Teacher
Location:
Gloria's Temple/Council Chamber
Time: Y1502 -
27th day of the Ice Moon
Night had descended over
Victoria, but because of an accident, many could not yet sleep inside
the Temple of Gloria.
In front of the Council
Chamber there where benches.
Many were sitting on those
benches, waiting. One by one the Council called in those involved in
the accident.
The last one was Sister
Ramia. And she was nervous.
[I
didn't do anything! None of this is my fault! Damn. I just wish this
day to end already! The wait is unbearable!] (Ramia)
The door of the Council
chambers opened, Carlotta walked out.
"It's
your turn, Ramia. Just tell them the truth, ok?" (Carlotta)
*deep
breath* (Ramia)
Ramia stepped inside the
Council Chamber, two guards closed the large door behind her. It was
the first time she was called there. Despite being night, the room
was lit as it was day. There were glorious paintings depicting
Gloria, and a semicircular table. And behind that table sat the
Council of Gloria. The High Priestess herself was present too. This
was big.
On a corner the Scribe was
busy writing down the words.
"Your
name for the record, please." (Geneva)
"I
am Sister Ramia. My duty is raise the children and to teach them the
ways of Gloria." (Ramia)
"First,
we would like to hear your version of the events that happened
today." (Pernida)
Sister Ramia told the
council everything, while playing down her involvement as much as
possible. She spoke of how Karan, one of her students intercepted her
on the way to the classroom, stalling her with legitimate requests.
She told what she saw when she entered the room. The children
terrified. Thomen laying down, all bloody and crying. How Liara was
inside an invisible wall painted red with blood.
Ramia described how Liara
was too scared to come out and how she found a guard and got help as
quickly as possible. She told of how she deduced the flow of events
and had Thomen taken away by the guards, and how they had to wait for
Serina to come because Liara's barrier was unbreachable.
Ramia played down the
state of mind of the other children, stating how their strong faith
in Gloria sustained them during the accident.
"Overall,
your tale is coherent with that of everyone else. There is little
room for interpretation." (Pernida)
"I
have a question, Sister Ramia. Thomen was a Knight trainee, but
apparently he was tormenting the other children under your watch. Had
I known, he would have been disciplined. How could thing get so bad
without ANY of my instructors knowing anything about it. Care to
explain?" (Teoren)
Teoren is the Lord of the
Knights. A Dark Skin fifty years of age. He became member of the
council after suffering a crippling injury at his right leg during
the war, sixteen years before.
"I...
You know how children are Councilman. Thomen was the oldest and
strongest amongst them. They all respected him. He seemed at odd with
Liara from the first day they met, but nothing hinted at what would
happen today!" (Ramia)
"So,
not only you failed to predict and prevent this accident, but even
after the facts you still have no idea on why it happened? Such
incompetence!" (Teoren)
"Please!
I.." (Ramia)
"Silence!
You'll speak only to answer our questions." (Vaerminia)
"..."
(Ramia)
"I'm
afraid Lord Teoren has a point. Sister Carlotta is an healer, and she
reported that children arrived to her with bruises and cut often
after your classes. Far more than one would expect." (Pernida)
"Sister
Bella talked with the children after the incident. She didn't have
time for a full examination, but her findings are... Disturbing."
(Cassandra)
"All
evidence points toward Thomen being the leader of a veritable band of
thugs. Under your watch he regularly beat the other children,
stealing food from them. Which would explain many things. First of
all, Thomen's size. Also, the... underwhelming presence of other
children." (Pernida)
"Wait!
This..." (Ramia)
"You
had one warning already. Do you wish to worsen your position
further?" (Vaerminia)
*gulp*
(Ramia)
"To
miss such glaring events happening under your watch is reason enough
to remove you from your duties. You undermined the growth of the
future generation! At a time when the threat our enemies pose is at
an all time high! But, remarkably, you managed to go beyond even
that. It takes active effort to fail on such a grand scale.
Impressive, in a way." (Teoren)
"When
Liara was given to your care, we made sure you understood how
important she was to the church. She is now alive ONLY thanks to her
unthinkable potential as mage. The evidence is conclusive. Liara
defied Thomen, and Thomen wanted to kill her for undermining him."
