October 12, 4021 06:06 [Sunken Forest- Kingdom of the Polar Star]
Indra brushed his hand along the crumbling stone wall, letting the fine silt-like granules slip through his fingertips. It was damp and cool to the touch, hidden from the sunlight by a small grove. Many such structures populated the area, scattered and incomplete, their remnants lost to the tides of time and the elements.
Intricate designs of regal figures, gods, and stories untold could be found throughout. Majestic statues of horses and rulers lay splintered yet unmarred in their beauty; a testament to the artistry of the kingdom’s stone masons. Deep in the center of the capitol resided the skeleton of a modest castle; the remnants of Altan gadas vant uls's final royal family.
An overgrowth of vines had taken hold of the man-made architecture, reclaimed by Mother Nature. In observing the forlorn ruins of a once great kingdom, Indra felt a strange yearning to see it in the days of old, at the peak of its glory. Even still, he couldn’t deny the beauty of the forest. Civilization had perished here, but life still flourished, bountiful and free.
The steady chirp of cicadas was almost deafening, though Indra learned to tune out the sound, growing accustomed to the noise. The flutter of wings could be heard as birds flew high above the treeline. Indra stared at them, wondering if he could simply fly away with them. Butterflies rested on hibiscus petals, which had taken root at an even greater concentration than the forest outskirts. Still, their presence here seemed gentle, almost as if the flowers were asleep, their animosity towards the intruders nonexistent.
What do you make of it?
“It seems they are dormant, for now. Do exercise caution. I cannot say for certain what will happen if they awaken,” Usha replied.
Indra nodded, eyeing the flowers curiously. The red and pink hues were deeply mesmerizing to him, their allure almost hypnotizing, though Indra did his best not to disturb the flower beds.
Do you think they did this? Destroy the kingdom, I mean.
“It is possible, although there are many more plausible reasons I could think of for a civilization to collapse…”
Maybe an internal conflict?
“That would be more likely. Regicide, fratricide; royalty has a way of undermining familial bonds. Ambition, envy, ego, and greed cloud the mind. They thrive in the wake of loyalty’s death.”
If that’s the case, they could take a page from the brothers of Ursa Major's book.
Usha grunted in agreement.
Deer-like animals grazed near a stream, flicking their tails lazily as they went about their morning. They raised their orange-antlered heads at the crunch of boots on stray twigs. Their eyes darted and their ears twitched nervously as they surveyed their surroundings, promptly taking off as the expedition teams drew near.
“You scared them!” Indra frowned. He turned, only to be met with an apologetic face, causing his own to soften.
Prasanna sucked her teeth, frozen on the broken branch of wood she had just snapped. “Sorry!” she whispered.
Indra opened his mouth to reassure her, his expression souring again as a horde of Crawlers trampled through the foliage, interrupting the tranquility of the moment. The hiss of hydraulics escaped the large frames of the powerful machines as they uprooted trees and large boulders in their path, forging onward.
Their scanners whirred and whistled as they gathered data from the ruins, archiving the information in their memory banks before starting the upload to Manzhouli’s Aegypius Lab. The signal to the outside world was thankfully still intact, though it continued to weaken the deeper they ventured into the Sunken Forest.
Tengri’s voice echoed above the noise, barking orders at the other divisions, and directing them to different parts of the kingdom. The Sub-commanders had taken the lead on the surveillance of the kingdom, allowing the Division Commanders to scout the perimeter. In truth, it was so that Tengri could allocate personnel where appropriate, given the deficit left by Jin’s murderous tirade.
Indra watched the Crawlers pass, shaking his head contemptuously.
“This is history. It should be preserved—studied,” he complained.
“I don't think Yuèliàng cares or is in need of any more history,” Prasanna remarked. “We've already got a rich tapestry to draw from. Unfortunately, no one's gonna miss a few trees and ruins, even if it is from a fabled kingdom of old. The stories are enough.”
Indra sighed. “We’re ravaging foreign lands to supply our needs. It's a temporary solution to an infinite problem. How long until we start cannibalizing ourselves?”
Prasanna raised an eyebrow. “You mean, civil war?”
