibrations made with their footsteps. Their location was made apparent to her. Tree roots lashed out, spraying dirt in every direction. They struck down most enemies. One remained, hacking and slashing. Each cut burned the roots. He held an Artifact, she realized. Of all the weapons amongst the Divine Artifacts, only one had the ability to burn its foes; the Thousand Sun Sword.
To her surprise, the previously felled soldiers stood back up. The wounds inflicted upon them should have been fatal. Yet, Ny'Danis felt no irregularities in their movements. They moved as if they hadn't suffered at all. Their leader tore into the tree wall until at last, her own eyes saw the glowing embers of burning wood as a blade of gold opened a path into her sanctuary. A man wearing a gold mask and a white cloak forced his way through. His followers poured in soon after, their armor damaged and bent out of shape, yet their bodies wholly intact.
Ny'Danis clenched her fists. Men that should be dead and yet weren't. Only one Artifact had that kind of power and it was in her possession. That left one option. Chronary. Chronary had fallen into the wrong hands. Humans without knowledge of how terrible it could be, the monsters it could create, and the calamities it could bring. It was a much more dangerous tool than the Artifacts ever could be. Its uses were endless, so long as the necessary sacrifice was provided. It was something else that should have been protected and kept hidden by the Flame Bearers. Just as the Thousand Sun Sword…
It couldn't be… Had High House Zz'tai betrayed?
Nymphs cried and scrambled, retreating to the trunk of Lorian, hoping for their Mother to save them. Some lashed out with their powers, slapping enemies with leaves or splashing them with water. Anger consumed Ny'Danis. Blades of grass ripped themselves from the ground. Their tips were pointed at the soldiers. She stretched out a hand and commanded the thousands of needles to pierce through each enemy.
The soldiers surrounded their leader at his command and took the brunt of the lethal attack. Each one was riddled with holes. Then, each and every hole closed itself and men that should've died stood up once more. Ny'Danis saw it then. Bodies riddled with runic letters of the ancient language. The language of sacrifice. She knew now how her Guardians had been defeated. They'd been forced to exhaustion, using their strength against immortals. Then likely surrounded and beaten.
Ny'Danis took to the air. She beckoned to her final weapon, Lorian. The sapling that she had planted herself when the world was made. The sapling that she had watched grow. Nurtured. Loved. The world beneath rumbled. An earthquake had begun.
The man in white plunged the gold sword into the ground. It brightened in color and a brilliant light burst from it. Ny'Danis shielded her eyes. A high pitched shriek escaped her lips. Fire had been sent underground. Lorian's roots had been turned to ash in mere seconds. "NO!"
The first life she had ever cared for. The one that had been with her from the very beginning. Lorian now stood at the edge of death. What if…?
Ny'Danis descended. Her will to fight back was on the verge of shattering. Lorian's leaves were the last weapons remaining to her. But what did it matter? Her enemies couldn't be killed. She collapsed to her knees, head buried in hands. The nymphs surrounded her. Comforted her. Urged her to fight on. "How?" she countered back. They then cried and begged, black gemstone eyes with salt water pouring out. Most Vashiri had already been slain. The nymphs were all that remained.
The man in white approached, his men at his heels like obedient hounds, their blades drawn. The nymphs had their backs pressed to the trunk of the dying mother tree. Ny'Danis looked up. Thought to plead. Perhaps her daughters could be spared if she gave the Artifacts up.
But she couldn't give them up. It was her duty to protect them.
The man in white came to a stop. The ash colored hair poking out from beneath his masked helmet tickled an ancient memory. Ny'Danis' eyes slowly went wide. "You… No… You're supposed to be dead." Chronary hadn't fallen into the wrong hands. It was still in the wrong hands. In the hands of the evil that had created it. That same evil now held the Thousand Sun Sword. And now, with the lesser deities gone, with the Flame Bearers' possible betrayal or defeat… The Shadow Walkers were scattered and few. The Vampires secluded themselves to a small mountainous region. None remained to challenge the use of Chronary. To challenge the evil thought vanquished.
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"Where are the Artifacts, darkspawn witch?" the man said. "Or should I say…"
He didn't speak the last word. But his lips moved, speaking clearly. Mother, they had said. Ny'Danis grit her teeth. This treacherous, murderous, beast was no child of hers. The leaves of Lorian shuddered. There was a chance. Slight. But still a chance. If she could trap the immortal soldiers in a razor storm of leaves, she might be capable of eating away their immortality…
***
The Sun flexed his fingers. His palm had been seared. Heat emanated from the hilt at his waist as if he were standing too close to a freshly lit hearth. He would have slain the foul female monsters before him right then had the blade still been wieldable. His honor guard stood idle, waiting for his command.
The creatures were backed up against the tree, eyes glinting with crystal liquid. Some clutched the dress of the white haired woman. They were afraid. Had they posed a threat, they'd have attacked already.
