Desdin gazed up at his fan, trying to focus on his heartbeat. He broke out in a cold sweat when the fan quit spinning. Time came to a halt. Shutting his eyes and reopening them transported him under the deep still water that didn’t flow. He couldn't look around and had to surrender to the whims of the fathomless realm. He perceived his body as light as it moved through the motionless ocean. Massive celestial vortexes swirled, and stars raced above him. He wasn’t sure if he was moving towards the scene ahead or if it was rapidly approaching him. His surreal journey ended where he could observe the setting clearly.
A campfire made of chunks of driftwood burned with bright orange flame high into the sky. Four people sat in thrones of rock raised up in the sand. In the center seat was the blue ethereal woman. She didn’t acknowledge his presence, unlike every other summoning to this state of waking dream. Beside her was another giant covered in a red, ethereal aura with long crimson hair. By them was a bald man of particularly small stature, wearing dark green robes with his head lowered. Next to him was a man of some regal bearing with a greying beard and greying hair. The two men were speaking.
A silklike rope dropped in front of him. With no sensation of movement, his hands were gripping the rope, and his head was looking up. Just above the surface of the water in the void, he could make out the yellow eyes and silhouette of the Fallen matriarch. She pulled him up out of the water to her. As he emerged, she appeared as a small girl before him. When he examined himself, he realized he was also a boy now. She sat, legs dangling into the void, looking down at the bonfire scene. He perched beside her.
She pointed and spoke in a childlike voice, “There sit three gods and one king born of their seed.”
He looked down and muttered to himself inquisitively, “Three gods? I’m unclear who the woman is. Maybe she is, but someone warned me against naming her, and I am too frightened to speak of her. She has the same ambience as the other Oldest I’ve met. I see her sometimes in waking and in dreaming. Ouren is with them in red. The distinguished man is Jonah.” He gawked at the hairless man in green. “That isn’t the Oldest Ivalic…so it must be Dragsil?!?”
She acknowledged and said, “That is as he presented himself to us all those hundreds and hundreds of years ago.”
None of them spoke or made a movement. The moment was still on a canvas in his mind. Ouren had his fist tightened and jaw clenched shut. Jonas was motioning forward, smirking. It seemed like Dragsil was bowing for forgiveness as he hunched forward. The woman, her head, began turning, struggling to break free of the portrait. Casting an icy stare at the duo.
Ignoring her, Desdin expressed glee. “Father met Dragsil! Did he know?”
The matriarch shook her head and said, “This isn’t your memory, so we don’t know what he perceived. An encounter with one of the Oldest, Ouren, changed you. Similar but not the same as me, you can view fragments and glimpses of those closest to you. For a human, you are most unlucky. Threads from all four of them are around you. Ouren has marked your body, Dragsil your mind, Jonah your heart. That woman has a thin strand to the souls of most people.”
The ethereal woman was glowering with her brow furrowing. She stretched her hand out and her aura began cracking the air surrounding her, arcing towards the opened void where the pair sat. The other figures beside her remained motionless as she sat up. Pitiful creature, how dare you spin a web close to me. Put…. him…. back!” She bellowed as the entire realm quaked violently. Around the opening in the void, cracks and splinters formed, threatening to break and spill the children down. It reacted quickly to the assault in order to heal instantly and become whole.
Stolen story; please report.
The matriarch child spoke, “Do not worry, she cannot reach us. We are both enclosed within our own time and space. Like two beasts separated by an impenetrable glass wall. It is already terrifying that she was aware of this scene forming. Connecting any thread to her would be akin to casting a fishing line into a turbulent storm. Doing so would end my life instantly. Such is the fearsome power of the Oldest. It is curious that she so badly wants control of you.”
“It no doubt has to do less with me and more with the other three in this memory.” Desdin looked forlorn in his boyish form. “Hey, why do you make sense all of a sudden?”
She didn’t look away from the fire on the beach and said, “In this place, I am just me. My mind is a victim of the torrent of emotions that rage and manifest in my physical body now. I have little control left.” Tears swelled up in her eyes.
He looked down. “I’m sorry. For what happened to you in the past. In this place, can you tell me anything about yourself or what you hope to achieve?”
She made a disapproving gesture with her face. “When we dance again, it will be the last for one of us. I know it. I have presented you something I could tell was precious to you to give you peace if you should pass. If it comes down to it and you must slay me, will you grant me something equally tranquil so that I may have wonderful dreams?”
Desdin thought for a moment. “Can you at least tell me your name? Your real name. Just between the two of us. I am Desdin, by the way.”
She looked at him sadly with now falling from clear eyes. “I was once called Arling. I had a beautiful home in a forest like this. A strong husband and wonderful children that loved us. What remains of that, someone has broken into a million pieces. When I return to reality, I won’t remember. I will only have the hunger for what we lost. Such ravenous desire that consumes it all.” The matriarch tightly held her small frame.
Desdin solemnly looked at her. “Arling, about what you asked, it is impossible to return what the Oldest took from you. But if it is me, I will grant your desire. I promise you.”
The next time he shut and opened his eyes, he was floating back into the void. He fell through the malleable glass bottom that broke around him and reformed in an instant. He opened his eyes again and this time he was standing at the edge of the port, starting out into the forest. A light icy drizzle had spilled out from the clouds, partially concealing the moon.
The sensation of the chilly rain on his skin brought life back into his eyes. His skin flushed as if blood was freshly circulating. He spoke his vow again, saying it out loud, this time in reality. “I promise Arling.”
Cherry had come up behind him, flicking a cigarette into the night. She stood shoulder to shoulder with him, looking out over the dock. “More hallucinations?”
Desdin looked out with his gaze undeterred and his body unaffected by the chilling rain. “Yes.” He then turned to her, showing a weary smile. “Don’t worry, my resolve remains.”
She took her bare scarred hand and touched his arm, which seemed to bring sensation back into him as he shivered in the night’s cool breeze. “I wouldn’t question that. When I finally got accepted into the program for Awakening, my instructor hardly ever praised us. She only gave me high marks on building a strong and cohesive team. Although we weren't individually exceptional, as a team, we always got top marks and the worst tasks. There is something profoundly different about our group. I am overcome with passion being around both of you.”
He gently felt her hand with his. “It has been a long day. My head is spinning and needs to sort out everything in my head. I’m sorry that I’m such a mess, Cherry. I have to think carefully about each step, and every bold decision carries so much behind it. Without you and Demalyn, I’d be dead.”
Cherry lingered for a moment. “You are harder to kill than that. Whatever Ouren did to you, along with my limited medical expertise, those superficial wounds in no time. However, I can do little to save you from whatever is going on in your head.” She gripped his hand. “It has been a while since I’ve slept in my bed. Care to crash with me tonight?”
Desdin lost himself in contemplation. “Give me a little time out here. I’ll follow in soon.”
“It is okay. Get actual sleep even if you decide not to come in. Don’t overthink it. All three of us are simple at heart, which is what makes this work. We are just weary travelers.” Desdin smiled and nodded.