(Pernida)
"I
shudder at the thought of such disaster! Liara was gifted to us by
Gloria herself! Had she died, the church might as well have
followed!" (Kamila)
"I
find it amusing. The Gifted One had the guts to oppose Thomen,
despite being only two years old. None of the other children, despite
being much older, did. You, Sister Ramia, despite being a full
fledged Sister with an heavy duty, didn't." (Teoren)
"I'm
not the only one to blame!!! Others knew!!! Shouldn't they be
punished as well??? You just want a scapegoat!!!" (Ramia)
"Guards,
restrain Sister Ramia." (Vaerminia)
The
two guards at the door grabbed Ramia's arms, holding her.
"NOOOO!!!!"
(Ramia)
"The
rules are clear. You know them well. The duty of teaching the
children was given to YOU. The responsibility for failing in your
duty it is YOURS and yours only. If you felt this duty was above your
skills, you should have refused it." (Teoren)
"But
you make a point, Ramia. It is the responsibility of the High
Priestess to give the right duty to the right Sister. It was Meridia
who appointed you as Nanny and Teacher. She was obviously wrong in
that. She failed her duty. Still, Meridia has already been judged and
punished for her failures as High Priestess." (Amigarde)
"Indeed.
Ramia, it will take a few more days for us to reach a formal verdict.
But since there is little room for interpretation I will give you the
short version. You and Thomen will be burnt at the stake for
endangering the children and the life of the Gifted One. Take
her away!" (Vaerminia)
"NO!!!
I didn't know!!! It's not my fault! PLEASE!!! I didn't do
anything!!!" (Ramia)
"No.
You, didn't. Maybe you should have." (Vaerminia)
The
guards dragged Ramia out of the Council chambers and down the stairs.
To the cells.
Recovery
Location:
Gloria's Temple/Courtyard
Time: Y1502 -
33rd day of the Ice Moon
It's been a few days since
Thomen's assault.
I'm physically and
mentally fine thanks to the others Me and to Mother, but the adults
relived me of my duties. To let me recover.
After the assault it hit
me how close to death I actually was. Had I not developed a barrier
on a whim, I wouldn't be alive...
I can't properly
experiment with magic since Mother is always with me, but I don't
mind. It's almost like a vacation. And I really needed some down
time.
Thomen obviously has some
kind of mental illness. It doesn't excuse him, but I can't help but
think that in our world, he would have received medical help.
[Yes,
Had he been born in a developed country that is. The world we come
from was not all flowers and rainbows, you know?] (Explorer Me)
... I wonder what his
punishment will be. Mother won't answer me when I ask. She tells me
not to worry about him.
I'm conflicted. He is a
danger for me and the others, but he probably can't help it.
Is it right to punish him?
What about the adults? They are the one that should have seen this
coming, make things right before it got this bad. All the children in
the school dreaded him. Who know how long has he been tormenting
them.
[Remember
Liara, you are a two years old girl. It's too early for you to worry
about this stuffs.] (Doctor Me)
The wish we all shared was
to help others with magic. I thought it was childish, but I really
feel like I should do something about all of this. I see in our
shared memories the best Earth had to offer. Wouldn't it be nice to
bring some of it here in Arcania?
[The
adults wouldn't listen to you anyway. For now, at least. Just grow
and learn. In my experience, if you work hard, results will naturally
follow!] (Science Me)
Yes, you are probably
right. I still need to unlock <HUD> after all. I want to see.
"Liara,
there is something I need to tell you. Tonight, the perpetrators will
be punished. You can stay here, or... You can bear witness. I'd like
you to stay put... But I think you earned the right to decide
yourself." (Serina)
I have never seen mother
this worried. A part of me just want to go to bed. But another part
want to see what punishment Thomen will receive.
"I'll
go, Mother. I want to see." (Liara)
Mother looks down. She
really hoped that I would have chosen to stay.
I'm sorry.
We leave Mother's chamber
and slowly walk toward the courtyard.
Punishment
Location:
Gloria's Temple/Courtyard
Time: Y1502 -
33rd day of the Ice Moon
The fall of the High
Priestess. The relentless assault of our enemies that forced us to
leave most of our territories. And now this.
Gloria. Are you testing
our resolve? To see if we are worthy of your gift?