The Sun held back on the order. His eyes met a pair of multi-chromatic ones. "Where are they?" he asked again.
"Why? How did it come to this?" Ny'Danis asked through her teeth. "How are you alive? And the Thousand Sun Sword. It belonged to the Flame Bearers. Why have they turned against us?"
The Sun grunted. "So you admit to having been allied with that vile imperial family? The Flame Bearers were ruined and exiled centuries ago. Their descendants are few and scattered. Soon, none will exist. I will make sure of it."
"Drop the act!" Ny'Danis cried. "Tell me how the Zz'tai fell. Did you kill them?"
The honor guard whispered behind The Sun, likely bewildered by the statements of the Forest Deity. "This is no act. This is who I am." He leaned in. "Who I am now anyway," he whispered. "High House Zz'tai, like I said, perished centuries ago. How could I possibly have anything to do with that? Or is it a feeling of loss for your fellow darkspawn that has you delirious? To express such desires before the presence of The Lord Sun. You are bold, witch. I'll give you that. Your sins have been judged. Your crimes will go punished. I will execute you myself! Now, where are the Artifacts the Zz'tai have given you?"
Ny'Danis stood tall, her multi-chromatic eyes changing into a deep shade of orange. "Don't you dare accuse me of being a darkspawn when—"
"What now? Will you plead your case?" The Sun asked, waving his hand.
Ny'Danis' face twisted in rage. "You accuse me, a deity, of evil when you use the language of sacrifice? How dare you! How many years of their lives have your men given to survive such lethal attacks? Do they know that their lives have been shortened probably tenfold or more?"
Heavy winds circled the grove. The branches of Lorian shook. The Sun looked up at the tree's leaves. Ny'Danis still had a weapon available to her. The sword at his waist had cooled a reasonable amount. The moment she channeled her power, she would die.
"Of course," The Sun said. "Hypocrisy. Such behaviour seems to be a common quality of the Tortured Throne's servants. I use Chronary to achieve an ends. To hunt down the enemies of truth. These men are more than willing to lay their life down to bring about peace! What of you? You, a false god, would dare tread the path of the divine? The women of this forest, the ones calling themselves your blood daughters, you made them through Chronary, did you not? You birthed these women without the presence of a man. I split one open and saw her heart. You create life bearing souls through the sacrifice of others! Tell me, witch, did you keep count of how many you killed to create your so called daughters? The secrets to immortality that only the Blood Mage had uncovered. A secret clearly known to you as well! Did you keep count of how many you killed to extend your own lifespan?"
"I created them through myself!" Ny'Danis protested. "I am a Goddess of Illusterra! An immortal being! I split my own soul into fragments to give birth to my daughters. Those fragments return to me upon their death! Do not compare me to yourself! Chronary cannot be used by mortals. You spit on the gift of the Creator by throwing away your own lifespan!"
"Lies!" The Sun roared, impressed by his own performance. He drew his blade for a more dramatic effect. "I will not fall for your nonsense! Tell me where the Artifacts are hidden and I will make your death painless!"
The false deity refused to give in. As expected, wings sprouted from her back again. She jumped up, anger oozing from her body, her height towering over all. The Sun plunged his blade into Ny'Danis' heart before she could take flight, thrusting hard and pinning her against the bark of the massive tree behind her. She gasped as she spat blood.
"Then die while your insides burn!" The Sun sneered. He leaned in for a final whispered word. "I was never the traitor, Mother. You were. Slaughter these creatures!" he ordered, turning back to his honor guard.
Nymphs cried and ran in different directions. Some held on to the legs of their Mother. Each one was cut down from behind. The blue skinned ones turned to water upon death whilst the green ones became soil. They weren't blood daughters, unfortunately.
Ny'Danis raised a shaky hand, commanding the leaves of Lorian to rain down upon the honor guard. They struck nymphs and men indiscriminately, Ny'Danis' control over her powers weakening with every breath she took.
The Sun finally pulled his blade out from where it was buried. The blood upon it sizzled. The rain of leaves stopped. The tall silver haired witch collapsed to the ground, unmoving. He clicked his tongue and walked past her. The Thousand Sun Sword could absorb the powers of other creatures that it'd slain. He tested the blade as the records stated, swinging it and willing for the power of the deity to burst forth. Nothing happened. None of Ny'Danis' powers had been taken. Nor that of her 'daughters'. Was it because a deity's powers couldn't be absorbed? "A shame," he muttered.
He pressed his free hand against the bark of the great tree towering over him. Its branches and leaves covered half of the grove. "The tree bore no sins. Yet it was forced to perish. Just as this entire forest. For the greater cause." He sheathed his blade and searched around the grove for the magical Artifacts. His eyes scanned the ground. He assumed them buried. The ground was a wreck. The great tree's roots had split it apart in many places before he had managed to burn them. The Artifacts couldn't be buried. Ny'Danis wouldn't risk them being damaged.
