Everess returned to her office, her body hovered above the floor, her gaze fixed on the imposing doors of the Grand Orderian Library. The events at the temple in Gorenhurd still echoed in her mind, leaving her puzzled and unsettled.
Her magic surged within her, its unpredictable currents swirling and shifting erratically. It was a tumultuous manifestation, defying the natural order of magic itself. As it should be as she is the Grand Sage. She knew that such levels of magic were unprecedented; her magic was uniquely hers, an extension of her very being.
Yet there was another.
The Mystic temple, once a sanctuary of serenity, now lay in ruins, its foundations shattered by a force unknown. In the midst of the destruction, she had encountered a massive circular stone seal, cracked and broken as if forcibly breached. Its significance eluded her, adding to the enigma that gripped her thoughts.
Frustration and confusion mingled within her as she recalled, swirling like a tempest in her mind. The recent raids in the Mystic Realms and the Empire weighed heavily on her thoughts, each event a piece of a puzzle tantalizingly close yet frustratingly out of reach.
With a furrowed brow, she pondered the mysteries that surrounded her, seeking to unravel the tangled web of connections hidden within the chaos. The weight of responsibility bore down upon her, threatening to crush her resolve beneath its formidable burden.
She had long walked the path dictated by the will of the Gods and Animos, facing challenges and obstacles with unwavering determination. But this new challenge loomed eerily before her, casting a shadow over her already heavy shoulders, testing the limits of her strength and resolve.
In a swift motion, she flicked her fingers, and the books in the room stirred, swirling around her in a mesmerizing dance. It was an instinctive response to her unease, a tangible manifestation of her efforts to quell the turmoil within her soul, to pacify the simmering rage and frustration.
Despite the hypnotic swirl of books, her gaze remained fixed on the library door, her mind navigating the labyrinth of possibilities amidst the chaos. She understood that succumbing to frustration and doubt would only obscure bore her down, hindering her ability to confront the challenges ahead.
Renewed determination coursed through her veins as she steeled herself to face the trials waiting beyond the library’s threshold.
I must find another way, she thought resolutely, the words echoing in her mind with unwavering conviction.
Amidst the fading sounds of the room, her breath became the sole echo in her mind, a steady rhythm anchoring her thoughts. Doubt crept in, whispering insidious words of self-questioning, but she refused to yield.
You can’t keep this to yourself forever, doubt taunted, but she silenced the voice with a firm resolve.
She descended deeper into the recesses of her mind, the discord of the outside world’s burden slowly faded, her mind started to blank out. The tempest of chaos and multiple burdens that kept her mind active slowly dissipated, a profound tranquility enveloped her, like a gentle blanket of freshly fallen snow.
In this serene abyss of silence, she found solace from the turmoil that raged beyond. Memories and dreams intertwined, creating a tapestry of shimmering patterns that danced before her mind’s eye. Forgotten fragments of time drifted by like leaves on a soft breeze, each carrying whispers of emotion, a delicate echo of longing and joy.
A solitary tear welled up in the corner of her eye, a shimmering droplet clinging precariously to the edge of her lashes. It trembled there for a moment, a silent testament to the storm raging within her.
And amidst this silent reverie, she found solace in the simple act of breathing, each inhalation and exhalation a reminder of her own existence, a tether anchoring her to the present moment amidst the vast expanse of her inner world.
She slowly opened her eyes, wet from her own tears and there she found herself in the Mirror Realm. She was tired at that point. She needed this. Peace. She looked around and saw only but the tranquil serenity that the Mirror Realm brought her.
She turned to her back and saw Lyo, whom has her back to her as well. She walked towards her and stood beside the immortal entity.
“Did you find anything, Grand Sage?” a voice said to her.
She forced a smile, her gaze meeting Lyo’s, the esteemed Messenger of the Gods and Animos. With a subtle movement, she wiped away her tears, standing upright from her hovering stance. Despite her composed facade, deep inside, she hesitated, unable to meet Lyo’s eyeless gaze as she grappled with conflicting emotions.
“We have already given you the answer, Grand Sage. Why can’t you come to terms with it?” Lyo’s words pierced the silence, their weight hanging heavily in the air.
“Because it is an imprudent way. What you ask of me is unreasonable,” she responded calmly, though her tone belied the turmoil within.
“So did you find another way?” Lyo pressed on, her voice carrying the weight of countless ages. “With all the things you’ve been doing in the lands. Across two continents. Putting at risk the future of the world, of Unibeltrasia, of the continents of the God and Goddess, Shardon and Arumar, of the OneFather, Yor’Jod. Doing things in great lengths, even doing something that will turn your comrades — still nothing?”
Silence engulfed her, her mind awash with the weight of Lyo’s words. In that moment, she felt like a child being scolded by her mother, a familiar sensation from long ago. With a deep breath, she attempted to regain her composure, steeling herself before Lyo.