Indra nodded. “It'll be the elite versus the common man.”
There was a moment’s pause before Prasanna asked her next question. “Which side will you be on?”
The frown lines on Indra’s face darkened. “Don’t act like we have a choice. You know damn well what side we'll be on.”
The light clomp of hooves broke the tension, preceding the arrival of Indra’s NMM. He had opted to explore the ruins on foot, ordering the metal beast to follow him slowly so as to not disrupt the ecosystem. The Mustang continued to tread carefully as it approached its master, staring at Indra expectantly when it arrived.
Perhaps it was simply awaiting the next set of orders that would be prescribed to it, but Indra felt that it was unusually life-like; without a doubt, a testament to Stanley's craftsmanship and attention to detail. Still, he felt a strange need to reward the machine as one would a true flesh-and-blood being.
He placed his hand on the robot’s strong neck, running his hand through the artificial fibers that composed its mane; they were soft to the touch. The NMM closed its eyes slowly as if accepting his thanks. Indra couldn't help but crack a smile.
Prasanna had seemingly followed his example, her own NMM arriving shortly thereafter. She rewarded it the same, though this mare seemed a bit more temperamental, causing Prasanna to yelp in surprise.
She scowled at Indra as he turned his head, laughing into his sleeve.
“Let's go help the others search for the energy source,” she grumbled, leaping onto her steed.
Indra nodded, following suit, his spirits lifted somewhat.
Though he was eternally curious about the history and mysteries that lay within the depths of Altan gadas vant uls, Indra decided against bearing witness to its destruction. He preferred to remain ignorant rather than lament what was lost. The knowledge would eat at him. Indra chose peace of mind instead.
Ignorance is bliss.
“A fool shelters themselves in delusion. Your happiness is a farce. Reality is cruel and unforgiving, but it is true and sincere,” Usha scoffed.
Spare me your lessons. Make yourself useful and help us search for the energy source. Indra retorted.
“Fumble around like the fool you are. Entertain me, oh jester.”
If he could physically do so, Indra would have liked to wring the Siren’s neck. Usha’s words frustrated him to no end, although he would not give him the satisfaction of knowing that.
***
By late afternoon, the NMMs ambled near the eastern border, away from the destructive gait of the Crawlers. It was quiet once more. Indra and Prasanna rode silently, surveying the land as they wandered lush green fields that extended past the kingdom’s borders.
The breeze flowed gently through their hair, ruffling the fur of Indra's thick cloak. They stopped on a sizable hill overlooking the emerald expanse. Miles of green over rolling hills and flats shimmered as the dew on swaying grass caught the sunlight. Indra held his breath, soaking in the view.
“It’s beautiful,” Prasanna said, finally breaking the silence.
Indra had to agree. He took her hand, squeezing it.
Prasanna tilted her head, giving him a reassuring smile. “What, are you worried now?” She laughed.
Indra frowned; he was worried. The unease in his stomach had become more prominent. The pit had coiled and tightened into a knot. He could ignore it no longer.
“Well, I’m not,” Prasanna added, before he could say anything.
Indra raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”
She poked his nose, her expression one of disbelief. “Because I have you.”
Indra shut out Usha’s rattling laughter from his head. His words had been used against him. Still…He gazed into her eyes, colored like brilliant sapphire, their depths greater than the Earth’s oceans. His eyes traveled the length of her dark hair, counting the flecks of blue peppering the black. Her skin, pale like snow, soft as her smile, flushed with embarrassment. Her lips, red like roses, parted as she spoke.
“What are you staring for?” She whispered.
“I want to remember,” Indra answered just as quietly.
Prasanna returned the longing gaze. “Remember what?”
“Everything about you—the way you smile, your voice, your eyes, the way you dress, the way you smell, how you hold my hand. I want to burn those memories into my mind, so I never forget you until the day I die.”
“Are you expecting to die soon?” She whispered again, gently brushing his hair back as she drew nearer.
Indra was silent for a moment. “We don’t know what’ll happen. The future… it’s uncertain.”