If so, then so be it!
*whisper*
"Look! Serina and Liara are here!" (Pernida)
I told her not to come.
Well, I guess Liara has
the right to see. We owe her that much after failing to protect her.
It is time.
"Children
of Gloria! We are here tonight because sins were committed inside the
walls of out temple! Sins that cannot be forgiven!" (High
Priestess Amigarde)
**cheers**
(Everyone)
The guards poke the four
weak willed followers of Thomen. They step forward.
Half of them are crying.
They are just children, but endangering Liara's life cannot be
forgiven. I'll make an example of you! Ignorance is no justification
for sin.
"Karan,
Ramaan, Steffie and Yuree. For the sin of tormenting your fellow
children, and helping evil, you are to spend one moon in the northern
mines!" (Amigarde)
**cry**
(Stephie, Karan)
"Please!!!
Thomen forced us!!!" (Yuree)
"Maybe.
Maybe not. In the end, you sinned. You are to be punished for that.
You brought this upon yourself. Repent. Guards! take them away!"
(Amigarde)
"You
brats come with us." (Guard A)
"AHHHHHH!!!
LET ME GOOO!!!" (Karan)
**cheers**
(Everyone)
The guards will take them
to the cells. They'll leave for the mines in the morning. I really
hope this punishment will rectify their behaviour.
The guards poke the two
main perpetrators. They step forward. They wear no clothes, there is
no need to waste good fabric. But I had them bathed before the
execution. I'll allow them to retain some dignity.
"Thomen.
For the sin of tormenting the children, and for the sin of attempting
to the life of the Gifted One, you are to be burned alive at the
stake!" (Amigarde)
"NOOOOO!!!
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! LET ME GOOOOO!!!" *scream* (Thomen)
"With
me, sinner!" (Guard B)
This
child has the eyes of a madman...The guards quickly take Thomen to
one of the stone pillars we erected in the centre of the courtyard.
They use iron chains to restrain him. He is screaming non stop.
It's
Ramia's turn. Her eyes have heavy black circles around them. She
didn't sleep much. She is sweating and trembling. What a pitiful
appearance. You should have thought about this before you almost let
Liara die. If we lose her... We can't! I'll show everyone what the
price for endangering Liara's life is.
"Sister
Ramia. You had to duty of watching over the children. You neglected
it. Repeatedly. The children suffered greatly under your watch, and
the Gifted One had to save herself because of your inaction and your
incompetence. Those who allow sins to flourish, shall receive the
same punishment as the sinner himself!" (Amigarde)
"Sister
Ramia! For the sins of apathy, negligence and gross incompetence, you
are to be burned alive at the stake! You'll share Thomen's fate!"
(Amigarde)
*collapse
on knees* *cry* (Ramia)
**Cheer**
(Everyone)
"Your
place is over there, sinner." (Guard C)
"As
High Priestess of Gloria, I shall execute the sentence myself! May
Gloria's fire wash away your sins! May Gloria's light cleanse your
souls. Repent as the flames consumes you, and Gloria may yet forgive
you and embrace you in the afterlife!" (Amigarde)
**Cheer**
(Everyone)
""Burn
them!!!"" (Everyone)
I
walk toward the two stone pillars. Both Thomen and Ramia are
restrained. They are terrified. They should be. My attendant helps me
remove my dress. I start weaving magic.
I
spend three full minutes weaving. This is going to be a much bigger
spell than would be required. This fire must be awe inspiring! Order
must be restored. An example must be set.
You
will not suffer, sinners. Consider this my final mercy.
<Cleansing
Fire> (Amigarde)
*whisper*
"This ought to restore order. Well done, Amigarde"
(Vaerminia)
Punishment
Location:
Gloria's Temple/Courtyard
Time: Y1502 -
33rd day of the Ice Moon
Mother
walks slowly, I follow closely behind. Along the way, few Sisters run
past us.
We
reach the courtyard. So many! The number of occupants of the temple
has increased recently, and they all seems to be here.
It's
night, but it might as well be day. The light of the pale moon make
it easy to see, and on top of that there are many orbs of light
floating over the courtyard.
Everyone
is whispering to each other. It's not very noisy, but the murmur is
unsettling. It makes me feel like something big is going to happen.