“Grand Sage, you have to remember, nothing will stay as it is. Sometimes we are left with the hardest of choices in order to do the noblest of deeds,” Lyo continued, her voice a gentle reminder amidst the tumult of emotions.
With a resigned sigh, she fell into step behind the Messenger, the silence between them heavy with unspoken thoughts and emotions. As they walked, the only sounds were the soft echoes of their footsteps and the whisper of the wind, carrying the weight of the world’s secrets.
“I still don’t agree. I refuse. I refuse to believe that the Gods and Animos has given up,” she suddenly interjected, her voice firm with conviction.
Lyo turned to her, her eyeless gaze holding a wisdom beyond mortal comprehension. “Oh young one, just because you were asked to guide what was already planned, doesn’t mean the Gods and Animos has already given up. You still think the world’s thread of fate can be altered?” she questioned, her words carrying the weight of millennia.
“Yes,” she replied simply, her resolve unyielding in the face of uncertainty.
“So young, indeed,” Lyo mused, a hint of sadness in her ethereal voice. “Why so?”
“Because everything is not set in stone. Even you, and your Gods and Animos knows this,” she asserted, her voice unwavering with conviction. “As I intend it to be, I will do whatever I can to save this world. Even if it has to be saved from itself. Remember, Lyo, Your Gods and Animos entrusted it to me. I will make sure to alter what was already decided by this world’s deities.”
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
“Whatever you decide to do, Grand Sage, we will respect it. Just know your place in this world. Because by now, I believe you’ve already noticed it. I can see it, and I can feel it, that all you are doing is to prolong the inevitable,” Lyo said solemnly, her hands flowing like water.
“Yor’Jod is sad that his creations will be going through such hardship,” Lyo continued, her voice carrying the weight of millennia.
“So He does care?” she mocked, a hint of skepticism in her tone.
“Of course He does. He can’t just go down there and solve your problems. Everything has to be done by his creations, in all of his children. He believes in his creations’ capacity to face and overcome problems,” Lyo explained patiently.
“What kind of explanation is that? I do hope you know you sound ridiculous, right?” she retorted, her disbelief evident.
“You seem to lack — faith?” Lyo finally asked, her gaze piercing.
Caught off guard, she scrambled for an excuse. “I fail to see why he gave me such an important task if he treats his children like this,”
“Because, you are one of his children. His creations, young Grand Sage. Even if he you dissappeared and returned, he still lived you like before,” Lyo said, her voice carrying a weight of certainty that left her stunned and confused.
“What do you mean by that?” she said, dumbfounded, her mind struggling to grasp the implications of Lyo’s words.
“This world and beyond, inside the Celestial Cnidaria, He created it as it swims in the vast nothingness of the Great Void. You are all Yor’Jod’s creation. He is the Maker, the Everlasting Composer, and the Great Conductor of the Heaven’s Orchestra. The orchestra keeps the world moving — the same thing that keeps the Celestial Cnidaria moving. All the worlds move within its great hundred upon hundreds of hands of stars and dust. And at its great core lies the world. Your world and ours,” Lyo explained, her words resonating with a profound truth that reverberated through her very being.
“I — I don’t understand,” she stammered, overwhelmed by the enormity of Lyo’s revelation.
“Yes, you don’t. And it is understandable for you are young, you still have no idea,” Lyo said gently, her hand tenderly touching her face. “You need to learn much, much more, Grand Sage. There is more to our worlds than what is written in books and what our eyes lay upon.”
Lost in thought, she followed the immortal being for what felt like an eternity, her mind racing with questions and uncertainties. Finally, they stopped, and she found herself gazing up at the skies.
“Why did you tell me about that Celestial Cnidaria, Lyo. What do you want to say?” she asked her, her eyes scanning the horizon for answers.
“Jorus Gracos Saros,” Lyo suddenly said, her words hanging in the air like an ominous prophecy.
“What do you mean by that?” Everess asked, her forehead creasing with confusion and unease.
“Tos kleren, tos Som’ver, tos Aniri, tos Silefene. Tos aviri novel un taos aviri coru, Ofer un’e neo, ofer un’e vlaro,” Lyo uttered, her words echoing with a weight that seemed to penetrate her very soul.
She was at a loss, her mind struggling to comprehend the significance of Lyo’s cryptic message. Yet, inexplicably, tears began to well up in her eyes, a silent testament to the profound emotions stirring within her.
“For hope, for dreams, for freedom, for peace. For all that is light and for all that is dark, a price is needed, a price is paid,” Lyo continued, her voice carrying an ominous tone that sent shivers down her spine. A sense of fear enveloped her, though she could not fathom its source.
“The Songs of Ruin are upon us,” Lyo declared, her words hanging heavy in the air like a dark omen, filling Everess with a sense of foreboding.
“Wait, Lyo?” she called out, her voice trembling with uncertainty, but Lyo chose to ignore her, her gaze fixed on some unseen horizon.
“You must go,” Lyo commanded, her gesture dismissing Everess with a wave of her hand. “You have work to do. The next time you are here, I’ll show you what you need to see, but first you must find the answer.”