“Then focus on the present,” Prasanna smiled again, squeezing his hand. “We’re here, alive and well. Every moment we spend together is a gift. Don’t waste these precious moments trying to preserve them. Live in them.”
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Prasanna smiled, leaning in close to him. Indra closed his eyes. He could feel her chest pressed up against his as she wrapped him in a tight embrace. Prasanna’s lips were gentle and soft. She was wearing the same perfume, though its scent didn’t electrify him as it once did. On the contrary, it comforted him. He felt her warmth spread across his body, like an infusion of energy, from his ears to the tips of his toes.
He opened his eyes, greeted by her cheerful face. More than anything, he wanted to protect her smile—its radiance equal to the sun’s.
The afternoon’s light waned and the stars began to glimmer above them once more. It was a cloudless night, yet the moon failed to make an appearance. In the blanketing darkness, the flicker of a flame caught their attention, snapping them both back to reality.
Prasanna squinted her eyes, trying to make out the source. “What is that?”
“I don’t know, but it might be worth checking out,” Indra said.
The two swiftly mounted their steeds, kicking them into high gear. A rush of wind swept past Indra as his NMM galloped across the plains towards the flickering flame. All was quiet save for the steady beat of galloping hooves. The rhythm ingrained itself in Indra’s mind, working in conjunction with the hypnotizing dance of the ever-growing flame to cast him into a trance.
In what seemed like seconds later, they had arrived at their destination. The Mustangs suddenly brayed, coming to a screeching halt. They dug their hooves into the dirt haphazardly, launching Indra and Prasanna off of their backs. The Division Commanders landed on their feet deftly without much issue, though the uncharacteristic reaction of the machines set them on edge.
The pair were illuminated by the fire they had chased so readily, a creeping feeling of dread taking root. In front of them was an enormous brazier, the likes of which Indra had never seen before. It warded the darkness away, bathing the entire area in a warm glow. Yet, the light felt strange—almost hostile. The strength of the flame seemed to burn even brighter at their approach as if furious that their unworthy souls would dare sully the grounds it protected. However, the flame did not deter their advance. It was that which the beacon of fire protected that unsettled them to such a degree that their feet became useless.
They stood frozen, their eyes wide, the hairs on their necks standing on edge. Not another step had been taken once Prasanna and Indra had laid eyes upon the monolith before them. An ancient temple appeared without warning. There was no build-up or flair to its materialization; it simply was.
The temple, vast in its expanse, seemed larger than even Altan gadas vant uls. It rested on a mountain, towering over everything for kilometers in any given direction. Carved into the stone were ornate depictions of a woman adorned in jewelry. A veil shrouded her eyes, so her visage remained obscure. Shadows danced on her face, coiling and twisting as the flame did.
“Indra.”
Indra turned on their communications. There was no need for Prasanna to say more. They needed to call for aid right away. Simply from observation, he knew that within this temple was the key to understanding the Sunken Forest, and therein lay the problem. The heart of its mystery would be guarded—fiercely. Indra could sense something deeper inside, enshrined by an ancient energy. The force was overwhelming. Malevolence and tranquility rolled over one another in a clash of auras that assaulted Indra’s mind and left him nauseated. By the look of it, Prasanna was also feeling its effects. She clutched her stomach, wincing as she held her food down.
The line was quiet for a moment before a click! signaled to Indra that someone had picked up the call.
“Krodha, you got something for me?” It was Tengri.
“Yeah,” Indra answered. “Quite a few clicks north of the kingdom. We found a tem—”
“Stop right there,” Tengri interrupted. “Switch to my personal line.”
“Why—?”
“Now,” he ordered.
Indra switched the secure line to Tengri’s personal frequency. No one else would be able to listen in on their conversation.
“Good, now repeat what you just said,” Tengri spoke intently.
Indra reiterated his statement, confused about the secrecy.
Tengri took pause, as if processing the information. It seemed hard to digest for him, though eventually, he found his voice again.
“Who else did you tell? Who else knows?” He asked.
His demeanor was calm, but there was an intensity behind his words. Indra’s suspicions grew suddenly.
“No one except you and I,” he answered, leaving Prasanna’s name out of the conversation.