I'm
too short! can't see anything from here!
"Mother,
can I ride on your shoulders?" (Liara)
Mother
gives me a worried look. She really don't want me to see. But I'm
here, and I will see!
We
look in each other eyes, finally Mother looks away. Without saying a
word, she grab me and let me climb over her shoulder. She is
trembling.
"Don't
worry about me, Mother. I'll be strong!" (Liara)
Looking
down I can see a smile. I say that, but if she is that worried about
me... What in the world the punishment will be?
...
The
High Priestess speaks. And people cheers. That's rude. You don't
cheer at people misfortune!
[In
our world there is an history of people cheering during public
displays like this. Even during executions. Or I should say
especially during executions? It was a form of entertainment.]
(Explorer Me)
Executions,
uh? Surely Thomen won't be killed? I mean, he did try to kill me, but
he is a brat, and he is mentally ill. I want him far from me. Not
dead.
[You
should prepare yourself for the worse.] (Doctor Me)
...
Thomen's
side kicks have been judged. A moon worth of forced labour in the
mines? That sounds a bit harsh for a bunch of six to ten years old
brats. Well, this ought to set them straight. The crowd is cheering a
lot. They really like seeing other people in misery.
...
"Thomen.
For the sin of tormenting the children, and for the sin of attempting
to the life of the Gifted One, you are to be burned alive at the
stake!" (Amigarde)
...
Burned at the stake... BURNED AT THE STAKE!!! What are they
thinking!!!
**cheers**
(Everyone)
And
you all cheer to this too?!?
"Liara...
He tried to kill you. If were to be allowed to live... This is
justice, Liara. Don't cry over him." (Serina)
...
This is not what I wanted.
[I
actually expected it. Something a Sister said a while ago. Only life
can pay for life.] (Explorer Me)
[You
are exceedingly important for the church, Liara. They don't speak a
lot about it, but when you live as long as I do, you can read between
the lines. You almost died. And you said yourself. You are important.
Thomen is not. They are making an example out of him. So that none
will think about trying something similar.] (Doctor Me)
[We
can feel your emotion, Liara. He is a criminal. He tried to kill you.
This is the punishment the authority in this world deemed fit. You
have no fault.] (Bookworm Me)
I do
actually. I impressed hard how his plan was to kill me from the
start. Thomen had no plan. He wanted to beat me up, he...
[Would
have killed you by accident? No. He planned poorly, but the outcome
would have been your death. To me, he deserves to die.] (Science Me)
Enough.
We'll talk later, ok?
"Sister
Ramia! For the sins of apathy, negligence and gross incompetence, you
are to be burned alive at the stake! You'll share Thomen's fate!"
(Amigarde)
**cheers**
(Everyone)
...
The teacher too??? She doesn't deserve to die!!!
[No,
I don't think she does. They are making a statement here. That
failing to protect you is a sin. They are making an example out of
her too. You may have not noticed, but many Sisters here look at you
with jealousy. You are gifted beyond imagination. They are not, and
feel threatened by you.] (Doctor Me)
I...
I didn't notice.
[It
happens a lot in our world too. People with average skills tries to
hinder those that are highly killed. I know something about it.]
(Science Me)
Still...
The teacher will die because of me!!!
[No.
She will die because she did nothing to stop Thomen. Death might be
too big a price, but she is the one at fault here. She could have
easily prevented all of this. But choose not to act.] (Bookworm Me)
*soothing
voice* "Liara. Do you want to leave? What will happen next is
not pretty. No one will hold you for not wanting to watch."
(Serina)
"...
No. I will watch. Thanks, Mother. For everything." (Liara)
...
<Cleansing
Fire> (Amigarde)
**stupor**
""Ooooooohhhh!!!"" (Everyone)
Two
columns of fire. Two almost perfect cylinders of white flames about
two meters in diameter each rise in the sky. They must be at least
fifty meters high!!!
For a
split of second One could hear screams from the flames. They didn't
last long.
The
fire only last a couple of seconds, and disappears, as quickly as it
came into existence. So, this is magical fire?
[The
core of the fire must have been thousands of degrees in temperature!
I doubt they even felt it! Remarkable.] (Science Me)
Remarkable???