The Sun circled around the great tree. Conveniently, the back held an archway leading inside. Glowing flowers illuminated the tree's insides with a dim but majestic light. All that he had been seeking lay right before his eyes. He recognized each and every item from old history books. Artifacts from the divine gifted to humanity as a test of their morality, will, and intellect.
Among the Artifacts within the great tree there was Woodland Beginning; a wooden spear that was as sharp as any iron weapon. Striking ground would cause saplings to sprout. A tool that could create forests. A weapon Ny'Danis should have used herself but didn't. Odd.
The Renewal; a golden breastplate that could heal any wounds inflicted upon its wearer save for mortal wounds. It was a pair with the Thousand Sun Sword. The Sun now had both in his grasp. His immortal soldiers wouldn't be necessary with The Renewal.
The Lineage Mirror; an intricately designed mirror. Its beautiful frame was made of silver. At the very bottom was a tiny cup. Place a drop of blood inside, and the mirror would reveal the descendants of the blood's bearer and all of their current locations. A useful tool that could be used to hunt down remnants of the Flame Bearers or Shadow Walkers.
Then there was the Crown of Control; a crown of silver with violet gems embedded within. An object once used to control the rebellious and violent leaders of nations to maintain peace. The crown had to be worn willingly —an easy task when given under the guise of a gift. With it, there came a silver ring with a similar violet gem. A ring wearer had absolute control over the wearer of the crown. To The Sun's surprise, there were two crowns and rings. These were the true prize. These could be used to conquer Xenaria. Perhaps even more…
The Sun exited the great tree. Some of his honor guard were still chasing down the blue and green skinned girls. The guards moved as if they were starved vagabonds. Some of them breathed heavily. Their faces had aged decades. Their lifespans were nearing the end.
The Sun sighed, shaking his head. There'd been no reason to maintain his act before Ny'Danis if none of the honor guard were going to make it out alive. Well, he could still save them using a Gate Stone. But there was no reason to.
"You!" The Sun cried, pointing at a man. "You, you, and you. You four, come over here and help me carry some things." They obeyed, jogging over like the old men that they'd become, stumbling through the torn ground. The Sun looked around the edges of the grove. Smoke was entering in. The flames had reached the wall of trees, cutting off all routes of escape. The decrepit old guards would die the moment they tried shielding their lord from the flames. "All of you, finish your task then leave this grove. Hunt down any enemies that you see with your dying breath!"
The guards bowed. Most of them exited the grove through the path that they'd arrived from. Few were left behind to chase the nymphs. The four guards came out from behind the tree carrying the Artifacts in their arms. The Sun nodded his approval, quickly making sure that every Artifact had been taken. He then took out a brittle stone from a pocket in his cloak. A Gate Stone. He imagined his small office at the highest tower of the Thousand Sun City citadel. He then snapped the stone in half and tossed it aside. A pale blue sphere appeared and slowly grew in size until it was large enough for a person to walk through. The gate would only last to the count of thirty.
"Enter through," he commanded. "Leave every item carefully on the floor or against a wall. Then return back here through this gate." The four guards did as they were told, bringing the magical Artifacts with them. They disappeared into the blue light and then reappeared shortly after. "Go follow the rest and spend your last remaining breath hunting down the witches of this forest. May your souls reach the heavens for the good that you have done."
"Yes, Your Brilliance," all four said in unison, their old voices cracked or rasped. They each gave slight bows before marching away —one limped away, his knee joints weak.
The Astral Union's field commanders had orders to retreat once the forest was reduced to naught but a dead pyre. His work finished, The Sun then went through the gate himself. Something tugged at his chest as he came out the other side. A few days' worth of life had been extracted from him as he found himself back within the stone walls of his office room. Hollow light no longer came through the open window. The distorted space behind him closed without a sound. All was silent.
The Sun removed his helmet. His forehead was matted with sweat and his ashen hair stuck to his skull and the back of his neck as if he'd just greased it again. He unpinned his cloak and hung it on an iron hook nailed to the wall, leaving the three point star pin at the edge of his table. The Crowns of Control and their corresponding rings had been left on it as well. Woodland Beginning was leaning against the wall while The Renewal, and The Lineage Mirror rested before his feet. He gathered them up and placed them in one empty corner. Then he sat down in his chair and ran his hand over the book of Chronary. It was in the exact same position he had left it in. He opened the cover, slight crackling sounds accompanying as if he sat before a campfire.
"To give, you must take. To take, you must give. Only then can you have. Only then can there be." The Sun closed the book and leaned back in his chair, letting out a long exhale. He then threw his head back and laughed. Laughed long and loud. No one was there to hear.
No one was there to here.