Tengri sighed, evidently in relief. “It’s imperative you keep this information between us for now. Do not tell anyone about what you found, no matter what. I will come with a portion of the force. The rest will continue to search the kingdom. The kingdom team cannot know about this place.”
“Why is that?”
“They'll ruin everything we've been working towards, Indra. It's best they're kept out of the way while we conduct our business. There's a proper and improper way to navigate certain situations.”
“One more thing.”
“Yes?”
“It's been bothering me since we started talking. What do you know about this temple? You talk like you have prior knowledge of it.”
Tengri was silent again. Indra waited patiently for his answer, refusing to cut the line. If Tengri’s answer was not satisfactory, he resolved to announce the discovery on the open channel for everyone in the expedition to hear.
“I need an answer,” Indra pressed.
Tengri finally replied through gritted teeth. “The goal of the expedition was to find an alternative energy source for Yuèliàng…We already knew where it was.”
“Inside the temple?”
“Yes.”
“But there's no mention of this in any of the reports,” Indra pointed out.
“All mentions of the temple were left out intentionally.”
“Why?”
“To keep from prying eyes.”
“Whose?”
Indra could hear the frustration in Tengri’s voice as he spoke. “Pray you never find out. That's all you'll get from me. Now get off the line and prepare yourself. I'll arrive by the morning.”
Without another word, Tengri cut the line. Indra turned to Prasanna who leaned against her Mustang, biting her nail. They exchanged worried glances.
“What do you think that was about?” She asked.
“I don't know. Whoever Tengri’s trying to hide this information from is a big enough threat that they're keeping us all in the dark as a result,” Indra mused. “We don't know what lies ahead but they're still expecting us to dive blind into danger.”
Prasanna crossed her arms, clearly disturbed. “What do you suppose is in there?”
Indra pondered the question, trying to imagine what would lurk in the depths of a temple-city. His thoughts ran wild with the possibilities, all more nightmarish than the last. And yet, in each scenario one aspect remained constant: he would end up dead.
“Could be anything. Might even be more Yaksha,” he joked. Indra refrained from voicing his real opinions. He did not want to worry Prasanna any further.
She returned a half-hearted chuckle, reaching for their camping supplies. “We definitely don’t need more of those. Here, come help me set up for the night.”
Indra looked back at the temple as he made his way over to assist Prasanna. What do you make of all this? …Usha? There was only silence in his mind.
Droplets of rain started to fall. The gentle pitter-patter of their entrance turned into a torrent as the downpour became heavier. The two were quick to make a small shelter near the brazier to stave off the cold. The rain notably rolled off of the flames, leaving the area around the golden bowl mercifully dry. Indra did not give the incident too much thought, however; the strange was expected here, and the mundane less likely. He decided being well rested was more important than attempting to understand the machinations of the Sunken Forest.
Huddled next to Prasanna inside their tent, snug under the covers, with the warmth of the brazier and the internal heating units of the NMMs nearby, Indra was lulled into a deep slumber. He needed his strength for the coming morning, overthinking things would do him no good. It would be quite some time before he was allowed another restful night. And so, he left his worries in the wakened world, taking an eased mind into the world of dreams.
***
“Marvelous,” Tengri said in a hushed voice. He reveled in the splendor of the temple.
Though it had been long overrun with hibiscus flowers and an abundance of foliage, there was an undeniable opulence to it. Marble staircases lead to immaculately carved statues of the “Veiled Lady” as Kaluza had coined; pillars inlaid with wrought gold and sandalwood surrounded these statues, providing support to laboriously crafted ceilings carved with figures and ancient scriptures. Time had eroded all discernible features of these figures and any legibility the scriptures may have had, leaving what Indra assumed were phrases that bore no significance to anything anymore.
To their surprise, there were storehouses deeper into the city filled with preserves of milk, honey, fruits, and various other ingredients.
“Offerings, most likely,” Tengri explained to a few dumbfounded faces. “This is a monument of devotion.”
There were areas designated for prayer and residential abodes that seemed to have remained unused for countless centuries. The air was thick with dust and the foliage grew thicker the deeper the party ventured.