People just died!!!
[What
Science Me means is that burning people in our world took a lot
longer. Minutes even. It might be even more painless than lethal
injection. This is a humane way of delivering a death sentence.]
(Doctor Me)
I
didn't think about that.
The
smoke subsided, there are only charred bones still chained to the
pillar and ashes left.
*soothing
voice* "Liara, do you want to go inside, now?" (Serina)
"Yes.
I'm tired." (Liara)
"You
don't need to come down. You can stay on my shoulders." *smile*
(Serina)
The High Priestess is
still spouting nonsense about justice. I don't care. We head back
inside.
Magic Practice
Location:
Gloria's Temple/Serina's Chamber
Time: Y1502 -
34th day of the Ice Moon
*knock*
*knock* (Door)
"May
I come in?" (Meridia)
*open
door slightly* (Serina)
*whisper*
"Meridia, you know what happened yesterday. Liara is..."
(Serina)
*whisper*
"That's why I'm here. Practice will keep her mind off things."
(Meridia)
I
heard that. I don't feel like doing anything this morning.
[What
they say it's true. This will do you good. Yesterday's... events hit
you hard.] (Doctor Me)
I
don't feel like practicing.
[Doctor's
orders.] (Doctor Me)
"It's
alright, Mother. I want to practice magic too." (Liara)
*enter*
(Meridia)
"First
I want to know something. How do you feel about Thomen and Ramia?"
(Meridia)
"Meridia!"
(Serina)
*glare*
(Meridia)
"..."
(Serina)
So,
she wants to force me to deal with my emotions. I'm sad, but it's
nothing I can't deal with. Well, if I were a normal two years old
girl, this would definitely mess me up. Well... If I were a normal,
normal two years old girl I wouldn't even be able to speak
properly.
I'd
better act up.
"I
hated Thomen. But I didn't hate Sister Ramia. They died because of
me!" *cry* (Liara)
*hug
tightly* (Serina)
"Meridia,
that's too much!" (Serina)
"If
she doesn't deal with it now, the burden will weight upon her for her
entire life. believe me, I know." (Meridia)
"..."
(Serina)
"Thomen
tried to kill you. And Ramia failed to stop him, despite having many
opportunities. The High Priestess judged them and granted them a
quick death. Had you been guilty of anything, the High Priestess
would have punished you as well. You bear no sin, Liara. Remember
that." (Meridia)
*sniff*
(Liara)
[You
closed the waterworks a bit too quickly?] (Doctor Me)
I'm
the Gifted One.
[Fair
enough. Just make sure you open up to us all later.] (Doctor Me)
"Alright.
Enough of yesterday. Liara, can you show me your barrier?"
(Meridia)
"I..."
(Liara)
"I
just want you to practice magic. Nothing more." (Meridia)
"Can
you leave some room for me?" (Liara)
"Alright,
sweet Liara. Don't overdo it, ok?" (Serina)
Mother
let go of me. The room is small, only about two meters by three.
Meridia and Serina sits on the bed, this leave me with about one
meter free in every direction. More than enough.
I
start dancing, weaving threads on the tips of my fingers.
"What!!!
Why do you move!?! I taught you to be still!" (Meridia)
"It's
faster this way! Look!" (Liara)
This
is the first time I show them my original way of collimating magic
threads from aether.
Meridia's
way is the way everyone knows. Discovered by the ones that came
before long ago. They collimate a single magic thread by thinking of
moving a 3D point in the air.
Science
Me made perform many experiments when I was alone. We discovered
Meridia's way was slow and inefficient. We developed a new way of
making magic threads.
I
move my fingers so that I' don't have to visualize moving points in
3D space, but the collimating location becomes a fixed point in near
of my fingers, very close to my body. This increase the collimating
speed by a factor of twenty.
On
top of that, I weave ten threads at once at the tips of my fingers.
Overall,
my way of weaving is a two hundred fold improvement! Sure enough, in
a matter of ten seconds I weaved ten extremely long, thick and
regular threads that obeys my will.
"How...
Who taught you that???" (Meridia)
"I
tried different things myself. And this way feels faster?"
(Liara)
Meridia
is shocked. Now to use the threads I just weaved.