With a jolt, she was abruptly expelled from the Mirror Realm and thrust back into her office. Gasping for breath, she struggled to regain her bearings, her mind reeling from the intensity of her encounter.
Surveying the disarray of scattered books that once orbited her, her gaze drifted to the doors of the Grand Orderian Library, a determined resolve taking root within her.
She rose with unwavering determination, her resolve forged like steel. Striding towards the doors, they parted slowly, revealing once again the vast expanse of knowledge that awaited her within the Grand Orderian Library.
With the weight of impending consequences pressing upon her, she knew hesitation was not an option. Returning to the central platform, she settled into a seated position, drawing a deep breath.
In that moment, her eyes ignited with an intense maroon glow, matched by the luminescence emanating from her hands. As if guided by some unseen force, books from every corner of the room responded to her call, lifting themselves from their shelves and swirling around her in a mesmerizing dance. The sound of fluttering pages filled the air as she delved into the tomes, driven by a desperate quest for answers.
Meanwhile, Tamiron found himself inexplicably drawn to the very tomb that occupied her thoughts.
A place unknown to him until now, he ventured through the narrow entrance, greeted by a surprisingly well-ventilated interior. As he ventured deeper into the cavernous depths, he encountered a vast chamber, its intricate design suggesting a craftsmanship beyond mortal hands, as if sculpted by the whims of fate itself from the heart of the mountain.
The cavern was bathed in a gentle light, meticulously placed openings in the walls casting their glow upon the scene within. Revealed before him was a tomb of breathtaking design, flanked by statues resembling the formidable imperial phalanx, standing guard at its entrance.
The architectural marvel rivaled the grandeur of the empire’s palace and the revered Holy Animos Freigurd Temple, a testament to the skilled hands that had crafted it. Yet, any awe he might have felt was quickly overshadowed by the grim sight that greeted him within.
Amidst the splendor lay a scene of carnage. Bodies of soldiers littered the ground, their armor twisted and torn asunder, as if they had been naught but playthings to some malevolent force. Even the mightiest among them, the strongest warriors, lay broken and mangled, their once indomitable forms reduced to mere fragments.
With a heavy heart, he commanded his men to attend to the fallen, He took a deep breath as he stood in front of the tomb.
“Clean it up. Give them a proper burial.” He ordered his men.
Turning his attention back to the tomb, he sought answers amidst the devastation. Scrutinizing the entrance for any inscription that might reveal its occupant, his gaze fell upon a defaced plaque above the doorway, its message obscured.
Entering cautiously, he was met with the sight of more bodies strewn about, clustered around a shattered marble casket hewn from the very rock of the cave. Yet, amidst the grim scene, something caught his eye. A strange maroonish-pinkish substance, scattered both inside and outside the tomb, hinting at some unknown significance. Though he dismissed it as a remnant of age, a lingering unease lingered in the back of his mind.
He looked inside, hoping to at least see any clues that might lead to him finding out what or who was buried there.
“This place is built like a tomb for a king,” a guard said as he inspected the surroundings as well. He heard this and looked around the blood bathed walls of the tomb.
He was right, he thought. The design alone and intricate writings on the wall, writings that was unknown to him and the fact that a separate burial chamber was built for this person meant he was of great importance.
But why this far? He begged the question.
“Do we have any idea on who was buried here?” he asked his guards, with them shaking their heads no.
“Send a message to the imperial palace and the library. I want to know who was buried here. A record must’ve been kept,” he ordered them. With haste the guards went ahead.
“Sire we must leave now. This is no place for a monarch,” the guard said.
“After knowing what I’ve done, maybe I do or somewhere much worse,” he said silencing his own guard.
He then proceeded to walk outside of the tomb after he got one last look of the place.
“Secure the tomb. Have extra guards stationed here. No one leaves and no one enters without my approval,” he commanded to the guards outside. “I will be in Tamara for the time being so make sure to send the message there.” He added as he walked outside. As he reached the opening, he was slightly blinded by a light that came from the sky. He looked up and saw them. He was awed at what he saw, but seeing one, is no miracle.
“Are those, paneloseis?” one of the guards said out loud, clearly spooked as he was.
“I hear they only appear in places where people died and successfully crossed the Mirror Realm,” another guard said.
“They are Lyo’s message to us, saying that our comrades are now safe and will peacefully live on for eternity,” the other one said.
Tamiron looked at the guards as they talked. He walked slowly, examining the glittering things. They looked like pieces of paper that flew with the wind, but moved as though they are swimming through the air like jellyfish.
The guards kneeled on one knee and held both of their arms together and started to pray. He looked around him with most of the guards doing same. He then slowly knelt and began to do the same, to which the other guards followed.
He took that moment to send a message to the Gods and Animos, Take care of my people’s souls for they have done nothing wrong. Take care of the souls that I have wrongfully ended and bring them peace.
End of Chapter XIII