Tengri had arrived with Kaluza, bringing with them the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Divisions. Prasanna had ridden out early in the morning to “run into them by accident”, feigning ignorance as to the whereabouts of Indra. Thankfully, Tengri decided it best to bring her along for the expedition into the temple. Grisha, Jin, and the Crow had stayed behind to continue their search within the Kingdom of the Polar Star. At least, that was what Tengri had stated when questioned about the split. Indra was not fooled. Clearly, he did not trust the other Commanders. Why else would he have kept them in the dark about the temple?
The Commanders and Sub-commanders of the temple expedition stayed close to one another as their subordinates fanned out and scoured the city for any danger ahead.
“This place is givin’ me the creeps!” Garou growled.
“It’s so eerie,” Kuvira added in agreement, clutching her shoulders.
Prasanna shuddered, though she kept quiet. The temple seemed to bother her more than the rest.
“Are you okay?” Emil signed to her, concerned.
“I’m fine,” she replied. “Just anxious.”
Indra and Emil exchanged glances. Wordlessly, they decided to keep an eye on her as they progressed.
“You two, help the others scout ahead,” Kaluza ordered, pointing to Móhú and Chōuyān. They began to argue, though their protests were unsuccessful. With a flick of his hand, Kaluza waved away their grievances, directing them to venture forward. Grumbling indignantly, Móhú and Chōuyān split from the group.
“Hey, your Sub-commander can help look for any obscure traps that might’ve been laid out,” Kaluza said to Prasanna.
Xiāoshī looked at her expectantly, awaiting her orders. She thought for a moment before finally nodding to give him her approval. Not one to delay, Xiāoshī took off running after the other two.
As they edged closer to the center of the city, the architecture of the temple disappeared, replaced in its entirety by a lush forest of neem—the “heart” that Indra had sensed before. Littered all around the forest were hundreds of stone bodhisattva statues, covered in moss and vines. They varied greatly in size, some scaled to the average human, while others were as large as the trees themselves.
The statues wore serene expressions that should have calmed Indra, but the nausea he had felt earlier came back in full force. He shook his head, trying to control the dizziness he felt. Every step he took became more laborious. He looked around only to find his actions mimicked by the rest of the group. Even Tengri’s expression soured as he experienced a strange onset of vertigo.
Móhú, Chōuyān, and Xiāoshī suddenly came running back, sweating profusely. They pointed breathlessly in the direction they had just arrived from, urging the others to follow them. The expedition was led to a dim section of the forest, illuminated by slivers of sunbeams peeking through the canopy overhead. They reached a clearing, a soft ray of sunshine bathing the area in light.
Prasanna stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes wide. She gasped sharply, causing Indra and Emil’s attention to snap to her. Her lips trembled. Her skin grew clammy and moist, as if she had seen a ghost. Prasanna lifted a shaky hand, pointing to the center of the clearing.
At the center, rows of bodhisattva statues lay prostrated, encircling a throne of flowers. Seated upon the throne was a woman, her beauty beyond human comprehension. Her aura was ethereal, as if Man were not permitted to witness her form. Her hands were clasped together, presenting nails painted satin, rich in color like her clothing. Her luscious lips parted slightly as she recited a prayer under her breath. Her eyes remained closed under a ruby crown adorned with red diamonds and a translucent veil that fluttered in the wind. Her long regal dress and silky stygian hair sparkled in the sunlight. A knot of red had been used to tie her hair into a bun, leaving a few loose strands to fall perfectly on the sides of her face. Her skin was like glass; it caught every angle of light and refracted it until it was blinding to the beholder.
She was mesmerizing, luminous, sultry; her presence alone was a gift to humanity. To witness her was to understand one would never lay eyes on such beauty again.
“The Veiled Lady,” Kaluza whispered in awe.
A sudden primal roar erupted in Indra’s head. He winced, clasping his hands over his ears, thinking they would split at any moment. As the screaming continued, Indra opened his eyes and stared at the Veiled Lady. The hairs on his neck stood on edge; her veil was missing.
A sacred prayer had been interrupted. Ancient eyes once enclosed, flew open, brimming with a primordial fury that had not been seen in centuries.