<Liara's
Barrier: Prototype #4>
At
my will, the long threads arrange themself in a grid. The grid form
in the shape of a dome, and I anchor the roots of the threads to the
ground. I will the thread to become real and elastic.
It
is done.
"...
It's an invisible wall alright. Serina. I want you to try and unravel
Liara's barrier" (Meridia)
"I
never saw a barrier done this way. I don't think I can unravel it."
(Serina)
"Just
try. Liara, is it hard to maintain? How long can you keep this up?"
(Meridia)
"As
long as I want? It's not really hard once it's weaved." (Liara)
Meridia
is carefully watching. I mean with her magic sight... She is blind.
Mother
come close to me. She try to push the barrier with her hands, getting
a feel for it.
Mother
starts weaving magic herself, then she hover her hand over the top of
my barrier.
<Dispel
Magic> (Serina)
Oh?
An anti-magic spell? I feel a force acting against the threads that
forms my barrier. It tries to sever them, separate them, dissolve
them back into aether again.
But
it's so weak!
Mother
used a single short and flimsy thread to weave her anti-magic spell.
This barrier is made from thick long threads. Furthermore, Science Me
designed this barrier to automatically heal holes in it. As long as
I'm focusing on it, and as long as I weave more magic threads to
power it, this barrier won't even get thinner.
"That's
enough, Serina. Liara's barrier is reforming faster than you can
destroy it." (Meridia)
Mother
looks shocked.
"I...
I didn't analyze your barrier properly back then. No wonder Bella
couldn't unravel it! This is incredible!" (Serina)
"Liara,
your barrier is poorly done. A sloppy job." (Meridia)
???
What!?!?
"That's
not what you wanted to hear, right? But it's the truth."
(Meridia)
Even
Mother is looking at Meridia in disbelief! What she is saying is
downright absurd!
"But...
Even Mother can't unravel it! Why is this barrier bad???"
(Liara)
"You'll
see in a moment. Liara, unravel your barrier. Serina, weave one
yourself." (Meridia)
[You
little... !!!] (Science Me)
Calm
down, Science Me. Let's see where Meridia is going with this.
I
do as Meridia say and unravel my barrier.
<Liara's
barrier: Unravel> (Liara)
"So
that's how you unravel it? You have much to learn still, Gifted One."
(Meridia)
[That's
it! Liara! Show her the next prototype spell we were developing!]
(Science Me)
[Calm
down! Meridia was the greatest mage in the continent. She practiced
magic for decades and received knowledge developed over centuries by
her ancestors. Is it that hard to believe that she knows something
that we didn't discover in two moons worth of studies?] (Doctor Me)
Or
maybe she just wants to humble me. We'll see.
Serina
take my place and starts weaving.
Slow.
Three minutes of weaving and a single flimsy magic thread about ten
centimetres long is all she could weave.
<Invisible
Wall> (Serina)
...
It's so different. The thread she collimated is getting shorter, and
magic is forming around Mother's tall and slim body. The barrier is
only half a meter in diameter, and a little over two meters in
height. But the barrier is not made of threads...
"Liara.
Describe what you can see." (Meridia)
"Mother
is using the magic thread to... To harden the air?" (Liara)
"Excellent!
Your magic sight is fully developed already. What else?"
(Meridia)
"Mother
built the barrier using only a weak and short magic thread."
(Liara)
"Yes.
Liara, you built your barrier out of an unthinkable amount of magic
threads. Nobody would do it like that. Nobody could. We magi have to
make things happen with a small amount of magic." (Meridia)
"But
if I can weave lots of magic, why do I need spells that only use
little of it?" (Liara)
"Excellent
question, Liara. But you already know the answer. Tell me, was the
barrier that you weaved against Thomen as good as the one you showed
me just now?" (Meridia)
"...
No. It was thin and full of holes. I had to weave it in an hurry. I
almost didn't make it, and..." (Liara)
*hug
tightly* (Serina)
Mother
hugs me. Wait... Did I just slip past her barrier???
"You
realized. You are quick witted, Liara. Serina's invisible wall can
let things through if she want. About the other matter, in battle,
it's hard to weave many threads. When the push come to shove, you
need spells that can work quickly and with limited resources.
Serina's invisible wall is far more flexible and useful compared to
yours. You have much to learn." (Meridia)
[Perhaps
listening to her will not be a total waste of time...] (Science Me)
"Liara,
can you show me the way you weave magic again? The way I taught you
has been in use for centuries, and no one ever thought of doing it
differently. If this can be taught to our Sisters... Liara, you may
have discovered by accident a better way of weaving magic!"
(Meridia)
[BY
ACCIDENT?!? We discovered it because we are not blindfolded fanatics!
Unlike you! You old witch!!!] (Science Me)
Science
Me really doesn't like being proved wrong by a religious leader.
[She
didn't prove me wrong!!!] (Science Me)
[We
still have much to learn. It'll be more efficient to work alongside
her. Don't you think so, Science Me?] (Doctor Me)
[...
fine ...] (Science Me)
Uhm...
Guys... Don't I get a say in this?
And
about showing them, I don't think I have a choice. I had to use my
original way of collimating threads for my spell against Thomen. No
one might have noticed, but if they did... Lying about this gives me
no advantage and could make others aware that I have things to hide.
"I
don't know. If I can, I think you can too?" (Liara)
"Maybe.
Liara, you may have not noticed, but your aptitude for magic is
impossibly high. I don't think a human ever had as much aptitude as
you do. There will be many things only you can do. You, and nobody
else. Be aware of that." (Meridia)
"I
want to try your way of weaving, Liara. Be a good teacher to me,
alright?" *smile* (Serina)
"Yes,
Mother!" *smile* (Liara)
If
mother becomes stronger, she'll be safer. It's decided! I'll teach
Mother my way of collimating magic threads. It's actually easier than
Meridia's way, so she will succeed. I have no doubt about it.
Gathering
Location:
Forbidden City/Roots of the Dragon Plaza
Time: Y0000 -
29th day of the Fire Moon
"I'm
tired!" (Rat Kin Youth A)
"I'm
Hungry!" (Rat Kin Youth B)
"I'm
cold!" (Rat Kin Youth C)
"I
know, my children. Bear with it a while longer." (Shi'Shi)
It was almost night time.
The temperature was dropping.
Virtually every Rat Kin in
the Forbidden city was gathered in the grassy plain around the Dragon
Plaza. Standing torches lighted the area, revealing an ocean of at
least two hundred thousand individuals. It was noisy as people talked
with each others.
In the air, there were
dozens of Dragons. Some wandering aimlessly in the sky. Others making
circles around the plaza, like vultures awaiting for the Rat Kins to
die.
Shi'Shi was near the back
of the gathering, at least two kilometres away from the plaza itself.
But even from there, she could see small mountains of food and riches
dotting the plaza.
Today, the head of The
Apex, the most dreaded Dragon of all, would awaken.
Stories passed down
amongst the Rat Kins show that She is not as forgiving as the rest of
Them. Even They fear her! Enough that the suicidal task of waking her
up is given to the Rat Kins, for no Dragon would dare to do so.
This offering is meant to
try and appease Her. Shi'Shi did her part, sharing what little
precious food she had. She can only hope it will be enough.
**ROOAAARRRRRR**
(Dragons)
An
incredible roar shook the air. Many Rat Kin hunkered down in terror.
Shi'Shi
looked in the direction of the Black Mountain. Five lights were
approaching from there. They got bigger and bigger. Even from that
distance, the size of those creatures was apparent.
"My
children, that's The Apex. Those five rule over all of Them. Kneel
now." (Shi'Shi)
Shi'Shi,
her children, and all the Rat Kin not consumed by terror kneeled
down.
Shi'Shi
glanced a peek. The five touched down in the Dragon Plaza. That
structure was about one kilometre in size, enough for those five to
coil down and still have space to spare.
In
the centre on the Plaza, on top of the Dragon's Altar, Shi'Shi knew a
Dragon Priest was waiting to hear whatever unreasonable demand The
Apex would make.
To
date no Dragon Priest ever survived an encounter with a Dragon, but
sometimes they died before being able to fulfil their role as
messengers. Ruin would follow in those cases. Dragon Priests go
through a gruesome and painful training to ensure that they can
survive long enough to deliver their message.
An
unsettling silence fell over the plaza. Broken only by occasional
screams of terror from individuals who couldn't handle the pressure.
Even the Dragons flying in the sky became totally silent.
"What's
happening" (Rat Kin Youth D)
*whisper*
"Shhhh. Our Dragon Priest is hearing Her demands."
(Shi'Shi)
"I'm
scared!!!" (Rat Kin Youth C)
*whisper*
"I know. Pray for our ancestors in your mind. They'll give you
courage." (Shi'Shi)
The
Rat Kin didn't believe in Gods. Even the Gods couldn't do anything
against Them. Instead the Rat Kins worshipped the souls of their
ancestors. Those who endured Their rule and left a descendence.
Long
minutes passed. The Dragons had yet to start feasting upon the Rat
Kin's offering.
Not a
good sign.
*ROOOOOAAAARRRRR*
(Golden Dragon)
The
silence was broken by the roar of a single Dragon. Yet that roar was
stronger than the roars of all combined dragons Shi'Shi heard before.
It could only have come from Her. Shi'Shi ears were ringing, and she
was two kilometres away from the plaza.
Terror
filed Shi'Shi's heart.
"W
With me, my children! Take each other hands! Like I taught you!
RUN!!!" (Shi'Shi)
That
roar caused the Rat Kins to panic. What followed was a stampede. The
Rat Kins desperately tried to flee. The screams. The slow ones being
trampled.
**screams**
(Rat Kins)
Shi'Shi
was near the edge of the gathering. She was one of the first to start
fleeing, she was safe for now. She was running like her life depended
on it. It did.
*flash* *wave of heat*
An
incredible flash of light made the night become day for a moment.
Shi'Shi wasn't blinded because her back was turned.
After
the flash, a flickering red light like it was coming from a fire cast
a shadow in front of her. Shi'Shi felt heat and timidly looked over
her shoulder while still running and holding the hands of her litter.
Shi'Shi
eyes went wide.
The
plaza was no longer visible. It was surrounded by a gigantic wall of
flames!
Shi'Shi
thought the flames were encircling the entire Dragon Plaza. Surely a
spell The Apex had weaved. It was probably a circle twice the size of
the Dragon Plaza itself. T
The
flames must have been at least half a kilometre in height! Tens of
thousand of Rat Kins must have been engulfed by it. Shi'Shi's mind
couldn't wrap around just how gigantic the flames were.
Shi'Shi
kept running along with her litter.
The
light and heat quickly disappeared behind her.
Shi'Shi
kept running.
...
*heavy
breath* "I... Can't..." (Rat Kin youth A)
*heavy
breath* "Let's... Rest... A moment..." *sits down*
(Shi'Shi)
Shi'Shi
didn't know how long had she run. But she just couldn't take another
step. She had to rest first.
Shi'Shi
looked back. Few Rat Kins were running past her, but most were still
behind her.
She
was farther from the dragon plaza than before, but she didn't feel
safe at all. It was a plain. There was no where to hide. Being one or
tens of kilometres from Them made no difference at all.
For
some reasons They had stopped. Most of them were still flying idly in
the air. She couldn't see well that far, but she felt like they were
waiting for something. Surprising. She fully expected Them to dive
and hunt the Rat Kins.
[This
pause won't last. Where can I go? Maybe I can reach the city?]
(Shi'Shi)
Shi'Shi
didn't want to let this chance to live go to waste. She was thinking
about what to do. As a mother, the instinct of protecting her
children kept her sane, kept her focused.
Hiding
in one of the caves in the canyons of the Forbidden City was probably
the best call. The city was only ten minutes away. She would have
been a lot safer with tens of metres of rocks over her head.
*heavy
breath* "Alright, children. Enough rest. We head towar.D. Gha!"
*collapse* (Shi'Shi)
Shi'Shi
and her litter collapsed to the ground. Dead.
Every
Rat Kin around her collapsed. Dead.
Every
Rat Kin still alive in the city, in the plaza, underground or in tens
of kilometres in every direction from the plaza collapsed. Dead.
There
were no longer any Rat Kin alive that could even think on what
happened.
Everyone
simply stopped being alive.
Today,
the twenty-ninth day of the Fire moon, The Rat Kin tribe in the
Forbidden City ceased to be.
But
the day was not over.
The
worse had yet to come.